Garumon Yearbook

A magazine introducing all the current S-Class and A-Class Masters: that was the Garumon Yearbook.

The other featured article was one called "The 24 Strongest Garumon."

Apparently, every year, the world's 24 strongest representative Garumon were selected through expert opinion and reader votes.

It was supposedly the Garumon Yearbook's signature article.

All S-Class Master profiles got two-page spreads.

All A-Class Master profiles got 1/4 of a page.

All B-Class Master profiles were name-only.

The 24 Strongest Garumon got one page each.

That was the lineup, and it made for a tremendously satisfying read.

The book was a lavish production packed with photographs, which weren't very common in this world.

To my amateur eyes, the quality didn't seem to fall meaningfully short of books from my original world.

… Well, 8000G was way too expensive no matter how I looked at it, though.

I could afford it now, but I bet even an E-Class Master couldn't have managed it…

For starters, I gave the S-Class Master section a look, even though it had no relevance whatsoever to my immediate situation.

In each two-page spread, one S-Class Master was introduced alongside one ace Garumon representing them.

S-Class number 1 was apparently a Master called Satoru. He looked like a sort of spaced-out young guy at first glance.

It was possible he was the unexpectedly-sharp type behind that face… but he just looked plainly out of it.

… Then again, given that he was S-Class number 1, the man "Garumon Master" as a phrase currently referred to, the unexpectedly-sharp read was probably the right evaluation. Not so unexpected, then.

His ace Garumon's name was apparently Karen.

"Ohh…"

Ohh… she was beautiful. Pure-hearted, and just as her name suggested, lovely.

A shockingly stunning beauty.

She had the air of a sheltered young lady who'd suit a piano, an absolute textbook beautiful girl.

With black hair and black eyes, she looked a bit Japanese too. Perhaps she was a transferred person from Japan?

She resembled Maika a little. If Maika two years from now were to perm her hair, she'd probably look like this.

… In other words, her face was very much to my taste, resembling my first love.

"Is Satoru a transfer or reincarnator from Japan?"

"… I don't believe so. His mother Garumon was a transferred person, I think."

"… His Garumon, Karen, is a famous case of the negative miracle."

Yuria offered the comment.

"… Negative miracle?"

"Mn, us UR-Class Garumon are beautiful, right? And we're strong in battle too.

"Garumon are beings whose beauty and ability are proportional, in that way.

"… However, in extremely rare cases, at a super-rare ratio of about one per year worldwide, a Garumon is born with the unmatched beauty of UR-Class but the lowest tier of talent at N-Class.

"This rare phenomenon is called the negative miracle, and it causes tragedies where everyone fawns over her thinking she's UR-Class, only for the rank to come out as a negative miracle and everyone to flip their attitudes."

"Heeh… so there's a phenomenon like that.

"… But isn't she the ace Garumon of the world's number 1 Master right now?"

"There are methods to raise a Garumon's rarity.

"… Specifically, I've heard that turning an N-Class Garumon into UR-Class costs as much as raising ten UR-Class Garumon… but with sheer determination, it is possible.

"In his student days, Satoru took an enormous liking to Karen, made the N-Class Karen his partner, painstakingly raised her over a long time, and now she's reportedly grown into one corner of the world's strongest Garumon."

"That's admirable.

"Someone who treats their Garumon with that much care is really wonderful.

"I have a good impression of him…

"But, a long time? He looks young, though."

"Despite appearances, he's in his sixties."

"… Eh?"

I was startled. He looked like a college student in his early twenties at most…

"B-Class and above Masters become ageless, so appearance and age aren't proportional. Or rather, doesn't his career history say so?"

"It says born in the year 236."

"This year is 299."

299… what era was that? Come to think of it, I'd never paid attention to this world's history.

"63 years old, huh… Promoted to S-Class at 22. Won the S-Class Tournament 44 times, and is currently on a 6-tournament winning streak.

"Hoh, what an amazing person…"

"Well, he is the world's current number 1, the Garumon Master, after all… If he weren't amazing, no one in this world is."

True. The world's number 1, Satoru. Would the day come when I'd challenge and topple him…?

S-Class number 2 was Aqueria.

"Ohh, ohhhhh… …"

Even though it was just a photo, I was struck… How beautiful must she be in person?

Th-this one too. Beautiful…! Different from Karen. A bit Western-looking, like a French doll, or, well, anyway, beautiful goes without saying, and yet not standoffish; beautiful and divine, yet pure and untainted… what beauty. With great blue eyes and shimmering vivid blue hair, she was a dazzling beautiful girl, or beautiful woman, one or the other.

"Eh, what is this beautiful girl. Too beautiful. Isn't she a Garumon?"

"Aqueria, like Yuria, is a futanari Master."

"Ehhhh…! Futanari…! Goodness… s-someone this beautiful exists…? On top of that, she's got one growing… A person like this exists in this world…"

I was hit by even greater shock.

Her ace Garumon's name was apparently Gabriella Aqua… Th-this one too, c-cute! She was cute. Big blue eyes, blue hair… or rather, she looked exactly like Aqueria. Sisters… or maybe mother and daughter?

Mmm… I'd love to meet her…! Would such an opportunity ever come?

Aqueria seemed to be 31. Promoted to S-Class at 16. So her appearance was probably that of a 16-year-old. No wait, since futanari are also Garumon, appearance had no bearing on age. Garumon stop growing somewhere between 12 and 22 years old…

Anyway, she was a stunningly too-beautiful person.

I'd love to see her in person someday…

S-Class number 3 was Sairas.

Ugh, a chill ran down my spine. What was with this person… Too handsome!

With sharp slanted eyes, blond hair, and blue eyes, he visibly gave off an aura that was anything but ordinary.

Eh, weren't number 1 and number 3 reversed? What was with this final-boss vibe…

Even from a photo, I could feel a charisma so strong I wouldn't have been surprised if I were told he was the dark emperor of evil ruling the world from the shadows.

His ace Garumon was Diana… She was cute. A spirited-looking beautiful girl with silver hair tied up in a ponytail and silver eyes. She had big breasts too, an adorable beautiful girl very much to my taste, the kind I'd practically drool over…

And yet somehow, Sairas had more impact.

I wasn't gay, and even if I were, he wasn't the type my appetite would normally turn toward…

Even with the same kind of beauty, unlike Haru or Sario, he just looked plainly male.

Currently 19. Promoted to S-Class at 16.

"He's known as the genius Sairas, an up-and-coming Master."

"Up-and-coming…? Eh, isn't he actually someone who secretly rules the world from the shadows or something?"

"That, I wouldn't know…"

Lyuka gave a wry smile.

… Mn, hold on a moment.

"The S-Class Tournament is held once every four years?"

"… Ah, that's right. The next one is next year.

"Sairas debuted at 15, and the following year he was promoted to S-Class. That's the fastest possible promotion speed under this world's promotion rules. There have been many other Masters who promoted up to S-Class at the same speed, however.

"But at that year's S-Class Tournament, Sairas climbed from 23rd to 3rd place. That 20-rank leap is the highest record in history, and that's how he came to be called a genius."

"… That's astonishing."

What protagonist aura. Truly, the world has people who feel like they walked out of a story…

S-Class number 4 was Leonhardt.

A white-haired, rugged-looking old man with sharp eyes.

I felt the pressure of a battle-hardened old general.

His ace Garumon was…

"Ohh, it's Mercheada! Mercheada!"

I cried out without thinking. Mercheada. Ahh… that time. The beautiful goddess Garumon I'd glimpsed through the haze in the Nezu battle.

I see, so she was number 4's Garumon.

… Looking at the photo… she was beautiful. Lush, rich golden curls, ruby-red eyes, divine like a goddess… and ample breasts.

Ahh… b-beautiful… Number 2 Aqueria, Aqua, Diana, Karen… and Mercheada. The S-Class top ranks were all such beautiful Garumon…

But this face… I'd seen it recently…

"… Ah, that's it. Suzanne. Reichhardt's Garumon… She really resembles Mercheada."

No wonder I hadn't noticed, with her in that hazy shadow state.

… Mn, I see.

"Ah, that reminds me, Lasheid said Leonhardt was his father.

"So this person is the S-Class Master, Leonhardt!

"This old man is Lasheid and Reichhardt's father…"

The image of this dignified old general didn't overlap at all with the image of those handsome but somewhat pathetic two.

A good general isn't necessarily a good father, I suppose.

I'd fought and gotten to know his two sons, and even fought a little against Mercheada too.

… I seemed to have unexpected points of contact with this old general, the S-Class number 4 being praised in a magazine.

"Leonhardt is a Master who can be called a living legend. He's the oldest active Master, and for a long time has reigned as S-Class number 1.

"… In recent years, however, his aging has begun, and his rank has reportedly been falling."

Lyuka added.

His age was… 199? Promoted to S-Class at 19…

This was incredible. He'd lived a long life.

"But, his aging beginning… aren't S-Class Masters ageless?"

"As long as their will-power holds, they're ageless. When will-power weakens, aging begins, and eventually they reach death.

"Leonhardt, the great legendary Master who has overcome much glory and adversity, is finally said to be facing that time, and is drawing attention."

"Hmmm…"

I'd have to ask about Leonhardt's legend or whatever some other time.

Number 5, Caios, was… oh, a letdown. A somewhat dark, unimpressive person.

His ace Garumon Tezcatlipoca was certainly cute, but with brown skin and full-body tattoos, she had quite a lot of impact, and felt more exotic-otherworldly than charming.

Number 6, Duras Heidrich, was an S-Class through and through: a sharp, smartly-dressed handsome man brimming with brilliance. Well, not as much impact as Sairas at number 3. His ace Garumon, Tiamat, with her hair up, was an adorable beautiful girl with big breasts too, very cute.

Number 7 was Fauzel. He gave off a cool impression. Warrior-style and a bit rough-looking, but with well-arranged features, handsome. His ace Garumon Muzel was once again a textbook blonde beautiful girl, very beautiful.

Number 8 was Aleph. A bit like a thick-eyebrowed shounen-manga protagonist. His ace Garumon Stella was a fluffy, very beautiful girl.

Number 9 was Calcas. He gave off a haggard, scrawny old man impression. His ace Garumon Rosalia had a plump, super-erotic body… well, "just how much have you been milking out of her" was the impression I got.

… I looked through pages like that with great interest. Touching on everyone would get long, so just the most striking ones from here on.

The S-Class Garumon were all astoundingly beautiful, as expected…

At this rank, UR-Class was probably the standard. Any SSR-Class ones would have been included specifically because they were more useful than UR-Class, at that level.

With that thought, I kept turning pages.

"… Ohh, this person is beautiful too…"

When the Master themselves was beautiful, my hand naturally stopped.

Number 13, Hortensia, huh… was this person also a futanari? A splendid beautiful girl. Her purple hair was close to Leone's, but more whitish, a slightly more subdued shade. Both were beautiful, no question there.

With long lashes and a slightly melancholy gaze, she gave the impression of a gentle, calm personality.

… Regrettably, her chest was flat. If she'd had massive breasts, I'd have been even more excited.

"This person is a man."

Lyuka offered.

"Ehhhh…!? S-so, the same type as Haru or Sario Shard?"

What a shame… I'd love to make Yin-Yang Divine Elixir for this person and offer it to them.

Her ace Garumon Tinifa was also a wonderful beautiful girl with a calm gaze, silver bobbed hair, and for some reason her hair covered one eye, a heroine type I'd seen in anime several times before, and I was drawn in.

Then, as I flipped through… number 17. The most surprising one of all…

This one I'd deliberately keep under wraps until the time came.

Or, would it be okay to say? Even saying this much, it'd probably be obvious…

But honestly, I didn't really know what to make of this Master being who he was.

… Well, I had a guess about the reason for an earlier piece of foreshadowing.

Though it was a bit unexpected.

… The thing was, I didn't know how high I could climb… but I figured I wouldn't hit a solid milestone until I reached S-Class, and further still up to this 17th.

Then… number 18, Melville. The Master was an old man, which caught my attention a bit. So this one's will-power was running out and aging had begun too, huh… Age was 172. Nearly 30 years younger than Leonhardt, though. Apparently there's significant individual variation in when will-power runs out. His ace Garumon Uriela Aisha was a brown-skinned beautiful girl. She was cute…

And then…

"Ugh, what is this!?"

At number 20, Gidsen, I thought it had to be some kind of mistake and did a double-take, and instantly regretted it.

… It was disgusting.

Like one of those revolting images I'd seen on the internet, only several levels worse, triggering physical disgust and sending chills through me, gut-wrenchingly disgusting…

A photo of something hideous was… shown.

"Wh-what is this… uegh…"

I asked Lyuka while keeping the image hidden from her.

"… Ah… Gluttonous Gidsen, isn't it…

"Um… a Garumon's value and appearance are roughly proportional.

"… Which means, the lower the value, the more… unspeakably ugly the appearance becomes.

"So what about value 20? Or 10? … In this world, there's a kind of grotesque-show competition where people evaluate the ugliness and grotesqueness of extremely low-value Garumon.

"Such people buy up low-value Garumon at high prices, so… value-10-or-below Garumon reportedly sell for surprisingly steep prices.

"… Now, if that were all, it'd just be a tasteless, vulgar competition, but…

"… It's common knowledge that a Garumon's value and ability are proportional. We've talked about how the negative miracle exists as an exception.

"… But there's actually one more exception.

"That's value 1. Garumon called Ultimate Ones, the ultimate-low-value Garumon, possess UR-Class ability.

"If UR-Class Garumon are beautiful and strong because they're loved by gods,

"then Ultimate Ones, while possessing the most unspeakably hideous appearance imaginable, are strong because they're enthralled by demons.

"… Gidsen has assembled six of these Ultimate Ones. He's the ultimate grotesque-show collector…"

Ueegh…!

I couldn't bear to keep looking at that page, so I had her prepare a sticker and quickly stuck it on top of the Garumon's photo (the small one)… Phew, the page reached a viewable level.

… Master Gidsen had a gloomy face.

… E-eh, um… if I made it to S-Class and ended up fighting in the S-Class Tournament, I'd have to fight this guy…!?

Hell…

I became a little reluctant to make S-Class.

Next, number 21 Fergus. His Master was a meathead muscleman, oppressive, but the fact that he was accompanied by a normal sexy beauty made me feel really saved.

Next, the Master who really caught my eye with an "oh!" was number 22, a person called Shaina Fervey. Simply put… she was cute.

"This person is a futanari Master too, of course, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Well, she did have huge bouncy breasts after all.

Big round eyes. A beautiful girl with the air of a cheerful, energetic type. Totally my type.

A day when I could become friends with her… I hoped that would come…

A beautiful girl I felt an almost familiar closeness to, enough to make me think that.

She was very beautiful, but didn't feel out of reach, somehow within reach…

No, it was probably just a misperception. The other party was a far-off S-Class Master.

And then… number 24. Ursula Belzebute.

"… O-ohhhh… …"

C-cute… beauti…

I was at a loss for words… No, this was… beautiful. How beautiful she was…

Hair and eyes black like the night. Skin white as snow, and striking red lips. A beauty that felt somehow ephemeral.

A beauty so striking I felt I'd be sucked in just looking at it, with an air of mystery to it. And not just beautiful, she had cuteness too…

On top of that, her breasts were splendidly big…! Erotic!

No, just… she was attractive. Beautiful. Erotic, cute…

I lamented my limited vocabulary.

In case I ever met her, maybe I should practice some flowery language…

Could I even meet her…? Well, even if I did, it wasn't like I'd have business with her…

But somehow, just… I see, in this world, such a wonderful, beautiful person exists…

Thinking that, somehow, I felt I had to push myself harder in this world.

Her ace Garumon was Mira Kongouin. A wonderful beautiful girl with big drooping eyes. Big breasts too… Splendid.

Her hair had been changed to blonde, but going by the name, I thought she was Japanese.

But she wasn't connected to Reido Academy. A beautiful girl of her caliber would have been more talked about if she were at Reido Academy.

I'd heard the name somewhere. Um… where was it. Some kind of celebrity, I think.

"About six years ago. Wasn't there someone awarded as a 'genius girl' or something, who won an award for some research achievement…?"

Setsuna remembered for me.

"Ah, that's right. There were reports that she was a stunning beautiful girl. That's why I remembered her too.

"… I see, I don't remember hearing the name again after that, but…

"Before I knew it, she'd been transferred to another world, huh.

"Truly… the otherworld-transfer phenomenon happens frequently. Sometimes even celebrities get caught up in it and disappear.

"… Some of the disappeared celebrities might have been transferred to another world."

Those were the S-Class Masters who particularly caught my attention.

… Now, as for the A-Class Masters… well, whatever.

Among the S-Class Masters there had been several too-beautiful futanari Masters, so I ended up unconsciously searching only for futanari Masters, but…

Out of 128, somehow, none. Zero. Out of 128 people, not a single one… boring.

What was I supposedly enjoying, scrolling through 128 men's faces in a row?

… The thing that mostly caught my attention was just one point. This person was probably obvious too, but I'd deliberately keep them hidden.

Would the chance to settle things with him come around? Maybe.

If anything, more than my own grudge, it was Kanan's grudge that ran stronger, though…

For B-Class Masters, only names were listed, but even from names alone you could get plenty of info from the two people whose names I knew. Besides Yamagata-kun, one more… ah, this guy, huh. That kind of person.

Honestly, I was fed up. He'd probably get tangled up with us at some point…

Then, the 24 strongest Garumon. This article was truly splendid too.

Calling them "the world's pride: 24 beauties and beautiful girls" wouldn't have been out of place. 24 absolutely peerless beauties and beautiful girls…

Even through photos, their overwhelming beauty came through clearly.

Goddess Mercheada

Holy Maiden Karen

Water Goddess Aqueria

Seraph Michaela Hilde

Seraph Gabriella Aqua

Moon Goddess Diana

Sky Dragon God Tiamat

Holy Knight Muzel

Star Hero Stella

Spirit-Sucking Queen Rosalia

Seraph Uriela Aisha

Evil God Tezcatlipoca

… All the Garumon I'd flagged as "this is beautiful! cute!" in the Garumon Yearbook had their names listed here. Tezcatlipoca felt more "distinctive," though…

The Garumon's class, which hadn't been listed in the Master profiles, was also included.

Each one had a comment attached. Quite a satisfying, interesting article.

… However, Ursula Belzebute's name wasn't there. Hmm, despite not being the slightest bit inferior in looks…

So it really wasn't just a beauty contest after all.

If I fought this Ursula now, we'd probably be flat-out crushed too, but apparently she wasn't on the level of the top 24.

For Shaina, I sort of understood. She was very cute, but it wasn't that she was inferior or anything; she just had this approachable feel about her… she didn't have that "distant pinnacle of the world" air.

As for Hortensia, since she was actually a man, she wasn't included. What a waste…

… And so, I read it with great enjoyment. A good purchase.

I'd quickly reach B-Class, and…

… Climb even higher… if I did, I could step onto the dream stage where these dazzling beauties and beautiful girls existed…

Ahh, then I might even catch their eye.

"… Ah, I see…"

In this world, possibilities were open to me right now.

Those S-Class Masters, beings totally above the clouds, like brilliant stars.

But right now, I was walking the path that led there.

… I'd never played baseball, but a baseball boy looking at a Pro Baseball Yearbook probably felt something like this.

Admiration, but also dreams and hopes of one day making it onto these pages himself.

Where was I right now? Had I made it to the Koshien finals? Or was I still at the level of becoming a regular at a Koshien-perennial school?

But more than most baseball boys, I was already in an advantageous position.

Having come this far, was it really okay to give up? If I gritted my teeth and worked desperately from here, in just a bit more I'd be able to stand on this brilliant stage, wouldn't I?

The Garumon Yearbook… just one magazine like this was deeply shaking my heart.

… With one more step at the very least, I'd reach a place where I'd appear on this list, even if just one line.

To protect Kanan, getting on that list was the absolute minimum condition.

But if I rose higher from there, I could line up among the names in this 1/4 page space.

… And if I worked even harder and reached the seat of the supreme 24…

Number 24 Ursula Belzebute and number 22 Shaina Fervey were close in rank. We might even be able to talk as equals.

This number 2 Aqueria too, once I became an S-Class Master, might at least not totally ignore me.

I want to try. I want to advance. I want to aim! With every ounce of my power, upward. Upward…!

"Still… no good. Still, in this world… whether I'll live forever, I haven't even decided yet…"

But my blood… boiled hot.

If I returned to my original world, would I be able to get fired up like this again?

Would I encounter something I'd want to throw all of myself into and burn up against?

Even if I did, with no other talents to speak of, how far could I go?

… I didn't know.

Ahh, but for now… at this moment… B-Class, no matter what.

I closed the Garumon Yearbook for the time being. I shouldn't… dream any more than this. This was a dangerous book.

… It was trying to make me unable to escape from this world.

… Ahh, but I'd love to try…!

In my original world, would the Prime Minister praise my name? Would the citizens shower me with thunderous applause? Of course not.

In my original world, I'd have no choice but to give up such grand dreams and live, because I had no such special talents.

But perhaps in this world… it might come true.

That's right, every man, the moment he's born into the world, aims to be the world's strongest.

But everyone gives up along the way. I had given up long, long ago too.

Perhaps I was reclaiming that fervent passion now.

… I had a tremendously hard time settling down the flames that blazed up at this point.

I ended up exhausting all my companions to the point that their jaws nearly dislocated.