Tactical Embarrassment

Evening had settled comfortably over my cave sanctuary as I organised the day's haul on my workshop table. Five days into my isekai adventure, and I'd developed something resembling a routine: mornings for exploration and foraging, afternoons for crafting and skill practice, evenings for planning and relaxation. It was almost... pleasant.

Today's expedition had yielded an especially interesting collection of flora, which my Appraisal ability helpfully categorised:

[Dreamveil Mushroom]

Type: Psychoactive fungus

Properties: Induces vivid shared dreams when consumed by multiple people; temporary empathic connection

Special Notes: Popular in social rituals and diplomatic ceremonies; excessive consumption may cause reality/dream confusion

[Passion Bloom]

Type: Sensory enhancement herb

Properties: Heightens tactile sensation and emotional receptivity for 2-4 hours

Special Notes: Common ingredient in marital teas; may cause embarrassing physical responses in social settings

I snorted at that last note. Of course I'd stumbled across the fantasy world equivalent of aphrodisiacs. With my luck, I'd probably find nothing but increasingly suggestive plants from now on.

At least some of my discoveries had practical applications:

[Mending Moss]

Type: Medicinal fungus

Properties: Accelerates natural healing when applied directly to wounds; reduces scarring

Special Notes: Can be dried and powdered for storage up to six months; most effective when harvested under moonlight

Using my Transform ability, I'd spent the afternoon reshaping parts of my sanctuary, adding dedicated storage niches for my growing collection of ingredients and crafting a proper workbench with integrated shelving. The once-simple cave had evolved into something resembling a one-bedroom flat, complete with a sleeping area, kitchen space, and even a rudimentary bathroom utilising the underground spring.

It wasn't home, but it was becoming surprisingly comfortable.

I flopped onto my transformed-moss bed with a sigh, staring at the ceiling where I'd etched a crude map of the surrounding area. Five days of exploration had given me a decent mental picture of the local geography, but I was no closer to finding Naomi-san or any sign of the Kimochi sisters. The few classmates I'd encountered seemed determined to recreate their junior college social dynamics even in this fantasy world—a disappointing if unsurprising development.

Just as I was contemplating whether to experiment with some of the Mending Moss for a healing salve, a sound penetrated the stone walls of my sanctuary—the unmistakable clash of metal and shouts of combat, followed by what could only be magical explosions.

My Presence Detection ability immediately pinged, sensing multiple entities engaged in battle not far from my cave. My first instinct was to ignore it; whatever trouble my classmates had gotten themselves into wasn't necessarily my problem.

But what if it wasn't classmates? What if it was Naomi-san?

With a resigned sigh, I grabbed Rurielle's umbranium dagger and headed for the entrance, activating my reconnaissance abilities as I stepped outside.

Enemy Tracking confirmed multiple hostile signatures approximately two hundred metres northeast, engaged with what appeared to be human targets. My Arcane Interface Lenses activated automatically, highlighting heat signatures and projecting optimal approach routes as golden threads in my field of vision.

I moved silently through the darkening forest, my Lone Wolf ability enhancing my stealth as I neared the commotion. From the edge of a small clearing, I assessed the situation with tactical precision I'd never possessed back home.

To my surprise, I recognised the combatants immediately. Kazuki, Sakura, Hiroko, Sora, and Yuto—my fellow nerds from Class 1A—were engaged in battle with a mixed band of what appeared to be orcs and goblins. And they weren't doing badly at all.

Kazuki was coordinating the group with unexpected skill, shouting positioning commands and attack sequences. Sakura and Hiroko stood back-to-back, one wielding a staff crackling with elemental energy, the other firing bolts of pure light from her palms. Sora darted between enemies with a short sword, while Yuto manipulated living vines to entangle and restrain opponents.

My Appraisal skill activated automatically:

[Kazuki Nishida – Level 13 Spellblade] Primary Skills: Tactical Analysis, Combat Flow, Spell Weaving Current Status: Leading defence, monitoring battlefield

[Sakura Kobayashi – Level 13 Healer] Primary Skills: Mass Healing, Dimensional Barrier, Spell Duration Extension Current Status: Maintaining defensive position, conserving mana

[Hiroko Ueda – Level 13 Sorcerer] Primary Skills: Soul Binding, Arcane Detection, Spell Stability Current Status: Active spellcasting, minor mana depletion

[Sora Nakagawa – Level 13 Duellist] Primary Skills: Death Strike, Heightened Reflexes, Direction Sense Current Status: Frontline combat, minor injuries

[Yuto Matsuda – Level 13 Monk] Primary Skills: Enhanced Strength, Perfect Balance, Chain Attacks Current Status: Support position, controlling battlefield

They were holding their own against the smaller creatures, but my Enemy Tracking detected what they hadn't yet noticed—a group of larger orcs was circling through the underbrush, preparing to flank them from behind.

Decision time. These were my friends—perhaps my only real friends from back home. Whatever social awkwardness existed between us, I couldn't stand by and watch them be ambushed.

I activated my Pathfinder's Intuition to identify the optimal interception route, then my Samurai skill's Zanshin stance, entering a state of heightened awareness that slowed my perception of time. The orcs, now visible in wireframe outline through my Arcane Interface Lenses even through the undergrowth, moved with seeming lethargy from my enhanced perspective.

Circling silently behind the flanking party, I waited until they were committed to their attack path before striking. The umbranium dagger seemed to hum in my hand as I disabled my Stain Resistance for it, feeling the enchantment connect with my essence.

"IAIJUTSU STRIKE!"

I didn't consciously invoke the ability—the words simply burst from me as I exploded from cover, dagger flashing in an arc that caught the lead orc completely by surprise. My attack landed with devastating precision, and the creature dropped before it could even grunt in alarm.

The remaining orcs whirled to face me, snarling in rage at their thwarted ambush. My friends, now alerted to the danger, quickly adjusted their formation.

"Andie?!" Kazuki shouted in disbelief.

"Talk later!" I called back, dodging a wild swing from an orc's crude axe. "Fight now!"

What followed was the most coordinated combat I'd experienced since arriving in Voluptaria. Without any explicit planning, my nerd friends and I fell into complementary roles as if we'd trained together for years. Perhaps all those cooperative MMORPG raids back home had prepared us better than we realised.

Kazuki redirected Sakura and Hiroko's magical firepower to create a crossfire zone that caught several enemies in devastating arcane patterns. Sora and I flanked the larger orcs, my Samurai skills meshing surprisingly well with his Duellist abilities. Yuto's vines provided crowd control, separating and immobilising targets for precise elimination.

The battle lasted less than five minutes. As the last orc fell, a series of notifications appeared in my HUD:

[JOB LEVEL UP: Lone Wolf → Level 3] Improved Stats: +60% to all stats when operating alone (previously 50%); Only -3% penalty when in a party (previously -5%) New Passive: Gain "Predator's Focus" – Can identify critical weaknesses in opponents after observing them for 10 seconds

[JOB LEVEL UP: Samurai → Level 3] Improved Stats: +35% to all sword attacks (previously 25%); +28% movement speed during combat (previously 25%) New Skill Unlocked: Zanshin Focus – Enter a state of total awareness for 40 seconds, increasing reaction speed by 25% and revealing enemy attack intentions 2 seconds before they occur

[JOB LEVEL UP: Accoucheur → Level 2] Improved Stats: +85% reputation gain with families (previously 75%); Supernatural sense for pregnancy and related complications within 120 feet (previously 100 feet) Enhanced Ability: LIFE'S FIRST BREATH can now be used twice per week (previously once)

That last notification made me roll my eyes. My magical midwife abilities had obviously played such a crucial role in combat with orcs.

"Because of course killing goblins makes me better at delivering babies," I muttered under my breath.

"Andie!" Kazuki's voice broke through my HUD-reading. He approached with a wide grin, clapping me on the shoulder. "Man, am I glad to see you! Where have you been hiding?"

The others gathered around, their faces showing a mixture of relief and excitement.

"We've been looking all over for you," Sora said, wiping blood from a small cut on his cheek. "After we split off from the main camp, we decided to try finding you and the others who were missing."

"The main camp?" I asked. "You mean there's a central gathering point for our class?"

Hiroko nodded. "Most of us appeared together in a large clearing south of here. We've been there for six days now... well, the others still are. We left the day before yesterday."

"Six days?" I frowned. "This is only my fifth day here."

"Temporal discontinuity!" Yuto exclaimed with the enthusiasm of someone who'd read far too many science fiction novels. "Different arrival times could indicate dimensional instability or targeted transportation protocols."

"Or I just showed up a day later," I suggested dryly.

"That's the boring explanation," he conceded with a good-natured shrug.

Looking at my tired, somewhat battered friends, I made an impulsive decision. "Listen, my... camp is nearby. It's secure, with fresh water and ample space. Why don't you all come back with me? We can catch up properly, and you can rest somewhere safe."

Their surprised expressions were almost comical.

"You're inviting people over?" Kazuki asked with mock astonishment. "The same Andie Ryuu who claimed illness to avoid the class Christmas party?"

I felt heat rise to my cheeks. "That was different. I had legitimate reasons to skip that party."

"Which were?" Sakura prompted with a gentle smile.

"The entire girls' volleyball team planning to corner me under mistletoe isn't reason enough?" I muttered.

Hiroko giggled. "You know they just wanted to thank you for helping with their strategy planning. Though I admit, Hitomi's methods of expressing gratitude can be... enthusiastic."

"Anyway," I said firmly, steering the conversation back on track, "do you want shelter for the night or not?"

"We'd be grateful," Hiroko said. "Lead the way."

As I turned to leave, a shout came from behind me.

"Hang on!" Kazuki called out, rushing back to the battlefield with Yuto and Sora close behind. The three nerds began enthusiastically harvesting meat from the orc corpses, packing it into their inventory with surprising efficiency.

I raised an eyebrow at Hiroko, who just shrugged with a faint smile playing at her lips. "They've been collecting everything since day one. Don't ask me why."

Something about her expression suggested she knew more than she was saying, but I let it slide.

As we walked through the darkening forest, I felt an unexpected warmth in my chest. Despite the absurdity of our situation—transported to a fantasy world, fighting orcs with magic and swords—there was something comforting about being with friends who knew me from before.

When we reached my cave sanctuary, I disabled the concealment enchantment and unlocked the recognition barrier with a gesture.

"You live in a cave?" Kazuki asked sceptically.

"Just wait," I replied with a touch of pride, pushing open the stone doors.

Their collective gasp as they entered was deeply satisfying. The main chamber, lit by crystals I'd embedded in the walls through my Transform ability, revealed a surprisingly comfortable living space complete with furnished areas for eating, crafting, and relaxation.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"This is incredible!" Sakura exclaimed, running her hand over the perfectly smooth stone table. "How did you make all this?"

"I have a skill called Transform," I explained. "It lets me reshape existing materials. The cave was already here—I just improved it."

"Turns out I have an affinity for interior design. Who knew?" I added with a wry smile.

"And the enchantments on the door?" Yuto asked, examining the entrance with analytical interest.

"Another skill," I said vaguely. "I've picked up a few... unusual abilities."

"Unusual how?" Hiroko asked curiously.

I hesitated. "Let's just say the divine selection system has a strange sense of humour."

While they explored, I prepared a simple meal using some of my foraged ingredients and the last of a rabbit I'd caught earlier in the day. The normality of sharing food with friends from home created a surreal contrast to our fantastic surroundings.

"Hope you like mushroom soup—it's my specialty by necessity," I said as I began dishing up the meal.

As my friends settled around my small table, I couldn't help but notice how cramped the space felt with five additional people. What had seemed like a spacious bachelor pad for one now revealed itself as woefully inadequate for group living. Kazuki and Sora were practically elbow to elbow, while Yuto had to sit on a storage chest I'd transmuted from stone.

Sakura must have noticed my frown. "Is something wrong, Andie-kun?"

"Just realising that my 'spacious sanctuary' isn't quite designed for company," I admitted. "I've been living here alone for days now, and I guess I didn't consider the possibility of guests."

"It's still incredible," Hiroko assured me. "Much better than sleeping on the ground like we've been doing."

After we'd eaten, I found myself increasingly aware of the limitations of my living space. The single sleeping area would clearly not accommodate everyone, and the various functional zones I'd created were all overlapping in ways that would make privacy impossible.

"So," I began once everyone had finished eating, "what's been happening at this main camp? And why did you leave?"

The nerds exchanged meaningful glances—the kind that indicated a shared experience I wasn't part of.

"It's been... complicated," Kazuki finally said. "When most of us arrived—minus you and a few others—there was the expected panic and confusion. Amakata-sensei and Hina tried to maintain order, while Miyako and Airi organised the girls into practical task groups."

"Even the delinquents were helping initially," Hiroko added. "Kenji and his crew actually volunteered for perimeter security, if you can believe it."

I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? The same guys who refused to clean the classroom even when it was their assigned duty?"

"Fear is a powerful motivator," Sora said with a shrug. "Those first few hours, everyone was terrified. No one knew where we were, why we were here, or what dangers might exist."

"We nerds naturally took on analysing everyone's skills and abilities," Yuto continued. "Trying to categorise and understand the system. That's how we discovered the job classes and skill interactions."

"How did that go over?" I asked.

Kazuki grimaced. "About as well as you'd expect. When people realised they had different abilities of varying usefulness, complaints started. The Populares were upset about getting practical skills rather than combat abilities. The studious boys got magical talents but resented not being the highest-level casters."

"And the delinquents' mood changed when they realised brute force wasn't automatically the most powerful attribute in this world," Sora added. "Magical and tactical abilities proved more immediately useful in many situations."

"All the whining and arguing grew so loud it attracted attention," Hiroko said quietly. "That's when the first attack came."

"Right in the middle of Hina's 'we can all work together' speech," Sakura added with a sad smile. "A band of orcs and goblins, bigger than the group we just fought."

"What happened?" I asked, though I could guess from my friends' earlier reactions.

"Hina froze completely," Kazuki said. "Poor girl was mid-sentence when the first orc appeared. Can't blame her—she's got leadership skills, not combat abilities."

"The delinquents ran at the first sign of trouble," Sora continued, clearly disgusted. "So much for volunteering for security duty."

"We stepped up," Yuto said with unexpected pride. "All those gaming sessions paid off—we understood our abilities almost instinctively."

"Miyako and Airi joined in immediately," Hiroko added. "They both got impressive combat classes. Eventually some of the jocks realised their enhanced physical attributes were useful and joined the fight."

"We won," Kazuki summarised. "No fatalities, though several people got injured. Sakura and the other healers took care of them."

"After that, Emi—she got a cook class—figured out that orc meat is edible," Yuto continued. "Tastes like pork, apparently. Aoi's food analyser ability confirmed it was safe."

"Some people were grossed out," Sakura said with a small smile. "But hunger is a powerful motivator."

I suddenly remembered the nerds enthusiastically harvesting the orc corpses earlier. "So that's why they were collecting the meat," I muttered. "And Hiroko knew but didn't say anything." No wonder she had that sly smile when I questioned it.

"You should try it next time," Kazuki suggested. "Sakura's pretty good at seasoning it."

I gave a noncommittal shrug. "Maybe." The idea of eating monster meat, no matter how pork-like, wasn't exactly appetising after seeing those creatures up close.

"So, everyone started working together after the attack?" I asked hopefully.

The collective grimace told me everything.

"It went well for about half a day," Kazuki said dryly. "Then the Populares decided that building shelters was 'beneath them' since they'd helped with food preparation. The studious boys followed suit, claiming they needed to study their magical texts instead of doing manual labour."

"Soon the delinquents stopped helping too," Sora added. "Why work if others aren't? Classic free-rider problem."

"No matter how much Hina and Amakata-sensei tried to get everyone back on track, the damage was done," Hiroko sighed. "By the end of the second day, only the class reps, the jocks, the gyarus, the sporty girls, the two studious girls and us were still doing the actual work to maintain the camp."

"What about Miyuki and Mochitsuki?" I asked. "And I noticed the studious boys and girls aren't working together anymore. What happened there?"

Hiroko and Sakura exchanged glances.

"The studious girls and boys had a falling out," Hiroko explained. "Apparently goes back to the white room during selection."

"White room?" I asked. "Oh, the selection room?"

"Yeah, that room. But right, you wouldn't know," Sakura said. "When we first arrived, we were all in this weird white space where we had to choose our classes. The studious guys were complete jerks to Miyako, Airi and us who were trying to help them."

"When things got tense at camp," Yuto added, "Emi and Yuna used that as their final excuse to split off. Said they were tired of the boys' attitude."

"As for the sisters, we don't know where they are," Sakura continued. "They never appeared with us even though we were in the same room together and we helped them with their selections."

"I've been worried about them," I said with a frown. "And their mother, Naomi-san. She was transported here too."

Hiroko suddenly looked at me with intense curiosity. "Wait, is their mum in this world too? Kimochi-san? Why would she be transported if she wasn't in the classroom?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "That's... actually my fault. I went to their house to warn her about what was happening, but the transportation circle meant for me expanded. She got caught in it while I managed to jump away at the last second."

Their eyes widened in collective shock.

A heavy silence hung in the air. Desperate to move past my confession, I quickly pivoted. "So that's why you left the camp? Got tired of doing all the work?" I asked.

They exchanged those meaningful glances again.

"That was part of it," Kazuki said carefully. "But not the main reason."

"What happened?" I pressed.

Hiroko bit her lip. "It's... complicated, Andie-kun."

"And not really why we're out here now," Sakura added quickly. "We actually left to look for you and the others who were missing."

I could tell they were deflecting, but I decided not to push it. Whatever had happened at the main camp, they weren't ready to share it yet.

"Have you found anyone else?" I asked instead.

"We spotted Shinji with the delinquents yesterday," Yuto replied. "That was unexpected."

"I saw them too," I admitted. "Seemed like an odd pairing."

"The delinquents actually seemed protective of him," Sora added with a puzzled expression. "Which is weird, considering how they used to treat him."

"Alliance of necessity, maybe," Kazuki suggested. "Shinji's surprisingly good with tools and survival techniques. His knowledge is valuable to them."

As our conversation wound down, the practical matter of sleeping arrangements became unavoidable. I looked around my cave, seeing it with new eyes. What had seemed perfectly adequate for one person now felt cramped and lacking in the most basic necessities for group living.

"So, about sleeping arrangements..." I began awkwardly. "I only have the one bed area, but I can make some temporary pallets with moss—"

Hiroko and Sakura exchanged uncomfortable glances, and I immediately understood their concern.

"Right," I said, coming to a decision. "I think it's time for some renovations."

"Renovations?" Kazuki asked, raising an eyebrow. "At this hour?"

I stood up, stretching my arms. "My Transform skill has gotten stronger since I first shaped this place. The cave system actually extends further back than what I've developed so far." I gestured toward the rear wall. "There's plenty of space to expand; I just never needed it before."

"You're going to reshape the cave right now?" Yuto asked, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "That is so cool! Can we watch?"

I couldn't help but smile at his excitement. "Sure, but you might want to stand back. I've never attempted anything this large before."

My friends moved to the entrance area while I positioned myself in the centre of the main chamber. Closing my eyes, I reached out with my awareness, feeling the stone around me. Unlike my initial transformation of the cave, which had been purely practical and focused on basic necessities, this time I had a clear vision in mind.

"What are you going to do exactly?" Sakura asked.

"Create a proper living space for all of us," I replied, eyes still closed as I concentrated. "With room for more, if we find others."

Taking a deep breath, I placed my palms against the stone floor and activated my Transform skill. Immediately, I felt the connection strengthen, spreading outward from my hands like ripples in a pond. The cave responded to my will, the stone softening like clay beneath my touch.

"Whoa..." Sora whispered as the floor began to shimmer with a subtle blue glow.

I directed my awareness toward the back wall, which rippled and then retreated, revealing the natural cavern beyond. With careful precision, I smoothed the uneven floor and ceiling, creating a spacious chamber that would become our shared living area—a great hall of sorts.

"This will be the central gathering space," I explained as I worked. "For dining and general assembly."

The stone flowed like water, rising at my command to form a long central table with benches on either side. Above, crystals formed in the ceiling, arranged in a pattern that would provide even illumination throughout the space.

Next, I focused on the left side of the expanding cavern, mentally sectioning off a portion. "Kitchen here," I murmured, "with storage nearby."

The stone reshaped itself, creating a defined kitchen area with countertops, a hearth, and storage shelves. Adjacent to this, a smaller room took shape—a cellar for food preservation, with specialised niches for different types of ingredients.

"The cave maintains a constant cool temperature in certain areas," I explained to my awestruck friends. "Perfect for storing perishables."

"This is incredible," Hiroko breathed, watching as the transformation continued.

Moving to the right side, I concentrated again. "Workshop and storage for crafting materials," I declared, willing the stone to form specialised workbenches, shelving, and compartmentalised storage.

The most challenging part came next. I turned my attention to the rear of the great hall, concentrating intensely as I visualised two separate wings extending outward.

"Male sleeping quarters to the left," I said, my voice strained with effort as the stone responded, creating a chamber with raised platforms that could serve as bed frames. "Female sleeping quarters to the right."

The walls between these areas thickened, providing structural support and a measure of privacy. I added doorways to each wing, focusing intently as I shaped simple but functional stone doors that could be closed when desired.

"Last but not least," I muttered, beads of sweat forming on my forehead from the prolonged exertion. I directed my awareness to a natural crevice I'd sensed earlier, where underground water flowed. Carefully, I expanded this area, creating a proper bathing chamber with channels to direct the flow of water into a larger pool. The water's natural warmth—likely from some geothermal feature—made it perfect for bathing.

As I finished shaping the final details, a notification appeared in my HUD:

[SKILL LEVEL UP: Transform → Level 5] Enhanced Properties: Can now reshape up to 800 cubic metres of material simultaneously (previously 400); Transformed materials retain 98% structural integrity compared to natural state (previously 95%) New Application: Limited aesthetic enhancement—can now impart decorative elements and surface patterns to transformed materials

With a deep breath, I released the skill, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The blue glow faded from the stone, leaving behind a dramatically transformed space—no longer a simple cave, but a proper dwelling that could comfortably house our group and more.

"It's done," I said wearily, sitting back on my heels.

For a moment, my friends stood in stunned silence, taking in the transformation.

"Andie," Kazuki finally said, his voice hushed with awe, "this is... incredible."

"It's like something from a fantasy novel," Hiroko agreed, stepping forward to run her fingers along one of the newly formed walls.

Sakura approached me with concern in her eyes. "Are you alright? That looked like it took a lot out of you."

"I'm fine," I assured her, though the fatigue was evident in my voice. "Just used more energy than expected."

Sora and Yuto had already begun exploring the expanded space, exclaiming over each new discovery.

"The workshop has specialised tool mounts!" Yuto called from the crafting area. "And look at these storage compartments—they're even labelled!"

"Did you mean to add these designs?" Sora asked, pointing to subtle patterns that now adorned the walls of the great hall—flowing lines that resembled vines or waves.

I blinked in surprise. "No... that must be the aesthetic enhancement feature I just unlocked. The skill seems to have added them automatically."

"They're beautiful," Hiroko said with genuine appreciation. "Makes it feel less like a cave and more like a home."

A strange warmth spread through my chest at her words. Home. I hadn't thought of any place as home since arriving in this world, but looking at the transformed space—and seeing my friends within it—the word suddenly felt appropriate.

"There's just one more thing," I said, climbing to my feet. I moved to the entrance of our new dwelling and placed my hands on the stone arch. "Security and recognition enchantments need to be updated."

Using my Enchant skill, I modified the existing protections to recognise each of my friends as authorised residents. The runes glowed briefly as they accepted the new parameters.

"There," I said with satisfaction. "Now you're all officially registered with the cave. It will recognise and admit you automatically."

Kazuki clapped a hand on my shoulder. "You've created something special here, Andie. Seriously—this could be a real base of operations, not just a temporary shelter."

I nodded, surveying our new living space with a mixture of pride and something like nervousness. This was a big step—from solitary survivor to... what? Group leader? Host? I wasn't sure I was ready for that responsibility, but looking at my friends' excited faces, I couldn't regret the decision.

"Well," I said with a small smile, "welcome to your new home, I guess. At least until we figure out what's next."

"I'll take the first watch," Sora volunteered. "You should rest after all that."

"I'll help get everyone settled," Sakura added. "You've done more than enough."

As my friends dispersed to explore their new living quarters, I found myself standing alone in the great hall, contemplating the transformation—not just of the cave, but of my situation. In the span of a single evening, I'd gone from solitary hermit to the host of a growing community.

It was terrifying and comforting in equal measure.

"So much for my bachelor cave," I murmured to myself with a wry smile. But watching Hiroko and Sakura excitedly arranging their belongings in the female wing, seeing Kazuki and Yuto already discussing workshop improvements, I couldn't bring myself to regret the change.

As the night grew later, our conversation drifted to lighter topics—comparing our new abilities, sharing discoveries about this world's mechanics, and speculating about why we'd been brought here in the first place. It felt almost normal, like one of our weekend gaming sessions back home, but now in a space that felt both communal and comfortable.

"You know what's weird?" I said as we gathered in the great hall before retiring for the night. "I'm actually more social here than I was back home."

"Isekai personality upgrade," Kazuki joked. "All the protagonists get them."

"Or maybe it's just easier to connect when we're all facing the same bizarre situation," Hiroko suggested more thoughtfully.

"Or maybe," Sakura added with a gentle smile, "you're just more comfortable with us than you were with the larger class group."

There was probably some truth to all three explanations.

"Well, whatever the reason," I said, gesturing to our expanded living space, "I guess I'm officially a host now. Try not to be too demanding as houseguests."

Kazuki laughed. "No promises. But seriously, Andie, thank you for this. Not everyone would have been so welcoming."

As my friends retired to their respective wings for the night, I remained in the great hall a while longer, contemplating what I'd learned. The class was fractured and disorganised, Naomi-san was still missing, and my friends were hiding something about why they'd really left the main camp.

But now, at least, we had a proper base—a sanctuary where we could gather our strength and plan our next moves. The transformation from my solitary cave to this communal dwelling represented more than just a change in living arrangements; it symbolised a shift in my approach to this world.

"Well," I murmured to myself, running my hand along the smooth stone surface of the central table, "I guess some things are universal constants. No matter what world you're in, group projects are still the ultimate test of human cooperation—and we're still failing spectacularly."

But looking around at what we'd accomplished tonight, I allowed myself a small smile. Maybe, just maybe, our little group could do better.