Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 61

A "Bash" for Everyone. 

"Yuugiri-san! It's not that I doubted you, but what in the world is that lotion?! I just took a bath, and my skin feels like it's going to repel the shower water, let alone the bathwater!"

"At that point, I don't think it's your skin. I think you've got some kind of 'Water Resistance' buff."

Shouko-san was more hyper than I've ever seen her after her second bath, and then there was—

"Kazura was thinking... a lot... in the bath. And I've decided, I'm going to call you 'Big Brother' from now on. How does that sound?"

"Can you please stop saying crazy things out of nowhere?"

My only possible reaction was, "How did you even arrive at that conclusion?" But, they both seem to be having fun, so I guess it's fine. Why? Because I love pretty ladies!

"Well, I'm off. I'll be disappearing into the bedroom with Shouko-san."

"Eh? Big Brother, what are you planning to do in bed with this woman after she's all dolled up?!"

"The same thing as always? Hold hands and go to sleep." Also, calling your cousin "this woman" is rude.

"Wait a minute. Kazura's tension also got a little 'lil-bit' weird over the beauty talk... But this isn't the time to be talking about lotion, right?"

"I'm not sure the person who took a two-hour bath gets to say that." I mean, it's already past midnight.

"O-Okay, I'm sorry... Ahem, so! This scroll that Big Brother prepared for Kazura! How do I use the ninjutsu?"

"You can stop forcing the enthusiasm. Also, it's a 'Scroll,' not a 'Makimono'—which means the same thing! And it's a 'Skill,' not 'Ninjutsu'—which is also basically the same thing! I dunno... maybe just read it?" ...is what I'd guess.

"Don't put me on the spot like that! Kazura already told you, I can't read it. And this isn't because I'm uneducated; it's because no one in the world can read this."

"Ah, now that you mention it, you did say that." The sound of my brilliant plan to "use Kazura-san as a field test" shattering to pieces. Hey, it wasn't a "human experiment" or anything. It's just learning a skill, so there's zero danger! ...Probably.

"Well, I guess I'll have to." I bought a scroll for myself and opened it.

"Hmm... it looks like you just have to chant the words to unlock the skill. In the case of this 'Bash' scroll... ahem, 'Grant me the power of a mighty blow'."

The moment I finished, my body erupted in a brilliant, seven-colored light.

"See? That's how you learn it. Okay, Kazura-san, your turn! Repeat after me?"

"Stop springing this on me! And Big Brother, you just glowed! You really glowed! What was that?! Is that really a power humans are supposed to have?! Normal people don't shine like gods, you know?! And what language was that?! You expect me to memorize a language I've never heard in one try?! That's impossible!"

"Ara? Isn't that your fault for not paying attention, Kazura? I can repeat it perfectly, of course. Word for word. Because I am Yuugiri-san's fiancée."

Kazura was on a roll, but Shouko cut her off instantly. That last comment sounded a little unhinged, but Shouko just beamed with pride. ...Wait, I thought I read it in Japanese?

"Well, Shouko-san, why don't you try it first? You can't have too many skills." I almost said, "In my world, even kids used this stuff," but I can't exactly reveal the whole "I'm from another world" thing...

"Hold on! I thought that was a present just for Kazura?! How do you have so many of an item Kazura, who's been to the 5th floor, has never even seen?!"

"Well, you see..."

"Well what?"

"I... found three of them... in a bundle?"

"...I see." She sounded so tired that I couldn't help myself.

"...You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Whose fault do you think that is?! And what is that supposed to mean?!"

"How should I know?"

"You're lashing out at me?!"

—By the way, Shouko-san had apparently memorized my chant word for word, and she acquired the skill on the first try. Kazura-san, even with Shouko's help, took about ten minutes to finally get it.

---

~Later, at the GENE Martial Arts Training Room~

Nakatsukasa Shouko, clad in a black, leotard-style bodysuit, stood before a punching bag. She lowered her stance as if for a straight punch.

"—Bash."

She whispered the word, too quietly for anyone to hear. In that instant, her body... her arm... launched forward at supersonic speed.

PAAANNNNNNNNNNG!!

A deafening crack echoed throughout the entire building. The punching bag detonated.

"Th-That's Nakatsukasa, right?"

"...Yeah."

"That bag was high-grade, made of monster hide. Brand new, right?"

"...Yeah."

"It exploded."

"...Yeah."

"Stop saying 'yeah'!! Why did the punching bag explode?!"

"How should I know?!"

After that, Shouko destroyed four more punching bags and three training dummies. The training room manager, face pale with fear, half-crying, had to beg her to stop. "P-Please, the budget..."

This manager was known for being rude, so Shouko gave her a wicked little smile.

"Ara? In that case, perhaps you'd be my sparring partner?"

This resulted in them bringing out the base's last resort, a "Powered Suit." She destroyed that, too, without breaking a sweat.

...That her boss was suddenly much nicer to her after the incident, and that she earned the nickname "Female Gorilla" (the same as a certain Major), is a story for another time.

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