Chapter Nine: A New Ability

Watanabe gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands and slowly knelt down. Naomi planted her foot on the dying Watanabe, drew her curved blade in one swift motion, and, to Hao Ren’s astonished gaze, slit her own throat.

With her throat completely severed, Naomi reverted to her original form and collapsed atop the already lifeless Takuzo. Takuzo’s body, reacting to the external stimulus, began to slowly rise—it had turned into a corpse.

Silently, Hao Ren approached the corpse that Takuzo had become, raised his spear toward its head, and said, “I hope in your next life you will meet this girl named Naomi again.” As soon as his words fell, the spear’s tip plunged down.

Saburo Watanabe was already at the end of his strength, his life flickering out. He trembled, raising a finger toward Hao Ren, as if wanting to say something, but then—there was nothing more. He died.

Saeko Busujima, Shiki Ryougi, and Saya Takagi, who had come back to aid Hao Ren, witnessed the entire scene. Though Busujima and Takagi were full of questions about what had just happened, they wisely chose not to ask.

“We’re still alive,” Shiki Ryougi walked over, taking Hao Ren’s hand with determination.

“Yes, I know. Let’s go,” Hao Ren managed a strained smile to the three girls, and as he prepared to leave, he caught a flash of red light beside Saburo Watanabe’s corpse. His hand, almost involuntarily, reached toward the light and picked up a badge-like object. It seemed that no one except Shiki Ryougi noticed Hao Ren had acquired something.

“Stop dawdling, get on the bus!” Takashi Komuro, unaware of what had just transpired, shouted from the bus door.

“Let’s go.” The four of them hurried onto the bus.

“Please, save us!” Just as Takashi Komuro was about to close the door, seven more survivors appeared, among them the pitiful scion of the politics family, Koichi Shido.

Knowing he couldn’t stop Shido from boarding, Hao Ren slapped his thigh in frustration—his alias was being taken advantage of, what a loss.

Shido abandoned the male students, concluding that arc, and boarded the bus.

Though Hao Ren disliked Shido’s actions, he could at least agree with one thing he said: “Those without power have no value in living.”

…How sad.

“You’ll regret this!” Miyamoto Rei’s words closed the scene as the bus safely burst through the school gates and sped onto the highway.

The bus cruised smoothly down the road. Hao Ren, quickly adjusting his mood or perhaps simply numb, pressed his face to the window, staring intently outside.

“Yes! Success!” Hao Ren managed to spot, beside a convenience store on the roadside, the historic figure Shaun—the protagonist of the film “Shaun of the Dead.”

“Shut up!” Shiki Ryougi, eyes closed and resting, gave him a karate chop, and Hao Ren fell silent.

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“Let’s see what this is.” Hao Ren took out the badge he had picked up and examined the information displayed on it.

Item: “Red Badge.” Because this player died at the hands of his own contract creature, the badge is guaranteed to drop upon his death. When used, you randomly gain one of the deceased player’s skills, talents, bloodlines, items, or LP points.

The description was brief, but the implication was chilling. The possibility that a player’s death could drop a badge increased everyone’s personal risk; you never knew who might covet your skills or items and try to kill you for a chance at them. The fact that contract creatures could attack their own summoners startled Hao Ren even more. As a summoner, Hao Ren resolved to treat each of his summoned creatures with utmost care.

With this thought, Hao Ren suddenly grabbed Shiki Ryougi’s hand. She jumped, looking at him with a slightly annoyed expression.

“I will never let you down,” Hao Ren declared, as if making an oath.

“Did something happen to you?” Shiki Ryougi withdrew her hand, puzzled.

“Just remember what I said.” Hao Ren turned away, unwilling to say more.

“How odd…” Shiki Ryougi muttered softly, a subtle expression crossing her face.

Hao Ren used the Red Badge and began to pray.

“Player 73950 activates the Red Badge, receiving one Talent Card.”

Talent Card: “Kämpfer Contract.” Upon use, gain the talent skill “Kämpfer Contract” Lv1.

Talent: “Kämpfer Contract” Lv1

0/500. Allows contract with humanoid creatures (regardless of gender); the relationship between the contracted party and the skill user must not be less than ‘Friendly.’ The contracted party receives a portion of all attribute bonuses and a skill called “Kämpfer Transformation.” Current contract limit is 0/5. Each use of the skill consumes LP1, or LP2 to forcibly contract with a humanoid creature whose relationship is less than ‘Friendly.’ Skill can be upgraded.

“Kämpfer Transformation” Lv1: Increases with the level of “Kämpfer Contract.” Using this skill forcibly feminizes the target, altering attributes, appearance, and weapon to match the skill user’s qualities.

Skill duration is 10 minutes, cooldown is 1 hour, no resource cost.

How should I define this talent? An alternative summoner? The precursor to QB? A perfect trap-maker? A terrifyingly short-lived true girl transformer?

Yoooooooo!!!!

Any way you look at it, it’s a good skill. Use.

“Because player 73950’s profession is Summoner, all creatures contracted via Kämpfer Contract are considered summoned creatures. Player 73950’s talent skill ‘Summon Link’ effect is modified; the number of linked creatures is fixed at the contract limit for Kämpfer Contract, currently five.”

At this stage, the Summon Link skill is definitely powered up, and now there’s another avenue to increase summoned creatures. It seems I truly am destined to become a recruiter of magical girls (or boys), a QB. Hao Ren smiled, both happy and conflicted.

“Player 73950’s quest list has been updated. Please review.”

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Quest List: 3 Quests

Main Quest: Stage Two. Join the protagonist’s party and escape the school by bus. Only players who complete Stage Two unlock subsequent main quests. Stage Two reward: LP2; failure: LP2 deducted. If “Takashi Komuro” or “Shizuka Marikawa” dies or is infected by corpses, the quest fails. (Status: Completed)

Reward granted.

Stage Three opens: Before the “Tunnel Incident” occurs, make a choice: accompany “Takashi Komuro” and “Rei Miyamoto” or remain on the bus. The subsequent main quests will differ based on your choice. Please choose carefully.

Side Quest: “Protect the Explosive School Nurse”

Stage Three opens: Join “Shizuka Marikawa” in escaping the school by bus. Stage Three completion reward: relationship with “Shizuka Marikawa” becomes “Intimate.” Failure: lose the item “Portable Bus Key,” and relationship with “Saeko Busujima” is set to “Apathetic.” If “Shizuka Marikawa” dies or is infected, the quest fails. (Status: Completed)

Relationship with “Shizuka Marikawa” has become “Intimate.”

Final Stage opens: Establish a relationship with “Shizuka Marikawa.” Reward unknown, penalty unknown.

“Supporting Male’s Remaining Life”

Stage One: During the game instance, protect “Ishii Shiki,” continuing until boarding the bus. Stage One completion reward: “Ishii Shiki’s Contact Lenses.” Failure: temporarily lose 3 points of mental attribute until the end of this instance. If “Ishii Shiki” dies or is infected, the quest fails. (Status: Completed)

Reward granted.

Final Stage: During the game instance, help “Ishii Shiki” lose his virginity. Completion reward: “Ishii Shiki’s Study Notes.” Failure: player receives negative status “Impotence” for one month.

Item: “Ishii Shiki’s Contact Lenses.” When used, permanently enhance vision and grant the ability to identify female creatures; can determine whether the creature in front is female.

Let’s talk about these contact lenses. With this item, I could become a trap-killer, right…?

But, Ishii Shiki, where’s your dignity? Wanting someone else’s help to lose your virginity! Dude, I’m still a virgin myself! If I fail, I get cursed with impotence! Damn, had I known you were so annoying, I wouldn’t have saved you and let you fend for yourself!

And establishing a relationship—what kind of relationship? What aspect of relationship? With rewards and penalties unknown, what’s going on here?

After venting his frustration against the seat, Hao Ren finally resigned himself to his fate.