Chapter 89

Episode 88: Encounter Impact

Eating right before sleeping makes you gain weight.

Since the Mysterious Beautiful Girl must not get fat, it was only natural for me to go on a midnight stroll.

After resolving the ghost incident, we were treated to a meal by Kanon, and then decided to sleep in the rooms she had prepared for us.

Of course, Toa and I have separate rooms.

If I were the Mysterious Beautiful Girl, I could perhaps elegantly lift Toa’s chin under the moonlight streaming into the room, but unfortunately, this body still carries its burdens.

It seems Toa fell asleep rather quickly, and Kanon went off to write her report, retreating to the lab.

Thus, I now had complete freedom.

“The time has come…”

I was currently at the highest point of the Jilnias Academy Second School Building.

My silver hair swayed in the wind, along with my black attire.

Yes, I am Solciera right now.

This might be the first time I’ve properly acted as a Mysterious Beautiful Girl within another school’s premises. There’s always been some kind of interruption or I’ve ended up barging in as Solciera without much thought, so I haven’t been able to fully immerse myself in this hobby.

Today, I intend to enjoy myself thoroughly.

“Super Mysterious Beautiful Girls are likely to be detected. Let’s keep it at normal Mysterious Beautiful Girl mode this time.”

Leave it to me.

It’s been a while since my cross-dressing skills have been put to the test.

I let my hair flow dramatically as I overlooked the Jilnias Academy.

“They’ve finally made their move, haven’t they…”

How stylish…

I’m being a Mysterious Beautiful Girl!

This deep and meaningful vibe—Mysterious Beautiful Girls should definitely be like this!

I can’t afford to lose to that fellow professional named Nameless!

“What’s the plan for today?”

Fufufu, since we’re here, I’ll investigate the secrets as a Mysterious Beautiful Girl.

I’ll look through random documents and make comments like “Ah, so that’s how it is!”

“I see, it’s a thorough break-in then.”

Being a permitted Mysterious Beautiful Girl entering rooms would be unnatural.

Solciera, alone in the midnight laboratory, gazing at a large water tank while holding research materials—there’s beauty in her role as someone who infiltrates to uncover secrets!

So, let’s go!

I intentionally fell from behind.

Then gracefully flipped in mid-air and landed silently.

That was a bit scary…

“This appears to be a courtyard. There’s still more below, what do you think?”

I wasn’t sure where I’d fallen, but it seemed to be a courtyard on the third floor of the building.

The neatly maintained grass and benches must be a place for Beautiful Girls to relax during the day, but now it’s just me.

I gently traced the edge of the bench with my fingertips and sat down.

Hmm… This isn’t really suitable for a Mysterious Beautiful Girl to sit on.

An old-fashioned Western-style chair would suit better.

“Our outfit isn’t exactly futuristic either, so we might stand out in this setting, but that sense of alienation actually enhances the essence of Solciera.”

I understand.

So, let’s head inside quickly.

Okay, Star Reader’s Staff, open the door.

“Sorry, I couldn’t quite hear that.”

Even though it’s in my head, you can’t hear it sometimes, huh?

I placed my hand on the door leading from the courtyard to the school building.

The lock was unlocked after a second, and the door opened.

Well, we might encounter someone acting suspiciously at midnight, so we need to be careful.

“A stealthy mindset, indeed.”

We chose the Second School Building instead of the main one to minimize the risk of being recognized.

There’s no point in doing Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time at the main building where Toa and Kanon are present.

Also, Luka.

If that girl saw me, I feel like I wouldn’t be able to escape.

“…”

I spotted a lit classroom and hid.

It seems some people from Jilnias Academy are still in the building despite it being late at night.

I wanted to scatter cryptic words, but places where people are nearby and I can’t talk are useless.

Let’s head somewhere dim and empty.

Alright, Star Reader’s Staff, let’s keep moving!

“March onward!”

I walked coolly and beautifully.

With the great scythe stored away, I moved alone near the windows, ethereal.

If anyone saw me in this form, I want them to be captivated.

If it’s a Beautiful Girl, I’ll steer straight into mysterious百合 (lily) territory.

For others, I’ll warp their preferences.

Right now, I am a destroyer of sexual preferences for adolescents.

Anyone who approaches will have their preferences warped, whether they’re a minor character or a main one! ^ ^

“Please give me a book featuring an ordinary female student × Solciera.”

Why am I losing even to minor characters?

And I’m not the one drawing books.

“Hmm, then why don’t you try drawing something? Your fans are starving due to the lack of official Solciera content. It’s your duty to give them something.”

That makes sense.

Since it’d be silly to release something under the name Solciera, maybe creating something anonymously related to Solciera could work.

“How about your drawing skills?”

I can draw Beautiful Girls well.

Anything else is impossible.

“Hmm, then I’ll handle the rest. Good thing we’re in the digital age, isn’t it?”

With Star Reader’s Staff around, my Solciera books can become reality.

Perhaps the Hinotuchi Cultural Festival would be good timing.

It might also boost the sales of Factom General Academy.

There are other things I’d like to create too.

“I have one suggestion.”

Let’s hear it, comrade.

“Miyume mentioned it, but apparently, she can create high-quality dummy head microphones. How about we use one of those to create a Solciera ASMR project?”

ASMR… Is there such a thing?

“Of course, we’ll mimic the Solciera atmosphere. The title could be something like ‘Mysterious Girl Gently Torments Your Ears ASMR.’ We’ll aim for that subtle knock-off vibe.”

That’s pretty specific.

…Didn’t you go browsing online again without permission?

“You get points for writing reviews after purchasing, you know?”

Don’t buy things! That’s my money!

Wait, does that mean I technically bought ASMR?

That’d be embarrassing if it got out.

“Why be embarrassed? You haven’t purchased any R-18 material yet, so hold your head high. Besides, if it did get out, it might lead to a scenario where the girls from Factom General Academy step in.”

No way, kid. Stop saying stuff like that because you’ve listened to too many ASMRs.

Listen, Star Reader’s Staff.

Those scenarios rarely happen in real life.

Even if they do, all I’d end up with is guilt.

“I’ll gladly bear that sin.”

Your determination is impressive.

Yeah, it’s certainly worth bearing.

“So, let’s release the ASMR and the Solciera book. First, we’ll sell the ASMR online to build awareness, then at the Hinotuchi Cultural Festival, we’ll release a book linked to the ASMR content.”

You’re surprisingly practical…

“We’ll abandon the Minor Female Student × Solciera for now. Let’s focus on satisfying the needs of your fans with Solciera-centric content first, then gradually twist things.”

Absolutely not.

I move mysteriously and coolly as Solciera.

I won’t be grouped with heroines who instantly fall for me the moment they join my side.

Look at me now.

Alone in the dark, walking wistfully.

Mysterious and cool, right?

“… Indeed, that plan… Humans are truly foolish.”

I muttered meaningfully and reached for a random door.

Hmm, it won’t open.

Star Reader’s Staff!

“Leave it to me.”

Before Star Reader’s Staff, electronic locks are meaningless.

Though physical locks I’d break myself.

In short, nothing can remain hidden from us.

“… Here”

I entered and whispered.

A giant tank filled with green liquid stood before me.

It’s probably part of the students’ research, but seeing it at night gives it a dangerous vibe.

Alright, let’s mutter something while looking at this!

“This is supposed to be forbidden… Humans are truly foolish.”

I picked up a file casually thrown onto a table by the wall and opened it.

This alone looks cool.

I wonder what kind of research it is.

I glanced at what appeared to be research materials bound in the file.

[Relic Number: XXXX

Special Containment Protocols: Special containment for magical eyes and ■■■■■ is unnecessary. However, information intake and media must be managed by the Doctor.

Furthermore, active experiments using magical eyes are prohibited by the Doctor.]

“Magical eyes… So that’s how it is…”

“Ho, do you know something?”

Not particularly.

Just thought it looked cool.

Still, magical eyes, huh…!

I want one too.

Does Star Reader’s Staff have that function?

“Sure, I can make your eyes shine brightly. Also, I can display tiny magic circles in your eyes.”

That feels like a magical eye!

Wow, could I start pretending to have a magical eye right now?

“Having it reside in one eye is preferable.”

I understand perfectly.

Mysterious Beautiful Girls must always stay ahead. They should possess multiple elements that intimidate others.

By the way, can you activate that magical eye-like thing right now?

“Of course. It gathers ambient magical energy and emits light via magical circuits, so it doesn’t consume much magical power.”

Then let’s make a cool pose right now. Activate the magical eye for me.

“Leave it to me.”

I closed the file with one hand with a “pat” sound and exhaled.

Walking toward the tank as if dismissing the research as trivial, I gently ran my hand over the glass.

“It’s working hard right now.”

Thank you. But I don’t really feel it.

Can’t I see it myself?

“Magic eyes, surely, are beyond human comprehension… Hey, don’t you agree?”

Here, I’ll toss my hair while turning only my neck!

This is the move of someone who understands the forbidden magical eyes.

“Aha, I knew you noticed!”

A voice came from the darkness.

As a Mysterious Beautiful Girl, I didn’t scream. Impressive, right?

Eh? A ghost?

A real ghost!?

Star Reader’s Staff, can ghosts be defeated with concentrated artillery attacks?

“Probably, if we obliterate the entire area, it should work, right?”

That’s awfully arbitrary.

“Still, I’m surprised. Yeah, I didn’t expect there to be two magical eyes.”

The darkness in front of me began to writhe.

Dancing, flying, fluttering—it was a swarm of pitch-black butterflies.

“Good evening, Solciera… Or rather…”

A girl appeared from the center of the butterflies.

“—Should I call you Kei Natikai instead?”

I recognized her figure.

She was Miyume’s older sister and self-proclaimed genius—Kanon Soraumu.

She, who shouldn’t be here, was smiling at me.

Huh? Why?