Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Bishoujo─Not a Girl─Hero Appears!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hm? Why no diet pic today?"
Waiting for me to show up first?
Normally, she'd DM me saying, Here's what I'm eating today, but nothing today.
Heading out into the hall, I spotted Elysia standing there with a glum look on her face.
Clutching a bento bag demurely in her hands.
"Elysia? What're you doing?"
"...Moro."
Something happened, huh.
If this were the protagonist's class, it'd probably be full of those forced asshole side characters...
Back when Rak was protagonist material, he'd have handled them with one punch, no sweat.
But now...
"What happened?"
"Want my bento?"
Elysia held out the bento to me.
"No one to eat it anymore..."
"...Yeah."
Whatever, sure.
"Where's Rak?"
"Said he'd eat alone..."
...For real?
I was impressed by the protagonist's uncharacteristic loner move, conveniently leaving an opening for my date with the Saintess.
Not like my traits automatically turn me into a loser or anything.
They say environment shapes a person. Whatever the details, I felt a spark of anger toward Rak for choosing to leave Elysia behind.
Anyway...
Couldn't just leave her hanging, so we headed to the park together.
...Reminded me of messing around here with hypnotized Lienhua as my pretend girlfriend.
And we ate.
"This is good!! So tasty!"
"Thank you."
I chattered away enthusiastically to cheer up her sulky vibe.
"Wow! You can cook too, Elysia? Is there anything you can't do!?"
"..."
Shit. Backfired...?
"Ah, sorry. Was lost in thought."
Nom nom.
It really was delicious fact, so I stuffed my mouth, savoring it while gazing at the sky.
"Rak's the reason, right?"
"...How'd you know?"
"Anyone can tell you think about Rak 365 days a year."
"Eek... That obvious?"
Didn't know?
In the world line where Rak acts like a proper protagonist, Elysia's the ultimate mega-yandere heroine on his level.
Once she starts dating, she's no joke.
Cheat on her? You're dead. Guaranteed.
I know from the original story: conquering the Demon King is easier than pulling off the harem route including Elysia.
"What I thought was consideration just hurt him. Guess that's why he's down."
"Leave him be. He'll pick himself up."
"Maybe I shouldn't act like such a mom?"
"Who said that?"
I shoveled in some egg roll. Nom nom. Ooh, nice and fluffy... she put real effort into this.
"Dunno about me, but seems like the other students are saying it. Was packing his bento and following him around a mistake?"
"Nah, he should've just said thanks and scarfed it down. What're you talking about? What'd Rak do?"
"R-Rak didn't do anything wrong. Just doesn't need my bento anymore, I guess. I overdid it, huh? We're not even dating..."
"Elysia. Where's that bastard right now?"
Where's my bat? Get the bat!
Elysia panicked and held me back.
"Ah! No! It's fine! I'm... I'm okay!"
"Having a mom-like heroine's great, right? Especially when your belly's bloated..."
"Huh!?"
"Some of us are surrounded by nothing but delinquents!!"
She burst out laughing at my outburst.
Our eyes met perfectly.
"Ah, sorry. Not funny..."
"Nah, that's the point. You know it too. Plenty of trash girls around me anyway."
"Ahaha...!"
"This academy's got more rotten apples than you'd think, huh?"
"A-As the Saintess, I shouldn't agree..."
I whispered to Elysia.
"Go ahead. I'll pretend I didn't hear."
"..."
She blushed a bit and whispered back into my ear.
"Tons. Wanna punch 'em all."
"Right?"
"How'd you... get over it, Moro? You good now?"
"Me?"
Uh, daily delinquent pussy dick-wiping therapy...?
Not an example I can apply to Rak.
"Dunno. They say childhood scars last forever..."
"..."
Damn. Gotta say something.
"Crush 'em with force. Sparring schedule soon, right? Pick the asshole and liver-punch him."
"Pfft─ What're you even saying."
"Real animals respect the pecking order if you smash 'em down."
"Liver punch~ Hm, I actually like fighting."
"Knew it. You're pretty good."
The Saintess's eyes went wide.
"How'd you know? Never shown anyone."
Oh crap... I know, but she'll think she never showed it.
In the Saintess-Rak-Demon King duo, she's the main DPS too─ girl fighter build, one-punching with fists and kicks.
If she picked a fight with a class clown, that fool's screwed. Mess with the main heroine? Dark future ahead.
That's why I steered clear at first.
"Liver punch. Remember it. Make his ribs scream."
"Did you... liver-punch your way through the delinquents too, Moro?"
"...I used a different method. Can't use it girl-on-girl."
"??"
Elysia tilted her head curiously.
"Tell me later."
"Why my delinquent conquest story..."
"Listening to you... makes me happy. Fun."
"..."
Why's my heart pounding like this.
Bento was gone before I knew it.
"Oh, all done?"
"It was good... Elysia's bento."
"Hehe. Thanks. Almost felt bad with no one to eat it."
"Rak'll bounce back. Waiting faithfully's a heroine's virtue."
"Heroine? Me?"
Exactly.
I know your fate.
"Yeah. Hero's heroine."
"...Sounds like you foresaw the future."
"What does the Saintess's foresight say?"
"...Lemme focus."
Elysia closed her eyes gently.
"Huh."
"...What'd you see?"
"...Rak running alone. Evening. It's dark around..."
That guy, skipping dinner...
"Gotta go!"
"No."
I grabbed Elysia.
"Moro?"
"Doesn't wanna show you him struggling. Not now."
"But he might collapse. Pushing like that..."
"I'll go. You head back. Greet him normal when he dorms."
That's gotta be the right call.
Rak, you needy bastard...
But gotta go.
Not even a male lead dating sim, why am I doing this...
'Got tangled up. No choice.'
I ditched class to hunt for Rak.
Didn't get his exact spot from Elysia, so it took a while.
'Shit, turned into Saintess foresight duty.'
Not for nothing she saw evening run.
"Hey. Rak!"
I caught Rak running alone near the park.
"You okay? How long you been at it?"
"Mo...ro..."
Barely conscious. Poor guy.
Protagonist perks or he'd be passed out.
"Yo. Told you pushing my schedule harder leads to overtraining. Rest."
"...Elysia too?"
"Nah. Just me. You looked off."
"..."
Tsk. Look at that face.
I forcibly pinched Rak's cheeks.
"Ow."
"Like moping solo? Why push away your ally?"
Rak started crying.
"Wahhh."
Then clings disgustingly.
"Ack! Don't hug. No snot and tears on me."
"Moroooo."
"No!!"
Agh, damn. Why's this guy's cling strength insane?
Face buried in my solar plexus, bawling. Tricky.
"What you crying for. Punk."
"Worst day ever. Showed her my trash side... to Elysia."
"Figured."
"Don't... wanna show weakness again."
Hmm.
"Sorry for skipping schedule, Moro... Needed to sort my head."
"Wanna live up to the Saintess's faith?"
"Yeah... Gonna be a Hero. Academy's brightest star."
"Lose some weight first."
"...Ah!"
Protagonist style─ grabs any chance to pose.
Academy's shining star. Your original fate.
I'm the cruel guy who unwittingly stole it.
Reset his traits to restore? Risky...
Worst case, current Rak gets deleted like data.
....
Already attached to this Rak.
Switching worlds to cool protagonist Rak feels like killing this one.
"Rak. Follow me."
I dragged him to the sword training hall.
Late, empty. Grabbed practice swords, tossed one to Rak.
"Ugh."
Heavy─ catches two-handed, grunts.
"Watch and mimic what I show."
"M-Moro knows swordsmanship?"
"Shh."
I shushed, told Rak.
"Secret. Don't tell anyone I taught you."
"Okay..."
Sensing the vibe, Rak tenses.
Haa...
Didn't plan to meddle this deep.
I flicked the sword tip. Circulated mana.
Easy for me. Already know it.
Rak watched my forms, mesmerized.
"Beautiful. The sword moves like..."
"Women's sword style originally."
"Women's...?"
"You're weak and short. This suits you now."
Among overpowered protagonist sword arts, this is the weakest.
B-rank at best.
But for Rak who can't even handle D-rank, it's cheat-level.
Normal folk couldn't learn it, but Rak's different. Protagonist with hidden 【Sword Saint Talent】.
Even he can't master every style.
Deeper he delves into Siyeon Style,
the flashier heavy-sword power-smashing he'll use in true protag mode becomes impossible.
Soft, fluid...
Like a flowing river.
Motions elegant, butterfly-light.
"Whew."
I wiped sweat, shook off sword, spoke.
About 50 minutes from demo alone.
"This sword style's Siyeon Style."
"Siyeon Style..."
"Try it."
"M-Me!? No way...!"
"I'll teach. C'mere."
Rak approached, offered hand.
I taught him stroke by stroke, the essence.
Just the knack... then simple.
"Don't forget what you saw. Use mana like pulling it in. Softer waist turn here."
"...It's working."
"Siyeon Style's strength: overwhelming speed and flexibility. But drawbacks too."
"Drawbacks?"
"Mana hog. Burns fat like crazy─ diet swordsmanship."
"...Romantic vibe's ruined..."
Romance my ass.
I pinched his cheeks.
"Got room for romance? Morbidly obese?"
"Wahhh."
"Master this, burn the blubber. Don't blame me if you can't learn other styles."
Men who learn it slim down─ fans call it the gay sword.
"Why blame? I'm... so grateful to you, Moro!"
"Good then. Add 2 hours daily training."
"Yeah!!"
Thus began our secret sessions.
Me, secretly teaching the Hero gay sword...
Reality hits, but thanks to the mana drain, Rak regained his looks. Day by day─ Elysia-level transformation.
"Rakkk~ Sword practice today too."
"...Ah."
Something's wrong.
"...Why, Rak?"
Barely 150cm tall, slender girl-like build.
Cellulite gone from features, sharp jaw─ gender line blurred.
Honestly, girly.
"Why'd your body turn out like this? We trained daily?"
Grab his arm.
"Guess I don't build muscle."
Makes sense?
We did strength work too...
Where'd all the fat go? Arms thinner than Elysia's─ shocking.
No workout estrogen skill? Why so estrogenic, character?
Workouts boost testosterone. Normal, right?
"Ugh. Stop touching. Feels weird."
"Fuck. Voice too─ why so girly."
"This is my real voice!"
....
I pinched my brow. Where to start.
The Hero's Power trait I took was probably protagonist-exclusive passive buffing masculinity.
Without it, low T─ less muscle, shorter, pretty-boy face goes full girl.
No...
'Seraph Academy devs, you bastards!'
They based the male lead on heroine beauty stats. Fastest way to hot guy.
Lose Hero's Power, Rak turns feminine-hipped, slender flat-chested bishoujo.
"C'mon, train. Train!"
I shake his shoulders worried, he smiles shyly.
"Nah, prefer this over fat me..."
"Fair, but why grow hair...? W-What're you thinking?"
Suddenly scared.
Rak blushes, squirms.
"Ah... This...?"
Rak looks at me bashfully, shrinking. Wait. What the fuck vibe?
Fiddling hair ends, speaks.
"Th-Thought... growing it long, tying feminine might be nice."
Oh God─!!
Not even Saintess, but wanna pray skyward. Save us. What flag got planted.
"Train─? Wanna... be with you, Moro."
"Gahhh! Don't say that!!"
Any cuteness and I'm fucked─ shove away.
"Whyy~."
Aaah. No. Not this plot.
Elysia opens training hall door.
"Perfect timing. Elysia! Save me!!"
"?"
This time, I'm begging the Saintess.