After training at the martial arts centre and at the gym, Ivan returned home. He was so utterly tired that he didn't embark on a night business run. He stayed home and prepared dinner for Daiyu a few minutes before she returned, just as he had done the previous day. The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
The next day, Ivan continued with his routine. Daiyu left for work some minutes before noon. On this particular day, he planned to inform Daiyu that he wouldn't be around for a while.
A few minutes past 4 PM, Ivan was at the gym. He texted Daiyu: "Hey, what's up? I just wanted to inform you that I won't be around for a while. Also, you should spend the night at your place ♥♥"
Daiyu replied within a few seconds: "Alright. Safe journey. Do you mind telling me where you're going?"
Ivan replied: "I can't tell you. If I did, you wouldn't let me go there."
Daiyu instantly texted back: "Is the place dangerous? Ivan, I hope you're not about to do something crazy, are you?"
Ivan read the message but didn't reply. He set his phone aside and lay down on a bench, beginning to bench press a 160 kg loaded barbell. Meanwhile, his phone buzzed incessantly with notifications from Daiyu's anxious messages. Ivan's previous message had deeply appalled her. She was now gravely worried that something terrible was about to befall Ivan.
She called his number, but Ivan didn't pick up. She grew very apprehensive, so she contacted Chioma and Roger, informing them about what Ivan had texted her. Roger and Chioma were surprised that Ivan had informed only Daiyu about his intentions, excluding them, which was uncharacteristic of him. They deduced that Ivan and Daiyu might have grown closer, but it was just a guess, and they couldn't press her about it at the moment due to the urgency.
Ivan finished at the gym. Outside, he called Chioma and Roger in a group call. He told them that his destination was a secret, but he assured them that he was going to be fine and they just had to trust him.
Minutes later, Ivan arrived at the door of his apartment. He discovered that it was unlocked. He guessed that it was Daiyu inside, but he wasn't sure. He forcefully swung the door open, intending to catch whoever was in the apartment unaware. Looking inside the living room, he locked eyes with Daiyu, who wore a distinctly angry expression.
Ivan sighed. He said with a soft tone, "You got off work very early. You didn't have to do that."
"Oh, don't you dare tell me that!" she retorted. "You had me reeling in anxiety at my workplace. I nearly lost composure if not for my colleagues who helped me convince the manager to let me get off work early…"
Ivan interjected with a remorseful apology, "Daiyu, I'm very sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I'm truly sorry for upsetting you. Our relationship is too young for us to start a fight."
The heartfelt apology somewhat reduced Daiyu's furiousness. She shook her head and sighed. The couple allowed a moment of silence to settle in the room.
Daiyu asked, her voice softer, "Ivan, why don't you want to tell me where you're going?"
Ivan said, "It's confidential. I wish I was smart enough to tell you earlier, but I didn't think of it. Where I'm going tomorrow is confidential. I won't be going with my car, and I'm not the only person going there; there are others."
Daiyu looked intently into his eyes as he spoke. She was waiting to see if there was a hint of lies or deceit hidden beneath his expression, but she found none.
"I'm so sorry for getting you upset," Ivan apologised with an emotional kiss.
Daiyu stood like a statue, reflecting on Ivan's words, allowing her lips to be kissed again and again until she understood that Ivan had grown intimate. Like a ravenous tigress consumed by burning desire, she pushed Ivan onto the sofa and mounted herself on his lap. They ravenously made out, and Daiyu, at different instants, reached out and grabbed Ivan's lollipop. It made him moan softly. He couldn't hold on any longer and wanted to go down on her, but Daiyu stopped him.
With a seductive gaze, she said to Ivan, "We don't have protection. Remember, it's tough to raise a baby, and we're not ready. You wouldn't want our first baby to be a product of intense lust, would you?"
"Yeah, yeah, you're right. We have to find protection," Ivan agreed with Daiyu's reasoning while playfully preventing her hand from releasing her grip on his lollipop.
She laughed as she struggled to free her hand from Ivan's playful captivity.
"I'm feeling extra wet today. My menstrual period starts today, so I don't think we can do it the way you like it. By the way, if we fornicated now, I don't think Roger will be pleased to know that we fornicated," Daiyu said, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Her last statement was a reminder that Roger was religious. Ivan freed her hand.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, and the next day came.
Like three days ago, the newly emerged special characters were assembled once more in Bangyu restaurant, with every one of them in an isolated reality.
Brainboss_7's voice echoed authoritatively within every isolated reality, "I'm pleased that every one of you made it here today. This is one of the few times this has happened."
"Today, you all will enter the Gamers' Realm in groups, which we like to call parties. In there, every party will clear gates and gain loot items in the process. The success of any party depends on the synergy between its members. Remember, there's a possibility that not everyone will make it out alive, so you all should be on guard."
Before Ivan had left his apartment this morning, he brought his S-rank weapon, Black Riot, and his C-rank switchaxe along with him. But there was a peculiar development when he went to retrieve the S-rank weapon from the wardrobe where he had hidden it.
>>>>
Hidden Mission Completed
Info: Hide Black Riot from the eyes of the Supreme-Crusader special character. Where it is hidden does not matter; what matters is whether it is well hidden from being discovered with a mere glance.
Reward: You have dared to oppose the norms of life, where the powerful possess powerful weapons and the weak possess weak weapons. You are weak, but yet you possess a powerful weapon which goes against the norms; continue on this path and 'legendary' will become your name. You have been rewarded with a spatial sheath.
Item: Spatial Sheath
Info: A portable item/alternate reality where you can sheath your sword. This item can't be perceived; hence, retrieving your sword from it will seem like pulling it out of the void.
Item Grade: Base rank.