Baseka V1c41

Volume 1 Chapter 41

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Edited by: Kanaa-senpai

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 In the end, we decided to build a huge Hot Water Pool inside the Base.

 As I sat on a bench, lost in thought about the points I had lost, I glanced at the women.

 ”Are you not going to join?”

 Tōmi, in a white one-piece swimsuit, asked me shyly. Being an idol, she looked great in anything. Her large chest and long, slender legs were striking. Despite her elegant appearance, there was a hint of innocence in her expression that made you want to protect her. She was undeniably beautiful.

 ”Just watching is enough to heal me.”

 Simply watching the girls play in their swimsuits was a nice treat for the eyes. I worried that it might sound a bit creepy, but Tōmi didn’t seem to mind.

 ”Hyakudou… how did you feel when you killed someone?”

 She sat next to me, looking down with a troubled expression. It seemed she was worried about the time she killed Tatejima.

 ”I was surprisingly okay. I mean, it was during a fight, so I didn’t have the luxury to think about it.”

 I had killed 2 guys, but I wasn’t that shaken up. It was my first murder, yet I was surprisingly calm about it.

 ”I still feel like I can remember the sensation. It’s a strange thing to say, right? I killed him with Magic, so there shouldn’t be any sensation left.”

 Tōmi wore a faint, self-deprecating smile. …A person who had lived in a peaceful world suddenly killed someone. It’s no wonder it would leave a trauma. It’s actually Hiiragi and the others who are adapting that seem strange; this is the normal reaction.

 ”I understand how you feel, but it’s better not to think too deeply about it.”

 I spoke while avoiding her gaze, watching the girls having fun.

 ”I think that from the moment we came to this Island, we were forced into the worst of 2 choices. Either we die, or we kill someone… If you don’t want to die, you have to kill. If killing is the only option, then thinking deeply about it is just a waste of time.”

 At the very least, I tried to come to terms with it. It’s not something that can be easily done, but overthinking won’t do any good.

 ”Better to kill the enemy than to watch your friends die, right?”

 ”…That’s pretty rational.”

 ”It’s better to just deal with it logically and forget about it quickly, you know?”

 She stood up from the bench and started warming up.

 Unlike me, Tōmi didn’t choose to kill. She could just blame it all on Shiragi, but instead, she’s trying to shoulder it herself. What a noble. But that’s probably why she’s so troubled.

 ”Let’s force ourselves to have some fun and forget the unnecessary stuff. Want me to help you forget?”

 As I approached Tōmi, she gently guarded herself with both hands.

 ”I appreciate the thought, but we can’t do that from our agency.”

 ”Don’t think you can use agency as a shield just because we’re in Another World.”

 Even so, I backed off. If I pushed too hard, I might get killed by one of the other girls.

 ”…Will Hyakudou still like me even if I’m a killer?”

 ”Of course. In fact, I’d want it to be a prerequisite for dating.”

 In Another World, having a high kill count might actually be a status symbol, right? In a world with Demonkind, a woman with a thousand kills might be more reliable than one with an annual income of a hundred million. It wouldn’t be surprising if women without any murder experience were treated like landmines.

 ”I think I understand a bit why everyone relies on Hyakudou.”

 Oh. It seems like Tōmi’s favorability went up. In the end, what gets appreciated is the type who can take everything in stride. If I had responded with something like, “No, killing is a bit…” my favorability would’ve definitely dropped, so looking at it that way, that was a service question. The right choice was pretty clear.

 ”By the way, Hyakudou, what happened to Ms. Shiragi?”

 …That’s a tough question to answer. If I told the truth as it is, it would be something like, “I’ve been violating her and keeping her locked up underground,” and that would definitely tank my favorability.

 ”Tōmi. There are things in this world that are better left unknown.”

 ”…Ah, I understand.”

 I feel like Tōmi’s likability has dropped a bit. No matter how I answered just now, her likability would have taken a hit, so I guess we should just be glad it wasn’t a fatal blow.

* * *

 After taking a breather at the pool, we decided to start discussing our strategy for the Dragon battle.

 We gathered everyone in a wide area on the Island, not in the Base space.

 ”The princess, president, Hero, and the prince’s team will hold back the incoming horde of Demonkind.”

 Apparently, once the Dragon battle starts, the Demonkind from the Island will come rushing in. It won’t be an immediate onslaught since the fight will take place at the Mountain Summit, but it’s still a threat.

 ”Leave it to us! Not a single Goblin will get through!”

 The prince boasted proudly. In reality, his blue flame Magic is perfect for extermination and stalling, so unless a particularly tough Demonkind shows up, he shouldn’t have too much trouble.

 ”We’ll focus our attacks on the Dragon with the remaining members. I want to prioritize dragging it down to the ground. Tōmi’s light Magic should be the key to our offense.”

 I’m really hoping that the pillar of light will be powerful enough to knock the Dragon down by itself. It’s great to have a reliable ally join us at the last moment.

 ”I can’t use it too many times, so if I miss, I’m really sorry…”

 Tōmi looked unsure of herself.

 ”It’s okay to fail. We’ll all back you up. As long as one person’s attack lands a solid hit, the rest of us can just pile on. I don’t think it’ll be a tough fight.”

 I heard the last battle was pretty rough, but this time, the number of participants is completely different from when Hiiragi was involved. They had about ten fewer people than us and apparently didn’t coordinate well at all.

 When I compare the two situations, it seems like we have the upper hand. Everyone has recognized me as the temporary leader… and there’s not a single uncooperative person, including the princess. Well, I guess we can’t have Shiragi participating, though.

 ”I want to get through this without losing a single person. Sure, we all have people we dislike or can’t stand… but if our comrades die, the risk of us dying increases too. Let’s be rational about this.”

 I can’t think of any fancy words, and I don’t really see myself as a leader. Still…

 ”Like you can see, I’m not cut out to be a leader… but I won’t hold back in my efforts to keep everyone alive. To prove that, I’ll be the one to make the first attack on the Dragon.”

 In this fight, everyone has to put their lives on the line to some extent. If things start to go south, some might want to run, and there are probably those who would freeze up just at the sight of the Dragon. In those moments, I believe what we can rely on is, after all, the presence of our comrades. If my friends are fighting in a more dangerous place, I wouldn’t think of abandoning them to escape. At least, that’s how I feel.

 ”Yes, Captain! Everyone owes at least a little to Hyakudou, so I’m sure they’ll be happy to help!”

 Touka, standing next to the Class rep, is trying to lift everyone’s spirits with her enthusiasm.

 ”While your charm may not be remarkable, it suffices. As I will be accompanying you, please ensure a successful outcome for our endeavors.”

 Even the difficult the lady Nijou is going along with it, at least for now.

 Everyone wants to wrap up the Trial quickly. I don’t know what’s waiting for us after we clear all the Trials… but we can’t just stand still here. To have a word with the Goddess, let’s put an end to these silly Trials soon.

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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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