Episode 45: Encounter and a Beautiful Girl
Honestly, that was pretty bad…
Teasing is fun, but I want more of that yuri-yuri vibe, you know?
Not interested in females, but rather in becoming a beautiful girl…
Spiritual BL is a different story altogether.
“Same old troublemaker, aren’t you?”
I’m not interested in guys.
Though I respect Tourak, there’s no lust involved.
Hey, let’s head back!
“Tsk tsk… Ah”
Hm? What’s wrong?
“Probably spotted my younger sister. I’ll hide, so do as you please from here. Was this… just a coincidence within the same premises?”
Younger sister?
What’s coming next?
“That’s all then.”
Hey!
…She disappeared.
What was that all about suddenly?
Sighing at my usual unreliable partner, I proceed toward the entrance.
Just as I was about to step outside…
“Hey, stop right there.”
“Huh?”
Someone called out, causing me to turn around.
What is it? Did some beautiful girl slip past me unnoticed?
Thinking that, I turned back only to find him, the one with red hair as his trademark.
None other than Rokuhara, the S-Rank Explorer from Kisou Academy.
“Huh?”
“Yeah, you’re from Factom General Academy, right? …Na Takikai, was it?”
“Ahh, yes.”
Why did he stop me??!!
Why?
Following the protagonist, encountering Rokuhara back-to-back like this…
Is this a boss rush? Has the boss rush started?
That said, if anyone tries to mess with Factom General Academy again, I won’t forgive them.
Grrrrrr…
“Is there something you need?”
“Come on, don’t look so scary. I just recognized a familiar face and decided to say hi. Or is there some reason why talking to me is bad for you?”
“Even after we fought once before, it’s natural not to have good feelings towards someone.”
“Huh? That’s exactly why. I only remember those who are worth killing.”
This guy is still dangerous.
And apparently, I’ve been remembered…
Help me, Star Reader’s Staff!
“I’d prefer you didn’t call me… Seriously, we’ll be found. …Be quiet. I’m using an invisibility spell right now…”
The Star Reader’s Staff quietly whispered this and then vanished again.
Useless!
“If there’s nothing, I’ll be going.”
“Ah, wait a moment. Hey, Eina, get off already.”
With that, Rokuhara pulled Eina, who had been clinging to his back, down.
“Ugh… I’ve already told you everything, so please search on your own.”
“I only told you she’s somewhere within this hospital’s premises. Now, answer quickly after looking at this guy.”
Rokuhara grabbed Eina by the collar and thrust her forward in front of me.
Kyaa! A timid beautiful girl is right in front of me!
My brain is overheating from this sudden supply!
“…Ah, I can sense a slight trace of my sister’s magical power.”
“Got it.”
At the same time as Rokuhara said this in a flat tone, a blade came rushing toward me.
“!”
A bracelet appeared, and I narrowly dodged it by a hair.
Ah, a few strands of my hair got cut!?
“Haha, I thought I caught you off guard. You’re still impressive, huh.”
“What kind of greeting is that?”
“Hey, that’s the look I wanted to see. All this polite language isn’t like you. Eina, hurry up and let me use your abilities. It’s a rat hunt.”
As Rokuhara said this and extended his hand, Eina frantically shook her head side to side.
Then, half-crying, she clung to Rokuhara.
“N-No! This person isn’t my sister! Just faint traces of residual energy…”
“…Huh?”
“W-Well, I just wanted to propose asking this person for information. Why are you trying to kill them!?”
“…Ah, I see.”
Rokuhara alternated his gaze between me and Eina, then put away his weapon and smiled, saying “Sorry. My mistake.”
I was almost killed because of a mistake…?
“So, tell me about Solciera.”
“What does that mean?”
“Eina detected Solciera’s presence in this hospital. Moreover, I can feel remnants of Solciera’s magical power from you too. Meaning, there’s a high possibility that you’ve encountered Solciera.”
“…What do you intend to do with Solciera?”
In response to my question, Rokuhara replied with an absolutely charming smile.
“To beat her nearly to death but not quite, then bring her to the Board of Directors.”
Yikes…
I knew S-Rank members were looking for me, but I absolutely don’t want to be captured by Rokuhara. Who knows what might happen!
“So, how about it? Have you seen anyone suspicious?”
“…No, I haven’t.”
“If you lie, I’ll kill you.”
Don’t say such things casually in a hospital.
His Kisou Academy uniform already stands out enough here.
“It’s not a lie. Probably, the reason you sense Solciera’s magic from me is because I was also at the amusement park on the day of the incident.”
“Hmm”.
Rokuhara grinned with interest.
“That day, I saw a massive magic circle appear in the sky. Also, the surrounding matter being converted into magic and absorbed—it’s still hard to believe that scene was real.”
“Ah, indeed, my sister is capable of that. Moreover, the magical release that day was tremendous. If that’s true, it makes sense that this person could retain traces of my sister’s magic, Leader.”
“I see. So, you really don’t know anything.”
“Yeah. Rather, I’m a victim. I hope they get caught soon.”
Drenched in sweat running down my back, I desperately strung words together.
Please let me off the hook…
“I see.”
Surprisingly, Rokuhara understood right away.
He really was the type who listens when spoken to…
“Sorry for taking your time. Let’s go, Eina.”
“Ah, yes. Then, umm, goodbye.”
I gave a slight bow.
…I’ve always wondered, what’s inside the backpack Eina carries? She wasn’t carrying one in the original work.
“—Ah, that’s right.”
After walking a bit, Rokuhara stopped and said without turning around.
“We might meet again sometime soon. When that happens, let’s go all out against each other.”
“I’d rather avoid such an opportunity.”
“Hah, fair enough.”
Without another word, Rokuhara walked away with Eina deeper into the hospital.
What was that all about…
That guy wasn’t the type you’d expect to meet in a hospital setting.
“Ah, is it safe now? …Phew, hiding was exhausting.”
Hey, you! My important partner shouldn’t hide during a critical moment!
“But if I hadn’t hidden, Eina would have noticed me. That kid has detection skills even better than mine.”
So she’s that skilled…
She’s not just a timid beautiful girl, then.
“Your judgment standards are still the same, aren’t they? Come on, let’s head back. Honestly, thanks to your Super Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time, we almost got caught.”
Sorry, but it felt good…
I think I’ll probably do it again if I get the chance…
“You’re determined to stick to your guns, huh? You’re stubborn despite pretending to be weak.”
But the world revolves around beautiful girls, doesn’t it?
Hahaha.
■
Simply walking through the halls, both staff and patients parted ways for them.
This was already a familiar sight to Rokuhara.
“Leader, doing stuff like earlier is absolutely unacceptable. Seriously.”
“Huh? That’s part of the fun when meeting Solciera.”
“He’s definitely going to do it again, isn’t he…?”
As they walked down the corridor, Eina trailed closely behind Rokuhara, muttering under her breath.
Eina considered complaining further but remembered that his mood directly affected dinner, so she kept quiet.
After advancing about five minutes down the corridor, Rokuhara stopped.
They stood in front of a hospital room.
“…Tch, let’s go in.”
“Huh? Aren’t you supposed to knock or something? Ah, wait—”
Rokuhara clicked his tongue irritably and entered.
Eina hurriedly followed in after him.
“—Ah, right on time. Good job.”
The voice of a girl sitting by the bed greeted them.
It was an extremely gloomy tone.
Rokuhara responded with an obvious displeasure.
“I carry out my duties. It’s expected.”
“Indeed, fitting for an Enforcer. I’ve already completed my tasks as well. Though it was merely obtaining signatures on a few documents.”
The girl laughed.
Her appearance, once likely beautiful, was ruined by damaged skin and disheveled hair.
She seemed to have a habit of scratching her throat.
There were bruises around her neck that made one involuntarily wince.
The girl looked at Rokuhara and Eina with lifeless eyes and smiled despite her cracked lips.
“Well, let me introduce you.”
Pointing at the bed, she chuckled and called out the name.
“She is Aoi Hoshi Miroku.”
Rokuhara glanced at the girl whose name was called.
On the bed, she simply floated a vague smile.
