Chapter 64

Chapter 5: A Pile of Stories and an Unexpected Reunion

□【Holy Knight】Ray Sterling

"Ah, I see, the Great Miasma Beast Galdoranda and the Vengeful Spirit Cattle Gouzmeiz, huh. Ray, you've got quite the unusual connection."

"Unusual connection, huh."

Ray and Nemesis, along with his brother, were having tea at the sweets parlor Nemesis had wished for yesterday.

By the way, I'm still feeling the effects of the sandwich I had earlier, so I'm just having tea.

Nemesis, on the other hand, is eating normally.

What's up with your stomach?

＜UBM＞is something you don't normally encounter, and even at the level of a legend, it's a formidable opponent. It's quite rare to defeat one so soon after entering ＜Infinite Dendrogram＞.

His brother said this while putting a honey-covered pancake in his mouth, of course, using a fork.

I can't help but think it's amazing that he can hold it with those mascot hands, but compared to a Gatling gun, it's probably easier.

...However, the image of a bear sitting in a chair and eating a honey pancake is too fancy.

It's also cute, I guess.

If you didn't know the contents were a man in his late twenties...

Well, I, who said this, might not be in a position to say anything... but how did you win, really?

Moreover, there was no support like there was for me.

To put it more bluntly... wasn't it when the first wave of players were still in their first lower-class jobs?

That means you were probably one of the first players to defeat a ＜UBM＞, right?

Well, this story is long, so I'll tell you when the opportunity arises.

"Don't keep me in suspense."

Absolutely. I'll probably be wondering how you won for a while.

If I talk about this, I'll end up revealing the characteristics of Figaro's ＜Embryo＞. I don't want to brag about it, so if I do tell you, it will be after you figure it out on your own.

"If that's the case, I guess there's nothing I can do."

This dueling city is Figaro's home, and Figaro, the king of the arena, is overflowing with information.

However, there is one thing that is decisively missing from that information.

It is Figaro's ＜Embryo＞.

Figaro's ＜Embryo＞ is unknown.

Its ability, shape, and even category are completely unknown.

The other three giants of the ＜Alter Kingdom＞, such as the "Destructive King" with his "battleship" and the "Pope" with her "night," have their identities more or less revealed or guessed.

However, nothing is known about the ＜Super Warrior＞—Figaro's ＜Embryo＞.

I've seen Figaro's battles in the PK footage that Marie showed me, but I have no idea what his ＜Embryo＞ looks like.

If the hints my brother gave are rooted in the truth about this secret, it makes sense that I can't ask about it now.

"By the way, you know, right?"

"Yeah, we've known each other for a long time. In this world's time, it's been over four years."

"I see. ...Ah, then do you know why Figaro insists on being a solo player?"

"I know, but that's a very private matter, so I can't tell you."

"I see. Then, it's fine."

The reason Figaro said he didn't want to participate in the war because he didn't want to fight a sloppy battle is probably related to that.

However, if his strong solo policy is related to his personal circumstances, there's nothing I can do about it.

"But, Mr. Kumani seems to have quite a wide network. He even seems to be friends with Figaro."

"Well, you get to know a lot of people if you play for a long time."

"...I was going to ask, but how much of the day do you spend here?"

My brother, who is a neo-hikikomori with passive income, has all the time in the world.

"No, no, I'm living a healthy life."

"Healthy, huh?"

"Three meals, a bath, a toilet, and an hour of training to maintain my physique, I don't skip any of these things here."

"Isn't that just saying everything else is here!?"

He's a complete shut-in! A truly extraordinary shut-in!

"Well, I only have things to do here, so there's nothing I can do about it."

"You have time and money, so why don't you fall in love?"

Mother is starting to want to see her grandchildren.

Me? I'm still a student, so it's too early.

My sister... well, yeah.

In the end, I think my brother is the closest to getting married, but at this rate, it will be a long time.

◇

While talking to my brother, about an hour had passed.

"Well, I have somewhere to go, so I'll take my leave."

"Ah, I see. See you at the venue."

"Sure. I'm looking forward to meeting Ray's companions."

With that, my brother left the shop.

On the table, he left a little more than the bill.

I was going to pay since I had just won a prize, but he said, "This is my treat," and ended up paying for me. I'll take it gratefully.

By the way, as usual, 90% of the bill is for Nemesis's food.

The amount she eats is really a problem.

She has the same name as a deity of divine punishment, yet she acts like one of the seven deadly sins, gluttony...

"No, that's not true, Ray."

"What's not true?"

"Gluttony is eating recklessly and wasting food. But I savor and enjoy it, and turn it all into flesh and blood. Therefore, this is not gluttony, but gourmet!"

"I see, then that's fine. But let me say one thing."

"What is it?"

"How much weight have you gained if you've turned it all into flesh and blood?"

I shouldn't be talking about weight with a girl.

But I'm really worried about her.

"Huh, don't worry. I'm an ＜Embryo＞, you know? My body shape and weight don't change easily."

"Is that so, that's amazing."

"Deadpan!?"

But in form change, the shape and weight change drastically.

"Then, are all ＜Embryos＞ big eaters?"

"Of course not. Just because we're ＜Embryos＞ doesn't mean we're all big eaters. I'm different. Nemesis is a big eater, but that's just her personal issue. If such a monstrous stomach is made a basic spec, it would be a problem."

"I see."

Thinking back, the other ＜Embryos＞... Babbi was abnormally spicy, but her food intake was normal.

Compared to this, even her blasphemous taste seems more normal.

"...!?"

"Nu!?"

"Hey there."

Before we knew it, a white girl—Yugo's ＜Embryo＞, Kyuko (Cocytus)—was sitting in the seat next to us.

"The number of plates Nemesis has piled up is terrible. I can't even eat 5% of that. Munch munch."

She was speaking in a low-energy, deadpan voice as she savored a white rare cheesecake, just like the last time we met.

It seems she had been in the shop for quite a while.

Despite her striking white appearance, we didn't notice her at all. We must have been so engrossed in my brother and Nemesis's meal.

"You're surprised. If I reveal the secret, I have the skill 《Presence Concealment》. If I want to, I can make myself unnoticed."

"Why were you concealing your presence?"

"Did I surprise you?"

"I was surprised, but..."

When I answered, she seemed satisfied and started savoring the rare cheesecake again.

...Huh? Could it be that she just wanted to surprise us?

"You're as unpredictable as ever."

Indeed.

We fought together against the Gouzmeiz Bandits, but her character is still a mystery to me.

And, by the way.

"Kyuko, isn't Yugo with you?"

"He'll be here soon. I was looking for him. I told him the location through telepathy, so he'll come."

When I heard the part about "looking for him" and was about to ask, "What were you looking for?" the shop door opened, and the bell rang.

A man in a familiar military rider suit entered the shop.

"Hello, Ray. I should thank God and you for our safe reunion today, shouldn't I?"

There stood the usual grand and theatrical man—Yugo Leceps.

...Somehow, there are a lot of reunions today.

◇

Since it was getting close to the busy time, we decided to share a table with Yugo and Kyuko.

Looking around the shop, it was full of ＜Masters＞ and people with exotic appearances.

"Delicious! This is really a good sweets shop, just like it says on the wiki!"

"...Iona, your voice is too loud."

"Peach tart, 80 points. Shortcake, 76 points. Rare cheesecake... 95 points."

From the table behind me, I could hear a young woman's voice.

"Ah, they have take-out too. I think this will be good for Yumeji and Karl as souvenirs. If it's a high-preservation item box, it will last even for living things. As for Albert... I'll get him something other than food."

At the table to my left, a man with a turban was taking notes.

There were also a group of rugged people in beast leather armor, a girl with a pirate hat, and a group of muscular men with pirate bandanas. The clientele seemed even more diverse than yesterday.

They must have come from other places to see tonight's event.

And since they are in this shop, they must have come to enjoy the sweets, even if their appearance doesn't match the shop's atmosphere.

"...This place is popular, isn't it?"

"Yeah, the sweets here are well-known for being delicious, both among the ＜Masters＞ and the citizens."

"Rare cheesecake, yogurt mousse, soft cream, delicacies."

Yugo and Kyuko also seem satisfied. Kyuko seems to be eating only white things.

And, by the way.

Since I've met Yugo again, I should talk about that matter.

I told Yugo that the bounty for the Gouzmeiz Bandits was a huge 80 million rils.

"...I didn't expect the bounty for the Gouzmeiz Bandits to be so high. I'm quite surprised."

"Then, about the distribution..."

"As I wrote in yesterday's letter, I would like to decline, ... but it seems Ray won't accept that."

"Of course not."

Such a large sum of money, if you keep it all to yourself, you'll get a hole in your stomach.

"Let's split it fifty-fifty."

"...No, I'm fine with just half. Since I declined once, it's more than enough."

"Is that so?"

Rather, since I only defeated Maze under the name of the Gouzmeiz Bandits, I would like Yugo to take more.

"...Ray, you're not greedy. You could have fudged it and told me anything."

"What's the point of lying to a friend?"

"..."

When I said that, Yugo lowered his eyes for some reason.

Is something wrong?

"Ah, and about what happened at the knight's office..."

I also told him that I donated the treasure left by the Gouzmeiz Bandits to the knight's office without consulting Yugo.

"That's fine. I would have made the same choice."

"I see."

I felt a bit relieved.

It seems that Yugo and I think alike.