NOVEL WEB Chapter 28
Episode 28: Beautiful Girls Are Those Who Teach and Guide
Overlooking the special district, Mihaya spoke as if confessing.
“—I failed in yesterday’s Dungeon. And it was all sorts of things…”
Solciera didn’t respond.
However, Mihaya understood that she was listening.
“I have someone I love very much. And equally, someone I hate just as much… I couldn’t face either of them.”
She hugged her knees and buried her face.
It was because she wanted to disappear from this world even just a little.
“The one I love… his name is Tourak. You probably haven’t heard of him, but he’s a first-year student at Mikage Academy who joined the Student Council as an Explorer.”
“Hmm. I don’t know much about the outside world.”
“I see. But someday, you’ll definitely hear his name. That guy is strong. He’s grown stronger… to the point where I can no longer stand by his side.”
For Futaba Mihaya, Gata Toraku was both a childhood friend and someone she felt she needed to protect.
He was the kind of person who would get hurt for others without ever considering his own safety.
Then, it was only natural that she had to be the one to protect him.
That’s what she believed.
“He gets involved in bullying and deliberately makes himself a target. That’s the kind of person he is.”
“That person seems to live a difficult life, doesn’t he?”
“I think so too. And now, he’s caught up in something even bigger. He didn’t refuse it. Once he realized it was something only he could do, he didn’t hesitate.”
Tourak’s spirit of self-sacrifice, which could almost be called a distortion, was something familiar to Mihaya.
That’s why she thought she could protect him this time too.
“But in the end, I pushed myself too far. I used up all my strength and collapsed in the Dungeon. It must have been due to the daily fatigue. The Student Council activities were also busy.”
Until now, Mihaya had protected him from individual malice and tragedies.
That was all she could do.
She accompanied him in his training and managed it so that it wouldn’t become excessive.
She also participated in Student Council activities.
And she made sure he ate properly, something he had neglected.
Up until now, she had protected him like that.
But that was all.
“…When that guy fell, my mind went completely blank. I couldn’t move at all, not even in front of the Dungeon’s master. Instead of thinking about what I should do next, all I could think about was what I had done wrong.”
If she had been in perfect condition, she might have been able to deal with the Dungeon’s master.
But that didn’t happen.
Gata Toraku overexerted himself and fell, and Mihaya’s thoughts stopped right there.
“Then, that guy appeared.”
“That guy?”
“Yes. He’s despicable, arrogant, and yet I can’t figure out what he’s thinking… You wouldn’t know him, his name is Kei.”
“…Hmm. I don’t know him either. But judging from your tone, he doesn’t seem like a good person.”
At Solciera’s words, Mihaya smiled wryly.
“I thought the same thing until recently, but now I’m not sure anymore. That Kei guy saved me and Tourak. He intervened between the master and us, sacrificing his arm to protect us.”
It happened yesterday.
The memory was still vivid.
An expression of desperation that was unimaginable from the Kei they knew before.
The sight of Kei baring his emotions to protect them was something they had never seen before.
“Kei has always been tormenting Tourak. There’s something about the Na Takikai Family and the Gata Family, though I don’t know the details. He’s been tormenting him all along, sometimes even locking him in the Dungeon to try and kill him—yet he saved us.”
Na Takikai Kei’s actions have become increasingly contradictory since a certain day.
That’s what Mihaya thought.
“His injury wasn’t as severe as yours, but he suffered a significant wound on his right arm… At that moment, I should have helped him like this.”
She realized it.
She had been saved by someone who had previously harmed her and Tourak.
“I no longer know what is right. I don’t know what I can do for Tourak, or what Kei is truly thinking. W-W-Only I am being left behind…”
Before she realized it, tears were streaming down her face.
Even that felt pitiful.
“I kept protecting Tourak from Kei, as I always did! I convinced myself that I was protecting him! …But deep down, I knew. I was afraid. I didn’t want to lose my world, my sense of purpose…”
She stifled her sobs.
Hiding herself away like a child trying not to be found, she shrank her body.
“What should I do…”
This was a question about the foundation of self-esteem she had built up until now.
A query directed at her past.
Upon seeing this, Solciera exhaled softly and gazed up at the night sky.
“Why do you think stars shine?”
“…Eh?”
“It’s nothing more than nuclear fusion reactions, really. Yet, we humans have always found meaning in their light. Even though stars simply shine aimlessly.”
At Solciera’s words, Mihaya looked up.
Two azure eyes were gazing at Mihaya.
“Don’t overthink it so much.”
Saying this, Solciera smiled gently and patted Mihaya’s head.
“What matters most is what you want to do. Why did you want to protect Tourak? Why did you come to dislike Kei?”
“I…”
The answer came to her immediately.
“Because I love Tourak. So…!”
“Then, isn’t that enough?”
Solciera continued speaking.
“You love that person, don’t you? Does being by the side of someone you love require any qualifications? All this talk of meaning is nonsense. As students, it’s strange to look for reasons to be with the ones we love.”
“Is that true?”
“It is. Overthinking it too much. You should do what you want to do. If you’re still unsure—”
Solciera suddenly stood up.
Then, she unfolded a large magical circle.
“This is…!?”
Standing at the center of the magical circle, Solciera stared at Mihaya.
“Great calamity will soon befall Academy City. This is an absolute destiny.”
“‘T-That’s true?”
“Yes. Moreover, your power is indispensable to overturn this fate, Futaba Mihaya.”
“…How do you know my name?”
Solciera pointed at Mihaya and smiled.
“Because you’re already part of our plan. Our organization has great expectations for Futaba Mihaya. This is the purpose I bestow upon you.”
The azure eyes gazed at Mihaya.
They held a stronger resolve, filled with more passion than ever before.
“I declare it outright. You are a gemstone. With polishing, you will become far stronger than you are now.”
“Is…is that true?”
“I dislike lies.”
“Okay… Yeah, thank you.”
Mihaya bowed her head.
When she raised her face again, it bore an expression of relief as if something had been resolved.
“I’ve found some semblance of an answer.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“By the way, what exactly does that magic circle do?”
“…………It interferes with your magical power to accelerate the awakening of your abilities. Though interfering as an organization isn’t entirely commendable, this extent is within acceptable limits.”
As Solciera said this, the magic circle disappeared.
“Awakening of abilities…? I’ve never heard of such power existing. No, but indeed, that sensation earlier was…”
Abilities are an absolute rule that concludes solely within an individual.
Therefore, interference from others is nearly impossible.
In a world where possessing abilities serves as a form of status, if technology truly exists to accelerate the awakening of abilities, how terrifying must that power be?
(The magic circle was something I’ve never seen before. It wasn’t created by any academy. A completely new formula of magical power that deviates from the existing magical system…)
Though only for a brief moment while captivated by Solciera, Mihaya saw the magic circle.
Even in that short span, she understood that the magic circle had no flaws.
Mihaya wasn’t a genius, but she was gifted.
Currently, she could roughly understand any magic circle used in this academy city just by looking at it.
That’s why she could trust Solciera’s words.
The magic circle deployed by Solciera was a flawless completed system with a certain effect activated.
“Don’t make such a troubled face. It ruins your cute appearance.”
With that, Solciera turned her back.
Her posture spoke volumes; she had no further business here.
“Thank you for the bandages. I’ll definitely repay the favor someday. Goodbye.”
With light footsteps, Solciera leaped off the rooftop of the building.
When Mihaya hurriedly peered down, Solciera was already gone.
“…I owe her a greater favor. Thank you.”
Suddenly, a night breeze caressed Mihaya’s cheek.
She hadn’t noticed until now, but the wind today was surprisingly gentle.
Like the girl who had been standing beside her moments ago, she looked up at the sky.
Countless stars shone brightly in the sky, too numerous to count.
“…Alright.”
She slapped her cheeks once.
The time to linger in confusion was over.
■
Mihaya was incredibly troubled, so I desperately tried to advise her…
But half of her troubles were caused by unnecessary meddling, so it was only natural for me to handle it!
I’m the lifetime honorary beautiful girl (self-proclaimed)
A spotless beautiful girl, even cleaner than birds leaving no trace…
“Interfering too much isn’t good after all. I’ll reflect on that.”
All I want is to enjoy being a beautiful girl with other beautiful girls in this world.
I have no intention of intervening in the original story.
But, you know?
When Mihaya relies on me, you know?
I could cheer her up with the magic circle and believe she’ll be fine.
Anyway, that magic circle was just for show and had no real meaning, but I’m glad if it made her feel better.
Anyway, by the end of summer, there’ll be an ability awakening event that’s beyond inflation levels, so hang in there until then!
I’ll support her in disguise from the shadows…
“Well, let’s call it a day for now.”
I thoroughly enjoyed dressing up as a girl.
I didn’t expect to role-play as a mysterious organization’s beautiful girl with Mihaya.
After carefully putting away my outfit into my diving gear, I headed straight back to Factom General Academy without detouring.
All that’s left is to retrieve Mizuki Senpai and return to bed.
That was thirty minutes ago.
Right in front of me, as I quietly returned home through the rear gate of Factom General Academy, something rolled towards me.
It was Mizuki Senpai, wrapped up snugly in a futon like sushi.
“Mizuki Senpai…!?”
“Kei, forgive us. We lost.”
With a stern expression, Mizuki Senpai declared so.
“—So, you came back this way after all, huh. Training outside, careful or what?”
A voice came from behind.
I surrendered with my hands up.
Good thing I didn’t return in disguise as a girl…
“…I’m reflecting.”
“Hehehe, I see. But right now, I’m extremely angry… Both of you, prepare yourselves.”
The next day, handcuffs were added to my left hand.
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