Chapter 144: Virtual Love Interest × Legion Commander (5): Female Zergs Can’t Be Told They’re "Not Up to It"

[??? Weren't you the one who swore you wouldn't spend any money?]

[6 + 12. The Legion Commander's worth has already risen to 18 star coins. That's equivalent to 18 Isos.]

[As expected of the Legion Commander. He's worth more than a Major General. (Thumbs up)]

[Stop praising him. The Heavenly Garuda next door are already calling us poor bugs, saying even our Legion Commander isn't impressive.]

[Maybe the Legion Commander should sit at the same table as the Heavenly Garuda. They both look like universal supervillains.]

[Not that far, not that far. The Legion Commander doesn't deserve that.]

The Heavenly Garuda: ???

[Damn Zergs. No matter what genre it is, we're always the villains! Movies, dramas, novels—every single one! And now you're attacking our looks too! Even if we're villains, we're the cool, overpowered, unstoppable kind!]

[This is outrageous! As expected, Zergs will never empathize with Heavenly Garuda. Even An-shen is no exception. If An-shen doesn't write a novel with a Heavenly Garuda female as the protagonist, I'm never giving you another kind look! (Cold-faced) (Quantum Cannon x1)]

[They're not wrong though. Heavenly Garuda females really do look fierce. Sharp brows, murderous eyes, a terrifying aura. They could make a crowd of Male Zergs cry just by walking down the street.]

[And then during weddings they scare the Male Zerg into popping out his wings, yet they're still proud of themselves. (Rolls eyes)]

The Heavenly Garuda took ten thousand arrows straight to the heart.

Their males really were timid.

Sometimes their females didn't even mean anything by it.

They simply weren't born with smiling faces.

They would merely zone out for a moment...

Then snap back to reality only to discover a Male Zerg trembling in terror before them.

But smiling only made things worse.

They looked even more like bloodthirsty, psychotic serial killers.

Male Zergs practically lost their souls on the spot.

The Heavenly Garuda became depressed.

Soon enough, however, the Zerg readers stopped laughing too.

Morris had recharged 12 star coins.

Using only 888 game credits—not even the full 12 star coins!—he bought an energy core, pretended to pick it up as scrap...

And the Male Zerg kissed him on the cheek.

[Is this right? You're telling me he got kissed for spending only 12 star coins? (Stunned) (Breaking apart)]

[Be precise. 8.88 star coins. (Angry)]

[With 8.88 star coins in real life, you couldn't even buy His Lordship a cup of fruit juice. It takes several fruits just to make one! But in the game, His Lordship hugs you and kisses you!]

[I've fainted. €€€€]

[Morris! Do you even know how to play this game? Let me do it instead!]

[Maybe he didn't know how before, but he definitely understands now. At this rate, even the Legion Commander's belt is going to disappear.]

[Oh? Selling his belt to recharge? That's some serious spending.]

[But what if he can't keep his pants up afterward? (Crying) Will His Lordship help pull them back up?]

[His Lordship will make it so players don't need pants anymore. (Pants flying away)]

...

【『Affinity +3』

『Affinity +2』

『Affinity +1』

...

『Current Affinity: 15』

The excitement slowly faded.

Roy gradually came back to his senses.

Only then did he realize what he had just done.

Seeing that one of his hands was still resting on the military Female Zerg's shoulder, he quickly pulled it back and stumbled two steps away, apologizing over and over.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I got too excited. I didn't mean to. It wasn't... that kind of meaning."

Morris was still dazed himself.

Hearing the Male Zerg apologizing, he instinctively replied,

"It's fine. It doesn't count as anything."

His unfocused eyes slowly settled on the Male Zerg before him.

The warmth and softness lingering on his cheek refused to disappear.

It was impossible to ignore.

The Male Zerg standing before him had flushed bright red.

He looked utterly flustered.

Clearly, he had been just as startled.

Neither of them had expected the contact.

It had simply been an accident brought about by overwhelming excitement.

Morris's thoughts were in complete chaos.

He could see the Male Zerg's Affinity.

Fifteen.

It had increased.

The Male Zerg's Affinity system seemed to use a hundred-point scale.

Even so...

Raising it this quickly was extremely rare.

Once everything became numerical...

It was as though a clear destination had appeared before him.

Every bit of effort produced visible results.

This Male Zerg didn't like receiving gifts directly.

What he loved were things he believed he'd "picked up."

That made him especially happy.

Happy enough to kiss the nearest bug.

Morris silently reached a conclusion.

"All right."

"Let's head back."

Roy carefully tucked the energy core into his backpack.

The heat still hadn't faded from his face.

"We're done scavenging?"

Morris asked.

Earlier, he had desperately wanted to get the Male Zerg away from this place.

Now...

He suddenly found himself rather fond of scavenging.

Preferably, the Male Zerg could wait somewhere safe while he continued picking through the junk.

He still had several hundred game credits left.

"No need."

"This is enough."

Roy hugged the backpack containing the energy core tightly against his chest, treating it like a precious treasure.

"We'll go home, pack some food, then head into the city."

After saying that, he turned back somewhat uncertainly.

"Do you want to come too?"

"You found this. I can give you a bigger share of the money."

Roy's expression clearly showed how painful those words were for him.

Still...

The discovery truly belonged to the Female Zerg.

Although they'd originally agreed to split the profits equally, Roy couldn't bring himself to take advantage of him.

"No need."

"As long as it's useful to you."

Then Morris added,

"I'll go with you."

"Wherever you go, I go."

Roy smiled.

"Is that part of your mission too?"

"...Yes."

Morris answered without the slightest blush.

"Then your Legion Commander must think pretty highly of me."

Roy joked.

As for dividing the money...

Naturally, he couldn't possibly give the Female Zerg nothing.

Still...

He could tell Morris didn't care about such a small amount.

To someone who considered even an energy core insignificant...

Military Female Zergs really were wealthy.

After thinking for a while, Roy said,

"Then I'll treat you to a feast."

Once the energy core was sold...

Once he had money...

He would spend part of it treating the military Female Zerg to a proper meal.

At a high-end restaurant.

Morris had no objections.

More than anything...

He wanted the Male Zerg to eat something decent.

As for himself...

Very few Female Zergs in the universe ever had the privilege of being treated to a meal by a Male Zerg.

After returning home, Roy packed up their food.

Fresh thorn fruits.

Dried thorn fruits.

He also packed the fruits they'd received today.

Military Female Zergs had huge appetites.

Better to bring more.

Morris looked as though he wanted to say something.

Thorn fruits again...

He really needed to exchange for more food.

He absolutely couldn't keep letting the Male Zerg eat thorn fruits.

After packing everything, Roy went into his room and changed into clean clothes.

The faded white shirt and trousers had both been washed until nearly colorless.

Yet with Roy's face...

Even cheap clothing became an embellishment, accentuating his graceful, refined appearance.

Morris looked toward the clothes he'd previously given Roy.

The shirt and shoes sat neatly on the table.

How could he get the Male Zerg to accept them?

He couldn't exactly claim he'd picked the clothes up as garbage.

"These are Male Zerg clothes."

"I can't wear them anyway."

"So please accept them."

"Think of it as my rent."

Morris handed them over.

Then, hoping to persuade him, he added,

"Didn't you say you'd treat me to dinner?"

"A new outfit would be more appropriate."

Roy hesitated, looking back and forth between Morris and the clothes several times.

Eventually, he accepted them.

"...All right."

"I'll go change."

If he was taking the Female Zerg to a high-end restaurant...

Dressing too poorly would only lower Morris's status by association.

Although Morris had prepared himself mentally...

The moment the Male Zerg emerged wearing the new clothes...

His eyes brightened.

The perfectly tailored white shirt and casual trousers emphasized every advantage of the Male Zerg's figure.

Graceful.

Elegant.

Just...

Too thin.

He needed to eat more.

Without a word, Morris picked up Roy's luggage.

Including the backpack Roy had guarded like a priceless treasure—the one containing the energy core.

Roy kept glancing back at him.

"Don't worry."

"I won't keep it for myself."

Morris had no choice but to reassure him.

"Hmph."

Roy wasn't worried Morris would steal it.

He simply instinctively paid extra attention to valuable belongings.

He was afraid the Female Zerg might accidentally lose it.

When they stepped onto the highway, Morris finally noticed something.

There was no aircraft.

"...We're walking?"

he asked in surprise.

"No."

"We just need to walk another five kilometers before we can catch transportation."

Roy answered as though it were perfectly normal.

Five kilometers...

For a Female Zerg, that wasn't even enough for a warm-up.

But...

For a Male Zerg?

Morris stared at the slender young Male Zerg walking ahead of him in disbelief.

"What?"

Roy turned back in confusion.

Surely a military Female Zerg wasn't incapable of walking that far?

Morris considered buying an aircraft.

Meeting the Male Zerg's eyes, however...

He changed his mind.

"How about..."

"I fly you there instead?"

Roy's eyes instantly lit up.

He had almost forgotten.

Female Zergs could fly!

"That's wonderful!"

"Then I'll have to trouble you!"

Roy looked at Morris expectantly.

He wanted to wrap his arms around him...

But felt too embarrassed.

The military Female Zerg's waist...

It looked so slim.

Broad shoulders.

A narrow waist.

Even the black belt looked handsome.

Was he supposed to hold him there?

Morris stored everything inside his spatial button.

His wings unfurled.

He extended a hand toward the Male Zerg and gently drew him into his arms.

"If you're afraid..."

"You can hold me tightly."

"O-Okay."

Roy nodded.

His gaze followed the space where the spatial button had opened.

The energy core had disappeared inside.

...Worrying.

Only after the sensation of weightlessness struck and Morris carried him high into the sky did Roy finally notice the enormous wings behind him.

How magnificent.

Powerful.

Beautiful.

If only Male Zergs could fly so freely as well.

At least then transportation would be completely free.

"Just follow this main road."

Roy looped his arms around the Female Zerg's neck.

He glanced downward to point out the direction.

Feeling nervous, he hugged him even tighter.

It was the first time Morris had ever been pressed so closely against a Male Zerg.

His mind was almost entirely blank.

He couldn't think about anything.

He simply flew wherever the Male Zerg directed him.

Five kilometers passed in the blink of an eye.

The bus stop came into view.

Just before Morris was about to descend, he heard Roy say,

"Keep flying!"

"Another 115 kilometers and we'll save the fare!"

Morris: "..."

The Male Zerg gave him a suspicious look.

Then asked worriedly,

"...Don't tell me you can't anymore?"

No Female Zerg could tolerate being told he "couldn't."

Forget one hundred kilometers.

Even if the Male Zerg had asked him to circle the entire planet...

He absolutely had to prove he could.

Morris continued flying.

With his actions, he demonstrated beyond all doubt...

That he very much could.

Only a few elderly bugs waiting at the station were left staring upward in confusion, wondering why such a high-ranking Female Zerg had appeared in a place like this.

Differences in rank among Female Zergs were especially pronounced.

Ordinary Female Zergs could sense the pressure of higher ranks from a great distance away.

Even when the higher-ranking Female Zerg wasn't paying them any attention.

Even when he wasn't intentionally releasing any pressure.

It was like a ferocious beast wandering into a herd of small animals.

Every eye turned toward it.

No bug dared stop such an obviously extraordinary high-ranking Female Zerg.

Not even after he had entered a no-fly zone.

Morris's brain had overheated from Roy's casual remark about him "not being able to."

Only after reaching the city did he finally regain his senses and land with the Male Zerg.

Roy was still a little dizzy when his feet touched solid ground.

He looked around at the towering buildings.

Then at Morris—

Whose breathing remained perfectly steady and whose face wasn't even flushed.

"...That fast?"

Morris, who was just folding away his wings: "..."

Was being fast...

A good thing?

Or a bad thing?

Surely he couldn't fly the whole route again...

Just to do it more slowly.

...】