Chapter 6

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"Alright, next! ...Wait, are you alone?"

When it was my turn, I stepped in front of the door, and another teacher looked at me with concern and asked.

"...Yes."

"Hey, if you want, there's a group of four in my class. Do you want to join them?"

Hmm, he's really worried about me.

He's so different from our terrible homeroom teacher. I almost want to cry.

"No, I'm fine! I'll go in!"

"Hey, hey, wait a minute!"

I opened the door with a burst of energy and rushed inside.

"Wow...! This is the beginner's area...!"

I let out an exclamation of amazement at the sight of the beginner's area.

This beginner's area is of the "ruins" type.

It consists of three floors, and each floor isn't very large.

The ghosts that appear are just grunts (though they're strong enemies to me), and the items you can get are mostly junk.

To be honest, once this tour is over, all the first-year students will focus on the next area, the "Graham Tower" area, which is a must for first-year students, and no one will come to this beginner's area anymore.

But, for us to get stronger, the beginner's area is crucial.

...This "Ruins of Beginnings and Endings" area.

"Well... let's go, [GobuMii]."

After stretching a bit, I summoned [GobuMii] and headed to the destination... a certain room on the first floor.

I had memorized the map of this area last night.

Of course, I memorized the rest as well.

After all, ordinary smartphones don't get a signal in the area. I had no choice but to memorize it.

While Geist Leaders can be used even in the area, I don't want the school to find out about the "summary site."

So, [GobuMii] and I reached the destination room... but, yeah, there's nothing here.

"I need that thing to be here..."

A sense of unease crept into my heart.

But... we can't move forward without finding it.

"[GobuMii], check for any suspicious spots. I'll check too."

"...(Nod)"

[GobuMii] and I split up to search the room.

The "strategy site" only mentioned that the thing would appear in this room.

We just have to search.

"Huh? What's he doing in this room?"

"Isn't it obvious? That goblin can't even defeat the ghosts here, so he's hiding, right?"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

My classmates' group laughed at us as soon as they saw us, but I pretended not to hear and ignored them.

They seemed to lose interest and left the area.

"Phew..."

I let out a deep breath.

Right, even if I find the "door," I can't let the others know...

"[GobuMii], let's stop looking for it for now. Keep watch at the entrance to see if anyone comes."

"(Nod!)"

[GobuMii] stopped searching the room and stuck to the entrance, looking around.

Alright, I'll resume searching the room... but [GobuMii] is gesturing that someone is passing by.

Peeking from the entrance, I saw a group including Kawai, Yuki, and Kizaki's main characters.

"Hey! What's he doing here?"

"...Hmph, I don't care."

Kawai put her hand to her forehead as if looking into the distance, and Yuki snorted and sent a contemptuous glance.

And Kizaki...

"Mr. Mochizuki, are you... alone?"

"!?"

Kizaki ran over to me and timidly asked, looking up with wide eyes.

I was taken aback and held my breath.

"Ah, didn't Asuka-sensei make you observe alone as punishment yesterday?"

Kawai also came over to me and asked, not really interested.

"...It's a waste of time. Let's go, both of you."

"Hey, that's cold!"

I pointed out Yuki's heartless words, but Kawai, who probably wasn't interested either, followed Yuki and left the area.

Well, that's to be expected.

But then...

"Um... if you don't mind, would you like to join our group?"

"Wh-What!?"

Kizaki's words made the other four exclaim in surprise, clearly intending to refuse.

"Hey, what are you thinking!? There's no point in being in the same group!"

"...Yeah. It would just be a burden to have dead weight."

"But, it's dangerous for a freshman to be alone in the area..."

The four tried to persuade her, but Kizaki insisted, not convinced.

What's this... Kizaki Cecil really seems like a "saint"...

"Kizaki, I'm fine, really."

"But..."

I slowly shook my head as Kizaki tried to press on.

"Really, I'm fine. But... thank you for inviting me..."

"Ah... I understand... but please be careful, okay?"

With that, Kizaki turned back to look at me several times as she left.

"Kizaki..."

I kept watching her back until she disappeared... but.

"Right, I need to find it more than anything!"

I turned back to the room, trying to hide my heated emotions, but...

"..."

...for some reason, [GobuMii] was glaring at me.

"What's up?"

When I said that, [GobuMii] turned away and sat in a corner of the room, not even keeping watch.

Could she be... jealous?

"Well, well, it was just that she felt sorry for me, right?"

I approached [GobuMii] and said something she didn't understand...!?

-- Thud.

The moment I stepped in, part of the floor suddenly sank.

And then...

"There it is...!"

Right in front of us... in the center of the room, a door appeared.

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