Some time later, I pierce a bearington to death with a powerful thrust. These suckers are really everywhere on these mountains!

During this fight I got hurt again. Even though Rine cuts down the bearingtons like grass, she’s not covering me in the slightest. So I get the same injuries as when I’m fighting alone but not all the XP? Thank you very much!

You know, you can have too much trust into your teammates!

“Kenta! You’re hurt! Wait, I’ll heal you.”

“Wait, Rine-chan. I know, you can use [Divine Magic], too, but healing people is the only thing I’m good at. Concentrate on fighting and spare your magic for emergencies.”

You gain 1 WP. Your wife is jealous!

“On the other hand… uh… please… heal him. *pant* I… think I’m sick.” Kyou-san’s face is green and she’s retching. She backs a bit away, maybe she’s really about to hurl and doesn’t want to have anyone see it in that case.

This hurts! You’re hurting me, Kyou-san!

“Poor Kyou. Maybe it’s altitude sickness. But first comes firsts. [Heal]!” My wounds close, but I’m pretty messed up over days of being injured and having these injuries magically healed. “You really look bad. You should let me handle the battles for a while. I can’t let you go on like this.” Her ember-like eyes are full of concern. “Please think about it.” Then she turns around. “Kyou, I’m coming to you!”

Rine leaves me alone here. “What a fake.” I hate it! She acts only nice since she wants to be liked!

“Kenta! We found a mountain spring!” I roll my eyes and follow Rine’s voice. Kyou-san sits by a small waterhole, repeatedly scooping water with her hands and drinking from it. I can faintly smell the scent of vomit. Damn you, Kyou-san!

“I was so worried since I didn’t find any water before, but look at this!” Rine is already ready to fill up her waterskin but is patiently waiting for Kyou-san to recover. “It’s pure mountain water! I’m so glad, I thought I busted it, even though both of you are pros at camping outside…”

I can’t comment on the last part in any way. “Don’t worry,” I say half-heartedly to keep up our cover. “However, the spring is the reason the bearingtons were here in the first place. We should remain careful as other monsters might come for water.”

“…You’re a genius, Kenta! I never thought about it, but even monsters need water to live!”

I can’t muster any answer to such open admiration. “I will take a look, maybe I can find something before it finds us.”

“You know, Kenta? You’re like a ranger.”

“I’m just a [Scout]. And being careful keeps us alive.”

“Thanks to you, we are safe. But please, call me if there is something to fight! That’s the only thing I’m good at, and I don’t want to see you hurt anymore.”

“…” Normally, it’s a man’s job to say something like that, but dammit! This girl is beautiful! I just realized it while she was looking at me with her big ember-eyes. This might be the first time I can actually understand why some Japanese guys are attracted to western women. “It’s just scouting. Don’t worry.”

I stroll around and activate several skills from the [Survival]- and [Perception]-abilities. My [Track]-skill has something. Talon marks from huge birds of prey. This might get dangerous, as neither the girls nor I have ranged weapons.

Also, there are quite a few other tracks. This is a vital spring for animal-life and monsters. I return to the girls, who are finished with filling up the waterskins. “We should use the rest of today to find a place for the night camp.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Explain, Ken.”

“We have only a few hours left before dusk. Around that time, a lot of nocturnal monsters will go to the spring from all directions. For drinking and hunting. It’ll be hard to leave the catchment area in time, so I’d rather use the time to search for a cave or something. We might have to kill the inhabitants, but there are giant birds of prey around and I don’t know if they are nocturnal, so I want to have some cover at least. It’s also less likely we’re disturbed while camping if we’re not in the open. All of us are mentally exhausted. Rine might be physically exhausted, too, since she can’t rely on a hero-status.”

For Kyou-san and me, physical exhaustion is measured in SP, so as long as we have some left, we are fine. Rine’s body, however, is like a normal human girl’s… most likely at least.

“I’m fine.”

“No. Even if your body is still good, mental exhaustion is as bad as physical. We need to rest peacefully. We don’t have any pressure, right?” Well, Kyou-san and I have, since there are classmates and therefore competitors on this mountain, though we’re unlikely to run into them again.

“You… Kenta, you are thinking about so many things I didn’t even consider!” Why is Rine looking at me with so much admiration? She sounds just like those newbies I trained in MMORPGs per voice chat, but her beautiful face is tipping me off. She must be trying to trick me!

“Ken, your first paranoias are acceptable. But please spare us the new one.” How comes that Kyou-san can read me so accurate?

The next part is simple. I just use the [Track]-skill until I find a beast trail. Done. Now I follow it until some larger game was splitting up from the trail and trace it further. “The prints are wolf-like, so there might be a few, but, with a bit of luck, they have a cave.”

Indeed, we are lucky as the track really lead us to a cave. “I will sneak in.” I use [Hide Smell] and [Sneak] for stealthiness, while [Darkvision] makes it possible to look into the dark cave. There are several wolf-like monsters, but they all have horns and are half-covered in scales. They number eight, all of them are currently sleeping.

I report back.

“Those are lizalupi, they shouldn't be a problem,” Rine explains.

“They’ll most likely wake up after getting a sniff of you, right? Have they good eyes?”

“…I’m sorry, I only know the name.”

“Phew. Well, I have a strategy. But if something goes wrong, you need to rush in, Rine.”

“What are you doing?”

“I think he’s about to do something stupid.”

“Rine will position herself at the entrance, I’ll sneak in. Maybe I can kill one or two before they’re woken up by the stench of blood. I can mask my smell and have an optical camouflage so I might be overseen. If that’s the case, they will come for Rine. Then I can attack them from behind and we have a pincer.”

“This sounds dangerous, Kenta.”

“Stupid as well.”

“It’s efficient.” This should up my kill-count and therefore my XP. It’s frustrating seeing Rine killing all the mobs when I don’t get anything out of it. “Like I said, I’m counting on you if anything goes wrong, Rine.”

These appear to be magical words, as Rine’s eyes are sparkling. “You can count on me.”

“Even though it’s stupid.”

I just ignore Kyou-san’s remark and sneak inside the cave again. Despite being in my [Scout]-class, I should be able to kill one instantly if I aim for a vital spot.

Thanks to my [Stealth]-ability, the lizalupi don’t notice me. I go to the furthest one back and aim for its neck with all my might. An ugly noise can be heard as I separated flesh and bone and a sudden rush came into the lizalupi, so I activate [Camouflage] right away. I just have to hope that their sense of smell compensates for bad eyes.

Ah, my luck! They look right at me and rush to me.

I swiftly swap to [Pikeman]-class and yell: “Plan failed! [Whirlwind]!” I sweep the spear to knock back the incoming Lizalupi. Even though the darkness in the cave is somewhat annoying without [Darksight], I can still see their figures. This has to be enough.

“[Torch]! I’m coming!” With the sword in one hand and a magical light in the other, Rine fearlessly rushes into the cave, within seconds two of the Lizalupi are slaughtered. She aims at their vital spots with precision despite her speed. Her weapon might be OP as well, so there was actually no need for any strategies in the first place. Still, I don’t want to rely solely on Rine!

Most likely, I can take care of them all by myself anyway, I’m level 39 after all! Also, if I don’t kill them myself, I won’t get any XP! Kyou-san neither, but it’s about me! Yet I couldn’t not involve Rine since she’s right there… Wait a minute!

“Rine, don’t kill them! I have to do it! It’s a hero-thing!”

“Um… right?”

Well, keeping the lizalupi alive is still given, after chopping off their extremities. It takes about a minute until I finally can deal the deathblow to the last one.

Now, that the creatures are dead, Rine asks me: “Why do you need to kill them?”

“Kyou-san and I grow stronger the more enemies we kill. It’s one of the things we have to do.”

“Then… then why didn’t you tell me before? We’ve faced several monsters at this point!”

“I… I… I just realized it, OK!?” I couldn’t possibly say that I never even thought of taking the Rine-bus since I have some pride left.

“Puh!” She’s pouting!

Kyou-san annoyedly chimes: “Could you please just leave it? Also, let me tend your wounds. Both of you!”

“Eh?” Is Rine wounded? Yes, there is a cut on her arm, on an area that only a thin suit covers. In general, the princess is only lightly armored with leather on some areas that are more likely to be hit. Other than that, it doesn’t seem like much. Most likely to guarantee her superior mobility.

Did she get injured while dissembling these creatures on my command and therefore wasn’t able to move like she used to?

… OK, I might be guilty of this at least.

―○●○―

Rine’s mood improved after dinner, now she’s as needlessly close to me as before. She’s also prying again. “I still don’t understand how holding hands is a hero-thing.”

Yes, Kyou-san and I are holding hands. I removed my right glove and took Kyou-san’s left hand while sitting down. She explained that holding hands has something to do with the hero-system. “It's normally not a known fact, Rina-chan, that we heroes need to share the power we get from defeating monsters with each other through skin contact. But it takes quite some time, so hand-holding is the easiest way to do it. Right now, Ken is transferring the monster-power to me so I can become stronger, even though I didn’t kill a single one.” If there were something convenient like that, most of Kyou-san’s current problems wouldn’t be there in the first place.

“It’s just that it looks like both of you are more than friends. Same as with the lap-pillow before.”

“I told you, Ken had vertigo, so I wanted him to lay down and on my lap so I could observe his eyes more easily.”

“But… these are things lovers do…”

“Come on, he and I as lovers? It’s nothing like that.”

“Mmmm…” Rine grimaces. “I think it’s wrong.”

“So you’re interested in romance, Rine-chan?” What an unsubtle way to change the topic!

The princess reddens intensely, I never saw a face as red like this before. Maybe because she’s kinda westerner? It’s blushed in a pinkish tone, this is strange. “O-of course, I do! Even though I have no say in marriage, I can still be interested in romance!”

Ah, she’s the crown princess. So she already knows that she can’t marry the man she wants. Well, it’s a common storyline in RPGs. In games, it’s custom to break that custom, but in reality, you can’t, I guess. Might suck. Not my problem.

“Rine-chan, it’s the other way around: Since you can’t decide who to marry, you want to have some hot romance fantasies, right? Let’s have a girl’s talk.”

“Kyou-san, are you forgetting that I’m here?”

“Why should I bother?”

“I’m a man! I have nothing to do with girl’s talk!”

“Ken, you have nothing to do with anything, so shut up.” I’m abused! My wife is abusing me! Why isn’t the law protecting me right now!? “Rine-chan, what would be your ideal man?”

Rine steals a glance at me, maybe a bit unsure how to answer with me present, but then she just joined the ‘Let’s ignore the Kenta-trash’-club. “Someone smart. I tend to be a bit thick-headed at times, so I keep getting into trouble. Also someone strong! He should be able to protect me!” As if you’d need protection! “And he should be kind and even-tempered.”

“Ah, I can see it. How about looks?”

“What about it?”

“Do you like muscles, do you like them slender, or is a beautiful face a must?”

“Uhm… I guess something in-between. Too many muscles remind me of my instructor, that’d be creepy, but if it’s too skinny, then it won’t do.”

“Ah, so rather vague...”

“My ideal would be Fabian Leise!”

“Who’s that?”

“From… a fable. I’ve liked it since I was a child.” She seems to be embarrassed. Trust me, witnessing this conversation is much more shameful than your fantasies.

“Ah, right. This world has far less media. So a fable-hero?”

“No, it’s the husband of Miriam Leise, who… well, Fabian is… ah, why don’t you know it? I can’t explain it well!”

Kyou-san giggles: “No need, I get it. You seem to be someone who’s very devoted, right?”

“…yes…” How could Kyou-san come to this conclusion!? And how is she right!? “What about you, Kyou-san? What would be your ideal?”

“Um… how about we start from the opposite of Ken?”

That… hurts! I mean, I don’t like Kyou-san much, but if she says something like that with this bluntness, it hurts my pride as a man, however little I might have. I should say something, but I don’t want to be part of this conversation either, so I just need to calm down, remind myself that Kyou-san is bitching around as usual, and there is no reason to take offense.

So she continues: “Well, I think he must be handsome, after all. Caring, smart, and possibly rich. He doesn’t need to be strong, but rather be able to avoid fights in the first place. Some kind of mindfulness is important, so he knows what I need without me saying it.”

“Oh, Kyou’s scale is high.”

“Where I come from, it’s normal.”

“Ohh!” Rine is easily impressed. “Kenta, how about you?”

…What? “Don’t drag me into this!”

“But now that we shared our interests, I want to hear yours.” Stop sparkling, eyes! Please, I can’t defend myself against them!

I look at Kyou-san, she’s making a face like I should just drop dead! Between her and the sparkling eyes, I can’t decide which is worse!

“Come on, Kenta! Please!” Definitely the sparkling eyes! Ugh, don’t I have any rights? “Pretty Please?”

Men are weak creatures. Even I, who’s not that receptive for the charms of a real woman, can’t deny these begging eyes. “Well…” Wait, wouldn’t that mean that Rine is my ideal type despite looking western?

Sexually speaking, there is a physical attraction to Kyou-san as well, but it’s just me being horny. If I put Rine into these fantasies, what… Now I have the urge to leave and relieve myself, but for now, I have to fight down my upcoming boner with sheer willpower.

Rine is still staring at me with sparkling eyes. I shift my eyes away to not confront her. “Come on, tell me!”

“It would be… Lita Blanchimont.” One of my first games, Atelier Iris. When I was a child, I kinda fell in love with that character. She’s thoughtful, but lively and has a tragic fate, which had to be fought. Plus, she’s cute! The game was fun overall, even though there was about no character-customization and the story is, looking back, a bit too easy. I was a child, so it’s OK to have some nostalgia.

“Who’s that?” While Rine is looking at me with sparkling eyes-

“…a game character, of course,” Kyou-san sighs heavily, like if I’m affected by an incurable disease.

“It’s… a character in a story, you might say.”

“Oh, then we’re the same, Kenta!”

“…why did you grab my hand?”

“Because we’re friends! Kyou also does the same!”

“…please stop.” A girl’s hand in each of mine. Kyou-san’s in my right, for WP-grinding. Rine’s in my left for… whatever reason. Even though I still wear a glove on that hand, her heat is transmitted through it.

“?” Rine cocks her head and slowly withdraws her hand. Then her face darkens: “I’m sorry. I… I’m sorry.” Her mood worsens in a blink.

“Ouch!” Kyou-san pinched my backhand!

“He’s just nervous.” She smiles innocently. “Because he doesn’t have any friends.”

“Hm?” Even though the darkened expression on Rine’s face remains, she’s asking: “Aren’t you his friend, Kyou?”

“Well… something like that. We didn’t get along in our world, but coming here all of a sudden and such made it complicated.”

“Ah…” Rine’s face darkens even more: “Of course you don’t want to be friends with someone from the kingdom which asks you to fight for us…” What… why… an ominous aura of dark emotions surrounds Rine.

Even Kyou-san doesn’t know what to say anymore. She looks at me and is transmitting her thoughts with her eyes alone. ‘Come on, Ken, take her hand!’

‘Don’t pass it on me! It’s your fault!’

‘Because you’re so much of a wimp, that you can’t even endure holding hands a bit.’

‘I can’t handle her! Please don’t make me do it!’

‘Oh, so you're not just dragging me into that curse-thing, but can’t even endure some inconvenience to bring us out? Think of the reward! Without it, how can we remove that curse, huh? Now man up and take her hand or I’ll show you hell!’

I’m not afraid of Kyou-san, I’m just taking Rine’s hand because Kyou-san’s arguments are sound. It’s not the non-verbal threat. Really!

“Huh?” Rine is looking at her hand, which is held by mine.

“I… I…”

“Like I said, he’s just shy, Rine-chan. See, everything is alright. He’s holding your hand.” You coerced me!

Monsters! I’m holding hands with two monsters! One is a soul-crushing tyrant, which takes any opportunity to torture me mentally and emotionally. The other one is a childish death-machine, which lives in a fantasy-world, both literally and figuratively, and she uses emotional outbursts whenever something isn’t going her way.

And I’m between! Please, somebody: HELP ME!