-"Welcome to the Central Continent and to the city of Silveserine."

As soon as I recovered from my slight feeling of nausea, I heard an alluring voice greeting us on our arrival from behind.

Along with everyone else, I quickly turned around to see a beautiful Elf with silver locks and a charming face, wearing a blue and white receptionist uniform, standing behind a desk.

Next to the silver-haired Elf was a huge rectangular-framed Teleportation Gate, similar to the one we had just stepped through.

"Thank you," Emma returned the Elf's greeting. "We will be on our way."

"Your return is booked after three days, right?" the Elf reconfirmed.

"Yes," Emma nodded.

"Okay, have a safe trip. The Gate will be ready for your return three days from now," the Elf performed a short bow and flashed a wide smile.

Mmm.

Usually, I don't get swayed by pretty girls, but damn! Even I had to admit at this point that elves are beautiful!

"Sure," Drake nodded before addressing us. "All right, folks. You have the next seven hours to explore the city at your leisure. Then, meet Emma and me at Clancy Luxue, the hotel where we'll be staying, for dinner. Once dinner's over, feel free to sneak into each other's rooms to make out or hit up a club. We don't care. We'll no longer be responsible for keeping tabs on you all after dinner."

Since this trip was made in a hurry by the Cadet Council, other than exploring the local area, we had nothing to do today.

Tomorrow we are supposed to go sightseeing and shopping, and the day after that there's a masquerade ball for us to attend.

Of course, instead of a masquerade ball, there will be a massacre call.

Heh. See what I did there?

…Okay, it wasn't funny.

Jokes about massacres and mass murder aren't funny. I get that. I learned that lesson in fifth grade when I tried to make a joke about World War 2.

Anyway, as soon as Drake announced we were free to explore, everyone ran toward the terrace exit, clearly excited.

"Bro!"

Suddenly, I felt an arm wrapped around my shoulder. It was Kent.

"Did you see that Elf chick? She was hitting on me!"

Shaking my head, I got his hands off my shoulders and started heading toward the terrace door myself.

"How was she hitting on you?" I asked, knowing that I was about to regret it later.

"Didn't you see how she was smiling while looking at me?!" Kent replied with a goofy grin.

"...Dude," I facepalmed at the sheer stupidity of this guy. "She was smiling at everyone. She's a Gate receptionist. It's her duty to smile at tourists."

"Bro, I'm certain she was smiling at me. You know what? I'm certain I can bag her in these three days."

"You can totally NOT bag her."

"I'll give you one better! I'll get to third base with her before we leave this city."

"Yeah, buddy, listen to me. It's impossible."

"Hah! We'll see about that!"

As Kent and I waited for the elevator in front of the terrace exit, I noticed a lone guy standing around the corner with his hands in his pocket, looking bored.

In the novel, Chase was with him when everyone else was outcasting him. But since I changed the plot, he was standing here alone.

For some reason, I felt guilty about his situation. I contemplated whether to invite him with us, but before I could manage to choke the words out of my throat and call out his name…

-"Hey, man. We see everyone else is being a pussy and avoiding you. It's getting on our nerves. So, wanna hang out with us?"

A tall, lean boy with shoulder-length brown hair tied into a manbun walked over and asked Nero to tag along with him and his friend. It was Chase.

-"Yeah, man. It's not cool. They are on this trip because of you, but they still have the audacity to ignore you."

And behind Chase followed another light brown-haired guy with clear hazel eyes.

Although he wasn't short, he wasn't tall either. His strong features, like broad shoulders, suggested that he was a half-dwarf.

And indeed, he was a half-dwarf. He was Elijah Steelforged.

-"Oh, are you both sure–"

-"Hey, Nero. We saw you from back there and thought about asking if you want to explore the locality together. But now it seems like you already got–"

Right when Nero was about to reply to Chase, a blue-haired elven girl walked over to the duo and started speaking. It was Aster Aquahart.

Along with her, Amelia and Anastasia were also present.

However, before she could finish what she was saying, Chase cut her off.

-"Oh no, you three can totally join. It'll be fun!"

Although he was supposed to be replying to Aster, his eyes were stuck on Anastasia.

Damn, that guy was simping hard.

-"Right, so I was thinking maybe a bar or a casino–"

-"What? Lame. Let's go to a park or something–"

-"Oh, and that isn't lame?"

As the group started discussing among themselves, a faint yet clearly visible smile formed on Nero's face.

Hmm.

It seems like I didn't need to interfere after all.

Even though I don't believe in the notion of fate myself, sometimes it feels as if the universe conspires to make things happen in a predetermined way.

The plan was for the main characters - Anastasia, Amelia, Elijah, Chase, Aster, and Nero - to become friends after the first arc.

Despite my initial doubts that their friendship would come to fruition due to my interference with the plot, it turns out I was wrong.

It wasn't my doing that brought them together, as they were drawn to each other naturally.

Although they don't realize it now, in the future, when they'll look back at their friendship – the day when they all met, they will call it the work of fate.

Huh.

"You just gonna stand there?"

Shaking me out of my thoughts was Kent's voice. He called out to me as he stood inside the elevator, holding the door for me.

"Look man, I know you sometimes like to act like a main character spacing out in the distance, but I've been holding this door for well over a minute–" suddenly, Kent stopped and frowned.

He then looked at where I was staring and then quickly nodded with a mischievous yet understanding look.

"Oh, sorry. You were stalking Amelia like she stalks you. It's fine. I'll hold this door for another minute. Just tell me when you're done."

"Shut up, dumbass," I said absurdly before entering the elevator. "Don't go spouting– Wait… What do you mean by how Amelia stalks me?"

"Hmm?" pressing the button for the bottom floor, Kent looked at me strangely. "You haven't noticed. You're all she looks at in the class. At first, she used to look at you with utter revulsion, rage, and disgust. But now all that has somehow turned into confusion, sadness, and annoyance."

I looked at Kent with my mouth agape. My jaw was practically touching the floor.

I had some idea that Amelia paid extra attention to me, but I didn't know to this extent!

But what came off as a bigger surprise was the fact that Kent, of all people, noticed not only this but also the subtle changes in Amelia's behavior.

Now that I think of it, this guy also noticed my expressions during the Unit Test when I didn't want him to reveal about me being a spearman.

I see.

So he is one of those guys, huh?

The people with selective intelligence. They are unrivaled geniuses in one field but a total dumbass in everything else.

"Close your mouth, bro. I'm not your dentist."

Kent closed my mouth, hanging in surprise.

"Shut up," I sighed and rearranged my thoughts. "Haa. So where are we going?"

"I was thinking of hitting up bars and picking up some hot elven girls!"

"Nope."

"Oh, come on, Lucas! Remember when you asked for my Smart Bracelet in the Mock War? You promised to accompany me to pick up girls whenever I ask! You can't go back on your words!"

"Instead of a club, let's go to a casino."

Yelena rewarded us 800 Credit Points each, which is like 65k$, to spend on this trip.

Although it was a generous sum for a mere three-day trip, I needed more, and I needed it quickly.

Tomorrow, I plan to fight the Vampire King hiding in this very city.

I need a lot of high-grade mana potions so I can cultivate my mana core and break to the ‹Bronze› stage before tomorrow.

That way, when I bring out my armor to use its Embrace Discard feature, my stats could be boosted up to the ‹Gold› stage.

To do that, I don't need to buy high-grade mana potions. I can just buy dozens of low-grade ones and use my Edit Pen to upgrade them all.

But buying even low-grade potions would require me to have a big fund. A lot bigger than what I currently have.

So what better place to look for money than a goldmine? Casinos are goldmines.

And this city, where we are currently, is equivalent to Paris and Los Angeles on my Earth.

So in a way, this whole city was a goldmine for me!

"What? No, Lucas, casinos are lame! I say we go to a bar."

"Nope, we're heading to a casino."

"Bro, I hate to play this card twice, but you made a promise. You can't go back on your words!"

"Fuuu. You are right. I never go back on my words."

"Good. Now let's head to a–"

"But that doesn't mean I can't make you go back on yours."

"..."

In this cubicle elevator, Kent and I were alone. Still ten floors were left before we hit the ground floor.

A creepy grin spread across my face, and I clenched my fists.

"L-Lucas… Listen to me…."

"I'll just have to punch you until you let go of the idea of going to a bar and agree to go to a casino with me."

"N-No! No! Nooo!"

"It hurts me more than it hurts you, pal. It hurts me more than it hurts you."

Smearing off the non-existent tears from the side of my eyes, I threw my fist right at Kent's face.

Thwack—!!!