Becoming a beautiful girl is a universal dream of humanity.

This has been spoken of in a common language since the time when the Tower of Babel existed.

――Isn’t a world full of cute girls great?

If I could become a beautiful girl, that would be even better.

That’s why, as I was nearing death, I made a wish.

In that fleeting moment, less than a second before a reckless truck ignored a red light and turned my body into minced meat, I prayed.

“Please, God, next time make me a beautiful girl, a beautiful girl, a beautiful girl――”

If I could pay a large sum to reincarnate and become a beautiful girl, I’d do it!

“But… why…”

I let out a sigh, unsure how many times I’ve done so since being born into this world.

To get straight to the point:

I didn’t become a beautiful girl.

There are bad stories, and there are bad stories, which would you like to hear first?

Okay. Let’s start with the bad one.

I was born a boy. No, it’s more like when I woke up, I was a boy.

Now for the bad news――

“I’m the stepping stone!?”

It seems I’ve possessed the role of the early-stage foil male character.

And, to make matters worse, I’ve possessed him after he’s already been trampled on.

■

I’ve reincarnated.

The body I’ve possessed belongs to a man named Narou Kei.

From his name, you’d think he’s the lifelong honorary protagonist of a “Narou-style” story, but that’s not the case.

This guy is a typical early-stage foil character from a social media advertisement type of story.

“This face, I recognize it.”

I remember reading a manga about modern-day dungeons.

The title was Mirrored Realm of Lutra.

The plot was typical for an internet novel, but the manga artist’s skill was excellent, and I looked forward to each update. I even bought several volumes of the spin-off novel series.

The general plot goes like this:

The protagonist, cast out from a noble family, contracts with a special girl who can become a weapon in a modern-day dungeon and rises to success in a light-hearted, refreshing adventure.

And I, I am the foil male character who starts the chain of events.

I tried to send the protagonist to his death by throwing him into a dungeon, but inside the dungeon, a girl was sealed, and the protagonist contracts with her, successfully conquering the dungeon.

Kei challenges the protagonist to a duel upon his return, but is defeated pathetically, and all his previous misdeeds are exposed and punished.

His family cuts off support, and he loses everything.

Rescue measures? There are none.

“My account… 1,300 yen.”

I throw the passbook aside.

I’ve only been reincarnated for three days.

After the truck collision, I woke up in this body.

The place that seems to be his room is in disarray. He probably rampaged after losing to the protagonist.

I’ve spent three days cleaning up, trying to adjust my common sense, and now I’m here.

“Ugh, I’m almost done for…”

You usually start these things from when you’re a baby… but here I am, being told to start after everything’s already over. What am I supposed to do with a save that’s already lost?

And more importantly:

“Why… why am I not a girl!? Aaahhh!!!”

I’m furious.

I’ll accept being the foil character.

I’ll tolerate the harsh reality.

But why… why must I be a boy in such a wonderful world!?

“I wanted to be a girl! I wanted to join some strange club and do the Kirara Jump!”

That was my only wish in life.

“Damn, damn, damn! Why is this happening to me!?”

I’m saying this while looking like the foil character, so these kinds of lines suit me well.

But I’m not happy about it. Not at all.

“Ugh… the original protagonist has it easy. Even if he can’t become a girl, he’s enjoying a harem… But I know he’s doing his best, so I can’t be jealous…”

The original protagonist, Touraku, is a hard-working hero. He’s a man who faces the affections of the heroines head-on. It’s wrong for me to direct negative emotions at him. I wish him happiness.

“Since Kei’s been judged, it’s probably around May of his first year in high school now… This is where the original story really begins. A lot of fun events await.”

I suddenly remember the original story.

The battle with the secretly created biological weapons in the dungeon.

The school tournament where the right to challenge an S-rank dungeon is up for grabs.

The war with the creatures known as angels.

A full-scale war with a dungeon modeled after the city of the academy.

As a reader, these events were very enjoyable.

Well, Touraku-kun does nearly die every time. Fans say it’s rare if he doesn’t get hurt.

“There are lucky harem events, too, and in fact, Touraku-kun even becomes a girl later… Ah.”

A shock runs through my brain.

It feels like a huge bolt of lightning struck me.

“That’s it. There’s still a chance…”

I realize it.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will come a year from now.

“There’s going to be a special dungeon where TS activates. A year from now, in this world!”

In the original story, it was a gag event that got brushed off.

But for me, it’s different!

“If it’s this… I might just be able to do it.”

I don’t need to rise to the top or clear my name.

I only need one thing: to become a beautiful girl.

And maybe… just maybe… I can reach that dream.

“Alright… I’ll start. The goal is TS in the modern dungeon academy life!”

Somehow, I found myself clenching my fist.

The dream I’ve longed for is coming closer in a year.

Then, I’ll strive for that dream!

“Now that it’s decided, I’ll transfer schools first!”

I immediately came up with a plan.

The setting of the story is a massive artificial island in the Pacific Ocean, the academy city of Hinotsuchi.

This city, with over a thousand schools, is also a huge educational facility for explorers who challenge dungeons.

Its characteristic is that most of the autonomy of the districts is managed by the students.

The city operates independently in collaboration with outside corporations.

And I, Narou Kei, am enrolled in the Mikage Academy.

One of the four major schools in Hinotsuchi, it’s a massive school with over 500,000 students, like a small city.

In this academy, certain skills and knowledge as an explorer are required, and Kei entered through financial means.

Technically, he’s from a prestigious family of explorers, so he has some talent, but he wasn’t particularly motivated and is weak in the story.

“This guy, he’s been attending the academy thanks to financial support, so he’s not on a scholarship or anything.”

Living alone in a huge apartment costs money, and with more money being spent, there’s no way to fix things on his own.

In the original story, he couldn’t pay and got expelled, joining a group of delinquents. Afterward, he tried to take revenge on Touraku-kun but got killed instead.

But since I’m here, I won’t let him walk down the same path. And I won’t let him stay a man either.

“Let’s find the cheapest place… the cheapest…”

I look up school listings on my phone.

First, I need to transfer.

Transfers are quite common in this academy city.

It’s more like a circle or club than a school, honestly.

There are a lot of different school cultures and self-governance, so finding a cheap place isn’t difficult.

“There it is! The lowest price, free dorms, and zero tuition… Zero!?!!?”

What kind of school is this!?

“Wait, it’s not a scam, right? Are they going to force me to buy some expensive jar later???”

I check the details.

Apparently, the number of students has drastically dropped, and it seems like they’re just desperate now.

But if it lasts a year and I can get involved in the TS event, that’s all I need.

To challenge dungeons, I need to be a student at some school.

I don’t care about the quality; I just need the student title.

“Fectom General Academy… Never heard of it.”

I don’t recognize it.

This school doesn’t even appear in the original story.

But I don’t mind.

“I’ll go to Fectom!”

For TS, I’ll do anything.