Chapter 285 - White and Black
"Senpai."
"Yes."
After about two hours of "material gathering," we returned to the Round Table.
I straightened my back and answered, a show of utmost sincerity, to which Tetra simply laughed wryly. "That's enough already."
"How long are you going to dwell on that? You know we were both just joking, right?"
"Well, yeah, but…"
If you weren't actually mad, I wish you hadn't made me grind like a demon… Then again, it was a good distraction, so I was grateful for that kind of vibe.
Irori seems exhausted every time I see him, so he's in a category of his own, but it really is a rare treat to have a guy I can just be myself around.
I'll just turn a blind eye to the fact that we're both "exceptional players" with ranks to our names.
"I managed to build up a decent surplus, so you really helped me out. Here, a little something for your trouble."
"Whoa… What's this, a kunai?"
He had tossed me a palm-sized dagger, its blade and hilt roughly the same length. Hey, who the hell tosses someone an unsheathed blade?!
Though I'm just as bad for catching it and almost letting it slide like it was nothing!
"It's a throwing dagger. Has a little special effect, too."
"Oh?"
Well then, let's have a look at this so-called effect.
[Shadow-Sewing Ritual Dagger] — A small sword infused with the magic of "shadow." It possesses the power to pierce the shadow of a living being, pinning their movements in place.
"…Isn't this broken?"
"Only against small fry. It barely lasts an instant against boss-level enemies, and it's almost useless against players who've decently raised their mental stats."
"No, stopping someone's movement for even an instant is ridiculously strong."
He said it's almost useless against players, which means it must work for a split second, right? Ambushes, breaking an opponent's rhythm, interrupting a spell incantation… Just off the top of my head, I can think of a ton of nasty things to do with this.
"Well, that all depends on how you use it. It's a consumable, but you can recharge it with MP a few times. If it breaks, bring it to me and I'll fix it."
"Dude… Are you sure I can have something like this for just helping out a little?"
"You'll see when you actually use it. It's really not that big of a deal, I promise."
Tetra didn't seem to be feigning modesty… If the creator himself insists, then maybe it's not as convenient as I'm imagining.
"It'd be a pain if you asked me to fix it too often, so just think of it as something that might help you out in a pinch."
"…Got it. I'll gratefully accept it as a sort of talisman."
If this counts as equipment… Okay, it works with [Construction]'s switching. Just as Tetra said, I'll save it as a trump card for emergencies.
"That thing of yours is as handy as ever. I'm jealous."
"If it were something I could teach you, I'd tell you everything."
"Wanna be my apprentice?" I joked, but the boy just waved his hand dismissively.
"I'll pass."
That was close. I'd said it lightly, but if he'd eagerly replied, "I'd love to!" I would have been the one bowing my head and begging, "Please, spare me."
For a lot of reasons, I don't have time for that right now.
"Well, I'm gonna log off soon."
"Yeah, me too."
It was just before four in the morning. I had a lot on my plate again today, but there was still time for a quick nap.
It would be no joke if I pushed myself too hard, mentally and physically, and collapsed. I really should force myself to get some rest.
"I'm usually active from evening to late night, so keep me company again when you can't sleep… Though I'd rather not experience that flood of poison ever again."
"My bad… But it was a good distraction, so you really helped me out. Let's go somewhere again."
When I told him how I really felt, Tetra flashed a boyish grin.
"Mm. And don't overdo it with the forced cheerfulness."
"Tch…!"
With eyes that seemed far too mature for his age, he saw right through me.
"I can imagine things are tough for you right now, but hey… we were just regular gamers to begin with, right? If things get to be a pain, isn't it okay to just plug your ears for a little while?"
"…Yeah."
His words drew a weary smile from me, one I couldn't hold back.
I'd been forcing myself to act cheerful from a certain point on—a fact I hadn't even clearly acknowledged myself. Having it so bluntly exposed by my senpai (who's actually my junior), he left me with another mischievous grin.
"Well, see you later, Senpai."
"Yeah, see you."
Without any lingering sentiment, he briskly departed the virtual world.
"…Are you really younger than me?"
I was left all alone—with a most welcome sense of exhaustion as his parting gift.
He's too blessed with both turmoil and people.