I Died and Was Reincarnated as a Goth Femboy

The journey back to the Oasis of Al'Khem was quiet and somber. The usual bickering and teasing was replaced by a heavy silence, the memory of Matsui's explosive end casting a long shadow over their victory.

As they entered the bustling city, they were immediately spotted by the merchant, Omar, who rushed to greet them with a wide, joyous smile.

"Brave adventurers! You have returned!" he exclaimed. "Your escort was a blessing! We arrived safely thanks to your valor." His eyes scanned the party, his smile faltering slightly. "But... where is the other young man? The one with the blue hair and the action figure?"

The party went silent. DragonSlayer looked at the ground. Kaito's ears drooped. Kenjiro met the merchant's gaze, his own expression unreadable. Without a word, he reached into the small purse at his hip and pulled out the small, plastic action figure he had found on the pyramid floor. He held it for a moment, then tucked it safely back inside.

The merchant's cheerful face fell as understanding dawned. He placed a gentle hand on Kenjiro's shoulder. "I see," he said, his voice soft with sympathy. "The desert is an unforgiving place. Please, allow me to treat you to dinner. It is the least I can do to honor a fallen traveler."

After a quiet, respectful meal, Omar's fastest sand-skiff took them to the edge of the desert, leaving them a short walk from the guild.

When they stepped into the main hall, an immediate hush fell over the normally boisterous room. Every adventurer, every staff member, turned to look at them. They had all seen the livestream. They all knew what had happened.

Ryo rushed through the silent crowd, his usual teasing smirk replaced by a look of genuine concern. "Bombom," he said, his voice low. "Are you okay?"

Kenjiro just gave a slight, tired nod.

"We should have a place for him to rest," Ryo said, looking at the party. "A proper place."

He led them out to the back of the guild, to a quiet, beautiful garden hidden behind the main building. It was a place of peace, filled with glowing flora and softly murmuring fountains. Ryo pulled out a high-tech data tablet. A few taps, and a nearby 3D printer began to hum, extruding a polished marble tombstone. On its surface was a perfectly rendered, surprisingly handsome portrait of Matsui, without the awful makeup.

They placed the stone under a weeping willow tree. Kenjiro stepped forward. He reached into his purse and pulled out Matsui's action figure, placing it carefully at the base of the tombstone. Then, he pulled out the hero toy he had gotten from his Happy Meal and placed it right beside the other. Now they were together, as he had always wanted.

"We should at least lie about his stats," Bombom said quietly, his back to Ryo. "And... put a good story for him. Change his perception of the public."

Ryo nodded, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "I'll handle it." He rushed back to his office. A few minutes later, a notification popped up on Kenjiro's LilyPad. It was an official guild memorial post. Ryo had updated Matsui's public profile.

Level 45 - Matsui "FemboyHunter69" Tanoshii

Strength: 53

Intelligence: 8

Agility: 12

Dexterity: 25

Charisma: 10

Luck: 7

Perception: 50

The accompanying story was a work of art. It painted Matsui not as a creep, but as a legendary, reclusive warrior who operated in the shadows. It spoke of his immense, hidden strength and his unparalleled perception, which allowed him to defeat countless enemies without anyone ever knowing. It concluded by saying his one weakness, the one thing that brought him out of the shadows, was his pure and unwavering devotion to the S-Tier Lily, Bombom, for whom he ultimately gave his life protecting.

Kenjiro read the post, a strange mix of sadness and satisfaction settling in his chest. The nerd had been annoying, but in the end, he had gotten his wish. He was a hero. And everyone would remember him that way.

The next morning, Kenjiro woke up feeling a surge of raw, untamed energy. The fatigue from the pyramid was gone, replaced by a thrumming power that resonated deep in his bones. He leaped out of bed, a grin on his face, and immediately dropped to the floor to begin his morning workout. As he pushed through the reps, a faint, pulsating blue aura, identical to the one from the reconstituted cube, began to form around him, crackling with latent magic.

The door to his suite opened quietly. It was Ryo, coming to check on him. His eyes widened as he saw the shimmering aura.

"Bombom, are you okay?" Ryo asked, rushing to his side.

As Kenjiro looked up, startled by the intrusion, the blue aura vanished as if it were never there. "Yeah, why?" he asked, completely unaware of what had just happened.

Ryo stared at him for a moment, a flicker of concern in his eyes, before his usual smirk returned. "N-nothing. Just checking on you." He paused. "Got any quest?" Kenjiro asked, eager for a new challenge.

"Hmmm," Ryo mused, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I might have just the perfect quest for you~"

Kenjiro gulped. "H-hey, why are you speaking in that tone?"

"Nothing, my dear Bombom~" Ryo replied, holding out his data tablet. On the screen, in large, bold letters, were two words: Elara Sighting.

Kenjiro's eyes nearly exploded with joy. He jumped to his feet, yelling, "FINALLY! MY REVENGE WILL COME!"

Ryo held him by the shoulders to stop him from bouncing off the walls. "Now, slow down. You've been taking on so many quests. Your party will probably need to rest, and so do you."

"No resting until I get this guy!" Bombom declared, his voice filled with righteous fury. "Even if I have to take him on alone!"

Ryo laughed. "Good to know you haven't forgotten about him."

Bombom stomped his foot. "Of course not! He called my butt big! A big insult!"

"I think he'll call you that again," Ryo chuckled. "I think your butt got bigger."

Kenjiro blushed angrily. "S-shut up! When I get out of this body, I'm gonna show you who's big!"

Ryo, still laughing, showed him a list of adventurers on his tablet. "Since your team is resting, here are some people willing to form a temporary party with you."

The list was... eclectic. The first was Taguro, his copycat. The second was a man named 9fingers, an elderly rogue infamous for his thievery. Third was a plant mage named Flora. Fourth was Leroy, a cursed knight said to be immortal. And the last was a tank named Jairson, who was apparently 9fingers' mortal enemy.

With no hope left, Kenjiro reluctantly accepted. He went to the main hall to meet his new, temporary team.

Taguro saw him first, immediately rushing over for a hug. "Oh~ Bombom~" he paused, his expression turning serious for a moment. "I saw what happened to the stalker..."

"Yeah... let's forget about it," Bombom said quickly.

He looked around and found 9fingers, a wiry old man with a long white beard and, true to his name, only nine fingers on his hands. The old man tipped his hat, muttering his personal motto: "I'm gonna steal just to drink a beer."

Next was Flora, a green-haired girl with living vines and flowers covering her body. She gave him a shy wave from a distance; a note on her file advised staying at least two meters away because of her potent, mind-altering pheromones.

Then there was Leroy, a knight encased from head to toe in black, scarred armor, a massive, worn sword held in one hand. He just gave a silent, solemn nod. The file said he was immortal but took a long time to recover from injuries.

Finally, there was Jairson, a hulking tank of a man wearing a cowboy hat and wielding two massive pistols, but strangely, no armor. His reputation preceded him: 'Everything that 9fingers does, he gets blamed for,' even though it was never his fault.

Kenjiro sighed, looking over the bizarre collection of misfits. "Okay," he announced. "Meet us back in the hall in one hour."

One hour later, Kenjiro stood before his new, temporary party in the guild's main hall. He was wearing his classic purple skirt and black shirt, an outfit that felt like a suit of armor compared to the ridiculous costumes he'd been forced into lately. He took a deep breath, trying to project an aura of command.

"Alright, you misfits," he began, his voice echoing slightly in the hall. "The target is Doctor Elara. He's dangerous, he's a genius, and he's a total jerk. We go in, we take him down, we get paid. Any questions?"

Taguro immediately raised his hand, his eyes sparkling. "Will there be time for a celebratory date after we win?"

"No," Kenjiro said flatly.

9fingers spat on the floor. "Long as there's a tavern at the end of the road, I'm good."

"I will ensure you don't make it to one," Jairson grumbled from beside him, his hands resting on the butts of his pistols.

Leroy, the immortal knight, just stood there, silent and menacing. Flora, meanwhile, was carefully tending to a small, flowering vine that was growing out of her shoulder. This was going to be a disaster.