What Kind Of Newbie Are You?! They Said That “Summoner” Is A Terrible Job, Yet They Call Her The Last Boss - CH 23

It was their first night.

Johann and her friends were eating the food items they had collected in a terrace-like place they found on a small hill, under a sky full of stars. The food items seem to be limited to the Event, and when you open the frozen food-like packaging, the food was like what you’d get out of a convenience store.

“Geeze, our search didn’t progress at all because we were caught in that weird mess, huh?” Zecca said, looking frustrated as she eats curry.

Although Johann’s three Gate Of The Heavens were able to deal with most of their ambushers, the survivors began to wage a guerrilla warfare campaign after that, and the trio was stranded in that forest for a long time.

“There, there, Zecca-chan. We didn’t get any rare items, but we did get a lot of items to use for cash,” Johann said.

“… I had fun though,” Remma said.

Johann and Remma each remove their equipment and stuff their mouths with pasta dishes. In this Event, it is impossible to change your equipment, but it seems that you can freely put on and take off pieces without losing their effects or removing them from the slot.

“… Maybe it’s my first time to do an event that spans several days… be it in real life or in a game,” Remma said.

“Haa, don’t you have a school trip or something for that…? Mghnguh,” Zecca said before Johann blocked her mouth.

Remma’s login time is extremely long. From noon to late at night on weekdays. It’s unthinkable for an ordinary junior high school student.

Johann didn’t say anything. It’s not something to pry into, and it would only be time when Remma opened up about it. Johann was fine keeping quiet about it until Remma decided they needed to know.

“I’m also a little excited,” Johann said. “This is the first time I’ve been able to stay overnight and play with kids who are much younger than me, like you guys.”

It was unthinkable for Johann a while ago. Until she was about 25, she would sometimes go on trips with her college friends. But with marriage, childbirth, and so on, the chances of that happening gradually diminish.

(I also… wonder how long I can play like this,) Johann thought.

She can’t stop thinking about it.

“Johann-san! I watched Virtual Monsters,” Zecca said.

She did not miss Johann’s lonely eyes. She felt like if she didn’t say anything, Johann would soon be far away. So, she couldn’t help but call out.

“Oh my, is that so?” Johann said, her tone rising in excitement.

“I’m only about 6 episodes in,” Johann said. “I watched it on a video streaming service. I had to go to bed early, but I couldn’t help but keep watching it. Just 1 more episode… just 1 more episode…”

“… That’s nice, I want to watch it too…” Remma said. “I googled it before, and that character Etezal was really hot.”

“That’s the enemy,” Zecca said.

“… Huh? Ahhh… b-but, if I push yourself, I can do it too!” Remma said. “Onee-chan’s favorite anime, I want to see it too.”

“Thank you,” Johann said. “But, it might be boring for you young people, you know? It’s a really old show from 20 years ago.”

As Johann laughs jokingly, Zecca and Remma are both taken aback.

“No, no Johann-san,” Zecca said. “It doesn’t matter if a masterpiece is new or old.”

“… Yeah,” Remma said. “There’s brand-new crap and very old masterpieces. What era it came from doesn’t decide if it’s a joke or it’s not.”

“Ha, haa…” Johann stammered, overwhelmed by the intense passion of the two. “By any chance… do you both like anime?”

“I love it!” the two said without hesitation.

“I, I see… But Zekka-chan, you’re a high school student, aren’t you?”

“Age doesn’t matter! I like what I like!” Zecca said.

“… I don’t know what kind of adult I’ll be,” Remma said. “I’m sure I love anime, and I’m excited to watch it every week… I think I’ll be that kind of adult.”

“Same here,” Zecca said.

“How long are you going to keep doing such childish things… you’re already in high school, aren’t you?”

Johann’s father’s words echo in her mind. For a while Johann is dominated by emotion she doesn’t know how to describe.

Back then.

When Kei was about elementary school age, she loves anime! No adults said the same. That’s why she thought games and anime were things that she had to graduate from as she grew up.

Still, she couldn’t get rid of the feeling that she liked Virtual Monsters, and she thought she was a strange person. She’s been living by hiding her feelings about what she liked as if it were a flaw.

But these kids are different. It made Johann very happy.

(I see. This feeling, this feeling is joy.)

Times have changed. What’s wrong with liking what you like!? Children who could shout it so loudly were now all grown up.

“Hey, tell me what anime do you both like? I want to know,” Johann said.

She wanted to ask what kind of stories they grew up loving. And as soon as she said that, Zecca and Remma approached Johann with flushed cheeks.

“Huh, my favorite anime!? Of course, I love VRMMO stuff! I especially like an older work, but it’s one where you can’t log out of the game world and so starts a life-threatening death game. The title is……”

“… Wait, Zecca. I’ll go first here… my favorite anime is a movie, about the strange creatures living in a corner…”

“Heey, please shut up, Remma-chan. Johann-san is interested in me, it’s a rare opportunity like this!”

“… It’s the same for me,” Remma said.

“Now, now, both of you. We have plenty of time…” Johann said.

That night. Johan was happy to see the two of them happily talking about their favorite anime.

The bond between the three of them deepened. Next time, the strongest summoned beast will appear.