Chapter 34

Episode 34: The Demise of a Beautiful Girl Must Be Happy

Is this my punishment?

“Senior Miroku, over here!”

The amusement park, which had just moments ago been a lively place, had transformed into a hellish scene. Debris rained down from the attractions, and the asphalt was torn up in large chunks.

“Let’s evacuate the amusement park before the gate closes! Enforcers from the Apis Council should be dispatched soon.”

He anxiously pulled my hand.

Just a few minutes ago, he had smiled at me. He had shed tears for me.

How is it now?

“Guh, the damage is worse than I imagined. Let’s take a detour. Can you still run?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

The face illuminated by the surrounding flames looked utterly desperate.

I didn’t want to make him look like that.

If only I had followed his advice and returned to the academy back then. Regret wells up endlessly.

“…”

Is this punishment for my last selfish request?

Because someone who’s about to disappear tried to leave something behind. Because I wished for them to remember me.

“Senior Miroku!”

“Ah.”

His voice pulls me back to awareness. Before my eyes, shadowy tentacles loom.

Kei slashes through them with a dagger as if they were about to pierce us.

“The paralysis isn’t spreading throughout. It seems each one is an independent life form…?”

Even in this situation, Kei calmly analyzes our opponent while protecting me. Seeing him like this, I finally summoned my weapon.

He called it a rapier, but it’s more like a flawed straight sword.

“I can protect myself too. From here on, let’s rescue any surviving civilians while evacuating.”

“…Understood.”

After hesitating, Kei nods decisively, as if making a resolution. Apparently, I was included among those he intended to protect.

If Mizuki or Toa had been here instead, he probably would have chosen differently.

“Still, it seems quite a number of people have already evacuated. Impressive, for an amusement park within Academy City.”

Academy City often experiences violent incidents. There are even several cases each year where tourists get caught up in battles between academies.

Therefore, their emergency manuals are far more thorough than anywhere else.

However, there are still inevitably some people who couldn’t escape in time.

“Senior Miroku, over there.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Away from the evacuation route, we spot a young child crouching under a collapsed roof of a food stall.

It wasn’t just us who noticed the child; shadowy tentacles also move to claim their life.

“I’ll clear the way ahead. Senior Miroku, please protect that child.”

“Understood.”

Kei exhales sharply and sprints forward, quickly slicing through the shadowy tentacles and creating a path to the child. I rush through the opening to reach the child.

“It’s safe now.”

“Ugh, waaahh!”

I embrace the terrified child, whose panic has reached its peak, and stroke their head.

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. We’re very strong explorers, you know? You can relax now.”

“Senior Miroku, let’s go. The retreat path is secured.”

Breathing heavily, Kei says this to me. Looking back, I see numerous severed tentacles scattered across the ground. Even while I was turning my back on them, he continued fighting.

“Can you stand? Let’s escape together with the older sisters.”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

Though their eyes are still swollen from crying, the child begins running alongside me, having calmed down somewhat. Ideally, I’d carry them, but losing my weapon in this situation isn’t an option.

“Mommy and Daddy?”

Having regained composure, the child starts worrying about others. Running alongside me, they ask this question.

Caught off guard by the sudden inquiry, I’m momentarily speechless. A lone child being here strongly suggests a grim possibility.

While I struggle to respond, Kei, running beside me, says:

“They’re alive. Everyone has already evacuated. So, you need to keep going too.”

It’s a lie.

But it seems to have given the child strength.

“Okay! I’ll do my best!”

“That’s the spirit!”

Together with the child, we run through the amusement park. Due to the use of dungeons, the grounds are vast, and keeping pace with the child would delay our evacuation.

Should I have Kei fight while I carry the child to safety?

Just as I consider this, something in the depths of the amusement park catches my eye.

“What is that…”

Even while running, my gaze remains fixed on it. In the center of the amusement park, where a building used as a hotel once stood, a massive black monster now looms.

It looks like a flower, or perhaps an octopus, but is it even correct to call it a living creature?

Simply imagining it having life fills me with revulsion.

“…Ouroboros.”

Kei mutters bitterly, seemingly unaware that I heard him. His unconscious words suggest he’s fighting something I cannot assist with.

No, now isn’t the time to think about that.

Just as I reconsider, it happens.

“Senior Miroku!”

“Eh?”

A shadowy tentacle suddenly appears right before my eyes.

I understand instantly—these things can emerge from any shadow.

With the current state filled with irregular shadows created by the flames, avoiding them while fleeing is nearly impossible.

Until now, they’ve only targeted the tentacles present in the area, so I failed to anticipate and allowed them to approach this close.

I think quickly in the brief moment available.

In this instant, which lives should be prioritized?

“!”

I push the child towards Kei and raise my sword to slash through the tentacle.

One strike.

I successfully cut through the tentacle.

But that’s all.

“Ah.”

Another tentacle emerges and pierces me effortlessly.

Strangely, there’s no pain, only heat.

“Guh… aaaah!”

I slash through the tentacle impaling me and defeat the second one.

Perhaps because I sustained a fatal wound, the tentacles vanish back into the shadows.

Apparently, they lurk in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity. Their ferocity is equivalent to B-rank.

Even if not here, it was only a matter of time before I ended up like this.

“Kei-kun…”

I can barely muster the strength to call out his name. My limbs lose power, and I collapse onto the ground. I can feel my body rapidly losing heat.

“–”

I hear his scream, though my hearing is already malfunctioning, and I can’t make out what he’s saying.

Pierced through the torso, death is inevitable.

Calmly, I accept this fact.

There’s still something I must do. If I die here, Mizuki and Toa will be chosen.

Another part of me pleads against this outcome.

There are many versions of me facing death, and each one is gradually consumed by darkness.

And eventually, I too…

■

There was death there.

Right before my eyes, there was death.

“Senior Miroku!”

I rush to the fallen Senior Miroku. Shadows cast by the flames flicker mockingly.

“Senior Miroku! Senior Miroku!”

There’s no response. In fact, her breathing is rapidly weakening.

Was it because I didn’t run away? Because I stubbornly refused to flee when I had the chance?

Did Senior Miroku end up like this?

“…!”

She called out my name in her final moments. What did she mean by it?

Now, I can never find out.

All I can do is cry out in despair over my own powerlessness.

Does it matter?!

“Star Reader’s Staff!”

Without hesitation. Why? Because it’s to save the beautiful girl.

Seeing my distraction with Senior Miroku, the tentacles seize the opportunity to reappear. However, they all vanish instantly with a mere release of magical power.

Star Reader’s Staff!

Or rather, usually, I’m just weak.

“I won’t let you die. Absolutely not… Boy, come here. I’ll set up a magical shield here!”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

The child obediently nods. Good kid. I’ll give you some candy later.

I create an absolutely safe area on the spot. Now, the tentacles can’t bother us. However, the option to escape is also gone.

Senior Miroku is still heading towards death.

“I won’t let you die.”

I rapidly think.

From my knowledge of the original story, I know techniques to revive from death or near-death states exist. Among them, the most powerful is one of the Demon’s Gear called ‘Shiyaku.’ It can bring someone back to life shortly after death. There’s also the special nanomachines from Jilnias Academy, adjusted for treatment, and dungeons that automatically heal anyone inside.

Considering the current situation, I meticulously weigh and choose the viable options.

Ultimately, there’s only one answer. Or rather, it’s calling out to me.

‘■■■■■’

A voice echoes clearly and powerfully, as if eagerly awaiting this moment.

‘■■■■■’

It’s been waiting for this contract.

An entity incomprehensible even with my knowledge of the original story. Yet, I understand it possesses the power to change the current situation.

It forcibly extends my hair as an example of interfering with my body. It even interferes with Mizuki-senpai’s magical power.

With absolute interference ability, it might temporarily enhance Senior Miroku’s self-healing capabilities.

No, it definitely can.

Right, Star Reader.

‘■■’

Understood.

Then, I’ll make the contract.

‘■■■?’

A slightly perplexed voice.

It sounds surprised that I’m actually making the contract. Indeed, until now, I’ve dismissed you and even considered selling you. But the situation is different now.

Star Reader, from now on, you’ll live together with me after this contract. Then, let me teach you one thing.

‘？’

Absolutely, beautiful girls must not die.

The end of a beautiful girl must be entirely happy.

‘？？？？’

I’ll give you everything I have.

In return, grant me the power to save all beautiful girls.

Give me everything you have.

“Solciera”

I call your name as usual.

Silence descends.

Sounds disappear, colors fade.

The flames, Senior Miroku, the child—everything stops.

In this gray world, before my eyes, there’s a deep crimson coffin. Its red decorations starkly contrast in this monochrome world. A cold, red iron coffin.

‘Rejoice’

The coffin opens. I realize there’s no turning back.

‘The Queen’s Coffin has been inherited. Here, a new Star Reader is born.’

Inside the coffin lies a single black scythe. Like a living thing, it writhes, waiting for me.

“…I’ll do it.”

I reach out and grasp it. Simultaneously, an overwhelming sense of omnipotence courses through my body. An unstoppable surge of power.

And amidst it, unmistakably, there’s me.

“–phew”

I swing the captured scythe horizontally. At the same moment, the frozen scenery shatters, and the world resumes moving.

“Eh, o, Onii-chan?”

Confused, the child watches as I kneel beside Senior Miroku. I begin interfering with her pierced torso.

Regenerative abilities that should surpass death itself are temporarily granted to Senior Miroku. Furthermore, I pour all my magical power into accelerating this regeneration.

“Senior Miroku… I haven’t repaid you anything yet.”

The wounds close, and the bleeding stops. Magical power circulates through her body to compensate for the lost blood.

“I absolutely won’t let you die.”

In three seconds, Senior Miroku regains consciousness.

“–”

Her consciousness hasn’t returned yet, but her breathing stabilizes, her expression softens, and it seems we’ve passed the critical point.

Alright! Let’s make today Senior Miroku’s resurrection memorial day!

“Now”

I stand up. Simultaneously, my hair sways with a sound.

Is this… another doing of the Star Reader’s Staff?

‘Congratulations! From today onward, you’re my partner!’

Loud.

I can hear it more clearly than usual.

‘Well, well, what will we do next? Ah, no need to say. I understand. We’re one entity. I know exactly what you’re thinking.’

In my mind, a cheerful voice resonates.

As long as you understand what I want to do, that’s fine.

I’ll thrash the monster that did this to Senior Miroku.

That’s right, Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time!

‘Unfortunately, you can’t cross-dress now.’

Huh?

You, I’m cooling off now. Since Senior Miroku is saved, my purpose here is fulfilled, right?

‘Strictly speaking, you don’t need to cross-dress anymore.’

“Eh?”

A magic circle unfolds beneath my confused feet. What is this?

It rises from beneath my feet and passes smoothly through my body. Simultaneously, my uniform transforms into my usual Gothic Lolita attire.

This…! Quick-change technology…!

‘No, you shouldn’t be surprised about that. Do you really want to become a beautiful girl?’

Of course.

I recited a wish for female transformation in my final moments, even more than composing a farewell poem.

‘Then, rejoice. Place your hand on your chest.’

Place my hand… like this?

A soft sensation reaches my hand.

This… this…!

‘Congratulations, Kei. You have become a beautiful girl in this moment.’

“…”

Only upon being told do I notice the unfamiliarity of my body. No, it’s an overwhelming sense of omnipotence.

The energy unique to beautiful girls, said to overflow only within their bodies, I feel it within my chest. The certainty that the world revolves around me. Without a doubt, I have become a beautiful girl.

Now that this is settled, there’s only one thing left to do.

Super Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time!!

“–Have I startled you?”

I turn to the boy. From his perspective, I must have suddenly turned into a beautiful girl. This isn’t a dream.

“Could you take care of this person?”

Despite his bewilderment, the boy nods.

“That’s good. Excellent.”

I smile faintly and pat his head. Simultaneously, I subtly warp his preferences.

From now on, you’ll only be excited by mysterious beautiful girls who usually dress as boys…!

“Alright.”

I place a candy in the boy’s hand and leap out of the magical shield, sprinting away. I’ve reinforced the shield to ensure it holds even without me.

“Yoohoo!!! Let’s go!”

‘Tone’

“Let’s go, Star Reader. The world awaits us.”

‘I’ve always wondered, what kind of worldview do you live in?’

I’ll explain thoroughly later, darling♥

‘Hiiee!’

While making the Star Reader tremble, I leap across rooftops towards the location of the monster.

Towards the original story zone where the main characters are.

I’ll show them this new form.

To let them understand that a new beautiful girl has been born.

Though breaking the original story is forbidden, it’s permissible this one time.

Because I am a beautiful girl!!!

At the same time, on the outskirts of Kisou Academy’s autonomous region.

“–Ah”

Suddenly, Eina drops the cup she was holding. She stares at her trembling hands, then blankly looks at the scattered glass and water on the floor.

Hearing the sound, an irritated voice calls out from the back of the room.

“Eina! Don’t mess up the room. Who do you think cleans up?”

“Aaah…”

Rokuhara, as usual, questions Eina, tilting his head. Normally, she would deflect blame, but today there’s no response.

Sensing something odd, Rokuhara finally notices Eina’s unusual behavior when he looks at her.

“What’s wrong, Eina?”

Approaching, he peers into Eina’s face. Only then do their eyes meet for the first time.

“Haa, haa, L-Leader…”

“Stay calm. I’m here.”

Like soothing a child, Rokuhara strokes her head and embraces her. Despite this, Eina remains strangely unsettled.

“What’s wrong, Eina?”

“It’s over. Us…”

Eina’s remaining rationality desperately strings together these words.

A fact known first due to her exceptional perception among Demon’s Gear.

“–The elder sister has awakened.”