“Eh.”
A beauty with bright red hair.
Her hair shimmered in red, shining even more brilliantly under the desert sun.
A smile bloomed on her beautiful face, lighting up the scene.
Her eyes sparkled with laughter, drawing pleasant curves.
I stared blankly at her face.
Wow.
What a pretty sister.
Where have I seen her?
Ah.
When I was entering the ‘Orc King’s Cave’ for the second time, I felt the gaze of a red-haired woman looking at me.
The cave entrance was a bit dim, and there was a distance between us, plus there were a lot of people, so I didn’t get a good look at her face before quickly escaping.
But it was definitely that woman I saw in the cave.
Seeing her under the sun, I suddenly felt it.
She was really pretty.
Her figure was amazing too.
Her hips and waistline drew elegant and delicate curves.
And her chest was quite impressive.
I felt a little envious.
She must have customized her character, right?
Pinch pinch.
I momentarily touched my own modest chest.
The comparison was stark.
Should I have added a little to my customization?
In the center of her stylish uniform that emphasized her toned body was a cute pig face.
It was a rare outfit obtainable at a low chance from the ‘Orc King’s Cave.’
Since it was a bound item, I couldn’t find it in the auction house.
So jealous.
I didn’t get one.
Though my appreciation lasted long, the moment was actually very brief.
In the middle of it, she had gotten closer to me.
I felt oddly angry.
This sister is pretty, but she’s a steal, huh?
She attacked the ‘Fames Scorpion’ I had marked with my spit from a distance and took it away.
Of course, I wasn’t the one who attacked first, but…
As a dagger user, I have to get close and attract aggro, right?
It’s basic manners for a dagger user not to attack nearby monsters.
But I timidly turned my head and avoided her gaze.
People are scary.
Creating connections is even scarier.
The stealing sister came up to me, ducking her head to make eye contact.
“Hello?”
“…….”
I didn’t respond.
Pretending to ignore her without quickly fleeing that spot was my greatest act of rebellion.
I don’t want to talk to a steel steal.
I communicated this with my whole being.
If she understood, she should just leave.
“Um, can I speak casually? Uh, hey? How old are you? Would it bother you if I speak informally?”
You already spoke casually, what are you asking again for?
“Hunting in the Fames Desert region means you’ve probably finished farming in the ‘Orc King’s Cave,’ right? There aren’t many people who have entered this region yet. If you’ve completed all the accessory farming, there might not be many parties in the advance team. That’s really impressive!”
She sparkled her eyes and praised me.
What’s her goal? Why is she complimenting me?
Complimenting me won’t earn her a single copper, so I wish she’d leave quickly.
“Ahem. You look like an advance party dagger user too. Do you have a fixed party? If not, would you like to party with me? We do have a fixed tank in our team, but he sometimes gets busy. Ah, of course, it’s not a backup role! Your customization is so cute, it’s purely a selfish invitation because I want to party with you!”
The red sister waved her hands, making excuses.
I can see right through you.
If the tank is missing, it means I have to take that role as backup for the dungeon raid.
But I’m not falling for that.
I’m a solo player, and I want to hog all the items to make a lot of money.
If I raid the dungeon in a 4-man party, my profit will be divided by four.
Tatatat.
I felt no need to listen further.
I tried to escape the spot quickly.
“Ah, wait!”
Even without saying it, my refusal should’ve been clearly expressed. Why is she calling me back?
I casually turned my gaze.
The red sister was looking a bit hurt and waving her hand at me with a forlorn expression.
“Could you at least tell me your nickname?”
“…….”
I want to scream there’s no nickname to tell the steel steal!
I forced myself to hold back that urge.
A faint feeling spread in my chest.
Indeed, people’s looks are a scam.
That pretty sister must have won over many with her looks.
I couldn’t help but hold a little affection for her appearance as well.
I sighed and expressed that feeling.
“…Drizzle Rain.”
The red sister’s eyes widened suddenly, and she quickly covered her mouth.
What’s up with that?
“Wh-what was that voice… Drizzle Rain? What a pretty nickname! Can I call you Rain? Can I send a friend request?”
Beep.
An interface popped up before me.
[Onmyoji ‘Chris’ has sent a friend request.]
It’s a system in ‘Astria Online’ that allows you to send friend requests if you know the other party’s nickname.
“Eek!”
I don’t like friends.
If they start messaging me while I’m soloing, it’s going to be annoying.
Since my return, I’ve become seriously shy.
I feel extreme aversion to forming connections.
Of course, I’ve made no connections since I returned to Earth either.
Users are people, after all.
Even if it’s a game, I have no intention of making companions.
Beep.
I tightly closed my eyes and pressed the rejection button.
A hint of sadness appeared on the red sister’s face.
Seeing her look, something in my heart felt like it was being poked.
Ignoring an unknown feeling pricking my heart, I quickly fled that place.
Let’s escape.
To a place where that red sister can’t see me.
*
Thud bang!
Chris took down a ‘Fames Scorpion’ in front of her and glanced over at the opposite side.
There, a battle was occurring.
A battle? No, calling it a battle would be an understatement; it was too beautiful a sight.
It was like watching a magnificent painting.
The Fames Scorpion brandished its poisonous stinger and charged at the girl.
In an instant, her eyes sparkled, and the sword in her hand moved in a graceful arc.
Clang!
Papapapack!
The scorpion’s stinger was blocked by the girl’s elegant swordplay.
At the same time, her sharp thrust pierced through the scorpion’s steel-like carapace.
Twirl.
Shaak!
The girl spun around, and the activated dagger user’s ‘Moonlight Slash’ skill swept past the approaching Fames Scorpions.
“Kiieek!”
The level 16 dagger user skill, ‘Moonlight Slash.’
It was an upgraded version of the basic skill ‘Slash.’
Maybe because she used it, it felt very beautiful in Chris’s eyes.
Chris couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.
“Oh.”
Chris had seen many dagger users fighting.
But the girl’s swordplay was on a different level from the rough skills of other dagger users.
Just how high did she raise her skill rank?
It seemed like the girl perfectly grasped the directions of the monsters’ attacks with her delicate blocking skills.
No slight damage could possibly hit her from a field monster’s attack.
The ‘Thrust’ skill easily pierced through the sturdy carapace of the Fames Scorpion, and the ‘Moonlight Slash’ skill slashed through it like a scythe.
Even the elite dungeon’s named monsters would not be able to escape from her.
The girl not only possessed extraordinary beauty, but her skills as a dagger user were at a pinnacle as well.
Chris forgot about hunting and watched the beautiful girl fight with her hands clasped together.
Glancing slyly.
Suddenly, the girl’s gaze turned toward where Chris was.
Dash!
The girl quickly turned and began to run away.
“Ah!”
Chris sighed in disappointment.
It seemed she had gotten too close.
She should have stayed a bit further away to watch.
Boom!
After taking down another passing Fames Scorpion, Chris cautiously followed the girl, who had faded into the distance.
While tailing the girl’s back, Chris kept focused on leveling up.
Dash!
While running away, the girl’s white hair fluttered like a feather.
Her silvery hair swayed like the tail of a silver wolf, enticing Chris.
Along with the charming customization of the girl’s cute appearance, there was another reason Chris was keen to follow her.
“Total cutie!”
The angelic voice of the girl that Chris could hear for a fleeting moment.
This made Chris unable to resist falling for her.
In ‘Astria Online,’ while you could change your appearance through customization, you couldn’t change gender or voice.
This meant that the girl had to have a very pretty voice in reality too.
Considering her youthful voice, she was probably a minor, right?
Then it made sense that her small stature wasn’t a result of customization.
‘Astria Online’ is an adult game, so how is a minor playing?
In Chris’s heart, the desire to meet that girl in reality began to swell.
“Drizzle Rain.”
Rain.
Chris rolled that beautiful name around in her mouth.
“I won’t let you get away.”
No matter what, I’m going to get close to you.
Shuffle shuffle.
Chris carefully stepped on the sand as she approached Rain.
Dash!
Rain, who had sensed her approach like a ghost, hurriedly ran away with her short legs.
Stealthily.
Dash!
In the heart of the Fames Desert, an unexpected chase was unfolding.
Amidst it, the Fames Scorpions in the region were being continuously taken down by players Chris and Rain.
The troubles of the Fames Scorpions continued until Chris and Rain arrived at ‘Philia Village,’ the first village in the Fames Desert region.
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