kscans

Chapter 434 - Test Results and a Childhood Friend

"My friend, how were your test scores? I believe I have the right to ask, do I not?"

"I would like to know as well. I helped you study that much. If the results are disappointing, well, let us just say it will be a big problem."

"You two have scary eyes, you know?"

They were in the dining hall of the clan "Mont Blanc's" base.

The tests were over and the results were back, but unless the scores were exceptionally good, one wouldn't show them to others. Naturally, she wouldn't show them to her friends, but since they had helped her study, she couldn't just not tell them.

"I managed to get above average on all of them. Math was just barely, though. Thanks, you two."

Upon hearing this, Natsu and Chris applauded in praise of Parfait.

"What about you, Natsu-chan and Chris-chan?"

"I am at the top of our grade. I missed a perfect score due to a careless mistake... But, thanks to my father's arrangement, my allowance will be increased starting next month. And my mother says we will be having a Donut Castle tomorrow to celebrate. I am pleased."

"I am in tenth place. I missed a few questions in Colony History. When was Colony 'Prison' constructed? I do not believe we learned that."

"That's a trick question. All colonies that existed before the foundation's establishment are unified under the date January 1st, 2400."

"...I see. Parfait, what is the matter? It is unladylike to drink your juice so loudly."

Parfait was drinking orange juice through a straw, but she was making a loud zuzuzuzu sound.

"Top of the class and tenth place, I can't quite believe it. Rick-kun is probably second place anyway, and while Abel-kun is one thing, Ginny-chan is smart too. Is it just me? Do I have a different brain OS?"

"To ask and then sulk, I am a little offended. And to say your OS is different. It is not as if you are 'the god who is not a god,' Diite-neesan. Rather, have you simply not updated?"

"Not updated... Well, at least I'm glad my studying didn't cause your scores to drop. Alright, that's enough talk about tests! Let's work hard on making money this month too!"

Parfait stood up energetically, but Natsu and Chris remained seated, looking up at her.

Parfait tilted her head at them.

"Huh? Are we having another post-test party?"

In the real world, they had a party at Parfait's house to celebrate the end of the tests. Ginny had been there too, and Parfait remembered how disappointed she looked that she couldn't log in to AFO yet.

Parfait wouldn't mind having another party. That's what she thought, but Chris shook her head.

"Today is the day Rick can log in, is it not? Should we not have a birthday party for him?"

"Ah! Was it today? I completely forgot..."

"You must not forget something like that. But knowing Rick, he will be grateful, but he may well say we do not need to do it."

"Eh? You think so?"

"We are high school students now. We may be childhood friends, but a single boy among girls might feel a bit awkward. And Rick is quite straitlaced."

Parfait said, "Aah," and nodded deeply.

Even though they had known each other since they were children, as high school students, they were in the throes of adolescence. The chances of a boy their age being able to attend a birthday party with only female participants were likely low.

"So what should we do?"

"In situations like this, it is better to ask. Rick in particular prioritizes efficiency. He is the type to appreciate practical birthday presents, so we should ask him first instead of trying to guess on our own."

"I'm not sure about that, but for Rick-kun, that's probably for the best."

"Efficiency, is it... I once had Rick ask me in all seriousness why I spoke in such a troublesome manner. I cannot accept it, when waste and contradiction are the very essence of the path of darkness!"

"Some people just don't click... or rather, I can't accept that you two are first and second in our grade."

As they talked, Parfait and the others waited for Rick to arrive. They prepared only the drinks for the initial toast, planning to incorporate Rick's opinion for the rest.

Just as an hour was about to pass, they heard a knock on the base's door.

"It's Rick. Is Parfait there?"

"Hi, I'm here!"

Parfait said as she opened the door.

There stood someone covered head to toe in silver armor. The voice suggested it was Rick, but his face was so completely hidden it was impossible to tell.

In front of a puzzled Parfait, the person who seemed to be Rick realized something and took off his helmet.

"Sorry, I guess you couldn't tell who it was with this on."

His silver hair, which matched the silver armor, was naturally wavy, and he was wearing black-rimmed glasses the moment he removed his helmet. His expression was nearly blank, but Parfait, his childhood friend, could tell he was smiling slightly.

"Oh, Rick-kun, congratulations on your AFO debut!"

Natsu and Chris, who were behind Parfait, also came to greet him.

"Kukuku, it seems you have fallen into the game of darkness...!"

"You look quite dashing. However, it is a pity I cannot see your muscles."

Rick sighed a little at their three different reactions.

"You three are the same even in the game. In a way, I'm relieved."

"Eh, you think so? Let's not just stand here and talk, come on in."

"Then I'll come in."

The four of them sat around a single round table. Rick sat across from Parfait, with Natsu to his right and Chris to his left.

Parfait prepared wooden cups filled with orange juice for everyone.

"First, a toast! Well then, Rick-kun, happy birthday!"

As Parfait, Natsu, and Chris raised their cups, Rick, slightly delayed, also raised his cup for a toast. Afterwards, the four of them drank their juice.

Rick's face showed surprise.

"I'd heard rumors, but it really tastes like orange juice. I can't believe this is a virtual reality."

"Right? I was surprised too when Diite-oneechan treated me to a strawberry parfait for the first time."

"I met Diite-san too, but she just gave me my father's and mother's equipment. She told me you guys were preparing food, though."

Parfait, who had forgotten about the birthday until just a moment ago, looked guilty, but Natsu and Chris said nothing and continued drinking their juice.

"Um, that equipment, is it from your parents? Ox-san and Miliara-san, right?"

"Yeah, my father was a tank and my mother was an attacker who wielded a giant sword, apparently. I inherited a giant sword and shield, but I couldn't equip them because of the STR requirement."

"Wow! You inherited their equipment, does that mean you're joining one of the combat guilds?"

"No, I joined the Treasure Hunter Guild."

"Treasure Hunter? Oh, a Treasure Hunter... Huh? Really?"

The Treasure Hunter Guild was a guild where one could learn techniques for disarming traps and unlocking treasure chests. It was possible to level up skills like "Stealth" to disappear and "Silent Steps" to muffle footsteps, but it generally had few combat skills.

"Um, are you going to level up your Treasure Hunter skills with that equipment?"

"That's the plan. I'll also be a tank, but with the three of you, there should be enough attackers. Besides..."

"Besides?"

"The Treasure Hunter Guild is the guild where Sonia-san was the Guild Master. Relic-san wasn't, but I heard he had mastered Treasure Hunter skills, so I thought I'd give it a try too."

"Oh, that connection... Is it true you were named after Relic-san, Rick-kun?"

At that question, Rick, who usually showed little emotion, looked embarrassed.

"You know a lot. That's right. Apparently, my father and mother were helped by Relic-san and Sonia-san at the Foundation's company. I heard they were given my name out of gratitude and respect. Recently, I've been learning various things directly from Relic-san and Sonia-san myself. Every day is fulfilling."

"...Programming stuff, right?"

"...Security stuff."

Parfait had heard a little about Relic from her mother, Esha. It might be true or it might be a lie, but the story was that Relic was a master hacker.

She was a little worried about what he was learning from such a person, but since it was about security, she decided not to pursue it any further.

"Relic-dono, is it. My mother also praised him as a wonderful gentleman. I hear he is over ninety years old, but he still stands with his back straight. If I were a man, I would want to be like him."

"Chris's mother, huh. I heard Relic-san also played this game and roleplayed as a butler. She said he helped her out a lot then."

"Hm, Relic-dono as a butler... I would love to see that."

"Actually, when I said I was going to play this game, he said he would give me some equipment. The butler uniform is in my item bag, as a matter of fact."

As Rick said this, Chris's eyes lit up. They were the eyes of a hunter who had found her prey.

"Try it on."

"...Why?"

"Because I want to see it. It is one thing when you are going on an adventure, but there is no need to be in armor at the base."

"...Could you not look at me with the same eyes you use to look at muscles?"

"I would like you to think of it as praise. Besides, it is your birthday, so that much should be fine, right?"

"It's my birthday, though... Fine. But you owe me one."

"Gu! W, well, I understand. I accept!"

It was a known fact among their childhood friends that owing Rick a favor was not a good idea, but Parfait was a little exasperated that Chris wanted to see it that much. However, just as there were maid cafes, there were also butler cafes, so Parfait also looked at Rick, thinking it might be necessary for that purpose.

In the next moment, Rick's equipment changed. And the three of them exclaimed, "Ooh!"

While he lacked the imposing presence, his appearance as a butler-in-training was quite fitting.

"Mm! A butler worthy of being presented anywhere. To tell you the truth, I also like butlers."

"Chris-chan, that's not exactly a secret..."

Ignoring Chris, who was staring at the butler uniform so intensely it seemed like she would burn a hole through it, Rick looked at the three of them in turn.

"Chris is in a maid uniform. Tastes vary, but is Chris the type to let loose in games? Even though you're on the public morals committee. Parfait is a sister, and Natsu is in a military uniform... You two are just as you are in real life, or rather, you're just going with the flow."

"Diite-oneechan strongly pushed me to wear this."

"The clothes closest to darkness, that is the military uniform!"

"Parfait aside, I still don't understand what Natsu is talking about, but somehow her test scores are better than mine..."

"I am aiming to become a doctor in the future. Tests are merely events to praise me...!"

"Aiming to be what, a back-alley doctor or something?"

"What are you saying, of course I will get a proper medical license. Why would I aim to be a criminal?"

"...I still don't get it."

"There, there. Well then, today is Rick-kun's birthday party, so we're going on a sweet tour journey!"

"It's my birthday party, right?"

"That's right. But we're not making you eat our recommendations, you can choose whatever you like, Rick-kun!"

"...I'll take that as a compromise. Thanks."

"Don't worry about it. Oh, and we have to earn a certain amount of money every month or our furniture will decrease, so I want you to think of a money-making strategy in the game, Rick-kun. Preferably something that earns money without us having to do anything."

"I see. A money-making strategy. But I don't know what's possible in the first place, so I'll have to investigate that first. You're going to Azuma for the sweet tour, right? Then this is market research. Now, let's go!"

Rick became proactive the moment money was mentioned. He was reliable yet scary, and it felt a bit rushed, but Parfait figured it would be fine as they headed towards the Eastern Country's capital, Azuma.