You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 70: It's Not That Much of a Difference

“ーーWake up.”

In a room not yet tidied, scattered with fantastical props, lay a girl with green hair mixed with grey, asleep.

Clutching what appeared to be precise tools in her hand, she was leaning her weight on the workbench. Beyond her closed eyelids, two black masses engraved with red patterns were shining with a gloss. It was clear from the situation that she had fallen asleep in the midst of her work.

“Wake up, Haruna.”

Hiroki shook her back with his hand. Still emitting sleeping breaths, Midorikawa Haruna, the paradoxical embodiment of both genius and foolishness, remained asleep.

The snoring Haruna, perhaps due to being shaken, opened her mouth slightly as her sleep became lighter.

“……Shiori……have mercy……”

…Hmm, did she do something wrong?

“…My boobs…they won’t harm you…”

Boobs? …Well, compared to Shiori… Yeah. …I’m definitely not drooling!

“…No to enlarging machines…no to drugs…I won’t make them…”

What is she asking for? Shiori in her dreams.

“……If so……have Hiroki or someone……give them a massage……I wish for a massage……”

……….Are you trying to turn me into a head-exploding pomegranate?

◆

“The Sword That Spews Filth”

What the boy held in both hands was a medium sword, labeled with a biological hazard warning.

“Prostitution, compensated dating, mischief, and various other misdeeds.”

The name and design of the sword were inspired by the legendary “Excalibur” from the tales of King Arthur.

“All the bad girls in this world.”

It was supposed to be a magical sword, but what lay there was not genuine but a counterfeit made by Haruna.

“The end result of destroying the ideal image of girls held aloft by boys.”

Though devoid of magical power, it harbored a ghastly ability that made everyone’s face contort in disgust.

“To repaint the irredeemably tainted girls with a new filth.”

The sword raised by him was aimed solely at one thing, the girl sleeping on the workbench, her face turning pale.

“The boy proclaimed the true purpose of the sacred sword he held high.”

The warning-like chant was spun by her master, a man exuding an aura of suspicion.

His long hair parted to reveal dark under-eye circles, and his eyes, dulled in color, showed the lack of proper sleep for several days due to event preparations.

Perhaps out of a twisted sense of healing, he had found the sacred sword and suggested this method to Hiroki.

Now, with Haruna’s crafted sacred sword in hand, Hiroki finallyーー

“The name of this sacred sword is…”

“Excuuuuuse me, ‘Return the Caliber’ AAAAAHHH!”

The surströmming liquid extract ejected from the sacred sword was suddenly blocked by a crimson wall that appeared before Haruna, flowing down toward the floor instead.

Having fulfilled its purpose, the wall disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a Haruna with a flushed face.

“What in the world is this!?”

“Stinks.”

“It does stink.”

“Heyyyyy!?”

In the room filled with an awful smell, Haruna yelled at Hiroki and the professor, both pinching their noses.

On her arm was a thick bracelet shining with a crimson gloss, and the professor’s eyes sparkled at the sight of it.

“It gives me a headache, creating such a thing.”

As he spoke, the bracelet began to emit sparks and smoke with a fizzing sound, and Haruna, her face contorting, hurriedly threw the bracelet away.

“Is it really impossible even with your skills?”

“It’s your fault for forcing it! It was still in the prototype stage! You’ve really ruined a miraculous invention!”

Experiments and developments sometimes produce miracles. A billion-to-one chance where calculations and randomness converge to create something unique.

That bracelet was such an invention.

“Why did you keep it on your person? To use it like this…”

“It was my favorite! And it was the professor who made me use it! Ahhh, enough already!”

A wall that could only block a few grams of mass. Bullets, let alone actual combat, were far from its capabilities, known only to Haruna.

But there was still potential for improvement, now turned into charred scrap.

Haruna glanced at Hiroki but soon covered her mouth due to the overwhelming smell, retrieving something from the closet.

“I’m glad I made this…”

It looked like a fire extinguisher but was colored differently, not red but green. Haruna lifted it.

Aiming the white hose at the puddle, a green chemical sprayed from the nozzle.

The surströmming smell that forced them to pinch their noses vanished within seconds.

“That might sell well.”

“I’m not selling it.”

Next, she brought out something resembling a vacuum cleaner. Turning it on, Haruna aimed the suction nozzle at the puddle.

“Genius and stupidity are two sides of the same coin.”

“Did you say something, professor?”

A vacuum cleaner, designed to suck up dust, now completely absorbed the puddle. The professor let slip a thought, and Haruna glared at him with a stern look.

After finishing the cleanup, Haruna put away the vacuum cleaner and the fire extinguisher, scratching her head and turning to the two.

“So, what do you want?”

“Ah, actually…”

The professor’s gaze shifted to Hiroki next to him.

Waiting for something, Hiroki then handed the umbrella he was holding to Haruna.

“I thought I’d have the professor customize it for the event.”

“It was too intricate, so we came to ask the creator herself.”

“No, no, no, why did you go to the professor before me? I’m supposed to be Hiroki’s go-to!”

Haruna’s remark made the professor and Hiroki exchange glances.

“Because… you know?”

“That’s right~”

“Because I know Haruna’s character, I thought she shouldn’t be the first one to visit.”

The weapon in hand reinforced this belief.

“With this Excalibur and all, it’s quite frightening.”

“Frightening? What do you mean!?”

While still holding the sacred sword, Hiroki directs his gaze at Haruna, who retorts defensively.

“I thought you understood my ideas, Hiroki! To think you were such a person!”

Haruna recalls the day they first met, bringing up memories of when she had him renew his weapons, bombarding him with words.

“You chose the hidden umbrella and the Piko Villy Hammer for me, didn’t you?”

“Well, the hidden umbrella is one thing, but the Piko Villy Hammer Model E has saved me. However,”

Holding the Excalibur in both hands, Hiroki looked at Haruna with vacant eyes.

“There’s a problem with this creation and you… So, shall we go for another round? Excuu”

“Take thisssss!”

Hiroki, struck by a cross chop, falls down with Haruna, who had leapt at him, scrambling over the sacred sword above their heads.

The professor, watching this, lets out a sigh and turns away.

“I’ll be going then. You young ones sort it out.”

“I’ll modify Hiroki to my liking!”

“Don’t raise your fist! Thinking you can change a person with violence is a huge mistake, you idiot!!”

As the professor disappears, Hiroki and Haruna continue their fierce struggle.

The sacred sword, now flung to the corner of the room, leads to a grappling fight that settles down after a few minutes.

“Hah, hah, hah… Idiot… There’s an idiot here…”

“Hah, hah… I’m not an idiot… It’s just that the world… hasn’t caught up with me…”

Haruna, speaking to Hiroki in a tone that sounds like sour grapes, then stands up and starts packing away two black guns on the workbench, sneaking a glance at Hiroki.

“So, you wanted the hidden umbrella modified for the event, right?”

Scratching her head, she touches the terminal, displaying past blueprints on the screen, her demeanor shifting into work mode.

“For the hidden umbrella, changing the bullets is possible, but due to its structure, the blade will become unusable. Is that okay?”

The hidden umbrella had three functions: shooting, blade, and shield.

Losing the blade function wasn’t a concern.

“I dislike close combat, so go ahead.”

Because it’s dangerous. Like fighting gorilla-like creatures such as Shiori. I definitely don’t want to stand in front of them.

“Understood. Please hand over the hidden umbrella. I’ll modify it for the event.”

Placing the handed-over umbrella on the workbench, she begins to work.

The umbrella, once dismantled, had new parts inserted swiftly, and the removed parts were set aside on the workbench.

“It’s surprising that you’re participating in the event, Hiroki.”

While continuing her precise work, she questions without looking at him, touching on Hiroki’s actions.

“Considering how you reacted when chased by Shiori and when tasked by the principal, I thought you disliked fighting.”

“I don’t want to fight either. But,”

Hiroki explains his participation in the event in a few words.

“A friend asked me. They want to go to Australia.”

Haruna stops her work, her face expressing, “Huh?” Hiroki’s expression confirms his agreement.

“To win a travel voucher to Australia in the event and go on a trip together. That’s what was asked of me.”

Participating in the event together, if they win the prize choice, they would travel to Australia.

That was Suzuko’s request.

Though he could have refused, considering the possibility of losing, he agreed.

“Why did you accept? With all that’s involved.”

“I couldn’t refuse. Plus…”

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Hiroki recalls Suzuko’s words.

“She said she wanted to be friends with a koala… She should make human friends first…”

“Huh? Koalas, humans.”

“Never mind.”

Keeping the leaked words to himself, he packs away the past. Haruna, perhaps catching his sentiment, dives back into her work.

But soon, she utters a single sentence.

“Shiori will be participating in this event too.”

Haruna’s murmured words give Hiroki a headache, knowing well the terror of her capabilities.

“If you participate, she’ll definitely target you.”

“Huh? Why…”

“Not understanding that is scary too.”

Seeing Hiroki’s wide eyes, Haruna smiles wryly while continuing her work.

She recalls an incident from a simulation training.

“Shiori seeks a rematch. Well, the Shiori I know does.”

“Sorry, I don’t understand.”

“Be careful of Shiori. You’ll regret it if you judge her abilities based on one outcome.”

Hiroki listens to Haruna’s words, but some of the content is hard to grasp.

A rematch? Outcomes? Abilities? Sorry, I don’t get it.

“I can’t see a vision of you beating Shiori.”

Well, obviously. Why would I even imagine winning? I can only picture a blurred scene.

“Only those in the hierarchy could beat Shiori.”

“The hierarchy…”

Recalling the word after a long time reminds him of Shiori’s position.

Ranked tenth in the hierarchy, that’s Shiori’s title and power.

Yeah, there’s no way I can win.

“Hey, are the others in the hierarchy that strong?”

Curious. Who are these people capable of defeating Shiori?

At that question, Haruna recalls what she knows.

“I don’t know in detail. There’s some information control, so it’s based on rumors and public records…”

Haruna said with a solemn expression.

“As far as I know, those outside the hierarchy absolutely cannot win. Shiori’s chances are virtually none as well.”

Imagining the figures of those within the hierarchy conjured up nine shadows cloaked in a dark aura, each possessing abilities surpassing Shiori’s.

Yeah, definitely don’t want to meet them.

“Ah, but it’s not that there’s no chance of winning, just that it’s not absolute.”

“…Huh?”

“Not all of them have abilities suited for combat. Depending on how you use yours, it could be terrifying, but the only certain thing is that you cannot win.”

In essence, while you can’t win, you might achieve a draw. Understanding this, Hiroki felt a bit more at ease.

Hearing “absolutely can’t win” was scary, but the notion of a “draw” softened the dreadful image.

“A draw at best, huh…”

“Ah, but for this event, Shiori is the only one among the ranked participants, so as long as you keep an eye on her, you should be fine.”

Haruna could say this because she knew Hiroki’s record, but no one knew that record differed from his actual ability.

“But that’s the most reassuring part. Frankly speaking, battles between those in the hierarchy are…”

“Huh? You seem to dislike the idea.”

Her expression seemed to hint at knowing something dreadful, murmuring in a slow, heavy voice.

“A word of advice. If you ever witness ranked individuals fighting seriously… absolutely run away.”

…Huh? What’s with this tension? Haruna looks seriously scary when she’s serious. Wait, this is actually scary…

“The adults always say that when ranked individuals clash, it’s a disaster.”

Disaster? Wait, they’re humans, right?

“If multiple ranked individuals were about to participate, the teachers would probably issue a directive before registration is complete, ‘Combat between ranked individuals is forbidden.’ They’d likely assume that as a given before allowing participation.”

Hiroki clenched his fist, resolved.

…Yeah, definitely run away.

He wanted to doubt, thinking perhaps Haruna was overestimating, but seeing her serious expression made him realize she was earnest.

While he was pondering this, Haruna’s work ceased, and she stood up, cracking her knuckles.

“It’s finished. Now you can use it for the event.”

“Ah, thanks… huh?”

Staring at what was placed on the workbench, his eyes widened, words caught in his throat.

Gone was the hidden umbrella he had just minutes before, replaced by…

“Haruna… what is this?”

To Hiroki’s question, Haruna’s eyes sparkled as she declared.

“A new umbrella evolved from the hidden umbrella! Its name, ‘The Folding Umbrella!'”

What lay there was nothing other than a folded, compact umbrella.

Well, for now.

“Can I hit you with this?”