Chapter 5

Bab 5

Bab 5 – Wisteria Peach Petal dan the Cornerstones

Setelah mempelajari identitas Emily-san, bersama dengan dua pemula kami telah membuat pesta empat dan bermain bersama selama beberapa hari di tempat berburu dengan beberapa pemain di dalamnya.

Kadang-kadang saya menemani mereka berburu, saya membuat kue pound atau bermain dengan Ryui dan Zakuro. Saya menikmati kegiatan yang tidak berbeda dari yang saya nikmati di 【Atelier】.

Eh? Saya tidak berpikir ini yang berarti 'menghilang', mungkin.

『" Jadi, Yun, bagaimana situasi Anda saat ini? "』

"Oh, untuk saat ini aku bermitra dengan seorang pemain yang kutemui selama menghilang dan kami tinggal di tempat dengan beberapa orang."

『" Di sisi ini kami melakukan banyak hal untuk menyelesaikan masalah permohonan guild. Kami mungkin akan menyelesaikannya sebelum acara. "』

"Yah, kalau begitu aku akan menunggu dengan sabar."

Itu adalah panggilan teman dari Cloude. Karena saya saat ini sedang bersembunyi dan tidak bisa bertemu dengannya secara langsung, saya menghubungi anggota 【Crafting Guild】 dengan cara ini untuk bertukar informasi.

Terakhir kali orang Majus, dan sebelum itu, Lyly.

"Setelah aku kembali ke 【Atelier】 aku berencana untuk membuat 【Fireworks】 dan 【Insense Repelling Incense】, ingin mendengar tentang perkembangannya?"

""Silahkan.""

"Aku pikir 【Fireworks】 harus diwarnai sebelumnya, tapi aku hanya bisa memberikan 【Exploding Balls】 dan kamu bisa menentukan sendiri jenis kembang api yang kamu inginkan. Bagaimana?

『" Hmm. Tentu saja, daripada membuatmu memutuskan semua kembang api sendirian, menyerahkannya kepada sejumlah perajin akan lebih menarik. Mari kita lakukan itu. "』

"Kalau begitu, aku akan memberikan 【Balls Meledak】 tanpa warna. Juga, 【Dupa Penolak Penolak】 sedang berkembang dengan baik sejauh ini."

""Sejauh ini?""

"Itu akan memakan waktu sampai selesai."

Prosedur pembuatan 【Insense Repelling Incense】 adalah untuk menghancurkan 【Bark of the Fragrant Moss Wood】 menjadi bubuk dan mencampurnya dengan 【Pyrethrum】 kering.

Sejauh ini sederhana, tetapi telah menjadi mirip dengan serpihan kayu sejauh ini dan belum dipadatkan dan dicetak dengan kompresi termal.

Setelah cetakan selesai harus dikeringkan di tempat teduh, saat ini, saya sedang menunggu langkah terakhir ini selesai.

"——Jadi, aku akan menentukan tanggal pengiriman, tetapi itu akan memakan waktu."

『" Saya mengerti. Maka tidak ada masalah. Yah, hati-hati. "』

"Tentu, kamu juga."

Sedikit khawatir satu sama lain, kami terputus dari obrolan.

Fuu, aku menghela nafas dan berbicara ke arah langit.

"Menyelesaikan masalah permintaan guild … huh, apa yang mereka lakukan! Aku terlalu takut untuk bertanya."

Selama obrolan dengan Magi-san dan Lyly mereka mengatakan hal yang sama, aku berpikir untuk bertanya pada Cloude, tetapi percakapannya terpusat pada urutan dan aku tidak punya kesempatan.

"Yun-kun, apakah kamu dipanggil oleh seseorang lagi? '

Emily-san yang berada di dekat saya bertanya saat saya menutup komunikasi teman dengan Cloude.

"Ah, ya … kali ini tentang pengiriman barang."

Selain itu, ada orang yang menghubungi saya khawatir dengan kenyataan bahwa saya tidak muncul di toko. Dalam kasus-kasus itu, saya telah dengan sopan menanggapi setiap orang dengan menjelaskan bahwa saya berada di tengah-tengah rendah diri.

"Kamu benar-benar dicintai oleh semua orang, Yun-kun."

Menanggapi gumaman Emily-san, aku berkata, "Begitukah?" dan memiringkan kepalaku.

Si kembar, Raina dan Al tidak tertarik pada itu, sebaliknya, mereka ada di dekatnya, merenungkan pengisian ramuan dan kerja sama selama pertempuran.

Dan ketika aku hendak berbicara dengan Emily-san, sekali lagi komunikasi teman telah datang. Saya memeriksa siapa peneleponnya.

"Apa-apaan ini. Hanya sesaat berlalu … ah, ini dari Taku. &

quot;

Menanggapi gumamanku, ekspresi lembut Emily-san yang sejauh ini menegang. Raina dan Al juga menatapku dengan rasa ingin tahu.

"Yun-kun, aku pikir kamu sudah tahu tapi …"

"Aku tidak akan membocorkan apapun tentang Emily-san."

Tepat, terima kasih. Sambil melihat masih cemas Emily-san aku terhubung ke obrolan dengan Taku.

"Ada apa? Agar kamu menghubungi saya … kamu tahu bahwa aku berada di tengah-tengah menghilang, kan?"

『" Aku akan segera memberitahumu permintaanku. Aku ingin kamu memproses 【Wisteria Peach Petals】. "』

"… hei, itu barang kebangkitan kan? Kenapa aku harus memprosesnya?"

『" Oh, begitu. Jadi kamu masih belum tahu. "』

Ketika saya mendengar Taku berbicara seolah-olah dia tahu segalanya, saya ingat kerusakan yang terjadi pada saya dengan video-nya yang rendah dan sekali lagi memutuskan untuk memukulnya.

"Jadi, ada apa. Jika kamu tidak punya apa-apa maka aku akan mengakhiri panggilan di sini."

『" Ah, maaf. Sebelumnya saya pernah mendengar bahwa beberapa obat pemulihan dibuat dengan 【Wisteria Peach Petals】. Yah, mereka barang-barang berkualitas rendah yang tidak lengkap. "』

"Tentang itu, bisakah kamu memberitahuku lebih detail?"

Sejauh ini saya hanya mendengar setengah dari apa yang dikatakan Taku, tetapi saya langsung bersemangat.

『" Saya pikir Anda akan tertarik. Karena itu, jumlah pemulihan obat yang dihidupkan tidak berubah 1 HP. "』

"Tunggu sebentar. Jika aku tidak salah, Wisteria Peach Petals juga hidup kembali di 1 HP. Tidak ada perbedaan sama sekali kan?"

Eh? Bukankah aku sudah menjelaskan kepadamu secara detail? Jadi Taku memiringkan kepalanya di sisi lain dari obrolan teman.

『" Ada perbedaan besar antara kelopak dan obat yang hidup kembali. "』

"Tidak, aku tidak mengerti apa maksudmu di sini …"

Karena satu dan lain cara saya tidak dapat memahami, Taku memberi saya contoh sederhana.

Dalam kasus Wisteria Peach Petals, jika Player A jatuh, Player B dapat menggunakannya untuk menghidupkan kembali Player A, tetapi Player A tidak dapat menggunakan kelopaknya sendiri dari inventaris untuk menghidupkan kembali dirinya sendiri. Ini adalah jenis item yang memungkinkan Anda untuk menghidupkan kembali orang lain.

Di sisi lain, dalam kasus obat pemulihan, jika Pemain A jatuh, ia dapat menghidupkan kembali dirinya sendiri dengan menggunakan obat kebangkitan dalam inventarisnya. Selain itu, seperti halnya kelopak, bunga ini dapat digunakan pada pemain lain.

『" Itu sebabnya, untuk menggunakan kelopak banyak orang diperlukan. "』

"Aku mengerti. Yah, itu perbedaan besar. Daripada itu, mengapa kamu tiba-tiba membutuhkannya?"

『" Oh, aku berpikir untuk bergabung dengan turnamen PvP acara perajin itu! Untuk itu, aku bermaksud untuk mengamankan sebanyak mungkin obat yang bisa dihidupkan kembali. "』

"Itu, apakah peraturan bahkan mengizinkannya? Melakukan hal seperti itu di turnamen PvP."

Jika mereka mengizinkan obat revival seperti itu, tidak masalah seberapa sulit …

『" Tentang itu, jika benda-benda seperti benda untuk dilempar, pemulihan HP dan MP Ramuan dibatasi, keseimbangan daya akan hancur. Itulah sebabnya mereka akan diizinkan. "』

Nyata? Meskipun aku berpikir seperti itu, kurasa itu tidak bisa dihindari.

"Mengerti. Jika aku punya jawaban, aku akan meneleponmu kembali. Putuskan sambungan sekarang."

『" Ya, aku serahkan padamu. "』

Aku mematikan obrolan dan berbalik ke arah Emily-san, Raina dan Al.

Tapi, apa yang harus saya katakan. Untuk meninju Taku setidaknya sekali aku harus bertemu dengannya, tetapi pergi di tengah membantu pemula …

"Apa yang kamu pedulikan. Kamu dipanggil keluar? Dan dengan itu, Taku-san juga."

"Ya, itu benar tapi …"

"Silakan! Dan bawa beberapa cerita tentang Taku-san kembali!"

Pandangan murni Raina dan Al benar-benar mempesona.

Mengatakan "serahkan ini padaku" dengan senyum masam, Emily-san mendorong punggungku. "Tapi jangan katakan apa-apa tentang aku", matanya tidak tertawa sama sekali ketika dia mengatakan itu.

"Mengerti. Tapi sebelum itu …"

Saya perlu mendukung para pemula, Raina dan Al.

"Baiklah, mungkin agak awal tapi aku akan memberimu Ramuan yang di atas Ramuan Pemula. Juga, aku akan membuatkanmu beberapa cincin perunggu sederhana dari bijih yang telah kita kumpulkan. Dan, untuk batu-batu yang kita miliki Aku sudah berkumpul, aku akan membuat beberapa Enchant Stones dari mereka. Kamu bisa bertanya pada Emily-san tentang metode penggunaannya. Juga … "

"Yun-san! Tidak apa-apa, pergi saja!"

Melihatku mengeluarkan item satu demi satu untuk mendukung para pemula, Raina berteriak. Dan kemudian, dengan nada suara yang agak kesal dia menekan punggungku, berusaha mengusirku dengan paksa.

"Yun-san, kita bukan anak-anak."

"Tapi…"

"Tidak apa-apa, pergi! Tidak perlu khawatir!"

"Jika sesuatu terjadi, hubungi saya segera!"

"Apakah kamu wali kita atau apa ?! Tidak perlu khawatir, kita tidak akan membuat orang lagi bermasalah!"

"Jadi Rai-chan tahu dia membuat orang khawatir."

Nah, jika Al ada di sana untuk membalas maka saya rasa tidak apa-apa.

"Sungguh. Seperti ini, tidak heran kamu mendapat nama panggilan seperti 【Nanny】."

Aku membuat ekspresi tidak yakin dalam menanggapi kata-kata Emily-san dan menghela nafas.

Namun, karena tidak bisa tetap di tempat selamanya, saya meninggalkan pesta.

Untuk kembali secara diam-diam ke 【Atelier】 saya logout sekali, lalu menggunakan titik awal yang telah saya atur di bengkel.

Biasanya saya menggunakan Mini Portal untuk keluar seperti ini, dengan melakukan prosedur ini saya bisa bergerak tanpa menggunakan pintu masuk 【Atelier】 atau portal normal.

Setelah datang ke 【Atelier】 saya membuat persiapan untuk bertemu Taku dan memanggil kembali kepadanya.

Jawabannya sudah datang segera dan saya bisa mengundang Taku ke bagian bengkel tak lama.

"Yo, aku sedang menunggu."

Saat Taku muncul, aku mengambil langkah maju. Aku memutar pinggangku dan sangat tenggelam mengumpulkan energi seluruh tubuhku untuk mengenai wajah geli Taku dengan lurus.

"Woah, apa ini. Ucapan tiba-tiba."

Karena videonya yang aneh, saya harus berurusan dengan akibat dari pemain pemula yang mencoba meniru dia, jadi saya meninju dia untuk membayarnya, tetapi dia dengan ringan menangkap tangan saya dengan tangannya.

Saya telah tenggelam dalam suasana hati yang buruk, tidak senang dengan statistik saya sendiri dan mudah dihentikan. Aku segera melepaskan kekuatan di lenganku dan Taku melepaskanku.

"Maaf, membuatmu menunggu. Jadi, mari kita bicara detail sekarang."

Ketika saya berbicara seolah-olah tidak ada yang terjadi, Taku memiringkan kepalanya dengan heran dan bergabung.

"Seperti yang aku katakan melalui obrolan teman, aku ingin kamu membuat obat kebangkitan dari 【Wisteria Peach Petals】."

"Dengan itu, aku butuh beberapa dari mereka."

"Itu sebabnya mari kita pergi dan mengambil beberapa! Daripada sendirian, kita akan mengambil lebih banyak dari kita berdua, aku akan meninggalkan semua yang aku dapatkan dengan kamu untuk tujuan penelitian!"

"Jangan tidak masuk akal. Apakah kamu pikir aku bisa membuatnya dengan mudah tanpa resep atau informasi tentang bahan lain?"

"Itu sebabnya aku mengandalkan intuisi dan inderamu."

Ketika Taku mendatangiku dengan kepercayaan yang tak berdasar, setengah dari diriku ingin hidup sesuai dengan itu dan setengah lainnya merasa agak tertekan. Nah, kali ini waktunya tepat.

"Aku tidak tahu siapa yang membuat obat yang bisa dihidupkan kembali, tapi aku sudah memeriksa resep yang belum selesai."

"Kenapa kamu tidak mengatakan apa-apa."

"Saya pikir permintaan untuk obat pemulihan akan datang cepat atau lambat jadi saya membuat persiapan. Saya berpikir untuk memberi tahu orang pertama yang mendekati saya tentang resep itu."

Itu adalah salah satu resep yang bahkan Magi-san dan yang lainnya tidak tahu.

Saya mengambil catatan yang saya kumpulkan dengan menggunakan 【Linguistics】 Sense. Resep pencampuran OSO adalah sesuatu yang merangkum rasio pencampuran dan tidak dapat dengan mudah ditunjukkan kepada orang lain. Itu salah satu kelebihan saya.

"Yun, di mana kamu mengumpulkan informasi itu."

"Aku perajin. Rumahku adalah seluruh kota termasuk toko dan bidang material ini. Yah, itu adalah produk sampingan dari mencari resep lain di perpustakaan dan aku belum tahu prosedurnya."

"Itu sebabnya itu resep yang belum selesai. Jadi, apa bahannya?"

"Rahasia dagang. Yah, jujur ​​saja, aku kekurangan bahan. Aku tidak dapat menemukan salah satu dari empat. Itu sebabnya, mencari bahan yang dimaksud secara paralel dengan pertemuan 【Wisteria Peach Flower】."

Saya memiliki dua bahan di tangan dan memiliki koleksi 【Wisteria Peach Flower】 dijadwalkan sekarang. Namun, untuk materi terakhir, saya tidak tahu apa-apa selain namanya.

"Item yang aku ingin kamu cari adalah —— 【Air Kehidupan】."

"Roger itu. Kalau begitu, ayo kita kumpulkan kelopak persik nanti … ohh benar, kamu masih belum melewati Gua Horor kan, kamu harus melalui itu setidaknya sekali."

"Aku tidak mengatakan sepatah kata pun tentang pergi ke sana sendiri untuk mengumpulkan bahan."

"Yah, tidak apa-apa kan. Di sisi lain gua ada portal untuk transisi."

Aku memelototi Taku, dan menatap dengan mata setengah tertutup sebagai tanggapan.

"Kenapa kamu begitu enggan sejak awal, Yun."

"Um, itu …"

"Massa Gua Horor tidak sekuat itu."

"Uhh … jadi, nama 'horor' itulah yang aku benci!"

"Ada apa, gertakan tiba-tiba."

"Khhh … tidak mendadak. Aku tidak mau pergi ke Gua Horia itu."

Saya benar-benar tidak mau, tetapi benar bahwa saya harus melewati sana cepat atau lambat.

Nama resminya adalah 'Gua Horia', tetapi karena gerombolan hantu muncul di sana, itu disebut 'Gua Horor'.

Untuk mencapai Pohon Persik Wisteria, pemain harus bergerak di jalan dari Kota Kedua dan pergi ke percabangan di tengahnya untuk memasuki Gua Horia. Kemudian, setelah melewati desa yang ditinggalkan di portal, ada pohon yang tumbuh di atas bukit.

Taku seharusnya tahu bahwa aku tidak pandai hantu.

"Menyerah. Aku akan berada di sana sebagai pendamping. Juga, jika kamu sampai ke desa yang ditinggalkan, kamu tidak perlu melewati sana lagi. Hanya sekali. Dan, dengan mempertimbangkan levelmu, itu seharusnya mudah. Tidak masalah."

"Aku mengerti, tapi aku masih ragu tentang itu. Aku akan pergi sebentar, aku akan menghubungi kamu setelah aku makan."

"Roger. Aku akan istirahat juga, aku akan datang ke 【Atelier】 pada sore hari lagi."

Dengan mengatakan itu, kami log out dan mengembalikan kesadaran kami menjadi nyata.

Setelah log out, saya bangkit dari tempat tidur dan dengan perasaan berat saya menyiapkan makan siang.

Makan siang hari ini adalah spageti daging, sup jagung instan, dan salad sayuran mentah.

Karena bawang merah tetap ada sejak terakhir kali saya membuat gratin dengan tomat dan daging cincang, saya menambahkannya bersama-sama ke anggur putih yang saya gunakan alih-alih memasak anggur, saus tomat dan menempatkan banyak di atas pasta. Lalu saya menambahkan beberapa peterseli, campur dan itu lengkap.

Sup dan salad mudah dibuat dan bisa dengan mudah disiapkan saat pasta direbus.

Ketika saya sedang menyiapkan makan siang, seseorang turun dari lantai dua.

"Selamat pagi〜, Onii-chan."

"Selamat pagi. Hei, ini sudah makan siang. Kamu bermalas-malasan hanya karena ini hari libur? Bukankah kamu terlalu banyak tidur?"

"Tidak apa-apa tidak apa-apa. Waktu tidur sama seperti biasa … sekitar empat jam. Aku hanya tidur larut malam."

Heyhey, kegilaan gaya hidupmu. Kurang lebih tengah hari ketika dia bangun. Biasanya waktu tidur Miu bervariasi dari enam hingga tujuh jam. Itu berarti dia biasanya tidur pada jam empat atau lima. Sampai saat itu dia mungkin berburu tanpa henti di malam hari.

Itu bukan sesuatu yang membuatku terkesan sebagai kakaknya.

"Cobalah tinggal di jam yang tepat, kamu juga melewatkan sarapan …"

"Tapi kamu tahu, selama hari kerja tidak ada orang yang larut malam jadi aku bertualang sampai larut malam dengan kenalan. Bermain di pesta lebih efisien ketika mengincar level yang lebih tinggi."

"Ya ampun … khawatirkan kesehatanmu sebelum efisiensi. Cepat cuci muka dan pakai baju sendiri."

"Yee."

Ketika Miu menghilang ke kamar mandi, membuat suara keras dengan sandalnya, aku menghela nafas dan menyelipkan spageti dalam jumlah besar untuk mengimbangi sarapan.

Setelah beberapa saat, bersama dengan Miu yang mencuci wajahnya dan merasa segar, kami duduk di samping meja.

"Yaay! Spageti daging! Ada banyak bubuk keju sehingga enak. Bisakah saya meminta carbonara besok?"

"Mungkin lain kali. Aku punya bahan untuk besok sudah diisi."

"Apa yang kamu lakukan pada sore hari Onii-chan? Jika kamu masih bersembunyi, lalu bagaimana dengan pergi ke daerah yang tidak populer bersamaku? Seperti, ke penjara bawah tanah dengan gerombolan orc, itu cukup sulit."

"Ah, tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan. Aku punya pertunangan sebelumnya."

Ketika aku mengatakan itu, Miu menyipitkan matanya dan pandangannya berubah tajam.

"Oh-hoh. Pertunangan sebelumnya ya … hmm, dengan siapa?"

"Tidak, hanya sebentar – dalam permainan …" Tunggu sebentar. Saya akan menebaknya. "… oke."

Apakah itu? Tapi … mempertimbangkan keadaan … Seperti itu, Miu memiringkan kepalanya dan mencoba memprediksi dengan siapa aku bertemu.

"Ada kemungkinan rendah Onii-chan memperluas lingkaran teman-temannya. Itu berarti … dari orang-orang yang sedang berlibur hari ini —— favorit adalah Takumi-san. Runner up, akan menjadi kegiatan kerajinan yang kamu inginkan memprioritaskan. Untuk kuda hitam, Cloude-san, mungkin? "

"… benar. Aku diundang oleh Takumi."

"Hmm hmm. Bisakah aku bergabung? Sepertinya lebih menyenangkan daripada mencari pesta."

"Ahh, aku akan menelepon Takumi setelah makan, jadi aku akan meminta persetujuannya."

Kami berbicara tentang hal-hal konyol kami berdua, dan setelah makan siang aku mengirim Takumi untuk bertanya dan menjawab "dengan segala cara" sebagai balasan.

Karena Takumi dan Miu tampaknya kadang-kadang bergabung bersama dalam permainan, kerja sama mereka bisa dijadikan referensi. Juga, Miu tidak hanya akan menjadi pendamping yang kuat, tetapi kecerahannya bisa sedikit menenangkan di gua yang gelap.

Dalam arti itu, saya sangat berterima kasih kepada Miu karena ikut bersama kami.

●

Setelah saya masuk melalui layar pengantar OSO yang tidak berubah, saya berdiri di 【Atelier】.

"Maaf saya terlambat."

"Tidak, aku akan menjelaskan semuanya dengan rinci kepada Myu-chan."

"Onee-chan tidak akan memberitahuku hal-hal menarik ini apa pun yang terjadi!"

"Tidak, ini bagian bisnis jadi …"

"Baiklah, panggil Ryui dan Zakuro, ayolah, cepat."

"Mau bagaimana lagi."

Aku bergumam dan ketika aku memanggil dua binatang muda, Myu memeluk dua yang tampak menikmati dirinya sendiri.

Setiap kali mereka muncul, dia menepuk dan memeluk mereka.

Pada awalnya mereka menolak dan meminta bantuan saya, tetapi karena saya tidak dapat menyelamatkan mereka dari tangan iblis Myu, mereka telah menerima situasi saat ini dan menyerah.

Mari kita berpura-pura tidak melihat mereka dari kejauhan saat mereka dibelai.

"Haafuu … itu tidak adil! Tapi aku puas."

Sementara Myu membuat senyum yang indah, Ryui dan Zakuro menyelinap pergi dengan lelah.

"Karena Myu-chan sudah puas, mari kita konfirmasikan semuanya. Kami memiliki dua tujuan hari ini. Berhasil mengantarkan Yun ke portal desa yang ditinggalkan dan mencari material yang Yun butuhkan untuk obat pemulihan. Tidak ada masalah sejauh ini, kan?"

"Tidak masalah! Ayo pergi !!"

Myu mengayunkan tinjunya dengan anggun. Di sisi lain, saya sudah memikirkan Gua Horia dan berkecil hati.

Ryui dan Zakuro yang kelelahan saling menghibur seolah-olah mereka saling menjilat luka masing-masing.

Selama perjalanan ke gua, tidak ada yang rusak.

Kami melompat ke portal di Kota Kedua dan maju sambil mengalahkan gerombolan yang muncul di jalan.

Gerombolan yang muncul di jalan utama adalah Peri Panthers dan Furball Demons yang memiliki pengaturan bidang penjarahan, kami mengalahkan mereka tetapi …

Karena Myu dengan sikap membunuh yang terlihat ringan menebas semuanya bersama Taku, aku bisa melakukan perjalanan yang aman dan nyaman.

"Ahahaha, kamu terlalu kuat dan kami melanjutkan dengan sangat cepat … Aku ingin tahu apakah aku benar-benar dibutuhkan di sini."

"Kalau begitu setidaknya pasang enchant pada dirimu. Juga, lindungi dirimu."

"Pertama-tama, Yun tidak akan berguna sejak kita memasuki gua … sejak awal, kamu tidak dihitung sebagai bagian dari kekuatan tempur."

Tawa kering keluar dari saya secara alami. Ahh, seperti yang kupikirkan. Oh sayang, keberadaanku sangat tipis saat ini …

"Mereka sangat lemah-. Orc ruang bawah tanah milikku atau lantai dua normal bawah tanah lebih dekat untuk menjadi cukup untuk tingkat kita, kurasa?"

"Itu akan menjadi masalah jika kita solo, denganku dan Myu-chan kita bisa pergi sedikit lebih dalam, kan. Lain kali mari kita memilih area dengan kesulitan yang lebih tinggi, bagaimana dengan itu?"

"Kalau begitu, tolong. Fufufu, aku menantikannya."

Sahabat dan adik perempuan saya benar-benar rukun. Ketika kita bertiga, kita selalu tidak bisa memasuki percakapan, dan itu adalah aku.

"Lagipula, bisakah aku kembali? Aku merasa ingin membuat bom. Juga, aku benci hantu."

"Hei! Onee-chan, kembali ke sini! Kamu bukan anak kecil!"

"Tidak apa-apa, ayolah! Jangan mengamuk dan menyulitkan ini!"

"Aku tidak mau! Aku akan kembali!"

Saya menolak sampai batas tertentu walaupun saya mengatakannya sendiri, tetapi Myu meraih tangan kiri saya untuk menghentikan saya melarikan diri.

"Ayo, lihat. Kita tidak tahu apa yang akan muncul, jadi mungkin kita harus bertahan."

"Uuu, aku akan mengingat ini. 《Enchant》 ——Defence."

Setelah melihat apakah aku memakai enchant, Taku menyeretku ke bagian dalam gua seolah-olah aku adalah tersangka polisi.

Di dalam Gua Horia, itu gelap dan ada pilek. Rasa dingin itu merinding pada kulit saya dan setiap napas terasa dingin, menyakitkan, dan berat.

Dan yang terpenting——

"Uwaaaa! Suara hantu meraung barusan."

"Tidak apa-apa. Itu hanya angin. Anggap saja sebagai efek suara di dalam rumah hantu."

"Lihat, ada jiwa …"

"Itu bola api Zakuro, kan?"

Ketika saya melihat bola api melayang di sekitar kami, saya membeku di tempat. Zakuro yang aku peluk di depan menciptakan cahaya bola api untuk cahaya tambahan yang bergerak bersama dengannya, tapi kerlap-kerlipnya telah membangkitkan rasa takut di dalam diriku sebagai gantinya.

"Cih, mereka langsung keluar karena Yun membuat keributan."

Saya bahkan tidak berpikir untuk menanyakan apa yang telah keluar.

Suara angin bercampur dengan erangan dan suara berderak seakan ada sesuatu yang keras bertabrakan dengan tanah. Sihir Myu menerangi kedalaman gua dan apa yang kulihat melalui kegelapan dengan 【Hawk Eyes】 -ku adalah mata yang merah dan bersinar.

"Uuu …"

"Ini tidak menakutkan, kan. Hal semacam ini …"

Gerombolan undead-type, Zombies dan skeleton telah melintasi batas cahaya dan kegelapan, bergerak lebih dekat dengan kita.

Taku berbicara seolah-olah tidak ada apa-apa dan mengenai kerangka yang mendekat dengan penjaganya yang menyerah, tengkoraknya berguling ke tanah. Berikutnya adalah Zombie, Taku memangkas tajam yang membuat tawaran atas dan bawahnya sebagai perpisahan abadi.

Bagian atas dan bawah Zombie Zombie yang jatuh ke tanah digerakkan oleh mereka sendiri, pemandangan itu saja menyebabkan rohku dihilangkan sedikit demi sedikit. Kerangka itu juga bergerak bahkan tanpa kepalanya.

Kedua bagian Zombie merangkak di tanah.

Melihat mereka tidak terpengaruh oleh luka dan pukulan, menjulang ke arah kami tanpa membuat penjaga meskipun diserang telah memicu ketakutan saya.

Tidak seperti Wisp, saya tidak dapat berkomunikasi dengan mereka, mereka secara sepihak menyerang.

Apalagi setelah dikalahkan mereka anehnya realistis dan menakutkan. Mengapa mereka sekarat setelah bagian tubuh mereka seperti lengan terputus?

"Myu-chan!"

"Afirmatif. Ryui, kamu juga bisa melakukannya! —— 《Sol Ray》!"

Myu dan Ryui menembak cahaya ke lokasi yang jauh. Sinar panas dilepaskan dari Myu, dan dari Ryui datang selubung pemurnian yang datang dari atas di mayat hidup.

Sinar cahaya Myu memanjang dalam garis lurus menuju bagian belakang gua dan menyebabkan mayat hidup terbakar dalam nyala api yang intens, kemudian berubah menjadi partikel cahaya. Pemurnian Ryui menyebabkan mayat hidup berangsur-angsur hancur seperti pasir ketika mereka melayang ekspresi damai.

"Kelemahan Undead adalah hal-hal seperti cahaya dan pemurnian, jadi Ryui akan berkontribusi lebih banyak daripada Yun. Namun, mereka dibakar bersih, zombie dan kerangka itu."

"Lihat Onee-chan. Tidak perlu takut, jangan takut. Mereka semua menghilang dan semuanya bersih."

Betapa bersyukurnya saya atas kehadiran Myu yang memegang tangan saya sepanjang waktu sejak kami memasuki gua tanpa melepaskannya.

Namun, sebaliknya, itu juga berarti aku tidak dapat melarikan diri dari Gua Horia.

"Aku ingin meninggalkan tempat ini, dan cepat."

"Oke, oke. Taku-san ada di depan dan aku dekat dengan Ryui. Jangan khawatir. "

"Yun, siapkan dirimu. Jika tidak, kamu akan menjadi beban di gua ini."

Memang, saya tidak ingin menjadi beban, tetapi saya juga tahu bahwa saya tidak membawa kekuatan apa pun ke pesta.

Ketakutan saya terhadap monster mirip horor humanoid mulai memudar. Tapi meskipun sudah memudar, dingin dan menggigil tidak berubah dan terus membungkus saya.

Jika ada, rasanya menjadi lebih buruk dibandingkan ketika saya memasuki gua.

Rasanya seolah ada yang memperhatikan saya.

Daripada satu tatapan, rasanya seolah banyak tatapan diarahkan ke arahku dari seluruh gua, membungkus tubuhku dengan berat.

"Ayo, Onee-chan. Semakin kamu berjalan semakin kita maju."

"Aku bilang … aku tidak bisa."

Setiap kali saya mencoba untuk mengambil langkah maju, gerakan saya menjadi lamban karena ketakutan. Terburu-buru membuat saya menginjak rem lebih lanjut dan saya menjadi macet.

Saat itulah sumber cahaya yang dibuat Myu dengan sihir cahayanya mulai berkedip dan luminositas mulai melemah.

"Taku-san! Spectre datang!"

"Mengerti. Langkah-langkah keamanan kalau begitu."

Melewati dinding, muncul tubuh roh transparan yang disebut Specter. Mengikis cahaya di gua itu melayang di udara.

Mata saya diikat oleh sosok yang berayun seperti pohon willow dan hati saya mulai berdetak kencang.

Dan, saat enchant-ku telah berakhir, kegelapan yang tak terlihat mendekatiku.

"——Aku akan kembali! Aku tidak ingin berada di sini!"

"Kakak perempuan Jepang!"

Aku melepaskan tangan Myu dan menyembunyikan kepalaku dengan kedua tanganku. Zakuro yang saya pegang dengan satu tangan melompat keluar pada saat yang sama dan berlari ke belakang Ryui.

"Taku-san! Onee-chan tertangkap sepenuhnya!"

"Cih, tertangkap ya. Dia lupa memakai enchant. Myu-chan, aku serahkan hantu Spectre kepadamu. Aku akan melihat Yun."

Pembicaraan Myu dan Taku terasa jauh bagi saya.

Sekarang, aku menyesal melepaskan tangan Myu dan memegang kepalaku.

Jari-jariku dingin, sangat dingin. Tidak, jangan lepaskan. Menakutkan, menakutkan, menakutkan … benar, aku aman di samping Ryui dan Zakuro.

Saya mencoba secara membabi buta merasakan kegelapan di depan saya dan memeluk kedua binatang itu dengan kuat.

Aku merasakan kehangatan keduanya, tetapi itu juga membuat tangan dan pipiku terasa dingin. Anggota tubuh saya mati rasa dan berjongkok di tempat, saya menggigil.

Gazes saya terjerat dengan yang datang dari segala arah menakutkan.

Merasa takut tidak bisa melihat apa pun dan kebencian kental, saya menelan air liur karena tegang.

Rasanya seperti tubuh esku yang dingin akan dimakan oleh kegelapan.

Dan, sambil memikirkan hal-hal yang tidak ingin saya pikirkan, saya perhatikan sesuatu yang tidak ingin saya perhatikan. Di gua ini —— ada tubuh makhluk hidup.

Kejahatan yang tidak memiliki sumber terasa seperti lendir yang kental.

Kehangatan keluar dari tubuh saya sendiri, saya merasa seolah-olah sedang dicerna.

Pada akhirnya, aku akan dimakan habis oleh Zombies itu, kan.

Saya membayangkannya untuk sesaat dan ketakutan saya terbangun, gigi saya bergetar dan sangat kuat.

Menanggapi dingin yang terasa seolah-olah aku dilemparkan ke lemari es dan suara gigiku sendiri bergema di tengkorakku, aku mulai melihat ilusi menjadi kerangka sendiri.

Saya sudah meleleh dan menjadi tengkorak.

"Cih, tingkat 【Kebingungan】 tumbuh cepat. Kembalilah ke akal sehatmu dengan obat Kesadaran!"

Saya tidak ingin mendengar apa pun. Saya tidak ingin tahu apa-apa. Dingin memasuki tubuhku dan aku dipenuhi rasa takut sendirian. Ketika cairan dingin dituangkan ke atas tubuhku, aku merasa lega karena suatu alasan.

Kenapa ya? Telingaku yang menolak mendengar apa pun mulai mengeluarkan suara, meskipun pikiranku kabur, aku bisa mendengar dengan baik.

"… Yun! Tenangkan dirimu"

"Ta … ku? Ya ampun."

Mata saya yang tidak fokus melihat keduanya.

Ada Myu melepaskan peluru cahaya dari tangannya saat dia menghadapi hantu semi-transparan melayang di udara.

Lusinan Spectre menatap ke arah kami, mereka tampak seolah-olah hendak menutupi seluruh gua. Namun, mereka tidak menyerang sekaligus, beberapa dari mereka menyerang sekaligus dan mereka semua dikeluarkan oleh Myu dalam satu pukulan.

"Ayo, satu lagi. Obat penyadaran!"

"Apa, apa …"

Wadah kaca didorong ke mulut saya dengan paksa dan cairan mengalir ke tenggorokan saya.

Karena tidak membiarkan saya tersedak, itu dicurahkan ke tenggorokan saya dan kemudian pindah dari mulut saya untuk membiarkan saya bernafas. Cairan yang tumpah mengalir ke daguku dan ke tenggorokanku sebelum ditarik ke pakaian di dadaku.

Dan kemudian, pada saat yang sama ketika saya menyadari betapa memalukannya saya muncul, pemikiran saya menjadi jernih.

"Fuhaa, sudah cukup. Aku baik-baik saja sekarang."

"Ayo cepat dan tinggalkan daerah itu dengan Spectre kalau begitu, itu akan menjadi akhirnya."

"Taku-san! Bawa Onee-chan dan pergi!"

Sementara aku masih duduk, Taku menarik tanganku dan mulai berlari melewati gua.

Saya terus melanjutkan ditarik dengan tangan. Aku mencoba melihat ke belakang khawatir tentang Myu dan Ryui yang merupakan barisan belakang, tapi aku dihentikan oleh Taku.

"Jangan melihat ke belakang! Fokus saja di depan!"

"K-paham."

Dengan patuh aku mengikuti instruksi Taku dan memalingkan muka dari belakang.

Di depan kami, kami bisa melihat ujung gua tempat cahaya masuk.

Sama seperti itu, kami menyelinap pergi dari mayat hidup mengulurkan tangan ke arah kami dan melompat keluar dari gua.

Menjelang pintu keluar Gua Horia menyebar sebuah desa yang ditinggalkan. Rumah-rumah sederhana yang dibangun dari batu dengan atap kayu membusuk, sedikit perasaan hidup berasal dari alat-alat yang ditinggalkan.

Tentu saja, itu tidak gelap seperti gua. Perlahan aku berjalan melewati desa yang ditinggalkan yang memiliki getaran damai, lalu layu dan lelah aku berjongkok di dekat portal yang dipasang di dekat air mancur.

"…itu menakutkan."

"Sudah keras pada kamu. Aku tidak berpikir kamu akan menangkapnya begitu sederhana."

"Ada apa dengan 'menangkap' milikmu. Selain itu, apa itu tadi? Apa yang membuatmu menelanku di sana."

Aku menatap Taku, tetapi aku tidak menyadari bahwa karena aku sedang menatapnya sambil berjongkok, aku membuat mata terbalik.

Tertawa dia menepuk-nepuk kepalaku dengan kasar.

"A-apa itu ?!"

"Yah, aku akan menjelaskan secara berurutan. Pertama, aku memintamu meningkatkan pertahananmu untuk melindungi kamu dari status buruk."

"Haa …"

Setelah saya membuat balasan yang menyiratkan saya kurang lebih mengerti, Taku melanjutkan.

"Status buruk yang kamu terima adalah 【Kebingungan】. Awalnya itu 【Kebingungan 1】, tapi setelah menerima serangan status buruk berkali-kali kamu mendapat 2, lalu naik menjadi 3, dan ketika aku melihatnya, itu adalah 4."

Berkat itu, itu tidak akan mati kecuali obat untuk kebingungan digunakan, adalah apa yang dia katakan.

"Apakah orang yang menyerang dengan BS itu adalah monster Spectre semi-transparan?"

"Itu dia, tapi sejak awal, itu adalah efek medan dari Gua Horia."

Efek medan, sederhananya, sifat dan karakteristik medan.

Hutan dan dataran tidak memiliki sifat khusus dan tidak memiliki karakteristik, standar.

Mengambil dataran sebagai dasar dan membandingkannya dengan lahan basah, agak sulit untuk berjalan melalui lahan basah dan seringkali kaki Anda bisa meresap. Jika Anda menganggapnya sebagai efek medan, itu mungkin —— 【KECEPATAN Penurunan】 I kira.

Selain itu, ruang bawah tanah normal memiliki berbagai jebakan yang ditempatkan di dalamnya, dan karena itu adalah sebuah gua tidak ada sumber cahaya di dalamnya, jadi pada dasarnya gelap.

Perbedaan antara siang dan malam juga dapat dianggap sebagai properti alami.

Meskipun hal-hal seperti itu bisa dianggap efek medan biasa——

"Untuk efek Gua Horia, selain kegelapan, ada pemberian status buruk 【Kebingungan】. Dengan mengatakan itu, karena itu adalah status buruk tipe roh, jika seseorang menaikkan PIKIRAN mereka, cukup sulit untuk menangkapnya …"

"Jadi aku tidak beruntung dan menangkapnya, kan?"

"Tidak, itu diblokir oleh mantra pertahanan, tetapi karena kamu menerima 【Kebingungan】 segera setelah berakhir, itu artinya kamu tidak punya cukup PIKIRAN."

Kecewa dengan kenyataan bahwa saya mengganggu Myu dan Taku karena gua, saya merosot.

"Yah, tergantung pada kondisi pikiran seseorang, mungkin sulit untuk menangkapnya."

"Maksudmu, semangat juang dan nyali?"

"Hal-hal seperti itu. Nah, kali ini cukup mudah karena gerakanmu berhenti dan kamu tidak mengamuk. Juga, kamu terkena serangan gelombang kemunculan Spectre yang meningkatkan kecepatan di mana 【Kebingungan】 tumbuh."

"…………"

Saya diberitahu bahwa saya tidak akan ada gunanya, tetapi sebenarnya saya menjadi beban.

Jika saya tahu tentang sifat gua saya mungkin sudah menyiapkan satu atau dua langkah keamanan sebelumnya, itu adalah hukuman karena mengabaikan pengumpulan informasi.

Before throwing tantrums like "don't want to" "no way", I should have asked about it, possibly avoiding this outcome…

For example, I could acquire a 【Confusion Resistance】 Sense in advance. If I acted level-headed the results might have been a little bit better.

"W-well, don't be so disheartened. Even I didn't think you would catch it. I should have explained it in advance."

"…………"

My memories were hazy and I couldn't recall either my miserable, distraught appearance back then and the thinking that became a mess, empty white blank. Just vague fear remained and a discomfort of being unable to recall what I was afraid of.

Because of my naivety and the discomfort, my mood has turned bad.

"I told you, don't go feeling so down. Looking at it from a different perspective, having people like you who could catch it is a good a thing. Game creators want players to feel a realistic atmosphere of a haunted house and a test of courage. For that, people like you who can catch confusion and get stuck are necessary. If anything, it was a rare and delicious experience."

"…Taku. Are you trying to comfort me, or maybe you're trying to make me angry?"

Laughing at someone else for being bad with something, I'll shoot this guy in the back one day.

"Ohh, your usual expression is back. That's it, that's the expression you should have."

"What is it, what 'expression'."

Even as I grimaced in dissatisfaction, I placed my hand on my face to check. It seemed like my facial muscles have loosened, but I couldn't tell too well.

"Well then, it seems like you have come back to your usual self. It seems like you're all right."

"I want to think I'm all right… hey, wait a sec. I was in a daze up until now so I didn't notice, but Myu isn't here. Ryui too."

One human and one animal who have a valid means of attack towards undead still haven't caught up.

They would let themselves get done in so there was no sense of crisis. I turned my gaze towards the cave's entrance and waited for them to come.

Zakuro too, anxiously turned in the same direction I have.

"Well, Myu-chan must be having fun right? I mean, shooting beams of light at attacking Zombies and Spectres."

"No no no, it's not a theme park attraction or a horror FPS, is it…"

However, seeing as they weren't coming out for quite a while, I gradually started to worry.

I was unable to see through the gaping vacant entrance of the cave even with the 【Hawk Eyes】.

"Oh, it seems like Myu-chan has come"

"No, rather than come… how do I say it…"

At first I thought a person came, but gradually the sound of footsteps multiplied, echoing inside of the cave. I furrowed my brows as the dissonance between voices and footsteps grew.

Myu and Ryui came out of the cave jumping, able to visually recognize the two I sighed with relief. Behind them, there were several dozens of monsters.

Evil spirits of mountains and rivers. Seeing a sight similar to a Hyakki Yakou, my face that had its complexion recovered has started to pale once again.

"——Take that!""

At the same time as Myu raised a not-so-feminine yell, the undead chasing her were assaulted by the daylight and suffering agony they gradually burned down.

I faintly recalled Myu coming back while pulling monsters with her before.

However, this time was different as the undead who tried to return to the cave caused a major traffic jam and the undead in the back pushed them outside of the entrance.

After being pushed outside, the undead who lost their refuge from the sunlight have let out agonizing cries, making a hellish sight.

Groaning Zombies, screaming Spectres, Skeletons who twisted around to expression their pain.

In response to the sight, Myu made a guts pose as she received a massive amount of drops all at once. Together with Myu, Ryui let out an aura of confidence.

This made the undead seem pitiful instead.

"Somehow, rather than scary, this makes them look pitiful instead."

"Well, small fry mobs are like that."

I welcomed the amount of drops that appeared in my inventory with a melancholic mood.

The undead who avoided being bathed in the sunlight moved away and were stuck in the cave's entrance until the turmoil has subsided.

"I'm back! Also, I brought lots of souvenirs!"

As a result, I acquired a large amount of drops.

The drops from Zombies were rusty, there were Iron Swords and Bronze Sword with 'rusty' attached to their names.

Their performance and durability was lower since they were rusted, but by using 【Smithing】 and 【Engraving】 they can be used to craft ingots. The ratio was roughly two rusted items for an ingot. These were often called hidden mines or mob mines by crafters.

The drops from Skeletons was Bone Powder which could be used as a fertilizer. If it was mixed together with wild grass and soil then spread regularly on the field, the quality of items that can be harvested would grow.

In regards to this, after crafting fertilizer I left it to Kyouko-san and synthetic mobs who put it in when it was appropriate time.

Finally, the Spectre's drops were Tears of Soul's Repose.

In exchange for the fact that Zombies and Skeletons did not have any rare drops, Spectre's dropped only rare items. However, the probability of items dropping from them was overwhelmingly low.

This time, thanks to Myu's excessive farming two of them have appeared in my inventory.

It was used as a strengthening material for the equipment items, using it on the weapons added 【Undead Slayer】 effect and using it on the armour granted 【Undead Resistance】 effect.

"Good grief, Myu, you're too reckless."

"Ehehe, well. High risk high return is really nice isn't it. Also, buy items I don't need from me."

"Yes yes. Ryui, you did really well to watch over Myu. So admirable."

When I stroked Ryui's mane, it squinted feeling comfortable and acted spoiled, rubbing its neck against me.

"Not fair! I did my best too!"

"Yes yes. You did well, you did your best."

When I pat Myu's head in the same manner, she made a sloppy, smiling expression.

"Ha! Right, I almost forgot! I picked up souvenirs for Onee-chan while at it."

"Ahahaha, so you even picked up the stones in the cave. So that's why you were late to come back."

Suddenly remembering, Myu took out gemstones, ore and stones from the inventory making a mess. Taku picked them up and laughed.

"Taku, don't try to hide it with laughter. Geez, Myu sure loves to worry people."

" "Onee-chan isYou're one to talk." "

"…I'm sorry."

Being told a just argument by both Myu and Taku I fell silent. Soon enough Myu clapped her hands, wiping away the atmosphere of self-reflection, I picked up the items taken out by Myu to appraise them.

Half of the stones picked up in the caves were normal stones, but the other half was lucky.

"It's mostly gemstones and ore. I won't know in detail unless I polish them. Is it really fine if I take it?"

"Absolutely indeed〜."

"C'mon c'mon, let's look for revival medicine materials instead of talking. There isn't any enemies appearing around here, other than under the Wisteria Peach Tree."

"Then, how about there?"

In the direction I was pointing to, there was a path between the trees that continued towards the mountain. It was the opposite direction from the one we could see cherry-coloured blossoms dance in.

"Over there's impossible. It's clearly too high level, if you go you'll die for sure. Even I had no idea what was happening and could only run away."

"E-even you couldn't do it, Myu?"

"That's how it is. That's why, unless we approach the mountain or hill, no enemies will appear."

I was convinced with that, and started to search in the middle of the abandoned village and its woods.

That being said, I didn't know the area at all.

"Hey, is there a prominent symbol or object in this area? I feel it might be in a place like that…"

"True. After coming for the first time you won't know what's what so——in the 【Basement】 there's a tapestry with the village's map."

"Speaking of which, there's that. I didn't leave any image data of so I remember it only faintly, but certainly, despite there being a basement under the mayor's house it seems like there's nothing there."

Look, in that house. In the direction Myu was pointing to, there were rotten houses spreading between the portal and the fountain in a semi-circular shape. The biggest house built with stone that had a slightly original form seemed to be the mayor's house.

The two guided me to the mayor's house, while its outside appearance made it seem like it was severely damaged, the inside was surprisingly clean. Although there was dust on the furniture, it was either very strongly made or the house held out better than the others.

"If I'm not wrong, if you go into the room in the back and remove flooring, there should be a basement there."

"Got it. I'll take a look."

I used the 【See-Through】 Sense to examine the location for reactions. When I quickly removed rotten wooden floor parts, a thick wooden door with framework of iron has appeared.

When I opened it by lifting it up, a mouldy stench and dust entered my nose and caused the young beasts to escape mayor's house and flee outside, Myu and Taku held their noses.

A rotten air flowed out from the basement, attacking my nasal cavities and in reverse, fresh air flowed inside from the room.

"Myu, I leave the light to you."

"Got that. ——《Light》"

Myu lowered a sphere of light into the dark basement. Peeking in from the entrance I confirmed it's safe and went down using a ladder that was left in there.

In the basement's wide space there were bookshelves and desks, on the wall there was a large tapestry-like embroidered picture map. There was an atmosphere that made it seem like something could be there.

"This is the tapestry map. Can you tell anything?"

"Wait a moment."

Tracing the tapestry map on the wall with my finger, I checked the locations.

In the centre there was the fountain and the mayor's house, there was a road that connected houses in the village which were spread radially.

Other than that, the Horia Cave route we used to come here and the road between the trees towards the mountain were also detailed.

And on the hill with Wisteria Peach Tree, although the colours were fading, there was an embroidery of light pink flowers.

"I see. I've got a grasp on how the village looks like. Also, I'm curious about this mark here, the last material might be there."

While I was checking the tapestry alone, bored Myu ransacked the basement and held out one of the items that were on the bookshelf towards me.

It were wooden strips used as a recording medium, there were a holes in it and a linen string passing through them. They made a clattery sound as I was taking a look at them.

"This, it's one of objects that can't be taken out of this basement. It can't be put in the inventory either, if you try to leave with it, it's going to transfer back into this basement by itself."

"If I'm not wrong, it says 『If you can read this, make sure not to involve yourself with that monster——』."

Taku tried to recite the passage of text from his memory, but it seemed like he didn't remember it in detail.

I switched a Sense with the 【Linguistics】 and looked through the wooden strips.

"Wait, that's wrong."

I read the contents of the wood strip aloud.

What was written on the strips, were words of the village's mayor and fortune teller.

The village's origins. The relationship between the god of land, a giant wolf and the sacrifices. Also, the survival and the crisis of the village. Increasing sacrifices and flowers continuing to bloom.

In spite of the soil being very rich, the village's population decreased. In the end, there were deaths of the young people who stood up against it and a stream of the spectres appearing with them.

At the end of was a warning written by the village's fortune teller.

"——『Don't get involved. He is the underworld's gatekeeper』 and that's it."

—— 【R Quest: Subjugate Wisteria Peach Tree's Giant Wolf】 has been started.

In that moment, we have started an unknown quest.

●

" " "……?!!" ""

The three of us were startled by the sudden appearance of quest information.

"Hey, Taku. Why did a quest start?"

"I've no idea, there must've been some condition. We did something no one did before."

"Um, not done before. That'd be, deciphering the words left by the mayor? But it was done before. However, deciphering it from a screenshoot…"

"Maybe deciphering the object that cannot be taken away in this place is a condition?"

I organized the quest conditions pointed out by Myu.

『Deciphering』 the 『Object』 in the 『Basement』. If the location, target and action conditions are fulfilled it starts up, that's convincing.

There's only a few players who would have 【Linguistics】 to decipher it and even less would come to this place directly.

Honestly, there was a blind spot in the conditions, I've had tons of questions about it.

What does this R Quest's R mean? Anyway, let's confirm the quest details from the menu for now.

—— 【R Quest: Subjugate Wisteria Peach Tree's Giant Wolf 1／3 】 ——

Destroy the cornerstones. —— 0／7

Not understanding the meaning of the quest's content, I looked towards Taku and Myu for help, but they shook their heads in the same manner.

"I don't know. But let's take screenshots of the important things in here. They might get handy later."

"You're right. Let's try looking for other info and go out."

As suggested by Myu, I saved the tapestry map on a screenshot and explored the basement. I was unable to find anything else other than the tapestry map.

"Still, R Quest huh. Myu-chan, do you have any idea what this R character means?"

"Hmm. Maybe it's something like 'Rare's' R, or maybe 'Relation's' R?"

What Myu mentioned might have been possible. However, Taku shot one of them down.

"I don't really get it, but I think its not 'relation' meaning. In case of the related quests, there's already the C of the 'chain' written in front. I don't think it's rare either. Yun, does anything come to your mind?"

"There's no way I could know if two hardcore gamers don't. Before that, the quest's first challenge, a cornerstone…"

"Won't we figure it out after we go back up? I'll go ahead."

Leaving that behind, Myu escaped from the stinky basement.

Taku and I shrugged in the dim basement, feeling the same and not wanting to stay in the dim basement forever.

After we left the narrow oppressive deserted house, we were able to feel a pleasant breeze under the blue sky. I stretched my body feeling the openness and took a look around.

"The hint would be tapestry's mark, I guess."

The number of marks on the tapestry in the basement was 7 and matching the number of cornerstones, that would probably be it.

Also, cornerstones would be the stones that are put into the ground to control underground water flows and earthquakes, at times it was used to seal spirits.

If you think of it as of a spiritual symbol, then it was something that shouldn't be touched. Is what it meant. And destroying it…

"The 'cornerstone' sounds unpleasant. It seems like something that seals evil spirits…"

"Rather than that, the closest one from here would be there."

Myu proceeded forward alone. Isn't that a bit too forceful, I thought, but looking at her from behind I understood.

"Good grief, Myu can't suppress her curiosity."

"It can't be helped right. Just by knowing there's an unknown quest, she became both cautious and excited. Let's overlook this."

Myu's suppressed the desire to dash in all alone and impatience could be felt from how she was skipping towards the target. She's all fidgety, still a kid isn't she. Saya pikir.

"Still, Subjugate the giant wolf, that'd be a boss battle… are we going to do it with the three of us?"

"Well, if it seems like we can't do it we can always run. If we don't escape and die we can always retake the quest again."

I think dying and getting a death penalty would be painful, but it wasn't like we would lose any levels.

The demerits of it would be losing half the money and decline of the stats over a period of time. Meanwhile we would have time to remake out strategy and spend some time to cool our heads.

"Look look, Taku-san, Onee-chan. Isn't that the first cornerstone?"

In the direction Myu pointed to, there was a rock we saw before when we were exploring the abandoned village. Other than that nondescript stone, there was no other object that could be the cornerstone.

"Now, let's start. Onee-chan, please."

"Me, huh. Well, what we have do won't change, so fine."

I pulled out a pickaxe from the inventory and swung it down. With a high-pitched, hard sound as a response, a small scratch appeared on the stone. Unlike it's appearance suggested, it seemed difficult to destroy.

"Hard! Won't my pickaxe break before we finish destroying them all?"

"If that happens I'll blow it away with magic."

"Then, I leave that to you. Ha!"

I swung two, three times, enlarging the scratch. And when the cornerstone was destroyed, a change has occurred.

"Apa?!"

"Yun, get back! Myu-chan."

"Iya nih!"

I moved to the back, Myu and Take moved in front and set up their swords. Ryui's and Zakuro's also entered battle readiness, their hair tails and mane were raised as they stared at the broken cornerstone.

A white smoke has flowed form inside and gradually formed a shape of a person. It was a semi-transparent adult woman that looked like she was from countryside. There was no vitality in her face, she just one-sidedly spoke.

『"I'm grateful to you for releasing me. But you should go back immediately. You'll still make it."』

After leaving those words behind, she disappeared, dissolving in the air like a ghost or apparition that moved on.

"What was that just now."

"Wasn't that a quest NPC? Probably there are similar ones in the other cornerstones."

Taku responded to my question. Indeed, it was convincing if it's an event character.

"Look, the number on quest is increasing so it's properly progressing."

Despite the words of warning the woman who disappeared said, there was interest in the quest and curiosity that told us that the next cornerstone will reveal why was the village ruined.

Even if we were being stopped, the next one would bring us closer to the truth. It was as if one read about a ghastly sight but wouldn't know the truth until they continued reading, a development of a mystery novel.

"…it's gotten interesting."

"Ohh, after coming this far you've finally gotten eager, Yun. Well then, let's learn the giant wolf's identity as today's quest."

"Agreed! Next would be there! Let's go!"

We continued to destroy the cornerstones one after another.

From the destroyed cornerstones appeared a small child, dauntless youth, a girl with freckles, one-eyed hunter, a fat peddler. After hearing each of them confer, we gradually approached the core of the story.

We listened to the words of the last one, a woman wearing a robe.

『"I am a fortune teller. Well, I no longer have the power to learn things. Well then, since you are going around breaking the cornerstones, it must mean you want to fight that giant wolf. Even though I left wooden strips to stop ye. Since it's come to this, it's now too late. So, about him. He's just a ghost wolf that was entrusted the tree by a goddess. Nonetheless, he lived as a ghost for long long years, ye better remember his strength is not ordinary. If you can, I want ye to help that wolf who's obsessed with his mission. That's the last request of this old woman."』

After all the cornerstones were destroyed and all the cast finished talking, I had a rough idea of the background story.

It was a tale of a small, somewhat dark village becoming a ruin.

After a bad harvest had befallen the village, it has offered sacrifices to the giant wolf that was the land's god. Some of the rebellious villagers broke the cornerstones and rebelled, trying to defeat the giant wolf. However, the plan had failed and the village was destroyed.

The living had become sacrifices and the dead had become undead in the Horia Cave.

It was the 【Giant Wolf and the Wisteria Peach Tree】 that devoured foreign enemies, protecting people. And at the same time it was the 【Giant Wolf and the Wisteria Peach Tree】 that was being given sacrifices by the village.

In the end, they could either run away from the village or settle for the current status of the village. The giant wolf only cared about its own mission. In an attempt to overcome this fate, they incurred the giant wolves' wrath and everything has perished.

"It's a somewhat sad story. I was surprised when the children and women appeared as ghosts."

"True. Even if it's a setting, it's quite sad. Still, the quest is ongoing. If we defeat the Giant Wolf at least their souls will be saved, so we can properly give them salvation."

"It's just as Myu-chan says, the quest proceeded to the next step."

In response to Taku's words who checked the quest in the menu, I also took a look at the quest that progressed.

—— 【R Quest: Subjugate Wisteria Peach Tree's Giant Wolf 2／3 】 ——

Defeat the monsters that appear by the Wisteria Peach Tree. —— 0／1

The quest was definitely progressing.

We arrived at the quest point which was the Wisteria Peach Tree.

After we climbed up the hill we saw a normal blue sky spread out and space spread out below, but after we took a step over an invisible border we saw a different space spread out.

"Wha?! This is…"

There was a purple sky and a Wisteria Peach Tree with beautiful purple flowers. And, by the tree there was a horde of mobs awaiting us.

Illuminated by the creepy black sun, they all set up on their respective prey.

"Uwaa… impossible. This many of them."

"Wheeew… hmm. That'd be above hundred I guess? Taku-san, you think we can take them on?"

"If each of us takes 30 of them on… we'll barely manage."

"Myu, Taku! It's no time for carefree act! We're escapin…g."

I turned around, and when I attempted to take a step away from the tree, another few dozens of undead have crawled out from the ground and surrounded us.

Completely surrounded, I realized we cannot escape.

"Oh come on, we'll lose this right. Sorry Ryui, Zakuro. ——《Dismissal》"

"Oh-hoh. Taking this many enemies at once is too hardcore. I'm thrilled."

"That's a number that'd makes even me want to run for my life, but well, let's got at them at full strength!"

I have already realized that we're going to lose and returned both Ryui and Zakuro to the summoning stones. Myu and Taku also seemed to have resolved themselves to receive a death penalty. However, we displayed the will to fight until the end.

"Yun. Give me attack. For Myu-chan, a speed enchant!."

"Roger. 《Enchant》 ——Attack, speed."

With my enchants as a starting point, the undead have assaulted us.

Forming a circle around us, they pointed their swords and spears in our direction as not to let us escape. Bodies of bone stomped on the ground with dirty leather boots they barely wore, forming a siege around us.

And jumping over the undead was someone entering the interior of the encirclement.

"——Skeleton Raider?"

In the direction Taku muttered towards, there were three skeletons riding semi-transparent wolves large enough to allow a human ride on them. Each of them had a weapon and were irregularly equipped skeleton cavalry. The cavalry wolves had a semi-transparent bodies and were clad in purple flames, they had skeletons sitting in ragged saddles on top of them.

When those three came out, the surrounding undead only poised their weapons and were stuck on spot.

"First move for the win! ——《Sunlight Arrow》!"

Myu shoot multiple arrows of light from her free hand, engulfing one of the Skeleton Raiders and turning part of the undead siege into ash.

With just a single hit she sent a Skeleton Raider and a number of undead into oblivion.

What remained were undead who wouldn't attack and two Skeleton Raiders.

If it's like that then we can fight… we held onto faint expectations, however.

"Hahaha, no way. They got replenished."

My mutter has been sucked in by the purple sky.

The undead moved to close the hole that opened in the encirclement and behind them new undead have appeared, crawling out from the ground.

The undead siege simply replenished itself and once again, a Skeleton Raider has jumped in above the wall of undead.

"This seems like an event battle. We can't get away, but we won't be attacked harshly enough to be annihilated. We need to defeat a number of them and there's probably a time limit. Yun, are you ready?!"

"Well, we have to go at it until we can see the end! Onee-chan, support please!"

Myu and Taku kicked off the ground the same time and closed on the Skeleton Raiders.

Back to back with each other, Myu and Taku covered each other's blind spots, fighting against three Skeleton Raiders at once with the two of them.

After having her speed increased by the enchant Myu played around with the Skeleton Raider, inhibiting its mobility by aiming at the wolf that was responsible for it.

Using that chance Taku used an art and steadily dealt damage to the skeleton's body.

Myu led it around its nose and Taku delivered damage to it.

When the target changed to Taku, he loosened the attacks and Myu rushed at it instead to get targeted again.

I couldn't afford to just watch as the two performed a delicate hate management during combat. I attacked lightly to avoid the target changing, put on enchants on the two and used the speed cursed on the skeletons.

In addition to that, I assumed a support role of recovering HP and MP that were decreased as the two were hit or used arts.

Time after time again the two defeated Skeleton Raiders that reappeared. Even if one was defeated, another one always jumped inside of the encirclement. Alone, they were quite weak, but with no end in sight or a break our nervousness grew and we were being slowly worn out.

"Yun, a new one came out!"

"Roger!"

Since they were late to cope with a Skeleton Raider jumping in from outside of the encirclement, its target didn't change to Myu and it came running towards me.

As expected of a raider-type mob. It approached at a considerably high speed, as it charged towards me with a strong momentum and a high reach of the spear it held in its arm, the sound of the air being cut has reached my ears.

Also, since it thrust down at me from a higher position, it was difficult to counter-attack with a kitchen knife that had a small reach and the longbow that had low manoeuvrability.

Still, even though it wasn't at level of Myu or Taku, I was capable of self-defence.

"《Cursed》 ——Defence."

Rolling on the ground, I avoided the thrust coming from above and applied cursed on the back of the Skeleton Raider that ran by.

The Skeleton Raider turned around by the edge of the encirclement by directing the wolf and without losing momentum assaulted me again.

"Onee-chan!"

"Yun!"

The two raised their voices, but there was no need to worry. I was already prepared to intercept it.

" ——《Clay Shield》!"

An earthen wall appeared between me and the Skeleton Raider.

Without reducing the momentum the Skeleton Raider grandly hit the earthen wall that suddenly appeared and the bones its body was made of have scattered grandly.

Having a cursed status applied on it, the Skeleton Raider received damage from its own charge.

The wolf stood up unsteadily and its raider barely had any bones left in its body to fight. That's when I dealt the finishing blow to it.

"——《Bow Skill – Arrow Stitching》!"

I jumped out from the side of the earthen wall and pulled the bow's string to the limit. The art released at close distance penetrated the Skeleton Raider's upper body, broke up and scattered its bones.

The Skeleton Raider's upper body turned into light particles and the wolf spirit that was carrying the remaining lower body of the skeleton has escaped outside of the encirclement while sprinkling the particles of light all around.

Before we could check if the opponent was defeated or not, a new Skeleton Raider appeared from outside the encirclement and was halted by Myu and Taku.

I turned towards the two's back and re-applied the enchants.

"《Enchant》 ——Attack, speed!"

"Thanks! Myu-chan, hold down the right one!"

"Roger!"

We continued to fight, cooperating together the three of us without falling. However, we didn't think a fight there's no sight of end to could be this tiring.

"Enemy's levels are are fine but… just how long are we supposed to take them on for!"

"Calm down Myu-chan!"

"Ahh, can we die and go back already? I've no problems with it at all…"

"You too saying such things, Yun! C'mon, another one's coming!"

When Taku cut the Skeleton Raider, no new enemy has appeared. Instead, the two remaining have jumped over the encirclement and the skeletons surrounding us dispersed to the sides, opening a path to the tree.

"What? Did we finally progress?"

"Seems… like it."

We defeated a few dozens of Skeleton Raiders. I don't know the exact number, but there was quite a lot of them.

And, we proceeded to the final step——

—— 【R Quest: Subjugate Wisteria Peach Tree's Giant Wolf 3／3 】 ——

Defeat the Wisteria Peach Tree's Giant Wolf 【Garm Phantom】. Remaining—— 0／1.

The quest advanced to the last stage and at the same time, fog started to gush out from the base of the tree.

The gushing purple poison-like gas formed a spiral. The wolf that was formed by the semi-transparent gas was worthy being called a giant.

Its total length was about ten metres. It was about three times as tall as a human. Wolf's limbs had its sharpness despite being a spirit body, and its mouth was big enough to swallow a human all at once.

The boss was clearly on a level at which players were unable to deal with. I felt a deja vu as I looked up and saw how enormous he was.

『"So ye are ones who destroyed my cornerstones…"』

"…the boss spoke. So he has an AI."

Taku muttered with admiration. However, it was ignored and the story continued.

『"The cornerstones are key points adjusted to suck out life! It's because of ye destroying it those undead are overflowing! Ye fools! Or maybe, ye were tempted by the healing of this tree!"』

Oh, I remember. I've seen mob this big before. It's the same as the 【Great Eater of Mythical Beasts】 that appeared on the last day of the summer camp event. It was too reckless for one person, no, it was too reckless for just one party to take it on.

A raid-class boss. R meant Raid. A quest recommended to be finished by multiple parties.

『"Just ye three aren't sufficient to become sacrifices. It cannot be helped, kin of mine, call them back."』

Howls have resonated together with the giant wolf's 【Garm Phantom】 words, seven Skeleton Raiders have appeared from the ground and flew away somewhere.

『"I would be content with devouring ye here and feeding the three with ye. However, for a new sacrifice ye are too few. I'll think of it if ye endure this blow."』

The giant wolf swung its big front leg. We reacted to that action.

Taku stood in front as a vanguard and took a defensive posture. I applied double DEF and MIND enchant on him and Myu expanded a light element's defensive membrane.

『"——Ye resist huh. Then I'll show ye."』

A single swing. A shockwave was released by the front leg swung down from above, it gouged the ground, engulfed the undead and assaulted us.

We tried to resist by clinging to the ground, but our resistance was in vain and we were lifted up and unable to position ourselves we fell on our backs.

"K-khha…"

It was a flashy attack that had enough power to lift a player's body. However, the shock I felt with my five senses was weaker then the one I would receive in the reality, making me confused.

If this was the reality, I should have felt a pain similar to being ripped apart, but having pain cut off in the game caused my sensory nerves to go mad, making me imagine it caused an overflow.

Myu and Taku also fell to the ground, glaring up at the giant wolf.

『"Hmph. Ridiculous, to think ye could defeat me with just that much! If ye wish to destroy us, bring ten times this much forces with ye!"』

The voice resounded on the battlefield. As I thought, this quest is recommended for a large number of people.

Rather than there being six cornerstones for six players of a party, there was seven for seven parties. The giant wolf also said there wasn't enough sacrifices. In other words, it meant 'call more people' hasn't it.

Even so, the resounding voice was quite harsh. Heavy bass sound intermittently delivered an impact to my head.

『"Hmph. Seems like they made it in time."』

While we couldn't get up, the Skeleton Raiders that flew away earlier have come back.

In their hands, they held seven ghost of the sacrifices with chains wound around them.

Both young and old, they were screaming with both their hands and legs immobilized.

『"So we weren't saved after all."』 『"No! I can't bear it no longer!"』 『"And here I thought I could finally meet my dead wife!"』 『"Back under the dark soil… I wonder when the next time will come."』 『"O' Goddess, is this also a trial?"』 『"I had nothing to do with the village in the first place! Release me!"』 『"So it failed huh. Well, think of yourselves as lucky for not becoming human sacrifices like us, forget this."』

The sacrifices that have become ghosts were dragged back to the ground along with the Skeleton Raiders.

What we saw in the end, were the ghosts making philosophical expressions or ones that suggested they gave up, crying children begging for help and heard screams that continued seemingly forever.

『"We will be going back to sleep. There will be no next time."』

Turning back into mist, Garm Phantom disappeared. Chasing after it, the undead sank into the ground. What was left behind, were just us, rolling on the ground.

Looking up at the Wisteria Peach Tree from below, having time to watch it with leisure I thought it was beautiful and out of place.

That's what they call escaping from reality, isn't it.

"Yun, Myu-chan. Are you okay?"

"I'm alive somehow. I was furthest back so I received little damage."

"I've had it close. Damn, my armour's durability…"

Right after such a tense scene, we've had a silly conversation. However, Myu alone stood up quietly without saying a word.

"Sorry. I'm feeling kind of bad, can I drop out?'

"Y-yeah, sure. Take it easy."

"Myu, are you okay?"

"Yup. I'll drink some water and calm down. Sorry."

Myu made a delicate smile and logged out. It was just a game, but she was deprived of her usual energetic behaviour and motivation.

This event must have been too shocking, normally filled with pride and confidence Myu probably had it all shattered with one blow…

"Got it. Since it's not enough with just us, I'll talk with some acquaintances."

"Sure, I leave that to you, Taku. I'll go take a look how's Myu."

I got worried about Myu who logged out and kind of lightly ignored what Taku said.

"Myu-chan's isn't feeling the best. It can't be helped. Hurry up and go."

"Thanks, Taku."

"What are you saying. Both Myu-chan and you are important companions of mine. It's a given."

I thanked Taku in my mind. Accepting his encouragement, I also logged out.

After logging out, I went to Miu's room to check up on her and knocked on the door.

"Miu? How are you feeling? Can I enter?"

I've heard a sound come from inside, after a while, "you can enter" I heard Miu's voice say so.

"Coming in. Are you okay?"

"Ehehe, I lost."

She made a broad smile like back when I pat her, but this time it felt devoid of energy and motivation. It felt like she was just acting strong.

I asked Miu not minding that at all.

"Was losing that much of a shock to you?"

"Hmm. I… guess so? I mean, I never lost before."

As iff〜. She made a joke, but her expression was clouded over soon enough.

"As I thought, losing in a game is normal, isn't it. Winning and losing, losing and winning. Repeating that is fun, but I might have forgotten how is it to lose."

"I hardly ever win, it's all failures. It's not something to be bothered by so much, right?"

"That's because Onii-chan knows how it is to lose. But, you see. That's why I didn't think losing in VR would be that shocking. It was my first experience…"

Miu paused in middle of the sentence. I waited for her to continue.

"…also, that quest. The last ghost quest NPC stared at me before it disappeared. It's eyes were incredibly hateful, it was scary. I've never been looked at like that."

"How unexpected, to think you think such things as well."

"Hey, that makes me mad! But, isn't that quest's objective?"

Quest's objective, I didn't understand what she meant, but there seemed to be a meaning of it for Miu.

She looked up at the room's ceiling, let out a breath grandly and answered to that.

"Games are fun right. They're exciting, thrilling and addictive making you want to play. They makes me wanna go at them hard, have fun and make an uproar. That kind of festival-like fun times seem to go on forever, right."

"Well, I think it would be nice if fun times continued forever."

"But, playing games has to end one day. The world of dreams won't be there forever. Sometimes I decrease the time I play to remind myself of the real, aren't times like this that leave a bad after-taste good for to reconsider things?"

"…an opportunity to reconsider, huh. Maybe so."

When I was passing through the Horia Cave I hated it from the bottom of my heart. Since the games were providing fun, being pulled back to reality at times was very uncomfortable. No one could tell what kind of traumas people had, what they were uncomfortable with or what would stimulate them. However, among the people with diverse personalities there will be those pulled by to reality by such things.

In order to change that unpleasant mood of theirs, they would look away from the game and would be reminded of the society existing in the real. I wonder if that was the intention behind such things.

"So, Miu, you're going to readjust yourself on the inside?"

"Yup. I might not break through it immediately, but it's okay. The greatest paladin Myu will come back without a doubt. Um… wait for it, kai?"

I extended my hand to wards Miu who acted shyly, as I pat her head she responded with a slightly embarrassed smile.

And——Miu's stomach sounded grandly. Honestly, her stomach reminded of its existence loud enough for me to hear it. Miu tried to make excuses in a hurry.

"N-no that's not it! It's not that!"

"Yes yes. Good grief, is there anything you want to eat?"

"Uuu… then, something gently-tasting."

I looked as Miu grasped the sheets of her bed and was dyed red with shame up to her ears.

"Then, I'll make rice gruel with crab and eggs. There should be a crab for a hot pot, so I'll borrow a leg or two from that."

"…thank you."

When I was leaving Miu's room, a quiet mutter made me return a smile before I shut her room's door.

It seems like there was nothing to worry about, but it will take time.