Chapter 13

“Onee-san… it’s going to be really crowded, you know. Are you really going in your usual outfit?”

“It’s my trademark, after all! Besides, this is partly for show too. Akira, haven’t you checked the message boards? Your big sister has become quite famous, you know? Just like you, it’s a kind of image strategy.”

On the day of the fireworks festival, my sister insisted on entering the venue wearing her maid outfit as usual. Even when I asked if that was really okay, she stubbornly refused to consider wearing anything else.

“My image strategy?”

“Hm? Oh, I didn’t tell you? Akira, during summer vacation you were going around all sorts of facilities, dominating tournaments, right? You said it was PvP training, but that wasn’t the real point. Your big sister has learned to think a little more, you see. This proposal comes from a deep, mature line of thinking that a still-childish Akira wouldn’t understand. Too much for a kid, maybe?”

“Damn it… I’m still seventeen this time—I haven’t had my birthday yet… I can’t even retort that I’m an adult.”

“Oh! Right, that’s true! Akira, your birthday is October 10th, wasn’t it? I’ll make sure to prepare a present you’ll love. Look forward to it, okay?”

“You knew my birthday? So… about that image strategy. My PvP training and tournament runs were supposed to be about advertising my existence before entering the academy, right?”

“Exactly. But… I thought there were other ways to appeal too. Do you really think Akira—who isn’t even an explorer yet, just an ordinary student—could directly appeal to companies?”

“…I see. Since I’m not an explorer, the only way is to leave visible results in public venues.”

“Right. Most companies that run training facilities are weapons manufacturers or firms that handle explorer equipment. In your previous life, Akira, you brought back lots of magic stones as an explorer, and that’s how you drew attention. Maybe someone noticed your training at a shop and reached out—but even that was based on your title as a ‘promising explorer who generates profit.’ You don’t have that now. That’s why, by rampaging through urban training facilities and winning nearly every tournament, companies have probably already started paying attention to you.”

I see… She’d been trying to build my foundation—my backing—by creating connections outside the academy.

It’s true that suddenly appealing to companies is impossible for a mere high schooler. And since I’m not an explorer, I have no right to participate in official public events.

So standing out at facilities closely tied to companies was the only option.

“Your big sister thought about this a lot. Every night, touching your body, thinking about how terrifying it would be to lose this heartbeat, this warmth. I even thought about ways to make powerful recovery potions—normally only usable inside dungeons—work outside them, but that was impossible. I wanted something to use as a trump card if you were ever harmed. So I decided the top priority was creating a situation where you wouldn’t be targeted in the first place. If only we could at least identify what kind of poison was used…”

“I see… Yeah, those powerful dungeon recovery potions only work inside dungeons. Hmm… then maybe next time, if I drink one just before leaving the dungeon, it could help as a countermeasure.”

“I hope so… but I don’t know how effective that would be either. It might not even be poison. It could be something that turns into poison later. That’s why securing backing comes first.”

“Then you could’ve told me that plan.”

“If I had, you’d try to appeal too aggressively, wouldn’t you? You need to be naturally strong—strong as you are. If you start deliberately trying to stand out, people will definitely grow suspicious.”

“…Yeah, that’s true. You really were moving carefully, weren’t you, big sis.”

“Once you enter the academy, companies will absolutely approach the academy side. Companies are forbidden from directly approaching students at affiliated high schools—for the sake of youth development and education, I think. But it’s different at the exploration academy. It’s a place where future explorers gather, and where organizations, clans, and companies all try to snap them up early. I want Akira to have lots of choices.”

She really must have had regrets from our previous life.

Back then, she gave me knowledge, data, and demonstrated techniques solely to make me stronger.

This time… she’s trying to prepare paths—many options.

Not forcing me, but simply increasing my choices, so that I can decide for myself.

“Onee-san… thank you. Really.”

“Of course. Now then, let’s go to the fireworks festival. Until the fireworks start, your big sister is going to conquer every food stall. I’ve earned plenty of money from dungeon exploration these past days, after all!”

“Um… I’m living off my parents’ allowance, so honestly, I’d really appreciate it if you treated me…”

“Ehh? Kids can’t be helped, I guess. Fine, I’ll treat you to four stalls max.”

“Haha, got it. Then let’s go for now, Onee-san.”

“Fufufu. Your big sister is a mysterious, cool-beauty maid, you know. If explorers are mixed into the fireworks crowd, they’re sure to be surprised. And then I’ll act all fitting and proper.”

“Is that really true? I honestly can’t picture it…”

My sister acting like a proper maid… I really can’t imagine it.

Even though she’s wearing a maid outfit.

The fireworks venue covered the entire Odaiba area.

Apparently there was a newly reclaimed section of land, and the fireworks would be launched from there.

It’s a tourist spot packed with famous TV stations and leisure facilities, but this was actually my first time coming here.

People had already gathered in numbers that nearly filled the entire area. Even though the sun was still high, various events and food stalls were open, and the place already looked and sounded like a full-blown festival, buzzing with excitement and cheerful noise.

“Ooh… Akira, that’s a TV station, right? I can’t help imagining the ‘round part’ falling off, rolling away, and everyone at the festival running around in panic.”

“…Honestly, I think a lot of people have imagined something like that.”

“Right? Now come on, Akira—time to tour the food stalls! I’ll find some unusual festival food, eat it, and say things like ‘This is so delicious, Master,’ while acting out the role of a sheltered maid who’s moved by the outside world, and help boost that stall’s sales!”

“Why do you have such a detailed plan…?”

“Fufufu. That’s how excited I am. Come on, let’s go take a look together. Even if I draw attention, I’ll smooth it over with acting. Time for the maid outfit to shine!”

“Haha… just don’t dump all the responsibility on me, okay?”

“Of course!”

A few minutes later, my sister spotted a shooting-gallery stall and charged right in. Using her absurdly high skill, she cleaned out the prizes, which naturally made her a target of suspicion. Yet she kept insisting, “My master desired them,” and dumped all responsibility squarely on me. It goes without saying she did whatever she pleased.

As we walked around, taking in the sights with my slightly overexcited sister, the sky gradually turned crimson, and the start time for the fireworks drew near. Thinking it was about time to move somewhere with fewer people and a better view, we began drifting away from the crowd when—

“W–Wait… you! Don’t tell me you’re that maid!? From the Ginza Dungeon!?”

“No way…! This is the first time I’ve seen you outside a dungeon!”

Out of nowhere, two strangers called out to us.

Seriously? Had my sister really become a celebrity of the Ginza branch dungeon…!?

In an instant, my sister wiped away the cheerful, carefree expression she’d had just moments before—

“Are you explorers? I am currently on duty as a maid, so I cannot entertain you. If you’ll excuse us.”

“Ah… s–sorry.”

“So she really is a maid… Is that boy her master…?”

Chasing after my sister as she coolly walked away, I followed close behind.

For real…? She’s actually working as an explorer while playing the role of a cool-type maid…!?

She’s nothing like the person she was in my previous life…!

“…Well? Pretty impressive, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. You really looked like a highly capable maid.”

“I’m always highly capable. Hehe. Well then, Akira, let’s watch the fireworks around here.”

With that, we climbed up a jungle gym in a park a little distance away from the main venue—just the right spot to watch the fireworks.

As we stared up at the sky in eager anticipation—

“…Akira, you know, I didn’t go out and play with you like this in our previous life, did I? This time, let’s go out together a lot. Promise me—between you and me.”

“Yeah. It’s still summer, after all. There are plenty more fun seasons ahead of us.”

“Mm. You’re right… I’m really glad we got a second chance. That I was able to meet you again, Akira—”

Her words were drowned out by the sound of the fireworks finally beginning.

The sky, shifting from crimson to deep navy, was filled with massive, brilliantly colored blooms of light.

That glow illuminated my sister’s profile.

It was at the moment I was burning that unforgettable scene into my memory that it happened.

Suddenly, confused voices began rising from the other people watching the fireworks in the park.

“What the…? My phone just suddenly turned off.”

“Mine too! Hey— I was filming the fireworks!”

“Huh? Hey, my phone froze too!”

Reports spread that everyone’s smartphones around us had stopped working.

And then—

“…Akira, something’s not right. These fireworks… they’re packed with an enormous amount of magic energy…!”

“Huh? Why would they be…?”

It seemed that something was happening behind the scenes of this fireworks festival.