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 55: Smell

“――Whoa!? …Ouch… Huh?”

When he noticed, Hiroyo Takanashi fell to the floor with pain, and an overwhelming beauty spread before his eyes.

Long dark blonde hair, a slender model-like figure, and an appearance unlike typical Japanese people radiated an aura that did not fit within the adventurer category.

The person Hiroyo contacted in a hugging position on the floor was Nagisa Kurebayashi, an S-rank adventurer.

“Ah… No… Don’t come near me!?”

“Baffarou!?”

Nagisa Kurebayashi, who was on top, slapped Hiroyo’s face, and his consciousness faded away.

While being slapped by the admired adventurer made Hiroyo somewhat happy, he felt something strange.

――A weird smell lingered.

The person before him should absolutely have a pleasant smell, but instead, a sharp, nose-stinging odor wafted.

◇ ◇ ◇

The scene traced back to the moment Nagisa Kurebayashi entered the venue.

Stepping confidently into the venue was an S-rank adventurer, one of fewer than ten in Japan. That person was Nagisa Kurebayashi.

As she advanced to the center of the venue, she lightly bowed, perhaps spotting an acquaintance.

However, she kept a certain distance and did not approach closer.

Even afterward, she avoided nearing anyone, only bowing lightly to greet others.

“It’s… the real thing…”

Hiroyo, who aimed to become an adventurer, stared at Nagisa Kurebayashi’s overwhelming presence.

“Hmm. So that’s her,” Hibiki Hayashido muttered, puffing her cheeks.

Of course, Hiroyo did not look at Nagisa Kurebayashi with romantic feelings, but Hibiki felt a bit jealous of his admiring gaze.

“S-rank adventurers are too strong, so they’re basically solo, but she apparently has a wind-type gift.”

“Huh. Wind… Depending on how you use it, that gift seems handy for daily life.”

“Yeah. They say she can even fly.”

“I want that!!”

“Sounds fun, right?”

Hibiki’s eyes sparkled at Hiroyo’s explanation.

Flying in the sky was like a dream.

Anyone would surely admire it.

Later, Midori Hourai called them, and Hiroyo’s group briefly greeted Takao Hourai, the president of Treasure Next. He said, “Take care of Midori,” giving kind words.

However, his clothing was lavish, and he wore many accessories, appearing very much like a nouveau riche.

When the appreciation party began, the president of Treasure Next took the microphone and spoke. Topics included people who excelled this year and future initiatives. An award ceremony also took place.

After that, the event shifted to a social gathering. Everyone took food buffet-style and sat at open tables to eat.

“Delicious! I’ve never eaten roast beef this tasty!”

Hibiki, who groaned with delight, sparkled her eyes at the rare cuisine.

“Hibiki-chan, you’ll gain weight if you eat too much.”

“It’s fine for today!”

“That’s not something someone who eats all the time says.”

“Koharu, you too…!”

“I’m careful, so I’m fine.”

Koharu Kushima pointed out Hibiki’s eating habits as she devoured the food.

Hibiki often ate snacks, but Hiroyo’s Fat Burning skill once helped her lose weight. However, time passed, and her figure gradually returned.

“I think it’s fine to gain more weight,” Hiroyo said.

“You don’t tell a girl it’s okay to get fat!”

“But it’s true.”

“Then use your skill――”

“I won’t use the skill.”

“What~~!”

“Not until it’s really bad.”

To Hiroyo, she was already slim enough.

Especially Kirino Hyoudou.

Hibiki’s nutrition went to her breast, but honestly, Hiroyo always thought she could gain more weight. So, he declared a ban on using the skill, a statement unlike any before.

“Mami-chan, eat a lot too!”

“Aba… Abakubaku…!”

Mami, whom they treated like a little sister, stuffed rare dishes into her mouth like Hibiki.

When rice stuck to her mouth, Hiroyo wiped it off, treating her truly like a sister.

As the pleasant atmosphere continued, an incident occurred.

“Kyaaa~~~!?”

A scream suddenly rose.

“What!?”

Hiroyo’s group reacted and looked toward the scream.

Takao Hourai, the president of Treasure Next, fell from his chair in front of a table, foaming at the mouth.

“Let’s go see!”

“Yeah!”

At Kirino’s words, the five stood and rushed to where Takao Hourai lay.

“Father! Father!?”

Midori Hourai desperately called out, tending to her fallen father.

Takao Hourai’s eyes rolled back, his body twitched, and he foamed at the mouth.

“Mami-chan――”

“Aba, got it…!”

Kirino made a request to Mami as Takao Hourai remained collapsed.

Understanding without words, Mami used her Appraisal gift on Takao Hourai.

“Poison… His condition is poison… At this rate, it’s dangerous. Three hours… No, two hours.”

“Got it! Mami-chan, hide yourself!”

“Aba. I’ll use Camouflage…”

To keep Mami’s identity hidden, she blended into the background with Camouflage, and her figure vanished.

“――Grandpa! It’s poison! Takao Hourai is in a poisoned state!”

“Kirino…! How did you… No, never mind. It’s an emergency.――All of you, don’t leave the hotel!! Call the police and ambulance! Wakatsuki, handle it!”

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

Hearing about the poison from Kirino, Genroku Hyoudou, the president of the Adventurers’ Guild Association, shouted to everyone present and tasked his secretary, Wakatsuki, with the follow-up.

――Twenty minutes later.

An ambulance took Takao Hourai away, and Midori Hourai accompanied him, leaving the venue.

About one hundred other participants remained at the scene.

When the police arrived, Genroku Hyoudou led the questioning, but since everyone was on the same hotel floor, going to the bathroom was allowed.

Police officers stood at the elevator and stairs, preventing easy exits.

Hiroyo went to the bathroom once and then returned to the venue.

At that moment, it happened.

Walking toward him was none other than the admired S-rank adventurer, Nagisa Kurebayashi.

“Huh…!?”

However, Nagisa Kurebayashi did not notice Hiroyo and came straight toward him.

For some reason, she sniffed the air, as if searching for something.

“――Whoa!? …Ouch… Huh?”