"You want to drive? Thinking of getting your license?"
"No, I just want to be able to handle 'Black' and 'White,'" Shizuka replied. "I can manage an automatic if it's just moving from A to B, but a manual transmission is still... a bit much."
"Ah, I see..."
It all started with that simple request from Shizuka.
"Actually, it's not a bad idea for everyone to learn," I mused. "You don't need a real-world license to handle a stick shift in here, and who knows? We might need a getaway driver in another game down the line."
"I'm in!" Shizuka chirped.
"Master and Ikoma can already drive, right?" I looked around. "So, who's actually joining the lesson?"
"Let's see... me, Kei, and..." Shizuka glanced at the others.
Nyangoro and Rosalia were staying behind to finish compiling the database. Ikoma was busy mass-producing specialized ammunition. That left a few wildcards. Pitohui turned to M.
"M, is there anything you absolutely need me for today?"
"You want to join them, don't you, Pito? Go ahead," M said with his usual stoicism. "I have schedules and logistics to coordinate for the next phase. I'll sit this one out and practice on my own time."
Sinon spoke up, her voice a bit hesitant. "I think I'll go too. I'm not old enough for a license in the real world yet, but it couldn't hurt to learn the mechanics."
"So that makes it Pito and Sinon-non," Shizuka noted.
"Five of us total, then," I said, grabbing my keys. "Alright, let's take 'Black' out for a spin."
As an afterthought, I added, "If we walk to the garage as a group, we might even lure some prey into the net."
"Then we'll walk with you part of the way," Rosalia said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Think about it, Shana: you, surrounded by six women? The 'hero' types won't be able to resist jumping you."
"I said it first, but hearing you put it like that makes me sound like a total creep," I muttered.
"Hahaha! But I thought you said 'villainy is the way to go'?" Pitohui teased.
"Yeah, yeah. I guess it's a bit late for a reputation recovery."
The seven of us began the trek toward the vehicle depot.
"Look, it's Shana..."
"Ugh, look at him flaunting it..."
The murmurs followed us like a bad smell. To the casual observer, I was a playboy parading a harem around GGO. In reality, four of them were long-time comrades, and the only ones I'd actually "picked up" in this game were Sinon and Pitohui. If they looked at my friend list, they'd see it was actually dominated by guys like M, Ikoma, Yamikaze, and Dyne. But people only see what they want to see, and right now, they saw a target.
The atmosphere in the street grew heavy and frantic—a sure sign an ambush was brewing.
"They're definitely planning something," I noted. "And it's a pinpoint strike on me."
"They'll probably claim they're 'rescuing' us," Pitohui said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "They'll shoot out your legs, drag us away, and act like they've done us a favor."
"Just like what they tried with Rosalia," Shizuka spat. "Bastards. I'll kill them all."
"They never learn, do they?"
"Once the blood rushes to their heads, logic goes out the window."
We reached the garage and held a quick briefing.
"Master, Rosalia—hoods up. Slip out the back exit and keep an eye on the enemy's movements."
"Understood," Nyangoro nodded. "By the way, where is the classroom today?"
"The 'Hitachi Tree,'" I replied.
"The... what? That sounds like an old commercial."
"There's a massive, solitary tree right in the middle of the Great Plains," I explained. "Everyone calls it that because it looks exactly like the one from the ads."
"I see... I shall have to make a map of these landmarks," Nyangoro mused. "You must take me there properly next time. I wish to see it."
"You got it."
The five of us piled into "Black." Pitohui took the driver's seat first.
"Technically, I'm the only one here with a real-world license," she said, adjusting the seat.
"Expect to stall a few times, but don't sweat it," I told her. "I doubt anyone can keep up with this beast anyway. If they do, we'll just use the plains as a killing floor."
Pitohui started the engine, her hands steady despite the slight tension in her shoulders.
"Take it slow at first. You'll get the feel for it."
As it turned out, Pito was a natural. She listened to my instructions on the clutch and gear shifts, mastering the rhythm in minutes.
"The only real hurdles are the half-clutch and hill starts, but we don't need much of that out here," I said.
"Easy peasy!" she laughed.
"You're surprisingly coordinated..."
After driving toward the Hitachi Tree for a while, I signaled Pito to pull over. I checked in with Rosalia and Nyangoro via comms.
"Status report?"
'They watched you pull out and started arguing over transport,' Rosalia's voice crackled through. 'Turns out they only had one capable driver. Several squadrons pooled their resources to charter a large bus. They've packed it with their "elites" and are heading your way.'
"Do they have our position?"
'Here's the kicker: one of them actually knows how to ride a horse. He's trailing you solo as a scout.'
"A horse? Hah. I can ride, too."
"""""What?!""""" The girls stared at me in unison.
"When did you learn that?" Sinon asked.
"There's a stable in the city," I explained. "If you've got the credits, they'll teach you. I figured it was a good skill to have. I'm not the only one who had the idea, clearly."
"I can ride, too!" Pitohui chimed in. "I got obsessed with it for a while. It's a rush. They had motorcycles there too, but those were a bit too much for me."
"Same here. We'll have to practice bikes later. For now, let's find our equestrian friend."
We cracked the windows and scanned the horizon with monoculars.
"Found him," Sinon whispered. "Ten o'clock."
Hidden in the shadow of a small copse of trees was a lone rider.
"I don't see the others," Kei noted.
"They're low," I said. "Probably belly-down in the brush."
"Let me see... Wait, Shana, is that Garrett?"
"Now that you mention it... yeah, I think so. Hard to tell from here."
"The guy from the BoB?" Shizuka asked. "The 'Big Game' is out here doing his own scouting? Talk about dedication."
"Doesn't matter. What about the bus? Rosalia, has it cleared the city?"
'Five minutes ago. They should be on top of you soon.'
We watched the road behind Garrett, expecting the bus to come roaring up, but the plains remained silent.
"Nothing," Pitohui muttered. "They should be here by now."
"Exactly," I agreed. "Something's wrong."
Suddenly, Garrett moved. He abandoned his cover and spurred his horse forward, no longer caring about being seen.
"He's making his move," I said. "Everyone, 360-degree watch! We're at the edge of the plains; there's still plenty of cover. They might be trying to flank us while we're stationary. Kei, keep your eyes glued to Garrett."
"""""Copy!"""""
Pitohui, who was watching the front, suddenly screamed, "Contact!" and slammed "Black" into gear, flopping the accelerator.
The car lurched forward, throwing everyone back.
"Pito! What is it?"
"Front! Grenade!"
Just as she said it, a bus burst from behind a ridge ahead of us. A grenade launcher poked out of a window and fired. The shell slammed into the exact spot where "Black" had been idling a second ago.
"They aren't playing around," I growled.
"They must really be scared of you," Pitohui grinned.
"Shana, look!" Sinon pointed.
Poking out of another bus window was the heavy, water-cooled barrel of a machine gun.
"That's 'Lion King' Richie and his Vickers," I identified. "They really brought the heavy hitters."
"Orders?" Pitohui asked, her eyes wild with excitement.
"They can't fire that Vickers accurately while the bus is facing us. Pito, floor it! We're going to charge them, then U-turn at the last second. Sinon, get your Hecate ready. Target the driver."
"On it!"
Pitohui pushed "Black" to its limit. The bus swerved to intercept. Sinon and I grabbed our anti-materiel rifles—her Hecate II and my M82—and leaned out of the roof hatch. Shizuka and Kei grabbed our legs to steady us.
As the distance closed, Pitohui yanked the wheel, sending "Black" into a screaming U-turn just out of their effective range.
"Now... Fire!"
Two shots rang out as one. Two holes appeared in the bus's windshield—one through the driver's head, the other through his heart.
"Bingo!"
"Even if they have a backup driver, that bus is a straight-line projectile now," I shouted. "Pito, cut back in! Get us on their left side! Shizuka, get the minigun. When we pass them, shred their tires! Kei, watch Garrett! If he moves, drop him! Sinon, reload!"
Pitohui executed the maneuver flawlessly, bringing us alongside the lurching bus. Shizuka, anticipating the G-force, shifted her weight and opened up. A rain of 7.62mm rounds chewed into the bus's front and rear right tires.
The bus groaned, tilted violently, and began to tip.
"It's going over! Pito, circle around to the right! Stop where we have a clear shot at the underbelly!"
The bus rolled with a deafening crash of glass and metal. Pitohui drifted "Black" into position, pinning the survivors inside.
"Kei, where's Garrett?"
"He was following us, but he's gone to ground behind the wreck. Probably trying to pull people out."
With the bus on its side, the only exits were the shattered windshield or climbing out the top. I wasn't about to give them the chance.
"Pito, prime the onboard launcher. Load the Plasma shells."
"Ooh, Shana... your cruelty is giving me goosebumps!" Pitohui giggled.
"You really don't believe in mercy, do you?" Sinon remarked.
"Think of it as efficiency," Shizuka added. "We have a driving lesson to get back to."
Pitohui tapped the weapons console on the dash, selecting the right-side hood launcher.
"Target locked. Ready to fire!"
"Everyone, brace for the shockwave," I ordered.
"Plasma-chan, away!" Pitohui shouted, slamming the trigger.
The plasma grenade streaked across the short gap and impacted the bus's fuel tank. The resulting explosion was blinding. A pillar of fire and dust erupted, shaking "Black" to its frame.
When the dust settled, there was nothing left but a blackened, molten skeleton of a bus.
"Threat neutralized," I said.
"Well, that was a bit more intense than a standard driving lesson," Shizuka panted.
"Did they even get a shot off?" Sinon asked.
"If Richie had opened up the hood and fired the Vickers during the charge, it might have been hairy," I said. "But 'Black' could have tanked it. Alright, let's head to the Hitachi Tree."
"I can't wait!"
"It's bigger than you think," I promised. "We'll take some commemorative photos."
As we pulled away, a comms request came in from Nyangoro.
"Master? What's up?"
'What on earth did you do? I just saw a massive wave of players respawn at the city gates all at once.'
"Oh, just flipped a bus and hit it with a plasma grenade."
There was a long silence on the other end. Then, Nyangoro spoke.
'Impressive work... you Fiendish Four-Eyes!'
"I... what? I don't even wear glasses!"
'The "Princess of the Rotten Sea" told me that "Fiendish" must always precede "Four-Eyes" when describing a certain type of man!'
"Master... where did you hear that name?" I asked, a cold sweat breaking out.
'I am growing every day, Shana! I am no longer merely "the innocent one"!'
"Master, you definitely don't know what those words mean..."
'Silence! It is a title of respect for a Princess, is it not?!'
"Listen to me," I said firmly. "Never, ever use those terms in public. Especially not around Rosalia."
(Later, when Nyangoro learned the actual meaning of the slang Rosalia had taught her, she would nearly die of embarrassment. But for now, the lesson continued.)
The group drove on toward the Great Sentinel, leaving the smoking wreckage of their enemies behind.
-------------------------------
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