Chapter 36 – This time, too, it’s nothing unusual (4)

There are many common tactics that generic mobile games use to attract players.

One of the easiest ways to get money from players is by creating attractive characters.

It’s a straightforward and simple strategy, yet it can be surprisingly challenging to execute.

Our beloved mobile RPG, Miracle Blessing M, decided to use every approach possible, crafting characters with outstanding and unique personalities.

While some might say the approach was over the top, so what? The sales spoke for themselves.

This seemingly ordinary game managed to hold a steady spot between the 5th and 10th positions in download rankings, largely due to the appeal of its uniquely crafted characters.

In a game like Miracle Blessing M, set in an academy, characters are an excellent tool for drawing players’ spending, as this genre tends to have a loyal following.

Even I, usually reluctant to spend on games, eventually fell for the charm of a character named Abel and opened my wallet without a second thought.

…If I’d known that spending would drag me into this world, I wouldn’t have spent a cent.

In this world, the story revolves around Leon, a devilishly handsome protagonist who attracts heroines like magnets.

However, if we think about it in terms of supply and demand, there’s only one Leon but far too many girls interested in him. By mid-game, he already had around five or six heroines pursuing him.

By the time Leon awakens as the ultimate hero, you’d probably run out of fingers and toes trying to count them all.

Thus, aside from the main heroine, Abel, the rest started becoming “filler” characters. Each had unique personalities and skills, but the story focused on Leon and Abel, their trials, and budding romance.

After all, the game company had clearly positioned Abel as the main heroine, and outshining her was almost impossible.

Among the many “losing” heroines, the one who faded into the background the fastest was the girl standing in front of me now, with her refined look and a gaze fixed only on the sweet bean paste snacks in her sight.

She was Saki Ryozo, the prodigy of the archer family.

Saki was the first to be eliminated as a possible love interest for Leon, though she still had a solid fan base within the communities.

Despite her often spacey demeanor, she was a top-tier student who consistently scored highest in theoretical exams.

Though she spent most of her time sleeping, when it was time to act, she did so decisively.

She was one of the least frustrating heroines in the game.

Unlike other heroines who constantly needed rescuing or were prone to being kidnapped, Saki never displayed those traits, making her a capable and reliable ally.

She even had a unique feature where bean paste treats restored more of her health than high-level potions, which were usually expensive, making her very popular with players.

At the time, I thought this feature was just a quirky detail, but it turns out she really was obsessed with those sweets.

I looked at Saki, with her light blue hair and calm, catlike eyes—traits well-suited for an archer.

‘Now I see why SpeedWeapon was so insistent on bringing me here…’

It was no wonder that SpeedWeapon, usually so strict, had brought me here with such confidence.

Although I saw her from a different perspective, even as a player, Saki was always a valuable asset.

Having a long-range fighter on the team is a huge advantage. A ranged character greatly enhances the group’s stability.

Curiously, Saki wasn’t even a central character in Miracle Blessing M. As I mentioned before, she was one of the first heroines to fade into “background character” status.

Despite community protests wondering why Saki Ryozo had so little storyline, the game company paid no attention.

So, it was unlikely her involvement in this journey would impact the main plot—or so I wanted to believe.

SpeedWeapon approached Saki and pulled out another bean paste snack. As he waved it in front of her, she reached for it, but he pulled it back with a playful smile.

Saki, pouting, asked nonchalantly, though her archer’s eyes remained glued to SpeedWeapon’s pocket.

“What do you want, SpeedWeapon?”

“Well, you see.”

SpeedWeapon began explaining. While his delivery was clear and logical…

‘He talks way too much.’

He went on and on, reminding me of a certain famous baseball player who never stopped talking. His mouth was constantly moving.

‘He lives up to his name, that’s for sure.’

Saki, already used to him, listened with one ear, nodding absently.

Seeing that his explanation was getting lengthy, she blinked and interrupted.

“So, you want me to join your dungeon raid next week?”

“Exactly.”

SpeedWeapon frowned, briefly annoyed at being interrupted.

Saki tapped her cheek with a finger, thinking, and then responded in a sleepy tone.

“Since completing the dungeon counts toward the results, I don’t have a reason to say no…”

Saki turned her gaze toward me, gesturing with a casual wave, and asked flatly,

“You, are you the one from the subspace fight?”

I nodded silently. Saki lay back again.

“You don’t seem very determined.”

“…”

Hearing about “determination” from someone who was sleeping in the middle of the day? No one could embody the word “persistence” better than me.

“Sorry, but I don’t want to team up with someone who doesn’t seem to have much determination.”

Saying that, Saki extended a hand toward SpeedWeapon. Despite her completely relaxed posture, her resolve was clear.

“Saki, you saw the fight yourself. Besides, Geom-Ma isn’t exactly weak.”

“Then the opponent must’ve been weak.”

“Weak? He was an Auditore! And during the midterm exam, he…”

Frustrated, SpeedWeapon stopped himself.

“Do you think I’m a dog here to follow orders without question?”

“Then who drools over sweet bean snacks like a dog?”

“What do you know about these snacks?”

For a few minutes, SpeedWeapon and Saki argued endlessly. I sighed in frustration. Having her on the team would be useful, but her lack of manners was something else.

Finally, I motioned to SpeedWeapon.

“SpeedWeapon, that’s enough. Let’s go. That indifferent attitude would only drag the team down. Let’s look for someone else.”

Saki’s eyes sparkled.

“So you’re not in that much of a hurry then?”

I didn’t respond and only let out a sigh of resignation.

After the incident with Knox a few days ago, I realized something: sometimes a mix of push and pull was the only way to handle certain people.

Recalling that lesson, I pulled my sashimi knife out of my pocket. Both Saki and SpeedWeapon flinched upon seeing it. I looked over toward the practice targets.

Fwhoosh! Thud!

One knife lodged itself dead-center on a target 50 meters away, the blade gleaming precisely at the mark.

“…”

Saki and SpeedWeapon stared at me in shock. I took out another knife and threw it.

Thud!

The second knife hit the first, embedding itself at the hilt of the one already lodged in the target.

“…”

“…”

Meeting Saki’s gaze, I watched her swallow nervously.

“Want me to show you another?”

When I asked, Saki Ryozo quickly shook her head, understanding the message: “The next target is your head.” It seems picking up on things quickly can be a lifesaver in situations like this.

“SpeedWeapon, give her a sweet.”

Somewhat surprised, SpeedWeapon handed her the treat, and Saki took it with a smile. Watching the two of them, I had a feeling this team would be anything but peaceful.

Touching my forehead, I shook my head.

***

Inside the meeting room at the Starbucks on campus.

Chloe was the first to approach me, expressing her desire to join the party.

Additionally, perhaps due to what happened at the archery dojo, Saki Ryozo also agreed to join without much resistance.

Contrary to the distant impression she gave initially, Saki proved to be quite cooperative, from dungeon selection to handling the paperwork for academy approval.

If it had just been SpeedWeapon and me, it would have taken much longer, but with her help, everything moved along smoothly.

Honestly, my first impression of her hadn’t been great, but looking back, having her in the group was the right choice.

Though she nodded off occasionally, she did what she needed to do, so it wasn’t a problem.

Every now and then, when our eyes met, she’d give me a slightly haughty look, but overall, she kept a calm demeanor.

Her long, light blue hair, cut into layers, reminded me of a style back on Earth called a “hime cut.” Although it was an uncommon hairstyle, it suited her well.

She was probably the most “elegant” of the heroines.

However, it could get a bit annoying to see her constantly munching on those bean paste snacks. It’s just a personal gripe, but it was like an addiction—every time I saw her, she was eating them.

They say people who use their brain a lot need sugar or something like that.

‘As long as she doesn’t say anything…’

I took a sip of my espresso while glancing at Saki’s profile. Chloe, sitting beside me, kept stealing glances at me, so I turned away and took another sip.

Damn, it’s bitter.

“The Buffalo Dungeon, as the name implies, is a Class C dungeon inhabited by buffalo, also known as ‘water buffalo.’ Unlike the tritons from the exams, these creatures attack head-on from a distance, making close-range combat challenging. However, they have a clear weakness to long-range attacks. So, the role of a ranged attacker is crucial in this dungeon.”

SpeedWeapon stood up and glanced around to ensure we understood; we all nodded in agreement.

Then, with enthusiasm, he continued, looking directly at Saki. She nodded while chewing on a snack, and after refreshing herself with a sip of her iced Americano, SpeedWeapon resumed his briefing.

“There aren’t too many enemies, and the rewards are decent, which makes it a popular spot even for second- and third-year students. It’s relatively low-risk. However, we shouldn’t get too complacent because of that. Oh, and there’s one thing you absolutely must not do.”

SpeedWeapon raised a finger for emphasis.

“You must never open the stone door in the center.”

Chloe asked, looking puzzled.

“What happens if you open the stone door?”

“It’s rumored to be some sort of seal… or something like that. Just a theory—no one’s quite sure.”

In response to my question, SpeedWeapon shrugged.

“Anyway, the academy granted us permission to enter the Buffalo Dungeon on the condition that we don’t open that door. If they tell us not to do it, there’s no reason to go against it, right?”

“Exactly, that door should stay closed.”

At that, everyone’s eyes turned to me.

“What’s up, Geom-Ma? Do you know what’s behind that door?”

“Oh, no, not exactly. I just mean that if they tell us not to open it, we probably shouldn’t.”

“Ah, got it.”

Noting my indifferent tone, SpeedWeapon turned his gaze away, and we continued discussing the route and schedule for the dungeon.

‘Under no circumstances should you open that stone door.’

I reflected on those words while touching my lips. As a player, this is one of those rare pieces of knowledge I possess.

This dungeon, frequented by academy students, hides a secret boss.

Most likely, I’m the only one here who knows this.

Of course, that door requires meeting certain conditions to open. In the current game state, it’s impossible to unlock it, so even if we wanted to, we couldn’t.

Aside from that stone door, though, the Buffalo Dungeon is well-regarded for its rewards and low difficulty. With a hidden boss like that, it’s too tempting a dungeon to pass up.

‘…Although.’

I felt a chill run down my spine. The sharp awareness I’d developed lately was alerting me to a strange presence.

I sensed a coldness beyond the glass walls of the meeting room.

I turned my head to observe the outside.

All I could see were students enjoying their drinks, laughing, and having a good time.

“Geom-Ma, something wrong?”

I quickly scanned around, then shrugged as if it were nothing.

“No, I just felt like someone was watching us.”

Hearing that, Chloe’s eyes filled with caution.

Before I could say anything, she fixed her gaze on Saki Ryozo, who was already half-asleep.

After giving her a brief look of disdain, Chloe averted her gaze.

“…On second thought, it’s nothing, Chloe.”

“Oh, okay!”

Scratching the back of my neck, I looked forward again.

‘Looks like we’re being watched.’

Though I felt a bit uneasy, I decided to wait.

They’d reveal themselves when the time was right.