NOVEL WEB Chapter 17
Episode 17: Even Beautiful Girls Make a Mistake or Two
Solciera, just who are you…!?
It’s meeee!!!
Me, me!
That Mysterious Beautiful Girl over there!
The Beautiful Girl recognized as S Rank!
It’s moi!!!
Yeeees, it’s Solciera!
“■■-■!”
Not you, sit down.
“■!?”
My mind is bombarded with protests, but I ignore them completely.
Hahaha, you can’t do anything without a body, now can you?
I am currently at the academy.
Thanks to a proper meal for the first time in ages yesterday, I’m brimming with energy.
I also enjoyed role-playing as a Mysterious Beautiful Girl as Solciera, helped Mizuki Senpai, and ate some meat.
Today too, let’s work hard on dungeon rescues!
“Today, more meat… hopefully good meat… hey, Mizuki Senpai?”
“Wha!? ――Oh, it’s Kei.”
On my way to the Student Council room, I encountered Mizuki Senpai.
After checking her surroundings, she beckoned me over with a wave of her hand.
“What’s up this early in the morning?”
“I-I, it’s nothing. Aren’t you going for the dungeon rescue? Let’s hurry. Come on, right?”
Somewhat flustered, Mizuki Senpai spoke quickly, and I nodded.
“Alright then. So we’re heading out the back door—where exactly are we going through the back door? ――Miroku!?”
“Oh, good morning, Miroku Senpai.”
“Yes, good morning, Kei-kun… and, I’ve caught you, Mizuki.”
With a smile, Miroku Senpai firmly grasped my hand.
“N-no, let go, Miroku! We need to head for the dungeon rescue!”
“Are you really fit enough for that?”
Saying that, Miroku Senpai tapped Mizuki Senpai’s back lightly.
Mizuki Senpai emitted an incomprehensible sound like “ihh!?” and collapsed forward.
“Mizuki Senpai!?”
“K-K-Kei, let’s go on the rescue…”
“My eyes see that Senpai needs rescuing herself!”?
Miroku Senpai effortlessly picked up the trembling Mizuki Senpai and smiled.
“Mizuki is not combat-ready right now. She pushed herself too far during yesterday’s A-Rank Dungeon expedition.”
“I’m fine. Just a bit of intense pain running through my body.”
“That doesn’t sound fine to me, Mizuki. Here, Tsun-Tsun.”
“Ugh!? Stop that ch-ch…”
Poor Mizuki Senpai had no defense once captured.
She was thoroughly defeated by random pokes to her body.
Miroku Senpai seems to enjoy teasing people with numb legs.
“Is Kei-kun alright? If you’ve been pushing yourself like Mizuki, I’ll send you both to the infirmary.”
“I’m fine. Even if you poke me, I feel nothing.”
“Hmm, that seems accurate. Impressive, indeed.”
Though I say that, I’m not actually that strong, so please don’t overestimate me.
Thank you, Star Reader’s Staff.
“■■■■”
But I’ll definitely sell it—it’s cursed, absolutely.
“!?”
Ignoring the energetic protests from the Star Reader’s Staff this morning, I shook my head.
“I withdrew from the fight halfway, so my burden was lighter. After that, it was Mizuki Senpai fighting alongside…”
“—Solciera, right?”
The smile vanished from Miroku Senpai’s face.
This person’s serious expression might be the scariest.
“Yes. Without that mysterious explorer, things could have gone very differently.”
“True, but she’s partly responsible for Mizuki’s condition, so it’s not all gratitude…”
“Eh, really?”
For real?
Am I a war criminal suspect?
“Apparently, Mizuki was interfered with by Solciera and ended up firing a convergence artillery attack beyond her limits. Though the load was minimized, it wasn’t zero. Mizuki’s current state is the backlash from that.”
“Is she going to be okay?”
Without lifting her head, Mizuki Senpai gave me a thumbs-up in response to my worried voice.
That’s not reassuring…
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”
“Eh? Why would it be Kei-kun’s fault?”
Uh oh.
“……If I had stayed, maybe such an attack wouldn’t have been necessary to win… I thought.”
“Ahh, I see. You don’t need to worry about that, Kei-kun. It’s just a mild rejection reaction from being exposed to high concentrations of magical power. Also, muscle soreness.”
“S-so, yeah. And through that, I found my own limits even further, higyuuu!?”
“Mizuki, please lie quietly and rest.”
Phew, I almost apologized sincerely due to overwhelming guilt…
“Still, encountering Solciera twice… Now that she’s officially recognized as S-Rank…”
“The ability to temporarily elevate other explorers to S-Rank, right? That’s incredible. Who exactly is she…?”
I also know about the announcement from the Apis Council.
I was confused when unknown abilities were arbitrarily granted to me.
Can she make other explorers reach S-Rank?
No way. If she could mass-produce S-Ranks so easily, it wouldn’t be such a big deal!
“■■■■”
Is it possible?
So that thing really did temporarily elevate Mizuki Senpai to S-Rank?
I thought it was just the synergy between me and Mizuki Senpai as beautiful girls creating a harmonious power boost… something like friendship power or an inefficient but effective combination ultimate move…
“■■■■■”
Ah, apparently, that’s another thing.
…Everything seems possible with you. Seriously, you better let go soon before you drag me into something.
Clearly, the Relic isn’t normal, so I changed the subject.
“So, if Mizuki Senpai isn’t coming for the rescue, does that mean I can go alone?”
“Ah, we already have a new partner prepared for you, Kei-kun.”
“Partner?”
Miroku Senpai nodded.
“She should be eating breakfast in the Student Council room. Would you like to join her? I made vegetable stir-fry with leftover meat from yesterday.”
“I’ll take that!”
“W-wait, what about my share…?”
While still being carried by Miroku Senpai, Mizuki Senpai timidly raised her hand.
Seeing this, Miroku Senpai said gently.
“Mizuki, your organs are exhausted, so no. You get a jelly drink.”
“M-Mung beans are cheaper and more filling than this…”
“I’m sorry, Mizuki Senpai…”
“No, i-it’s fine. It’s because my body is weak. I’ll immediately start training—miyaaah!?”
“Right, don’t rush into training immediately. …Next time you defy me, you know what happens, right?”
“…Yes.”
Mizuki Senpai, I’m truly sorry.
I’m overwhelmed with guilt, to the point where I want to kneel and apologize.
It’s true that we couldn’t have won without Solciera, but Mizuki Senpai didn’t need to fight either.
But, whimsically helping someone out like that feels kind of mysterious and beautiful girl-like, right?
If I get designated as an enemy, it’ll be troublesome, so while I still can, I’ll show I’m a good guy!
Yes! All of it is entirely self-centered! I’ll reflect properly when I become a beautiful girl!
“Alright then, let’s go.”
Led by Miroku Senpai, I headed towards the Student Council room.
If it’s not Miroku Senpai accompanying me for the rescue, there’s only one other student left in Factom General Academy.
When we opened the door to the Student Council room, a blonde girl was happily munching on meat.
“So, today’s partner for the dungeon rescue is Toa-chan!”
At Miroku Senpai’s words upon entering, Toa froze mid-bite.
When our eyes met, Toa hurriedly stood up and bowed repeatedly, saying:
“Kyaa, please take care of me today! I’ll try my best not to hold you back!”
“A-ah, yes.”
However, Toa has more experience with dungeon rescues than I do.
In fact, she’s skilled enough to fill in for Mizuki Senpai.
Which means this girl is likely quite strong too.
“…M-Miroku-chan, can we switch partners even now…? Yeah, makes sense. Sorry. Y-yeah, I’ll do it, sure.”
…I’m worried.
A simple click of the heart allows you to easily convey your support. (Login required.)