Part 206: Three-Person Party

The "Knight of Justice" seems to wish to become your ally.

Do you accept his dependency?

To the one with the phantom hearing,

OK

And one word.

Congratulations! The "Guardian Knight of Justice" has joined your party!

A dependent player will not take hostile actions as long as you maintain the relationship.

From now on, you and your dependent player will share quests, a portion of experience points, skills, and more.

Furthermore, a lavish and magnificent fanfare sounds—pompompompompompom-paan!

Congratulations! You've earned the achievement "Three-Person Party"!

Achievement, huh...

This is getting more and more like a game... I guess my previous self thought the same thing, too.

The mist cleared, and I realized the atmosphere of conflict had likewise dissipated. Waving my hands, I rushed over to everyone.

From a quick glance, Rinne and Sōri seemed seriously injured.

Yokku appeared unharmed, but judging by the way he offered himself as subordinate, he was probably on the verge of running out of magic power.

I looked down at Rinne, who was slightly bowing her head, wincing from the pain of her wounds,

"Wow, from my perspective, it's all just 'what on earth is going on?' But judging by the look of it, you two must've had a fierce battle. Well done—you've both earned a break. Let me tend to your wounds soon..."

"My wounds can wait."

"Huh?"

"So, can you please hurry up and bring me back to normal?"

"Uh... oh wait. Are you... referring to... that? That?"

I stare at Rinne's flattened chest.

"There's nothing else. I'm too restless—just fix me already."

Well, I never thought the experience of tweaking breast size using "Encouragement" would come in handy like this.

You never know—try everything once.

"But Rinne, even your slender figure is really attractive. You look like a model."

"Just stop it. I love every part of my body exactly as it is. I don't want any changes at all."

At that moment, Yoi suddenly snapped her fingers,

"Aahh! I knew something felt off—so that's what it was. I thought it was strange. There's definitely a difference between the maid girl and that other girl..."

"No, Yoi-san. That's crossing the line into harassment."

"Oh, my apologies."

Still, the effect of [Encouragement] is temporary, so it should return to normal if left alone.

The proof is right here—Rinne's chest is swelling up like a balloon.

"G-g-g-g-gaahh……"

Her maid uniform, which had been flat against Satori's chest, is now becoming increasingly puffed out... and puffed out...

Oh my, oh my, oh my. The clothes are stretching tighter and tighter. The button from before is about to burst. Oh dear, oh dear. "Excuse me, miss, you're putting too much rice in the bowl," "Oh, come on, you're young—students should eat heartily!" "It's spilling over! It's spilling everywhere!" (visual imagery)

Immediately, Yukiya swiftly drapes her coat over the shoulder, showing off her gentlemanly manners.

"Kids are watching. Too much of this kind of stuff isn't good for their education."

True to form, the righteous hero.

I might've just made enemies of every spectator here, though.

"Thanks."

Rinon quickly covers her front with the coat.

"So, from now on, Yohku-san will officially be joining us... like that?"

"Yeah. Call me Yatsu-san, or Gin-san."

"I'll think about it."

Calling someone much older by a nickname feels a bit awkward, though.

I tightly grasp the hand that was offered, feeling the strength of his fingers through the gloves.

"So, this situation... is settled, then?"

"That's about right."

Good.

Truly good.

I feel like I could just collapse into a heap if it weren't for the fact that we're not alone.

"I suppose I have the right to just... drag on for a month, right?"

I let out a relieved sigh, thinking that, when—

"That won't work."

"Eh?!"

"Next, we need to restore the girl's memories."

I widened my eyes for a moment.

Ah...

I see.

Right, that was the issue...

"But isn't that already irrelevant now?"

"That's not how it works..."

Yogu-san gave a faint, visible smile even through his mask,

"Sensei Sasaki said it clearly. If you two win this 'duel,' you'll have to help the girl with her 'quest.'"

Who does he think he is, acting like my guardian?

"Besides, if you fail this 'quest,' who knows what'll happen to me and the others bound to her. Sorry, but I'm making you move no matter what."

"Whaaat?"

"Now, now, don't get tense. We'll handle any trouble. You just stay behind the king and keep a firm stance."

I usually go for a strategy aiming to checkmate in shogi, though.

「それにさ」

「――？」

「君は案外、やるときはやる女だ。今回のことでそれがよくわかったよ」

あーっ。

なんかまた、お腹痛くなってきた。

ひょっとすると記憶を失う前の私も、こーいう感じでだんだん追い詰められて、最終的に引っ込みがつかなくなったとか、そういうアレなんじゃあ……。

ありえる。

ありえるぞおおおおおおおおおおお。