Chapter 43

Episode 43: Karma and Beautiful Girls

My hospital life is over!

Goodbye, hospital room, I’m heading home now!

“It’s still a dorm with holes in it though.”

Shut up.

That decadent room is the perfect fit for a Mysterious Beautiful Girl.

If a Mysterious Beautiful Girl lived in a normal room, wouldn’t that be weird?

She should be in an abandoned house where moonlight shines through!

“Isn’t your lifestyle too dependent on beautiful girls?”

What’s a lifestyle that isn’t influenced by beautiful girls?

“Alright! Let’s get out of this hospital room quickly.”

Because I was so alone, cross-dressing was all I could do.

Because of that, I lack external Beautiful Girl energy.

I need to get more Beautiful Girl energy…

“Where did this strange energy come from?”

The amount I can produce myself has already been generated through the Mysterious Beautiful Girl.

To get more, I need to interact with other beautiful girls besides myself.

“Isn’t it scary to claim something you don’t have? Can you stop doing that?”

But I do have it…

Anyway, I must immediately return to Factom General Academy and communicate with Mizuki Senpai and Toa.

I couldn’t meet Miroku Senpai for some reason…

I heard she’s okay, but I wonder what happened.

“If you’re worried, why not sneak into her room at night using Solciera? The security system at this hospital would be easy to bypass.”

Sneaking into a girl’s room at night violates ethics.

We shouldn’t do things like that.

“What’s wrong with you…!”

The privacy of beautiful girls must be protected.

There needs to be a clear boundary.

Well then, let’s go back.

I put on my school uniform jacket and stood in front of the door.

Phew, I’m glad I had a second one.

It’s still a bit big, but…

Should I buy a smaller size uniform to use while dressed as a man?

Maybe arrange it so people can guess I’m female underneath?

“No, precisely because the uniform is oversized, certain aspects of beauty are revealed. A Mysterious Beautiful Girl doesn’t reveal herself easily. You should stick with this size.”

Wow, you really laid it on thick there. You’ve improved quite a bit.

I was surprised when you suddenly unleashed your theories about Mysterious Beautiful Girls.

This uniform that only hides bracelets also has synergy with beautiful girls.

“Don’t underestimate my learning ability.”

You’re incredibly reliable.

Let’s discuss the Double Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time method later, okay? ♥

“I strongly refuse.”

With a sigh, I shook my head at the stubborn Star Reader’s Staff and opened the door.

Mizuki Senpai! Toa!

A Mysterious Beautiful Girl is coming back!

“Ah”

The moment I opened the door, my eyes met with someone standing there.

Black hair, a refreshing face, and a toned physique even visible through clothing.

Yes, it’s the original protagonist!

Why!?

“Uh, hi. What a coincidence… uh, hehe.”

“…What are you doing in front of someone else’s hospital room? Get lost.”

Switching roles, I coldly pushed him away.

Just as I was about to disappear from Tourak’s sight…

“Wait!”

Tourak grabbed my hand.

Eh? What’s happening now???

“Ah, sorry! I shouldn’t have grabbed your hand…”

“Hm? Ah, it’s fine.”

Tourak released my hand looking startled and apologized.

Sorry for making you grab my hand as part of the role-play…

Next time, let’s shake hands as Mysterious Beautiful Girls…

“How about we talk a little?”

“I’m busy. Unlike you, I’m not a failure.”

As I said that, Tourak looked me straight in the eye.

Gyaah! His pure gaze is purifying me!

“Still, I’d like to talk to you just once.”

“…Tch, fine, but only for a little. Be grateful.”

“You’re welcome.”

Such a good kid…

He’s really such a good kid…

“Then, let’s find somewhere to talk.”

Tourak’s smile is still dazzling.

■

Even though we’re in the hospital courtyard, it’s an unexpectedly scenic spot.

Courtyard…? Isn’t this actually a garden?

“Considering the magic depth, they’ve created a mini dungeon here in the courtyard. Mikage Academy seems to have quite advanced technology.”

Wow, impressive as always.

Having many dungeon cores allows them to do things like this.

Factom General Academy should get one core to create a garden here too.

…Ah, even if they had the core, they’d probably sell it, so nothing would change.

“Is this your first time here?”

“Yeah, elite types like me don’t usually end up in hospitals.”

“Haha, maybe. I was always injured, so I spent a lot of time in the hospital. This is one of my favorite spots.”

Green curtains made of plants sway in the wind.

The gentle sunlight and beautiful natural scenery are indeed perfect for a closed space like a hospital.

I sat down on the bench next to Tourak.

I can’t sit on the same bench as him.

Because he’s the original protagonist.

I’ll escape at the first chance I get!

“Do you remember when you first invited me to join a dungeon expedition? Back in the middle school division of Mikage Academy, no one wanted to form a party with me, but you invited me.”

“…I forgot about that long-ago event.”

There’s hardly any description of my past with Na Takikai.

After all, I’m originally a character who doesn’t appear in the original story…

There’s no need to delve into irrelevant details…

I think that’s roughly how it went…

“I still remember. Meeting Lutra happened because of you.”

“I wish you’d died out there instead.”

“…Kei, it’s fine now.”

“Huh?”

I looked at Tourak.

He was staring at me seriously.

Kyaa! Handsome guy alert!

“The truth is…you’re actually a girl, right?”

Silence fell around us.

The only sound was the wind rustling the grass.

While listening to the sounds of nature, I calmly thought.

What is this person saying???

“What are you talking about?”

“I heard it from Rinka. About Solciera.”

“……Sigh.”

I exhaled involuntarily.

So Tourak knows because Rinka saw me as a Mysterious Beautiful Girl?

Huh???

Why???

“It’s karma.”

All I did was tell Rinka that Na Takikai is a girl pretending to be a boy.

…Yeah! It makes sense that Tourak would know too!

Waaaahhhhhh!

My perfect Mysterious Beautiful Girl chart is ruined!!?

“To be honest, I was surprised… Neither Rinka nor Mihaya noticed until they told me. You’ve been fighting without me knowing all this time.”

“…I…”

I’m in serious trouble.

So this is what happens when you deal with original characters as a Mysterious Beautiful Girl.

Let’s learn from this experience.

If there’s going to be a future…

“Did you learn your lesson?”

Huh? Learn what?

Does the Star Reader’s Staff even know this word?

“What?”

Something that’s done can’t be undone!

“Exactly…”

Since it’s done…

“…Huh? Are you serious? Are we doing this here!?”

Ignoring the noisy voices of awareness, I deepened my connection with the Star Reader’s Staff.

With the synchronized consciousness, an enormous amount of magical power began flowing through my body.

Most noticeably, my body – no, my gender transformed.

Through the Star Reader’s Staff, my body was temporarily rewritten.

In just 0.1 seconds.

My body completely transformed into a Mysterious Beautiful Girl.

Not just cross-dressing, but complete transformation into a beautiful girl.

This is Super Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time.

“Hmph, this is why I dislike kind-hearted people.”

Using the enhanced senses granted by the Star Reader’s Staff, I confirmed there’s no one around except Tourak.

I let my hair flow freely in the wind.

The miracle of a girl wearing a male student’s uniform.

This is different from a cross-dressing beautiful girl.

There’s a distinction between a beautiful girl in male clothing and a cross-dresser.

They’re not equal.

“Understood.”

Remember this, Star Reader’s Staff.

“Yeah. By the way, with your current magical power, five minutes is the limit for Super Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time. Make the most of it.”

Got it!

Now, let’s start “Are you a girl after all!?”