“Sorry for getting carried away.”

I am the jerk who destroyed the training grounds crafted with devotion by a cute girl.

“But I told you to stop, didn’t I? This is what happens when you don’t trust me.”

I have no comeback to that…

I only wanted to go back to basics, that’s all…

Mizuhi left in a hurry this morning, looking all distressed. Toa seems anxious, too. I’m seriously regretting my actions.

“This is what happens when you just wing it. Serves you right.”

The Star-Reading Staff uses this moment to hit me with some solid logic.

Damn it… I know it’s all my fault, so I can’t even argue back…

Apparently, within Mizuhi’s circle, they believe Miroku got caught up in something dangerous.

No way. She was just in the hospital with me.

There’s no way I’d let a cute girl be put in danger under my watch.

“Isn’t that a bit arrogant?”

Shut up.

Anyway, Mizuhi went to the hospital. Toa stayed behind to sort out documents. I’m here fixing the training grounds as an act of reflection.

“Hmm… that should do it.”

I started fixing it at five this morning, and now it’s nine. It took quite some time.

Guess the massive hole I made in the ground wasn’t a great idea. I got carried away, absorbing Mizuhi’s mana without permission.

“You even spouted off my analyses as if it were your own knowledge.”

A mysterious beauty must see through her opponent’s abilities at an early stage. If I get surprised by them, I’m second-rate.

By the way, I had no idea Mizuhi’s powers weren’t just fire and water. I was shocked.

“The human brain has limited processing capacity, so maybe she subconsciously put a limiter on herself to keep things manageable.”

That’s so cool. I want a limiter, too.

“Hm? You have one, you know?”

What?

“Did you really think a mere pervert like you could fully control me?”

I thought I was in full Super Mysterious Beauty Mode.

Does this mean I can still become more beautiful?

“Well… honestly, even I don’t fully understand Super Mysterious Beauty Mode. Like, why does my mana level increase just because I turn into a woman… that’s scary. And why can you use my functions without going through the proper steps…?”

Because I’m a mysterious beauty.

“That’s not a cure-all, you know.”

Then I don’t know.

More importantly, I need to move on to the next thing. As a trainee in the Mysterious Beauty Club, I’ll support my senpais!

“When you get enthusiastic, it usually doesn’t end well.”

Don’t worry. I’m just doing my usual dungeon rescue.

Since Mizuhi went to the hospital today, I’m filling in for her on dungeon rescue duty.

In other words, it’s an outing. I’ll use the opportunity to do some shopping, too.

“Huh? What do you need to buy?”

New clothes… and some underwear.

“You…”

The staff sounded clearly disappointed, but don’t misunderstand.

I’ll complete the dungeon rescue. At ten times my usual speed.

With the time I save, I’ll go shopping!

“Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

No way.

If I keep putting it off, I’ll end up in the same look forever. I don’t want people thinking, “She always wears that outfit… does she have multiples of it?”

I’m a real-life mysterious beauty! Paying attention to the little things is what builds a truly great mysterious beauty!

“…Sorry, I disconnected for a moment. Were you saying something?”

You jerk!

■

Dungeon rescues are a piece of cake for me.

After all, I’ve got my Star-Reading Staff with me!

Dodge, paralyze, enhance physical abilities, and bam! Punch it down. Haha, it’s like I’m a cheat character.

I am a Star Reader, you know?

The inheritor of the Queen’s Coffin?

“Then I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do anything reckless.”

It’s noon now.

After finishing a custom “bean sprout bento with extra meat,” I left the dungeon district.

I’ve completed over ten rescues. Way past my quota.

And the bento is amazing. Meat makes it even better!

The fact that Toa made this for me… it’s already delicious just from that. The very idea is delicious.

I’m eating it as a Super Mysterious Beauty so I don’t disrespect her effort. Thank you, Toa.

Next time, I’ll serve up my own mysterious beauty-style homemade cooking.

“You’re using Super Mysterious Beauty Mode for something like this again… wait, no way. Your mana production is exceeding consumption…!?”

Of course. I’m eating a beauty’s bento.

Right now, I could probably stay in Super Mysterious Beauty Mode for half a day.

“I calculated it, and… it’s actually possible? That’s scary.”

Thank you, Toa!

Now I can go clothes shopping in full mysterious beauty mode! And for underwear, too!

“Yet you won’t go as Sorciera?”

Exactly.

I’m moving around as Narou Kei right now. In other words, I’m a cross-dressing beauty.

A mysterious beauty doesn’t just casually walk into a clothing store.

Plus, with other S-ranks chasing me, it’d be a disaster if I went shopping as Sorciera.

Never underestimate social media. News would spread instantly, and monsters from every academy would come running.

“I still don’t fully understand your line of reasoning…”

A mysterious beauty must be mysterious in private life, too.

Also, the academy where I’m buying clothes has some very dangerous people, so going as Sorciera is suicide.

The Academy of Twin Swords has two S-ranks, so I need to be careful. The student council president usually stays on campus, but Rokuhara… he’s seriously bad news.

Imagine he uses Eina in a crowded place.

Humanity could go extinct in a flash.

“Haha, I’m honored that you have such a high opinion of Eina.”

Why are you so pleased? I’m scared of him, so take this seriously.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. Unless you use magic, Eina won’t notice. That’s why I’m suppressing the mana output right now.”

Much appreciated.

If Rokuhara showed up every time I used Super Mysterious Beauty Mode, I couldn’t deal with it.

He’s great to watch from afar, but I don’t want to interact with him. He’s like a lion behind bars.

“Still, if you do run into him, he’ll definitely notice, so stay alert and make your shopping quick.”

Got it.

It’ll be fine. With our calculation skills, we’ll pick out the perfect outfit.

“Wait, I’m choosing, too?”

If not, I’ll just buy whatever I want. I’m thinking of trying something cyber-styled and glowing. What do you think?

“I’ve always thought that you’re so in love with the concept of mysterious beauties that your ideal version is inconsistent. If you wanted a cyber style, you should’ve started with that.”

But I already wear a glowing mask, don’t I?

“You’ve barely used the mask lately. You’re way too eager to show your face. Forget the mask; I designed a magic circle for a gothic mysterious beauty. I’m not budging from that theme. Besides, a cyber mysterious beauty has too many attributes.”

Haha, you took the bait, sucker.

“Wha—what did I just say…?”

That was the beauty soul sleeping inside you. Sorry, but I coaxed it out a bit.

“Even though ‘beauty soul’ isn’t even a real term, it’s strange how that still made sense to me.”

Together, we are the mysterious beauty duo.

So, join me in picking out an outfit.

Alright?

“…Alright, you’re impossible to refuse.”

If the Star-Reading Staff had a physical form, I’m sure we’d be shaking hands right now.

That’s how perfectly in sync we were.

“Yeah! New outfit!”

Let’s find something great together!