Chapter 41: Ivory-san Said 'All Virgins,' but I Wonder If Kid Is a Virgin Too?

"Once Kazu exceeds Level 90, shall I let you copy Absolute Shadow...?"

"Huh?"

Asked by Ebony, Kazui involuntarily let out a dumbfounded voice.

In Kazui’s case, where he copied skills from partners with whom he performed sexual acts, in order to copy Absolute Shadow he would have to perform a sexual act with Ebony.

Of course, from Ebony’s expression, Kazui could tell he was being teased.

Even so, he became flustered.

"P-Please don’t tease me."

After saying that, Kazui continued.

"Besides, my Replication... it seems I can’t choose the skill I want to copy, so even if I did it with Ebony-san... there’s no guarantee I’d be able to copy Absolute Shadow."

That was what was written in the skill’s explanatory text.

"Once your level goes up, you might become able to choose."

As if apologizing for the teasing, Ebony advised Kazui.

"Skills sometimes improve in performance according to level. That tendency is especially strong with rare skills."

"Ebony and Ivory! How long are you going to keep playing around? Everyone else is already gathered!"

The same voice as earlier urged Ebony and Ivory through the speaking tube.

"Well then, we’re going."

Following Ebony, Ivory stood up, picked up the box of cheesecake, and spoke words of thanks.

"Thank you for this."

"If fate allows, someday... somewhere!"

Saying that, Ebony, together with Ivory, began walking briskly toward the bridge of the Black Maiden.

"Thank you very much for saving us!"

Kazui once again bowed deeply to Ebony and Ivory and expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you very much! I will never forget this debt of gratitude for the rest of my life!"

Yuri likewise bowed his head and expressed his thanks.

"What exaggerated kids... seriously..."

Ebony muttered embarrassedly while waving her left hand without turning around.

"You don’t dislike that kind of duty-bound kids, do you?"

While similarly waving her hand in response to Kazui and the others’ gratitude, Ivory asked Ebony.

"Well, yeah."

While exchanging conversation, the two of them, Ebony and Ivory, arrived at the bridge.

Then the two of them opened the door and disappeared inside the bridge.

After seeing Ebony and Ivory off, Kazui and Yuri retraced the route they had come and disembarked from the Black Maiden.

Using the lift of the first floating pier, the two of them descended to the ground.

"How were the examination results?"

Having descended to the ground, Kazui was approached by Kid, who asked him.

"There were no problems."

"I see, that’s good."

Upon hearing Kazui’s reply, Kid turned her back on them and walked away.

(She was concerned about me.)

Feeling a little happy, Kazui saw Kid off as she moved away.

(Ivory-san said "all virgins," but I wonder if Kid-san is a virgin too?)

Suddenly, such a question floated into Kazui’s mind.

Curious about whether Ivory’s story was true, Kazui, while thinking it was bad toward Kid, could not win against his curiosity.

In order to speak with her companions from Iron Maiden, Kid changed direction and entered a state where her face was visible from Kazui.

If the face was in a state where it could be seen, Sexual Appraisal could be used.

In truth, although it was not explained in detail in the explanatory text, Sexual Appraisal could not be performed unless the face was not only visible but also identifiable.

And right now Kid’s face was identifiable from Kazui.

(Activate Sexual Appraisal!)

While looking at Kid’s profile, Kazui made both eyes emit a faint blue light.

Before long, the results of Sexual Appraisal were displayed in Kazui’s field of vision.

(Ivory-san’s story was true...)

While showing a surprised expression, Kazui deactivated Sexual Appraisal and then turned his back on Kid and began walking.

"Kazu... you used Sexual Appraisal on Kid-san, didn’t you?"

"You were watching?"

"...So, how was it?"

"She was a virgin."

After answering the question, Kazui declared to Yuri in a joking tone.

"Quite different from Yuri, who dumped his virginity in a hurry... you bitch!"

"Who are you calling a bitch! In the first place, the reason I ended up having to lose it was your fault, right, Kazu!"

In an unpleasant tone, Yuri continued.

"Besides, Kazui, you’ve become a holder of Leonization too, so do you understand that sooner or later... you might end up in the same situation as me?"

"That’s... um..."

"Levels really are hard to raise when Leonization is in an unused state."

The words of Yuri, who had continued to suffer from the drawback of levels being hard to raise for the past half year, carried a sense of reality.

"I might be able to endure levels being hard to raise..."

At those words of Kazui, Yuri retorted.

"I also endured levels being hard to raise until yesterday, but in the end I ended up having to use it, so Kazui might end up having to use it too."

Hearing Yuri’s words, Kazui imagined the situation of ending up having sex with a man as a result of using Leonization.

Then, at the unpleasantness of it, Kazui shuddered.

"There might be times when you can’t endure levels being hard to raise and end up using it. Besides, if I fall into a pinch and you can’t save me unless you use Leonization, you’ll use it and save me, right?"

"...No, I’ll abandon you without using it."

At the immediate answer from Kazui, Yuri replied with a dissatisfied look.

"Isn’t that harsh? Use it and save me! Then this time I’ll take Kazu’s virginity and properly turn you back into a man!"

"No way! I’ll never use it! Becoming a woman and getting done by a man just to save a handsome guy with a girlfriend like you is something I absolutely refuse!"

"Even if you talk back hatefully like that, Kazu is the type who ends up helping in the end, right?"

"Except for handsome guys."

While exchanging trivial banter, Kazui and Yuri moved away from the Black Maiden.

Incidentally, just as Yuri said, Kazui was the type who ended up helping in the end.