…Three times, four times, five times, six times, seven times, eight times. This was the ninth encounter with the Maguro. An hour had passed since this battle began. Mechanically, I ingrained the optimal movements for underwater combat into my body. During this time, I endlessly contemplated my attack methods. The only effective weapon I had was the knife gripped tightly in my hand. How could I use this knife?
I recalled the basics of wielding a knife in my mind. The knife is used for thrusting and pulling. That was the fundamental movement. So, how would I thrust and pull against the Maguro underwater? Just then, the Maguro charged toward me.
With my arms tightened, I plunged the knife into the Maguro. As the propulsion of the Maguro and my own collided, the knife glided smoothly through the water. “Swoosh! (Yes, it cut!)” I simply fixed the blade in place and relied on our combined momentum to slice through.
In the water, resistance was significant, so rather than wildly flailing my arms, I simply guided the knife while swimming. The result was evident. My strike traced along the Maguro, but it veered slightly off course. Next, I would ensure my cut followed the line perfectly. This time, I would take the offensive.
Kicking off the water, I charged directly at the Maguro. Gaining speed underwater, I became the one to create the current this time.
As we closed in on each other, I arched my body, driving the knife into the longest part of the Maguro, pushing with my legs to slice all the way through to its tail.
With the force of the water behind me, I managed to cut cleanly along the marker this time, without losing strength.
This gave me a newfound confidence, but time was running out. I surfaced to regain my composure.
“Finally took down one-tenth. Now, just nine-tenths left.”
It was time for my tenth challenge. I approached head-on, ready to chase. It was a chicken race, both of us emboldened as we charged straight at each other. If I miscalculated my timing to dodge, the mass of the Maguro would surely send me flying. However, merely dodging and slashing wouldn’t deal significant damage.
With each clash, my HP dwindled. And then came the final confrontation.
With a swift thrust, my knife slid into the Maguro’s body, ultimately leading to its demise.
“Dissection complete. Just kidding!” chuckles
It was a formidable foe. In a one-on-one battle, it was likely stronger than any MOB I had encountered before. It might even rival a boss, but given the circumstances, it felt even more powerful.
Then, a treasure chest, the reward for defeating a Unique Monster, materialized in the water and began to sink.
I hurried to chase after it, confirming it settled at the bottom before opening the chest.
“Now, what kind of items will the Youshiyoku Kuro Maguro drop?”
As I eagerly retrieved the item, my eyes widened in disbelief. I had to exert all my effort to convey this feeling.
I pushed through the water, propelling myself upward.
[Wait, is Youshiyoku referring to Western cuisine?!]
Inside the chest was a Western cooking set. It contained a tool that dispensed pasta when you cranked a handle, along with a bowl, a precision steel knife, a large magical cooking stove, and various other utensils.
I appreciated the thoughtfulness, and I understood the developers were being playful with the naming, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.
[Ah, I’m so exhausted. I should check the underwater area and head back.]
I swam toward the artificial structure I had spotted underwater. The building was made of stone, with a single entrance.
As I entered, I found the interior filled with air, and torches were mounted on the walls.
“Hey, these torches are too damp to use.”
Even so, I decided to try lighting one with the lighter from the cooking set, and to my surprise, it ignited. It was just a game, after all. As I lit one torch after another, the entire room came into view.
The long, stone walls continued up to the ceiling, coated in plaster, with paintings adorning the surface.
Various animals were depicted in the artwork: wolves, purple birds, elephants, bears, and many others coexisting with humans.
There were no words, just images expressing the space.
As I explored the room, I found a passage leading to another area, but the ceiling had collapsed, blocking the way.
I carefully examined my surroundings, but only animal paintings filled the walls. I took screenshots to ensure I captured everything. The ceiling also featured similar coexistence imagery.
As I ventured deeper, the nature of the paintings began to change. The humans who once coexisted with animals began to dominate them, and the animals, in turn, cherished their connection with humans.
Among these images, one stood out ominously. It depicted a creature with a grotesquely large mouth filled with sharp teeth, its black body extending countless tentacles. The color scheme enhanced its repulsiveness, and its body twisted in impossible directions. Where its eyes should have been, there were only gaping voids.
This creature used its tentacles to ensnare animals, tossing them into its terrifying maw. The sight of multiple such creatures preying on the animals shattered the pastoral impression of the previous murals.
It was as if this being was the ultimate enemy of the animals. “I can only imagine that this floating continent has such a setting.”
Then, the people wielded weapons, determined to slay this enemy. The abominations had eyes hidden in their grotesque forms, and the humans aimed for those vulnerable spots.
Finally, the mural depicted a fierce battle against a monstrous creature with countless eyes, a culmination of the heavy imagery. At the end of this grim mural, I was greeted by yet another treasure time.
At the farthest point of the space sat a treasure chest, more imposing and intricately designed than any I had encountered before. This time, it was a chest within the lake’s structure. By the time I swam to it, my Swimming level had increased. Considering the fierce battle with the Kuro Maguro, the difficulty was quite high; even with my newly acquired Sense, I wouldn’t have reached it without a party of six. Perhaps if we had a more attack-friendly setup, it would have been easier.
(This time, I hope for something other than a gag item!)
With trembling hands, I pried open the chest, revealing a collection of unspecified enhancement weapons. A staff, a battle axe, a pair of daggers, and a longbow.
The staff was adorned with a jet-black gem that seemed to absorb light, exuding an air of mystery. The battle axe was a deep crimson, heavy and imposing, too much for me to lift. The blade’s surface shimmered like magma, alternating between red and black.
The pair of daggers had identical handles but different blade colors. One was a glassy black, while the other was an unimaginable shade of purple. Both had a smooth surface.
Lastly, there was a longbow crafted from supple wood, wrapped in vibrant red cloth, with intricate feather decorations and an unknown material for the pitch-black string.
It was larger than the Black Maiden’s Longbow made by Lily, and while it seemed unwieldy, it appeared stable enough for precise shots.
And finally, a note.
“Congratulations! You have discovered a hidden treasure chest in the field. The contents are unique equipment. This is the type of weapon your party will use the most. Details will be revealed upon appraisal.” It was indeed in an unappraised state.
I checked the details, confirming it was unappraised. I could equip it, but I had no idea what would happen. I planned to show it to Mahi and the others tonight. More importantly, this was likely a weapon for the party, including Magi and the others.
Even from a distance, the thought of being part of a party felt good.
Having concluded my exploration, I dove back into the water.
Looking up from the lakebed, the surface shimmered as sunlight reflected off it. I paused for a moment to capture that scene in my memory before exiting the lake.
“Ritti! Are you there?”
I might have left him alone for too long. Scanning the area, I saw no sign of the white horse. After more than two hours, I felt it was excessive, and as I pondered this, I spotted a figure emerging from the nearby grass.
“Did you wait for me? Thank you.”
I crouched down to get a better look at Ritti as he approached. His averted gaze from me seemed to indicate displeasure. I felt a pang of guilt for leaving him.
“Now that the lake exploration is over, should we head back? Or explore another area… What’s wrong, Ritti?”
Until now, he had avoided making eye contact with me, but without showing any signs of dislike, Ritti suddenly tensed, as if enveloping something in a quiet, taut anticipation.
After a few seconds, Ritti moved about thirty meters away and shook his head, urging me to follow him. Did animals have a heightened sense of danger that applied even in the game? I thought as I approached Ritti, but just then, a piercing shriek and a cacophony of metal sounds erupted.
“W-What was that?”
“Power Wave!”
With a familiar voice, two massive monsters were hurled from the forest by the lakeside, landing right where I had been moments before.
To be blown away with just one hit? Even for a field unique, that was too easy! Come on, become the rust of my sword!
I was unnecessarily hyped up, wildly swinging my sword and cutting through the air.
The two unique MOBs, one resembling a shrimp and the other a wet wood creature, appeared from the path created by the girls who had sent them flying.
“…Miu. Facing two at once seems a bit risky, don’t you think?”
“Yeah. As long as I can level up with that hard shell, I’m good.”
“Well, well! Search and destroy before someone else snatches it away! That’s the ultimate strategy!”
These are familiar faces. Very familiar.
The calm short dagger user, Toutobi, is ready to charge in, while Hino, wielding her large hammer, laughs. And then there’s my reckless little sister, Miu. Perhaps sensing the danger, Ritti has gone into stealth mode beside me, heightening his vigilance.
But where are Rukato and the other three? Well, I can’t really criticize since I’m off doing my own thing too.
“Big sister! Hey, Yun big sister!”
“Miu, watch out! Move forward!”
Even in the midst of battle, she waves at us with ease, effortlessly dodging the pincer attack from the monster’s iron and wooden spears. Hey, my cheat-like little sister, don’t make your big brother worry with your confidence.
“Wall Breaker!”
“…Backstab!”
Toutobi plunges his dagger into the blind spot of the shrimp-like MOB, Himatsupu Scissors, while Hino swings her hammer to crush the iron.
As the two of them take on a unique MOB together, Miu is single-handedly facing off against the tree-like MOB, Sweets Tree.
“Come on, come on! That slow attack won’t hit me!”
Miu resists the curse of the cursed song sung by the face tree with her high magic defense, dodging the spear-like branches that transform into lances.
In the rapidly shifting offense and defense, I realize that not all unique MOBs are created equal.
The cooperative MOB I saw on the first day was weak enough for a beginner party to hunt, while the lake’s Kuro Maguro might not have high stats, just a difficult fighting style.
However, once the battle shifts underwater, the chances of losing can increase dramatically.
And the two types of MOBs in front of me feel like they possess a strength I could never handle alone.
Observing the Sweets Tree’s fighting style, I note its stationary body and rapid attacks with its branches. But
“If you’re slow, I’ll come at you!”
“Seriously, how slow is that?”
The branches that correspond to its hands multiply, and the number of piercing attacks intensifies. If I don’t focus on dodging, I might get skewered in no time.
I continue to narrowly evade, slowly closing the distance.
With one hand, I lightly swing my weapon to cut down the branches that threaten to close in.
This back-and-forth feels like both sides are giving it their all. However, the Sweets Tree still seems to have some leeway.
And for Miu,
“Though I was blown away earlier and my roots were lifted from the ground, now I’m firmly rooted and immovable.”
As Miu enters the range of the Fifth Breaker Arts, I sense a change in the Sweets Tree and call out.
“Dodge, Miu!”
She cancels her action and uses a Pax Step to create distance. Where Miu had just been, a wooden spear juts out from the ground. The immobile Sweets Tree uses thrust attacks at close range. If you get too close, wooden stakes will shoot up from the ground. The immediate countermeasure that comes to mind is a long-range magic attack, but…
“Nice! It better be that way!”
“Ah, my sister is turning into a combat star…”
After narrowly avoiding a dangerous strike, there’s no frustration or resentment in her expression. Instead, she smiles widely, her mouth open like a child, and smoothly repositions her one-handed sword.
In an instant, as she lowers her stance, she uses her body’s spring to close the distance rapidly. She dodges the attacking wooden spear purely with speed, weaving her body to evade.
Though the movements are similar to before, the speed is entirely different. I feel a sense of dread at her high player skill that allows her to perform such feats.
Once again, she enters the Sweets Tree’s landmine range. As unnatural bulges rise from the ground, Miu presses on without stopping.
The moment she steps in, a spear bursts forth from her blind spot. I thought it was unavoidable.
“Too sweet! I won’t fall for the same trick twice!”
She halts abruptly, using the momentum of her run to pivot on her right foot, deflecting the spear with her sword. Then she charges back toward the Sweets Tree.
This is truly beyond human capability.
“This time, it’s the Fifth Breaker!”
The bluish-white light of the Arts glows along the edge of her one-handed blade as it strikes the Sweets Tree. Each hit significantly reduces its HP, but even so, it only chips away about a third. Having already taken a tenth from the initial blow, that leaves six more to go.
If she repeats what she just did three more times, victory is within reach. It would be wise to maintain distance and play hit-and-run to minimize risk.
But that’s the quality of my sister. She goes beyond my predictions.
“Too soft! Too soft! The greatest enemy of this event isn’t the tree!”
With a nuance that plays on the words “noble” and “tree,” Miu surprises me. But what truly astonishes me is that after lowering her stance, she performs an action reminiscent of an Arts motion.
It’s clearly not a skill name, but her attack resembles the furious five-hit combo. It mimics the same movements as the Fifth Breaker one-handed sword Arts she just executed. The speed and precision aren’t as refined, and it lacks the characteristic glow of an Arts. The damage isn’t significantly impactful either, but the movements are identical.
“Take this!”
A flurry of speed-driven attacks ensues. Even though the Sweets Tree has intervals between its wooden attacks, charging in as a close-range fighter seems reckless.
Ignoring the branches that reach out to ensnare her, she slashes at the tree.
The damage visibly decreases, but she continues to heal herself.
“This is the end! Fifth Breaker!”
This time, it’s the genuine Arts. After the second hit sends the Sweets Tree crashing down, three more strikes follow, leading to an overkill that makes me feel sympathy for the Sweets Tree that faced Miu.
With her earlier Arts and her audacity to engage in close combat against a unique MOB alone, Miu is indeed extraordinary, deserving of the title “cheat” in the eyes of the world.
“I could never do that. Even if I were to take it down alone, I’d have to shoot it from outside the range of its wooden spear attacks with a bow, taking my time.”
“…Ah, don’t be so wary. They’re not a threat.”
Right after Miu finishes her battle, I say this to Ritti, who remains on high alert without dropping his stealth.
“Oh, how impressive. I’m amazed by Miu’s consistent outlandishness. But the damage is more than I expected…”
Right?
“Huh? I just took those hits to level up my armor.”
So she was enduring those attacks just for leveling up. As always, she’s focused on efficiency without regard for risk.
“…You’re being reckless. If you were to retire, it would be a problem for us.”
“Hahaha, sorry about that. But it’s treasure!”
I can’t see it, but the three of them must be able to see the treasure chest from the unique MOB they just defeated. It looks like they’re opening it, and as I observe, various kitchen tools like whisks, bowls, cups, and cookie cutters pop out as if pulled from another dimension.
“Alright! The dream of the Sweets Project has taken another step forward!”
“I think it’s a bit flawed that no one in the party has Cooking Sense from the start.”
“…I agree. And before that, you’ve forgotten something. Look.”
“Oh, Yun big sister! Long time no see!”
The three of them approach me. I want to greet them casually, but Ritti, who is still on edge beside me, makes me uneasy. I can easily imagine what would happen if he were to be discovered by Miu.
I can already hear her saying something like, “Holy Knight, on a white horse!” Miu tends to be the type to go for colorful introductions.
“Uh, hey. How have you been? And sorry about earlier, Toutobi and Hino.”
“Why is big sister apologizing?”
Their gazes seem to say, “We understand your feelings.” I continue to feel bad for causing trouble.
“So, what are you guys doing here?”
Hmm. Looking for food? You know, with the Satiety Level implemented, no one wants to retire without eating. So we split into two groups, and while we were at it, a party that was fighting a unique MOB ran away, so we took over for them. The area was cramped, and since it was a brawl, Hino-chan blew them away with her hammer!
“Isn’t that MMPK? And you guys took on three at once and won in such a short time. That’s impressive.”
“I see. As long as you’re eating properly, there’s no need to worry.”
At my words, the three of them exchange glances. Hey, why the sudden shift?
“Well, we haven’t had a proper meal since we got here.”
“Fruits are delicious, right? It’s better than forcing Miu or us to cook…”
“…It seems everyone had the Sense of [Heavenly Hardness] beforehand, so their resistance levels are rising at quite a speed. And the taste of the poisonous fruit was like a mix of orange and strawberry. So, um, does that mean we’re eating bean plants to sustain ourselves? Eating poison to strengthen our resistance? What kind of ninja training method is that? Just like yesterday with Ritti, we really lack survival skills.”
“Haah~. Three days and nights in such a situation? The environment is the worst, isn’t it?”
“Well, suddenly being restricted on acquiring new Senses, everyone is confused about what to take to level up…”
They’re all hesitating about what to take to improve their living conditions. If that’s the case, when I tried to shine in the kitchen…
“I was stopped by everyone…”
“Miu, just don’t. We’re already causing enough trouble at home; don’t spread it to others.”
“That’s rude! Big sister!”
“Just say ‘little sister.’ Seriously, even though we’re in a situation where we absolutely lack necessary items, we need to think a little creatively.”
While the top players are in a frenzy over cooking, I let out a sigh, feeling drained.
“Running out of necessary items… It’s because we went all out in the underground Dungeon yesterday, and now we’re out of Potions, plus Rukato’s weapon durability is in danger. We got a lot of unique items and drops, but we need weapons, Armor, and Potions. I don’t want to use unidentified items as they are.”
Fortunately, I was able to identify the poisonous food and the normal fruits, so that’s a relief. If Miu were to start rampaging after being “confused,” it would be uncontrollable.
“At that point, I’m ready to retire.”
“You guys are already in a dangerous zone? Get it together. Seriously, I’ll help you out a bit.”
“Huh?”
Miu looks back at me with a puzzled expression.
“I can prepare dinner and Potions if you come to my pace camp. After dinner, my party…”
—It’ll turn into a red light, but whatever.
“What does that mean…?”
“However, I’ll need proper compensation. Trading at the Atelier is done through barter. I won’t need money until five days later. I want items. I don’t need anything unique; just Herbs, food ingredients, and information. The products will be Potions, status recovery medicines, and even meals.”
I think it’s a pretty good plan. No matter how similar it is to what I do in real life, I’m not so kind as to help others unconditionally. It’s give and take.
“I can finally enjoy some home-cooked flavor.”
—Absolutely, since there’s a food shortage, even if a normal meal is impossible, I can make something better than fruit.
“Alright, let’s go! Let’s convince Rukato and the others!”
Miu raises her hand high and starts walking toward the foundation. She’s such a troublesome little sister.
“Um… this might change the subject significantly, but is it okay, Yun-san?”
“What is it, Toutobi? If you have ingredients, I can cook something with those.”
“No, it’s not that… There’s something next to you, Yun-san… what is it?”
Now is not the time for this. I wanted to avoid any unnecessary stimulation since we’re in a precarious state after the earlier battle. I wish they’d just leave it alone if they can’t see it. Besides, Miu would definitely be curious. Although our acquaintance is short, due to Rui’s personality, he wouldn’t let anyone touch what he doesn’t permit.
“Um, Toutobi, can you see something? I can’t see it.”
“I think it’s probably related to a detection-type Sense. So, what’s next to you, Yun-san?”
“…Well, um, just don’t touch it.”
Don’t provoke it. Especially Miu, who is the most cautious. After saying that, I tell Ritti to come out. Suddenly, a white young beast appears, capturing the attention of the three of us.
“Calm down; these guys aren’t enemies.”
I kneel down to calm it. Miu and the others each react differently, but Miu, who is the most cautious, lets out a predictable squeal.
“Wow! A young beast! And it’s a white horse! I want it!”
“I won’t give it to you! You have to catch it yourself!”
“Yun big sister, no one said they’d give it to me. But how did you tame it?”
The other two seem curious as well. However, there’s nothing to explain.
“Why are you asking questions…”
“Fact is, it can disappear, so it ate my lunch while I took my eyes off it for a moment. After that, I think it gradually warmed up to me.”
By continuing to pet it, Ritti’s excitement has calmed down quite a bit. Instead, it’s snuggling up to me.
It’s as if it’s showing off our relationship.
Can I touch it?
“Ask Rui.”
“Hey? Is it okay to touch it?”
But Miu tilts her head in refusal at my words.
“Oh dear… Miu, you got rejected.”
“But I want to touch it!”
“Ah, hey!”
As usual, my little sister is uncontrollable, but just before Miu can touch Rui, he disappears. Miu, who doesn’t have the Sense of the hidden, seems confused about where he went.
In the meantime, Rui reappears a little distance away, but something feels off. It’s a subtle difference that’s hard to pinpoint. Toutobi seems to feel it too, slightly furrowing his brow.
“Hehehe, the more you run, the more I want to chase! This is just the beginning!”
With Miu’s overwhelming speed, the young beast wouldn’t be able to keep up. Or so it seemed. However, the reality was different. The small white horse toyed with the Sweets Tree like a master.
Its running speed wasn’t fast. The moment Miu tried to touch it, it vanished and reappeared again. From one perspective, it looked like it was teleporting for a brief moment.
And once Miu lost sight of Rui, as soon as she saw him reappear, she…
was just a step away from touching him.
Just as she was about to reach out, Miu’s body leaped.
“Kya…!”
Ritti dashed past, seemingly satisfied after teasing Miu thoroughly.
“What happened? My HP dropped by 20%.”
Miu returned while casting a Heal on herself. Hino merely saw Miu being toyed with, but Toutobi and I grasped the general truth.
“That was an illusion, right?”
“…Yeah, it can make its form disappear and summon or dismiss its own sword. It can also mimic the appearance of any object it likes.”
The truth is, Ritti hardly moved at all. What moved was Ritti’s illusion. Each time the illusion seemed about to be caught, it would disappear and reappear, making it look like a short-distance teleportation.
Miu getting knocked back was simply due to her own recklessness in increasing her speed too much. She crashed head-on into Ritti’s hidden forest.
“Ugh. I can read the situation today, but let me touch it someday!”
Ritti seemed to enjoy the chase, looking back with a playful glint in his eyes. It might have been the moment of rival recognition in a romantic comedy.
With this as a catalyst, the atmosphere between us softened, and we decided to head toward Miu and the others’ base camp. After packing up there, we would move to our base. The plan was to spend the night there and head back to the underground Dungeon the next day.
Through Miu and the others, we managed to contact Rukato, and along the way, I lectured them on edible plants and Herbs, letting the three of them identify them. We adopted the same identification method we used with Ritti yesterday.
On the way, the funniest moment was when Hino and Toutobi casually reached out to touch Rizzi. Seeing that, Miu, who felt envious, attempted to touch Rizzi again.
It was rare to see Miu, who was usually so confident, looking nervous and tense, fearing she might get rejected again. In the end, she managed to touch him without any resistance. However, getting too carried away, she almost earned Rizzi’s ire and received a kick.
And when we finally arrived at Miu and the others’ base camp, we witnessed players engulfed in pillars of fire and spreading flames.
Chapter 5: Cursed Equipment and the Young Fox
Miu and the others’ base camp was nothing short of a hellish scene.
A pillar of fire rose in the center, and I watched as players fled from it, being swallowed by the flames.
Neither I nor Miu could comprehend why this was happening; we were simply left in shock.
“Seriously… even if you want to have a campfire, isn’t it still too early in the day?”
Is this really the time for jokes? This is clearly an abnormal situation. We need to regroup with Rukato. First, let’s get in touch.”
I could tell Miu’s words were meant as a joke. However, unlike her usual quips, her face was completely tense. It must have been that alarming for her.
Since I rarely paid attention to my little sister’s movements, my heart began to chill, and I started to observe my surroundings.
Flames were spreading to the surrounding tents and equipment left lying around, rendering the campsite utterly devastated.
Fortune amidst misfortune, the tents were arranged with enough distance between them that even as flames roared, they did not obstruct our path.
“I managed to get in touch with Rukato! She’s currently guiding people!”
“Got it! Let’s move and regroup. We’re sharing the map in the party, so we know where to go. Toutobi, please navigate for us!”
The two nodded, their expressions tense. In truth, if only the girls had thought things through a little more, we could have avoided a total disaster, but the strong desire to help their comrades in crisis was palpable, making it impossible to voice such thoughts.
I decided that even a makeshift plan was better than nothing, casting Enchant on everyone to boost their DEF and MIND, and began to push against the flow of people.
“Did we have any signs that this was coming?”
“…No! We haven’t confirmed any MOBs capable of such powerful magic or attacks! Besides, normal MOBs can’t enter the Safety Area!”
Even Toutobi, usually calm and collected, was visibly shaken.
“I think it’s due to a unique item. Someone might be wielding a cheat weapon.”
“Hino, you’ve been reading too many web novels! If cheating existed in a real online game, players would abandon it, so that’s impossible.”
The unspoken agreement among the other three was clear: they were thinking the same thing about Miu. But before we could dwell on that, we lost any semblance of calm.
“Watch out! Disaster incoming! Defense!”
I shouted, instructing everyone to huddle together. I pulled a Clay Shield from my Inventory.
I slammed the Magic Gem into the ground.
[| (《Clay Shield!》]
A wall of earth rose up, colliding with the flames from behind. The autumn winds scattered the dirt, exposing our faces to the searing heat.
Peeking out from the edge, I glanced across the flames, but the chaos was still rampant, and everyone was on edge.
“…We can’t move forward like this.”
We weren’t far from our destination, but navigating through these flames was proving to be a challenge.
“Sis, Rukato and the others can’t make it here. They’re focused on defending the players who are stranded.”
“It looks like we might need to resort to drastic measures. We don’t know the cause… can we handle this on our own?”
The three of them wore anxious expressions. Even if we committed to defense, I doubted we could withstand this relentless wave of flames for long. I could already envision the worst-case scenario that awaited us if we faltered.
Just as I was about to curse my luck, something brushed against my right hand.
“…Rui… sorry for making you worry.”
Ritti nuzzled against my hand, gazing up at me intently.
“The flames are starting to weaken. We might be able to move soon.”
The fire seemed to be losing its intensity, and if we timed our movements right, we could advance. Just then, Miu called out, pulling my attention.
“Rukato wants to talk. The friend communication will connect shortly.”
“Okay, got it.”
Moments later, Rukato’s voice came through. I needed to know the situation on the ground.
“Hello, Yun-san.”
“Let’s skip the formalities. I have a few questions. What’s causing this?”
I recalled the incident with the young Kamaitachi from yesterday and wondered if it was related to the MOBs.
“Is there anything else? Any other potential causes?”
“The young beast was brought here by a player… no, ‘abducted’ would be the more appropriate term.”
“Abducted? That’s not good. So, they were forcibly taken here.”
“From the first day, there were players who were causing trouble. The day before, they brought the abducted young beasts to the base camp.”
“As a result, the young beasts went berserk, tearing through other tents and spaces, causing chaos.”
“I thought they would behave similarly this time, but suddenly, flames erupted from the young beast.”
“…What’s the cause? Why did that happen?”
“I don’t know for sure. But it was holding something shiny. It looked like some kind of bracelet.”
Her words struck a chord, connecting the dots with the encounter I had with the Kamaitachi yesterday. I had no solid proof, but it seemed the young beasts from both incidents were linked. The untested item had caused the young beast to go wild. It was possible that the accessory I had discarded yesterday had found its way onto the young beast.
I felt an overwhelming urge to confront those fools who had caused so much trouble for everyone.
“Thank you. I have a better understanding of the situation now. I’ll head over immediately. Don’t push yourselves too hard.”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
Just as the communication with Rukato ended, the flames began to weaken, allowing us to push further inside. The closer we got to the center, the more the oppressive heat made my skin sting. We weren’t that far from the center, but the scorching winds and the occasional bursts of flames blocked our path, creating a haze that obscured our vision.
“Finding flaws in a place like this is just ridiculous,” I muttered with a wry smile, when something caught my eye at the edge of my vision.
“Rukato!”
“They seem to be okay! Let’s go!”
As we approached, I recognized Rukato and the others, who were bracing themselves against the onslaught of flames. The small shadow amidst the fire was clearly focused on them, its gaze intense and threatening.
Flames shot forth, and the mages Kohaku, Mari, and Rirei, along with the protected players, took turns casting defensive spells to withstand the attack.
However, the intensity of the assault we had been avoiding was on a different level. It felt like it took two of them just to hold it back.
“Whoa! I’m running out of MP!”
“Well, saying that doesn’t help, does it? We don’t have any MP Potions left… ah!”
The defensive magic that Kohaku and Rirei had been maintaining faltered, with Rirei’s spell dissipating first. The burden fell entirely on Kohaku, and it began to shatter like glass, the collapse imminent.
“Hold on!” (Clay Shield)
I pulled out a single-handed Clay Shield Magic Gem from my Inventory and threw it between the young beast and Rukato.
The wall of earth that appeared between them absorbed the flames, but Kohaku’s defensive magic vanished as her MP ran out.
“What’s happening?!”
“I came to help! Rukato, everyone!”
Rukato, Kohaku, and Rirei, along with the five members of the party they were guiding, made a total of twelve of us ready to defend.
Those who could use magic were either out of MP or close to it, and natural recovery wouldn’t be enough, so we needed MP Potions.
I silently used a Potion.
“Thank you, Yun-san.”
“Save the thanks for later. More importantly, can we escape?”
I checked with Rukato, keeping my words minimal, but she looked confused, and the situation didn’t seem good.
“Is it impossible?”
“Yes, we’re being targeted. If we show any weakness, we’ll be targeted immediately. If we’re going to escape, someone needs to buy us time… no, I shouldn’t say that. It would mean sacrificing someone.”
Her words struck me hard. I thought about how I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t allow myself to die without cooking dinner tonight. No, I absolutely couldn’t die.
“There’s another option, but we haven’t done this in a while.”
“That’s a valid point. It’s a juvenile MOB. Its overall stats should be low, and if the two of us work together, we might have a chance.”
“Does everyone agree to focus on defeating the young beast?”
At that, everyone nodded in silence. Alright, then we needed to come up with a plan. Just as I was about to start, I felt a sudden impact from behind.
Stumbling, I turned to see Ritti headbutting me repeatedly.
“Hey, this isn’t the time to play around. You understand that, right?”
But she kept at it, and I crouched down to meet her gaze.
[What’s wrong?]
|::::::| _
Words alone couldn’t convey everything. But the emotions in her eyes were clear. It was a plea.
I pondered why my partner, whom I had just met, would look at me like that.
It was the same as with the Kamaitachi yesterday. Rui didn’t want to abandon her comrades; she wanted to help. It was a feeling that was all too familiar. But if I let myself get caught up in that thought, I would do everything in my power to fulfill that wish.
Even if it meant facing even greater challenges. Fulfilling a partner’s wish is what a man should do.
“Sorry for taking up your time.”
“No, what’s wrong?”
Rukato asked with concern, so I forced a cheerful tone.
“Don’t worry! I’m against the idea of retreat!”
Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces, I leaped out from behind the earthen wall with Rui by my side.
“Alright, let’s do what we can, partner!”
A lone warrior and a great beast stood resolutely against a towering inferno. I may not be a top player, but I had confidence in our chances.
Ritti and I carefully observed the flames erupting from the fire pillar, dodging the scorching heat with calm precision.
“(Enhancement) | Speed!”
With the enchantment boosting our velocity, Ritti utilized his mastery of illusions to weave through the flames, while I continued to evade the fiery onslaught, even if it was a bit distasteful for an autumn warrior.
“(Curse) | Intelligence!”
I unleashed a cursed spell aimed at the young spirit amidst the autumn, causing the flames to wane in intensity. This guidance was magic, and it was one of the expected outcomes that relied on our INT status. If that failed, we could always lower the ATK.
We each cast our enchantments in a staggered fashion, choosing the type that would bolster our agricultural defenses.