Live Dungeon! Chapter 357: A Little Tease

Hannah was remarkably cheerful and energetic the following morning. Her breakfast was consumed with her typical voracious appetite, after which she made a confident declaration.

"I'm going to get this sluggish body back in shape today!"

Witnessing her jubilant mood, the shadow of their encounter with Fenrir no longer clouding her spirit, Tsutomu allowed a sigh of relief to escape him.

[It would have been quite a predicament if she had completely collapsed after that...]

When he first discovered Hannah had fallen ill due to the emotional distress from their confrontation with Fenrir, Tsutomu had inwardly clicked his tongue, mumbling, "Even an idiot can catch a cold, huh?" However, regardless of his internal thoughts, he understood it was inappropriate to blame a Clanmate for becoming sick. That harsh lesson had been deeply ingrained in him years ago, courtesy of Live Dungeon itself.

Three years had passed since he began playing the game. By then, he was fully ensla ved, descending ever deeper into the abyss of a no-lifer. An older acquaintance and fellow Clan member had once messaged him, stating his inability to participate in an upcoming Time Attack tournament due to health concerns.

At the time, Tsutomu couldn't grasp the reason. He was the indispensable core of an efficiency-driven Clan back then; in addition to orchestrating raid strategies and managing party compositions, he undertook every monotonous task necessary for the impending tournament. Undeniably, he was the Clan's most overburdened member, yet he had never once failed to log in. Even battling a fever, even enduring sleepless nights that stretched into three-day marathons, he was consistently present.

Consequently, when his friend announced he couldn't play because he felt unwell, Tsutomu was overcome with fury. He confronted him in chat, relentlessly berating him: "Why would you withdraw from a tournament over something so minor?"

That friend, worn down by Tsutomu's merciless pressure, ultimately participated in the tournament. The outcome... was a devastating defeat. Following that, the friend ceased logging in altogether. Tsutomu would later uncover the existence of other factors contributing to his departure, but there was no question that Tsutomu's acrimonious words had served as the final blow.

At that moment, Tsutomu rationalized it to himself, 'Anyone that weak would have quit eventually anyway.' However, by the time he severed ties with the efficiency-first Clan, he had come to deeply regret his words and actions.

Had he merely taken a moment to empathize with his friend's situation, he might have understood sooner. That friend had followed him down the path of hardcore gaming. He was aware of the tournament's significance. Yet, he had made the decision to withdraw due to illness. The burden of that choice must have been immense. It wasn't solely the physical strain; falling ill can also erode one's self-assurance.

And when an individual already burdened by such guilt is berated by someone they hold in high regard, what else could occur but complete disintegration? Back then, Tsutomu was incapable of comprehending such a possibility. He had simply directed his anger at the issue until it shattered. If only he had offered support instead of condemnation, perhaps the trajectory of events could have been altered.

It was precisely due to that painful memory that Tsutomu made a conscious effort to be exceptionally gentle with Hannah during her convalescence, behaving in a manner quite unlike his usual self. He dedicated himself to facilitating her recovery, ensuring she could return to her peak condition without experiencing shame or pressure.

But now...

"Ehehe... You know, that stunt you pulled yesterday wasn't such a big deal after all, Teach."

"...That stunt? You mean THAT stunt?" Amy inquired, her eyebrow arching suspiciously.

"Yep. I guess Daryl's just overly sensitive, huh?"

Observing Hannah swaggering as if she had achieved some imaginary triumph, Tsutomu found himself directing his gaze towards Amy, who responded with a look that clearly conveyed, 'What on earth did you do this time?' After all his efforts, all the introspection... this was the outcome? It was truly unbelievable.

"Hannah, you are a Birdkin. Your ears are not even located on your head like Daryl's. Therefore, do not pretend as though the situations are comparable."

He uttered these words aloud, flicking the newspaper he had been perusing, his irritation evident and impossible to conceal. Hannah, detecting the confrontational undertone in his voice, sauntered closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Even IF I were Cynokin, I still wouldn't get worked up like he did."

"Oh really? Do you wish to put that to the test?"

"Ooh? Are you sure? I mean, you completely messed up yesterday. I'm pretty certain you'll just end up embarrassing yourself again!"

Her gaze, filled with playful teasing and a slight upward tilt, seemed to dare him to respond. He nearly succumbed to the impulse to deliver a karate chop, but he reined himself in; she would undoubtedly dodge it and then laugh. Instead, he simply flexed his fingers, opening and closing his hand, before stepping directly in front of her.

He possessed a deep understanding of Hannah. He had acquired insights about her from a woman who had once managed her during her tenure with the Ealdred Crow. And after nearly a year of cohabitation, he had grown accustomed to her peculiar habits.

Her inherent radiance, coupled with a peculiar innocence, endeared her to many. This affection wasn't limited to men; women found her equally likable. Yet, her statuesque physique, noticeable even beneath loose attire, occasionally invited unwelcome attention. The isolated nature of her village upbringing had, it seemed, presented her with numerous hardships in this regard.

Fortunately, upon her induction into Ealdred Crow, she acquired the means to manage unwanted advances. The very manager who had overseen Hannah’s Absolute Helix interview had ensured her preparedness, to such an extent that she initially misjudged Tsutomu as just another lecherous individual. It wasn't until she established her reputation as an evasion-specializing Tank that her perception shifted.

It was at this juncture that Tsutomu was apprised of these details, particularly concerning Hannah's adeptness at navigating romantic overtures.

"Huh?"

Hannah exclaimed in surprise as Tsutomu’s fingers gently parted her lustrous, meticulously kept blue bangs.

"So you’re saying you wouldn’t mind having your ears touched even if you were a Cynokin… is that right?"

"D-Don’t worry, I’m perfectly alright!"

Hannah’s voice quivered with a forced resolve as she shifted her gaze away. She was accustomed to deflecting lecherous glares and half-hearted flirtations from individuals who were clearly fixated on her physical form. She possessed the confidence to playfully tease Daryl when his eyes occasionally strayed, and outwardly, she often appeared completely at ease with the notion of flirting.

"…Ugh…"

But that outward display was merely superficial. While she knew how to deflect male attention, she was far from experienced when it came to actual physical contact. This fact had been confirmed by the manager who had once supervised her at Ealdred Crow. Thus, confronted directly by Tsutomu, who, despite their familiarity, remained undeniably male, reaching out and brushing her ear in plain sight… it was a scenario designed to send anyone’s heart into a frenzy.

It wasn't a matter of skill or intent. Even if Tsutomu had caressed her ear with the delicate touch of a toddler, Hannah was simply not equipped to handle this kind of unexpected close-proximity interaction.

Tsutomu grinned, observing her discomfiture.

"Hannah, I believe your expression is more intense than Daryl’s right now."

"Th-that’s not true…!"

"Hey, Daryl. Have a look at her. Isn’t she blushing profusely?"

"Ah, yes. That assessment is accurate," Daryl responded with his typical objectivity.

At his straightforward confirmation, Hannah’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. Tsutomu withdrew his hand, making a sweeping gesture with both arms, as if he had just dispelled a long-held burden.

"Consider this a lesson: don’t get too carried away with yourself next time."

"Uuughhh!!"

Her indignant shriek reverberated through the house. Half-choking, half-screeching, she pivoted on her heel, stumbled dramatically over her own feet, and fled upstairs.

Later, en route to the Guild, Amy gave Tsutomu’s ear a sharp tug, her expression one of clear disapproval. Nevertheless, he harbored no regrets; he was indebted to Live Dungeon for imparting the wisdom of knowing when to hold back… and when not to.