Chapter 26: The New Recruit
Kenjiro glared at DragonSlayer69, then back at Ryo, who was clearly enjoying the situation. He was trapped. Guild regulations were regulations. With a defeated sigh, he threw his hands up in the air.
"Alright, fine! I'll take him in my party," he conceded, then immediately pointed an accusatory finger at the spiky-haired warrior. "But you're still a simp for me!"
DragonSlayer69's smug expression faltered. "I'm not a simp! I just said your makeup doesn't fit your cosplay!"
"AND I TOLD YOU, I CAN'T REMOVE IT!" Kenjiro yelled. In a fit of pure frustration, he grabbed a nearby glass of water from a table and splashed it on his face, rubbing furiously with his hands. "SEE?!" he shouted, water dripping from his chin. The eyeliner and makeup remained perfectly intact, mocking him.
"Yeah, you already told me," DragonSlayer69 said, a slow smirk spreading across his face as he struck a heroic pose. "But I must say, you are looking incredibly cute all wet."
Kenjiro froze, then slowly turned to Ryo. "Oh, so he is a simp. See?"
Ryo just laughed. "Anyway," he said, changing the subject. "Enjoyed killing those weak monsters? I bet even a five-year-old child could have handled them."
"I KNOW YOU'RE LYING! S-SHUT UP!" Kenjiro snapped, his face bright red. He turned on his heel. "Come on, simp," he grumbled at DragonSlayer69. "Let's go to my office."
He led the way to his bedroom, the designated "Bombom Office." When they entered, Lyrielle and Gluteus were already waiting. Lyrielle was sitting quietly on a chair, but Gluteus was meticulously going through Kenjiro's closet, folding his shirts and skirts with a look of intense concentration.
The moment she saw Kenjiro enter, Lyrielle blushed and quickly looked away. Gluteus, however, continued his work. An idea for revenge sparked in Kenjiro's mind. He crept up behind the unarmored knight and, channeling all his strength, delivered a powerful slap to his ass.
The slap was met with a dull, firm thud. A searing pain shot up Kenjiro's arm. Tears welled in his eyes as he cradled his stinging hand. "W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING, GLUTEUS, YOU PERVERT?!" he yelled, trying to cover up his own failed attack.
Gluteus turned around, a gentle smile on his face. "Oh, Mr. Bombom! I was just checking to make sure your clothes were in perfect condition. I even sent your Tornado cosplay for repairs after the battle. Its condition is now 100%!"
Kenjiro could tell he was being sincere, but that didn't change the fact that he was super weird.
Just then, DragonSlayer69 pulled a garment from the closet. It was a skimpy, black lace bunny suit. "Oh, so you'll be wearing one of these on our next mission?" he asked, smirking as a trickle of blood ran from his nose.
"S-SHUT UP AND STOP LOOKING!" Kenjiro yelled, bonking both Gluteus and DragonSlayer69 on the head.
After a few more moments of chaos, they finally sat down to discuss strategy.
"Okay, here's the plan," Kenjiro announced. "Gluteus tanks, Lyrielle heals from behind him. Dragon-simp does the damage."
"And what about you?" DragonSlayer69 asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll be in the back," Kenjiro declared. "Filming the whole thing with my drone camera."
Lyrielle and Gluteus nodded in understanding, but DragonSlayer69 looked incredulous. "So... we're just going to ignore the fact that you'll be doing nothing?"
Kenjiro shot to his feet, his face flushed with indignation. "HOW AM I DOING NOTHING?! I'LL BE RECORDING EVERYTHING, AND I'M SUPER CUTE! MY PRESENCE IS MORALE! SO OBEY ME, MINION!"
DragonSlayer69 just sighed, slumping in his chair. "...Fine."