Do you remember the first-year event? The one where you become an adventurer and enter a dungeon. It’s a class every first-year takes, but basically it’s a slightly dangerous social studies field trip. And in that place, there was a guy with completely out-of-place equipment. ——Fin.
‘What are you doing?’
‘This is light gear for me.’
Full-body black armor. Wearing full plate, Fin’s muffled voice came through, and he carried a large shield. An eye appeared from part of the armor. He was probably clad in Blacky. Come to think of it, the paid item I bought had a similar feel. Its slightly thorny design tickles a man’s heart.
‘Buddy, I’m one to talk, but isn’t this a bit childish?’
‘You moron! What if something happened to Mia?! I compromised, you know!’
This siscon apparently prepared full plate to be Mia’s shield.
‘Fin, do you know the phrase “excessive force”?’
‘N-no, but what if something happens?’
‘You really are overprotective. Look, everyone’s dumbfounded.’
Looking around, the supervising teacher and classmates were all taken aback. Among them, I spotted Finley too.
‘Seriously, even little Mia looks embarrassed.’
Mia was looking down, ears red. But Finley was giving me a cold stare.
‘No, big brother is just as terrible.’
‘Huh?’
Behind me, Erika was hiding her face with both hands. Even her ears were bright red. She protested in a whisper.
‘Un— Leon, you idiot.’
Unmanned units were lined up around us, positioned to protect Erika. Fin poked my chest with his index finger.
‘You’re one to talk! Actually, what’s a third-year like you even doing here?!’
I averted my face from Fin. Then Luxion gleefully reported to me.
‘Master, the subjugation of the first underground floor is complete! All that remains is sweeping the second and third floor entrances.’
At the worst possible timing, Luxion revealed what I was doing. Erika looked at me, angry.
‘Leon?’
Standing beside her was Elya, who had officially returned to being her fiancé.
‘Uh, big bro. This is a bit much.’
‘—Is it no good?’
Ever since that day, he’s been calling me big bro. Well, it’s fine, I guess.
The supervising teacher protested to me.
‘Wait, Your Lordship! This makes the class impossible!’
But Fin looked happy.
‘Now Mia’s danger is reduced.’
‘Buddy, that’s your problem.’
The teacher pressed me.
‘Besides, third-years should be in class too, shouldn’t they?’
‘Ah, I skipped. And today I “coincidentally” felt like entering a dungeon. No ulterior motive.’
As I answered shamelessly, the teacher went to seek help from a certain person.
◇
‘Mister Leon, I understand your worry. But isn’t this going too far?’
‘I’m very sorry!’
Standing before me was my master. Fin was also getting scolded.
‘Why am I here too?’
‘Mister Fin! You’re the same. The feeling of treasuring someone is wonderful, but if it goes too far it becomes a burden.’
‘Y-yes!’
The person the teacher had appealed to was the headmaster — my master. Even I can’t resist my master.
‘Both of you, as punishment, wait here. Watching over is also an important thing.’
Once my master said that and left, Fin and I ended up waiting at the dungeon entrance. Erika and Mia both went inside. Mia gave a small wave, but Erika seemed a little angry and ignored me. No, she looked like she didn’t have the spare energy.
Fin looked at me.
‘Is Erika okay?’
‘She might be nervous.’
With people gone, we sat and talked. Fin looked relieved.
‘But I’m glad Erika knew a way to save Mia. Even our idiot emperor didn’t know the details.’
Erika knew a lot about the third game. She’d apparently played it quite extensively. As her uncle, I was a little worried about her playing through that otome game, but when I heard the reason I felt like crying and whacked Marie with a paper fan. After all, she’d said: ‘I was always alone at home, so I played on Mom’s game console. I didn’t really understand it, but Mom seemed happy doing it.’ As a child, was she trying to get her mother’s attention, or did she want to share the same experience… Anyway, it was a sad story. Even going home, there was no parent there. And when they were there, they were asleep and wouldn’t pay her any attention. It’s amazing she didn’t go astray.
‘I’m surprised the emperor of the Empire is a reincarnator. Didn’t he know that otome game?’
‘He said he watched his little sister play it in his past life, or something. But apparently he wasn’t close with that sister.’
Same type as me.
Fin, worried about Mia, kept glancing at the dungeon entrance. Blacky cautioned him.
‘Buddy, it’s fine. Mia will perk up inside here. This place has a lot of magic particles.’
‘I-I know that.’
Seeing Fin like that, I teased him.
‘Bo~o, siscon.’
‘Hah? You’re one too!’
‘What part of me is a siscon? I won’t hesitate to sue.’
As we argued, Luxion muttered.
‘Disputes only occur between those of equal level.’
—What’s he trying to say?
‘However, master, your objective has been achieved.’
Fin looked at me.
‘Objective?’
Luxion answered honestly.
‘Master was able to appeal to the academy students that he dotes on Erika. This shows that the two are not on bad terms.’
It’s a kind of act to make sure no idiots get the wrong idea because Erika and I broke off our engagement. That’s why——
‘That’s what it is. It’s different from Fin’s siscon.’
‘I told you, I’m not a siscon!’
‘Tell me exactly what’s different!’
Blacky shook his eye side to side.
‘Buddy, there’s no use arguing back. You’ll lose.’
◇
The first-years entered the dungeon and headed for their destination. Mia felt lighter than usual.
‘I feel great today!’
In contrast to the cheerful Mia, Erika seemed to be in pain. She clasped her hands at her chest.
‘Erika!’
A worried Elya rushed to her side, and Erika put on a smile.
‘I’m fine. No problem.’
Her pale face made it obvious to anyone she was just putting on a brave front. Then the surrounding students began to panic.
‘Hey, a swarm of monsters!’
‘Why are so many coming out?!’
‘Someone, go call for help!’
The panicking students moved ahead to protect Erika and the others. Seeing that, Erika dashed away from everyone. It looked like she was running away, but oddly enough the monsters started chasing her.
‘Erika!’
Elya chased after her. Mia tried to follow, but monsters that broke past the students approached her.
‘Eek!’
She hastily grabbed her weapon and readied herself, but fear made her close her eyes. The monsters that were about to attack Mia suddenly stopped moving — then changed direction and chased after Erika. Opening her eyes, Mia witnessed a strange sight.
‘Huh?’
The monsters, instead of attacking them, were chasing after Erika.
‘What just happened?’
‘Is it even possible for monsters not to attack?’
‘Get a few people up top right away! Inform the teacher and bring the upperclassmen!’
The students scrambled into action. Worried about Erika, Mia ran off.
‘Exchange student! Don’t wander around on your own!’
Ignoring the other students’ objections, Mia went alone to chase after Erika.
◇
‘I’m bored.’
As I yawned, Fin nodded.
‘Yeah. But more importantly, is Mia okay?’
‘Buddy, that topic was just a few minutes ago.’
When Blacky said that, Luxion corrected him deliberately.
‘A few minutes? It was fifty-eight seconds ago.’
‘That side of you two just pisses me off!’
‘Oh my, getting angry because your mistake was pointed out? This is why New Humanity’s weapons are useless.’
‘Aaaaaaah!! So irritating! Buddy, let’s just scrap this one at least!’
As lively as ever, they’re on bad terms. Fin ignored Blacky’s opinion.
‘I hope Mia isn’t crying.’
‘You completely ignore everything your partner says.’
When I said that, Luxion’s red eye glowed.
‘Master, shall I prepare a mirror?’
‘Huh, why?’
As we were lazily chatting, first-years came rushing out of the entrance, out of breath. Earlier than expected.
‘They’re back already?’
When I stood, the first-years saw me and shouted.
‘Upperclassman, Lady Erika! And the exchange student too!’
After hearing the situation, I immediately looked at Luxion. A container we’d brought opened, and what appeared was an air bike. But Fin was quicker. Clad in Blacky, he was covered in black liquid and wore full-body armor. He had bat-like wings and a lizard-like tail.
‘Leon, sorry, I’m going ahead.’
‘Buddy! Breakthrough! You scrap heap, take your time coming. You can’t catch me anyway.’
Seeing Fin fly up and enter the dungeon, I got on the air bike. I slung the shotgun I’d prepared over my shoulder.
‘Luxion, we’re saving Erika and the others via the shortest route. —Hey, are you listening?’
‘—So you talked down to me, defective product. I shall make you regret underestimating my ability! Master, we will move via the shortest route at full speed. Please be careful not to be shaken off.’
‘Ah, okay.’
I had plenty I wanted to say, but right now rescuing Erika came first.
‘Why does trouble always find me?’
The air bike rose. Luxion warned me.
‘Please stay silent so you don’t bite your tongue.’
‘Got it — nwaaaaah!’
The moment I acknowledged, the air bike sped through the dungeon passageways at a speed far beyond what I’d imagined.
◇
When Elya found Erika, she was surrounded by monsters. Seeing Erika collapsed and in pain, Elya drew his sword and moved in front to shield her.
‘Erika, you’re safe, right!’
Erika looked up.
‘Elya, why did you come?’
‘I-I’m your fiancé.’
His legs trembled. Shaking, Elya held off the attacking monsters. Then, Mia arrived. It was a straight path, so she apparently didn’t get lost.
‘You two!’
Seeing Mia calling out, Elya made up his mind. (To save Erika, someone has to stay behind. I’ll buy time.) Thinking it would be fine with Mia there, Elya quickly explained.
‘Mia, please take Erika and head back first.’
‘Um, but—’
‘I’ll manage here, so go call the guys up top. And, if possible, come back fast. That way, we’ll all be saved.’
When Mia hesitated, Elya said in a firm tone.
‘Go!’
‘O-okay.’
Seeing Erika in pain, Mia lent her a shoulder and left the scene. Facing the monsters, Elya swung his sword.
‘I won’t let you past here!’
He cut down the advancing monsters with his blade. But bitten on the arm, bitten on the leg, even as he felled them the monsters kept appearing, and Elya struggled. (I have to endure. If I let monsters through here, Erika and the others will be in danger.) Battling desperately, Elya was gradually surrounded by the large number of monsters. Just as he thought it was dangerous, it brightened behind him.
‘Out of my way!’
What shot past Elya’s side was an air bike. It mowed through the monsters, blasting them away and turning them into black smoke. Stepping off the air bike was Leon.
‘Ah, big bro!’
‘Stay down.’
Leon pulled the shotgun’s trigger, and monsters flew apart into black smoke.
‘Where are Erika and the others?’
‘I had them go back. I stayed here to lure the monsters.’
‘Well done!’
Praising Elya’s action, Leon immediately got on the air bike to go save Erika and the others. A little late, Fin arrived. He folded his wings, sliding to an emergency stop on the ground, but he was in a hurry.
‘Where’s Mia?!’
‘Why are you two here?!’
To Brave, Luxion answered with a glowing red eye.
‘The result of choosing the shortest route. A feat impossible for New Humanity’s weapon.’
‘You really piss me off!’
Ignoring Luxion and Brave, Leon discussed with Fin.
‘Didn’t you meet them on the way? They apparently went back ahead.’
‘I’m asking because I didn’t meet them! More importantly, Mia has no sense of direction. If she wanders around in a place like this, who knows where she’ll go!’
Elya paled. (No sense of direction? Huh? Mia-san too?!)
‘N-no way. In that case it’s bad, big bro!’
‘Eh, why? Erika’s with her so it should be fine.’
When Leon said something like “Erika is responsible, so even with Mia they won’t get lost,” Elya shouted.
‘Erika also has no sense of direction! A terrible sense of direction at that!’
‘—Huh?’