An Incompetent Explorer Who Failed to Make His High School Debut but Mastered Being a Human Being

Episode 388: There are strange people ...

"Seyaa!!"

-Zashu!

 Shinonome-san fires a magical arrow that pierces the monster.

"Gishaaaaa!!!"

 The monster screams and writhes.

"Spiral Arrow!!"

 An attack using Shinonome-san's skill pierces it further. An arrow that scoops out the flesh of the pierced part and penetrates.

 The monster dies in no time and disappears leaving behind a magic stone.

"Good work, Shinonome-san."

"Ah, yes, thank you very much ..."

 Over the course of the day, she somehow managed to defeat monsters on her own.

 She doesn't continue to shoot magic arrows until they disappear like she did at the beginning, and if she continues for a while, I don't think there will be any problem with a full-fledged level increase. I don't know about levels, but if she defeats a lot of monsters, she should be able to achieve her goal to some extent.

 When I check the clock on my smartphone when I had reached a break, it is almost time for dinner.

"Well then, it's about time, so let's go home."

"Y, yes. Thank you very much."

 When I make a suggestion, Shinonome-san bows her head.

"No, don't worry about it. It's a good change for me too."

 I think back that I was a little over-enthusiastic about the dungeon rescue, but there is a part of me that I can't help but worry about.

 But, even though it was only for a short time, I was able to forget about it and feel much less burdened, so I'm the one who wants to thank her.

"E, even someone like Satou-kun ... do you have worries ... ?"

 Shinonome-san asks me in surprise as if she sensed something from my expression.

 Shinonome-san, what exactly do you think of me?

 I'm not a robot or a perfect superman, am I?

 In the first place, I tried my best to break away from my middle school atmosphere, but I didn't have any status, I failed at my High School Debut, and I was worried.

"Well, I'm human too. There are times when I worry."

 Of course, I won't say any specifics, but I will answer honestly.

"I, I'm surprised ... You seem to be having fun every day ... I was wondering if you had any worries ..."

 In response to my answer, Shinonome-san mutters as if to say that such a thing would never happen.

"Is that so. I have worries every day."

"I, is that so ... Everyone's the same ..."

 When I shrug my shoulders and answer, Shinonome-san looks down and remains silent.

 As expected, she must be saddled with something.

"Well, my worries may be trivial. More importantly, does Shinonome-san have any worries?"

"N, no, it's not like that ... I collected the magic stones ... shall we go home ..."

 Even when she asked me to go out with her to raise her level, she seemed to be worried about something, so I ask her again, but after Shinonome-san's expression changes, she hurriedly waves her hands in front of her body and denies it.

 We return to the dormitory.

"Ah, we're on break, let's go to my parents' house."

 Since the school will be closed for a while, I would like to see Nanami, so I decide to go back to the Satou Family House.

"Luck, I'm going to my parents' house."

"Won!"

 I give instructions to Luck, who couldn't play with me today, and transfer to the Satou Family's living room.

"Ha?"

 Right after that, I unintentionally leak out a strange voice at the strange-looking people in front of me.

"Geh!? Onii-chan!?"

"Eh!? Fuhito-kun!?"

"No way!? Satou-kun is here!?"

 The panicked voices coming from the four people in black clothes in front of me are familiar.

 Three of them are panicking 'awa awa'.

"Nn."

 A girl who doesn't rush, is at her own pace, and no matter how I think about it, there is only one person I can think of, and she raises her hand and greets me in a straightforward way.

"Nanami, Amane, Rei, and Shia ... is it?"

 Even though I am perplexed, I identify the names of the people who seem to be the same, and ask the four people in front of me who look like Ninjas.

"This is, umm, right, that, it's that!!"

"Ah, no, this is different!?"

"Right, right!! We can't help but look like this, yup!!"

 Nanami and the others start making excuses instead of replying to me.

"Everyone was playing Ninja. Nin nin."

""Ah.""

 However, when Shia puts her hands together to make a seal and confesses without incident, the three of them make an 'Achaa~ ...' face like they messed up.

"Haa ... What are you doing playing Ninja at such an age ... Especially Rei ..."

 I am astonished that even the adult Rei was playing Ninja.

"Th, there's a deep reason for this, deep."

"What is the reason."

"M, maiden's secret!!"

"What are you calling a maiden's secret!!"

 Rei tells me that there is a reason why they are dressed that way, but when I ask her about the specific reason, she gives me a nonsensical answer, which makes me unintentionally tsukkomi.

 Isn't that obviously a deception!!

"Onii-chan, men shouldn't hear a maiden's secret. That's why it's called a maiden's secret, right?"

"Haa ... alright, alright. I'll leave it as that this time. But, next time I see it, I'll ask you to talk properly."

""Ye~s.""

 At Nanami's words I decide to leave it with their words just this time and stop pursuing further. They agree to my promise with relief in their eyes that are peeking through their masks.