CH 72

[————–Rex-san!]

With graceful steps that seemed to express his joy at meeting me, Lily rushed towards me.

What a frightening trick.

If I hadn’t known that behind that face is a man, moreover, a sh*tty b*stard with the worst personality, he may have also deceived me.

However, I calmly eluded him with a smile and used <Inspect> on this “girl” rushing towards me.

(I see, level 8 huh.)

Lily’s Initial Level should have been 5, so it seems that he has leveled up a bit.

Gaining only 3 levels after more than 2 months we met, this growth rate would have been very slow by player standards, but even in B&B, NPCs level up at a slower rate.

Moreover, this is just about right for a <Bard>, a Class not suited for combat.

His MND and FOC are still high, but all of his other ability values are less than half of Rex’s.

With this difference in ability, I can be assured that I will not lose even if Lily tries to surprise attack me.

[I’m sorry. Did I keep you waiting?]

[No, I was so excited today that I came too early.]

Lily, unaware that his combat skills are being scrutinized, gives me a friendly smile with a performance that’s as perfect as usual.

While inwardly clicking my tongue at his thoroughness, outwardly, I calmly exchanged conversation with him.

[Ahh, I see. By the way, the place we’re going to today is……]

[Yes! The final destination of my parents’ travels, <Cave of the Flickering Moon>!]

※　※　※

(So far, so good huh. Now then……)

Our exploration in the <Cave of the Flickering Moon> was going too smoothly.

The difficulty level of exploring <Cave of the Flickering Moon> is low, and this dungeon doesn’t really have any factors that could be considered difficult, either in terms of combat or tricks.

Furthermore, I already know Lily’s “secret”, so I have an overwhelming advantage over “her”.

————–However, no, that’s exactly why I’m not going to let my guard down here.

I’m not in a position to have conceited thoughts like “I’ll definitely win against him”.

I’m just an ordinary guy with knowledge.

In contrast, even though it was through the screen, the opponent is a demon who has driven many gamers to hell.

I better take on this challenge just like a challenger would.

To begin with, it had been a series of failures before we reached this point.

The encounter with Lily itself wasn’t what I had in mind from the beginning, and the way I handled the situation after I made contact wasn’t admirable.

What was most unexpected was how yesterday, when I, or rather “Rex” was too weak to drink alcohol and got drunk in an instant. Even the events after that were quite dreadful.

Lily apparently left a kiss mark on my cheek while I’m dead drunk last night.

Being kissed on the cheek by a man is pretty shocking in itself, but the really bad part came after that.

When Resilia saw that kiss mark, she mistakenly thought that I had lied about “event verification” and secretly went to the red-light district.

[I am not angry that Nii-san went to…… that kind of establishment. I’m just grieving the fact that you tricked me just for that.]

Resilia said, looking like she was in a really bad mood.

I don’t know if that kiss mark was just a prank or not, nor do I know if he was quite farsighted to even anticipate Resilia’s reaction, but in any case, he had done something outrageous.

I still shudder just remembering the intensity Resilia had at that time, but anyway, the misunderstanding was cleared up through sincere persuasion.

I had managed to repel Lily’s disturbance tactics.

(Well, “event verification” isn’t a lie.)

I haven’t just been training for the past two months.

In addition to verifying events, I had also been ascertaining the “specifications” of this world.

Due to the unexpectedly hectic Guild-related work and “certain circumstances,” the verification didn’t proceed as far as I had originally planned, but there’s one thing I’m certain about.

(————As I had expected, “events” do occur in this world!)

To be precise, I found that when the circumstances had been set up similarly to an event, things would start to move in the same flow as the event.

And so, using that aspect of events, I’m trying to take it a step further this time.

[Even so, I was really surprised. I had no idea that Rex-san would invite me to explore this dungeon……]

Then, as we made it through one of the dungeon’s gimmicks and approached a long corridor, Lily, walking next to me, looked up at me and smiled happily.

[If you’re that happy, I guess it was worth it for me to invite you.]

……Yes.

The one who initiated the exploration for this dungeon this time isn’t Lily, but “me”.

Using the excuse of having him help me with work, watching how the Adventurers were doing lately, I approached Lily and suggested a “joint dungeon attack”.

And among the dungeon candidates we’re going through, I included the <Cave of Flickering Moon>

As a result, Lily took the bait.

She immediately agreed to help me clear the <Cave of Flickering Moon>.

(The <Cave of the Flickering Moon> event originally should have occurred after you’ve had more conversation and spent more time with Lily but…..)

If today’s exploration follows the same sequence of events as in-game’s <Cave of Flickering Moon> event, then this could prove that “accomplishing events early” is possible in this world.

And……

[In fact, my parents traveled all over the world when they were young.]

The time to verify the proof was already just around the corner.

[That’s why, they told me stories of their various trips and wonderful places.]

His steps seemed to bounce as he walked, and if it had been someone clueless, they would have easily believed that “she” was enjoying this exploration from the bottom of his heart.

However, in response to his smile, I also responded with a “smile from the bottom of my heart”.

[Of all the things they talked about, the one they talked about most passionately was the view of the deepest part of this dungeon.]

Saying this, “she” walks with the same graceful manner as usual, and in his hands, I can see the Video Recorder Crystal.

The item that once plunged “me” into the depths of misery.

But upon seeing it now, my mind was currently at peace.

[This is also where they ended their journey. My parents visited this dungeon all on their own for the last time, and my father confessed his feelings to my mother in the midst of the most beautiful scenery.]

Thereupon, “she” looks at me, and saying “They’re quite the romanticists, aren’t they?”, he laughed.

[However, they’re quite mean. I had been asking them what the view was like, but my parents just smiled and didn’t answer me. And then, they would always just answer me with the same answer. “You have to go and see it for yourself”.]

Saying this, “she” turned around again and moved his gaze forward.

[That’s why, I’m……]

With those last words, it marked the end of the bitter-sweet time hiding my thoughts in obscurity.

[……It seems like the time to “see it for yourself” has come.]

Lily laughs like an angel at my words.

[I’m looking forward to it. …… However, I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping for this adventure with Rex-san to last a bit longer.]

A hundred point words and smile.

Pretending to be smitten with more generous lip service than he had been in the game, he goes to move towards his final trick.

[Is it telling us to put our hands in there?]

Lily says anxiously.

The moment we both touched the device at the same time, the floor came loose and moved us to the place of reckoning.

[Ah……]

What I found at the end of the place we were thrown into was a beautiful landscape that was truly out of this world.

Deep in the dungeon, in a place where no one ever steps…..

Pure white flowers, glowing with a pale light, were in full bloom, vibrantly decorating the space.

It’s like a paradise of flowers.

Pretty white flowers are blooming everywhere, and gentle light rises from them.

[I see. So that’s how it is. This is why……]

As if he witnessed a dream come true, tears began spilling down Lily’s cheeks.

[A- Arehh? I’m sorry, ummm, I shouldn’t have…… Ahh]

Thereupon, I hugged “her” shoulder.

“Her” confused face, still wet with tears, yet it doesn’t diminish his beauty, looked picturesque.

[Rex-san……?]

Watching Lily, looking up at me with a surprised look on his face, letting clear drops trickle down his face, I could honestly think “she” was “beautiful”.

By nature, men and women are “different creatures”.

To begin with, the two genders have different skeletal structures, the quality of the muscles is different, and this naturally changes posture and even the way one moves.

For example, if it’s through a single person, it’s easy to deceive a person by showing only a specific posture or angle, but it’s difficult to lie about one’s gender without feeling completely comfortable in their daily life.

Of course, frankly speaking, there’s no doubt that Lily looks female because his design, including his skeletal structure, was originally designed for a woman.

However, it’s also probably true that “she” is making unimaginable efforts to make himself look like a woman, even if this is dictated by the game’s setting.

The effort he exerted to show such a self to others is indeed commendable.

However……

————–Sorry, but it’s time for him to wake up from this dream.

No matter what excuses or rationalizations he makes, it doesn’t change the fact that Lily has deceived and hurt people just for his own selfish desires!

(……Finally, the time has finally come.)

For the record, I think I could have crushed Lily right from the moment we met.

In the game, Lily caught me by the neck because he has my weakness, that confession video he had recorded, but I now have nothing like that restricting me.

He must have deceived many men besides me, and if it was revealed that Lily is a guy using the value of my name, “Rex”, that’ll be the end of him.

And yet, I took the time to come all the way here and set things up, to overwrite the bitter memories of the past!

(———–following the same sequence as the event, at the very moment that this guy thinks he got me will be when I overturn things!!!)

No matter what excuses or rationalizations he makes, it doesn’t change the fact that Lily has deceived and hurt people just for his own selfish desires!

(……Finally, the time has finally come.)

For the record, I think I could have crushed Lily right from the moment we met.

In the game, Lily caught me by the neck because he has my weakness, that confession video he had recorded, but I now have nothing like that restricting me.

He must have deceived many men besides me, and if it was revealed that Lily is a guy using the value of my name, “Rex”, that’ll be the end of him.

And yet, I took the time to come all the way here and set things up, to overwrite the bitter memories of the past!

(———–Following the same sequence as the event, at the very moment that this guy thinks he got me will be when I overturn things!!!)

This has always frustrated me.

Not only for being tricked, set up, and being insulted by Lily.

I was also frustrated with the “game me” who couldn’t say or do anything about it, only shrinking in response to that guy’s actions!

If it really was “me” standing there, there could have been lots of ways out of that situation!

If I could just speak what I wanted at that moment, I wouldn’t have been so vulnerable with the unreasonable words of that unreasonable b*stard!

If……

————–if this was not a game!

That had been a wish that everyone thought about when faced with that situation, one that would normally never come true.

However, a few strange turns of fate turned that ridiculous wish into reality.

(————–This world is a godly game.)

If there is a creator of this world, he really understands the thoughts of his players.

It’s a convenient world for me, where I can do “the things I could only do if it wasn’t a game”, while retaining “the things I can do only because it’s a game”.

That’s why, I will “alter” it.

This event I’m helpless about, my cursed past, and my black history……

(I will write it all anew!)

Deciding to look Lily squarely in the eyes, and instead of the confession, I threw words of condemnation at her!

[—————I know your “secret”.]

His response to me was only his confusion.

[……Eh?]

However, I didn’t mind.

That is one of my expectations.

This is one of those reactions within a large number of simulations I delusioned in that dark room.

Reacting like that wouldn’t stop me.

[Lily Harmonix. Bard. Initial Level 5. Your specialties are <Musical Performance>, <Singing>, and <Dark Magic>. And you have a Unique Skill, <Lorelei’s Voice>.]

When I read out these words to him in a matter-of-fact manner, for the first time, Lily became shaken.

[Y- You’re mistaken! My voice does indeed have mysterious powers! However, abusing it isn’t something I……]

Lily is mumbling something, but whatever it is doesn’t matter.

I’m not interested in listening to his request.

[Nineteen years old, from Linesta Citadel. Your parents are former travelers. The name “Lily” comes from the name that was supposed to be given to your older sister who had been miscarried. Because you were given a female name, you were bullied and spent an unhappy childhood, but in the process, you awakened to the hobby of cross-dressing.]

[Eh? Cross-dressing……? W- What are you saying……]

As expected, after holding it this much, I could no longer maintain my calm pretense.

[Stop with the acting already.]

[Acting……]

[I know about it! That you’re a man……!]

Lily, seemingly as if he had been falsely accused about something he didn’t expect, looked quite flustered.

[W- What are you talking about? Y- You’re making a misunderstanding! I have, u- umm, breasts so……]

Looking as if he definitely doesn’t want to be found out that he is a man, acting like the “ideal woman” Lily has in his mind, not speaking about such things, he begins to make his appeals.

However, those were the words I was waiting to hear.

[Ah, yahhh!]

In response to those words, I silently clutched Lily’s “breasts”.

The unreal volume of softness pushing back against my hand confirmed my suspicions.

[S- Stop that! Please stop it……!]

However, Lily still refuses to give up, so I’m giving him the final words!

[Then I’ll bring out the proof that those breasts are fake!]

[Hyiihh!]

Ignoring Lily, who’s still acting scared, I put my hands on Lily’s clothes.

Unbuttoning his clothes…… isn’t something I didn’t bother doing.

Entrusting it to Rex’s specs, I tore off Lily’s clothes as hard as I could……

[……Eh?]

At that moment, I was stuck there, unable to move an inch.

After all, what I saw there was not what I expected to see.

[Wha? Eh? Huh……?]

There was not a shadow of a stuffing to be found there.

Instead, behind his…… No, her clothes were just “those” two flesh-colored bounties, larger and more shapely than any I’ve ever seen in my life, exposed before me as if they were flaunting their presence……

[……You’re terrible.]

The soft voice that reached my ear brought me back to myself.

Lily’s bright red face lowered, she covers her chest as if to protect herself from me.

[A- Aaaaaahhhhh……]

I don’t know what happened.

However, I knew exactly what I should do here.

[—————-I’M REALLY SORRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYY!!!]

And thus, my black history was rewritten with something even more atrocious than what it was years back then.