Chapter 91: Those Who Illuminate the World's Darkness
Ahhh, thanks to that nap, I feel refreshed! I feel like I had a nightmare, but it's just my imagination, just my imagination! Anyway, turning off my mobile device's power.
Sunraku: "Alrighty... Well, I guess I can hear those guys out tomorrow."
I want Bilac to acquire the Ancient Craftsman class by the end of today. It's not exactly urgent or an obligation, but hurtling through one's gaming life at breakneck speed is a gamer's privilege. If I'm being honest, I have a creeping suspicion that once I get involved, it'll eat up a considerable amount of time, so I'd rather put it off.
Emul: "Sunraku-san! Good morning... wa!"
Sunraku: "It's nighttime, though... Alright. So, the Ruins of Past Glories, was it? Let's speed-run clearing it."
Emul: "Ah, about that... There's something I need to tell you, Sunraku-san... wa."
Something to tell me? I wonder what. Emul performs the deft maneuver of averting her gaze while staring off into the distance, and quietly points one finger.
Arameese: "Ahhh! The foot of a maiden! Trampling upon me! Not bad...! Or rather, it genuinely hurts—ow ow ow ow ow!?"
Bilac: "I always figured yer head was messed up, but to think ya'd gone and twisted yerself into a masochist too... At this point, crushin' ya flat'd be doin' the world a favor."
Arameese: "Oooh-ho, my spineeeee!"
Ah... yeah. I can see why she'd avert her gaze while staring into the distance. Incidentally, since in-game time progresses even when you're not logged in, from what I hear, this has been going on for about an hour now.
Sunraku: "Actually, didn't Arameese head back home?"
Emul: "He left the gems and came back... wa. Apparently... ahem, ah, ah. 'I see! So the maiden ventures forth upon a quest to reach new heights! Then it would be unthinkable for me to withhold my aid! Fear not, for with the cooperation of this "Wild Wind," I shall cleave through any foe and show thee the way!!'"
She strikes an exaggerated pose, using a carrot as a stand-in for a rapier. Evidently, that was an impression of Arameese. In short, Arameese will be joining the party too... is what this means, I suppose.
Sunraku: "Well, I don't mind that... Hmm, but should we handle the clear separately? No, but..."
If I'm towing two NPCs around level 90 with me, then clearing the Ruins of Past Glories—which is probably the appropriate level for my current self—will, how should I put it... just become a total cakewalk. The goal is, after all, obtaining the "Magic Application Unit," so once we get it, turning right back around might also be an option.
Sunraku: "Hmm... Alright! You two, the married-couple comedy duo!"
Bilac: "Who're ya callin' a couple, ya jerk!?"
Arameese: "Oooh! Sir Sunraku's insight is indeed the discerning eye that sees the truth itself... Nyaahhh, my ribs!?"
Silence the cat lest it be trampled... I address Arameese, who somehow looks happy despite receiving a stomp stomp stomp on his back.
Sunraku: "I heard from Emul—you're going to help us out?"
Arameese: "Indeed, indeed. Please understand this not as my decision alone, but as the will of Cazzeria. Our king is deeply grateful for the 'gift' from Sir Sunraku."
Sunraku: "A gift? No, I didn't give away all of—"
Bilac: "You, lend me yer ear a sec."
Bilac, having delivered a finishing stomp that leaves Arameese writhing in agony, beckons me over with a wave. I stoop down, and she brings her mouth to my ear.
Bilac (whispering): "The Cait-Sith are, as a race, huge lovers of gemstones. And the jeweler of Cazzeria in particular, while bein' top-notch in skill, is also notorious for swipin' materials..."
Sunraku (whispering): "Wait, seriously?"
Bilac (whispering): "So that's why I shoved all them gems ya gathered onto 'im. By my reckonin', with that much, ya can make eight accessories. There's no way Dumb-meese over there would overlook lettin' D’Artammeow hog that many gems all to himself."
According to Bilac, Arameese will first inform the King of the Cait-Sith that I've commissioned the jeweler D’Artammeow using super-rare gemstones. He'll also convey that I'm Vysache's little brother. And that I stood unflinchingly against one of the Seven Colossi Unique Monsters and, moreover, defeated it.
Bilac (whispering): "The title of Pops' little brother carries enormous weight among the races allied with Rabituza. I'd bet right about now, all of Cazzeria is workin' together to make accessories for ya."
Sunraku (whispering): "This has turned into a pretty big deal, huh."
At my words, Bilac gives me an exasperated look.
Bilac: "...You do understand what kinda influence the fact that ya went and beat down one of the Seven Colossi carries, right?"
Sunraku: "Out of curiosity, what kind of influence, for example?"
Bilac: "Could start a war, if things go sideways."
Sunraku: "Wha..."
I'm a harmless—well, no, my appearance might be harmful, but I'm a virtuous and upright pioneer, okay?
Bilac: "Especially in your case, since ya got the proof of bein' recognized by the Ruler of the Night stuck right on ya... Might even land yerself a werewolf or lizardman bride. Heh heh."
Sunraku: "Wha..."
Even for me, species with that much fur progression are a bit... Sensing that I'm agonizing over something completely off-base, Bilac sighs and shakes her head. So my head's a lost cause, huh. Hahaha, I'll launch this one flying.
Sunraku: "Well, I'm used to both becoming a hero and an enemy of the world, so it's fine either way... Alright, let's get going."
Bilac: "Aye aye... Get up already!"
Arameese: "The skull! I beg thee, spare the skull, O maiden!"
Then why are you smiling, Arameese?
True to its name, the eighth town: Eighthold. Perhaps it's because it's nighttime, but the sight of crystal lamps illuminating the streets, lined up at regular intervals along the road, is quite fantastical. Maybe due to the nearby trauma-spot that is Crystal Nest Cliff, the buildings of Eighthold use a great deal of crystal overall. Crystal-carved statues sit beneath shop eaves, and the roofs of structures are covered in what could only be called crystal tiles. It goes all the way—crystal instead of cobblestones, crystal instead of pillars, crystal armor at the armor shop, crystal swords at the weapon shop... Crystal this, crystal that—just how much does this town love crystal?
Emul: "If left alone, the Crystal Scorpions just keep making more and more crystal... wa. So the humans in this town thin out the crystal that overflows from the cliffs and put it to use... Or so the Head told me... wa!"
Sunraku: "Huh. Gotta love it when there's a reason grounded in the world's lore."
I walk through the crystal town, illuminated by dim light, with somewhat narrowed vision. Here and there, I spot players eyeing me from a distance, but I don't care anymore... Actually, I've recently realized that caring is just a waste of effort.
Emul: "Sunraku-san, you're not sneaking around anymore... wa?"
Sunraku: "How should I put it... I recently realized—if someone finds me, can't I just play dumb? Actually, if I want to use the town's normal facilities but can't, isn't willingly putting myself in that situation totally backwards?"
Bilac: "That said, I don't think ya should be drawin' attention right now..."
Arameese: "Fuhaha! At present, I am a cat on loan! The Wild Wind is, for now, a gentle night breeze caressing the cheek...!"
Sunraku: "Don't thrash around."
I never thought I'd have to use this trick again. Inside the Ritual Medjed Keffiyeh, the situation is as follows: Emul at the back of my head, Bilac on my back, and Arameese cradled in both arms. When all three of them thrash about, the white hood... well, it moves like some monster with things squirming around inside it. That might be why the players aren't talking to me, but honestly, I'm grateful for it. Surely no one would guess that Vorpal Bunnies and a Cait-Sith are hidden inside this thing. Occasionally, players ask if they can take a screenshot—refusing pointlessly only invites unsolicited screenshots, and I don't want them following me either, so I give those players a suitably offhand reply.
Player: "Um, how did you get that item?"
Sunraku: "Bought it from a shady street vendor I ran into in some alley in Thirdrema. Might've been a random spawn, since he wasn't there every time."
Player: "Oh, I see. Thank you!"
Once I've confirmed that the player who asked about the screenshot and the source of my white hood has left, I quietly check with Emul.
Sunraku: "Peatz does that thing where he takes human form and runs a stall in Thirdrema, right?"
Emul: "Hai na! He said before that Thirdrema has lots of people and lots of easy-mark pioneers, so he can slap on an extra markup... wa."
Sunraku: "That's some enterprising spirit."
Now then, we should be leaving Eighthold and arriving at the Ruins of Past Glories soon, but... at this point, I finally hit the worst-case scenario I'd been dreading.
???: "Ah... Sunraku? Would that be you, by chance?"
Sunraku: "...What is it?"
A voice—deep, silver, and oddly refined—halts me, and I turn around. As I do, I silently gesture to the three on my head, back, and arms not to speak. I look toward where the voice came from. At first, there's no one there... or so I think, until I spot a pink crown of hair just slightly below my eyeline.
Professor: "I am the leader of the lore-investigation clan, 'Library.' You may call me Professor. I was hoping to speak with you—the one who defeated the Unique Monster, Wethermon the Tombguard—and with the other two as well. That is why I stopped you."
Pink twintails, blue-green eyes, and porcelain-white skin. An outfit that uses more frills than a magician's, leaning closer to magical girl territory. And from that mouth comes a voice that, even in its sound alone, carries the dense, intelligent presence of a mature, older man.
Emul (sneeze): "Pfft-shh."
Professor: "Hm?"
Sunraku: "Excuse me. I sneezed."
Damn it, Emul! Hold it in! I'm desperately fighting to keep a straight face here!
Professor: "A sneeze inside the game... Hmm. Well, no matter. So, would you happen to have some time now?"
Sunraku: "...Right now is a bit..."
Professor: "Oh!"
The instant the eyes of the player called Professor—who looks for all the world like an adorable girl—light up, I realize two things: my choice of words was a mistake, and this Professor is the same type of player as Pencilgon. The way I declined—"Right now is a bit..."—was an error. With this phrasing, my refusal of the Professor's invitation is only valid for "right now." Thus, the words that will inevitably follow are...
Professor: "Hmm. Then, if it's no trouble, might you tell me a day and time when you are free?"
Yep, there it is. Having already said "right now is no good," connecting it to a promise to meet on another day is the natural flow... To think I, of all people, would botch a dialogue option. I think for a moment and conclude that the solution is to shove this onto someone else.
Sunraku: "Ah... Regarding Wethermon the Tombguard, the one called Arthur Pencilgon is, how should I put it... more knowledgeable than me."
Professor: "I see. Her, is it... Schwarz Vulf mentioned making contact—perhaps I'll piggyback on that..."
Sorry, Pencilgon. Become a sacrifice for my comfortable gaming life.
Professor: "I see. That said, I do still have things I'd like to ask you. I won't insist on here and now, but when you do find the time, I would very much appreciate hearing what you have to say... including about what you're likely hiding inside that hood of yours."
Sunraku: "Hahaha..."
Busted. I deploy the Japanese special skill of "deflecting with an ambiguous smile," but the effect is probably minimal. The Professor floats a smile utterly mismatched with that appearance—wily and experienced—and operates a window.
You have received a friend request from Professor. "In order to unravel the mysteries of this world, I would very much like to hear your story."
Professor: "Until another time, then..."
I sigh as I watch the retreating figure of the intensely pink girl, her footsteps light.
Sunraku: "The person inside has the voice of a distinguished older gentleman, but the avatar looks like a magical girl... Is he doing that on purpose?"
Still, a lore-investigation clan, huh... To be honest, part of me does want to establish connections with people who specialize in lore analysis. Having played this game for a fair while now, I've come to understand something: Shangri-La Frontier, how do I put it, has a fundamental point that sets it apart from all previous games. Basically, in a game, regardless of the process, a start and a goal are defined. Even in MMORPGs—where, in practical terms, no goal exists until the very moment service ends—this holds true. For instance, say a new area and a new boss are implemented. Normally, there'd be flags to reach the new area, events, and players would be guided toward the new boss. The sum total of all that is what you'd call the story scenario. But Shangri-La Frontier is different. In this game, everything is a blind search. From the very beginning, all the flags are intricately concealed—hidden areas, special conditions, all sorts of things. In any case, players themselves have to find the flags on their own. It's like searching for treasure in pitch-black darkness with a single lantern. And in order to illuminate the world of that darkness, you have to approach it with the lantern-light of lore investigation.
Back then, the words left behind by Setsuna of Bygone Days as she faded—"Bahamut," "Project Number Two"... Simply defeating enemies and raising your level will only ever land you at the mere front line of story progression. The Unique Monsters that are deeply rooted in the world's lore... To raise the scenario flag for Lycagon the Nightslayer, I need information.
Sunraku: "Plus, I'm getting tired of the hermit playstyle anyway."
Muttering this to no one in particular, I accept the friend request from the pseudo-magical-girl.