I was moved to tears.

Not only did I meet the protagonist, but I also met the main heroine.

Since I had quickly settled in and completed my transfer procedures after possessing this body, I had no involvement with the original characters.

This is the first time we’re meeting like this, isn’t it?

From the latest volume of the original work, it looks like you’ve successfully started dating Touraku-kun. Congratulations!

Futaba Mihaya.

She is the protagonist’s childhood friend, a tsundere with twin tails, burdened with the overwhelming role of the “losing heroine.” Yet, she became the main heroine by a landslide—a truly remarkable person.

Later, she becomes an A-rank, incredibly strong explorer, a reliable partner.

Especially her unique ability to “always take the first lethal blow” is terrifying. If she’s your enemy, you can easily die.

“What is it? Do you have a problem with what I said?”

“No, not really. It’s just annoying, so hurry up and get lost.”

“Huh!? Touraku, let’s duel again! And then, beat me up! If you don’t want to, I’ll do the duel!”

“Eh, Mihaya, no! You can’t!”

“Sigh. She’s as loud as ever.”

And that’s her strength.

Whenever the protagonist feels like giving up, she’s always there beside him, holding his hand.

She’s such a wonderful woman.

I particularly recommend the wedding illustration from volume six’s bonus content—her wedding dress is stunning!

“Excuse me, did one of my students do something?”

“Ah, Mizuhi-senpai…”

I almost forgot about her.

Sorry, Senpai. I was lost in thought and drifted back to being a reader.

…Senpai? Why are you glaring at the two of them like that? Senpai!?

“You, what’s your deal?”

“I’m Teruue Mizuhi, vice president of the student council at Fectom General Academy. If you plan to duel with one of my students, you’ll need to clear it with me first. Though, frankly, people like you won’t even come close to being a match for Kei.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Is it a duel you want with me?”

“W-Wait, Mihaya!”

“Mizuhi-senpai, please hold back. I’m fine with it.”

I quickly calmed both Touraku-kun and the others.

Sorry about that, our senpai is like this. She’s not usually like this. She just makes excuses to fight. …Well, I guess that’s just normal for her.

“Ah, this is tough for both of us,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “Huh? Wait a second… There’s one person missing.”

“Touraku.”

“Y-Yes?”

“What about Lutra?”

Touraku-kun’s strongest Demonsgear, Lutra-chan, was nowhere to be seen.

She’s a little girl with white hair and blue eyes.

Usually, she’s with Touraku-kun, but for some reason, I can’t find her.

In these kinds of conflicts, she always asks, “Touraku, can I cut this one?” and Touraku-kun usually stops her.

“Oh, Lutra is at Mikage Academy. Word about Demonsgear spread through the academy city, so the student council president asked to keep her indoors for safety.”

“I see…”

So, it’s not my fault?

More specifically, is it not me and the streamer’s fault?

Sorry, Lutra-chan. You were always so excited to go out, and I just took that opportunity away from you.

“…Why does Kei-kun know about Lutra?”

“Huh? You know about her…”

Wait, what!?

I shouldn’t know about this!

When I fought Nakaki Kei, Lutra was still in a tentative contract with me.

I didn’t know her name or anything. I certainly didn’t know she was a girl, so Kei shouldn’t know that either.

What should I do? Did I get carried away and say something unnecessary?

“It’s none of your business. I don’t have any obligation to answer.”

“…!? Could it be that you locked her in that dungeon on purpose?”

“I can guess what you’re thinking… but that’s impossible.”

It’s definitely impossible.

Nakaki Kei is just a dumb idiot.

He’s the kind of throwaway character who just licks a knife.

“…Kei, it’s time to go. We’ve received a rescue request.”

“Yeah.”

Nice timing, Mizuhi-senpai!

Later, I’ll sell my Sorciera and treat you to some meat. Please look forward to it.

“W-Wait!”

I want to wait!

But I can’t.

Touraku-kun, I’ll be secretly cheering you on from the shadows!

I ignored the protagonist’s call to stop and left the scene.

■

“He, he left…”

“Hmph, let’s just forget about that guy! That Mizuhi person, too, she’s so blinded by that idiot that she doesn’t even see it. She’ll get what’s coming to her.”

Mihaya said, snorting in displeasure.

But Touraku was different.

“Do you think Kei-kun is really that bad?”

“Huh!? Do you even understand what he did!? He left us in that dungeon!? Without any Dive Gear! Without Lutra, who knows what would have happened?”

“—Right, Lutra was there. And I think Kei-kun knew about that.”

“Huh?”

Touraku recalled the first time he met Kei today. Kei had ignored him when he tried to speak to him, staring at him like he was sizing up his body.

“He knew Lutra’s name, too.”

“That’s just something he overheard somewhere.”

“If that was the case, there’s no way he would have replied with ‘I see.’ I said Lutra was a Demonsgear and that I left her behind. If Kei had recognized her as just a girl, he would have been surprised right then.”

But Kei only calmly answered.

There was no shock, no thought, just acceptance like it was the most natural thing.

That’s clear proof that he knows about Demonsgear.

“Now that you mention it… Wait, that student, Mizuhi, said she was from Fectom General Academy, right?”

“Yeah, she did.”

“That’s the academy where the Demonsgear was discovered. …Could it be that Kei knew about it?”

Touraku nodded.

“Kei-kun was unusually polite to her. Actually, his behavior toward us was too obvious. It was like he was trying to be disliked… Did he need to act like that at Mikage Academy? And it was strange that he approached me, someone who had been unrelated to him until that point. Is it normal to pick on someone you had nothing to do with? No, I need to rethink everything from the beginning—”

Just as he was about to dig deeper into his thoughts, Touraku felt a light tap on his forehead.

Looking up, Mihaya was holding her hand in the air after flicking his forehead.

“You’re thinking too much. Whatever he’s planning, we just need to do what we can. Anyway, we’re going to Ariánrod, right?”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks.”

Touraku thanked her and headed toward the only elevator leading to Ariánrod.

(Kei-kun, what exactly are you after?)

The answer to that question didn’t seem to come anytime soon.