Chapter 58: Nagae Yukiko

Chapter 58: Nagae Yukiko

Nagae Yukiko was a plain girl. Compared to the many distinctive girls of class 2-7, young ladies positively brimming all with their own individual charms, in such a box of gems, Yukiko could be described as very ordinary. Her face, despite being slightly on the prettier side, wouldn’t turn any eyes.

But that was fine. Yukiko didn’t want to be an idol or anything. Standing out wasn’t fun, being stared at wasn’t fun either. If she could live out a calm, quiet, peaceful school life, that would suffice. No, as of late, Yukiko’s life had already undergone a very exciting change. She had been feeling happiness the likes she’d never felt before.

But on the morning of September the 21st, that joyful student life of hers came to a sudden and abrupt end.

“Uuu... What’s, where, am I...”

She opened her eyes in a dim stone-built room. If she were to believe the mysterious announcer, she was likely already inside a dungeon in a parallel world. That would certainly be the case... But one could not expect Yukiko, the normal high school girl she was, to suddenly have a grasp of the situation. That would also be the case.

Having wept in despair for a time, Yukiko ultimately started moving according to the man’s instructions.

“Calling... Cryomancer?”

With her three starter abilities, Eis Sagitta, Eis Shield, and Eis Mist in hand, Yukiko, with nothing better in mind, decided to look for her scattered classmates. Mustering up her courage, the girl began her search into the eerie passages interlacing the dungeon.

“Hii-i, Wh-what, what is, that...”

Attack, defense, and additionally, magic that could release a mist so as to confuse the opponent or allow the caster to escape. Yukiko had all the components necessary to put up a decent fight, but that never meant that she actually could. Even if you had a gun and knew how to use it, it didn’t mean you could shoot with it accurately in deadly combat.

Yukiko would waver even when shooting her ice arrows at the monsters called red dogs that were no bigger than stray dogs. So there was no way she could handle a goma, that vile creature that was exceedingly uglier than a human, but also exceedingly close to one in shape.

Yukiko could only shake in fear, silencing her breath as she progressed through the dungeon. The only magic she could bring herself to use was the one that would hide her from enemies, her Eis Mist.

“Uuu, sniff... I hate this... why, how much longer do I have to do this...”

She would spend more and more time in the fairy squares, crying to herself. But wait as she may, no one would come to her rescue. All her classmates must be ahead of her, making good use of the powers granted by their calling. So she must keep moving. To once again meet her good friends, her reliable classmates, and most of all, that person she held dear.

With whatever courage she could still muster, Yukiko relied on the cold mist that would hide her as she dove once again into the dungeon. And naturally, her control of said Eis Mist had progressed. She could now release it freely and control its thickness. She even learned a new spell.

Eis Mirage: Can project the caster’s image while inside Eis Mist.

Numerous times did Yukiko pass around packs of monsters using her adept control of the mist and her ghostly decoys. She had grown a knack for being unseen.

But like all things, there came a limit. The dungeon wasn’t so sweet as to let one survive simply by running and hiding.

“Hah, hah... No, help...”

Shrill beastly grunting followed behind her. It was the cry of goma. A savage cry symbolizing their exaltation and sadistic ecstasy from hunting down a helpless prey.

At a corner of a certain forested dome, Yukiko was soon discovered by the horde of goma.

“No... No no...”

Once seen, Yukiko’s powers of visual deception were halved. And with their numbers, the goma would eventually run into her in the fog, no doubt.

Yukiko ran desperately. She wasn’t a fast runner. She wasn’t good at sports at all. But she ran. Even if she was out of breath, even if her legs broke, she ran.

They were goma. She already knew of the cruel, gluttonous nature of these creatures from her notebook. But even if she wasn’t aware, she needn’t make a big guess on what these hideous demons would do once they captured her. She didn’t have to guess, her instincts were screaming.

That she would die once caught. That, after seeing the depths of hell, after experiencing excruciating pain, she would die.

“NO... Please help... Somebody—”

She had no choice but hope for rescue. Anyone would do. It didn’t matter as long as they saved her.

“Somebody, HEEEEELLPP!!”

And sure enough, someone did indeed come to her rescue.

“HYA’HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

A large, black figure suddenly appeared on the scene. It carried in hand a large shiny sword and—

“Ah, uu... It was... r-really scary”

“It was, was it, it Suuure was! Buhahahah! But rest Assured Nagae-san! You’re Safe as long as I’m here! I can swat away Goma like Flies, and most Other monsters can’t do much against my Awesome strength—”

“Hi-, ii...”

As if a tap had burst, Yukiko, having reached the limit of her endurance, devolved into a weeping mess. Gotta stop crying, gotta answer him now, she thought. But in spite of her will, the tears once let set loose would no longer stop.

“E-Eh? You’re Crying!? why, Why the Hell! I saved You, I beat all the Goma, SEE!?”

“S-sorr... I’m, sorry... It’s s-still scary... I was, so scared... I can’t, calm down yet...”

Her head was turning strange from terror and despair. But Yukiko still managed to muster up every inch of her survival instinct, for a final, desperate act of resistance. This act was, to lie. A woman’s lie, purposed to deceive a man.

“Ah, AAAhhh, got it, I totally Got It! Yup, that’s Right, I’m not the Dense MC type, so I get what you Actually mean, I totally actually got your Message!”

“Y-yea... So, I think, I can’t stop... A little, more...”

“Bufuh, fufuh, don’t Worry, Fuhii, don’t worry your pretty little Head, Nagae-san. I will, proh-Protect, yuuu”

His repulsive wheezing snared in her ears. Yukiko’s crushing dread didn’t even allow her to raise her head to look. The man was already at arm’s-length.

“Nagae-san, I will, Always, protect You! Fuhih, Fuhihi...”

She feels something slimy touching her head.

“!? Nn, kuh...”

Her head, was being stroked. By a greasy, blood-smeared hand.

She was psychologically repulsed to the brink of losing consciousness. Mortified to the point where she was considering instant suicide, Yukiko gritted her teeth, and painstakingly answered,

“Y-yeah... Thank you... Yokomichi, kun...”

“Buhih! Don’t sweat it! And you can just call me Hajime! And I’ll call you Y-yuhi-Yukiko alright!”

Had she fallen into some cruel god’s sadistic game?

Nagae Yukiko. The savior sent down for her in a moment of crisis was— The single most loathsome boy in Class 2-7. It was Yokomichi Hajime.

“Somebody, help—”

I heard it. It’s Yukiko.

I thought it was destiny.

“Bufuh, fufuh, don’t Worry, Fuhii, don’t worry your pretty little Head, Nagae-san. I will, proh-Protect, yuuu”

Our fates were practically entwined.

When I saw her, Yukiko was being chased down by goblins and driven into a corner. If she’s caught, I’ll get to see the plot-line of a dounjin played out.

And, that’s where I come in!

This, is literally happening... Is this, legit light novel-tier plot, is seriously gonna be happening!?

Being OP as fuck feels too good already. But now, Yukiko’s watching me, my sweet, sweet Yukiko is laying her eyes only on me. And I showed her alright. The coolest, most epic thing a man can do. I had her witness how I can and will protect the girl I love.

She’s pretty much in the bag now. Yukiko Route, full steam ahead.

“Nagae-san, I will, Always, protect You! Fuhih, Fuhihi...”

Would you look at that. Yukiko looks so damn happy with me stroking her head. Her shoulders are trembling and she’s sobbing quietly. This has gotta be because, after being almost crushed by fear, she is relieved to the point of tears from being rescued by her ultimate savior. That’s me.

It’s okay, Yukiko. I’m here for you. I’ll always be here for you, babe. I won’t let ‘em touch a hair on your body.

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