kscans

Chapter 95 - A New Game Plus

"So, was the point of calling us here today to show off Rena-san?"

Naoto asked, having grown tired of teasing me.

"Mmm. Showing off is part of it."

"Seriously?"

"Hayate-kun, so that’s what this was."

You two should really be more aware of how much you flirt in front of me.

"It’s a report that I have a cute girlfriend now, and…"

"Did you hear that? A cute girlfriend, he said."

"Y, yes."

"He’s so cool, saying that so smoothly in public."

What’s the big deal in front of just two people.

The scene where I told Rena I liked her was seen by hundreds of millions. The archive of the mandatory stream can’t be deleted, so many people are still watching it.

Incidentally, Rena looked a little happy.

"It was a report that I got a girlfriend, and also that Rena will be going to the new dungeon explorer training academy with us. I gathered you all here to tell you that."

"Oh. So that’s what it is."

"Rena-chan can go with us too!"

"Yes. If possible, I’d like to be in the same class as both of you and enjoy our school life together."

"Oh, but wait. Rena-chan, you’re a year below us, right?"

Sakinon knew Rena’s age. Her birthday must be widely known.

"Apparently the age difference can be worked out."

"I am quite brilliant, you see."

"So she can even skip a grade. As expected of the young lady of the Shinonome Zaibatsu."

Naoto played along with Rena, who had stated it jokingly.

"I’m so happy! I hope we can be in the same class."

"About that, it seems the new academy will divide classes based on dungeon clearing ability."

She didn’t tell me her source, but it seems that system has been decided. The Shinonome Zaibatsu’s information network is terrifying.

"Dungeon clearing ability, you mean."

"Yes. Hayate will definitely be placed in the highest-level class."

"And Rena-san is at pretty much the same level, right?"

"So for all of us to be in the same class, we have to be able to do what Hayate-kun and Rena-chan can."

"Uh oh. I feel like the difficulty just skyrocketed."

"It might require knowledge about dungeons, not just athletic skill."

Naoto had always watched my streams. We never played FWO together, but we did talk about items and equipment in high school. I think he’ll be fine on the knowledge front. Plus, he’s good at any sport.

Sakinon was in the gymnastics club and was skilled enough to compete at the national level as a first-year.

I think these two will be fine.

Additionally, I intend to borrow the power of the Shinonome Zaibatsu and Amaterasu-sama.

It surely won’t be difficult to meddle with the class assignments. I was confident that the heiress power Rena has shown so far would sort it out somehow.

However, it would be very risky for them to challenge high-difficulty dungeons with us if they lack fighting strength. I want them to develop enough combat power to fight fairly strong monsters solo.

I’ll feel at ease if they can defeat a Fake Hayate on their own. I’ll make sure they reach that level.

"I’d like to conduct some dungeon clearing training so that you and Sakinon can get into the same class as us."

"You mean training, Hayate-sensei."

"Is it like we’ll go into dungeons together? I think you guys stream on a booth called Hayate-Style Four-Sword Style Promotion Office, right? Is it okay for us to join in there? We’ll probably be on the mandatory stream."

"That’s the plan, but first we’ll train in the tutorial area. I know you’re both athletic. But it might be dangerous to challenge a dungeon right away."

It wasn’t just because I was worried about their physical safety.

Rena and I have become the focus of worldwide attention. Every time we enter a dungeon, hundreds of millions of people tune in to the mandatory stream. We get endless messages from professional martial artists, and from countries and corporations serious about dungeon clearing, all wanting to join us.

If two people who, despite being physically capable, are inexperienced at fighting monsters were to join our party, they might become targets of criticism. I can declare that Rena and I wouldn’t care about such things, but I was worried Naoto and Sakinon would suffer emotional damage from slander and abuse.

"Even though it’s a tutorial area, there’s a lot we can do. If there’s someone in the party who has cleared high-grade dungeons, it’s possible to summon monsters of various strengths for combat training."

Last month, the Fake Hayate had been added to the list of summonable monsters.

If they can defeat that, their training will be complete.

Battle Aura has also been implemented, so with a month of training, Naoto and the others should be able to defeat the Fake Hayate. I will train them to do so.

"I see. Understood, Hayate-kun!"

"Having the strongest explorer train us is like a ‘New Game Plus,’ isn’t it?"

He means that thing where you restart a game from the beginning with all the equipment and stats you had when you cleared it. The ultimate state.

It feels a little different, but if they receive my and Rena’s guidance to gain top-class strength, and start clearing dungeons with the strongest equipment we prepare for them, I suppose it does have a New Game Plus feel to it. Honestly, that sounds fun.

And no one should complain about them then.

"That’s a great idea. I’m in."

Naoto and Sakinon can enjoy dominating, and the obstacles to them joining our party will disappear. It’s a wonderful plan. To be honest, the plan was quite vague at first, but now I felt it could work.

"Well then, let Operation New Game Plus commence!"

"""Yeahhh!!"""