kscans

Chapter 189 - Eighth-Grade Syndrome Takes the Stage

The time for the final act has come...

No, I should just brace myself. I'm tired of complaining every time. Besides, the show's about to start.

The high school cultural festival. In middle school, it was just singing in a chorus at some auditorium. But my first year of high school was different—it was the same kind of vibrant festival I'd seen in anime and manga.

Well, calling it 'just like anime' or 'vibrant' might be a stretch; it was rough around the edges and a bit of a mess here and there. But that chaos was exactly what made it feel like a real festival.

So why not just let go and enjoy it? My first high school festival. What’s the big deal about cross-dressing once or twice? It’s just like dressing up in a costume and hitting the town for Halloween. Not that I've ever actually done that.

That's what I told myself as I shifted my mindset.

"Kyouta, are you ready?"

"I'm fine."

"...Well, yeah, um. Good luck."

"Right. You too."

I answered Shizuku-san, who had come to get me, and stepped out from behind the blue tarp partition she was holding up.

Then, I walked around our event tent—which we had made to look like a circus tent occupying a corner of the schoolyard—to the front.

These shoes were hard to walk in, and this skirt felt alien. The face guard made it a little hard to breathe.

Still, this was a festival. I was going to make it a huge success...!

I was clad in a Gothic Lolita outfit of black cloth and white frills, the very one Ito and his friends had brought me as a 'thank you gift' a while back. In my hand, I held a slightly modified parasol.

I had a wig that extended my hair to my waist, and my left eye was partially hidden by my bangs. My mouth was covered by a black demon's face guard, its golden fangs glinting in the sunlight.

Effectively, only the area around my right eye was visible. This would at least keep my shame to a minimum.

Just as I had practiced countless times, I walked with the delicate steps of a proper lady, twirling my parasol.

Alright, time to head into battle!

"Okay, please form a single file line!"

"We'll be handing out numbered tickets, so please remain calm!"

"Hey, isn't that one of the kids from the infamous 'Invisible Ninjas'!?"

"Huh, no way! But was there a girl like that? I remember a girl with black hair, but her chest and back were..."

"She's gorgeous! Who is that?!"

"Idiot. You can't even see her face. Don't be fooled. Though she definitely has an incredible aura."

"I heard the 'Invisible Ninjas' had an attraction around here... is this it?"

"Haaah...! Haaah...! She's wearing it...! My... our...! Kyoukooo...!"

Isn't this crowd a little too big?

There were clearly more people here than the total number of students at our school. Nearly half the schoolyard was filled, and the teachers we'd asked for help were desperately trying to organize the lines.

When Erina-san had gone to the staff room almost a month ago to ask for assistance, I had tilted my head, wondering if we'd really get that many visitors.

Apparently, her judgment was spot on. Are the locals around here just that bored...?

The sun beat down on me mercilessly as I walked with my parasol. It felt like a spotlight was following me, and I couldn't seem to relax.

A clear sky with just a few scattered white clouds was welcome, but this crowd size was completely unexpected.

We were only scheduled for the morning... can we even get through everyone?

Well, my job remains the same. I stood at the entrance and waited.

Then, I prompted the first group of customers with my gaze. They appeared to be a young couple, and they approached hesitantly.

"Welcome, aspiring adventurers... heroes, one and all."

As the voice echoed from my crimson choker, I performed a curtsy, just as Erina-san had taught me.

It was hard for them to see, but I'd had Aira-san attach a telepathy mirror to the choker. Aika-san was watching the situation through it and providing the voice.

The couple just stared blankly, likely at my unusually tall stature for a woman. Was this outfit really that strange?

Just as I was starting to worry, Aika-san's voice continued.

"From this moment, we shall guide you through a replica of the labyrinth we have prepared. As the sign there indicates, you must strictly adhere to the following three rules."

Okay, I think this is where I'm supposed to release a bit of mana to intimidate them, right?

I carefully released it, making sure not to convert it into wind, just enough for even a non-Awakened person to notice, but not enough to cause any harm...

I used my [Spirit Eye] to check the flow of mana from my body, making fine adjustments. I'm really not good at this sort of thing.

"First, do not stray from my back. You must not move too far ahead, nor may you stop. Second, if you begin to feel unwell, please inform me immediately. At that point, the labyrinth tour will conclude. And third, try not to touch the walls. Should you touch them... I wonder what might happen?"

This is it! Erina-san told me to 'laugh' here. Even if my face is hidden, the eyes are the window to the soul. My expression will get through!

Alright, just like I practiced!

...A grotesque grin spread across my face.

...I'm so glad I'm wearing this face guard.

I felt my own heart grow cold as I switched to a customer-service smile.

Ah, the customers look pale. It must be because my face was so creepy.

"Silence will be taken as consent. Now, you two... please, enjoy the abyss of the labyrinth."

Also, isn't Aika-san a total chuuni? She must have written this script.

With a twirl of my skirt, I slipped through the thin purple curtain. The couple, who followed in a slight panic, gasped as they saw the interior.

"N-No way..."

"You've got to be kidding me..."

Apparently, the result was satisfactory.

The floor was still the dirt of the school grounds, but on either side were walls of piled, pale yellow stones. The path was about three meters wide, with the ceiling at about the same height.

Speaking of the ceiling, it was painted pitch black and adorned with eerie red patterns.

A mysterious vortex of mana filled the interior. The sense of unease, which even a non-Awakened person could feel on their skin, gave the visitors a taste of the extraordinary.

Of course, it was all just a cheap set.

The walls were just thin boards and blue tarps covered with a paste made by using alchemy to break down brick blocks from the hardware store.

Since that alone wasn't impressive enough, Shizuku-san had touched it up so it would at least be convincing at a glance.

The ceiling was also made of cloth, a mere facade. But unlike the walls, it wasn't just for show.

"Now, follow me."

I began to walk slowly, and the couple followed behind me.

They clung to each other as if they were in a haunted house. Tsk! Show-offs!

A few seconds after we started walking, I heard Aika-san's hushed voice from my earring.

"Kyouta-kun. Please."

I didn't answer with words, but instead came to a stop.

With the startled couple behind me, I leisurely raised my parasol like a rapier.

"Please step back. It seems our reception has arrived."

"Huh?"

Ignoring their confusion, I channeled mana from the tip of my foot into a 'kettle-shaped head covered in stone' that Shizuku-san was quietly pushing through a gap in the wall.

I'd made golems countless times. I could now form one easily without a cheat sheet. Focusing on the transmutation circle carved on the reverse side, I connected a thread of mana to the materials prepared on the other side of the wall.

In the blink of an eye, a hulking form made of earth took shape. It was as if it had sprouted from the ground.

"W-Whaaaah!?"

"What is that?! What's happening!?"

"There is no need to panic. Let's see, you could call this..."

The golem sluggishly rose to its feet and swung its massive, earthen arm.

Its fist flew towards me with the speed of a pro boxer.

"...merely a weakling."

I blocked the earthen fist with the tip of my parasol.

There was no need to put any strength into it. In fact, if I did, the parasol would break.

Having so easily stopped the punch from the giant, the couple let out another cry of surprise.

These people are great customers.

I flicked the golem's massive arm up with the tip of my parasol, took a step forward, and thrust into its torso.

The parasol pierced through it as if it were thin paper, and with a light sideways flick, the earthen giant crumbled to pieces.

In the dim light, with only the eerily glowing patterns on the ceiling as a light source, I lightly rested the parasol on my shoulder and gave it a graceful twirl.

While the customers' gazes were directed upward, the kettle head was pulled back behind the wall by a string.

"Are you unharmed, brave heroes? Yes... this is merely a trial tour. We wouldn't let you suffer so much as a single scratch."

Alright, another smile here! I won't mess it up this time. My best customer-service smile!

...Aren't they even more put off now?

As I turned back and smiled, the couple stared at me with caution, as if they had just seen a monster.

No, you've got it all wrong. That golem looks strong, but the inside is almost completely hollow so that it wouldn't hurt anyone even if they bumped into it...

And the parasol that looked like it pierced through with brute force actually has a transmutation circle carved on its tip, which simply used alchemy to disassemble the golem's makeshift body.

I wanted to explain all that, but it would completely ruin the atmosphere we'd built.

Maintaining my smile, I gave a small bow and resumed my dignified, ladylike walk. I felt like muscles I never use were screaming in protest, but I pushed through with sheer grit.

After walking for about five minutes, the woman in the couple voiced a question.

"H-Hey... isn't it too spacious in here? It's completely different from how it looked from the outside..."

"Yeah... U-Um, miss? What is this...?"

"..."

...Oh, 'miss' is me.

It took me a moment to realize the college-aged couple was talking to me.

I hurriedly spun around.

"Ahahahahahahaha!!"

"!?"

What's wrong, Aika-san!? Did Erina-san do something!?

The couple let out a small shriek at her sudden burst of laughter.

"Ah... my apologies. Yes, yes. There is no need for concern. This is a labyrinth. A false labyrinth of our own creation. In that case, kukuku... wouldn't twisting a bit of space or two be necessary to provide proper hospitality?"

Oh no, Aika-san's chuuni soul is exploding.

Well, she isn't lying, but her phrasing... it's just so... reminiscent of that phase where one thinks 'silver hair, black coat, eyepatch, bandages, and wrapped in chains' is the coolest thing ever.

I had steeled myself for the cross-dressing, but I never expected to be tormented from this direction. This ad-libbing is painful.

For now, I reluctantly struck a chuuni-esque pose to match the atmosphere.

"S-Space...!?"

But this couple... they reacted perfectly, their faces paling in terror.

This is bad. I think I'm starting to like these two.

"Hee hee. Well, there is no need to think so deeply on it. As long as you remain behind me, I promise I will return you to the outside. So please... do not... leave my side."

I delivered the last line with just a hint of loneliness. Oh no... I'm a natural...!

My voice sounded like that of a young child, drowning in their own power, yet seeking someone who wouldn't be afraid of it. Busujima Aika... what a terrifying girl!

The couple fell for it hook, line, and sinker, staring at me with solemn expressions. These people aren't plants, are they? They're giving nothing but perfect reactions.

"Then let us proceed. The tour... has only just begun."

I turned on my heel with grace and began walking again, the couple following close behind.

By the way, it's Erina-san who's actually twisting space. Using the patterns drawn on the ceiling as a medium for her space magic, she's making the interior about five times larger.

Naturally, it's an incredibly advanced and delicate spell. If mana were to run rampant inside, it would be easily dispelled, and she can't move while casting it. That's why we made meticulous preparations and limited the event to the morning.

And so, the first group of customers completed their ten-minute labyrinth tour right on schedule and arrived at the exit.

"Is it... over?"

"We're... we're alive...?"

I'm starting to feel a little concerned about these people's hypersensitivity.

The couple clutched each other's hands tightly, as if they had just finished a desperate escape. Um, you know this is all fake, right?

We specifically designed it so there was absolutely no real danger, so could you please not act like it was some 'dangerous attraction'? I'll get chewed out later.

"Thank you very much for participating in our tour. Entry is limited to one time per person. You will likely never visit this place again."

As I stood in a farewell pose with an elegant bow, the couple spun back around as if struck by lightning.

"Aren't you... coming with us?"

Uh, no way in hell? I have to backtrack to the entrance to get the next customers?

"I have my duty. Please, pay me no mind. And you... please, enjoy your peaceful, ordinary lives."

And now Aika-san is saying something cryptic...

Is it me? Am I the weird one for not being able to get into this flow...?

The boyfriend looked like he still wanted to say something, but his girlfriend touched his shoulder and gave a small shake of her head. Then, they both bowed to me.

"Please, take care...!"

"Maybe someday, again...!"

"Yes... if we are able, in a land untouched by conflict."

After seeing the couple off, I turned with a flick of my skirt to head back to the entrance.

...Yeah. What am I supposed to do with this?

"Aika-san."

"Fufufu... what is it, my other self? This banquet has only just begun. Let us dance and revel to our hearts' content...!"

"...Right."

I'm not going to say another word.

On a separate note, Shizuku-san, who occasionally peeks her head out from gaps in the walls, is making a really strange face.

Her lips are pressed into a thin line, and she's trembling slightly, as if trying to hold back laughter.

This... looks like we'll be hearing Aika-san's screams later.

＊　　　　　＊　　　　　＊

After that, our event, dubbed the 'Labyrinth Experience Tour,' continued to run smoothly.

With so many people, there were bound to be accidents. However, most of them were within our range of expectations.

A young man who was about to flee in a frenzy, I instantly got ahead of him, gently caught him, and calmed him down.

A young boy who sobbed as he charged at a golem, I caught him in my arms with a smile and patted his head to soothe him.

A guy who pretended to trip to try and hug me, I lightly sidestepped him. ...Though he almost fell over from the momentum, so I ended up catching him like a princess.

Some youths spouting nonsense about wanting to join the [Invisible Ninjas], I silenced them with a release of mana.

My annoying sisters, my parents, the Ooyama couple, and the Professor all came by to check on things, and I managed them all with my customer-service smile.

Ito and the other cross-dressing boys came by asking for a photo together, which I reluctantly agreed to.

For the sake of her reputation I won't mention her name, but one female student wet herself after seeing my sword fight with the golem, but Erina-san immediately covered for her. She took her to safety, so it wasn't a problem.

Maybe her trauma was triggered, because said student let out a scream, but it's not a problem, I said it's not a problem.

And so, despite a few minor incidents, our attraction came to a successful end.

I was exhausted. Not physically, but mentally drained.

We were originally supposed to close at noon, but the flow of customers never stopped, and we ended up running two hours late.

On top of that, we could only guide one group at a time for the first hour. After that, we were handling four to six groups simultaneously. If it weren't for the accelerated thinking from my [Sage's Nucleus], my brain would have definitely crashed. When panic broke out at the back of a group, I had to kick off the air to circle around, which required a lot of focus.

I only had time for a jelly pouch to fill my stomach, and I had to make a full-speed dash to the bathroom, avoiding people. I say this without trying to sound arrogant, but I doubt even another B-Rank adventurer could have done the same thing.

I thought my initial guess was wrong and Erina-san's was right, but in the end, we were both too optimistic.

We put up the 'Closed' sign at the entrance, and the four of us finally gathered behind the event tent.

"Goo' job... that was... so tiring..."

"Yeah, you really did great...!"

I nodded emphatically at Erina-san, who looked like a melted ice cream cone.

She had been maintaining the spell from behind the scenes the entire time, and she looked completely exhausted. We'd designed it to minimize her mana consumption, but half a day was still too long. She was truly the unsung hero. The only time she probably dispelled the magic was when she was helping that one student.

Next to Erina-san, Shizuku-san was grinning at us.

"Still, you two seemed to be having a lot of fun, Kyouta and Aika."

"Well, I just decided to roll with it halfway through."

"Forget... Please, just forget it...!"

The pervert-turned-chuuni high school girl covered her face with her hands and trembled. The ears peeking through her long black hair were bright red.

"Oh, and Aira-san, thanks for broadcasting for us."

"Not at all. I got to see something interesting, so I'm satisfied too."

Through the telepathy, I could picture the smug face of that good-for-nothing university student. Looks like I'll be teased about the cross-dressing for a while.

"By the way, are the senpais still here? Should we meet up?"

"Huh? Why would I have to linger in a space filled with overly bubbly high schoolers? I left as soon as I saw your attraction."

"'Bubbly'...?"

"I'm with my sister... Sorry. Since I'm so busy with dungeons, I have to use times like this to study."

"No, no. We were glad you could come see us. Though it was also embarrassing."

"Hey, why is your response to me so different?"

I ignored the first good-for-nothing university student and stretched lightly.

My whole body felt weary from overusing muscles I don't normally use. More than anything, I just wanted to change out of this getup and back into my boy's uniform.

"Well, I'm going to get changed. The three of you can-"

"Aika!"

A man and a woman appeared behind the event tent, cutting me off.

They were a well-dressed, middle-aged couple, and they approached us with smiles.

I had a feeling I knew who they were, and when I glanced at Aika-san...

"They're... my parents..."

she said, her face a bitter mask of confusion and irritation.