Chapter 313: Leave It to Tias-sensei!
Before I knew it, a year had passed since I started posting this thing… It's thanks to all of you that I've been able to keep up the motivation to write this far. Thank you so much. At this point I've got no choice but to fire off thank-you updates 10,000 times a day… except I don't have enough heads, hands, or feet. Man, if only I could suddenly evolve into a Metagross someday!!
Anyway, I look forward to your continued support of this humble work!!
Sunraku: "Tias-sensei, I have a matter of some urgency to discuss with you…"
Tias: "…A girl would be better."
Holy Grail Flaaash!
Sunraku: "Tias-sensei, I have a matter of some urgency to discuss with you."
Tias: "Mm."
With a gesture of her chin that seemed to say "Well, sit down," the teacher indicated the seat beside her, so I obeyed and sat at the counter. Ah, and one apple parfait for me too—no, for watashi too, please.
Tias: "…What is it?"
Sunraku: "Ah, right. Sensei, is there any way to somehow accept a request that originated in a town I've never been to before?"
Tias: "…You can, you know?"
Sunraku: "Wait, seriously?"
Tias: "Mm. You can accept it."
Ah, but you have to run all the way to the location. Got it… Hmm, nothing's ever that convenient, huh.
As I gouged away at the mountain of parfait with my spoon, Loli-sensei must have sensed something, because she gave a "hmph" and, with a slightly superior air, offered me some advice.
Tias: "…Going from town to town, normally you go straight, but… you can also take the side roads, you know?"
Sunraku: "Ah, right, now that you mention it, those were a thing…"
SLF's area design basically has you moving straight ahead, albeit with a few branches here and there, but apparently there are side roads that don't show up on the map. They're not area bosses, but they're supposedly populated by monsters strong enough that they won't just let you waltz through unmolested. Right, right, those were a thing… Actually, the side roads in Crystal Nest Cliff are straight-up impassable, aren't they? The trash mobs there are those damn scorpions with their bullshit encounter rate. What, am I supposed to fly?
Tias: "…Where do you want to go?"
Sunraku: "Ah, see, to upgrade a weapon I need to hunt down some Dominione Hornets, just a tiny little bit."
That's right—I'm currently in my upgrade phase. I've got this Decay Poison thing that looks strong on paper but is actually useless because the sword's own durability is rock-bottom—though, well, it did recently pull off the major feat of finishing off Psyger-100. Anyway, I'm cooking up an enhancement plan for the Empire Bee Twinblade here.
I mean, it's also partly that Duxram, Blade of Aspiration, has become way too convenient after making such huge strides. Even a graze means death… Sure, against an opponent like Lycagon, if I built entirely around perfect evasion, it'd have a role… but then I'd just think, why not use the Re-Legacy Weapon or Togetsu — Moonblades: Waxing & Waning instead? And that's where I end up.
I have been tinkering with gradual improvements here and there, but at this point, screw it—let's just go for a major overhaul.
Tias: "…Master, the map."
Master: "At once. One moment, please."
The dandy older gentleman who works as both bartender and master of the café "The Wandering Sword" is apparently the father of a bunch of identical-looking men who run the café chain "The Serpent’s Apple"—a front for the Avengers that exists in nearly every town.
After an elegant bow without a hint of obsequiousness, the master withdrew to the back of the shop, and before long returned carrying a huge bundle of parchment that likely mapped out the entire continent.
With a rustle, the teacher spread the continental map open, tapping the parchment with a tiny finger as she traced across it… then stopped at a single point.
Tias: "Dominione Hornets live in this Magnanimous…"
Master: "Lady Tias, pardon my interruption, but under those conditions, might this location be more appropriate…?"
Several seconds of silence. Sliiide. The teacher's finger moved from Magnanimous Sanctuary to the area just before it: the Cloud Sea of the Flowing Cloud Region.
Tias: "…Here."
Sunraku: "Ah, right… so going from Thirdrema via the Iron Ruin of the Divinity is still the best route, huh…"
Tias: "Why?"
Sunraku: "Huh?"
Why? I mean, because distance-wise that's the quickest way. What other reason could there be…?
Tias: "From here."
Saying this, the teacher pointed to the Canyon of the Ancient Souls, then ran her finger across the map just like that…
Tias: "…To here."
And having pointed at the Cloud Sea of the Flowing Cloud Region, she uttered the words with the utmost ease.
Tias: "Running straight through is faster."
Sunraku: "Uhh…"
I mean, sure, every area is laid out long and narrow, and once you factor in how convoluted the Iron Ruin of the Divinity is, time-wise it might actually be faster… Ah, right. She's TAS, after all. If there's even a one-percent chance, then to her it's a feasible method.
Tias: "…Side roads usually have monsters that make their dens or nests there, but they don't treat humans with as much hostility as the monsters that block the path like gatekeepers."
Sunraku: "In other words… slip past 'em and just gun it, right?"
Tias: "It's not that hard."
Well, sure, if you've got prior intel… Wait, an Elder Crystal Scorpion is physically blocking the way? That's the one that's basically a land-based aircraft carrier. Rejected, Sensei. No matter what we players do, RTA is our limit… Oh, right—where'd Lutia go, anyway? She's the whole reason I ended up coming here in the first place.
Tias: "…This would've been the fastest way… Lutia is on vacation."
Sunraku: "Vacation?"
Tias: "Yeah. A boat trip for a few days."
Heh, she's living pretty high-class, that woman… Timing-wise, feels like she'd have had to start prepping right after her fight with me to make it in time. Actually, a boat trip for several days… hmm?
Sunraku: "…Nope, not gonna think about it."
Depending on the circumstances, this information could be a dangerous bomb. I mean, the job-change conditions for Avenger are already a bomb in themselves, but from what I've pieced together from the Chief's explanation, it's something like showing what you can do against Bounty Hunters while keeping your karma value at or below a certain threshold. But if that condition gets out carelessly, it could interfere with the Dress-Up Squad's whole thing… Since Survival is an acquaintance, I don't want my actions to be the trigger that warps the way she enjoys the game.
Sunraku: "Oh, that's right, sensei. I found some cute clothes—what do you think, for casual wear?"
Yaaay, say cheese. Heheheh, you could safely say that at this very moment, my girl-power is experiencing limitless growth…!
Salmon Head, though.
Somehow, the Iron Ruin of the Divinity feels deeply nostalgic. By now, that crawfish bastard and the eel would both be equally fleeing on sight, so I've got no further business with that old leveling spot. Which means all I need to do is take the shortest route at top speed. Simple and very much my style.
Sunraku: "But, man…"
Unlike a straightforward sea-of-trees area where the trees are just growing like crazy, or a dead-volcano area that's basically one long road, this area—probably because it was originally an artificial structure—is a map that feels more like a maze or a dungeon. Which is to say, going in a straight line just isn't happening. What's more, there are partial cave-ins in places, and those floating platforms everywhere… Ah, to hell with it. No lazy shortcuts—just head straight through.
Sunraku: "It’s subtly annoying that curse-type trash-mob repellents don’t work on Divine Era monsters… Ugh, what a pain."
I smashed a drone that didn't show the slightest hint of fearing me into pieces with Duxram, Blade of Aspiration, rounded a corner… dead end, huh. I turned around and headed the other way.
Sunraku: "Hup, hah."
Oh, down below the fissure that's become a natural atrium, a group of players. Well, in this area, if you're just trying to push through to the next town, you can just advance straight along the top level. But the lower floors apparently have better yields in terms of items and materials, it seems. Thanks to that, I'm breezing through solo… Ah. The tank just slipped and lost their footing. My condolences.
Hey, don't attack me while I'm on an aerial foothold—I'll shoot you down with a high kick!
Sunraku: "Man, the level bracket's too low, so it's just not that thrilling…"
For me, this ties directly into my Vorpal Soul parameters, so it's a pretty pressing issue. Sure, I could go hit up the god-spot where I can farm materials, ore, and Vorpal Souls all at once, but honestly, making the same run over and over is its own kind of pain in the ass.
Yeah, I think competing for speed in something like a time attack would do more for my motivation. Or maybe that dangerous cut-through route… No. I'm used to charging into Crystal Nest Cliff on the assumption that I'll die, but if survival is a requirement, the difficulty shoots through the roof, so that's still a no-go.
A fresh-faced party's tank: "SLF is amazing, the graphics are amazing… Huh?"
A mysterious Salmon Head peering down from above: "……………"
A fresh-faced party's tank: "Hyee (SAN check failed)"
A Mythos Creature peering down from above: "My condolences."