Chapter 24

When playing "DoraGaku," several events called "Date Events" occur. The content is quite ordinary, involving the protagonist and the target character going out into the city for a walk or shopping, exchanging conversations, and then ending. However, sometimes the protagonist can initiate these events by inviting the target, and other times the target character might suddenly invite the protagonist. The conditions for these events are random, and they are suitable for checking and increasing the current affection level, making them essential for clearing the game.

Additionally, there are times when an unexpected character might invite the protagonist, and if the invitation is reluctantly declined, the affection level might drop dramatically. Although the event content itself is short and mundane, the frequency of these events requires players to be clever in handling them.

--- Some players even resort to the ultimate measure of resetting the game if their invitation is declined ---

At the end of such a date event, Mary thought this time it would be different from the usual dates, considering the timing was just right.

"So, you're going to interfere with the date," Adi said.

"That's right. I've let them do as they pleased until now, but if this is the last date event in the game, I can't let it happen without interfering," Mary replied.

"I see... But why at this hour?"

The date starts in the afternoon, doesn't it? Adi asked, to which Mary, with a serious expression, looked at the scene before her.

The location was the city center, an area lined with clothing and miscellaneous goods stores, ideal for dates. In "DoraGaku," she had seen similar backgrounds many times. It was just past nine o'clock, and most stores had just opened, hence there were few people around. The area would become lively around noon.

In this quiet city center, Mary stood like a statue, and Adi, standing beside her, yawned leisurely, creating a rather mismatched scene.

"Indeed, Alicia's date starts in the afternoon. But there's something we need to do before that," Mary said.

"Hmm... Why is that... Fa. Can I sleep at the café?" Adi asked, yawning.

"...Father."

"Come on, Miss, let's start what needs to be done! I'm full of enthusiasm, so there's no way I'd yawn!"

"...Right."

With a small sigh at Adi's usual attitude, Mary looked around. The flower shops and cafés seemed ready to welcome customers, but some stores still had "Closed" signs hanging. After surveying the area, Mary felt determined.

"Alright, Adi, let's go shopping!"

As Mary declared this, Adi, perhaps still feeling the aftereffects of the earlier threat, responded with a "Yes!" but then tilted his head in confusion.

Date events are generally simple, involving the protagonist and the target character going to the city center and having a few conversations. Sometimes there are questions that can significantly increase affection levels, but they don't usually affect the story much. However, the final date event is different. This event includes a specific mechanism to reveal the current situation and the ending.

Given the importance of this date, it was natural that Mary wouldn't let it happen without interference. Her pride had been wounded and her downfall had begun after the recent condemnation, but a single reprimand wouldn't make the villainous lady Mary give up.

She would appear dramatically while the protagonist and the target character were on a cozy date...

"Insult Alicia and invite someone else right in front of her," Mary said.

"I see, so the game's lady gets a harsh rejection, right?"

"Let's see how it goes."

"Huh?"

Mary chuckled and evaded the question, causing Adi to look at her with a puzzled expression. Without explaining, Mary changed the topic forcefully, "So!"

Continuing their conversation in the middle of the city center was odd, so Mary pulled Adi's arm and looked around the stores, saying, "What should we buy first?" As Mary's gaze moved from clothes to shoes and then to food, Adi, increasingly confused, called out to her.

"Miss, why are you shopping?"

Mary was the lady of the Albert family, the top noble with the greatest wealth in the country. If she wanted something, she could get it immediately without worrying about the cost, and it was normal for servants like Adi to arrange it for her. Shopping was something commoners did, and as a noble lady, Mary would have items made to fit her, not the other way around. Adi couldn't understand why Mary would visit the city center just to shop, but then again, Mary was an unusual lady who often visited the city for snacks and detours, so this wasn't the first time.

"Do you want something? If so, I can arrange it for you."

"I don't want anything, but I'm going shopping."

"Hmm?"

Seeing Adi's continued confusion, Mary puffed out her chest dramatically and said, "In the game, Mary is accompanied by Adi, who is carrying a large number of boxes!"

Mary said this proudly, and Adi, after a moment of gaping, ...

"I'm going to sleep at that café. Please wake me up when Alicia and the others arrive."

... walked away, clearly exasperated.

--- Of course, due to Mary's threat to write a petition for Adi's dismissal, this didn't happen. This was just part of the routine --