Only those who had gained a level advantage would consider hunting others for greater experience. That alone told Shū Tsukikawa these guys must have been relatively high-level among players.
It also meant most people transported to this world were likely still low-level. The monsters were too vicious, so the majority probably just holed up in some safe corner, waiting out the three days until they were sent back. Starving for three days wouldn't kill them, after all.
After spending three days in the Otherworld, grinding experience and materials, Tsukikawa soon hit Level 20.
[You have reached a bottleneck. The following materials are required for a breakthrough:]
[Werewolf Fang ×2, Spiked Shieldboar Quill ×5, White Soul Orb ×5]
[Recommended sources: Werewolf Settlement (Lv. 20), Spiked Shieldboar Cave (Lv. 15)]
Reading the system prompt, Tsukikawa smirked.
The Level 15 Spiked Shieldboars were manageable, but a Level 20 Werewolf Settlement? That was a different story.
Werewolves in the Otherworld were pack creatures. Taking them down required a coordinated team—crowd control on one end, DPS on the other—to harvest those precious materials.
Going solo? Impossible.
At this bottleneck, he either needed to form a party or trade for the materials.
"If Level 20 breakthrough materials are already this tough, higher levels will only get worse."
But for Tsukikawa, this wasn't an issue. With Hitori Gotō's support and his new green-tier weapon, they could easily take on higher-level challenges.
Under Gotō's area debuffs, monsters lost all will to fight, leaving Tsukikawa free to crush their skulls one by one.
"Almost time to go back," Tsukikawa said, stowing his bloodied hammer into his inventory after smashing the last werewolf's head.
"Mhm." Gotō nodded.
Her weapon now was a magic wand, which boosted her curse effects.
Between their combat strength and stockpiled materials, the two of them completely outclassed every other player.
"Um… after we get back… can I come see you?" Gotō fiddled with her ahoge, voice timid.
Tsukikawa chuckled at her shy expression.
"What's with that question? I'm your boyfriend. Of course you can." He flicked her forehead lightly.
"Eep…"
Gotō's face flushed.
It still didn't feel entirely real to her. She hadn't figured out how to explain to her friends—or her family—that she suddenly had a boyfriend.
Three days passed in the Otherworld.
Back in the classroom, Tsukikawa opened his eyes.
The balding teacher droned on at the podium, and his classmates remained buried in preparations for the upcoming entrance exams.
A glance at his watch confirmed it—though three days had passed in the Otherworld, no time had elapsed here.
When school ended, Tsukikawa packed his things and headed for another classroom.
At the far end of the hallway, a familiar pink ahoge peeked out from a doorway, followed by a girl in a tracksuit and a guitar case, glancing around nervously.
Gotō had spent the whole day agonizing over whether to seek out Tsukikawa after school but couldn't muster the courage to take that first step.
Classic social anxiety paralysis.
Hell, she'd even forgotten which class he was in.
The memory of a shut-in wasn't exactly reliable.
Luckily, Tsukikawa came to her first. Otherwise, she'd have been utterly lost.
"Wanna grab coffee?"
He smiled and took her hand.
"B-but… band practice…" she stammered.
Before joining Kessoku Band, Gotō's world had consisted solely of home and school. The band was her first real venture outside.
"Just tell them you can't make it today," Tsukikawa said.
"O-okay…"
Ever unable to refuse, Gotō let herself be dragged away.
Her classmates stared in shock at their retreating figures.
"Since when did Gotō-san have such a hot boyfriend?!"
Confusion rippled through the group.
At a café near the school, the two sat across from each other.
Tsukikawa ordered a coffee; Gotō, a glass of ice water.
There was still much about the Otherworld they didn't understand, and Tsukikawa had things to discuss with Gotō. So he busied himself searching and jotting notes on his phone.
Meanwhile, Gotō fidgeted uncontrollably.
What do I do what do I do?! First date with a boyfriend—what am I supposed to say? Or do?!
She tried recalling scenes from dramas she'd seen, but—Ugh, I never watch that stuff anyway! Stupid normies flaunting their relationships…!
Her eyes darted between her glass, the window, and her own restless feet, like a kid with too much energy.
Fortunately, after five minutes, Tsukikawa sorted through his thoughts.
"What're you doing?" he asked.
"Eek—n-nothing!"
She chugged her water and sat up stiffly.
Tsukikawa studied her for a moment, then got up and slid into the seat beside her.
Gotō tensed like a board.
"Now you won't be so nervous."
He took her hand.
"..."
She was more nervous now.
Ignoring her flustered expression, Tsukikawa idly played with her fingers.
"I checked the forums. A student council member from our school really did die—officially from sudden cardiac arrest," he said.
"Guess that's how deaths in the Otherworld get covered up."
"Mhm."
"Also, we should make the most of the resources we gathered. Plenty of ordinary people got dragged into the Otherworld. We can use these materials to build a faction—leverage those who need resources to work for us."
"J-just leave it to you…"
Gotō's fingers twitched in his grip, hyper-aware of his warmth.
As a socially anxious wreck, she had no opinions to offer.
Tsukikawa knew this well. He simply smiled, laying out his resource distribution plan. As expected, Gotō raised no objections.