Isn’t it an Impossible Game for the Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills to Reincarnate as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO

129 Abi Can △

——After that, we ventured deeper into the great forest, searching for the Crime Hunter’s nest.

The search was tough.

We wandered around, avoiding giant worms and being chased by a swarm of giant bees. East Cloud got his clothes ripped off after inhaling the pollen of a carnivorous plant. Grass Cutter fought a fierce battle against the Metal Snake Gear. Honestly, we were all exhausted…

Considering the situation, I decided to give up on searching for the “Ant’s Nest” for the day and took a short break in the “Grassland Area”.

The time was 8 pm.

The surroundings had darkened, and it was impossible to see anything without a torch. As a search party, it was common to return to the temporary transfer zone at this point, but—

“I think we’ll camp here tonight…”

I muttered without thinking.

East Cloud and Grass Cutter looked at me.

“……We don’t mind, but—”

“Is there a reason?”

“A reason, you ask…”

I hesitated to speak, fearing they would laugh at me.

……Well, whatever.

“……The stars are beautiful, aren’t they?”

“……”

The two of them show a surprised expression.

Hmm……I guess it’s still weird.

But even in the original story, I liked this area. I didn’t return to the transfer zone and instead chose to spend the night in the layer.

“……Isn’t it good? I approve!”

“……Right, same here. Then, let’s hurry up and prepare the tent? Since we said it, we must have brought the camping gear, right?”

“Ah, ah…”

“Yeah!?! It’s like we’re all going camping on our day off!?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never had that experience…”

“Puu! You’re a sad guy!”

“You’re the same, aren’t you!?”

As I watch the two of them making a racket, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of nostalgia. It’s not like I’ve had a similar experience before……Why is that?

“Hey, Ishiro! Hurry up!!”

“O-okay!!”

……Thinking about it, it’s a waste of time.

I’m being rushed by the two of them, so I spread out the tent I brought and assemble it with Kusanagi.

◆

Sitting in the outdoor chairs, we surround a small bonfire. Our dinner for tonight is block-type portable food and warmed coffee. It’s simpler than what we eat at home, but the stars shining in the sky fill our hearts.

“……It’s beautiful”

“Ah…”

“Hey, hey, look! Look!!”

As we gaze up at the night sky, Tōhō approaches us from behind, hiding something in her hand. Her face has a mischievous grin.

“Here it comes! Zerøn Block!!”

“……”

Tōhō pours white, cloudy liquid from the Hachinosu tree on the block-type portable food and eats it. “Wow!? It’s sweet and delicious!!” As we watch Tōhō’s reaction, we can’t help but exchange a speechless glance.

“Her emotions are also…”

“……There’s nothing. She doesn’t have anything. Does she understand my feelings a little?”

……Well, roughly.

I nod in agreement towards Kusanagi.

“Huh? Taichi-kun has gotten used to it, hasn’t he? When we came here, he had an atmosphere like ‘I reject being a normal human!'”

“……No. It’s not that I’ve gotten used to it, but it would be tiring to be on guard all the time, right? Fortunately, we found out during our daytime exploration that this guy is ‘usable’…”

“Hmm……? ——Hey. Shōma-kun, Shōma-kun?”

“What is it……?”

Tōhō, who’s holding back laughter, beckons me to come over. Do I have no choice? I stand up from my chair and approach Tōhō, who pulls my hand and forces me to sit down next to her.

“Whoa!?”

This girl is still too physically close! As I try to protest, she wraps her arm around my neck. When I try to raise my voice in objection, she whispers in my ear.

“——Shōma-kun, you’re unexpectedly charming, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“That’s really rare, so I think you must have caught someone’s eye?”

“……”

What does that refer to?

Even I, who am dull-witted, could understand.

I don’t think I’ve done anything special, but…

Other people’s trust… I don’t really get it.

“Hey! There’s no one around, right?”

Tōka called out to Kusunagi, who was behind her, as they stood on the 15th floor. It was a sensitive location, and the time was also sensitive. There were no other explorers around except for us. After hearing Kusunagi’s response, “No one,” Tōka slowly took off her jacket.

“What the…!? What are you doing!?”

“…I just wanted to stretch my wings a bit, okay?”

“Wings… uh…!?”

Revealing her beautiful, white-bra-covered chest, Tōka spread her black, bat-like wings, which were as wide as her outstretched arms. I was stunned by the sudden sight. This was a demon hybrid. This was a succubus’s wing…

“――It’s beautiful…”

“Eh?”

I inadvertently blurted out my true feelings. The nighttime scenery, with the stars shining in the background, was fantastical and incredibly beautiful. I hurriedly covered my mouth, feeling embarrassed. But my reaction was too slow.

“――Pu, ahahahah! You think it’s beautiful…! You’re really something, Shōma-kun…”

“What’s wrong with you!?”

“I’ve never been told that before in my life… Ah! It’s ridiculous!!”

Tōka continued to laugh. I felt more bewildered than embarrassed by her behavior. Kusunagi just kept quiet, not saying a word, and it was frustrating.

“――I’ve always been told I’m ugly”

“Eh?”

Tōka nodded, stroking her wings.

“If I was born with bat wings, who wouldn’t think that? You’re the only one who says I’m beautiful, Shōma-kun…”

“But…”

I actually thought so, so what could I do?

Tōka continued talking.

“In my case, my parents didn’t abandon me right away. In that sense, I might be better off than Taichi-kun…”

“――What about you, Kusunagi?”

I turned around and asked Kusunagi. He seemed to be saying, “Whatever,” as he revealed his own story.

“I’m a Dullahan, born without a head. My mother went crazy when she saw me, and I was abandoned. From then on, I was sent straight to the research institute. I didn’t get to go outside until a few years ago. Until then, I was just a test subject…”

“…”

“You see? It’s tragic, right? Compared to him, I was lucky. In my family, my regrowing wings were cut off one by one with scissors, and I was living a normal life…”

“Scissors…?”

“No anesthesia, either. My mother would cut them off, and sometimes she’d accidentally cut into my back. I really hated it…”

Tōka continued talking, ignoring my stunned silence.

“I was kicked out of the house when my father forced himself on me… My mother would call me a ‘prostitute.’ After that, I sold my body and wandered around the slums… Just like my mother said, I became a real ‘prostitute.’ In the end, I was caught by the research institute, and they toyed with my body… I thought it would be better to die, but the demon hybrids saved me…”

“Hey…”

Kusunagi tried to interrupt, but Tōka shook her head and looked at me.

“…You must know, Shōma-kun. The demon hybrids hiding in the Academy are suspicious, no matter how you look at it. It’s only a matter of time before our relationship with the self-preservation faction is exposed… So, I think it’s okay to reveal everything now.”

――Well, I already knew that in reality……but Touka was being too carefree, and it was making me nervous instead.

“I never thought I’d be able to have a normal conversation with someone who knows my true identity.――So, what about this time’s exploration? It might not be what Shouma-kun wants, but I’m enjoying it to the fullest. And I’m sure Taichi-kun is too, right?”

“……Hmph.”

So, is this a thank-you conversation?

Stop it.

I’m not good at that.

Will it become a burden for me?

“……Is that the end of your bragging about misfortune? Then, it’s my turn now, right?”

“What?”

“The night is still young……I’ll teach you all about the hardships I’ve experienced. You won’t lose to the demon hybrid, right? Let’s start with the story of how I bowed to my sister……That was tough――”

He embellished his story of misfortune, and the night wore on. A nostalgic conversation with laughter and tears…….

Well, it’s not bad to have this kind of conversation sometimes, right?