Chapter 5

Episode 5: A Mysterious Beautiful Girl is Guaranteed to Have a Certain Level of Strength

The rubble collapsed with a clatter, and I was falling.

Fortunately, the physical abilities of an Explorer are incredible, and I managed to stabilize myself mid-air right after falling.

To the point where I could even land gracefully, as if dancing down, in this Gothic Lolita outfit, silently.

That’s how it goes, you see!

I smoothly descended onto the scene.

It’s just like an angel sent from heaven, isn’t it?

“―――Ah, who are you!?”

“Huh?”

Is someone there!?

When I turned around, there was a girl I had never seen before.

She had short hair dyed golden with purple highlights, clearly visible as artificial.

And that black uniform—wasn’t that from Kisou Academy?

Kisou Academy is the school that Tourak’s academy rivals, and it’s an incredibly large one.

My impression of Kisou Academy is that it’s like an evil empire.

“Without warning, you dropped from the ceiling… Young lady, may I ask your name?”

“Young lady…?”

Upon being asked that, I understood.

It seems she mistook me for a girl because of my cross-dressing. And since it’s dark here, there’s barely any sense of discrepancy. Honestly, I’m scared by how high my level as a beautiful girl is.

In situations like this, I have no choice but to fully commit to playing the role of a beautiful girl.

There’s absolutely no problem with tricking a student from that evil school called Kisou Academy.

Just go along with my roleplay.

“You too, though—I don’t recognize your face. This should be the beginner dungeon of Factom General Academy, right?”

As I glared at her upon saying that, the girl quickly averted her eyes.

“I, uh… I was exploring or streaming this rumored dungeon…”

“Streaming?”

“That’s not important now!”

The girl hurriedly approached me.

Stop! Don’t come closer! If my disguise gets exposed, what will we do?

“I’m being chased! Probably by some kind of defense mechanism in this area, I think…”

The girl gestured wildly as she explained and pointed to the door she had escaped from.

Ah, the door just blew away.

“Kyaaah!”

The girl flinched, and I started to feel a little scared myself.

But if I let her know I’m scared, it’d look lame, and the mysterious beautiful girl I’m pretending to be wouldn’t be scared anyway, so I maintained a stoic expression.

From beyond the shattered door, a humanoid shadow slowly emerged.

…Hm? Humanoid?????

“Oh, I’m being chased by that thing! Be careful!”

“Right.”

Isn’t that the boss Mizuki-senpai mentioned?

Its skin was swollen all over, and it stood over three meters tall.

In other words, it was a creepy humanoid.

No matter how you look at it, that’s the boss.

If that’s the case, then it’s my prey. Since I’m here, I might as well show everyone the skill of a beautiful girl wielding a dagger.

“Can I kill it without issue?”

“Wha, can you actually kill it!? Even I couldn’t stand up to it properly!”

Ah, so this one’s a beginner too?

You need more practice. And also, stop staring at my cross-dress.

“It’s fine, that level isn’t much of a problem.”

I pushed the girl back and stood in front of the boss.

Then, I channeled magical power into my Dive Gear and summoned a dagger! ——or tried to.

“A black… scythe?”

I heard the girl’s voice behind me.

Indeed, I had a scythe in my hand.

What?! When did this red armband appear? What’s going on?!

Dive Gear, answer me already!

“Kyaaah, it’s coming!!”

“It’s fine.”

This is a huge problem!

But there’s nothing else to do! Even though I’ve never used a scythe, I’ll fight anyway!

Apparently, you won’t die in the beginner dungeon, and it’s important to take on challenges.

Still, losing while looking like this isn’t an option.

I dodged the boss’s incoming attack.

The attack was slow and simple. In fact, it was sluggish.

“This is child’s play.”

Looks like I can handle it even with a scythe.

Were you scared of something like this? You can’t survive as an Explorer if you’re that scared.

While gracefully dodging the attacks, I swung the scythe around.

It’s fun. The girl watching me fight, completely wrapped in my Gothic Lolita outfit, didn’t doubt it for a second.

I was grateful for every moment of it.

Yeah, this is exactly what I wanted to do!!!!

The boss wasn’t particularly strong.

After about two minutes, I had cut off its limbs and left it rolling on the ground.

Now, how should I finish it off? Should I go for the heart? …Where’s the heart on this thing anyway?

“That thing has an astonishing regenerative ability! It revives no matter what part you destroy!”

“Got it.”

Thanks for the info. …By the tone of your voice, did you maybe destroy it multiple times? Are you actually a fairly strong Explorer?

Eh, whatever. I defeated the boss, so I’m still stronger.

Just as I was pondering how to deliver the final blow…

『■■■■■』

A bolt of electricity surged through my brain. Or perhaps it was more like a voice.

At the same time, I understood how to use the scythe.

And I learned its name as well.

“――Star Reader’s Staff”

So that’s your name.

…Not that I mind knowing your name, but don’t just insert information into someone’s head without permission.

Following the knowledge I’d gained, I prepared accordingly.

I planted the scythe’s blade into the ground and pointed the opposite end of the handle toward the boss.

The tip of the handle facing the boss revealed a gun-like shape.

Suddenly, a grip with a trigger protruded from the side of the Star Reader’s Staff’s handle, creating the silhouette of a massive gun.

I see, so I just need to grab this and pull the trigger, huh.

The boss began regenerating its limbs, just as the girl said.

But it was too late.

“Have you ever seen the twinkling of the stars?”

With such leisure, I spoke these words.

The mysterious beautiful girl was moving about with overwhelming power.

This is it! This is what I wanted!

Reaching the peak of exhilaration, I pulled the trigger.

In an instant, a brilliance filled the room, making it seem as though daytime had arrived.

By the time I realized that the beam was being emitted from the tip of the scythe’s handle, everything was already over.

It couldn’t have been more than three seconds. Terrified, I removed my finger from the trigger, but the place where the boss had been was already gone, the ground and walls melted away, and the beam seemed to have pierced through several walls deep into the distance.

…Uh-oh.

“Phew.”

Alright, first things first—take a deep breath.

Next—…

“Wow, amazing. What was that just now?”

Oh right, she’s still here.

I don’t dislike compliments, but could you hold off on them for now?

I just transferred here and already messed up the school’s precious dungeon.

“Was that called Solciera? Is that the name of that great scythe? And which academy do you belong to!? No, first of all, what’s your rank—”

“I owe you no explanation.”

Interrupting the girl’s questions, I silenced her.

Did the scythe and armband disappear because they sensed my emotions and read the atmosphere?

Disappear already. You’re allowed to stay.

Anyway, staying here any longer is dangerous.

Let’s get out of here quick!

“Well then, I’m leaving. You should go home too. There’s nothing left here anymore.”

Since the boss is defeated, there’s no reason for me to stay.

See ya!

Ignoring the girl, I left the scene.

…Hmm? Now that I think about it, why was a student from Kisou Academy here in the first place? Ah well, it doesn’t matter. There are so many students in their academy, they’re everywhere.