Chapter 10: The Eye of the Wicked Lord... and the 12th Fatui Harbinger?!
Seito sat lazily next to Kaede honjou (Maple), polishing off a scavenged rice ball.
"Man, lunch today was top-tier," he sighed contentedly.
Kirito (Kazuto Kirigaya), ever the dedicated gamer, silently handed his bottle of iced tea to Seito. "Here. You look like you're about to choke."
"Much appreciated, Kirito-kun." Seito unscrewed the cap and took a long swig. Before Kirito could say anything else, Seito turned his gaze toward Yukino Yukinoshita.
"So, Flatty... I mean, Yukino. You seem to know an awful lot about this game. Care to share with the class?"
The room went quiet. Everyone had been wondering why the usually stoic Yukino had suddenly urged them all to play a VRMMO.
"My name is Yukino Yukinoshita!" she snapped, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him.
"Got it, Flatty. Loud and clear, Flatty-no?"
"You...!" Yukino's face flushed a deep crimson. Despite her legendary sharp tongue, she found herself completely outmatched by Seito's shamelessness. She took a deep breath to stabilize her icy persona.
"God's Domain is the world's first true full-immersion game. Its commercial value is astronomical. Every major conglomerate in the country—the Nanahoshi Group, the Shinomiya Group—they're all pouring resources into it. It's not just a game; it's a shift in the global economy."
The class fell into a pensive silence. This wasn't just about fun; it was about the future.
Seito leaned back, calling out names across the room. "Shinomiya-san, Yuuki-san, Eriri... same goes for your families, right?"
"Obviously," Asuna Yuuki nodded. "Like Yukino-chan said, it's the new frontier."
"My answer remains the same as theirs," Kaguya Shinomiya added, sipping her tea with regal composure.
"Fair enough," Seito said, satisfied.
"Seito-san," Kirito spoke up, leaning in with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Are you going to challenge the Floor 2 Boss tonight?"
Seito shook his head. "Don't count on it. The Floor 2 Boss will probably be dead before the sun sets today. Between Blank and the pro-grinders who don't have to deal with school, the first few floors are going to be a bloodbath. By the time we log in, the front-runners will have cleared the path."
"I see..." Kirito trailed off, falling into thought.
Seito looked at him and offered a piece of "advice" from his future knowledge. "Hey, Kirito. Try experimenting with two blades. This game allows for custom skill creation if your physical coordination is high enough. Dual-wielding might suit you."
"Dual-wielding? I'll... give that some thought." Kirito nodded and returned to his desk, lost in tactical calculations.
The rest of the class stared at Seito with varying degrees of disbelief and irritation. He had spent the last ten minutes shaking down his classmates for food and was now handing out legendary-tier advice like he owned the place.
"Seito-kun... that was a bit much," Kaede whispered, her face red. She had planned to introduce her friend Risa Shiramine (Sally) to him, but now she was too embarrassed to speak.
How could this guy be so unbothered after being such a menace?
Simple: Seito possessed "High-Level Social Shamelessness." To him, if you weren't awkward, the world was your oyster.
"It's fine, it's fine," Seito waved her off. His eyes scanned the room and landed on the girl who lived in the apartment above his: Rikka Takanashi.
He suddenly struck a pose, covering one eye with his hand, his gaze turning sharp and melodramatic.
"Bearer of the Wicked Eye! I am the 12th of the Fatui Harbingers, Code Name: The Traveler! I have wandered the abyss for three days without sustenance. Canst thou spare a morsel for a fellow wayfarer?"
The class: "..."
Everyone's eyes twitched. First he robs us of our lunch, then he starts roleplaying as a beggar? Does he really think anyone will—
"Kukuku! To think that in this land of dark seals, there exists one who recognizes the Wicked Eye!" Rikka stood up, her own hand over her eye patch. "As a comrade of the darkness, I shall grant thy request!"
"My thanks!"
The class: "..."
SHE ACTUALLY GAVE HIM HER SANDWICH!
Yuta Togashi, a reformed "Chunibyo" himself, shivered in the corner, vowing never to make eye contact with either of them. Hachiman watched from afar, officially labeling Seito as "Dangerously Eccentric."
After inhaling the sandwich in two bites, Seito turned back to Kaede. "So, what's the plan for tonight?"
Kaede, now a budding gaming addict, lit up. "Hehe! Maybe we hunt for rare materials? Or try to rush Floor 2?"
"Wait, Seito-kun," Risa Shiramine (Sally) suddenly leaned forward, staring at him with wide, curious eyes. "Were you the one playing with Kaede last night?"
"Guilty as charged," Seito smiled. "We make a pretty decent team."
"Exactly!" Kaede giggled, showing off a bright, toothy grin.
"I feel like I missed a lot of the action," Risa mused, eyeing them both. "What are your IGNs? We should all party up tonight."
"I'm Maple," Kaede said proudly. "And Seito-kun is Sei."
"MAPLE?! SEI?!"
Risa's scream echoed through the classroom, making everyone jump. Anyone who had logged in yesterday knew those two names. They were the legends who had duo-cleared the First Floor.
The entire class turned their heads in unison, their gazes locking onto Seito like heat-seeking missiles.
Kaede shrunk into her seat, blushing furiously. Risa quickly covered her mouth, realizing she'd been too loud.
Seito, however, didn't flinch. He slowly turned around, scanning the room with a calm, lazy expression.
"Ahem... well, after that big lunch, I'm suddenly feeling a bit parched..."
The class: "..."
They couldn't believe it. The world-ranked pro, the legendary "Sei," was a total degenerate.
And yet...
Thank you for reading.
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