After dinner, I was rushed outside by Meneo’s impatience.

"Mikron remembers the location, so we'll have him take us there."

"Okay! Stay behind for the watch, Mashiro!"

Mashiro, who had poked his head out from the Fenrir hut, barked in acknowledgment.

Mikron approached at a speed that left no trace of wind behind; I stroked him before mounting up.

I took the lead position on his back, with Meneo clinging to me right behind.

As expected, the sensation of her breasts pressing against my back made me tense up.

"Well then, Mikron, please take us to that spot from earlier."

Nodding affirmatively, Mikron lifted off into the air.

He headed straight for where the invisible barrier was located.

"Go go, Mikron! A straight line to Shire's place!"

"It's nice that there's nothing to get in the way when you're up in the sky; we can just go in a dead straight line."

Honestly, the mobility of our spirit beasts is a godsend.

Even for an ordinary student, exploring a forest on foot has its limits.

Once you set up base camp, you have to be back before it gets dark, which naturally narrows your range of exploration. If you’re being cautious enough not to get lost, that radius shrinks even further.

Naturally, the variety of materials you can collect is severely limited as a result.

I remember how we spent the early days eating nothing but mushrooms.

Even if new resources spawn, if they’re outside your operating radius, there’s no way to grab them.

But that’s not a worry for us.

We’ve got Mashiro and Mikuron on our side.

"Thanks a lot, Mikuron."

Surged by gratitude, I reached out to pet the fluffy black dragon.

"Huh? Sure, Mikuron is a good girl, but what's with that suddenly?!"

"Nah, I'm just feeling really grateful for it."

"That’s definitely true... Hm? Wait, if you’re thanking him for that, doesn't that mean I deserve some gratitude too for calling him out?"

"That's right. Having Meko here has been a huge help."

It goes without saying that her positivity and cheerful demeanor contribute significantly to the party's bright atmosphere.

"Mm-fufu. I'm glad I got to see Sougo again too."

With those words, Meko pressed herself tightly against me.

He flew through the sky, happiness radiating from his back, for a while.

Mikuron began his descent.

"Looks like it's around here."

"It's just a normal forest, isn't it?"

"Aah. Barriers are invisible."

"Oh~. In manga and such, you can see them as transparent barriers, right? But I know that's just for the reader's convenience so they can understand what's happening."

"Totally. It's a visual effect for the readers; in the actual story, it's treated as invisible."

Since depicting the reality within the work directly would fail to convey the meaning to the reader if it weren't visible, I'm pro-using such visual effects.

Besides, drawings of a barrier being deployed are just cool looking anyway.

Anyway, unfortunately, the barrier in the Dream Realm is invisible to the eye.

Since Mikron brought us down near the ground, we both hopped off.

Feeling my way around in the dark for the boundary, I quickly hit something with my hand.

"Oh, this is it. You can't see it, but there's definitely a wall there."

Seeing me tap and poke at the void, Shouko reached out into the empty air as well.

"...Oh! It's real. Wha— weird feeling. So you're on the other side, Yorina?"

In an instant, both arms extended from beyond the boundary, grabbing me and Shouko and yanking us through.

"Ugh!"

"Kyaa!"

I was a bit startled, but since it wasn't my first time, I wasn't confused.

Shouko seemed pretty shocked, but seeing the person standing before her, her expression quickly brightened.

"...You're really Shouko."

"Yoriinaa!"

Shouko hugged Yorina tight in the dream world, nearly rubbing cheeks against her. "That's gross, that's gross. Let go."

"Ugh. Yorina, you've gotten so thin..."

"Shut up, I was always like this. You know that."

"Your uniform is all wrinkled too..."

"I hand-washed it and wrung it out dry; that's how it got like this. Plus, why is yours looking brand new?"

"Mine stays clean because Sou helps me keep it neat."

"Huh?"

I haven't explained the mechanic yet where rearranging storage causes dirt and such to fall off.

She shot me a sharp look, so I gave an explanation, and in return received the compliment, "...Takano's abilities are way too convenient."

"Serina is amazing too! Having the power to create barriers and all!"

"...Well, it's nice that I don't get interrupted, but honestly, it's a hassle."

In modern-day Japan, it would be possible to live a convenient life with minimal interaction with other people.

However, such a convenient lifestyle is sustained by the labor of others, even if you never meet them face-to-face.

On this desert island, if I were truly completely alone, I suppose my life would simply settle into one free from interruptions but full of inconveniences.

"This might be obvious, but is Serina alone?"

"Obviously. Some people try to recruit teammates for events and stuff, but I'm not going to get mixed up with that."

"Recruit teammates?"

Dreamworld nodded in response to the words that slipped out of me unintentionally.

"You guys didn't encounter them? Sehou became a leader and was trying to form teams."

Sehou Suzuka is the head of one of the two major female groups, ranking alongside Yobiko.

The two main factions are the Shouko Group, comprising individuals like Shouko, Shi-on, and Muikai, and the Jouho Group.

While there were unaffiliated or neutral parties—such as Roa and her friends—the majority tended to align with one side or the other.

For reference, Chiyu was also unaffiliated.

It wasn't that they were on bad terms, but Jouho seemed to harbor a competitive spirit against Shouko's group.

"I see... so that's why there were fewer people at the events."

The reason so few were chasing the light orbs became clear: a faction was busy recruiting members over there.

"Our leader is Sou-suke~"

"Shouko, you've been worried about Kuuno, haven't you?"

"D-don't...! You can't bring that up right now?!"

Shouko's face was bright red.

Even though it was something I already knew, I felt my own face heat up.

"Anyway, let's talk about the transaction."

"Don't try to brush it off with an 'anyway'! Just say it!"

"I get that you're Shouko's ally and that you trust Kuuno. The terms Kuuno proposed are appreciated on our end too. But this power isn't infinite, right?"

"Are there limits to the area it can cover, or the distance from the caster?"

"...You're quick on the uptake. Well, that's pretty much it. So, here's our proposal."

To summarize Yume-kai's terms—.

・Move to one of the bases and deploy a barrier there.

・I have no intention of proposing we live together, but I request that both parties be free to move within the barrier.

・In addition to meal rations, please keep my uniform clean from time to time.

That was the entirety of it.

It was something like... too modest. "Um, um, look, um, Yume-kai." "What? Too much to ask?"

"It's the opposite. Ah, Moe-chan. Please explain our basic terms and conditions."

"Absolutely! Since we have a big house, everyone gets their own room! The room comes with a bed, warm futons, a desk, and a lantern! Meals are three times a day, Shii-chan's homemade cooking is super delicious! We have underclothes and pajamas too! You can bathe every single day, and Sougo makes soap, shampoo, lotion, and everything else! If you get tired or injured, Sengyuchi-chan's magic will recover you in a snap! Minori-sensei can explain most things if you ask, and recently Roach-chan maid joined us too! Fenrir's Mashiro and Black Dragon's Miku-n are super fluffy! We have lots of chickens so unlimited eggs! Everyone works together, so there's plenty of meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and fruit! All of this is the standard for members!"

Yume-kai froze as the terms were rattled off at a torrential pace.

After ten seconds, twenty seconds passed and worry set in, Moe-chan gave him a nudge on the shoulder, and he snapped back to reality.

"Sorry, I think I was having a dream where I was being told about a utopia. What were you saying about the terms?"

「Yume-kai, what you heard wasn't a dream.」

「Huh? I mean, sure, having the team's cooperation is nice, but isn't the cornerstone of this lifestyle Arakino's ability? The workload and the compensation don't add up. What, are you saying I pay the difference with my body?」

「S-so-so-so... Sora-suke would never say something like that?」

Thanks for looking out for me, Yumeko, but I wish you could have said it without freaking out so much.

Yume-kai misunderstood and hugged herself protectively, stepping back.

「...To be honest, there are still some things I haven't mentioned, but I will never ask my comrades to offer up their bodies, so please put your mind at ease.」

「Terina, this is the truth. Sora-suke doesn't operate based on gains and losses.」

「...Well, let's say I believe that. The problem is I can't come to terms with it myself. Generally, I prefer a state of no debts and no credits. If I owe too much, I get uncomfortable, you know?」

I wasn't entirely out of touch with that feeling.

"The boundary barrier ability is more important than Dream Realm realizes. You might already know this, but abilities grow stronger the more you use them."

"That's... right."

It seemed Dream Realm had experience with that too.

Well, if she had been maintaining a barrier continuously up until the seventh day, it's plausible that it grew stronger.

「Yume-kai, whenever you expand the range or strength of your barrier, please apply that change. That way, we can expand the area where we can explore safely, and live days where we can sleep without fear of monster attacks.

This is a benefit so significant that all my comrades were convinced to welcome you aboard.」 Terina looked at Yumeko.

"Right, right! Everyone was in favor of making Serina part of the group!"

"...I see. So they're valuing the utility of your barrier abilities, not just the fact that you're Miko's friend. ...Even so, I still feel like I'm getting a bit too much for free. But I guess it means there's room to repay them later."

Every time the barrier is strengthened, Yume's contribution score goes up.

If things go that way, maybe someday she'll reach a point where she feels her treatment as a teammate is fair.

"So, well, nice to meet you."

"Yeah, nice to meet you."

"Yay! Serina's part of the team now!"

"We're not teammates. We're trading partners."

Yume seems to have a bit of resistance to the word "teammate."

"Eh? But we're friends, aren't we?"

"That's irrelevant."

"How could you!"

"...By the way, how many people are on your side of the deal?"

Peeling off the clinging Miko, Yume looked at me.

"Including Yume, there are seven of us."

"...Given what you just said, that means everyone except Iku's female, right?"

"...Yeah, that checks out."

Yume took another step back.

"N-N-No no no, that's not it, Serina! Sōsuke doesn't only pick girls to be his teammates!"

Meiko, I appreciate you covering for me again, but I wish you’d been a bit more level-headed about it.

Yume-kyō was completely horrified by it.

"...That was just a joke, though. Since I watch guys during events too, I know better than to make someone like that my partner. You picked people who could work with you and had the right abilities, based on your criteria, didn't you?"

Regarding their abilities, honestly, it’s not an absolute guarantee...

Well, I guess there’s no need to make a big fuss denying it now.

"I'll do my best to put in work that matches what I'm being paid."

"We welcome you, Yume-kyō."

A classmate capable of deploying barriers had become an ally—or at least a business partner.

At first, they put on a cold, detached front, but as the bond deepens, they gradually let their guard down and open up emotionally...

...is the kind of dynamic I love.

-------A Request to Our Readers-------

Having read this work, if even for a brief moment

"Interesting!" "I can't wait for the next part!"

"Keep writing it!!!!," please consider: Adding it to your bookmarks.

・And changing the ★★★★★ button in the 'Please support the author by adding points' section at the bottom of the page from ☆☆☆☆☆

to ★★★★★ as a show of support,

it will be a huge encouragement for future updates!!!!

Thank you so much!!!!!

After the meal, I was hurried out by my mistress, who was eager to get going.

"I know where we're going, so let's have you take us there."

"Okay! Then I'll stay behind, Mashi."

Mashi barked in agreement as she poked her head out of the Fenrir hut.

She came running so fast that I could barely keep up, so I petted her and got on.

I was in front, with my mistress clinging to me from behind.

I couldn't help but tense up at the feeling of her breasts against my back.

"All right, Mikun, take us to where we were before."

She nodded and took off, flying straight ahead.

She headed straight for the spot where the invisible barrier had been.

"Go, Mikun! Straight to Sera's place!"

"It's great that we can go straight ahead in the air since there's nothing to get in our way."

Once again, the mobility of the phantoms is a blessing.

Ordinary students have limits when exploring the forest on foot.

If we set up a base, we have to return there before dark, so the range we can explore naturally becomes smaller, and if we're careful not to get lost, the range will be even smaller.

As a result, the types of materials we can obtain are also limited.

I remember how we used to eat only mushrooms in the early days.

Even if new items are placed, we can't get them if they're out of our range of movement.

But we don't need to worry about that.

We have Mashiro and Mikuron. "Thanks, Mikuron."

Feeling grateful, I petted the fluffy black dragon.

"Huh? Mikuron is indeed a good kid, but what's with this sudden gratitude!?"

"No, I just felt grateful."

"That's true... But, if that's the case, shouldn't you thank me too, since I called Mikuron?"

「Yeah, I'm glad you're here, Shouko.」

There's no doubt that her positive attitude and cheerful demeanor contribute to the party's lively atmosphere.

「Mwah. I'm glad I got to meet you again, too.」

With that, Shouko leaned in and hugged me tightly.

For a while, we flew through the sky, feeling happy, until Mikron started to descend. 「This looks like the place.」 「Isn't this just a regular forest?」

「Yeah, the barrier is invisible.」

「Ah, in manga, you can see transparent barriers, but that's probably just for the reader's sake.」

「Exactly. The readers get to see it because it's easier to understand that way, but in the story, it's supposed to be invisible.」

If the reality of the story isn't conveyed to the reader, it's pointless, so I'm all for such visual aids.

Pictures of barriers look pretty cool.

Anyway, unfortunately, the barrier of the dream world is invisible.

Mikron brought us down to the ground, and we got off.

I feel around and soon my hand touches something.

"Ah, here it is. Even though I can't see it, there's definitely a wall."

Seeing me patting the air, Shouko reaches out into the void as well.

"...Ah! It's really here. Wait, it feels weird. Is Serina on the other side?"

Instantly, arms reach out from the other side of the boundary and grab us, pulling us in. "Wah" "Kyaa"

I'm a little surprised, but since it's the second time, I don't get confused.

Shouko seems to be quite surprised, but she immediately breaks into a smile upon seeing the person in front of her. "...Really is Shouko." "Serinaaa!"

Shouko hugs me in the dream world. She's about to rub her cheek against mine. "Stop it, stop it. Get off me."

"Ugh, Serina, you've gotten so skinny..."

"You're so annoying. I've always been like this. You know that." "Your uniform's all wrinkled too..."

"It's because I washed it and wrung it out. And why is yours still like new?"

"It's because Sohji cleans it for me." "Huh?"

The design that allows dirt to be cleaned off when the storage is rearranged hasn't been explained yet.

A sharp gaze flew over, and when I explained it, I received praise like, "Kouno's power is just too convenient, isn't it?"

"Seirina's amazing too! The power to create barriers!"

"…Well, it's nice that nothing gets in the way, but honestly, it's kind of inconvenient."

In modern Japan, it's possible to live comfortably without interacting much with other people.

However, such a convenient lifestyle is only possible because of the work of people you don't see.

In this desert island, if I really end up alone, it would be a life without any interruptions, but also one filled with inconveniences.

Hey, is Seirina really alone?

Of course. There were people who gathered friends during events, but I couldn’t be bothered with them. "Gather friends?"

Dream World nods at my words.

You didn’t run into them? Suuou was trying to form a team with herself as the leader.

Suuou Ryukou is the leader of one of the two major girl groups, alongside Shouko.

Shouko, Shiomi, and Mu Kai are part of the Shouko group, while there's also the Jinou group.

There are also people like Roa and her friends who aren't affiliated with any group, but most people are either in the Shouko group or the Jinou group. By the way, Senyuu is also unaffiliated.

They aren't exactly enemies, but Jinou seems to have a competitive attitude toward Shouko.

"I see... That's why there weren't many people at the event."

It turns out that the reason so few people were chasing after the light spheres was because one of the factions was busy recruiting allies there.

"Our leader is Sousei."

"Shouko, you were worried about Kouno."

"Ch-cho...! Why are you saying that now!?" Shouko's face is bright red.

Even though I already knew, I still felt embarrassed.

"Anyway, let's talk about the deal."

"Don't say 'anyway' if you're going to change the subject!"

"I understand that Shouko is on our side and that you trust Kouno. The conditions you've proposed are also very favorable to us. However, this power isn't infinite."

「Is there a limit to the area it can cover or the distance between the caster?」

「...You're quick. Well, that's about it. So, here's my proposal.」

Summarizing what Dream World said:

・Move to one of the bases and set up the barrier there.

・I'm not suggesting we live together, but I'd like both of us to be able to move freely within the barrier.

・Besides providing meals, I'd like you to clean my uniform once in a while. That's all.

In other words... it's too modest. 「Um, Dream World?」 「What? Asking too much?」

「The opposite, actually. Ah, Servant, could you explain the basic treatment here?」

「Of course! We have a big house, so you'll get your own room! There's a bed, a warm quilt, a desk, and a lantern in your room! Meals are three homemade meals a day, and they're super delicious! You'll get clothes and pajamas too! You can take a bath every day, and Tsugusa will make soap, shampoo, lotion, and more! If you're tired or hurt, Thousand Heal will fix you up in a flash! If you have any questions, Minori will explain most things, and recently, Roa-chan the maid has joined us! Fenrir's Mashiro and Black Dragon's Mikuron are super fluffy! We have lots of chickens, so you can eat eggs all you want! We're all working together, so we have plenty of meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and fruit! All of this is standard if you're part of the team!」

Dream World froze as the treatment was explained in a torrent of words.

After ten seconds, then twenty, and with concern, the Servant shook her shoulder, and she snapped back to reality.

「Sorry, I was having a dream about an ideal world. What were you saying about the treatment?」

「Dream World, what you heard wasn’t a dream.」

「Huh? No, while I appreciate my friends’ help, the foundation of my life is my ability, right? The benefits and contributions don’t match up. What? Are you saying I have to pay the difference with my body?」

「N-No, I wouldn’t say something like that.」

I’m glad you’re trying to protect me, but I wish you could have stayed calm.

Dream World misunderstood and hugged me protectively, taking a step back.

「...Honestly, there are still things I haven’t told you, but I wouldn’t ask you to sacrifice your body for the team, so you can relax.」

「Misa, this is true. I’m not acting out of self-interest.」

「...Well, I’ll take your word for it. But I can’t really accept it. I prefer to keep things even, without owing anyone. I feel uncomfortable when I owe too much.」

I can understand how you feel.

「Dream World, the barrier ability is more important than you think. You might know this, but the more you use your ability, the more it grows.」 「Yeah.」 Dream World seems to have experience with this.

Well, if you’ve been expanding the barrier for seven days straight, it’s bound to grow.

「I want you to apply the barrier’s range and strength every time it grows. That way, we’ll be able to explore safely and sleep soundly without worrying about monster attacks. This is a benefit that would make everyone want to welcome you on board.」 Misa looked at Misa.

「That's right! Everyone agreed to have Serina as a comrade!」

「...Hmm. So you're not just friends with Shouko, but you also see the usefulness of her barrier abilities. ...Still, it feels like you're getting too much. Well, maybe there'll be a chance to pay it back in the future.」

Every time the barrier strengthens, Serina's contribution to the dream world increases.

Then maybe one day, she'll see it as a fair trade. 「Well, I guess, nice to meet you.」 「Yeah, nice to meet you too.」

「Yay! Serina's a comrade too!」

「She's not a comrade. She's a business partner.」

The dream world seems to have a problem with the word "comrade."

「Hey, aren't we friends?」 「That's irrelevant.」 「You're so mean!」

「...By the way, how many members do you have over there?」

Pulling Shouko away, the dream world looks at me. 「Including me, there are seven.」

「...From what you just said, doesn't that mean everyone except for Kouno is a girl?」 「...That's right.」 The dream world took another step back.

「N-no, Serina, it's not like that! Tsugusa isn't just picking girls to be his comrades, right?」

Shouko, I’m glad you’re protecting me, but I wish you could be a little more calm. The Dream World is pretty shocked, you know.

“…That’s just a joke. I’ve seen guys in events too, so I know that having someone like that as a partner is messed up. You’re picking people who can help you and have abilities based on your standards, right?”

As for abilities, to be honest, it’s not an absolute thing…

Well, for now, I don’t really need to deny it.

“I’ll work hard to live up to the treatment.” “Welcome, Dream World.”

A classmate who can deploy a barrier has become either a partner or a business partner.

I like characters who start off cold but gradually warm up to you as you get to know them.
---A Request to All Readers---
If you read this book and feel even a little bit

"Interesting!" "I want to know what happens next!" "Keep writing!!!!",

please do the following:

• Add this book to your bookmarks

• Click the ★★★★★ button under the "Support the author by giving points" section at the bottom of the page

This will be a huge encouragement for future updates!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!