Chapter 31: The Next Move
The dorm room was silent.
A single ray of morning sunlight filtered in through the curtain, casting a golden line across the wooden floor. Noah sat on the edge of his bed, shirt half-unbuttoned, crimson eyes focused as he ran a black cloth along the edge of Kagetsume. The katana, resting across his lap, gleamed with a faint, dangerous luster.
Each stroke of the cloth was slow. Precise. As if the act of polishing the blade helped clear his thoughts.
’The first scenario is done... and this time, it ended perfectly.’
He paused, examining the reflection on the steel.
’Lys made the contracts. All three spirits. Aqua, Gaia, and Fire. That alone should’ve been impossible... 0.5% chance, and that’s if you even knew what to do. Most players didn’t. But I did. Hehehe... we hardcore players always kept the real methods to ourselves.’
The cloth slid again.
He looked toward the window, where faint clouds crawled across the morning sky.
’Only downside is... she won’t leave me alone.’
He sighed, though it wasn’t exactly a complaint.
’Every time I turn around, she’s there. I get it. I helped her. Saved her life. Carried her through a forest while being chased by three legendary beasts. Anyone would get a little... attached.’