Chapter 6
Isamu and the flashy couple move to the Rookie Forest.
There are several other players around.
Killing this couple here could provoke an attack from self-righteous players.
With this in mind, Isamu decides to lead them somewhere out of sight, just as he did with Leon.
「Th-Then follow me.」
「Yeah!」
「Okaaay.」
After walking for a while to a spot with no one else around, Isamu stands still and readies his sword.
(Alright! I’m gonna do it, I’m really gonna do it!)
He’s full of determination.
「Hm? What’s up, old man?」
The flashy guy calls out to him, but Isamu ignores it and kicks off the ground.
And the instant he’s about to slash――
「Ah! L-Look out!」
A Giant Grasshopper appears from behind a tree, about to attack the flashy guy.
Isamu reflexively shoves the guy out of the way and brings his sword down on the oversized insect.
However, his normal attack apparently isn’t enough to finish it off, and he takes a hit from the grasshopper.
But his HP only drops from 80 to 79.
Thanks to his iron armor, it only decreased by 1.
(Heh, weakling!)
Isamu swings his sword again and drives off the Giant Grasshopper.
「O-Old man…」
「Hm?」
Reacting to the voice, Isamu glances over at the flashy guy to see him sitting on the ground.
Looks like Isamu pushed him harder than intended.
This could be bad. The guy might get pissed.
「S-Sorry! There was a monster――」
「Thanks a ton for saving me! I totally didn’t notice it.」
The flashy guy cuts Isamu off to express his gratitude.
Surprised by the unexpected response, Isamu replies.
「Uhh, um, y-you’re welcome. Are you okay?」
「Yeah! Man, you’re crazy strong, old man!」
「Yeah, that was like, super cool!」
「Dude! Teach us your ways, old man!」
The flashy guy excitedly approaches Isamu.
「S-Sure thing. Well, first open your menu window and――」
Swept along by their enthusiasm, Isamu ends up agreeing to teach the two of them.
「Menu window?」
The flashy guy asks in return.
Judging by the fact that he’s not holding any weapons, he likely doesn’t know how to equip them.
That’s what Isamu figured when he told them to open the menu window, but――
(Don’t tell me this couple also…)
「Hey, you. Have you heard of the tutorial?」
「Oh, that thing at the start? ‘Course I skipped it.」
「Same here. I’m the type who can’t be bothered to read instructions and stuff.」
Isamu’s guess was spot on.
This couple seems to have skipped the tutorial, just like Leon did.
「Hah…」
Why don’t they listen to the tutorial?
No wonder they don’t know anything.
The words nearly slip out, but Isamu swallows them back.
Being timid, he’s afraid of angering them.
「Well, the menu window is――」
Isamu proceeds to explain how to open the menu window, just as he did for Leon.
After finishing his explanation on skill points――
「Aight, guess I’ll go with this greatsword then! Big swords are seriously badass, y’know!」
「Then I’ll take light magic. Looks like I can heal allies with it, so I’ll patch you up, babe!」
「Oh, then I gotta protect Emi real good!」
The two decide on their skills while being all lovey-dovey.
Isamu feels his guts boiling with irritation, but somehow manages to suppress it.
He then teaches them how to equip items, and the flashy guy takes a greatsword while the flashy girl takes a staff.
「Okay. Then let’s go fight some monsters… Oh, but first, gotta tell your girlfriend how to use magic.」
「Ahahah, ‘your girlfriend’. Just call me Emi.」
「I’m Kaito! Old man, feel free to call Emi ‘babe’ like I do.」
「R-Right. I’m Sieg… Well, old man works too. Anyway, Emi. Like this, hold out your hand towards Kaito.」
Isamu extends his hand in Kaito’s direction.
This is how you select the target for the magic.
「Like this?」
「Yeah. Now try saying ‘Light of healing, dwell within this one’」
「Okaaay. Light of healing, dwell within him! …Whoa!」
Chanting the spell causes a magic circle to form at her fingertips.
「Then, ‘Heal’.」
「Heal!」
Speaking the technique name triggers the recovery magic.
Kaito’s body is enveloped in light.
「Awesome!」
「I did it!」
「That’ll restore 30 HP. Use it when you take damage.」
「Good to know! Oh, then… Light of healing, dwell within this one! Heal!」
Emi activates the recovery magic ―― Heal ―― towards Isamu.
Surprised by her action, Isamu speaks up.
「…Huh? Why me?」
「You took that hit for Kaito earlier!」
「O-Oh, right. Thanks!」
「No problemo!」
(Huh. They’re actually pretty decent folks, despite how they look. Guess I’ll lay off killing these two.)
He had already lost any such inclination, but Isamu reaffirms that thought.
After teaching Kaito how to fight and spending several dozen minutes beating monsters together――
「Yo old man, you know what time it is?」
「Hmm, gimme a sec… It’s almost 4 PM.」
「That late already? Then those guys are probably coming soon, right?」
「Yeah. We should head back to town.」
「Oh, then I’ll guide you back.」
「Huh? You sure, old man?」
「Yeah. We’re pretty deep in, so you two might get lost on your own.」
Besides, although he got a bit carried away, Isamu’s original goal is PKing.
He needs to return to town once to find a new target.
(Well, I’ll just do it while I’m at it.)
Isamu, unable to be upfront, decides to think of it that way.
「That’s a huge help! Seriously, thanks for everything.」
「Old man, you’re the best! Glad we talked to you!」
「N-No problem! Shall we go then?」
It’s been a while since anyone thanked him.
Feeling embarrassed and awkward, Isamu takes the lead and starts walking.
「――Oh yeah, old man. You can make friends in this game like on social media and stuff, right? Let’s be friends!」
「Yeah, friends!」
「Huh? With me?」
「Yeah! Might as well, y’know!」
「…Alright. I’ll send you a request then.」
When they accept Isamu’s friend request, Kaito and Emi’s names are added to his friend list.
That makes three.
To Isamu, who never had any friends before, it feels like a dream.
☆
「Old man, thanks a bunch for today! See ya ’round!」
「Thanks! Byeee!」
After arriving at Starting Town, the flashy couple says their goodbyes and leaves.
「Thanks, huh…」
Isamu mutters while watching their retreating backs.
A happiness he’s never felt before.
His usually dark and murky heart feels transparent, if only for now.
(No, no no! I started this game to hunt newbies!)
「Alright!」
Isamu heads towards the plaza in front of the fountain to search for a new target.
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