As expected, this morning seemed just like the 13th Friday.

After the new student arrived, the atmosphere in the room got weird, and it stayed like that until the end of class. That girl got to stare at me a few times, and every time she did, I got some shiver. No kidding, it felt like we were in the middle of a horror movie. If she put on a witch's hat and said she was one, I'd believe it!

But well, unlike me, there were some attentive students, who tried to talk to her. However, to their misfortune, the answers she gave were always disconnected and didn't make any sense at all. Phew, anyway, I just want to forget a little about this turbulent morning…

Now I'm on Aether along with Loveta and Murakami. We are in the forest in search of corrupted dreamians. Why exactly? Let's see...

“How come you don't have money?? Weren't you an imperial knight?!”

“Yes, I was. But after I left the Empire, I lost everything! But you? Aren’t you an S-rank huntress who makes lots of money from the corrupted fragments?!”

“Gyaaa, what can I do… I spent it all on drinks~”

“Wha—?!”

Murakami and Loveta were arguing with each other.

This is the first scene I see as I walk down the stairs.

"Well, well, so you can't pay me?" Aneesa had her eyes on fire.

“Uh...”

“Geh...”

She sighed. “Let's see, 25 fragments should be enough. Bring me by midnight and everything will be fine. Look, I'm giving you a discount just because it's Love-chan, otherwise, it would be double! Uahaha!

It seems that when it comes to money, Aneesa turns into a devil.

“25 fragments!?”

The two got shocked.

Loveta said she knows of some strategic spots around here, places where they spawn most often.

According to her, the strength they have is always unknown. Sometimes they are so weak that even the force of the wind can destroy them. But sometimes they are so strong that you have no choice but to run away.

This deviates a little from the RPG games I've already played because that means I need to go after an enemy without knowing how powerful it is. And because my ability works progressively, I would be at a tremendous disadvantage if I happen to find a creature much stronger than me.

I know I can count on the strength of the two beauties here beside me, but, tch! That would be the same as being ‘carried’ in the game, and I fucking hate it! I know the situation around me is not on my side, but if there is any possibility...

“I want to ask you both a favor. If we happen to find an enemy that I can defeat, let me do it alone. It's good that I start to depend more on myself, you know?”

They look at me in surprise.

“Um, It's a good idea. If you really intend to help me with the moonstrucks, you'd better gain experience, and become stronger.”

“Gya! But what if Master Kazuki gets hurt?!”

“That's part of the experience. Of course, if things get out of control, we will interfere.”

“Guuu!”

“Don't worry Loveta, I'm not such an easy target to be eliminated. A scratch here or there is no big deal.”

My adventure around here is just at the beginning, and there's still a lot I'd like to do before I die. I have so much to experience in this new world!

“Gyuuu! You speak so cool~! Acting like that only makes me fall in love even more~”

Loveta approaches to hug me, but Murakami soon swings her sword.

“Don't lose focus. We can be attacked at any moment.”

“And coincidentally, that damn sword only moves when I'm about to approach my Master, grrr…” she mutters.

...Do I speak cool? Here's a compliment I didn't expect to receive. Is it because of all my excitement over this realistic RPG story?

“Master Kazuki, could I just call you Master Kazu?”

“Oh, sure Loveta, you can call me whatever you want.”

“Hehe.”

Murakami glances at her, but Loveta gives her tongue.

“Any problem, Akami?”

“…Nothing in particular.”

Murakami remains calm and focused on her goal.

Akami, right? That’s a cute way to call Murakami. I don't know if it was intentional or not on Loveta's part, but it doesn’t matter. I think it suits her.

“Hey, Master Kazu, tell me, how can you put up with a girl as boring as her in your world?” Loveta mutters in my ear.

"Well, we are not to talk much there...”

“Gyu? You don’t talk to each other?”

Um? Why did she become so confused like this?

[Why I wonder... Maybe because she thought you and Scarllet had a particular relationship, even if it was just of a friendship? It wouldn't be too strange in her view, considering Scarllet always looks at her somewhat annoyed when she tries to approach you.]

…And may I ask who is the one talking to me right now? By chance, is it you, player assistant?

[Yea! Hello again, human!]

You know you don't have to keep calling me human.

[Alright then—player Kazuki!]

Better. By the way, tell me, assistant, how advanced are you? To be able to give opinions like that, you must be a super AI, mustn’t you?

[Fufufu, I'm flattered that you call me advanced. Yes, you can say my mind is as advanced as yours.]

Woah! That is an assistant I would like to have! Do you have a name?

[Yea! You can call me Phanta!]

Phanta...? Um, maybe I was a little mistaken about this AI level. She must have pulled just a random name from her database. But to think that it would be precisely the name of a soda...

[Want me to take over your body and throw it into a lava river?]

Hey, hey! Calm down! It was just a joke! And damn it, are you able to do that?!

[Kukuku, don't doubt my skills!]

Urgh, besides being able to read all my thoughts, you can also control me... Yeah, I’m scared now. Perhaps, can I turn you off?

[Uh, no.]

Shit. So, I guess I’ll need to be more careful from now on… Anyway, I remembered something you told me yesterday. What did you mean by "We meet again"? It's not like we have ever met before, right?

[Oh, I was just referring to the moment I called you into this world.]

The moment you called me? Ah, so are you that fire angel from before??

[Jackpot!]

And here’s another thing I wasn’t expecting… So, our 'awakening' has been with us since the beginning.

[Okay, now it's my turn to ask you a question! Knowing that was my body, would you marry me?]

......What? But what the hell kind of question is that?!

[Ah, come on player Kazuki, it's just a curiosity!]

No, my awakening must have made some kind of mistake. I'm not such a desperate guy that would need an AI for comfort... Or am I?

[I don't think you remember me correctly.]

CLING! CLING! CLING!

Several images of Phanta appear in front of me.

Hey! Stop messing with my vision!

[I'm just reminding you of my appearance, why.]

"........."

Yeah, I can't deny that you're pretty, despite having a body a little too young... Well, if you were to increase your bust and hip size a little—

Hold on… Why can't I move anymore?

[Lava river, here we go!]

——!?

“Ryouzen? Is everything okay? You're acting a little strange...”

“Gya, that’s true! You are also making some weird expressions...”

Loveta and Murakami stares at me.

“Oh! Don't mind it, it's my awakening thing, haha. I'm testing some functions...”

I try to stay cool before them.

Hey! Calm down! Lava river, no! And give me back my control! They're looking weird at me!

[Ah, relax! It’s just a joke~]

And by the way, you are an AI, aren’t you? You can just change your appearance!

[But then it wouldn't be funny, that's my original body.]

Original...?

[Err... It's the body that most suits me, haha.]

Oh, really…?

[Anyway, I've already had lots of fun! Let's move on to something that truly matters now. Why don't you use the system to create a party with your harem?]

"........."

And where is the seriousness in that?! I don't have a harem!

[Oh, maybe not yet, fufu! But soon, who knows?]

What? Are you talking about having those two hotties as my harem? Yeah, I can’t deny that having a threesome with them would be the best, but sadly, that’s impossible. There is just no way Murakami would accept something like this, and I don’t think Loveta would accept that idea either.

[You just need the right tactics player Kazuki!]

Putting it that way, you remind me of a certain friend of mine… phew! And to think that my biggest ambitions would be games and girls... My 'awakening' was really faithful to give me a half-crazed and perverted assistant just like you.

[Lava river.]

B-but right, about the party, I have already thought about this idea, but I wouldn't want the XP dropped by the enemies they killed to go to me, which wouldn't have made much effort. I need to acquire real battle experience, and not just fulfill my level bar.

[I understand your concern, but there's no reason to be like this. The system doesn't work that way.]

No?

[If you just hadn’t skipped the tutorial… Anyway, regardless of whether you are at a party or not, the XP you earn is proportional to your contribution. So, if you don’t help in anything, you won't receive anything either.]

Oh, so that is how it works?

[Request sent.]

“Um? ‘Player Kazuki invited you to the party?”

“Gyaa! What are these flying letters in front of me now?!”

They ask me in confusion.

“I'm making a party that will help us kill the corrupted. It's part of my 'awakening'!”

“Oh! So, these were the features that Master Kazu was testing, um, now it makes sense~”

“A party? I see, I think I've heard of this before.”

Great, both confirmed!

As expected, now I can see each one's health and mana!

Wait! What?! Loveta is level 62? And Scarlet 65?! Both are truly insane!

SSSSS!

A dark fog begins to take over the place, and mysterious figures originate amid the darkness.

“Prepare yourselves! The corrupted dreamians have arrived!”