NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 60
"Shall we start now?"
"Eek, eek...!"
"Die!!"
The fight began as Luna slammed Raymon into the ground.
"Who do you think will win today?"
"Keke, obviously Luna."
"I think so too. Unfortunately, it's not something we can bet on."
While a fierce battle... no, a one-sided assault unfolded in front of us.
Alex and I casually continued our conversation.
The sight of them fighting over me had become a part of daily life.
Alex glanced over.
His gaze was directed at the ice cream in my hand.
"Triple scoop ice cream... impressive."
"Keke, Luna bought it for me."
"I've never seen one in real life. It's quite expensive and too much for one person to eat."
That made me think. It was unlike Luna to indulge in such luxury.
"Is there a hidden meaning? Maybe she's planning to stab me with it..."
"Pfft! What are you talking about? Isn't it usually considered a special day?"
Even after seeing Killing Machine Luna in action, he can still say that?
"Cobra Twist!"
"Arghhhhh!!"
But then, I fell into contemplation.
Was it a special day, like Alex suggested?
I needed to think seriously.
If I couldn't answer a question like 'Don't you know what day it is?'
'I’ll be the one receiving that Cobra Twist.'
A 30-day anniversary since meeting? 100th time being attacked?
Or maybe today is the day I die?
The last option seemed most likely.
"Hmm... I feel sorry for interrupting."
"Interrupting?"
"Yeah, we are intruding on your time together, aren’t we?"
"...Excuse me?"
Despite my confusion, Alex just kept smiling.
He still seems to be under that misunderstanding.
Let me clarify, my preference is for mature women, not kids like her.
"Pfft! Just greetings! I'll just say hello!"
"You can do that from far away! Like, 30km away! Say it from there!"
Luna, do you think people have telescopic vision?
They wouldn't even hear his voice!
‘Hmm, about this time someone else usually shows up.’
Beep-beep-beep!
"Unhealthy opposite-sex relationships are not just a reason for demerits... they're forbidden!"
Oh, the script has changed.
From demerits to outright prohibition.
It seems like the prank I played last time had an effect.
Rodelin strode towards us.
"Stop fighting immediately. What are you doing as friends?"
"Senior, I swear I never encouraged her to be like this."
"Me neither!"
But they had no choice but to stop fighting.
Because Rodelin flashed a smile that suggested if they continued, they’d have to deal with her as well.
"It seems like Zero is the problem again."
"Keke, I was just standing here."
"That might be the problem. How about making it clear?"
'Shall I hang out with someone today?' to end the fight?
Well, my answer was already decided.
"Keke, I would like to spend today with Luna."
"Yay!"
"That’s impossible! My Zero would never be best friends with Luna!"
Luna cheered, while Raymon was in despair.
Oh dear, the struggles of a popular guy.
My very existence is a sin. How sad.
Chin-.
Luna casually slung her arm over my shoulder.
Then, raising her chin, she said.
"This guy is already mine. He can’t be satisfied without me now~ You hear that?"
...Uh? Luna, that could be misconstrued depending on how it’s heard.
My misinterpretation... doesn't seem to be the case.
Rodelin’s face turned bright red.
Alex was lost in laughter.
"Ze, Zero! Le, lewdness is a demerit... a demerit!"
Rodelin took out her notebook.
It was unfair. I was just standing there.
Well, a few demerits didn’t really matter to me.
That's when it happened.
"Senior, it was me who did it."
"Huh?"
"Zero is not at fault. Right? If anyone should get it, it should be me."
...What? Is this some kind of new scam?
Or a new biting strategy?
It was surprising to hear Luna say the right thing.
"...No, I got too excited. Let's pretend this incident never happened."
Rodelin put her notebook back.
Luna gave my chest a light tap.
"Be thankful to this sister."
"Keke, I can't argue this time."
Was our interaction looking too affectionate?
Raymon started to feel despair.
Luna began to circle around him, flaunting her dominance.
‘What's this? She's not a chimpanzee.’
While I chuckled at Chimpanzee Luna, I overheard Alex and Rodelin's conversation.
"I found a fragment of a sword. But... it was imbued with magic."
"Magic?"
"Yes. We should investigate it, shouldn't we?"
A magic-imbued fragment of a sword.
One of the leads to Lérang, the boss of Chapter 1.
It seemed the story was progressing smoothly, so there was no need to worry.
"Then we'll be going. Something urgent came up."
"Ze, Zero... see you later."
"What do you mean later? Get lost already!"
Luna's rebuke.
Raymon ran off, wiping his tears.
The bustling surroundings quickly quieted down, leaving me lost in thought again.
'Can I really kill someone?'
Although the quest had appeared, there was still quite some time until I had to fight Lérang.
About ten days, perhaps, until Alex and the group, following the trail of the cursed sword, reached Lérang.
‘Tsk, would've been better if it ended quickly.’
Having to endure mental and emotional stress until then was maddening.
Well, [Mental Defense] would probably take care of that too.
"Hey."
That's when Luna called me.
Oh, right. I was too lost in thought.
Leaving Obsessive Luna alone.
I owed her a head pat.
"Keke, did you call?"
"Let's play."
"What?"
"Let's play!"
Luna grabbed my hand and started running.
* * *
As a light darkness began to settle.
Luna stretched her interlocked hands above her head, doing a light stretch.
"Ah, it was fun today, wasn't it?"
"Keke, was it? We didn’t do much."
Luna, cheerfully leading me, made it feel like any other day.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
It was a weekday. Going out to the plaza was impossible.
"Huh? We spent the whole day together as friends. How could it not be fun?"
Luna smiled broadly.
Our Luna looks so cute when she smiles.
If only her personality was a bit softer, she'd have many more friends.
We arrived in front of the dormitory.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you something."
"Keke, go ahead."
"Do you... feel bad?"
"What?"
"You've been sulking since class ended. It can't be because of me. So, there must be another issue... but it’s hard to tell."
Of course, I felt bad.
I had been thinking about the murder since the quest appeared.
But I didn’t show it.
Outwardly, I maintained a perfect facade.
‘Neither Alex, Raymon, nor Rodelin asked if I was worried...’
But Luna sensed it.
She realized I wasn't feeling well.
Thump-.
Luna kicked a small stone, her head hanging low.
"Tell me if there's something. We can figure it out together."
Thump, thump-.
"Or what, am I not helpful?"
Thump, thump, thump-.
"I may be bad at comforting. I tried... but maybe it wasn’t enough for you."
Sob-.
Then I realized.
The triple-scoop ice cream, circling Raymon like a chimpanzee, and stopping Rodelin from giving me demerits.
It was Luna's way of caring and comforting.
‘What a fool I am.’
Receiving comfort from Luna, and now making her cry too.
I really am a terrible person.
"Luna..."
"Ah, seriously... it's not because of you that I'm crying, okay? I'm crying because I'm disappointed in myself, because I've disappointed you."
Luna wiped her tears, her back turned to me.
Incapable of consoling a friend.
The fact that her only friend can't rely on her must be quite hurtful for her.
'Alright, let's talk.'
What kind of advice can a kid give anyway.
But they say sharing a problem halves it.
I approached Luna and gently wiped her tears away.
"Get away, dummy."
"Are you sure about that? You might regret it."
"...Regret what?"
"I was about to ask for advice. From my closest friend, someone I can rely on."
Luna's body jerked slightly.
After wiping her eyes fiercely with her sleeve, she crossed her arms and exclaimed.
"Hmph! Can't help it. Listening to concerns is also a friend's duty."
"Thank you."
"Just so you know, I am the god of counseling! You can look forward to it!"
Luna declared confidently.
If only her voice didn’t sound so nasal. But well, it doesn’t matter.
* * *
On a bench in front of the dormitory.
Luna greeted me as I brought back drinks.
"Welcome! Luna's Counseling Office is now officially open!"
But contrary to her words, Luna looked quite nervous.
...Is this her first time counseling someone?
My problems might double by the time I leave here.
Bang!
As soon as I sat down, Luna leaned in close.
What’s this? Luna's shaman ritual?
"So, what's your problem? Grades? Complexes? Money? Or is it love? That’s my specialty, after all."
Love is her specialty?
The credibility of Luna's Counseling Office plummeted at that moment.
"Well, I think I should be going."
"What? Why?"
"As soon as I sat down, my problem was solved. Truly, you are the god of counseling."
"You could come in as you please, but leaving isn't the same."
"It's solved..."
"Sit down."
Hmm, it seems there are only two ways out of here.
Share my problem, or risk my life.
Obviously, the former is the better choice.
"Luna, have you ever killed someone?"
"Yeah, I have."
Luna's expression darkened.
I had expected that. She was quite fierce during the entrance exam.
"You've been through a lot."
"What? I’ve been feeling that you've been talking like you haven’t experienced it."
"Yes, I haven’t."
"Huh? Really?"
Luna was genuinely puzzled.
"Strange. I thought you would have at least taken down about a hundred."
Does she think that based on my innocent appearance?
And a hundred would make me a serial killer!
Just as I was about to grumble.
Luna extended her open hand.
"I’ve killed five. They all deserved it."
They deserved it. I decided not to ask more.
It was probably Luna's own painful experience.
"...Just so you know, nothing terrible happened to me."
"What?"
"No, just saying in case you wondered. Forget it, move on."
Luna waved her hand dismissively.
Hmm, it seemed she was about to say something important, but I missed it while thinking.
Was it crucial information? I'll have to ask again when I get the chance.
"But why ask about killing all of a sudden?"
--TL Notes--
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading