The stomach of a mighty monster

"Well, it might not matter much, but it's still part of the job. Keeping watch and all."

"Y-yeah."

Saying that, Karina led Mashiro to what appeared to be the living room. Urged by Karina, Mashiro sat down on a sofa that had been placed there.

"Man, you really can carry your whole base around in a backpack…"

"Oh, technically it's my magic, so the backpack is just for show."

"I-I see. So that's how it is."

Karina was also sitting on the sofa, relaxing. But Mashiro felt awkward and didn't know what to do with herself. Then someone arrived.

An elf girl in a cute green dress.

"Oh, a guest? Is this the beastkin adventurer you mentioned the other day?"

"Oh, Dea-kun, welcome back. Yeah, this is Mashiro-san. Cute, right?"

Elves rarely leave their country, so they're quite rare to see.

Since she'd been introduced, Mashiro gave a light bow in greeting.

"Whether I'm cute or not aside, I'm Mashiro the adventurer… Um, nice to meet you, miss."

"Yes, I'm Dea. Also, I'm a boy."

"Hm?"

Mashiro tilted her head.

… Looking closely, the bone structure did look boyish.

"Onee-san said, um, this looks better, so…"

"Ah… Karina's doing. Then, yeah, can't be helped…?"

"Yes, well."

Mashiro had been made to keep wearing those socks ever since the other day. This was probably similar, she figured.

"Hey, come on. Today's a day where either outfit is fine, right? But you chose the girl's outfit yourself, Dea-kun."

"Th-that's because! This is more to your taste, Onee-san!"

"Huh? Hmm, well, that's true."

Saying that, Karina hugged Dea. On the receiving end, Dea looked somewhat troubled but also happy, his face turning red.

"Wait, you just teleported in an instant!?"

"That's also magic."

"I don't know much about magic, but that's impressive. We should spar sometime. Right now would be fine too."

"Sure. Though if I go all out, you won't be able to lift a finger, Mashiro-san!"

"… Yeah, that's true."

After all, Karina had easily finished off the Black Mantis that had cornered Mashiro. She couldn't even imagine her attacks getting through against someone with enough defense to shatter the Black Mantis's scythe.

"So. You showed me all these secrets… what do you want me to do?"

"Hm? Well, you know, we're going to be doing this core surveillance job together for the next few days, right?"

"Yeah."

"But going home to lounge around by myself without telling you would make me feel guilty…"

"… "

Mashiro pressed her hand to her temples.

Guilt. Was that really the only reason she'd revealed her secrets?

"I'll even make a room for you if you want, Mashiro-san?"

"Are you trying to keep me like you did with that elf gi—boy?"

"Hm? That could work too."

"What if I go blabbing about all this? … No, wait. You could just silence me for good."

Mashiro belatedly realized she'd waltzed right into the stomach of a mighty monster.

If she felt like it, Karina could eliminate Mashiro at any time and dispose of the body.

"I wouldn't do anything so drastic～ W-w-we're friends, r-right!? You and me!"

"Ah, yeah. If you think so too, Karina, then I'm happy."

At the very least, Karina was someone she didn't want as an enemy. And as an ally, there was no one more reliable.

So Mashiro easily acknowledged being friends with Karina. She'd already thought of her as more than an acquaintance anyway.

… The fact that they'd slept together and Karina had mofued her all over, and that she hadn't actually minded it—that was a secret she'd keep from Karina.