Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: 4.6 Shinoshino's Request
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Lunchtime.
Today, once again, I was summoned by Shinoshino to the student council president's office.
"President. What brings you here?"
It hadn't even been that long since we last parted, but was she already missing me?
──But Shinoshino's glare was way too intimidating for me to crack a joke like that.
"It wasn't me who wanted to see Naibusu today."
"Huh? Then who?"
"Me."
"Shinoshino?"
I already knew that, but I played it off like I was surprised anyway.
In truth, I'd known ever since Shinoshino herself came to our classroom to fetch me.
No one sends the Guard Captain on trivial errands like that.
And she wouldn't dispatch a guard for her own personal business either.
So she came to get me herself.
It was that simple.
Choosing the student council office was probably to keep things confidential.
As I sat in my usual spot, Shinoshino—who was always serious—looked even more grave than usual as she spoke.
"Naibusu. What's the deal with you and Kurosaki?"
"What do you mean, 'what's the deal'? We're people."
After all that buildup, that was the question?
"I'm not here for wordplay. Your strength isn't normal. It's beyond human."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
If she just called me here to praise me, I'd be grateful.
"Let me ask again. What are you? What kind of cheat are you using?"
Cheat, huh? Funny way to put it.
As if we'd gained power without any effort.
"Cheat? Everything we have is the result of effort and sacrifice. You think abilities just drop from the sky like in some comic?"
Yuuki's Aegis Rune could be called a cheat in a way.
But a rune is just a foundation for getting stronger—it's not everything.
I couldn't forgive reducing Yuuki's sacrifices to a single word like "cheat."
"Effort and sacrifice? So you're saying we haven't put in any effort or sacrifice?"
A frown creased Shinoshino's brow.
"Don't twist my words. Who said that? We just have something you don't."
"What is it?"
"Hmm, who knows? Not really in the mood to tell you."
"Tell me, Naibusu."
Shinoshino took a menacing step forward.
But her threats didn't scare me at all.
"Hmph. Is that how you ask for a favor?"
I had no intention of telling her anyway, and even if I did, there wasn't much she could do about it—but her attitude made me want to keep it secret even more.
"Shino. Cool it."
At the president's words, Shinoshino finally sighed and bowed her head.
"......Please. Tell me."
Since Shinoshino was showing some humility for once, maybe I should push my luck a bit.
"Just words?"
Twitch.
A vein bulged on Shinoshino's temple.
But I was the one being asked for a favor here.
I crossed my arms and tilted my chin up smugly.
Even when I clung to her leg begging, Shinoshino hadn't granted my request.
So I wasn't about to make it easy either.
'Hoo. If Naibusu wants to play it that way, I'll help him out.'
The president flashed a sly smile at me.
"Shino. Show your sincerity—your panties."
Huh? Panties?
That wasn't what I had in mind!
......But hey, I'm a guy too!
If she's offering, I'm not gonna say no!
"Yeah! If Shinoshino shows me her panties as a sign of sincerity, I'll think about it!"
"......Urgh......"
Shinoshino's composed face twisted in distress.
Heh heh.
So, what'll you do?
Her hate index for me must be way higher than last time.
Could she really bring herself to bow her head—and flash her panties—to someone she despises that much?
'This humiliation...... But I have to uncover that secret. Otherwise......'
"......Please, Naibusu. Tell me."
Enduring the shame, Shinoshino lifted her skirt.
Oh! She's actually doing it!
But as I watched with bated breath, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.
There were no panties under the skirt—just spats.
Shinoshino's firm thighs were still worth looking at, but this was like a bun without filling.
No matter how delicious the dough, who buys a bun that's just dough?
'Using a cheap trick like this! Shino, is this your idea of integrity?!'
For some reason, even the president watching from the side looked pissed.
Honestly, maybe she was the one who wanted to see the panties.
"Shino. I said show your sincerity—your panties."
"......President......"
"Are you trying to embarrass me?"
'Urgh...... To a guy like this......!'
Shinoshino glared at me with eyes full of fury.
To the bitter end, she was resenting me, not the president.
Why was that?
The president was the one who made the "panties rule," not me.
'......If things stay like this, even if just one of Naibusu or Kurosaki turns against us, I won't be able to stop them. I have to get stronger......!'
What? She was thinking on such a grand scale?
Tough luck. If we turned hostile, she'd need more than the President's Guard—she'd need the Self-Defense Forces.
"Oho."
Seeming to steel herself, Shinoshino slipped her hands under her skirt and pulled down her spats.
The black fabric caught just above her knees.
The sight was so erotic that even without seeing her panties directly, I felt full already.
'My panties have no value anyway. Just think of it as showing them to a dog or a pig. Yeah. He's not human—he's a dog. Not a man—a pig.'
Shinoshino hypnotizing herself to bury the shame.
Calling people dogs and pigs, though.
But if getting treated like a dog or pig meant seeing Shinoshino's panties, it'd be a bargain. There'd be a line of volunteers—mostly female students from the academy.
So if she thinks of me that way, I hope she shows them often.
"......Please. Tell me."
Firm, toned legs, topped with dazzling white cotton panties.
The spats dangling midway added an extra layer of allure.
Compared to thinking of me as a dog or pig, her face was so red it looked like blood might seep out any second.
Her humiliated thoughts were blaring loudly in my mind.
"Hmm. What to do."
I savored the view of Shinoshino's panties, crossing my legs while seated.
Damn. I hate myself for reacting to Shinoshino's panties like this.
Is this you, Naibusu prime? You spineless jerk!
"So, Naibusu? What's your take on Shino's panties?"
I struck a pose like a top-tier analyst and began my critique.
"It's the epitome of Shinoshino panties. You can tell she thought, 'I'm wearing spats anyway, so no one will see my panties.' Careless mindset. No concern for stains or sweat since no one would see. That wedgie proves it too. A woman should always maintain proper posture, whether seen or not—shows a lack of that awareness."
"You bastard......!"
Shinoshino ground her teeth so hard it sounded like they'd crack, but she didn't drop her skirt.
She must really want to know the secret to my power (not that it's much of a secret).
"......Impressive analysis."
"Thanks to you, President, my panty-appreciation skills have leveled up. Much obliged."
'Don't let it shake you. No stains, no sweat. It's all just that guy's ploy to rattle me. If I show I'm fazed, it'll only make him happy!'
Hmm. Shinoshino's got some guts. She knows me that well already.
Maybe she pretends to hate me but actually likes me?
"Alright. You pass."
"Phew......"
Shinoshino let out a sigh of relief at my approval and released her skirt.
Of course, I watched every bit as she pulled her spats back up.
Nice show.
"Fine, I'll tell you. The secret to my strength."
-Gulp.
Both of them swallowed hard in unison.
Not just Shinoshino—the president was hooked too.
Better not ruin the mood with a dumb joke.
"What's the biggest difference between you two—the President and Shino—and me?"
"Well, between us and you? That we're women and you're a man?"
"Exactly. So why the strength gap between men and women?"
I'd basically already given the answer.
"......Difference in base physical abilities?"
Even so, Shinoshino guessed wrong.
I let out an exaggerated sigh of pity.
"No. It's whether or not you've experienced war."
To me, who knew the truth, it was obvious.
But they didn't know.
I couldn't fathom how they didn't, but they genuinely had no idea.
The adults who did know had systematically hidden it.
They taught kids the wrong information.
Even boys who'd been through the war rarely spoke with conviction.
Maybe they just thought grueling experiences made them stronger.
Or most who hunted enough monsters to feel the growth didn't survive.
People like me and Yuuki hid our power entirely.
Lieutenant Shuji's words (lol) probably weren't believed anyway. Lucky if they weren't dismissed as crazy.
"Men from our generation up have mostly experienced war and fought monsters. Women haven't. That's what created the strength gap between genders."
At my words, the president seemed to realize something.
"Naibusu, are you talking about the level theory?"
"Wasn't that dismissed as unreliable?"
"Yeah, it was shelved. I can't understand why, though."
Kill monsters, gain levels, get stronger.
For some reason, in Japan, this obvious theory was labeled "delusions of game-addicted otaku."
"Levels definitely exist. Me and Yuuki are proof."
It was in the original game, so it makes sense it's here too.
It might not be exactly like the game, but otherwise, our existence doesn't add up.
"Even if Yuuki's base physical abilities tanked after turning from man to woman, with level corrections, she's naturally far stronger than an uncorrected normal person."
Shinoshino: highly trained for a woman.
Yuuki: looks frail as hell.
The visible physical gap is obvious.
But reality is the opposite.
Shinoshino couldn't beat Yuuki even in her dreams.
"Even if Yuuki's base is half of Shinoshino's, if her level bonus is ten times higher, Yuuki's five times stronger. Simple math."
"That kind of bogus calculation......"
"Sounds bogus, but it's fact."
I knew this from the game settings, so I'm certain.
No status screen here, so exact levels and bonuses are unknown.
"If what Naibusu says is true...... Why do we think it's wrong? Why doesn't the government reveal the truth? Why not encourage Rune Holders to level up?"
"......Well, this is just my guess."
Should I even say this?
I don't like sharing unconfirmed stuff.
But with both of them waiting, I couldn't just gloss over it.
"......Probably, the government is wary of Rune Holders gaining power."
"Wary? Why? We need to nurture Rune Holders' strength to fight monsters."
The president's father is the man most connected to what I call "the government."
He's a powerful Diet member, floated as next prime minister candidate.
Even he didn't tell his Rune Holder daughter the truth?
......Am I really the one to tell her this?
"Naibusu. Please tell us."
The president's eyes gleamed with intellect.
Information like this has value only in the hands of smart people like her, not idiots like me.
And it doesn't matter if my opinion is right or wrong. I'll share my thoughts; judging them is up to her.
"......Alright."
I thought it over carefully, then opened my mouth.