Riko Akusabe is a gamer from the timeline I came from. Her name in game is Dolly and she was a Magician. She was not really a professional one but she can do a good thing in dungeons and can be considered to be quite good in playing games. When she finds out that I was also playing the Alternate World but has a trouble buying a Reality Verse in the past after abandoning the trashy "friends", she bought one for me as a birthday gift which will occur next month. She also helped me recover back my lost level and power leveled me to level 100 though it was also due to the help of the Memento Mori I acquired in the past.
She is also a solo player but when she found out I was playing the game, she keeps on partying with me in which I have no idea what she was up to. Though we played for a year together, she left the game permanently after a reckless driving accident when she goes with a man she have just met for a blind date. She had a brain trauma and severe lacerations causing her death.
She is a good girl though I only treat her as a friend, she is one of the people I trusted. However, in this timeline, I still have time to stop her death. A one year chance. Though I won't be interfering on her on the game by partying together, I will be trying to support her on equipments and items next time. I vowed myself to play solo and won't go unaffiliated to other people. However, earning money and grabbing this chance is one of the main reason I need to build a few connections to other players while remaining mysterious. Having connections can earn lots of money, that is how I managed to get rich in the past.
My acting skills immediately kicked in and acted surprised.
"President Akusabe?!" I faked a startled expression.
"Manato? This... is your house?" Riko seems more surprised.
"Why are you here? Don't tell me that you are going to live as a tenant in my house...?" I was getting nervous that my voice is slowly getting lower and lower.
"Y-yes, since classes is going to start once again next week and my house is far from school, I was looking for a good place that is looking for a tenant near the school. I never expected that your house is the one I will be going to rent on," Riko said.
"Ahem... just the room, not the entire house," I corrected.
I don't really believe that she doesn't know that it is my house. Father's or mother's surename is always there so that is impossible she didn't know.
She blushed and rubbed her palms.
"Yeah... the room," She breathed in hard.
"Umm, Manato, don't get your anger on her, she has no idea that it was our house," Father showed a bit of force ton his voice.
I glared at my father. I am totally against it, however, my father gave me a knowing look that says to me, " Its alright, I know you can find love,".
I sighed in submission. I pulled in all of the suitcases inside and let them in. It was still quite early, 5:49 A.M. However, looks like father is in a hurry and Riko seems to be trying to go to move in immediately, maybe afraid that someone will take the room occupied.
I served the hotpot to them and father was surprised on how I can cook now.
"Manato, how did you learn how to cook? I thought you rely mostly on Instant noodles or canned goods!" Father said before he slurps in soup of the hotpot.
"Tch, if you stay alone for quite a while, you really need to get a knowledge of cooking to survive. Eating instant everyday might kill me in the future," I explained nonchalantly.
We continued eating before we move to settle Riko's things and gather all things that Father needed. Since our house is much bigger and every room can be considered big enough to be considered as a living room and a bedroom at the same time. I can say that we have quite a big house, well that is due to the business of mother and father in Sapporo which is a fishing business though I am not relying on it. In the past, our business goes on bankrupt due to a certain worker.
Everything is settled 5 hours after the two arrived. Father is carrying the black suitcase with their important documents and clothes and Riko already put most of her things on the room of mother. Before father moves out, Riko asked father a favor.
"Sir Tsukasa, can I install the Reality Verse here in this room? It's not really a big one and could be considered as one of my furniture that consumes electricity," Riko explained. As expected, she already owned one.
"Sure! I really don't mind, you already put a deposit, so I have no problem with that. Though, you still need to ask permission to Manato on that regards since he is the caretaker of this house," Father smiled.
I immediately chimed in.
"I don't mind, just don't bother with my business though," I said to her.
Father nodded and looked at Riko.
"Alright, the boss already approved. You can let it install here," Father said.
Father gave a few things of reminder before he leave. He even push something on my pocket before leaving. I see him off and when the car he is driving is out of my sight, I pulled out the item that father have pushed in my pocket. Its a piece of condom.
"..."
...
After everything is settled, Riko said that she will go to the Reality Verse installment management to install the cabin. I didn't mind and let her do so. I stayed at home, and didn't log-in to the game yet, instead I moved to the forums. What caught my eye is a notice from Harmless Sparrow's guild. Apparently, they are trying to contact me. It is a business proposal. Looks like they want to purchase a bit of my knowledge for places that fetch quite a good amount of Experience for the game. As the representative of her guild, she will meet me on the Lizard men Village tomorrow.
I have no intention to join their guild or be a player that will party with them, however it has a benefit on making contact with them. Though I will only show myself as the same guise where wearing the Oni mask and the cape to them. I will also keep my name hidden. I smell money, I need to grab the opportunity to gain additional money and build my prestige. Prestige that nobody will be able to touch me, even my enemies who wishes to trample me.
The first person I need to complete my plans to fruition is none other than Dolly. She might be dying next year but I won't let her face her death like that. She is a good friend and it is rare to find someone like her. Her talent in the game is really huge but due to her aloof and adventurous way of gaming, it was already a miracle she managed to keep herself strong in solo.
I cannot forget the gratitude that I have with her in the past, if not for her gift, I might be a hopeless guy, dreaming to own a Reality Verse. As for Harmless Sparrow, she might be a strong girl, but I hate to admit that I have no interest on her. She keeps on prying other people's lives which I don't really like since it is invasion of privacy. But for me, I still needed this players, to raise my power and levels, they are one of the needed things in my plan. The enemies will surely strike soon. While I am still not known to anybody else, I am going to raise my level and earn the first clear.
I also look at my palm. Now that I can use flames in my fist, let's see how the bullies at school will react. Now, I am so excited to try my fist to their faces. My plan of vengeance are just getting here, just don't cross my path yet, my Power as a Versatile will only obliterate all who stands in my way.