You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 46: Searching for a Cleaning Service, Huh?

“Stinky.”

“Really stinky.”

“Higguh-higguh, it’s so gross〜”

In a space pervaded by a strong foul odor, Hiroki and the Doctor, pinching their noses, were in front of Haruna, who had tears in her eyes and was sitting on her buttocks after crying.

Naturally, this was because Hiroki had swung Excalibur from behind.

Unlike the Doctor, who had smoothly evaded by sliding his chair with casters, Haruna, who had taken the fluid emitted by the sword head-on, was talking a stench that girls should never cast.

“Sorry for swinging it. I got caught up in the conversation, but is the room okay?”

“No, I was prepared to sacrifice myself, so don’t worry about it.”

“What about me!?”

As the two worried about the room, Haruna stood up, barking.

“How can you do that to a girl and act like this!?”

“Well, it was the flow of the conversation. Plus, you said it was a punishment.”

“There is no worse punishment for a girl than this!”

“Doctor…”

“Ah, just ignore her. She clearly shows no remorse.”

Even now, the Doctor, sitting in a chair with casters, looked up at Haruna as she stood up.

“Anyway, go take a shower. You really stink.”

“Uuu, I’ll go〜”

The girl, enveloped in a foul smell, left the room with red eyes. Then, the Doctor looked up at Hiroki.

“Glad you came. Thank you.”

“No, I wanted to talk about something.”

“Before that, let’s get out of this room. It stinks, right?”

“Yes.”

Agreeing with the reasonable suggestion, Hiroki followed the Doctor into the hallway.

“Did you bring the stuff I asked for?”

“Yes, it’s the equipment graciously provided by Haruna.”

While walking, Hiroki took two chunks of metal from his backpack and handed them to the Doctor.

“Thank you. Is the rest in the backpack?”

“Yes, the ammunition and holsters are in there too.”

Emphasizing the items carried, Hiroki spoke to the expressionless doctor.

“There are two more pieces of equipment.”

“What happened to those two?”

“One was lost during the last mission…”

“Ah, it’s common to lose weapons during missions. And the other?”

“I’m sorry, I forgot the concealed umbrella in our stand…”

“If it’s a weapon made by Haruna-kun, it can’t be helped.”

Hearing the weapon’s name, the Doctor, guessing its form, said nothing more.

“So, Doctor, I heard you had something to give me.”

“Ah, that’s right. Here.”

With a light voice, the Doctor slowly handed a piece of paper to Hiroki.

With widened eyes and a somewhat panicked tone, Hiroki turned to the Doctor.

“Doctor, this is…”

“Yes, it’s the equipment repayment completion certificate. The principal asked me to hand it to you.”

“But…”

Hiroki looked apologetic. Seeing his side profile, the Doctor spoke knowingly.

“I’ve seen the report, and I know you’re blaming yourself for this mission.”

“Then…”

“But think about the promise you made with the principal. After talking about your debt, he must have said this.”

In his memory, a certain day’s memory resurfaced.

“Regardless of the mission’s success or failure, the full amount for the equipment will be paid after completion.”

The principal had said so.

“The full amount is paid after completion, right? Then, the promise has been fulfilled, so there’s no problem.”

“…Is that so?”

“Any objections?”

“……”

“Is that so? Well, I really can’t say much about it, can I? It’s a problem that only you can solve..”

Saying that the doctor stopped walking and held the ID pass hanging on his chest.

“We’re here.”

With a beep, a white door opened.

“Sorry for the mess.”

“No problem.”

In the unmanned space, numerous pots stood in rows alongside several switched monitors.

The Doctor touched the control panel of an empty pot, making a unique sound, and the pot split in half vertically.

“Like I said over the phone, this equipment is dangerous, so I’ll hold onto it. Especially Haruna-kun’s creations are somewhat frightening, so they must be securely stored.”

“Yes.”

Hiroki handed over the contents of the backpack to the Doctor.

“Except for the concealed umbrella, this is everything.”

“Indeed.”

The Doctor placed the equipment in the space and closed the pot.

“So, about my proposal.”

“The talk about providing replacements for the equipment you handed over.”

“Yes. I can’t just take the equipment for nothing.”

This proposal was put forward during yesterday’s phone conversation.

The idea was to distribute equipment that met safety standards in place of the equipment made by Haruna.

“Could you tell me what equipment you’d want then?”

The Doctor handed a catalog terminal to Hiroki and sat down.

“If it’s something I can prepare immediately, I’ll give it to you immediately.”

“…Doctor.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“I think I’m okay without it.”

“…Hmm, why is that?”

In response to the Doctor’s inquiry, Hiroki’s thoughts drifted back to his first visit to the research facility, sharing his reflections.

“Truth be told, I’ve never really needed any equipment. I went along with it before, simply going with the flow, but that’s no longer the case.”

“…Are you certain? I was looking forward to giving you something I crafted.”

“I’m sorry.”

Hiroki, firmly declining, prompted the Doctor, whose expression was hidden, to lower his voice.

“Is that so? It’s a bit disappointing.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. It was just meant as a form of atonement.”

Leaving those words behind, the Doctor stood up and took a small attaché case from a shelf in the corner of the room.

“But, I can’t be satisfied with not giving anything. Would you accept this?”

Hiroki received the offered box, feeling its slight weight. Making an indescribable expression, he placed the case on a table, unfastened the clasps, and opened it.

“…Doctor…this is?”

“I thought it was better than giving nothing. You don’t have to use it. Just take it home.”

The Doctor closed the case. Before Hiroki could say anything, the Doctor pushed the case firmly into Hiroki’s chest, signaling him not to return it.

“But”

“Alright, alright, off you go. I’m saying this now, but our research facility, no, all the combat studies facilities are busy preparing for an event. I have to go there now.”

With a sudden change from his leisurely movements, the Doctor pushed Hiroki’s back as he spoke a long line.

As they reached the hallway, the pushing force didn’t stop.

“I mean, with the mass production of camouflage drones and non-lethal weapons, developing a device for measuring physical trauma, the principal is a demon, really〜.”

“Wait, Doctor!”

“Alright, alright, the exit is that way〜.”

“No, this equipment…”

“My masterpiece! If you’re going to participate in the event, I’d really like you to use it〜”

“Event? Wait a moment—”

“It’s less lethal, so it shouldn’t be a problem to bring it to the event. Ah, but while I guarantee its performance, it’s not suited for long-term use, so only use it when necessary.”

“But listen to me—”

“This is a piece that I haven’t given to anyone yet, and we don’t have a production environment set up, so there are no spares. You might be the first real user of it!”

“Whoa!?”

As he was told, by the time he reached the exit, a last, painfully strong push was given to his back.

His feet tangled, but he managed not to fall, being thrown outside.

“Then, Hiroki-kun, see you〜.”

With those words, the Doctor’s figure disappeared as the door closed, leaving Hiroki’s field of view.

“Having seen the report, I’ve taken a bit of a liking to you.”