Chapter 177: Emergency

Once my intimate time with Serina concluded and I drifted off to sleep, I transitioned to a different space—the Bonus Area, an anomalous realm modeled after my local shopping center.

Though it was called a transition, the experience was essentially like a dream. The rule here was simple: each participant could select exactly "one item" of their choosing from this shopping center and bring it back to the deserted island.

I expected it to be a completely normal shopping trip, but things quickly took a different turn. To celebrate establishing cooperative ties with the other classmates, the girls had approached me earlier to propose that everyone pick out whatever they personally wanted today.

Naturally, I had agreed. However, they also added that they wanted to keep their selections a secret from one another. Up until now, everyone had prioritized picking things essential for survival, but our daily life on the island had grown substantially comfortable.

While there were plenty of things that would be nice to have, there wasn't a single urgent item we absolutely needed to bring back from the Bonus Area. That was undoubtedly why they felt comfortable making such a suggestion.

"Yeah, that makes sense. Since everyone's picking whatever they like, let's keep it a secret to respect everyone's privacy."

When I nodded in agreement, several of the girls showed clear signs of relief. It would be a lie to say I wasn't curious, but I had no intention of forcing the issue to find out.

With that settled, everyone scattered to do their shopping in their respective areas.

"Sosuke. Mind coming along for my shopping?"

Serina—the very person I had been so deeply entangled with just a short while ago—entwined her arm with mine and invited me along. Although the other girls looked like they wanted to say something, none of them cut into the conversation, likely balancing their desires against the limited time they had to choose their own items.

"Yeah, sure. But is it really okay for me to know what you're getting?"

"Yep. Come on, this way."

The place Serina led me to turned out to be a furniture store.

"Is there something you want here? If it's something I can make with my Crafting Ability, I could just build it for you."

"Hmm? No, that's not it. This is what I'm looking for."

Serina’s destination turned out to be the bedding department.

"...No way."

"We fell asleep totally exhausted back there, but our bodies get completely reset to full stamina over here, right? Besides, we have a whole three hours. Honestly, why haven't you done this with any of the other girls before?"

Put that way, it was certainly an idea I could have come up with myself, but...

She gave me a gentle push. Yielding to her, I fell backward onto the bed.

Serina climbed up onto the mattress without taking off her shoes. Even though this facility was modeled after a shopping mall, the interior—as well as our school uniforms—remained strangely immaculate. Not a single speck of dust ever fell, and no matter how much we walked, the soles of our shoes never got dirty.

Because of that, it didn't technically matter, but I still couldn't help but think it was a bit ill-mannered.

...Wait.

Why on earth am I so remarkably composed right now? A girl I just started dating is straddling me right this second.

While that thought crossed my mind, Serina’s lips came descending upon mine. It was the exact same ravenous, deep kiss we had shared earlier.

However, after a brief moment, Serina seemed to sense an oddity as well, pulling her face back with a puzzled expression.

"Sosuke. Doesn't something feel... off?"

"You feel it too, Serina? It's kind of like... I can't really get turned on."

"No, I am turned on. My emotions are definitely running high, but... you don't feel horny down there?"

"That's it!"

The rod between my thighs was completely unresponsive. The most likely explanation was simply the structural specifications of this dream.

Serina’s shoulders slumped in profound disappointment.

"Aww. I guess things don't work out that easily."

"Is it really something to be that disappointed about?"

"Hmm. I mean, this is a dream, right? But our senses feel completely real. So I figured that if it worked here, we might be able to experience things we can't actually do in reality yet without any of the risks."

"Things we can't do yet?"

As I tilted my head in confusion, Serina softly stroked my groin.

"Like, hugging each other completely naked, and inserting your thing into me without wearing anything at all?"

I couldn't help but gulp down a thick swallow of saliva. Serina was wearing a thoroughly wicked smirk.

"...I-I see. I definitely didn't think of that."

"You really are a fundamentally serious guy, aren't you, Sosuke?"

"Doesn't framing it that way make it sound like you're the loose one, Serina?"

"I am loose. Besides, this is something I had no way of knowing until I actually did it with you, Sosuke... but I think I might really, really love doing that."

Blushing deeply, Serina leaned in to kiss me once more.

People always say that getting into a relationship changes a person. Still, a type whose actual behavior created such a massive contrast from her usual self had to be incredibly rare. Personally, though, I was thrilled by it.

"Mm. I like doing it with So-kun too."

Instantly, Serina’s shoulders gave a violent flinch.

"...C-Chiyu. How long have you been standing there?"

Chiyu was standing right in front of the bed. Despite being more petite than anyone else, she looked absolutely towering right now.

"That doesn't matter. More importantly, Seri-chan. If we actually could do naughty things in this space... were you seriously planning to steal So-kun's first completely bare experience without consulting me first?"

"Well, I mean... N-No, of course I was planning to tell you, Chiyu. Totally."

"Verdict: guilty."

Serina uncharacteristically panicked at Chiyu's pronouncement.

"Wait, wait, hold on! ...I'm sorry, okay? I just got caught up in the excitement and let it get to my head. If I get hit with a punishment right after we start dating, it'll totally ruin our hard-earned happiness, wouldn't it?"

"...Fine. Suspended sentence."

Chiyu pondered for a moment before deciding that enforcing a penalty right away would be going too far.

Then again, the sheer pressure she exerted was enough to make even Serina panic... My childhood friend truly was something else.

If there was someone actively managing this harem, it certainly wasn't me—it was Chiyu.

"Yeah, I get it. Since you're the one giving the green light, Chiyu, it means Sosuke belongs to everyone."

"Mm. As long as you understand."

And another thing, Chiyu added, turning her gaze toward me.

"We should be able to answer So-kun's expectations eventually too."

"Expectations... wait, don't tell me."

"In naughty otherworldly stories, 'Contraceptive Magic' falls within the scope of Holy Magic."

Serina and I widened our eyes in perfect unison.

"Wait, seriously? I mean, Chiyu, when can you actually learn something like that?"

"With my current level of proficiency, it hasn't unlocked yet."

"...Is there a chance you might not be able to learn it at all?"

When I asked, she shook her head firmly.

"No. When I activated my ability, I infused it with the collective concept of every single holy mage I've ever seen in fiction. Therefore, any magic I know of should eventually become learnable."

I guess that's how it worked... or at least, that made a strange kind of sense. The abilities granted on this island were undoubtedly heavily influenced by the raw perception of the holder.

If that was the case, then eventually, would we really...?

"Hey, Chiyu. Once you learn that ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) magic, could you use it on me too...?"

"As of right now, Seri-chan, you are at the absolute bottom of the priority list."

"Wait, I told you I'm really reflecting on what I did...!"

A bizarre sight like Serina desperately clinging to Chiyu was another thing I never would have witnessed if we hadn't come to this deserted island.

Ultimately, they concluded that her priority would be reconsidered based on her future behavior, a condition Serina accepted with a deeply bitter face. Chiyu and Serina then headed off to do their own shopping, and I made my way toward my own destination.

What I bought was a complete set of a manga I loved. Items sold as a bundle were treated as exactly "one item," allowing me to take advantage of the rules this way.

Being able to read a favorite series even on a deserted island was a massive comfort. The only downside was the reality that I would never be able to read any new volumes as long as I remained on this island, but...

Eventually, the three hours elapsed. Our vision was completely enveloped in white, and we were instantly transported to the familiar pure-white space.

The floating blackboard and seats for every single person were waiting. Ordinarily, this was where we would make a binary choice on whatever was being added today. Occasionally, however, special events could trigger.

A critical event has been initiated.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, crisp white text began to dance across the blackboard.

"A critical event...?"

We had received event notifications before, but specifying that it was critical meant... we wouldn't be granted a preparation period? If so, the event could very well commence the exact instant we woke up.

It was an unexpected development, but rather than letting panic take over, I needed to understand the objective first—

The event scheduled for this activation is a "Monster Raid."

What kind of monster will the class face in this sudden raid, and how will Sosuke's party coordinate to defend their base?