Chapter 3: Cream and Sugar?
December 1st 2022
Daniel (Charlie) POV
"STAY STILL YOU BLOATED BLACK AND WHITE PATCHWORK BOVINE!" I swung my spear at the stupid cow again and again hoping to land a hit, the freaking thing was getting on my last nerve, out of all the stupid, annoying, tiring enemies we had to face for a month, I never thought a COW would be the one that topped the list.
Yes, and it has been two weeks since the incident at the dungeon, we gave info around to the rest of the players about how it was now a experience ground of lots of spiders and boars to kill, but we got back that the place was sealed because of the cave-in, so no more exploring there for a while.
Another thing that has surfaced in the community since the death games started was the general hate of the Beta-Testers, which spelt bad news for Robert, this all happened because nearly all of them left the general population to gain levels by themselves, I knew it was unfair to them all, in fact, it was a topic of debate between me a Robert, it nearly escalated to argument when he pointed out that it would have been impossible to split the monsters experience 10 000 different ways easily, and even then, we would be too weak, besides, what could one small group do to change everything?
I felt helpless at that aspect.
We bounced from quest to meaningless quest, to get a small boost in Exp for us every time, it wasn't the easiest life, but we got by.
Oh, and Akari had become part of our group, she was depressed about Daiko during the first few days, but we managed to pull her out of her funk, whenever it was Robert and my 'friendly' arguments, or that she has a cheery disposition originally, maybe both, but she pulled through at least.
I got her a new shield to fit her fighting style as soon as possible, with my own money, most guys would get chocolate or flowers, me? I got a hunk of curved metal that stops people from getting impaled, she seemed much happier with mine tho.
She was also a beginner blacksmith, which was interesting considering she also fights, it must be hard juggling two skills like that, right now she can only make a few cheap items that don't do that much, but she has been getting better.
And… our relationship… thats an interesting subject, I had to fervently remind myself that I was a girl in her eyes, as her constant clinging and hugging left me flustered and stammering, I never saw girls in my town so open before… were all girls like this with each other? Either way, I had then and there decided to swear off women for the rest of my time in this place, when it was a casual game, I would have flirted without shame, but now… I don't know, I guess I really have to worry about reputation now, but still, Akari was so… hug happy, that I had shown the restraint of a saint on several occasions, not to mention the fact we would share a room whenever we rested… yeah, I am saint material.
To the utter enjoyment of Inner-Me, which I had named recently, I was pretty much the walking, talking teddy bear which she snuggled with, I couldn't get to sleep for hours because of Inner-me's comments… and that I was resisting the urge to hug Akari as well.
Don't get me wrong, I don't like taking advantage of the situation, but me and Robert made a pact of sorts, to not reveal I latched onto the game as an extra player, that also meant not saying I was really a guy, its not really about the fact we hacked into the game, the virtual terrorist mass kidnapping brings that to zero fucks given.
But, its more to the fact of people having, prejudices lately, Betas are enemy number one, who knows what a hacker could yield on the 'burn the witch' meter to a solid 10.
So, ixnay on the hackay, as we say, Akari doesn't know of course, or she would have never touched me even with a ten foot pole.
"She wouldn't even look in your direction lamebrain"
Who is worse, the stupid one, or the voice living in their head?
"..."
Yeah, thought so.
Anyway, back to the current time, Robert remembered this quest when I questioned the food quality in the SAO world, more precisely, splitting out the bland loaf after having one to many.
It came to the topic of a quest called Revenge of the Cows, to get a few pots of cream to use, basically, a farmer, that was VERY cruel to his cattle, then had the tables turned against him when all of his cows decided to trample everything in sight, our mission was to simple, kill the cows, but what Robert forgot was that it was draining, VERY draining, not dangerous, they hardly took any health off, but they could dodge like a son of a bi-
SMACK!
"OW! OKAY, THATS IT, BE PREPARED TO GET SKEWERED!"
"Don't worry Charlie-chan, you can do it!"
Robert and Akari were watching at the sidelines, we decided to have shifts in this business to make it go quicker, but they seemed so short, and the working was so long despite us having the same fifteen minute shifts.
"Watch it Charlie, your health is getting low" Robert said in a bored voice from where he lay in the grass.
"SHOW SOME MORE CONCERN WOULD YOU!" I finally got so angry that I swung my spear in an arc and smacked the bitch of a bovine across the field, before it disappeared into light.
Another thing, I had become quite the powerhouse when I got those Gauntlets of the Final Stand, I became the Tank of the group basically, ploughing through enemies without worry, well, as long as I have the occasional health potion of course.
The twenty percent was a bother, but as my health went down slower because of my high defense, I didn't have to worry about it too much, just as long as I remember to be careful.
I then heard a ringing sound, showing the end of the quest.
"Freaking finally" I mutter as I collapsed to the ground.
"Charlie-chan! Are you okay?" I looked to see Akari leaning over me in concern.
"I'm fine, just hungry"
I looked at the NPC farmer who appeared to give us our reward, with the stereotypical straw in the mouth and straw hat getup.
"Why thank ye kindly" he then took waved his hands around, "Take this more ye troubles!"
The item screen appeared before each of us, looking at mine, I had been given some Col, a little Exp, and two pots of cream, woo hoo.
But seriously.
"Please tell me there's more" I asked Robert.
"Sorry, two pots each, and this quest isn't really challenging, so the other rewards is small too" He didn't look that bothered at all.
"Prick"
For once, I agree.
I was about to launch into an argument, when a sudden cry of joy was heard.
"I just leveled up!" Akari shouted, I looked over to see her jumping with joy, jumping…
Yep, saint material.
Sure enough, her level had just increased to 7, me and Robert were at 8 and 9 ourselves, I was getting tired of being a level behind all the time, maybe he goes out to kill monsters while me and Akari are asleep.
I forgot about my anger and just smiled at the happy girl, whenever I got angry, it would take a good shouting to get it out of my system, but she always seemed to make it wash away nearly.
"Good work Akari, uh... San" Just remembering the horrific thing, these titles took getting used to, I had to make it seem I was japanese.
She pouted, "I thought I told you to stop calling me San Charlie-Chan!"
I heard Robert snigger next to me, he was having a hoot at my situation, he even recently predicted I would become a drag-queen after this was all over.
Freaking Bastard.
"Anyway, I'm going into town to trade a bit in the market, I'll meet you back at the inn!" she then ran across the field and out of sight over the rise.
Leaving me and Robert to ourselves.
"So… when are you going to ask her out?"
I gag.
"What!?" I look at him like he is insane.
"Why not? She's practically your dream girl, just wrap yourself in ribbons at Christmas coming up and say 'I'm yours' and you got her" the shit-eating grin was present.
I blush at the imagery, "I thought you said not to tell anyone about my… condition?"
"I didn't say you have to"
"Look, you don't get it, on one hand, she could be only into guys and this conversation is meaningless, and on the other hand she is into girls, which will guilt trip if I date her until I do a Hari-Kiri Mortal Kombat style"
"What if shes Bi?"
This time I choked.
"You… you bastard" I mutter, "Look, I know I am optimistic when I say I am going to become dateless for the rest of the time we are here, but I am damn well NOT going to do it with her, her freaking love interest died man!"
He gave me a look, "I don't know Daniel, you have never had a relationship since I've known you, only crushes that pass by or end badly for three years, this might be good for you"
"And then what? After this is all over she will accept I was lying about everything about me? No way in hell, even telling her now is a risky, with her being so reliant on us"
"It will only get worse as you wait"
"Well wait on I shall, after this is all done, Charlie won't exist, its better that way"
"I'm trying to see the cons, really I am, all I have is possible rejection" Robert looked at me with his 'I won't drop the subject' face.
"Yeah, do you possibly remember all the times she has hugged me, slept in the same room as me and damn well nearly stripped while I was still there?"
I waved my hand in a dismissive way, "That last one was accident mostly and she just shifted into the clothes she already had on her person, anyway, too many times like that to count, she would turn me into road kill"
"And what if she had feelings?" he asked with genuine curiosity,
I chuckled humorlessly, "I'm the kind of guy that has crushes, not the guy crushed on, especially as a girl here and a girl like that"
I started walking away.
"You never answered the question" Robert intoned behind me,
I paused, before I continued walking to the inn, "I'll turn her down"
Saint material…
Robert (Lucian) POV
He was really beating himself up about it, it was so sad, if it were a normal game, he would have became a flirt for the ages, just to joke around, but here, he has closed off part of his personality, not to get close to people that way.
This gender crisis will fling him through a loop.
I never thought that playing match-maker was that interesting, more to the act of saying 'I know this girl you would like' kind of way, but I think I am going to make it a goal to get him to date at least one girl while we are here.
And tease him relentlessly afterwards.
I then turned my attention to another matter, the meeting
It was spread over floor one that a meeting was to take place, on the issue of the floor boss room, in the next town over there will be one held, we are currently high up on the level count, higher than most are, so we would be a good asset to the fight, but…
Should we get involved? Daniel would probably shout 'Hell Yeah' and do it, but really, if we let others just do the big things, while we just get levels to survive, we could get out of this place without being in real danger.
Yet again, Daniel wouldn't feel right to sit still with everything going on.
I breath out in exhaustion, I hate making the tough choices, I made the smart ones sure, but this is getting heavy.
I look at the paper invitation, many were placed around the first floor to get as many people to the meeting as possible, so, Daniel will find out sooner or later anyway, and he will likely jump at it.
I look up at the sky, it being so realistic made me angry, all of it was pixels and data, all made by a madman who made children into adults through this ordeal.
I then decided, if Daniel finds out about it, go with the flow, if he doesn't, don't mention it, so it won't be our problem in the first place.
I felt a sense of passing guilt at holding information from him in a way, but I shook it off, its the same thing parents do when they tell their kids a white lie so they won't be hurt.
It isn't cruel, it's necessary.
A Few Hours Later
Of course, children would not be a nosy as a eavesdropping guy like Daniel.
Barely twenty minutes after I got back, Daniel comes in like a hurricane, saying he had heard a conversation about the meeting, naturally, he wanted to do his part.
And so, we packed up everything, went out of town and made our way towards the town where the meeting was to be held, Tolbana.
As we walk down the road to our destination, I look sideways at Akari, who was keeping a steady pace with me, occasionally smiling in Daniel's direction.
Ironic how the only girl that shows interest in him he doesn't go for, yet again, I might be looking too deeply into this.
Daniel himself was a bit of the way in front of us, eager to get to the town, as I recall, he always liked simulations that made things into the real deal, NerveGear was the ultimate role-play, no doubt he would have wasted days on it if he had the choice normally.
I decide to use the opportunity to speak with the blacksmith of our group.
"So, you certainly warmed up to Charlie quickly" I was really curious in what she found so appealing about him, sure, he's a nice guy, but not good on first impressions with girls.
She jumped a bit at my attempt at conversation, and turned to me.
"Well... I guess I am just that kind of person, I made friends easily back in real life, mostly because I was, um... enthusiastic"
She blushed a bit at this, looks like it was more pushy than enthusiastic.
"Well, he- SHE'S a good person," I quickly caught myself from the slip, "You chose a good person to be your friend"
She looked at me with a curious expression, "So how do you know Charlie-Chan anyway Lucian-San?"
My mind went black a little, me and Daniel didn't make a cover story for who we are to each other, and I don't think 'We are buddies over videochat' is really believable, especially over countries and a girl who is into video games, they're as rare as anything.
In slight panic, I said the first thing that came to mind.
"Uh… we used to date"
Her curious face suddenly turned blank, and alternated between looking at Daniel's back, oblivious to the conversation, and my face, which I was controlling the urge not to twitch.
"Uh… you are?" she asked in an unsure tone, and also confused at the concept of the idea, right as she should be.
"Not anymore, out personality's crashed and so we just became friends with the same interests" I gestured to the scenery, acting indifferent to the bullshit I was spewing as I recited something I heard from a relationship blog I read in passing.
"Well… I wouldn't have guessed, I mean, you guys are kind of… competitive"
"One of the reasons we are friends now" I half-lied, it was rivalry that actually made us get to know each other, when he and I first met, it was when he was trying to hack my computer, and I initiated a counter attack, a twenty minute cyber battle turned into a regular chit-chat over the video camera.
She glanced back at Daniel, "So… is Charlie-chan in a relationship now?"
She didn't look jealous or anything, so it must have been an innocent question.
"No, but she had a lot of crushes in her life since I've, uh, broken up with her. She's never successful tho"
She looked at me surprised, "Eh?! Charlie-chan is so cute! How could she not get another date after you?"
I chuckled, if I told her everything, we could write a book on it.
"Well, I like to think its bad luck, and lots of it, I mean, there was this one girl who was the equivalent of a Yandere and-"
"Girl?" Akari questioned, I froze.
SHIT!
"Uh… I mean… guy, yeah, I meant that, slip of the tongue" I laughed nervously as she looked at me with a blank stare.
Slowly, her eyes widened in realisation and her head snapped forward, fixing on Daniel.
Well, is this good or bad?
…
I'm going to label it entertaining and move on.
Daniel (Charlie) POV
Why do I have the sudden urge to strangle Robert right now?
I looked behind me, to see Robert looking awkward, and a Akari staring at me, who then quickly looked away with a noticeable blush.
…
Now I have the urge to burn him and stomp on the ashes.
"Somebody's jealous"
Not really jealous, more like… yeah, I'm jealous.
"Huh?"
Partially with Akari, but mostly because he could actually date here…
He had more freedom that way.
I turned back to look forward again, the boss meeting was something different, we were practically bottom feeders with how we had been going, so when I heard about it, I thought it would be a big help.
I had done a lot of thinking, if we brought up our rep, and got more people to know about us, we could get a better life, with connections comes benifits, if we get on the good side of the right people here, if could help in the long run, as well as breaking the 'players-block' that has been going on so far, it could help with the morale issues that are common as well.
I wasn't worried for one second, I mean, I took on a freaking spider queen alone, and still standing I may add, so this will be cake.
I hope.