Tsukimiya Toa.

I call her Toa-chan in my mind.

She’s a first-year student with distinctive blonde hair, who seems somewhat timid.

Yes, she’s my age and the only classmate I have.

Once Mizuhisa-senpai and Miroku-senpai graduate, it’ll just be the two of us. …Awkward!

“L-let’s do our best today!”

“Oh, okay.”

Toa-chan probably doesn’t like me very much.

Even now, she reacts to every little thing I do.

It’s only natural to be wary of someone like me.

After all, I’m a filthy monster thrown into a lily garden.

It’s common for a man intruding in a yuri space to bear a heavy burden.

Damn, if only I were a beautiful girl, things wouldn’t be like this…!

“How do you usually handle rescues?”

“I usually accompany Mizuhisa-senpai on rescue missions.”

“I see…! When I go with Mizuhisa-chan, it’s the same. So, today…”

“…For now, let’s walk around the special district.”

“Y-yes!”

In the early afternoon. Unlike when I was with Mizuhisa-senpai, we had plenty of time.

Unlike Mizuhisa-senpai, who has already successfully completed numerous rescues, I don’t get specific requests for dungeon rescues.

So, we start by finding the rescue signals displayed on the map, but today there seem to be fewer dungeons.

There are no rescues at a suitable difficulty level for us.

“I’d like to handle at least one rescue. If we do nothing, Mizuhisa-chan might push herself too hard again.”

“That’s true. It would be nice if we had at least one rescue. Or a dungeon?”

We walk around the special district, hoping to encounter a dungeon.

Although the chance is slim, if we find a dungeon, we can earn money by transferring the rights to someone else, or get the core ourselves if we can conquer it.

“We rarely see dungeons… There are many front-line schools in this area.”

Toa-chan says, unable to hide her sadness.

As she says, the outskirts of the special district are filled with many school buildings.

These are not really schools but observation posts to quickly respond to dungeons, and no classes are held there.

Still, to maintain the appearance of a school, they look like school buildings.

But I know that all the buildings surrounding the special district are fortified enough to withstand even thermobaric bombs.

“If we find a dungeon, there might be competition with other students.”

If that happens, our chances of winning are slim.

If I were Sorciera and my partner were Mizuhisa-senpai, we might stand a chance against anyone but the Four Great Schools, but now it’s just me without my disguise and Toa-chan.

It’s like throwing two Maltese puppies into the savannah. Yikes.

“I-I don’t like conflicts. …Or duels.”

“Duels? Well, we might have a better chance that way than being outnumbered.”

The competition for dungeon rights intensifies with higher-ranked dungeons.

For high-difficulty B-rank dungeons, it’s almost like a full-scale war between schools.

But for lower-ranked D-rank dungeons, it’s often settled by duels since making a fuss is a waste of time.

If we’re to get a dungeon, it’ll be through this method.

“Haha. Well, finding a dungeon isn’t that easy.”

“Y-yes. Haha.”

“Haha… huh???”

Toa-chan and I spoke in unison.

In the blazing sun, not even summer yet, we spotted something floating in front of us.

A vortex in the space.

A distortion of time and space, a starting point for invasion into this world.

Yes.

“A dungeon!?”

■

At the same time, Mizuhisa was lying on a bed.

No, it might be better described as being under house arrest.

Miroku was near the door, organizing documents while keeping watch.

“Are you worried?”

Miroku muttered while looking at the documents.

“Yes.”

Mizuhisa replied briefly, looking out the window.

The sky, fixed in clear weather, was a pleasant blue.

Soon, early summer would come to Fectom.

“We will eventually graduate, leaving Kei and Toa behind. …Or perhaps the school will fall apart sooner.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

Miroku smiled faintly.

“Since Kei-kun joined, our debt repayment speed has slightly improved. And with the four of us, we might really win the Battle Festival.”

“If we win, will they keep their promise?”

“We’ll make them keep it. Even if they don’t, many companies will support a school strong enough to win the Battle Festival.”

“You seem to be having fun lately.”

Mizuhisa said, looking at Miroku.

Miroku tilted her head, looking puzzled.

“Do I?”

“Yes. You smile more, like you used to.”

“Mizuhisa, you’re smiling too. Did you notice?”

“…I didn’t.”

Mizuhisa touched her cheeks, then coughed to hide her embarrassment.

“Anyway, eventually those two will lead this Fectom. Kei’s paralyzing poison and Toa’s weapons are a good match. I agree with letting them gain experience here.”

“You seem anxious, though.”

“Those two should’ve started with practice. Toa has little combat experience, and while Kei is fine against monsters, he struggles in fights against people. His experience in that area is lacking.”

These were words spoken from watching the two.

From Mizuhisa’s perspective, the two had high potential compared to others their age.

But they couldn’t fully utilize it yet.

No, perhaps it’s more accurate to say that Fectom Comprehensive Academy didn’t provide the environment to fully develop their potential.

“You’re quite the worrier.”

“What about you?”

“I’m a little worried. …But I believe Kei-kun can take care of Toa-chan.”

“Yeah… I think so too.”

A serious-faced male student came to mind.

With silver-blue hair and eyes that seemed to capture the farthest part of the sky.

Mizuhisa felt a strange sense of security when she was with him.

“From now on, we’ll pair them up for dungeon rescues.”

To her muttered words, a gentle voice responded, “That sounds good.”

They hoped the two would surpass them and become full-fledged explorers, and were determined to preserve the school for their sake.

The situation surrounding Fectom Comprehensive Academy remained dire.

But Mizuhisa Terukami knew she had to fight against it.

For that, she had to—

(If I can reach the sensation I had during that convergent bombardment…)

An unprecedented higher stage for herself.

Even if it was built on various unreasonable and coincidental factors.

(I can become stronger.)

The flame was definitely there.