Chapter 45 “Far away.”
“””
-I would rather become angry if you didn’t stop her. You have to finish what you started, otherwise you will regret it, right? On my front, everything is alright, it’s been only a week since we last meet after all. It’s quite funny though that my expedition starts just the moment yours ended. But anyway, if you still have some problems after I finish it, I will come to help you out.
“””
“She said it as if it was something easy but in the end, no matter how many times I thought about it, there really is nothing I can do for Rin. Except finishing that quest, I guess but that doesn’t change a thing either way. I never had any good ideas to begin with and I already tried and failed with the bad ones. In the first place, I am not really good at cheering up others or solving their problems… AHH! I guess, I can only stick to what I have been doing till now and hope for some kind of revelation.”
While lying on the bed Arthur Rain was thinking about his next course of actions. Unfortunately he didn’t come up with anything new in particular, although that was probably because in the first place there was no real answer anywhere so actually thinking about it didn’t really help in any way. Arthur couldn’t run away from thinking about it though as if he didn’t try to come up with anything, the only ending that could await him was not something that he wanted to experience again. But when there was no answer to be found, this was the only thing that awaited him.
The only positive fact was that the fate gave him some more time as the quest for the silver temple was still ongoing and it also didn’t seem like it was going to magically end in a day or two, unless the party dies on it that is. Although the next phase of the quest didn’t seem like it was going to be that difficult.
Four days ago, the expedition to the west ended. Needless to say it was failure as the heaven’s gate got erased from the world of EOA. Still, as it turned out this fact wasn’t the end of the quest but simply another part of it. Arthur didn’t know if the ‘quest line’ was originally designed to be this way but after meeting up with Wizard once again, their quest simply went to the next phase as if it was meant to do so from the very beginning. That probably wasn’t exactly the case and if party managed to reach the heavens by this method, they would reach the silver temple much quicker. Still because the party failed to do so they now had to use other route.
EOA’s quests had a lot of freedom while it came to the way one can complete them. In a way, the questline that Arthur had right now didn’t really matter as all quest from that questline were treated as a single quest whose purpose was to reach the silver temple in heaven. The way they had to reach it was completely secondary thing. That was at least the explanation that Wizard told them when they meet him. There was a time however where Wizard explained that the quest they were given was turned into a questline by him so the quest become more understandable, and the fact that there was only one reward for all those quest was another proof of that theory. Experience was an exception to that rule though as when the ‘heaven’s gate’ part of the questline finished, Arthur yet again got huge experience award that gave him 4 new levels. Together with incredible experience that he got from demon slaying Arthur’s level went up all the way to 121. What was more surprisingly though was the fact that the message about unlocking new skill that Arata got in the middle of demon slaying actually unlocked two new skills from twilight swordsman tree. Arata expected one skill at most or at least one for each class but somehow when he checked his skill books there were no new skills in sword enchanter book but two new skills in twilight swordsman one. Sure while the second of those skill was quite average and it was more of warrior type skill rather than class based, the first one could be described as nothing else but ‘broken’. That was at least Arata’s opinion when he read the description of that skill as the only fact that made that skill fair was that it had one day coolddown, other than that, it was completely unbalanced and unfair to use skill. What’s more the cooldown wasn’t that big of a problem as after all hard battle in which Arata would have to actually use that skill would not come often.
In the end though, no matter how many levels Arata would get and how many new skill he would unlock, it still won’t be anywhere near enough to be actually useful in completing the quest of rank three. There was also the decision that the party made before continuing to the next part of the quest. That decision happened after Wizard’s comment.
“””
-what did you guys thought? You don’t know how to complete quests or what? If you wanted to fight angels, demons and dragons you should have brought an army of helpers with you. Did I ever ask you to fight anything in the first place?
After explaining the rules of the quest, or rather the loopholes in those rules, Wizard started to mock the three survivors who came to him with report.
-sure you didn’t but we had to use that teleport and others wanted to use it as well, what were we supposed to do?
Arata answered little annoyed as even surviving the whole thing was close to impossible to begin with. And here Wizard really thought that that route was completely fine and should be easy.
“Even reaching the actually heaven gate was hard!”
-who knows but a creative quest solver would manage to pull it off. Let’s see I think that the best you could do would be group up with demons on their invasion and while they fight the angel army sneak inside the silver temple and wuala problem solved. That’s how I would go about it.
=as if that was possible!
Arata, Levi and Rin answered on a single note, Wizard wasn’t concerned by that though and continued.
-everything is possible. Let’s see, other route you could take would be to group up with angels and help them with defense of the gate, maybe then they wouldn’t have attack you then and after a dialog they would let you pass. You could say something along the lines, we had took back this artifact and because the empire is no more we are here to return it to the original owners. That thing didn’t sever only as gate activator and angels would want it back and if the price was to give you three and your friends a tour in heavens they would probably agree, what’s more they could even throw you a banquet for bringing that thing. And yet like idiots, you entered the portal without permission and acted with invaders even when you didn’t struck a deal with the demons. Ah! What were you guys thinking, did you actually wanted to fight the whole heaven’s army and all archangels as well?
-this story also doesn’t seem very probable. Angels started attacking us right away as well.
Levi commented back.
-don’t lie, I was looking at it. They didn’t attack you right away and they attacked only because one of you was seen while you tried to sneak by. Also even then it wasn’t that bad. Sure the golden one was not wasting his the time at all but there still were few reasonable ones left, isn’t that right Rin?
But then Wizard pointed the question towards Rin. Arata and Levi looked her way as they didn’t know what it was about but then she revealed something surprising.
-I still didn’t told you two how I survived, right? In fact it was that first angel girl that appeared who saved me from the flames. While I was trying to run away on my own, she called out to me. Having no other choice I caught her hand and flied away with her. I was actually hiding with her for two hours in the forest and when it got relatively safe, she went back to her place but generally she wasn’t someone bad. She told me that she would never harm a human herself and she would always protect them and help them if possible. She even gave me a nice present.
-if that is really the truth then why didn’t she do anything when that golden dude started to attack us.
Levi immediately asked her as Rin’s story even though would be nice to believe in, it had some loopholes in it, although they existed only when someone didn’t know the whole truth.
-that is because even if she likes humans she can’t break the heaven’s laws and also she had the demon army to worry about at that time. She couldn’t start argue with her ally in the place like this. Before he appeared though, Ariel did have the intention of letting us go and she didn’t spoke to us even once and she tried to pretend that she didn’t saw us.
Although Rin’s explanation was hard to believe in, all facts that she said were true. There was also the fact that she had to survive somehow, and being rescued by a good angel was something that could be believable. Then there was also the fact that Arata still remembered the silhouette of flying hooded angel girl that appeared at the top of the stairs and took care of the horde of demons that was chasing him at that time.
-well, I don’t know if we missed something or no. Also in the first place if there were some hidden ways to do it, then you should have told us about it, although I don’t believe that your ideas would work out.
-ha, as a quest solver you should know those things.
Wizard was as helpful as always although he himself probably came up with all those only now so he could laugh at the three incompetence.
-whatever, rather than complaining we should focus on the next part.
-as they say, there is no use to cry over the spoil milk.
Levi added and with those words the heaven’s gate part of the quest was finished once and for all and no one thought about it again.
[You have completed the quest “Quest: Silver temple in the heavens. Part two.”]
[You have leveled up by 400%]
[You have gained a level, current level 121]
-in that case I will tell you about the other method that we are going to try now…
Wizard started talking about the next part of the quest.
-unfortunately unlike the previous case this method has about 20% chances of working.
-it’s not like we have any other choices, right?
Arata answered with obvious.
-other choices… hmm, the other choices are have a chance of working like 1 in 100 so if this one won’t work I would suggest you come up with something yourself. But let’s not be that pessimistic, shall we. So the second method is quite simple in explanation. I will make the portal gate for you and with it you will teleport to heavens.
-you mean, you know some portal to heavens spell? If so, why didn’t you mention it earlier, like at the very start! It would save us a lot of trouble you know!
-well, well, it’s not as easy as you image it to be. First of all this isn’t really working method and I never managed to make a successful stable portal to heavens even though I did try in my younger days.
-so this method is doomed to not work?
-hahaha, don’t forget who are you talking to. I am all mighty, all powerful, most wonderful and handsome Wizard in the universe. My spells have no limits.
“… now it’s doomed to not work.”
-maybe we should look for some other way ourselves.
Rin suggested after hearing the crazy talk.
-I agree, with you so, shall we?
Arata’s believe in Wizard’s abilities wasn’t strong either. Still after both of them answered like that, the Wizard started sulking.
-is that what you want to do? In that case sure go ahead, it will make my day easier.
-guys, if we stop following the quest we will never get anywhere. A place like heaven doesn’t exist to public knowledge so we won’t find it ourselves. Anyway, ignore those two and tell us what to do.
In the end though, Levi brought the situation back on its track, and Wizard continued with explanation.
-now there is a reasonable folk. But anyway, back then I was young and not serious about that portal but I know what I was lacking back then. Well, I actually also knew what I lacked back then as well but at that time what we needed did not exist yet. Rejoice though as in the present time it does exist and as long as we get it, the portal will have those 20% chances of working.
-so even if we get that thing it’s still that number.
Arata commented.
-yes, that’s why I wanted to not really on this method and we went with the one I believed to work but unfortunately this is now what we are left with.
-so what is that thing that you mentioned?
-it’s [Morhen’s superior portal stabilizer] and bringing me one is your next objective. With this item the portal should work.
-so it’s another search, find and bring me an item type of quest. And once again are we supposed to look for it anywhere in the world?
Levi’s and Wizard conversation continued, because yet again Arata and Rin somehow left it to him as they themselves were not good at dealing with this guy.
-not this time as if you were to do that then you would never get one as currently there are only seven of those item made and only three of them are of superior grade. The lower grade would probably be enough but it would reduce your chances of success yet again and those chances are already low, no need to bring them any lower. Truth to be told if you tried to find it by yourself you would do so, quite quickly at that. The problem is that the device costs one million gold and that probably isn’t the sum that you can afford.
-yes we don’t have that much.
-and I am perfectly aware of that, still I wouldn’t have mention it if you wouldn’t be able to get it. In fact getting that item should be much easier than the heaven’s gate activator at least. The only thing you need to do is to go to one place, visit my acquaintance who already agreed to loan me that thing and then bring it back to me.
-and if I have to guess, that acquaintance lives in some god forsaken place which no one managed to reach for thousand years, right?
In the end Arata couldn’t help but to make this comment.
-hmm… why would think like that? But anyway your guess couldn’t be any more wrong as that person actually lives in theoretically the safest city that exists in this world namely the city of light. You adventures call that place capital for some reasons that I never understood.
“Hmm, I heard about this place already but just to be sure.”
-hey Levi, is Capital a simple normal city?
-well I wouldn’t call it a normal city as in comparison to most other cities, that one is kind of abnormal. But in a good way and in general, the Capital is the best possible location to play this game from. It has everything that one would need to the point that after reaching it you practically never have to leave it again and on the other hand you will always end up returning to that city at some point, like to meet the best crafters of this world or enter the labyrinth of fate or simply complete a quest. There is actually a rumor that about 50% of all quests that player completed, one way or another involved traveling to the capital to meet up with this or that person. Sure someone just came up with that statistic on the fly but look, it seems like even we will be going there with our quest.
-I see. Still if it’s a simple city then it’s a ‘go and talk with NPC type of quest’, no danger involved?
-yes it should be that but there is small problem with it Arata. The capital is located in the very middle of the ‘discovered lands’. And even though there is the ‘main road’ that would take us straight there, it will take us about two months before we reach that city. Two months if we were to ride some carriage non-stop witch is probably impossible anyway so I would say two months and half. Then afterwards we would probably have to return the same way so it will be two times that.
“…”
-are you serious?
-what can I say, the world is big man, and what is worse there isn’t any good method of transport available. In a way this is the main reason why people migrate between cities so rarely and this time we are at the very end of the world. Although my original journey from capital to Triangle where we first meet was even longer and it was three months. We should be happy that we are at the western end of the world and not northern or southern. Well those are for higher and lower levels than ours so it’s not like we would have a good reason to be there.
Levi gave a short explanation but Arata didn’t take it well.
-fine world is big, I have no problem with that… well maybe I do but I can live with it. Still I will go crazy if I am to speed two months in some carriage without doing anything. That’s why…
“That’s why we need some other method of transport, and the only thing that is coming to my mind right now is this.”
-hey! For all mighty powerful wonderful Wizard like you, it’s not a problem to teleport three people to some city and then later teleport them back as well.
-you forgotten to mention handsome.
-whatever you managed to summon us here from that mountain in the west so… .
-hahah, yes, yes, praise me more. As you have good guess, nothing is impossible for me, still why should I do it for you? I am already generous by offering you the second chance at this quest. If it weren’t for me finding a loophole, you would have already failed.
-I guess you are right. Let’s make a deal then, what do you want in return?
In the end Arata decided to strike a deal with a devil.
-haha if you state it, I will teleport you to a village that is three days’ journey away from the city of light and in return…
Wizard stopped for a moment and then he started.
-hyhyhyhyhy, hahahahaha, muahahahahaha!
He started the most evil laugh that Arata ever hear him.
“Yes yes I get it. Also if you say something unreasonable I will simply not accept and make you make that teleport some other way.”
-in return… you will have to forget about those two punches to my face that you still have left from that cursed bugged quest? What do you say, ha? I won’t agree to any other condition than that.
Wizard made an offer which was surprisingly easy to accept as giving up on one punch was definitely worth teleportation’s fee. Also, Arata didn’t need the reward punch in the first place as anytime he wanted he could punch the Wizard on his own. Still even though it was a generous offer, from Wizard’s perspective it was actually fair, as he didn’t want to experience Arata’s fist ever again.
-your price is heavy but there is no other way, I agree. But why is it some village close to Capital rather than capital itself.
-if you want to know then there are few reasons for that. First one is that I can’t simply make a stable portal to anywhere I want. I can summon people from any place I want as long as they have my orb but it doesn’t work both ways. Still the method that we will be using is completely different this time as you will be simply teleporting to my laboratory that is in that village and teleporting between my laboratories around the world is definitely possible.
“I see that makes sense.”
-so you have a laboratory in that village right?
-well not exactly, I would say it’s rather that I left there one of my teleportation device. Originally it was staying in the laboratory that I had in capital. If I still had that laboratory, I could easily teleport you there. Still… well… story short you could say that I was banished from that city because of certain misunderstanding and false accusation and at that time my laboratory had also to be moved as well. In general all the things I had there went to other laboratories with the exception of teleportation device that I left just in case somewhere near in case I have to go back to those lands again.
“Well I don’t want to even know why he got banished but I am sure it wasn’t a misunderstanding or false accusation. Anyway three days sounds much better than two months.”
-okay we are using it. So after getting that thing, we can also return the same way?
-well there is no need to bother with that as I can summon you back the same way I summoned you from the mountain in the west and as I mentioned human summoning can be done from any place. Anyway, you two take those orbs with you so I can summon you back much easier. Using one orb to summon three people is much more tiring…
With those words the Wizard passed two additional orbs to Arata and Rin, although even though his explanation could be true, he probably did that so he can easier spy on them as earlier on, he could do so only from Levi’s perspective. Still, accepting this orb was also a part of a devilish deal.
-but anyway while we are at it take those two papers as well. One is the address where Morhen lives and the other is the letter that will be the proof that I send you. Don’t open it yourself though as otherwise its reliability will decrease…
Then he also passed two pieces of paper to Arata. One was sealed envelope and other ripped page that had simple note.
[Magic engineers district.
Rosan street 44.
Morhen Dradio]
[Quest: Silver temple in the heavens. Part Three. (completed)
There was a legend that a silver temple exists. You meet a madman who asked you to reach that place and prove that it does indeed exist. Following the legend the madman explains that the mentioned silver temple is located in the heavens.
You have found the heaven’s gate activator just like madman asked you, now you have to find the heaven’s gate and see if the legends are true and if a gate to heaven really existed and if it’s still in useable state.
The heaven’s gate turned to be in unusable state and because of that you have to find a different method to reach the heaven. That method is to create a magical portal to heaven. The madman thinks that he is able to do it as long as he has a device called [Morhen’s superior portal stabilizer].
You have to find [Morhen’s superior portal stabilizer] and bring it back to the Wizard to see if he can actually make the portal by himself.
Rank of the quest 3
Reward unknown (Minimum: 50%)
Warning: What madman says may be a complete lie but what he said so far was the truth. The heaven do exist in the skies and it is also possible to reach them the heavens. The silver temple is still unknown so whatever you believe in the story of madman is up to you, still because you already confirmed part of his story, it’s very probable that the rest is also the truth. The madman did not lie but he mentioned that the chances of the second method actually working are no more than 20%.]
“Oh, I just realized that the device has the part of the name of the person that we have to meet. I guess if one wants to get it, they have to have a deal with its creator as otherwise, it is million gold.”
After reading the quest again and the name of the item, Arata reached this conclusion.
-so anyway do you still have any questions or should I start up the teleportation device? It will take about five minutes for it to charge up but afterwards it’s ready to go.
Wizard gave the last question.
-I have one. Once we meet that person how are what should we tell him?
Rin asked.
-well when you meet him tell him that you were sent by all mighty, all powerful, most wonderful and handsome Wizard of all and he will know that it’s me. Afterwards show him the letter and he should handle you the device right away.
-emm… will it really be that easy?
Arata was not convinced by Wizard’s explanation.
-yes, is there a problem?
-if anything, wouldn’t it be easier to just use your name.
-my name? Yes maybe but the last time I remembered my name was like twenty years ago. I don’t keep track of such trivial things like my name so unless you want a separate quest to find out what my name is, we can’t use it. Also, the person who you are going to meet also doesn’t remember it, so even if you did find out, it wouldn’t have help anyway. On the other hand if you say all mighty, all powerful, most wonderful and handsome Wizard of all, he will immediately know I send you.
“I can tell why he will be able to tell, not like it’s a good thing, for now though I must mention one thing before others do.”
-okay fine. For a note Rin, Levi, if anything I am not the one who will be doing this introduction when we meet that guy.
It seemed like they were left with no choice, still before Arata would be doomed to ever use that combination of words while describing this guy, he found the way out.
-I’m also not the one who will say it!
Levi quickly caught on as well and in the end.
-not me!
-it’s too late Rin. We will leave it in the dependable hands of our party leader.
-… .
In the end Rin couldn’t think of any good opposition and she was left with the ‘heavy’ burden. It wasn’t that bad though as there still were many ways to avoid that burden just by changing the words a little.
-so if that is it then I will go fire it up.
After saying that Wizard get up from his rocking chair but when he did that, Arata stopped him.
-wait a moment, don’t do it now.
-you mean, you are not ready to go yet?
-yea, something like that.
-I see, in that case come back when you are ready and if you have no business here, leave my laboratory.
With that Arata, Levi and Rin left the laboratory of the Wizard and only when they reached the surface and they fully realized that they really are once again back in Karma.
-so Arata, you still have something to do here?
When they went out, Levi asked him.
-well I just thought of something and while what I want to do shouldn’t take more than an hour or two, there is also something that I would need to check beforehand. Then again I have to log out right now, as there is something else I need to take care of or I won’t have a peace of mind until then.
-oh what could that be?
-hmm, I guess I will tell you as otherwise you will bring this matter again to annoy me later so in general I am going to call my girlfriend and tell her everything that happened.
-ah, you mean how you were hugging together with Rin? Arata, don’t do it no one will ever know.
-we weren’t hugging!
After Levi recalled that moment Rin shouted at him.
-it didn’t look like that to me.
-yes, I will agree here as even though there were some special circumstances, you can’t call it any other way than that. That’s why I am calling to have a peace of mind.
-so tell her that so she can dump you?
-hmm… why would she do that?
-well, because you were cheating on her?
-I don’t know how that classify as cheating but I actually already can guess what she will tell me after listening to everything.
-oh, and what she will say?
-something along the lines, that she would be angry at me only if I didn’t do what I did.
-you are sure about it.
-yes pretty much.
-fine… then I didn’t want to bring it up with Rin still around but ignoring your girlfriend for a moment, what do you feel about Rin?
-well I already told her myself that so it’s shouldn’t be a problem. She is really important person to me to whom I owe a lot but if you are asking if I have any romantic feelings for her then no, I don’t.
-are you sure you simply didn’t realize that yet?
-yes, because unlike you, I do know what true romantic feelings are so I can distinguish those from those of friendship. Also. Rin what would you think if I started to like you.
-don’t even joke like that Arata. It’s gross. If you ever show a hint of that actually happening, I am disappearing right away. There is nothing worse than a cheater!
-see.
It seemed like Rin wasn’t particularly bothered by their conversation and was simply waiting for it to end.
-eh…
To that though Levi simply sighted.
-fine if you both say so. So returning to the problem when should we regroup then?
-let’s see… I was no lifing practically ever since we started this quest with only small, the tomb challenge included so I should probably do a little bit longer break than usual. So how about three days. It will be a good reset before getting into the next part?
-three days? So here it will be fifteen… in that case let’s make it even slightly longer and go for twenty days, if it doesn’t bother you?
-for whatever you need that extra day sure why not. So in that case we will be starting somewhere four days from now. Ah, maybe I will finally unpack my things in the house.
Arata commented.
-you mean you recently moved and because of no lifting you didn’t do even that?
-well, I did unpack the necessary things.
-no life!
-says the person who is no-lifing even more than me.
-in the current age and our crazy world it’s nothing special.
-okay then see you then.
While Arata and Levi were conversing Rin interrupted them with those words and started walking away. When she did though, Levi also run up after her.
-hey Rin wait, I still have something to ask you about. See you later Arata. I hope your girlfriend is really as forgiving as you say.
Few moments later Levi and Rin disappeared in the bushes that were around the tower and Arata was left alone. He didn’t stand there for a long time though as he also soon left that place by disappearing in the flash.
After that those four days passed quickly although in the end unpacking was still not done.
Also as Arata suspected, Kotori didn’t seem very bothered and she indeed told him that she would be angry if he didn’t try to stop Rin. Kotori did know all of Rin’s circumstances as Arata did told her everything that was happening around him just as she told him what was happening around her. Unfortunately she didn’t have any good advice that would help Arata deal with the matter as in the first place, there probably wasn’t any good solution even existing. Still despite the fact that that solution did not exist, Arata didn’t want to let it go that easily. At least as long as this quest continued, he wanted to try and change something, even if it was only Rin’s behavior and though process.
“””
Four days passed quickly especially when for three of them Arthur was occupied with a certain matter that came up and during three those days he wasn’t at home while he was dealing with it.
Now however the time for the meeting was drawing near, Arthur decided to log into EOA a little bit earlier to do something that was completely unrelated to the problem or the quest.
After logging back Arata looked around and he finally felt like he truly returned to Karma. He was still in quite confusing place, namely the area behind the mage tower where the Wizard still didn’t care to repair the broken entrance.
Arata didn’t wait in this place for far too long thought and he went through the bushes out to the open. Those bushes however were also slightly different than he remembered them as they no longer had their green leafs as those already fall to the ground.
EOA was already in the middle of the fall when Arata was traveling through the west and now it seemed like the winter will be coming soon. With the winter arrival the general temperature in EOA was also going to go down so right now was one of the last periods in which it was relatively warm. What was worse though, was the ‘doom of snow’ that would come and unlike normal civilized world, in EOA there was no bulldozers or civil service to take care of it.
Seeing this change in atmosphere, Arata already expected that the time in which he will have to travel with snow reaching his knees will soon come. While the cities would probably still be in a good form, the outside was going to be scary.
For now though, it was still not the concern.
After reaching the other side of the tower Arata looked around and then he soon walked towards eastern part of the city. He now, did know well the structure of the city quite unlike his first time coming here. What’s more he knew exactly where to go to do ‘his business’ lead him to. Even if currently Arata still had nearly one thousand gold, which normally people would call a fortune, there was absolutely no reason to not make more especially when it required a little effort. It only required a cheat teleport and good head.
Arata’s current destination was the dwarven district in which he hoped to get his ‘trading goods’ he needed. He already chosen what those will be, as after checking the prices in Karma and in Capital, there was one product in particular that had incredibly high demand ‘over there’ and it was incredibly accessible in Karma. There weren’t actually that many items like that to choose from although this one was definitely solid choice.
It was the ‘red iron’ that could be mined only from ‘red iron mines’. The thing was that those mines could be found only north of Karma, at least at this level. The other source was far in the north on over 200th level lands where no one would risk their live for few ores that could be easily find here as unlike that place, the mines in ‘Rokrand’s mines’ were more or less safe.
The said Rokrand’s mines were one day away from Karma to the north and it was both, a simple mine and a dungeon. The lower levels of it mines from time to time fill up with monsters that also actually dropped this red iron which was yet another source of it. Those drops however were mostly used for individual’s purpose and the main source of the red iron was from actual mining company that involved both NPC character and players who wanted to earn some money without risking their lives.
After reaching the dwarven district that was relatively close to the Wizard’s tower, Arata also soon found the building that housed the ‘mine company’ in Karma. There, after half an hour of wait, he was finally lead to the room where the business trader was already waiting for him. It was surprisingly or maybe not surprisingly at all that that worker was a dwarf. Unlike all other dwarfs that Arata meet so far though, this one didn’t have the characteristic beard.
-so what can I do for you?
The dwarf asked from behind the table after Arata sit down.
-I came here to buy a large stack of ore from you.
-for what purpose do you need it? You don’t have to answer if it’s a secret like buying it for rebels of Korintia but otherwise please satisfy the company’s curiosity. We like to know what happens to our ore.
-no I don’t know about any rebels it’s just for the trade as I am leaving for Capital today.
-for Capital you say, then you have a long journey before you but you adventures always want to go there.
-oh, and how can you tell that I am an adventurer?
-it’s quite obvious when someone comes to buy the tons of ore without any means of transport for them. Only you adventurers don’t need those…
“Quite reasonable explanation.”
-so how much do you want? Karma is the only place where you can buy it for the fair price and without any limits.
-give me as much ore as you can for 900 gold.
Arata said so immediately as he already decided to use this much. He still had some left if something were to come up but he didn’t need gold for anything in particular right now. Also in few days that ore would turn into at least three times that.
-900 gold? Whohoho. I can tell you friend that when you reach the Capital, you will be a millionaire. If no one robs you on the journey that is. Last question before that though, do you know the prices?
After being little surprised for by the amount that Arata had, the beardless dwarf shoot him a glance.
-I do know it well enough to know that you overstated it with that millionaire and also well enough to tell if the price is right.
-good, I don’t like to deal with those who don’t understand the market or rather, anytime I deal with them the prices go surprisingly higher than usual, strange isn’t it?
-yes, strange but hopefully today they will go surprisingly lower.
-this is something I can’t do as I would be paying it off my pocket, still you will get the discount for buying in large stock. You will be buying 90 stacks by normal price so with the discount you get the extra 9. I think it’s been nearly a year since I gave anyone this much extra but the money is the only thing that doesn’t lie…
After saying that the dwarf took one of the papers and wrote down the arrangement. After that he passed it to Arata and said.
-go with this to the clerk next doors and there realize your exchange. Before that though, there is one last thing.
-is there something more to the deal?
-no it’s irrelevant although at the same time it slightly is. The thing is that you are going to travel to the capital right? Our company is naturally trading the goods ourselves as well but traveling between the cities isn’t safe for anyone. Bandits, manticores, ogres and other monsters is everyday bread on the road. Now that the winter is coming, the season for tolkrotsars will start which will make the journeys even less safe. There are even a rumors about a dragon that appeared somewhere in between us and capital. In the end though, whatever it will be our wagons will need protection, you know where I am going with this right?
-I see so you wanted to hire me as a bodyguard but why me exactly?
-it’s not just you we usually hire as many adventurers as we can. It’s just that you can be relayed upon while the times call for it because by my criteria are that when adventurer is rich, they can also put up the fight. Other criteria is to invite those that travel to the east anyway as it will be cheaper, because their destination was that way so there is no need to pay for return cost.
-I see so it was like that. It’s true that I kind of fulfil both of your criteria.
-yes but it’s not exactly this as in your case I just needed to look at you. It was a month ago right? The time when you put up the fight against our rank zero. Ah, I am so disappointed that I didn’t see it, that fight was the talk for a week on the streets.
-it was?
-of course, it’s not often we can see our rank zero fight and even less often when we see it lasting for more than a minute…
“I see so I am remembered as a guy that survived over a minute against Rin… Still surprisingly the way he says ‘our rank zero’ seem like he was actually proud of here. And here she told me that everyone in the city hate her.”
-but anyway, will you take on this job? The other mercenaries will definitely feel more confident with you on their side. If it’s all the way to the city of lights, I can offer 200 gold for someone of your skill. Even if it might not be that much to you seeing you can pay nearly a thousand for the goods, it’s still better than nothing, right? We also provide the free meal and the means of transport on this long journey.
[ You have been asked to do a job
“Bodyguard of Rokrand’s transport carriage.”
The roads are never safe and anyone who wants to travel from the city to city needs a fighting force to feel safe. This is especially important while transporting the trading goods which are the first target of bandits that swarm the lands of this words.
You have been asked to become a defender of one of the Rokrand’s transport carriage that transports the red ore to the city of light. It’s a long journey but the company pays a lot as long the carriage arrive safety to its destination.
Mission: escort the carriage together with other people who were hired for the job
Reward: 200gold plus other benefits.
Failure: The carriage does not reach the city of light safely
Refusal: Nothing.]
“Normally I would accept this one, simply not to get lost on the road but I am definitely not traveling by road for two months.”
-I already have something different in mind so I will pass on this offer.
Arata answered without considering the window that pop up for too long. In the first place he would refuse right away but it was hard to find the moment to interrupt that dwarf.
[You have refused the job.]
“Hmm this might be the first time that I am refusing something… well without counting multiple refusals to the Wizard but I never got this message beforehand.”
-I see, as I thought someone of your status doesn’t want to be bound by anything.
-no I just have a different meant of transport reserved already.
-ah curse it. It’s Dorkans, aren’t they? They already hired you? But maybe you should wait with that decision I could definitely pay twice as much as them.
-no, I don’t know about any Dorkans but anyway is that all, I would want to go already.
-yes, it is, now just go with that paper next door and one of the personals will lead you to the right place.
-okay, it was nice doing business with you.
With those words Arata stood up and walked towards the doors but the moment he did left the room the dwarf called out to him once more.
-wait a second, I just remembered something!
Arata already had his hand on the doorknob but he still turned around and little annoyed answered.
-yes?
-before you go can you listen to the personal request of mine.
-as I said I can’t take part in that escort.
-no its unrelated and it shouldn’t take you more than two hours.
“A quest for two hours?”
After Arata translated the dwarf’s action to himself like this, he immediately answered.
-well if you have something that would interest me I am listening.
Still the moment he did so the dwarf said.
-no, I am not giving you a quest or anything. But this act will definitely be rewarded if succeeded.
“So it’s not a quest but there is a reward? I should ask about this reward before anything else though.”
-and that reward would be?
-100 000 gold.
-… .
After hearing the absurd amount Arata stopped for a second. That was because even if he did manage to earn 1500 gold quite fast thanks to Levi’s scam, this amount was something completely different. Arata didn’t actually think that he will ever earn this much money although he was now planning to because he wanted to buy himself a mount. But not just any mount, his goal was at least a griffon. This idea came to Arata after he found out about Torachii and then after looking it up on the internet he did found out that the mounts, even though not popular because they are expensive and hard to get, do exist and getting one would help out greatly. And with the amount that Arata just heard he would be able to buy even ‘flying type’. Still because that amount was so absurd for an action that was going to take two hours, he soon followed up with the obvious.
-100 000 gold, are you kidding me?
-haha, it might seem like it right. I mean with this much you could buy one of our mines. But what I said is real as if you succeed you will really get it.
“I know that this is scam but I can’t simply let it by pass me right?”
-fine, so what’s the job?
-rather than a job, it’s a challenge. I will explain everything briefly. Three days ago a mysterious traveler reached this city. Soon after that traveler visited our old good arena and there he stated the challenge. Anyone who can defeat his beast will be rewarded with 100 000 gold.
-and what kind of beast are we talking about?
-a monstrous that you can’t see every day. It’s true being of terror, nightmare on earth, a devilish creature that spares no one… well unless they give up that is. So far many fighters tried to challenge it, both regulars of arena and many others that were tempted by the reward, still none of them survived more than 5 seconds against that beast. Some would even pass out before the fight would even begin.
“Well I guess if it’s something like this then it might not be fraud. I guess I should take a look at least. It’s still four hours before our meeting. Before that though…”
-there is one thing I don’t understand though. Why are you asking me to fight against that beast? You won’t get anything out from it.
-yes but its city’s reputation that is on the line. If no one defeats that beast, it will be a shame on us. Not to mention that people are afraid to have something like that living the next doors.
-I don’t know how me defeating it would help in that reputation though. I don’t have a citizenship in this town.
“If something like that even exist.”
-maybe you are still much better that than someone who arrived three days ago. After all, you already fought here one month ago so it will count.
-hmm… this city reputation doesn’t mean to me that much but I will at least go take a look. I don’t want to die though so if it looks bad I am not going to take part in it.
-I see you are traveling to the city of light today after all. If you just want to take look you shouldn’t even bother then, no one can be convinced to fight against that monstrosity once they see him in action. Ah, if only our rank zero was here.
After hearing those words Arata left the room right away although is mood suddenly became slightly worse.
“Hmm, once again with that our rank zero. Well from what I remember her relationship with NPCs was good at least.”
All that what was left to pick up the goods and Arata though now that the talk ended it will take only a moment.
It didn’t take only a moment though as it turned out that he had to pick up ‘manually’, all 99 stacks of iron out from prepared boxes. There wasn’t a convenient trade window for it to just click okay.
“Ah that was so damn annoying. Anything for the gold though. The capital has the best shops in the whole EOA as everything is imported to there. It’s a city that best traders use to sell their goods as well as best place to sell good gear. That is what people say although I don’t think that I need any ‘bought gear’ right now as the stuff I have is still considered high level. Still there is one item that I want to change badly and if I get as much gold as I can, there will be nothing that can stop me from it. Well having a lot of gold in MMO is never bad either.”
After finally finishing the hard work, Arata left the building and to cheer himself up he thought about the merits and that his act will finally allow him to get rid of ‘the cursed item’ that hunted him ever since the city of beginners. Well it did change once but at the same time the actual change was not there.
“To the arena then, let’s see this crazy monster, although I doubt it will be anything crazier than what I saw in the west.”
With that notion he headed to arena. In a way though, from now on Arata could always think like that as the chances of meeting anything crazier than a freaking black dragon was probably small if no nonexistent.
While walking the streets of Karma Arata once again felt the ‘city’s atmosphere’ that he didn’t felt for so long. Ever since he left this city there was one dramatically difference that only now was so clear and that was the number of people. While elven village Larisane and much more the whole west was completely devour of people, the city of Karma was as always filled with them to the point where it was somewhat hard to get through. It was especially hard to get Arata’s destination in particular as the news about mysterious traveler and his devilish beast already spread out. What’s spread even more was probably the news of gigantic sum of gold that one can earn. With an amount like that, anyone who would hear about it would at least come to check it out and even if it was three days since the mysterious traveler came here. There still were many who only now logged back to game and heard the news.
But then when Arata finally reached the arena, he immediately though.
“Ah, why did I even come here to begin with? Even if there was a one in thousand chance that it wasn’t a fraud, I still won’t take part in it anyway…”
After reaching the arena, Arata lost his motivation but it wasn’t because he was too lazy or didn’t want to test himself against the devilish creature. It was rather because of the scene that Arata saw before the arena and that was a few hundred long queue of challengers.
“If I were to enter this queue, I could even get late for our meeting.”
Even considering that there were still three hours before planned meeting with Levi and Rin, even those three hours wouldn’t be enough. Although it was a first glance mistake on Arata’s part as the queue was moving forward quite swiftly.
“I guess I will take a look from the audience seat this time… Hmm?”
But then when Arata was going to do just that he realized that something is not right.
-…?
“What the heck… did I somehow triggered a bug or some other kind error?”
After trying to come up with the explanation for what happening, in the moment Arata arrived at this conclusion.
It have happened in an instant, so fast that Arata couldn’t point out when but the world around him somehow lost its colors and everything became black and white as if one was to look at the world through the retro black and white television that in current age could only be found in museum. Still it was not only that as apart from world going grey, the world also stopped moving.
The people were no moving, the smoke from the chimney, even a flying bird ended up hanging in the air without moving. The falling sling, jumping cat everything stopped.
“Hahaha, it’s not like I did something but it’s really a bug! And here this game was to be bug free. I knew it was a lie. My game crushed.”
The only one who was free from this phantom was Arata’s who still could move all right and even though he was also generally black and white in color, his red sword still had it’s color as well as his eyes were still blue.
“Well then, now what? I guess when it comes to bugs the first thing that I should do is try to restart the game. It’s the simplest yet the most effective solution ever.”
Before Arata did that though, he stopped as in this bugged world he started hearing footsteps that were coming from behind the crowd and because along with the movement the sounds also disappeared those footsteps were the only thing that could be heard. Arata soon located the one person walking towards him.
Even in this black and white world, this person seemed darker than anyone. It was a man in black clothes. Black boots, black trousers black shirt and at the top of it the black coat with a large hood that this black individual was wearing. As for his face though, it was hidden behind a completely white mask. At the same time those colors could not be his as even if he was moving it was still black and white world.
The masked man didn’t have any weapons on him and his build and height was about the same as Arata’s one.
“Is this some admin that will help me get out from this bug?… no wait, this game doesn’t have admins. Oh well let’s see what he will say.”
Arata simply waited and looked on how things would progress from here.
The masked man continued to walk forward and after one minute he finally reached where Arata was standing.
-emm… hi, do you know what this is about?
Arata decided to ask the masked man in a friendly manner and to that the masked man answered, also in friendly manner.
-give me, three swings with this one…
His voice even though it came from behind the white mask was completely normal human voice. although Arata didn’t understood what exactly the masked man meant by those words.
That however soon cleared up as after saying that line the masked man stretched his hand towards Arata side and somehow, Arata’s black sword Kuroi left its sheath and fly over to where masked man was standing.
There he caught the blade with grace and afterwards just like he mentioned, he made three swings in air using that swords. Those three swings did tell Arata something and that was that this man was someone who had thought a thousand battles and probably won them all because there wouldn’t be anyone who would be able to stop that blade.
Even though Arata should start with, ‘-what the hell are you doing with my sword’ after he saw those three swings whose grace which went beyond human level, he didn’t say anything. It wasn’t that the swings were strong or fast, Arata could clearly follow their movement, it was rather that the blade answered to the user’s will completely in those three swings and realizing this Arata couldn’t help but to look at the skill of ‘the man from the grey world’ after all this kind of skill wasn’t something that even his grandfather could display to him. Arata didn’t think that he will ever think like this but it was truly beyond that.
After making those three swings the masked man continued forward. He passed by Arata on by the right side and while doing so he put the black sword back to the black empty sheath.
-take good care of it.
After returning the sword the masked man said something again. It happened already after he walked pass by Arata, and was out of his sight. Judging by the voice though, that person’s mood improved slightly.
Only after those words, Arata left the enchanted state that he had from admiration for those three swings and looked behind him and the moment he did, the world returned to its colors as if nothing has happened.
-ha?
As for the masked black individual, he was nowhere in sight even though earlier on he was walking slowly without any hurry and in that world where only him and Arata were moving, it was impossible to lose him.
“… so this time have finally came?”
Completely serious Arata though like this.
“Yep, it can’t be anything but that. Because I am no-lifting too much I started to have hallucinations. But I just had a break… although now that I think about it the hallucinations usually came after that long rest, don’t they?”
The situation that just occurred made Arata remember times something similar happened and even though those two were completely different circumstances, world going grey and strange things happening were the two common things.
“Well I should better check if it was really hallucination or not, even if I am pretty sure it was.”
Still Arata took matter half seriously and walked towards first better person and asked.
-hey, it might seem strange but did the world turned grey and stopped moving for a moment?
It was a stupid question to ask and there was no way that anyone would answer it as all others were not moving after all. Surprisingly though the man that Arata asked showed an understanding face and answered.
-ah, I see that you tested ‘that’ for the first time, right. Still you get what you asked for, you shouldn’t have drink a brew from such suspicious shop as that one, especially from a suspicious drunken dwarf.
-what are you talking about?
-ah so you don’t even remember that, oh well it’s usually is better to not remember, I guess we all have been through this as you are not a man if you don’t try to taste it yourself! Anyway think of it as a simple hangover, and don’t let it bother you! Hahaha!
The random man patted Arata on the back and continued his way.
“I guess it was a hallucination after all but…”
Arata couldn’t hold it any longer and even though he was in the middle of the city he grabbed his sword and swung it three times quickly trying to reproduce the effect he just saw.
“Completely wrong.”
-kyaaa!…
But then when Arata went for the fourth swing to the back, which he was already improvising he heard a girl’s scream coming from behind him and it was just in time because thanks to it, Arata didn’t made the spin that he was going to do and because he didn’t do it, there was one less girl becoming headless in this city and one less twilight swordsman becoming a murderer.
Naturally the scream brought everyone’s attention to the scene but it didn’t become anything big because following the scream, after the blade stopped, the same girl that just screamed continued.
-ah! Even if you knew I was sneaking up on you, don’t scare me like that! I was really thinking you were going to cut me.
“This familiar manner of speaking.”
-oh, hey Julia.
-don’t give me, oh hey Julia! I thought I will die here a second ago! I even let myself scream like that.
“Really good thing that she did…”
Arata though like that as he didn’t really know anyone was standing behind him and should that scream not appear in the right moment he wouldn’t have stop. Still because he did stop, rather than saying it was a close call he decided to say something else.
-well just as you said, I wanted to scare you a little for thinking you can pull that off on me again.
Arata did at least managed to guess Julia’s intention of trying to do ‘guess who!’.
-aaa…I don’t know what kind of six sense did you used just now but know that the next time I will succeed. Yet really, this is the kind of thanks that you are giving me after I try to cheer you up.
-hmm… cheer me up?
-well, the movement I saw those strange hair in the crowd I immediately realized that you got killed with everyone else and failed your quest and because I could always tell that that quest is strangely important to you, at least more important that an average stupid quest should be… or should I say more important on personal level… ah I don’t know but anyway I thought that now that you failed it you are feeling down so as I friend I wanted to cheer you up.
-I see, thanks Julia I appreciate it although you really didn’t have to.
-but friends should cheer each other up when needed right? So… say, don’t you want to go, drink the whole night while cursing the unfairness of this world that sends army of demons angels and dragons just to interrupt your adventure. If so even though I was planning to do something else, I will join you on this. I heard about some new kind of dwarven brew that was developed that is said to make the world go grey after you drink it, it should be good… ah! Don’t get me wrong though, I usually don’t drink anything like that but if it will help you get over it then I will join you on it.
Arata didn’t have a chance to interrupt her as Julia continued without stopping. Still despite the fact that there probably weren’t that many men that would refuse a beautiful girl who was asking them to go get drunk and don’t think about consequences, the moment Julia finished, Arata explained.
-no you really don’t have to. In the first place I don’t need cheering up as I didn’t fail the quest. At least yet. But I didn’t die there. Rin also didn’t die and Levi as well, so our quest is still in progress.
-oh! Is that so, so you didn’t die, I though like me that you simply got teleported here after dying. Well I guess it’s been twenty days in this world since then so you should be able to make it back somehow… good job on not dying as even one way trip was too much.
-no we didn’t return that way, we simply got a taxi teleport from our quest giver after everything went silent.
-I see, well if anything I am happy for you. Still Arata, rather than talking in the middle of the streets, we should move somewhere else. Won’t you join me in that teahouse over there?
-sure.
They went to close located restaurant with large cup of tea on over its entrance doors. Arata and Julia sit down near one of the outside tables though.
-so, how did you survive over there. From what I heard there was big bad black dragon who breathed fire at you at so far I though he roasted everyone who was there.
-well, at that time Shin teleported me out of there with his runes.
-really!! Ah, as suspected of Shin he is… oh, no, no, I shouldn’t say things like this anymore.
Because this was probably the first time Arata saw Julia not praising Shin all the way to the heavens, he decided to ask.
-why did you stop? I was sure that you will start your usually litany of Shin’s admiration.
-haha… well I was going to but… oh, well I might as well tell you, I was going to ask you about something anyway and it can’t happen without me first explaining this. Just so you know though, you are the first person I am telling this, so this might still change.
-you make it sounds somewhat grand, are you sure you want to tell me this.
-it’s actually your fault, so take responsibility!
-why is it my fault?
-well just listen… Arata, I decided to leave Karma.
Julia stated with a serious voice, although.
-and?
-AND! Your reaction is an ‘and?’!! Do you even have an idea of how long I thought about it and how many times I changed my decision during those four last days!
Somehow after hearing Arata’s indifferent response Julia exploded like this which grabbed the attention from surrounding are.
-well, well, relax, relax. Look our tea will get cold…
Luckily Arata managed to calm her down and taking a slip of hot tea helped out a little as well.
-sorry, I was just joking, naturally I remember our conversation we had Julia.
-so, you are once again bulling me today, meanie!
It didn’t seem like she really meant that so Arata didn’t take it to heart.
-still Julia, just like you told me the last time, you leaving Karma means you also have to leave everyone who stay behind here. Are you really okay with that? Well I shouldn’t even ask, as I know you are not. So how did it come that you finally decided on that?
Arata decided to ask because while the last time, Julia had hundred cons and pros, right now she was convinced of her choice. Still to his question Julia gave simple answer.
-heavens.
-once again?
Arata kind of understood that one world but he still asked for full explanation.
-it’s because I managed to enter heavens Arata. Even if it was only for few minutes, one of my dreams has been completed. When I saw it, I really felt like my grandma was standing right before me, smiling and waving to me, telling me that she is happy there. Even with some mean angels around but hopefully the real ones are nicer.
While Julia was saying those words, even Arata could feel that those were true words that were coming from her heart, even if the topic she touched did came out very suddenly.
Earlier on Arata did know that Julia wanted to reach heavens for some reason, she never told anyone what that reason was exactly. Arata could tell at least that it wasn’t some random wish that she simply thought up as she told really no one, and when he did ask her once she said she won’t tell. Right now though, now that it was finally fulfilled she finally spoke it out.
-I am sure they are, but now I understand why you wanted to visit heavens so badly.
-haha, it’s pretty stupid reason, isn’t it? I mean, even if heaven really does exist it doesn’t mean that it will look like the one that I saw here. Me reaching heaven didn’t change anything either. Now you know why I never told you or anyone the true reason, it’s because it’s simply so stupid that it would have been too embarrassing to even mention it.
-well it might but even so, I don’t think I saw you as happy as you were just a second ago while telling me about it. So as long as it brings this effect, it definitely wasn’t stupid reason.
-I am always like that when I talk about my grandma. She was the one that brought me up from ever since I was a baby. My parents are always busy and never had time for me. Even on holidays, Christmas, my birthday, the amount of times that they missed it is several times bigger than in the opposite case. My parents are like strangers to me, even though we are family I don’t know them, if anything though I at least know that the most important thing to them is definitely not me but money. They think that the only parent’s duty is to provide their children with money and apart from that they can fly around the world without meeting for a three years!…
Somehow out of sudden Julia started talking about her real life and it seemed like she just like all people had her problems, still before Arata managed to comment on it, as he wasn’t ready to hear someone’s sorrows, Julia started again.
-ah! I don’t know why I told you this… hmm, I actually think that I never told it myself to anyone at least in this game, sorry if it was too grim.
-don’t be, aren’t friends supposed to listen to someone’s grieves.
-yes but… even if it’s a friend… and also especially friend from a game…
Julia tried to answer it somehow but in the end she stated on.
-thank you, I really feel better after saying this.
-you’re welcomed.
-where was I… oh yes, I should finish if I already started to not leave bad after taste. Even though my parents are like this, my life was great because grandma was there, she always took care of me and I turned out this well only thanks to her. Because she was there for me, I can proudly say that I had loving family, in future I want to be like her. I will definitely not follow my parents’ footsteps, for all I care, they are dead to me. I no longer have any family.
“Ah… she said she was not going to leave a bad aftertaste but now that she said that I was reminded why reaching heavens was connected with her grandma. Then again, I don’t think that I should say anything here but…”
-you know, even if your relation is bad, it’s still isn’t like they are dead. Even if it’s only from time to time, you can still meet your parents.
-I don’t see what that would change though, as I said for me they are strangest. For example, you are closer to me than them. I don’t think that I would even care if the news of their deaths reached me.
-…even so they are your parents, is it right to live with them like that. Even if there might came nothing out from it, are you sure it’s not better to try to do something about it?
-do something about it… like what?
-I don’t know, try to call them from time to time, meet with them, talk with them.
-even if it won’t change anything… because it won’t, even if I call they will say that they don’t have time right now, but it’s not just that right now but always, you don’t know them.
-yes I don’t but still maybe it’s worth to put some effort in, even if nothing come out of it, at least in the future you will be able to say that you tried and you won’t have any regrets. You should give them a chance.
After Arata told her that, Julia stopped for a second and thought about his words.
-you know, you just used the exact same words that my grandma did… ah fine, if you both tell me the same thing then I will try… only one call a week to each of them though, ok!?
-haha, it’s not like I will be checking if you are actually doing it or not.
With this they finally closed the real world topic and Julia returned to the earlier matter.
-so I finally decided that I don’t want to limit myself only to this city, if others can’t see that there are so many interesting places to visit in this world then it’s their fault not mine. I will keep on traveling and find new dreams to reach.
-so your next one objective will be visiting evil uncle in hell?
-yes, yes very funny, although meeting up with uncle Roger wouldn’t be that bad I guess. Ah!!! Don’t give me any strange ideas! I will decide things on my own.
-it was just a friendly suggestion.
-really, it rather sounded as if you wanted to bully me again. But anyway Arata what do you think?
-I already told you my opinion back when we first talked about it and I wouldn’t want to influence your decision right now, still will you get mad if I ask you what about the most important reason because of which you couldn’t make this decision earlier on.
-ah… you had to ask, haven’t you? But if you already asked then I will tell you that I will try to get over my first love, and treat it as good memory and end it here, before it becomes a reason to cry over. Shin don’t like me and won’t like me in the future either and I don’t want to keep being a problem for him, in a way me leaving is also a good thing as otherwise, if I were to stay next to him, I wouldn’t be able to get over it in this way.
-oh, I didn’t expect you to give up so easily, especially when you ever started to came up with some strange rules to not talk with males and all.
-oh, no, I definitely didn’t gave up easily, I did everything I could and rather a normal person would give up long ago.
-so you are saying you are not normal.
-well… you can blame it on this being my first love, you should know that we girls take it much more seriously than men, just to later have thoughts like ‘how stupid I was’ but that’s how it is, it can’t be helped so let’s not dwell on it, I am not ready to talk about it either.
-as you wish. In that case Julia, what are you planning to do from now on?
-I think I will stay for a week or two here, to say my good byes. Then just as I told you last time, I am planning on visiting that school and become slightly stronger. The next time some ‘crazy old man with wings’ will be keeping me from my adventure. I will know how to fight back…
“Nice description of an archangel.”
-and after that… after that it will be a surprise.
-surprise? What kind of surprise?
-who knows also if I told you it wouldn’t have been a surprise would it? Although, even though I am confident in my memory I will still ask, your guild’s name was Refrain right?
-yes what’s about it?
-nothing…
After saying this, Julia stood up from her chair and said.
-well then, I think I will be going now. I am really lucky that I managed to find you like this I didn’t think it was going to be possible. I also never thought I would be able to talk with anyone about those topics so thanks for listening to me and for that advice as well. We will meet again Arata but until then and after then as well, remember that you have a friend in me.
After saying that, Julia swiftly circled around the table and reached Arata in a moment. He was in the middle of standing up but before he managed to do so she reached him and then like nothing kissed him on the cheek. After that without saying anything she smiled yet again and then in small jumps left the teahouse quickly and disappeared in one of the streets.
“You will also have a friend in me Julia.”
Arata manage to answer back to her although there probably wasn’t a need to do so. Even if it was nice on Julia’s part, friends didn’t really need to express in words that they are friends.
“Ah… I forgot to ask her how does heaven looks like.”
After paying the bill a though like that appeared in Arata’s mind as during the conversation he somehow forgotten about this even though he was intrested. Still it wasn’t a tragedy as after all, there should have been an occasion to ask about it again, although at that time. Arata was planning to be the one who was going to describe heavens in full details.
“Oh, well it will have to wait for some other time… for now I still have two hours left and after what happened earlier on, I want to meet that mysterious traveler once again. If possible, I want some tips from him.”
Originally the tale of mysterious traveler was for Arata just a time killer, still because he was still not convinced that the ‘grey town bug’ was his hallucination, he assumed that it could be something else. The only one who could confirm it would be the masked man and for all Arata knew, that guy fulfilled all conditions of being a mysterious traveler. If anything though, Arata wanted to see those moves one more time, because just by thinking about it.
‘swing, swing, swing’
Arata would make random swings right in the middle of the street. Luckily there wasn’t anyone close as Arata made sure to not cut anyone in the process. Still despite trying to imitate the moves of someone who had similar build like him, it did not turn out well. Arata didn’t even know exactly why because while imitating someone who was different in build it was quite difficult, imitating someone similar shouldn’t be and yet even if the movement was the same, Arata didn’t feel that it was anything near the perfection where the sword would follow his will.
“Anyway I should go back to the arena and ask for him.”
And so, Arata went back to look for the mysterious traveler.
Surprisingly though, finding the location of that person didn’t turn out to be problematic as after Arata returned to the arena and asked few people, they soon told him the place in which that person was staying, namely some inn that was located at the end of the street. Even though the fact that Arata managed to find that person so easily seemed suspicious, there was no reason to not check it out. If anything, Arata didn’t feel any evil intentions from the masked men, although that could also have been an act so he could play around with Arata’s sword. At the same time, even if that happened to be true, rather than having any complains, Arata was rather thankful for that show even if those were only three swings.
“Right there is an option to record it right? … I better do it just in case, although hopefully this time I will find out more. Although at the same time if that recording is not there then it’s mean it was a bug after all.”
*
Sometime in the future though, when he did try to save make the recording of that moment, it was not there. On that saving it was only reaching the arena and swinging the sword and meeting up with Julia. The grey world remained nothing but a strange memory.
*
Arata soon reached the inn in which the ‘mysterious traveler’ was said to be staying. Before that inn, or rather under one of its windows were many people gathered. It was kind of strange as there wasn’t any point of importance there and those people didn’t seem to be any kind of group either. Arata was going to pass them by and ask inside but then he soon learned why they were standing there. Out from the opened window the sounds of guitar started to came out and following those the voice of someone singing.
-you look at the life without emotions…
-against the times and in spite of people…
“Hey… isn’t this?”
Just with two verses Arata recognized the voice of the ‘singer’ even if that ‘singer’ was somewhere deeper in the room away from the window.
-wherever you are at day or night…
-through viewers eyes you watch the game…
-someone else is changing the world instead of you…
-giving his head, screaming his voice…
-yet you are watching from a distance because it’s easier…
-and in case of failure, you lose nothing…
The song continued and even though at first moment Arata already wanted to go and say hi to this singer, he stayed outside for the time being.
-live it yourself!…
-live it yourself!…
-don’t change your heart into hard stone…
-‘till you still got the heart…
After those words though all of sudden the music ended and what came from the room was the singer’s comment.
-no this doesn’t feel right. I need different words. Let’s leave it for later.
Arata still waited for few minutes just like other people but the song never continued. In the end he entered inside.
He entered a hall where there was female receptionist sitting behind the desk and behind her there was a large shelf filled with keys, probably to the rooms that one can rent.
-welcome, how can I help you.
-well, I will be visiting someone but is it true that… well the so called mysterious traveler is staying here as well? You know that owner of devilish beast that.
-yes, but if you are here just to check if that talk about 100 000 gold is true then don’t bother as it’s not.
-then why did that talk even happened then?
-who knows if anything our client never confirmed this rumor and rather said that there is no reward like that. Still the rumor somehow spread and that’s the gist of it.
-in that case one more question, does that person walks in black clothes and wears a mask?
-part of her clothes sure are black but I didn’t saw her in the mask even once.
“So it’s she… well in that case it wasn’t ‘my hallucination’ that I was looking for.”
-thanks for telling me this, it will save me some time, anyway I will go say hi to my friend so if you excuse me.
Arata went to the stairs that lead to the second floor and soon found the room that should be the ones of that singer.
‘knock, knock’
-yes come in!
Without even asking who it was the voice from inside the room asked to come in. Arata followed that and entered the room.
It was a small room with one bed on the right, one shelf for clothing right next to the door to the right, one opened window on the opposite side of the doors, and one fireplace that was currently in inside the left wall. There was a lying guitar on the bed.
Then in the middle there was a round table with four chairs and in one of those chairs sit a person who was hiding the upper torso under a black blanked
“Why blanket?”
Arata really didn’t know what to make of it but before he managed to say something that person suddenly raised from the sit while throwing away the blanked in a quick fashion and then did something that could not be described.
-I am the evil mysterious traveler, rarrr!
While saying those words the ‘evil mysterious traveler’ was lifting hands in the air while sticking out the fingers to imitate claws.
-… .
-em… rarr!?
The “evil mysterious traveler who was no longer mysterious” once again tried to do ‘something’, Arata had no idea what though.
Usually one wouldn’t be able to understand this situation and response to what just happened. In this case however, Arata had something to say.
-what were you trying to do Haru?
-oh Arata, hiii! I didn’t thought I would be seeing you so soon.
Haru answered as if nothing although she still kept her pose with her hands lifted up while imitating the claws.
-yes, hi… so what did you just tried to do
-well, it was me trying to be… like EVIL MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER, RARRRR!
Normally one would give up on the first try, or rather normally no one would do this, Haru on the other hand continued with the show and seeing her doing this, Arata couldn’t help but…
-hahaha…
Laugh.
-ah you never change you know.
After doing so for about a minute he finally commented.
-really, but I don’t think that I showed this before you when we first meet.
-no I didn’t meant that, it’s rather that somehow anytime I talk with you I ended up laughing.
-buuuu!
-haha… please stop, also I wasn’t laughing at you but rather because of you.
-ah, in that case it’s good. Anyway, sit down, sit down.
Haru energetically invited him in.
-then, if you excuse me.
Arata sit down and Haru also did the same, before they sit down comfortably though she already asked.
-so, why did you came here… don’t tell me you missed me and wanted to see me again so badly so you tracked me down?
-and what if I say that I did.
-well… if anything I would be happy.
-unfortunately though, me being here is more of a coincidence as in fact I was looking for someone else. Still I am glad I did find you as you manage to restore my mood. I don’t remember when was the last time that I laughed like this… or rather I do remember and it was when I was talking with you last time.
-oh, you were in a bad mood, why?
-well I wouldn’t say it was bad but I also wouldn’t say it was good either. After all we somewhat failed our quest, pretty badly at that.
-ah, right I filed away too fast so I didn’t see what happened in the end, so how did it go?
-well up till the opening of the gate it was going good. Your help was definitely appreciated. Still after that, some angels’ assholes came out and attacked us.
-angels did? And here I thought they were good guys.
-good? Why would you think so?
-I meet and a friend with one of them once.
-I see, still even if there might be cases where some are good guys, it seems that they don’t like visitors that much.
-hmm, now that I think about it she never let us walk outside her house when we went to heavens. We still did though when she wasn’t looking and then it became a scandal. Haha, good times…
Haru slipped her tongue a little.
-ah, no, no never mind me. So did those angels killed you there?
-well they didn’t have time for that because few moments after them some crazy dragon showed up and he cleaned up the area.
-dragon? Which one?
-which one?
-I meant which clan did he belong to? Or rather it will be simpler if I ask what color did he have?
-well he was black in color if that what you are asking.
-ahhh…
Haru stopped for a second without saying anything but afterwards she made an apologetic look, bowed her head and apologized.
-sorry, it was me that brought that dragon over there.
-you brought it there?
-well rather that bringing him there he followed after me, and here I thought I lost him… although I probably did but because he still was in the area he found the commotion that was happening with all those demons so he decided to fly over to see what was happening. I still feel like it’s somehow my fault.
-don’t be it’s not like it was your direct fault, not to mention that in a way, because he attacked we were saved.
“I actually don’t think that getting teleported away would be enough to run away from that archangel because unlike that dragon, that gold dude did want to finish us off and if we were to run he would chase after us. Strange, one way or another that dragon actually saved us with that dragon’s appearance. Well it’s obviously a coincidence though.”
-I see, so in the end everything ended well and good?
-I wouldn’t say it ended good as our quest is far from being complete but as long as we didn’t die it’s not a failure.
“There were some people who died though but there is absolutely no reason to mention this.”
-I see, well I would say that sometimes quests aren’t worth all the trouble that they can bring but if you wish to continue no one will stop you. So what are you going to do now?
-for now we are going to one city to pick up one item from there. Its name is Capital, do you know of it? Or rather of course you did.
-really!?.
Somehow when Arata mentioned the name of the city Haru stood up excited.
-hmm?
-you know, I am also planning on going there.
-is that so, then… –
-then can I came with you!?
Before Arata managed to say it himself, he was already asked.
-if you like to.
-yey!…
And then when Arata agreed, she somehow jumped up out from the chair and landed on the bed next to her guitar.
-ah, it’s really good that we meet again then. You know even though I finally reached lands with players, if it continued like this my journey towards Capital would still be lonely as always as there isn’t anyone that I know here…
Haru said it while stretching comfortably on the bed.
-although, I would still probably look for some companion, or rather I actually already started looking but this idea didn’t work out like planned.
-you mean this strange business with the arena? Right, what was actually that about?
-let’s see… well it’s somewhat longer story, do you mind?
-not at all.
-okay then, where should I start, oh yes… you know now that I finally returned, what do you think I am going to do?
-I don’t know, you wanted to meet up with your friends right?
-yep, that is exactly what I am going to do… still, I don’t delude myself and I know that I won’t be able to bring our group together fully. That’s why while I want to meet them I am also looking forward to the future.
-I see, like breaking 300th level barrier right?
-there is that too but that thing can wait, I don’t really need a higher level right now and there is something else to do right now. You see even if I gave up on bringing our group back fully I think it should be possible to bring back at least few people or rather than that, we should make a new group and have a new fresh start.
-sounds good, I hope you will make it somehow.
-well, truth to be told this wish already started without me. Few months ago one of my dearest friends asked me if I don’t want to make guild with him. At that time I was in the middle of Solaris so naturally it was impossible.
-that friend didn’t know you aren’t there.
-well, we didn’t have contact as he didn’t respond to me before and naturally I will make him pay for calling just when he has needs of me… oh well I knew he was always selfish and in the end there is nothing that I would not forgive him, he is one of my dearest friends after all. So to his ask I answered with that when I manage to return I will gladly join…
“I wonder if I should welcome my new guild mate here?”
Arata thought like that but in the end he decided to not interrupt the story.
-anyway after I join you could say that the two of us reunited and after that… well I guess that as long as I manage to convince Yang to join us as well, I will be happy enough with that. You see, while I liked others form our party a lot, those two are the people with whom I played ever since the beginning. We actually first meet right after finishing the forest trial, the one right after city of beginners… ahh returning back to that moment, it feels so long ago. Still ever since that time us three were always together.
-I see. Then no wonder that you want to reunite with those two.
-yes, I don’t think that without two of them I could enjoy this world as much as I did. Then there is also one person that I would like to see even more than those two although… no never mind. But anyway, I am also looking forward to meeting other peoples as well… it will be a guild after all and I always wanted to be in one. I wonder what kind of people will be in it! For now though my goal is capital to as I promised to meet my friend in Capital in two months from now because that’s about how much it takes from here right?
It seemed like Haru had everything settled down and organized. Arata’s next words though destroyed that plan right away.
-ah right Haru… I forgot to mention but while traveling to Capital we will be using a teleport that will teleport us to a city that is supposed to be close to Capital.
-teleport? You have a teleport installed here?
-well our acquaintance has… naturally you are free to use it as well.
-hmm… but I didn’t hear about any stable teleports being here, I even looked for them myself otherwise I would use it. I even went to the black market to find out about it. Are you sure there is one here?
-I guess people wouldn’t know about it as that person isn’t very sharing but there is the teleport.
-okay in that case I will believe you… that changes few things though, while my friend said that we will be able to meet in two months if I suddenly appear there in few days, I am not sure he will be there. But in that case I can always wait and speak with others, unlike here, I will definitely know a lot people in there. Anyway I will definitely take you on this offer then… rather, right now tell me how should I repay you for it?
-treat it rather as me repaying you.
-for what?
-well, a lot of things.
-okay… if you don’t need anything right now it’s fine to ask for something later as well. Anyway I will finish my explanation. Well currently it’s not valid anymore as beforehand I was looking for companion to travel with, namely that companion was to join the same guild as I. My friend told me that if I am already all the way in the western corner of the world then I should find and convince to join the so called strongest player under 200th level. Well, I doubt in my convincing skill so in the end it stands on, ‘see if that person is actually worth of that title’. If that person were to turn out to be worth of that title, my friend would come here and invite that person and unlike me, he is good on convincing others, or rather than good, you can’t refuse him. He is a type of person who would make an absurd argument like ‘I refuse your refusal’ just to get what he wants…
“Tell me about it.”
-but anyway in the end I didn’t manage to find that person despite my bait.
-you mean that 100 000 gold?
-yes that, well that gold is a lie… although Arata, tell me did that person really didn’t take my bait.
-hmm? What do you mean?
-well like, you actually being that person?
-no, I am not. In the first place, don’t you know that person is a girl.
-actually I didn’t know, the only thing I know is that it was supposed to be this arena’s rank zero so because of that I tried to set a bait over there and wait till someone with that rank appears.
-but if you are staying in this inn, how can you tell that person appeared?
-ah right, I should tell you about this as well. I didn’t even once go to that arena, it’s Torachii who is taking care of everything and he will let me know when he finds that person…
“Ah right, there was supposed to be some devilish beast that one would have to defeat, so it was that tiger… no wonder everyone got defeated.”
-but then Arata, if it’s not you then do you perhaps know that person?
“I won’t be able to hide it if she is going with us so there is no harm in telling.”
-actually I do, you do know her as well Haru. It’s Rin.
After hearing this Haru get up her torso from the bed and made an obvious face.
-hmm… now that you said this it actually made a lot of sense.
-still, if you are thinking of trying to invite her then you should give up, you won’t receive a good answer from her.
-yes, after you said the name I immediately gave up on the idea, I don’t think she likes me.
-I am sure she doesn’t dislikes you at least.
-hopefully… but Rin is coming with us to Capital as well, right?
-yes, she does.
-in that case I will leave asking to someone else… especially when I am not the member of the guild yet either so it’s not my place to invite anyone.
-don’t do it its evil!
-hmm?
-no never mind.
-ah right Arata, what about you, don’t you want to join as well. I don’t know what are our requirements for joining as our goal will probably be ‘that’ but you should pass those requirements.
-hmm, I will think about it but by that goal you mean something stupid like being the strongest guild in EOA?
-strongest guild, what does that even mean? No it’s not that, or at least it shouldn’t be that as that person’s ambition was always only one thing and it didn’t have anything to do with guilds in particular. Although if you are already mentioning it then to reach that goal we would have to be the strongest guild as otherwise it won’t be possible.
-but what is that goal then?
-it’s secret.
-secret?
-yep secret between me, him and also Yang. I am not telling anyone. It was a promise we made a long time ago.
“I don’t think it would be impossible to get it out of her but I won’t be trying to do that. Still, that bastard should have told us if he wanted to actually do something, although I did expect there was something more than silly goal like strongest guild. Or rather was this going to be a first step towards the actual goal. Well there is a chance that I will meet Gerald in Capital but I already know that he will answer with ‘I will tell you when the time is right’. Still I did learn all miracle members names just in case after meeting Haru in this last break but, was there some Yang as well? I guess that’s proves how much reliability the information on the net had, not to mention that there were hundred cases where people said they were members of miracle team when in truth they were not.”
Arata and Haru exchanged a word of few others less significant things but about an hour after their conversation started it was interrupted.
-Haru, it had appeared! I don’t know what is a passing grade for that stupid test so come and look at it for yourself. I am still going for a single shot win though.
It wasn’t a voice that belonged to anyone who was currently in the room even if it did come from Haru’s direction.
-so this medallion has a function like this as well.
Arata commented as he did recognize Torachii’s voice.
-it’s great, isn’t it? But Arata, it seemed like the rank zero of this town arena has finally appeared because I told Torachii to call me only if that happens.
-so Rin did?
-well about that Arata. Are sure it’s Rin? Because this doesn’t seem right. I remembered her as someone with good judgment and calm personality, so she should know beforehand whatever she can win a fight or not.
-it should be her. I don’t know how exactly regulations on the arena works with those rankings but it’s probably a simple more wins higher rank, right? So, few weeks ago she had that rank and she didn’t do anything in particular since then so I guess that unless someone managed to get more victories than her without losing a single fight then nothing changed on that front. Rather than that Haru, maybe you will rather tell me how good you are on judging other people’s strength.
-how good? … well you won’t find anyone better than me because I don’t judge others simply on the feeling like others people do. Right, Arata, I just asked you if it’s not you who is that best player right?
-well you did, somewhere at the start of our conversation.
-didn’t it seem strange to you though, after all, I never saw you fight as I didn’t have occasion to do so.
-firing a single spell towards the sky doesn’t count I guess. So what is your trick then?
-ah, it’s quite simple I have spell for that. I demonstrated it to you once already. The one that let me locate others… let’s just say that it does more than that.
“I remember that it can even judge someone’s height from few kilometers distance so I am not surprised.”
-but in that case, couldn’t you use that spell when you first came to this city and find Rin that way?
-I arrived here three days ago, well more like ten days ago but it was before a logout. Still after coming back I did use this method but and there wasn’t anyone else noteworthy here. Rin wasn’t here either because once I met someone I can then recognize them by this spell as well. There are several ways to avoid this spell though.
-like?
-I am not telling anyone, it’s my friend locator after all. But anyway if I did locate her, I wouldn’t go about this whole thing in such round away way.
-yes it does seem quite troublesome.
-but now if she already decided to fight I can’t take it back now can I? Also there is no better way to judge someone than seeing actually doing something, shall we go then.
-sure.
Arata and Haru went straight to the arena and because it was quite close they didn’t have to worry about making it in time. On the way though, Haru decided to ‘take a little peak’. She activated her ability and the gusts of wind went through all alleys of Karma.
-didn’t you have to check only arena?
Arata asked seeing that the wind blows scattered in every which way houses included.
-yes but if I am already using this ability I might as well do so at higher range. There are some people that I want to find, I have no idea where are some of them so searching like this is my best way to find them. Also it’s my habit, you really never know what can you will actually find around the next corner right? This ability checks all corners. For example when I came to this city I found about three well hidden quests in it and six not that well hidden but somehow people can’t find it. If you want I can tell you where to find those quests.
After Haru shared this information Arata could say nothing else but.
-hey! This ability is broken!
-you are not the first person who is telling me that although this ability is not all gold and flowers. Sometimes there are things that one is better not knowing…
Haru stopped for a moment as the first gust of wind returned to her.
-oh… just like right now, I found out something that I didn’t really want to know.
-really? And what is that thing if I might ask.
-well it’s… oh… I just found out something quite interesting regardless the place to which we are going although at the same time it will kill my fun… but really understanding how to do it in just two weeks… that’s astonishing.
-what is astonishing?
-well on the other hand it’s bad, at the same time I don’t actually believe it, it’s good thing we are going there, oh… I just found out something else yet again… hahahaha… what!!… ah right Arata it’s impossible for me to hold a conversation right now without letting my thoughts stray away so wait till it finishes.
Haru explained and they continued without talking.
“Hmm, it’s quite funny to see her face expression change every time a wind blows through her.”
Haru’s face changed momentarily all the way from feeling of disgust to puzzled fact to smile and also laughing at something. In the end though she didn’t have a time to explain anything as before even that spell finished they already reached the arena.
-attention, attention! Our queen has finally come to show that cheeky bastard where is his place, the fight starts in ten minutes you better not miss it, there won’t be another chance.
Right now there were much more people near the arena than earlier when Arata first came here. All those people were in full spirits and the arena organizers were walking around and spreading the news to anyone who didn’t hear them yet.
The entrance to arena was slowly becoming a warzone with all those people trying to push their way through the crowd. Even some fights broke out and people went as far as using spells just to get rid of potential rivals. There were already over a dozen people killed.
Despite the fact that the city’s guards were called to the place as fighting inside the city was prohibited, against an angry crowd, the hopeless NPC guards didn’t try to do anything so in the end they stood at the edges of the streets to not let the fighting spread to other areas.
One of the reason why this place was in complete chaos as the queen’s fame was enormous in this city and the other reason was because the other fighter was a devilish beast of mysterious traveler who gained a lot of popularity and hostility during those last three days as killed everyone who did not surrender in one blow. Because of that people believed that this might be the only time where they will be able to see city’s champion break a sweet, although at the same time, there was no doubts in them about who was going to win.
-if it’s like this there is little we can do.
Arata said to Haru although.
“Well unless I were to join in the fray any kill anyone on the way. Sword slash is especially good on clutched up angry mob like this. I wonder how much experience are they worth?”
He also had a thought like this. While Arata avoided useless bloodshed and felt bad when he saw people who he knew getting killed, when it came to complete strangers he wouldn’t even blink while killing them if he had reason for. He already did so in the past and he never looked back at those actions even once.
-hmm, if all normal seats are taken then we will go to the VIP’s area.
Haru said back to him, it seemed as her spell finally ended.
-VIP area, does something like that even exist?
-no it was just a metaphor, you will understand when we get here, anyway can you give me your hand.
-sure but what for-?…
Arata didn’t got the answer because Haru catch his hand before he even answered. In this moment his body become somewhat light and before long he was already up in the sky.
-we are flying!
-it’s rather we are riding the wind but from afar it does seem like flying.
-from close up it does as well.
-rather than speaking you should take care as anytime I take anyone for this ride they usually end up…-
‘boom’
Unfortunately Haru’s words came a little bit too late as their flight wasn’t that long. It was more of a high jump towards the roof of Arena’s outer circle and somehow this jump was slightly not high enough and they hit the edge of the wall. Well at least Arata did as Haru somehow went higher just in the last second.
Arata did use his free hand to catch the edge of the roof before falling and his other hand was also held so he wouldn’t fall regardless.
-well this usually happens as this is not a legit flying spell and even though I am used on doing this trick on myself when I try to do it on others I always forget that their weight is different than mine. Then again, even when I do remember this fact, I still can’t get it right…
“You should have said so earlier.”
Arata didn’t complain to her and pretended that this didn’t hurt, even if it did. Afterwards he climb up on his own refusing Haru’s help.
-so anyway this is our VIP’s area. We might be a little bit too far but we should be able to see everything from here, not to mention it’s less crowded.
They were now above the tribunes were the fights were taking place as people pushed their way to towards the front. In the end though, even though the this place was far away from the middle, was quite dirty and there were no seats, in the current circumstances, it did seem like a VIP area.
Haru and Arata weren’t the first people who thought about this idea as there were three or four other people standing on the roof as well.
-the fight did not start yet.
Arata commented seeing that on the fighting grounds there was only guardian beast white tiger Torachii, waiting for his opponent and no sight of Rin.
-yep, but while we have time I will tell you something important Arata just in case. Do you see that person over there?
Haru pointed towards the other side of the Arena where there was one person who was also using the VIP’s area. That person was sitting at the edge of the roof with his legs hanging down. Arata couldn’t make much out him though because that black clothed posture in a distance.
-yes, so what’s so important about him?
-well, how to say it… this is the dragon that destroyed your party near the heaven’s gate, so don’t provoke him in any way.
-I see well I guess that makes him important, thanks for the warning…
Arata answered like nothing but in a second.
-what!!!
-hahaha, funny fact isn’t it?
Haru laughed carelessly though.
-what’s so funny about it, what if he decides to burn down this city the same way he did the heaven’s gate?
-hmm… that would be bad, if he does that then there is nothing we can do about it still if he wanted to actually do that, he would already done it so we are probably save.
-how can we be save? Also didn’t that dragon want to kill you, how can you be so easygoing about it.
-maybe but if he wanted to attack me right now then he would already done so. So, I am not that worried, most of my spells can be already used as so I should be able to get away and even if I don’t, I don’t really care about dying right now, I will resurrect on this side of the world in this very city, so what’s the big deal?
“Is she serious? No wait, in the first place aren’t she just make fun of me?”
-hey Haru, you say that this is a dragon but I what I am seeing is a normal human.
-well naturally if he appeared in his original form it would cause a large panic right?… but generally didn’t you see it yourself, I mean him turning from human into a dragon. His form here shouldn’t matter.
“Well she is right but…”
-and what is some crazy dragon doing here?
-what else that the same thing that we do, he came to see the fight.
-no I am asking why some boss NPC would care to come and see this fight. No, in the first place what is this guy doing flying around from one place to another. Shouldn’t he simply wait in his lair for anyone who wants to fight him. Is this how a programed monster should behave?
Even though Arata already did hear the story of dragon’s release he still asked.
-hmm… maybe he wants to travel the world or has some kind of dream to fulfill, hahaha…
Haru still wasn’t serious at all.
-ah don’t be angry, I would answer you if I knew but even though there were many people who tried to answer the question that you asked just now we never really found out why. This guy is somewhat a special cause. But even then you do realize that monsters in this game don’t stay in one place for all their time right.
-yes, I also heard that sometimes it’s players fault that they start to roam around the world just like in this guy case.
-oh, you heard about it? Then this will make this explanation go much faster. So yes as you just said the monsters do go around the world and yes sometimes it is players fault. Still even though there are similar cases, similar even to the point where other dragon was released, in those cases it’s still somewhat controlled. Like those monsters still have a certain limit that they can’t pass, limit both in strength and the places they can go to…
“Oh, that’s something new.”
-well it’s hard to tell what those limits are but they do exist, it’s not that it’s some kind of invisible wall that they can’t pass but rather in their mind they don’t want to go too far away. Now returning to the matter this guy…
Haru yet again pointed at the black sitting figure on the other side of arena.
-he doesn’t have those limits, or they are as wide as this world. I don’t know why but he is simply different… you know, if I weren’t there when he was released I would thought that he is actually another player? For example look, he come over here and is now simply waiting for a fight of one player and other’s player guardian spirit. While sure, some NPCs from this city did it as well, is this a normal behavior for a black dragon that was sleeping in his lair for few hundred years before we dig him up?
-well this whole thing with monsters going out of their lairs is strange to begin with, so I won’t be surprised by anything anymore.
-this whole world is crazy to begin with but I wouldn’t be mentioning this without a solid basis. After all the behavior of NPCs in EOA is completely realistic, but you do still remember my skill though right? Naturally using that skill I can easily tell apart NPC from a player but no matter how many times this guy ended up in my radar, he definitely always felt more like a player than an NPC. Especially right now. When I found him today he actually… no never mind.
-but if you feel that he is a player then maybe he actually is?
Ignoring Haru’s sudden stop Arata asked.
-that is what anyone would think after I told them this. However this is exactly why I wouldn’t tell you all this in normal circumstances but right now you can check whatever that person is an NPC or not. Anyone can do it after all…
“Anyone??? … ah right normally I don’t have a problem with distinguishing between NPCs and players so I didn’t used this method in a while.”
Arata crossed his fingers in his right hand and summoned the menu. When he did he looked in the direction of the black individual on the other side of the arena and whatever Haru could say about that guy, there was a visible proof that no argument could fight against.
“Okay, green dot over his head means NPC. I can’t tell whatever this guy is actually a dragon as Haru says but I can at least tell that the guy over there a isn’t player.”
-did you see it?
Haru asked after Arata finished.
-yes I did, and probably you can as well. Still why did you mention that unless you were at the place when he was released you wouldn’t have believed that he isn’t a player?
-oh, you are quite sharp. In that case, this might change your look on this whole thing needlessly but I will reward you with certain information. Arata try looking at me with that menu open the same way you just did with that guy.
-why should I?
-just do it.
Arata didn’t know what Haru had in mind but still followed what she said, and when he did.
“…”
He quickly returned from the menu.
-hey why the hell do you have a that dot over your head as well!!!???
He didn’t wait even a single second before asking it out loudly.
-hahaha, I love this reaction but anyway calm down and look again…
Because Haru’s voice was completely calm Arata managed to hold back on asking again and followed the instruction.
“Hmm… it’s not here. Was I seeing things? No it was there.”
-see it’s gone isn’t it? For a note I am perfectly normal girl if you are wondering about that. I can give you even a phone call in real if you wish.
“I wouldn’t say perfectly normal.”
-no there is no need. Still, what is the meaning of this.
-well it’s simply that there is a way to make that dot appear. It’s a trick that anyone can do even though to actually find out how to do it on your own you have to be a genius and as you can guess it wasn’t me who came up with it. And because it wasn’t me, I can’t tell you how to do it as otherwise I will get yelled at. There is also another reason as letting this trick spread out to masses would bring a catastrophic events, or at least that’s what Yang said so.
-I can guess out why. Still in this case this dot over that guy head doesn’t mean anything because he also might know that trick.
-yes but I personally don’t think that anyone else will be able to find Yang’s trick so maybe there is a different way. But there are multiple other reasons why this guy isn’t a player against simple feeling of mine from the spell. Those explanations would require me to tell a really long story and at the same time to believe that story fully, you would need to see the moment in which that dragon was released… which is actually possible because I have that moment saved up… but we don’t really have time for that explanation and also I don’t really want to explain it either… it’s too hard of a topic and I am not good with those, I would probably mix some things as well and lastly, it might sound wrong but even though I just told you a lot of controversial things it’s not my problem whatever you think of this whole thing. In the end though the best thing you can do is leave that dragon to his own business and avoid contact with him.
-I will definitely follow this advice but I would appreciate if he avoided contact with me as well and do not destroy portals that I need for my quests. But anyway we didn’t come here to talk about some dragons did we.
Just when that Arata said that, the crowd of people below them started the loud cheer as it seemed like the fight was about to begin as the other participant finally entered.
=AAAAAA!!!
The cheer was becoming louder and louder with each second as ‘she’ continued to make every next step.
“Hmm??”
At first Arata was not exactly sure if it was really Rin or not. Part of that was because she didn’t have her red cloak anymore as that one got destroyed during her escape from the heaven’s gate. Rin didn’t explained it fully and at that time Arata and Levi didn’t ask her for more details either because they both did knew that she really liked that red cloak of hers.
That’s why today Rin had another cloak but it wasn’t the brown one she used while she played the vicious ghost of Karma. After looking closely it wasn’t only the cloak that changed. Actually nothing remained from her previous gear.
Her cloak was now white in color with two red lines going next to each other which continued two centimeters away from the edges. Her other clothes also changed into color of red and white. The biggest change however was that unlike before, those did actually look like fantasy world armor piece items or rather, some epic leather armor set.
Actually the tell the truth as what Rin was wearing right now was a full epic leather set that dropped from 50-man raid dungeon ‘Sorstan valley’. That raid biggest challenge was a fight against ancient Krodian’s wizards and knights who were riding wyverns. Having to fight against flying enemies usually doubled the difficulty of the fight so this 185-level dungeon was said to be impossible to complete without losing half of your party no matter how skilled. Naturally the item that dropped there had the requirement of the same level and getting the full set of one kind would require one to go through that raid at least five times if that person was luckily enough to get a different item drop every time although when number of people in party counted 50, it usually took ages before one would be able to get all of those.
When Rin walked in the whole completed set and some people recognized it, the cheers went even louder. It wasn’t easy to mistake this armor for anything because of its characteristic white plate part on the breasts which leather armors never had. The other characteristic was that amour didn’t have a sleeves in its “for female version”. That was probably one of the reasons why Rin bothered to get it in the first place because the shirt that she used to wear was kind of like that as well. The leather part of the chest armor was crimson but apart from that, trousers, gloves and boots were all white.
Still, the biggest commotion was probably about two swords that she had equipped because those were two twin swords that so far were never seen by adventurers’ eye and even if Rin still didn’t take them out even its handles and special sheaths looked unfamiliar. Especially the handles had a white feather like design which made those weapons seem angelic.
-where did she get all those?
Arata though under his nose, but Haru did manage to catch it.
-I am not sure about swords but I remember that there was one dungeon that dropped items like this because my friend was gathering them. She believed it was going to match her hair, which I never agreed with as after gathering all set pieces she was way too white for my taste. Well she was never good with fashion anyway. Thankfully I did manage to convince her out of it. So Arata, if you want I can tell you where to get it… hmm actually it’s a week way to the northern east from here… still don’t go there! It will be a crime of the fashion if you gather it yourself as while some girls would look good in it the male version is kind of gayish.
“Ah, he heard me, still I was asking rather how she get all those in those few days, what is EOA’s raid lockout? … well it’s probably not that she got it right now but rather she decided to wear it right now and she had it in inventory for all this time. She did mention once that she has endless amount of items that are not for her level.”
In the meantime the arena presenter managed to finish his meaningless chatter and the fight finally began. Still that fight didn’t last long and only few found out what was it’s true ending.
Rin disappeared from the place she was in and appeared few meters behind Torachii who also disappeared but did not reappear anywhere. Still there was one part that remained and that was a black-white tail that somehow ended up in Rin’s hand.
The silence continued for 30 seconds and nothing happened. After that though Rin also disappeared from arena and that was how the fight that would later on be studied for few month without results ended.
-HARU! She just cut off my tail, you are not telling me to forget about it and let it go!! Don’t joke with me!! Release me at once I have some scores to settle!!
If there was one result of this fight then it was ‘one very angry medallion’ that was angry enough that it was moving on its own and it came out from behind Haru’s blue scarf.
-I won’t and no future argue about Torachii.
-but Haru, it’s my tail!
-it will grow back the next time you come out, it’s not a big deal.
-NOT A BIG DEAL!! And what’s about my pride! You know what it means to for a tiger to lose his tail! Haru! This insult can only be repaid with blood! Not to mention that from the very start it was my fight, it wasn’t yours to end, why did you did that!?
The ‘medallion’ was really angry but Haru simply answered.
-I had my reasons.
-and what would those be!?
-yes I would also like to know it.
A new victor joined in the ‘VIP area’ and it was a red haired girl in mostly white clothing. She probably wasn’t as angry as the medallion but she also had quite unsatisfied with what just happened.
-yes me and probably all those angry people down and would like to hear them…
Arata looked to the other side of arena’s roof but there was no one there anymore.
-not to mention that, unless you tell Rin, it will get awkward later on.
Arata added this argument and with this convinced Haru.
-fine, fine. In general there are several reason although they all connect to one thing. One would be that I didn’t want a fight of this level to break out inside the city because usually it’s ends up with half of that city being destroyed.
-I wouldn’t have destroy this city.
After Haru started explaining Rin suddenly interrupted her.
-yes but Torachii would as he doesn’t care about this city well being at all so letting him astray inside a city is no no. Then again I can’t be sure about you either as even though you might never think of doing something, it usually happens that people destroy the things they love the most themselves.
-I see, in that case let’s go somewhere else… Arata there is still an hour before our meting time, right?
-yes. By the way, she will be coming with us all the way to the capital at least. Do you have anything against that?
-no, you can invite whomever you want, rather this will give me an occasion to take on the master after dealing with its pet.
“What did Haru do to you, did she stole your cookies or something?”
-em… you sure you want to do this?
-of course. Sure I won’t win yet but just by seeing her once, I improved so much, so now I am wondering what can I learn if I were to fight her. Our quest is still not finished and to complete it, we need more power as otherwise it will end up like the last time. Unless we get more power we won’t win those.
“Well she is definitely right on this. Although didn’t we plan on giving up the fighting? Also I have no idea in which seeing Haru actually helped her, it’s not like a normal game where you can copy somebody’s skill rotation.”
-em, em!…
While Arata was thinking about it, Haru interrupted their conversation.
-Rin, it’s not only because I was worried about this city is why I stopped this fight and after hearing what you just said I am glad I did. It’s seems like I already did enough bad here just by fighting a little before a wrong person’s eyes but I didn’t know that someone as talented as you could exist. I did not belived it by just checking but you really learned it after seeing it once in two weeks no less!? That’s really scary talent.
-yes it was your demonstration that helped me… so you don’t want to show anything else? I sorry for asking then, it seems I was too greedy in asking you for a fight when you don’t own me anything.
-no I am not stingy although you can interpret it like this. Still, I am doing it for your own good as being too powerful is the way towards unhappiness. Then I am also doing it for everyone’s good as someone inappropriate shouldn’t simply be allowed to have too much power.
-so you are saying that I am inappropriate!?
-as long as someone does not prove they are appropriate everyone is inappropriate. I do think you are inappropriate though. You wish for power so you can fight a battle that you don’t have the necessity to fight, this is definitely not an appropriate way as when people who wish to fight gain too much power, nothing good comes out from it.
“Why does it feel as if they were fighting?”
-in that case, why should one get stronger at all?
Arata decided to step in as their talk wouldn’t go anywhere good if they were to continue on their own.
-everyone needs their own reason, but at least it shouldn’t be with fights in mind. If you ask me why did I try to get strong then in the past five years it’s because I wanted to return here but before that, I wanted to get stronger so I didn’t want to fight.
-but it’s RPG game about fighting monsters? If someone doesn’t want to fight that they should try something else.
Arata commented the obvious and after Haru heard that she opened her eyes wide as if remembering something.
-ah right there is one more thing that I forgotten which is when someone who doesn’t understand this world gets too strong it’s the true catastrophe, like their life going boom, boom, doom, doom! Although at the same time when someone’s does find out the truth their life is still boom, boom, doom, doom! Ah… now I said too much so… okay when it came to this it can’t be helped anymore. So… unless you two promise me to never return to this subject again I won’t be able to travel with you.
Because of a way Haru said those booms and dooms, Arata and Rin couldn’t really tell whatever she was serious or not but in the end they both agreed to this condition.
After that the three of them made an evacuation from the roof as the angry mob started to look for two fighters that disappeared as well as for the mysterious traveler who also never revealed herself even if anyone could find her beforehand.
By using the back alleys and such, Arata, Rin and Haru soon reached the Wizard’s tower and prepared themselves for the teleport to the center of the known world. When they reached the tower sudden though arrived in Arata’s mind.
-aren’t we forgetting about someone?
-it’s still 30 minutes before the time so it’s simply use who are too late, although it’s possible that Levi might get late.
-did he told you anything, Rin?
-well similar to me he rather than lazing around like certain someone, he decided to do something, namely as he originally planned to by coming to this city, he went to level up. I showed him the same place I was using even if we weren’t leveling up together. For about eight days he was leveling there afterwards he logged out and then returned few days later. At that point though he found me and said that there was some dungeon in which he wanted an item from, a shield I think it was… yet it was definitely a shield as he mentioned adding it to his collection.
“Is he collecting them like stamps?”
-I see still, why did you guys went leveling without me?
-hmm, but wasn’t it you who wanted such a long break.
-Levi added one more day.
-sure he did, probably so he could get that shield as well. But anyway I already had so much time then I didn’t waste it.
-I didn’t waste it either as I had something to take care of and I wasn’t in my house for three days of those four days.
-I see but unlike you for me it’s been twenty days after all. I especially couldn’t simply sit and do nothing as after seeing her…
Rin pointed towards Haru.
-I finally understood what I was missing and now I can do this…
And after finishing this, Rin disappeared before Arata’s eyes and then appeared few meters away from him. She repeat the same process by disappearing and appearing in random places until she finished back where she started.
Haru who was also there seeing this only waved her head left and right as if not believing.
After returning Rin commented.
-I am still using a movement skill that I have to achieve this but in essence I copied what she was doing in her fight against that demon lord or rather the first minion to be precise.
-eh… okay I will kill my pride just this once and ask you what is it?
After hearing Arata’s question Rin smiled but what she said afterwards was the last thing that Arata would expect.
-oh, so you seek strength as well but don’t you know that being strong is a way towards unhappiness, also you seek power to fight, this is not for what you need strength for.
-yes, yes very funny.
-hahahaha…
Arata believed that this was the first time that Rin actually joked but it was not only that, after Haru remarked on it, Rin also laughed out loudly in a way that Arata didn’t expect to see. Also after finishing she talked back.
-no, it’s rather what you said earlier is what was a funny. I was taught that one doesn’t need a reason to seek strength because that reason would eventually come to you and I believe in my master words much more than I do in yours.
-good for you then.
It was somewhat strange but in this moment Rin was more talkative than Haru.
-I see that it’s not only the color of your clothes that brightened up.
Arata commented on today’s Rin behavior.
-well few good things happened lately, I had twenty days of freedom after all this torture with so many people around me. And lastly, Mary told me some really good news so if I can’t smile right now then I will never be able to do so. But anyway Arata, you asked what I was doing but it’s quite simple. It’s a fast movement that doesn’t have any requirements because I can do it just fine without anything special. I still need to use the game skill to fully achieve that but it’s just a matter of time before I can use it without it.
-but how did you learned it?
Arata asked yet again.
-well, naturally no one can teach you how to move your body, you just have to learn it on your own. That’s your grandpa words right? So, try again and again till you are able to do it, that’s what I did. Beforehand I never thought something like this is possible but after seeing someone as squishy as her being able to do it, I saw absolutely no reason why I shouldn’t be able to do the same.
But Rin only give him this answer.
-aaa… she can do it without even understanding what she does… eh when did this world went into such bad direction.
Haru yet again commented while waving her head back and forth but then.
-if you are not going to help then at least don’t interrupt!…
In a way, Rin simply told her to shut up.
-now, now Arata, try it yourself.
“Even if you tell me this I can’t do something only because I saw someone else do it… or rather the problem is that I didn’t actually see it. But anyway I definitely don’t want to try and fail when someone is watching.”
-maybe later, I will try when I feel like it. It’s not like there will be any result if I try to do it now.
-yes but it’s better to start as earlier as possible??… no never mind, only your grandfather was able to make you take thing seriously and I don’t want to destroy my mood by remembering how many times I failed at it.
-sorry that I am not a serious honor student like you and I prefer to take things on my own pace…
“AA, I am talking big while I just don’t want to embarrass myself.”
-and also, didn’t our friend over there mentioned that looking for strength is a way to unhappiness…
=hahahaha.
-hey!…
This time they both laughed at Haru’s thesis.
-Torachii they are bulling me!
-that’s what you deserve for stopping my fight.
-ah you too! Fine, you can all do what you want, I won’t tell you my advice then.
“Advice?”
-ah, no, I was just joking Haru. Your advice will definitely be welcomed.
Arata’s attitude changed right away.
-really but I didn’t I already gave you one advice and now you two are making fun of it…
“Well it’s hard to not do so, it’s a way towards unhappiness after all.”
-still I am not stingy, so here are my two advices for you Arata. One, don’t listen to her as she clearly has no idea what she tries to explain and two, you won’t be able to learn how to move like this anyway because your class is not a speed type so give up on this. Even if you had the same spell she does, you won’t be able to reproduce this effect. You can try to think about it when you are around 280 level by my guess although even then it will definitely cost you much more effort than just twenty days. If you want to get stronger, look for other methods.
-give up, that’s your advice?
-yea.
-but this seem useful and Rin just said that anyone can do it without any requirements.
-yes and that’s why I told you that she has no idea what she is talking about.
“I am still going to add this to my TO DO list.”
In the end Arata didn’t find out anything useful and they continued to wait.
An hour passed and another one and another one and then it’s slowly started to get dark and on both Arata’s and Rin’s lips a question started to appear.
-where the hell is Levi?
That question found it’s answer yet another hour ago.
-heeeeeey! Arata!…
He finally appeared after being four hours too late.
-sorry I am late but you see… I went to one dungeon and it was kind of ‘harem party’ if you know what I mean. We did finish as planned and I would make it just in time but after we returned to the town I was invited for a celebrations of the success as well as to congratulate me on my genius fighting skills. So you do understand right, what man would I be if I were to refuse an invitation from four girls at the same time.
“Ah, so that is what he meant by harem party.”
-well for you it’s impossible but in the first place why are you going for some dungeons when you have to appear somewhere at the appointed time.
-relax bro, I didn’t count that party so that’s why I am late, also it’s not a big deal it’s just two hours, right miss leader!…
After Levi said that in slightly drunken voice. Rin started walking towards him.
-oh you are somewhat more white than usual but yep, suits you well.
And after saying that he gave her thumb up, but when Rin reached him she simply hit him in the belly without mercy.
-four hours! Now, we wasted enough time because of you.
After that the four of them went behind the tower and entered the Wizard’s laboratory. Surprisingly the Wizard was not there but there were flying lights in the air that made a sentence.
[The teleport is ready go ahead.]
Even though Haru commented that it was made recently and the person who made it was still somewhere in this building, it seemed that the Wizard wanted to avoid meeting someone who entered that room but the party never realized for what reason as he usually avoided people by general.
Ignoring the Wizard who decided to play hide and seek out of sudden the party went to one of the opened rooms in which the teleporting device was stationed. Surprisingly the device worked and without any troubles all four of them were teleported from Wizard’s laboratory to some underground cellar.
Arata didn’t believe that using Wizard’s equipment ended without any complications and he was right to do so as even though the act of teleporting didn’t cause any problems for the four, there was someone who because of their arrival ended up in dangerous situation.
Next Chapter: Chapter 46 “Orange haired witch”
eye of Adventure 
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Yay a new chapter 😛 seems checking it daily pays off.
Checking it daily is fine but is an idea of following the website and getting a mail any time new chapter appears that scary?
We all don’t want spam but this function was made for this.
(PS this is a helpful comment, I don’t really care about follows as they don’t do anything… although wait… even though it’s impossible if I were to get 8000 followers I could start saying that I have 8000 followers 🙂 )
Well with my current number of readers being 32 readers it will be hard but that’s a dream :). Speaking of hopeless dreams but I still have more than few years of life left, nothing is lost.
lies it clearly said you had 57 followers when i signed up 😛
And well tbh I never used this function before, since a lot of the light novels being updated are fairly regularly and it would mean an epic spam in my mailbox 😛 (since I read quite a few of them)
But with EoA I think I could use it with the large sporadic updates
current number of followers is surprisingly 32 right now but 32 was not number of followers but good readers.
Kinda evil its under the welcome note though 😛
I like to have my welcome note at the top but I for few days new post should be a the top I guess.
I agree the welcome note is nice to have somewhere near the top, but when people check the site fast and still see the welcome note on top, they might not see that a new chapter is out.
Especially with the bigass background picture at the top 😛
thanks for the chapter
glad you’re back
Thank you for the chapter!
Thanks for the chapter:D
So, did we finaly met the creator of the game?
Thanks for chapter!
That’s a cool thought, but he did mention in that interview that he had died and was on a death cool down.
Then again this could be a manifestation of the creator AI trying to watch from a player perspective.
Christopher Horowitz is still alive and kicking. He was alive at the start of the book as while the interview was old, I would mention that the creator was already dead if that was the case.
Only a month passed since there and there were no funerals mentioned anywhere.
I was referring to this quote from chapter 4
“-thanks for your time Mr. Horvitz.
-ah no problem, I just got killed so I can spare a day. To everyone! Don’t ask me on any other day to do anything! I AM BUSY!”
It shows that he has died and from what was said by Gerald, the dragon has not.
He said “I just got killed” Naturally he was referring to getting killed in EOA as otherwise he wouldn’t be able to said it. In essence he said that he died so he can’t log back for two days so he could easily spare some time for interview.
(it’s possible that I misunderstood something from your comments, like you said that dragon never died so it couldn’t be a creator as creator said that he did die… this makes sense. Once again though, why are people looking for creator so often?)
“(it’s possible that I misunderstood something from your comments, like you said that dragon never died so it couldn’t be a creator as creator said that he did die… this makes sense. Once again though, why are people looking for creator so often?)”
You got it that is what i meant.
I don’t know about others, but i’m not looking for the creator, but its fun to take guesses on what parts of the story mean. Especially on the off chance your right.
thank’s for the chapter.
A noob question: What OP skill are we talking about? I can’t seem to find it in the previous 2 chapters…
Naturally you can’t find it as it hasn’t been shown.
One of the reasons for !evil times!
About that, he got 2 skills, so does that actually mean that he got 1 skill and finaly read broken skill you trolled us about for so long?
Broken skill for major battles for once per day use… What comes to mind is restoring stamina\mana skill… But that does not sound broked enough, nor any direct relation to twilight. Incorporeal form or something?
Hmmm…
Yes those two skill mean exactly that, Arata doesn’t know that he missed anything, only readers know it.
There is also no one to tell him about it because even though Shin did mention 2 skills while they were trying to convince Rin (at that moment), at that time he was also playing along back then because Hikari said 1-2 skills per class. Also the next time Shin appears, “far from soon” I doubt that that they will discus this topic.
As for skill, I won’t write it down unless the necessity calls for it. Namely some good opponent against who Arata will go serious against. (This is quite problematic though as Arata won’t get fully serious just against anyone even if it means his defeat, or rather he can’t get fully serious in default situation.)
Although I naturally I already planned where it will happen and against who.
You probably wouldn’t like that, but i have to say that this trait of mc(not being fully serious unless its ragnarok or girls can get hurt or something) smells of SAO so much more then black swordsman class. Which i would have never even throught of as reference if you specifically didnt mention it in like 3 paragraph warning.
Couldnt help myself, sorry
I wouldn’t say that it’s only Arata’s problem. It’s really hard to get any of my characters to do anything seriously not only the fighting part.
If it’s remind you only of SAO then you missed quite a lot of good reads, as about every second shounen manga protagonist has this problem. (when I am in trouble with the story I am always using my bible made by GODA)
If anyone wants to hear my opinion about SAO though, then it’s, “I like novel a lot and hate anime with passion, especially after it’s second season that came out recently.”
do not understand why arata you can not beat to rin even with their passive skills of an increase of its original strength by 10% and another 20% agility, after leveling up it was not 15% and 25% and other passive which increases their damage with the use of swords by 30%. As rin can segir step if every 4 levels has twice the speed and strength a 60%
I saw this question once already and didn’t answer because it’s stupid but anyway.
Do consider that Arata isn’t the only person with passive skills.
What is stupid though is trying to compare two people based on stats that were never shown. And they weren’t show because they would be too troublesome to follow, namely it would require me to not simply write as a fit but rather check tables add numbers every time someone levels up and so forth. So in the end the only time you will see stats it will be on items, and items stats made by simply comparing the new item with an old one and adding some numbers. In essence though the numbers don’t mean a thing to me but rather new items = character becomes somewhat stronger… if that character is using new items correctly.
At the same time, why is anyone still obsessed with Arata’s power level in comparison to Rin. Especially why with Rin, Rin is broken character when it comes in comparison with anyone. If she cared to level up and play seriously EOA in competing manner she would soon be even above top tier as I see her passing 300th level barrier.
Then again if Arata were to play form the beginning and progress through the city of beginners like he did, he would also pass that barrier because he has the most broken skill in EOA, namely sacrifice. (It’s hard to go more broken than this)
Level-up on death? Requirements: Seek vengeance against the one who killed you and abducted your loved ones.
Or I am just rambling anyway!
As to people caring about Arata’s power level compared to Rins, surely you know already. Arata is our window into this world, more than that, he’s the medium we use to interact with it, and as such we inhabit him as a character and feel his frustration at failing time and again to beat Rin when other battles and Rin herself have shown us that he is in fact the superior swordsman/fighter/gamer, and so we feel his frustration and try to nut out why a superior warrior should lose to an inferior warrior, you say her skill is broken yes but this isn’t a very satisfying answer, it’s kind of like, well this +3 sword lost to this +2 sword because I say so. This isn’t a bad thing necessarily, it’s your story after all, and this is a point of contention that Arata will have to overcome, but hopefuly you can now understand why people care so much.
I can’t see the reason why one would think that Arata is superior than Rin in fighting or swordsmanship. (retrack the real world) Then being a good gamer doesn’t influence being good at EOA that much, and in essence Rin does know EOA world much better than Arata does.
But anyway I already wrote it million times so I won’t add any arguments to make it right.
(This is my last answer regarding this topic)
There’s one thing that been on my mind from the time he got the skill “sacrifice” or i could say from the beginning !! anyway the skill sacrifice have a condition if i wasn’t wrong, and that is, he need to fulfil his objective before dying, then the skill activate, if not then it does not activate and he will lose level. if not please make it clear
Ignore the description and read the important part at the end.
Passive effect: Dying does not reduce your level.
Ah, so i was just an idiot that read the description hahahahha don’t blame me because every single word need to be read to enjoy the story
That lore part is to make that skill seem more relevant because normal skill doesn’t have lore part. The good ones does have it. (here good equals the most unique skills. Don’t mistake the word unique with powerful though)
Thanks for the chapter. Btw I’m new here and I have to say this novel is really great. Please continue doing such a great job.
🙂
Thanks for the Chapter !!
I am also new(but only as a subscriber).
I just wanted to tell you that i love your story and that you are wrong when you said that you only had ~35 people reading your story. I personally know at least 10 people in my immidiate circle of friends who are reading it !! It is really a good and special story because it doesn’t focus on the stats but more on the characters and their relationship. I also like your spelling type because it doesn’t repeat every single thing and is easy and comprehensible with a good vocabular.
So just continue you got way more readers as you think !! 🙂
Beo
Thanks for the chapter.
I’m feel frustrated with Rin keeping lvl up and drifting far from Arata reach (power, Skills, technique).
Arata should be at least his equals and be the genius & pround gifted inheritor of his grand father
Oh, I was looking forward to this comment.
Yeah, I hope that he will catch up somehow… Arata, gambate!!!
Hmm there is something I don’t understand. Since Arata have met Haru he should have guessed she’s from the miracle team almost as soon as they met, figuring it out pretty early. So why has’t hetalk about Gerard or invite her to join refrain or call Gerard to talk about it? That feels strange… I would have done this the second I realize the truth.
About the mysterious sword man, I would also have ask the knowledgeable & reliable Haru… Better than a stranger and even with the surprising coincidence drink effect…
Can you add some light to my thoughts?
Arata did realize about Haru in the first chapter he meet her.
Mysterious swordsman must be the originator of his class – twilight swordsman, right?
he was waiting to see Haru’s reaction when he gets introduced as part of Refrain.. then again it would be better if Haru already knew he was part of refrain and Arata would get embarrassed about his plan to troll her
I hope there is a master disciple system in the class system like the previous twilight swordsman or TS NPC teaches Arata about his class.. but seeing his character and because of “Because it’s boring ‘blablabla’ lore.” Arata would definitely refuse the teaching and go through it blindly
another chapter! lucky me!!! thanks and welcome back.
Thank for this new chapter!!!
Great work , i really liked the part where Arata meet Haru and i like imagining the face that Arata must have done when he realised the presence of the black dragon. it must have been priceless.
This one day cooldown skill is a real teaser lol, i hope we will see it in a few chapter
Keep the good work
HI ziki, as youve mentioned above,It is safe to assume that Arata is strong only because of his broken skill???if thats the case, then how frustating it is for me whoo have a lot of expectation from the MC…
other things.
**From the beginning of the story, i think our MC is pretty reliable and have a not so bad character (Before founding of their guild refrain), but after he broke through the first barrier, i cant really put it onto words but its been quite long time already and the only thing he develop is his skill and level,, its realy lacking on personal character development on my opinion, i cant really see any poctv development for him. he become undecisive?pessimistic?laidback?without a care in the world??? he wants the worlds first, but how can he do it without putting much effort right? does he really think he can accomplish the quest if he will hold back all the time, especially with his current self on which we all know WEAK COMPARED to rin. actually its fine if rin is stronger than the MC, but he needs to be more hardworking if he really is determined to help her and accomplish his goals.
**Haru mentioned that Arata’s class is not speed type???is this serious at all?? i dont mean anything bad but as far as i know, he’s character relies on agility right??dual wieldnig sword?? plus the skil he got for quick movement(forgot the name.lightning related something). and im also sure that hes not a strenth type. maybe INT type because of sword enchantment??im really confuse now..frustrating…
(-.-)
{◕ ᵥ ◕}
Arata isn’t a perfect speed type swordman, (perfect ex:julia)
if you want your answer, you can find it in the begining when he discover his two class
he says something like this:” class that rely in close range combat with evasive action and target attack on critical area”
when you see the passive for this class, they don’t include speed, only strenght, evasion (reading trajectory skill) and something i forgot lol
the only speed skil come from the city of beginning: reward of darkhorse quest
Loved reading another chapter. It’s been so long since the last chapter.
And don’t say you only have 32 readers.
Most of us hide and sneak peak at your work.
Thanks again.
many many tnhks :)!!!
Yay new chapter good thing that I remembered that you maite post here first 😀
Thank you for the new chapter. Please keep up the good work.
Hello, reader here. I don’t really “follow” or “track” this, but I do check regularly for updates. You know, just type the website url in firefox when I think “maybe I should check EOA”.
Thanks for the chapter!
m
thanks again for the chapter^^
Just a question about Rin and Haru ability to disappear: Are they kicking the ground instead of running?
Like OnePiece’s saru? I guess it is kind of kicking but at the same time it’s normal steps but made quickly.
But if anything, imaging the movement as OnePiece’s saru or Bleach’s Shunpo is the right way to image it.
I wasn’t thinking about those things at all, but yes, it is exactly what i mean ^^
Thanks for the fast answer
Well thanks for the chapter
OMG.. I am such an idiot.. I’ve been waiting on rr for update.. and checked here frequently.. but saw a comment that said update won’t be for a while so I patiently waited.. then I saw ur recent rr update.. and I find out there are 3 chapters. . OMG.. best news EVER.. lms + 3 chapters of eoa.. my 2 fav novels.. now that I have a blog I can follow this.. thnx for the chapters.. now time to read more of this gloriousness
I really hope he will make a big ass sword with all that red iron ^^
“There was also the decision that the party made before continuing to the next part of the quest. That decision happened after Wizard’s comment.”
It’s never clear what decision is that….
oh, well that’s is what happens when chapters are released only after a single revision.
I though I add it somewhere, but seems like it’s not there.
Sad! But can’t be helped.
oh well… thanks for the speedy answer anyway 🙂
— P.S.
I love how consistent the flow of the story is in general. It really shows how much you have thought the road you wanted it to take, without making feeling forced the way to get there.