“Hey there! Looking forward to working with you today, Zenon!”
“Wha—!?”
When the day of the mission finally arrived, Zenon was hit with a wave of genuine shock as he came face-to-face with Yugo, who greeted him with a bright smile.
How is Scum Yugo here? As the question flashed through Zenon’s mind, he immediately realized the answer and put his head in his hands.
Thinking back, it was obvious. Melt had likely invited him. The recruitment flyer had explicitly stated that more hands were welcome, so there was no reason for her not to bring Yugo along.
Zenon cursed his past self’s naivety. A few days ago, he had been so swept up in his own schemes that he hadn't even considered the possibility. Meanwhile, Yugo continued to speak to him with effortless cheer.
“Are you feeling alright now? Your injuries looked pretty bad back then.”
“A-Ah... yeah, I’m fine now.”
Zenon had heard that Yugo was the one who had carried him to the infirmary after his crushing defeat at the hands of Rush.
Having his humiliating past dug up—the very thing he wanted everyone to forget—Zenon’s expression soured inwardly as he hurled mental vitriol at the boy before him.
Does he expect me to thank him for saving me? Damn it! Of all the people to be rescued by, it had to be him. This is the absolute worst!
In reality, Yugo was simply showing genuine concern for his classmate’s health. However, Zenon’s perception was so warped by prejudice and hatred that he took the words as pure condescension.
Deciding that talking to this guy any longer would only trigger more unpleasant memories, Zenon turned and walked away.
Melt had been watching the exchange from a short distance. Once Zenon was out of earshot, she turned to Yugo.
“That was... something. He could have at least said thank you after you saved his life. I really am bad at dealing with him...”
“Don’t be too hard on him. Guys have their pride, you know? It makes it hard to be honest—especially toward someone who used to talk as much trash as I did.”
“Marcos was the same way, remember?” Yugo added with a wry smile, defending Zenon by bringing up a mutual friend who wasn't present.
As Melt looked at him, she couldn't help but smile. He didn’t seem the least bit bothered by Zenon’s prickly attitude.
I really do like Yugo better. He’s kind, he’s dependable...
Only a month had passed since they first met, but she had seen enough to know that he wasn't the "villain" everyone made him out to be. Whether it was the way he cherished his younger brother, his gentleness with children, or the way he consistently considered others' feelings and offered support, Yugo’s actions were always transparent and sincere. Witnessing this side of him day after day had caused her Affection Level for him to rise in a very real, human sense, far beyond any Game System mechanics.
When she had felt uneasy after Zenon’s strangely familiar advances and asked Yugo to join the Request, he hadn't hesitated for a second. Far from the "Scum Yugo" the rumors described, he was a genuinely good person, and Melt had come to care for him deeply.
I want to be someone who truly understands Yugo, even if I can’t match Fee-kun yet. I’m not quite there yet, but still...
She knew she couldn't compete with Fee, who had been by Yugo’s side for years, but she felt she was becoming an ally who saw the good in him that others missed. She wasn't quite ready to say it out loud yet, but she wanted to know everything there was to know about him.
There’s no need to rush. After all, we’ve only just met.
She would just keep closing the distance, little by little, as a friend. Eventually, she was sure they would build a bond all their own—something different from what he shared with Fee.
As she stood there smiling to herself, Yugo noticed her expression and looked at her, puzzled.
“What’s up, Melt? Did something funny happen?”
“No, nothing! More importantly, we’ll be staying overnight for this job. Are you going to be okay? Won't you be lonely without Fee-kun around?”
“I’ll be fine. I just... I wish I could’ve shown him the mountain scenery. The road we traveled before was so beautiful. I really wanted Fee to see a view like that.”
Melt felt her heart warm at his regretful tone. He really was a kind person. While it was only natural that Fee couldn't come along on an official Request, she wanted to cheer Yugo up.
“Look at it this way—think of this as a scouting mission for when you bring Fee-kun here to visit later! We’ll climb the mountain for the delivery, check the trails, and find all the best spots for next time!”
“A scouting mission, huh? You’re right. Since it’s a low-stakes request, it’s the perfect chance to see how difficult the hike actually is. Thanks, Melt!”
Yugo let out a hearty laugh as he thanked her, his voice carrying to the other students nearby.
While some of them thought he was being a bit too relaxed, they had to admit he had a point. This wasn't a battle or an exploration into the unknown; it was a simple delivery job. There was no need to be overly tense. But as the others relaxed, Zenon—the only one who knew the truth—sneered in his heart.
Hah! Look at him, setting up death flags so politely. What a moron. Well, someone like that will be the first one to get sacrificed. Once he’s out of the way, I’ll have my chance to sweep Melt off her feet. This couldn't be going better!
Armed with his knowledge of the game and the specific events triggered by this Request, Zenon smirked. If he played his cards right, he could finally kick Yugo back down into the dirt. He was ready to satisfy every one of his selfish desires during this mission.
With their various motivations hidden beneath the surface, the group of a dozen or so students formed a line and marched out of the main gates of Luminous Academy, heading toward their destination: Northern Mount Yumyum.