As I stepped outside, I found Toutobi already awake, brandishing a dagger and sparring with an imaginary foe. He moved right and left, forward and backward, leaving afterimages as he thrust his dagger at a point in the air.
“You’re really fired up this morning,” I remarked.
“Good morning, Yun-san,” he replied cheerfully.
“What about the others?”
“They’re all still asleep. I took over for Claude-san since I woke up first.”
“I see. Then let’s get breakfast ready.”
I slipped an apron over the white dress I had worn yesterday.
“Are we starting this early?”
“Yes, preparing processed foods takes time, after all.”
With that, I waved my hands lightly and began gathering various tools. I took out the Oven Stove, a drop from the Unique Monster known as Stove Blue, which had been absent yesterday, and started preparing. While I focused on making bread, I also prepared side dishes.
I hadn’t noticed before, but Magi-san and Rukato were also awake. Magi-san was watching Rukato practice her morning swings in her new outfit, while Rikuru was cradled in Rukato’s arms. Rukato’s sword was large and wide for a one-handed weapon, lacking a bit of heft for a two-handed grip. It was likely classified as a bastard sword.
Despite the restrained atmosphere, there was an elegance about Rukato that felt perfectly natural. With her new weapon in hand, she effortlessly unleashed slashes, and when she occasionally gripped it with both hands, the force scattered the surrounding grass.
“Good morning! Looks like you finished it, Rukato.”
“Good morning, Yun-kun. Yes, I completed it last night, but I was too tired to check it until now. What do you think, Ruka-chan?”
“Yes, it’s just as I imagined. I tend to prioritize power over speed, so my previous sword was a bit too light.”
With a sigh of relief, Rukato sheathed her sword.
“Then, can we consider this sword ready for delivery? By the way, Yun-kun, what’s on the breakfast menu?”
“Let’s see… freshly baked round bread, scrambled eggs, salad, stir-fried meat and vegetables, and cut fruits. Since we have the Sweet Factory, we can also make pancakes. If I can prepare the batter, the rest is just cooking. We also have the jelly I made last night.”
“Oh, if we have options, I’d love to have pancakes.”
“Alright, it’ll be a self-service style, so feel free to choose when it’s time to eat.”
As I spoke, I lit the stove and heated the frying pan. I began stacking the freshly cooked pancakes onto a large plate. I also placed the warm bread, baked by Lily, into a basket and set it on the table.
The meal was set up buffet-style for everyone to enjoy, but just as I felt it was a bit lacking, Hino and Lily returned from their morning hunt, bringing honey jam made from the drops of a Bee-type Monster. It was best not to question where they had acquired it.
After a while, everything was ready, and I finally took a moment to breathe.
“I’m exhausted already. Ten people and five beasts is quite a lot. I think I’ll prepare some meals in advance today.”
With that, I plopped down onto a wooden chair. Magi-san offered me a cup of water.
“Good job. Are you alright?”
“It’s tough. Since I can store things in my Inventory, it might be best to prepare meals today and tomorrow, then focus on exploration for the remaining days.”
Magi-san nodded in agreement with my candid thoughts. We sat side by side, enjoying breakfast. The pancakes, with their subtle sweetness and the strong aroma of honey, lifted my spirits a bit.
As if drawn by the scent of breakfast, the young beasts that had just woken up eagerly chased after the food on their plates. Among them, the little black one still held a wary demeanor. However, it couldn’t resist its hunger and devoured a small pancake without hesitation. It seemed to bond more closely with the other young beasts than with us players, especially sticking close to Ritti, who didn’t seem to mind.
“We can have a little meeting while we eat,” Claude called out. Despite looking like he was about to collapse from fatigue, he had managed to wake up just in time for breakfast. I couldn’t help but wonder how he maintained his health on such little sleep; perhaps it was just a game thing.
“Alright, let’s discuss today’s plans. Magi and I are thinking of visiting various base camps separately.”
“Why is that?”
“Let’s just say it’s for infrastructure improvement. Last night, I noticed on the bulletin board that many people are struggling without support from the Production Class. Today, we’ll decide how to assist the combat classes with some acquaintances from the Production Class.”
“The Production Class benefits from leveling up their Production Sense, and the combat classes can receive reliable support. Everyone wins.”
I figured some people were already doing this sort of thing. Did my expression give that away? Claude continued.
“Well, I wasn’t planning to get involved at first, but the imbalance in resources has become a topic of discussion. I can’t just ignore it anymore. Since we have a bit of name recognition, we’ll go take a look.”
“Is ‘a bit’ really the right term for you? Sounds like a lot of work. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Hmm, not really. Yun-kun, you’re not planning to take on Potion-making requests on the bulletin board, are you? Just relax and wait.”
Even if I was told to relax, I found myself pondering. Was there really any benefit to spending my time on this? If I could take on requests, it might raise my profile a bit and promote my Atelier. Plus, I could acquire what I wanted without using my own time.
But that would only work if both parties could come to an agreement.
If negotiating with others wasn’t my strong suit, it might be better to join Taku and Miu’s party and explore this floating continent, primarily taking on a healing role.
I gazed up at the sky, contemplating whether to play it safe and reap the benefits or take risks and act. As I mulled it over, my gaze drifted to Ritti and the little fox cub perched on his back.
Yeah, it’s definitely safer to stay close to them than to take risks.
“Alright, I’ll give it a shot. If I don’t see any benefits, I can just stop right away.”
Upon hearing that, Magi-san seemed to relax a bit.
“Ah, that’s a relief. While there are players with Production Sense, there aren’t many who are as dedicated as you, Yun-kun.”
“Are you saying I’m below average compared to others?”
At that, Magi-san let out a light laugh and averted her gaze. It didn’t bother me, though.
“Also, I’m sorry, but I haven’t finished repairing your armor yet. I plan to have it done by today. So, that wraps up our discussion.”
With that, our meeting came to an end.
Afterward, I handed over the potions I had crafted to Rukato and the others, who set off toward the eastern conquest with renewed gear and spirits. Magi-san shared some gemstone raw materials with me, and I quickly prepared a simple lunch for Claude and Magi before sending them off. Meanwhile, Lily and I stayed behind to guard the base camp.
With everyone engaged in their production activities, I suspected Magi-san’s true intention was to let me rest after the troubles I faced yesterday, while Lily took on the role of a supportive companion.
I began polishing the raw gemstones I had received from Magi-san to replenish the Magic Gems I had used, enchanting them with magic. Meanwhile, Lily’s activities were clearly more ambitious than regular woodworking. She was cutting logs into lumber and assembling a roofed, wall-less hut.
“Hey, Lily, what are you building?”
“A bed for Rui-chan. Since she’s not as small as the little foxes, she needs a proper space. Look, it’s almost done.”
With that, she effortlessly lifted a piece of lumber taller than herself and attached it next to the log house.
“Once I add some moss, it’ll be complete. Here, Rui-chan.”
Rui, who had been resting a little distance away, turned her gaze toward the makeshift shelter and approached, sitting on the grass to test its comfort. The entire structure provided shade and seemed like a cool spot. The little fox, reluctant to leave Rui’s side, trotted over to her grassy area.
The young beasts that had been keeping us company, like Rikuru, Kutsushita, and Neshias, also seemed curious about the new space. The five young beasts huddled together in one corner of the shelter, looking content as they began to doze off.
“Shall we take a break too?”
“Sounds good. Oh, do we have any snacks left?”
“Is it alright if we have the leftover pancakes?”
With that, I glanced at the young beasts while indulging in a morning tea time.
“I don’t want to get caught up in trouble like yesterday, so I think I’ll just focus on production activities today.”
“Yun-chi, you have such a diverse Skill set that you never get bored, right? With Pharmacy, Cooking, and Crafting.”
“And also Synthesis and Alchemy. Well, I might have spread myself a bit too thin, but it’s fun!”
“Yun-chi, are you surprisingly indulgent?”
“How rude! Call it a spirit of challenge. It’s true I’ve taken on a lot, but…”
Lily chuckled softly, and we continued to chat casually.
After a while, perhaps drawn by the scent of tea and pancakes, the young beasts that had been curled up in Rii’s bedding began to stir.
The young wolf, Rinkai, stood a step back, while the other young beasts mewed at my feet, as if pleading.
“What’s this? Could it be that they want some?”
As I held the plate of pancakes within their view, their gazes locked onto it. I moved it right, left, right, and they swayed in response. Oh no, my sock fell again.
I took out a fresh pancake from my Inventory and placed it in front of them, but they wouldn’t bite just on that. Their eyes were glued to the honey-filled wolf I held in my hand. Sighing, I drizzled the pancakes with the sweet nectar.
The young beasts tore into the round pancakes from various angles. The once perfectly circular pancakes quickly shrank and distorted until they were finally devoured by all.
But that wasn’t the end. Three young Rikuuls clung to my feet, crying out for more, while a little fox stared intently at the honey in my hand. Ritti, meanwhile, circled behind me, pushing his head against my back.
“Hey, you guys! Calm down, calm down!” I exclaimed, feeling Ritti’s pressure causing me to stumble. I couldn’t help but resent my own weakness and their insistence, but before I could react, the honey I held spilled, splattering onto my white dress and my face.
“Whoa! This is bad. It’s stuck! Being white, the stains stand out… but since it’s a game, will it disappear over time?” I pondered as I wiped the honey off my face with my fingers. At that moment, I felt a piercing gaze on my fingertips.
The honey dripped from my left hand, where I still had about a third of it left, and the remnants clung to my dress, trickling down my neck and shoulder. The young beasts’ eyes were fixed on my fingers.
Slurp. The sound of a young beast licking echoed as it leaped toward me.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?! And no honey!”
Surrounded by the young beasts, I found myself unable to move. Well, I could move, but I was worried about crushing the little Kutsushita and Neshias, so I hesitated. In the chaos, I accidentally dropped the wolf.
The little Kutsushita dove into the honey left on the ground, desperately licking it up. Occasionally, it glanced back at me before returning to its feast.
On my right hand, Neshias nibbled at my finger while licking the honey, sending shivers down my spine.
The honey that dripped onto my dress was being attacked by Kutsushita, who was trying hard to lick it all up.
With both hands and my abdomen occupied, Rikuul was licking the honey that had dripped inside my clothes, while Ritti, who was larger than the other young beasts, stretched his neck to lick the honey off my head. Ritti’s size made him the most overwhelming presence, especially with his head resting on my shoulder, rendering me immobile.
“Hey, you guys, don’t lick that! Don’t suck the honey soaked into my clothes! Why are you sticking your heads in places that have nothing to do with it?! …Lily, help me!”
“Traitor!”
My desperate cries echoed as I realized that Lily was just watching with a smile. I was certain she had no intention of intervening. I endured the torment for several minutes, during which I was in no state to show myself to anyone, and it was definitely not something I wanted to remember.
“Yun-chi, you look exhausted.”
“Ugh. Don’t just stand there, help me!”
“Umm, that’s impossible. You’re too packed in there!”
With that, Lily lightly poked me. By now, the honey that had stained my clothes had completely disappeared, and the young beasts were licking my fingers with a sense of longing.
“Ahh, I really feel like I’m too sweet.”
“That’s right. Yun-chi, you’re always losing out.”
“Correct!”
I pointed at Ritti, who was still clinging to me.
For a moment, we enjoyed a comfortable silence, but I decided to break it.
“Lily, change my Skills to combat mode.”
“Huh? Sure.”
I was grateful that she answered immediately without hesitation. Had she noticed when I was with the young beasts? I also changed my own Skill equipment.
[Bow Lv2] [Sight Lv8] [Speed Increase Lv2] [Discovery Lv5] [Magic Talent Lv8]
[Magic Power Lv8] [Addition Technique Lv2] [Alchemy Lv2] [Pharmacy Lv1] [Cooking Lv2]
[Training Lv1] [Synthesis Lv2] [Earth Attribute Talent Lv7] [Crafting Lv8] [Swimming Lv3]
[Production Knowledge Lv1]
- A flexible Skill configuration. I took out my Bow and casually shifted my gaze.
There were three reactions. It seemed they were hiding just outside the Safety Area, but to me, it was obvious. I couldn’t help but sigh, wishing I had at least Ritti’s level of stealth.
“So, Yun-chi, how many are there? What’s their equipment?”
“Three. A swordsman and two mages.”
“That’s quite an unbalanced setup. Are they guests?”
“If they were guests, they wouldn’t be staring at us with their swords drawn. So, what do we do?”
I brushed off Lily’s unfunny joke and considered the situation.
In the Safety Area, players don’t take damage from combat actions. However, that doesn’t mean it’s completely safe. After all, there was the incident with the black little fox yesterday. Plus, we had no idea what the enemy was capable of.
“I contacted Magi and Kuro, but they seem to be at the nearest base camp.”
“Then they can’t come right away. If it’s a sudden attack, it would be nice if we could predict it. But if it’s a targeted assault…”
We had several possibilities in mind.
– Players without homes or tents attacking to seize our residence | In this case, it might be an operation set up by the management.
– An attack to obtain necessary recovery items or rare event items | This one seems like it wouldn’t be resolved with mere words.
– An attack aimed at efficiently stealing young beasts | This would be the worst-case scenario. There would be no room for negotiation.
“Lily, how do you feel about combat?”
“Hmm? It’s moderate? Unless it’s an exceptionally troublesome strategy, I can handle it, and for a normal fight, that should be enough…”
After all, production classes aren’t really suited for combat.
“Do you think two production classes can take on three combat-focused individuals?”
“Impossible. I’d run away whether it’s one or three.”
Exactly.
Originally, we production classes have fewer benefits from Skills, and while our production-related stats are high, our combat-related stats are low. Even at the same average level, there’s bound to be a difference in specs.
“Should we run away now?”
“Yeah. From what I heard about yesterday’s fire, it seems we can’t take away placed objects, but we can destroy them.”
“Ah, the tents. They were completely destroyed rather than just damaged. So, we’ll run away… tsk.”
I couldn’t help but click my tongue. In response to my heightened alertness, the young beasts huddled closer behind Lily.
Just as we were about to make our escape, a trio approached from the other side.
The three figures came within sight of Lily. They were armed, but they didn’t seem to be planning an immediate attack.
“Are you the one who commands the black beasts?”
A boy with flowing golden hair and blue eyes asked me. There was something about his demeanor that felt sharp. He looked a bit different from the attackers I had imagined, lacking any unnecessary malice in his gaze; instead, he seemed genuinely curious.
I heightened my vigilance in response to his presence.
“What do you want? My young beasts are right here. Put away your weapons.”
As I glared at him, the two mages on either side mirrored my expression, but I didn’t care about them. It all depended on the swordsman’s response.
The swordsman, however, ignored my words and pointed at the young beasts hiding behind Lily.
“Ah, so it’s true. You really are the one who commands the black beasts. I finally found you.”
“Come on, come on, I don’t know anything about it!”
Are you really saying you forgot about yesterday’s incident? We caused so much trouble for such a powerful player. The black Young Beast and the player carrying it are our enemies!
The men on either side raised their staffs in response to that voice.
“Yun-chi, we need to run!”
I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected accusation, but at Lily’s words, I regained my senses, and we immediately took off running.
Claiming to be the righteous ones while condemning evil—fine, but that’s just jumping to conclusions. My words were left unspoken.
Lily dashed towards the door, with Nezias and the other three ministers in tow, while Ritti and the little girl on his back followed us. They were surprisingly quick on their feet.
“We’re going to break through in one go! Speed!”
As we left behind a trail of yellow afterimages, we accelerated.
“Leave this to me. (Wind Armor)”
The spell cast by one of the mages enveloped our pursuers in a veil of wind.
As a result, our running speed visibly increased.
“What the heck! That spell!”
“That’s a high-level Sense of the Wind Attribute. If they can use that level of magic, taking two or three hits from them would mean instant death.”
“Is this really the time to be so relaxed? We need to fortify our defenses or we’ll die! (Enhance) Mind!”
—A protective layer from an additional Enchant.
Yun felt a sense of dread from the oppressive presence of the pursuers closing in behind us.
Lily was grinning, but there was a hint of anxiety in her expression.
I struggled to think of a solution, but my mind was clouded by panic and fear.
Then, I decided to send an SOS message to all my acquaintances.
“Help. I’m with Lily and we’re in trouble. We can’t hold out much longer.”
The message was brief, but upon rereading it later, I realized just how frantic I had been.
Just after sending it, a violent gust and an explosion of flames surged past us, accompanied by a deafening roar and blinding light that spread through the forest. Lily and I shouted at the top of our lungs.
“Ahhh! The cooldown for that spell is so short! Can they really cast it that many times?”
“The cooldown is probably short because of a high-level spellcasting reduction!”
“I don’t want to hear about that! Damn it, I wish they’d run out of MP already!”
I cursed loudly, desperately pumping my legs to escape eastward.
The magic being unleashed scorched trees and scorched the ground.
Direct hits from the spells were blocked by the Magic Gem of the Clay Shield and Ritti’s water shield, which had concealed itself.
However, the strength of their magic was greater, and the backlash made my skin tingle while the wind mercilessly lashed at my back.
Even so, I managed to hold on, but the replenished Magic Gems were running low, and Ritti’s shield was not infallible.
But we weren’t just sitting ducks.
I turned back, recalling my aim, and shot an arrow at the mage, but all my attempts were thwarted by that leaden warrior.
I bit my tongue in frustration and resumed running.
I couldn’t launch any further attacks due to the continuous barrage of magic.
As for Lily, she was carrying the little girl in her arms, so naturally, she couldn’t focus on attacking either.
In other words, we were in a stalemate.
Either they would run out of MP and stop chasing us, or we would be knocked out in one hit.
We continued this precarious escape.
“Yun-chi, do you have a plan?”
“I sent an SOS message to all my acquaintances!”
“That’s a slim hope.”
“Hey, what do you mean by that!”
I caught Lily’s offhand comment. What do you mean, I have a small circle of friends? Uh, well… Taku, Miu, Sei-nee… Wait, aside from them, there’s only Magi-san and her friends, right?
“What’s wrong, Yun-chi?”
“Well, I might have a narrow social circle…”
“Don’t worry about it!”
“Seriously, this is so out of place!”
As we talked, I turned my body and shot an arrow, attacking from an unexpected angle while checking behind us.
The spells being unleashed were high-level wind and fire magic, but now they seemed to have switched to a more manageable low-level spell, focusing on rapid-fire attacks. I could see them using MP Potions during the gaps in their attacks, indicating they were also feeling the pressure.
The chaotic magic sometimes blocked our path or grazed our feet. If we stopped, we would be perfect targets.
But waiting had finally paid off. Our virtual bodies, capable of ignoring physical fatigue, endured the full sprint, and at last, the enemy’s magic barrage came to a halt.
“Finally out of MP?”
“Phew. I hope so. If that’s the case, they won’t be able to chase us any longer.”
“Then let’s get out of here!”
Just as we were about to take off, a new reaction came from the crouched warrior. It wasn’t a new enemy or a powerful spell. It was an invisible strike aimed at Lily.
“Lily!”
With my shout, Lily’s body slowly crumpled. She fell forward, crushing the little girl in her arms, and collapsed, her body slumping down from her right shoulder.
I rushed over in a panic, but there was no HP damage; she had simply fallen. She seemed conscious, her eyes moving, but her voice was barely audible.
“…I see, it’s a Paralysis Potion!”
The moment I pulled a Paralysis Potion from my Inventory, I was struck by another invisible attack. The potion slipped from my grasp, and I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen.
My body felt heavy, as if rusted, and the only thing I could move was my eyes. I wanted to tell the Young Beasts around us, who were watching with concern, to shine brightly, but my mouth wouldn’t cooperate.
We were under the effect of Paralysis Level 3 and couldn’t move. I realized the cause was one of the mages in front of us.
Their vertically elongated pupils had a coldness reminiscent of a mollusk. The change in those insect-like eyes, the answer derived from the state of paralysis was,
“…It’s the Snake Eye…” I managed to whisper, forcing my mouth to move.
“That’s right. It took some time, but I finally succeeded.”
The trio approaching us spoke in a flat tone devoid of any joy. One of the mages held Lily down, while another twisted my arm behind my back, dragging me in front of their leader.
“You’ve caused us quite a bit of trouble. Thanks to you, we’ve used up all our MP Potions, but well, we can still eliminate evil, right?”
The swordsman spoke casually, but I felt a surge of anger. With my hands pinned behind my back, my bow fell to the ground. I couldn’t retrieve any items from my Inventory, and my mouth was sealed shut. The Young Beasts around us were—
“…looking worried.”
“Don’t you dare lay a finger on our children.”
I glared at them, filled with the intent to make them regret it for life if they even touched a single hair on the Young Beasts. Hearing that, the mage behind me tightened their grip, and I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain.
“Let’s finish this before the Snake Eye wears off. Our goal is just the player controlling the black Young Beast.”
“At least tell me the reason.”
“Our party member was consumed by the flames of the black Young Beast.”
“…So that has nothing to do with us.”
I coughed out the thought I had, and they tightened their grip even more. There was no room for negotiation. The swordsman raised his weapon, signaling the end.
The moment that blade came down, I instinctively closed my eyes. I thought the impact would come in an instant, but time seemed to stretch, and the shock never arrived. I felt a sense of déjà vu as I cautiously opened my eyes, and there stood a familiar silhouette between the swordsman and me.
“Yun-chan called for help, so I thought something was up, and it seems like quite the troublesome situation.”
“Yun-chan, you’re with Sei-nee in the game, right?”
In the game, Sei-nee’s real name was a bit of a mouthful, but she exuded an out-of-place charm. She thrust her staff forward, intercepting the sword aimed at her.
“Why would you go out of your way to do this? That one is controlling the black Young Beast!”
Yun-chan would never do anything bad. Besides, Yun-chan called for help. That alone was enough for me.
“Then I’ll push through no matter what!”
“…Sei-nee?”
The sword swung again, aimed at Sei-nee. I thought close combat would be difficult for a mage like Sei-nee, but my expectations were about to be shattered.
Drawing back her staff, Sei-nee struck with a fluid motion, deflecting the incoming sword as if it were a mere extension of her will. The blade swept downwards, only to be met with her staff once more, which she expertly redirected upwards. The force of the attack sent the sword flying backward, embedding it into the ground.
“Your grip on the sword is still too weak. Perhaps it’s because you’re mainly fighting against MOBs…”
For a brief moment, I was taken aback by the rapid exchange, but my opponents quickly regrouped, coordinating their efforts as a party. The two mages began casting spells aimed at Sei-nee, while the swordsman prepared to draw a spare lead from his inventory.
“Quick Blast!”
“Fire Shot!”
The simultaneous release of wind and fire magic surged toward Sei-nee. In response, she calmly prepared her defense.
“Water Round!”
With a small cough, she conjured a round water shield, similar to the one Ritti had created. It was slightly larger than the one Ritti had produced, but it effectively blocked the incoming attacks.
“Their strengths aren’t aligning. They need to coordinate more closely.”
Raising one hand, she moved the water shield in sync, expertly blocking the incoming wind and fire attacks. Her movements were slow enough for my eyes to follow, yet she defended with minimal effort.
“The wind excels in speed and rapid-fire capabilities, while fire is characterized by its high burst damage. The ideal coordination would be to break through my defense with firepower while targeting me with wind projectiles. You don’t need overwhelming power to take me down.”
As she spoke, Sei-nee danced gracefully, deflecting each attack with ease. Despite the intensity of the battle, her composure was mesmerizing, and I found myself captivated by her presence.
“Don’t forget about me!”
Amidst the chaos of fire and wind, the young swordsman leaped toward Sei-nee, trying to blend in like he used to.
“Ren (Wind Armor)!”
The wind mage, moving with the same swiftness as when he had pursued her earlier, cast a spell to bolster his speed, closing the distance rapidly. Sei-nee maintained her water shield, preparing to counter.
However, the swordsman raised his sword high and brought it down before Sei-nee could cast her spell.
“Gram Sword!”
In perfect timing, Sei-nee thrust her staff forward, the tip transforming into a lance-like weapon made of water. With a light flick, she redirected the swordsman’s blade, using the staff’s shaft to firmly hold it in place before he could counter.
“Aren’t you a mage?”
“I’m a spellcaster, yes. But relying solely on magic can be quite inconvenient, so I’ve learned a bit of staff combat as well.”
With that, she thrust the tip of her staff again before the swordsman could recover. Even as he attacked again, Sei-nee deflected his strikes with her water shield, gracefully evading while countering with her staff. The difference in skill was evident even to an untrained eye.
“Why can’t I land a hit?!”
In response, Sei-nee delivered a sharp thrust to the swordsman’s chest, sending him stumbling backward.
“Sei-nee! There’s something big behind you!”
“Don’t worry. Big sis is strong.”
As I shouted, having forgotten about the fading magic, I saw Sei-nee smiling confidently. The trio had been buying time, while the two mages prepared a powerful spell to eliminate her.
“||《Mirage Mist》”—
I called out to Sei-nee, but the roar of flames drowned my voice as they surrounded her. I stood there, stunned, watching the collapsing circle of fire.
It was hopeless after all. I had thought that even against three opponents, Sei-nee would manage…
“The vulnerability of fire attacks is the most troublesome. If I take a direct hit, I could be in danger myself.”
Looking up at the source of the voice, I saw Sei-nee standing atop a tree, arms crossed beneath her chest as she surveyed the scorched ground.
The trio stared in awe, their eyes wide as the wind mage raised his staff, aiming and freezing in place.
“(Aqua Bullet)”
In that instant, dozens of water projectiles appeared behind Sei-nee. It was a basic water attribute spell, but the sheer number made it a formidable threat. Overwhelmed by the sight, none of them dared to move. They knew that attacking would only result in a barrage of water bullets raining down upon them.
“Indeed, when facing MOBs, the best strategy is to cast and shoot immediately. But against players, high-powered spells aren’t necessary.”
“What the hell? Why are there so many projectiles?! How can a mage fight up close?! Are you looking down on us?!”
The swordsman shouted hysterically, prompting Sei-nee to calmly explain.
“I’m not looking down on you, nor am I holding back. This is simply my fighting style.”
She paused, allowing more water projectiles to gather behind her. “The foundation is based on a mage’s sense of composition, but I’ve temporarily stored these spells by using a delay. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve only learned a bit of staff combat. Time is running out, so—”
Her words were drowned out by the sound of dozens of water bullets being unleashed.
The trio desperately tried to dodge the incoming spheres, seeking an opportunity to counterattack, but they couldn’t break through the barrage. The projectiles struck the ground, splintering trees and creating a wide area of destruction. Even though some of the water bullets were wasted, any movement would result in being hit.
As the two mages quickly retreated, the young swordsman pressed forward, determined to close the distance. But as he approached Sei-nee, the frequency and density of the attacks increased, and he was soon blown away by the relentless barrage.
“Are you willing to listen now?”
“Why… why did you have to take him down?! You left our party in ruins! That black young beast was controlled by a tamer!”
“It wasn’t me! Some fool captured the young beast and forced it to wear cursed equipment.”
That was the truth. Yes, this black young beast was the cause, but it was an unfortunate accident caused by a series of misfortunes.
“Then where did that tamer go?!”
“It seems he was the first to be eliminated.”
Sei-nee revealed the truth quietly.
“Apparently, there was a similar incident the day before at the base camp. The party believed to be responsible all failed to escape.”
“Then who are we supposed to take down?! Who are we supposed to fight as our comrades?! We were all looking forward to this event! Is it really okay for it to end like this?!”
All three of them had significantly reduced HP, throwing down their weapons and gripping the dirt in despair.
As Sei-nee approached without warning, they tried to call out to her, but she silenced them with a finger to her lips, as if to say she had a plan. There was nothing we could do but trust her.
“I understand you’re not satisfied, but you can’t impose your frustrations on Yun-chan and the others, can you?”
Their response was powerless.
Yet Sei-nee smiled contentedly, casting healing magic on the trio.
While the damage she dealt could be healed, the mental scars would take longer to mend.
With a gentle yet firm voice, Sei-nee addressed them.
“We still have time. Why not think about what you can do without causing trouble for others?”
What could we do? I had no idea…
As the three exchanged uncertain glances, Sei-nee continued to weave her words.
“After the event ends, when you meet your teammates who have retired, you want to be able to hold your heads high and say it was fun, right? Will you level up a bit in that time? Or maybe give them a rare item as a gift? Or perhaps enjoy the look of envy on their faces?”
I couldn’t help but think that last suggestion was a bit cruel, but it seemed to ease the tension among the three. Their expressions softened slightly.
“And those who have retired will feel regret, but how do you think they’ll react when they find out you PK’d? I doubt they’ll be pleased about it.”
“…Yes, I think you’re right.”
The trio responded to Sei-nee with a newfound sense of determination. Even Lily, who had been paralyzed, stood beside me with the young beasts.
“I—”
Sei-nee halted the swordsman boy, just as I had done, raising her hand.
“I’m not the one to speak about PK. Whether you can stand tall and reunite with your comrades depends on you all.”
The incident itself stemmed from unfortunate misunderstandings and a lack of information. But can everything be forgiven just because of that?
It’s not that simple… This time, there were other victims besides me.
Glancing briefly at Lily, I noticed her retreat slightly, signaling that she would leave it to me.
So, I stepped forward, speaking my mind.
“Regardless of the differences, the fact remains that you attacked Lily, who is fighting alongside me.”
“…What can I do to earn your forgiveness?”
The trio, now even more flustered by my words, looked at me with wide eyes. I replied,
“If you did something wrong, then you should apologize.”
“I understand. I’m sorry,” they said, bowing their heads.
“It’s not me you should apologize to. It’s Lily and my friends.”
As I pointed towards Lily and the others, the trio’s eyes widened in surprise, and they bowed deeply once more.
After witnessing them quietly leave, Lily tugged at my clothes, asking,
“Yun-chi, was that alright?”
“I’m angry because my friends were made to feel regret. Everything else is irrelevant.”
“Yun-chan, you really don’t care about yourself at all.”
Sei-nee furrowed her brow in concern, but I thought that was beside the point.
“I thought Yun-chi would forgive them, but I never expected you to feel nothing at all.”
I shared this thought with my partner, Neshias, commenting on how gentle Yun-chi’s anger truly was.