"Yes. Luo here was a bit reckless; he said he wao go outside but had nothing prepared. So I apanied him while I patrolled around." Luna favored me! Of course, I would make the most of it.

  "Well, sorry for that." I managed a half-smile while rubbing the bay neck. "I didn't mean to trouble you."

  "It is fine. I'd rather not see you out there without what you need. It is not ideal, but someone must ensure you are safe."

  Cecil's eyes narrowed as she listeo Luna's gentle, almost protective tooward me. Even now, her gaze moved from me to Luna before returning to me again. She seemed to want to assess something further? Or perhaps she had just realized something.

  If that was the case, I would tinue pushing forward; I smiled a somewhat forced one. "I'd do more if I could. Just... I don't have enough moo buy anything."

  Cecil appeared to take this in, her expression ging slightly. She looked down, her usual guardedness giving way to an uneasiness. "Uh. Right. I didn't sider that. I suppose it didn't y mind that the ck of support would strain both of you..."

  See, Cecil? If you'd just helped a little, maybe things would have been easier for everyohanks to the Social Obligation I created in my previous sario.

  "Perhaps I should have offered some assistance sooner." Her eyes went straight to me. Thetentioo Luna. "But he is okay?"

  "Ah..." Luna paused as if sidering something before tinuing, "Luo got attacked while I was distracted. Thankfully, he was okay, as you see. But I ended up losing track of the attacker."

  Cecil's attention shifted to me. "So Luna helped you, but iurn, the attacker escaped?"

  Oh, how evil of you, Luna. You told her the truth but kept your cards closed, requirio expin further but with a lie if I wao stay safe. So you were askio hahis all alone, huh? Fine. I admit you were good at maintaining transparend ambiguity at the same time. You won. At least I was grateful you pyed along; I would reward you a little.

  "Hahaha, well, yeah? You see... Luna so attentive. Even followed me here so I wouldn't get lost or enter any more trouble. Such kindness is rare, don't you think?"

  When Cecil listeo my "story," she slowly nodded. "I see... That is very like her. Always looking out for others."

  The object of our versation (Luna) chuckled softly, albeit by c her mouth to avoid being noticed by Cecil, who was fag me.

  'Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want, girl.'

  But, oside, I was still smiling like this. At least until Cecil spped my thigh. "So, where is it? Did you gather the stuff?"

  Tsk!

  If she touched me again, I'd 100% kick her!

  For now, though, I let it slide, as I o maintain the image that had beeed.

  "Oh, wait..." I took the items from my [Iory] and presehem on Cecil's workbench. "Five bottles of [Ented Water] and two stems of [Solvent Flower], as requested."

  Cecil's eyes sparkled as she exami with excitement. But then, the twinkle was repced with a frown; she looked at me while putting her hands on her waist. "Stem too small!"

  'An expected response.'

  I replied with a slight smile. "Isn't it the size that Senior requested? You said I should look for ohe size of your inch. So here, try paring it yourself."

  Momentarily taken aback by my cim, Cecil g Luna as she sought some help...? Luna, however, remained ral; her expression was unreadable, leaving Cecil to verify it herself.

  With a huff, Cecil took oem. Tried to pare it with her own hand—Oh? She wasn't going to? Because she ended up silent. Her head lowered, and I could see from her chubby cheeks that her upper lip was slightly protruding. Yeah. Aware of that? Your hand was too damn small. Who would design an NPC w in Vaughan to have a body as short as a nine-year-old?

  Even her body size roblem for herself because if she validated my words, she would admit her hands were ioo small. And it wasn't what she wanted, resulting in this sario of her hesitation. This lingered for a moment longer before she finally raised her head, and the earlier irritation seemed to melt into a pained acceptanbsp;

  "It is correct," Cecil muttered almost inaudibly as if she were having an internal debate instead of talking with me.

  Still holding the stem, she turned her attention back to her workbench, mumbling something about having to make do with what rovided. She obviously wasirely satisfied, but at least she was willing to move forward.

  My gaze briefly met Luna's; I could see a glint in her eyes, whidicated a slight amusement at the whole situation.

  "Alright then," Cecil finally said, a bit more loudly. "With these materials, I proceed with the experiment. It is a simple potion. But crucial for my resear enhang ductivity in anic materials. So, thank you for this."

  Ding!

  gratutions!Side Quest: The Essence of Researpleted!

  EXP received60Gold received150o level 6:118/560Your current Gold:2.250Other notifications also popped up, which, of course, I ignored as usual. Except for one...

  You have showal robustness!Mind Def +30/10 points to Grade E on Mind DefI'd seen status updates simir to this in past Quests, like with Daniel or Chris. But here? I hadn't expected that.

  They said it was easier to increase trol Grade through strategitera with NPCs (discussing pns otiating), and this roven now—the system apparently reizes when I manage social dynamiy advantage. But here, with Luna, from the very start, the stakes were different, as I o put extra effort into lying and "pying along."

  Hence, [Mental Defense] was what I got; the system seemed to pick up my awareness as if registering my efforts to anticipate all those subtle personal digs in our exge (both to NPd Pyer).

  'Not bad. Most VRMM track progress through objective metrics, but World: The in differs...'

  When I looked through my notifications s like this, Cecil suddenly spoke in a high tone. "You!"

  I quickly closed everything. Raising my face, I found Cecil standing before me. Precisely. "Yes?"

  Instead of answering, Cecil raised an eyebrow. Her head tilted left... right... and touched her . But her eyes kept glued to me. Was there something ohere, I ended up feeling my own face out of reflex! After all, what the heck was that behavior?!

  "Umm, what's wrong?"

  But Cecil merely shrugged and handed me something. "Take it. ime, don't trouble Luna again!"

  Instead of taking it, I asked, "What is this?"

  "What else? [Neurosync Dew], duh! You o be prepared, don't you? You 't buy this o money, not to mention because of that kid. So take it before I ge my mind!"

  Finally... FINALLY!!!

  'Mission aplished!'

  I quickly took it. "Thank you, Senior Cecil!'

  Item Gained! Neurosync Dew (Rare) x1able itemsA potent potion desigo calm nerve synization. Oned, it grants the user immunity to all debuffs for 24 hours, paused when logging off.

  'Whoa! No wohis is much sought after by pyers!'

  With as wide a smile as possible, I asked, "Do you need any more help, Senior Cecil?"

  "Bleh! Just go already." And her zy expression turned bright when she faced Luna. "Lunaaa, if you are free, don't fet to stop by!"

  Cecil's dismissal of me was as good as an invitation to leave, so I just nodded in reply ahis friendly smile on my face.

  Luna, though, remained polite with her bow. "Yes, thank you, Senior Cecil. We will take our leave now."

  As we exited Cecil's b, I took off my smiling face to normal. Ah... It felt sore somehow; I hadn't pretehis mu a long time. I gently massaged the tip of my lips with my right hand.

  While doing so, I walked lightly, and when I turned my head slightly to the side, Luna was still following me. Even wheed the building, I could still feel Luna matg my pace as we moved through Vaughan's footpaths.

  How e?

  For some reason, I thought of takio a dark, secluded pce to see her rea... But sihis was in the game world and our levels were so different, it didn't seem like it would aplish anything.

  I just muttered to her. "Thanks."

  Surprisingly, I didn't hear any reply from her. Whereas Luna retty cooperative before. Uh, was it possible she reevaluated her trust in me? Because it was clear what kind of person I was, right? Right?! From what had just happened. I gnced over—Ah! She was already so close to me and tilted her head while smiling! Quite surprising that I distanced myself from her a little. Particurly given her ambiguous smile, eyes closed, sweet, err...

  I turo look forward.

  And that was where Luna talked. "You have improved, Luo. But you still 'slip' a lot."

  My steps came to an abrupt halt. I didn't uand what Lu by "slip," which made me immediately try to figure out the meaning of her words. Was it when we lied to Cecil earlier? So I "slipped" because I hastily wao take advantage of the situation, circumstances, or even people—was that it? Or perhaps... going much further back? My foolish act of chasing the Glimmerstags?

  It seemed like the tter, but to be sure, I asked as I faced her, "What do you mean?"

  Luna shrugged lightly, with a subtle smile pying on her lips. "Nothing. Just an observation."

  Could I be ho and say that I was... annoyed by it?

  Not to Luna, really, as she, a more experienced pyer, proved to be very helpful, even willing to heed my flow when I tried to make Cecil favor me (although with the rest, I had to make ara effort). The problem was what she said and how she said it. Improved, which meant she'd been watg, gauging, and keeping notes on my as. But we only just met now? In the game! Then, slip, a word that could mean anything or nothing at all, only to make me sed-guess myself.

  This wasn't the first time she'd been ambiguous, but twice! And Luna, as if notig my unease, oward the path leading from the tral part of the courtyard, her face without expression though her voice was warm. "e with me. There are several spots here that few people pay attention to; never a bad time for a recharge, anyway."

  I raised an eyebrow iicism. Recharge? Her timing and word choice weren't random. She had to be up to something, though I couldn't quite say what. Still, my curiosity got the better of me, and I nodded. "Sure. Let's."

  We left the bustling main grounds of Vaughan to quieter, more hidden areas of the academy that I'd never seen. It was surprisingly serene: narrow paths lined with stone walls covered in ivy, tucked away behind older buildings where few students (or pyers) ever bothered to go, as I see none.

  We arrived at a tiny wn surrounded by blossoming flowers. Half a dozen kids (likely NPCs) between the ages of four and seven were at its ter, climbing around the bushes and chasing one aheir faces were lit up with carefree joy. They were in a world all their own, free from all restraints of duty and responsibility that ruled the rest of the academy.

  Luna paused—her hands ly folded, gazing out at the children—her face ging into a soft, gentle smile. "People often think being cold and calg is impressive, even admirable. But I have always seen it as a silent plea for help when they know things will always g... so they shut down, shut out. But no one deserves that. Everyone, even the most serious of us, should have moments where we are allowed to be silly, to ugh too loudly, to make mistakes. That is what freedom really is."

  'You are talking nonsense.'

  At least, that was what I wao say. Only, here I was, ending up silent, standing behind Luna with an increasingly baffled mind—what the fuck did Luna want to point to me?