kscans

Chapter 28 -

My relationship with Rena was approved, and we were officially allowed to date, but...

A big problem had arisen.

The scene where Rena and I confessed our feelings for each other had been streamed to the entire world.

When I returned to where Rena was, she was watching the scene of her kissing my cheek, her face bright red. Feeling a little guilty, I said I was going home for the day and left Rena's house.

But for some reason, Rena came with me.

This area is apparently where many people related to the Shinonome Zaibatsu live, and the neighborhood is very beautiful with many large mansions. We walked a little away from that high-class residential area. Now we are walking through a deserted park.

"..."

"..."

There has been no conversation.

We've been walking in silence for about 30 minutes to get here.

Rena is an incredible heiress, so it's probably not good for me to have her out this late. I just realized that now.

"...Should we head back soon?"

I stopped and looked at Rena beside me. She looked a little surprised.

"S, sorry. Just walking is boring, isn't it? I thought I had so much I wanted to talk to you about, Hayate... but I got so nervous, I couldn't get the words out."

Oh, so that's what it was.

"I'm the one who should be sorry for not talking. I thought you were angry, Rena. I was planning to walk with you until you felt better."

"Me, angry? Why?"

"I didn't know that the moment I received the trophy was being streamed. But I did know that the dungeon conquest was being streamed to the whole world. I thought you might be angry because I didn't tell you that..."

"So you thought it was your fault that I kissed you in front of over 100 million viewers without knowing anything."

The number of concurrent viewers when I cleared the Spring Dungeon and rescued Rena was over 100 million. Including archive views and such, the scene of Rena kissing me has been played over 20 billion times.

"It was a little embarrassing, but I don't really mind. I can just think of it as a declaration to the world."

"A declaration?"

"That's right. That Hayate is mine!"

Rena wrapped her arms around mine.

"Hayate, thank you for coming to save me. I'm truly happy that I get to date the person I've admired for so long. Is it... a bother for you, Hayate? Father said something to you, didn't he?"

Rena asked, sounding anxious. There's no way I could say it's a bother.

"He told me to become a man worthy of you, Rena."

"Wh, why would he say that? You're already so amazing, Hayate, you're more than I deserve."

I'm glad Rena thinks so.

"Thanks. But I want to be properly acknowledged by the world. I plan to follow through on what I told you in the dungeon. I want to earn a lot of money, become famous, and become someone no one can object to dating you."

I've only cleared up to a Grade 3 dungeon at the fastest speed. In Farland World Online, dungeons went up to Grade 12. At that level, the strength of the monsters is on a different dimension compared to Grade 3.

According to the information gathered by the Shinonome Group, only dungeons up to Grade 5 have appeared in the world so far, but it's highly likely the Goddess will add more in the future. And people will adapt to them.

I was lucky to be the first to clear a Grade 1 dungeon in the Kanto area, which got me some attention. If not for that, the president of the Shinonome Zaibatsu would never have approached someone like me. I think it was some kind of mistake, but the fact that the AI supporting the Shinonome Zaibatsu's decision-making recommended me was also a big factor.

For now, the attention I'm getting is just a result of a series of coincidences.

Once humanity adapts to the dungeons, someone like me won't be that rare. I'm sure I'll stop getting attention. With 20 billion views on my stream, I could probably make a living off it for now, but eventually, that won't be sustainable.

That's why I need to keep clearing dungeons, bringing back the ores and items I find there to make a profit.

After clearing up to Grade 3, I've got a pretty good handle on it. As long as the Goddess doesn't interfere, I can clear dungeons up to Grade 12 without any major problems.

My ability to conquer dungeons. That's my value.

"I will absolutely become him. A man worthy of dating Rena, the daughter of the Shinonome Zaibatsu."

"...That sounds kind of like a proposal."

Shinonome-san said he would approve of our marriage if I showed my worth to the world, but I should probably keep that to myself for now. We just started dating, and I don't know if Rena is thinking that far ahead.

"Just like you made your declaration to the world with a kiss, Rena, I'll become someone who can proudly say that you are my girlfriend."

"Don't push yourself too hard. The four-sword style you thought was going to be abolished can still be used. You can be more free and do what you want to do, Hayate."

"Then that's perfect. Becoming a man worthy of Rena and wanting to dominate with the four-sword style don't contradict each other. I can do what I want and proudly call myself Rena's boyfriend."

"Ahaha. I've been thinking this since I started watching your streams, but you really love the four-sword style, don't you, Hayate?"

"Speaking of which, what account name did you use to watch my streams, Rena? You said you left comments too, right? Did I ever call out your name?"

"It's Lena."

"What? You're Lena-san, the one who suddenly sent me 50,000 yen in Super Tips when I managed to one-shot that boss? The Lena-san who sent me Super Tips on every occasion after that and always showed up for my streams?"

I was so happy to have such a dedicated fan. I thought she was a woman from the way she commented, but I never imagined it was Rena.

"That's right. It feels so good to be recognized by your idol. I think I have a creepy, smirking face right now, so please don't look at me."

She said, burying her face in my side.

After a little while, Rena lifted her face and looked at me.

"I love how you can get so absorbed in one thing. I want to watch you from up close. So I want to come with you on your dungeon conquests. I might be a burden when you're going for a serious clear, though."

"Yeah, that's fine. Sometimes when I party up with people, I start feeling sick and can't fight. But that didn't happen when I cleared a dungeon with you, Rena. If you're okay with it just being the two of us, let's go together. I'll definitely protect you."

After I said that, I regretted it, thinking it might have been rude to Elena, who was a strong player in her own right.

"Ah, sorry. You don't need someone like me to protect you, Rena."

"No. I want you to protect me, Hayate. Just knowing that you'll definitely protect me makes me feel like I can become even stronger."

"Is that okay? I mean... I don't want you to get hurt now that you're my girlfriend, so there's a good chance I'll become pretty overprotective."

Back when I was playing FWO, a new female player I happened to meet consulted me because she couldn't defeat a low-level dungeon boss.

At the time, I could still party up with people normally, so I went into the dungeon with her. And in my effort to make sure she didn't take any damage, I ended up defeating all the monsters myself. I completely stole the fun of a game about defeating monsters from her.

In the end, she quit FWO.

It was the result of my helpfulness going too far. I still regret that to this day.

"You know... do you have any idea how much of that 'helpful play' I've had to endure? When I first started FWO, they would only let me deliver the final blow to monsters on the verge of death. It was just a game."

"O, oh, really?"

As expected of the daughter of the Shinonome Zaibatsu.

"I want to be useful to you, Hayate. That's why I chose the bow, a weapon that can deliver powerful long-range attacks. I've trained a lot, you know."

"It's true, you were a huge help when we teamed up before."

"Yeah. I've worked hard to fight alongside you, Hayate. But if I get surrounded by monsters and get into trouble, I want you to come and save me right away. A normal person might get angry and say that's an unreasonable request, but you can do it, can't you, Hayate?"

I'm happy she's relying on me. For her to say she wants me to protect her.

"Of course! I will absolutely protect you. People think I'm strong because I can move freely as a solo player, but I'm pretty good at guarding techniques too. I did a fair bit of training a long time ago, you see."

"Training. You sound like a ninja."

"You figured it out. Actually, I took a ninja training course through correspondence."

"I, in this day and age, ninja training is done by correspondence?"

Rena is trying to hold back her laughter. She doesn't seem to believe me.

"I'm not lying, you know? I even got a scroll of mastership sent to me."

I know that part was probably a fake.

"A s, scroll of, pfft, mastership, kuku, a, a scroll?"

Finally unable to hold it in, Rena burst out laughing.

So she still doesn't believe me. I really did train, though...