Ch.42 Going Outside and Rescue Request

"Haru-chan is so cute!" "is that so" "Next, please try this." "is that so" "...I thought this would look good on you..." "is that so" When

"Haru-chan is so cute!"

"is that so"

"Next, please try this."

"is that so"

"...I thought this would look good on you..."

"is that so"

When Emi-san returned from her summon... she looked like an empty shell.

She didn't really react even when I hugged her tightly or called her "Onee-chan," so when I stepped on her where she was lying down, she jumped and came back to life.

"Haru-san...please don't be too reckless..." She said, suddenly sounding distant.

I could tell that this must have made her very angry.

...I felt guilty that I had ended up pushing the burden of my mistakes onto a child like this - albeit one with big boobs - so I said, "Tomorrow, let's go look for some clothes" and this is what happened.

Naturally, Ruru-san joined in, and of course Kushima-san joined in as well.

Well, I guess I have a better tolerance than the last time I came here...

We actually blocked off an entire area of ​​the mall to choose our clothes.

I thought that if I did something like that I'd get in trouble again, but it seems it's okay since it's for the sake of keeping my secrets.

Above all, it seems they're paying a special fee to all the stores.

I thought it would be a waste so I tried to decline, but when they said "it's a necessary expense"... Is this necessary?

Personally, I don't really mind if people recognize my face.

If I go out alone, I can use my concealment skills to not stand out.

"Yes, yes... we're in the middle filming right now."

"You will be able to enter the store in about 20 minutes..."

Security guards were also blocking off areas in front of stores in plain clothes.

Apparently they have permission from the store, but I feel bad for the people who come to shop.

"Is it really necessary to go to such lengths?"

"No, it should be fine if it was just Haru-san..."

"It's because we're here too!"

"When shopping with two people who are already well-known, there's no other way to do it..."

"Oh, you did say that before."

The voices came from three people stationed in front of the changing room, each carrying their own outfit.

Yeah, that's true...Ruru-san and Emi-san are both in disguise, but anyone who recognises the combination will know...and there's even a little girl there who looks like me.

Or rather, I stand out too much.

Because I'm a little girl.

"Just to be on the safe side... if their personal information were to leak, it would become a serious criminal offense according to the dungeon-related laws as stated in this document..."

"In addition to criminal penalties, the Dungeon Association and the agency they belong to will be personally liable for compensation, so I don't recommend it. Yes, I apologize for the inconvenience."

In the distance, shopkeepers were being harassed by security men in black suits - or rather, being reprimanded.

That's right, these days a lot of people who work in stores wet themselves.

"Haru-chan, Haru-chan, what do you think of that outfit?"

"...My skirt is fluttering and it's hard to move."

"But Haru-chan, you spend most of your time lying down, right?"

"Hmm, now that you mention it, that's true. So I guess it doesn't matter."

A blonde little girl wearing a shirt with detailed lace on top and a long skirt on the bottom.

That's who I am now.

The type of clothing is unclear, but even at a glance, the outfit looks stylish.

It's a really feminine combination.

For guys, this kind of thing is a complete mystery...The few girly clothes I had at home were just childish clothes from a local discount chain store.

I also have something like a necklace around my neck, and on my wrist - I'm wearing a wristband so I only had a bracelet on the other side, I had some stuff stuck in my hair, and I chose platform shoes.

It seems like a pretty nice store...I wonder if this would cost at least 100,000 yen from top to bottom...?

What is that? that's the amount you would pay for men's clothes to be worn all year round for several years...women's clothes are expensive.

No, that's not it.

The problem with women's clothing is that there are too many different types and they can be worn in too many ways.

For men it's just a shirt and pants.

...Well, even among men, the ones who are popular wear flashy things.

They're a race that has nothing to do with me, though.

"Haru-chan, the two-side up look suits you!"

"Oh, this isn't a ponytail... is it?"

"Well, if you tie up just one side of your hair and let the rest flow, it's called a two-side up."

"Being a man, I don't know much about that sort of thing."

Listening absentmindedly to their conversation, it seemed that when it came to fashion, men and women spoke different languages.

That's amazing.

All I know is a ponytail like Kushima-san's.

By the way, I have really long hair like Emi-san, but recently I've been doing the hairdo that are shoulder-length and braided up, I wonder what on earth you call it.

It's not information I particularly need to know, and I'll probably forget it soon anyway, so I won't ask.

"Leave it to us! We'll coordinate it for you!"

"Yes, it's a pain so please."

"...Haru-san, is that okay...?"

"Yes. I don't have any objections."

"Well, if you say so, Haru-san..."

Emi-san was still feeling down after getting scolded the other day and hasn't quite returned to her normal self, but she seems to be cheering up as she dressed me up while shopping.

Was it worth changing into a few different clothes?

"Huh? Where are your wristbands, everyone? Are you not wearing them?"

Suddenly - looking at them, a question comes to my mind.

"Well, today is your day off, right Haru-chan?"

"If you wear an emergency escape device in town, it will be obvious at a glance that you're involved with the dungeon."

"Well, you two are celebrities, so... Not wearing it is be best way to go if you didn't wear clothes that covered your wrists."

Hmm, I see.

Yep, you can definitely tell right away it's a wristband.

And, perhaps because they're a girl, they seem to like to dress fashionably in everyday clothes.

That's why the three of you have been squealing about choosing bracelets and such for a while now... how noisy.

Well, I have to wear it too, but because my wrists are so thin, it only fits a little, so it's not too much of a problem.

"But...Haru-chan, have you finally discovered an interest in girly fashion?"

"Ah, no. ...Well, I thought it would be bad to ask you to buy it for me every time."

The truth is, I felt guilty for pushing the responsibility onto Emi-san, who is younger than me.

However, as an older man, I wouldn't say that.

Even if they know, it's still a man's pride.

Even if I'm no longer a man, I'm still a man at heart.

“However, we only have 30 minutes left to occupy the place… and considering the bill, I think it’s about time we narrowed down our options…”

"All the ones I picked look really good on you... they're perfect for the loli Haru-tan."

Oh, Emi-san is back.

"Eh, but it's a huge amount... Ah, I see, my manager said it's okay to claim it as a company expense."

"Since this is a matter related to you, Haru-san, we will cover half of the costs, so don't be shy. We promised to cover any inconveniences that may be caused to your life."

Food, clothing and shelter.

Of these, "clothing" would be an expense like it is now, "food" would probably be paid by them too since they buy lunch boxes and ingredients for me, and "housing" should be as well.

...Huh?

I ask the security guards to buy me things like books and alcohol, so does that mean my only living expenses are books?

Eh?

What is this? Am I amazing at this age?

Am I on FIRE?

Well, dungeon diving is a hobby for me, so I have no intention of quitting my personal job.

"Haru-san, next, this outfit."

"Oh, okay... This one has a lot of fluttery bit on it."

"Yes, every time the ribbons move, my emotion is!!!"

"I'll put this on."

The only people present in this space were security guards and shop staff who were under a gag order.

That said, Emi-san is an idol after all, so she needs to protect her image.

"...Ue, how do I wear this..."

The more decoration a girl's clothes have, the more difficult they are to wear.

...Even if I were to dress like a girl, at best I'd wear a normal shirt, normal pants or a normal skirt, socks and sneakers.

I'd look like an elementary school girl who isn't particularly interested in dressing up herself.

Oh well, it can't be helped, since I've become a little girl, I'll have to give up resisting on being a dress-up doll.

Above all, this is my atonement to Emi-san, so I'll have to endure it.

Besides, if their desire to dote on me could be calmed down a little...

"!"

The wristband vibrates and rings.

Huh, a rescue request?

Right Now?

Right Here?

◇

"……………………………………"

"Hey hey, this one suits you better after all, Haru-chan."

"But, if you use chic colors, it will instantly give off a ladylike vibe..."

"Um, Haru-san, I was saying earlier that you might also want a normal shirt and pants combination..."

Rescue request.

ーIt can be sent either when someone in a nearby dungeon presses it themselves, or automatically if they lose consciousness or their pulse rate fluctuates wildly.

Perhaps there is no automatic escape from the dungeon yet because their life is probably not in danger, but this is one step before that.

Looking into the LCD panel of the smartwatch-like wristband, it appears that the dungeon is located less than a kilometer away.

Ah, if I'm this close, I get a notification even when I'm not diving.

… Usually, even if we received a request for rescue, it would usually be from inside or at the entrance of a dungeon, where I lived in the countryside.

It's a city, so the population density is incredible.

Besides, this is the city.

Even if I don't go, someone else will――

"……………………………………"

A little while ago.

That girl named Ruru-san - if I hadn't arrived in time, she probably would have died then.

I was there to help her.

That girl who looks like she's having fun squealing on the other side of the curtain.

Answering a rescue request is an obligation, but it doesn't apply when you're off-duty and not wearing the necessary equipment.

For me right now, it's not an obligation.

Today we came in the bodyguard's car, but there were a lot of people on both sides of the road.

With so many people gathered here, there must be other people involved in dungeons besides me.

In fact, I'm sure Kushima-san's fellow medical team members have their headquarters nearby and will rush over by car.

Besides, even inside that dungeon - according to the information on my wristband it was a fairly large one, with 80 floors - there were a ton of people inside, even though it was daytime on a holiday.

So it's okay.

"I don't have to go, someone else will."

"Ahh, I'd love to go out with Haru-chan wearing this outfit."

"If it's a large park and it's a weekday..."

"That's it! Yeah, I'm looking forward to it! A picnic with Haru-chan!"

"……………………………………"

ーNo.

My eyes meet with mine on the other side of the mirror - I have blonde hair in a two-sided updo, a stylish shirt covering my wrists with a bracelet on one side, a skirt with ribbons and a belt, and tight-fitting tights.

ーYeah.

With my personality, I can't ignore it even if it's just a groundless worry.

I listened carefully, but the three of them were just chatting happily, probably because they knew how slow I was at getting changed.

"………………――――――"

Detection skill――ON.

ーIt seems like it would be pretty easy to get outside if I use the emergency stairs.

Concealment skill――ON.

I lowered my presence to the point where no one could find me - so much so that I might even bump into someone - and just to be on the safe side, I camouflaged my hair and eyes with black.

This is it... Okay.

I looked like an Ojou-sama from a good family - a girl with black hair and eyes with a two-sided hairstyle, like a private elementary school girl.

"...I'm sorry, everyone."

I quietly apologize.

However, if I were to tell everyone here it would become a big deal, and they would definitely hesitate, wondering what to do.

Those few minutes are a waste.

In the first place, if I was going to help, it would be quicker if I went alone and secretly.

So I ー I ran away again.

This time, I knew it would worry everyone, so I decided to not say anything.

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