After my business at the Guild was done, I went around Leanbox to spend the rest of my free time.

It took a few hours for me to familiarize myself again with the paths I needed to take just in case I wanted some shortcuts. The world was full of surprise no matter which dimension you were in, so you could never let your guard down even for a little bit.

Though saying that, I ended up taking a break at a relatively accessible park.

I sat down on a bench facing away from the fountain, absorbed the lush greenery decorating my surroundings, and nonchalantly decided that it was time to fiddle some music in.

"Let's see…"

I took out my smartphone from the inner pocket of my jacket while I acquired the headset by rummaging through my hyperspace item storage.

It might sound expository, but the hyperspace storage functioned by time-locking everything I put in it. This feature was expensive to install but it allowed me to keep things like food ingredients, raw monster drops, or any stuff I wanted to stay fresh be in that way.

Of course, there's no downside once you got this particular feature. The pain is worth the reward—

"Wait, wait. Stop." I pinched the bridge of my nose as I reconsidered my thoughts out loud. "God, did I just make myself sound like a masochist?"

I was glad that I wasn't in Planeptune, now.

Anyone could tell but out of the four rulers of the four nations, only one Goddess had a mean streak when it came to raising her nation's Shares. This phenomenon would be normally considered as a reign of terror in my world but in this place, you could say that basically everyone born here had a really, reaaaaally wide range of common sense that there was no difference between the normal and the abnormal.

Hell, they even loved those kinds of things.

"...And I just reminded myself that I'm forever stranded in a world overflowing with lunatics…" I took a deep breath in only to sigh deeply. "...Am I in hell?"

"Oh? Do you want to know what hell truly is like, then?"

I stopped moving, nearly forgot to breathe and slowly swiveled my head like a rusty, unoiled robot.

Before I knew it, a girl… no, wait, she has a sexy appeal like Vert, so she's a young woman. I estimated her to be around early twenties and her cool green eyes reflected my figure like a still lake. Yes, before I knew it, a beautiful woman was standing close by while staring long and hard at me.

I took a harsh breath as I tried my damnedest to not pay much attention to her… fetishistic maid uniform. Unluckily, I was but a mere mortal.

Sonny, calm down! We're in public here!!

"...What are you doing, boy?"

My eyebrows twitched as I closed my eyes tight. I pulled a lock of black hair down in front of my nose and fiddled with it as I grumbled under my breaths about the game developers.

Ugh, whatever. I'm not sober enough after seeing Vert and Chika messing the game store to oblivion. Better get my act together like a bumbling fool I am.

"Sorry. I never thought I would meet a fourth acquaintance in the same day," I said and waved. "It's not your fault so you don't have to worry, Cave."

When I reopened my eyes again, I found the red-haired woman staring back at me. Her expression betrayed any emotion just like Blanc but while my goddess was an extremely quiet, if not introverted person… Cave was a person who didn't mind on taking the initiatives.

"Is that so? Do you have something troubling you, boy?"

"...Please spare me with that way of addressing someone…" I sighed and patted the bench. "Anyway, it doesn't seem like it's a coincidence that I'm meeting you here. Have a seat, Cave."

The redhead contemplated briefly and nodded down. I made some space as Cave sat next to me, but… No matter how you looked at this, people would gossip around if they saw a gloomy-looking man accompanied by an expressionless woman in a revealing maid uniform which combined the Nurse, Maid, and Witch genre in one outfit.

Seriously, Gamindustri is a whacky place full of whacky people. What in the bloody hell did the True Goddess smoke when she created this world…?

"Getting down to the business…" I leaned back and looked to the side. "Is there a reason why you're here talking with me?"

Cave expectedly nodded. The other difference between her and Blanc beside the obvious things was that she would meet you in the eyes if you wanted it to be so. This woman was a wonderful sort of person that had a heroic streak in the previous game, so it wouldn't be a wonder that she had no problem in socializing with the intent of treating her partner as an equal.

However…

"No, I just saw you so I thought I would greet you."

A brief silence stretched.

"...That's it?" I asked.

"That's it. Is there anything else?" Cave asked back.

...Okay, now. Well, how should I say this…?

"...I'm an idiot…" I planted my left hand on my face as I realized how stupid and self-important I had made myself as. "I want to die, now…"

As I lamented about how lame I was, I felt my shoulder patted. I lowered my hand… only to find Cave frowning at me as she spoke out what she honestly thought and felt.

"Get a grip, Eisen," the maid said. "You don't look like someone who would die even if you're killed."

"Cave, people die when they're killed…!"

Aaaah! And I just used that meme as if it was the normal thing! Damn you, Gamindustri! Damn you, Compile Heart…!

"Don't worry. If you have a 1UP, then you can still continue." Cave gave a thumbs up. "Also, just grab the powerups and extra lives. You can live longer with them!"

"Reality ain't bullet hell game, dammit!"

What is this, Dodonpachi!? Ugh, fine then! Forget about common sense and vacation!

"We're already past the line anyway!" I slapped my knees and stood off the bench. "Cave! You've got some quests from your company, don't you!? Give me something to clear out!!"

"Oh? But that would mean being temporarily hired as Leanbox's SMD agent."

Screw the rules! I want to bust some stresses out!! Isn't that the objective of taking a day-off!?

"Very well, then." Cave nodded and stood up as well. "Follow me, Eisen. You will need to suit up first."

"Better than wasting away like some dried log…!"

As both of us left the park, I was already riding high on adrenaline that I forgot to ask one question.

Did Cave just said something about 'suit up'?