**Chapter 17: Day 17 – Cave Entrance**
We finished breakfast early and set out.
"Okay then—shortcutting through the forest, so gear up properly!"
"""Ooooooh—!!"""
Everyone's tension was sky-high from the morning. Where are we heading, some continent-spanning expedition? Vertical traversal? I only know horizontal ones.
"Everyone—want to go to town?!"
""""Uoooooooh—!!""""
Did some dangerous mushrooms get mixed in? That's why I kept saying just to stick to fish…
The forest was mostly goblins, with some kobolds—no orcs. This should be smooth sailing.
Everyone's levels had risen, so their speed had increased. Even while fighting, progress was good. Had they built up stamina?
Come to think of it, even inside the cave they'd been comparing their waists, showing off slimmed-down, toned, tightened stomachs. Could they please be a little more considerate of a horny high school boy?
By noon we had passed yesterday's turnaround point. We'd cover good distance when nightfall arrives.
Lunch was portable dried mushrooms; we were eating while walking. Flavorless, but the road ahead was long. Had the otaku made it safely? If they were living in the forest midway, I might accidentally hunt them.
I kept appraising for food—only medicinal herbs. All antidotes… a warning flag? Better collect them just in case.
Having antidotes but no poison would be weird. If this wasn't a flag, they're just weeds.
Clairvoyance showed nothing but forest. Kobolds everywhere. Only antidotes… morning hype faded. Break time.
"Break time~. Juice here—cheap, cheap~"
"Onii-san, one juice, can I pay with my body♡"
"Free is fine." I said, getting the jito eyes from Class-Rep.
"Juice… one bottle's… value… seems… worthless…"
Nudist girl started writing のの字 (she writing I just wanted juice on the ground). I wanted to join—never had time to build that basement…
"Haruka-kun, stop cornering Fukunuki-san. She's losing a lot already."
Why do I always end up the one getting yelled at? I'm just handing out free juice. Psychological abuse? Mental abuse?
"We've made decent progress, but camping tonight is confirmed. Riverbank? Pretty far, but there's a midstream island?"
Clairvoyance barely reached, something was really far. But if monsters truly avoid water, it's a safe spot.
Should I scout? Wanted to test something anyway.
"Forest seems safe can I quick scout? Like that?"
"If you didn't say it like a question, I'd believe you… Want me to come too?"
"No—class rep, please stay here. Just looking, so solo's fine."
I separated from the main group, lightly jogging while reinforcing my body with Mana Wrap. Same as always, then I used Weight magic to lighten myself… ooooh… this works really well.
Even lighter… even faster… even more…
I dashed downstream along the riverbank. High-speed through forest was impossible, trees rushed at me like a bullet-hell barrage. No way. One hit, and splat.
Riverbank had fewer obstacles. Bad footing, but light body let me bounce forward.
Can I fly? Light and fast—run-up, then jump might work? Need straight line… oh, straight path!
"Definitely gonna fly—I… can… fly…—uooooooohhh!!"
Not flying, just super high-speed long-distance air-walk? Experiencing ballistic trajectory in person is probably rarer than getting isekai'd.
Riverbank and forest shrank below… exit visible… forest ends… tried Clairvoyance to see beyond—and that was the mistake.
At ultra-high speed, launched sky-high, insane air resistance… lost balance… crash. End.
"Gyaaaaaaaahhhhh!!" (Bok! Baki! Gusha!)[1]
I fell. HP below half. Sky way more dangerous than monsters. Looking around even more dangerous. And that last sound, was that the ground mocking me?
Ballistic rise, spinning dive into forest. Hurt a lot but hey, still fun. Good thing I used Mana Wrap.
From above, terrain clear, there was a huge right detour. Better shortcut rightward. Report time.
"I'm back~ If we push till midnight, we'll exit the forest."
"Eh—you went that far? Why are you so hurt from just scouting"
"No, well got launched, saw from above? Like that? Then I crashed."
"Haruka-kun's special skill Report-Contact-Consult definitely doesn't work! Scout and get launched?! Recon satellite skill?! Why scout ends with you wrecked?!"
Loner means no one to report to, contact, or consult. Level won't rise either.
"Look, I thought maybe I'd combine my skills to fly?"
Cape? and Cloth Clothes? They were still intact. What even is "cloth"? Kobold claw-sharpening, can't tear. Dirty, blood-soaked, wash with water, good as new. No stains. What was Villager A doing in the village?
Adjusted course sharply right, much deeper forest, shortcut but dangerous. Unknown monsters possible.
Parties rotated scouting/hunting. Catch up, next party advances, our speed maintained.
Class rep's planning, command, analysis, top-tier. Maybe Sexual Mastery and Super Stamina too… no, I'm thinking nothing… really!
Night now, almost midnight. Forest opening, we'll be at the exit soon. But no cover outside… So, camp here? River is close.
"Camp tonight? Like that?"
""""Haaaah—yes!""""
Everyone tired. I set up tent. Done.
Being glared at. Sudden tent/air dome appearance unacceptable? Glared at every action, also unacceptable?
"No, all you do is just say 'open' and it opens. Look! Spacious for 20."
Made simple private bath, screens around for the girls. Heat water, then I do an immediate escape. Nudist girl strip = I'll get yelled at. Title "hated one" will then be attached.
Today only antidotes, we didn't gather any food. Mushroom salad buffet, all salt flavor, we'll endure.
Girls rotated bathing, eating, rolling in tent.
Working too much makes class rep group feel bad, so I sat looking rested while secretly channeling mana into ground for fences/moat. She probably remembered the Otakus doing this at base.
What else? Right, let's make some pitfalls. Digging. Magic traps possible!
No night watch needed, I put on each tent to have monster repel. It can Search/Presence Detect while sleeping. Always detected otaku/goblins/idiots.
But girls need practice. Will be necessary. Rest also important.
Planned five groups—four girls + me rotation. Somehow became four shifts with me in each girls' group.
Tent annoying. Good weather and sleeping bag is fine. Hikikomori effect protects me anyway.
Come to think, only light rain 2–3 times at night? No real rain? Maybe it's the dry season?
Night watch too, they sleep… how do they tell time?
…
"Haruka-kun, wake up—your night watch~"
Presence Detection woke me, but keep secret for tension.
"Yeah, awake… and reincarnated?"
"How long do you plan to sleep?! This life not enough?!"
Said something stupid while exiting tent, muttering nonsense about muscle-brain sports girls four heavenly kings waiting. Who's weakest? Probably nudist girl.
"Morning~ let's do night watch~"
"Yawn~ just being awake for patrol okay?" I said, blinking.
"No sleeping! Will cuddle-sleep."
"Sleepy… sleepy? … cuddle Sleep?"
"No, cuddle-sleep means they sleep too. And last—don't cuddle!"
Sports girls, some could be celebrities. Occasionally small newspaper mentions, but high fame.
Famous? Maybe they have names? I don't know.
Thinking about it, original world was trouble too.
Even solo, Olympic swimming prospect goes to 'nudist girl.'
Somehow sleepy gymnast girl too, both international competitors apparently.
Other two—TV-famous freshmen, Inter-High active, runner-up popularity.
"Uh… I think… ah! I have seen some of these girls. Maybe some-high School's Twin Utility Poles!?"
""Who are you calling Twin Utility Poles?! Calling their legs thick?! And what do you mean by 'some-high School'—you forgot your own school name?!""
"Huh? Wasn't there a banner like that?"
"Twin Flags!! Normal! The utility poles don't exist!"
"Twin Utility Poles banner they take it down and burn it, absolutely!"
"Wow—night watch surrounded by celebrities. Tense~?"
"""Celebrities? You don't even remember names!! Same class!!"""
"She's… nudist… nudist-ko… nudist…"
Nudist girl wound probably deep. Boys' assault trauma?
"No—saw nudist girl on TV… look… um… women's swimming world… What was the episode called Mama mia Pudding??"
Her wound deepening. Daily monster fighting trauma?
"How do you hear 'Mermaid Princess' as 'Mamma Mia Pudding'?!"
Ah—misheard. Empty ear thing.
"Ugh—mine probably wrong too."
"Fine—gymnast girl had school flyer… corridor top… Febreeze? Saw morning."
"Who hung Febreeze flyer on corridor top?!"
"""It said 'Floor Upper Fairy Dance'!! Who'd Febreeze the corridor?!"""
Troublesome group. Night watch—quiet or bother. Warned—somehow I got yelled at. Reverse snap? I get it, I should shut up.
Fire watch, perimeter check—Presence/Search nothing approaching. Muscle-brain girls still angry.
"Juice~?" I say, offering juice.
""""Yay!!"""" Wow, that was a quick turnaround. Glad these girls like sweets.
"Fruit juice, okay?"
"Ah, fruits rinsed in water, flavor keeps concentrating. Still thick. Mystery drink."
"Ooo—unlimited refills, isekai drink service!"
"Split when separating your bunch, one bag per group?"
"Haruka-kun really leaving?"
Logically correct but emotionally unacceptable.
Some girls not convinced, I noticed.
But they understand. They know exactly what it means.
"When does world championship team include bad player, just because trained together? Isn't it unhappy for both sides?"
Emotion aside—top athletes understand painfully.
Original world level gap, only they truly get it. I'm only going to be holding them back.
…
Night watch ended. Shift, real vice rep squad. Wait, who's the real vice?
Everyone finally goes to their tents to sleep.
**Day 17 Midnight – Camp / Tent Interior (Girls' Meeting)**
Night watch shift change, sports group girls report.
This was our girls' rare chance to talk, wanted to thank, so night watch grouped with Haruka-kun.
"Sorry guess we failed. Got convinced instead."
"When he says it like that… can't argue back."
"Ended up on Haruka-kun's pace."
"Couldn't say anything… even though I had so much to say…"
It was impossible after all.
Haruka-kun derails serious gratitude talks. Beyond centrifuge, ultra-high-speed spin free-fall bungee. Suddenly our thanking turns to anger!?
"Guess only way is to find Oda-kun group in town and consult?"
Persuasion hard, even thank you may be blocked.
Everyone waiting turn to properly thank Haruka-kun… ultimate shy guy.
**Day 17 End**
[1] :Bok! (ボクッ)A dull, meaty thud or impact sound—like flesh or a body hitting something solid (the ground, in this case). It’s the first heavy contact. Baki! (バキッ)A sharp crack or snap—usually bones breaking, branches snapping, or something rigid fracturing on impact. This is the “something just broke badly” sound. Gusha! (愚者っ / グシャッ)A wet, crunchy squelch or smash—the sound of flesh/organ being crushed, squished, or pulverized. Very graphic, often used for head injuries, heavy blunt trauma, or bodies getting wrecked.