Chapter 62
The time is 8:50 PM.
After replying to an email from Yuka, Isamu logs into Dream Fantasy.
He immediately opens the [Item List] screen from the menu window and selects the [Mask of Anonymity] to equip.
In this game, Isamu is widely recognized.
If someone were to see him alone with Yuka, it might spark unfounded rumors.
He doesn’t mind for himself, but he doesn’t want to cause trouble for Yuka, hence the mask.
Isamu thinks, “Better safe than sorry,” and removes his [Iron Armor], switching his weapon to an [Iron Sword].
Having completed his disguise, Isamu heads towards the square, their meeting place.
Upon arrival, he looks around and spots Yuka sitting on one of the benches in front of the fountain.
Isamu takes a deep breath, whispers “Okay” to himself, and slowly approaches Yuka.
“S-Sorry to keep you waiting!”
“Ah, that voice is Isamu! Good evening!”
Despite his hidden face, Yuka recognizes him immediately.
As expected of someone he’s been with for over four years.
Well, it might be because he had messaged her earlier saying, “I’ll be wearing a mask to prevent everyone from gathering around.”
“Good evening! …Um, shall we go then?”
“Yes!”
Isamu then starts walking towards the magic teleportation circle, making small talk with Yuka along the way.
☆
A few minutes later.
Arriving at [Rookie Forest], Isamu leads Yuka deeper into the woods.
“Alright, this should be good enough.”
Once they reach a secluded spot, Isamu stops and removes his mask.
Yuka peers at his face and lets out a small chuckle.
“W-What is it?”
“Oh, nothing!”
“…I see? Well then, let’s start with some monsters… Oh, perfect timing.”
As Isamu tilts his head in confusion, a Giant Rat appears before them.
“Alright, take this!”
Yuka rushes forward, swinging her staff.
However, due to the low damage, the rat doesn’t fall.
Instead, it launches a counter-attack, and Yuka takes damage.
“You asked for it!”
But Yuka doesn’t flinch and continues to attack relentlessly.
Isamu watches her with a smile on his face.
He doesn’t intervene because he knows that if he attacked the rat now, it would fall in one hit, which wouldn’t be fun for Yuka.
Of course, he’s ready to step in if Yuka gets into real trouble.
Yuka keeps hitting with her staff and taking body slams in return.
After about thirty seconds of back-and-forth, the Giant Rat finally falls.
“…Phew.”
Yuka puts her hand on her chest and lets out a big sigh.
Approaching her, Isamu calls out, “Good job!”
“Thanks! Ah, I leveled up!”
“Oh! So that makes you level 4 now?”
“Yeah! Hey, Isamu. Is it okay if I put these points into light magic too?”
“…Well. Of course, it’s up to you how you distribute your points, but if I were in your position, I’d put those points into close combat weapons like swords or spears. That way, you’d be able to equip weapons and fight more easily than now.”
Currently, Yuka has allocated all her points to light magic.
As a result, while she can heal, she lacks offensive capabilities and can only deal damage by hitting with her staff.
That’s why she struggled to defeat the Giant Rat.
She could output more firepower if she learned Shine Score, the only attack spell in light magic, but that’s still a long way off.
That’s why Isamu thinks she should allocate points to close combat weapons.
Even allocating just one point would allow her to equip weapons and deal decent damage with normal attacks.
“I see! Then maybe I’ll put some points into weapons too! Let’s see…”
Yuka moves her fingers, checking the details of each weapon one by one.
After finishing her review, she smiles sheepishly.
“There are so many, I can’t decide which one’s best. Hey, Isamu, which one do you think is good?”
“Huh, me?”
“Yeah, just for reference!”
“Hmm, let’s see…”
Isamu closes his eyes, racking his brain.
After thinking for about thirty seconds, he comes up with an answer.
“If I had to choose, maybe a rapier?”
He thinks a slender blade like a rapier suits Yuka’s image better than bulky weapons like swords or axes.
That was the only reason Isamu chose the rapier.
After all, if she’s only allocating one point, it doesn’t really matter which weapon she chooses.
“A rapier, huh? Alright, I’ll go with that then!”
“Yeah. Oh, but remember, it’s really just personal preference, so if you prefer another weapon…”
“No, no! Isamu chose it for me, so I’m sticking with the rapier!”
Yuka’s smiling response makes Isamu’s heart skip a beat.
(Could it be that Yuka still…)
For a moment, he considers the possibility, but quickly dismisses the thought.
Yuka’s words are simply meant as “advice from an experienced senior player of this game,” nothing more.
Feeling embarrassed by his misunderstanding, Isamu tries to maintain a calm facade as he responds.
“I see! If that’s what you want, then go for it!”
“Yeah! Let’s do it right away!”
Yuka allocates the point she just gained from leveling up to the rapier skill.
As soon as she equips the [Iron Rapier] she’s had from the start, a Giant Grasshopper appears before them.
“Alright, Yuka, you can do it!”
“Yeah! Hyah!”
Yuka charges forward and stabs the grasshopper’s abdomen with her rapier.
However, due to her low level, she can’t finish it off, and the grasshopper retaliates.
Undeterred, Yuka continues her assault without backing down.
After repeating this exchange, on Yuka’s third thrust, the grasshopper dissolves into particles and disappears.
Immediately after, Yuka turns to Isamu with a smile and a victory sign.
Isamu responds with a smile of his own.
☆
For about two hours, they fight monsters while chatting about various topics:
The friends he has made in this game, like Kaito, Shuka, Elena, and Lucifer.
Isamu’s thoughts on being invited to events and giving explanations in front of many people.
How he became close with the famous Teshigawara announcer through those experiences.
The challenges she’s faced since becoming a store manager.
Her recent ideas for original bread recipes.
“Oh, it’s already this late! I need to go to bed soon.”
Yuka exclaims in a flustered manner after opening her menu window.
“I see, good work.”
“Yeah. Isamu, thank you for spending time with me today! I really had fun!”
“Me too! …Um, by the way.”
“Hm?”
Yuka tilts her head.
Isamu takes a deep breath and musters up the courage to continue.
“…If it’s okay with you, would you like to do this again sometime?”
“Yes, absolutely! I’d love to!”
Yuka answers without a moment’s hesitation.
Relieved by her response, Isamu turns away slightly and lets out a small sigh.
“Great! Then, how about… 9 PM this Friday?”
“Friday at 9 PM, got it. Yes, that works for me! I’m looking forward to it!”
“Great. I’ll message you again later.”
“Okay! Well, I’ll be going now. See you, Isamu! Good night.”
“Yeah, good night! See you!”
With that, Yuka vanishes from sight.
Left alone, Isamu quietly pumps his fist in celebration.
Afterwards, he returns to [Starting Town] where he happens to run into some of his former students in the square and enjoys playing the game with them.
From this day forward, Isamu begins to play the game with Yuka more frequently.
Sub29: My Thoughts on ‘Tutorial Guy’ as the Series Nears Its End
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