Kiraboshi’s smile, with her eyes narrowed, was full of deep affection.
Like a mother cherishing her child.
Calmly.
As if giving thanks to everything born into this world…
“Thank you. I’m grateful that you were such an easy-to-understand villain. I’m truly happy.”
“Wh-!”
“You see, I’ve been a little irritated lately with Shirogasaki-san.
She’s a natural at irritating people without meaning to. And that irritated me.
…But, she doesn’t resort to violence against me.
She talks about dreams like a lower elementary schooler with a straight face, and believes they’ll come true.
I dislike her, but I hadn’t yet reached the point where I could just punch her for that reason alone, and society wouldn’t allow it either. …But.”
With a rustle, she approached, her shoes making noise.
Imoutoya, sensing a bad premonition, was overwhelmed by her spirit… and before she knew it, thud, her back hit the wall of the Dungeon.
A devil approached.
Grinning, twisting her angelic smile into something wicked.
“You stayed just as you were. Thank you for remaining a piece of human garbage. You’re much weaker and easier to understand than Shirogasaki-san…”
Hee hee, the woman distorted her face grotesquely—
“Thank you for being a jobber, just like your last name implies.”
“Wh, at?”
“And… what was it? Ah, leaving evidence behind… was it?”
As if remembering,
“It’s true that using certain Skills or weapons leaves behind Magical Residue. I don’t know much about it, but apparently using powerful Skills or special weapon attacks can cause problems later.”
“Tch, that’s right. That’s why you can’t touch me. There’s no point in acting tough!”
“But I learned something from Sensei. –Sensei doesn’t use Skills at all during combat, except for disarming traps.”
As far as Kiraboshi had seen, Kageichi had used nothing but normal attacks against that Behemoth, except for the final blow.
He had fired some amazing bow five times in a row, and his Magical Power was off the charts, but they were just normal attacks with no attributes or special effects.
Even if he did use something, it was a tool… like a Flamethrower or insecticide, nothing particularly amazing.
Just something you could buy at the store.
He almost never used the flashy Skills unique to weapons or to the Streamer themselves.
Why?
The answer was simple.
Because it was safe and secure, of course. In other words—
“In other words, Imoutoya-san. Normal attacks leave almost no Magical Residue. And minor injuries can be converted into Magical Damage and won’t remain on the body. As long as you don’t die or go missing. And if it’s within the range that won’t be recorded.”
“Wh… what are you trying to say…?”
“In other words—this is what I mean.”
Kiraboshi was truly, smiling.
Enjoying herself from the bottom of her heart as she drew back her fist,
And forcefully buried her fist into Imoutoya’s pretty stomach.
It was a magnificent gut punch.
“Gefuuh!? A, gah!?”
“It seems you’ve been studying your head, but you haven’t had gym class yet. Well then, let’s study with our bodies today, Imoutoya-chan?”
“N, o, giih…!”
Gah, gosu, she added two more gut punches, then twisted her fist on her stomach as if turning a screw, adding even more pain.
Imoutoya’s face twisted in agony, and Kiraboshi, thrilled by the pleasure of it, distorted her lips in ecstasy.
“Excuse me, can I have another?”
“Hih…”
“Ah, I can’t hold back… I’m sorry, I’m actually a bad person. I’ve been irritated lately. So, please take my frustrations out on you. Okay?”
“W, ait, stop, help, geboh!”
Another punch, without hesitation, into her gut.
Ah, it feels so good. Dungeons are the best!
It’s so refreshing, and even more thrilling—!
I’ve never experienced it, but I bet this is the kind of pleasure you feel when you’re held by the man you love—I thought, and realized I’d already landed two more blows.
Looking down at Imoutoya, who was clutching her stomach and collapsing, Kiraboshi raised her foot to stomp on the back of her head—wait, hold on.
If there were shoe prints on the back of her head, it could become strange evidence.
First, safety and security. I must follow Sensei’s teachings.
But instead… Kiraboshi grabbed Imoutoya’s hair, forcefully pulling up her face, and grinned.
“I’ll spare your face this time. …It’s not because evidence will remain, okay? I’m stopping so I can save it for next time.”
“Wh…!”
“It’s a good thing this is the first floor of the Nagi Plains. If you wanted to, you could be near people. You’ve been spared.”
While tormenting her, Kiraboshi calmly considered that making Imoutoya go missing would be dangerous.
Imoutoya seemed to be planning to pin all the blame on Kazami and get rid of Kiraboshi… but the Labyrinth Agency wasn’t that lenient of an organization.
In fact, Sensei was most wary of the Labyrinth Agency to avoid getting caught, and the black-suited people I met before—Goto-san and Torako-san—were very competent employees.
If Imoutoya had completed this plan… both Imoutoya and Kazami would have been caught for sure.
Kiraboshi was still a fledgling Hunter.
She wouldn’t do anything beyond her capabilities, and she wouldn’t cross bridges that were too dangerous.
Within the range of what she could do now.
Enjoying herself within the safety and security she could manage was probably the most she could do.
“Ah, Imoutoya-san. One last thing, okay?”
“Wh… geh, hoh…”
“You’re… weaker than I thought.”
“!?”
“I used to be terribly afraid of you and Aneki-san… but I’m relieved. You’re ‘below’ me, …can I say it clearly?”
Finally, Kiraboshi crouched down and, to Imoutoya, who was biting her lip in fear—
“If it’s just a small fry like you, I can take you on anytime now.”
“—Wh, at.”
“But destroying you over time would be… more fun, I think.”
Aneki-san broke so easily.
Now that I think about it, it was a waste… you know. It’s a waste to eat a candy in one bite, right?
You have to lick it slowly, savor it with your tongue, melt it until it’s gooey, and then swallow it… right?
After whispering in her ear, she quietly moved away from Imoutoya, who had turned completely pale.
Kiraboshi hurriedly returned through the “Butterfly Room” and ran through the Dungeon.
It went well. I think I’m okay.
But I can’t let my guard down.
Tighten your helmet straps after winning. Don’t forget the performance until the end—she admonished herself as she hurried through the passage.
Just as she reached the T-junction and saw Shirogasaki and a Hunter-like employee rushing over, Kiraboshi screamed—
“Shirogasaki-san!”
“Ah, Kiraboshi-san! Where did the man and Imoutoya-san go…? Eh?”
As soon as she ran to Shirogasaki, Kiraboshi jumped on her with large tears in her eyes.
Clinging to her.
As if frightened.
Shaking like a helpless and weak High School Girl, she lowered her face.
“That man, he tried to rape me. He was deceiving us! And Imoutoya-san was beaten, so I ran away in a panic.”
“Assaulted…? No way…”
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t save Imoutoya-san… b-but it’s not too late now, please, help me—please save my friend!”
Crying loudly, she hugged Shirogasaki—
“Ah. What if Imoutoya-san was assaulted… Shirogasaki-san invited me, but to have something like this happen…”
“Tch…”
Kiraboshi, seeing Shirogasaki flinch, stuck out her red tongue where no one could see.
It’s your fault Imoutoya was attacked, Shirogasaki—she pricked her heart with poison as she hugged her and sniffled.
There was no way Imoutoya or Kazami could tell the truth.
It was clear from Shirogasaki’s testimony that Kiraboshi had tried to help Kazami. Despite that, the story that Kiraboshi attacked them would be strange no matter how you tried to spin it.
The most Imoutoya could do was agree with Kiraboshi and claim that she was also attacked by the man.
In other words, I’m once again—a “poor victim” who was attacked by a man.
…How is it, Sensei?
I’m growing properly, aren’t I…?