Chapter 56 “Two paths, only one choice.”
Five days ago in the city of light a catastrophe took place that had unthinkable result. The pillar of light, the light of enora most was twisted and changed into pillar of darkness. It was not only that however as the black energy inside the pillar keep on flowing out of it high above the city creating a black magical dome that covered the whole city. Something insignificant like the fifth level circle being nearly destroyed was rarely mentioned when the news of this event spread around the world.
The last day in the real world this the topic appeared everywhere on every television channel, even in shows that rarely touched the VR’s topics. As for those that focuses on VR though, there were even whole day long relation videos that filmed the current state of Capital as well as showing of videos that belonged to people that were inside the Capital at that time and saw the entire thing.
Naturally thought the highest rating received those shows that featured videos of those that took part in the ‘Black curse battle’ as people started calling it. Still the direct relation videos went only as far as showing the battle up until the ‘red air’ knocked down everyone who was there. After that event the only other videos that appeared were made from afar, they featured an Arial combat above the Capital, but none of them was of good enough quality to tell what really happened there.
In the end no one really knew how this whole thing ended. No one also knew what in the end happened to the one responsible for it or where he was right now. The biggest questions however were what exactly did he do in the first place, as well as his motive for doing so. Right now the only thesis are that he wished for attention and fame and if that was what he was after he certainly grabbed it.
There were some companies that offered enormous money for his location alone, or any kind of information. Still, that all faded in comparison with the money that was offered to the man himself for either an interview or a video relation from his perspective of that day. But even though the companies were endlessly biding their prices even now, there was no response from the man who called himself Arcon Shadenine the other day. There was no mistake about one thing though, he easily became the most wanted man in EOA’s history.
It wasn’t only the money that the players who would now try to chase him were after. After all he had done, there were many titles that Arcon have gathered, including the strongest player in EOA. Once the fact that he was also once a member of miracle team come to light no one needed any more evidence, and no one tried to argue against this fact. But and now that the title of the strongest was finally established by someone, the only thing that one needed to do grab it was to defeat the one who holds it.
So the current debate was.
Who would be the one to do so?
As for daily life inside the Capital though. It didn’t change that much and even though for the first few days after even were quite chaotic. Now after five days however, everything returned to how it normally was. Well mostly everything.
For some reason, one of fundamental ‘city rules’ was broken and that was the fact that now that the city lost its light, the monsters from Capital’s underground started to occasionally appear on the streets. The number of adventurers inside Capital was always big, so they managed to keep the situation under control, for how long they were going to last, no one could tell? Even if the answer was forever, the fact that monsters were appearing inside the city lead to natural death by those that will get surprised by those attacks. Even though it’s been only five days, some players and NPCs already decided to move from here as this city was no longer a safe place.
The city of light was no more as there was now only a city of eternal darkness that was forsaken by its light and god’s protection.
The news of the monsters was for now overshadowed by the event itself and was not yet brought up to light. But those that were in Capital and saw the beasts that came from underground did know well, that the fact that this city was the most popular player city in the world wasn’t going to last for long.
Soon enough only the strong will be able to survive in it.
“Ah, what time is it? I can’t tell because of this black thing, and it sure is cold today.”
Arata appeared in the eastern part of the Capital in the first level circle and looked upward just to see the black sky, or rather the black dome that was covering the sky. After that he checked the time. It was 10:00 am in EOA time which meant that he still had a lot of time before meeting with Levi and Rin as this time they set their meeting point at 18:00. Their meetings usually were scheduled for morning but this time it was Arata who wanted for it to be later as he had someone that he wanted to say goodbye to as well as try to convince that person to not go with him, which he believed will be rather difficult task, so he arranged a lot of time.
“Now then, where was it?”
Arata took out the map of the Capital and then found the marking that Yuki made on it. What the marking was pointing to was their meeting point, also called ‘old Gerald’s house’, also called one of ‘the current temporary Refrain guild house in Capital’.
“I will have to go by elevators twice but at least it’s the straightway there.”
Gerald’s house was located in the third level circle in one of the player residential districts. It was relatively close to the elevator that lead downward and right now Arata was close to the bottom of eastern elevator between first and second level circles so it was going to be straight way there. He still had to survive through two elevator’s rides though. Even thinking about it made him sad.
“But after returning to this body, I once again feel the after match. I should better drink a healing potion, or isn’t there any healer nearby?”
After getting out from the underground, Arata didn’t really rest but simply logged out and while there was some regeneration while being logged out, there was still little effect left from using The hour of Twilight, and generally overdoing himself. But now it was all on the level of a small cold.
‘Cling! Cling, Cling!’
While drinking the healing potion, Arata suddenly started to hear the sounds of battles as well as the roars of some unknown to him creature.
:Monster: -raruar!
“Hmm… aren’t we inside the city?”
Slightly interested in what was happening Arata walked in the direction of the battle sounds, he wasn’t really in hurry though as he wasn’t planning on joining in.
Before he reached the place the battle was already over and there were four people standing before what seemed to be corpse a large red armored earthworm with a really nasty mouth that had orange fangs. The four that killed this creature was a combination of a swordsman, guy holding two small axes, roguish looking girl and one large guy with a large totem on his backs. Because of the totem Arata would judge him to be a shaman.
“Well, the show is over but why are there monsters in the city?”
Arata wondered about it a little and decided to ask the shaman looking guy. From the look of it those four people just occasionally group up to take down that thing so they all went their way afterwards. Because of that it was easier for Arata to ask.
:Arata: -hey why did that thing appeared here? Aren’t we inside the city?
:Shaman: -oh you don’t know about it. In that case listen. Ever since this dark sky appeared, from time to time monsters appear randomly inside the city. Be it coming from the ground like this guy or simply appearing in the space as if they were respawned by the system. So you better be careful out there when you are walking around. Also if those swords of yours aren’t just for show, be sure to help out with cleaning the city if you run into one of those monsters. Don’t worry you won’t have to do it alone as there definitely will be someone else around as well, we are in the Capital after all.
:Arata: -I see… thanks for the info.
After explaining briefly the situation, the big shaman guy went his way. The other three were also long gone although there were some other peasants A and B around observing the creature that was killed.
“Monsters in the city?… That’s interesting. Maybe it would be worth hunting some of them. Such new monsters usually bring some good loot with them when they first appear… but nah, I shouldn’t be chasing after monsters right now, I don’t really feel like fighting today. I will be leaving this city today anyway, so I can’t help much anyway. But hey it’s probably sucks to be Warden with all this. Good luck Mai.”
Arata went back to his objective ignoring what was happening around as he did pass few other monsters on the way.
His journey towards the third level circle even though annoying because of the elevator went uneventful. The same went for going from the elevator to the right district. Now Arata was faced with the problem of finding the right house as he never found out the very exact location of it.
“Well if it’s Gerald’s house then it’s probably looks more fancy than anything else. It shouldn’t be that hard to find.”
Remembering the house from Triangle, Arata wasn’t too worried about finding it though.
Indeed he was right to do so as he found it two minutes afterwards without any problems. Saying it was standing out from the crowd would be not enough. Gerald’s ‘house’ was placed in the very middle of a large plaza that should exist there remembering the layout of similar district but did not as there was one large villa in its place with a backyard and frontyard gardens. This villa here was even bigger than the one in Triangle, it was so big that one wouldn’t image that it belonged to one person. Looking from the front there were at least 30 windows placed in three rows. The building had three floors plus attic and probably basement as well.
Seeing it, Arata had no doubts that this was the place, especially when there were two other things that that indicated it to be the right place.
One of those two things, Arata recognized even before reaching this place as it was the sound, the sound of a guitar and the voice of a girl whose both Arata recognized immediately especially when just recently he had an occasion to listen to it for four day straight, on the journey between east light’s crossing and Capital.
:Haru: -this is the end, there’s nothing left…
:Haru: -we’re free, we can go…
:Haru: -this is the end, we can go…
:Haru: -we’re free cause there’s nothing left…
:Haru: -this is the end, there’s nothing left
:Haru: -we’re free, we can go…
:Haru: -this is the end, we can go…
:Haru: -we’re free cause there’s nothing left…
:Haru: -a worm in its hole like a professor at the desk…
:Haru: -and a bee on the flowers like an inspector of streetcars…
:Haru: -it gouges and fumbles and writes and thinks…
:Haru: -goes around, and around it dirties and cleans…
:Haru: -and a bush near the street and a brother on the machine…
:Haru: -like a foot in a sock, a dealer in a canteen…
:Haru: -a stone on a field and a guard on a watch…
:Haru: -a fridge is still chilling, a cooker is still searing…
:Haru: -and why and why does it gouge and gouge…
:Haru: -and what and what does it think and crop…
:Haru: -and it makes an effort and talks from the screen…
:Haru: -and raves for years, all day!…
:Haru: -this is the end, there’s nothing left…
:Haru: -we’re free, we can go…
:Haru: -this is the end, we can go…
:Haru: -we’re free cause there’s nothing left…
:Haru: -there’s nothing left, nothing, nothing, nothing…
“She sounds energetic as always although I really didn’t expect to run into her here.”
Arata already had an occasion to hear this song before although somehow today, Haru was putting more spirit into singing it. Well he could not see her doing so as the sound was coming out from the window on the second floor in which she probably was. That or someone with exactly same voice and exact same taste in music who would not care that everyone in rather large distance would hear her song.
Well, Haru didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about her singing as well as playing was rather really good. Even for Arata who preferred wordless music. As it was turning out Arata wasn’t the only one thinking so.
The other listener as well as the second fact that this had to be the right place was lying on the bench in the garden under the opened window while relaxing himself with two hands behind his head. Still even while relaxing, the blond haired man was still wearing the black suit which in all general standards wasn’t the most comfortable clothing. This person however seemed to think differently.
The another song started coming from inside the window as Arata came over towards the lying man.
:Loki: -yo, did you came for the concert as well?
As Arata started coming closer, the man opened one of his eyes and without any movement welcomed him with whose words.
:Arata: -I see that you are enjoying yourself here.
:Loki: -yes, actually I am… she is singing really well and nowadays it’s a rare occasion to be able hear someone singing nearby, especially so well at that.
:Arata: -you even said sing so well twice.
:Loki: -well it’s probably because she is really singing well. After hearing her for some time I can say that if she made a concert I would go for it. Hey what’s time it is?
:Arata: -it will be 12:00 in few minutes.
:Loki: -twelve?…
Loki sounded somewhat surprised hearing this, surprised enough to rise up and check the time himself.
:Loki: -oh, it’s really twelve… a day has passed before I noticed it. I must have fallen sleep at some point. I started lying here at 18:00 yesterday.
:Arata: -really? I would never expect you to lose the track of time so badly.
:Loki: -I must have fallen asleep at some point and it’s hard to tell between day and night in here. Also I don’t have anything planned so I didn’t worry about the time and that’s how it ended. At the same time, I didn’t think that she would continue to sing for so long. I think it’s third day now or at least three days ago when I returned here, her voice continue to echo here endlessly any time I came.
:Arata: -three days non-stop? Knowing her it’s not impossible I guess.
:Loki: -she probably slept at some point even if only because of her own lullabies.
:Arata: -I guess, but I am wondering, why is she even here? I saw here reunion with a friend of hers that she wanted to find so I thought she would be with him now.
:Loki: -well I can tell you only what I heard from Torachii, you know that tiger of hers.
:Arata: -yea, I know well who Torachii is.
:Loki: -feels embarrassing to even say his name right?
:Arata: -somehow. But, its name like any other. So what did he say?
:Loki: -in short he explained to me that after meeting that friend she had a really long conversation with him, but there wasn’t a single nice topic among what they talked about. Then at the very end of that conversation, I will tell you Torachii’s words exactly ‘she got dump’ and in crying state this was the first place that she thought of running to. Ever since then she didn’t come out from that room and continued to sing songs.
:Arata: -dump, they didn’t feel like a pair though.
:Loki: -because they are not, and it’s wasn’t literary dump as he just said that he won’t be playing for a while. In the first place though from my sister once told me they are not really romantically involved and Arcon has some girlfriend in the real world, can’t say whatever it’s true or not nor am I really interested.
:Arata: -I am even less interested.
:Loki: -in any case that’s how it is, so she is probably mostly depressed about what he told her… well I guess the fact that they can’t play together is also a factor but not in any romantic sense. Torachii said that it’s better to leave her be for now but I did try to speak with her. When I did, she even let me in and we talked a little bit. She is trying to be strong but it seems that that Arcon was pretty merciless and without hiding anything told her ‘everything’ there is to know. I believe that after learning all that she has every right to be depressed and be completely lost at what to do. Truth to be told, I am also kind of at lost what to do, I also learned about something that I would be perfectly happy about not knowing. As for me however it was just adding more fuel to the fire so I am perfectly okay and I must say relaxing here in this garden while listening to her music did me really good.
:Arata: -I see. So what is that ‘everything’?
:Loki: -better leave it be or you might end up like here. You really don’t want to step into it, or what? Do you feel like you don’t have enough of you own problems?
:Arata: -if you put it like that then I have more than I can bear.
:Loki: -oh, anything I can help with?
:Arata: -it’s not really a problem that can be solved.
:Loki: -I see, well if you want to talk about it then I am willing to listen, otherwise I honorably welcome you in the ranks of those with problems that cannot be solved. It won’t make you feel any better about your problem, but live with knowledge that you are not alone in in feeling hopeless.
“Feeling hopeless that sounds about right.”
Arata sit on the bench and together with Loki they started enjoying the sounds of hopelessness.
:Arata: -thanks for the thought, I will spare you from listening to my problems just the same. I don’t want to talk about it either. But anyway… did you see Yuki here today?
Arata went back to the original purpose of coming here.
:Loki: -Yuki? She did appear here earlier. I wasn’t really paying attention at that time but heard the sounds. I think that she went on a ride with Torachii…
Loki answered. It seemed that no matter the age, Torachii welcomed any girl to ride on him while at the same time no matter the age refused any male. Both Arata and Levi did want to ride on him once but he was strongly against the idea.
:Loki: -so you come to meet her?
:Arata: -yes, but looks like I will have to wait for her a little.
:Loki: -in that case, you have some time to spare right now, right?
:Arata: -some, but not much, in the evening I am leaving the city.
:Loki: -oh, that’s a shame. But still, you are free right now, right? For an hour or two.
:Arata: -I came here to see Yuki but it’s not like we have anything planned and she isn’t even here so, do you have anything particular in mind?
:Loki: -I kind of do. You see… or rather, you hear what that girl is singing right now, right?
Loki looked up towards the opened window from which very worrying to listen song was coming out.
:Arata: -some kind of suicidal song, I actually never heard this one before.
:Loki: -I on the other hand heard it too many times and while her songs are hopefully just songs, hearing her singing something like this makes me kind of worried.
:Arata: -but didn’t you said that she have every right to be depressed?
:Loki: -that doesn’t change the fact that she should be depressed, right? I happened to have quite a lot of free time on my hands right now and this won’t take even a day so I thought that I could try to make our newest guildmate slightly less upset and I was wondering how to go about it. If you could help me with it, it would be a great. You know her quite well, don’t you?
:Arata: -I wouldn’t say great but well enough to be helpful. Still wouldn’t it be better to get Gerald over here, then? He is the one who knows her the best.
:Loki: -I already thought about it but he can’t really come over here right now, so we have to think up something on our own. So what do you think would cheer her up? Like, what does she likes ?
:Arata: -let’s see… she likes singing.
Arata gave him the obvious answer.
:Loki: -that’s checked. Next?
:Arata: -hmm… she likes that blue scarf of hers.
:Loki: -I can’t say it helps either unless we would be able to get the one who gave it to her but that’s not happening. Any other idea?
:Arata: -I don’t know, what else there is… she likes to play around, be happy and not have to worry about difficult things?
:Loki: -because of certain someone that’s not happening right now either. I believe, it will be hard to convince her to play around as well but that might be our best shoot. Before I also thought of simply taking her out of that room and take her for a walk.
:Arata: -that might be hard though, she really doesn’t seem to be in the mood.
:Haru: -I want to die! I want to die! Nothing matter anymore! I want to die! I want to die! Is there any way to fall?!
The song that Haru was currently signing was extremely fitting.
:Loki: -I don’t know about that, even though the lyrics are like that, she is still does sing with full spirit, doesn’t she?
:Arata: -maybe she doesn’t know what a depressed person should be like. I actually can’t really image her being depressed to be honest.
:Loki: -yea, I actually can’t believe that she can still be so strong after learning all that, either. She is exactly the same as my sister used to describe her. No matter what happens, Haru never loses her faith and will believe that everything will work out in the end. Only now, I finally understood what she meant…
“Everything will work out in the end?”
Arata couldn’t agree with those words, as while he would definitely want to believe them, he knows too well that the reality is too cruel.
:Loki: -so shall we get started?
Loki suddenly stood up and said those words.
:Arata: -started with what?
:Loki: -with cheering up process of course.
:Arata: -but didn’t you just said that there is no need for that and she will get better on her own.
:Loki: -yes, but why shouldn’t we help to make it faster?
:Arata: -okay, so what is your plan?
:Loki: -make her to go out of the room is the starter, then we go somewhere… I don’t know, amusement park maybe? Make her ride a roller-coaster so the speed wipe away the tears or something.
:Arata: -quite poetic, I think that this is a line from one of her songs.
:Loki: -it very might be.
:Arata: -that’s a pretty standard plan though, especially that amusement park part.
:Loki: -it’s was you who said that she likes to play around, wasn’t it?
:Arata: -well I did, and it’s not like I am saying it’s a bad plan. But I am going to leave the convincing to you. I don’t even know what her problem is.
:Loki: -who said anything about convincing, the point is to make her not think about her troubles.
:Arata: -but that doesn’t solve anything.
:Loki: -of course it doesn’t, it’s not like we can do anything about it, so we will make the one thing we can do and that is, to help her live on with it normally.
:Arata: -I guess. So what do you exactly propose on doing?
:Loki: -it might be simple and a little rushed but how about we jump inside her room through the window, grab her and take her outside by force? Before she realizes what happened she will be already outside.
:Arata: -you know Loki. I think that you spend too much time together with Gerald if you can come up with ideas like that.
:Loki: -possibly, but we need to start with something she would never expect to get her in the better mood from the get go. Or do you have a better idea?
“Can’t say I do and this at the very least sounds really effective.”
:Arata: -okay, we will follow this plan.
Arata also stood up and they both prepared to jump inside the opened window on the second floor from which the sounds of music were coming in.
:Loki: -okay, on three. I jump in first you after me. She is holding a guitar right now so you I will take it away from her as we can’t have it break and you grab her somehow right afterwards and jump outside with her.
:Arata: -wait, wait, wait. It was your plan so don’t give me the harder job.
:Loki: -let’s switch it then, so you grab the guitar and leave the rest to me. Ready?
:Arata: -ready.
:Loki: -so. One… Two… THREE!!
Loki jumped up and Arata right after him, although Loki reached the window just a single moment after saying ‘three’.
“When did he get there?”
Arata flied right after him… still even though it took two seconds for him to reach the window, Loki didn’t move away in time so Arata bumped into him and they both fallen on the floor.
:Arata: -hey! Why didn’t you…-?
:Haru: -KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!
Arata tried to ask Loki about that misstep but his question was interrupted with a high tone soprano scream of someone who trained her voice every day.
“What the…?”
Arata lifted his head and looked towards Haru who was sitting on the bed. He immediately understood where that scream came from as short to say, Haru didn’t have much clothing on herself right now, and as she was now only wearing Torachii’s medallion her blue scarf and the black panties. Although after right after the scream, she immediately hid under the blanket.
:Arata: -… .
:Loki: -… .
:Haru: -what are you two doing here!? How could peek on me like that… ?
With a tears in eyes, asked them. Currently only her head was popping out from inside the bed. Needless to say, the original plan was impossible to carry out anymore.
:Loki: -that certainly wasn’t our intention.
Even in this situation, Loki managed to quickly calm down and answer like that after standing up.
:Haru: -then why did you enter through the window?
:Loki: -Arata came over and wanted to say hello so we came through the fastest way possible as he doesn’t have that much time.
“Don’t make it my fault.”
Is what Arata would want to say but after Loki made such believable lie, he didn’t want to ruin it.
:Haru: -that still isn’t an excuse to enter young maiden room!
:Loki: -yes, it was a mistake on our part, you have our deepest apology, now if you allow us…
Loki showed Arata quick blink and jumped outside back to the garden, Arata followed right after him.
After landing Loki then turned towards Arata and said.
:Loki: -let’s pretend that this never happened.
:Arata: -yea, I also don’t want to ever return to that.
Arata agreed to that ask but unfortunately something like this was never easily forgotten.
:Torachii: -Haru! What happened!?
Few seconds later Torachii came back running with Yuki at his back. He stopped in the garden and ignoring both Arata and Loki shouted to the window.
:Haru: -nothing! I will come down in few minutes so just wait there!
Haru answered and second after the window to her room was slammed with the wind and the curtains inside were moved as well.
:Torachii: -hey, sorry for that, are you okay?
After hearing that nothing big happened Torachii asked his passenger about her well-being as Yuki was currently sitting on him while her head was spinning her head in circle.
:Yuki: -daijobu desu.
She answered just to fall forward on Torachii’s body second later. It seemed like he overdid himself a second ago with coming back which wasn’t good for an inexperienced raider he was caring.
:Torachii: -hey you two, can you tell if something happened to Haru just now?
Torachii then asked Arata and Loki about his master, skipping the ‘hello process’ as even though he heard nothing happened something had to cause that scream.
:Arata: -nothing really happen.
:Loki: -maybe it was a spider or something.
They both just looked away avoiding Torachii’s look.
:Torachii: -no, Haru isn’t afraid of insects, she rather like to play with them. But oh well, she herself said it was nothing so I came back running needlessly. Hey, kiddo, you should get down and rest a little.
:Yuki: -hai…
Torachii sit laid down and Yuki went off him landing on the ground but quickly standing up seeing who was there.
:Yuki: -oh, Onii-chan, you came!
:Arata: -of course I did, we were to meet here after all. But Yuki, I have to tell you something… .
:Yuki: -um… .
It felt like just on a single glance, Yuki understood what Arata was going to say and needless to say, she wasn’t happy about it.
:Arata: -well, that can wait for later… .
Arata escaped the issue for now but.
:Yuki: -Onii-chan are you leaving?
Faced with this question, Arata decided to not leave it for later.
:Arata: -yes, I have something important to do.
:Yuki: -can I go with you?
:Arata: -it’s better if you don’t.
:Yuki: -why is it better? Onii-chan doesn’t want me to go with him?
:Arata: -of course it’s not that. It’s just I will be going to a dangerous place soon and before doing that, I need to get stronger as otherwise I will die in that place instantly and I can’t afford myself to do that. So before going there I am planning to do a little training and I don’t want to be disturbed by anything. Most importantly though I don’t want to have you take unnecessary risk and… .
:Yuki: -but I want to help Onii-chan and even if it’s dangerous place, I don’t mind dying if it comes to that. Onii-chan doesn’t have to feel guilty either. Going on adventure with Onii-chan is worth anything! I promise I won’t disturb Onii-chan while you train although if possible I want to help in that as well!!
:Arata: -… .
Even after hearing this Arata still didn’t want to agree.
:Torachii: -Arata, if she is willing to go that far you have no right to stop her. As Haru always says, adventurers are free to do whatever they want.
Torachii stepped in and spoke on Yuki’s behalf.
“I am still not sure whatever this is such a good idea but on the other hand, training alone can get me only that far, especially when training basic magic. I can use it to a certain degree but whatever I will be able to use it in battle is the most concerning matter. I was planning to test it on some monsters before but that might not be the safest, so if I had someone’s help it would help a lot. As for going to heavens… there probably isn’t anyone who would regret dying just to see it and yes, just as he said, Yuki has the right to do whatever she wants. I shouldn’t treat her differently because she is young and I feel like she is my sister to take care off. Didn’t I also hate that treatment back then?”
After thinking about it for a little Arata gave the quick answer.
:Arata: -okay, you can come with me.
:Yuki: -really?
:Arata: -of course, I wouldn’t lie to you.
:Yuki: -thank you! I love you Onii-chan!
In happiness, Yuki run up to Arata and hug him.
:Loki: -Arata, you said that you will be busy after today but you meant by that that you are going for a training?
After this touching moment Loki asked.
:Arata: -yes, even if only by a little I need to get stronger no matter what.
Hearing such strong answer Loki raised his eyebrows for a second and replied.
:Loki: -seems like you are not doing it just because. Is your goal that important?
:Arata: -yes.
:Loki: -is it urgent as well? If not you don’t need to rush things and…-
:Arata: -it is urgent. It isn’t something I can delay forever, even the gap this training session might be pushing it too much, although this is something already arranged so there is nothing I can do about it.
:Loki: -I see…
Loki stopped in thought for nearly ten seconds but it seemed like he had something to say so Arata waited.
:Loki: -you know… this might be a way too early but even before we created our Guild, I was supposed to teach our melee fighters how to use their in bodies correctly. I am rather knowledgeable on the subject and I also believe that the teaching method I came up with will bring good results really quickly. The original plan was to teach you all that before you go for 200th level barrier when our guild is already bigger and many new people join but if you are that eager to get stronger right now, I offer my help in doing so.
The sudden offer was better than Arata could have hope but resisting the temptation he quickly answered.
:Arata: -I appreciate the offer but as I told you I am going to a different place after today and it’s quite far from here.
:Loki: -the place doesn’t matter.
:Arata: -it’s quite far from here though. It’s city called Karma, far in the west.
:Loki: -Karma? That’s indeed quite far but it still doesn’t matter, we actually can easily do most of the training on our way there.
:Arata: -I am using the teleport though.
:Loki: -I see that still doesn’t matter though. I take it that you can take other people with you given you agreed to take Yuki along but even if that option is unavailable for me… well the last time I made that run it took me three days and it was quite a while back. So I would give you the first instructions here and you can expect me to join you on the third day.
“Run?”
:Arata: -wait you mean that you can cover that distance in three days?
:Loki: -words carry little weight so if you teleport to Karma right now and I will see you in three days.
“Is that guy serious? I know that people can achieve a great speed in this game but it’s more two month long journey by normal means… no let’s forget about that and think about this offer? Asking someone for huge advice, I wanted to avoid that, especially when the first person that came to my mind that could help me was Gerald and there is nothing that will make me listen to him while he is being a smartass. Loki is different though and right now I am in no position to worry about my pride. Let’s accept it.”
:Arata: -I will make sure to pay you back for it.
:Loki: -don’t even mention it, we are guildmates after all. Also, naturally if we are already doing it, you too should join this training Yuki, if you want that is.
Saying this Loki looked at her.
:Yuki: -yes! I want to join!
:Loki: -I thought you will, still before you two accept it fully, I need to give you a small warning. The reason why I planned to start this training before 200th level barrier was not only because I wanted to have many people doing it at the same time. It was also so you can all play and enjoy the game fully as everyone else. We handpicked you the best players in low levels and we already speed up your grow substantially. Nowadays good players like yourself will still take about a year to reach 99th level and prepare to complete the 100th level barrier fully. In your case though, it was just few months though. Even after entering 100-200th level range you all would still fall in the top 10% of players in that level range, especially with 100th level barrier stage three rewards. But after you complete this training I have in mind, you can probably safely assume that under 200th level, you will never face a challenge for other player again.
:Arata: -and why would that be bad?
:Loki: -don’t you know that in games, there is nothing more boring than overwhelming strength, it will be as if you suddenly put this game on easy mode. Simply put it, you won’t be able to enjoy the game the same way that others do anymore.
:Arata: -it’s not that big of a worry though, if the game becomes too easy at this level I will just have to level up until it becomes hard again. Also Loki, you are wrong about one thing. No matter what you have in store there, we will always be challengers that have no hope of winning against the strongest player under 200th level. In any case this price is something that I am easily going to pay, not to mention if the game system allows it, getting strong quickly is nothing else than using your time to the fullest.
:Loki: -I see, and what about you Yuki?
:Yuki: -if Onii-chan is doing it then I will as well.
Yuki quickly agreed although it was possible she would decline should Arata done so.
:Loki: -alright then. So Arata, how is with that teleport?
:Arata: -you should be able to teleport as well… still before that, I still need to meet my teammates to arrange with them everything, that’s few hours from now. For now though, don’t we still have ‘the operation cheer up’ to finish still?
Arata pointed out but then.
:Haru: -who are you trying to cheering up? Let me help out as well! I am good at it!
Haru suddenly appeared behind him and spoke in her usual cheerful voice. Needless to say she was now wearing her usual clothing from which only the blue scarf fit the cold late autumn weather.
:Torachii: -it’s probably you who they wanted to cheer up.
Torachii answered to her spoiling the secret.
:Haru: -me? But I am completely fine.
:Torachii: -are you… then what do you think about what that guy said. It didn’t sound like he was lying.
:Haru: -of course! Yang would never lie to me, but Torachii, you have to understand that he is simply really stupid sometimes. He always focus on bad things and never see the full picture. Destroying this world just because of those things, ahhhh… he is so stupid. This world is full of people’s dreams. No matter what reason he has, he have no right to take away those dreams. He has no right to destroy friendships and even closer relations that people built thanks to this world over those past ten years. He has no right to take away NPCs homes and lives either, they are people as well, just like us. Create a disaster to prevent a disaster that might never happen, ahhh… he is so stupid, and he worries too much, people can adapt and still be happy no matter what happens to them!
“They can still be happy?”
:Torachii: -then what about what happened that friend of yours?
:Haru: -… I already expected it to be something like that. I was just upset that Yang believed that it’s fine to leave it as it is but I will definitely find a way to make it right.
“How can she always be so positive? … anytime I see her like this I can’t help but think that what she says is completely baseless… yet at the same time, I also want to believe that miracles can happen.”
Observing Haru who laid her head on his shoulder from behind, Arata thought like that. Being a breath away Haru naturally saw that.
:Haru: -what is it Arata? Have you fallen in love with me, if so my offer still stands.
:Arata: -I am fine, thank you, can you move away.
:Haru: -ah you are so cute when I tease you like that…
She circled around him but then her eyes stopped on Yuki. Who was hiding in front of Arata this entire time since she appeared.
-waw…
Her eyes went wide at first but then she immediately asked.
:Haru: -please tell me that she is also a member of our guild!?
:Arata: -well she is…-
:Haru: -yey!…
Haru made a slight jump and quickly landed on her knees to reach with height Yuki’s level.
:Haru: -hi! I’m Haru! Your new guildmate, please be my friend!
Yuki was usually ‘shy’ around new people but Arata did not miss the moment her eyes light up on word friend and when Haru stretched her hand towards her, Yuki grab it back to make a handshake.
:Yuki: -I’m Yuki.
:Haru: -such a nice name. Hey Yuki, do you like singing songs?
Still Haru was definitely too quick for her.
:Yuki: -eh…?
:Haru: -do you? Do you!?
:Yuki: -no, I am bad at it.
:Haru: -it doesn’t matter whatever you are bad at it or not. If you like to do something just do it and eventually you will become better and even if you don’t it doesn’t matter. So, do you like singing songs?
:Yuki: -‘nod’.
:Haru: -great! Then let’s sing together!
Haru with a cheer jumped upward and afterwards looked in the direction of the window that right now was open once again. It seemed that she came out through it. Haru didn’t go for it personally but the guitar came out of that window second later and it flied towards Haru, carried by the wind.
:Yuki: -but, but, I heard how you sing at morning, I will just get in the way.
Seeing how everything was happening too fast, Yuki stopped hiding behind Arata and straightforward said to Haru.
:Haru: -why would you? While singing the most important part is to have fun yourself. Don’t mind the others who will listen to you and will throw at you banana peels, tomatoes and such.
“This was supposed to be encouragement, right?”
Haru gave such image to Yuki and Yuki looked in the direction of potential listeners.
:Loki: -no, we won’t.
Loki waved to her in calming manner but while afterwards she stopped looking towards them Yuki still wasn’t sure it was going to be a good idea.
:Haru: -see! You don’t even have to worry about that. As for me no matter how bad you are I can’t help but want to sing with someone else at the same time.
:Yuki: -but you want to sing an English song right? I don’t remember enough any and I am not good enough with English to sing either.
:Haru: -then it’s even more the reason you should sing. I’m also not a native English speaker and from my experience singing is much easier than speaking! Singing also helped me becoming fluent at speaking as well.
:Yuki: -… oh, I couldn’t tell! Then, what country Haru is from?
:Haru: -that’s a secret but to celebrate the beginning of our friendship I will tell you, but you are not to tell anyone, it will be our first secret between friends, okay?
:Yuki: -‘nod’.
“Now that I think about it, I did know that she isn’t American but I never bother to ask, where is from… not that I care that much…”
Arata thought but seeing Haru whispering the answer directly to Yuki’s ear immediately made him curious for some reason and thoughts like “in games it doesn’t matter what nationality one is from” suddenly disappeared from his mind. Just curiosity and the thought that he doesn’t know something that he could know was too much. Arata still managed to keep stoic face though.
After Haru finished Yuki suddenly raised her hand towards her, in particular the little finger from the right hand.
:Haru: -I am supposed to catch it?
Haru did know what was the purpose of it but on instinct caught it back with the little finger from her right hand.
:Yuki: -this is Yubikiri, in my country it’s a way that someone promises to keep someone’s secret…
Yuki explained and then she shake the head upward and downward while saying some rhythmic saying in Japanese.
:Yuki: -Yubikiri genman uso tsuitara hari senbon nomasu!
What she actually just said was quite terrifying if Arata understood the meaning of it.
:Haru: -haha… I like it… one more time!
:Yuki: -one time is enough.
:Haru: -no I meant let’s do it together, Yuki-chan!
:Yuki: -…?
:Haru: -on three.
:Haru, Yuki: =Yubikiri genman uso tsuitara hari senbon nomasu!…
The process was then repeated with Haru also joining the Japanese’s babbling. At least this was how it seemed to Arata as faced with unknown language all he could hear were some strange noise.
Afterwards Haru stopped bowing down and explained what she did earlier.
:Haru: -I used to have Japanese friend, not sure where she is now but I learned little from her, like adding horrific at the end. I came to like it a lot so from now on I will call you Yuki-chan! Similar to how I used to call my friend.
:Yuki: -…!…
The speed at which Haru was making Yuki her friend here was unbelievable. Arata thought that it was he who managed to do it quickly as after all it took only one battle but Haru was aiming for an unbeatable record here, although that just showed a difference in personalities.
:Yuki: -then… Haru-neesan.
Arata saw it coming for some time now. Surprisingly though, Haru hearing this immediately shake her head and said.
:Haru: -no no no no no, not Haru-neesan but Haru-chan!
:Yuki: -eh…?
:Haru: -my friend use to call me that as well and I like it the most! We are friends and age doesn’t matter. So, Yuki-chan! Onegai!
:Yuki: -… Haru-chan.
:Haru: -yey… .
Haru was extremely happy hearing it to the point it was impossible to think she was depressed.
:Loki: -mission accomplished.
Loki whispered to Arata although it was hard to say whatever the cheer up mission was even needed to begin with. If anything though, the two of them didn’t do anything that would help at all.
:Haru: -now then let’s choose something to sing… I can teach you some songs later but for now, no matter where you live you probably heard some holidays songs at least, like Last Christmas or White Christmas or if I any other Christmas. Even if you don’t remember it perfectly it’s fine we will pull through.
:Yuki: -I like White Christmas.
:Haru: -oh, then it’s decided.
“But it’s summer right now!!”
How did Haru decide on this song in this time of the year Arata did not know although if anything the current EOA’s timeline as well as the weather was as if it could start snowing at any moment. It was still little too quick for this magical moment to happen
Haru and Yuki afterwards sit down on the bench on which Loki was earlier sleeping and they started singing. It turned out that Yuki wasn’t worrying over nothing and her usually quiet voice was cracking every few moments but with Haru encouragement fighting through those mistakes Yuki tried her best. Haru was really considerate to her as while usually she wasn’t trying to sing quietly even in the songs that should have been song quiet, right now she was adjusting the volume of her voice so Yuki could be heard as well.
:Loki: -she really never have enough of it.
Loki whispered to Arata.
:Arata: -you would normally think that after all that singing she would have enough but no, she doesn’t. In our journey anytime the conversation died out she would make the silence go away with those songs immediately.
:Loki: -she would be good traveling companion then.
:Arata: -not if you want to sleep for too long though.
:Loki: -you can always ask her to sing you a lullaby.
:Arata, Loki: =hyhyhy… .
They had their quiet exchange but Haru noticing it shouted out.
:Haru: -what are you two grinning at! You are not thinking about throwing tomatoes are you? If, so I will not forgive!
:Arata: -why is she going on those tomatoes again?
Ignoring that Arata whispered again.
:Loki: -I don’t know. Maybe she has some bad memories with them… but in that case…
Loki suddenly turned around and second afterwards Arata just felt the whiff of force that suddenly passed by him. Then even though he was just looking at him directly, he realized that Loki suddenly disappeared somewhere.
About twenty seconds later the same thing happened but this time it was Loki appearing again.
:Loki: -look behind me but don’t laugh.
Right after coming back Loki whispered again. At this point though Arata already noticed what he was told to look at. It was a small paper bag with few red tomatoes inside it.
:Arata: -… really?
It was a hard thing not to laugh, so Arata stopped on grinning.
:Loki: -I couldn’t stop myself and it’s she who is asking to get teased, doesn’t she? Well I am not going to throw it but just give it to her, do the clapping in the meantime.
At this point it was too late to go back and Arata also wanted to see the Haru reactions to this.
The song eventually ended. It couldn’t be called perfect performance by any means as not only Yuki voice cracked from time to time and the tempo and simultaneous singing was far from perfect but the main purpose of having fun was achieved by all means.
Following the plan Arata started clapping when Loki made the first step.
:Loki: -it was a great performance, it has touched our hearts. Because of that to give you our thanks we prepared a gift.
:Haru: -gift?
Haru looked at Loki with suspicious.
:Loki: -yes, here.
Loki passed the brown bag with round objects inside it.
:Arata: -what could it be?
Yuki got interested in it as well but in that moment.
:Arata: -hey Yuki, come over for a second.
To not make her Arata called her, and when that happened Yuki completely forgotten about the bag and immediately changing her focus as it was rather rare for Arata to as her like that.
In the meantime Haru opened the bag and looked inside.
:Haru: -…!…
She slowly grabbed one of the tomatoes and took it outside and as she did her face was becoming angrier and angrier. In the end the first tomatoes that she took out was squeezed strongly in her hand an it’s insides splinted in every direction.
:Haru: -ha… ha… ha… very funny.
Needless to say, Haru wasn’t laughing while saying this which for her was rather unusual.
:Arata: -just so you know, I had no idea about that. So, Yuki… .
Arata tried his best to stay away from this and pretend that he was not involved as he was really talking with Yuki at the moment. But that didn’t help as second later Haru released her anger and the remaining potatoes that were inside the bag were one after another used as the ammunition.
:Haru: -so this is the true nature of a perfect brother that Kyori was supposed to have! ALL LIES! With her not here though I will make you walk the correct path!…
The first closer target of her anger was obviously Loki and while the tomatoes were thrown at ‘normal human rate’, Loki pretended to dodge them carefully and all the tomatoes that were thrown at him hit the mark and he fall to the ground ‘defeated’.
:Haru: -and don’t think I forgotten about you either!…
At that point though Haru was still left with one tomato and using it this time she made it a fastball that with incredible speed sniped Arata’s head even though he was crouching down behind Yuki at the moment. And while Loki was playing being dead, the snipe that Arata received was nothing to laugh about.
:Haru: -justice has been served.
:Yuki: -Onii-chan!
Tomatoes were also adding the effect of blood so for a second there Arata really looked like he was dead there, which took out Yuki’s reaction.
:Haru: -Yuki-chan! Leave them alone… ah… I can’t believe I have such idiots as the guildmates.
Haru once again commented but then.
:Loki: -yes, we are idiots…
Suddenly she got response from Loki who obviously turned out to not be dead. The voice he used however was slightly different than before though. It was his usual voice that was always on the serious note. Adding to that, after standing up he light up his cigarette. After he blew the first smoke from that cigarette and that smoke flied through his yellow hair he continued, still seriously.
:Loki: -but you will have to get used to this Haru, as from now on, those idiots will be your comrades.
:Haru: -… .
:Loki: -we all have our past and have many people that we once knew but there is no need for you to chase after those that disappeared and do not wish to be found. Some things can never be the same but it doesn’t mean that that the change is always for worse. Your old friends may not always be there for you but they will not forget you. Even if they do right now you have whole bunch of new friends that came to you in a large promotion package called guild.
:Haru: -… .
Arata could not tell where that came from, especially in such serious tone but then he suddenly saw something unexpected. Haru who was throwing tomatoes in crazy manner just a second ago suddenly started leak tears out of her eyes. It seemed that she herself didn’t realize it immediately as only after touching her face she realized she was doing so.
:Yuki: -Haru-chan?
:Arata: -shh!
Yuki not knowing what was happening asked quietly but Arata silenced her afterwards.
Haru started wiping her tears but no matter how she went about it they did not stop flowing.
:Haru: -haha… I wonder what’s this about? Did something enter my eyes?
Haru tried to pretend it was nothing but she could not fool with this anyone.
:Loki: -it’s time to let it go… even though I know this we aren’t what you were searching for, you are not alone anymore.
:Haru: -haha… what are you talking about… and also as if I could have Kyori’s little brother being worrying about me.
“So she really was depressed, no she still is and maybe it’s quite obvious that she is. I don’t know what she found out about but the person she meet had clearly made her sad. She wouldn’t seal herself off in the room for three days otherwise. Not her at the very least”
Arata realized this just now as while Haru was definitely not pretending about being happy while singing together with Yuki, her worries were far from being solved. Still even though earlier on Loki said ‘mission accomplished’, this did not escape his eyes so he continued that mission anyway.
:Loki: -well even if you say that, it couldn’t be helped. It is especially guild vice-leader’s duty to make sure that no one in the guild feels bad, especially just after joining. Otherwise it’s a failure for the entire guild, isn’t it you two?
Saying this Loki turned towards Arata and Yuki.
“Arata, Yuki” =yes.
They couldn’t find the right words in this situation so they just answered like that while nodding. About at this point Haru stopped crying. She first heavily sighted and said.
:Haru: -ahhh… right after joining I am already making problems and have my guildmates worry about me…. Well I can’t say I don’t like being worried about but it’s only a failure on my part, so…
She somehow went back to her normal self in a single moment although maybe not entirely as she afterwards went before Loki and while saluting him as if they were in army started.
:Haru: -this newbie is apologizing for her tremendous behavior and asks the vice-leader for suitable punishment. She promises that she will try her best from now on!
After that she stopped saluting and march off in army like manner.
:Everyone: =hahaha… .
After that everyone Haru included, laughed as what she did was just too ridiculous. Haru was the first one to finish though and then she once again turned to Loki and little more seriously answered.
:Haru: -thanks I feel better now.
:Loki: -you don’t need to pretend, you won’t feel truly better until you beat the crap of that guy, right?
:Haru: -hahaha… how did you know? But I wasn’t pretending, just now, while you did somehow manage to bring it out with what you said, it takes much more than that to make me sad, so it was a needless worry.
:Loki: -it’s not like I was worried that much… you know what my sister once told me about you… no matter what happens, Haru never loses her hope.
:Haru: -she did? I didn’t though that she would talk about me with someone else.
:Loki: -yes, she usually doesn’t do that but she would never get tired of talking about you. I always wanted to thank you for being such a good friend to her.
:Haru: -what there is to thank for, it’s an obvious thing to do, she is my best friend as well! But she wasn’t fair with this one. She told me about you just a little, while you seem to know quite a lot.
:Loki: -that’s how she is, I am not interesting enough topic for her.
:Haru: -it wasn’t that little don’t worry… you know, I would like to talk about her with you once, you probably know her from a completely different side than everyone else.
:Loki: -you mean things like she still wet her bed at the age of ten?
:Haru: -hahaha! Exactly that! But you know, I think I realized today that she lied to me about something.
:Loki: -hmm… about what?
:Haru: -well maybe it wasn’t exactly the lie but she simply didn’t give say enough. Kyori’s little brother is much cooler than she said.
After saying that she laughed in sweet manner and turned away.
:Loki: -thanks I guess.
Loki answered surprised at her words although he had little idea why she said that, but getting a sudden complement was never bad. After that he tried to put back his cigarettes to his mouth but when he did so he suddenly realize that his cigarette was reduced to minimal length as if it was cut by something when he wasn’t looking.
:Haru: -no smoking, it’s not good for your health.
Haru declared while walking away towards the doors of the villa and while Loki would like to use his usual answer that smoking in the game was fine for health, he was not given the opportunity to do so he just scratched the back of his head and then took another one.
In the meantime of all that.
:Yuki: -hey Onii-chan. doesn’t Haru-chan and Loki-sensei behaved kind of strange there?
:Arata: -what do you mean by strange?
:Yuki: -I don’t really know.
:Arata: -well he was trying to help her out with depression and there isn’t really a good defined way to do it so he was probably improvising, turned out great I must say. More importantly though, when did you start calling Loki, Loki-sensei?
:Yuki: -he is going to teach us something right… therefore Loki-sensei!
:Arata: -I see, but does that mean that anyone who is teaching you something will be called sensei by you.
:Yuki: -if it’s something worth learning then yes. It’s important to add this horrification as a sign of respect.
:Arata: -then how about when you were traveling with Gerald. You also called him such?
:Yuki: -no, I did not because leader wants to be called leader no matter what but now that I was accepted as a student from now on Loki-sensei is Loki-sensei.
“Well if she wants to do it then she can… I can’t wait to see his reaction.”
:Haru: -Maya! I am hungry!
After entering the villa Haru called out loudly. Going by her own pace she did what she wanted. As for Torachii he returned to her medallion when he saw her walking away.
:Loki: -that’s not the worst idea.
Loki followed after her and so did Arata and Yuki as they also didn’t eat anything today yet.
It’s been rather a long time ever since Arata had an occasion to taste the maid Maya’s cooking but ever since the last time, he had not forgotten the taste. One of the main reasons why he came here today rather than meet up with Yuki somewhere was just for that alone.
As they ate, Loki brought up rather interesting topic to Arata.
:Loki: -I think you mentioned something about it but I heard rumors that the so called strongest player under 200th is currently within this city. I felt it was strange hearing words like it’s impossible to win from you, so did you perhaps encounter her?
:Arata: -you could say so.
Faced with such question Arata answered with little care, in that moment though Haru whose mouth was currently full of meat pointed at him and said.
:Haru: -whsat dyo maen, yiu…?
It was rather impossible to understand her though and in the middle of that sentence she choked. After drinking the water though she returned to normal and once again, complained.
:Haru: -what do you mean by ‘you could say so’! He is talking about Rin isn’t he?
:Arata: -… .
Arata looked away as he had a reason to do so but afterwards Haru continued.
:Haru: -right Loki! Gerald told me to bring that person to Capital so he can convince her to join our guild but he isn’t here!? What’s the meaning of this! Do you have an idea how hard it was to get her to come here? Ah I forgotten about it when I first meet him but oh I am going back to complain to him about that just he waits!…
She said and even stood up as if she was planning on going right away but then after looking back at the food she changed her mind.
:Haru: -nah, maybe other time. But it’s his lost then, I did what he asked for.
Truth to be told Haru didn’t have to do any convincing in the first place as Rin was coming here regardless, for the same purpose Arata did. Probably because she didn’t do anything Haru completely forgotten about this matter up until now.
:Loki: -I see… so Haru, you saw her with your own eyes and you are one of the best when it comes to judging someone’s power, right?… I heard that it’s someone that has been rejecting guild offers for few years, basically from everyone as everyone asked but do you think that she is worth the effort to get her on our side? How would you describe her?
:Haru: -hmm… how to say it?… if I had to describe her in a single word then it would be… scary.
:Loki: -scary?
:Haru: -yes, scary… if you saw her you wouldn’t think that her level is below 200th… if I had to compare her to how ‘we’ used to be before passing the 200th level barrier then she would easily defeat any of us. Even right now recently, Torachii had problems dealing with her!
:Torachii: -hey! What do you mean by problems!? Haru. It’s you who called me back at that time… I didn’t lose! Ah! I will get that girl next time! Arata where is she? I was going to let it slide but now that I think about it, how can I forget what she did to my tail!
Torachii who was currently siting back in the medallion called out feeling mocked.
:Haru: -easy Torachii, easy I believe that you would have won don’t worry.
:Torachii: -… .
:Haru: -anyway I was just trying to say that she is unbelievably strong, but the scariest part is her grow potential. She learned to use unseen movement in a week or two, could you believe it?
:Loki: -at her level? Is that even possible.
:Haru: -well she is adding a skill to fully make it happen but even then it’s not like skill actually can help that much. Her class has agility and movement stats on S level or higher.
:Loki: -I see, that’s rather promising.
:Haru: -but in any case, it’s Arata who knows her the best so ask him instead…
It didn’t seem like Haru was particularly displeased with talking about Rin, and she knew quite a lot but right now she had something more important to do.
:Haru: -‘munch, munch, munch’.
Her mouth was once again completely filled with food second later.
:Loki: -so, Arata, if you are that person friend then maybe you could…-
:Arata: -you don’t even have to finish. I understand what you want to say…
Arata interrupted Loki’s ask.
:Arata: -but my answer is no and if possible I would prefer if you didn’t bother her with this. She has her reasons for now wanting to get involved in guilds.
:Yuki: -Onii-chan I also want Rin to join.
:Arata: -I know and the one who would want it the most is me but it’s really not right to ask her to do so. If that situation ever changes though I will be the first one to invite her but until then, I would ask you not to bother her with something like that… tell it to Gerald as well.
:Loki: -… I see… then we will do as you say.
Hearing Arata’s serious tone, Loki agree but.
:Haru: -Arata sorry to tell you that but that impossible.
Haru stated this time after chewing the whole food before speaking.
:Arata: -what do you mean impossible?
:Haru: -I mean, sure we will not bother her but if by some chance Gerald ever meets her then he will not stop bothering her till she accepts. If that happens the only way for Rin to escape from him would be to stop playing the game all together although even that won’t be enough to stop him.
:Arata: -well I for one know how abnormal he can behave while inviting people but if you tell him this seriously then he should understand.
:Haru: -well you can sleep safe as long as he doesn’t see her with his own eyes but if he does then it’s over. No matter what her circumstances might be, it will be too late to stop him at that point.
“Well I always kind of imaged it that it would happen but…”
:Arata: -ah, why does he has to be so annoying to deal with.
:Haru: -he was always like that although it’s not that bad… this time you could say that Rin is simply unlucky. If it was about anyone else there would still be a room for a dialogue but not with her.
:Arata: -and why is that?
:Haru: -that’s simple, Gerald loves the red color.
:Arata: -…, that’s the reason?
Arata could not tell whatever she was joking or not but it seemed that that was her true reason.
:Haru: -yes, and don’t treat it lightly I know what I am talking about. Anything that is red will be his prey. Rin’s hair have that beautiful dark crimson color even normal person would think so. What’s more that color is extremely similar to his, as if they were siblings… I truly can’t image him letting her go after seeing that hair of hers.
:Arata: -sure I also love that about her but could there be any more stupid reason than this!!?
Arata said out so loudly angry at the man who even though wasn’t her could still annoy him from the distance. But somehow the moment he did so, the other three looked at him in strange way and then went back quietly to eating.
“What’s with them?”
Arata couldn’t tell what was the reason for that.
After taking few bites Loki said.
:Loki: -well, it’s not like Gerald will go personally look for her and the chances of meeting someone randomly in this world is rather low.
:Haru: -meaning that as long as we don’t tell him those details about her you can rest assured. Also you don’t have to worry about what I said Arata, I didn’t meant liking red things in that way, I would rather say that Gerald is incapable of those feelings.
:Arata: -what feelings?
Arata asked as he had completely no idea what Haru just talked about, Haru did not answer though and she returned to eat how very delicious salad. After she finished though, as if completely changing the conversation, Haru asked.
:Haru: -right Arata, how is the quest going? Did you managed to acquire what you came here for.
:Arata: -I thought you know about it but yes we got it. Although because of your friend that matter got extremely complicated for no reason.
Originally they were simply supposed to grab the quest item from Morhen and return but maybe it was the magic of quest of rank three that brought all those troubles.
:Haru: -Torachii did indeed mention something about it. I passed the words so you don’t have to worry about it anymore but you can’t really blame Yang for taking that item, can you? Everyone is free to do whatever they want. If you didn’t want it to be stolen then you should have defend it better… I am not trying to take his side but that’s how this world works.
:Arata: -sure, I don’t blame him, but it’s quite unfair when someone at his level interferes with a quest of low levels like us.
-well, it all worked out in the end so leave it at that.
-easy for you to say when because of all that I can’t count the number of times that I nearly died.
There were actually a lot of those times in those few recent days. Starting with the night in which Arata first got involved with assassins and nearly died few time. Then adding to that a short encounter with Hatsu in which Hatsu went crazy for a second and nearly killed him over a misunderstanding and then lastly everything that happened in the dark district undergrounds where Arata’s near death experience count went easily to double digits.
:Haru: -but that’s hardly anyone’s fault, is it? Things like that happen all the time. Also if you knew that Yang did it then you could simply tell me about it and I would get that item for you. We are guildmates after all.
“Yes, it would be much easier but I didn’t know it was the same person!… still there is no need to complain about it to her and I as just pointing out the fact. Even if he is your friend I will get my revenge eventually.”
:Arata: -as you said the end result is the same because of all that commotion few interesting things happened as well.
:Haru: -yep, the fact that you can never expect what will happen is what makes this world so funny to live in. Still I will scold him for bulling low level players if I remember about it. But anyway I asked you about the quest to find out what are you going to do from now on… are you going back to Karma, to finish up the quest?
:Arata: -yes, that’s the plan.
Arata answered skipping the detail about planned training.
:Haru: -do you want me to come and help out?
:Arata: -eh? But weren’t you like going to look for friends or something?
:Haru: -I already did found those that I wanted to find the most and others can wait. Rather right now I was considering either going to pass 300th level barrier or do something else. Breaking the barrier became somewhat more interesting after I heard both Gerald and Yang stories how miserably they both failed on doing so. The one thing I am afraid though is that after I pass it I will be send somewhere far again, so I will put it on hold for now. At the same time I confirmed that no one else completed quest of rank 3 that you are doing so that’s currently seems most interesting and even if I won’t be completing it directly myself I want to see it happening, even black dragon appeared the last time didn’t he?
“I wouldn’t ask for it myself but no matter how I look at it this offer is too good to pass on. The thing that we are most lacking to complete this quest is firepower potential. Us three are simply too low level for this kind of quest. Even if I and Levi can fight on par with over 200th level adventurers and Rin is ultimately broken in power level beyond reason, we will definitely lose if it comes to direct combat. I mean last time there was the whole army of demons, angels and the dragon for the dessert. With Haru our chances of completing the quest would rise from ‘nonexistent 0.0000001%’ to ‘hopeless 1%’, which would be a great improvement! On personal level it’s shouldn’t be a problem either as Rin already know her so she shouldn’t complain after I talk with her a little. Ah, right what about Yuki?… well I agreed to her joining without thinking about it but there shouldn’t be any complains in that regard either. Well Rin will obviously complain but not enough to force them to go away.”
While Arata was thinking about it though, someone else voice an opinion.
:Loki: -a quest of rank three, is that the reason for which you wanted to get stronger?
:Arata: -well, yea… .
Arata answered simplistically like that although his true wish to get stronger was coming from completely different direction. As of right now he did not care about this quest too much anymore.
:Loki: -‘sigh’.
Hearing the answer, Loki first sighted heavily, drank the water from the cup and then light up the cigarette yet again.
:Haru: -no smoking!
Holding off Haru’s who tried to take it away he started.
:Loki: -Arata, I am not sure whatever you remember or not but didn’t we tell you once to not do quests of this rank.
:Arata: -you did?
Arata feigned the ignorance, although while taking this quest he did remember it clearly.
:Loki: -…
It seemed that Loki saw through that but without addressing the issue continued.
:Loki: -I have no right to force you but… Arata stop doing that quest.
Despite his first words, what followed after was at least on the level of strong advice.
:Arata: -sorry but I have no intention of doing that.
Without moment of thought though, Arata just as strongly answered.
:Haru: -exactly, why should he stop! Sure it’s difficult quest but we can simply support him and…-
:Loki: -Haru, I thought that Gerald and Arcon did explain everything to you that part, didn’t they?
:Haru: -…
Loki then turned to her and Haru’s face went blank for a second but only for a second as afterwards with the same vigor she answered.
:Haru: -if we worry about things like that then we might as well stop playing this game all together! Also those consequences, isn’t it’s actually a good thing! I see no reason why one should avoid it, rather I personally want to obtain it and if I get an opportunity to do so I won’t allow anyone to get in my way of doing so.
:Loki: -… .
Arata didn’t know what they were talking about but for some reason Loki was left speechless and he even let the cigarette fall out of his mouth and land on the table.
:Haru: -also, isn’t it too late at this point. After Yang pointed it out to me I remembered experiencing those things already tehe… .
:Loki: -… .
:Haru: -I am rather kind of happy because of it.
:Loki: -do you really think that it’s fine?
:Haru: -people can adapt and one shouldn’t be afraid of changes and definitely he should deem them evil even before they happen… I am not surprised that Yang worries about it as he always saw everything in black colors, it seems that you also are on that end. I see things differently though.
Haru said with broad smile.
:Loki: -it’s nice to be carefree.
Loki answered while picking up the cigarette whose flame didn’t die out.
:Haru: -I’m not carefree, I thought about it in last few days I can only see the great possibilities. Everything can be good and evil, depending on how you look at it… so Arata, don’t worry about what this guy said and let me help with the quest!
:Yuki: -yes, me too Onii-chan.
Yuki who was as clueless as Arata about this conversation added as even though Arata already agreed earlier.
:Arata: -if I wasn’t planning to complete this quest then I wouldn’t bother from the beginning. If you want to help out Haru, we will gladly welcome you to join us, you too Yuki… there are some details to be heard but before that though…
Arata looked towards Loki and asked.
:Arata: -do you have second thoughts about that training after hearing this?
:Loki: -that and this are separate matters, although, while I did say that this is the best possible improvement for you, in face of this challenge it won’t help you much. Even if your strength doubled it will be not enough for a quest like that.
:Arata: -I am not asking for miracles. We generally never hoped to complete that quest anyway but we will try to go as far as we can as there is no reason not to do so.
:Loki: -and what if there is a reason?
:Arata: -it was just a manner of speech as right now, no matter what you tell me I will not step down. Not that it seems that you are willing to tell me anything.
:Loki: -maybe I should but if you state it like this then I won’t, Haru’s optimism isn’t that bad way to look at it either… I will try to make your training bring the best results possible and during it I will think whatever I should help you out with the quest later as well, if you have me of course although unlike her I am not sure that I want to put my hand on it.
After that they talked about less heavy topics as well as discussed some details about how they were going to get teleported to Karma and start training. Strangely enough Haru decided to join that training as well even without knowing what it will be about, well Arata and Yuki didn’t know the details either. Generally though her joining seemed like she simply didn’t want to be left out until the quest started. The problem that arrived however was that Loki explained that the full training was going to probably take at least a month and the length of Arata’s party break was considerably less than that which meant that either the training would have to get interrupted or the length of break negotiated to be longer although Arata didn’t want to resort to that.
They spend some time like this in the end Arata explained that he will be meeting up with Levi and Rin in two hours and right after that they will be teleporting to Karma. They agreed on going together later so there was no need to look for each other anymore.
Using the little time, Arata decided to take a short nap before that so he went to one of the empty rooms and lied down on the bed. The sleep did not come to him though as currently unless he was completely exhausted physically, Arata wasn’t able to fall asleep.
“This changes my plans slightly but I feel like that training will be worth it, but if I spend all my time on it won’t I forget about what I really want to do? Then again, I wouldn’t be able to see her too often anyway… maybe I should try to ask her to join our training as well… it would be perfect that way but I kind of sure that her response will be ‘-HELL NO, Go away’.”
:Arata: -hahaha…
Just imagining it made Arata laugh for some reason as even though what he envisioned wasn’t what he would want to happen, just imaging it put him in a good humor for some reason.
‘knock, knock, knock.’
As Arata was laying on the bed with his hands spread left and right and falling outside, someone knocked on the doors.
:Arata: -come in!
Without even asking who it was Arata quickly answered. Currently even though it was his guild guildhouse it wasn’t occupied by anyone annoying with whom Arata wouldn’t want to deal with so he did not have to ask who it was.
:Yuki: -… .
The person ended up entering in quietly without saying anything. Arata had to lift up his head to see what it was and once he did he saw that it was Yuki.
:Arata: -you need something or did you just came over? Regardless sit down anywhere you want.
Arata went back to lying on the bed. Yuki didn’t move anywhere to sit.
Stopping before him and she asked.
:Yuki: -Onii-chan, can you tell me about Rin?
:Arata: -why? Didn’t you already meet her, yourself?
:Yuki: -I did but I don’t know anything about her and I want to find out.
:Arata: -you want her to become your friend for real that badly? Well, I can understand where you are coming from but it might be more difficult that you think, if not impossible.
Arata answered while looking upwards. Yuki simply asked.
:Yuki: -why?
:Arata: -she has her circumstances, that I can’t really disclose to you. I can tell you however that she definitely took a liking to you so it’s not like you did anything wrong but… well she has her reasons for doing what she does and while I can’t agree with those reasons, I can’t say that I don’t understand why she behaves like she does.
“I can’t really judge what she decided and I say that that she is wrong. On her spot I can easily image myself doing the same.”
:Yuki: -but I want to know! Even though it was just few days she was good to me, she even played with me but… but somehow even when she smiles even when we played together she always seemed really sad… Onii-chan you don’t have to tell me anything but I want to help her somehow, just tell me how.
:Arata: -…
Hearing those words Arata just smirked but this wasn’t a happy smirk but a smirk of devastation and hopelessness.
:Arata: -if I knew how to do it I would have already done it myself long time ago, unfortunately though Yuki, there is nothing you can do. Don’t pity her though, she wouldn’t like to hear that you are worried about her.
:Yuki: -but… .
:Arata: -you wanted to hear about her so here it is. She likes to play strong and be seen as such without shearing her weaknesses with anyone… she is just like that. Even though it might seem like a cold thing to do so please respect that. You will be finishing this quest with us so I don’t want you doing anything that would upset her.
As Arata was saying those words his voice was cracking but keeping the smile he finished but then Yuki asked.
:Yuki: -is that really enough?
And hearing this question Arata couldn’t help but.
:Arata: -of course it’s not!…
Break out from his fake calmness.
:Arata: -but there is nothing we can do!… Ah, sorry for raising my voice…
He managed to go back to it right after though.
:Arata: -anyway, for now I would like to rest a bit so could you come back later.
He then said, but hearing this Yuki didn’t go outside, rather she suddenly walked around the bed and sit at the side of it and looked at the fact Arata was making. He was currently hiding his eyes under his arm.
:Yuki: -I won’t ask about it again, but maybe Onii-chan could tell me about other things?
:Arata: -other things? Like what?
:Yuki: -like, who she is and how Onii-chan became friends with her and also what Onii-chan thinks of her?
“I see… I guess there is nothing wrong with that… .”
Arata went back to previous position and looking upward started.
:Arata: -honestly, I don’t really know myself. She is like you saw her, strong and dependable. Always composed, always keeping her cool and always incredible with whatever she does.
:Yuki: -… .
:Arata: -but this is only on the outside, on the inside you could say that she is nothing but a little girl who can break at any minute from what this world has thrown at her… no, you could say that she already broke long time ago but even then she still manages to live on, facing each day head on without running away, seeing the reality as it really is… that’s how incredible she is.
:Yuki: -I see.
:Arata: -no, I don’t think you do as I also can’t even image that. How she can cope with all that already knowing how will it end. You said she seems sad but generally she behaves kind of okay, right?
:Yuki: -‘nod’.
:Arata: -would you be able to do the same if you suddenly lost not only everyone you cared about and everyone you knew but also all your hopes and dreams, even the way to live on.
:Yuki: -…!
Arata realized he said a little bit too much as he saw Yuki closing her mouth with her hand.
:Arata: -sorry, I told you more than I wanted to.
:Yuki: -‘shake’.
Yuki started shaking her head showing that it was okay but from the look of her face it was clearly not.
:Arata: -sorry, it’s just being able to share it with someone made me feel better. You don’t have to try to say anything back, there are no right words to say here.
:Yuki: -sorry.
Yuki’s first words were apology for not being able to say anything.
:Arata: -‘shake’…
Arata answered in now calm voice and getting up on the bed, he sit next to her and pat her head.
:Arata: -now, what else you wanted to know. How we became friends?… Quite normally although for a long time I was wondering whatever I can even call myself such but right now after all this time we spend together, it’s fine to do so. Recently she even opened up to me, and told me everything that is troubling her… although what kind of friend am I, if the only thing I could do was listen?
:Yuki: -just that is enough. You said it yourself just now, that being able to talk is enough and if Rin told you all that then she definitely considers you your friend as well and she trust you.
:Arata: -trust me? Kind of ironic of you saying so especially when I am betraying this trust right now by telling you all this, just to feel a little better myself.
:Yuki: -I think that Rin would understand.
:Arata: -yes that’s how she is. She would just pretend to be angry but she would understand, then eventually she would take it on onto herself and even apologize for telling me all this. That’s how she is. She would apologize for making me worry about what happened to her, she would apologize for telling me she likes me and she would apologize for dragging me into this, or maybe even for meeting me in this world in the first place… that is how much she doesn’t want to make troubles for others and that how strong she is.
:Yuki: -… . I see… she is kind of like Onii-chan.
:Arata: -me?
:Yuki: -just like Onii-chan, she doesn’t want to bring other troubles and endures everything by herself. She will take all the pain onto herself and defend everyone but she will not allow anyone to defend her.
:Arata: -well yes she is just like that but you are wrong by saying she is like me.
:Yuki: -no, Onii-chan is just like her but you have friends that will prevent you from taking all the burden.
:Arata: -is that why you didn’t left when I told you?
:Yuki: -… .
Yuki didn’t answer this question even with a nod.
“Arata” -well, maybe you are right but only by a little, you can’t compare me with her. And you are right, I am blessed if I have someone like you who is willing to listen to my troubles.
Arata once again patter her white hair. Being able to resist the smile that came from the fact of how happy Yuki was hearing this, she continued.
:Yuki: -Rin is also blessed.
:Arata: -in this sense you could say that as well. She still has one person that is like a sister to her. I think that it’s probably because of her that Rin can continue like she does.
:Yuki: -hmm?…
Yuki gave him a puzzled face and then continued.
:Yuki: -I see, but it’s not just that. Rin also has Onii-chan.
:Arata: -me? No I don’t think I bring much ‘plus influence’ there.
“Especially if I compare myself to Yume.”
:Yuki: -no. I am sure that Rin definitely changed for better if she spend a lot of time with Onii-chan. Even if she seems sad, I can’t image anyone not being happy from traveling with Onii-chan.
:Arata: -really? I rather doubt it though… sure you might like it a lot for whatever reason
:Yuki: -buuu!
Ignoring strangely angry reaction Arata continued.
:Arata: -but it depends on individual. Generally I don’t really consider myself fun to be with to begin with.
:Yuki: -no, it’s always fun when Onii-chan is around and even if it does depend on indi… individlal… .
:Arata: -individual.
:Yuki: -yes, even if it depends on a person, earlier on you said that Rin likes you.
:Arata: -I did?
:Yuki: -‘nod’.
:Arata: -… in that case I am even worse at keeping my promises than I thought. She told me not to mention it ever again… .
“Even if she broke this promise herself the day after although she never said that she can’t do it, it’s just that I shouldn’t.”
:Yuki: -I think she would understand.
:Arata: -this time if she finds out about it, then it won’t end without getting beaten to a plump though.
:Yuki: -hihihi… .
:Arata: -this isn’t fun. Don’t tell her!
:Yuki: -I won’t… but Onii-chan, how about you. Do you like her as well?
:Arata: -I didn’t think that you would ask me this in such straight forward way. Naturally between dislike and like, it’s like but I don’t even try to consider it any deeper, I have Kotori after all.
:Yuki: -… I see but I don’t think it’s right to do this Onii-chan.
:Arata: -hmm?
:Yuki: -it’s not right to not think about it.
:Arata: -is it? The result will be the same and I will just have a qualms for doing so afterwards so I decided that there is no need to think about it, also there are more important things to focus on.
:Yuki: -it’s not right!…
Yuki suddenly raised her voice which was extremely rare for her and her doing so gave Arata a little shock.
:Yuki: -even if nothing changes, Onii-chan has to consider everything properly and give Rin proper answer. Otherwise Onii-chan will be unfair towards her!
:Arata: -wait a second, here. I already gave her that answer so I am not doing anything wrong.
:Yuki: -even if you gave her answer if it wasn’t serious answer then it doesn’t mean anything!
:Arata: -then what? You are telling me that it would be better to touch that subject again even though we managed to get through that. Also what if by some change it will turn out that I care about Rin the most? I don’t want to go through it and I definitely don’t want to do anything bad to Kotori either.
:Yuki: -wrong! Wrong! Onii-chan is wrong!…
Yuki started forcefully shake her head and repeated those words.
:Yuki: -even if nothing changes and you won’t do anything about it, it’s important to consider it, even if only for your own sake. If Onii-chan doesn’t do it he will never have peace of mind and even though he doesn’t want it, he will hurt both Rin and Onee-chan by doing that!
:Arata: -… .
:Yuki: -if Onii-chan is worried about changing his mind then it’s even more the reason to consider it, otherwise Onii-chan will never find true happiness.
:Arata: -I am fine with it, I am used to it as well so as long as others are happy.
:Yuki: -wrong! Wrong! Wrong! If Onii-chan truly thinks like that then he is wrong. At least I definitely won’t be happy! Others won’t be happy either! No one will be happy!
Yuki’s points were rather childish but Arata couldn’t really discard them and say anything back. Also at this point Yuki stood up from the bed and started walking towards the doors. Arata still couldn’t find the right words but before leaving she added one more thing.
:Yuki: -Onii-chan is always like that, thinking only about others and not worrying about himself but this one time Onii-chan should not worry about the others and be a little bit selfish and decide on whatever Onii-chan wants. No one will blame you for that and no one wishes for anything else. I believe that whatever Onii-chan wants will be the best choice for everyone and everyone will understand. Onee-chan will understand as well.
And Yuki left like this forgetting to close the doors.
Dropping back onto the bed, Arata considered her words. Still the only thing that he concluded was that the only thing he really wants right now is to help Rin complete this quest.
Naturally that wish did not involve anything that he could not help with as his biggest wish would be naturally for Rin to get better but Arata didn’t believe in neither Gods nor miracles so his wish was limited to realistic concepts.
Still even without considering it yet again, Arata already knew this from the get go and as for the other topic, he didn’t see anything good happening from him considering it.
“Right now not only I have no right to do that but also no time to deal with the conclusion either. Something of such low importance can wait.”
Generally after hearing Rin’s revelations that night, or even before that, Arata already long decided his matters of importance and the only thing he could think about and focus on was the question how to help Rin. The fact that he knew that he won’t come up with anything new didn’t change this. Even yesterday, which he spend fully in the real world was the same. He did manage to catch a little breather thanks to his friend Ali but that breather just reassured him that he is doing the right thing. So even if even someone like Yuki would raise the objection which was something extremely rare, Arata would discard it and focus on important thing as after all right now “something insignificant like love fades away in face of real problems”.
Right now, even though last time it went horrible Arata knew exactly what he wants to tell Rin when he meets her.
With his mind once again collected when the time was right, Arata left the room and went downstairs and joined by Loki, Yuki and Haru they proceeded to Captial’s western gate which was the meeting point that Arata set up with Rin and Levi.
:Loki: -during the last hour I prepared everything we will need for the training so we can start even today. Although will be getting late when we get there and it’s usually good to follow the day-night cycle so let’s start tomorrow morning. I will be able to find a suitable location for the training as well.
Inside the Capital it was rather hard to said whatever it was truly getting late or not with this kind of ‘weather’ but it was true that it was already after 5 pm right now.
:Arata: -let’s start tomorrow then, although you could give us a little explanation on what exactly we will be doing.
:Loki: -it will be easier to understand if I explain it later but generally, as I mentioned the test purpose is to let you learn how to use your stats properly.
“Yes, that’s really reassuring.”
Arata though after hearing about it once again as it seemed that one of his long awaited questions as to why doesn’t he feel that his stats aren’t changing much was going to be answered.
:Haru: -but isn’t training something like that useless. I mean everyone learn it eventually naturally.
Haru pointed out.
:Loki: -you are rather very wrong in this fact. It seems like you might have been away from the player base for too long Haru. Actually the number of people that can use even some of their stats to their full potential is rather low. Actually I believe that there is no one who can use all of them properly. Just perfecting a single stat takes an incredible amount of effort and generally it’s not like one needs to be able to use all stats perfectly. If someone doesn’t rely on magic too much there is no need to learn how to use magic attributes perfectly, in magic and skills case it’s usually more about learning how to use the single skill correctly rather than just stats required for it. For those that really on their physical abilities though, learning how to use physical stats is essential in becoming powerful. That is the case especially melee fighters like them.
:Haru: -now, now you trying to tell me that Yuki-chan’s class is just a melee fighter? You think I don’t know?
:Loki: -of course, not it’s impossible to hide anything from you, still you are also a melee fighter to a certain extend right?
:Haru: -I can easily be easily whomever I want.
:Loki: -anyway just don’t interrupt. So returning to what I talked about having good stat control and adding to that a refined fighting style plus extra a good skill or two and you can consider yourself top class fighter. You two are already extremely good fighters with your sword styles so if you add to this power that comes from your stats you really won’t have many challengers left afterwards.
:Arata: -so generally, that training result is a general strengthening of our bodies.
:Loki: -not exactly it’s rather you are already strengthened but simple not use the strength you have. It might sound strange but after you learn this the power up will be tremendous and you will be able to fight like never before. It’s on a completely different scale that just leveling up or just getting new powerful skill or some equipment.
:Arata: -well, it sounds all nice and good but will that training actually work. You know, I already realized that something is wrong with those stats and I saw some people who are using it correctly or at the very least use it better than me. There were even times where I felt stronger than usual but the problem is no matter how I tried to do something about it, I didn’t really make any progress.
:Loki: -that is because using your stats isn’t an easy thing. Everyone eventually realize that they are doing something wrong just by comparing themselves with others or finding out when someone tells them. The general idea that people have is that after playing long enough, you will get it.
:Arata: -then it requires a lot of time, I don’t have that right now.
:Loki: -don’t worry. Also that idea works only for some people and even then one will learn how to use their stat only to a certain extend. Just by that you will never be able to use your stats to full potential… I am sure that even you Haru can’t utilize your stats perfectly.
Loki turned to her saying the last line.
:Haru: -I won’t deny it but just focusing on isn’t it a waste? Rather not worrying about things that get better on their own and focusing on your class for example is a better way to go if you want to get stronger. Especially if someone has a good class and those two have it.
:Loki: -that might indeed be the case, but both I and Gerald always believed from the start that those two should focus on their stats first as it will utilize the potential of what they know from the real world in best way. That is their biggest advantage over everyone else, not their classes.
:Haru: -ohhhh, you can only say it because you probably never fought Kyori directly but fine it’s not like I was saying you are wrong, and people with real world fighting arts sure were always a pain to deal with.
“I can easily think of some broken abilities that should be considered much harder but it’s true that this is what always gives me the edge. Strange just this morning I was rather thinking on learning some new things, gathering some equipment and trying out basic magic but the saying that one should hone their strengths first and foremost and complement for weakness afterwards is one of grandpa’s favorite sayings. Although it’s easy for him to say as he doesn’t have any weaknesses.”
:Arata: -then, how does one even go about training the usage of stats?
Arata decided to ask.
:Loki: -I will explain once we get to it. My word of warning though is that there isn’t any good method of how to do it but I believe that the training that I come up with should bring some good results quickly enough and with that method you will also be able to eventually perfect your stats as well. Unless you think of something better or persuade other paths. Also I mentioned it’s not a magical improvement that you will make you stronger instantly like grabbing new skill. The time we have is limited so but you are able to use your stats to 70% at the end of it then you will be happy with your result.
:Arata: -70%, then you are telling me that I aren’t even using that much?
:Loki: -I don’t know your exact numbers nor did I saw you fight lately so I can’t say. Still, it would be rather incredible if you were using 70% of your stats though. I won’t be making any guesses right now but we will find about it later when we start training. This method is something I also made for myself but how fast will it bring up someone who is bad with stats to a decent level? We will learn this first hand together…
“I guess, it should be fine, it’s not like my planned basic magic training had any assurance that it will bore fruit either. And it’s not like I won’t find some time to train that as well.”
:Loki: -don’t worry about that too much, I don’t see a reason why this method shouldn’t work for you guys and raising the usage of stats to certain level doesn’t require any great talent. Above 200th level everyone is bound to use their stats to at least good extend as otherwise they wouldn’t survive 200th level barrier.
:Arata: -I am not worrying about learning it eventually but rather about learning it quickly right now.
:Loki: -and that’s where training comes in. You can trust in it.
“… if he is saying it, then maybe I shouldn’t be so skeptical about it. If I can’t trust in words of most trustful guy in our guild then whom else I am supposed to trust? If it was Gerald saying this however I would definitely never believed it!”
Arata thought like that and then someone who was quiet until now said something.
:Yuki: -Loki-sensei, thank you for helping us get stronger.
Arata already heard this one so he didn’t pay it attention but Loki was clearly surprised by being called like that and then for some unknown reason Haru was excited.
:Loki: -Loki-sensei…? You mean me?
Loki turned towards Yuki and pointed towards himself.
Generally as far as Arata remembered there was little interaction between the two even though they knew each other just as long as Arata knew Yuki. The reasons for that were few and back then Yuki generally get along the most only with Arata, Kotori and Gerald while with others she interacted only a little. Then again, Loki was hard to approach for someone like her as he was someone who always kept his distance. Those that weren’t scouted to the guild by him had really little chances to talk with him separately. Lastly Arata couldn’t tell for sure but back then when they were still traveling, Loki wasn’t that good on dealing with Yuki for some reason. Arata could take the guess on that reason right now. Still, ever since until now Yuki called him simply Loki or vice-leader. But now.
:Yuki: -‘nod’.
Yuki nodded back in confirmation.
:Loki: -can I ask… why that sensei part?
:Yuki: -‘those that teaches you should be treated with respect’ is something obvious to do. Adding ‘sensei’ is the best way to show that respect… but should I not do it? I didn’t think about it but unless it’s my homeland no one does that.
Seeing Loki with unusual awkward expression Yuki read that he wasn’t that happy with the way he was called.
:Loki: -yes, just stick with…-
:Haru: -NO! YUKI-CHAN! This is how it should be done! Ah right, I also now fully decided to take part in this training so… take care of me as well Loki-sensei!
:Loki: -… .
Before Loki could revert this change, Haru interrupt him and what’s more she started to call him that way as well.
Seeing her features Arata doubted that she has even a drop of Japanese blood in her so it was clear that she was doing it to annoy him.
Trying to save his face Loki didn’t complain about it but by his expression Arata felt little sorry for him so he didn’t add the joke ‘should I call you Loki-sensei as well’.
:Haru: -hey Loki-sensei! Do you think that training will help me as well?
:Loki: -… .
:Haru: -Loki-sensei!
For a long time afterwards Haru started to torment him with that name to the point where Arata started to consider whatever she really stopped being angry at him. She did chases him in fury upon their first meeting after all.
:Loki: -there is no reason why it should not.
Loki eventually answered to her.
:Haru: -oh… as expected of Loki-sensei’s training.
But she still tormented him regardless.
:Loki: -…
Every time she said that Arata could see a change on Loki’s face but he continued the conversation without complaining.
:Loki: -still, wouldn’t it be better for you to do something else?
:Haru: -there is no need for that I already perfected everything that I could, all my class skills up to 300 are unlocked and I don’t think that I will be able to find any better equipment than the one that I have so until I level up to 399 there is nothing for me to do other than do what I want.
:Loki: -you were confident earlier as well but do you think it will be easy for you to break through 300th level barrier?
:Haru: -from what I saw, it doesn’t seem too hard and why wouldn’t I do something as easy as level barrier in a single try… Gerald and Yang are just slacking off, I don’t think I will have any problems when it comes to it.
:Loki: -best of luck to you, then.
:Haru: -it’s not like I need luck but thanks. But why were you sarcastic? I can easily do it right now so how could I possibly lose after great teaching of Loki-sensei.
:Loki: -… .
The torment continued for a long time after that.
:Yuki: -Onii-chan… did you thought about that matter?
Somewhere on the way Yuki asked him.
:Arata: -things like that can wait until I deal with other things first.
:Yuki: -buuuu.
That was the only personal exchange they had on the way.
Eventually after some time and two elevator rides they started closing in on the south-western gate of Capital. Arata already came here once before when he and others went to search for Sacred Blacksmith. Looking at it now, that journey didn’t really help them much although Arata at least managed to repair his sword there. By going there Arata just meet a crazy person who was talking with items, although that itself was quite interesting.
As the group started approaching the gate, they realized that there was something strange happening here as there was a large number of Wardens staying in the large circle keeping people away from the left side of the gate. There was a large crowd of people that tried to force themselves in but the struggle was only on the level of pushing.
From afar, Arata could see that behind the Warden’s line there was a heap of corpses, plus other corpses that were laying around not in the heap.
:Loki: -hmm… I thought they would be busy dealing with the monsters but this doesn’t seem to be the problem here. Arata go find your friends and work out things out. In the meantime I will go help out with the problem.
Seeing the situation, Loki suddenly stated.
:Arata: -sure… but why do you care about this? It’s not like it’s your problem.
:Loki: -maybe but I like to help out with things I can… also my friend who works in Wardens asked me to keep an eye on the city and try to help out if possible as during the recent event they had heavy losses and it’s only been five days since then. Making a good deed once in a while isn’t too bad either.
With that said Loki walked forward towards the gathering. As he did get close by though someone in the crowd saw him and gasped and following that there were multiple shouts.
:Fan girl 1: -kyaaaaaa! Isn’t it Prince over there.
:Fan girl 2: -it’s true. AAAAA! I am your biggest fan!
:Fan girl M: -I am dreaming, it’s him!
:Crowd: =…’other shouts of fan girls’.
After walking the streets with Loki for some time Arata wasn’t surprised as there was even one person that run up to Loki and asking for an autograph. Generally though up until now those were only single people behaving like this, although there were also many people looking his way and there very many whispers in the background like ‘it’s him’.
Generally Arata did learn from Levi some time before that Loki was rather very well-known player but sometimes it was reaching the level of craziness, especially like right now. This group in particular was somewhat extremely enthusiastic. Arata’s first impression was that it was rather very strange bunch.
:Haru: -he sure is popular, isn’t he?
For some reason Haru sounded unhappy while saying it.
:Arata: -oh, are you jealous of his popularity as no one recognized you despite the fact that you are a former member of miracle team?
Arata said back to her. It was true that the only people that would look towards Haru on the way were males whose eyes were drawn to her looks. But there was nothing like recognition of famous adventurer. Also Loki was extremely well-known so it was hard to compare.
Hari: -why would I? There is nothing good about popularity like that. Brings nothing but troubles.
Hearing this response of seemed that Haru wasn’t grumbling because of that.
In the meantime, Loki quicken his step and fled away from crazy fans inside the Warden circle. It seemed like those wardens either knew him or simple tried to save the endangered citizen.
:Arata: -hey Haru, could you locate Rin and Levi for me. It will be hard for me to find them with this commotion.
:Haru: -Levi is nowhere near but I can feel Rin’s presence over there, should I look for Levi in surrounding areas?
Haru asked but after she pointed Rin’s location which was somewhere behind the heap of corpses Arata didn’t care about anything else right now.
:Arata: -no it’s fine.
He right afterwards started walking there. Haru and Yuki followed after him. There was a problem however.
:Crowd: =let us in! Why are you keeping us away from our love!
:Fan girl 4:-mr. Prince! Please look my way!
:Fan boy 1: -even if you ignore me I still love you!
After Loki entered inside the pushing started to increase in power. Few fists were thrown here and there and eventually there had to be someone who would take up the weapon. Right after equipping it though the Warden’s quickly brought that person to the ground before anything happened.
Still seeing that his entrance rather than helping started to cause more problems Loki turned around and said.
:Loki: -those people are doing their job to protect us… don’t trouble them.
:Crowd: =yes!
:Fan girl 1: -kyaaaaa! He spoke to us.
:Fan girl 5: -yes my dream came true!
Just a single sentence managed to quiet the pushing down still the crowd did not disappeared and continued to look inside with excitement.
:Warden 1: -where are you trying on going! Can’t you see that the road is blocked.
Arata tried to sneak by the side as the crowd was not there but the Warden that was standing there blocked him.
:Arata: -let us in, I have a friend waiting there.
:Warden 1: -friend?
:Loki: -let them in!
:Warden 1: -yes Mr. Loki!
Loki who just quiet down the crowd turned towards them and once he spoke to the warden. Warden moved away making the way immediately as if he was asked by his supervisor although there was a rather a high chance that he was Loki’s fan as well. It wouldn’t be strange as Loki had few male ‘fan boys’ in the crowds as well.
Haru: -you sure are popular, aren’t you?
Once again, this time to the man himself Haru grumbled.
:Fan girl 4: -hey! Why are you trying to get close to Lord Loki!
:Fan girl 3: -get away from him! An ugly like does not deserve to talk with him.
:Some from the crowd: =Lord Loki belong to us!
It seemed like there was some misunderstanding there but right afterwards people that were shouting there started coughing as if they were losing an air to breath with. It also seemed that the oxygen that they already had inside their bodies also somehow left them so in the end anyone who just rise their shout dropped unconscious and was a step away from dying. That was about half of the crowd.
“Scary!”
There probably wasn’t many here that realized that this was a work of a person and rather thought it was some strange accident but Arata had his guess.
:Loki: -there wasn’t need to get that far.
:Haru: -hhyy… .
Haru looked away and in that moment the lying unconscious people started to breathe again normally. It was going to take some time before they wake up again though.
:Loki: -so why are you guys coming here as well?
Loki then asked while looking at Arata.
:Arata: -well it’s because the friend I want to meet is over there.
After coming closer Arata already manage to see that farther behind the heap of corpses there was Rin who hooded in her red cloak was leaning against the wall near the gate. It seemed like she was simply patiently waiting in the place they agreed upon. The problem was however that she was what Wardens were circling around and currently right next to her there was some random Warden that Arata never meet nor remember. The Warden was some girl with blond hair but what peak Arata’s attention was that for the first time he saw female version of the uniform as it came with a skirt rather than trousers. It was still the same purple color with the same style. Arata already saw many other female Wardens even around here standing in the circle but not a single one wore skirt. Leaving that aside thought the girl was complaining loudly towards Rin, but Rin with her eyes closed wasn’t even trying to listen to her.
Arata could easily guess out what those complains were about even without listening. After all the corpses that were lying on the heap as well as other places seemed to be pierced by some weapon mostly sword.
:Warden girl: -once again! Can you explain to me what you did here!
:Rin: -… .
:Warden girl: -why did you kill those people! Did you forget this is the city! The monsters might have start appearing here but it is still a city! There are some laws here and killing innocent players is unforgivable! I demand that you explain your actions right now but even if you do, know that you will not escape the punishment!
When Arata and others started to get closer they could hear loudly statements although it seemed like that girl did not know who she was talking to. Finally irritated enough, Rin looked towards her from below the hood opening only one eye.
:Rin: -you guys are useful in keeping away those pest so I stayed quiet. But if you don’t stop nagging me then you will end up like them… look around for reference.
As Arata has guessed the numberous corpses whose number easily extended 50 were Rin’s doing and it seemed like many more were going to join that group soon after.
:Warden girl: -you are telling me that you killed them only because they bothered you! You are crazy!
:Rin: -interpret it as you wish, I care not. I will give you one more chance as one of yours helped out my teammate to stay alive lately. Make sure to thank that person for this chance and don’t waste it, I won’t repeat myself again.
:Warden girl: -… .
The girl focused on Rin’s words.
:Rin: -I don’t like to be bothered, if can understand that then move away and silently keep away those pest from me if you would.
:Warden girl: -…!…
“Ah, why does it always end up like this! Well she tried her best I guess.”
The fact that Rin didn’t kill her on the spot was indeed showing her good faith but it still didn’t seem like Rin valued the life of those that annoy her.
Hearing those words the warden girl was feed up with Rin’s behavior and catching the hilt of her sword on the right side, she made two steps to the back and said.
:Warden girl: -that’s it! There is only one way to persuade a selfish player like you! You asked for it
:Rin: -hoo…
Rin’s second eye finally opened and she stopped leaning against the wall. What’s more a smile appeared on her face, a smile that predator would make seeing it’s prey.
:Rin: -if you wanted to fight me then you should say so from the very beginning… I was getting bored so… Let’s have some fun!
:Arata: -wait!
Seeing where it was going Arata called out to stop this but it was far too late. He did not know whatever Rin heard him or not, she probably did but she attacked immediately afterwards without care.
The distance of two steps was passed in an instance and the next thing Arata saw was Rin clashing her blades with the sword of the Warden girl who managed to unsheathe it in the very last second. She managed to do it only because she had her hands on it before.
:Rin: -hoo…
Seeing that her first attack was blocked Rin smiled once again. Needless to say she didn’t have a nice smile but rather a smile of battle maniac. After that the swords clashed three more times. There was a clear sight of panic on Warden’s girl face. She didn’t last long. On the forth clash her sword was send flying to the sky after the strong hit with Rin’s right hand sword. Right afterwards Rin’s other sword stopped right before the Warden’s girl throat, just a step away from killing her.
:Rin: -you did well, I will give you a passing grade.
Rin said as she stood back to normal position. From where Arata saw, she wasn’t planning on finishing the girl off as if she were to do that she would already done so. Still Rin’s sword did not leave the girl’s throat so to everyone else it seemed like she was playing around a little, enjoying the terrified face that people had right before they die.
:Wardens: =Emenis!
Some Wardens shouted out this name and right afterwards all of them around turned around towards Rin and prepared their weapons.
:Rin: -ora, you all don’t care what will happen to her? You are not really liked are you?
At this point Rin already started acting the role of villain and she pushed her sword closer to girl’s throat making the threat.
“She sure seems to be in a good mood if she can play around like that… although…”
Arata looked towards the heap of corpses.
“Is she really playing around? Not to mention at this point it really will end up with those guys dying.”
He could tell as right now Rin was provoking them and if they took the bait and attacked her just like the warden girl did just now, Rin would feel absolutely no remorse for killing everyone who would turn on her. She would probably not kill her hostage unless that hostage would attack her as well.
:Loki: -about whom you might be talking about?
The scene was hold in suspense and silence although it would soon turned into a bloody battle but suddenly suspense and silence before the storm was interrupted by Loki voice.
Arata heard it coming from behind him which was perfectly natural as Loki was standing there but then he suddenly realized that the image before him suddenly changed. The Warden girl that was standing there just now suddenly disappeared without a trace as if she was never even standing there in the first place. There was only Rin who was standing there alone with her sword extended in the air. Her reaction to the disappearance was also rather slow as she started blinking with wide eyes only two seconds later even took down her hood to look around.
Eventually though she looked towards the speaker who just said something, meaning towards Arata’s group who right now increased by one in numbers.
When Arata looked behind him he saw Loki putting down Warden girl back on the ground as if he held her in his arms just a second ago.
:Warden girl: -eh…?
It seemed like she also did not know what just happened to her.
:Loki: -don’t mind me, I am just law obeying citizen who decided to help.
Loki said to her trying to calm her down as the girl not only nearly died a second ago but also her body suddenly was moved to other place without her realizing that it happened. The confusion on her face was clear but at least she could stand with her own strength when Loki put her down.
:Rin: -hey! Law obeying citizen! Come over here for a second!
It seemed that Loki managed to pick Rin’s interest, enough that Rin didn’t even see or forgotten about not only Arata but also Haru and Yuki who were standing right next to Loki. Arata was even standing before Loki but Rin still didn’t pay him any attention.
:Loki: -you need something?
Arata saw it or maybe he did not but Loki’s voice suddenly appeared behind Rin and Loki himself was now there as well.
:Rin: -…!
Rin didn’t know what happened but after hearing his voice behind her she made the quickest turn Arata ever saw her do and slashed at Loki with one of her swords. It seemed like for a moment the swords went through Loki’s chest but in reality it was Loki moving away and going back quickly enough that the light did not manage to process his image in time and made it look like he stood in a single place. That was at least what Rin who made the direct attack understood as nearly everyone else with exception of one more person had no idea what just happened.
:Loki: -I don’t know who you are… you seem to have rather impressive skills but it does not mean that you can do whatever you want. Say, how much hp and defense do you have? It doesn’t seems like you will listen to me but I don’t want to just kill you, so…
Loki continued but Rin didn’t listen at all and then she attacked him again. Her white swords light up in golden color and she started piercing at Loki’s body. The image was the same as before, the swords piercing through him but there was no visible damage there.
Loki didn’t not counter attack right away. Based on his afterimages it seemed he was looking at the weapons that Rin was using with interest, as well as the finesse of attacks themselves. It continued for ten seconds in which the number of attacks made was impossible to count after that though Rin’s attacks were stopped as Arata ran up to her and caught her from behind. It seemed that even Rin could forget about everything around her if she focus too much on the presence before her. Usually it felt as if she had the eyes around her head so it was impossible to surprise her like that.
:Arata: -Rin, stop! What are you even doing!?
It wasn’t easy to stop her but using the lockdown technique with both his arms going before her and making the squeeze, with just few bruises Arata stopped her.
:Rin: -eh!? Arata… wait what are you doing? No! It’s not time for that! We have to run away, this man is some kind of monster!
It was really rare but the last time Arata heard Rin panicking like that was only when she was after the fight with crimson champion. Right after she said those words it felt as she wanted to start run off immediately but without making even a single step her body started to tremble in fear.
:Arata: -Rin, relax! It will be fine! He won’t do anything to you!
:Rin: -… .
Rin managed to somewhat calm down with Arata’s words as even though they sounded baseless to her they made her feel safe.
:Loki: -I might have overdid it a little.
:Arata: -no you didn’t, she who the one asking for it. Hey Rin, what were you doing here?
:Rin: -… nothing, I was just waiting for you and the other idiot to come.
Now understanding the situation, Rin answered like this. She didn’t even pretend to feel guilty.
:Arata: -nothing? Then what about all those corpses?
:Rin: -… someone realized who I am and made a commotion and then more people came. They did not listen to what I said about not bothering me and they called me by that name, you know which. So I killed them. You shouldn’t be surprised about it, right?
:Arata: -well I guess, it’s normal for you but…-
:Rin: -but what? Those people were even more annoying than those in Karma, it was only on usual level I could hold back but not on this scale… one person… one person even… nevermind… anyway stop holding me like that Arata, did I ever allow you to do that!?
:Arata: -it’s a safety measure, you are a dangerous being.
:Rin: -let me go!…
Rin struggled a little even though she knew very well that it was impossible for her to escape that technique at this point. After enjoying her struggle for ten seconds Arata finally let her go.
:Rin: -so, who is this person Arata? He is nearly half as fast as Master when he wakes up after the whole night of drinking.
It was surprising that Rin recognized what Loki did as simple movement although even then it was far from the fastest person she ever saw.
:Arata: -he is my guildmate, and you should be happy that he is as otherwise this would have been the stupidest way to fail our quest ever! What did you think you were doing!
:Rin: -don’t yell at me! I already told you. The pest recognized me and then some of them were giving me some strange offers some wanted to shake my hand, some wanted to make a picture with me, how else was I supposed to respond? They did not listen to my warnings so killed them. Then those purple guys came. At first they finally quiet down everything so I thought that I will finally have my peace but then this girl came and started complaining. Then you saw it yourself she was the one to catch her weapon first… all I did was self-defense, tell it to that friend of yours who helped us out lately as she seemed more understanding… not that I care much as I am leaving this city today anyway.
:Arata: -… .
Rin explained what happened and Arata just sighted. He couldn’t really blame her as he himself didn’t think twice about killing someone who was bothering him too much either but at least he wouldn’t do so in the middle of the city and if possible he would try to avoid the problem. Rin didn’t seem to care about that as she probably simply decided that if someone raise a complain they are free to try to take her on. The only problem was that she did not expect someone like Loki to step in and when he did, Rin was clearly terrified but now she returned to her normal self.
:Warden girl: -wait a second! Don’t think that we will let you leave this city after what you have done!
The blonde Warden girl had time to regain her calm and after that she shouted to Rin yet again and the Wardens around prepared themselves for the battle.
:Rin: -you still didn’t learn?
Rin just looked towards her with unbelief but the Wardens were ready for battle.
:Haru: -ah this is annoying! Torachii! Knock them out!
:Torachii: -all right! ROAR!
Suddenly though the innocent bystander decided to step like nothing. Haru ordered Torachii who right afterwards materialized right next to her and made a loud terrifying tiger roar. Even though it was extremely loud, Arata didn’t feel uncomfortable from it and it seemed that for others from guild Refrain and Rin was the same, everyone else however.
:Everyone else in range of kilometer:=… .
Started falling one by one without even managing to close their eyes. With white eyes and bleeding ears, none of them even said anything again and somehow all of them decided to take a nap. Right after that Torachii returned to his medallion and Haru started.
:Haru: -good, now then… Loki-sensei! Why were you bulling her, you too Arata… what is wrong with killing other players that stand in your way? If you are strong enough to do so then you should so, Rin is in right here… naturally though bulling the weaker ones is not right! Unless they ask for it themselves and attack first like in Rin’s case, you can’t attack them first yourself! Bulling is not right!
Haru decided to side with Rin and she really saw nothing wrong with what Rin did. Technically Arata also didn’t see anything wrong although it was simply that he was someone who preferred to avoid troubles if possible.
:Loki: -I wasn’t bulling her. I mean, don’t you know that with great power comes a great responsibility. If you see someone abusing their power it’s better to stop them.
“I heard that line somewhere before.”
:Haru: -she was just defending herself though and it’s the others that started and abused their power, they just didn’t judge the balance of power correctly and did the foolish thing. Based on what you said however it feels like you want to side with the wrong side only because they were weaker side.
:Loki: -well… .
:Haru: -I have take care of you in your sister stead so, no bulling from now on or else do you want me to bully you.
:Loki: -… you already do.
:Haru: -what did you say!?
:Loki: -nothing, I will repent for my actions.
:Haru: -ah expected of Loki-sensei! You understand everything quick.
Hearing especially the last line Arata immediately though.
“I don’t know what that first meeting of their was about but it definitely didn’t sort itself out. That or Haru simply has too much fun annoying Loki to no end… it’s probably both.”
:Rin: -Arata, come over here for a second…
Seeing that all sorted itself out and Rin was off the hook, she suddenly grabbed Arata’s sleeve on right arm and pulled him away from everyone. There she started asking.
:Rin: -that monstrous girl and her tiger joined your guild right?
:Arata: -well yes although they shouldn’t be counted as separate beings.
:Rin: -then you just said that that man is also in your guild and Yuki over there is in it as well.
:Arata: -yes what about it?
:Rin: -…Arata, you aren’t trying to do what I think you are doing, right?
:Arata: -…
When Rin asked the last question Arata suddenly felt that something sharp was touching his belly, when he looked down he saw that Rin was about to kill him, the fact that she was completely calm while doing so was the scariest part. If she wanted to scary him she would make a different face.
:Arata: -wait! I don’t know what you are talking about…!
:Rin: -do you not? You should know that lies won’t work with me so remember to not try them with me and be honest! Naturally depending on your answer I might still kill you regardless. In that case struggle as much as you want… if you call your friends over there they might save you in time but know that I will never forgive you for what you are trying to do right now!
Rin was truly no joking and the sword already pierced through Arata’s clothes. For some reason she already judged him guilty.
:Arata: -wait! Wait! Wait! I think I know what you are going on about… and of course I didn’t do it. I once planned to but after what you told me recently there is no way that I would ask you for this! I even told them to not trouble you either. Even if I were a complete idiot, do you think that I would try to hurt you like that? I will never do anything that will make you hate me. I will not let you hate me no matter what!
:Rin: -… good, but you will have to forgive me for being suspicious. Also don’t shout like that, it was supposed to be private conversation.
:Arata: -… .
:Rin: -so… why are they here?
Now that Rin’s misunderstanding was cleared as while asking she started sheathing her sword back.
:Arata: -well… how to say it… they are here because after we meet with Levi they are teleporting together with us to Karma.
:Rin: -…
On the way here, Arata thought about ways in which he should tell Rin about it. But he soon realized that if he tried to play around she would just get more angry so he dropped this bomb like nothing from the get go. As expected it took some time for Rin to process what he just said so rather than immediate anger she was rather shocked and confused.
:Rin: -come again?
:Arata: -they are teleporting together with us to Karma.
:Rin: -hahaha… and here I thought you were finally talking normally with me again but it looks like it’s only because you hurt your head.
Rin had rather interesting reaction as she safety assumed that Arata was played around with her. Still now that she pointed it out, Arata also realized that they had normal conversation between each other. The last time during day of ‘operation get back quest item’ it was going terrible anytime they were alone.
:Arata: -I am not joking.
Arata confirmed his words although seeing that even though laughing, there were veins popping up on Rin’s forehead it seemed like she already realized it.
:Rin: -so you do not…
She said still calmly but right afterwards she caught the front of his coat and pushing him towards the wall hardly, looked at him with angry face from below and said.
:Rin: -what the hell do you mean by that!?
She was angry, she was really angry but thankfully it wasn’t the angrier that would get Arata killed although the way he might end up could very easily be much worse than corpse. In any case this reaction was one hundred times better than what Rin displayed over the earlier misunderstanding.
:Arata: -well relax a little, there is no need for you to react like that, right?
:Rin: -no! If I don’t forcefully put it in your head then you won’t understand. As I already told you, after this day I am returning to Karma, ALONE! You can return only when both you and Levi are ready for the quest! Not a single day before that! Other than the quest, there is absolutely no reason for us to meet each other and to make sure it won’t happen, YOU are not going to Karma and YOU are not taking your friends together with YOU either! You can play with them wherever else you want! Just don’t involve me in it!
:Arata: -it’s not like I am trying to involve you or anything, also, aren’t Haru and Yuki your friends as well. You are being cold here.
:Rin: -NO they are not my friend! You are not either! I told you many times, once we finish the quest our relations are over.
:Arata: -but until we are done we are friend right? You told it yourself last time so don’t deny it now.
:Rin: -… fine, so as my temporary friend you understand me, right?
:Arata: -yes! I understand that you will be lonely if I leave you for so long so I am teleporting to Karma so I can visit you every from time to time.
:Rin: -lonely? Me? Did you forget that I want to be lonely… but fine if that what it takes then I will promise I won’t be lonely as Mary will be together with me… happy now?
:Arata: -nope, I can’t trust you on that and whatever you will be lonely or not I still don’t want to leave you for so long. Because of that I am going to Karma, you don’t have to worry, I will be mostly training for the quest I will just come over from time to time.
:Rin: -…
After hearing this Rin looked away and Arata finally stop feeling the strong pushing at his chest.
:Rin: -fine, you can do whatever you want. Just know that your plan will be futile as unless it’s about the quest I won’t let you find me.
:Arata: -you hate me enough that you will even hide?
:Rin: -‘heavy sight’. Didn’t I already told you it’s the opposite and exactly because of that you should stop what you are doing! Still, maybe if you continue to not listen to me at all I might start hating you again and that would solve this problem instantly.
:Arata: -… if you started to hate me over something so small then I would get killed by you long time ago and we wouldn’t even be here.
:Rin: -maybe I should do it right now.
:Arata: -maybe you should but now it’s too late, as I have something to declare to you. I thought hardly about what you said and what happened to you and I understand perfectly why you don’t want to meet again after the quest. I am happy that the reason for that is that you don’t want to start hating me BUT! I already told you didn’t I won’t let you hate me no matter what… right now those are just an empty words, an empty promise. Given your story I am not sure I will be able to keep it BUT! I will do everything I can to keep it and hope it will be enough for this promise to be kept therefore your reason not involving yourself with other people doesn’t work on me… SO NO, I am not going to be your temporary friend only till the quest is done! But afterwards as well!
:Rin: -… .
:Arata: -you don’t have to worry about hating me so you have any complains right?
:Rin: -on what basis does it makes any sense, all I hear are empty words!
:Arata: -yes, I did say that they are but I will keep them no matter what! If you don’t trust me enough and don’t believe I can do it or you think that I am lying then go ahead, kill me immediately. Any other answer I will treat as agreement, this is your last chance to accuse me of lying and kill me. If you do so, I won’t bother you again BUT! you are good at being able to tell whenever someone lies aren’t you?
:Rin: -…
This was the result of what Arata come up with after hearing Rin’s story. Did it solve any of her big problems, NOT AT ALL, but Arata couldn’t really do anything about that so he focused on what he can do and while he also considered accepting Rin’s wish to leave her alone, in the end right now he had no doubt that he was doing the right thing… at least in the world in which he was forgetting about everything else, this was the good gamble.
:Rin: -this will not work Arata.
:Arata: -don’t say it before we try, anyway seeing that I am still alive it seems like you accepted my declaration. If you want to prove me wrong, do your best to hate me, from now on.
Leaving no room for arguments Arata walked away and did not look at Rin’s final reaction. Although he did hear it.
:Rin: -I will come back in few minutes… .
As he walked he only heard a weak voice coming from behind him and afterwards the once again cloaked figure run away and entered one of the streets.
:Loki: -Arata, your friend is indeed quite overwhelming.
After Arata returned to the ‘Refrain group’, Loki spoke to him.
:Arata: -you don’t have to tell me that although after what I saw, hearing this from you feels like a sarcasm.
:Loki: -I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic though, I didn’t hold back there that’s all… as to why I did it however it was to show you and Yuki what someone who perfected the use of their physical stats can do, there were no spells or skills involved.
:Arata: -oh, that’s quite promising.
:Loki: -don’t get too excited though. To achieve something like this you need an enormous amount of strength, agility, movement speed, dexterity and also perception stat. Movement speed is naturally most important but without enough dexterity you will trip after five steps and without perception stat you won’t be able to see where you are going. Strength might not seem like a stat needed for fast movement but you won’t be able to make turns or even stop running without crushing into something. Then without agility your bones will break down before anything else as the connecting points will not be able to turn fast enough. Right, one last thing is also defense stat without which your body won’t survive a high pressure that comes from such movement. That’s how breaking down this kind movement is separated to stats requirements, naturally you both need to have them high and use them correctly. For starter though, thinking about all those I just listed as physical stats or dividing it to category speed and strength is the easiest. Only perception does not fit into those categories.
:Haru: -as expected of Loki-sensei, although Arata you don’t need to know all that, just go with the feeling like I told you last time, like this and this and this!
After Loki gave the basic explanation Haru voiced her opinion and started blinking movement around them. Arata already did hear that lesson from her though so he already knew it doesn’t work like that.
:Loki: -well, it’s true that mostly those that can do it they weren’t aiming for it with any training but learned it naturally. The most natural way in which people learn their physical stat is to play non-stop for extremely long periods of time without logging out. Still even for biggest no-lifes this method takes few years to do so and naturally they mostly are nowhere near perfection and without perfection…-.
:Haru: -Loki-sensei! Your lecture is boring!…
Loki was doing his best to seriously explain things but Haru once again interrupted him.
:Haru: -and in the first place you are forgetting about the most important thing. I already told this Arata once but in the end to have that kind of movement the high stats are necessary and without having a class focusing on speed you can hope to reach current Rin’s speed somewhere around 250th level if your class’s speed is on ‘B’ or ‘A’ level, from what I saw and from what you said yours is somewhere between those… aren’t I right, Loki-sensei!?
:Loki: -yes, you get A-mark for that.
Loki started playing along.
:Haru: -yey, I am honored student! Still, Loki-sensei is unfair to you two, he said that he wanted to demonstrate perfection of the stats but reaching the level of demonstration is impossible even for me because Loki-sensei’s physical stats and especially movement speed stat has an abnormal number next to it.
:Loki: -you can even peek at someone’s statues? That’s a little too much for recognition skill, isn’t it?
:Haru: -because it’s not a simple recognition skill.
:Loki: -still Haru! I don’t mind if when you try to annoy me but I was trying to make them focus on the training more as their attitude towards the training is also an important factor, and yet you are kind of ruining it.
:Haru: -… eh! But I was just trying to help you with explanation.
:Loki: -it didn’t feel that way though.
Loki wasn’t too angry and he simply pointed this out for future reference but right after he did so.
:Haru: -…waaaaaaa! Loki-sensei scolded me!…
Haru immediately used it to her advantage to annoy him even more. Seeing her do that, Loki first face-palmed himself and afterwards he walked away to smoke the cigarette, and in this situation probably no one could blame him.
:Haru: -hey! No smoking!
Seeing him do so though, Haru immediately stop her fake cry and run after him to interrupt what he was doing in that moment however Loki made more demonstrations on fast movement and disappeared soon afterwards. Haru went after him the same way just the same so the game of tags between them started yet again. At least this time the game did not involve tornados and cut down cities and blown up mountains like it did last time.
:Yuki: -Onii-chan, where did Rin go?
Now only Yuki and Arata were left here, if one does not count multiple corpses and multiple ‘corpses’ that were still alive only conscious.
:Arata: -ah, she said she will be back in a moment, you know, toilet.
Arata came up with a quick answer to Yuki’s question but hearing it Yuki only tilted her head to the right and with puzzled face asked.
:Yuki: -but players don’t need to pop, do they?
The lie was easily caught.
:Arata: -… .
:Yuki: -ah, I see you meant the real world?
Arata did not know how to follow it up but somehow Yuki reached her own answer which in this case was the only one that made any sense. Hearing it however.
:Arata: -don’t mind what I said, it was just manner of speech.
:Rin: -I see, then Onii-chan, I want to ask her something so I will come back with her later.
:Arata: -ask? Can’t you do it when she returns?
:Yuki: -‘shake’.
Shaking her head Yuki ran off in direction where Rin went, Arata couldn’t really tell what was Yuki’s reason for doing that though. And now it was only Arata and the corpses left although it didn’t stay that way for too long.
:Levi: -yo Arata, what happened here?
Levi suddenly appeared in the middle of the gate few meters away from where Arata was standing with the ‘login light’ surrounding him. It seemed that unlike Arata, Levi did login yesterday and probably prepared for the journey that was awaiting him and came to the meeting point so he can log back to it right away.
:Arata: -nothing special or worth mention. So, did you get ready for your journey.
:Levi: -even more than ready, I even rented myself a mount. It won’t speed up things as I will still have to wait for two weeks until I can get promotion but at least I will reach the city faster… not to mention, you know, they even had white horses here, I couldn’t afford to not do it.
:Arata: -riding a cart is probably more comfortable but I see that you are still aiming for that knight on the white horse image, I am not sure that it will help you though.
:Levi: -who knows, you never know what might happen on the road.
:Arata: -I don’t want to know… so, counting from today, how long is it going to take you to finish your things and get back to Karma?
:Levi: -most likely three weeks. Unfortunately the ceremonies for promotions happens only once a month and they last a week, meaning only every day during that week I can get promotion. However as it turns out, there is no procedure to receive multiple promotions in one go and that will be my case which means that I will have to go through three ceremonies separately in total. The problem is that after every ceremony to get the reward you wanted you have stay in a dark cellar for a whole day as silver hand order is trying to go for that religious vibe. During that day we are supposed to thank god for the gifts we receive and swear to him to vanquish evil forces and be righteous defender of the world and not fall for the temptations of money and flesh… you know the standard type of knight swears and so. In reality though, you are simply put into a dark room, the options for rewards appear before you and are you choose you are free to do whatever you want. In my case it was sleeping last time I did it.
:Arata: -can you log off?
:Levi: -technically you shouldn’t and while as long as no one caches you it’s not a problem if it does happen you will get the heavy scolding from religious NPCs that belong to the order. The main point that I was trying to say though is that I can only have one promotion each two days, which means that I will be spending a whole week on the process. I guess I should be happy that they didn’t ask me to do one promotion each month.
:Arata: -this somewhat thing feels like a real pain to do bother with.
:Levi: -yea, but the rewards are worth it although I might be soon reaching the limit of ranking up soon. Right now my rank is still Private, second lowest. After the three promotions I will rise first to Corporal then Silver then lastly Sergeant, and after that I am only planning on getting few more points for one more promotion to Knight or Specialist although in my case, what I will end up with is obvious. Because of the last harvest with all those assassins, I really need just few extra points away for Knight, but don’t worry I will gather those points somewhere in the future. After that however, ranking-up becomes quite troublesome.
:Arata: -how so?
:Levi: -there are extra requirement. First you still need to gather enough points naturally even bigger amount than before. Apart from that though to rank up from Knight I would need to take on few new recruits and how people say ‘provide them with example and guidance on the path of becoming defender of justice’. What it means in practice though is that out of all the people that are signing up to for the silver hand order, I would need to pick up three people who would agree to listen to my orders and travel with me until they rank up to Corporal rank.
:Arata: -it can’t be that hard, but I don’t blame you for not doing it.
:Levi: -the hardest part for new members is the first rank up as the gap between recruit and private is extremely large. The first rank up is the joining process. For Corporal you just need to be lucky or persistent enough to grind points on small things. But as I told you once on 100 people that try to join only two or three manage to do so on average, and I would need to pick out those people precisely.
:Arata: -I see, it’s indeed sounds like painful and time consuming process, my guess is that the realistic way to do it is to have some friends joining and rank up for you.
:Levi: -that’s how it most often goes, although not necessarily, and you need strong friends for that.
:Arata: -well, if you will need just one more person and have a lot of cash at the moment try to bribe me if I am bored.
Reading Levi’s intention Arata said as while he wasn’t really interested in becoming defender of justice, getting some extra skills and cash at the same time wouldn’t hurt. Still while this idea wasn’t the worst, Arata didn’t think that he will ever go that route.
:Levi: -thanks for the thought but alongside the ability test there is also attitude test. The order also has to have to keep up the appearance so. with a face like yours you will never pass.
Levi did not skip the occasion to irritate him.
:Arata: -as if yours was any better.
:Levi: -I am just joking, thanks for the offer though… don’t expect any money out of me though.
:Arata: -in that case forget the offer.
:Levi: -it’s not like I was going to ask you for that in the first place. If I ever decide on doing that, I am only accepting female squires!
Levi said proudly.
-why I am not surprised. With that attitude though, you will stay girlfriendless forever.
Arata joked back although after traveling with Levi for so long he kind of understood that Levi wasn’t truly looking for a girlfriend, at least in a normal understanding of such word. Arata rather thought that Levi was simply saying so while in reality he couldn’t afford to drop his knight-wannabe act as it brought him too much fun. At the same time Arata started to suspect him of masochist’s tendencies as because of that act it mostly ended the same way.
:Levi: -…
For some strange reason though once Levi heard those words his happy mood disappeared and he had a blank expression on his face for a moment, right after suddenly serious started.
:Levi: -Arata… well first of all you have to promise to not complain afterwards.
Well serious only in Levi’s scale.
:Arata: -hmm… given your sudden change I probably shouldn’t give you a promise that I will break… so what did you do!?
Feeling that there was something in the air Arata answered.
:Levi: -ah! You are accusing me already, I didn’t do anything.
:Arata: -then what’s the reason for the change.
:Levi: -well… you do remember that before we went to get back our quest item I mentioned that afterwards I have something to tell you about, right?
:Arata: -hmm… I think you did but because of all that happened there it completely slipped through my mind. Although even if I did remember when we were climbing outside I was deadly tired so I wouldn’t bring it up anyway as it’s probably something stupid anyway. If you still want to tell me that badly though, right now we have some little time and it’s the last chance so go ahead. Try to make it quick as Rin will be coming back in a sec.
:Levi: -… well I am glad that you understand although I doubt that you will feel the same after what I am about to tell you. Try to not interrupt as it will make the story go faster so…
Levi took the deep breath and started talking rather long story about something that was going to fill up and destroy Arata’s world which he finally managed to puzzle together.
:Levi: -far in the east, near the small city called Drastria, there is a newly founded dwarven city called Woldenzmar. To be exact this is was old dwarven city that was occupied by monsters but three years ago one of the guilds freed it from occupation and it became full-fledged player city which unlike most normal dwarven cities is easily accessible for all players and not only of those of dwarven race as it is often the case for other. Because of that, the city is rather popular and often visited by those that happen to be in the east, one of its characteristic is that for non dwarven race players it’s the best place to learn blacksmithing so there are always a lot of great goods to find there.
:Arata: -… okay great… so why are you even telling me that?
:Levi: -relax and listen to the end. The other thing that the city is known for is for the large raid dungeon that underneath it.
:Arata: -I already heard about dungeons under cities here, nothing new.
:Levi: -I told you, don’t interrupt and it will go faster. Still, this and that place is slightly different as here we have endless dungeon that is completely different than mostly everything and over there it’s a simple raid dungeon like any other. Dungeon being underground is rather standard as well and while it’s true that the entrance is inside the city, it’s only because that city used to be a raid dungeon itself as well, meaning the undergrounds are the raid that became available even before the city was liberated.
:Arata: -sure whatever, I still have no idea why you are telling me this, not to mention I told you to make it fast while you seem to be giving me the whole backstory.
:Levi: -if I started from the most important part you would ask for the backstory anyway but it would just go all over the place so I will go from start to finish. If you didn’t interrupt it would go faster but oh well. So, there are underground dungeon and in that dungeon people found a secret passage deep to another raid dungeon that was completely different than other two.
:Arata: -so, there is a dungeon inside the dungeon which is inside something that used to be a dungeon?
:Levi: -more or less although in the end it’s simply a place like any other, it’s just us players keep on calling those places dungeons while it’s another part of open world.
:Arata: -I already know that, although there are few exceptions to this.
:Levi: -well leaving the exceptions aside let’s focus on that dungeon. For starter it looked like any other dungeon with monsters and bosses to fight against. The only problem was reaching it safely as from what I heard those that know the way still take a week to get there from the Woldenzmar which is the respawn point but that is also often the case with places like that. So eventually year after the place was found, the inside-inside dungeon was nearly fully explored and all bosses were defeated by someone at least once. It wasn’t that long time ago, it happened right before the summer started which is six month ago in the game time.
“Hmm, that’s about when I started playing… but this place, I feel like I know about it already from somewhere… did I read about on internet? I remember that dungeon inside dungeon inside dungeon joke.”
:Arata: -so, are you done yet? Look over there, Rin is already coming.
Arata saw Rin and Yuki coming back from the street they went to. From the look of it, something bad happened between them as Rin looked irritated and Yuki was walking few meters behind her with lowered head.
:Levi: -I am just getting to the important part. So half a year ago once the last boss was defeated even though at that time other bosses already respawned there was a change inside the dungeon, namely a new secret chamber appeared inside it.
:Arata: -don’t tell me it’s now a dungeon inside the dungeon inside the dungeon inside the dungeon. You know it’s slowly getting ridiculous right?
:Levi:-no it’s not another dungeon it’s more of last boss room that appears only after the other bosses are cleared or at least that’s the closest explanation.
:Arata: -I see. Hey, Rin… Levi wishes to tell me some story so we will work out the details once he finishes.
Interrupting once again, Arata informs Rin about what is happening and she with understanding walks towards the wall and lean next to it still within hearing range. Seeing this opportunity Yuki lifts her head up and walks up towards Rin but the moment she does that Rin sends her a cold glance that easily froze up even this ice user. Because of that Yuki gave up and walks away with lowered head and did not make another attempt again.
“Ah, what did she do again? Well, I will talk with her about it later.”
Arata thought for a second but he returned his attention to Levi who once again continued with the story.
:Levi: -so, seeing the new chamber appearing the group that cleared the last undefeated so far boss decided to enter it right away.
:Arata: -isn’t it stupid, I mean they were probably devastated by the earlier fight and now they went to last boss chamber right away? EOA isn’t really the game in which one can do that.
:Levi: -well of course but at that time they didn’t necessarily knew it’s the last boss chamber. It could easily be a treasure chamber that appears as the extra reward for those that completed the dungeon as the first one to do so. It’s not a rare case so you can’t blame them for taking the risk. But anyway, that party walked through the doors and entered the dark chamber.
:Arata: -you are now making the ghost story out of it? Sure the sky is dark but without a campfire and right atmosphere I am not buying it.
:Levi: -didn’t I told you to not interrupt? …
Arata didn’t say anything afterwards.
:Levi: -so they entered the doors and that lead extremely large area, that would be too big even for a boss fight unless it were something of the scale of, I don’t know the big bad dragon that we meet in the west.
:Arata: -I see… so the last boss is something big.
:Levi: -no, even though the chamber was extremely large there was nothing but one large obelisk in the very middle of it and few supporting pillars. Still, no treasure chests and no bosses that would attack the moment someone enters. Naturally though the party looked around in hope of finding something and because it was a large place it took them a while.
:Arata: -let me guess now, someone touched something he should not and the boss appeared and kill them all?
:Levi: -close, it didn’t seem like they touched anything but suddenly after an hour of search the obelisk some blue glyphs appeared and right afterwards four monstrous creatures appeared.
:Haru: -noooooooo!
Haru suddenly appeared truly out of nowhere and made a ghost like sound.
:Arata, Levi: -… .
:Haru: -what I thought you were telling a ghost story.
:Loki: -Haru don’t interrupt someone’s talk.
:Haru: -yes Loki-sensei.
Loki also appeared soon after with the cigarette in his mouth although he appeared in position in which Haru did not see it. Now that he got rid of that interruption, the story could continue.
:Levi: -so the four bosses that appeared reckt the whole party after 10 minutes long struggle.
:Arata: -it wasn’t that bad then, they learned some abilities of those bosses so if that was half a year ago then by now that place is already cleared right?
:Levi: -not that wasn’t the case as in this moment the simple raid dungeon suddenly became extremely troublesome existence.
:Arata: -you mean something like the appearance of last bosses powered up other creatures so now it’s harder to get them?
:Levi: -that as well but the problem is completely different. The party that got wiped naturally planned to do finish what they started but once ten days passed and they could start preparing for the next try the moment they log back inside the game they immediately found themselves in rather ‘unpleasant situation’. The place they respawned in wasn’t the dwarven city Woldenzmar but rather the last boss chamber, yes the big one with obelisk. What’s more when they appeared there all of the equipment that they had was locked away in their inventories, meaning they could not use it. Everyone that respawned had the same brown tattered clothes for level one, the equipment they died in also went to their inventories. What’s more because the obelisk was sucking away both stamina and mana of everyone inside the chamber, which they learned during the fight, no one could use any skills or magic.
:Arata: -oh, that sucks for them… is this one of those ‘resurrection traps’?
:Levi: -yes, although this one is really nasty and at the same time slightly strange as inside the chamber there is now only one boss left as the other three went outside. The one remaining boss doesn’t attack anyone unless they try to escape, in that case he kills the runner immediately who later on respawn in the same place.
:Arata: -oh, I wouldn’t want to experience that.
:Levi: -that’s not all as it seems that the other three bosses are now traveling through the both dungeons and once they find other parties of players they immediately attack them. Those that die by their hands and generally anyone who dies inside one of those two dungeons also resurrects inside the last boss chamber with obelisk.
:Arata: -even though they never went there, oh quite nasty as expected of this evil game. The level of unfairness is high as always, but hearing that others also have to struggle like this suddenly makes everything fair. So that’s the balance I heard about, if everyone is getting fuck over like this, then suddenly everything is balanced.
:Levi: -a good way to look at it.
:Arata: -still in this case, there are already probably some rescue mission as it is the case with ‘resurrection traps’.
:Levi: -well obviously, and because there are quite some players that are trapped and they are also those players that goes for raids so they are the more wealthy part of player base. Still, none of the rescue missions so far ended up as a success and they only made it worse as more and more players became trapped. I saw the video of someone who was trapped there and there were extreme amount of people there in that chamber. Half of it was full and that were only those logged in.
:Arata: -hmm… I can image why someone would stay logged in that situation.
:Levi: -well for one it’s to not miss the rescue opportunity should a new rescue group succeed. Other is simply that that everyone is trapped there with their raid groups so at the very least they have a lot of good company.
:Arata: -I guess.
:Levi: -right now, the combined reward for rescuing that group is the highest in history as even the developers unable to do anything by themselves added some of their part. Some players promise gold other dollars but by exchanging the gold into dollars by current ratio you can get about five million dollars if you succeed and everyone pays up.
:Arata: -wow, that’s some sum. If it wasn’t for our quest I would be tempted.
Arata answered as even though he never thought about earning real money from this game as there was no need to, this amount was nothing to laugh off. Even Rin who was standing on the side reacted and her reaction was actually bigger than Arata’s which was rather suppressing as even if she was interested she would still take it in calmly. Although in the end she never said anything.
:Levi: -of course that amount would be splinted between the whole party and you would need a lot of people to pull that off as earlier rescue parties counted even 200th people still failed.
:Arata: -if you gather a bunch of newbies then it doesn’t matter how many of them are there. But with an amount of money like this even the best guilds would get interested.
“With this amount the ‘teamspeaker’ server payment would never became a topic again.”
:Levi: -well yea, those best guilds rescue parties are now the part of the prisoners as well adding to the amount.
:Arata: -I wasn’t talking about scrubs though.
:Levi: -they weren’t scrubs and because of that even with that amount lately there weren’t many that tried to do the rescue mission in fear that they will share the fate of others. Needless to say rightly so.
:Arata: -the risk is high indeed. The way I see it is that if you fail you won’t be able to play EOA for some time until someone finally succeeds which might be hard given that the requirement is to kill of those raid bosses on a single try… it might actually be next to impossible even if your level was relatively higher than the required level for the dungeon.
:Levi: -yep, but while the risk is high the temptation is high as well. It’s not only the money, think of the fame that will spread about rescuers as well as the eternal gratitude of those that would be rescued.
:Arata: -people are quick to forget things so I am not sure about that eternal gratitude part but you are right. But as for me, after hearing this story I will give a wide berth from that place also I still have no idea why you are telling me this.
:Levi: -oh… I thought you would realize by now but oh well, now is the ending part. As I mentioned after so many failures there aren’t many rescue operations going anymore but the people are trapped nevertheless and someone has to do it and the ones who decided to do so are we, the Silver Hand Order.
:Arata: -does that mean that you have to go there to join that rescue operation and we will never see you again?
Arata reached a quick conclusion although he didn’t feel sorry for Levi at all.
:Levi: -no, it’s nothing like that, don’t you remember that I belong to the third division lead by knight-commander Bernard whose the only order is ‘guys do whatever you want!’
:Arata: -ah right. Well in other case I would recommend you getting those promotion get the bonuses and then give them the middle finger to that organization while saying goodbye.
:Levi: -that’s probably what I would do but in that situation but no I am not forced into anything and naturally I am not going to be part of any expedition by my own will either. In the first place that expedition already started more than two weeks ago and just few days ago right before we went to get our quest item it also ended.
:Arata: -so we are still talking about past? I thought we were getting to the ending?
:Levi: -just a little more! The one who lead that rescue mission was knight-commander Morgan, he mostly took the stronger guys from the first division he is leading and he didn’t bother anyone else. Apart from his own forces though he also gathered some other reinforcements from players that wanted to take part in rescue operation as well. There were many volunteers and you never have enough helpers after all but generally the rescue expedition was organized by Silver hand order so all the glory would fall to them.
:Arata: -but they still failed right? You said that none of rescue missions succeeded so far.
:Levi: -yes they failed although they did quite good actually and they eliminated one of the boss. But during that fight many have lost their lives. What’s worse, right after the battle has ended the other two bosses appeared in the sight. In that moment knight-commander Morgan ordered the retreat and while I always like to hate on guys from first division, you can’t argue with his decision. Unfortunately as it turned out during the escape, some had to be sacrificed for the greater good, as how nicely our knight-commander put it. He also mentioned that there is no way that he is going back there after what he saw so while this was the first progress in the rescue operation it ended up with one boss defeated, there was also a large amount of new prisoners in result. Sure some were lost in action but it’s not hard to tell their fate. To all of our surprise though, the losses from our first division were kept to minimum so even when out of 300 people more than 200 did not come back, only five from silver hand order ranks disappeared in the process and from reports it didn’t seem like knight-commander Morgan was that tired after coming out either even when they run the whole way upward.
:Arata: -meaning the bastard sacrificed others and only saved his and his subordinates asses?
:Levi: -that’s the obvious way to interpret it although what I just told you is classified information that I could get only because of my connections. Meaning the general public does not know about it and even though it ended as a failure, knight-commander Morgan’s standings went up for defeating at least one boss.
:Arata: -well, I guess he did something that all and looking at it objectively I would probably also focus on rescuing my teammates rather than some random that I pick up on the way.
:Levi: -is that so? Well what you said is definitely true but I don’t know why you still didn’t caught on it but from what you told me some time ago in Karma even before we meet Yume’s party and went west, I am pretty sure that your girlfriend was the part of that rescue expedition as well and I will tell you right away that no, there were no random blond haired beauties on survivals list that I found.
:Arata: -…
Hearing this Arata went pale for a second. In an instant he realized why did he already heard about a similar place to this, although in that story there wasn’t any part about rescuing anyone or resurrection traps.
:Arata: -wait a second, I never heard about something like this. She only told me that she is going on some expedition underground to explore new place in hope of riches, items and experience in fighting a large raid battle as a healer. There wasn’t any part about rescuing.
He tried to calm down and explain the situation.
:Levi: -even if you tell me that, I remember that you said precisely that the expedition was organized by silver hand order and I found it very strange as we rarely do that. If there are any silver hand operations they involve only silver hand members and no one from the outside. What’s more at that time you told me that she got recruited in Drastria so I gave it a quick look just to find out and assumed that you also know on what she sign up for so I didn’t feel the need to mention it. Then now few days ago I learn about what happened to that expedition as it was a large topic on our forums so I thought I will share as at least five days ago I would be the first one from who you could learn that. Still if you didn’t know about all that means that she didn’t give you all the details so you don’t complain about her going there.
:Arata: -… .
:Levi: -then the other options are either that I was completely wrong and she didn’t go on that expedition in the end or that she escaped somehow and simply didn’t show up for check that was done in Woldenzmar.
:Arata: -but, that can’t be true.
Arata just said to himself
:Levi: -sadly Arata, given the fact that we just had a one day logout break and you didn’t hear about her being happy that she survived through the terror that she experienced there I am guessing that your girlfriend probably joined the prisoners in the obelisk chamber or she is trapped somewhere within the dungeon and will soon join them. Even if she is still alive escape is impossible as even if she her sneaking around is on ninja level our how very helpful the knight-commander Morgan group set up a barrier that would not let anyone pass it. That barrier will last for few months and won’t be possible to dispel from the other side.
:Arata: -… .
Arata couldn’t say anything anymore and simple remembered the yesterday day in which Kotori did not even look at the phone. Now Arata knew what she was so busy with.
:Levi: -now, that’s about all I wanted to say… I hope you understand why I didn’t told you about it before we went to get back our quest item, feel free to get angry at me for not telling you right afterwards although at that time it was only a rumor and I had no idea how many people manage to escape and that it was that bad. Thanks to the wait I managed to gather all the details rather than just saying, your girlfriend’s expedition went bad and she might be in trouble which was what I was going to tell you at that time.
:Arata: -… .
:Levi: -naturally what you do after hearing this info is up to you, surely I don’t believe that if you go there you will be able to do anything and knowing you, you will most likely die in some suicidal attempt and join the prisoners but if you still want to do it I won’t blame you for that. Rin also heard most of the story so she won’t say a word either, I assume.
Rin was a little bit shocked by this story as well but when Levi mentioned her she return to the earth and just nodded towards Arata although right now it was hard for him to process the outside images.
“He is right, even if I go there, there is nothing that I will be able to do, not to mention it’s not defined that what he said is true. Also if Kotori was really in trouble she would told me about it… wouldn’t she? No, of course she wouldn’t, she knows what I am doing and how much I wanted to complete this quest. Knowing her there is no way that she would tell me… that might be the reason why she didn’t answer yesterday. Sure she can still be log in but the obvious conclusion is that she was killed and can’t even access EOA for two days and if we talk I would immediately recognize something is wrong!”
:Yuki: -Onii-chan, is Onee-chan in trouble? Should we go help her?
Yuki asked him the question that he was now asking himself but just as Levi said, doing so meant probably that Arata had to forget about his current quest which also meant that he had to forget about ‘her’.
“There is no way I can do that! But at the same time…”
Arata couldn’t make a decision but in that moment a salvation appeared.
:Loki: -aaa… why does our guildmates always get themselves into trouble…
Loki took another deep breath and send a lot of smoke to the air.
:Loki: -one does quest of rank three, other two go dragon hunting and now this, ah I don’t even want to know what Anari is doing…
Complaining a little and taking another breath, Loki continued.
:Loki: -anyway Arata, you can leave this matter to me… sadly this means we will have to put away our training for some other time but right now I don’t have anything particular to do so I can check the situation. I won’t say that I will go defeat all those bosses and rescue everyone on my own but I am rather confident that I can pass by them grab even two people one per shoulder each and run away, avoiding any danger.
Loki wasn’t joking but simply had confidence to say this. Still there was someone who had even more confidence than him.
:Haru: -ah! That’s not fair! You want to take all the fun for yourself… but if you are going then I go as well!… and naturally I will be battling the bosses, you can stay on the side and look if you are that big of scary cat though.
:Loki: -I was just talking about most efficient and safest way to do that Haru, not…-
:Haru: -bla, bla, bla, there is nothing fun with being safe… also I want to become a millionaire so we are doing the battling, rescue everyone and get reward.
:Loki: -fine, it might be slower but we will do it your way… .
The rescue party suddenly formed even without Arata saying the word as while Loki did wait for Arata’s answer at this point no one could stop Haru from doing it anymore.
:Yuki: -ano… Loki-sensei, can I go as well?
Right after that Yuki asked about possibility of joining and even though it seemed like Loki wanted to quickly answer with ‘no’ in polite way of course, he was quickly outshouted.
:Loki: -it’s better if… .
:Haru: -OF COURSE YOU CAN, YUKI-CHAN!
:Loki: -wait a second Haru. There is no need to endanger her.
:Haru: -what do you mean by that. Yuki-chan is strong and if needed we can protect her.
:Loki: -sure but I also wanted to do it quickly and with her, the travel will take too long.
:Haru: -don’t worry about that either, she can ride on Torachii who can run just as fast as me if he puts his mind into it.
:Loki: -still…-
:Haru: -ah, you are complaining too much Loki-sensei! You will waste your life if you keep on worrying rather than take action. So right now in this moment, let’s go!
With energetic thurst of her hands to the sky, Haru declared the departure of ‘Kotori rescue team’. Still Loki completely ignored that action and waited for the answer.
“Yes, I can safely leave that to them, I guess I will have to return to my training plans from earlier though. Based on what they said I won’t be able to learn ‘stats’ on my own. In any effective way at least, basic magic it is then.”
:Arata: -in that case I will… .
:Rin: -you are going with them, right?
Arata was about to make the decision but as if knowing what he was about to say, Rin suddenly interrupted him.
:Arata: -no, I… .
:Rin: -you are going with them, right!?
Leaving him no chance to speak Rin interrupted him for the second time and while doing so she walked right before him, blocking his view to others even pushing Levi to the side as well.
:Arata: -wait a second I…-
:Rin: -you are going with them, right?
She once again asked the same question and now Arata realized that she was waiting only for one answer, not allowing him to make his own decision.
:Arata: -… .
He didn’t know how to speak with her when she was like this so he decided to stay silent for now, seeing through that strategy though Rin suddenly operated her menu’s inventory and took our round silver object that Arata recognized as the Wizard’s orb with which they were supposed to teleport back to Karma. Still right now Rin was going to use the other function of it.
:Rin: -hey you stupid Wizard! Are you there!?
Rin shouted at the orb and surprisingly the answer from it came right away.
:Wizard: -oh, you must be calling the wrong magic sequence my dear, there aren’t any stupid wizards here, only one brilliant one, whose powers and knowledge know no bounds.
If his annoying voice was not enough the Wizard was as arrogant as always so it was easily to recognize that Rin made no mistake.
:Rin: -great! Then prove that great knowledge to me as I have assumption that I want to make sure is correct… the main purpose of our quest is for me to reach that silver temple, right?
:Wizard: -that is correct, you still need to do something there but after reaching that place it will be but a trivial matter.
:Rin: -I see, then if by some chance I would either die or abandon the quest the other two will fail it immediately as well, right?
:Wizard: -that is correct as well, the quest was made for you alone and anyone else is just a helper an insignificant existence. Especially that twilight swordsman, he is the least important, you might actually receive an extra reward directly from me if you make sure that he fails.
Even though the Wizard knew for sure that Arata was standing there listening, he didn’t miss the chance to annoy him. He had his grudge after all.
:Rin: -oh, I will think about it but unfortunately I might in few next minutes decide to abandon your quest. Listen well brilliant Wizard! The next time I say I am giving up on the quest I will mean it so register it as such.
:Wizard: -hyhyhyhy, very well if you say that your quest will immediately result in failure as if you were to die on it..
Surprisingly the Wizard agreed without asking a single question. Still Arata already had enough evidences to guess why it happened. The quick answer to Rin’s call was already quite suspicious, so was the laughter and the fact that ‘he who wants to know everything’ agreed immediately to something like this meant that he knew what was happening here as he probably was looking at them at the moment, as his orbs did gave him that function. While he probably wasn’t really siding with Rin because he wanted to help her, he was most likely doing so to make Arata suffer.
:Rin: -great, now wait a second as I might be telling you this right away but I want my teleport back afterwards. Now then, Arata…
Holding the shining silver orbs before her, Rin and returned to the question.
:Rin: -you are going with them, right?
:Arata: -wait a second Rin… did you hear that there is no need for me to go? I will rather just get in the way of Loki and Haru so.
She finally allowed him to speak although after listening to him.
:Rin: -I am giving up on…-
:Arata: -WAIT!…
Arata moved forward and using his right hand he tried to close Rin’s mouth but while she did stopped the sentence Arata’s hand did not reach her as she dunked with her head downward, and Arata’s arm flied above her. She caught that arm and then threw Arata over her shoulder with judo like technique and Arata fall hard on the ground.
:Arata: -aua… .
:Rin: -you are going with them, right?
She asked while standing above him, still not letting go of his arm. Arata had bad feeling about this but he still tried to explain himself.
:Arata: -like I just said… aua!…
Rin twisted his arm and even though Arata was rather resilient to pain, Rin knew how to make it so it hurts.
:Arata: -what is your problem! Why do you care whatever I go or not? Rather shouldn’t you be saying that, I shouldn’t go?
Finally Arata couldn’t hold it back any longer and shouted back at her, in that moment, Rin stopped what she was doing and stood back and let him stand up again, when he did she started.
:Rin: -I already destroyed my life so I am not going to destroy yours as well, so if you can’t make the right choice, I will make it for you myself. Go with them to see her Arata.
:Arata: -… .
:Rin: -why are you looking away? Arata, you just promised me that you won’t make me hate, didn’t you?
:Arata: -so I did and that’s why… .
:Rin: -that’s why what?
:Arata: -that’s why I don’t want to go.
:Rin: -… is that so… if that is what you really want then I have no right to tell you what to do but if that’s your choice than it seems that your promise was worth absolutely nothing if you are already breaking it.
:Arata: -why that be the case?
:Rin: -I don’t know where you got this assumption that you can understand me but you could be no more far from the truth. Did you really though that what you went through was even close to the suffering that I am experiencing everyday… don’t make me laugh! You have no idea what it means to be me! Someone like you who wasn’t even close with his parents but just played games all day, and even after losing them still had someone who cared about him yet he keep on pushing everyone away all the same. Completely healthy with large bank account and absolutely no worries in life… you really thought that you can compare yourself to me and say you understand me?… Aren’t you quite arrogant? What’s more that experience wasn’t even necessary, I even told you just few days ago what I want you to do, but even when I am that direct you still can’t understand me at all!
:Arata: -Rin.
:Rin: -…for the last time I will repeat myself, I will be as direct as possible, and using your way, you can try to accuse me of lying or even hiding a small detail. If you can’t understand me even after this then there is really no hope for you…
Even though there were others around, Rin completely forgotten about the world and said everything that came to her mind even revealing Arata’s past and also saying things that she does not meant but she believed that they were necessary, given what she just stated though the last words were definitely going to be the truth, although while Arata doubted that there is anything that can change his mind, he never imaged the level of truth he received.
:Rin: -I love you and I care about you and because of that I won’t let you destroy your own life and chose the path that leads to the darkness and sorrow which you wish to persuade. There is no happiness waiting for you here and even if you think that it’s fine because I will be there it won’t be fine because even if I wanted to I can’t stay on that path for long. Two months Arata… that’s all the time I have left, maybe little less, maybe little more but that small difference doesn’t matter does it? During that night, I did tell you a lot but I lied when I said that I told you everything. I am horrible aren’t I? Even Mary doesn’t know about it… or no, she probably does but just doesn’t show it.
:Arata: -… .
:Rin: -two months left is all I have, ten months in this world and I will be gone. I trust you understand what I mean. That’s why even if you still refuse to follow the right path you have no way to walk the other one. If you choose to do so, I will go to hiding but don’t make me do it, I want to spend the rest of my time in that city with the only person that was with me for all this time. My parents are supposed to come as well it seems, I don’t want to meet them but it’s my duty to listen to their farewells but no more than that. The feeling of love that I thought to experience at the very end, I did not expect it although maybe I am wrong, you are still second most important person that I love and I want for you to be happy…. now after I was as direct as this I will ask one more time. You are going with them, right?
:Arata: -‘nod’.
Still sitting on the ground Arata answered with a nod.
:Rin: -I am glad…
Rin then started walking away and as she did she made a whisper but it wasn’t heard by anyone.
:Rin: -now this is our good bye, I will still wait for you two so we can finish this quest, although I am expecting and hope you will not to come… lied again at the very end… Good bye Arthur.
After those words the silver orb that Rin had in her hand shined up and Rin dropped it to the ground. Right afterwards the orb opened the crack in dimension into which Rin fallen shortly after.
Arata did not know why but standing there without a will to live and seeing it happen, he somewhat knew that he was never going to see her again.
eye of Adventure 
Link to the pool about new dialogue prototype.
LINK TO POLL
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Ty for the chapter.
I prefer the usual way, to be honest. In the first place, if the writer does a good job of fleshing out a character, giving it deep, identity, its own way to go about things and make it feel alive, then if the reader has brains and gets into the story enough he should be able to tell them apart without thinking much about it.
I find name tags-thingies off putting, and most often than not they break me away from my immersion in the story.
Also, Thanks for the chapter!
Your comment will definitely influence my decision.
Right now it is just an idea, testing it out on the chapter might be a harsh but don’t have other way to grab the feedback.
I wrote this chapter the same way I always did and just add those latter on and if anything that was going to be the way I will go about it. Naturally that adds me a little bit of work on reread so my preferable option is not doing it. I would save an hour or two per chapter without doing that.
But if the response will be hip hip hurray, I am willing to do it.
Then again if there will be a lot BRING IT BACK as well, I might even do double version… most troublesome although removing the tags-things is easy all I would need to do is write a program what would do it for me.
Well for now until next chapter is done I will look over what everyone thinks and decide right before starting the reread.
Now that I think about it for example clown’s entrance speeches would be worse if it said that it’s him who is saying it.
Anyway.
EVERYONE! Remember to vote and give out your opinion in comment if possible as well! First and foremost the readers that comment have my biggest attention!
Second would be mail but unless someone doesn’t want to share his thoughts with everyone and it’s not topic for mail, it’s better to comment.
he’s right, In the first lines I saw a “:” but then I didn’t give any other importance, because we’re really immersed in this story to the point of forgetting other things
No way Riiiiiiiin !! Dont die, use alices reallife magic skills :s
Aww rin my fav grill hahaha
Btw i like the old sryle more, its more fluent, and u are confusing urself by mixing them up,
For example at the end its arata that nods not rin
… well I can’t say I won’t make the mistake myself. Naturally it’s Arata nodding there. My excuse is that when I got to rereading that part I got too emotional and did not look back again. (ps:repaired)
I did the full reread in a single day and when I got to the end it was 3:00 or something like that at times like this errors appear often … because of this chapter end I couldn’t slept for next two hours afterwards.
The only saving grace of this ending is that the whole chapter is so light-hearted that you are in the mood where that bomb will not devastate you… hopefully.
Well so far looks like the new system was evil after all… I knew that me having good will would not change the result as evil nature can only produce evil things.
Well I will see goes it’s only been few hours now. The poll is about 50-50-cakes but if it’s ends at 50-50 then there is no need for change especially with already 2 comments saying that there is no need for that.
The clown lied, he said the grey rat would have a however minor choice but the red queen forced the grey rat on the path to earth where he will suffer bigger regrets and the important will be lost. But regardless of the path all that awaits the grey rat is death and regrets.
Great chapter the ending is cruel and I love it.
He did not lie… before getting to the next part, he added that Arata is the observer whose choice doesn’t matter… the two paths were the result of other people’s action and choices not his. Rin what she did but she could easily decide otherwise and also Levi could skip talking about this as well and in that case Arata would never find out about the situation as, well Kotori would not tell him at least until the quest was done. Other than that it would be hard for him to learn it from anywhere else.
There are many things happening in the world, some reach Arata’s eye some don’t but generally he pays them little mind so that would be the case.
Well in the end I guess you can say that he lied as the development at the ending of this chapter was foreshadowed ever since the arc two started, and while my characters are often doing whatever they want I try to do my best so the story at least follows the general direction. That’s still is always rather hard but that’s what makes writing so interesting.
Ziki is right, it wasn’t Arata’s decision that lead to that moment, it was what the others did that caused Rin to block him from going, she was trying to get Arata to leave without knowing the truth from the very start but now that there was a concrete reason on why he shouldn’t go with them to heaven (Kotori being trapped) she had to do it, “if you love something, let it free” is basically what she was trying to do.
Can’t wait for next chap, literally… i nearly forgot most characters… i even forgot Loki’s name for a lil while… (shame on me!!) thanx for the chap though, Ziki~~~!!!
I don’t really see the need to change the dialogue system.
Isn’t Arata skill perfect for this rescue mission, since it doesn’t use mana or stamina he can even do it after dying and reviving in brown clothes and drained.
Here is the scenario if Levi had shut his mouth.
* Training with Loki to get super strong.
* Adventure in heavens, Arata dies 5 meters away from the silver temple by sacrifying himself and allowing Rin to enter.
* Phone call with Kotori he learns the problem
* He revives, the price for completing X% of the quest is an intercontinental teleportation device.
* He use it and go to the raid dungeon and try a solo rescue mission
* Eventually he gets killed.
* Revive with the prisoners, meeting to decide the time for the great escape.
* When everyone is there, hour of twilight bringing the players but not the boss.
* They leave the room reequip their items, drink potions and walk away for one hour.
* When the hour is finished they have somewhat recuperated and they fight their way out of the dungeon.
Rescue mission completed, Arata just needed to be able to die once. (well twice counting the temple in heavens)
“Isn’t Arata skill perfect for this rescue mission, since it doesn’t use mana or stamina he can even do it after dying and reviving in brown clothes and drained.”
It could work to a certain extend although the scale of those dungeons is quite large. It took the other rescue group that was mentioned a week to meet the boss.
So while Arata could bring out at best only some people out of the chamber that way. There are naturally some limitations to hour of twilight that weren’t shown. For one which was rather hard to show in closed off space, is that the affected area isn’t the whole world of EOA but just a certain space. It was hinted by the fact that while the hour of twilight is active we get the sound of demon making his last cry after Rin killed him. (for a note, if the timing of that seemed off as Rin’s battle was much shorter, it’s because her fight didn’t start at the exact same time Arata’s did :), or at least that’s the best excuse I can give you as I was planning for that fight to last longer but Rin is too OP.)
As for your alternative scenario… could easily work. One of the main concepts I had before starting EOA is to create a setting in which every story that I want to write can be written.
As for this point
* Training with Loki to get super strong.
Super strong is hard to define but at the very least… let’s see how to scale it. Arata will probably still get reckt by someone of Clown power scale but the fight would be much more fair. And we would get to see some of Clown’s ultimate :).
In the end, what will happen will happen.
will Arata lose his red light citadel enchantment? i liked it, it was cool, also will Arata get more light based skills? cos twilight is not only darkness but a mixture of light and dark, also (2) will Arata get like a skill related to eclipses? cos i read that twilight can also be caused by eclipses, also (3) i did not know this without actually searching but dusk and dawn are actually twilight also, so if you need skill names you could add those words to the mix, wait!… or you could use it as the names of his weapons OwO, like (somehow) his black sword, kuroi, breaks (somehow) and it gets repaired (somehow) and changes name to Dusk (somehow), or it could simply upgrade (somehow) and become The Dusk Blade Kuroi and for the other one (Dawn Blade Shiroi), he could just (somehow) get it *=* class weapon obviously, class weapons are kewl *=*)b and they are a set (somehow) called “Dawn till Dusk” or “Dusk till Dawn” Blade set and has an effect called “Dawn till Dusk” or “Dusk till Dawn” (depending on the name that is chosen) it will give him a small buff during the time for example: from Dawn (morning) untill Dusk (night) he will have a 5% boost to all stats but it doesn’t activate from the other way around (dusk till dawn)
just some random rambling from a random guy, feel free to ignore haha 😀
The Dusk Blade Kuroi, Dawn Blade Shiroi = sounds like pretty epic sword names. You bought me with the word dawn, as now that I think about it I am fan of this world and the story has a lot of Dawn elements in it. Skill light of dawn for example or generally the simple night ending and the light of dawn arriving. 🙂
so its time for the world to see the power of ” REFRAIN “
dang.. i didnt expect that ending… i pray it works out for rin.. i really like her character
heres some dialogue mistakes i think
:Arata: -seems like you are not doing it just because. Is your goal that important? (should be loki)
:Haru: -… really? (should be arata)
:Arata: -Onii-chan! (should be yuki)
:Haru: -yes, you get A-mark for that. (should be loki)
Oh, I am really far from perfecting this system if I made this mistake
‘:Arata: -Onii-chan! (should be yuki)’
Once again I probably got too immersed in the story and forgot to check
for your new way of writing heu……I’m sorry but I didn’t notice ?… I read a LOT of stuff daily and most of all I was so into the story and happy to see some member of the guild that I didn’t get past that but It’s also good since It didn’t disturb my reading and I didn’t have any problem with it !
Lastly……….. WHAT THE HELL NO WORLD FIRST ?!!!!! lol
and rin is selfish saying it’s his choice and then blackmailing him…
and yuki was supposed to be more sensitive then that since she talked with rin even if arata told her it’s supposed to be a secret.
and stupid haru, abandoning arata without thinking !
hum I think I finished my list of complain lol
Ps: ohhh I forgot Levi !!! stupid guy couldn’t you tell arata without the other listening !!!
Ps2: LOKIIIIIIIIII LOVE YOUUU lolll
Let’s see Rin did what she always did.
Yuki, more sensitive yes but for the first time she decided to take on action knowing the risk as the purpose was big enough. You can guess what that purpose was as their Yuki x Rin conversation after three word exchange ended with Rin saying :GET LOST!.
“stupid haru, abandoning arata without thinking !” – no idea what this is about. If you mean that sudden ‘let’s go!’ it ended with Haru making two steps turning around seeing no one followed her and walking quickly back before anyone noticed. She is standing there all right. Didn’t go anywhere, and it’s not even a spoiler to say that she will naturally be one of ‘four main characters of next mini arc’.
As for PS, naturally Levi’s purpose was for Rin to hear this out as well, to let her show Arata’s initial reaction.
Right as for members of the guild. Well we already saw them before… with exception of Anari in the last chapter but that doesn’t count as it was real world. Apart from her, Haru keep on appearing in the story on regular basis ever since chapter 42. Although it’s been a while since she got a lot of storytime. Yuki got a lot of story time lately, although I guess this was the first time that Loki was present for the whole chapter and did not stay in the shadow.
Now who else is left.
Zen and Odin – they did appear for a second and I know when they will appear next time, so they are good :).
Kotori – after this chapter even reader can tell that we will see her soon.
Then my favourite character will appear in least expected by you time, The exactly planned moment is something that has been decided long time ago, and it will not change.
Then there is Kelly whom I have absolutely no idea when to put her back into the story, unless it will be the gathering of the whole guild that will happen eventually…sorry Kelly.
Thank for the answer !!
for kelly hum…….I totally forgot about her lol
for haru, yeah it was because first she wanted to help arata and when a new “adventure come up she wanted to go right away.
I can tell you like haru, well, I like her but more as a guest then as a permanent member (I still don’t think of her as a member of the guild…)
It’s good to change the composition of the next party even if I really hate the fact that after all this time, the angel arc won’t be finished, and it’s becoming a little tiring…
but with the new information about the impact of the world, I can see it became like “the last boss” of the story to see if rin survive or not.
and then it’s not a world (or a story) where think have to follow a nice logic more like, look at the logic then tell it good bye and do the opposite lol
Hope the next arc will have more action and finally arata advancing in his twilight swordsman skill (it’s about time…). hope to be surprised and see new weird people lol 🙂
Ps: looking forward to see more refrain action 🙂
Logic? Who needs that 🙂
As for Haru, yes she is a complete wildcard. She isn’t really suitable for guild activities as she does whatever she wants, generally “just goes where wind takes her”.
We will get to angel stuff eventually although you can already tell whatever Arata will still have the quest at that moment :)… muahahaha!
the japanese saying about yubikiri was something about the lines of if u lie u drink 10000needles? or was it 1000…cant remember lol
Yep, pretty cruel to drink 1000 needless if you lie.
But yes it does say ‘lie’ but I saw (in anime) few examples where it was used in promises as well.
My understanding is that the lie in this saying isn’t about lies that one would do in the future but rather making your current words (current promise) become lie with your future actions.
At the same time lie could also come from the fact that someone is planning on breaking the promise anyway and is lying about that right now.
Generally after I thought about it now it’s both (and probably few others). Quite universal saying. 🙂
true lol and yuki is just too cute 😀 sad although i have a lot of white haired loli no one has a sword( though one has a scythe xD)
oh and also haru can use wind magic to pick vibration in the air thus spying on people right? then shouldnt it be called air magic?
It could be, doesn’t have to though.
PS: It’s worth to remember however that so far in the story the people that displayed basic magic are: Arata, Anari, Wizard, Arcon, Hiro, Mori… and no one else. (I could miss someone but I probably didn’t)
well in my opinion wind magic actually should been a branch of air magic since wind is esssentially just moving air but well just my opinion
I love your story but some chapter is to looong i can only open half of it in my mobile phone (so i read it in netcafe)
I am both happy and ashamed to hear that :).
I can’t say that it’s possible for me to solve that problem though. The only solutions that come to my mind (less longer chapters/uploading chapters in parts) are not something I want to do.
can you maybe do a side story where Arata’s grandfather enters eye of adventure? possibly a mini-storyline where Arata passes by the human beginner town and sees his grandfather asking some of the “clones” where some hard to kill monsters are.(he killed THE BEAR and the wolf that arata died on w/o dying, and got a custom class based on pure physical power (rank S+ on all stats related to combat, and level sword skills five times as fast.) just something that I would love to see.
I think I know how that story would turn out. That story would have the humour of one punch man where everything dies immediately.
Unfortunately I don’t usually have time to write extra stories. Even when I do from time to time write other stories, those stories aren’t something I am going to upload.
okay, I was actually thinking where Arata’s grandfather sort of became like one of the “geomnichis” from LMS, if you’ve read that. fighting enemies far higher in level than him(going toe-to-toe with someone who passed the level 200 barrier at level 125?)
Who knows what will happen further in the story.
I actually though multiple times whatever should I try make him try out EOA even if only for a little while. Still it feels that if I do that then the dim image of game balance that the game still has will completely disappear.
Well maybe eventually it will happen probably not, if anything at the very least this arc would need to first end and some time would need to pass as well before ‘that happens’ in real world.
ziki.. i’m questioning Arata’s preference..
:Arata: -well, if you will need just one more person and have a lot of cash at the moment try to bride me if I am bored.
how dare he event think of Marrying someone else when he has Kotori! he hasn’t even finished dealing with Rin’s Love declaration! *evil stare*
(lol.. just had to say it, too good to pass up this comment.. i had a good laugh for a while 😛 )
HAHAHAHA!
!Fantastic find! I didn’t know that I left such hidden game in this chapter!
This proves however that a good grammar doesn’t necessary make the story better! 🙂
(I am also pretty sure that no matter how many times I would read this chapter I would never find this mistake so thanks for pointing it out)
Damn you Levi.
and all the thought that direct that arata’s girlfriend is trapped
which is not confirm yet.
he should just go to heaven without knowing that.
thats why f@ck~~~~~~~
Really looking forward to read the story of REFRAIN power. Ah i miss Gerald…
sad that he is leaving Rin but awesome that the guild is going on a crazy quest. Would be interesting if Gerald showed up in the middle of it and Yuki tells him about Rin because no one else will. This would also make everything much more entertaining. Gerald hunting Rin and Rin running away:). That would be fun to watch. (finds popcorn) also make sure he known her only by her favorite name. You know the one that she kills everyone for saying.
Also Levi it would be interesting to do a pov from his point of view during parts of his ceremony ( especially if the part where he is suppose to be alone ends up not working that way. ( I mean a fan girl in the guild slips into his time of reflection and ruins it) (and then proceeds to follow him everywhere). I mean wouldn’t that leave him all out of sorts. ( fun thoughts have fun
God bless
Storyhunter
Gerald will appear when the time is right.
Levi’s perspective/side story, I probably won’t write it. With the number of possible side routes if I start going after them the story won’t progress much. (although for story to progress much what I need the most is time to write. Currently the only time I manage to grab is quite minimal)
i noticed arata seems to not be sure what stats represent in his avatar especially when he’s the grandson of a martial artist… example martial artist challenge and try to increase their human limits by strengthening their bodies… so stats represent his avatars (human limits) i’ve already marked him off as a failure if he still hasn’t realized this especially as a gamer.. so many times he brings up that stat thing over and over and i just wish i could smack him in the back of his head for his denseness. their was a point he mentioned where rin was even faster than him in the arena… and he asked her how she improved so dramatically… and i was like really are you still treating your fricken body as your real body O>O like really if you have the question make 1+1=2 in your bloody mind xD his denseness passes the limit of a true gamer and their flexible and adatable mind i feel more respect for shin regarding women than arata getting pawned by rin when haru levi and yuki are already going to go rescue her.. i mean whats more important spending time with last moments of lets say Example: uncle dieing 2 months later or girlfriend that is trapped in a ressurrection spot for lets say till haru and levi and yuki saves her… i mean if she can’t understand why you spend 2 months with someone who’s dieing that’s close to you than she doesn’t really love you for who you really are and is with you for her own purpose.
You can’t blame Kotori for anything here.
Arata needs to man up. TRUE, no one can argue about that. Little explanation to his decision is in the next chapter although yep, Rin blackmail him here and didn’t give him a choice.
Loki /= Levi
oh yeah and i skipped the parts where it was rins chapters before arata and rin meet up, i was like nope im not dealing with fillers.. hell i even skipped that whole 4-5 chapters of arata in the tournaments fights in shins group, i was like nope more fillers skip. had to stop and read the part about the arata meeting the elder and than i skipped the rest of the tournament… bunch of other little paragraphs i skipped i try to stick to the main story and skip the rest xD love yuki and her hugging usagi the bunny xD was awesome.
While skipping Rin’s introduction chapters is not good. Skipping the tournament that has little to deal with the main story is completely fine. Generally that part was made because after I introduced all those characters at once, I felt like writing some fights and making them fight to death.
From what I remember out of all the fights that took place there there is probably only one or two worth reading. (three of what I can think off)
Generally if it wasn’t for the part I already wrote those I wouldn’t write it, but because I wrote it there is no reason to remove it. There are endless amount of useless things in the story after all. That’s the essence of EOA.
After reading 56 chapters in two weeks I feel sooooo empty right now … I found your novel after finishing Overlord, for me, your story is just as good. I am looking forward to the next episode, an incredibly good job.
I wish Arata had the rank first profession tbh 😦 … void barrier OP, cuz i dont fell right now that he’s strong enough.
void barrier at levels 299 what would he get if he went up to level 500? as a skill xD nothing?
A quick run down. (with quest example)[some spoilers on system that were never explained and will probably be explained eventually (or it will become obvious) so be ware)
A quest regardless of rank can be picked up by anyone and the person who picks it up is theoretically capable of completing it. (examples rank 5 quests in Beginners city, Arata is doing rank 3 quest at level hundred). The ranks do not exceed rank one, while the level is unlimited. Higher level doesn’t mean higher ranked quests.
Now the reward for the quest is influenced by players level but not completely. Meaning you get a higher level equipment (according to your level) but it will be of the same status (rare/epic) like the quests on the same rank. Then as for the skills reward, they are comparable regardless of level. Meaning someone at level 50 and someone at level 250 can actually get rewarded with the same skill for completing a quest of given rank.
With this example the general conclusion is that it is theoretically possible to get “best skills” without having super high level like 500.
Now the difference in power in skills does not come from skill itself but rather the user as the same skill used by someone at higher level will naturally be stronger than that of lower level.
There is no situation in which someone’s skill becomes useless because someone level up.
Some skills do have a restriction on level but after 200, and especially at 299, one can learn nearly all skills of their class at a least.
This is the general explanation, now the most important thing though is that I am not worrying too much about what happens over 300th level because either the story will end before Arata reaches it or I will reach that point after 10 years, and my future me will take it from there :). The system is easy to expand beyond 300 with the rules I made.
In the end, I can still think up a higher level of absurd power for new skills so when the need comes, it will be possible. Sure, it will be hard to beat the skills that Haru has (not from wind category) but there is always SSJ options or throwing galactics at each other :).
I ll never be able to write my own story.. My main char will be way overpowered xD
In most stories that I read that have MC being overly overpowered I feel that it’s very often not because MC is so skilled but rather:
A: Only MC can use super effective ways to get stronger.
B: Only MC can be lucky to stumble upon “swords of thousands truths”.
C: Everyone else is a newbie and their luck stat is zero.
D: Only MC can have secret class, secret unknown powers, secret bonuses.
Generally it’s okay to have MC being overpowered but it is wrong to show it by making everyone else bad. I guess the good way to go about it is to make other character do things that MC couldn’t possibly do nearly as good as that other character no matter how hard MC would try.
It’s important to have limits and if MC passes those limits then at least 10% of other characters should be able to do the same as those limits mean nothing if MC can do them.
Last thing, it’s good to have MC get recked by other characters.
Ah, right, the weakness that MC has shouldn’t be magically eliminated.
Generally you must both like your MC but at the same time be a strict god and treat him even worse than all other characters while laughing with evil laugh at his unfortunates.
I understand how you feel about overpowered MC and that you don’t want yours to be that way, but I think that you already gave much handicap to others players, not only they had a head start of almost 8 years ( remember, they aren’t playing 24 hr per day ), your MC is dumb and don’t know a way to be stronger in the game, like he never started using his stats in a better way, or using basic magic, the luck stat of top players is between 100~1000 and of you MC close to 10, he has a class of Rank 2 and another of Rank 4 but they aren’t that overpowered ( until now only the Sword Enchanter is ) but others top players has class of Rank 1 and is way more Overpowered than his or/and know Basic magic in a abnormal level ( like Arcon ) I also remember that you was talking about limits, but from what I can see, there is like 10% of players that passed this limit, but the MC ? until now he wasn’t even trying to be stronger, and in the chapter that he would start training to be stronger and help/save Rin you make them go separete ways.
Really, I am starting to think that the MC is useless, I only hope that he doesn’t die in the dungeon trying to save his girlfriend and somehow overcome some of his weakness ( not magically but something in the lines of he start thinking what will happen to Rin if he dies and realizes that he can’t die and think a way to use his stats better, and if you was planning in doing something like this, please, don’t make him after him survives that forget how to use his stats when he is safe, I really hate this kind of power that only when he is dying activate to save him).
And I also would like that he at least have a main role in the story, because during the story we readers start liking the MC and start wanting him to succeed. When you read this you may start thinking ”but don’t I already gave him training in Real life and this way giving him a handicap ?”, no, you don’t helped him much doing this, yes he is a player above average, but from what I can see there is a lot of players that he is like a ant to them.
Why shouldn’t that be the case? It’s not ‘the road to ultimate top type of story’, at the very least not in unreasonable way where MC becomes the most primal being in the universe because series of lucky coincidences.
And yes you put it the right way, Arata’s luck stat is average at best, I see no reason why it should be other case. If MC needs a high luck stat in some stories for the sake of plot, they are given it. It’s a easy way out to make weak character stronger, but I see no need for that. (naturally there are cases in EOA where things that happen are considered lucky as well but this can’t be avoided completely)
Ah right while readers are rooting for MC, the evil Ziki is always rooting for his death.
Right one more thing Arata is not dumb although naturally you can think he is, should you wish to do so
ive been wondering something
since the game is entirely operated by AI ive been wondering if there will be progress in mentality such as growing up in the npcs. i think its something pretty interesting and could be important in the long run of this story. also i wonder if there will be things like sentient/humanoid weapons and pet since they are pretty fun aspects of a game. even if u call it sentient/humanoid weapons or pet they dont necessarily have to be op so u can just consider it adding a new character. well thats my idea keep up the good work im checking daily xD
Rather than grow in NPC the story just has to focus on NPC to show off their already high mentality. (I will get to that eventually)
As for the second part, “Torachii”.
Now the question is A) whatever Arata will get something. Answer would naturally be a spoiler. B) this concept won’t be often seen with masses unless it’s a class with pets to begin with.
i see ty ^^ also it doesnt neccessarily have to be arata who gets the weapon it can be anyone including the antagonists
I have a feeling that Ziki Will give us all a present in the next hollydays. Am I right, Ziki? I’m ansious. 😀😊☺
I have only hope:D, Its been 10days since i ended last chapter and now i m like drug addict… I NEED MORE 😀
Now, I really like your story, the world, characters and I don’t want to think otherwise but aren’t you way too harsh with your MC? or maybe I am the only one who think this, because the way I saw the story so far is like you really hate your MC or hate him being OP, because, you know, in the start you already gave the other players like ten years of advantage and from what I saw is like he doesn’t even care of being strong and he is a idiot because I am not a genius and I know that I have the advantege of being the reader but there is a lot of things there that if he isn’t idiot he should found out, those so called ”super effective ways to get stronger” like you said or those ”limits” that if the MC can pass 10% others players should pass also, but it’s like he is idiot and can’t find way to be stronger, or he doesn’t care if he is strong or his luck is 0, I really start to think that you hate your MC, the only good thing that you gave to your MC is the real fighting experience of his and some good classes ( or like he said, one good class Sword Enchanter, because the other it’s good but not something that should be 2 rank above Sword Enchanter ) so, first you gave other players 10 years in-game time to become strong, make him have a broken past/heart and don’t care if he is the best player but only wants to have fun, doesn’t even try to find a way to become strong in game, make him almost unable to use basic magic and only now in this last chapter he would start training, but no, you make this thing with her girlfriend that after all this time as a reader and seeing how he likes Rin, I practically doesn’t care about her animore, hell I can’t even remember the name of her girlfriend, so I can’t say that I can see the big picture you are planning, but don’t you think that your MC is way too pitiful ? I also think that he is way too idiot if he doesn’t even try to think that the things in game affect the real life ( well from what I see so far it does), he also is way too skeptical like he doesn’t believe that the image is important ( in skills and the way the game works ) nor does influence if he is strong or not. And like I said, I can’t see the whole picture, maybe the one that the sacred blacksmith saw 10 year ago that taught him how the game works was really him but him of future, and that the one he saw in karma when the time stoped there was that guy who swing his sword three times was actually him from future, but I really think that you should at least give your MC like plus 50 of luck or at least will to be strong, that is only my personal opinion but I really don’t liked the way you make him and Rin separete ( if they does separete) because I really liked they both as a couple, like the way they are really similar and practically they both really love each other ( yes we all know how arata feels about her ) and like the tale that the clown said, I think if he goes to the deugeon he will regret very much, like in the Earth path, because he won’t be with Rin and won’t save her. So far thar was all I venting because I really started to like the MC during the story and he could be way better, and like I said in the start, I really like your story and it’s the only reason I write this text, because I am not a native speaker and doing this was a hell lot of work, the way this last chapter was make me almost think in stopping reading your story and from now on start writing the continuation myself but I suck in writing so I won’t do that, but really can you please, please, please, please, please ( asking someone in a nice way like arata did with that tailor ) at least give something to the MC ? well not exactly ”give” something to him but like he goes save his girlfrend but not in a haste and in the way Loki start doing his training and the MC is like someone who if the ”secret” is explained in a logical way like in reality would be he will catch up quickly and at least start using his stats better like his grandfather said about him ”He has my own blood and has the same level of talent in martial arts that I do” and actually this is true and on the game that affect how he progess, and make him this way have a wide view in how the game works and at the same time he start not being much skeptical anymore and realizes that somethings really work that way, like the sacred blacksmith really talk to swords, or the way the clown talks has to do something with his class/skills and his tale really is true, and when he is in the dungeon he remember the tale that he will die there and will regret forever this will happens, and he start thinking in a way to survive with his new knowleage, so he saves his girlfriend but he realizes that he doesn’t like that much anymore and is felling forced to act the normal way towards her, she realizes and start talking with him and she found that she really didn’t like he but like him was trying to not break here heart anymore and wanted someone to do this for her, so, short story he Break up with her but they are still friends so no hard fellings, and with his new knowleage about this world he start thinking how to help Rin and remember what the Wizard said before ”The reward will be the thing you dream about and most desire” well, not exactly in this words but you get the idea, so he once more reafirms his determination and will to help her complete the quest believing that the quest will somehow cure her sickness in the real world, so, when I was reading this chapter I was thinking what will happen and I don’t know if this was even close to what you was planning ( the way you treats your MC make me believe that this wasn’t even close and this can’t happen in this ”evil world” or how you call it ) and it’s because this is what I hope, desire, dream, and want to happen that I almost started writing myself a ”new version” of the story if only to myself read, but like I said, I suck writing so no matter what you will do to the story I still would read, even if only to feel sad and with a hearth broken like the MC will be, and no matter how much I want what I said to happen, please don’t feel forced to do something like that, it’s only a personal opinion ( that maybe a lot of the readers of the story would also have ) and the story is yours to write and I am already glad with all the fun and happiness that your story brought to me ( and maybe sad moments felling despair, sadness and others negative emotions in the future ) so remember that I love you and your story no matter what you will write in the end but please take in consideration in what I said and maybe change the things a little, if you want of course, because I really think that you is way too harsh with the MC because even if he has real fighting experience, compared with the top players that doesn’t give even a edge to him. That is all that I wanted to tell you, thanks if you really read all that I writed, because men, I really wasn’t thinking in writing all of this but when I was thinking in this wonderful story the words don’t stoped flowing.
and I don’t want ”YOU” to think otherwise, sorry but replying my own comment but I forgot the ”you” and this make me seem like someone that will stop reading the story if you don’t write the way I want and I just coudn’t withstand this.
I know what I said that I don’t want you to be forced to write the way I want but pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I love Rin and Arata together and I think that I will break if you make this story a tragedy, so please make this happen please please please, forgive my selfishness but they are so cute together and Rin don’t deserve be unhappy, also from what I see, Arata almost doesn’t grow mentally, ( Like I said in previous comments, he is a idiot who doesn’t have a strong will to never give up [something that is almost always necessary to a MC] ).
… Em… I will read those three comments once. Right now they are long enough for me to consider either reading them and answering or finishing rereading the newest chapter 🙂
I finally read the comment… thankfully it seems like I don’t need to write much, 0ther than read the next chapters.
As to what will happen, well the plot for the arc three was completed long time ago.