Within the grounds of Hikarinomiya Fantasy Land, Hotel Forest Castle.

A forest where animal mascot characters live—it is a hotel with a straightforward name, designed with the image of a castle located within that forest.

A fountain is placed in the spacious lobby, there is plenty of greenery, and you can experience a quiet and clear atmosphere different from the hustle and bustle of the amusement park.

However, right now, dark red water is coming out of that fountain, and it smells like something rotten when you get close.

The hostages brought by Ooki and the others passed through here, climbed the stairs, and were taken to the third floor.

"Arriiiived. This banquet hall is everyone's home starting today."

Shiromachi said.

By the way, Ooki and Nakami have already moved to a different room, taking Rea with them.

Mitsurugi asks Shiromachi in a dissatisfied tone.

"How is this a banquet hall? It's practically a farm."

Exactly as she said, more than half of the banquet hall was covered with soil, and even from a quick glance, potatoes and edamame were being grown.

Currently, emaciated-looking men and women are harvesting crops.

Since the harvest yield seems sufficient, it's clear they aren't doing it just for show or out of a whim.

"We have Otsuki chan doing her best to grow them, securing our food supply."

Otsuki is the girl with glasses reading a book elegantly in the corner of the room.

She was in the same class as Mitsurugi and Shiromachi, and of course, Erika as well.

Even when called by Shiromachi, her reaction is slow, only offering a slight nod.

"Man, skills are amazing, aren't they. You can even make soil with magic, and the 'Agriculture' skill, was it? If you level that up, crops can grow that splendidly in just one day. If we get out, we'll definitely be rich. Right, Otsuki chan?"

"So you put her in your party and using her conveniently."

"We're giving her preferential treatment in return, so it's fine. We're incredibly kind, you see."

"A murderer sure says a lot."

"Hah?"

Shiromachi's expression suddenly changed, and he grabbed Mitsurugi's face, glaring at her.

"Mitsurugi chan, let's know our place, shall we."

A cold sweat breaks out on Mitsurugi's temple at the look in his eyes, which conveys a clear intent to kill.

In fact, Shiromachi has already killed Marin right in front of her eyes.

Without hesitation, without mercy, an existence that can kill anyone he doesn't like—that is him.

"If anything, you're on 'our side', so I was thinking of letting you join us if you just stayed quiet."

"Kh... judging from Suguro kun's tone, you're killing people indiscriminately, aren't you?"

"I just helped her out because she was about to become a Hole-Man. Right, Suguro chan."

"No comment."

"Hey, hey, isn't that a bit harsh? Sure, I might have killed one or two in the heat of the moment. But the fact that I haven't laid a hand on Mitsurugi chan like this shows I've grown, right?"

Shiromachi laughed frivolously, but his eyes weren't smiling.

Ushizawa, who had been turning her face away so as not to be noticed by such a guy, perhaps stood out even more because of it—

"Oh? You have a nice face."

Conversely, she becomes a target.

"Tell me your name."

"..."

"Don't stay silent. I'll have you know, I don't consider you an equal human being, okay? When I say 'nice face', I mean you look like you'd be cute if I made you cry. Understand?"

Ushizawa, absolutely avoiding eye contact, trembled slightly with a rattle.

That figure, like a small animal targeted by a carnivore, stimulated Shiromachi's sadistic desires even more.

Making an example of her in front of a large crowd wouldn't be bad—just as that thought crossed his mind, Inuzuka interrupted.

"Hold on, Shiromachi."

"What is it, I was just getting to the good part!?"

"You're in heat way too much, it's gross. Could you hold back a little?"

Arms crossed, Inuzuka stood in front of Shiromachi with a domineering attitude.

Knowing her true identity, Ushizawa breathed a sigh of relief.

"Inuzuka chan, why are you stopping me? Could it be you developed feelings for her while spending time together?"

"Why do I have to be suspected for calling a gross guy gross. I'm already nauseous from being shown the creepy faces of those women Ooki and Nakami, so why do I have to see your gross face full of lust and hear your gross voice? Ugh, gross, gross."

"You've said 'gross' so much my brain's broken. But—leaving me aside, Ooki chan and Nakami chan are definitely gross. Crap, just remembering it killed my mood."

"Then back off just like that."

When Suguro said those words, Shiromachi stepped away from Ushizawa with an "Okaaay."

"Ushizawa san, are you alright?"

"Yeah... Ai is fine."

Mitsurugi snuggles up to the pale-faced Ushizawa.

Shiromachi watches the two of them with a faint smile.

Perhaps noticing his demeanor, Suguro spoke loudly.

"Otsuki! Teach the ones we brought how things work around here, we're heading back."

"Haa... understood."

Otsuki closed her book with a snap and stood up sluggishly.

Then Suguro called out "Let's go" to Shiromachi and tried to leave the room.

Just the two of them.

"Wait a minute, why are you trying to leave me behind!"

Grabbing Suguro's clothes, Inuzuka barks.

He declared coldly.

"Because you have not been chosen."

"Hah? Chosen?"

"You don't have the 'power', do you."

"What are you talking about."

"The power to fight."

"That thing Puke-kane and the others had? Of course I don't have it. You don't get it unless you defeat those monsters by yourself, right? If those useless cronies of mine had tried a little harder, I might have been able to do that too. But they're only useful enough to be my meat shields."

"Defeat by yourself? What are you talking about."

Suguro asks back in wonder.

Shiromachi had a similar expression.

Even Inuzuka tilted her head—perfectly, question marks floated above everyone's heads.

"I'm saying they're incompetent."

"No, before that."

"Ah, the story about how to get abilities? I just repeated what Gross-gane and the others were talking about."

"Inuzuka chan, we didn't really do anything like that, you know. It's more like, just by being here we got stronger on our own. How should I put it, a talent awakened? Like an awakening?"

"Oh, is that so."

Inuzuka's reaction showed little interest.

But in reality, Gii inside was puzzled.

Erika and Marin had definitely said they obtained their power that way.

Is the route to obtaining power different?

Or is it something else entirely?

"I see... so there are powers that awaken through other methods."

Suguro seemed to have judged it to be the former.

Gii also considers that possibility to be high in the current situation.

However, if it were Inuzuka, she wouldn't show interest in such trivial details.

"I don't care about that, just hurry up and guide me to a private room. Also, give me back my smartphone, will you? I was super annoyed the moment it was confiscated."

The group's smartphones were confiscated by Ooki before entering the second floor.

Even then, Inuzuka voiced considerable dissatisfaction, but—

"I threw those away."

Hearing Suguro's answer, there's no way she could stay quiet.

"Hah!? Do you realize what you've done!? Throwing away my smartphone without permission is something you can't atone for even if you die!"

"It would be troublesome if you contacted anyone."

"Kuragane is dead, and in the first place, why would I ever contact those guys! Just having that girl's name in my contacts is filthy enough!"

Inuzuka yells with a voice that rings in the ears.

Even Suguro frowned when bathed in it from close range.

"Hey, hey, Suguro chan, I think Inuzuka chan is fine, right?"

"I think so too, but—however."

"Don't tell me you guys are suspecting me? That I might have betrayed you for that Kuragane."

"I mean, Mitsurugi chan actually did that. I didn't want to see Mitsurugi chan getting along with such a gloomy woman."

"Hah, I'm not a weak-willed small fry like Mitsurugi. Please don't lump me in with someone like her."

Gii's demeanor is, no matter how you look at it, Inuzuka Supika herself.

She is of the same ilk as Suguro and Shiromachi.

Although she wasn't involved in Ikuna Yumemi's abduction, she is a bona fide comrade who participated in the assault on Erika.

"Come on, hurry up and show me to a room. And prepare a replacement smartphone too."

"Got it, got it. Preparing a smartphone will take a little time, so I'll show you to an empty room first. That's fine, right, Suguro chan."

"Yeah... for now."

Suguro still doesn't seem convinced, but for now, he seems to have recognized Inuzuka as an insider.

Leaving the room, he walks ahead and guides her to an empty room.

"Well then, I'll go get the key. Suguro chan, you take her ahead."

Saying that, Shiromachi tries to distance himself from Inuzuka.

But at that moment, Nakami happened to come from the front.

"...Ugh, the gross woman is here."

Inuzuka curses.

Despite being clearly insulted, Nakami didn't change her expression one bit.

It seemed they would just pass each other by, but Suguro stopped her.

"Nakami, perfect timing."

"What is it."

"I wanted to consult you about Inuzuka. You said you heard the voice of a woman named 'Gii' when we were ambushing."

"That is correct. That voice introduced itself as Gii. Furthermore, it closely resembled the voice of Inuzuka Supika."

Nakami's expressionless eyes stared at Inuzuka.

Indeed, when they were waiting for Marin and the others to arrive in front of the stairs, Gii also participated in the conversation.

It seems they couldn't see her figure, and they didn't hear it clearly, but—

(Guu. Slipping in pretending to be Inuzuka Supika was an ad-lib strategy I came up with back then. There are bound to be holes. I have to somehow get through this.)

The reason Suguro and Shiromachi are strangely suspicious of Inuzuka is probably because of the voice this Nakami heard.

If I can successfully deceive them, I should be able to obtain as much internal information as I want just by copying Inuzuka Supika's actions.

First, acting like Inuzuka, I aggressively argue back.

"What is that? Didn't you say Gii is the one who took Puke-kane away? I am right here. Besides, I wanted that girl to die, so I have not a single shred, not even a tiny bit, of a reason to help her!"

"Then what about the voice Nakami heard?"

"How should I know. There were a lot of people there. If face-peeler woman heard it, someone might have said something like that."

"Inuzuka chan, aren't you hiding something?"

"That's why I'm telling you I'm not hiding anything! For me, of all people, to protect that Kuragane, just having suspicion directed at me is unpleasant! Cut the crap making a fool out of me!"

Inuzuka became enraged, contorting her face hideously.

Having the anger directed at him, Shiromachi backed away muttering, "Scary."

"I will ask just to be sure."

"There's still something else?"

"Show me proof that proves Inuzuka is Inuzuka."

"Haaa... I'll repeat it, I am right here. Do you think anyone other than Inuzuka Supika can play Inuzuka Supika? Do you think I'm such a simple and shallow woman!?"

"That's why I'm telling you to show proof."

In short, he's probably saying, tell us personal information that only Inuzuka knows.

No problem at all.

The real Inuzuka Supika is inside Gii; she can pull out memories as much as she wants.

"Shiromachi."

"Yeah?"

"You tried to push me down once, didn't you."

"Ah... yeah, that did happen."

"You pushed me down incredibly forcefully, and on top of that, you tried to undress me while saying horribly mistaken things like, 'Actually, you like me, don't you? I know'."

"Wait. Wait, Inuzuka chan, no more than that."

"It was so gross, so I kicked you in the crotch, and it must have hurt a lot, because you let out a girly scream while—"

"Waaaaaaaaah! That's enough! I get it! Suguro chan, this is Inuzuka chan. No mistake. 100% Inuzuka chan! Yes, decided!"

Shiromachi tried to drown out Inuzuka's story with a loud voice.

Even Suguro had an exasperated look on his face at him.

"So you laid a hand on Inuzuka too. You really have no restraint."

"Because if it's just her face and body, she's a good woman, you know~"

"Shall I crush it again for you?"

"I'm seriously sorry."

Shiromachi prostrated himself on the spot.

Being able to have such an exchange, there's no longer any room for doubt.

Even so, perhaps Suguro still hadn't reached "complete conviction," as he asked Nakami.

"What do you think, Nakami. Does it look like Inuzuka is lying?"

"Hah? Do you think a small woman like this could see through that?"

"Apparently, she received special training from Kaisei kyou since childhood."

"I excel at imitating others. That simultaneously means I excel at seeing through the imitations of others."

"So, how was it. Was I a fake of me? Was someone impersonating me?"

Nakami stared intently into Inuzuka's eyes.

And after a few seconds of silence, she answered.

"...No, it is completely Inuzuka Supika. If you claim to be someone's disguise, I have no choice but to admit my own defeat."

It was a declaration of complete defeat.

(Gishishishi, naturally. There's no way I, who can change my entire body, would lose to you!)

Gii triumphed in her heart.

With this, the suspicion is cleared; everyone has recognized her as Inuzuka.

"That's why I told you. Now, you understand with this, right. Show me to my private room, a suite would be nice."

"Unfortunately, the suites are full."

"Don't tell me, Shiromachi, you're using one too."

"Please overlook that, Inuzuka chaaan, we are fighting after all. We'll prepare a reasonably nice room for you."

"Bring the smartphone right away too."

"Got it, we'll splurge on the smartphone too. That's fine, right, Suguro chan."

"Yeah, however, I will check the contents every day."

"You still think I'll contact the outside?"

"Even if not, there is a possibility someone else might use you."

"...Tch, I don't like it, but it can't be helped. Look as you please."

Even Inuzuka has enough reason to concede on that point.

Thus, Gii safely overcame the first crisis.

◇◇◇

After that, they immediately parted ways with Nakami.

Being guided by Suguro again, Inuzuka heads to her room.

On the way, they joined up with Shiromachi, who brought the key from the front desk.

All that's left is to arrive at the room—just as she thought that, it happened when Inuzuka stepped on a certain part of the floor.

"Ah, Inuzuka chan, be careful there."

Shiromachi warns her after she stepped on it.

Naturally, it was already too late.

The floor opened with a pop, and a pitfall appeared.

Inuzuka is about to fall.

But Suguro silently pulled her arm, saving her by a hair's breadth.

If he hadn't moved, Inuzuka's body would have been pierced by the spears set at the bottom.

"Kyaaah!? Wh-what is this!"

"A trap to stop intruders in their tracks."

"A... are you guys even making things like this?"

"Honestly, I think it's unnecessary. I mean, there's no way anyone can reach here."

"Half of it is Myourenji's hobby. I had him learn skills for construction and repairing electrical equipment, but he seems to have too much free time lately."

"Even Myourenji is here?"

Myourenji Subaru—he is also a boy in the same class as Erika.

His hobby is electronics, and he belongs to a lower-caste group in the class.

However, perhaps because he's good at studying, he's often relied upon by other students after school, and his points of contact with Suguro and Shiromachi weren't zero.

"I hate that gloomy guy."

"Hmph, he probably thinks he doesn't get along with you either, Inuzuka."

"Myourenji chan basically stays holed up in his room, so unless you approach him, Inuzuka chan, I don't think you'll run into him, you know?"

"That's good to hear."

Inuzuka has borrowed notes from Myourenji before, but even then, she never showed any gratitude.

Rather, she treats him coldly.

That is the kind of human Inuzuka is.

While having such a conversation, they finally arrived in front of the room.

"Here you go, this is Inuzuka chan's room."

"Thanks for the guide."

"A princess as always, huh."

"I'm glad you complimented me."

Brushing off the sarcasm smoothly, Inuzuka placed her hand on the doorknob.

There, she turned around and declared to the two of them as if it were a "matter of course."

"Come to think of it—of course I'll receive a power like you guys too, right?"

Even Otsuki and Myourenji were given power.

There's "no way it should be acceptable" for only me to be left out.

It was a statement laden with such pressure.

Shiromachi's face twitched, as if he really couldn't handle Inuzuka.

On the other hand, Suguro replied without changing his expression.

"I think it is unnecessary right now."

"Why."

"Kuragane chan died too, and we're not really short on manpower. Besides, Inuzuka chan, you hate fighting monsters like the ones outside, right?"

"Isn't it obvious. I don't need the power to fight; I want a power that's convenient, looks fun, and could earn me money if I get out alive."

At Inuzuka's overly selfish words, not only Shiromachi, but even Suguro laughs.

"What are you laughing at, are you making a fool of me?"

Inuzuka, who intended to be completely serious, glared at the two of them.

"Well, it's not about that..."

"We have no intention of going outside."

"Haa? What are you say—"

To Inuzuka, who was starting to get angry again, Suguro answered indifferently.

"Giraiguu has descended. The world will eventually perish."

"We just want to live happily until that time. Right, Suguro chan."

At those words from the two, Inuzuka, and even Gii, felt a sense of disgust.

Because it was a strangely philosophical, or rather, enlightened way of speaking.

Of course, even just extracting the content of the words, there's no way Inuzuka would believe such ridiculous nonsense.

Looking down at the two with eyes full of genuine contempt, she verbally abused them.

"Are you guys stupid. Did you become believers of that Kaisei kyou thing? Do you plan to become dogs for that incredibly creepy Ooki?"

"I have no such intention. I am simply enjoying this environment where I can kill monsters to my heart's content."

"That's how it is. There's nothing more satisfying than violence that no one will blame you for, right!? So Inuzuka chan, you should give up on going outside too~."

Waving his hand flutteringly, Shiromachi left the front of the room.

Suguro also turned his back to Inuzuka and walked down the hallway.

Feeling her gaze on their backs, Shiromachi said,

"Surprisingly, she didn't snap back."

"Her mind probably hasn't caught up."

"Does that mean she'll throw a hysterical fit later, I wonder."

"Perhaps. When that happens, just put her in your party."

"Nooo waaay. I got kicked in the crotch, remember? Someone who can brush that off is more suited for Suguro chan."

"I'm merely enduring it as well."

Turning the corner, Shiromachi and Suguro's figures disappeared from sight.

(...They're gone.)

Inuzuka—no, Gii opened the door to the room and quietly went inside.

Then she stood in the entranceway and checked the layout.

It was an ordinary hotel room.

Beyond the entranceway was a short hallway, a unit bath on the right, and the bedroom at the end.

There were two beds placed in the bedroom.

Giving her a twin room instead of a single was probably Shiromachi's way of being considerate.

(Guu... the room might be monitored. I must refrain from talking to myself and act as Inuzuka Supika as much as possible.)

It would be unnatural if Inuzuka investigated the room too much.

She limited her observation to visual inspection only.

"Haaah... I'm exhausted. Shiromachi and the others started saying incomprehensible things, this is the worst."

She collapsed onto the bed with a flop.

Burying her face in the pillow, Gii thinks.

(I don't want to call my benefactor Erika like that. It's all Inuzuka's fault. I'll bully her later.)

Puke-kane, Trash-kane, anyway Inuzuka won't call Erika properly.

Since that's her characteristic, she ends up using it a lot when conversing with Shiromachi and the others, but every time she does, Gii's heart ached.

(I don't know where Rea is. But she's with Ooki, so she's probably going through a terrible time. I want to contact Erika, but the contents of the smartphone will be checked, so I can't use it carelessly.)

She succeeded in getting a smartphone.

However, as expected, they are vigilant against espionage activities.

Even if she deleted the history, there's a possibility the smartphone she was given has a monitoring app installed in the first place.

Ooki was doing that to her daughter, and Myourenji, who is good with machines, is also here, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

(If possible, I want a means of communication that they don't have a grasp on.)

Judging from Shiromachi's tone, they possess multiple devices.

Since they snatched the smartphones Gii and the others had and went out of their way to throw them away, it can be inferred that they have a surplus.

Should she steal from there.

If Gii uses her flexible body, she could probably sneak into other rooms.

"What's keeping Shiromachi? Hurry up and bring the smartphone. But if he brings an ugly one, I'll definitely kick his crotch to pieces this time."

While muttering to herself, she thrusts her legs into the futon.

Then she made contact with something hard.

Pressing it against her calf, she checked its shape.

(This is... a smartphone? Why is it inside the bed.)

She doesn't know whose it is, but this is convenient.

Gii turned a part of her leg into slime, and sank the smartphone into her body with a squish.

Then, skillfully manipulating her slime body, she operated it internally.

(It has battery too, and the same messaging app is installed. Alright, with this I can contact Erika.)

It felt too good to be a coincidence, though.

For now, she rummaged through the internal data to find out who the owner was.

(Myou, ren, ji... Myourenji. One of Shiromachi's companions. The fact that a smartphone is here means Myourenji was doing some work? Setting up a monitoring device? No, even so, it's strange for it to be dropped inside the bed. The sheets were neatly arranged, so it didn't look like it slipped in.)

She had assumed it was the smartphone of some unknown third party.

But learning it belonged to Myourenji, a member of Shiromachi's party, immediately made it suspicious.

(Did someone hide it? Or is it a trap to test me? If so, there's a possibility they'll come looking for it. But if I keep it without getting found out, there's no problem. I'm confident it'll never be noticed even if I'm stripped naked.)

The smartphone is inside Gii's body.

Unless they dissect her body, it's unlikely it will be found.

Besides, if it is found, she can just run away desperately when the time comes.

On top of being able to freely change her body shape, she also possesses high physical abilities as a party member.

Since her true identity hasn't been discovered, Gii is in an overwhelmingly advantageous position.

(Even so—acting as Inuzuka is stressful.)

While lying on the bed, Gii herself also rested her body and mind.

Dirty souls are her favorite food, and she should have seen plenty of them, but it's a different story when she has to act it out herself.

She has to make a fool of Erika, who saved her life and even gave her a name.

She hasn't even been able to find the whereabouts of Rea, who worried about her even when she had a grotesque body.

The old Gii might not have felt stress over something like this, but that could be said to be an adverse effect of fusing with a human.

(I'll definitely make them pay the price for putting me through this—with their own lives.)

However, there are countless ways to resolve that.

(I have to kill a lot and have Erika praise me too. Gishishishi.)

The smartphone screen floating inside her body moved, and a message was sent to Erika.