“You see, when I adventure alone, I can’t let my guard down at all, so I’m always trembling with fear.
Especially when I find a hidden room that’s not on the map… normally, people would be happy, but I get anxious, wondering if I did something wrong…”
“Ah, I totally get that! That happens all the time!
I also hated eating alone in the crowded university, so I’d eat bread on sunny outdoor stairs that seemed like a good hideout, but it always made me feel weirdly guilty!
Even though I wasn’t doing anything wrong, if I heard people talking nearby, I’d instinctively hide!”
“Uh, um, yes… I guess so?”
“Ah, and also, I think I’m doing pretty well considering I’m adventuring solo, but I can’t help but feel restless when I think about what other adventurers think of me…”
“Ah, I understand, I understand! I totally get that feeling!
I don’t have friends either, so I always sat in the front row in class. Because of that, my grades are good and professors don’t seem to dislike me, but I still worry about what others think!
When I hear a group of girls talking behind me, even though it’s unlikely, I can’t help but eavesdrop, thinking they’re gossiping about me!”
“Uh, um, that’s… a little different, though…”
“A-and, sometimes when I see people celebrating their adventuring successes together in taverns, I can’t help but feel envious.
They call each other by their names and seem so close. I wish I could be like that…”
“Ah, yeah, celebrations are a big thing!
I remember when the most popular kid in our first-year compulsory class invited everyone in the same class to a drinking party!
Everyone else was called by their first names, but for some reason, he called me by my last name and asked, ‘Sagara-kun, you’re not attending the drinking party, right?’
Why did he ask as if I was going to refuse? Or, maybe he was pressuring me not to go? You start thinking things like that, right!
Well, yeah, I wasn’t going anyway, and I guess I should be grateful he asked, but still…”
“Uh, um, please cheer up…?”
And so, I got into a deep “loner talk” session with Train-chan.
Well, I myself didn’t really mind being a loner that much; I was even enjoying my loner life to some extent while complaining about it, so I was just in the mood to share funny stories from university. But as we talked, for some reason, Train-chan, who had come to me for advice, said,
“Soma-san must have had a hard time too.”
I was comforted by her words.
…Huh?
Either way, something good did happen.
When I talked to Train-chan, I had been trying to maintain a tough-looking character, but after her shocking confession, I gradually started talking to her in my usual manner.
Thanks to that, we became quite close, and as a result, I felt like I had a grasp on the reason for her loneliness.
–I suspect that the reason Train-chan can’t make friends is due to the game’s settings.
This world is a strange place, neither fully a game nor fully reality.
While it tries to create a world as realistic as reality, it also faithfully adheres to game settings.
‘Realistic’ orientation and ‘Game’ orientation.
This world is a peculiar mixture where these two intentions collide.
Normally, the people in this world act more like humans in reality than inhabitants of a game, behaving ‘realistically.’
In fact, characters like Reinhardt and Train-chan, and even Marielle before, have acted in ways they wouldn’t have in the game.
However, on the other hand, Reinhardt guided me through the town just like in the game, and Marielle let me use the confessional.
In particular, Train-chan’s monster train event was so unnaturally similar to a ‘game’ that it couldn’t be dismissed as mere coincidence.
In other words, in everyday life, the world operates ‘realistically,’ even if it means disregarding the ‘game’ aspect to some extent. Conversely, when it comes to game events, it seems like there’s some kind of compulsion at play, causing events to unfold like in the ‘game,’ even if it deviates from ‘reality.’
Now, let’s consider Train-chan’s event from that perspective.
During Train-chan’s monster train event in the game, she was always alone, and her explanation of the situation never mentioned any companions being defeated.
Therefore…
To recreate the game event, it would be problematic if Train-chan had companions.
This means, if my theory is correct…
–Train-chan is destined to be a loner for life, born with a solitary fate!
To confirm this, I asked her a few questions. It turns out that Train-chan seems fine when talking to people normally.
However, if the conversation steers towards forming a party or something similar, she experiences interference on an almost impossible level that prevents it from happening.
“I think I roughly understand the situation.”
As I nodded deeply, Train-chan looked at me with expectant eyes.
“So, then, maybe…”
“Yeah. …I don’t think I can be of much help.”
“Is that so? That’s grea– Eh?!”
Her reaction was as dramatic as ever.
However, at this point, I didn’t want to abandon Train-chan.
After all, she’s a fellow loner, and it might be less trouble to help her out.
“Well, think about it.
Perhaps the best solution would be for me to help you make friends, but I can’t do that.”
“W-why not?”
Why not? It’s obvious.
Even before considering Train-chan’s constitution…
“Because I’m a loner too!”
“Ah, yes… I’m sorry.”
Don’t apologize!
It makes me sad!
“B-but, then, Soma-san, why don’t you just… be my friend?”
Why does she stutter so much about being friends?
Thinking about how high her loner level must be, I shook my head.
In the game, a player could have made Train-chan a companion, so in that sense, me becoming her friend would be the simplest solution.
However, that wouldn’t be a fundamental solution.
Because…
“I plan to leave this town for the Capital City soon.
So I won’t be able to stay with you for very long.”
“Then I’ll go with you…”
“The monsters near the Capital City are at least level 50!
Besides, don’t you have a sick mother in this town?
Can you leave your mother behind?”
“Ugh…”
Her reason for becoming an adventurer was supposed to be for her sick mother.
And… in the game, Train-chan never left Ramur Town on her own.
It’s better to assume that I can’t take Train-chan to the Capital City.
“So…”
To Train-chan, who was looking downcast and dejected, I said,
“So all I can do is train you to be an adventurer who can go solo.”
“…Huh?”
To Train-chan, who looked up with a bewildered expression, I explained again, slowly.
“I know many things that others don’t.
Even if I can’t save you from being a loner, I think I can make you strong enough to cope with being a loner.”
“Soma-san…”
Train-chan’s eyes were welling up.
Hurriedly, I added,
“Of course, it’s not like I’ll be the only one teaching.
In return, I plan to have you teach me things I don’t know and cooperate with some small experiments…”
“It’s fine!
I’ll do anything!
I’ll do it right now if you want!!”
Train-chan stood up and took both my hands.
She seemed to be overreacting with the joy of finally having found a potential companion.
“Ah, well, it’s not that urgent…”
I said, pulling back from her momentum, but Train-chan wouldn’t let it slide.
“It’s fine!
I’ll work hard, so please tell me whatever you need!!”
She looked at me with sparkling eyes.
At this rate, she really seems like she’d do anything.
Well, of course, I don’t intend to ask anything unreasonable. But what if I were a wicked person?
(I guess there’s no helping it…)
The situation wouldn’t resolve itself like this.
There’s no need for it to be done right away, but I decided to have her do the easiest experiment.
“—Alright then, to start, could you lie down in the meadow for a few hours after I tie up your arms and legs?”
“Huh?”
