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Log Horizon (Light Novel) - Volume 6 — Chapter 4 — Mare Tranquillitatis
Volume 6: Chapter 4: Mare Tranquillitatis
1
The lines started to move as if they were shoved from behind.
Akatsuki lost track of her thoughts as she was pushed along with the moving crowd. The petite Akatsuki walked briskly along the giant intersection in a gloomy mood.
There were tall black shadowy figures all around her moving with the flow. She heard a car horn from nearby, probably a horn of frustration in a traffic jam. No one seemed to mind the sharp metallic noise.
Akatsuki wondered if she was the only one who was intimidated by this sound. Akatsuki thought that it would be nice if someone did something about this, but that had never happened before. The human wall moving around her was intimidating. Salarymen, office ladies, and students. People of all ages and occupations were moving along mechanically.
Some of them were speaking loudly. They chatted with cellphones in their faces, talking about their business. The sound of them lecturing their subordinates made Akatsuki flinch. There were also sweet voices of people agreeing to go on a date. Akatsuki knew the lady who was speaking honeyed words into her phone was not even smiling.
She just knew. She couldn't see the expression of the people around her. In this chaotic flow of people, Akatsuki couldn't make out the faces of anyone. There was not enough space and she couldn't tell even if she lifted her head.
She was hurried along, pushed by the crowd. She moved along bearing a frightened, frustrated, and gloomy mood.
The streets were bustling with noise. She could hear the siren of an emergency vehicle in the distance, the horns of cars and the exhaust pipes that sounded like angry beasts. People talking on their cellphones formed an unending chorus of sound. The neon lights and the music playing to different beats merged together and the human traffic was just like a weird-tasting pizza sauce.
Akatsuki walked on with her head down, unable to understand the content of the music and conversations in the air. It was a mixture pressuring her ears, she could catch bits of conversations, but it was washed away by the torrent of information. That's right, this was a violent flood. Akatsuki did not drown because she knew how to shut off her mouth, ears, and eyes. But she was still being washed away with the muddy flow like the others who were drowning.
The torrent of humans forced Akatsuki to climb the slope along the railings below the building. Where were all these people going? This place full of buildings made from concrete and glass went high up into the heavens, and the people went in and out of these buildings. Just like a giant alien swallowing and vomiting the torrent of people, the buildings stood tall in the streets. Akatsuki and the crowds were moving in order for the buildings to devour them, and exited just to be eaten by another building.
An evergreen tree planted here was covered by brown dust. It seemed to be saying 'this building is owned by an environmentally friendly organization', and planting this tree was just a decorative alibi of their efforts. Although Akatsuki wouldn't fall and get trampled on in the streets, she still had to endure the crowd pushing her along 8760 hours a year, tormenting her beyond salvation. Akatsuki merely glanced at the tree before moving on. She was moving as fast as the black imposing crowd around her, following the pace of everyone living in the city in order to survive. You would drop out from society if you disrupted the pace.
The asphalt went on endlessly in Akatsuki's eyes. In the view of Akatsuki who was keeping her head down, the asphalt surface which suffered the blows of all kinds of shoes was the main character. The rain last night should have washed it clean, but the tired road was full of disposable chopsticks, unknown posters, plastic bags, silver wrappings, and key chains that were bloated with muddy water. These should be things she saw for the first time, Akatsuki couldn't confirm before the crowd trampled on them. But there was one item that kept appearing on the road.
This plastic bag was used to hold merchandise purchased from the shops, but it had lost its purpose and was merely trash now. This piece of garbage that was trampled by the crowd was indistinguishable from another tattered plastic bag that appeared 5 minutes later. Everyone would just see it as trash, including Akatsuki.
The time flew by in a rush, but seemed as slow as a snail too. The burst of advertisement music like a sudden storm sliced away at Akatsuki's time, controlling Akatsuki's life with its rhythm. But she was not so busy that she couldn't think about things. The time that was being cut into smaller portions left no space for reading or playing, so it was spent on accomplishing small things.
For the people around her the time was used to talk loudly on their cellphones, or waste money on their smartphone games lethargically. Akatsuki who was not interested in these actions reflected on herself in the short amount of time she had, enduring wasting her time like this. Her angry emotions froze over time and turned into self-loathing. Living her life after dividing her time into the smallest denomination was not living life like a human. Akatsuki felt she was no different from livestock. The proof was that she lacked the means to escape from this place.
The crowd stopped as one, they reached a traffic light. When all the lights blinked red several times, it meant they could cross either normally or diagonally. The herd of cars screeched past Akatsuki as if they were being hunted. Akatsuki knew the next traffic light was 50m away in the inner city. Even if the light was green, they would still need to stop at the next junction. The driver who accelerated, pumping out smoke from his exhaust pipe because he couldn't stand waiting this short distance seemed weird to Akatsuki. It was probably a secret that Akatsuki, who couldn't drive, couldn't comprehend.
Akatsuki, who was mindlessly watching the cars that detested gaps in the road, sneezed. She realized she had been sneezing since reaching this street and rubbed her nose. She regretted it immediately after rubbing. She couldn't shake this unfeminine habit no matter how hard she tried. Akatsuki kept sneezing because of the sour exhaust gas of the cars.
Akatsuki moved faster in an attempt to move ahead of the crowd. Although it was walking, it was more of a jog for Akatsuki.
She suddenly wondered where she needed to go. She should have a destination after squeezing with the crowd, and was definitely meeting with someone. Arriving at the appointed time, making plans to go somewhere. That's right… They were going to some place. A place of learning. Should be a college. But this goal vanished from Akatsuki's heart for some reason.
The sense of disappointment came faster than the feeling of confusion. In this street that was like a manufacturing line, she didn't have a destination, her heart and soul were being crushed by this sense of unease. Laughter, the sounds of advertisement cars, the screech of cars braking, the sound of the train in Yamato line passing by. The pain was stuck in her throat, her vision became blurry. Akatsuki wanted to stop, but she pushed herself on so she wouldn't impede others. Passing by the blinking signal lights, walking past the convenience stores. Turning the corner at the bank, she moved forward. Forward and forward in the crowd. Going somewhere that was not here. Maybe everyone was just like that plastic bag, moving without a destination. Just like Akatsuki who could be simply replaced by someone else. But Akatsuki was the only proof that Akatsuki existed. It was fine even if this example could not be proven.
Before she knew it, she was running up a flight of concrete stairs. The stairwell reminded her of a lonely apartment building. Although it was a place she was familiar with, it lacked substance, Akatsuki just couldn't remember where she had seen it. The important thing right now for Akatsuki was to climb up the stairs as fast as she could. This was not an enjoyable experience, she simply wanted to get away from this place.
She was not sure what she was running from, but she knew she would be captured if she hesitated and thought about it. It was probably the plastic bag. Being trampled on mercilessly, wet, sticky, and tattered. It was sticking on her back— wrong, it was sticking to her sole as she climbed the stairs, making 'sha sha' noises. But there was no such sound if she listened carefully. She was wrong about the bag being stuck on her. But why was Akatsuki rushing so hastily, not daring to look at her feet? The disgusting pressure stuck into her spine like ice needles.
The lack of oxygen stopped her brain from thinking as she was unable to breathe. Even if she knew this was wrong, she couldn't prove it since she didn't know the correct answer. After reaching the top of the stairs, she used her momentum to head for the next flight of stairs as she ascended the stairwell. She ran like a rat on a wheel, giving her a sense of futility. She heard the sound of concrete being drilled somewhere and was running as if she were hating the concrete stairs itself. But she had to climb up the stairs in order to escape. This was a vicious cycle.
After climbing dozens or maybe hundreds of flights of stairs, Akatsuki realized this was not a stairwell. Her feet sank into wet concrete with the texture of glue. Akatsuki missed a step and fell together with the rest of the crowd. The horn of a car, the noise of advertisement, incomprehensible murmurs of conversation. Akatsuki fell into the abyss of howling wind and was certain she saw the plastic bag again.
2
A smooth white beach.
Clear blue skies.
The blue endless sea that looked like part of a watercolor palette, with ripples everywhere.
Akatsuki was walking alone on the beach.
The only person strolling on the vast coastline that was unique in the winter.
The sound of the sand crumbling at her feet made her fearful.
She lowered her head and saw her feet taking another step.
She left another footprint in the pure untainted white beach.
Looking at the shadow flying far far away, that was probably a seagull.
'Splash, splash'
She could hear faint footsteps in her ears as well as the blue waves washing up the beach.
She pulled her coat closer because of the chill and continued to walk.
She took her time, there was no need to hurry.
The sun reflected from the sea got in her eyes when she raised her head.
The winter sun didn't bring warmth, just blinding light.
Quiet footfalls and the tiny set of footprints extended out like a tiny chain.
Whenever her bare feet touched the blue sea, the shiny particles dissipated.
Akatsuki didn't know where this was, but she had completely calmed down.
This was not her destination, but it was a safe haven.
Strolling along the quiet beach was an enjoyable experience that put her at ease.
She didn't know how far she needed to travel.
She tried soaking her feet in the deep blue water and twirled it around in a circle.
She attempted to leave footprints close together like the dance of a bee.
Because she was alone, Akatsuki did all this with a serious face.
She tried expressing her joy with a smile.
Akatsuki's faithful footprints followed Akatsuki wherever she went.
She felt so happy that she wanted to include all this in her diary.
She squinted her eyes to look into the distance, a person appeared in Akatsuki's field of vision.
A tall figure swaying his body as he looked at the ocean with a troubled look.
Akatsuki was surprised by how light her body was, and realized she was running.
The distance that seemed far was much shorter than she imagined. She was close, within just a few steps, and slowed her pace.
She was not the type that would throw her whole body out to embrace others.
But she still followed her feeling of affection to raise her head to look at that figure.
Shiroe smiled when he noticed Akatsuki.
Shiroe, who was always wearing a bitter and sullen expression, was smiling like this, making Akatsuki feel so satisfied.
A bit shy, shining brightly, and embarrassed.
After a moment of hesitation, Shiroe, who was smiling with squinted eyes, acknowledged Akatsuki with a look and started walking along the beach.
Akatsuki walked with him akin to chasing the hem of his coat.
Shiroe was consciously taking it slow.
Shiroe remained silent just like Akatsuki beside him.
The echoes of the wind and the sound of the tides added to the beauty of the scene.
The two of them were hesitant to disturb this serenity.
(My lord's hands are big.)
Akatsuki thought as she looked at Shiroe, who brushed his hair and adjusted his glasses a couple of times.
She increased her pace as she looked at the pair of hands stuck into the coat pockets.
No, it was better to slow down.
Slowing down would give Akatsuki an excuse to tug at the hem of his coat.
Akatsuki pouted as she thought of this.
But she didn't look upset.
Akatsuki hid her expression, twirling along the coastline.
She must be smiling as she stretched her coat, the color of caramel.
Shiroe stopped, turning back to look at Akatsuki.
The two of them once again strolled on the beach that was like fine sugar. She knew the sand was changing its shape under their feet. She didn't mind the chilly breeze brushing across their cheeks. There was a warmth flowing in her body.
For Akatsuki, everything about this was precious and enjoyable. Shiroe's oversized boots sank into the sand. Akatsuki felt happy looking at the footprint that was deeper than hers. Shiroe looked cute when the occasional strong wind made his coat flutter.
Although Akatsuki wanted to try putting her hand into the pocket that was 5 times larger than her palm, it was too embarrassing for her. As a replacement, just looking at Shiroe and her footprints on the beach was enough to satisfy her.
The cold speck that fell on her nose surprised Akatsuki.
The pure white snow flakes were falling silently.
It melted the instant it touched her fingers, before she could feel its chill.
It was snowing.
Akatsuki looked up to convey this to Shiroe. Shiroe smiled and nodded, so Akatsuki knew there was no need to report this.
Shiroe helped Akatsuki wear the hood of her coat and continued walking.
She was not tired at all, but it felt like she had walked for a long time.
The sky gradually became transparent as it turned a darker shade of turquoise and shone like a gem.
The light from the water's surface seemed even brighter as the white snowflakes slowly fell in.
"I didn't think it would be this quiet."
Shiroe commented quietly and stopped.
The two of them had reached a cove before they realized it.
"Yeah."
Akatsuki answered.
She wanted to respond more emotionally and with more feminine charm, but she couldn't think of a good way to do that. Shiroe didn't seem to mind as he gazed out at the sea as dusk approached.
'Clang'
'Clang'
A sound similar to giant crystals colliding.
It appeared to be a signal from the other end of the boundless ocean.
Suddenly, Akatsuki was aware of something, but it was gone the moment it hit her.
Something that was not Akatsuki brushed across her heart.
Even though it did not belong to Akatsuki, this sense of loss filled her with sorrow.
A large hand rested on her upper arm gently. Akatsuki knew Shiroe was feeling the same thing. His expression was serious but not stern.
Shiroe pulled out a penknife from somewhere and pushed out the blade. He cut off a part of his fringe awkwardly. The cut off hair shone strangely, numbering less than a bunch.
Akatsuki received the knife from Shiroe and shaved a small part of hair from her ponytail just like Shiroe did. She didn't know why she did it, but she understood in her heart that this was necessary.
They walked into the clear blue water and scattered the hair into the sea.
The sound of crystals colliding came from somewhere as if to acknowledge the receipt of something and the snow that didn't feel cold flew all around them.
Akatsuki understood these specks were the memories of everyone.
Death didn't rob people of their memories, it was the people who offered their memories for the chance to live again. Even if she didn't recall, deep in her heart was the desire to rise again, that was what Akatsuki knew.
"Amazing."
Shiroe's commented softly, Akatsuki felt the same.
How many memories did these flying snowflakes contain?
How many people made new resolutions on this beach?
The vast quantity and weight made Akatsuki dizzy.
Akatsuki believed that this was not a privilege or her right, but unbelievable luck.
Shiroe being beside her was also her luck.
"Did you fall, Akatsuki?"
Akatsuki pondered Shiroe's words for a moment and nodded.
I am already dead.
Hit by the demonic blade of the Murderer.
But that didn't matter.
It didn't mean everything was fine if she could respawn at the cathedral. Akatsuki fought out of her own will and fell. No regrets.
But she recalled the memory of the Akatsuki that fell. Memories of rushing out from Raynesia's residence into the sky, something important Soujirou conveyed to her, the determined profile of the Kannagi that was protecting Soujirou, something elegant and serious she learned from Rieze, Henrietta, and the other girls she met at the tea party.
… And it ended.
What was this 'something'?
Akatsuki could only describe it as 'something'.
She didn't improve after experiencing that battle.
She regretted not understanding anything and was sorry about it. But she couldn't do anything but cry.
She touched something important. She finally noticed. But she didn't know what that 'something' was or what needed to be done. She knew it was something priceless, but she couldn't use it even though it was a gift.
Akatsuki wanted to explain it to Shiroe.
She wanted to tell Shiroe she found something precious and beautiful.
There was something important here. She couldn't confirm its existence, but it was gifted to her.
But she couldn't put it into words since she was not sure what that 'something' was.
Her heart was full of pain and regret as tears flowed from Akatsuki's eyes.
She couldn't express it to Shiroe in words. Akatsuki sensed that she had hurt this important thing. She was afraid that her incompetence might limit the value of this present.
There was definitely something there.
In the eyes of Raynesia.
In Soujirou's fearless smile.
Death didn't mean failure. To lose something that was at her fingertips, that was Akatsuki's failure.
No, it was right in front of her from the very beginning. If that were the case, the Akatsuki that did not notice this was made up of a series of failures. She knew this was true without needing anyone to point it out.
Once again, Akatsuki cried at her own incompetence. That was why she died without accomplishing anything.
"Is that so. I am the same too. I died."
Akatsuki raised her head when she felt a hand patting her. Shiroe looked troubled and smiled gently. Akatsuki knew Shiroe was worried about her. His self-mocking smile was the expression Akatsuki's guild master wore when talking to her.
"You too my lord?"
"Yeah."
They fell into silence.
Shiroe stroked Akatsuki's head, thinking with a troubled look on what to say. Akatsuki was fine with this awkward side of Shiroe, but Shiroe was concerned about that.
"I failed. My forecast was too naive… I didn't put in my trust."
His speech was not showing weakness, but a form of self reflection.
"I'm not sure."
Akatsuki replied in an equally strong manner.
"This is strange. I never thought I would meet Akatsuki here."
This sentence followed after countless snowflakes had fallen.
Akatsuki was surprised.
This was weird indeed. It had been a while since she met Shiroe.
Speaking of which, she wanted to see Shiroe.
Very much.
She wanted Shiroe to pat her head.
She remembered that she wished for Shiroe's compliments.
That was why this was a strange reunion.
They actually met in this place.
She didn't have time to think about it until now.
Encountering Shiroe here was such a weird experience.
Akatsuki was not sure, but she sensed that this was not a normal place. She was thankful for this miraculous coincidence.
"Right. My lord, this is strange."
She remembered the beach they strolled on and the deep blue sea.
In the bright scenery that had been bleached white, she could see Shiroe turning back to face her.
She rushed over and lifted her head, a large hand caressed her face.
It was just a coincidence.
But this coincidence was a blessing for Akatsuki.
She had no other wishes.
That thing Akatsuki was unable to get, would definitely be lying in wait within her reach.
But there should be countless such existences out there, in the dark corners Akatsuki had yet to notice. In the smiles she missed because she wasn't looking for it.
The luck in your hands would make one arrogant. You wouldn't think the luck you didn't have ever existed. Be it luck, encounters, or assistance, they were lurking in all kinds of places waiting for Akatsuki to discover them.
"That's why, I want to try again."
"I want to have another go too… That's what everyone taught me."
Akatsuki grabbed Shiroe's coat tightly.
Just like the feeling of sand crumbling under their feet, Akatsuki sensed that this memory would be left behind.
That's why she grabbed on tightly even though it might crease the coat.
She would be separated from Shiroe again, she didn't say anything and clasped the coat strongly. But her wish was in vain as the endless sand dunes and its light grew brighter.
The sound of the ebbing tides faded along with the offered hair, taking some memories with it.
Following this, the surroundings turned into the dark blue sky and Akatsuki fell.
3
It's okay.
The lingering sensation in Akatsuki's palm made her smile.
It's okay.
She could still feel the rough fabric from earlier.
It's okay.
When Akatsuki opened her eyes, her small hand was clenched as if she were holding on to something.
Akatsuki knew her memories were crumbling like the sand. Lying on the hard stone bed with tears on her cheeks, her memories of her dream were fading.
Akatsuki clenched her hand and wiped away her tears, attempting to wipe away the guilt and loneliness she felt in her dreams.
Akatsuki sat up on the simple marble bed.
For some reason, she felt as if she went through some incredible place.
Serene, lonely, gentle, and translucent place.
Akatsuki journeyed there, encountered, awakened, and stood up again.
She sensed that she had an important conversation she wanted to take with her.
She could still feel something in her hand. Probably, the sensation of a fabric. It faded away with the bits of gentleness she felt. Akatsuki willed with all her might to stop memories of her dream from vaporizing, but she knew it was in vain.
The chime of the crystals faded off into the distant.
But she brought one crucial thing back with her.
She successfully brought the most important thing back with her.
Akatsuki checked for any missing equipment.
She carefully got up from bed.
This was her first death since the Catastrophe.
From her knowledge of Elder Tales and the rumors on the street, Akatsuki knew she would lose some EXP and memories when she respawned. She didn't know what she had forgotten.
Things about Log Horizon, Shiroe, and everyone were still intact. Memories of the old world, her family, her childhood, she could roughly recall all of it.
If she tried to recollect the details, she might find something missing. But that would take a lot of time.
It was the same with her EXP loss, she didn't feel much different from before. The EXP loss was not large enough for her to lose levels. According to the rumors, the loss would make you feel lethargic. But Akatsuki couldn't tell whether her stiffness was from losing EXP or from sleeping on a hard marble bed. In other words, that was the extent of her discomfort.
She looked around her, this was the inside of the cathedral.
The white marble room had several marble beds, the walls were decorated with simple carvings.
This was the cathedral of Akiba. Akatsuki had memories of respawning in this place when Elder Tales was still a game a few times. Akatsuki started walking as she adjusted her Kodachi on her waist.
There was so much to do.
As she walked down the corridor, she raised her gaze and saw the winter sun gradually rising through the clouds. The battle started at midnight, so respawning took half a day? No, that wasn't it. She probably continued to sleep on the marble bed after she respawned, relaxed from the tension of battle. That was probably why she was aching all over.
Akatsuki looked around the cathedral that was bigger than it appeared from the outside as she walked.
There were things she had to do.
There were things she must do.
She couldn't give up even after losing the first time. Akatsuki realized how lazy she was. She wanted to give her all in battles. She thought she worked harder than others. That was her just deceiving herself. Just excuses. There was so much more she could do. Akatsuki had been avoiding things that had to be done. She only focused on the things she preferred to do, and thought that was working hard.
Akatsuki made up her mind to move forward as she walked past the stained glass of the cathedral.
From Akatsuki's field of vision, the streets of Akiba should be right down these wide stairs.
But an unexpected scene awaited her.
"Are you alright? Does it hurt anywhere?"
Akatsuki's sight was enveloped in darkness when she hesitated a moment and was bear-hugged. Henrietta twirled around as she rubbed her face on Akatsuki and said 'So cute~'. No matter how petite, it was a feat to lift a grown woman up, thanks to the strength of an Adventurer. But Henrietta didn't seem to care.
"I was thinking that it's about time for you to wake up."
Rieze, who was leaning on the stair's railing, commented. Behind her, Raynesia, who was wrapped in thick furry clothes, lowered her head apologetically. Standing behind them was a lady with fox ears crossing her arms and smiling confidently. She was the Kannagi from West Wind Brigade who had fought that night.
"…"
Akatsuki was speechless.
She knew her expression was becoming serious and gloomy.
It's not that she disliked everyone.
She was reaping what she sowed.
'Till now, she didn't have any close friends of the same age and gender, she didn't know what to say.
But she knew in her heart there was something she had to do. From the dream that was lost to Akatsuki, this was the only thing she brought back. She grabbed the hand Henrietta placed on her stomach. She faced the stunned Henrietta, Rieze, fox ear lady, and the troubled Raynesia.
Landing on her feet, Akatsuki lowered her head.
"I know this is rude to say this, but I have a request for everyone. Please teach me about 'Over level'. I want to apprehend that Murderer."
The surprised fox-ear lady and Henrietta standing behind Akatsuki gasped. Raynesia wore a pained expression.
"Soujirou-sama was using 'Over level' right, Nazuna-san?"
"Yeah. That's right."
"But, that won't work."
"Indeed."
In response to Rieze's query, the fox-ear lady full of adult charm, called Nazuna, answered.
"Despite it not working, why are you still seeking 'Over levels'?"
Rieze turned the conversation back to Akatsuki.
Akatsuki bit her lips.
She couldn't explain it well. Everyone must be thinking she was being willful for seeking 'Over level'. Even though her chest was full of regret, she was unable to think of any other explanation.
"Akatsuki-san."
At this point, her eyes met Rieze's.
The girl about Akatsuki's age stared at Akatsuki with a plain expression.
Akatsuki still couldn't believe she was a core member of a large guild. The lady known as Nazuna, Raynesia, even Henrietta all did their best interacting with others within their social group while fulfilling their duties.
Akatsuki made her decision. If she backed off now, she wouldn't improve. She could just do all she could, fail, and comfort herself by saying she tried her best. But there were battles she didn't want to lose, Akatsuki knew there were times like that in her life. No matter who she had to beg, no matter how pitiful she acted, there were still obstacles she wanted to overcome.
"I want to terminate that Murderer."
Akatsuki said with resolve, but her conversational skills were mediocre.
"Not just 'Over levels'. If you have any way of stopping that man, please tell me. Please bear with my willfulness this time."
"You think you can win?"
The question was asked by Nazuna in a lukewarm tone. The healer from West Wind Brigade who supported Soujirou 'till the very last moment. She was a Kannagi with long black hair and wore her Kimono sloppily. Akatsuki answered immediately.
"I don't know. But it won't end even if we defeat him… If we don't go to the extent of terminating him, it won't end. That's how I feel, we can't let this go on."
Akatsuki continued as if she left behind the frustration of being unable to convey her thoughts properly.
She hated her awkward self.
"If my lord were here, he would be able to do it… So, we have to do this."
Questioning eyes pierced Akatsuki.
They were wondering about the words 'If Shiroe were here'.
Even though she steeled herself, Akatsuki was still stammering and hesitant.
"… Right now, my lord is not in Akiba."
This was the secret Akatsuki and Log Horizon had been hiding.
Shiroe was not here. What they told D. D. D, being buried in endless work to run the Round Table Council, was a lie. Shiroe was probably doing things only Shiroe could accomplish. But she didn't know what it was. But Shiroe requested for Akatsuki to stay behind to guard the base.
That was why Akatsuki had to protect everyone from the crisis that Shiroe could manage.
That was her promise to him.
"Nazuna-san is asking whether you can win."
Facing Rieze's question, Akatsuki grew timid.
She couldn't promise such things.
There was no guarantee.
Please don't make her promise such things.
"… I can't do this alone. That's why I need others to help me. Please, help me."
This was an unbearable torment for Akatsuki. This way of saying things was akin to admitting she was still an incompetent child, as painful as cutting her skin. The curse-like sensation grew in her heart, lamenting the limited capability of her petite body.
But Shiroe had made a similar request in front of Akatsuki before.
Akatsuki was surprised by the warmth of Henrietta's hands which hugged her from behind. Nazuna smiled sheepishly without a word.
"I knew it would come to this when Souji said he would not meddle with this. There are so many stubborn people at Shiroe's side, birds of a feather do flock together."
"I can only give you half-credit. From the view of the training corps, there is a need for 3 more sessions of extra training. There are 8 sets of 'Over levels' uncovered by my guild… Permission has been granted from milord. They will be taught to Akatsuki."
The blonde girl announced gently.
"Me too, there is something I have to do."
The silent Raynesia nodded and said with a pale face.
"… Really, I didn't expect to act like a middle schooler after coming to Serdesia."
With the soft sigh of Rieze, the mini-raid party was formed.
For Akatsuki, this was a huge step forward.
4
Mikakage took small bites from her rice ball.
The take-out meal from Attachment Rice Ball House was popular in Rod Lab. Statistics weren't compiled properly, but the word from the grapevine suggested that half the lunches in this guild came from Attachment Rice Ball House.
Behind Mikakage was a young People of the Land girl wearing a triangle head scarf with excellent service. She was giving out rice balls along with take-out receipts. Her shoulder-length hair and variety of expressions made her look cute. Her name was Kaede.
Attachment Rice Ball House was operated by 20-odd People of the Land, but 5 of them were idolized by others because of their cuteness. They were so popular in Rod Lab that a fan club had been started. Kaede and Kuderya were vying for the top spot on the popularity listing, Mikakage recalled seeing her posters in the science building.
(No, now is not the time to think about all this. That's not important.)
Mikakage frowned and ate her rice ball.
She didn't have the leisure to think about the popularity rankings of female bento clerks.
Mikakage was one of the people causing this commotion. But she was not responsible for this. Mikakage was simply reporting the results of the survey and the possibility in the future, so she didn't need to take responsibility. But it still made her gloomy.
Mikakage offered the rice ball to her tiny plant fairy companion who was climbing up her thigh, the Alraune Allie. The Alraune held the rice ball with her round hands and took a big bite out of it. Mikakage looked around her after being healed emotionally by this soothing scene.
This semicircle conical shape hall was an auditorium.
About 80% of it was occupied.
At lunch time, the majority of the participants would take their meals from their bag and open the rice ball delivery packaging.
Normally, there should be more people going outside or to the cafeteria to eat, but because of the contents of the day, there were less people opting to do that.
There were meetings in the morning and the afternoon, but the morning meeting was closer to being a research presentation. It would probably be the same in the afternoon.
The guild members saw Rod Lab to be an organization like a college, so its meeting was akin to a graduate research presentation.
There was a heavy atmosphere in the auditorium.
It was not a bright mood. Everyone seemed deflated. But rather than simple disappointment, there was a feeling of excitement brewing in their hearts. You could see specialized groups discussing in low voices wherever you looked.
There were also groups with members of different specializations conversing together.
That's how shocking the announcement in the morning was.
"This is probably a good thing."
Her colleague Aomori commented with a mouthful of rice.
"Is this really a good thing?"
"Ermm… Maybe?"
Mikakage nodded vaguely and responded half-heartedly to Aomori.
It was hard to say it was a bad thing.
In the morning, Mikakage gave a presentation.
In Rod Lab, there were several presentation events every month. It was the same for the gourmet department Mikakage was in. But the presentation was usually held in the form of a food tasting session. Mikakage expended all her energy in the morning presentation.
As a Chef, Mikakage seldom did presentations in the form of hard data, and was not accustomed to long hours of academic discussion. This was a heavy burden on the Chef Mikakage, and she resented her colleagues who shoved this work to her in her heart.
She kicked Aomori away, stole a piece of fried chicken and fed it to Allie.
"What are you doing?"
"Allie~ is it good?"
The introverted Ellie did not reply, biting into the chicken. Mikakage relaxed as she watched her cute familiar.
Even Adventurers who didn't have the subclass of Chef were gradually able to cook.
That was the gist of Mikakage's report.
There were 2 ways of preparing food in this world right now.
The first was using the game menu. Using the ingredients listed in your crafting recipe you 'learned', you could cook using the game menu while standing beside cooking appliances. By choosing the things you wanted to cook from the game menu, it would be made.
No matter what cuisine it was, the cooking time was always 10 seconds.
There was a big advantage in using this method. The first was cooking time. Be it stewed or fermented food, they all took 10 seconds.
Another advantage was the amount of ingredients that were consumed. The maximum number of ingredients used for crafting items was 5, which included seasoning. Take potato and beef for instance, the ingredients were potato x3, beef x1, strong soy sauce x1. There were no onions or carrots, not even seasoning spices. But the finished products appeared to have these ingredients included, appearing out of nowhere.
Of course there was a major disadvantage. The crafted product, no matter what ingredients or recipe you used, it all tasted like soggy crackers. You couldn't really tell whether they had any taste. Its texture was like chewing a soft energy bar, unappetizing.
Another way was to cook the food manually by hand.
To cook using the methods of the old world. They were not restricted by the crafting menus and were totally dependent on the recipe the chef came up with. The ingredients to make the food were all necessary, and things wouldn't appear out of nowhere. The freshness of the ingredients would also affect the completeness of the cuisine. This meant the same logic as the real world applied.
But for both methods, the main difference from the real world was the need for the one cooking to have the Chef subclass. Another feature was the importance of the Chef level when making food through either method.
If you cooked using the menu, the chance of success in making dishes would be low if your Chef level did not meet the prerequisite.
For manual cooking, there was no way to tell what was the prerequisite level to make food, but complicated cooking involving steaming or frying would have a high chance of failure.
Failing in either method would result in the ingredients turning into burnt debris or mysterious paste, just like the game.
Adventurers without the Chef subclass would fail no matter what food they tried to make. No matter how skilled you were on Earth, you couldn't even make salads in this world. This was now common knowledge after the Catastrophe.
But this common knowledge was losing ground.
Even Adventurers without the Chef subclass were able to do simple seasoning or cut up ingredients. They were able to make salads now.
Why was that so? They were not sure.
They didn't know anything about the Catastrophe in the first place, the meaning behind this change was also unclear.
It was easy to tell that this would have huge repercussions.
Even Chefs like Mikakage were unable to tell when this change came about. The Round Table Council discovered the restriction of crafting items in the early days. That's how the Round Table Council was founded in the first place.
Rod Lab became a gathering of people with similar subclasses because of this. Mikakage was surrounded by other Chefs. Including Mikakage, all members had a very high level. It was common knowledge that meals were made by the Chef members of the guild or bought from other Chefs.
That's why no one was sure when this change came about.
According to the survey of Mikakage and the others in the gourmet department of Rod Lab, about half the Adventurers were able to make salads with a decent chance of success. Even those who failed commented that it felt different from before.
They were able to confirm the phenomenon was happening.
But they were unable to tell whether this was the result of the unconscious effort put in by individuals, the increase in capabilities of Adventurers, or a loophole in the game restrictions. They also determined this was happening to the People of the Land as well. Even the plant fairy Allie could do it too.
The frightening thing about this was that it was not only restricted to cooking.
For example, the Constructor subclass focused on construction, while furniture was made by Carpenters. These were fixed according to the rules of Elder Tales.
But
.
But after the presentation in the morning, other reports similar to Mikakage's department findings were starting to surface.
Construction and crafting were not techniques modern men were familiar with, unlike cooking, so there was a smaller sample size for them to go by. But from the few cases that had been confirmed, there was enough experimental data to shake the foundation of the theories they had built to this day.
Mikakage was not the only one who was shaken.
Be it Aomori or other friends in the auditorium, all the members of Rod Lab sensed some form of premonition.
Mikakage raised her gaze when she sensed the hall quieting down.
The members in the hall focused on Roderick standing on the podium. The people who were stuffing themselves with rice balls and sandwiches during lunch hour looked at Roderick with a puzzled expression.
Wearing a shabby white lab coat, the usually calm and relaxed Roderick addressed the hall while scratching his head with a tired look.
"Ah… Sorry for interrupting your lunch, but the long awaited experimental results are finally out. Starting from this afternoon, we will need to shift our focus, so let me say a few words. Lunch will be extended another hour. And by changing gears, I mean we will be shifting our focus to developing countermeasures."
Hearing this announcement caused an uproar in the auditorium.
Going as far as to research countermeasures, this was half the reason the people in the hall were shocked. The other half was because the cautious Roderick decided to play an active role in this matter.
"It's fine to listen to me while you eat. There are 3 things I need to announce. I will start with the Appearance Reset Potion and its difference from back in the game world. According to various case studies… or rather, based on all the cases, there have been reports that your personality will be affected by your body, but it seems that the voice will be affected too. It's not certain if this has something to do the vocal cords structure of the body, but Adventurers with female bodies will gradually sound more feminine. This is so even for players who are male in the old world."
The untimely sound of a pen dropping onto the floor marked the end of this statement.
The auditorium was so quiet that the pen dropping seemed so loud.
"Next is the studies on optics… Ah, regarding this, we have not confirmed the results yet. We can't be certain even if we measured it again. Even so, I think this is an established fact. The distance between Akiba and Mount Fuji is growing. Meaning the distances between any two places are getting larger."
This report was like a bolt out of the blue for all those present.
"Excuse me…"
A craftsman raised his hand timidly. Roderick acknowledged this question which was asked on everyone's behalf.
"Is this happening everywhere? Does this mean that Yamato… is expanding?"
"That's our hypothesis."
Roderick's response made everyone gasp.
"One last thing, this is the result of a study commissioned by an external source… The flavor text describing the background of an item, has been found to be effective for some tested items."
Mikakage was dumbstruck.
Flavor text had significant effects? What did this mean?
Take a magic weapon for example. 'Attack +5%, additional flame damage 180~216, STR +15'. This was the magical prowess of the weapon. Able to provide additional powers to normal weapons, strengthening them.
In contrast, flavor text would go something like this. 'The flaming spear is gifted to the excellent knights of the ancient Westelande army. The decorative flame dragon tooth is embedded with the hidden flame prowess. It is said that Logger Zari used this spear to inspire his men. ' The text described the features and origin of the item. You could read this information by appraising items, but it had no influence in the game, it just added some lore to let players immerse themselves in the world of Elder Tales.
Flavor text only existed to provide some entertainment for the masses.
They had no effects. That's why they were called flavor text. That's all.
But what if they were in effect?
Mikakage was not able to grasp what this might mean.
Because she didn't understand, she looked towards Aomori.
Aomori didn't know either and stared back at Mikakage.
Most of the people in the auditorium were looking at each other.
Roderick closed his eyes and let out a sigh. It was time to bring up the pressing issues, and the members were prepared for it.
"These are not independent phenomenon. It is not a coincidence for all these to be happening in this same period of time. This means we have to treat this as one big incident. Right now, this world is going through a major change. The Catastrophe has not ended. I propose we collate data on a grand scale."
Roderick's speech stunned every single member in the auditorium.
Most of the citizens of Akiba didn't know about this phenomenon yet.
5
Akatsuki and Raynesia sat side by side in the bustling office.
In front of them were Rieze and Henrietta. Many maids were walking around, busy with work, while Nazuna was eating a strawberry Daifuku lazily.
Akatsuki, who was brought back straight from the cathedral, was told to eat both breakfast and lunch together while they asked her for the details.
Akatsuki found it hard to explain the details and looked at Raynesia from time to time. Henrietta directed Raynesia to sit beside Akatsuki.
The luxurious carpet was fluffy enough for her to sit on her knees comfortably. Akatsuki had always lived in a Japanese home, so she was fine with sitting on her knees. But what about Raynesia? She looked uncomfortable as she did her best to imitate Akatsuki.
"I have a rough idea of the situation. The Murderer is a Person of the Land, one of the Kunie clan. That means his powers originate from the Moveable Armor. It is powered by the magic circle used to defend the city, giving him the strength of a Full Raid Boss."
Raynesia lowered her head when faced with Rieze's words.
It seemed like Raynesia had explained everything to the tea party participants.
Akatsuki was surprised.
People of the Land killing Adventurers.
Raynesia, who was panicking when she found out about this, should have been cowering in fear and trouble. But she was wearing a determined face as she looked at Rieze and Henrietta while sitting beside Akatsuki.
But that might be within expectation. This was the People of the Land princess whom Akatsuki wanted to help. She even rode here on a griffon to raise a volunteer army for the war of Sand Leaf.
"… If the public knew about this, the relationship between People of the Land and Adventurers might deteriorate. If distrust in the Kunie clan rises, it will fracture life in the city. Akatsuki is worried about this, and wants to resolve the issue, not kill the Murderer. Am I right?"
Akatsuki maintained her position and thought for a moment before nodding her head.
That was how her thoughts would sound like in words.
She still remembered her actions of taking off into the night without any plans. Akatsuki just wanted to convey to others that Raynesia was not at fault. If she could stop the Murderer, she would be able to express her feelings. No, she was rationalizing it this way after the fact, she really wasn't thinking back then, just acting on a whim. She was just throwing a tantrum at the world that didn't understand her and Raynesia.
She didn't want to express these thoughts into words, so Akatsuki just looked at Rieze in silence.
"I can understand how you feel. I don't think we can hide this matter for long, but to resolve this as soon as possible and suppress the commotion is the important thing."
"We already have quite a number of victims after all."
Nazuna took some sweet sake from her bag, interrupting Rieze's lecture.
"… Will West Wind Brigade expose this incident?"
"Erm, no. Soujirou is taking his hands off this. We won't expose this or seek revenge. There are definitely people in the guild who are against this, but Soujirou will think of something. That's the type of guild we are. I'm the one who cleans up the mess. But all this is dependent on what the two of them decide."
"Erm…"
"Let's not confirm this in a roundabout manner and lecture them directly."
Rieze and Henrietta sighed at Nazuna's suggestion.
They were not trying to ignore Nazuna, but wished that she would go through the process normally. But Nazuna didn't seem to care. She looked really lazy and didn't care about the gazes of others, showing off her snow-white cleavage supported by her chain mail. The way she was lying on the sofa looked more like a big cat instead of a fox.
She looked different without the tension of battle in the air. Akatsuki thought this was how Nazuna was when she was relaxed. Maybe that was her true self.
(But a real 'true self' doesn't exist…)
The Shiroe that patted Akatsuki's head was her real lord.
But the one hard at work reading complicated letters was also her true lord, the one coordinating fights on the battlefield was also the real lord.
It might pain her heart, but the one complimenting Minori and smiling at Maryele was also her real lord.
Raynesia beside her had lost her usual dreamy grace. She was not exhausted, just wearing a determined expression.
There were no complete lies in this world.
In this world that had become slightly wider and more colorful, Akatsuki understood this fact.
There were many truths in this world.
"Is that everything?"
Henrietta crossed her arms and said calmly to Akatsuki and Raynesia.
"You wanted to do everything yourself because of your ego. You already know the right thing to do is to discuss it over with everyone correct? Both of you, aren't you letting the blood rush to your head too much? Are you treating those around you like idiots?"
Henrietta's eyes were no longer mischievous.
It was a very serious expression.
Akatsuki had nothing to say. Henrietta was right.
It was fine at first. She could use the excuse that she went off with a head full of steam.
But she didn't have any excuses now since she had been hiding behind Shiroe's shadow all this while.
When things got out of hand, she didn't approach others to resolve the issue. Nyanta, Naotsugu, even the junior team's Minori and Tohya, she could have conversed more with them.
Akatsuki did support their activities, such as guarding them in the dark, providing ingredients, scouting the training grounds in advance. But she avoided moving or conversing with them, even though she had no reason to.
Because this was not her area of responsibility, she avoided it with excuses.
Akatsuki was in pain after others sensed this.
"How long do you want to keep at this alone? Are you still wishfully thinking that everything will be fine if Shiroe-sama is by your side?"
Akatsuki lowered her head while listening to the lecturing voice of Henrietta.
She had nothing to say. That was absolutely right.
She was overly reliant on her lord, so she became useless when her lord was not around. She couldn't even keep her promise with her lord. Even though Akatsuki was the only one he had asked this of.
"Did you intend to just be a guard when you came to this consulate?"
Sensing someone answering the query she wanted to ask, Akatsuki raised her head.
"Visiting the Water Maple Consulate, becoming part of the security regime is not the sole task of Akatsuki-chan. That's Rieze-san and my role as well."
Akatsuki's face turned red from shame and pain.
It was only natural if she thought about it. Raynesia was one of the most important women in Akiba. There was no way for Akatsuki to guard her alone. Raynesia's tea party was Shiroe's instruction. This was very obvious.
Thinking that 'Shiroe is depending on me' was such a lofty thought.
This pain and regret turned into tears.
But now was not the time for crying. Akatsuki definitely wanted to protect Raynesia. And not just as a guard protecting her life. That day, that moment, the girl shouldering the heavy burdens for the People of the Land, she should be watching over her noble dream.
"Akatsuki-san is, ermmm… Eh."
Raynesia who found it hard to interject spoke.
But she was stopped by Rieze.
"I want to borrow your strength. I have to."
Akatsuki struggled to form her words.
"Ah, as promised, Rieze-san and I will help. But who are you saying these words to?"
This was a hard question for Akatsuki.
Who were these words for? For Henrietta and Rieze? Or Nazuna? Or for Mikakage and the others who were not around?
Whoever it was for. She was asking for their aid. Did she have the right to do that?
But, there was definitely something here.
Just that Akatsuki was unable to find the right words to describe this gift.
Akatsuki definitely noticed in that faded dream.
The thing that overflowed in the light of dawn tormented Akatsuki.
She was holding on to Shiroe's coat, but her hands were empty when she woke.
She couldn't bring it back from the dream.
There was a sense of frustration and unhappiness in her heart.
The words she was supposed to have were truly not coming.
It was right here in her chest but shechest but she was unable to tell everyone.
Akatsuki felt like tearing her chest open in order to share her wish and thoughts with everyone.
But that was not something they could see if she opened her chest.
Blaming her own incompetence, Akatsuki's expression became twisted and tears started to fall.
"Akatsuki-san is my friend!"
Raynesia shook off Rieze's restraint and said with anger, shocking Akatsuki.
It filled a hole in Akatsuki's heart.
They were words that were lost because she failed to hold on to them, the key to Akatsuki's closed-off heart.
This sentence that she had never expected the silver-haired princess to say, Akatsuki felt warmth and strength returning to her.
"Raynesia is working hard. That's why I want to help. Everyone… please help, everyone. Ermm… because we are friends…"
She was unable to speak properly.
She was full of embarrassment and helplessness.
But she had the resolve to see this through.
In order to break through this situation she was unhappy with, Akatsuki took a half step forward.
Just a tiny step.
The word 'friend' came out of her mouth along with her hesitation.
Akatsuki had come to understand this in her heart.
Raynesia who seemed to be smiling from a faraway place was real, the Raynesia who was seething in anger beside Akatsuki was also real. The Henrietta who treated Akatsuki like a toy was real, but so was the Henrietta lecturing her. Rieze who did in-depth research on the clothing of the People of the Land was real and so was the Rieze who commanded the troops in battle.
If she looked carefully, there were many people who cared about Akatsuki around her.
Akatsuki was not inferior or mediocre. The Akatsuki who couldn't forgive herself was also the real Akatsuki.
There were so many people concerned about the Akatsuki who fell to the blade of the Murderer.
She was starting to understand why Rieze referred to her as a middle schooler. She was at the middle school level after all. To only learn all this now, Akatsuki thought she was worse than Minori. But she did not panic. It was correct to say that she was not as good as Minori. And the people worrying about her were right in front of her eyes.
"I understand. Let's start the strategy session. In order to end this problem. I already have permission from the Round Table Council to impose a curfew. Let's subdue the Murderer 3 nights from now."
Rieze's words calmed Akatsuki. She would get it right this time.
6
Henrietta looked out at the streets from the top of the stairs.
Although most of the leaves had fallen from the trees, there were still some evergreen trees on the streets. The greenery scattered amongst the grey ruins looked pleasing to the eyes. Crescent Moon Alliance was based in this guild building, so she was used to the scenery, just that the elevation was different.
The guild hall of the Crescent Moon Alliance was on the fifth floor. This corridor was on the tenth floor. They were both on the upper levels of the guild building, but her destination right now was the Round Table conference room.
Henrietta kept walking. With the lift just a decoration in this world, it was a pain to climb all these stairs. But with the durable body of Adventurers, it was not an issue, they could even make round trips ferrying wooden crates without breaking a sweat.
The staircase revealing its concrete base seemed to be cold, but it was not a problem for Henrietta as she reached her destination floor.
Henrietta greeted the People of the Land girl she was acquainted with and entered the secretariat. This was the core of the Round Table Council. The Round Table Council referred to the governing organization based on its 11 founding guilds, while the secretariat was where the administrative work was done.
It would be unnatural for the 11 guilds setting the policies of Akiba to not have a central base of operations… Such an opinion was gaining strength among the public, so each of the 11 guilds set up an office in the secretariat. But most of the 11 guilds were all major guilds big enough to run Akiba by themselves, so their guild master usually had an office in their own guild base, doing all sorts of administrative work in their private offices. The mid-size guild Crescent Moon Alliance also had a private office for their guild master Maryele, decorated according to her preferences.
That was why the offices in the secretariat were run by people working on shift, serving as a communications base. Unfortunately, Crescent Moon Alliance did not have the manpower to be on duty at all times, so Henrietta would check in periodically to handle the letters and paperwork.
There were many People of the Land working in the secretariat.
They were not only hired to handle the menial tasks, but also to test the possibility of Adventurers working alongside People of the Land. They might be tasked to handle liaisons in the future, but that concept had not been put into action yet. The People of the Land were busy enough without the extra duties, handling the coordination and notification of hundreds of guilds.
Henrietta headed for the office after greeting them, and screamed softly when she arrived. The documents had once again piled into a mountain on the desk. She had gotten used to it, but she still felt dejected looking at this. Crescent Moon Alliance who had been assigned lesser work was already in such a state, Henrietta didn't want to imagine how the other guilds must be like.
Henrietta sorted the papers deftly, putting them in the wooden crate she brought. Their numbers were great, but most of them were reports and acknowledgement notices. Those that didn't need to be brought back to the guild hall were signed and sorted into the permitted box.
She fell into her office work routine and reminisced over the events of the past few days.
Things progressed speedily after that day.
Rieze's command was excellent, but the other participants were also a match for her. If you thought about it, Nazuna, Kyouko, and Azuki might be girls, but they took part in major raids before the Catastrophe, so moving as a team should be a piece of cake for them.
Raynesia's living room was now the temporary operational base, Rieze had moved a table from her guild to the room. It was also a hive of activities over there, matching the hectic pace of the secretariat. Large amounts of notes containing various data overflowed during the editing and amendment process. The Adventurers like Henrietta who lived on modern earth without papers got a headache just looking at this scene.
The members called this anti-murderer mission 'Operation Capture' or 'Operation Retake'. The base was set in Raynesia's place, so the members were limited to the female tea party participants. Henrietta and Maryele were also a part of this.
There were 2 central figures, Akatsuki and Raynesia. Not only were the 2 of them not good at this, they were not suitable as well. They were experiencing all of this for the first time, making them nervous and uncomfortable. As the initiators, the 2 of them were at the core of all this, but they were not reliable in group maneuvers. That was why Rieze and Henrietta would be managing in their stead.
That was the only way.
Henrietta, who was frustrated with all the paperwork, leaned back in her leather chair and stared at the ceiling. Unless they were looking for her, only members of Crescent Moon Alliance would enter the office, so she was assuming a more relaxed position than usual.
In her guild, the lively members headed by Maryele were all running about, so she couldn't think in peace. Henrietta adjusted her glasses gently and sighed as she took out a card from her card holder.
A plain card with just a few simple words written on it.
This card was linked to a bank account.
This card represented the only bank in Elder Tales, that was situated on the first floor of this guild building. It was an ATM card that didn't exist in Elder Tales before.
Elder Tales was a game before the Catastrophe. The bank here was not the same as the old world's, it was a non-profit organization that stored the money and items of players. No, it was not even a non-profit organization, it was simply a game function.
In the game, the moment the character was born, meaning when you started playing, an account would be set up automatically for you. It was the same with guilds, an account was given the moment it was founded. This was all done by default, there was no need to spend time applying for an account, but you couldn't oppose it being created for you either. That's how the setting for bank accounts was. The bank didn't provide statements of accounts or ATM cards. Because the game was able to identify the users and manage the account accurately without needing all this.
But it was different for the card in front of her.
This was one of the cards that was planned for 3 representatives from the Round Table Council to utilize. It represented a certain bank account that didn't belong to a person or a guild. It held potential beyond the imagination of the Adventurers of Yamato.
"… This is why I was hoping it would be peaceful during this period of time."
Henrietta spun the card on top of her finger and closed her eyes.
She had already felt that Shiroe was not in Akiba. Although she was not informed outright, Shiroe entrusting this card to her… it was a clear sign.
This card was meaningless right now. Because there was no money in this account and there were no transactions linked to it. It was just an account set up in advance.
But its potential in the future was bright.
Henrietta understood this point. She shivered just at the thought of how this card might be used.
They had not publicly disclosed the existence of this card because the card was still meaningless right now. That was to say it was still in the experimental phase, it was not the time to announce it yet. That's what Henrietta heard about this. On the other hand, Henrietta sensed that this was not the whole truth.
Shiroe was probably wary of information leaks if they announced it prematurely.
Akatsuki hiding Shiroe's absence was also proof of this.
Krusty, Shiroe, Michitaka, and the others were preparing for 'problems that might arise in the future', and the existence of enemies was one of them. Unfortunately, they had to be wary of enemies from within the Round Table Council itself.
Henrietta could feel Plant hwyaden looking towards Akiba from the west. The small but infamous 'Odyssey' faction was also fearsome.
(Believing they can return to earth after clocking enough deaths…)
Henrietta sighed at their absurd idea. These troubles were too much for an accountant from a mid-sized guild to bear, there was no way she could handle it. But who would shoulder this responsibility? Just leaving everything to Shiroe was easy to say, but was that right? Shiroe was even younger than Henrietta.
(Right, that person who is darker than black is younger than me. Really.)
Shiroe was probably not interested in Henrietta as an individual. All the things he did were not for Henrietta's sake. Henrietta couldn't just assume Shiroe could shoulder all this and leave him alone, that would be abandoning him.
That was why she had to take part in the hunt for the Murderer. Henrietta was sure of it.
Rieze would direct the battle aspect, so Henrietta would help from another angle. She would provide the stubborn Shiroe with covering fire. Henrietta thought it would be nice to lend him a hand.
After dancing at the ball in the Ancient Palace of Eternal Ice with Shiroe, Henrietta felt fine with helping him. Aiding Shiroe and Akatsuki from the dark suited Henrietta's personality well.
Rieze was training the teamwork and discipline of Akatsuki and the other battle members.
Before dusk was 'Over level' training. There were several other volunteers besides Akatsuki taking part, so information pertaining to 'Over levels' was becoming more commonplace.
After dinner and their conference, Akatsuki, Rieze, and the others would spread out in Akiba for surveillance, hunting for the Murderer.
After listening to the reports of Akatsuki and Nazuna, Rieze thought the Murderer would not resurface in the next few days. Henrietta felt the same, and was thankful for this window of time. The Murderer who suffered the fierce attacks of Soujirou and Akatsuki had taken a huge amount of damage, and would need time to recuperate. Since he was not an Adventurer, he would need more than one night.
Henrietta negotiated with the Round Table Council to impose a night curfew in Akiba.
This was the plan they came up with after discussing with Rieze to prevent more victims and lure the Murderer out. Akatsuki and the others on guard duty would patrol till dawn and sleep in the morning.
Now was also the time for Henrietta to work.
Henrietta listed the people she needed to convince and got up. She dumped everything on the desk into the wooden crate without sorting it and contacted Hien through telepathy.
The first was Michitaka and Charasin, followed by members in the 11 guilds. This task could become a cover for Shiroe's plan too. Henrietta was not sure how much of this was predicted by Shiroe, and smiled with a mischievous feeling.
"Not everything will go as Shiroe planned, especially… the resolve of the ladies."
