Miss Cayna seems to be having fun.
Indeed.
What's wrong?
Are you saying we should head back right away?
Let's hurry.
Huh?
What's wrong, Miss Cayna?
There's a possibility something bad is going on at the royal capital.
Huh?
Summoning Magic!
Therwolf!
Get on!
What the heck is that?
A Battle, a Victory, a Conversation, and Information
Run away!
You two go help get the citizens to safety.
Yes, sir.
What are you gonna do?
What else?
I'm gonna pulverize it!
But that's an Event Monster!
To defeat it, we'd probably need at least 200 players who are at level 300 or above.
Yet you're gonna fight it?
I'm the leader of the knights!
I take pride in being one of the knights who protect this kingdom!
If I don't fight now, when will I?
You...
Big Brother! Kartatz!
Mai-Mai, Lopus.
Thank goodness you're safe.
Are the students at the Academy all right?
I've had them all take shelter. What about the rest of the citizens?
The king and premier dispatched the knights. They're heading to them right now.
I'm sorry. I had no idea I'd end up making that thing.
So that monster's your doing?
It was an accident!
Hold on a sec. You can explain later. We have to do something about that thing.
Well, this ain't good. That thing's definitely way stronger than us.
Stop thinking, start acting.
We're going to at least get that thing's attention, Kartatz.
Hold on, Little Sister.
If we get that thing's attention,
it's probably going to go after the thing that's right behind us.
Oh, the castle...
Th-Then what are we supposed to do?
Should we just sit here twiddling our thumbs as that thing destroys the city?
Cohral?
I'll hang with you. I don't mind stupid suicide attacks.
Thanks. I owe you one!
I'll buy you a drink once all this is over.
Sounds great. A drink that's not on my dime tastes way better!
Let's go!
Yeah!
That thing's giant! Let's knock it on the head and flip it backwards!
Yeah, I know!
Weapon Skill: Double Crush!
Weapon Skill: Pike Ring Attack!
Who was that?
One of them is the leader of the knights.
I don't know who the other one is.
Damn it! How the hell are we supposed to predict that?
Hey, Cohral! You alive?
Yeah, I'm alive...
Get a hold of yourself.
M-Must be nice being over level 400...
I know I've got less than 20% of my HP left.
If you can't deal, then just rest. I'll take care of things.
You've gotta be kidding me.
That thing barely lost any HP from our attacks.
Even though I basically risked my life on that attack.
Guess we're just gonna have to charge it again.
Yeah...
Even though it may only end in a draw at best!
What the?!
What was that?
Thank goodness.
Hoo boy. Looks like we're saved.
What?
Wh-What's going on?
It means that this threat is no longer a threat.
The highest-level lightning and flame magic...
Yeah. Those spells were definitely cast by a player.
By another player?
Yeah.
Man... Who the heck activated an Event Monster?
I see. So that's what's going on.
You okay?
To think that an Event Monster was placed in this riverbank.
The items that activated it are oksorre root, logga eyes,
and nweve tongue combined into a liquid.
So they just got "lucky" when they combined all those rare ingredients.
I see. So we're dealing with a bunch of coincidences.
Looks like the girlie over there can see it, too.
Yeah, the mother of the High Priest with the mother complex.
Mai-Mai.
Y-Yes! What is it, Mother?
Seal off this area so no one can set foot in it.
If something like that happens again...
Wh-What are you going to do if it does happen again?
To ensure that thing doesn't fall into the wrong hands,
I'm going to blast the whole riverbank into the river.
Understood! I will set up a barrier,
and anyone who comes near it will be thrown into a cell immediately.
We should probably get going, Your Highness. Your father is worried.
I am very sorry. I was careless.
I-I'm sorry...
The next time you want a bodyguard,
make sure you bring a reward and go through the Adventurers' Guild.
What?! You're going to charge us?
I accepted this time for Lonti's sake,
but I'm not kidnapping a princess for a second time.
You're rather calculating. Impressive, Miss Cayna.
I'd prefer to get money from Agaido.
Thank you for everything.
Mother Dearest.
Here.
Isn't this...
Orichalcum? Why are you giving it to me?
That monster earlier dropped it.
The two who fought the monster said they didn't want it,
so it's being offered to you.
We don't have the skills to work with that,
so we figured you could have it, since you defeated that thing.
Really? Then I'll make you something.
Huh? For me?
I mean, I have plenty of weapons.
You can have it as thanks for fighting that monster.
You don't seem to have a sword. Do you want one?
S-Sure. Okay, thanks.
Also, the leader of the knights and I want to talk to you about something.
Would we be able to meet up tomorrow?
Sure. Then let's meet at the colosseum at noon.
All right.
Okay, I'll be going now.
Item Box
Arcal Staff
Fire Lizard Sword
High Potion
Candy
Lantern
Fairy King Robe
Hey, Kartatz. Take me to this Inaba's Black Rabbit place.
The what?
Miss Cayna, it's The White-Tailed Black Rabbit.
Oh, was it?
Why do you wanna go there?
I took on a quest to get some horned bear meat.
I've got the meat, so I wanted to deliver it to them.
Also, why was the princess with you?
Um... Just because?
Really, Mum?
Cohral! Hit 'em with all you've got!
All right! I was really lonely!
Allow me to properly introduce myself.
I am Shining Saber.
I'm level 427.
I'm currently the leader of the knights in Felskeilo,
but I was originally the sub-leader of the Silver Moon Horsemen Guild.
Wait, the Silver Moon Horsemen Guild?
You mean Kyotaro's guild?!
You knew our guild master?
Yeah, uh, sort of.
I also belonged to the same guild.
I'm Cohral, and I'm level 392.
I'm Cayna. I belong to the guild Cream Cheese.
Okay, yeah. They've definitely heard about my guild.
Isn't Cream Cheese
the guild where all the members are OP and have Game Master credentials?
Wait, wait.
You knew our guild master, you're a high elf, and you belong to Cream Cheese?!
Doesn't that mean you're... the Silver Ring Witch?!
Correct, my good sir.
Arcal Staff
Item Box
Arcal Staff
Wait, an Arcal Staff? What are you gonna do with that?
I hate that dishonorable Silver Ring whatever name.
If you call me that again...
I'll crush you without warning.
All right, all right! Stop looking at us like that!
Well, whatever.
Oh, yeah. Cohral...
The thing I promised you yesterday...
Here you go.
Wow, this is pretty impressive. Let's see those stats...
What the hell is this?!
Ooh, what? What'd you get?
Valhalla?! That's, like, the best sword you can get!
I just happened to have some diamond and corundum on me,
so I just made the best thing I could with what I had on hand.
This goes way beyond "the best thing you could make"!
Heh.
Man, I'm so friggin' jealous!
Hey, don't you have another one?
You already have a pretty impressive weapon.
This is just issued to the knights!
I'd love to make you something, but I don't have the materials.
F-Fine, I guess I'll give up on that,
but we'd like to exchange some information.
I've only been in this world for about three years.
I've been here ten.
I've only been here about two months.
Hey, why did Leadale end service?
Why?
Well, I ended up dying IRL while playing the game, so I have no idea what happened.
Huh, I see.
Wait, you're a ghost?!
Who are you calling a ghost? Rude.
Oh, I get it.
There was a rumor going around that someone died while playing the game.
That must've been you, huh?
Wait, what? That became a rumor?
Yeah. About six months after that rumor started going around, Leadale ended service.
I'm not sure if it actually has to do with the fact that you died, though.
I see. I guess I'll just have to get more details
when my Li'l Fairy's able to actually speak.
Li'l... Fairy?
The hell is that?!
I guess players can see her.
Aw, come on out, Li'l Fairy. Wittle fairy...
You're creepy, dude.
This fairy is something that the player Opuskettenshultheimer left behind for me.
Opus? Never heard of him.
Otherwise known as Leadale's Kongming.
Ugh, that dude.
You've heard of him?
A whole damn log came rolling down, and as soon as I dodged that,
one of the ropes dangling from it snagged my leg,
and I got dragged to the edge of a ravine.
Then he just kicked me into it, and I died.
You, too?!
We both share the same pain!
What kind of bit is this?
Okay, we done playing games?
Let's hurry up and get these friend requests over with.
S-Sure...
Friend
Cohral
Human
Blue Kingdom of Aulzelie
You've received a friend request from Cohral. Will you accept?
Now we can contact each other wherever we are.
Oh, yeah. If you know anything about the Guardian Towers, I'd love to hear it.
Well...
I know. Hey, Cayna.
Would you be willing to trade some skills for info on the Guardian Towers?
Skills? Like what?
Recovery magic.
You don't have any?
I've never seen a player not have that, considering you get it doing a simple event.
Shut up.
Well, sure. As long as the info is decent.
Hell yeah!
What are you, a kid?
I'm guessing you know something.
I heard someone saw a palace in the middle of the sea right by this fishing village.
That's gotta be some decent info, right?
If it's in the sea, I guess it might be Liothek's place.
Hey!
Oh, right. I'll give you recovery magic.
Here's Simple Substance Recovery Dewl.
Install!
Doot-do-do! Now I've got recovery magic! Thanks!
You don't seem too happy to hear it's in the sea. Can you not swim?
Well, actually, yeah.
But I can figure that out with magic, so that's fine.
But out of the Skill Masters,
Liothek loved to collect creepily cute and downright grotesque things.
Yikes...
I was just imagining what kind of creepy crawlies I might find and got depressed.
Whoops, I gotta get back to the castle. Cayna, contact me if you need anything.
Same here. Thanks.
See you again at the Guild.
Yeah, see you.
Hey, wanna trade me your Valhalla for my sword?
Like hell I will.
They seem pretty close. I'm jealous.
Aw, are you consoling me? Thanks.
Incoming from behind.
H-Huh?
Skargo?!
Whoopsie. Y-You okay?
That was a little late.
Are you safe, Mother Dearest?
Huh?
I heard you were having a rendezvous with some men, so I, Skargo,
was ready to lay down my life to rescue you!
Uh, Skargo...
What did those men threaten you with?!
Not to mention! Ah! Not to mention!
One of them was the leader of the knights!
I will never let a scoundrel like that have my mother dearest's hand!
Curse you, Shining Saber!
How dare you ignore all the other ladies
and try to lay your mitts on my mother dearest?!
And you have the nerve to call yourself a kni— Mother Dearest?
Yes?
Wh-What do you intend to do with that Arcal Staff you're holding up?
Well, what comes up must come down.
I can't shake the feeling that I happen to be right below it.
What a coincidence. But I think it'll actually quiet things down, so it's sorta perfect.
I'm so sorry!
As long as you understand.
Huh? You're not going to hit me?
Has something happened, Mother Dearest?
No, not really.
Well, I'm gonna go now. Make sure you actually do your job.
O-Of course. Oh, and Mother Dearest...
I just obtained some excellent tea. Will you join me for some?
Well, I guess one cup wouldn't hurt.
It looks like he's absolutely oblivious to how the princess feels about him.
Mye's got a long road ahead of her.
What? You're leaving on another journey?
Yeah. I need to look for the Palace of the Dragon King.
Did you hear that the knights of both Felskeilo and Helshper
were going to work together to take care of the bandits?
Yes.
Apparently, they're leaving in two days,
so I was going to ask if I could travel with them for part of the way.
Say, Mother. Why don't you settle down somewhere?
Settle down?
You can't keep wandering around forever.
Settle down... Settle down, huh? That might be a good idea.
If I'm gonna live somewhere, though, it's gotta be that village.
Yo, yo, yo. It's been forever.
You really do love to leave a guardian hanging.
I guess you're telling me that you don't want any MP.
Of course I do. Man, you're sadistic, Master.
Why do you keep talking like that?
Here, have some MP.
Man, I feel alive again. That hit the spot.
Please don't sound like some old guy relaxing in the bath.
Oh, hey. Do you know what happened to this world 200 years ago?
I only know what I heard from the other guardians,
but basically,
all I know is that most of the masters said goodbye to their guardians.
Hm, well, yeah... There was no helping that.
Hey, Master. Don't leave me hanging again.
Don't worry. I'll keep coming by every now and then.
Probably.
Huh?
Hup... Hup!
There we go.
Miss!
Have you been well, Lytt?
Yeah!