Chapter 18
Zero cocked his head in confusion.
"Teron faction?"
"Well, you're a commoner, but we'll take good care of you. You should realize by now, seeing that we've obtained confidential information like the admission rankings, that the power of the Teron faction is beyond your imagination."
Listening to the conversation, Luna bit her lip.
In the noble academy, they not only form factions but also extract confidential information?
To think that nobles would stoop to such dirty deeds.
It was unbelievable.
"There are too many arrogant people like her. They need to be taught a lesson. It's our duty, right?"
"Keke, I'll think about it."
"Alright. Today doesn't seem like the right time for this discussion. Let's talk later. Oh, and I wouldn't recommend associating with such lowly people."
With those words, Godner and the children left.
Luna staggered to her feet. Zero had already approached her.
"Keke, are you alright?"
The embarrassment was brief.
Luna was lost in thought.
Zero.
A mysterious boy who seemed to know the secrets of her family.
Usually, he was a playful, ordinary boy.
But when it came to fighting.
'Scary.'
Facing him now, she felt the fear intensify.
What was his purpose?
Why was he so nice to her?
Why did he treat her well?
Why, just why.
'He keeps coming closer.'
She had nothing - no money, no honor, no family backing, no friends, nothing.
Just a foul temper.
Yet Zero kept coming closer. She couldn't understand why.
"Luna, are you alright?"
"Go away."
"You're bleeding. We should go to the infirmary first..."
"Don't be nice to me! In the end, you want something from me too!"
What did he want?
Why, just why.
"Why are you being nice to me!"
Her voice erupted with emotion.
Zero's reply was simple.
"Because we're friends."
"...Friends? Don't talk nonsense. You had a purpose in the beginning."
During the fight with the transparent slime, Zero had said he was testing her skills.
For 'some purpose.'
So, Zero calling them friends was clearly nonsense.
"That's right. Initially, I did. But not anymore."
"...?"
"Luna, I like you as a person."
"...That's a lie."
"Well, if Luna doesn't think so, there's nothing I can do. But I genuinely want to be friends."
Zero smiled.
It was a lie. It had to be.
But why did she feel like pretending to believe him and taking his hand?
"Then reveal a secret. You know something about my family, right? If we're friends, you should tell me everything. That's only fair."
"Don't you see? It's precisely because we're friends that I do this."
"Explain it to me. No beating around the bush."
"If I tell you what I know, what will you do?"
Naturally, she'd have to go kill them immediately. "Given Luna's personality, you'd draw your sword and attack right away. Do you think your revenge will be successful? It will end without you killing anyone. And if you do manage to kill anyone, it will be of the lower ranks."
"..."
"Not only that. You'll be recorded as a madwoman who attacked people suddenly, and the Lester family will suffer humiliation forever."
Luna was speechless, hit right where it hurt.
Yes, she needed help.
She, having nothing but a bad temper, needed someone like Zero.
But she couldn't trust him.
She wanted to trust Zero, but she couldn't.
'What should I do?'
As she was unable to decide, Zero, as if having a brilliant idea, raised his index finger and said,
"I understand Luna's anxiety. How about we do this?"
"?"
"If you help me whenever I ask for it, I'll grant you the right to ask a question."
"...A right?"
"Yes. One question for every time you help. Don't think of it as a loss. In my view, it's much more beneficial for you, Luna."
A question, huh. Certainly, with that condition, even a single question could reveal her enemies.
But would Zero really tell the truth?
She scrutinized his eyes as she looked at him.
Damn it, his slit eyes make it impossible to read him.
That's really cheating.
"Fine. Let me know whenever you need something. I'll listen to anything."
"Keke, that's a risky statement. Remember, I'm a man too."
Slap!
Luna smacked Zero on the forehead.
Such a pervert. She couldn't let her guard down for even a moment.
"Luna, why are you hitting me?"
"Not knowing why you deserve it is reason enough. Anyway, fine. Let's do that."
"Huh? Do what..."
"You know what I'm saying."
Luna brushed past Zero.
One question for each time she helped him. She actually found this arrangement more comfortable.
Well, this meant the previous condition had to be met first.
"Take care of me from now on, Zero."
The words she muttered after parting from Zero.
He wouldn't have heard them.
For the first time since she was ten, Luna had made a friend.
* * *
[You have met the quest conditions.]
[Make a Friend (2/3).]
"Keke, seems like it worked."
I rubbed my forehead, still smarting from Luna's surprisingly strong hit.
I replayed the recent situation in my mind.
'I was lucky. If those guys hadn't recognized me...'
The information about unofficially being the third in the entrance exam.
Without that, I would've ended up just like Luna.
Then my whole concept would've been ruined, greatly restricting my actions.
Threatening with the [Eye Opening] skill could change the situation, but that was a 50-50 chance.
I didn't want to take such risks unless necessary.
'I can only let things slide so many times. What I really need now is...'
Combat skills.
With [Predation], I had the foundation to grow stronger.
But I lacked the power to tackle bosses and named monsters.
I had Luna, but...
'To keep deceiving Luna, I need some power.'
The more mysterious my existence, the longer I could hold onto her.
But a new hidden piece wouldn't be available until midterms.
'What should I do?'
That's when a parrot suddenly fell from the sky and landed on my shoulder.
"Demon! Danger! Save me! Help!"
The parrot screamed as if its life depended on it, almost bursting my eardrums.
But I didn't shoo it away. I knew the story behind this bird.
"Keke, I'll make you comfortable soon. Just hold on a little longer."
The parrot, the only friend of an 'unknown hero' who had died in a near-accident.
But there was nothing I could do for it now.
Just wait until Episode 3 started.
"Friend! Danger! Help!"
"Friend, huh... I could use one of those. If only one would just drop out of the sky..."
"Friend! Good! You! Friend!"
The parrot's cries.
At the same time, a blue window appeared in front of me.
[You have met the quest conditions.]
[Make a Friend (3/3)].
[You have cleared Main Quest#2, 'Make a Friend!']
[As a reward, you receive 100exp, 10 gold, and [Pocket Dimension S].]
"...Even if it's not a human, it counts?"
It was like a cow backing up and accidentally catching a mouse.
The condition was 'to genuinely consider you a friend,' but that made it all the easier to accomplish.
This parrot desperately needed someone to help.
"Friend! Help me! Friend! Save me!"
"Keke, I appreciate you helping with the quest, but... that's difficult for me. Instead, let me at least clean you up."
I activated the [Clean] skill on the parrot.
That was all I could do for it at the moment.
But then.
"Hm?"
The parrot underwent a change.
Curious, I used the [Clean] skill a few more times, and clearly saw the result.
A hidden piece that could only be cleared in Episode 3, one of the top three game-breaking hidden pieces.
I had found a way to obtain it.
* * *
"So, this magic circle is..."
The morning lecture had started again today.
But I couldn't focus at all.
'Is it possible? Or, is it too difficult?'
The possibility I saw from experimenting with the parrot.
But it was just a possibility, not a certainty.
But if it were possible...
"Hey! What are you doing? Aren't you coming to eat?"
"Ah... Yes, I should."
"What have you been doing these past few days, spacing out like that?"
Luna grumbled. But it couldn't be helped.
Before I knew it, it was already Friday.
The moment of decision had arrived.
'Academy students can only go out on weekends.'
This hidden piece started in the town square.
It would take at least a week, maybe more.
But at the crucial moment, if it turned out that the possibility was 0%, I would be furious.
"Hey! Are you coming to eat or not?"
"Yes, yes. I'm coming, Luna."
I tucked my textbook into my pocket.
Luna looked at me strangely.
It's unusual for someone to put a book in their pocket, after all.
But I wasn't uncomfortable at all.
[Pocket Dimension: S]
You can store all non-living items.
If the user dies, all stored items will be destroyed.
The second main quest was to make three friends.
I completed it and received as rewards 10 gold, a level up, and [Pocket Dimension].
To put it simply, it's like having an infinite inventory space.
'One of the must-have skills for veterans, and I got it as a quest reward.'
I was lucky.
Normally, I wouldn't have been able to get this skill until after Episode 4.
By the way, the third main quest hadn't appeared yet.
'Did I complete the second main quest too quickly?'
Well, that was indeed the case.
It was a quest difficult enough to take at least a month for anyone else.
In this world, slit-eyed characters are seen in the worst light.
Yet I made three friends in just one day.
'Keke, I am indeed amazing.'
I would have bragged about it non-stop if I could connect to the pro gamers' community.
It was a shame I couldn't.
"Laughing again? You're really out of your mind."
"Keke, isn't the food just too delicious?"
A curry topped with a mountain of chicken.
The excellent visual and taste made half of my worries disappear.
Not all, but half.
That's how deep my worries were, not even chicken curry could cover them.
About halfway through the meal.
Luna spoke up.
"Hey."
"Keke, please, speak."
"If you have a problem, just spill it. Don't suffer alone like a dog."
I must have been worrying a lot. Even Luna was saying such things to me.
Her eyes were seriously concerned. That's when I made up my mind.
Yeah, what's the use of worrying? Just do it.
Go for it, like a man.
"Luna."
I spoke with a serious gaze.
To go for it (sort of) like a man.
--TL Notes--
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