Chapter 109: The exchange Battle: It begins

Leader Ren Asahi, squad name: Fleshlight.

"Please join the Fleshlight Squad."

Aria was taken aback.

"Are you really going to name it like that?"

"The squad of the Fleshlight Collector is merely ’Fleshlight’, is there a problem?"

"But..."

I am aware of the unfavorable rumors circulating behind my back.

Because I am a D-class, it’s described as Aria sponsoring me and playing with me.

But what of it? Regardless of whether I am the leader or not, those who want to twist things will continue to do so.

"Don’t concern yourself with others’ opinions. Let’s just focus on what we do."

This is how the reputation of Ren Asahi, the "Fleshlight Collector" known to all former academy students, is utilized.

No matter how much they belittle, Fleshlight Collector Ren Asahi will carry on, getting along with his girlfriend

like a form of defiance.

"Anyone can tell it’s the Fleshlight Collector Ren Asahi’s squad. Heh heh."

Aria laughs.

At that moment, I see Regina walking in the direction where the participants have gathered.

...No, she’s coming straight toward me.

Aria and Elle are momentarily at a loss.

I’m overwhelmed by the aura radiating from the "Empress."

Her demeanor in business mode is no joke. Truly.

"Do even D-rank individuals participate?"

Regina speaks as if she’s seeing me for the first time.

"I may be D-rank, but I’ve trained diligently."

"I appreciate that kind of effort. What’s your name?"

"I’m Ren Asahi."

Regina rolls her eyes around.

Suddenly, she awkwardly clears her throat a few times.

"...Well then... how about a handshake? It’s been a while since I’ve met such a spirited academy student... as a memento?"

...It’s incredibly awkward.

This hand-fetish patient!

No matter how I think about it, the connection is too unnatural!

She might as well call me to the restroom and ask me to stroke it!

No, that’s not right.

"This is really awkward."

"Come on, a handshake... Don’t hold back, and give it a firm grip."

Regina extended her hand.

I grasped it firmly.

"...Ah, um"

"Please don’t make strange noises, Professor..."

If I hadn’t worn sunglasses, I would have been in quite a predicament.

Regina’s melting expression in front of me might have been captured and followed me around.

You must have missed me.

Eren Hall, whom I met at the gun shop, also mentioned that Regina was coming to see me.

Yet it seems I hadn’t properly prepared my heart for seeing her.

With a determined grip, I said,

"It’s an honor to have your favor, Master Regina."

"Uh, um... yes. Do your best."

*Squish*

*Squish-squish-squish-squish*

After a suspiciously lengthy handshake, Regina left without giving any attention to the other students.

Before the Academy Exchange event hosted by Regina Dean, the indoor training ground where hundreds had gathered, I watched as everyone but about a hundred academy students expressed their intention to abstain and left the premises.

Among those who remained were our Fleshlight Squad and a considerable number of spirited, promising participants.

"Everyone, make sure there’s no equipment missing," Aria said. Half of the participating groups had already dived into Regina’s combined gravitational waves.

Now it was our turn. I fastened the ammunition belt over my academy uniform shirt and slid the loaded Glock 19 and Colt Python into their holsters.

"The dive shock will be more intense than usual," she warned.

Hearing that, I decided to store the Benelli in my inventory. Better to prepare for a situation where the items might be lost.

"Ren, I’ve brought supplies," Elle said quickly. The supplies she brought were black enchanting feathers items that could help us exit the dungeon at any time.

[Black Enchanting Feather]

A crow’s feather that deceives the eyes of external gods, granting temporary concealment. It turns black when used.

Is it white at first?

The utilized feather appears to darken in color.

Seeing the escape items being handed out, it must be perilous.

Elle’s face was completely devoid of color.

"Both of you, listen carefully."

Aria looked back at us and spoke before leaping in.

"In a dungeon of this magnitude, there’s no guarantee that your teammates will be right beside you when you dive."

"Really?"

"Are you telling us this now?"

Elle was on the verge of tears.

"I... I won’t do it without Ren."

I grabbed Elle by the nape as she tried to flee.

Tears streamed down her face as she flailed her arms and legs.

"I don’t want to..."

"That’s exactly why you need to stay focused. As soon as you dive, survey your surroundings and think only of reuniting with your team members."

"Alright. I’ll find Elle first, no matter what."

"I’ll look for Elle first too."

Upon hearing those words, Elle returned.

"Ren... You really have to find me, okay?"

"If fortune favors us, we’ll land right next to each other. Don’t worry."

This was the first time I realized we could be separated the moment we began.

Aria probably didn’t have much experience with dungeons of this size either. Her nervousness was evident.

"Then... dive."

Aria hurled herself into the intricate gravity waves.

Next in line, Elle clutched me tightly.

"Let’s dive together, okay?"

"Elle. Be brave. Your magical power is strong and formidable right now."

"..."

I tenderly stroked her hair.

For some reason, Regina was staring intently at us.

There’s no point in being jealous, Professor.

After all, there are no audacious academy students who pat their professor’s head before a dungeon dive.

"Your magic is helpful for dungeon exploration. Aria did the same, didn’t she?"

"But without the two of us, the power to create footholds won’t be of any help."

"If you stop there, that’s true. But it won’t be the only thing available to you at the highest place you can reach."

"The highest place..."

Elle trembled with anxiety as they began their journey, fearing she might become separated from me.

"I’ll definitely come find you."

"...Yes!"

With her resolve strengthened, Elle entered the gravitational wave.

Next, it was my turn.

*Whoosh.*

The first thing I felt was a wind slightly colder than usual.

"Ugh..."

This was a proper dive shock.

It was difficult to even lift my eyelids, as if I were a patient recovering from surgery.

Initially I felt the cold wind. Then, slowly, I heard the sound of wheels rolling on the ground.

Judging by the vibrations of the wheels... where was I being carried?

’Ugh...’

Was I being taken somewhere?

As I struggled, the surroundings gradually brightened.

I found myself descending a small hill in a forest blanketed by cold spring fog, seated in the luggage compartment of a carriage.

I glimpsed the back of someone pulling the carriage and the profile of a man riding alongside him.

It was cold.

A procession of carriages like ours stretched four vehicles long.

’My hands won’t move.’

Were they bound with rope?

Realizing that something was amiss with the situation, the blond man turned to me and said:

"Hey, you. You’re awake now."

I was taken aback.

"Were you trying to cross the border?"

Was I?

"You, like that thief over there and us, sneaked into the place where the imperial army is hiding."

I feel like I’ve seen this kind of introduction before. When I glanced toward the "thief," I saw an academy girl who had lost consciousness with her legs spread wide. It was Yuna’s friend, Sarika.

"Uhh...?"

Why is Sarika here? No why am I with the freshman squad? When I looked to the side, there was also Isolde, the pink-haired, busty girl who had taken shorts with me before.

"Both of you, come to your senses."

I tapped Sarika’s foot, who was sitting across from me, to wake her up. Fortunately the blond man didn’t react. As soon as Sarika opened her eyes, she quickly closed her open legs and widened her eyes in alarm.

"Calm down. Look at me."

Sarika, who was scanning her surroundings with great wariness, was soothed by my calm voice.

It was only natural to react this way, not knowing what might have occurred while unconscious.

"It’s me. Yuna’s brother."

Gradually she caught her breath and regained her composure.

"Where are we, exactly?"

"I just woke up too."

She hadn’t expected to begin in a tied-up state.

Though her weapon hadn’t been taken, the situation was quite disconcerting, this was a first for her.

Understandably, Sarika also appeared unfamiliar with these circumstances.

"I’m not exactly sure, but it seems we’re being subjected to some sort of ’rule’."

"A rule?"

"They accused you of being a thief."

"What?! I didn’t steal anything!"

"Regardless, it appears that role has been assigned to you."

Isolde opened her eyes.

"Uhhhh..."

Curiously, only Isolde’s mouth had been covered.

"Sol! Wake up!"

"Mmph!"

Isolde was unable to speak. They needed to escape this place quickly.

The introduction bore a striking resemblance to a game I had played long ago...

Being possessed by a game within a game was an astounding turn of events.

If this was a regular event in Lustbound, it truly epitomized a baseless erotic game.

"But who is this blonde?"

Why is there someone else in the dungeon besides the academy students?

"External gods seldom appear directly, and considering they only react to specific situations, they’re probably an NPC," Sarika explained.

I immediately understood the concept of an NPC, but hearing such words from the mouth of a Lustbound heroine gave me a peculiar feeling.