Chapter 12: Looks Like Someone Needs a Lesson…

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[Caution!]

[Personnel Limit: 0/4]

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“… First the floor lockdown, and now this gimmick?”

The mage grumbled after seeing the system message. It was true that the gimmicks were rather harsh for a C-rank dungeon. Traps and a boss room personnel limit?

‘It must be the result of the developers prioritizing convenience.’

Ruah thought to herself and looked around at the students. They were resting, drinking the water they had been given at the Gate entrance. Some students had even brought snacks.

“Teacher!”

Yoo Juju, having removed their gauntlets, scurried over to Ruah like a squirrel. Despite having fought quite a bit, Juju was still full of energy.

“Here, try this!”

Ruah noticed Juju was holding a small piece of chocolate.

“I-it’s okay.”

“Come on, you should eat something! You’ve been using your mana, so you must be hungry. Here, aaah.”

“Ugh…”

It was embarrassing to be fed like a child while the other students were watching.

But since Juju showed no signs of backing down, Ruah opened her mouth.

“Aaah…”

The sweet taste filled her mouth.

“Good job. Want another one?”

“W-well…”

Ruah took out a butterscotch candy she had brought. She had specifically packed it for a sugar boost. It would feel like she was being treated like a child if she only accepted food, so it would be better to offer something in return.

“W-want one of these?”

“Oh…!”

Juju carefully took the candy as if it were a precious treasure.

“Hee hee, thanks! I’ll savor it!”

Juju gave her usual refreshing smile and returned to their friends.

“Now, let’s make a decision.”

The mage gathered the students, who were sitting scattered around.

“We need to choose who will enter the boss room.”

“……”

“……”

An uncomfortable silence fell. The students exchanged glances.

“First, let’s decide on the tank. There are only two of you.”

“I’ll go!”

Yoo Juju raised their hand. Unlike the energetic Juju, the other tank student seemed to be still recovering their mana. Without any objections, Juju was chosen as the tank.

‘In the main story, this is when the protagonist experiences their first party battle.’

Ruah stepped back and thought.

‘Regardless of whether the player prefers damage dealing, tanking, healing, or mage, the protagonist takes the tank position here.’

It was a forced event. For the sake of the future storyline.

So, there shouldn’t be a problem with Yoo Juju, who had taken the protagonist’s place and was also a tank, joining the party.

“And the teacher will be the healer, and of course, I’ll be the mage.”

A small round of applause came from the students. Applause for the school nurse and the professional who were risking their lives for them.

‘Originally, the healer was a student, but since they don’t have a significant role in the later story, it should be fine if I take over.’

And the last remaining role—

“—Who would be a good damage dealer, teacher?”

The mage deferred the decision to Ruah.

“I’ve only met the students today, but you’ve been seeing them at school, so I’ll leave it to you.”

“Uh… well…”

Ruah looked at the students sitting on the floor.

“I-I’ll do it!”

Suddenly, one of the damage dealer students raised their hand.

“Of course, I’m scared… but if we win, we’ll be the first freshmen to clear a Gate!”

Tempted by those words, other students also started raising their hands.

“Then I should go! You used up too much mana earlier!”

“No, I have the most kills!”

“What does that matter in a party?”

The damage dealers started arguing, their eyes on the glory of clearing the Gate.

However, only one person—Himari—remained silent, sitting amidst the students.

‘She’s not confident.’

She had lost confidence after failing to land any attacks, despite being a damage dealer. Himari’s [Hoshikawa-ryu Battōjutsu] was powerful, but since she hadn’t mastered it yet, it took a long time to activate.

‘She’s probably around Lv.3.’

Regardless of what anyone said, Himari was the damage dealer Ruah had chosen to bring to the final battle. She had plenty of room to grow. Even if she was lacking now, her skills were sufficient for the boss of this Gate.

So, there was only one thing to give her here—confidence.

“Himari.”

Himari, who was leaning against the wall with her knees drawn up, looked up at Ruah’s call. The other damage dealers fell silent, dumbfounded.

“I-if you’re okay with it… w-will you help me?”

Ruah asked timidly, fidgeting with her hands.

She wanted to say it more confidently, but this was the best she could do.

“Teacher.”

Himari walked towards Ruah with heavy steps.

“Thank you for the offer… but I am not qualified.”

Her expression was as stoic as ever, but her voice was tinged with dejection.

“I am ashamed to admit that I have not… defeated a single enemy… in battle.”

“……”

“I appreciate your high regard for me. However… I believe another student… would be more suitable. My Battōjutsu… is useless.”

“No.”

Ruah delivered the line she had prepared.

“I don’t need your Battōjutsu, Himari. I need you.”

Of course, it wasn’t something Ruah came up with on the spot; it was the same line the protagonist used to persuade Himari in the original story.

“……!”

Himari gasped softly.

‘There’s no way she can refuse.’

Originally, this line was something the protagonist had said offhandedly, but it coincidentally happened to be the same words someone Himari had a deep connection with in the past had said to her.

Himari, still holding onto the memories of that person, couldn’t help but be swayed by these words.

“—Ah.”

As Ruah expected, Himari looked flustered.

“You… need me…?”

Ruah waited for her to continue.

Himari lifted her head, her expression resolute.

“Yes, teacher. If you wish for it… I will do my best.”

“Thank you, Himari.”

Ruah secretly sighed in relief. Strategically speaking, Himari was the only choice anyway. To defeat C-rank monsters, they needed C-rank or higher Rare Metal weapons. The other students only had D-rank weapons at best, but Himari had an A-rank Rare Metal weapon given to her by her father.

‘Anyway, I’ve successfully steered things back to the main story.’

Now all that was left was to defeat the boss—

“—Hold on a second.”

Suddenly, an unexpected interruption.

“I’m fine with fighting together, but we need to clear the air first.”

It was Yoo Juju. They had stopped putting on their gauntlets and crossed their arms with a displeased expression.

‘Oh, right…!’

Juju’s gaze was fixed on Himari, who had just joined the party.

“Himari, haven’t you disliked me ever since I tried to say hello in the training room?”

“……”

Himari looked directly at Juju, as if waiting to hear what they had to say.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think I did anything wrong. We’re about to fight a life-or-death battle where we have to trust each other, so shouldn’t we resolve any bad blood between us?”

Ruah inwardly clicked her tongue. She hadn’t anticipated this development.

Originally, they were supposed to enter the boss room without any friction, but Yoo Juju taking the protagonist’s place had slightly altered the future.

‘I should have noticed this earlier.’

“U-um, you two, what happened…?”

Ruah squeezed between the two glaring students. She looked like she was struggling to squeeze between two walls, but she managed to get their attention.

“J-Juju is right. If you fought, wouldn’t it be better to reconcile here…?”

“…I understand. If you say so, teacher, I will forgive this rude classmate.”

“Who are you calling rude?! Who was the one staring at me weirdly first?!”

“St-stop it…!”

Ruah pushed them apart with her hands. She had to push with all her might to separate them even a little. Fortunately, the mage helped.

“Tell me… wh-what happened.”

“Alright. Teacher, please be the judge.”

Yoo Juju, glaring at Himari, told Ruah about the incident in the training room. They had simply tried to say hello, but Himari’s attitude suddenly changed, and she seemed displeased.

“I-is that true, Himari?”

“They omitted… the most important part.”

The taller Himari looked down at Juju and said something no one expected.

“Yoo Juju tried to… impregnate me.”

“……”

“……”

“…Huh?”

“You must not… hold hands with a strange man. You will have a baby.”

—Said Hoshikawa Himari (age 20).