Magical Explorer

HIJIRI YUIKA

“Mufu, Delicious-☆ Thank you very much Takioto-san! Is it really okay for me to eat all of this?”

Well yeah, eat as much as you want.

“Yeah, I have troubled you a lot today after all…Even so, why did you defend me? I am happy but now you will be attracting attention too you know?”

Hijiri Yuika was a character that utilized her [Charm] as her weapon. She used it to build relationships and is a character that gets along well with people. In the case that she joined the student council or the public moral committee, she would cleverly utilize her charm to improve the image of the respective organization. At the Shikibukai, she would act like she is sucking up to the strong people of the three committees or make people think that she was bribing the teachers (Which of course, are cooperating with the three committees) to accumulate the hate toward the Shikibukai. In addition, seeing how she was well-liked by almost all the sempais at the three committees, it could be said that her ability to make people like her is really extraordinary.

Of course, she wasn’t just spreading her charm unconsciously, rather, she did it on purpose. That is the root of her perfectly crafted smile. Even she herself said [It’s the weapon to beat people who can’t be defeated by the charm alone you know?]. Was she quoting Natsume Souseki? (TLN: Natsume Souseki was a Japanese novelist.)

However, since Yuika is a strong character on the main-heroine level herself, even if she doesn’t utilize her charm she can demonstrate her power enough in the game.

“Well, I wonder why?”

Saying so, Yuika averts her eyes and scratches her head while smiling bashfully.

“Even I don’t understand myself. Normally I would just fade out of there you know? I don’t know how to put this…..but. When I saw Evangelista-san laughing at Takioto-san you see, Umm, what is it, I don’t know what it is but I felt my veins popping you know!”

Back then, I thought that Yuika would just fade out too. If it is the game’s Yuika then it wouldn’t be weird if she says: [Well, I will be going first ☆] and disappears from the scene. But, she spoke out.

Looking at Yuika who is laughing while scratching her cheek, I suddenly recalled the game setting.

The character called [Hijiri Yuika] was one of the characters who don’t possess a strong dislike toward [Takioto Kousuke]. Most heroines would just abuse him without sugar-coating it. However, Yuika didn’t do that. She would often stand up against the strong heroines and defend him.

Don’t tell me, is there some kind of secret setting between her and Takioto that wasn’t explained in the game? Well, there’s no way to find out at this point anyway, maybe I will get to know that in the future.

“Really, I wonder why I did that. Takioto-san isn’t the type that would make me want to protect you either.”

“Did you casually dissed me just now?”

“That’s not it, you just seem so reliable so I don’t think that you would ever need my protection after all.”

What is she, she dissed me and immediately praise me afterward. Aren’t you too good at scoring points with me? And I like that you find me reliable but I want to be pampered too you know.

Suddenly, Yuika lowers the hand she used to hold her fork on the table. Then she looked away and says with a small voice.

“That’s right, you looked really reliable. Well, this time is just, you see…Umm.”

This is that right? It’s that thing about her initial event.

“Well, you can consult with me any time, if you are in trouble then you can give out my name as much as you like too. That’s right. If it’s hard to consult about it with me then I can introduce you to a good person. She’s the vice-captain at the public moral committees you see, she is really reliable. If you want to consult with a classmate then you can consult with Ludi or Katrina too. Then there’s your brother as well. They will surely become your ally.”

Originally, this case would be solved by Iori, it might be fine if I just leave it to him. However, if she is worried to this extent then it might be better if I move to resolve it myself. Seeing a heroine of Magiero making such an expression, there’s no way I can just stay still.

Moreover, just now she used her healing magic on my arm, not to mention how she protected me from Gabby…… Eh, was she protecting me?

Alright, it’s that event huh. I’m fine with getting this event and all but how should I resolve it? It is a compulsory event so I don’t really have to do anything special, the content of the event is just being attacked in the town when you are together with Yuika after all.

In the first place, since it is her initial event, the assailant will only be some third-rate magician, I can beat a single untrained guy with ease. If Yuika isn’t scared then she would easily beat him to a pulp.

“I am still not certain but….when I am confident about it, I think I will consult with you Takioto-san. You have listened to me so far after all. And since I saved you this time, of course, you will help me right!”

“Of course, leave it to me.”

She stared absentmindedly at my face, then after a while, she takes a small breath and continues the talk.

“…….Even so, Evangelista-san is really an impactful person isn’t she.”

It is as Yuika said, she is certainly a person who easily leaves behind an impression. However,

“She really is but you shouldn’t be surprised only by that degree you know?”

There are a lot of characters who are on the same level as Gabby. Moreover, she still hasn’t shown her real self yet. She still hasn’t shown the most stood out part about her yet, it will be after she joined the Shikibukai that we get to see it. She will abandon her uniform and wear her dress all the time after all. After that, she could compete against Shion-san for the No.1 stand out spot. With Shion-san’s kimono and Gabby’s dress, they are the two-top of the Shikibukai after all.

“Ehhh….why is this academy has so many weird people?……there are strange people everywhere I go.”

So she already found some huh. I thought that she just transferred in though. Nn? No, wait a minute.

“You are not including me right?”

“Umm…..I’m sorry but even if I excluded Nanami-san, I think you would still be a top-class weirdo, Takioto-san.”

“ ! ? “

“Umm…from my point of view, I can’t wrap my head around your reaction at all.”

She said so while she reaches her hand out and pulled on my stole.

This is unexpected. I thought that it was because of my two-man group with Nanami but, to think that she would find me to be such a weird person even without her. But Nanami, even to the eye of an ero-gamer like me you are still a weirdo you know.

“If you know her, can you tell me what kind of person is Evangelista-san?”

“You picked a fight with her without knowing that?”

“I didn’t pick a fight with her. I just accept the fight she is selling to Takioto-san! Rather, you should be grateful that I accept the fight for you, you know!”

“Yeah yeah, thank you. Eat as much as you like.”

“Of course, I will. Thank you very much. But I still don’t feel enough gratitude here, how about we settle this with a luxury apartment for me!”

She might only be joking but I actually do have one though. The one that Luigia-sensei is living in. I wonder what kind of reaction I would get if I really give it to her. I can’t give it away though.

“Oh, if you want I can buy you a present you know. Well, let’s return to the topic, Gabriella is the little sister of the person who is now acting as the Shikibukai’s chairman, Lord Benito. She placed lower than me in the last exam because I went into the dungeon you see. She is also a noble from the principality as well.”

Well, president Monika and Shion-san are both a noble too but they came from a different country though.

“Hee, is that so…..”

She put the cheese into her mouth without a care in the world.

“Delicious.”

“….You are still so carefree even though you might have to go against her in the duel huh.”

“But Sempai is backing me, right? And most importantly, I don’t feel like losing if I only have to take on Evangelista-san one on one after all.”

“…….What do you mean?”

I don’t want to talk badly about Gabby but I think both me and Yuika can win against her. However, that’s the conclusion coming from a person who played the game like me. How come Yuika who doesn’t even know Gabby’s name until recently came to that conclusion?

“Aah, how should I say this. That’s right…..I have a very good intuition you see.”

“Intuition?”

“Yes, somehow I can sense people’s ability. I felt like I don’t have to be that on guard against Evangelista-san you see.”

Perhaps it is the effect of Yuika’s crisis detection skill. It is a very useful skill. When your opponent is stronger than you (higher-Lv) it can boost your status and raise your chance of escape.

Since it has the precious effect of raising your chance of [Escape] I think that it is a skill that everyone would aim for. Depending on Iori’s choice, you can recruit her even before the first exam begins too.

“How does that work?”

Of course, she never told me that she possessed such a skill so I am feigning ignorant.

“Evangelista-san isn’t that much of a combatant, I kinda get that kind of impression. But was she really placed second on the last exam? The Academy ranking seems unreliable to me. There are a lot of dangerous-looking people in the first year after all.”

“Well, studying and fighting is a different thing, right? I think once they start taking the dungeon progress into account, the result will be a lot different you know?”

Dangerous people that Yuika sensed through her crisis detection skill huh. I’m curious.

Literally what he said here

“Katou-san is one, Ludivine-san too. Another one is that fox-person who always taking a nap on the bench. Ah, I am including Takioto-san too you know. Rather, aren’t you on the top? The others I don’t think I wouldn’t lose against but still managed to surprise me is…….Onii-chan I think.”

Probably because Iori will get explosively stronger I guess.

“Iori eh?….. I can’t lose too huh.”

“I don’t want to lose against Onii-chan too. But at this rate, I won’t be able to keep my little sister’s dignity soon.”

“Normally, the older one would be the one to have that dignity right?”

“At the Hijiri house, the little sister is the one who has that dignity. But when I see Onii-chan’s growth you see……”

Well, I can picture Iori getting stronger than Yuika after all.

“Well, there’s a simple way to keep that dignity isn’t it.”

“Simple? Onii-chan is getting a lot stronger you know?”

“Yeah, simple. If Iori becomes that much stronger, then you can just become stronger than him right?”

Yuika was chewing on the cake, it was supposed to be sweet but her face had already soured and she let out a dry laugh.

——-

On my way home after I split up with Yuika, a man showed up.

“Takioto Kousuke, prepare yourself!”

I thought that it was the Cult of the Evil God event for a moment. But judging from his clothes and movement, I immediately deny that possibility.

He used body strengthening on himself and swings a mace down at me. However, to my eye, that speed is much too slow. Well, having a mock battle with Claris-san and Sempai every day might already make my eyes adjusted to their speed already.

A *Gakin* sound echoes as I grabbed the mace.

It was a man wearing a pair of glasses. He is wearing khaki-colored skinny pants and a black polo shirt that can be bought cheaply at a chain store.

Honestly, this is not even a fight. As I catch the mace with my stole, I buried my fist into his stomach. I didn’t intend to do it so strongly but his body bent and flew into a wall. A little flustered, I rush to check on him but it seems he only fainted.

I immediately take out my Tsukuyomi Traveller and contact Marino-san.

“Ah, Marino-san? I was attacked by some strange person? No, he’s really weak so I don’t think he is related to the evil god cultist. Maybe he is only a normal student? Shikibukai? Ah, that’s right, I want to ask for your help with something, can I give you the detail at home? Alright, see you later.”

After I contacted Marino-san, I take a look at him again.

Does he have something to do with the town attack event? there were a lot of candidates for that after all.

Well, let’s make a list before I go to bed today. Surely, this shouldn’t lead to a big incident right away. I am Takioto Kousuke in the first place after all.

For now, let’s go home and prepare to get those ninja skills first. Speaking of which, is it okay if I start doing it tomorrow?

“Come to think of it, I don’t even have a way to contact Gabby ain’t I!”

Well, can’t be helped then. Guess I will have to ask for Lord Benito’s help again. I can give him a complaint too.

Even so, is it really okay? Dueling with Gabby. If it is a simple face-off then I will definitely win but she won’t be using that dungeon capture game right? It will be troublesome once we visit that dungeon, well, it should be fine since Lord Benito is mediating things for us anyway. I deal with that if I don’t have Nanami with me after all. Seriously, I don’t want to go there at all.

Well, this time Yuika is with me so…..Eh, perhaps the chance is increasing because she is with me?

N, No it must be nothing! It’s okay It’s okay. The chance of that happening in the game was only 1/8 after all. It’s not something that could happen so easily.

………………….I wonder why, I felt an incredible amount of anxiety. It is like the anxiety when you can’t complete debugging for the masterup when you only have one week left. I want to sell the game but I still don’t mind even if it stuck in delay forever.