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Dungeon cleared.
About to leave this dungeon. All players, please prepare yourselves…
The countdown began.
"Miss Elsa, see you again if fate allows."
Amamiya Natsuki only had time to say a word to the Ice Queen before his vision suddenly went black.
After a brief dizziness, Amamiya Natsuki opened his eyes again, and a brightly lit chandelier appeared directly above him.
"I'm back…"
Amamiya Natsuki covered his forehead and sat up.
Suddenly returning home to a brightly lit room from a cold, snowy night in an icy world, the sudden change of space inevitably made one feel a little disoriented.
Amamiya Natsuki turned his head and looked at the sofa not far away.
Sitting on the sofa was a blonde girl wearing a black choker around her neck. At this moment, her small head was bobbing, as she was trying her best to stay awake. It was Kitagawa Marin.
Amamiya Natsuki stood up, walked to Marin's side, and stroked the Succubus Girl's head.
"Natsuki…?"
The Succubus Girl looked over with hazy eyes.
Amamiya Natsuki said softly:
"I'm back."
…
Kitagawa Marin blinked, her eyes quickly clearing. She rose in surprise and jumped directly into Amamiya Natsuki's arms, her hands tightly wrapped around his neck.
"You're finally back. If you didn't come back soon, it would be daylight."
Amamiya Natsuki supported the Succubus Girl's buttocks with ease, effortlessly:
"You've worked hard."
Sniff, sniff~
Kitagawa Marin suddenly twitched her nose, like a dog, sniffing at Amamiya Natsuki's neck.
"So fragrant… It's great that you weren't injured." Kitagawa Marin's eyes were suspicious, and her tone was faint, "But why, why do you smell entirely of girls?"
"This is a long story…"
If I told you about being bullied by the Sheltered Ojou-sama in that corner outside the kitchen, you'd probably kill me too!
Before he could explain clearly, several girls returned.
Fujiwara Chika, Shinomiya Kaguya, Tsubame-senpai, and Hayasaka Ai—everyone returned, not a single one was missing.
"Chika-chan!"
"Marin-chan!"
Clearing the dungeon and reuniting with friends was naturally exceptionally joyful.
"Senpai, what happened just now?"
Hayasaka Ai was slightly dazed for a moment, then turned to look at Amamiya Natsuki.
Tsubame-senpai nodded in agreement:
"Super curious."
The Sheltered Ojou-sama didn't speak. Not only did she not speak, but after meeting Amamiya Natsuki's gaze, the temperature on her pretty face began to rise sharply—the mushroom person's memories did not disappear; instead, they were exceptionally clear.
For example, in that corner outside the kitchen, at first, Amamiya Natsuki was bullying her, but later, she couldn't hold back and took the initiative… In the dungeon, she didn't feel much, as it was full of dangers, and there was no time to think too much.
Now, having cleared the dungeon and returned to the real world, the girl's sense of shame instantly exploded.
I want to die, I want to die, I want to die!
When I was being bullied, it was one thing not to refuse, but later I actually took the initiative to kiss a boy, and I kissed him many times. How shameless!
"N-could it be…" The Sheltered Ojou-sama tightly gripped the corner of her clothes, suddenly thinking of a possibility, "Is my true nature actually a lewd, lewd and indecent girl?"
"After entering the alley, my memories were actually affected as well…"
Amamiya Natsuki briefly described what happened in the alley.
Koyasu Tsubame said in surprise:
"Eh, it was the Little Match Girl?"
Hayasaka Ai nodded lightly: "I see. No wonder everyone wrote different things."
Fujiwara Chika rested her right hand on her chin, mumbling: "I wonder what wish I fulfilled after lighting the matches."
Amamiya Natsuki guessed:
"Endless food?"
"Definitely not." Fujiwara Chika put her right hand on her hip and glared, "Before the mushroom was removed, I ate so much that my stomach hurt. My wish definitely wouldn't be food."
Amamiya Natsuki affirmed:
"If it's not food, then it's Pes, and at most, Moeha."
Fujiwara Chika: "…"
Thinking about it carefully, it might really be her wish.
Moeha and Pesby her side, endless delicious food, and if you add interesting board games… it would be the best wish ever.
"Speaking of which, the ghost of that little girl seemed to have entered the pumpkin lantern."
Amamiya Natsuki took out the pumpkin lantern, wanting to examine it, but unfortunately, it was almost daylight, and the pumpkin lantern could not be used temporarily.
Helpless, Amamiya Natsuki could only put the pumpkin lantern away for now.
"Who is the real MVP?"
A transparent Mrs. Shimizu floated out, her hands behind her back, smiling proudly, "That's right, it's me."
"I can't deny that." Amamiya Natsuki looked over, "Shimizu-nee indeed played a crucial role."
"Hmmph, verbal praise isn't sincere." Mrs. Shimizu extended a finger and gently waved it, "If you want to thank me, clean Yurikawa-chan and send her to me."
"You'll have to ask Miko about that."
…
Mrs. Shimizu didn't mind, smiling as she went to get her phone, then her gaze suddenly shifted to her daughter.
Stare—
Mrs. Shimizu leaned closer.
…Too close.
Shinomiya Kaguya leaned back, turning her head to look elsewhere.
"Kaguya-chan, your face is so red." Mrs. Shimizu was a little worried, "Are you running a fever?"
"No." Shinomiya Kaguya bit her silver teeth lightly, "It's just a little hot… I'm going to take a bath!"
The Sheltered Ojou-sama fled in disarray.
"Tsubame-senpai." Fujiwara Chika turned her head to look at Koyasu Tsubame, "Later, in the mutual aid group, I'll create a 'Bedtime Fairy Tales' folder. Senpai, please recap the dungeon experience from your perspective."
Recapping in the mutual aid group after clearing a dungeon had become an unwritten rule.
After all, dungeons are very dangerous, and every bit of experience is important.
Of course, this kind of thing is voluntary. You don't have to speak if you don't want to, and you can omit parts you want to, but you must not make things up and mislead others.
"I understand."
Koyasu Tsubame nodded lightly, her gaze falling on Amamiya Natsuki.
She had been with Natsuki-kun since the dungeon began.
It was nothing at first, but from the moment they encountered the Red Shoes, she would have to omit the details.
Especially the experience of putting on the Red Shoes and not being able to take them off, only to turn into a lamb…
"No, I must coordinate with Natsuki-kun and keep this a secret!"
Koyasu Tsubame's pretty face was flushed.
If she mentioned the Sheep Transformation Technique, everyone would know that Natsuki-kun had seen her naked!
"Eh, eh, eh, lust mushroom?"
After listening to Chika's whispered words, Kitagawa Marin couldn't help but widen her eyes.
What a pity.
If I had also entered the dungeon, you wouldn't have needed to sacrifice yourselves. One person would have been enough for the task of offering oneself to the tiger.
Everyone move aside, let me do it.
Red Shoes.
Amamiya Natsuki took out the Red Shoes, ready to distribute them. This item was discriminatory by gender, only for females; men simply couldn't wear them.
"And there's an even more precious Witch's Crystal Ball."
Amamiya Natsuki said, then took out the Witch's Inheritance Crystal Ball.
Everyone had seen the Red Shoes, and their curiosity was quickly drawn to the crystal ball.
"Is this the crystal ball Kaguya-chan mentioned?"
Fujiwara Chika curiously reached out a finger and poked the crystal ball, "It looks very ordinary."
"It can look ordinary, as long as it's comfortable to use." Amamiya Natsuki said, "Put your hand on it. If you're lucky, you can receive the Witch's magic inheritance."
"I'll try."
Fujiwara Chika eagerly reached out her hand and placed it on the crystal ball.
And then… nothing happened.
"You can take your hand away now," Amamiya Natsuki said from the side. "If it worked, the crystal ball would have already glowed."
Fujiwara Chika was a bit dejected. "I thought I was really lucky."
"Clearly, you're not lucky enough today."
Hayasaka Ai was also very curious. "Senpai, I want to try too."
Even a novice player has camouflage skills, but she has nothing at all. She really cares about it!
Not to mention the systematic inheritance of a witch, even just ordinary magic skills would make her very happy.
And then… still nothing happened.
"Darn it!"
Hayasaka Ai bit her lower lip, unwilling to give up.
One of the three great illusions of humanity: I can do it.
Facts prove that ordinary people really can't.
Amamiya Natsuki turned his head and said,
"Tsubame-senpai, you try it too."
"Eh?" Koyasu Tsubame hesitated. "Can I too?"
"Of course you can!" Fujiwara Chika put her hand on her hip and said, "Tsubame-senpai is one of us."
"That's right," Amamiya Natsuki's tone was meaningful. "Tsubame-senpai is one of us."
"..."
Unfortunately, reality was cruel.
Tsubame-senpai also did not receive any inheritance from the witch.
Next, Kitagawa Marin also tried, but there was still no change.
"This is too much of a scam, isn't it?" Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but complain. "There are so many of us, how did we all get wiped out?"
"Relax," Kitagawa Marin, however, didn't care at all and gently comforted her, "Look, a certain game requires ninety pulls for a guaranteed drop, and we're not even ten people combined. It's normal to not have a guaranteed drop."
Fujiwara Chika mused,
"Natsuki-kun's lucky coin can greatly increase luck. Using it to open the crystal ball Blind Box should significantly increase the drop rate."
"I just thought of something," Hayasaka Ai suddenly said.
"What?"
"The item appraisal said the crystal ball can only be inherited by girls, so Senpai can't use it, right?"
Amamiya Natsuki looked sideways. "What are you trying to say?"
"It's simple." Hayasaka Ai held up a finger, a cunning smile on her pretty face. "We can ask Yamashita-san to let Senpai replicate a skill and disguise himself as a girl. That way, we can bypass the crystal ball's restriction, right?"
"Good idea!"
Fujiwara Chika's eyes lit up, sparkling as she looked over. "Natsuki-kun in girl's clothes must be very cute."
Amamiya Natsuki said expressionlessly,
"Well said. Let's talk about it slowly in my tent tonight."
"Pfft~"
Fujiwara Chika lightly spat. "It's almost dawn, okay? Besides, the mushroom on your head is already gone."
After the dungeon is cleared, the mushroom on the player's head will fall off on its own.
In fact, as Amamiya Natsuki pulled out the Sinister mushroom, the mushrooms on the heads of all the mushroom people in the entire fairy tale world withered simultaneously.
"You're wrong," Amamiya Natsuki held up a finger and pointed to his chest. "The mushroom moved from my head to my heart."
Koyasu Tsubame couldn't help but laugh.
"When junior high held the school festival, there was even a butler cafe... Natsuki-kun can totally try it."
Amamiya Natsuki silently looked at Tsubame-senpai and lowered his voice.
"Tsubame-senpai, have you forgotten something you owe me?"
Koyasu Tsubame's pretty face flushed, her gaze drifting elsewhere. "I'm sorry, I apologize, I completely don't remember."
Letting you touch my thigh to relieve fatigue was out of necessity. Now that the dungeon has been cleared, I won't let you touch it again!
As they spoke, Fujiwara Chika, holding her phone, let out a soft exclamation.
"Yamashita-san just joined the mutual aid group! I just asked her, and she said she's also in Tokyo, so we can replicate skills anytime."
Amamiya Natsuki waved his hand. "No, I absolutely don't want to."
"..."
Using a disguise skill to pretend to be a girl to trick the crystal ball's gender verification sounds very unreliable, right!
Amamiya Natsuki took out his phone and checked the time. Unconsciously, a night had passed quietly, and there were still one or two hours until dawn.
The spoils of war had been counted, and the dungeon clear rewards hadn't been distributed yet, so it was quite relaxed now.
Amamiya Natsuki let out a soft breath and sent a message to Miko.
"I'm back, don't worry."
Miko replied almost instantly: "It's good you're back... Are you hurt anywhere?"
Amamiya Natsuki: "No, I'm bouncing around happily."
Miko: "What about Chika-chan and the others?"
Amamiya Natsuki: "They're bouncing around happily next to me."
Miko: "So sleepy, I'm going back to sleep."
Amamiya Natsuki: "Did you encounter any evil spirits? Do you want me to come over and provide bedside service?"
Miko: "...Absolutely not needed!"
After sending a message to Miko to report his safety, Amamiya Natsuki thought for a moment, then sent messages to Juju and Komi to inform them of his safety.
Komi had no response, clearly still asleep.
However, Juju replied: "It's good you're back, you're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
Amamiya Natsuki: "No, after clearing the dungeon, everyone returned safely."
Juju: "That's good."
Amamiya Natsuki: "There's something I don't know if I should say..."
Juju: "Then don't say it."
"Staying up late will lead to a flat chest."
"Die!"
"..."
After chatting with Juju for a while, Amamiya Natsuki drank a cup of black tea brought by Marin and began to write about his dungeon clear experience.
By the time he finally finished writing, a faint light had already appeared in the sky, and the night was turning into dawn.
As for Chika and the other girls, once their tense nerves relaxed, fatigue surged over them. They were now leaning against each other on the sofa, sound asleep.
Unconsciously, the sky brightened.
Amamiya Natsuki asked Marin to go upstairs and wake up Takanashi.
"Ugh, good morning, everyone... Eh, you guys cleared the dungeon?"
The chuunibyou girl walked downstairs in her pajamas, her cowlick gently swaying, very distinctive.
"Good morning."
Amamiya Natsuki greeted her and returned the Magic Mirror he had borrowed earlier.
What a pity.
He couldn't bring the Magic Mirror out. Otherwise, he could completely switch careers to become a Psychiatrist. With the Magic Mirror, psychological treatment would be a breeze.
After chatting for a while, secretary soon came over and sent Takanashi Rikka to the Train Station.
"Rikka-chan, I'll take you to the Train Station."
"No need, I can walk by myself."
"What if you get lost?"
The chuunibyou girl's cowlick stood up, and she struck a shameful pose: "The Evil Eye Master never gets lost."
"..."
Today is monday, and there are classes in the morning. Takanashi Rikka traveled all the way yesterday to deliver the dungeon invitation, so she had to leave early to rush back to school.
"I won't keep you for breakfast, there's no time..." Fujiwara Chika put her hands together. "If you need any help, just say so."
"..."
After Chika went out to see her off, Amamiya Natsuki walked into the kitchen and began preparing today's breakfast.
"I'll help!"
Kitagawa Marin raised her hand.
"No need," Amamiya Natsuki said. "You can go and sleep for a bit."
"I'll sleep at school." The Succubus Girl put her hands behind her back, her body leaning slightly forward. "Right now, I just want to talk to Natsuki more."
"..."
School is not a place for sleeping, don't say it so righteously!
Seven in the morning.
The girls had a lively breakfast and then prepared to go to school.
As soon as they stepped out, they saw a short-haired, blonde, large-breasted girl standing at Miko's doorstep, staring at them dumbfounded.
It was Yurikawa Hana.
Being caught red-handed was inevitably a bit awkward.
"Yurikawa... Good morning."
Kitagawa Marin coughed twice and greeted her.
"You guys..." Yurikawa Hana looked aggrieved. "You played together and didn't even bring me."
"..."
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence: 9 Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories