Chapter 14 – Should We Meet?

I woke up to the sound of a text notification.

[Luna: Good morning!]

[Luna: (Mouse ‘Good Morning’ icon)]

[Me: Good morning…]

[Me: (Sleepy raccoon icon)]

Groggily sitting up, I yawned as I checked the time.

8:25…

“Too early…” I mumbled, flopping back down.

Ignoring the text tones, I pulled a pillow over my head and drifted back to dreamland.

…

It was a few hours later when I finally got up feeling refreshed.

I swear, I don’t know how people get up that early. They must be severe early birds.

[Me: sorry fell asleep]

[Luna: Do you have the sleeping schedule of a raccoon too??]

[Me: lolol]

“What an early mouse.” I mumbled as I went ahead with my morning routine.

…

“Hm…” I tapped on my desk.

I had just returned from the tower. My gluetrap potion was really effective, it practically guaranteed a safe floor clear.

I didn’t even need to drink my buff potions anymore. As long as I puddled the gluetrap potion in front of the goblin’s spawn location, they’d walk into it and get trapped. Once they were trapped, all I had to do was throw some akikali juice onto the puddle, saving me some denomyl liquid.

Since denomyl liquid was an ingredient in the gluetrap potion itself, that ensured all the goblins would be hit by the explosion. It was a little weaker than a dynokali potion, but it was more than enough for some weak goblins.

It’ll be different later when the monsters are smarter and stronger, but for floors 1-10 I doubted anything could touch me.

Is it like a tutorial of sorts? I pondered. I already looked up what floor 3 will entail: 10 goblins.

That meant I probably didn’t need to make any different kind of combat potions until floor 11.

I hadn’t bothered searching what theme floors 11-20 had, since I wouldn’t be there for another few months anyway.

Yawning, I stretched.

It felt like doing dailies on a gacha game.

I’d clear the floor and collect materials for an hour. I practically knew that forest like the back of my head by now—there weren’t any ‘set’ spawn locations for the materials, but I knew where they were likely to be.

I’m sure my material knowledge trait is helping with that subconsciously. Jango Mushrooms like dark and damp places, so close to tree roots or fallen logs; Giant Huffpalls liked open spaces with lots of sunlight.

There were a few other materials, but they weren’t worth mentioning.

“Six more clears, huh…” I mumbled.

I wasn’t in a rush to clear the third floor. These starting floors are a great place to build my foundation.

As I was in thought, my phone buzzed and the screen lit up.

[Luna: heyhey]

I smiled, looking at the text.

[Me: supsup]

[Luna: wyd?]

[Me: I was just thinking about potions, you?]

[Luna: Potion addict (shaking head icon)]

[Luna: I’m bored]

[Luna: wanna dungeon?]

[Me: Game addict smh.]

[Me: 5 mins, then sure.]

[Luna: kk!]

[Luna: …Ah, um, question.]

[Me: ?]

[Luna: You don’t have to answer if you don’t want too…]

[Luna: But, it’s been on my mind for a while…]

[Luna: Really, if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to.]

[Luna: How old are you?]

[Luna: Ah, I’m 19 by the way.]

I tilted my head at the texts. That didn’t really seem like a question that needed that much reassurance. I knew there was a saying like ‘never ask a woman her age’, but was it that serious?

Hm…I guess it could be a sensitive topic for some people.

But we’ve known each other for 3 years, I feel like that cancels out most topics you’d avoid with strangers.

I shrugged and looked at myself in the mirror.

I certainly didn’t look my age.

[Me: 18 lol]

[Luna: I knew it!!!]

[Luna: There was no way you were older than me.]

[Luna: If you had been, I might have had to rethink life.]

[Me: ?????]

[Luna: It’s been on my mind since yesterday.]

[Luna: I was so shocked you were a girl because of some of the stuff you’ve said.]

[Luna: So, I was theory crafting your age based on previous chats]

[Luna: And I figured you either close to my age or younger.]

[Luna: There’s no way someone who said ‘Honestly, death by snu snu is an honorable way to go’ would be older than me.]

[Luna: I’m so relieved.]

[Me: ?????]

[Me: what the heck?]

[Me: do you wanna fight or something?]

[Me: bring it on!]

[Me: I’m 7 foot, 300 pounds of muscle!]

[Luna: lolololol]

…

After a fun gaming session with Luna, I was laying in bed, scrolling on the gallery.

[Alchemist Gallery]

[Just sprayed slime all over the kingdom lol]

[Who would win in a fight? T-Rex or Ogre?]

[Saw a cute cat today.]

[My homunculus pinned me down today…]

It was funny, thinking of these old and powerful grand alchemist misters talking like a regular gallery member you could find on earth.

They’d fit right in, hehe. I chuckled, closing the gallery.

“Haah…” I yawned.

…

The next day, I was studying materials. My tower clear today hadn’t resulted in anything new or interesting.

“Hm…Maryjoy herb…Can be found close to flowers and has a different effect depending on the flower it’s grown by…”

Ding!

As I was studying, an all to familiar text tone sounded.

[Luna: heyhey]

I smiled before replying.

[Me: supsup]

[Me: (Waving raccoon icon)

[Luna: wyd?]

[Me: Studying ㅠㅠ]

[Luna: School?]

[Me: no lolol, alchemy]

[Luna: Ah, figures.]

[Me: ???]

[Luna: Do you have any plans Saturday?]

[Me: nope]

[Me: y?]

[Luna: Well…umm…]

[Luna: Ummm…]

[Luna: I also have nothing to do on Saturday…]

As I read the text, I smiled even brighter. Was she thinking what I was thinking?

We’ve known each other for three years but have only just recently exchanged numbers. And it just so happens we happen to live in the same area.

And we’re around the same age.

“Hehe!” I giggled.

[Me: Of course you have nothing to do.]

[Luna: ???]

[Luna: what do you mean by that?]

[Me: Well, don’t you laze around all day?]

[Luna: !!!!]

[Luna: Excuse me??]

“Hehe!’

[Me: jkjk]

[Luna: No way, you can’t just laugh that off!]

[Me: lololol]

[Luna: (Angry mouse icon)]

[Me: So…Saturday.]

[Luna: Ah, yes.]

[Me: Should we meet?]

[Luna: !!]

[Luna: I’m okay with it, if you are!]

[Me: Yep! I want to meet!]

[Luna: (Happy mouse icon)]

…

Luna smiled as she went through her closet. She was picking out an outfit to meet Bin in tomorrow.

They’ve known each other for three years but only recently found out each other’s gender and age. They’ve never even had a voice conversation before.

It seemed almost miraculous that they lived in the same area.

Could they have passed by each other before?

Luna was extremely curious about her friend.

Just what would she look like? What kind of voice do they have?

Someone who could say all types of crazy stuff without remorse. They had to look unique, right?

In her head, she was imagining a tall woman with a black bob cut.

Since they agreed to meet in the morning, Luna would have to get up early for the first time in a while.

After picking out an outfit, she hummed as she headed into the bathroom for a shower.

…

“Hehe!” I giggled, rummaging through my closet.

Thank goodness I went to the store recently.

This would be the first time I’ve met an online friend before. Though we’ve never seen each other’s faces, I felt closer to Mouse than I did to my school friends.

Just what would she look like?

“Hm…”

She’s probably tiny like a mouse, right? Could she be shorter than me?

I’m imagining someone short with long black hair.

“What to wear…What to wear…”

For the first time meeting Mouse, I felt like wearing something cute. Wouldn’t that completely shock her?

I mean, she could barely register that I was a girl because of my previous chats.

Which…Well, to be honest, is fair, considering I was a man when I wrote those things.

But that’s besides the point. Even with a changed gender, I wouldn’t mind writing those same comments.

“Ah! This!”

I smiled, wouldn’t this completely shock her?

There’s no way she’d imagine someone as cute as me saying those things. Especially not if I’m wearing this outfit.

“Hehe…”

…

I woke up bright and early the next morning. I was excited for today.

Mouse and I would spend the whole day together. We made a loose schedule that can easily be manipulated or changed depending on what happens.

After my usual morning routine, I was staring in the mirror.

Makeup was something I thought about trying, but I simply didn’t have any nor did I know how to apply it.

It’s probably something I’ll have to learn in the future, but for now, my natural cuteness is still the best.

“Hm…Should I wear a hat?” I tilted my head.

The girl in the mirror stared back at me before nodding.

It’d complete my look.

Putting on a beret, I returned to the mirror and did a little twirl.

“Perfect!”

Of course, I took plenty of selfies.

The place Mouse and I are meeting is a thirty minute drive from my apartment. It’s a central location and prime spot for meet-ups because of the variety of buildings nearby.

“Hehe!” I giggled.

With an hour til the meet-up time, I called a taxi.

…

Luna carefully applied her makeup.

She was excited to meet Bin. And well, honestly, she wanted to show off.

She knew she was objectively beautiful and held pride in her looks. Even when she casually did her makeup or wore a simple outfit, she was eye-catching.

So she usually didn’t try too hard. It was annoying when people hit on her.

But, for today, she wanted to go all out. She had a simple goal in mind: Surprise Bin.

She simply wanted to see a shocked looked on her friend’s face.

Maybe even some stuttering words? “W-W-what? Mouse? I-is that you!?” or “Wow! Mouse, why are you so beautiful?!”.

“Heh.” Luna chuckled at the thought.

Bin—someone who’s always making fun of her for dying to skeletons—completely stun-locked by her appearance.

Luna thought that she definitely needed to take a picture of her shocked face when it happens.

As she finished her makeup, her alarm went off.

“An hour until we meet.” A natural smile came to her lips.

They planned on meeting at a cafe first.

After making sure she was good and ready to go, Luna headed to her car.

…

The drive there was peaceful. Since it was still early for most people, there weren’t a lot of cars on the road.

After parking in a good spot, Luna stepped out of the car.

This place always looked beautiful no matter how many times she’d seen it. The vibrant greenery, well-paved roads, and aesthetically pleasing trees was always nice to see.

Walking towards the cafe, the sound of her heels clicked against the smooth sidewalk.

She worn heels today to at least try and match Bin’s height. In her head, she was still a tall woman after all.

As she entered the cafe, she briefly looked around.

Though sparse, there were a few people in the cafe.

She spotted two men and three women minding their business, either drinking coffee or on their phones.

She’s quite cute. Luna thought, glancing at a blonde girl on her phone.

It seemed like Bin hadn’t arrived yet, or if she had, at least Luna couldn’t tell.

Finding a table to sit at, she texted Bin.

[Me: Just arrived, sitting at a table now.]

[Stella: Oh? That was you?? Coming!]

“Huh?” Luna instinctively let out.

Was Bin one of the three women she saw earlier?

Quickly looking around, she spotted the blonde girl standing up.

Gears started to spin in her head as her mind went blank.

Approaching her was a short girl with long blonde hair. She had pretty, purple eyes that shined like gems; Her skin was porcelain perfect. She wore a suspender overalls skirt with a tan cardigan; Comfortable white shoes covered her small feet. To complete the look, a tan beret topped it all off.

The girl was shorter than Luna was—even without the heels. And Luna was short, standing at just above 150 cm.

As Luna stared at the approaching girl in utter confusion, she stepped right in front of her.

“Mouse…?” An almost childish voice reached her ears. The voice sounded cute, only bringing Luna into more confusion.

“…Bin?” Luna let out after a few seconds.

Then, the blonde girl started to smile brightly.

Snap!

Luna looked for the source of the noise and saw the girl holding her phone, taking a photo of Luna’s confused face.

“Mouse! Hehe!” Bin giggled.

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