NOVEL WEB Chapter 25
Episode 25: If you’re a beautiful girl, there are times when you must step in as a replacement.
Rokuhara isn’t here!!!!
The moment I realized this was when I immediately spotted Tourak, who had fallen wounded, and Mihaya standing protectively before him, facing off against the Dungeon’s master.
In the original story, they weren’t this battered.
The place where Tourak and the others currently are is a large cavern deep within a cave, which serves as the Dungeon master’s nest.
Incidentally, we were observing from one of the many side tunnels located at a higher position.
The master, with an appearance reminiscent of a mantis, wields two sickles as weapons and has no other special abilities.
However, the timing was bad since Tourak hadn’t fully grasped how to use Lutra yet, and Mihaya hadn’t awakened her powers.
Thus, the main characters found themselves in a dire situation, but then Rokuhara bursts in to save them.
That’s the original scenario.
But what was unfolding right before my eyes was different.
This is really bad.
The story is about to end.
If Tourak disappears, the world will be destroyed!
This isn’t the time to just stand by watching!
“Kei!?”
“Sorry, I’ll go ahead!”
I leaped down in front of the main party in an instant.
Then, I positioned myself between the Dungeon master and Mihaya just as it was about to slash down its sickle.
“Huh!? How did you…!?”
There’s no time to answer.
Facing the descending sickle, my thought process accelerated, and everything seemed to slow down into slow motion.
The sickle bearing down on me.
It’s impossible to either evade or counterattack.
So, there was only one thing to do.
“!”
I concentrated all my magical power into my right arm and thrust it forward to block the sickle.
All I can do is defend!
If I can protect my favorite couple, that would be ideal!
“Ugh, ah.”
The sickle bites into my reinforced right arm, grinding against the bone.
Blood is spurting out like crazy, but I managed to stop the attack.
Now it’s my turn to win.
I swung my short sword in my left hand at the Dungeon master.
The paralysis poison embedded in the blade began eroding the point of contact and rendered the Dungeon master paralyzed in less than a second.
“Toa!”
As I shouted her name, golden light poured down from above in response.
It mercilessly turned the Dungeon master into ash.
Impressive, our surefire pattern.
Paralyze and deliver a fatal blow. This is ultimately the fastest way.
“Haah, haah…”
We made it just in time. That was close.
It wouldn’t have been funny if the original story ended here.
Thinking that, I turned around to check on the main party.
“Thatatakai Kei…”
Nice to meet you again!
Mihaya, hello!
“Hmph, I didn’t think I’d see your faces again. Today has been the worst day.”
“Hey, you’re still saying things like that…!”
Sorry.
But I am Na Takikai Kei after all.
If I ever become a beautiful girl, we can be friends then.
Ah, of course, Toa, Tourak is still yours.
I’ll be building my own lily harem separately.
By the way, Student Council President, how about renaming the school to Phectom Lily Academy?
“Hey, hey, after all the help I gave you, this is how you treat me? This is Na Takikai’s third son speaking.”
“Hmph, I know. Weren’t you disowned and cut off from the Na Takikai family?”
Oh yeah, that’s right.
Since it’s unrelated to the gender swap, I forgot about that part.
“Who did I save despite being disowned?”
“Hmm…”
…Wait, now that I think about it, if Rokuhara isn’t here, who’s going to teach Tourak about Lutra?
He’ll need those skills for the upcoming boss battle soon.
Should I be the one to teach him?
But getting involved with the original story…
And is Tourak even in a state to listen? Shouldn’t he be in the hospital?
“You, stay away from Tourak!”
“Shut up.”
I knelt down to check on Tourak.
Hmm, does he seem alright?
Looks like he’s just out of magical power, same as the original story.
“…K-Kei?”
Ah, he’s awake.
“Hey, Tourak. You almost died there. How are you feeling?”
“So, it was you who saved me. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. It doesn’t make me happy to hear thanks from a guy.”
Lies, I’m happy.
Anyway, it seems I have to teach Tourak how to use Lutra in place of Rokuhara here.
Honestly, it’s too much responsibility for someone in a supporting role.
Hmm, should I try to act more like Rokuhara to stay closer to the original story?
While recalling Rokuhara’s lines and actions from the original, I decided to teach Tourak about Lutra.
Sorry for stepping in as a substitute!
“Say, I saw a bit of your fighting style… What was that?”
I glared at Tourak.
Ignoring whatever he was trying to say, I grabbed his collar.
Ahh, you look uncomfortable! But so am I!
“You’re not using the Demons Gear properly at all. When the wielder is trash, even the weapon rots, huh?”
“Gwaaah…”
“Let go of Tourak!”
“Here you go.”
I dramatically released Tourak.
Then, I picked up the white katana lying at his feet.
Yeah, if it’s already contracted, anyone else can handle it without issue, right?
“The true potential of this Demons Gear isn’t just superior physical enhancement. There’s something else entirely.”
“…Huh?”
“Since you can communicate with Lutra anyway, why don’t you ask what it can do? Though, the fact that it’s been silent until now might mean it doesn’t trust you. Haha.”
“Guuuh… I… ”
Tourak’s face darkened.
Of course, mine does too.
Sorry, but this is how Rokuhara taught it…
By the way, my right arm hurts so much.
Is this okay? Am I in more danger than he is?
“■■■”
What? I’m busy right now, let’s talk later.
“■■■■■!”
Hey, are you interested in Lutra?
No way, someone like you shouldn’t get close.
Yes, I’ll return Lutra to Tourak!
Seriously, you’ve been causing a ruckus in my head lately.
“If it’s uncontracted, I could have used it… Well, if you die, I’ll take Lutra from you then.”
I tossed Lutra back to Tourak.
Just as expected, he caught it perfectly according to the original story.
Good job!
“See ya. Let’s meet again sometime if we both survive.”
Let’s go.
Toa’s waiting upstairs… Wait, when did she come down?
Are you alright? Haven’t you been injured? Beautiful girls shouldn’t do anything that might hurt their skin.
“Kei…”
“Let’s go, Toa.”
Come on, let’s leave.
My arm hurts so much.
“Wait!”
“…What?”
Mihaya, I’m truly sorry.
Wow, you’re super angry.
“What exactly are you?! What are you planning to involve Tourak in!?”
“Hmph, how should I know?”
It’s the great will of the original story or something like that…
“YOU!”
Mihaya points her gun at me.
Her finger is already on the trigger.
Eh, she’s not serious about shooting, is she!?
“Tell us what you know. Otherwise… ”
She has a determined look in her eyes.
Faced with her, I’m considering what to do when I realize Toa has stepped in front of me protectively.
“…Stop it.”
“Get out of the way. This isn’t your concern.”
“It is my concern. B-Because I’m Kei’s ally.”
When asked by Mihaya, Toa shakes her head.
But the next moment, she looks up and says,
“Kei goes too far, and surely knows something along with Lutta. But it’s also true that he helped me and us.”
Toa…
“I don’t care what Kei has done to you all! I want to believe in Kei!”
Thanks for the huge emotional support.
I’ll definitely become a beautiful girl and accept it properly…
“Toa…”
“Let’s go, Kei.”
She takes my left hand and starts walking.
Holding tightly, I’m pulled along to leave the scene.
Looking back momentarily, Mihaya was staring at us with a complex expression.
Meddling always leads to trouble!!
“…Kei”
“Yes?”
On the way to the exit, Toa calls my name.
She wasn’t acting like her usual timid self.
“I know you deliberately acted that way toward those two. But I believe in us.”
“Thank you.”
“…At least, please don’t take unnecessary risks.”
Her grip slightly tightens.
As general knowledge, to have a beautiful girl hold your hand, you need to be a beautiful girl yourself.
Trying to escape, but this girl’s grip is strong and I can’t break free.
Maybe she’s mad because I acted on my own? …I should apologize just in case.
“…Sorry.”
“!”
This girl is too kind and too considerate of her friends.
For Toa’s sake, I must quickly become a beautiful girl.
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