My relationship with Erihime had progressed.

That in itself was fine, but the circumstances were somewhat problematic.

After all, our allies were in the middle of a battle.

Of course, it was only because our allies were protected by a barrier that Erihime and I were able to take things that far...

The moment Erihime released the barrier, my companions immediately noticed us and rushed over.

"Intermediate Healing."

Chiyu swiftly cast a healing spell on both Erihime and me.

"Thanks for the help."

"Don't mention it."

Chiyu stepped in front of me and gently bumped her head against my chest.

It didn't hurt at all, but I felt her emotion sharply.

"...I'm sorry for worrying you."

"I knew you were safe. But when you jumped from the micron-sized space, I was terrified."

"I'm sorry."

If we had switched places, I would have hated seeing Chiyu take such risks at that moment.

But if no one had done it, we wouldn't have been able to save Tsutsui.

"Stop it! It's a relief you're both unharmed, but please don't worry me like this again!"

Sozu was angry too, but her eyes were wet with tears.

"…Seirena-chan, please prioritize yourself over your tools. Even if you dropped the tablet, no one would blame you for it."

Shion wore a genuine expression of relief, yet still offered a sharp remark.

"It's one of Sōsuke's strengths that he acts for others, but my heart just skipped a beat…?"

Fumihō was still unsettled; she pressed a hand to her chest and stared at me.

"As befits our master. However, please do not overexert yourself."

Her usually pristine maid uniform was splattered with mud. It seemed that as soon as the fight ended, she had been running around the area searching for us.

"Everyone…"

I was sorry to have worried them, but I was happy about their concern.

"But that's very much like Takano-kun, isn't it…"

Genju, back in his human form, said this with a somewhat nostalgic tone.

"I'm so sorry, both of you! If we think about the root cause, it was that I had you go along with Professor's plan…"

Professor Luminous seemed to feel guilty, her face twisted in distress.

"…Hey— aren't you two standing pretty close?"

Sho's line changes the air in the room.

"Huh? What are you talking about, Ume? It's not that weird."

Serina had recovered her usual, impenetrable aura.

But her arm was tightly wrapped around mine.

"Mm. I can't hide it. You smell like 'Sousun-kun'."

Chiya wore a face that suggested she had perceived everything.

"...Eh? Eh? No way, inside the barrier?"

Shou blinked in surprise.

«If you think like Teruna does, being helped that way would definitely be a deal-breaker.»

Shion nodded in agreement.

"...If this were Sousu-san acting normally, he would have dropped rocks outside the barrier to reduce the number of Avankus. I did feel something was off, but..."

Fuhou watched me with a faintly reproachful gaze.

"As expected of my master. You possess wonderful heaven-sent fortune, capable of turning a desperate situation into an opportunity."

Loa wasn't just unbothered; he looked downright proud.

"E-even Seirina…?"

"…I, I'll pretend Professor didn't hear anything."

"No way! You beat me to it, Seirina!"

Genchu reacted with panic, Professor Luminas turned red in the face, and Sobu looked vaguely resentful.

In an instant, my and Seirina's relationship progression had been exposed.

"Forgive us, everyone. This is my fault. Right? We should have teamed up for the monster hunt."

"That's not it. I was the one who made a move, so don't blame Souseke, okay?"

"It's not like I'm blaming you. Since Seri-chan's barrier was up, we were safe. You saved Seri-chan, and no one will complain about you resting."

Not everyone shared Chiyu's opinion, but none of the comrades pressed the issue.

Though some, like Shouko, puffed out their cheeks in a huff.

"By the way, where are that black dragon and that idiot guy?"

Seirina's remark sparked the same question in my mind.

If Mikuron has taken a liking to me, it wouldn't be out of character for him to dive straight at my face.

Besides, Souchi, whom we saved, should be nearby too.

"Ah... Mikuron thinks Soujuro is in danger because of Souchi... He's angry."

Shouko pointed her finger at the sky.

Following her gaze, I saw Mikuron carrying something in his mouth, swimming through the air on a track like a roller coaster.

Could it be Souchi he was holding?

Faint cries of "Gyaahhh" and "Help meeee" drifted down from above.

"Mikuron! Soujuro's safe!"

Shouko shouted up into the sky, and Mikuron accelerated, rocketing back toward them.

As he approached, Souchi's screams grew louder and clearer.

Once close to the ground, Mikuron spat Souchi out with a pfft and plunged onto me.

"There, there. Thanks for worrying."

"Grrr..."

Souchi was on all fours, groaning.

"...Chiyu"

"I didn't want to do it, but... understood.

'Sedate,' 'Basic Heal.'" A faint light enveloped Tsutsui.

He slowly rose to his feet and took a 360-degree look at us.

Upon spotting me, he came running straight over.

Standing before me, Tsutsui proceeded to kneel down on his knees—dogenzawa style.

"Please, let me call you 'oniichan'!... Huh?"

"You saved me when you had no obligation to do so, and you'd risk your life for your woman without a second thought. I've never seen a guy that badass except for oniichan!"

Is this really the same Tsutsui from before?

The one who was indiscriminately firing his gun during the first event, not caring about anything or anyone?

Seryna seemed to be in a good mood, muttering something like, "My woman... I already knew that."

"I don't really get it, but... if you're thanking me, then at least listen to what the sensei has to say."

"Yus!"

Despite looking a bit confused, Luminas-sensei recounted the details of the deal.

"Ohhh...! Providing housing, clothes, and food? You're like a god, oniichan."

「In exchange, I get intel from your side.

That's the deal, right?»
「For sure!

Consider it done!»
Tsuji bowed vigorously.

There had been a lot of twists and turns, but they managed to establish the trade relationship that was their original objective.

"Well, let's head back to your base camp. This lake might be safe for a few days, but monsters will eventually spawn here."

"Sorry about that! I panicked when we fled and ended up running all the way here!"

It seemed Tsuji hadn't been running with any specific goal in mind either.

Ultimately, however, it had shortened the distance between Selen's heart and his own, so he harbored no anger.

He glanced at Shiune to check on her, and she signaled through lip movements that "I'm not lying."

Apparently, Tsuji's gratitude toward him was the truth after all.

"It's fine. However, I can't return the handgun just yet, so please understand that situation."

It wasn't that he doubted Tsuji; it was simply about eliminating potential risks.

"Of course! By the way, only I know how to fire it, so if anything happens, give me a shout! I'll blow everything away!"

...I see, he had envisioned it with infinite ammunition and ensured that even if it were stolen, the opponent couldn't use it. "In that case, I'll count on you." The business was settled, so they resumed moving. "Ah, right. Selen, take this."

Genchu approached and handed the tablet over to Yonari.

"……You picked it up for me."

"Yep. But the screen's all cracked. I was just thinking, someone like Kunou could probably..."

"Ah, just hold on a second."

I stowed the tablet away in my Inventory and then re-summoned it into my hands.

And just like that, the tablet was restored to its original condition.

If a part is completely missing, it can't be supplemented, but if it's simply scratched or a component has come loose, I can easily return it to its proper state without any issues.

"You're free to drop this one again, but from now on, make sure you don't lose it."

Yonari, having received the tablet back from me, blushed and nodded in agreement. "Mm."

Seeing that expression on Yonari's face, many of the women in the group looked surprised.

"Huh, a harem face."

Chiyu alone let out that comment with a deadpan expression, but...

Anyway, we only had one male left to conclude our deal with.

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My relationship with Serina progressed.

That in itself was fine, but the situation was somewhat problematic.

It was during the middle of a battle with my comrades.

Of course, it was only because my comrades were protected by a barrier that Serina and I were able to act as we did...

When Serina lifted the barrier, my comrades immediately noticed us and rushed over. "Intermediate Healing"

Chiyu immediately cast healing magic on Serina and me. "Thanks" "Thanks, my ass"

When Chiyu came up to me, she lightly headbutted my chest plate.

It didn't hurt at all, but the feeling was clear. "...Sorry, I worried you"

"I knew you were okay. But when you jumped off the Micron, I was scared." "I'm sorry"

If I were in her position, I wouldn't want her to risk her life either.

But if someone didn't, we wouldn't have been able to save Tsutsui.

"Hey! I'm glad you two are safe, but don't worry me like that!"

Shouzi was also angry, but her eyes were filled with tears.

"...I hope you value yourself more than your tools, Seirina-chan. Even if you drop the tablet, no one will blame you."

Shion showed a sincere look of relief, but she also gave a stern remark.

"Helping someone else is one of Tsugusa-san's good qualities, but it made my heart ache..."

Deepo was still unsettled and was holding her chest as she looked at me.

"As expected of my master. However, please do not overexert yourself."

Usually dressed in a beautiful maid uniform, she was covered in mud. It seemed she had run around searching for us right after the fight ended. "Everyone..."

I felt bad for worrying them, but I was happy they were concerned. "But, that's just like you, Kouno..."

Phantom was back in his human form and said nostalgically.

"I'm sorry, both of you! If it weren't for me forcing you to go along with the teacher's plan..."

Luminas-sensei looked guilty and her face was twisted in pain.

"...Hey, aren't the two of you standing too close?"

The atmosphere changes with Sou's words.

“Huh? What are you talking about, Minato? It’s not that strange, right?”

Seirina had regained her usual aloof aura.

But her arm was firmly entwined around mine.

“Mm. The unmistakable scent of ‘Sousuke’s Sousuke’.”

Chiyu had a face as if she had figured everything out.

“…Huh? Huh? Did it happen inside the barrier?”

Shouko’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Considering Seirina-chan’s way of thinking, it’s only natural that she would react like that when helped like that.” Shion had a look of understanding.

“…Usually, Souza would try to reduce the number of Arvanks by dropping rocks outside the barrier, but I did think something was off…”

Mibou was looking at me with a slightly reproachful expression.

“You’re truly the master. You turn a crisis into an opportunity with your wonderful fortune.”

Loa doesn't seem to mind at all, but rather boasts. "Y, Yurina too...?"

"...I won't ask about that, Sensei."

"Man, Yurina beat me to it."

Genjuu looks anxious, Lumina is blushing, and Soubu looks somewhat resentful as they each react.

Our progress was exposed in an instant.

"I'm sorry, everyone. It's my fault. We should have gone monster hunting together, right?"

"That's not it. I went to Sou-suke first, so don't blame him."

"I'm not blaming him. With Seri's barrier up, it was safe. Sou-kun helped Seri, and no one will complain about him resting."

Not everyone thinks the same as Chiyu, but no one from the group questioned him.

Some, like Shouko, are pouting.

"By the way, where's that black dragon and that idiot boy?"

Yurina's words make me wonder the same thing.

If it's Mikuron who likes me, she might jump right in without hesitation.

Besides, Tsutsui should be nearby, right?

"Ah... Mikuron, you see, I think she's mad at Tsutsui because she thinks he put Souzou in danger." Shouji pointed at the sky.

Looking up, I saw Mikuron flying through the air in a roller-coaster-like trajectory, holding something in her mouth.

Is she holding Tsutsui?

I could faintly hear her screaming things like "Gyaaaaaah" and "Help meee."

"Mikuron! Sōsuke's safe!"

Shōko shouted up to the sky, and Mikuron sped toward us at an incredible rate.

As it did, Tsutsui's shouts grew louder as well.

Micron, as the distance to the ground grew closer, spit out Tsutsui and jumped onto me.

"Good boy. Thanks for worrying about me." "Ugh..."

Tsutsui was groaning on all fours. "....Sen'yuu"

「I don’t like it, but I understand. ‘Silence,’ ‘Basic Healing’.” A faint light envelops Tsutsui.

He slowly stands up and looks around at us.

Then, when he finds me, he runs toward me.

Tsutsui stands in front of me and kneels down.

“Please let me call you ‘big brother’!” “...Hm?”

“To help someone like me who has no obligation to help, and to risk your life without hesitation for your woman, I’ve never seen a cooler guy than you, big brother!”

Is this really the same Tsutsui?

The Tsutsui who was shooting recklessly at the first event?

Seirin is “your woman... You know, huh?” and seems to be in a good mood.

“I don’t really understand that, but... If you’re grateful, then listen to what the teacher has to say.” “Sure!”

While slightly confused, Lumina-sensei tells us about the deal.

“Wow...! To give you a place to live, clothes, and food, you’re like a god, big brother!”

「In exchange, you give me information. It’s a deal.」 「I would love to!」 Tsutsui bowed enthusiastically.

Despite everything, the initial goal of establishing a trade relationship was achieved.

「Well, let’s head back to your base. This lake will be safe for a few days, but monsters will start appearing again.」

「I’m sorry! I ran here on impulse!」

Tsutsui hadn’t been running for a specific purpose either.

In the end, this brought Seirina and Shin closer together, so there was no anger.

When I glanced at Shion, she mouthed, “I’m not lying.” to me.

It seems Tsutsui is genuinely grateful to me.

「Sure. But I can’t return the gun yet, so please understand.」

This isn’t so much about doubting Tsutsui as it is about eliminating risk.

「Of course! By the way, only I can use that thing, so if anything happens, let me know! I’ll shoot it up!」

…So, the gun had an infinite number of bullets and was designed so that even if it was taken, the other person couldn’t use it. 「I’ll count on you if that happens.」 With the business concluded, it was time to move again. 「Oh, by the way, Seirina, here.」

Kenzou approached and handed the tablet to Serina. "…You picked it up."

"Yeah. But the screen's all cracked. I was thinking, someone like Kojiro would…"

"Oh, just a moment."

I stored the tablet in my Inventory and repositioned it.

And then, how about that? The tablet returned to its original state.

It couldn't restore parts that were completely lost, but if they were just damaged or detached, it would easily return to its original form.

"You can drop this now, but Serina, you won't fall anymore."

Serina, who received the tablet from me, blushed and nodded.

Seeing Serina's expression, many of the women around her looked surprised. "Mm, she's got a bitch face."

Only Senyuu remained expressionless, muttering that.

Anyway, there was only one more man left to make a deal with.

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