Ch.47The Couple Actually Dies (1)

Miss Hoshino’s eyes were half-lidded.

Her expression was hazy, looking like she might collapse and fall asleep at any moment.

But perhaps it’s because I’ve been her drinking buddy since we both became adults.

My intuition tells me.

She’s right on the verge of passing out.

And that makes this the most dangerous moment.

“Why… are you suddenly asking about that?”

“I-I’m just curious, that’s all!”

“Liar! Right now, the taste of ‘falsehood’ is in your sweat, Janghun.”

Can sweat even have such a flavor?

No, before that, I could understand if she mentioned sweetness or sourness. But since when did “falsehood” become a taste?

It sounded absurd, but when Miss Hoshino, her senses heightened by alcohol, said it from just inches away, it somehow became strangely convincing.

Above all, I was actually lying.

“Um… well…”

“Be honest! Do you perhaps have someone you’re dating among the soldiers?!”

“What? Where did that come from?”

“What do you mean where… Our department has always been that kind of department…”

“Ah…..”

I took a step back, uncomfortable with how close she was.

In response, Miss Hoshino moved two steps closer, placing her hand on my thigh.

Indeed, the university I currently attend.

In the field of kaiju studies, it’s not quite among the world’s top five… but definitely within the top fifty. Here, I’m currently enrolled in the “Kaiju Research Department.”

“Janghun, you… Your dream is to get a job at the Hero Association, right?”

“Well, yes. You’re already there as a hero, Miss.”

“But you want to be hired as a researcher! Or maybe a weapons developer…”

“Yes. I don’t have amazing powers like you do, Miss.”

Before getting to the prologue, there were two main reasons why I chose to pursue a career in the kaiju field.

First, as a veteran player, I already knew almost everything without having to study much.

Both the kaiju research field and weapons development that Miss mentioned were areas I had mastered through mini-games while playing <Kaiju Frontline>.

In other words, if I could play mini-games and get paid for it in real life, why would I pass up such an opportunity?

And the other reason was to keep up with the story that was about to unfold in earnest.

As you know, only those affiliated with the Association were allowed access to areas where kaiju had appeared.

If I were to show up transformed as a kaiju like today, claiming to be observing, I would stand out too much.

So my plan was to be a kaiju in the evening and an inconspicuous Hero Association member A in the morning, working toward a happy ending for this world.

But.

“You… really don’t know anyone among the soldiers?”

“Of course not! I don’t know anyone!”

“Hmm. Judging by the fact that your balls aren’t shrinking, I think you’re telling the truth this time.”

Miss Hoshino, who had lost all inhibitions due to extreme intoxication.

Was she examining my entire body, following her hand that was touching my thigh?

Though she appeared drunk, her sharp eyes told me she had reached an absurd conclusion.

“You know, men… when they get nervous or feel fear, their testicles… you know, their balls shrink without them realizing it.”

“Ah, yes…”

“And my senses can detect that.”

“R-really?!”

“Yes… For now, I need to place my hand directly on the man’s body like this…”

Wow.

If she were in her normal state, she probably would have kept this a secret, but when did she acquire such a skill?

This is basically a lie detector that only works on men, isn’t it?

So Miss Hoshino was currently sensing the state of my testicles.

“By the way, did you dislike me asking about that soldier so much?”

To break the suddenly heavy atmosphere, I hurriedly tried to return to the main topic.

But.

“Well, of course…”

The next moment.

“Because it seemed like you were showing interest in a ‘woman’.”

“…What?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“A woman… what do you mean?”

“Huh? Weren’t you talking about that female soldier? The one I said was smart.”

“Yes! That soldier! But what do you mean by woman?”

“…? That person was a woman.”

“What, what?!”

Wait, she was a woman?

<Kaiju Frontline> was a gacha mobile game where the Hero Association recruited heroes with various characteristics to fight.

In other words, soldiers with no special features were just normal-grade extras at best.

Except for the protagonist who was mentioned to have a military background, that’s how it had been until the 5th anniversary when I quit the game.

But the soldier I thought was the protagonist is a woman?

‘Did she mistake the person?’

…No.

Maybe in her current state, but not earlier.

When she was taking down the wolf kaiju this morning, Miss Hoshino wasn’t someone who would mistake a person’s gender.

Then does this mean the soldier she mentioned wasn’t the protagonist?

‘Well, the Miss Hoshino in front of me isn’t the same indifferent, broken Hoshino from the original work.’

She must have seen wrong.

With that thought, I sighed at the realization that this rare opportunity had been wasted.

“I… I thought that soldier was a man.”

“A… man?”

I was about to explain that it was all just my misunderstanding.

“…Janghun, don’t tell me you have that kind of preference?”

“What?!”

What nonsense is this now?

“Y-you, you’re interested in men?”

“How could that be possible?!”

Miss Hoshino’s expression, which had been serious all along, now began turning pale as if she was terrified.

“B-but! The moment you heard my words, your balls shrank!”

“Of course they did! Who wouldn’t tense up hearing something like that?! Don’t suddenly make me out to be gay!”

I like women, damn it!

Shit, how did she reach such a conclusion?

Normally, she would have quickly regained her senses and figured out the truth, but drunk as she was, she continued to tremble.

“I… I’ll try my best!”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll need to use tools, but I’ve heard that if a woman sets her mind to it, she can target a man’s butt too!”

“No, that’s not necessary!!”

This is bad.

If this continues, not only will I have a terrible experience, but Miss Hoshino will also have an incredibly embarrassing memory once she sobers up.

So, although I didn’t want to “threaten” my master as her servant…

“If you keep saying such strange things…”

“…?”

“I won’t help you during your ‘heat cycle’.”

“!!”

My trump card revealed.

With just that one statement, Miss Hoshino’s face crumpled, and she immediately forgot all the misunderstandings she’d been harboring.

But as a side effect, she tried to perform a naked dogeza of apology in the middle of the pub.

“I-I’m sorry! I’ll take off my clothes and apologize, so please don’t…”

“Alright, I get it. Please don’t take off your clothes! Miss.”

***

“Ugh… hangover.”

Last evening.

Was it because of Miss Hoshino, who fell asleep half-naked at the pub?

Or perhaps because I had to carry her on my back to the dormitory, but even the next day, my head still hurt.

“And I barely got any sleep because she kept trying to sleep naked…”

Today was a day without classes, so I left G City where the university is located and came to I City for the first time in a while.

It’s a district within Hero City known for its many attractions and landmarks.

In the game, it was mainly a place where affection events were held, and it was also famous as the spot where you could “propose” to characters whose affection level exceeded 100.

And the reason I came here secretly while Miss Hoshino was asleep.

It wasn’t for a sweet date or anything like that, but because the first story of <Kaiju Frontline> takes place in this I City.

“There are so many people even though it’s a weekday…”

Well, it’s like having Lotte World and Everland from South Korea, plus Universal Studios from Japan and Disneyland from the US, all in one place.

As I was having cup ramen for my hangover in front of a convenience store.

Every time I blinked, at least four or five couples passed by.

…But in a week from now, this happy district will be hit by a storm of blood?

‘In the original work, it was reported as a major incident with about 1,000 casualties, but I should preemptively take action before that happens.’

Above all, the kaiju that will appear in this first story isn’t particularly strong, but rather…

It’s a troublesome kaiju in many ways.

It’s like it invested all its stats into killing humans weaker than itself.

The content of Chapter 1, Part 1 was about how many casualties occurred while chasing after this creature that kept running away without a proper fight.

However, as a 5-year veteran player, I already knew how to deal with such a creature.

“Ah! Janghun!”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Plus, I had a reliable ally on my side.

In any case, in my human state, I was even less significant than a passing extra female soldier A.

Even if I knew how to deal with the opposing kaiju, I would be helpless if surrounded by people.

That’s why I secretly called a friend without Miss Hoshino knowing.

“Aren’t you in the middle of hero activities? Was I being too inconsiderate by calling you?”

“Not at all! If it’s a call like this, I’m always welcome, Geosawa!”

A-rank Hero, 9th place.

Known as the Creator Girl.

After middle school, my grades couldn’t keep up with D City’s education, so we parted ways after Almighty Elementary School.

But we stayed in touch and occasionally met up—my childhood friend.

I was planning to investigate I City, the dating spot that would soon be hit by a storm of blood, together with Carmilla.