Kämpfer:Volume 4 Chapter 4

Volume 4, Chapter 4  

    It was already dark outside, and the four of us were walking slowly. Although it wasn't far,

we still had the option of taking the bus, but Sakura Kaede said, "We'd like to walk together."

I was more concerned about whether "everyone" included Akane, b ut it turned out I was

wrong. Sakura Kaede wasn't the type to be so petty as to reject others.  

    As we approached the station, a rainbow of signs came into view. With the country

gradually recovering from the financial crisis, the area was becoming more crowded.  

    "Go a little further,"  

    Sakura Kaede led the group.  

    After walking a little further, we stopped in front of a large building.  

    There was a huge sign right in front of us, and it looked like it was on the building right

here. This area was originally a residential street, and here used to be a bathhouse for

nearby residents. However, with the development of home bathrooms and c ommercial

facilities, the number of customers in the bathhouse has dropped significantly. Half a year

ago, the bathhouse was converted into a building and reopened as an urban hot spring.  

    The sign says hot spring or something, but in fact, it is just hot water with some powder

added to it, and it boils. Although it is advertised as a "comprehensive entertainment street",

it seems that there are only bars and spas here now. Is there not even a game hall here?

There is a karaoke hall across the street.  

    "...Huh?"  

    I squinted my eyes and looked. I always felt that there was a familiar girl in the karaoke

hall.  

    "What's wrong...?"  

    Akane asked me.  

    "I always feel that she looks familiar..."  

    She leaned over to look, but the figure was gone.  

    "Who is it?"  

    "I think it's Masumi Nishino."  

    "Oh..."  

    Anyway, we didn't run into them. The noisy one was the karaoke room. Did the

soundproofing work?  

    Take the elevator upstairs. The rooftop is designed as an open -air bath. The selling point is

"You can soak in hot springs and enjoy the night sky in the city." This trick works because

there are no taller buildings nearby.  

    There are many people on the floor where the elevator stopped, probably because there

are many people curious and following the trend.  

    "Let's go in quickly,"  

    said Sakura Kaede, but my steps were heavy and hurried.  

    "What's wrong? Natsuru -san?"  

    "..."

    This one will definitely make me hesitate. Normally, I would turn back into a boy when

going to the toilet and taking a bath, especially this time in a hot spring. Whether I like it or

not, I have to face my body.  

    Sakura Kaede tilted her head.  

    “Is the money not enough?”  

    “No…”  

    “Is this your first time in a place like this?”  

    “No…”  

    “Then let’s go in. I want to rub Natsuru -san’s back.”  

    This is really fun, but I hope it’s for a boy.  

    She held my arm as we walked. This should have been a very happy scene, but why is it like

hell now?  

    Shizuku has been silently observing me like this.  

    “…Kaede.”  

    “Huh?”  

    “Seno -san seems to be unwell.”  

    “Huh? Is that so?”  

    I was the one who wanted to ask, but Shizuku seemed to be thinking about something for

me, she said.  

    “She said she just came.”  

    “Huh —— !? Really!?”  

    Sakura Kaede was surprised, and I was surprised too. Coming? What’s coming? Is it an

animated character?  

    "Natsuru -san, she was fine earlier."  

    "She said she felt heavy after arriving. It seems the hot spring is no longer viable."  

    "How could that be..."  

    It seems so regrettable. It seems like I don't have to go in now. I've somehow escaped this

predicament. Oh, a miracle. So I emphasize to Sakura Kaede again.  

    "So I can't go in..."  

    "It's such a bad timing."  

    "...Sorry."  

    I apologized even though I didn't understand why. But it seems like "I came" is a magical

word that can be accepted just by saying it. I'll use it as an excuse next time I'm late. I

whispered to Akane.  

    "Ask you..."  

    "Hmm?"  

    "What does 'I'm here' mean?"  

    She looked at me as if she'd seen a deep -sea fish in the desert.  

    "...Don't you know...?"  

    "Can that be used as an excuse at school?"  

    "...Try it."  

    She didn't answer any of my subsequent questions. Hmm? I didn't say anything strange,

did I?  

    "There's nothing we can do, let's just go in,"  

    Shizuku said.  

    "What about Natsuru?"  

    "Wait here..."  

    I replied. Luckily, there were plenty of chairs, so there was no shortage of places to sit.  

    "I'll borrow your shower later..."  

    "I see. Sorry to have to wait a moment."  

    Sakura Kaede pulled herself together and went behind the large curtain. As Shizuku passed

by me, she said, "You owe me this, too." Yes, yes, yes, I get it.  

    After a moment, I checked my wallet. Okay, enough money, and I've confirmed the

entrance to the men's hot spring.  

    Once past that curtain, we're in the hot spring world, and before I knew it, I was smiling.  

    Actually, I was planning to soak in the hot spring, but I didn't want to do it as a woman, but

being a man was perfectly fine. Now that I'm here, I can't just sit there waiting. I'm Japanese,

and I enjoy even fake hot springs.  

    I need to find a secluded corner. I need to find a place to transform back into a man. Going

in like this would be incredibly rude, and my clothes are men's, so don't worry.  

    That vending machine isn't bad, so I start moving inconspicuously.  

    Just in case, I glance around to make sure no one's paying attention. Okay.  

    The oath bracelet on my right wrist lights up, and for a moment, I'm enveloped in light,

and then I'm back to being a man... What the hell.  

    "...Huh?"  

    I took a closer look at my body. I was still a woman. My breasts were drooping, and they

were too large. What was going on?  

    Let's do it again, challenge the system again. The bracelet glowed again, but still nothing

happened. (Why?!) I cursed in my mind. Anxiety welled up in me.  

    I can't turn back into a man, how can such a ridiculous thing happen? If so, wouldn't I be a

woman all my life? I don't want that. The only people who would be happy in this situation

would be Sakura Kaede, Higashida, the boys' second grade class four,  and the gang in the

beauty pageant... that's a lot.  

    But I don't want that, I want to live a man's life. I didn't collapse after becoming Kämpfer

because I could still turn back into a man.  

    "What happened..."  

    I tried my best to ignore the despair waving at me and glanced at the blue bracelet.

Although it was very weak, it was still glowing.  

    Wait a minute, I remember when I was a man, if there was a hostile Kämpfer nearby, I

would be caught and transformed. Although I get caught less often with more experience, is

it possible that I can't cancel the transformation because of this?  

    The next moment I thought of this, there was a "snap" sound, and the vending machine in

front of me was split in two.  

    "Wow!"  

    I couldn't help but scream out, no no no, anyone would scream at this time.  

    On the other side of the destroyed vending machine stood a girl.  

    In her hand was a steel -colored Japanese sword, and she was wearing a sailor uniform of

the girls' department of Seitetsu Academy. Her hair was golden, ah, it was her.  

    On her right wrist was the bracelet of oath, and it was glowing red.  

    The girl saw me and shouted,  

    "You evil organization destroying order! I'll defeat you!"  

    What evil? And what kind of drama are you acting in? Although the weapon is a sword, it's

shaped like a Japanese katana, making it look like a period piece.  

    She looked me in the face and said,  

    "I found you, a female Natsuru!"  

    You again, why are you staring at me?  

    "Your bracelet flashed when you passed by here, just as I expected!"  

    Is that why they're hunting me? How obsessed.  

    "You're Kämpfer, and you still want to enter the hot springs!"  

    "So you..."  

    "That's perfect. It's not a hundred years, but it's been over a week since I last caught you.

Let me rust you!"  

    I didn't want to. But she didn't seem to be listening.  

    "Watch out!"  

    The sword swung, and I dodged it with a sideways leap, but the vending machine was cut

off again.  

    "Don't run away —!" If you don't run away, you'll die. This woman was swinging her

Japanese sword back and forth, showing no signs of attacking.  

    I finally managed to dodge it, and she was panting.  

    "Kondou Mikoto..."  

    I couldn't help but say her name. Not only in the library, but also here, are you going to

attack me?  

    "...It's not Mikoto!"  

    "But it's Mikoto..."  

    "...How did you know it was me!"  

    Finally admitted it, you woman, you're such a chore.  

    "What do you mean by knowing or not..."  

    "I'm not happy, go to hell!"  

    "Wow —"

    Kondou Mikoto rushed over with the sword at her waist, and I released a fireball.  

    "Too naive!"  

    Kondou Mikoto swung the Japanese sword sideways, and the fireball spread out like

fireworks and disappeared.  

    "Your attack is too naive, Natsuru!"  

    "Wait a minute, Mikoto..."  

    "Don't be so affectionate —!"

    "That's not what I meant..."  

    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. The tip of the knife just brushed past my face, and I jumped

back in panic.  

    Because the fight was taking place in a place like this, many people, including guests

visiting the hot springs, gathered.  

    "A special photo shoot?"  

    "They're all girls."  

    "Hey~ Mom, what are you sisters doing?"  

    "Pssst, don't point fingers at others."  

    They thought we were completely perverted. That's what you usually think when you see

someone wielding a weapon in a place like this.  

    I was still a little embarrassed, but Kondou Mikoto was completely immersed in it. She

glared at me with her Japanese sword raised.  

    "Don't move, blue."  

    "..."

    Blue, of course.  

    "I'm going to use this Inoue Shinkai, 2 feet 4 inches and 5 centimeters, to slice you into

pieces. Just wait for me." Waiting for you, how could a Kämpfer's weapon have such a name?

Inoue Shinkai is the sword from "Oniihei Hankacho." All of this seemed  insignificant as

Kondou Mikoto slashed again.  

    "..."

    "Ah—why are you running over there —!" Kondou Mikoto screamed desperately. Hahaha,

do you see my good judgment? Quick judgment and action are essential for survival in

modern society. You can't get in here as a woman.  

    Walking into the locker room, the uncles and older men shouted.  

    "Wow, a girl!?"  

    "Are you a pervert?!"  

    "A voyeur!!"  

    I fell to the ground in the street. It was over. I looked like a woman now, so why was I in a

men's hot spring? My judgment and action skills were zero.  

    "Stop —!"

    And although Kondou Mikoto hesitated, she still rushed in. Hey, where's her sense of

shame?  

    She rushed forward, hacking at all kinds of things. Wow —more terrifying than a Spanish

bullfight.  

    I fired a few fireballs to block her eyes, but they wouldn't be ineffective because they

would explode, but she ignored them all.  

    I ran inside.  

    "Where are you going!"  

    "Don't chase me!"  

    "Fight me!"  

    "Now I feel a bit..."  

    "You're useless, even though we're enemies!"  

    I was scolded. I ran here and there and finally passed through a large glass door and

slammed it shut.  

    I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but when I looked inside, I was speechless.  

    It was a bathhouse. There were huge baths lined up, and naked men were staring at me in

amazement. Everyone had an incredulous look in their eyes. That's right, a young woman

rushed in.  

    "Hehe...hehe..."  

    I forced a dry laugh. I wasn't embarrassed at all, but I don't know what these people were

thinking.  

    The glass door split in two.  

    "Is it here?!!"  

    I kicked the door open, and Kondou Mikoto rushed in and stopped.  

    "Natsuru, next year's anniversary will be your death. Let's face each other openly..."  

    Her line trailed off as she surveyed the bathhouse.  

    "Ah...!"  

    Her face flushed. Oh, it seems you've grasped the situation. Even Kondou Mikoto, the

South American and African garden, who seemed oblivious to the surroundings, was afraid of

men bathing. Haven't you ever seen a naked man before?  

    Kondou Mikoto glared at me.  

    "What are you thinking, running away to a place like this..."  

    "No, because it's a man..."  

    "How could you be a man —!"

    She thrust her Japanese sword with all her might, but I dodged it by leaning back.  

    Kondou Mikoto, her face flushing, raised her Japanese sword.  

    "I'll chop you down right now!"  

    A moment later, all the male guests in the bathhouse fled, shouting "There's a ghost," "A

murderer," and "A female savage!" It's understandable to think that when you suddenly see

someone shouting, "I'll chop you down!"  

    In order to avoid being caught up in the crowd, I retreated to the wall. I couldn't confirm

where Kondou Mikoto was.  

    Finally, the naked men were gone. Just when I wanted to find Kondou Mikoto, I saw her

squatting with her face covered.  

    "......?"  

    I approached her tremblingly, and she suddenly raised her face and I was glared at again.  

    "...You can do it..."  

    I didn't do anything.  

    "You actually... You actually embarrassed me so much... So many men... and they were all

naked..."  

    It was because many naked men ran past Kondou Mikoto. They didn't care about covering

their shame.  

    She picked up the Japanese sword again, holding it tightly.  

    "You actually humiliated a girl like that... You're still to blame, Kämpfer!"  

    "It has nothing to do with Kämpfer..."  

    "Why are you so calm? Men... and naked... Are you saying you're experienced? Pervert!

Pervert! Whore!"  

    In my seventeen years, this is the first time I've been called a whore. I'm probably the only

man in the world to be called that.  

    "Unforgivable —!"

    The Japanese sword trembled slightly. Wow, she's really angry.  

    "Haa..."  

    As expected, weakening the fireball had no effect, so this time I fired a fireball with

increased power.  

    "Tsk!"  

    Sensing danger, Kondou Mikoto dodged, and the fireball destroyed the sauna door.  

    Steam billowed in, gradually filling the field of vision with a white mist.  

    Kondou Mikoto stood at the entrance, apparently not intending to let me escape. Behind

me was a bathtub and stairs leading to the rooftop open -air bath.  

    "The woman named Natsuru who won't let you escape!"  

    Kondou Mikoto said.  

    "I was suspicious when you said something about a mysterious beautiful girl. It turns out

it's Kämpfer."  

    Kämpfer had been saying Kämpfer so lightly since before. You really are used to it. Don't

you realize your situation?  

    "By the way, I'm not happy with the name Seno Natsuru. It's the same as my childhood

sweetheart. Did you do that on purpose?"  

    "No, it's the same name..."  

    "I don't want to hear your explanation."  

    I just wanted to say it's the same person. Don't you want to hear it?  

    Kondou Mikoto pointed at my face and said,  

    "Anyway, I get really mad when you're around. You're inexplicably popular with boys and

the Bishoujo Research Society is paying attention. You even said you like the male Natsuru..."  

    "I never said that...!"  

    "Your deep, manly voice is also mad! That's why I said I'd cut you into pieces. DESTROY!"  

    Swinging her Japanese sword, I jumped before the tip of the sword could strike. After

turning into a Kämpfer, I could do this move easily. I shot fireballs with both hands in the air.  

    Kondou Mikoto spun her sword like a windmill, deflecting all my fireballs. I sighed and

thought about landing.  

    Suddenly, Kondou Mikoto ran and thrust her Japanese sword towards where I was going to

land.  

    "Ouch!"  

    Although I managed to change the direction temporarily, my foot slipped and I fell directly

into the bathtub from the back.  

    "Ugh!"  

    All I could see was the color of bath spray. I kicked the wall of the pool to get out and stood

up.

    My whole body was wet. It was hot water so I wasn't cold, but my clothes were heavy.

They absorbed a lot of water.  

    The clothes were clinging to my body, and the stripes of my underwear were quite clear.  

    For some reason, Kondou Mikoto muttered "Ugh" while watching.  

    "...You want to say you are charming and voluptuous?"  

    Who would show such a thing at a time like this.  

    "You are not happy with having such big breasts. Do you want to emphasize it by getting

your clothes wet with water? Go kowtow and apologize to all the poor wet nurses in the

country!"  

    Why should I apologize? It's not my fault, and yours isn't small either.  

    But reasoning with this person won't make any sense; she's always the center of the Earth.

Back in Syria, when she was competing with the Italian investigation team for unearthed

artifacts, she even informed the Italian team to the secret police, leadi ng to their expulsion.  

    She raised her Japanese sword again.  

    "Watch out —!"

    "Shocking!"  

    The sword, thrust at full speed, ripped away some of the fabric from my clothes. "Wow,

wow, wow! My underwear is all visible. I didn't bring any spare clothes."  

    I nearly slipped, but managed to keep my balance. Kondou Mikoto jumped into the

bathtub and swung her Japanese sword.  

    "Tap!"  

    The sword grazed my left arm and hit the water, splashing onto Kondou Mikoto's head. My

school uniform was also soaked in several places.  

    I tried to distance myself as much as possible.  

    "Don't run away —!"

    "No!"  

    I released several small fireballs from my hands, shooting them continuously at Kondou

Mikoto's feet.  

    Steam rose from the areas where the bullets hit, and I took advantage of the moment my

vision blurred to jump into Kondou Mikoto's arms.  

    "Ah..."  

    What the hell, she screamed so femininely? I grabbed Kondou Mikoto's arm and pulled it

back, trying to get her to let go of the Japanese sword.  

    She loosened the handle, but her other hand picked up the sword and swung it down.  

    "You can do it!"  

    A few clumps of hair were cut off, and I realized I had failed, so I distanced myself again.  

    Maybe it was because Kondou Mikoto didn't use her dominant hand to cut, so only her

hair was damaged. If she had used her dominant hand, it would have been terrible, and

everything above the neck would have been gone.  

    Her eyes twitched.  

    "Don't touch me!"  

    Even if you said that...  

    "It's just your arm, but being caught by the enemy, Kämpfer, is a disgrace! A disgrace! I'll

demand mental damages! I'll embroil you in a lawsuit, and you'll never be seen again!"  

    Hey, I wasn't just touched, my innocence was taken away. It wasn't just a disgrace, it was a

lifelong desire to commit suicide because of the severe blow.  

    "Listen to me, I value my body. The one who touches me is not a woman like Natsuru,

but..."  

    Kondou Mikoto blushed instantly.  

    "What are you asking me to say —!"

    Didn't you just say that? The Japanese sword slashed across.  

    I dodged it at the right moment and released a fireball from my hand, causing a gorgeous

explosion at Kondou Mikoto's feet.  

    "Ah!"  

    Blonde Kondou Mikoto stumbled, falling backward into the tub.  

    As she hurried to her feet, I launched another attack, sending another splash before falling.  

    "You...you..."  

    "It's useless, it's useless."  

    "What do you mean by useless?"  

    "It's useless anyway."  

    I was already able to attack before she could move.  

    It's difficult to move in the tub because the resistance of the water hinders movement.

Compared to long -range magic, swords are at a disadvantage. I panicked and didn't use them

just now, but now I have the upper hand.  

    The balance of victory is tilting in my favor.  

    Kondou Mikoto stared at me and said sternly,  

    "Huh, you think you can succeed like this?"  

    "That's impossible!"  

    Kondou Mikoto inserted her Japanese sword into her foot, jumped up like a pole vault, and

kicked me.  

    "Ah!"  

    "Wow!"  

    A flying kick hit me squarely on the forehead. Stars appeared before my eyes, and the

theme song of "Kick Demon" streamed through my mind.  

    But that was all; I had expected this, and I immediately moved back to mitigate the attack.

Although Kirby and Staffy were flying around, my body's resistance to impact had increased

after I transformed into a Kämpfer.  

    I pushed off my feet, stood firm, and confronted her again.  

    "...You dodged well."  

    "That's..."  

    "But what about now!"  

    Kondou Mikoto pulled out the Japanese sword stuck in the bathtub.  

    There was a sound of water, and bubbles appeared. A whirlpool appeared on the surface

of the water.  

    The hot water was getting less and less. Wow, this guy opened a hole in the bottom of the

bathtub, trying to change the unfavorable environment. My skirt was still wet, and sticking to

my thighs was probably uncomfortable, but without the hot water, it  was much better.  

    The bathtub had become a beach, and Kondou Mikoto was running.  

    "Close combat is good for the blade!"  

    The Japanese sword swung once, twice. I managed to dodge, but my foot tripped as I ran.  

    "It hurts!"  

    I hit my head on the wet floor, and this time the stars were quite large.  

    Kondou Mikoto raised the sword high.  

    "This time, you're going to die!"  

    "Ahhh!"  

    A mournful cry was followed by a gunshot. The Japanese sword, hit by the bullet, deviated

from its trajectory and stabbed me in the ear.  

    "Who is it!?"  

    "Don't kill my partner without permission."  

    Standing at the entrance was Akane, in the form of a bulldog girl, holding a pistol similar to

a Colt.  

    Akane came slowly, wearing clothes, but because she was too anxious, her hair was still

wet and her face was a little red. But her eyes were still as terrifying as before.  

    "Don't underestimate me, killing Natsuru is my exclusive privilege, and other women are

not allowed to make a move."  

    What? This sounds like the line before the underworld carries out the death penalty.  

    Akane stared at Kondou Mikoto, and Kondou Mikoto stared back.  

    "...Who are you?"  

    "It's the partner of that stupid donkey. It's the woman who got permission from Sakyamuni

to kill Natsuru. If you know, get out of the way, otherwise I will make three or four more

holes in your body."  

    "...Wow, your mouth is so dirty."  

    Kondou Mikoto tightened her face. Isn't it true? She said "kill" three times in such a short

time.  

    Akane's expression was very disdainful.  

    "Huh? Whose mouth is dirty? Me? I'm the reincarnation of Florence Nightingale, who

loves to read Rilke's poems. How can my mouth be dirty?"  

    "Isn't it very dirty?"  

    "You're kidding. This is just a normal conversation. It's much better than those who want to

say something but don't. They just smile all day long."  

    "Much better? Why does it sound like I'm digging my own grave?"  

    Kondou Mikoto was really reckless, talking back to Akane as if nothing had happened. You

see, the eyes of the mastiff girl have become very narrow.  

    "...You are very interesting to talk to. It seems that the red Kämpfer doesn't understand

humor."  

    "Swear words are not humor."  

    "...Go to hell!"  

    Gunshots were heard, and flames spewed from the muzzle of the gun. Kondou Mikoto

dodged sideways.  

    "Danger, danger!"  

    For some reason, bullets are flying towards me. Hey, did you take advantage of the chaos

to aim at me?  

    Kondou Mikoto rushed forward, but even though it was a short distance, Akane didn't

leave but came closer. What a special attack spirit.  

    The sound of gunfire and metal echoed simultaneously in the bathhouse where only we

were. For a moment, it was as if time had stopped.  

    The Japanese sword deflected the bullet.  

    Akane, realizing that the bullet had missed, jumped to the side and crossed the steel blade

at her original position.  

    She rolled and shot, and the sound of gunfire kept echoing in the bathhouse.  

    Surprisingly, Kondou Mikoto dodged all the bullets.  

    "Tsk!"  

    Akane was shocked, and at this moment, the Japanese sword slashed at her from the

bottom.  

    "Akane, jump!"  

    The Mastiff Woman leaped up, and my fireball passed through the place where she

jumped, deflecting the Japanese sword before exploding.  

    Kondou Mikoto backed away, shielding her face.  

    Akane came over to me and said,  

    "Damn it! That bitch underestimated me. I'm going to fuck her up!"  

    "Calm down."  

    "Calm down, you idiot! I'm going to rip that woman apart and hang her up like Clara

Petrucci (Mussolini's lover). Help me."  

    "Don't do that!"  

    The Mastiff Woman turned around and glared at me with a very sharp look.  

    "What did you say!? Are you crazy?"  

    "Listen to me, it's just..."  

    "You're giving me orders just because you saved me a little? You're so brave! Looks like I

have to send you to that world first. What's your funeral going to be like? It's okay if you're

stuffed in the sewer?"  

    "So listen to me, that's Kondou Mikoto."  

    "I know, so what? You mean she's the heroine of a cute anime?"  

    "No."  

    "Or is it the woman you like? Kill you?"  

    "I already said she's not, so I can't kill her!"  

    "It's okay, right? She's become Kämpfer anyway, so just give her the bullet as a souvenir."  

    Why did she become like this?  

    Are there only equations like "enemy = attack" and "our side = occasionally attack" in the

mastiff girl's mind? Don't creatures like dogs clearly distinguish between enemies and

friends? Oh, and there's also "I = kill." Anyway, nothing can stop until t here's bloodshed.  

    "Hey, Mikoto!"  

    Akane called out.  

    "You're trying to look cool with your dyed hair!"  

    Kondou Mikoto was stunned for a moment, then immediately retorted.  

    "Huh? How come you know my name too!"  

    "We've met a few times, of course I know!"  

    "Are you a student at Seitetsu too? I don't know a girl with such a dirty mouth!"  

    "I'll let you become a corpse first, then I'll tell you later!"  

    She fired again. Since the bullets were unlimited, she fired like crazy. Kondou Mikoto

dodged and blocked with her sword, and now she's hiding behind the showers.  

    Kondou Mikoto probably wanted to fight back, but she was facing a gun, so she couldn't

get close in this situation.  

    "It's so annoying to see her running around. Natsuru, cover me, we must kill her this time."  

    "I already said goodbye, can't this be resolved without killing her?"  

    "...What did you say?"  

    The fierce dog girl exuded murderous aura all over her body, and her target was definitely

me.

    "How long are you going to protect Mikoto?"  

    "There's no need to kill her."  

    "Just because we're childhood friends? She's got a red bracelet. If we don't do anything,

we'll be killed. It'll be too late to regret it in that world."  

    "Why is it all about killing? Why not just answer her cleverly?"  

    "That's the hard part. Listen carefully. Mikoto's sword has been blocking my attacks since

just now. She's been defending herself and not attacking much, but if we keep going, we'll be

in danger. We have to strike first."  

    Damn it, she's so logical even though she's a dog. But if she does what she says, Mikoto

will really go to that world, but if she doesn't resist, she'll die here.  

    "No time to worry, let's go."  

    There was no time to hold her back.  

    Akane rushed forward, leaning down and rushing to where Kondou Mikoto was hiding.  

    Kondou Mikoto did not fight back but jumped with all her strength.  

    "Wow!"  

    Akane and I shouted at the same time. The ceiling of the bathhouse is very high, to avoid

the concentration of water vapor that would obstruct the view. And Kondou Mikoto also

jumped so high.  

    "Aaaaa!"  

    She fell freely with the Japanese sword in her hand, heading towards me.  

    "Wow!!"  

    If I think about whether to avoid first or fight back first, I will die.  

    I decided to release fireballs to restrain them at the same time, and I rolled to the wall. It

hurts, my waist hit the faucet.  

    Kondou Mikoto blocked the fireball with her sword, but lost her balance.  

    "Waaaaaaaa!"  

    I managed to roll over to my feet, but Akane fired a barrage of bullets at my feet.  

    Kondou Mikoto collapsed, blocking a few with her sword, but the rest went unnoticed.

Damn, I thought she was dying, but there was no bleeding. Her body stiffened after

transforming into a Kämpfer.  

    Her blond hair swayed. Akane and I tried to approach her, but she stood up, her katana

poised in both hands.  

    After we stopped approaching, we kept a certain distance from Kondou Mikoto. The three

of us were equidistant, just like an equilateral triangle.  

    Kondou Mikoto was alone, and her only weapon was a Japanese sword. This situation was

very disadvantageous to her.  

    "How despicable!"  

    she shouted.  

    "Idiot, what are you still saying now? Weren't you the one who rushed over like a

motorbike at the beginning?"  

    Akane sneered. It seems that this guy has no sense of sympathy for the weak. She is the

type who gets excited when someone falls into the water.  

    "There are more of us. If you want to blame someone, blame your misfortune."  

    "...Tsk."  

    "It's no use staring at us like that. You think you can do anything with your eyes. You are

addicted to cute anime."  

    You are obviously a fan of late -night anime, and you really can say that.  

    We gradually closed the distance, and Kondou Mikoto tried every possible way to escape,

but because we'd cleverly maintained an equilateral triangle, Kondou Mikoto was still at a

disadvantage.  

    Akane and I hadn't agreed to maintain this formation beforehand; we just felt it was the

most appropriate under the circumstances. Perhaps it was because we shared the same

color and had fought together a few times before. In proportion to the amount o f scolding

we received, we were becoming more and more in sync, though it wasn't intentional.  

    "Don't even think about running away,"  

    Akane said.  

    "Don't worry, I'll let you go. My partner is really bothering me."  

    Oh? Did the dog finally have a heart? That thought was shattered by the next line.  

    "I'll give you a chance to live, but I won't spare you. I'll strip you naked and make you stand

in the school corridor for a week. Then I'll make you say only 'woof'. You're a dog -man. If you

pay the unlicensed doctor on the edge of the cliff, maybe yo u can be saved."  

    You're a dog yourself and you want to add to your group. The look in the woman's eyes,

which I wanted to stop, was the same as if she wanted to kill the other person. Normal

persuasion was useless.  

    Kondou Mikoto said with disgust from the bottom of her heart,  

    "...Don't be ridiculous. I'm not a M. I don't want to do this."  

    "There's no point in refusing. You'll wake up now."  

    "You won't wake up. A real M is a man like Natsuru. He definitely likes to be bullied."  

    What are you talking about? That's slander.  

    Akane laughed after hearing this and said,  

    "Ah~ So that's how it is. That guy has a face that really likes pain."  

    "Right, when I was a child, he was smiling even when I hit him, and always begged me to

use more force."  

    Don't lie, I did get hit by you, or rather, I got hit by you all the time, but I never begged you

like that, it's just a history in my mind, a fabrication.  

    Akane laughed out loud, hey, this is a lie.  

    I pointed at Kondou Mikoto,  

    "What are you talking about...!"  

    "I'm serious, Natsuru. That guy's a M. If you're interested in him, try being a little cooler or

show him your S side."  

    "What...what...!"  

    "Since he's a M, you should bully him."  

    "You...you..."  

    This woman was unforgivable. All the childhood sweethearts and feelings in my mind

vanished. If I didn't shut this guy up, nothing good would happen.  

    I concentrated my energy and unleashed a massive fireball, a massive one unlike anything

I'd ever seen before. Not only Kondou Mikoto, but Akane was also surprised.  

    "Wait, wait a minute..."  

    "Hey Natsuru, didn't you say you wanted to give me a way out..."  

    Who cares? Just as I was about to launch myself,  

    the wall behind Kondou Mikoto suddenly collapsed.  

    To be more precise, there was a round hole, and only that part of the wall collapsed. This

wall separated the men's hot spring and the women's hot spring, and now you can see the

other side.  

    No one is there, no, there is only one person standing.  

    The woman with light golden hair holding a dagger with a lock is Shizuku.  

    "Fuck, it's really gorgeous."  

    She waved her hand, and the dagger with a lock flew towards me.  

    "Wow!"  

    "Wow!"  

    Akane went left, and I jumped to the right to avoid it. Shizuku passed through the hole and

came here to stand next to Kondou Mikoto.  

    Kondou Mikoto was surprised at first, but eventually saw Shizuku's bracelet.  

    "...Akane! It's a comrade!"  

    "Yes."  

    Did she realize it was the student council president? Even with such a plain voice, this

reinforcement was a godsend for Kondou Mikoto.  

    "Great, now we can fight back. What can you do to that woman who's like a dog with a

gun? I'll take down Natsuru."  

    Now the number was two against two, and the odds were evenly matched. Shizuku

glanced at Kondou Mikoto.  

    "But we can't do that."  

    "Huh?"  

    Shizuku hit the back of the blonde's head with the handle of her dagger.  

    Kondou Mikoto fell to the ground due to a sneak attack and Kämpfer's wrist strength.  

    She moved Kondou Mikoto to a park near the station.  

    After that, things got really troublesome. A report was received that "a strange woman

was causing trouble at the spa," and the police came. Shizuku said, "Let's retreat," and

escaped from the female hot spring through the hole. By the way, the female customer had

disappeared long ago.  

    I carried the unconscious Kondou Mikoto on my back and quietly ran outside. We found it

was a mess, and that's why we got out without much effort.  

    Naturally, I was the one carrying Kondou Mikoto. This guy or that guy just mistook me for a

man at that moment.  

    "Hey, how's Sakura Kaede?"  

    I asked Shizuku.  

    "We sent her to shelter. We told her there's a pervert with a weapon causing trouble at the

men's hot spring. She's probably in that crowd now, right?"  

    "Are you just going to leave her like that?"  

    "There's nothing we can do in this situation. We'll go get her later."  

    Just imagining Sakura Kaede alone and helpless made my heart burst, but I managed to

hold it back.  

    "...Could it be that the president was the one who spread the rumor that there was a

pervert walking around and caused the female hot spring to be deserted?"  

    "I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Isn't it the truth?"  

    She must have deliberately arranged for no one to be present to facilitate the battle. This

woman is still so scary.  

    The park was practically deserted; everyone had simply become onlookers, joining in the

fun. If I were in her shoes, I'd have gone too.  

    Kondou Mikoto groaned, "Ouch..." Oh, is she awake?  

    Her eyes gradually opened.  

    "Ouch..."  

    she muttered, her words unclear, as she looked around.  

    "Where... is this place...?"  

    "She's awake? Let's kill her,"  

    Akane said, picking up the gun.  

    "Come on, what are you thinking about?"  

    "It's Red Kämpfer, the enemy, let's take down one of them now."  

    "It's Mikoto, your friend too."  

    "I'm more egalitarian than a Christian, it doesn't matter whether I know you or not."  

    "It's just that everyone is dead under your gun."  

    I tried to get Akane to put down her gun.  

    Shizuku didn't participate, she was waiting for Kondou Mikoto to regain consciousness.  

    "Yeah...you are..."  

    It seemed that she was conscious, at least her vision seemed to have returned.  

    Shizuku said slowly,  

    "Can you see me?"  

    "...President?"  

    "Yes, what's your own name?"  

    "Kondou... Mikoto...right"  

    She was still confused, like a drunk.  

    "Where is this girl?"  

    Pointing at me,  

    "...Female... Senou Natsuru..."  

    "Where is this side?"  

    "Unknown... dog...?"  

    Akane's eyebrows were trembling, this guy's boiling point was very low.  

    "It's better to shoot her."  

    "Say goodbye."  

    The dog girl put her pistol on the unconscious Kondou Mikoto's nose. At this moment

Kondou Mikoto suddenly shouted loudly.  

    "...Ah!"  

    She jumped up, as if she remembered everything in an instant.  

    "You..."  

    Her hands searched for a Japanese sword, but at this time Shizuku's dagger and Akane's

pistol were pressed against her body.  

    "Okay, be honest, the conversation starts now."  

    "President...! You are the red wrist ring!"  

    "Yes."  

    "You traitor...!"  

    "You're too polite."  

    Shizuku did not waver, and kept away from the Japanese sword unconsciously.  

    "It's not betrayal. I'm just acting according to my principles."  

    "I heard there was a traitorous Red Kämpfer. So it turns out to be the president!"  

    "Let's talk about this slowly."  

    Oh? I asked in surprise. Shizuku doesn't seem to be in the mood to fight right now. That's

rare.  

    Kondou Mikoto looked puzzled.  

    "Why are we talking?"  

    "We both have things we want to know, right?"  

    "If you're killed, everything's gone."  

    "How about this? I'll undo my transformation."  

    Shizuku retracted her dagger and bent her right hand.  

    With a snap, a pale red light enveloped Shizuku in an instant, and she returned to her pre -

transformation appearance.  

    "...Hey."  

    "Kondou -kun, you change back too."  

    "Why..."  

    "Never mind."  

    Kondou Mikoto was puzzled, but she changed back to her usual self, not with blonde hair.

For some reason, I breathed a sigh of relief. Unlike me back then, she can now transform

according to her own consciousness. Am I special?  

    "You too."  

    The mastiff girl was blatantly annoyed when she was told this.  

    "Don't order me around."  

    "You can ask me too."  

    "...Tsk."  

    Akane also untransformed, and Kondou Mikoto looked at her with wide eyes.  

    "Akane, Akane!?"  

    "Yes..."  

    Akane shrank her body, but this made her look completely different from the rude bitch

just now.  

    "Then finally."  

    Akane turned her gaze to me.  

    "...Really?"  

    "Yes, you are the key."  

    There was no other way, so I pushed hard on the wristband. It's hard to explain, but it's the

feeling of concentrating mental energy.  

    I felt my body become lighter, and my eyes were covered in bluish -white.  

    It was over quickly, and I turned back into a man.  

    Of course, Akane and Shizuku were not surprised, but the Kondou Mikoto in front of them

looked like her jaw was about to drop to Argentina.  

    "Name...name...Natsuru!?"  

    "...Um"  

    I answered embarrassedly.  

    "Ah..."  

    Kondou Mikoto fell back again.  

    "Unconscious..."  

    Akane looked at her. She didn't foam at the mouth but her hands and feet were stiff. It

seemed that her life was not in danger.  

    "It seems that the shock was too great."  

    Shizuku said. It was you who caused it.  

    "What do you want to do, to do such a thing."  

    "This is necessary. I hope that Kondou -kun will also know this."  

    "Really?"  

    Shizuku nodded in response to my question.  

    "Sakura Kaede, who distributes dirty dolls, and Kondou Mikoto, who was sent to monitor

me, are quite interesting."  

    "So?"  

    "Let's see what happens when we put them together. Seno -san, change back into a girl, or

Sakura Kaede will be devastated."  

    "Sakura Kaede?"  

    "Yeah,"  

    she said,  

    "I'm going to find Sakura Kaede. You guys stay here."  

    Then she walked towards the building.  

    Sakura Kaede looked around.  

    She had been going to the hot spring leisurely, but she heard "Fire!" and ran out in a panic.  

    She met Shizuku in the changing room, and she said, "It's not a fire, it's just someone with

a weapon causing trouble." She also said, "There's still time to change clothes, so run away

after you change."  

    Anyway, we escaped from the spa. The entrance hall was packed with people and there

was no place to stand. After finally getting on the elevator, Shizuku, Akane, and Natsuru were

nowhere to be seen, which made her very uneasy.  

    The building below was also full of onlookers. Everyone was saying, "Is it a fire?" "No, it's

someone with a mental problem causing trouble." There was no smoke, so it shouldn't be a

fire. Some people were saying, "A group of nudes have wandered in," b ut it's a bathhouse, so

nudity is natural.  

    (...Everyone...)  

    Sakura Kaede, looking pale, searched for her friends, but they were nowhere to be found.

She'd assumed they were also evacuating, so where were they now? Could they have been

caught up in the "weapon -wielding, mentally challenged" incident?  

    "...Natsuru -san!"  

    She wanted to pray to the gods, but her faith wasn't strong enough, so she prayed like a

dirty doll with a needle -pierced shrimp deer. Nailing a shrimp deer on a cross —something

that looked like a god, but would definitely be punished.  

    "Ah... please... please make sure Natsuru -san is safe. Shizuku wants to be safe too. And

Akane... uh... it would be nice if she's safe too..."  

    At the end of the subtly different prayer,  

    "Kaede, are you okay?"  

    It was Shizuku who waved gently.  

    "Shizuku! That's great..."  

    Sakura Kaede ran over without hesitation.  

    "Where were you? I was so worried about you..."  

    "I got caught up a little..."  

    "I got caught up... were you hurt?!"  

    "No."  

    Shizuku was still her usual self. Calm and mature, just like usual. Her attitude, which only

occasionally showed, made it hard to tell what she was thinking, was the same as usual.  

    So Sakura Kaede asked her the question that concerned her most,  

    "Shizuku... Where's Natsuru -san...?"  

    "It's okay, she's here too."  

    Sakura Kaede patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.  

    "That's great..."  

    "She's lucky and very strong."  

    "Yeah, as strong as a boy."  

    "...Yes,"  

    Shizuku waved, "Everyone is here."  

    They walked to the park near the station, and indeed Natsuru and Akane were there.  

    Sakura Kaede jogged over to them.  

    "Natsuru -san, I'm glad you're okay... Ah, and Akane too."  

    Then she noticed that there was a girl lying between the two of them.  

    "Oh, this person..."  

    She's seen her before. Although they only said hello, they did talk. She's a very energetic

type, and it feels like she can be friends with anyone.  

    "It's...Kondou Mikoto... Yeah. I heard it's Natsuru -kun... a friend of the male student Senou

Natsuru -kun."  

    "We just met by chance at the spa."  

    Shizuku emphasized "by chance" intentionally or not.  

    "Did she lose consciousness...?"  

    "Yes, it seems like something has happened that's really shocking."  

    Natsuru -kun and Akane felt very uncomfortable after hearing this line.  

    Shizuku then said,  

    "Kaede, it's dangerous to let a girl go back alone. Can she stay at your house for a night?"  

    Natsuru -kun and Akane were surprised.  

    "W-what...!"  

    "President..."  

    Both of them looked quite surprised.  

    The key thing was that Sakura Kaede remained calm.  

    "Sure."  

    "Thank you."  

    Shizuku thanked them calmly. She completely ignored the two panicked people.  

    Then, the Super Student Council president added, as if it were a matter of course,  

    "Kondou -san will be moved by Seno -san."  

    "Natsuru -san...?"  

    "Yes,"  

    Shizuku glanced at him.  

    Natsuru probably didn't want to refuse anymore, so he nodded.  

Translator's Notes

This chapter was translated from the Chinese translation of the original Japanese text.

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