Chapter 31: Katya, Heartbroken

What should I do?

Cass—Cassia.

Wearing breathable, sweat-absorbing sports underwear, she sat helplessly on the floor of her own dressing room.

After finishing the morning classes, she went to the Dungeon with her teammates Bried and Kersey to level up again.

After they parted, it was around 5 o’clock.

Cassia hurried home.

She took out her phone again to check the messages—

‘Tonight at 7, Dungeon Commercial District 2nd Floor, McDanlaw, meet up’

The name on the friend request note at that time was Siloque.

Looking at the ID, it was “Lonely Indifference,” the same person who had previously sent her a reminder.

So it was you—!!

She had just felt down after Siloque rejected her party invitation, but then suddenly received Siloque’s friend request.

Recognizing it was the same person who sent her the message as a stranger before left Cassia caught off guard.

Before Cassia could calm down, Siloque sent another message—

“It doesn’t have to be today. As long as it’s during break time, I just want to meet you.”

When she received this message, Cassia’s face showed a surprised expression, then her cheeks flushed with red.

After hesitating for a while, she still replied: ‘I’m free, tonight at 7 is fine.’

She changed the ending emoji several times, but none felt appropriate, so she used her favorite Precure Ailulu emoji.

Wait, if I use this, will he think I’m childish…

She remembered the day she gave Siloque the potion, and his downward-curved willow eyebrows.

Could it be that what Siloque likes isn’t Ailulu, but the rival, the Dark Witch Mesco?

She didn’t realize the real reason for Siloque’s subtle expression.

For Cassia, who had always attended the Classroom and then got busy leveling up, this was her first time receiving an invitation from a boy.

She thought of their first meeting, when Siloque helped her carry a box.

Giving her helpful items.

Standing up to block an attack and encouraging her at the same time.

He’s just like the protagonist of some shoujo manga!

No—not just that.

When she heard his voice.

When she smelled his scent.

When she touched his hand.

—There was an indescribable surge of emotion rising inside her.

“….Ahhhhh, which outfit should I wear for the date?”

Cassia hugged her head shyly.

What exactly is this feeling? A mysterious sensation that’s hard to describe.

It’s definitely not unpleasant, but it keeps stirring in her heart, a strange, inexplicable feeling.

“Could this be….”

***

Siloque sat at a table in McDanlaw, still an hour before the meeting time, planning the next leveling route on the ring-tablet window.

His leg bounced unconsciously, a smile spreading on his face.

The reason was simple: Beiren had agreed.

—What do you want me to do if you win Hope?…..I’ll tell you when I think of it—

After receiving this reply, Siloque’s motivation ignited with a whoosh.

If he won, it would be a Victory Date.

If he lost… an unknown request.

His sister Hill hadn’t come; she was busy with the Explorer Qualification Exam.

This time, he called Cass out to level up.

Two people leveling up together meant someone could watch his back.

It was much safer, and they could venture into more dangerous areas with higher EXP.

Siloque dragged the equipment window onto the ring-tablet, the corners of his mouth lifting uncontrollably.

What was once an empty window was now filled with items.

A blue-gray, simple leather armor.

A brand-new, sharp, reinforced greatsword.

Luminescent powder, healing potion, and other support items.

Even though these new purchases were just starter gear, they were all obtained through his own adventures.

Siloque snickered, a sense of player satisfaction rising in his heart.

But he knew deep down.

Even with full preparations, as long as he kept descending into the Dungeon for battles where victory wasn’t guaranteed, there would come a day when Lady Luck would betray him.

One must never let their guard down, and always carry a sense of awe.

Still, being an Explorer was a profitable job.

Just one Dungeon run was enough to repay Beiren, with leftover money to buy armor.

Siloque had already decided on a goal—save money.

To gain stronger, better, and more controllable skills, starting with today’s Dungeon exploration, he needed to start saving up.

Once he unlocked the Dungeon Shop deep on the second floor, he could ask the Demoness Shopkeeper there to exchange for rare skills.

He couldn’t wait to dive into the Dungeon! He really wanted to try out the feel of the new weapon. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have set the time at 7—6 would have been better…

As Siloque was thinking this, a bustling noise came from nearby.

Mainly female voices.

A side quest spawned?

Siloque looked toward the source of the noise, only to see…

A very handsome person surrounded by a crowd, awkwardly making a rejecting gesture.

It was Cass.

Among the onlookers—mostly women—some were even secretly taking photos with their phones.

Cass glanced around, and the moment he met Siloque’s gaze, he walked elegantly and directly over to Siloque.

Siloque stared at him in a daze, mainly out of confusion.

Cass’s already flowing blue hair was styled even more elegantly, and the tailored suit made him look even more impressive, his every gesture exuding a natural noble aura.

Why did he dress up like this to see me? Young master, are you applying to be a host?

Compared to Siloque’s jeans and gray hoodie, he looked like a complete commoner.

“Siloque, right? You’re early.”

“Haha… I regret coming so early now.”

Hearing Siloque say this, Cass checked the time and shyly lowered his shoulders.

Siloque got goosebumps.

Is this really the Cass I know?

In the second playthrough, he’s a yandere pure-love warrior who’d kill anyone who stands between him and his wife.

But…

This is first-round Cass: sunny, cheerful, a good guy.

From the distance, the newly formed Cass female fan club was glaring with jealousy so strong it could pierce Siloque like a sieve.

Siloque realized from his own misleading appearance what was going on.

They must have mistaken me for Cass’s girlfriend.

He wanted to pretend he didn’t know Cass, but it was too late.

“We’re classmates. Don’t use honorifics. Why are you wearing a suit? I didn’t call you out for an international fashion show.”

“Sorry, I’ve never been out with a boy before, so I might do something wrong…”

“….”

Siloque looked at Cass’s sincere expression and knew he meant no harm, but still felt speechless.

We need to get out of here quickly, or the fan club will burn me alive!

Because Cass’s handsomeness drew too much attention, Siloque dragged him away from the scene.

After explaining the circumstances, he made Cass change into something more low-key.

After learning the truth, Cass looked especially dejected.

“S-so that’s how it is… Sorry, I don’t know why I got so excited myself…”

Cass wiped away a tear that had slipped from the corner of his eye.

Which made Siloque even more afraid.

Why are you sad? Is this guy really gay?

Just thinking about going into the Dungeon with him made Siloque sweat and his back chill.

***

“Too smooth…. It’s scary.”

Bried looked at the position on the ring-tablet.

One hand rested on the hilt of her sword as she walked through Area C on the first level.

As for why Bried stayed behind, besides the simple reason of leveling up, she was also curious…

A little bit curious.

The leveling spot Siloque recommended to her.

She wanted to check it out.

The info included not just the location but also details about hidden traps, treasure chests not to touch, monster weaknesses, and habits—all marked clearly.

If this information was accurate, a round trip wouldn’t take much time.

To say Bried wasn’t surprised would be a lie.

Siloque wasn’t doing this on a whim, nor was he slacking off.

He was facing the Dungeon challenge with all his strength.

You could tell just by the detailed intel—he must have spent a lot of time gathering it.

Imagining Siloque frowning and poring over reference books, Bried felt both gratified and fulfilled.

A sense of happiness, like a child growing up and becoming responsible.

At first, she thought Siloque was just saying whatever, but realizing how serious he was, she felt that not checking it out in person would be disrespectful to his efforts.

She strolled along as if shopping, thinking she could follow the intel all the way without incident.

“?!”

Suddenly, she saw a four-person team ahead at the corner.

Before they noticed her, Bried left the main road and hid in the shadows of rocks by the roadside.

The leading man had bright red hair, surrounded by his cronies.

Bried gritted her teeth, recalling a very unpleasant memory.

There was now a bite mark running across the red-haired man’s face.

Even if he turned to ashes, Bried would recognize him.

“Cliff, you came to level up too?”

Bried whispered, her palm sweating as she gripped the warm hilt of her Sword of Love.