Chapter 34: My Best Friend Might Be Gay for Me

“You can use this room. Here’s the key.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll take my leave then.”

“Thank you again.”

The student council secretary, who had guided Bisus to the new clubroom, bowed and left.

“So, this is the place.”

Sofia and Artoria had gone to class already.

They’d wanted to stay, but Bisus insisted it was a waste of time, so he’d handled the clubroom assignment alone.

They agreed to meet afterward.

“The real reason, though, is to move freely.”

The “organization’s” first move was expected soon. To counter it, Bisus needed to seize an opportunity within the academy.

He could’ve gone with Sofia and Artoria, like when they tackled the dungeon before, but…

“That doesn’t sit right with me.”

Unlike his old self, the mindset of an archangel and hero had taken root in Bisus.

He didn’t want to put them in danger.

Even with their transcendent strength, a single mistake in a deadly battlefield could cost their lives.

Before the dreams, he saw the heroines as mere tools for survival.

But after glimpsing his past lives, they’d become special to him.

So, he hadn’t told them about the “organization” or its impending attack.

He’d rely on their strength eventually—saving the world alone was impossible.

But…

“The ‘organization’ is my burden alone.”

He didn’t want to drag his lovers into danger.

“Alright, let’s move fast so Sofia and Artoria don’t get suspicious.”

Lingering might raise questions.

Click

After a quick look around the dusty clubroom, Bisus locked the door and stepped out.

“Bisus!”

Jenice, passing through the hallway, spotted him and called out.

“Jenice?”

“Thank goodness! I was worried I wouldn’t see you today!”

She’d been roped into joining the club on a whim and hadn’t had the chance to tell him about the visions from the previous night.

“Done with class already, Jenice?”

“Class? Uh, yeah, sure.”

In truth, she’d slipped out of class, overwhelmed by the need to talk to him, but she brushed it off to avoid explaining.

“So, this is our clubroom?”

“Yeah. It’s been unused, so it’s a bit dusty, but we can clean it up later.”

“Hmm…”

“Thanks, Jenice. We couldn’t have made this club without you.”

“Oh, I just lent my name…”

“Even so, a new club could face pushback from established ones. You choosing us means a lot.”

Club.

Jenice recalled glimpses of her club life from the visions.

She’d worked with Bisus in the disciplinary team, in a research club, and even without a club.

Come to think of it, I was always with Bisus, no matter what.

Guess that’s what friends are for.

“No! That’s not it!”

She shook her head vigorously.

“…Huh?”

“Bisus, I have something to tell you.”

Her tone turned serious, her expression firm.

“Something to say?”

“So, visions, huh?”

“I know it’s hard to believe…”

“No, I believe you.”

Not dreams, but visions?

Bisus had suspected others besides Sofia, Artoria, and Claudia might experience something similar, but Jenice?

“Really?”

“Yeah. You were in my dream today too.”

“…What?”

Boom

Jenice felt her face burn as if steam were bursting out.

“M-My dream?”

“Yeah, we were in the disciplinary team together.”

Why… why did he dream of me? Does he… like me?

Dreams were seen as manifestations of the subconscious.

Society held that dreaming of someone meant you cared for or liked them.

Unaware that Bisus’s dreams were inherited knowledge from other dimensions, Jenice misunderstood his words.

“Didn’t expect you to have similar visions. Maybe our dreams are connected or interfering somehow.”

“C-Connected…!”

Connected with Bisus!

Jenice clutched her flushed face, but Bisus, lost in thought, didn’t notice.

He doesn’t know I’m a girl… Does he swing that way? That’d be a problem…

I should discuss Jenice’s visions with Sofia and Artoria.

But I’ve got class now, so tomorrow at the clubroom.

“Got it, Jenice.”

“Huh? Got what?”

My feelings? My gender? His preferences?

“Let’s talk more about this tomorrow at the clubroom with Sofia and Artoria.”

“Uh, okay…”

“Alright, have a good class. See you tomorrow.”

Jenice, frozen in shock, could only nod.

“Okay…”

She stiffly waved as he left.

Tomorrow… with Sofia and Artoria?

Why?

She thought of the two girls who followed Bisus, clearly smitten.

No way!

In her mind, Bisus declared, “I love this man. Let’s end this.”

He pulled Jenice into an embrace as Artoria cried, “No, my lord husband!” and Sofia raged, “Bisus, you prefer men?!”

Her face turned crimson with the fantasy.

“T-That’s a bit problematic.”

Should I reveal I’m a girl?

But I don’t want to admit I’ve been hiding my gender from my best friend.

Ugh, what do I do?!

Boom

Thud

Chimeras fell, cleaved by Bisus’s slash.

“Phew. That’s about it.”

Bisus was alone in a dungeon mentioned in [Eclipse].

Its entrance was hidden in a corner of the library, an ancient dungeon created by a deranged graduate student.

“Do grad students go mad and make dungeons like this? This place is a mess.”

Compared to the golem-filled dungeon he’d faced before, this one was packed with grotesque chimeras.

“But, man, I’m no joke now.”

The swordsmanship of a battle-hardened hero.

The holy power of God’s first angel.

The experience and cunning of a veteran mercenary.

And a holy sword, though powerless, with unmatched durability and cutting strength.

Once worried only about survival, Bisus was now cutting down hordes of chimeras single-handedly.

Compared to when he barely defeated a single golem, the difference was staggering.

He couldn’t wield sword aura like Sofia did in the golem dungeon, but his combined skills let him fight more effectively than her raw power.

“Kieeeek!”

“They just keep coming.”

With Sofia and Artoria, he could’ve cleared this dungeon quickly.

But this was a test of his current abilities before facing the “organization’s” attack.

Step

Mimicking his dream self, Bisus stepped back and swung the holy sword with all his might.

“Haaa!”

BOOM

A massive sword aura, infused with holy power and mana, swept through the chimeras.

“…Not quite like the dream.”

He’d hoped mimicking his dream actions would awaken the sword’s power, but it remained dormant.

Pushing aside disappointment, he headed toward the dungeon’s end.

Rumble

A stone door slowly opened.

Like before, a special chest sat inside.

“Here it is.”

Bisus walked in and picked it up.

“A relic perfect for stopping the ‘organization’s’ attack.”