“W-what is this… thing…”

Despite the overwhelmingly powerful presence that appeared before us, what stood there was something humanoid with visible ball joints, small like a wooden carving.

[Elimination in progress]

‘Misora! Dodge!!’

I was suddenly shoved from the side, my center of gravity thrown off and I fell.

A beam fired from the humanoid’s arm streaked through the spot where I had been standing, scorching the surrounding area.

“…No one said anything about this?”

They told us insects had increased and asked us to subjugate them.

They said it was urgent but that nothing this strong would appear.

That was supposed to be the case.

The monster in front of us rattled as it moved, its neck bending in a direction impossible for a human, an eerie appearance just like a marionette.

“Tasteless…”

The girl next to me muttered.

On that point, I completely agreed.

She began summoning her weapon, so I called Hawkin as well, switched to my rapier and took a stance.

[Hostility confirmed. Switching to anti-personnel combat]

As that voice echoed, the puppet’s legs changed from a pair into six, taking on a spider-like form.

It approached us just like that.

Just before those sharp legs struck Karua beside me,

“—Hya!!”

I stabbed in a hurry, my accuracy dropping, but I managed to knock it away.

However, there was absolutely no sense of impact.

“Ahhh! Seriously, you’re so clumsy! Where did the strength you had the last time we fought go!?”

I snapped at her for standing there without moving.

She had her scissors embedded in the ground and wasn’t moving at all.

It felt like she was saying something, but I couldn’t hear anything.

Judging her useless, I turned back toward the puppet and decided to fight while thinking through a strategy.

‘Leave the support to me.’

“Obviously!”

I leapt in boldly.

That high-output beam would risk self-destruction if fired at close range, so it couldn’t be used so easily!!

…or so I thought.

I had felt something was off.

There was a burning smell, but I dismissed it as my imagination.

If I kept pressing like this, I could defeat it.

Maybe it wasn’t good at close combat, since it only rattled as it dodged and didn’t attack at all.

In that case, just keep going—

‘Misora! Get back!!!’

I heard the shout and hastily evaded with a backstep.

In the next instant, the puppet’s hand transformed into a sharp blade.

If I’d been any slower, something would have been cut.

“Thank you, Hawkin. But if we’ve come this far, we can finish it.”

‘No, we can’t.’

“Why not!!”

I questioned my partner, who had suddenly turned weak-hearted.

‘Look at your weapon… the tip is already melted. There must be interference. Regeneration is difficult right now.’

No way.

It had been hitting just fine a moment ago.

When I looked at the enemy, its entire body was glowing blue.

Don’t tell me—

‘Yeah. It probably countered us without us noticing by coating itself in that electromagnetic cannon. Until our fighting power was gone.’

Hawkin muttered bitterly.

My pride, my swordsmanship, was no longer usable.

“Then, magic—”

Right.

I have no talent for magic.

Being able to fire it at all, being told I was good at it, that was all thanks to the sword Hawkin gave me.

Without support, I can’t even fire a magic bullet.

Crack.

My pride was shattered all too easily by the puppet before me.

The puppet approached, its six legs rattling.

Someone like me, who isn’t strong… maybe there’s no place for me in this world anymore…

“No, Misora! Move!!!”

My will to summon faded and I tried to take the blade with my body.

Goodbye, Kaede.

Just as I thought I was going to die—

A shrill metallic sound rang out as metal clashed against metal.

* * *

Hey!!!

I was thinking it through properly, so don’t ambush me!!

I rushed inside and let the blade slide, using the wall as cover, but my body’s still weak, so I’m about to get crushed…

It backed off.

Saved~

Wait.

Why is that girl here?

I didn’t see her at all on the original route!!

And this thing was someone who only appeared at the very edge of the fanbook!!!

It hadn’t appeared, yet its character design was way too distinctive, so I remembered it.

No.53, the mechanical imitation stone Cubic.

Nicknamed Gomi-chan or Kyuu-chan based on its number.

Calling it Gomi-chan was too cruel, so I called it Kyuu-chan!

A lot of people loved its bizarre mechanical appearance and even though it never appeared in the main story, there was tons of fan art and derivative works, so I remembered it well.

Hmm… I kind of don’t feel like killing it…

It looks more on the girl side too…

If possible, I want it as an ally…

Well, thinking won’t get me anywhere, so let’s use Aruka-chan’s power!!

“Manifestation”

I’ll use it right in front of Misora-chan~

Burn it into your eyes~

So then, what Aruka-chan will be taking this time is—

Clatter!!

‘Left leg, please!!!’

My body was engulfed in a vortex and Aruka-chan emerged.

And then, I thought of something funny.

Thinking back on it now makes me want to laugh, but I won’t let it show.

So I took off my shoe, then my sock and held my foot out toward Aruka-chan.

“Here, eat~”

She seemed hesitant, but this time she steeled herself properly, slowly grabbed my foot and—

Before eating it, a slightly damp sensation touched the tops of my left and right foot, followed by a lip-smacking sound and then—

Crunch!

My foot is small, so it was eaten in one bite.

“…Ugh…”

I grit my teeth and endure it, but why is it always adjusted so that my voice leaks out just a bit every time!!!

My center of gravity tilted to the right and with nothing touching the ground, I started to fall—

But before that happened, Aruka supported my shoulder after finishing eating and my posture returned to normal.

“…Thank you. …How was it?”

Always asks for impressions.

‘…It was delicious… sorry… sorry…’

Was it that delicious? That you’re about to cry?

Good, good~

You can eat more, you know!!!

Anyway, the dice-guy went outside again.

Well, whatever.

Misora-chan hasn’t seen any blood, but letting her sleep a bit longer is also a spice. Let’s save that for later.

After that, my leg regenerated naturally, power overflowing through my body.

I quickly put everything back on… alright.

Nice, I can finally swing my scissors properly again.

[Hostility confirmed. Changing target.]

Looks like it’s coming for me.

It looks completely like a wooden puppet, but the way it talks is mechanical…

Still, it’s pretty cute…

I don’t want to kill it…

Unlike some noble somewhere.

I gracefully dodged Kyuu-chan’s charge.

“Too slow. Why don’t you practice your dance more?”

I tried provoking it, but it showed no reaction.

What do I do… I can’t do anything unless it talks…

I slipped into its guard and smashed its abdomen with the hilt, sending it flying.

Nice, that worked pretty well!!

Now then, from here—

As I was thinking, Kyuu-chan started acting strange.

[An error has occurred… a critical error has occurred… occurred… huh… Aruka-sama?]

Eh?

You’re involved here too?

My current appearance is identical to Aruka, so it seems it mistook me for her.

So what’s the real story, Aruka?

‘When I was there, this child took care of me… now it only listens to that guy…’

That guy?

Hey, don’t tell me that’s the final boss or something.

‘…No. It’s not Kuneria… it’s someone even more beyond saving.’

Then that’s basically confirmed, isn’t it… seriously—!?

Smoke was rising from Kyuu-chan as it stood there motionless.

Whoa… what is this state…

I was ready to fight, but it doesn’t seem that necessary anymore.

Then Aruka suddenly said—

‘Hey… I want to save this child…’

A rare request from her.

Oh? …I’ve got a good idea.

‘…What? Tell me, Karua.’

You’re eager… well, leave it to me.

All we have to do is break the contract placed on it and re-contract it with us, right?

So, roleplay of roleplay, start~

I am Aruka-chan now.

So annoying… chomp chomp, such a pain…

I don’t sound very convincing…

I walked up to Kyuu-chan, standing motionless and wrapped its body with my tail fin.

[A-Aruka-sama… I…]

Good, good.

At least its hostility seems gone.

We might be able to overwrite it like this.

“Hey, No.53. Won’t you… come with me? …Contract.”

The moment I said that, my consciousness was pulled into a white space.

I thought we couldn’t enter a mental-world-like place unless both sides agreed…

You decided quickly, Kyuu-chan…