Chapter 34: TS Girl Learns the Current Situation

Because Mahiro kept getting weirdly clingy with me, I couldn’t go watch Nagisa-kun and the others fight the Deep Calamities.

Well… it’s not like it’s Mahiro’s fault or anything.

More importantly—what is she, exactly?

Her emotions are so unstable that I can’t quite figure her out.

…Though, honestly, I’m not exactly in a position to talk about mental instability myself.

She wasn’t just using Connect Link—she was using Reina’s skill too, right? Maybe it’s some kind of copying ability.

And she even tried to confine me… Could it be she was a fan of Akegami Sora from the original story?

Sorry, but the person inside your favorite is a guy now. Well, I guess it doesn’t matter—she’s a reincarnator too.

Anyway, if I feel like it, maybe I’ll go check on her. I do sense a bit of danger, but we’re in similar situations.

…But more importantly, what matters is what Nagisa-kun and the others are dealing with.

More specifically—the Fourth Deep Calamity Disaster.

"Honestly, this is seriously bad, isn’t it?"

"Yeah."

"It really is."

"...Sigh, yeah…"

"Haha…"

Everyone agreed with my assessment.

Well, of course they did. We’re all sharing information, after all.

…Still, now that I think about it—the swimsuit event is supposed to be pretty relaxed before it just ends.

But looking back, it also serves as a bridge into Chapter 2.

Because Chapter 2 of Last Inheritance revolves around defeating a hybrid-type Deep Calamity during the Fourth Disaster.

…And yeah, it’s a huge pain since we have to fight something massive.

"Did you contact the school?"

"Yeah, they said they’re still confirming. For now, we’re under standby orders."

"I see."

Standby… which means—

"We still have free time, then."

Honoka sat down under the parasol. …Somehow, even the way she crossed her legs looked stylish. Must be nice—long, well-proportioned limbs.

Not like I ever wanted to be some frail, petite character or anything.

"Mm… there’s nothing to do, huh? I’m kind of worn out from playing anyway."

Kisa rested in the shade as well.

Well, yeah. There’s nothing to do.

"Akegami Sora."

Just as I was thinking that, Reina tapped me on the shoulder.

"You know something, don’t you?"

"...Huh? Have I seriously been under suspicion this whole time?"

"Well, yeah. …After all, you were planning to do something practically suicidal, targeting the day of the Fifth Deep Calamity Disaster, weren’t you?"

Reina narrowed her eyes.

…Seriously? How did she figure that out?

Well, whatever.

In other words, she came to ask about the game knowledge I have.

That caught me off guard—and “I” slipped out as “me,” instead of “her.”

…Why am I switching personalities like that? Whatever.

"So, what do you want to ask, Reina?"

"Information about the enemy this time, I suppose."

"...I don’t know that much, though. There’s just a hybrid-type Deep Calamity, and beast-type ones spawning around it, right? As for how to defeat it… it seems like we’ll just have to do our best together."

Well, there are some conditions, but they’ll probably be fulfilled naturally, so it’s fine.

"...I see. Then it can’t be helped."

"Why are you so concerned about it, Reina?"

"Because… it’s what led me to become a Curse Seeker… I think. I’m not really sure."

Come to think of it, Reina became a Curse Seeker during the Fourth Deep Calamity Disaster.

But it’s not like she lost her family then or anything.

…Actually, now that I think about it, everyone loses too much.

Kisa and I, for one. And even Honoka.

When I glanced at Reina, she was looking down, lost in thought.

"Then I’ll just fire off a huge attack and beat those beasts into the ground."

So I gave her a small smile, hoping to lift her spirits.

Reina’s eyes widened in surprise. Then she let out a quiet breath and suddenly grabbed both my cheeks.

"If you did that, wouldn’t that ‘Abaddon’ thing progress further?"

"Yuh cahn’t tahk!"

I couldn’t speak properly. I was just trying to cheer her up!

"But still, I feel a bit better now. …I guess I was scared of that."

With that, she returned to the parasol.

Honestly, I do wonder how far I could go in an Abaddon state. Not sure if I could put out enough power to completely crush the Fourth Deep Calamity Disaster.

…Also, since this is Chapter 2, Nagisa-kun is supposed to be able to use his skills. I wonder if that’ll cause any issues.

And then there’s Mahiro. She’s way too much of an irregular.

Well, I guess it’s fine as long as she’s not hostile.

The details of Chapter 2 are basically this: once the Fourth Deep Calamity Disaster begins moving, everyone forms teams and charges in.

At that point, a huge number of beast-type Deep Calamities start spawning. It all happens suddenly, putting the Connectors in a pretty dangerous situation—but Nagisa-kun can fight on his own, so he pushes forward alongside everyone else.

Then, with the help of another key character, they defeat the boss.

…Nagisa-kun doesn’t currently have Curse Seeker abilities, though. I hope he’ll be okay. Maybe I can make up for it.

"Sora-san."

"Hyah!?"

I jumped when I was suddenly called.

"S-Sorry."

"...It’s fine."

My heartbeat was loud. …For some reason, I’m still overly sensitive when it comes to Nagisa-kun. I overreact too much.

"...You won’t be in danger this time, right, Sora-san?"

"What are you saying? All Curse Seekers are in danger."

"But last time, it was basically assumed you’d die."

"...That was under the assumption that I wouldn’t even be there. There’s no way that applies now."

"...I guess that’s true, but…"

…Ever since then, Nagisa-kun has been worrying about whether I’ll live or die.

For some reason, that made me a little happy. I couldn’t help but smile.

"Then make sure I stay safe, okay, Nagisa-kun?"

And just like that time, I jumped into his arms.

He smelled like Nagisa-kun.

"...Akegami-san, you’re still doing that?"

His heartbeat sped up. Yep—he’s embarrassed.

"Not the last name."

"Sora-san."

"That’s better. While you’re at it, let’s Connect Link like this."

"...Alright. 'Connect Link.'"

My chest suddenly felt lighter as my body, eroded by Abaddon, eased slightly through the Connect Link.

…Maybe my memories are flowing into Nagisa-kun every time we do this. I wonder if someday he’ll come to know everything about me.

Well, whatever.

Thinking a little about the battle that hasn’t come yet, I leaned into him.

Feeling safe, I gave in to the sudden drowsiness that washed over me. Maybe I was more tired than I thought.

It’s okay now.

Nishizono Mahiro begins to move.

First, she has to make them understand what she’s done.

At this rate, they won’t be able to win against the Fourth Deep Calamity Disaster.

A smartphone ringtone echoed loudly.

"Hey, Mahiro-chan!"

"I-Iijima-san…"

"I told you, just call me Kanon! More importantly, don’t go running off on your own, okay?"

Her bright voice rang in Mahiro’s ears.

A sick, festering feeling spread through Mahiro’s heart.

"S-Sorry, Iijima-san…"

"...There you go again, using my last name. You’re a tough one, Mahiro-chan."

Iijima Kanon.

In Chapter 2 of Last Inheritance, she’s one of the key characters in defeating the Fourth Deep Calamity Disaster.

"Because… you got seriously hurt because of me…"

"Haha, that’s your reason? Don’t worry about it. I just can’t go out on missions for a bit, that’s all."

That girl cannot deploy.

Only Mahiro knows the truth—that it’s something irreversible.