There’s one more crucial goal besides simply becoming the strongest: I need to get stronger as fast as possible.
Part of the reason is that Iori and Katrina might eventually catch up to me.
Iori, especially.
In MagiEx, the protagonist’s growth plateaus at a certain point, but once specific conditions are met—like acquiring enough money, weapons, armor, and access to certain Dungeons—his stats explode.
If I fought Iori right now, I’d win overwhelmingly.
That’s not an exaggeration; it’s a fact.
Just like in the Beginner Dungeon, the biggest factor was the massive boost I got from saving Ludi in the Palace of the Unusual.
However, I don’t know if I can keep beating Iori after his first major growth spurt, when his stats start skyrocketing.
What I need to do now isn’t get cocky about my current lead, but to keep pushing forward with everything I’ve got.
But that’s not the number one reason I need to get stronger quickly.
When I consider my true goal, just beating the protagonist means nothing.
There are time-limited events in MagiEx.
If my growth is too slow and I can’t save a heroine in time… I absolutely have to prevent that from happening.
So, how do I get stronger faster?
I have a few ideas, but they all share one common principle: I need to stop playing solo.
That’s why I came to this Dungeon, the Twilight Grotto, which was added in the first DLC patch.
My goal is the final floor.
Having already experienced the Palace of the Unusual, I figured I didn’t need the magic essence, battle experience, or dropped items from the trash mobs along the way.
That was the correct call, right?
Naturally, I ignored all of them.
“I’ve got a water-attribute Carved Circle magic stone, I’ve got potions for recovery, and I’ve finished applying the water enchantment to my scarf.”
I checked my items and equipment in front of the 10th-floor boss room.
After confirming everything was in order and striking a fighting pose with my twin scarf-hands, I entered the room.
As usual, it was a dark cavern, but it was the largest room in this Dungeon.
And right in the center was the monster.
No matter who looked at it, they’d think it was a black cat.
Its ears, eyes, and tail looked exactly like a feline’s.
But it wasn’t a cute little kitten you’d want to cuddle.
First of all, it was huge.
It was easily twice the size of a normal cat, almost the size of a tiger.
And its growl was incredibly deep.
The cadence was the same as a cat’s, but it was terrifying because the pitch was abnormally low.
The cat growled, slowly stood up, and approached me.
Then, it conjured two blazing wheels of fire on either side of its body.
“Fuyaaaaa!”
Along with the roar, the flaming wheels shot forward in a continuous barrage.
I repelled one of the fire wheels with my Third Hand and dodged the other; both slammed into the wall and vanished.
Seeing this, the cat growled in frustration and conjured two more wheels.
The boss of the Twilight Grotto is the Kasha, a monster covered in black cat fur.
According to the staff blog, its original lore was based on the Japanese yokai, the Kasha.
I advanced, parrying the newly launched fire wheels.
Thanks to the water enchantment, the fire wheels flying at me were easily deflected.
As I closed the distance, I tried to smash its head with my Fourth Hand.
However, it easily dodged such a straightforward attack.
No, it didn’t just dodge.
It lunged at me with its jaws unhinged, trying to bite me.
The Kasha bared its proud fangs and charged.
I swung my free Third Hand directly into the torso of the charging Kasha.
“Gyaun!”
“T-that’s scary…”
To be able to counterattack in time when it lunged like that… I’m confident this thing is slower than Senpai.
However, because the monsters I’d fought in this Dungeon up to now were so slow, the Kasha seemed incredibly fast by comparison.
The difference between the Kasha and the other monsters was that it maintained its consciousness even after I countered and slammed it into the wall.
Until now, most monsters either died instantly or passed out.
Staring at the Kasha as it steadied itself in mid-air, I channeled magic power into my katana’s scabbard and prepared to draw my blade.
The Kasha, having landed successfully, immediately kicked off the ground and leaped at me.
This time, it wasn’t using its fangs.
It had somehow produced claws that looked like the tekko-kagi ninja weapons on its oversized paws, and it threw itself at me.
I used my Third Hand to repel the approaching claws while activating my Mind’s Eye skill.
Then, as the Kasha circled to the side, it leaped again, extending its left paw.
I firmly defended with my Fourth Hand, releasing the magic power stored in the scabbard as I drew my katana.
At that moment, I was convinced of my victory.
It’s a common phenomenon in sports.
Even if the outcome isn’t clear yet, for some reason, you just know the result.
I think it’s especially common in soccer and basketball.
Even the moment the ball leaves your foot, you know the trajectory it will take, and it actually flies along that path and goes into the net.
I’ve seen it in eroge, but it apparently happens with archery, too.
The moment you nock the arrow and release it, you just know: “Ah, that’s going to hit.” It’s probably the same thing.
The same motion repeated countless times, and my body had likely memorized it.
I’m incredibly grateful to Yukine-senpai.
I was a little shocked when she told me, “I’m sorry, Takioto, but you don’t have any innate talent for the katana.” But I was immediately thrilled when she followed up with, “But you have a different kind of talent.” That memory is still very fresh.
Since then, I’ve been training only two forms every single day.
It took days, but one of them has finally taken shape.
Battoujutsu — Flash.
As I sheathe the katana, the magic power sent into the scarf is reduced to the absolute minimum.
“Nigyaa…”
At the exact moment the Kasha muttered that, its body split cleanly in two.
Immediately, it dissolved into magic essence, leaving behind the largest magic stone I’d ever seen.
I think the Kasha was the most powerful enemy among all the monsters I’ve faced so far.
Its speed and attack power were overwhelming, and it even used fire magic.
However, you see.
The Kasha’s fire magic could be firmly handled thanks to the water-attribute enchantment on my scarf, and the speed and weight of its physical attacks were worlds apart from the people I normally spar with.
Plus, its tactics were pretty typical for a monster, so I wasn’t caught off guard.
“Well, that was a natural result.
That’s that.”
I stared at the magic stone I’d picked up.
If the Kasha respawned infinitely, it would be great for farming money, but it doesn’t respawn here.
It was useless to even try re-entering the Dungeon.
After storing the magic stone, I headed to the back of the room, where the “person” I wanted to meet was supposed to be.
When I reached the back, there was a door just large enough for a person to pass through.
I touched the square panel on the door.
Blue light raced from the point of contact to all four corners, and the door slid open with a mechanical hum.
If I had to give my impression of the inside, it would be this:
“It’s an entryway, huh.”
A shoe rack and a long hallway.
There were a few doors in the area I could see from here, and she was somewhere in this section.
Taking off my shoes in the small genkan, I stepped onto the floor.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
There was a clear footprint where I’d stepped.
Apparently, it was dusty because it hadn’t been used in a very long time.
I hesitated for a moment, but decided to keep going in my socks.
“This is also a splendid room…”
For the time being, when I opened the first door I noticed, I found a room that looked lived-in.
The walls were nicely lined with wallpaper, dusty but intact, and there were beds and magic stone lights.
I picked up a book resting on the nightstand.
I couldn’t read the text.
Tossing the book into my extra-dimensional storage pouch, I looked around.
Then I noticed a trash can next to the bed and thought, No way, as I looked under the bed.
It was a positive thought.
Under the bed is a storage spot that has become a mere ruin of a trope in eroge and galge.
Because it’s so likely to be found, most people hide things elsewhere.
Especially if you have a little sister.
Treating the item like an object of historical and cultural value, I pulled it out slowly, holding my breath.
A semi-nude woman with black hair and a sensual expression.
There was no doubt about it.
It was an erotic magazine.
Desperately suppressing my racing heart, I flipped through the pages.
“Hmm… This is bad, isn’t it?
Really bad.”
I held the corner of my eye and maintained my sanity.
The fact that the model looked a bit like Ludi made it even more dangerous.
Calming my mind while silently chanting the Heart Sutra in my head, I politely placed the magazine into my storage pouch.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and headed to the next room.
There were things like a TV, transparent pillars, and devices I’d never seen in Japan or in this world.
I moved to the next door, collecting anything I could take with me.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, this is amazing…”
Beyond the door was another world entirely.
“A cave, a house… and now it’s a meadow, huh.”
There’s a saying I found while researching Dungeons: “Asking ‘what is a Dungeon’ is like asking ‘what is death.'” When I first read it, I just thought, “Hmm.” But after being shown this supernatural,常识-breaking world so many times, I could only accept it.
The sprawling grasslands, the vast sky, and the rising sun.
A slightly dry breeze brushed against my skin, carrying the scent of grass and soil.
I suddenly looked back and was even more surprised.
“Seriously?!”
The door I had walked through was there.
But the door was standing completely alone in the vast meadow, like the only man-made object for miles.
Actually, there was only a door.
Furthermore, the view through the open doorway was the dusty hallway I knew.
I tried waving my hand in and out of the doorway, but the conclusion could only be considered a nonsensical spatial phenomenon.
I stopped looking at the door and scanned the area again.
A few clouds floated in the light blue sky.
The rising sun illuminated the ground with faint rays piercing through the gaps in the clouds.
“It’s beautiful… It’s understandable why sunbeams are called ‘angel’s stairs’ or a ‘pipe organ of light’… Hm?”
Looking at the spot illuminated by the faint rays of light, my words trailed off involuntarily.
“Is that the only spot that isn’t grass?
There’s something there.”
Thinking that, I broke into a run.
Beyond the light was a stone pavement etched with an unknown magic circle, and something oval-shaped resting in the center.
I didn’t know what it was.
At first glance, I thought it was a massive egg.
But do eggs float in mid-air?
The egg was roughly my height, and if I looked closely, it seemed to have hair growing on it.
Looking at the feathers falling beneath the egg-like object, it seemed it wasn’t hair, but feathers.
“It looks different from its appearance in MagiEx, but… maybe it’s that?”
Carefully, I touched and pushed the egg-like object illuminated by the faint light.
It was fluffy, like touching a rabbit, but it also had the elasticity to push my hand back firmly.
I channeled my magic power into the egg, just like the protagonist did in the game.
At first, I was a little worried, but halfway through, I started pumping more and more mana into it.
However, there was no change.
“How much are you going to drain?
This is the first time my mana has dropped this much recently…”
Thanks to my daily training, my magic power growth has been remarkable lately.
Ever since I became capable of maintaining my enchantment 24/7, I’ve kept it active except when sleeping, and I also consume a lot during mock battles with Claris-san.
Even so, it had been a long time since my reserves had dropped this low.
And yet, the egg was still draining my magic.
The change came when things started getting really dire, and I began wondering if I should have brought an MP recovery item.
‘×□▲○─ Magic power registration complete ─｜＊＃＄％＆（’
“Whoa!”
Suddenly hearing a voice in my head, I let go and kept my eyes on the egg.
However, the egg’s appearance didn’t change.
Instead, a transparent screen materialized in the magic circle that had been glowing.
I stared at the screen, confused.
“I can’t read this…”
As I muttered that, the letters on the display vanished.
Just as I was wondering what was happening, the text reappeared, this time in Japanese.
Please select a Type.
・Type Spring
・Type Summer
・Type Autumn
・Type Winter
・Type Sky
I tilted my head at the screen.
If I remembered correctly, there were only four options here.
And they should have been written in English as Type-1, Type-2, Type-3, and Type-4.
However, comparing it to the game’s lore, you could assume Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter corresponded to 1, 2, 3, and 4.
But…
“What is Type Sky…?
Obviously, there’s more here than there should be.”
When I was playing a physical-strength build for the protagonist, I chose Type-4, which corresponded to Type Winter.
“If I think about it normally, I’d pick ‘Type Winter,’ but… my heart is telling me to choose ‘Sky.'”
Whenever I see something new, I want to try it.
New products, like limited-edition sweets—I’m weak to those words, even though they’re usually questionable.
I tapped the ‘Type Sky’ column with my finger.
When it asked, ‘Are you sure?’ I answered ‘Yes.’
Then what happened?
Feathers began to fall from the egg.
When they touched the ground, they all glowed and vanished like tiny particles.
Furthermore, light overflowed from the spot where the feathers had fallen, illuminating the area like a laser show at a live concert.
Eventually, the momentum of the falling feathers increased, and the light grew stronger to match.
I couldn’t look directly at the glare, so I shielded my face with my Third Hand and waited for the light to die down.
The time I couldn’t even open my eyes didn’t even last a minute.
Peeking from the shadow of my Third Hand, I saw the light fade and looked back at the egg.
But there was no egg.
What was floating there was a woman in a maid outfit.
“Field of vision favorable.
Confirming possession of Terminal AA.
Acquiring Time.”
After brushing back her shining silver hair, she plugged something into a device she pulled from her pocket.
A transparent screen appeared in front of her, and something resembling text scrolled across it.
“Connecting to A&A Corporation… Failed.
Connecting to local network… Failed.
The Dungeon Network has completely vanished, and the time cannot be set for Terminal AA.
Functionality limited.”
When she put the device away, the screen in front of her disappeared.
Purple eyes turned toward me.
“Hello, Master.
I am MKS73, the Maid Knight Shiki Edition, manufactured by A&A Corporation.”
MKS73 is a highly useful, first-playthrough-only companion character in MagiEx.
Her name is MKS73, which is more of a serial number, so when she becomes your companion, the player chooses a new name for her.
However, 73% of gentlemen just name her “Nanami.”
Her defining trait is that her personality and hair color change depending on the Type you select.
Type-1, conscious of spring cherry blossoms, has sakura-pink hair.
Type-2, conscious of blooming summer greenery, has light green hair.
Type-3, conscious of autumn leaves, has red hair.
And Type-4’s hair color was indigo, likely conscious of the cold winter.
So, what about the one in front of me right now?
Her hair color was a beautiful, shining silver.
Her heterochromatic eyes—one reddish-purple, the other bluish-purple—gave a slightly cool impression.
Her breasts weren’t as large as Nee-san’s, but they were quite sizable, visibly emphasizing their presence beneath her maid uniform.
“Could you tell me your name?”
She didn’t seem to mind my staring and asked indifferently, like a machine.
“Takioto… Kousuke.”
“Takioto Kousuke-sama, registered… Takioto Kousuke-sama, thank you for contracting with the Maid Knight series.
Now, I apologize, but the connection to the Dungeon Network has been severed, so I would like to verify the current situation…”
Even though she said that, I didn’t understand.
What didn’t I understand?
All of this.
First of all…
“Uh, what is a Dungeon Network?”
There was no such conversation in MagiEx.
She just says, “My destined partner has appeared before my eyes,” and usually stays in the protagonist’s room taking care of him.
Her affection meter doesn’t just max out; it breaks the limit from the very start.
When asked why she’s so grateful, she says, “I could have been left in the Dungeon forever without ever being activated.” Well, when you get close to her in a special sub-event, she reveals, “Actually, what I said back then was a lie… I’m contractually obligated to feign loyalty to the person who registered my magic power.” Many people (myself included) fall for her because of the subsequent line: “But now, I genuinely…”
“It’s a Dungeon Network…?”
She said that with a hint of anxiety.
To be honest, I was full of discomfort regarding her.
First of all, what she was sealed in within MagiEx was supposed to be an ancient magic-tech sealing crystal, something like a magic stone.
Sealing Crystals made thousands of years ago, sealing the homunculus “Maid Knights” crafted with the best technology of the era.
But even so, what was that thing I just saw?
It was a feathered egg, not a crystal.
And this place.
There was no such meadow in MagiEx.
And I don’t understand why there are five Types.
“The Dungeon Network is the Dungeon Network… Huh?
Takioto Kousuke-sama, excuse me for a moment.”
As she floated closer to me, she grabbed my hand.
From her slightly cold hands, something began to flow into mine as she held it.
Despite something entering me, it wasn’t unpleasant.
Instead, it was a mysterious sensation of something original returning, and I felt relieved and comfortable.
“…”
“Hrm, are you okay?”
I spoke to her as she stood there, mouth half-open, saying nothing.
“E-excuse me.
Could you give me some time to organize my thoughts?”
Apparently, it wasn’t just me; she needed to think calmly, too.
After calming down and cross-referencing our information, we reached a common conclusion:
“In other words, it’s fundamentally strange.”
“Exactly.”
Originally, her “Maid Knight Series” was supposed to be contracted by someone close to the Dungeon Master.
However, she said it was incomprehensible that I, who appeared to be a normal human, could form a contract.
Furthermore, the sheer volume of magic power still dormant inside me was deemed impossible to comprehend.
Now, here was my question.
What is a Dungeon Master?
“The Dungeon Master is the manager of a Dungeon in the world of Dungeons.
It’s said that some people who have conquered many Dungeons on the surface are also called that, but the one I mentioned first is the one we’re talking about now.”
Even with that explanation, it was problematic.
The term “Dungeon Master” doesn’t appear in MagiEx in the first place.
Dungeons in MagiEx are just targets for conquest.
There shouldn’t be anyone managing them.
“I know it’s confusing, but I hesitate to say too much for personal reasons.”
“Uh, what do you mean?”
“Actually, information about the Dungeon Master can be safely shared with the Dungeon community, managers, and stakeholders.
However, it’s not good information to publish to the general public.”
Well, that’s…
“It’s understandable given the world’s level of understanding regarding Dungeons.
It’s even said: ‘Asking what a Dungeon is, is like asking what death is.'”
Ever since I came to this world, I’ve been reading books about Dungeons.
However, there are so many things I don’t understand about them, which only proves that saying.
“Since they basically refuse contact, information isn’t disclosed.
It’s extremely rare for Dungeon owners and managers to make contact with people of the Sixth Class.”
Again, some words I didn’t understand popped up.
I could guess the meaning, though.
“Sixth Class?”
When I asked, she opened her mouth, looking a bit awkward.
“Um… the lore around that area contains many things that shouldn’t be disclosed to the general public, as I mentioned.
If I’m unlucky, I could be punished by the Corporation.”
“In short, it’s a forbidden topic, huh… Then you don’t have to talk about it.”
I didn’t know what the punishment was, but it was definitely something bad for her.
She still looked awkward, opening her mouth with hesitant, blurry words.
“It’s something that will be revealed in the future, so, um.
I’d like to tell you first.
The magic power pathway between me and Takioto Kousuke-sama is already active, and my master has been set to Kousuke-sama.”
Uh,
“In other words?”
“I cannot disobey you, so if you order me to spill everything, I will spill everything.”
So that’s how it is.
This contract is that heavy.
If I want to know about the Dungeon, I just have to give an order.
But, you know.
“No, it’s not information I want so badly that I’d go that far.
It would help a lot if you could just tell me what the general public is allowed to know.”
I said that, and she replied,
“I’m sorry.”
And she thanked me like that.
“Now that the contract-related issues are settled…”
She began to speak.
Then she reached into her cleavage and pulled out a familiar dark blue cloth.
Why was that in there?
“I think it’s time you gave an extremely mischievous and explosively popular character like me, a Maid Knight Series, a proper name.”
“Extremely mischievous, huh… I got the impression you were a pretty serious person.”
In MagiEx, her personality changes depending on the selected Type, but there was no personality quite like this one.
“When it’s time to be serious, I’m serious.
Would you crack jokes during a job interview, Takioto Kousuke-sama?
I take pride in being an extremely mischievous bombshell normally.”
I didn’t quite get it, but whatever.
“Uh, so about the naming, right.
Yeah, what should I say… Can I interpret you as something like a homunculus?”
I thought she’d agree, but she shook her head.
“No, I’m not a homunculus.
And just to be clear, I’m not an android, a bioroid, or a replicant.”
“Eeh?”
“I wasn’t made to imitate humans in the first place.
I’m an angel.”
“A-an angel!?”
I asked instinctively.
The companion you could get in MagiEx wasn’t an angel.
She was supposed to be a homunculus.
“Angels are generally fundamentally different from humans in their foundation.
They’re also different from elf tribes and beastman tribes; angels are a completely different form of life.”
Well, there was an angel sub-heroine in MagiEx, so I could somewhat understand…
“The reproductive act you might be worried about is possible, and it’s possible to have a child.
However, the child born is basically not an angel, but of the other party’s race.”
“No, I wasn’t worried about that.”
I wasn’t worried, but I was curious.
“Is that so… Fufuh.”
“Why are you looking at my crotch and smiling so brightly?”
“Well, changing the subject.”
“You’re changing the subject… You’re changing it right here…”
I felt like she was completely controlling the pace.
“Excuse me, but I don’t want the Master to be overly polite with me.”
Certainly, I haven’t seen many anime where characters use polite language with servants like maids.
But in Japan, some people treat their employees politely, you know?
“It’s a bit of a habit… Can I use formal language?”
“Tch…”
“Huh, did you just click your tongue…”
“Not at all, isn’t it your imagination?”
“U-understood.
Using formal language is…”
“Tch…”
“G-got it.”
Forced correction?
…I don’t even know who’s the superior one here anymore.
“Yes, I’m in your care.”
With that, she bowed gracefully, holding the familiar dark blue cloth in her hand.
It’s been bothering me this whole time.
“That… what do you have in your hand?”
“This?
It’s a school swimsuit.”
She spread out the dark blue cloth in her hand.
Certainly, it was a school swimsuit.
The name tag was blank—no, that doesn’t matter right now.
“It’s an attached costume.”
She said, anticipating my question.
However, the question inside me couldn’t be answered just by that.
“Why… is it a school swimsuit?”
“According to my knowledge, originally only maid outfits were included, but when a school swimsuit was added as a bonus, sales increased significantly, so it seems this has been the standard ever since.
Furthermore, it seems they once removed the school swimsuit from the bundle, but sales dropped and mountains of complaints poured in.”
There were even complaints?!
“I can change into it now if you’d like.”
“No, you don’t need to change.”
“Really?
You’re going to use your brain to supplement the visual, aren’t you?
As expected, Takioto Kousuke-sama.
Then I’ll display it over my clothes, so please enjoy.”
Saying that, she draped the school swimsuit over her maid uniform and posed.
…Hmm, sexy.
“Hmm, a little more… No, let’s get back to the main topic without doing stupid things.”
Huh, what was the main topic again?
“Fufu, I’m terribly sorry. Get faster updates on g.com.
Could you give me a name?”
Speaking of which, that was it.
She asked me to give her a name.
By the way, in MagiEx, you can name her freely, but I think most people call her “Nanami.” It’s annoying to type “MKS73” on forums, so people just went with Nanami.
That’s what many said, and it became the standard before anyone realized it.
I’m also part of the “Nanami” sect.
“Let’s see… Then how about ‘Nanami’?”
She furrowed her brow and said, “Haa?”
“What an unbelievable sense of naming.
To think you’d use my serial number as my name.
What would you do if you were a parent and your child asked, ‘Hey, why is my name Three-chan, the number 3?’ Is it really okay for you to just decide your child’s future so randomly?”
…That’s true.
What she’s saying is correct.
She was happy with any name in the game, but this isn’t a game.
It’s reality.
Doing things exactly like the game won’t always work.
She’s an angel.
I’m supposed to be thinking of human names, not pet names.
My thoughts were shallow.
“I-I’m sorry, I’ll think of another one right now… Hm?”
I stopped speaking while looking at her.
“Frankly, Takioto Kousuke-sama is quite troublesome.”
Saying that, she held an oil-based pen she’d pulled from somewhere and wrote “Nanami” in hiragana on the school swimsuit she was holding.
When she finished writing, she wrote a tiny “Nanami” on my palm and smiled for a brief moment.
She immediately returned to her consternated expression, but she definitely smiled for an instant.
Gripping the school swimsuit with her name on it, she said,
“Well, it’d be a waste of time to rethink it.
Nanami is fine.”
She declared.
“…You liked it, didn’t you?”
“Haa, what are you saying, Takioto Kousuke-sama… Well, putting the nickname aside, what about the kanji?
There are a few candidates.”
“You really like Nanami, don’t you?”
However, she ignored my words and wrote a few kanji on the ground with the oil pen.
However, the hiragana “Nanami” she wrote again was clearly massive.
Even “七海 (Nanami)” or “菜々美 (Nanami)” were tiny.
Furthermore, for some reason, only “ななみ (Nanami)” was written twice.
Is she trying to force me to pick that one?
“U-uun, how about ‘Nanami’ in hiragana?”
“Haaaa~ hiragana, huh…”
She sighed at that, wrote a few more “ななみ” on the ground, and finally drew a heart symbol.
She drew about three hearts.
“You liked it way too much, didn’t you?
You’re crazy about it, aren’t you?”
“You, no.
It’s Nanami.
I don’t mind if you call me Nanamin, either.
I look forward to working with you in the future.”
Call her by a nickname?
…She absolutely loved the name.
Wait, this place seems to be important for magic and Dungeon research, but is it really okay to write a name here with an oil pen?
If this were a tourist spot, this would be all over social media, you know?
However, it’s a Dungeon, and it’s on Hanamura family land, so I don’t need to worry about it.
“Next, let me confirm the Master’s honorific.”
“Honorific?”
“Yes, this is a confirmation of how to address Takioto Kousuke-sama.
The options are ‘Sama,’ ‘Master,’ ‘Goshujin-sama,’ ‘Shishou,’ ‘Oyakata,’ ‘Meijin,’ ‘Tatsujin,’ ‘Shachou,’ ‘Buchou,’ ‘Daimajin,’ ‘Kampaku,’ ‘Seiitaishougun,’ ‘noboshi,’ ‘chi.’ I’ve prepared many options for you.”
“You just pulled titles from a Sugoroku board game.
What’s the pattern here?”
“It’s going to be Goshujin-sama.”
Well, it’s embarrassing to be called that, but it was the same in the game.
“…Well, that’s reasonable.”
Plus, I wanted to be called Master by a maid at least once.
A maid café?
I want to be called that by a real maid.
“Then I will call you Goshujin-sama.
By the way, how should I address people other than Goshujin-sama?
The default is ‘Lower Lifeforms.'”
“The default is cruuuel!
Why is Goshujin-sama normal, but everyone else is treated so cruelly?
Change it, change it!
To begin with, when would you even use those words?”
“Yaa!
It’s been a while, lower lifeforms!”
“It sounds refreshing, but the words you’re using are worse than garbage!”
“Then let’s go with ‘Below Garbage.'”
“You want to use that?!
That’s not even a living thing anymore.
Use words that respect the other person!”
“Tch, as you command.”
“…Someone please come yell at her in my place.”
Well, the real reason I wanted to conquer this Dungeon in the early days was to make Nanami my companion.
To be clear, it’s impossible for “Takioto Kousuke” to aim to be the fastest and strongest while playing “Solo.” If I were “Hijiri Iori,” I might have been able to do it, but I’m not as versatile as Iori.
Well, if I were Iori, I would have ditched my companions anyway.
That just shows how inefficient solo play is.
Furthermore, there are many benefits to bringing her into my party.
She can speed up the entry time for certain Dungeons.
With her knowledge of ancient magic techniques, she knows the conditions for entering Dungeons and can cancel magic circles that would otherwise prevent you from conquering them.
She can also handle the puzzle cases that would normally require the Ero Scientist, who is usually a mid-game companion.
Well, even without that, making her my companion is an unshakable decision.
First of all, it was Nanami, not Mizumori-senpai, who had the highest character usage rate in MagiEx.
There’s no way her usage rate wouldn’t be higher than Senpai’s.
Senpai is busy with the Public Morals Committee and might be out of the party for a while, officially joining only after we enter the Three Committees.
Well, from the second playthrough, you can use the Shikigami substitute system to have her help conquer Dungeons from the start.
On the other hand, Nanami can join immediately after the Beginner Dungeon.
Furthermore, aside from the special Dungeons that only allow the protagonist to enter alone, she can accompany you in every single Dungeon.
And above all, her versatility is the reason for her high usage rate.
She’s the same type as Mizumori-senpai and Monika-kaichou, capable of handling long-range, short-range, magic, and melee.
Plus, she can acquire non-combat skills, like gathering and thief skills, which even Yukine-senpai and Monika-kaichou can’t get.
Certainly, her combat power is inferior to the Super Trio.
However, she has the strength to compete with the main heroines, excluding Monika-kaichou.
On top of that, she could mine ore, gather herbs, and disarm traps.
It’s inevitable that her usage rate is high.
Of course, there’s no doubt that most gentlemen, not just me, used her day and night.
Well, the main reason for using her is that she’s KAWAII.
Besides the fact that you can choose her appearance and personality, she’s cute, can do anything, and even swore lifelong loyalty to you.
There’s no way I wouldn’t use her.
Now.
There is one problem with the universally useful Nanami.
It’s a problem that didn’t exist in MagiEx, but it’s a social problem for me.
“Now, how do I explain to Marino-san and the others that she’s going to be living with us?”
I thought about us living separately, but Nanami rejected it.
“Living separately?
Fuh, you joker.
The only time I leave Goshujin-sama’s side is when I die.
I’ll obey if you order it, but be prepared for the spread of baseless rumors like ‘Takioto Kousuke is a super-masochistic pervert’ or ‘He’s a degenerate who goes for everyone from little girls to women in their 40s.'”
And so, Nanami opposed separation.
“I’m not sure if Nanami has high or low loyalty.”
Plus, I can’t deny being called a pervert or a degenerate.
If there’s a rumor, I can only say there’s no smoke without fire.
“Better yet, how about Goshujin-sama moves out with me?”
“That’s certainly an option.
However, it’ll be revealed eventually, so it’s better to tell them from the start, and there’s the disadvantage that I wouldn’t be able to immediately use the Hanamura family’s facilities when I want to.”
It’ll also be troublesome for Claris-san to train with me, and it’s a huge disadvantage if the Hanamura facilities can’t be used.
“Well, you have a point… I’m good at meowing like a cat.”
“I can guess what you mean, but no matter how you think about it, it’s irrational.”
“If you say you found me shivering inside a cardboard box soaked in the rain, there’s no doubt it would be a blockbuster movie.”
If there’s a wet maid in a cardboard box, I wouldn’t be surprised if they found Nessie in Loch Ness.
“That’s a pretty surreal image.
Depending on the case, it might even be horror.”
“Well, jokes aside, I have a good idea.”
“I feel like it’s not a good idea, but… let’s hear it.”
“How about you say you want to hire a maid?
From what I hear, the Hanamura family is filthy rich.
It’s not strange to have a maid.”
I was on guard for a moment, but it was an unexpectedly common proposal.
“Well, sure… Speaking of maids, we already have Claris-san at home.”
She’s a knight, but she’s supposed to be a maid too.
Plus, there are times when elves who seem to be Ludi’s servants are present.
Though they aren’t residents.
“They won’t mind if one or two more maids are added.”
“That’s right, or rather, it won’t be that easy…”
There are no other maids besides Claris-san in the house.
That’s because Nee-san is shy around strangers.
First of all, can a student suddenly say they want to hire a maid?
In Japan… Huh, speaking of which, maybe students could hire maids in this world?
However,
“Speaking of hiring, there’s also the problem of salary…”
Thinking about it now, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a scene where I pay her a salary in MagiEx… On the contrary, I dragged her through Dungeons almost every day; it was totally like a sweatshop.
“Can we manage if I sell Dungeon items?
No, before that, I can support one person just fine with my allowance…”
I receive a stupidly huge amount, after all.
If I were born and raised in this family, my sense of money would be paralyzed.
Or rather, it can be said that my sense of money is currently paralyzing in the present progressive tense.
Well, being grateful for the current situation, I’ll use it for Nanami’s salary.
With that in mind, leaving the minimum amount of money for myself, how much should I pay Nanami?
And, when I calculated the salary I could give Nanami from my monthly allowance,
“Eh?”
Surprised, Nanami raised her voice.
“Why are you surprised?”
As I thought, it’s abnormal to get an allowance large enough to support other people.
“…No, I didn’t expect to receive a salary.”
“Really?
How so?”
I asked instinctively.
Nanami, looking confused, began to speak.
“The MKS Maid Knight Shiki Edition Type Sky is a bit special, so I don’t want a salary.”
“…What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to explain, but I don’t think the lowest class of the angel race needs ‘money’ in the first place.
I apply to that as well.
So don’t think too hard about it; just assume you don’t need to pay me.”
No, no, no, no.
That’s stupid.
What will motivate you to work?
Even if Nanami says that, she still needs some kind of compensation for her labor; without it, she’d just be a slave.
What I want is a companion, not a slave.
Even if I have to hire that companion with money.
“…No, I’m paying your salary somehow.
That’s decided.”
Is that so?
Nanami sighed.
“Even if I receive it, I don’t think I’ll have the opportunity to use it.”
“Think of it as your Goshujin-sama self-satisfying.
And you just need to use it on your days off.”
“Eh, I get days off?”
Nanami looked genuinely surprised, her voice slightly animated.
And as if it were unbelievable, she shook her head slightly from side to side.
“Eh, you thought you wouldn’t get days off!?”
“Yes.
The lowest class of angels don’t get days off.
It’s possible to continue working at all times, as long as you replenish your energy, like magic power, appropriately.”
“What the hell are you living like that for…”
Let’s demand better working conditions for angels.
Do they have a union?
Let’s go on strike.
If they won’t, I’ll do it myself.
“I don’t need days off if I can eat a meal or have Goshujin-sama’s magic power as an energy source…”
“…I’m going to seriously think about how to treat Nanami later.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
I see.
I had a strong, positive impression of angels, but I have a bad impression in this specific case.
Looking at her with pity, Nanami started speaking.
“Speaking of which.”
“I apologize for interrupting, but it’s almost time for the area to get dark, so I think we should head home.”
Hearing that, I pulled out my Tsukuyomi Traveler and checked the time.
Certainly, dinnertime was approaching.
I said I might not make it home before dinner, but it’s better to go home as fast as possible so they don’t worry.
“Well, then let’s go home.
Wait, what should I do about the excuse?”
Nanami clenched her fist and scratched her head.
“Nya~, nyaaa, fush~”
“…Certainly, the voice is exactly the same, but you should stop that.”
“Welcome home.”
Ludi was sitting on the sofa, flipping through a book that looked like a grimoire.
Neither Claris-san nor Nee-san were present.
Was it almost time for Marino-san to come home?
“I’m home.”
“Excuse me.”
Ludi’s face jumped, probably because she heard a woman’s voice.
And although she looked at Nanami with suspicious eyes, Nanami didn’t lose her composure.
“Kousuke-san, come here for a second…”
Suddenly, Ludi, who was faking her Ojou-sama persona, grabbed my arm and dragged me into the hallway.
“What the hell is that?
What is that thing?”
Ludi’s unusually low voice made my knees almost buckle.
“If I explain, it’ll take a while, or maybe not…”
“What is that maid?
For what purpose did you hire her?”
Ludi’s eyes changed, and I could see how angry she was.
Why is she so mad?
“How should I put it… I hired her, or rather, I found her in a Dungeon…”
“That’s enough.”
She walked away as if talking to me was useless.
I hurriedly followed her.
“Hello, and who might you be?”
Ludi asked Nanami with a threatening, piercing glare.
I tried to step between them, but Ludi’s gaze flicked to me for a second, and my legs refused to move.
That was the look of a carnivorous beast.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.
My name is Nanami, and I will be Takioto Kousuke-sama’s maid.”
“Nanami-san, is it.
My name is Ludivine.
By the way, for what purpose are you approaching that?”
I’m being referred to as that, but I’m too scared to answer.
However, Nanami, who was the target, gave a cheerful smile.
“I can see the Wife’s concerns, but I would like to say that those concerns are unfounded.”
“Hee… Unfounded, huh… Wait, W-W-Wife!?”
Ludi went into a state of panic.
I see, it’s a strategy to confuse Ludi?
Ludi, with her eyes wide, Nanami continued to speak indifferently.
Ludi would probably be convinced if she kept going like this.
“As Goshujin-sama’s maid, I will serve with all my sincerity, and of course, I will not act against Goshujin-sama.
The same goes for the Wife, of course.”
“Wait a minute, who are you calling Wife!?”
Ludi’s tone returned to normal.
I guess she was shocked to be called “Wife.” I’m surprised too.
“Goshujin-sama said you are the person he trusts the most, and you two seem very close.”
I thought about the meaning of her words.
“Well, she is indeed one of the people I trust the most.”
Along with Senpai and Nee-san, she’s someone I can trust from the bottom of my heart.
“L-liar.”
She started to panic, looking around as her face turned a bit redder.
When her eyes met mine, her face turned as red as a boiled octopus.
Then she turned her face away and walked off quickly.
“Seriously…?”
Nanami was trying to say something, but the sound of the bedroom door opening interrupted her.
Nee-san looked a bit sleepier than usual, but when she stared at Nanami, her eyes snapped open.
And her face turned toward me.
“…Sexually frustrated?”
“I think there are other things you could say.”
That’s the first thing you say when you see Nanami?
Did she mistake her for a cosplay escort?
First of all, I wouldn’t call an escort to a house where only women live besides me.
“If it’s a maid outfit, I’ll wear one for you, you know?”
That’s not really the point, you know.
But I definitely want to see Nee-san in a maid outfit.
Guh… it’s huge.
While the conversation between Nee-san and me was getting weird, Nanami interrupted.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.
My name is Nanami, and I will be Takioto Kousuke-sama’s maid.”
Nee-san turned her face to Nanami for a moment, but immediately looked back at me.
“I can cosplay as a maid too, you know?”
“Please do—… No, that’s not it.
I want to hire her as a normal maid.”
Eh?
She furrowed her brow as if she couldn’t believe it.
However, it’s a mild reaction that I can only understand because I’m used to Nee-san.
“Rejected.”
“Nee-san, listen to me.”
“Rejected.
You don’t need this.”
Nee-san rejected it immediately.
Then she grabbed my arm and pulled me toward her.
When I was pulled to her side, her arm wrapped around my head.
Nee-san’s hands were a bit cold, and the scent of her favorite soap entered my nose.
Nee-san also stroked my head, which was dirty after spending the day exploring the Dungeon.
“Nee-san, um, I’m dirty from exploring a Dungeon.”
“You’re not dirty.”
Nanami, who was watching, smiled the same cheerful smile I’d seen before.
“Please rest assured, Wife.”
Holding the hem of her skirt, she bowed elegantly.
“As Goshujin-sama’s maid, I will serve with all my sincerity, and of course, I will not act against Goshujin-sama.
The same goes for the Wife, of course.”
It’s the exact same phrase I just heard.
Well, it seemed to work on Ludi, but since Nee-san has a severe case of stranger anxiety, and the only maid in this house is Claris-san, I don’t think Nee-san will allow…
“Kousuke.”
When she took her hand off my head and placed it on my shoulder, she exhaled.
“What a wonderful maid.
Good job finding her.
You should hire her.”
“Lately, I’m finding it hard to understand you, Nee-san.”
And I thought she’d never give me her permission, to think the problem would be solved in such a sudden way.
“Wife, if you don’t mind, could you tell me your name?”
“Hanamura Hatsumi.”
“Hatsumi-sama, is it.
I look forward to working with you.”
Now, Nanami took control of the conversation.
“Goshujin-sama.
It’s almost dinnertime.
Has the Wife eaten?
If there are ingredients, I can make any kind of food; I can cook French, Italian, Japanese, or Chinese.”
“No one has eaten yet.
But we ordered sushi today, so you don’t need to.”
Looks like it’s sushi today.
“Understood.
Until then, I would like to secure the place where I will sleep first…”
“There are plenty of empty rooms.”
Nanami shook her head.
“No, it doesn’t need to be such a large place.
If I can use Goshujin-sama’s closet, that is sufficient.”
Are you a cat-type robot now?
“What a charming room that would be.”
Your sense is weird, Nee-san.
If it were the past me, I’d want to ask: what do you find so charming about a closet when you’re living in such a luxurious room?
For about an hour, anyway.
“Then Hatsumi-sama in the top half, and me in the bottom half…”
“Can I scream here?
To begin with, there isn’t a closet that big in my room.
It’s just a normal closet.”
The closet is designed to store futons and clothes, right?
It’s not for people to sleep in.
“Haa, it can’t be helped.
Then Hatsumi-sama on the right side of Goshujin-sama’s bed, and me on the left.”
“HahHahHa, you say funny things, don’t you?”
“Un, it’s a very wonderful idea.”
“You agreed?!
To begin with, the conversation was about a room, right?!”
Seeing my reaction, Nanami smiled as if she were happy from the bottom of her heart.
“Goshujin-sama, as expected, that was a joke.”
She nudged me, saying there’s no way that was serious, and when I tried to slap Nanami’s back saying, “Damn, what are you talking about,”
“Eh?”
Nee-san said with a desperate look, as if she’d seen the end of her life.
“”Eh…!””
And my voice and Nanami’s overlapped.
When I didn’t understand Nee-san’s intention and was confused, not knowing what to say,
“Kousuke, um, about what just happened…”
Ludi, whose face was still a bit red, came back into the room and…
“I’m home~ I’m back, everyone~ Today we have sushi that everyone loooves♪”
Marino-san, who was in a good mood and full of smiles, came home.
In this way, this place became even more chaotic.
Various facial expressions were mixed in the Hanamura family living room, where the most beautiful women in the world were lined up.
Was it the calm before the storm?
No one spoke in the room.
Marino-san was smiling, probably because the highest-class sushi was right in front of her.
Nee-san looked the same as always, but seemed a bit depressed.
Ludi kept looking at me with a reddened face.
Nanami, acting naturally, made me unable to guess what she was thinking.
And the poor Claris-san, who had just returned and walked into this chaos, was panicking so much I felt sorry for her.
For someone who is weak to unexpected situations, this must be tough.
“…In other words, what are you trying to say?”
It was Marino-san who started the topic.
I thought a bit about what to say, but I should explain from the beginning as much as possible.
I’ll say I found a Dungeon by coincidence.
“…So I conquered the Dungeon and found her… I signed a contract and wanted to hire her as my maid.”
“I seee, fufuh.
Why, I wonder, did you do something so dangerouss?”
Their reproachful glares were piercing me.
It wasn’t just Marino-san; everyone except Nanami had the same eyes.
When I rushed into the Dungeon, I wasn’t thinking about anything.
I also secured a margin of safety in my own way.
But they don’t know that.
They don’t even think I have knowledge of Dungeons and was well-prepared.
From their point of view, it’s inevitable to feel like I did something reckless.
By coincidence, I found a Dungeon no one had ever stepped foot in and rushed in alone without contacting anyone.
Yeah, I’d be furious if I were in their position.
I might have been angrier than they are now.
I’ll really be more careful next time.
Not only Marino-san, but Ludi and Nee-san pressed me, and I apologized and reflected, and we finally got to the main topic.
When Marino-san looked at Nanami, Nanami looked back at Marino-san without saying a word.
Interestingly, Nanami was extremely quiet.
She didn’t chat, didn’t joke, didn’t even open her mouth.
What was the cause?
A small silence fell, partly because Nanami wasn’t answering.
It was Claris-san who broke the silence.
“I am against it!”
Everyone’s eyes went to Claris-san.
“I-it might be harsh of me, but I don’t know who she is.
I have a duty to protect Ludivine-sama.
It would be too late if something happened to her.”
Certainly, I understand she’d feel uncomfortable if I brought an unknown person into the house.
Even if she doesn’t look it, Ludi is still royalty… Since I only see how she usually acts at home, I don’t really feel much royalty from her.
Well, Claris-san’s worry is unnecessary.
“Uun.
I think it’s fine because the angel has a firm contract.
I guarantee the safety of the angel’s contract, you know?
If there’s a problem, it’s whether you can trust Kou-chan, who is the contractor.”
Well, since it’s Kou-chan, it’ll be fine.
Marino-san said indifferently.
Contracts for angels and demons are absolute.
That was also game lore.
Well, I used that lore for a while in an erotic event with a sub-heroine; it’s a lore with very little use.
Well, that lore might be the same in this world too.
That’s why Nanami said if I ordered her to tell me all the forbidden information, she would tell me, even if she were punished.
Well, I didn’t actually make her do it, so I can’t confirm if she’d really talk or if she’d be punished.
“…As you said, the contract was completed without issue.
I will never be able to go against Goshujin-sama.”
Nanami said that.
You can’t go against me, huh.
If I try to speak politely, you click your tongue, and if we can’t live together, you try to spread bad rumors about me.
Huh, wasn’t that a contract error?
“N-nevertheless… T-that’s right.
What do you think about this, Hatsumi-sama?
She might be obedient, but you’ll have a complete stranger living under the same roof, you know?”
She must have thought Nee-san would be against her living with us.
Yeah, I thought so too.
“I don’t mind.”
“Haeeeeh!?”
She was extremely surprised.
I can understand her feelings tremendously.
It’s the road I just walked.
“Lu-Ludivine-sama!
If it’s Ludivine-sama…”
Ludi, who was addressed, looked at me and…
“T-the person I trust the most is Kousuke too…!”
She said that looking up, timidly.
I’m sure she expected Ludi to agree.
Claris-san looked quite surprised, and although she widened her eyes and opened her mouth, she couldn’t speak.
If she knew what happened earlier, she would have been able to guess how everyone would react, but her timing was bad; even I felt sorry for her.
I’m always being taken care of by her, so I’ll try to give some help…!
“Yes, then it’s decided, so let’s eat!”
Sushi, sushi♪ While humming, Marino-san prepared her chopsticks and started eating.
It doesn’t matter much, but it seems to be Marino-san’s favorite food.
After eating, I took a bath and went to see Nanami.
Apparently, Nanami wanted a room next to mine, saying, “That way I can stay by Goshujin-sama’s side.”
I don’t know if she’s serious or not, but I’m normally happy to hear that.
Plus, she seems to have decided various things with Marino-san about the future.
I didn’t hear the details.
“You’re going to the Dungeon the day after tomorrow?
Understood.”
I scheduled it with her.
I’ll go shopping at the school tomorrow and challenge that Dungeon the next day.
I promised not to overdo it this time, informed Marino-san, and there shouldn’t be a problem because Nanami is with me too.
When I parted with Nanami, I went to my room.
I thought about thinking about tomorrow, but more importantly than that.
Did I leave the lights on?
Light was leaking through the slightly open door.
“…Hum.
Alright.
Suuuuuhaaaaaa.”
After opening the door, I looked into the room and took a deep breath.
Good.
It wasn’t me who left the light on.
In front of me was my bed, around which were scattered clothes that must have been taken off recently.
What had fallen was a brown sweater, a red skirt, and black leggings.
Yes, I remember seeing the person wearing that earlier.
She was giving me her back.
Therefore, I can’t say for sure, but it seems she was fast asleep because her body moved at a steady rhythm.
By the way, why is Nee-san sleeping in my bed?
Fuuh, I took another deep breath and folded the scattered clothes.
And when I turned off the light, I quietly left the room.
The destination was the living room sofa.
I adjusted the air conditioner settings, stretched well, and lay down.
Alright.
Today I conquered a Dungeon; it was a wonderful day.
I’ll do my best tomorrow too, goodnight.
Although I came to school for the first time in a while, the goal wasn’t class.
“Uh, I bought a Carved Circle magic stone… Am I forgetting anything…?”
“Goshujin-sama, you haven’t bought the reward sweets for your hard work yet.”
Are you an OL?
Are you Marino-san?
Or do you want to eat Nanami?
No, more importantly.
“I didn’t dare scream, but why is Nanami here?”
I’m going to the Dungeon tomorrow, so I have a schedule for that.
But I didn’t ask for anything today.
“Where Goshujin-sama is, Nanami is.”
“I don’t get the meaning…”
“Even if I stayed at home, there seemed to be a limit to what I could do, so I resolved to come.”
She guessed what I wanted to say, and she answered.
Well, she’s right.
Claris-san must be taking care of the house.
“But is it okay to come even though you’re not a student?”
“Just in case, the person with the most power gave permission, so… it was just a word of ‘Okke.'”
I see, she said she had a discussion with Marino-san yesterday, so it was about that.
Anyway.
“Is this school okay?”
Well, I think it’s fine because it was fine until now, but honestly, I’m worried.
“I don’t think they’ll give permission to anyone but me so easily, but…”
While we were talking, Nanami noticed something and showed me with her eyes.
When I followed Nanami’s gaze, which had changed its air, there was a small girl with twin tails.
“An, Kousuke and… Maid?”
“Katrina?”
It was Katrina who was there.
As expected, she was surprised.
Her line of sight stopped on Nanami.
No, it’s obvious she’d be surprised.
After all, this is a school.
It’s a school where everyone goes in uniform.
Why is there a woman in a maid outfit?
Well, she’s my maid…
Well, I have to introduce Nanami, but what exactly is she?
I don’t need to say she’s an angel, she’s a maid, but she’s a weird maid… but I don’t need to say she’s weird.
“She’s a maid?
Nanami.”
“You, what kind of explanation is that?
No matter who looks, they’ll see a maid.
If she looks like anything other than a maid, I’m the one who wants to hear what that would be.”
“That’s right, the explanation was insufficient.
‘Beautiful’ isn’t included.
Please try again, Goshujin-sama.”
Katrina seems to be thinking: Are this master-servant pair right in the head?
Let me say one thing, I don’t think we are.
“Nanami, this is Katou Rina.
I call her Katrina.
Well, she’s good at close-quarters combat and good at handling knives.”
“Katrina-sama, is it.
I am the beautiful maid who serves Takioto Kousuke Goshujin-sama.
I take pride in being a professional in handling kitchen knives and Goshujin-sama.”
“Hey, isn’t your explanation a bit too random?
First of all, are you guys okay?”
“Sometimes I get worried too…”
“What are you saying, managing to conquer such a perfect Maid.
Happiness visits Nanami, you know.”
“That doesn’t bring me good luck, right?”
“If you see a beautiful girl happy, Goshujin-sama should be happy.”
“Indeed…!”
The light returned to my eyes.
That’s right, I’m sure I’ll be happy seeing my beloved laugh, without a doubt.
“Haa, I get it.
I understand very well that you two are a perfect pair.”
Maybe.
Well, whatever.
“Speaking of which, what happened today?
It’s time for the afternoon class, right?”
“I usually attend classes with Iori and Orange, who fight up close, but today I wanted to improve my trap cancellation and detection skills.
What do you think happened then?
The instructor is on break, don’t mess with meee.”
“Isn’t it notified on the Tsukuyomi Traveler?”
The Tsukuyomi Traveler can access the page containing that class information.
There’s no problem looking there, but if you keep the schedule in mind, you might end up coming like this.
“I know.
It was my mistake.”
We walked together while she was angry.
But I have something I’m worried about.
“Hey, doesn’t Katrina mind?”
“Ha?
What are you talking about?”
“No, I’m talking about this situation.”
When I look around, I can see that glances are turned this way.
Most are on Nanami, but there are those sending hateful glares at me.
In this situation, there’s no way they won’t send curious glances at Katrina, who is with us.
“An?
Why?
I don’t think you’re a bad guy.
And I don’t care what others think… What is that.
Let’s go see.”
Saying that, Katrina went ahead.
When I tried to take a step to follow her, Nanami spoke softly beside me.
“How should I put it, she’s a wonderfully frank woman, isn’t she?”
I know.
Katrina is a very good person.
To begin with, it’s harder to find a bad person in MagiEx.
In front of where Katrina was heading, there was a collapsed woman and a man looking down at her.
And an audience of onlookers.
“Hey, hang in there!”
“Oi, hold on!”
The two people held onto each other.
The ragged woman with rabbit ears tried to move, saying, “Uuuh,” but couldn’t.
Benito-kyou stared at this in a bored manner.
Then, after seeing the situation, Katrina, whose expression had changed, was caught by my Third Hand.
Depending on the case, I felt she might start running at him.
“You… what are you doing?”
“It’s fine.”
I can say that for sure.
Because I know that rabbit-eared girl well.
We weren’t the only ones to hear the noise and run to see.
A woman with flaming red hair appeared in the middle of the crowd.
Then she saw the rabbit-eared woman lying down and saw Benito-kyou looking down at her, and her expression changed.
When she stood in front of him, she put her hand on her rapier and glared at him.
“Benito-kun?
Could you explain?”
“Explanation?
Do you need something like that?
She’s a loser and I’m a winner.
As you can see.”
This time, a white-haired woman stepped forward; she addressed the rabbit-eared woman.
That outfit is Saint Stephania.
When she created a magic circle, she activated recovery magic.
The ones I had seen last time were all present: Monika, the Student Council President; Saint Stephania, the Captain of the Public Morals Committee; and Benito, the president of the Shikibu Kai.
Benito-kyou and Monika-kaichou started an argument over the rabbit-eared woman.
“Hey, Benito-kun.
I, you know, recognize Benito-kun’s strength.
But, you know, something like this is a no-go, okay?”
“I also recognize Monika-kaichou’s strength.
But you’re naive.
To be clear, I’m being even kinder by showing my strength and talent.
Hey, you.
Stand up.
I’m still this fine, you know?
You haven’t even put a speck of dust on me yet, you know?”
The woman, healed by Saint Stephania, glared at Benito and tried to go at him, but was held back by what seemed to be her friends.
And she was dragged away.
Seeing this, Benito-kyou muttered, “Yare yare, they’re a nuisance, I wish they’d be expelled already.”
Something like a red heat haze emerged around Monika-kaichou.
It was the fire-attribute magic power similar to Monika-kaichou’s flaming red hair.
It seems her overflowing magic power was materializing.
“Hey, Benito-kun.
Benito-kun, who has never beaten me in grades.
If you want to fight that much, should I fight?”
Benito-kyou’s eyes narrowed at those words.
And yellowish-brown magic power overflowed from his body.
The earth-attribute magic power that seems not to tremble even if it receives a massive impact.
“Hee, what’s that?
If you’re selling a fight, I’ll buy it… I was thinking.
You have to suffer a major defeat at least once, right?
To begin with, I thought you don’t suit the Student Council President because you’re too kind.
I know, why don’t you resign before I strip you of it after you lose?”
The magic power overflowing from the Kaichou grew stronger.
“Hee, with that level of strength… you think you can strip me?”
“Certainly you have strength.
But do you rely too much on your strength?
There’s a lot of waste.
Well, you can’t beat me even if you omit that waste.”
Perhaps trying to control this, the Saint stepped between the two.
“Let’s calm down.
It seems you’re both in a bit of a bad mood, for now let’s leave here—”
But the Saint was brushed aside by Monika-kaichou and Benito-kyou.
“Steph, for this kind of rotten head, it’s better to go through suffering once.”
“Who’s going to go through suffering here, huh?
I’m sorry for Stephania-sama, but this time my pride is on the line.
Even if you’re the Saint, if you get in my way I won’t forgive you.
Well, I don’t think there’s anything Steph-sama, who is a decoration of the Public Morals Committee, can do.”
“Ara, how rare for our opinions to match.”
Those words changed the Saint Stephania’s atmosphere a bit.
“Benito-san says something quite eccentric.
Monika-san is joking too much.
Saying I’m a decoration.”
Magic power also overflowed from Saint Steph.
It was silver magic power, as if symbolizing the Saint, of the light attribute.
“If you two don’t stop fighting, I’ll have to do my best too.”
The atmosphere of the students around was a bit strange because of the magic power of the three.
I would normally support Monika-kaichou and Saint Steph.
“What kind of atmosphere is this?”
“This, is it okay…?”
An explosive situation where enormous magic powers are overflowing.
The area became confused by this strange atmosphere.
This might be too much pressure, and Katrina beside me was also petrified.
“These are the Three Committees.
The presidents of the associations with the most power and greatest strength in the Tsukuyomi Magic Academy.”
Yes, these are the Three Committees.
The place that is the top of the school, which only has strong and talented people, and is one of the checkpoints I aim for, and in the end…
“They are the people I must surpass.”
Eh, Katrina looked at me in surprise.
She must have thought the students around her were in a state of imminent danger when she saw the presidents of the Three Committees glaring at each other.
I don’t feel that.
Anyone who belongs to or knows more about the Three Committees organization must feel the same as Katrina.
First of all, I know that journalism club woman who was defeated by Benito-kyou there.
That’s why I understand.
Ah, more than that…
“Ara, ara.
What on earth is this situation?”
I wondered if something would start from this, but it seems that’s not the case.
“Director, Hanamura Marino.”
Someone around me muttered.
It was Marino-san, the school director, who appeared.
I looked at her and nodded slightly.
It’s true that Marino-san is the right person to calm things down in this place.
“Monika-san, I want to talk a little about the Student Council…”
When she said that, Monika dispersed her magic power and glared at Benito-kyou.
And left this place with Marino-san.
And the Saint left because she must have been worried about the woman from before.
All that was left was Benito-kyou.
Benito-kyou shrugged his shoulders at the crowd and started walking toward me.
And he stopped walking when he looked at us.
“A maid, huh.”
Then, looking at Nanami in her maid outfit and me standing next to her, he looked at me and raised the corner of his mouth.
And, he hit Nanami with magic power.
“You guys, you know, aren’t confusing this place with a playground, are you?”
Nanami didn’t flinch.
On the contrary, she stepped forward to prevent the magic power from reaching me, so I blocked it and stood in front of Nanami.
I confronted Benito, one of the absolute powers of the Tsukuyomi Magic Academy, the Minister of Ceremonial Affairs of the Shikibu Kai of the Three Committees.
“Any problem with my Maid?”
“Any problem?
There’s nothing but problems with her, right?
Did you just come here to flirt with your maid?
In that case, you don’t even need to come to school, why don’t you just stay at your house?
If you can even hire a maid.
Then you’re not poor, right?”
Benito-kyou then glared at Katrina.
“Can you waste time in a place like this?
You don’t even have talent, so you should at least work hard a little, right?”
The magic power that hit me went toward Katrina.
I noticed Katrina shake her body in surprise when exposed to the massive magic power.
This is Benito-kyou’s magic power, of the Shikibu Kai.
The pressure Katrina is receiving by taking this head-on must be causing impressive fear in her.
However, if you look only at the quantity of magic power, it’s only at that level.
It’s extremely inferior to my magic power.
Maybe that’s why?
I didn’t find it scary at all.
I decided to laugh fearlessly at Benito-kyou.
“HahahHahahaha, hahahahahahahahahaha!”
The area went silent, as if the temperature around had dropped a few degrees.
They must have been surprised.
After all, I laughed fearlessly at Benito Evangelista, the president of the Shikibu Kai, the Minister of Ceremonial Affairs, who is the master of evil.
“What’s wrong, just because you’re the top of one of the Three Committees, I thought you had great eyes.”
Benito-kyou’s facial expression crumbled for a moment, and the shock of the people around must have been great.
“Listen, Benito Evangelista-kyou.
The girls you made fools of are a mass of potential from my point of view, you know?
Are you blind or something?”
I cast a glance backward.
Katrina was surprised, but Nanami was as always.
“You can only laugh for now.
I, Nanami, and Katrina will soon surpass you.”
When I said that, Benito-kyou laughed, Fufu, after a while.
“Hee, then how about you show me.
I’m praying it’s not just talk.”
Benito-kyou smiled and left the place.
I breathed a little and calmed my mind.
And at the same time I turned to Katrina and Nanami, a shock came to my stomach.
While holding my belly, I glared at the girl who attacked me.
“Uh, why?”
“What are you doing?
I’m going to hit you.”
“No, don’t say that after hitting me…”
Apparently, it was Katrina who hit my stomach.
Her cheeks were puffed out and she glared at me in a sullen manner.
“Hey, what are you really doing?”
“No, it’s because…”
“It’s true I flinched a little inside the magic power… but wait a moment.
After that, I was planning to answer him!”
She seems to be very angry that I sold a fight.
But.
“Well, well.
I just told the truth.”
“Ha?”
“I thought Katrina can really surpass Benito-kyou.”
Katrina looked perplexed.
What a cute reaction is that?
“For me too, you know, but I think it’s still hard to beat Benito-kyou, who is a member of the Three Committees and is the Minister of Ceremonial Affairs.”
They, the Three Committees, are strong, and none of them is clearly a weak member.
And the people I met today are especially strong.
“I thought when I was fighting against Katrina and then when she told me she was going to surpass me.
This girl is going to be big.
Well, I thought Iori and Ludi would be big too.”
After all, I know.
This twin-tailed main heroine who appears on the game cover played an active role in any Dungeon.
She was many times more active than Takioto Kousuke.
However, however, you know.
I continued to speak to Katrina, who made a face like a pigeon that took a blowgun dart: Unfortunately, you see.
“It’s already decided I’ll be the strongest, so no matter how hard you try, you can at most be the second strongest.
Sorry.”
“Goshujin-sama, I am the second, so Katrina-sama is the third.”
Katrina laughed when she heard what Nanami and I said.
“Hey, you two, master-servant, what are you talking about…?”
She shrugged her shoulders and smiled, saying Yare yare on purpose.
It was a fearless smile I’d seen many times in the game.
“It’s obvious the strongest is going to be me!
I have no intention of losing to you guys and Iori, got it?”
With that said, she turned her back and started walking.
But after a few steps, she stopped.
“Ah, that’s right, Kousuke!”
She continued with her back to me and called out.
“What is it?”
“Thanks for defending me.
You today… Just a little, was cool.”
Saying that, she ran off.