kscans

Chapter 81 - The Last Hospitality

Hayato stood before the message board.

Esha looked at Hayato suspiciously, then shifted her gaze to the board.

Her expression didn't change, but Hayato found it difficult to speak to her. Just as he was thinking that, Esha turned to him with a smile.

"It seems you'll be able to make your dream come true. But why do you look so sad?"

"...Because I won't be able to see everyone for a while. There's even a chance I might not see you all ever again. When I think about that, well..."

It wasn't just a chance. Today would be the last time they could meet in person. The thought made Hayato's chest ache even more.

I was planning to log out without meeting anyone to avoid this...

"Is that so. Then please make me a chocolate parfait. A five star one, of course."

"Hey, isn't this the part where you're supposed to be sad about our parting?"

"Being sad about parting with a chocolate parfait is not wrong."

Hayato thought, Seriously?, but decided this was better than some strange farewell, so he immediately set about making it.

"Alright, just sit in that chair. I'll make it right away."

Hayato took the necessary ingredients from the storage and put them in his item bag, then began cooking.

Unfortunately, it was four stars. Hayato tried again.

"By the way, why was I sleeping at this base? I think I was running away from Diite with you, Master."

"I'm grateful to you, Esha. And for that memo on how to make the AI Killer you gave me at the end. Thanks to that, I was able to negotiate with Diite-chan. But hey, don't you think telling me to log out after handing me a memo like that is a contradiction? I had to laugh when I got back to the base."

"If you were able to negotiate with Diite, then that's what matters most. Is that why I'm safe? I suppose I have you to thank for that, Master. But what was that you said about a contradiction at the end? I couldn't hear you very well."

Hayato found Esha's words strange. Or rather, he was starting to have questions about many things.

The word 'logout' must be subject to AI Protection. That's why Esha couldn't hear it. But at that time, Esha definitely told me to log out. Could it be that Esha also knows this world is a virtual reality? In the first place, how does Esha know how to make a weapon strong enough to defeat Diite? It wasn't a generic weapon, it was a weapon made exclusively for me. That means Esha prepared it for me. How could she do something like that?

"Um, Master, is something wrong? You've been quiet for a while. Let me just say that I'd like you to hand over the chocolate parfait quickly."

"Huh, oh, sorry. It was done before I knew it. Here you go."

Hayato handed the five star chocolate parfait to Esha.

Esha held it up in both hands for a few seconds before she began to eat it with relish.

"Esha, you can keep eating, but there's something I want to ask..."

"Anyone who disturbs my snack time gets a Destroy, you know? There are no exceptions."

"...My bad."

Seeing the sharp look in Esha's eyes, like a hunter stalking its prey, Hayato gave up on asking.

I have a lot of questions, but Esha is Esha. Asking will only satisfy my own curiosity. Prying like that would be tactless. Besides, it seems dangerous to interrupt her.

Watching Esha eat, Hayato had a sudden realization. He used his cooking skill to make coffee. It was the same five star coffee he always drank. He hadn't had any for the past three days. That's what he remembered.

So this is goodbye to this coffee too. I really liked it...

He always drank this coffee whenever he was troubled by something. It was quite lonely to think he couldn't enjoy it anymore. Believing this to be the last time, he slowly savored the coffee, trying to commit its taste, aroma, and even its texture to memory.

Hayato sipped his coffee while waiting for Esha to finish her chocolate parfait.

No words passed between Hayato and Esha. Time just flowed slowly.

It was probably only a few minutes. But to Hayato, it was a strange and pleasant time that felt both long and far too short.

Seeing that Esha had finished, Hayato asked.

"How was it?"

"The best, as always. It's the taste of happiness."

"I see."

Just that simple exchange warmed Hayato's heart. Knowing that something he made brought someone happiness. There was no greater joy.

But if he stayed here any longer, he really wouldn't be able to return to the real world. Though he felt reluctant to leave, Hayato took a deep breath and stood up.

"Well, I'm going now. You all can split the money in the clan. With that much, I think even you will be fine for a while, Esha."

"...I see. In that case, I suppose I'll hire myself with that money. That way, I can just eat and sleep at the Maid Guild."

"I think you'd get kicked out. Oh, right, I'll transfer clan leadership to you, Esha. If we disband, we can't divide the money and items. You can disband it after everything's settled."

Esha tilted her head.

"You will be returning here, won't you, Master?"

"...That's the plan. But there's a high chance I won't be able to."

In truth, he couldn't return. Leaving the possibility of coming back might be cruel to Esha and the others who live in this world. But he couldn't bring himself to say he would never be back. Besides, Hayato didn't want to abandon the hope of 'what if'.

"Then, I will wait."

"Huh?"

"I will wait here for your return, Master. I don't know about everyone else, but I, at least, will wait here for you to come back. I'll just consider the money I receive as payment for my long term employment by you, Master."

"Esha..."

"I'll be expecting a souvenir. A food item, of course."

Hayato felt like he was about to cry.

He knew in his head that this was a virtual reality. Even so, did he have anyone in the real world with whom he had forged such a bond? It was possible his feelings were one sided. To Esha, he might just be a convenient employer.

Even if that were true, Hayato was happy.

"I wish I could have met you in the real world, Esha."

The honest words slipped from Hayato's mouth. He hadn't intended to say it, but he was overcome with emotion.

Hayato panicked, but Esha just tilted her head.

"Why did you say you 'wished' you could have met me?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing. I was just thinking I was glad you came from the Maid Guild... even though you were drooling at the sight of a chocolate parfait."

"Would you like to get a taste of Destroy before you go somewhere? I think it would be a good experience."

Their usual playful banter. Only Hayato knew the circumstances, but this kind of farewell suited them better.

Thinking that, Hayato smiled.

"I'd rather not get a taste of Destroy, so I'm going now."

"Yes, take care, Master. And hurry back, you hear? I can't function without my chocolate parfait."

"I'll do my best."

With those words, Hayato left the base.

It would be uncool to go back to his own room after saying goodbye. He decided to log out at an inn in the Royal Capital and started moving toward the city.

After logging out, the real Hayato woke up. He had struggled with the decision many times at the inn in the Royal Capital, but in the end, he logged out.

He slowly removed the headgear. Then he looked around.

Is this a hospital? Ney must have arranged it. That's a relief, but my body hurts from lying down for nearly three days. No, more importantly, I have to check.

Moving his slightly aching body, Hayato put the headgear on again. He then launched the game, Another Frontier Online.

The word LOGIN appeared before his eyes.

Hayato selected login, but it immediately resulted in an authentication error.

So it's no good after all. I knew it would be, but seeing it fail for real is pretty painful.

Hayato once again removed the headgear and lay back on the bed.

I got the foothold I needed to open a cafe, but I can't see everyone anymore...

As Hayato thought this, he selected the nurse call button from the monitor attached to the bed.