Ch.154 Just Before I was Revealed Part 1

Haru's POV

It's been about a year since I became a little girl.

It feels like it went by in the blink of an eye.

People can get used to most things and become fine with them.

"...Sleepy..."

Having less stamina means you need to sleep longer.

In other words, I'm sleepy right now.

I've gotten used to this body, but morning time is a different story... That said, I once tried to "just sleep until the sleepiness goes away" and ended up sleeping for a whole day.

"Hup..."

...8 am.

If I were still working at the office, I would have been late.

But it's okay, because now I'm just an unemployed little girl.

I'm not exactly unemployed; I work almost every day as a freelancer. But sadly, according to societal and my parents' values, "not working for a company equals being unemployed and a NEET."

I vaguely remember asking about it back when I was a student and didn't want to go through the hassle of finding a job, but I got absolutely slammed for it... I think?

For me, it feels like something "in line with the times," but perhaps it's still considered "modern" by the older generation.

Well, I suppose most people know what a streamer is these days, but if I were to say, "So, what if I became one and made a living from it?", it would probably be a huge problem.

Well, it's just a generational difference, so I guess it can't be helped.

Honestly, if I become a famous streamer or something, it would be a different story... but that's not going to happen, is it?

Because I'm a guy, and I don't have a particularly good voice or a clear pronunciation, and besides...

"...I had turned into a little girl..."

In other words, a girl.

And if I show my face... I'm sure that no matter what kind of performance I do, people will flock to me just based on my face and height, right...?

"................................................"

A life where you're constantly pampered and told "You're so cute, so cute."

No matter how bad you are at it, "that's what makes it cute"... That's how I feel right now.

...Thinking about it makes me feel kind of itchy.

A feeling I could never have imagined when I was a man.

"U-un... I'll show up if I start having trouble making ends meet..."

I'll try my best to not reach that point.

It's better to pretend to be a little girl who doesn't know anything yet than to go through the incredibly troublesome explanation to my mom and the police that "I was a man but I turned into a little girl."

Alright, after I'm done eating, let's go diving!

Today... let's see.

◇◆◇

【Stand-by】

【Easy】

◇◆◇

...More monsters should be spawning by now, so let's go to that dungeon.

Even if the number is small, I can still get a decent amount of drops at deeper levels.

—And so, the dungeon I would head to on "that day" Was chosen somewhat haphazardly.

Alright, time for some dungeon crawling again today!

I don't really need to live like this every day though, since money isn't a problem anymore.

I've gotten completely used to it and am back to my old pace.

But, I'm pretty bored, and I've ended up living a life where I don't talk to anyone.

Having too much free time can also make me less inclined to read.

Okay, let's get to the luggage.

Need to make sure I have the necessary equipment in case of an emergency.

◇◆◇

I turn the door lock with a click and trudge down the stairs, taking in the morning scent.

「--Reporting. Haru-chan is on camera.」

「9:20...right on time. So diligent, or rather, single-minded...」

「Ah, I finally made an agreement with Haru-chan's landlord. We changed the contract from officially leasing it as employee housing for single employees of a dummy company to buying it outright.」

「Thank you. We had already managed to get most of the residents to move out amicably, but this reduces our concerns somewhat. There will definitely be fewer people seeing Haru-chan now.」

A small body with a large backpack... To an outsider, I just looks like "an ordinary student walking around."

Ah, it's the best to live a life where I don't have to worry about catching the train to start work.

I wish this kind of life could continue forever.

It's only been a year, but I'm starting to feel like I can't go back to being a company employee.

"Hah hah hah hah."

The bus was packed in the morning, so I lightly boosted my speed with magic and jogged towards the dungeon.

It's a relaxed pace, almost like a light jog, incorporating the kind of exercise I don't usually get enough of.

「But still, even someone like me, who is confident in my detection skill, can only vaguely perceive her through a surveillance camera like this, even with my reconnaissance skills at full power... Excuse me, when I refer to her as 'he'...」

「Oh, it's fine if it's with you guys. ...Yes, Haru-chan's concealment skills are probably among the top five in the country.」

「However, no matter how much I used it, there was still a sense of unease. Not immediately, but as time went on. So, there was a possibility that she would eventually be discovered by the other residents of the apartment building.」

「So that's the reason for the lump-sum lease... but you managed to convince the landlord to accept Haru-chan as an employee on paper, right?」

「All delivery drivers in this area are also part of our team. This should make it virtually impossible for ordinary people to notice "him" unless he behaves in an unusual way.」

「Thank you for your hard work.」

「It's nothing, this is more relaxing than our usual investigation missions.」

「That's right. It's much more enjoyable to focus all our efforts on keeping 'him' a secret than to be overly concerned about all sorts of foreign affairs.」

「I understand.」

「I feel like that child's father now, completely.」

"Phew"

It took 10 minutes of running using magic.

The entrance to the dungeon I randomly chose today is already lined with shops that have their shutters open.

...Well, it's not that popular, so there aren't many people walking around.

However, since it's still in the morning, there are apparently people who go up to the first or second floor before going to their office, so this place is not completely absent of people.

「Oh, so you all have also awakened to Haru-chan?」

「Of course that would happen... After all, our boss is constantly trying to convince us of "his" appeal, and we're under a month-long surveillance and protective mindset.」

「...But may I ask one thing?」

「Oh, is there a problem?」

「...Well... our code name being 'Haru-chan Protection Squad' is a little...」

「Isn't that good? Even if it leaks, no one will know what it's about, right? In a sense, it's a perfect code.」

「No...that part is fine, but...」

「More importantly, we're heading out to report now. I'm counting on you for personal security.」

「Okay okay. He'll notice us unless we're within binoculars' range anyway, so we have no choice but to watch the surveillance cameras remotely like this.」

"................................................"

When I turned around, I saw... just a security camera that couldn't possibly be watching me.

Just countless machines scattered throughout the town.

...I still feel like I'm being watched...I wonder why.

If your detection skills are too high, will you react to even the most insignificant things like security cameras?

Let's lower it a bit more when I'm in town.

It makes my skin tingle, so I don't really like it.

—And so, I headed to the dungeon as usual.

Early in the morning...though it's still later than when I go to work.

And then, precisely at 10 am, I start the stream and the dive, returning to something close to my daily routine from before I was in this body.

Previous | ToC | Next

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Author's note:

If you think it's interesting, TS is the best, want to read more, or want to support us, please leave a ♥ or a comment of support at the bottom ↓, and if you haven't already, please rate us ★★★ and follow us from the table of contents.

https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330662854492372

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー