"Hey…"
"..."
"I am sorry. It was a bad joke."
"..."
Seriously… I can't even joke around anymore. Well, at least she isn't that mad to leave me all alone here. Thanks to her guidance, I managed to buy a few things for the upcoming semester.
"Will you forget what I said, if I buy you something sweet?"
I have heard that women like sweet things, I hope she is the same. Luckily, she stopped and looked at me. For others she may seem still expressionless, however I can clearly see it in her eyes.
She is excited.
Like that I found myself in a sweet cake cafe with Caroline. While she was enjoying a strawberry cake with a cute smile, I was disappointingly looking through the window.
Reason for that?
They don't serve anything that is not sweet. Isn't it a basic thing to drink a bitter tea or coffee to a sweet food?
However, here they serve juices and something named macchiato. What the hell is even that? I will not test my luck with that one.
So, basically I asked with the last hope for water.
Yes, they don't serve it either. For fuck sake just give me a tap water in those cups, it would be enough.
"Want a piece of cake?"
"I will refuse. I hate sweet things."
"You are missing out in life, you know. You should just try it at least, it's not that sweet I promise."
"We don't have another spoon."
"That's alright. I'll give you mine."
Look at her, so innocent. I mean, it's really nothing if I eat from her spoon, however, won't she be embarrassed about it?
The game was made in Japan, so the world has a Japanese style and they are very conscious about things like this.
"If you insist."
-NOM
I took the bite of the cake she held in front of me. So basically she fed me. Not a bad experience I must say.
However, for others it was different.
"Oh my~ How bold!"
"Such a cute couple~"
We weren't the only ones in the cafe and she must have finally noticed it too.
No, but really how could you act so oblivious and now turn beet red. She even hung her head down to hide her embarrassment. Don't do it if you'll get embarrassed.
"Cute. However, the cake is way too sweet."
No really, why is it so fucking sweet.
"D-Don't say it when you, yourself are blushing."
"S-Shut up."
Of course, I will be embarrassed too. I just acted tough. It's the first time something like this has happened to me. I should just once in a while listen to my own words.
Leaving the cafe was more difficult than I initially thought. People were looking at us warmly, while the cashier thanked us instead.
Do people exist who are not embarrassed about situations like that? If so, then have my respect.
"What is the next thing on the list?"
"Every student should have their personal weapon, so I suppose we don't have to go there…"
"Why?"
"Wouldn't you make a weapon yourself?"
"Currently I am focused on the core, so for the next month or so, I won't do anything else."
To be honest, one month is too little. I really underestimated the core.
"Wait, you already started to work with it!? It's too dangerous! Don't you need anyone with more experience?"
"Nope. Do you remember what the host told? That no one managed to damage the core, but I did. Of course, it wasn't that big but it definitely is there."
Throughout the whole night I managed to make a crack around 2 cm long. Way too little progress than I thought I would make.
"You did!? Is it because of your gift!? No, more important, are you alright? Did something happen?"
"Calm down. Like I said I didn't make any big damage, but only a small crack. But that crack took all of my energy."
To make her understand better, I showed how big the crack was with my fingers.
"So, you and Karoline don't need to worry. I'll take care of it."
"Then that's fine. I trust you."
By my calculations, to break the core it will take me around one month. I used my ultimate skill 8 times yesterday. With that I also learned that 8 times are my maximum.
For comparison, I used it 7 times to create Golden Brothers.
Well, it isn't that important. My energy restores after I take a nap.
"So where is the weapon store? I want to see what they sell there."
If the shop is in the shopping center, then I suppose that weapons won't be of good quality. Maybe I am wrong.
"If you want a good rarity, then we should go to another place."
"No, I want to see what they have here. Let's go. Show the way."
The shop was on the third floor and it was way bigger than any other shop in the building.
What surprised me was that there were a lot of students. Probably everyone is getting ready for the new semester.
"Hello, have you perhaps come in search of the weapon for the upcoming semester?"
Right as we came, a woman in a professional outfit welcomed us.
"What can you suggest to me?"
Let's see what they have here.
"Can you tell me what interests you?"
"Let's see… swords, spears, axes, bows, scythes… and so on."
I want to see what kind of potential abilities they have. Maybe I'll find something familiar from the game.
"T-Then first let's see swords."
She led us to one of the alleys, where the whole stand was for swords only.
"Wow, so many types. Is that falchion? And that is jian!?"
Holy shit! I have never thought that seeing so many weapons would make me so excited!
"Can I touch them?"
"Y-Yes, of course."
"Caroline, look at this."
I took a regular longsword and with the help of my ability I could instantly tell if it was good or not. The rarity was green and the sword itself was first level, but the ability wasn't that useless.
"The blade can lighten up in fire if energy is added. That's a good ability."
"Hey! Shhh! You can't just say that out loud!"
"Oh, shit! You're right!"
Luckily no one heard us. It was my mistake.
"You will look at them all and buy with the ability you like?"
"Something like that."
At first I thought of just looking around, but now I changed my mind. One sword of green rarity costs 1 gold coin. I can't imagine what is happening in higher rarities.
"I also think that I'll buy multiple."
"I don't recommend you. For usual lessons, the academy will provide a weapon to each student, however, when tests are held, students can only register one weapon and you are currently buying it."
"Can't I just register a new weapon in each test."
"No. There is only one way to do so. It's if your weapon was broken in the test. If not, then you have to keep continuing to use the registered one."
"Why such a stupid system?"
"It's not that stupid if you think about it. Imagine if you register a new weapon for each exam where you are placed against someone who has used the same weapon for years. Polished mastery versus a person who can't decide what kind of weapon they should use."
"Well, I somewhat understand your reasoning, but there has to be exceptions. Someone, probably, like me."
"Hahaha… I admit that you have a talent, but don't be too full of yourself. The fight you had was just a simple test provided to everyone. Be it soldiers, students or regular civilians."
"Does that mean…"
"Yes, it wasn't that big of a deal. You have incredible statistics for 15 years old and a talent, but that's it. You should just focus on one weapon."
How could she just with simple words destroy all of my dreams? She is clearly underestimating me. I know that I am no match for people from this world, but give me time. I promise that I'll surpass them all.
"And what would you say, if I tell you that your words didn't budge my opinion? I still think that knowing how to fight with multiple weapons is better."
"That's up to you. But I told you, you can register only one weapon."
"Haaa… alright. Then I'll choose only one."
What should I get? The most familiar I am with is swords and spears. Basically that is the safest choice. The choices here are various too.
"Do we have to go somewhere else after this?"
"We need to take measurements for your uniform, but we can do it tomorrow."
"That's good, because we will not leave this place that quickly."
You just led a kid in a toy store with a condition to buy only one. Don't expect this to end quickly.
***
"I'm home!"
After 3 hours of picking his weapon, Caroline finally gets home. She has never thought that Ren would be that picky.
At first he decided on one sword, but quickly changed to a spear. It continued like that till he settled on a completely different sword.
"Seriously, what kind of idiot would ask for a student discount?"
Because he didn't get one, he tried to negotiate the price and was almost kicked out of the store.
"How was your date?"
"Annoying… Wait! It wasn't a date!!"
"Huhu… you say that, but I can see it. You grew very attached to him."
As Caroline got in the living room, she was welcomed by a hot tea from Karoline.
"It isn't like that!"
"Caroline… Ren reminds you of him, doesn't he?"
"..."
This time she couldn't say anything in return. A wave of memories of a particular man with a silly grin flooded her mind.
"That's alright. But Ren isn't him. Don't be fooled by it."
"Yes, I know."
"Oh, and this will prove it."
Before leaving Caroline alone, Karoline left a small piece of paper on the table.
"What is this?"
"I found it in the pocket of Ren's pants. The ones he left in the car."
Out of curiosity, Caroline took the small folded paper and opened it. A wave of mixed emotions passed through her upon seeing what it contained.
But one thing was certain. Caroline has lost the respect she once had for him.