Chapter 18

18. Please Be My Friend (4)

Zero tilted his head.

"Teron faction?"

"What, you're just a commoner, but we'll take good care of you. As you can see from the confidential information about the admission ranking, the power of the Teron faction is beyond your imagination."

Luna bit her lip as she listened to the conversation.

Not only do they divide the prestigious academy into factions, but they also extract confidential information?

It's unbelievable that these nobles don't hesitate to do such dirty deeds.

"There are so many arrogant bastards. We need to educate them properly. That's our duty, right? Right?"

"…Hehe, I'll think about it."

"Good. The situation isn't right for talking today. See you later. Oh, I recommend you avoid associating with such lowly people."

With that, Gordner and the children left.

Luna staggered to her feet. Zero was already standing in front of her.

"Hehe, are you okay?"

The embarrassment was brief.

Luna fell into deep thought.

Zero.

A mysterious boy who seems to know the family's secrets.

A regular, playful boy most of the time.

But when it comes to fighting.

'I'm scared.'

Facing him, the fear grows even stronger.

What is his purpose?

Why is he being nice to me?

Why is he doing this?

Why, exactly?

'He keeps coming closer.'

I have no money, no reputation, no family influence, no friends, nothing.

I'm just a kid with a bad temper.

Yet, Zero keeps coming closer. I can't understand it.

"Luna, are you okay?"

"…Get lost."

"You're bleeding. We should go to the infirmary first…"

"Don't be nice to me! You just want something, don't you!"

What do you want?

Why, exactly?

"You're being nice to me, right!"

Her voice burst out, overwhelmed by emotion.

Zero's response was simple.

"Because you're my friend."

"…Friend? Don't joke around. You had a purpose from the beginning."

During the battle with the transparent slime, Zero said he was testing my abilities.

'For some purpose.'

So, when Zero says he's my friend, it's clearly a lie.

"You're right. At first, that was the case. But not anymore."

"…?"

"Luna, I like you as a person."

"…Liar."

"Well, if Luna doesn't believe me, there's nothing I can do. But I genuinely want to be friends."

Zero smiled.

It's a lie. It's definitely a lie.

But why do I want to pretend to believe him and take his hand?

"…Then reveal some secrets. You know something about my family, right? If you're my friend, you should tell me everything. That's only fair."

"Actually, it's because we're friends that I do this, don't you understand?"

"Explain it clearly. Don't beat around the bush."

"Let's say I tell you what I know. What will you do then?"

Of course, I'd go and kill them.

"Luna, you'd draw your sword and attack immediately. Do you think revenge would succeed that way? You wouldn't kill anyone, and if you did, it would just be some underlings."

"…"

"Besides, you'd be recorded as a madwoman who attacked someone, and the Lester family would be disgraced for life."

Struck by the truth, Luna couldn't say a word.

Yes, I need help.

I need someone like Zero to help me, given that I have nothing but a bad temper.

But I can't trust him.

I want to trust Zero, but I can't.

'What should I do?'

While she was at a loss.

Zero raised his index finger as if he had a good idea.

"Luna, I understand your concerns. How about this?"

"?"

"If you help me whenever I ask, I'll give you the right to ask questions."

"…Right to ask questions?"

"Yes. One question for each time you help me. Don't think it's a loss. From what I see, it's a much better deal for you."

Questions, indeed. If the terms are like that, I could learn about my enemies with just one question.

But will Zero really tell the truth?

She looked into his eyes to gauge his sincerity.

Damn, his eyes are half-closed, so I can't see them.

That's cheating, really.

"…Fine. If you need help, just ask. I'll do anything."

"Hehe, that's a dangerous statement. I'm a guy, you know."

Slap!

Luna hit Zero's forehead.

Pervert. I can't let my guard down for a moment.

"Luna, why did you hit me?"

"Just for being you, that's enough reason. Anyway, I get it. Let's do it that way."

"…What do you mean, let's do it that way…"

"You know what I mean."

Luna brushed past Zero.

The deal: one question for each time she helps him.

Luna found this relationship more comfortable.

Well, the conditions would have to be met first.

"Take care, Zero."

The words she said after moving away from Zero.

He probably didn't hear them.

For the first time since she was 10.

Luna had a friend.

* * *

"Hehe, it seems to have worked well."

He rubbed his forehead. Luna's hand was much harsher than it looked.

He replayed the recent events in his mind.

'Got lucky. If those guys hadn't recognized me…'

The information about being the unofficial third in the entrance exam.

Without that, I would have been in the same situation as Luna.

That would have ruined my concept and severely limited my actions.

I don't want to take such risks.

'But I can't keep relying on luck. What I need most now is…'

Combat skills.

But I lack the power to tackle bosses and named monsters.

Luna is there, but…

'I need some power to keep deceiving Luna.'

The more mysterious I am, the longer I can keep her around.

But I can't get new hidden pieces until the midterm exams.

'What can I do?'

Then, a parrot fell from the sky and landed on his shoulder.

"Devil! Danger! Devil! Help! Save me!"

The parrot screamed at the top of its lungs. It was almost deafening.

But he didn't shoo it away. He knew the story behind this parrot.

The parrot was the only friend of a 'hero' who died in an accident.

But there was nothing he could do for it now.

He could only wait until Episode 3 started.

"Friend! Danger! Help!"

"Friend… I need one too. I wish one would fall from the sky…"

"Friend! Good! You! Friend!"

The parrot's cries.

At the same time, a blue window appeared before his eyes.

"…Even non-humans can be recognized as friends?"

It was like a cow catching a mouse.

The condition was to genuinely think of it as a friend, which made it easier to resolve.

The parrot desperately needed help.

"Friend! Help! Friend! Save me!"

"Hehe, I appreciate your help with the quest… but that's difficult. Let me clean you up instead."

He activated the [Clean] skill on the parrot.

It was the only thing he could do for it.

However.

"Hmm?"

The parrot's body changed.

He used the [Clean] skill a few more times out of curiosity and confirmed the result with his own eyes.

A hidden piece that could only be obtained in Episode 3 and was one of the top three most powerful hidden pieces.

A way to get it had appeared.

* * *

"So, this magic circle is…"

Another morning lecture began.

But he couldn't concentrate.

'Is it possible? Or is it too difficult?'

The possibility he saw in the experiment with the parrot.

But it was just a possibility, not a certainty.

However, if it is possible…

"Hey! What are you doing? Aren't you going to eat?"

"Ah… Yes, I'll go."

"For days, you've been spacing out. What's going on?"

Luna grumbled. But there was nothing he could do.

While he was pondering, it was already Friday.

The moment of decision had arrived.

'Academy students can only go out on weekends.'

This hidden piece starts in the town square.

The duration is at least one week, or longer.

But if, at the crucial moment, it turns out to be a 0% possibility, he would be furious.

"Hey! Let's go eat."

"Yes, yes. I understand, Luna."

He put the textbook in his pocket.

Luna looked at him strangely.

No one usually puts books in their pockets.

But he didn't feel uncomfortable.

-Can store all items except living beings.

-All stored items will be destroyed if the user dies.

The second main quest: make three friends.

Clearing it rewarded him with 10 gold, a level-up, and [Subspace].

In short, it's like having an infinite inventory.

'One of the essential skills that veterans consider, and I got it as a quest reward.'

He was lucky.

It was a skill he wouldn't get until after Episode 4.

The third main quest hasn't appeared yet.

'Did I clear the second main quest too quickly?'

Well, it was definitely difficult.

It would have taken at least a month for someone else.

In this world, squinting characters are the worst.

But he made three friends in just one day.

'Hehe, I am great, after all.'

If he could access the veteran community, he would have bragged a lot.

It was a shame.

"Wow? Are you squinting again? You're really not in your right mind."

"Hehe, the food is just too delicious."

A curry with a mountain of chicken.

The excellent visuals and taste made his worries 'half' disappear.

Not completely, but half.

It shows how deep his concerns were. Even chicken curry couldn't fully cover them.

When he was halfway through his meal.

Luna spoke.

"Hey."

"Hehe, what is it?"

"If you have something on your mind, just talk about it. Don't suffer alone like a dog."

I must have been worrying a lot. Luna even said this.

Luna's eyes were serious. Only then did he make up his mind.

Yes, what's the point of worrying? Just.

Go for it. Be a man.

"Luna."

He spoke with a serious look.

To be a man and go for it.