Chapter 87

87. The First Boss, Leje (5)

"Even though you might have heard the story, I've been entrusted with you by Senior Rodelin."

"Is there really someone who would be willing to be friends with someone like me?"

"Of course. I, who am so strange, managed to meet an incredible friend, didn't I? You can do it too."

Reje nodded as if it were a reasonable opinion.

...I wonder which part convinced her.

It can't be the part about being strange, right?

"Come on, let's go make some friends."

"H-how do you make friends?"

"Huh? Well, you just... ask."

"R-really? Just ask...?"

Luna couldn't continue.

It was natural. Our Luna.

'I'm her only friend.'

And yet, she accepted Rodelin's request to make friends.

Rodelin, who only had one friend, asked for help.

Luna, who only had one friend, accepted the request.

It's a party of idiots.

"Y-yeah! I'll give you a tip on how to make friends. When you find someone you want to be friends with..."

"W-when you find them?"

"Ask them first."

"R-really? Just ask...?"

Reje took out a small notebook and started writing down Luna's words.

I wanted to tell her not to give such strange advice, but I couldn't.

Because Luna's words weren't exactly wrong.

'I became friends that way.'

In other words, it's advice based on Luna's experience.

Not just that. Threatening to beat them to death, cursing, pointing a sharp sword at their neck, and kicking them.

How did I become friends with such a Luna?

It's a mystery. Really.

"Hey, what are you doing? Give me some advice too."

"Advice?"

"Tell me how you managed to make a great friend like me."

Hmm, I wonder.

Did you bow to let me bite you comfortably?

But before that, there was something I needed to address.

"Luna, can you come over here for a moment?"

"What is it?"

I put some distance between Reje and me. Far enough that our conversation couldn't be heard.

"Do you really plan to hang out with her?"

"I have no choice. I was asked by Senior. Let's hang out for a while, until you make your first friend."

"I can't. I can't afford to spend our time on such a reason. Have you already forgotten why we enrolled in the academy?"

Luna, to find those who framed her family.

I, to gain strength.

Of course, according to Luna, I also enrolled in the academy to seek 'revenge.'

"..."

On the contrary, that's why you have no choice but to follow my advice.

You must have realized that you don't have time to play pretend friends with Reje.

'Of course, that's just the surface reason.'

The real reason I want to keep Reje at a distance.

It's because of Luna's kind heart.

It's fine if Reje stays for a while.

But what if she can't make other friends? What if Luna gets too close to Reje?

'She'll be forced to join my party.'

Feeding her isn't a problem. The issue is Reje's [Survival Hope] trait.

A bizarre trait that makes her leave the battlefield when targeted by enemies.

A party member who runs away at a crucial moment?

I can't trust her to have my back, especially when we face the final boss.

So, my decision to keep Reje at a distance from the beginning is very sound.

"It's just for a while. We need some rest too."

But I have a feeling that 'a while' won't end so soon.

"That's a problem."

She opened her eyes. It means she used the [Open Eyes] skill.

Luna shuddered but didn't look away.

"I know. Our mission is important too. But..."

Luna scratched her head and continued.

"You don't have any friends."

Only then did I understand Luna's thoughts.

Luna, who had been alone for five years since she was ten.

Perhaps she saw herself in Reje.

Her old self, who had to bear everything alone.

Eliciting sympathy. How despicable.

"...I have no choice."

"Huh? You'll accept it?"

"Hehe, I can't refuse a friend's request, can I?"

"Zero...!"

Luna's face was filled with emotion.

I raised my index finger at her.

"But you must promise to do this."

"Huh? What is it?"

"I'll write it down. It's a bit long."

The pen in my hand smoothly wrote down the words.

-You, the owner, Luna, will take care of food, clothing, and toys. Manage her well to avoid trouble with others. Take her for walks to ensure her health.

"You mean you'll take responsibility for her? Sure, I can do that much."

"Hehe, it might be harder than you think."

"What's hard about it? But this wording... it seems familiar... where have I seen it before?"

Luna tilted her head as she looked at the paper I wrote.

It should be quite familiar.

The things to keep in mind when raising a pet.

I borrowed the wording from there.

'An unresistable pet position. That's Reje's current status.'

So, treating her like a pet should work.

It would be better if she could be adopted (?) soon.

Even if it's temporary, putting such an incompetent kid in my party is too thoughtless, right?

No, it's not.

There was one thing Reje could do.

'When the party is in a situation it can't overcome...'

She can be used as a shield.

Of course, the shield will break as a result.

Cruel? This game is designed that way.

Feeding a character to the demon's mouth just moments ago.

Using the time gained to strategize.

In the game "Hero of the Academy," sacrificing a character was common.

The game was designed that way from the start.

'After encountering a few demons, she might leave on her own.'

Luna was right; we do need a break.

We'll be busy after the first chapter ends.

"Okay. So it's decided?"

"Hehe, make sure to follow what I wrote. And don't forget the walks."

"I understand."

I walked over to Reje with Luna.

Reje was still peeking out of the box.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting. We were discussing something."

"I-I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have taken your time..."

"Don't worry, it's not that. Zero, give her some advice."

"Advice?"

"Yeah, tips on making friends. I gave one, now it's your turn."

When you find someone you want to be friends with, ask them.

Surely that's not the beginning and end of the advice?

Luna stared at me blankly.

Yes, that's it. The beginning and end.

Indeed, our Luna is a remarkable child.

'I have no choice.'

If this continues, a monster that bites people might appear in the academy.

I don't want to be interrogated by Rodelin, so I have to help her sincerely.

"First, this box is a problem. If you keep hiding in here, people won't approach you. They might not even notice you."

"B-but... I'm scared."

"I won't force you to come out. But at least keep the lid open. That should be okay, right?"

"Y-yes... that's fine."

Start with the lid open, then outside the box, and eventually without the box.

It will take a lot of time, but we'll get there.

"Not bad advice. It's not as good as mine, though."

Anyone can see that my advice is better.

What you gave wasn't even advice!

"..."

A heavy silence fell over the training ground.

Luna scratched her head and said,

"But what do we do now?"

"..."

Luna, what are you saying?

After all the thinking and effort to reach a conclusion and accept it.

What do you say? But what do we do now?

It's enough to drive me crazy.

"K-kukuku..."

Was I shocked by Luna's behavior? An irritated laugh escaped me.

Even [Mental Defense], which helps maintain composure, was breached.

"Why are you doing that?"

"He does that sometimes. He's just strange. Just get used to it."

Mutter, mutter.

Strange?

A kid who bites people and spends all day in a box.

You're the ones who are more strange!

"Hehe... Let's just train as usual. Reje, you can watch."

"Is that okay? You might get bored."

"N-no, it's fine. Watching is fun too. I-I can't do those moves..."

She wiggled her fingers enviously.

"Tell me all the moves you want to see! I'll do them for you!"

"N-no! How could I ask for such an honor!"

"It's not an honor at all. Let's go!"

Luna grabbed Reje's hand from inside the box and headed to the center of the training ground.

But how does that box move?

It's a mystery, really.

Creak.

The training ground door opened, and someone entered.

'Caron?'

There was no need to hide, and I had no intention of ambushing.

But why is he here?

"Hehe, what's going on here?"

"Arrogant brat. Shouldn't you greet me first? You have no respect for your teacher."

"Light of my life, flame of my soul, my sin, my spirit. Teacher Caron, have you arrived?"

"...Arrogant brat."

Whether I greet him or not, I'm an arrogant brat.

I don't know what he wants.

Caron glanced at Luna and frowned slightly.

"...What's that?"

He must have thought his eyes were deceiving him.

That. Reje is a person, a person!

Just because she's in a box.

"A strange but not strange child, perhaps."

"What's that ridiculous expression? And even if you're strange, you're not as strange as him."

Shocking.

That I'm strange, and that I'm stranger than Reje.

I puffed out my cheeks in dissatisfaction.

"First time seeing this child. What's your name?"

"Reje. I'm not in the elite class."

"Reje, Reje... Not a particularly memorable name."

A rather ordinary conversation.

But I gained two pieces of information.

First, Reje is not a spy.

If she had exceptional abilities, Caron wouldn't have forgotten her.

If she had the talent to be a spy, Caron would have noticed her from the start.

Even if she belonged to the Teron or Yuridia factions.

If she belonged to either, he would have hinted at it to me.

'Considering Luna almost died at Teron's hands. He would have shared that information.'

And second, this was important.

'Reje's hiding skills are so good that even Caron couldn't detect her.'

None other than Caron.

The pinnacle of espionage, known as the empire's rat.

His keen eyesight is a given, and finding hidden opponents is one of his specialties.

For Caron to see Reje for the first time today.

It's proof of her excellent hiding skills. So good that he never detected her.

'...Maybe I can use this.'

For a pet, her skills aren't bad.

How can I cook her to extract the most from her?

"Hehehe..."

Did she sense my gaze?

Reje, inside the box, shivered.