My Gift Is “Beauty”. I Think It’s Useless, but It Seems to Be an S-Rank Gift With the Strongest Buff Effect for Beautiful Girls - Chapter 42: Repayment and Salvation (4)

Chapter 42: Repayment and Salvation (4)

“Status: Golden Time”

That was the display Fuyutsuki saw in her eyes.

“Stop laughing, damn it!”

“Ryui-san, that knife—”

The long-haired man called Ryui slashed at Fuyutsuki’s laughing face with a knife.

However, a sharp clang resounded, and the knife bounced back as if his arm was blown away.

“What!?”

“Hehehe… Hahaha!”

Fuyutsuki laughed. How could she not laugh?

Hiroyo had bestowed a blessing upon Fuyutsuki. This was its effect.

Now, no one could harm her.

That event proved it.

“Golden Time”

This was the effect of the skill Hiroyo applied—a protective barrier of powerful magic that covered the skin during the period of cellular turnover, from the moment the change occurred until it fully took root.

When the skin quality changed, that area transformed with new cells. However, because of this, it became highly sensitive to external stimuli.

Thus, during that time, a buff effect automatically applied to protect the skin.

Moreover, the skin had a period called Golden Time, from ten at night to two in the morning, when growth hormones secreted, and turnover accelerated.

Sleeping during this time was considered ideal, but Hiroyo’s skill drew out that effect to its maximum, even beyond its limits, creating this “Golden Time.”

This buff effect lasted about one week.

The duration varied by person until new cells settled in the skin, but it was roughly one week.

Fuyutsuki saw that duration in her eyes.

“—Girls love ‘Beauty.’ For us girls, this is probably the strongest S-rank Gift buff effect.”

Those were the words Fuyutsuki sent to Hiroyo when he first visited the Adventurers’ Guild Association and underwent appraisal.

Those words had, to some extent, saved Hiroyo’s feelings.

“It’s truly an S-rank-level buff effect… Hehe… Who would’ve thought the words I spoke would become reality in a different way…”

Fuyutsuki felt moved that the words she spoke had come full circle and returned to her.

No one knew where or how connections formed. Even a brief exchange of words held undeniable strength.

However, problems remained.

She still couldn’t escape her restraints, and suffocation would end her.

Being unharmable didn’t prevent countless possible tortures.

But she gained courage.

Even with terrifying gazes pouring down on her, Fuyutsuki never abandoned hope until the end.

◇ ◇ ◇

The afternoon after Fuyutsuki’s abduction, past two o’clock.

In a café, Kirino and Asumi’s suspicious actions were exposed, and now both sat at the same table with Hiroyo and the others.

“I’m not just some idiot, you know? I sensed all sorts of weird things.”

“Huh, what do you mean?”

Hibiki was sharp. But Hiroyo hadn’t noticed anything.

Asumi was just a cute little sister figure to him, and he didn’t even know a fraction of her strength.

“Hiroyo, just listen quietly. You’ll understand soon.”

“Oof…”

Hibiki was a little angry.

Even if they were protected unknowingly, it didn’t change that they had placed themselves in danger.

“Ababababa…”

Sweat poured like a waterfall from intense tension, and Asumi’s body vibrated like an electric massager.

“W-Well… This needs a little explanation step by step…”

Kirino was the same. She couldn’t meet Hibiki’s eyes.

Her lips trembled.

“I’m not angry, so explain slowly. But tell us everything. If necessary, I’ll call Umirin and have her use ‘Oath.'”

“N-No, that’s okay… Asumi-chan, please.”

“Ababa… ‘Soundproof'”

At that moment, the chatter of other customers abruptly stopped, and silence fell.

Hiroyo looked around, confused. But the customers continued talking as if nothing happened.

“That was Asumi-chan’s Gift. Now, our voices won’t reach the other customers.”

Unless someone had Mizuki’s “Magic Vision,” they couldn’t see the soundproof barrier surrounding the five like a box. Only Asumi, who used it, saw a faint, translucent membrane.

“Asumi-chan, is it okay? I think you know it’s safe with these people.”

“A-Aba… It’s… okay…”

With Asumi’s consent, Kirino began explaining a part of Asumi’s abilities, as Asumi wasn’t good at speaking.

Hibiki and the others’ expressions gradually changed.

Koharu knew something was up but hadn’t been told details. So this explanation surprised her.

“—So, with the ‘Inheritance’ Gift, she has various Gifts… Asumi-chan… That’s amazing.”

Hiroyo patted Asumi’s head, who looked like she might die from tension. Her expression softened slightly.

“I get it. Sorry for scaring you. And thank you… Back then, Asumi—and Kirino and Koharu—protected us, right?”

“Thanks from me too. You guys always save us.”

During the Dungeon Tour, Hiroyo and Hibiki lost consciousness, but Asumi saved them when they fell underground, a fact they finally learned.

And they now discovered that Kirino and Koharu had held out until just before Asumi arrived.

“Yes. When something happens to you all, we want to help those involved, so we thought to search for Fuyutsuki-san this time—”

“You planned to rely on Asumi-chan’s skills, right?”

“Yes…”

Hibiki roughly understood.

Then Hibiki hugged Kirino and Asumi.

“Good girls!”

“Nn…”

“Abah…”

Wrapped in that embrace, both showed relieved expressions.

Now, the main issue began.

It was about finding Fuyutsuki.

“From Asumi-chan’s words, if we go to Fuyutsuki-san’s house, we might pinpoint her location.”

“Alright, let’s go. Right now—”

Hearing Kirino’s words, Hibiki stood to act immediately.

They decided to head to Fuyutsuki’s apartment, which Hiroyo knew.

But obstacles arose.

Fuyutsuki’s apartment had an auto-lock, preventing entry.

They didn’t have a key.

They decided to press the intercom to check if she was absent.

“…No response. Asumi, can you help?”

The intercom got no answer.

As the four gathered near Asumi at Hiroyo’s call—

“—’Teleport'”

The five vanished, reappearing in front of Fuyutsuki’s home the next moment.

“Whoa… Amazing… Weird feeling.”

“So this is how you got us out from the dungeon’s lowest floor.”

Everyone marveled at Asumi’s Gift effect.

They pressed the intercom at Fuyutsuki’s room, but again, no response.

Something felt off this time.

Though intrusive, they decided to enter Fuyutsuki’s room.

“—’Unlock'”

Asumi activated her Gift skill, and the door clicked open.

Hibiki entered first—

“She’s not here?”

They took off their shoes and entered.

The room remained as neatly organized as when Hiroyo last visited.

It didn’t look like anyone had broken in.

“Asumi-chan, how’s it going?”

“Nn… If there’s something that person treasures…”

They didn’t know exactly what Asumi needed, but they started searching for something Fuyutsuki valued.

“Hiroyo, didn’t Fuyutsuki-san have anything she seemed to treasure?”

“Hmm. From what I saw, she didn’t seem attached to objects…”

But nothing came to mind.

Even at her room, Asumi’s Gift didn’t yield results.

However—

“Aba!”

“What’s wrong, Asumi-chan?”

“Her commute route… If we trace it… I might find something…”

Trusting Asumi’s sudden idea, they moved again.

They walked, checking Fuyutsuki’s commute route from her home to the Adventurers’ Guild Association.

It happened quickly.

Just five minutes from the apartment.

“H-Here…”

Asumi stopped and pointed, sensing something.

The spot was an unremarkable alley, a quiet, one-way path with little foot traffic.

“Wait a sec…”

Asumi closed her eyes, focusing.

“—’Recall'”

She murmured and stood still for about ten minutes.

When she opened her eyes, having finished using her Gift—

“I-I found her… But it’s dangerous… She’s been abducted… Since last night… So, Takanashi-senpai, you shouldn’t go…”

“Abducted!? Why Fuyutsuki-san…!?”

Hiroyo’s anger flared at Asumi’s words.

“Have you contacted the police?”

“Koharu-chan, the police won’t act on unreliable information. Plus, it’s a holiday, and the Adventurers’ Guild is only open in the morning.”

In the end, only they could act.

It might be best for just Asumi and Kirino to go, but…

“I want to save Fuyutsuki-san with my own hands.”

“Me too. It’s weird to say, but… Asumi-chan, you’ll protect us, right?”

“O-Of course… I won’t let anyone hurt you…”

“Alright, here’s the plan. Koharu-chan and I will protect Hiroyo-kun and Hibiki-chan. We don’t know the enemy yet, but if it comes to fighting, we’ll leave it to Asumi-chan.”

Hiroyo and Hibiki exchanged glances.

Neither had combat-type Gifts, making them mere chicks. But if the girls would protect them, they’d follow their lead.

“Okay, everyone ready? Hiroyo-kun and Hibiki-chan, don’t ever leave our side.”

“Yeah.”

“Got it.”

Kirino made a final check and looked at Asumi.

The four gathered close to Asumi, and she activated her Gift—

“—’Teleport'”

In that instant, the five vanished from the alley.