Here We Are! Alben! (1)
Three days had passed since my visit to the Hunter Association.
'Alben...'
It was 2:50 p.m. now, while I waited for the stream ban to lift. My eyes were glued to the digital clock, just watching the numbers tick over.
Excruciatingly boring and frustrating.
"Unnie..."
If it weren't for Mina in my arms, this time would have been pure agony. She was sleeping so innocently, like a little angel.
I couldn't resist poking her chubby cheek with my index finger.
"Ehehe..."
And the angel giggled in her sleep.
'So cute.'
Mina had shown up at my door the day after I gave her that pork belly, lugging a huge load of side dishes and struggling to ring the doorbell.
If I hadn't noticed her presence, she'd probably still be there trying.
I told her it would've been easier to set the dishes down first.
"But they're a gift... they can't get dirty..."
She'd mumbled shyly. I couldn't help but stuff her full of rice and send her home.
After that, she started dropping by once a day to play. Perfect timing, since I was bored out of my mind.
Poke.
"Heehee."
By the time I'd had my fill of poking the sleeping Mina, it was already 3:00. I gently laid her on the bed in the master room, closed the door quietly, and headed to the living room.
I opened the full-dive capsule, lay down inside, and felt the lights flicker on one by one as I closed my eyes.
***
My dark vision brightened, and I glanced around. I clenched and unclenched my fist, did some light stretches to check my senses.
Everything felt fine. I opened the friends list and found Chaerin.
'Already online.'
I opened whispers to message her and started typing.
"Quick-Draw!"
Before I could send it, Chaerin's voice rang out from the Alben entrance.
I turned toward the sound and saw her waving.
"Over here! Here!"
"Hey."
"I'm streaming right now. You turned yours on?"
"Oh."
I quickly fiddled with the stream panel and hit the broadcast button. Viewer count shot up, chats flooding in.
[Viewer Count: 12,036]
'Peaceful as ever today.'
"I'm streaming too, so I can't read chat. But I sent a few staff over instead."
Then Chaerin's whisper popped up.
"Sent you the staff nicknames—set them as managers, please."
"I'm fine like this."
The chat was flying by fast, but with my dynamic vision, it wasn't unreadable. Most of it was nonsense anyway—I could just ignore what bugged me.
Two chats caught my eye.
"Hmph."
"Don't cross the line."
I narrowed my eyes slightly at the chat window. I didn't care much what happened in my stream, but messing with my acquaintances? No way.
With the mood subdued, I granted manager perms to Chaerin's staff one by one. The chat started calming down.
A bit empty now, but if Chaerin said this was right, then it was.
I minimized the chat and looked ahead. There was Chaerin, scratching her cheek with a slight blush.
"...?"
"What's up?"
"Nothing..."
"?"
She seemed embarrassed. Why?
"Sh-should we head in? For now."
"Sure."
I caught up to her quick steps and entered side by side.
Alben unfolded before us. First thing that hit me: the massive colosseum at the street's end. Like ancient Rome's iconic structure, standing in perfect glory.
Wide roads stretched toward it, lined with similar buildings. Dark brown wooden frames filled with beige clay walls, steep red-tiled roofs. Festival flags connecting the rooftops bore suns, swords, and such.
"Some festival going on?"
"It's Founding Memorial Festival Week."
"Ah. So we play around?"
"No? We do the main quest. Head to the central colosseum, and it auto-triggers."
"Then let's hustle to the colosseum." I picked up the pace.
"Eek..."
Chaerin grabbed my collar, stopping me.
"We gotta claim the quest reward first."
Quest? Oh. The GoblinEater bounty.
That's how we ended up at the adventurer's guild. Fitting for Alben's main stage, it dwarfed the beginner village one.
Door swung open, and eyes turned our way.
"Quick-Draw."
"Quick-Draw? Where?"
"Konchiwa~"
Crowds gathered, pressing in on me.
"W-wait a sec."
"Quick-Dra~w."
"Hug me."
"I'm a fan~"
"O-one at a time, urk!"
'Why so many!'
Just as I thought I'd be squished flat, Chaerin's hand seized my arm.
Private Mode activated by party leader.
The alert flashed, and other players vanished from view. I stared at Chaerin, bewildered.
"Told you solo play's possible? Like this."
"Ah. But why now..."
"Sorry... forgot..."
One hand behind her back, the other covering her mouth—pitifully cute.
"...Let go of my hand."
"Pfft."
Her lips curved into a clear smile behind her hand.
"What's behind your back?"
"Busted."
She pulled out a photo: me, squished in the crowd, making that urk face.
She dangled it with a mischievous grin. Annoying enough that I puffed my cheeks without thinking.
Click.
Suddenly, a camera in her hand.
"I'll use this well~"
"... "
Revenge someday.
***
I etched Chaerin's name deep in my mental hit list as we headed to the colosseum. Main quest alert popped up.
Alben Founding Memorial Day
📍 Enter the Main Colosseum where the Founding Memorial Gladiator Tournament is held.
🎁 Apply at the booth as a spectator or participant.
I dismissed the flashing alert and opened my status window.
Level 34 now. Leveled 19 in one go from GoblinEater and the bandit boss.
'Mobility and focus first.'
Viewers piped up at my stats. They had no clue.
"Strength's for cowards."
"Now you have."
"50% chance."
I had my reasons, of course.
Ishina-ryu prioritizes fluidity, precision, and speed. Every technique revolves around those three—lack any, and it falls apart. I couldn't even use a fraction of a fraction yet.
Fluidity and precision are more skill than stats, so doable. But speed? Stat-limited.
Solution: pump speed stats. Plus, strength trickles in from titles anyway.
Why? Because...
"Romance."
Harsh words. Samurai means shit? It hands 50% crit chance on a platter.
"Maybe you're just bad."
"Quick-Draw~!"
While I mocked the average Rebion player, Chaerin had wandered off ahead.
"Guides don't ditch clients."
"That's why I waited."
"Guides walk three steps behind, right?"
"Who said?"
"Viewers."
"...No such chat."
She'd been watching.
"Let's join the tourney?"
"Changing subject... I'll spectate. Level's low, and not gladiator-friendly class."
"I'll protect you."
"Saying it while licking your chops kills the persuasion..."
Busted.
"See ya later, Chaerin."
"Sigh... yeah. Watching."
"Mm."
I raised my right hand to her.
"Huh? Oh, heh. What, so cringey."
Cringey? This is romance.
She raised hers with a resigned look. Clap—high-five landed, and we went our ways.
"Please apply for the gladiator tournament first."
The NPC at the waiting area booth blocked me.
I dashed to the counter.
"... "
"... "
There stood Chaerin, the one I'd just coolly parted from.
Aigoo.