Do you want to team up with me?
He’s reciting some kind of death spell.
Indeed, there’s no better teammate than Cass.
The problem is, now isn’t the time.
In the original storyline, you wouldn’t have approached me, and I shouldn’t even exist here.
Siloque regretted it—if he’d known, he would’ve left instead of staying to watch the show.
“Why not? I think if Siloque joins, our team strength would double.”
“I don’t want to challenge Cliff. Sorry, I refuse.”
“No one said you have to challenge with us. I just meant teaming up for regular school tasks.”
“Then you don’t need to pick me. That one over there, and that one—both have higher skill values and better talent. Choosing them makes more sense. I’m the worst of the worst, and if I join, I’m just dead weight.”
“Siloque, you don’t have to put yourself down. Back then, you blocked Cliff’s attack, didn’t you? That proves you have high potential.”
Damn, it’s not like I meant to block it.
Besides, I was the meat shield for you.
You’re the one who took Cliff’s attack head-on, not me.
“If you’re trying to team up with me out of gratitude, don’t bother. When you gave me that high-grade potion, we were even. Bringing a burden like me into the Dungeon would put the whole team in danger.”
“It’s fine.”
Cass’s burning eyes were full of determination.
“I’ll protect you.”
“I warn you not to say that to another man. Or I’ll use all my strength to smack you across the room.”
Especially when Cass says it so earnestly and sincerely.
Siloque was glad he was a guy—if he were a girl, Cass would probably already be thinking of baby names.
Although I’d like to use Bried as an excuse, claiming I’m a Bried stalker…
Forget it, that excuse has expired and can’t be used.
Ah…?
Bried noticed over here.
She was talking to someone else, and from the expectant looks, probably trying to recruit, too.
After saying something to them, Bried walked over to Siloque.
Bried probably wanted to team up with Cass as well, for the stability of the trio.
Come on, hurry up and take Cass away!
“Siloque, are you alone? Want to join us?”
Why—?!
Isn’t this getting further and further from the original script?
Siloque cursed inwardly, but maintained a calm exterior.
“Sorry, thanks for your kindness, but I’m not planning to team up right now.”
With that, Siloque slipped away.
The two watched Siloque’s retreating back. Cass looked regretful.
“I thought we got along pretty well and was sure he’d agree.”
“It’s fine, invite him next time.”
Bried was a bit helpless.
“Maybe he’s just used to being alone and hasn’t adjusted to others’ kindness yet. I believe he’ll join us eventually. Siloque has been working hard lately, and with a in the team to buff us, battles will be easier.”
“True. At least, let’s beat Cliff first to prove our strength.”
“Yeah.”
Bried nodded, then invited Cass.
“By the way, Kolcy and I are going for breakfast. Want to come?”
“Thanks, but I want to try out the Simulated Battle Device. You go ahead without me.”
Bried laughed, as if recalling something amusing.
“Hope no kangaroo-headed monsters show up in the simulated battle.”
“They won’t…..probably.”
Cass and Bried parted ways.
Suddenly, Cass’s ring terminal vibrated.
He brought up the window, and a friend request appeared in the chat.
***
“You said you’re too tired…can’t go to class?…I get it…approved…”
With Priss’s permission, Siloque headed for the Health Room.
At school, what matters is your Graduation Score, so skipping a few classes doesn’t matter.
And if you get a Dungeon faction quest, you can apply for absence depending on the mission scale—up to a month at most…
“What are you doing here if you’re not going to class?”
“To see you.”
“…Sigh. You come to the Health Room way too often. What do you think my colleagues will say? That I’m an immoral teacher seducing students?”
“You want to seduce me?”
“No.”
Beiren instinctively tucked her gray hair behind her ear and turned to organize some files.
“Absolutely not.”
Siloque could tell Beiren was flustered.
To be honest, it was actually Siloque who wanted to seduce Beiren…
“Anyway, you don’t have much work, either. Except for injuries during the Class Placement Exam, higher-level classes have strong enough to heal themselves, not to mention Healing Potions you can buy at the shop. The Health Room is basically for show.”
“Hmph, yeah, yeah, that’s why there are only three school nurses including me. Can you please stop getting injured so often? I just want to slack off in peace.”
After chatting with Beiren, Siloque grabbed a chair and sat down, pulling up the ring terminal window.
He began planning for the Main Character Group and others.
Especially Cass.
As the main character, he needed to be even tougher.
“It really is more relaxing here…”
Hearing Siloque’s sigh, Beiren washed a cup at the sink and poured coffee grounds into the machine.
“Coffee?”
“Sure. Add milk, no sugar.”
“No milk. Just add sugar instead.”
“That works.”
As the coffee brewed, its aroma filled the air.
Beiren poured two cups.
Siloque took a sip, thanked her, and nearly twisted his face from the bitterness.
“Did you really add sugar?”
“Of course.”
Actually, she hadn’t.
Beiren sipped her coffee—laden with six sugar cubes—and watched Siloque through the rising steam.
Compared to strong men, Siloque’s frail look made her want to protect him even more.
Black, shiny hair—what brand of binding spell did he use?
Long eyelashes, lovely green eyes, even slimmer and smaller than me…
I just want to hug and squeeze him tight…
Such a pure and cute guy, and he blew up someone’s car for me last night.
This gap is adorable!
No, no, no, what am I thinking?
Why do I want to hug him so much?
And why do I feel so thirsty…
While Beiren wrestled with her thoughts, Siloque’s focus was elsewhere.
Siloque opened his ring terminal. Cass had already accepted the friend request.
So fast.
Looking at the instant approval, and recalling how Cass and Bried had treated him earlier—
There was no doubt.
Respect and acceptance.
The world line, even if not changed, had at least shifted a bit.
Cass had invited someone like me, who shouldn’t exist.
Bried viewed me differently now—less disdain, more ordinary classmate feelings.
Growing skill values, expanding contact list…
Everything was changing.
Most importantly…there was a late-game BUG skill I could somehow use.
“Heh, this world isn’t as simple as I thought.”
Siloque muttered.
Maybe the moment I shielded Cass, the worldline began to shift.
My original goal hasn’t changed—to keep Cass from heading for a bad end in the first cycle.
Siloque reminded himself.
From now on, I need to consider more, move sooner, and plan with the assumption things will change.
You think a little worldline shift will stop me from killing a Tauren?
Impossible.
Siloque sent Cass a message—
Tonight at 7 PM, Commercial District 2nd Floor, McDanlaw.
Let’s meet.
Turning off the ring terminal, Siloque noticed Beiren watching him.
Their eyes met, and Beiren quickly started drinking her coffee.
“Cough! Haah, haah…”
The coffee was still too hot, and Beiren choked, sticking out her tongue…
Siloque smiled knowingly and handed her a cup of cold water to cool off.
“Cass from my class—you know, the blue-haired one—he’s dueling Cliff next month.”
“…I know. Why bring it up suddenly? You can see the Arena reservation for May 7th.”
Beiren dipped her pink tongue in the cold water.
“Who do you think will win?”
“Are you serious?”
Beiren gave a ‘why even ask’ expression.
“Just so you know, I don’t like the red-haired guy…but there’s basically no doubt he’ll win.”
As expected.
“Why?”
“Level gap, experience, wide-area field talent, hidden item buffs, more subordinates—too many disadvantages stacked against Cass.”
Beiren’s guess was spot on.
In the first cycle, Cass would never have won against all that.
My goal is to make sure he does.
“I think Cass will win.”
“I get that you want to root for your classmate, but impossible things are impossible.”
“…Beiren, let’s make a bet.”
“On the outcome?”
“Yeah. I bet Cass wins.”
Beiren grinned, intrigued.
“I accept.”
Seeing Beiren take the bait, Siloque snapped his fingers in his mind.
Beiren swirled her coffee with a victor’s air.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll win, but just in case—what do you want if you win? Nothing pervy allowed.”
“You’re the one thinking pervy things.”
“Shut up, I’m not. I’m just warning you.”
“If I win…”
Siloque locked eyes with Beiren.
No way…is it really something pervy? No way…
Beiren unconsciously started to anticipate.
Siloque strengthened his resolve, determined to make Cass win, and grinned.
“May 9th. It’s a Sunday. Go on a date with me.”