ch281-ch300 · 300-ch300

Chapter 300: The Receptionist Is a Losing Flag 【Watanabe Kasumi】 Part 9

SIDE: Watanabe Kasumi (Haruki's Girlfriend)

Hello.

They say where there's a main heroine, there must be heroines who are not the main one—so I am Watanabe Kasumi, the one-and-only heroine.

Now then. Formation D it was—leaving behind Sakura, who cannot leave the surface, I have moved into the dungeon.

The second floor of the Association facility inside the dungeon, that is.

"So then—your business, may I ask?"

I would like you to wait here until your escort arrives, but let us hear Miyuki out first.

"Isn't it obvious! I came to give that K○ brat what for!"

A bear brat? Does she mean Aikawa-san?

Jokes aside, I had more or less expected this.

Since the launch party the other day, I have told her the story of Haruki-san and me from the very beginning, and Miyuki does not think well of Haruki-san.

Small wonder—there is far too much I cannot tell her.

His victory over me, of course, and the time when he came rushing to me after I had lost to Mr. Umemoto at his most magnificent and was near death......

(In a situation so hopeless that no one should have come, my prince appeared atop a white horse, dashing and resplendent! With a single wink he scattered Mr. Umemoto to the winds, and hand in hand the two of us made our great escape from the exploding dungeon! It was like something out of a film......)

Even now, thinking back on it is wonderful!

"A K○ brat?"

"Yes—a delinquent adventurer who's been causing you no end of trouble, Kasumi-chan. He has to be dealt with!"

The little brat took the bait, I see.

From Miyuki's perspective, Haruki-san must have done dangerous things to catch my attention.

Telling her about the time he went to Floor 20 alone and couldn't come back was the mistake.

That was an important scene—my first real meeting with Mother—so there was no way around telling it.

(I skipped the part where Shiraishi-san lectured me, and I embellished the scene where I take my trembling Mother's hand and calm her just a little too much...... And then the moving finale, where Haruki-san returns from the exploding dungeon, embraces me, and Mother grants her blessing for our marriage—'I could entrust my son to you'—is positively begging to be made into a movie!)

"A delinquent adventurer? Ah—maybe that kid from before?"

Mmm-mmm-mmm.

She does remember Haruki-san, then.

I had left it alone, thinking they would never meet directly—but I shall need to raise her danger level from under the floorboards to the very bottom of the wall.

"You brought a 【Sword Saint】 for THAT?"

Well, to discipline Haruki-san, a 【Sword Saint】 would indeed be necessary.

Miyuki—could it be you've noticed Haruki-san's strength?

"First I'm hearing of it."

"I didn't mean it that way, but that IS one option, huh. Chiharu-chan, could you teach that kid some sword? For real, of course!"

Not that, then?

Then how did she intend to discipline him?

No—this girl is danger rank A.

One of the two most dangerous people of all.

'The Holy Maiden,' who charms every man simply by being in the room.

She meant to use that charm to entrap Haruki-san, presumably.

(Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm—. Haruki-san, you too! So lovey-dovey at the party, too! Could it be—the one he's meeting in dreams is Miyuki!?)

"The last time I tried that, Watanabe Kasumi nearly killed me. Still, if Watanabe Kasumi gives her permission, I'm not averse."

"I regret to inform you that he is in the dungeon, so you cannot meet him. Please come back the day after tomorrow."

If Haruki-san noticed Miyuki entering the dungeon, he will have moved deep inside by now.

Pray he has not done something so reckless as to fight a Manticore alone......

"What IS that! It's Sunday, and he left her behind and went to the dungeon? Unbelievable! You should absolutely dump him!"

"That is because YOU came! And she is not a girlfriend—she is a fiancée!"

Miyuki does have a point, it's true.

Natsukawa-san and Aikawa-san went on their date from this morning, while Haruki-san slept in the dungeon.

One is tempted to give his cheek a pinch or two.

A good opportunity—I shall put a little deterrence into the little brat as well.

I raise my left ring finger and brandish the engagement ring.

"Oooh, fiancé......"

Fufun.

She has such a wonderful fiancé and must be so envious!

Haruki-san is mine, so hands off!

Hm?

"Mmm-mmm-mmm—! What do you mean, fian——"

'Oh, it's an emergency! Let me through! Kasumi-saaan, Formation A!'

Hm?

That voice is Endo-san.

Stopped by the guards at the door, it seems, so she shouted the report through.

"Formation A? What's that?"

"The chairman. It seems he has come all this way to collect you."

Honestly—first one thing, then another......

"Ehhh!?"

The two of them cry out in unison.

But if they can take these two home, nothing could be better.

I can hear several sets of footsteps.

They've come trailing their escort behind them, it seems.

"Miyuki-kun! Are you safe!"

"Chairman!? Why are you here?"

"To collect you, of course. Come, let's g...... Watanabe Kasumi, is it. I see—now it all makes sense. Knowing your kind heart, you came to stop her. A good opportunity—I shall say my piece as well...... All of you, outside. Every one of you. Hoshino-kun, would you step outside as well?"

I suppose he has something to say to me—he sends the guards he brought out of the room.

"You can hear everything from outside the door, so this is pointless."

"Grrrnnn. Stats, is it. Well, fine. You have business here too, I take it. The magazine affair. But first...... Watanabe-kun."

"Yes?"

"What you are doing borders on the criminal. I won't tell you to break it off. But couldn't you at least refrain from seeing each other until next year?"

Haruki-san has been found out.

From Miyuki's guards who were at the launch party, presumably.

With the little brat here, he avoids saying anything direct.

"Nooo—! Chairman, make them break up right now!"

"Now, now, Miyuki-kun. In situations like these, forcing a couple apart only makes them dig in."

None of your business, that.

"I appreciate the advice deeply, Chairman. However, I have no intention whatsoever of behaving in a way I need be ashamed of. That said, I am aware it would draw public criticism, and so I intend to keep it a secret. I ask for your cooperation in that."

"Hm-m-m. If you understand, so be it. But know that if it comes to it, I will cut you loose. Be prepared for that. Now then, Miyuki-kun, let us go home. I shall hear the rest of it in the car. Hoshino-kun, stand."

"I still have unfinished business here. If you're going home, go home the two of you."

"What? You have business in Chiba as well? Don't tell me it has to do with the magazine affair. The Chiba branch is ground deeply entwined with the Self-Defense Forces. Landing in the weeklies again would be beyond the pale, you know?"

"What I have business with is the 【Spear King】 herself. And as Miyuki-san says, I'll deal with that delinquent adventurer too, so hurry up and go home."

"Really? Make sure to beat him to a pulp, okay?"

"Huh? No, that's hardly necessary...... Hoshino-kun, let's keep this amicable, shall we? Come, Miyuki-kun, home."

The chairman gives priority to taking Miyuki home, and Miyuki follows after him with poor grace.

Even the chairman himself came all this way—he didn't expect this to blow up so large, it seems.

But the real problem is......

"What did those words just now mean?"

"A convenient pretext to send the two of them home. You needn't be so angry. More importantly—I would like to hear your answer."

That the little brat is the one who stayed behind, that is.

Sorry, I've run out of strength today.

It'll probably be fixed tomorrow......