Is this a punishment for me?

“Miroku-senpai, over here!”

The amusement park, which had been a place of joy just moments ago, had transformed into a hellscape. Rubble rained down onto the attractions, and the asphalt was torn up in massive chunks.

“Let’s escape the park before the gate closes! The Apis Council should be sending enforcers any moment now.”

He grabbed my hand, his voice filled with urgency.

Just minutes earlier, he had smiled at me. He had even shed tears for me.

But now, look at him.

“Tch, the damage is worse than I thought. We’ll have to take a detour. Can you still run?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

His face, illuminated by the surrounding flames, was desperate.

I never wanted to make him wear such an expression.

If I had just listened to him and returned to the academy back then… Regret wells up inside me, endlessly.

“…”

Is this punishment for making that selfish request?

For trying to leave something behind before I vanish?

For wishing someone would remember me?

“Miroku-senpai!”

“Ah.”

His voice snapped me back to reality. Before us, shadowy tendrils loomed.

Just as they were about to pierce through us, Kei-kun slashed them apart with his short blade.

“The paralysis isn’t spreading across them. Each one must be acting as an independent lifeform…”

Even in a situation like this, Kei-kun remained calm, analyzing the enemy while protecting me. Seeing him like that, I finally summoned my weapon.

He always said it was a rapier, but it wasn’t. It was an imperfect straight sword.

“I can protect myself too. From here, let’s evacuate while rescuing any civilians we find.”

“…Alright.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Kei-kun nodded with determination. It seemed I was one of the people he felt he had to protect.

If Mizuhi or Toa had been here, I’m sure he would have made a different choice.

“That said, it looks like most people have already evacuated. As expected of an amusement park in the Academy City.”

Academy City often deals with chaos. There are even a few incidents every year where tourists get caught up in academy conflicts.

As a result, their emergency manuals were more thorough than anywhere else.

Still, there were always people who couldn’t escape in time.

“Miroku-senpai, over there.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

A bit off from the evacuation route, we spotted a small child crouched in the wreckage of a collapsed food stall.

We weren’t the only ones who had noticed the child—shadowy tendrils were closing in, ready to take its life.

“I’ll clear the path ahead. Miroku-senpai, please protect the child.”

“Understood.”

Kei-kun exhaled briefly, then dashed forward. In a blink, he had sliced through the tendrils, creating a path to the child.

I sprinted down the path, reaching the child in no time.

“It’s okay now.”

“Uwahhh!”

The terrified child, nearly in a panic, clung to me. I hugged them and patted their head.

“It’s okay, really. We’re very strong explorers. You’re safe now.”

“Miroku-senpai, let’s go. The path is clear.”

Kei-kun, panting heavily, called out to me. I looked back to see several severed tendrils scattered across the ground.

Even while I had my back turned, he’d been fighting for me.

“Can you stand? Let’s run together with the big sisters.”

“Y-yeah…”

Although the child’s eyes were still swollen, they seemed to have calmed down a little and started running with me, hand in hand.

Truthfully, I wanted to carry them, but in this situation, I couldn’t afford to lose my weapon.

“Where are Mom and Dad?”

Now that the child was more composed, they seemed to be able to think about others besides themselves. They asked this while we ran.

I was at a loss for words at the sudden question. The fact that the child was there alone in that place pointed to a very high possibility.

As I struggled to find the words, Kei-kun, running beside me, spoke up.

“They’re alive. Everyone evacuated ahead. So, you should keep going too.”

It was a lie.

However, it seemed to give the child some hope.

“Okay! I’ll do my best!”

“Good, that’s the spirit!”

We ran through the amusement park together. The grounds were vast, as they used a dungeon, and keeping pace with the child meant our evacuation was slow.

Should I carry the child and have Kei-kun fight?

As I was contemplating this, something in the distance caught my attention.

“What is that…”

Even as I ran, my eyes were drawn to it.

In the center of the amusement park, where the building used as a hotel stood, there was a giant black monster.

It was a horrifying creature, resembling both a flower and an octopus.

But could that thing even be called a living being?

Just imagining it having life made me feel a deep disgust.

“…Uroboros.”

Kei-kun muttered bitterly. It seemed like an unconscious slip of the tongue, and he didn’t realize I heard him.

Kei-kun is definitely fighting something.

I don’t think I can be of any help.

No, this isn’t the time to be thinking about that. I corrected myself at that moment.

“Miroku-senpai!”

“Huh?”

Before I realized it, shadowy tentacles were right in front of me.

At the same time, I understood. These tentacles could appear from anywhere there was a shadow.

Given the current state, where shadows were cast irregularly by the fire, escaping them was nearly impossible.

Up until now, we had only dealt with the tentacles that were already there. That’s why we let them get this close without noticing.

I thought quickly. There was less than a second.

Which life should I prioritize?

“…!”

I pushed the child toward Kei-kun and readied my sword to slice through the tentacles.

One strike.

I certainly managed to slice the tentacle.

But that was all.

“Aah…”

The next tentacle pierced me with ease.

Strangely, there was no pain, only heat.

“Ugh… aah!”

I cut through the tentacle that impaled me, defeating the second one.

Perhaps because it had inflicted a fatal wound, the tentacles disappeared back into the shadows.

It seemed they had a nature of hiding in shadows and striking at openings. Their danger level was equivalent to B-rank.

Even if it hadn’t happened here, it was probably only a matter of time before I ended up like this.

“Kei…kun…”

By now, calling his name was all I could manage.

The strength drained from my limbs, and I collapsed to the ground. I could feel my body rapidly losing heat.

“—”

I could hear his voice shouting.

But my hearing was already failing, and I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

I had been impaled in the torso. There was no escaping death.

I calmly acknowledged this.

Yet, there was still something I had to do.

If I died here, Mizuhi or little Toa would be chosen.

A part of me was urging myself to hold on.

Facing death, countless versions of myself surfaced.

And every one of them, without exception, was swallowed by the darkness. In the end, I too—

■

Death was there.

Right in front of my eyes, death existed.

“Miroku-senpai!”

I rushed over to Miroku-senpai, who had collapsed.

The shadows created by the fire flickered as if they were mocking us.

“Miroku-senpai, Miroku-senpai, please!”

There was no response.

No, her breathing was rapidly weakening.

Was it because I didn’t run away?

Because I didn’t force her to retreat at that time?

Is that why Miroku-senpai ended up like this?

“…!”

In the end, she had called my name.

What had she been thinking when she said it?

Now, there was no way to know.

I could only despair at my own powerlessness, crying and screaming in anguish.

“There’s no reason for this!”

“Star-reading Staff, Sorciera!”

I hesitate not, because I’m doing this to save a beautiful girl.

The tentacles reappeared, perhaps thinking it was their chance after seeing me distracted by Miroku-senpai. But they all vanished from mere magical power release.

The Star-reading Staff is so strong.

I mean, normally I’m pretty weak.

“I won’t let you die. I won’t let you die…! Boy, come here. I’m going to put up a magic shield here!”

“Y-yeah.”

The kid obediently nodded at my words.

What a good kid. I’ll give him some candy later.

I created a perfectly safe area on the spot. No more interference from the tentacles. Though, now the option to escape has disappeared.

Miroku-senpai is still on the verge of death.

“I won’t let you die.”

I spin my thoughts rapidly.

I knew, thanks to the original story, there are techniques to revive someone from death or a near-death state. One of the most powerful methods is through the power of Shiyaku, one of the Demonsgear. If it’s right after death, it can bring someone back to life. There’s also a special healing nanomachine from the Jilnius Institute. And a dungeon that heals simply by being inside it.

I relentlessly sift through what I can use in this situation.

And finally, I found an answer—or rather, the answer was calling out to me.

‘■■■■■’

A voice. I can hear it clearly, forcefully.

It’s a voice filled with joy, as if it had been eagerly awaiting this moment.

‘■■■■■’

It was waiting for the contract.

Even with my knowledge of the original story, I couldn’t fully grasp its identity. But I understood it had the power to overturn this situation.

It tampered with my body, forcefully growing my hair. It even interfered with Mizuhi-senpai’s magical power.

If it can interfere to such a degree, then it can surely enhance Miroku-senpai’s self-healing ability, at least temporarily.

No, it can definitely do it.

Isn’t that right, Star-reading Staff?

‘■■’

I understand. Let’s make a contract.

‘■■■?’

The voice seemed slightly confused.

It seemed surprised that I was actually going to form a contract. To be fair, I’ve ignored you until now. I even considered selling you.

But this situation is different now.

Star-reading Staff, we’ll make a contract and live together from now on. And I’ll teach you something important.

‘?’

A beautiful girl must never die.

The end of a beautiful girl must always be a happy one.

‘????’

I will give you everything I have. In exchange, give me the power to save every beautiful girl.

Give me everything you have.

“Sorciera.”

I called its name.

As I always did.

Silence followed. The sounds of the surroundings vanished, and the colors faded.

The flames, Miroku-senpai, the child—everything froze.

In this gray world, before me stood a deep crimson coffin. Its bright red decorations stood out in this monochrome landscape. A red, cold iron coffin.

‘Rejoice.’

The coffin opened.

I knew then—there was no going back.

‘The Queen’s coffin has been inherited. A new star-reader is born here and now.’

Inside the coffin lay a black scythe, pulsating as if alive, waiting for me.

“…I’ll do it.”

I reached out and grabbed it. At the same time, an omnipotent sensation surged through my entire body, a torrent of overflowing power.

At the center of it all, there was undoubtedly me.

“—Hah.”

I swung the scythe horizontally. Instantly, the frozen scenery shattered, and the world started moving again.

“Uh, big brother?”

Ignoring the child’s confusion, I knelt beside Miroku-senpai. I began to focus my power on the wound at her torso.

Her regeneration ability, which should have been insufficient to overcome death, was temporarily boosted. I poured every ounce of my magical power into accelerating the healing process.

“Miroku-senpai… I haven’t repaid you for anything yet.”

The wound closed, and the bleeding stopped. I circulated magical power throughout her body, compensating for the lost blood.

“I won’t let you die.”

In about three seconds, Miroku-senpai regained her breath.

“—”

She didn’t regain consciousness, but her breathing stabilized, and her expression softened. The worst was over.

Yes! Let’s make today Miroku-senpai’s revival anniversary!

“Now then.”

I stood up. At the same time, my hair swayed with a soft sound.

This… again? The Star-reading Staff’s doing, huh.

‘Congratulations! From today, you’re my partner!’

So noisy. I can hear you more clearly than usual.

‘So, what will we do now? Oh, no need to say it—I already know. We’re one and the same, after all. I know what you’re thinking.’

A cheerful voice echoed in my head.

Well, if you know what I want, that’s fine. I’m going to beat up that monster who did this to Miroku-senpai.

Yes, it’s mysterious beautiful girl time!

‘But alas, you can’t dress as a girl now.’

What?

I’ll cancel this contract right now. Miroku-senpai’s safe, so I don’t need you anymore.

‘That attitude isn’t good, you know. Well, strictly speaking, it’s not that you can’t crossdress right now. It’s more like… you don’t need to.’

“Huh?”

A magic circle appeared beneath my feet.

What is this?

It rose from below, passing through my body. In an instant, my uniform transformed into the usual gothic lolita outfit.

This…! A quick-change technique…!

‘No, that’s not what you should be surprised about. Do you really want to become a beautiful girl?’

Of course! At my last moment, instead of reciting a death poem, I wished to become a girl.

‘Then rejoice. Place your hand on your chest.’

Place my hand… like this?

A soft sensation greeted my touch.

This… this is…!

‘Congratulations, Kei. You’ve become a beautiful girl at this very moment.’

“Ugh.”

I became aware of the difference in my body. No, the omnipotent sensation.

I could feel the beautiful girl energy, which supposedly only overflows in the body of a beautiful girl, swelling inside me. The certainty that the world revolves around me.

Without a doubt, I had become a beautiful girl.

Now that this has happened, there’s only one thing to do.

Super mysterious beautiful girl time!!

“—Did I surprise you?”

I turned to the boy. From his perspective, I must have suddenly turned into a beautiful girl. But it’s not a dream.

“Can I ask you to take care of her?”

The boy nodded, still in shock.

“That’s right. Good boy.”

I smiled softly and patted his head.

At the same time, I distorted his preferences.

From now on, you’ll only be able to get excited about mysterious beautiful girls who usually dress as boys…

“Well then.”

I placed candy in his hand and dashed out of the magic shield. I also reinforced the shield to ensure it would hold without me.

“Yoooooosh! Let’s go!”

‘Your tone…’

“Let’s go, Star-reading Staff. The world is calling us.”

‘I’ve always wondered, what kind of worldview are you living in?’

I’ll teach you all about it later. ♥

‘Yikes.’

With the Star-reading Staff trembling in fear, I leapt from roof to roof, heading toward where the monster was.

To the original story zone, where the main characters are.

I’ll show them this form. Let them understand that a new beautiful girl has been born.

Breaking the original story is taboo, but just for now, I’ll be forgiven.

Because I’m a beautiful girl!!!

■

At the same time, at a hideout on the outskirts of Kiso Academy District…

“—Ah.”

Suddenly, Eina dropped the cup she was holding. She stared in shock at her trembling hands, then at the glass and water scattered on the floor.

A voice filled with irritation came from the back of the room.

“Eina! Don’t dirty the room, you know who cleans it!”

“Ah, ahh…”

Rokuhara, as usual, called out to Eina with a tilted head. Normally, she would offer some excuse, deflecting responsibility. But today, she remained silent. Curious, Rokuhara finally looked at her, realizing something was wrong.

“What’s up, Eina?”

He approached her, looking into her face for the first time. Their eyes met.

“Hah, hah, lead… Leader.”

“Calm down. I’m right here.”

Rokuhara patted her head like a child, pulling her close. Yet, Eina’s condition remained unchanged.

“What’s wrong, Eina?”

“It’s over… we’re… done for.”

Clinging to the last bit of reason within her, Eina managed to force the words out.

It was something she knew instinctively—one of the Demongear, attuned to sensing such shifts, was the first to grasp the truth.

“Our elder sister… has awakened.”