Tuesday...it was a long day. It was late at night, but when I logged in, it was Leaping.

Then I received a report from the Adventurer's Guild that the jade steel had arrived. Later, I received word from Hephaistos that Bran's shield was completed. No naming this time. Appraisal.

Shield of Star Frost: Rare Level 9 Shield Quality A
Weight: 40 Endurance Value: 300 Defense Value: 125
Additional effects: starlight, star blessing, protection, shock absorption
The shield that contains the power of the star. A shield that prevents all kinds of abnormalities, answers the wishes of the user to protect and is said to work miracles. It is a powerful shield, so it chooses the user.

It looks like that recoil wasn't due to the magic greatsword, but to the star crystal stone. How bad is this material? Bran immediately takes it in his hand to see how comfortable it is to use.

''It's great...I'll show you that this will block any attack!

'It was worth the effort. But please don't be as reckless as Lily, okay?　My blood ran cold when I saw Estoracion with only a few endurance values left.

Oh, I saw that... no, I'll have to get it repaired, so I'll show it to you eventually.

By the way, Lily was sitting upright and pissed off at Ms. Setia the whole time.

...and I'm safe, right? I could have stopped it! Then Lily and Setia come in. Is it my imagination that Lily's eyes are empty?

Mr. Tact?　May I speak with you about Estoracion?

'I'm sorry...this is an emergency. I'll get to the bottom of this later, but not now.

What's going on?

The desert town of Nefer has been attacked by a monster... probably on purpose.

This surprised Setia, Bran and Hephaistos.

'Is it true?'

I'm sure. I'm going to go check it out now. Lilly, let's go.

'Uh-huh!　Go!

Then Setia and Brann ran for office.

'We need to see if it's true, so please take them with you.

I don't trust you. But I'll give you credit.

"Lord. I do too.

'No Bran, no. I understand your desire to use your new weapon, but I can't let you go in Angel's state.

It could start off with a battle at the worst possible time.

"...Okay.

Good boy. I asked Hephaistos to make the Aeon's ice sword. Since it's the first material and it's a magic sword, after discussing it with Setia, she said it will take five days.

The members of the team are Lily, Setia, Koibito, Noah and Sinsu. I'm sure they're all curious about it.

When we arrived at Nefer, the enemy was already gone, and we found the city in tatters. No do-overs... d*mn it!

Tact...

"...it's all right. What's done is done. We'll do what we can for now.

I looked around town and was approached. It's Caro.

'Mr. Tact!　I'm glad... you're safe.

I'm glad you're okay, Mr. Caro.

Yes... but my daughter... they took her...

I knew it was going to be like this. If only I hadn't been forced to log out... No, I have to change my mind now. Then Karo-san asks me to do a favor for you.

"Tact-dono!　In light of your strength, I have a favor to ask of you!　Please help my daughter!　We'll pay you whatever you want.

There has been a request for the rescue of the daughter of the caravan.

Requested Quest "Rescue the Caravan's Daughter": difficulty level B-.
Reward: The caravan holds.
Rescue Najum, Karo's daughter, from the bandits.

The content is covered... it seems that there are various routes to the quest I'm working on. However, since this is my own personal request, there are no requirements for the guild's request. Anyway, I'll have to take the quest and ask for information.

'Keep your head up. I'm not going to leave it at that. Do you have any information on them?

"I don't know... they just came out of nowhere and kidnapped my daughter and her children. We tried to resist, but they threw a strange smoking ball at us and we couldn't move.

A paralyzing smokeball? No, it's not...

Did Mr. Karo see the killer by any chance?

Yes, sir. It was a group of people dressed in black...I heard that they turned invisible and ran away, which is either false or true. Later, it seems that there were several people controlling the monsters that attacked them.

An invisibility cloak and a paralyzing smokeball... that's very thorough. Furthermore, it was confirmed that there was an enemy controlling the chimeras.

Thank you for telling us. We don't know where they are, do we?

'Yes...I've been asking around too, trying to find out where my daughter is, but...'

I'll see what I can find out.

Please...I'll stick with it.

I'm going to leave Mr. Karo and I'm going to find someone else. If he has information, he's the only one who has it.

And I found him... the Demon Jin of the lamp is standing where I first met him. It's as if he's waiting for me.

''What is it... that guy?''

Setia dons it. Lily and the others are also alarmed. I knew you'd detect that dangerous feeling, right?

'It's okay... let me talk to you both.

I approach Jin alone.

"...you're here.

I knew you were waiting for me.

'Yeah... because they took that Aladdin guy. We'll have to do this.

I thought they took Aladdin, too.

You don't blame me?

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to waste my time doing that.

Waste of time...sure.

'I know where Aladdin is, but right now I don't. He must be in some nasty wards.

You don't know where his hideout is?

'I don't know, I hate to say it. What I do know is that Aladdin is alive and my lamp is in the hands of the enemy.

The magic lamp? Why would he go after the lamp when the djinn, the lamp's demon god, is here? But now you know why Aladdin was kidnapped.

You don't think that's what the lamp was for when it went after Aladdin?

'I even went out of my way to take it away. It's an abomination.

You don't think he's kidnapping kids because he's looking for Aladdin? No, that's still weird. That's not a good reason to use a slave collar.

Now what to do...

"...what happens to Aladdin, the kidnapped children and the subhumans...is up to you.

So... it's up to me? That's not pressure... can I handle this? But I'm not looking for... oh.

Oh!

That's right! I have an item that can help you find someone. The item that led me to the hidden Fenist... the Weathertop.

"Hm. Have you seen... the enemy's strength?

"Oh...I'm gonna ask you no, but will you join the fight?

'I can't do that... the only time I fight is when Aladdin is involved. I'm still a demon.

Impossible....but no matter how much it's for Aladdin's sake, I don't know of any demon god who would give me a hint.

'...What. You're trying to tell me something.

I'm fine.

"Don't make that Aladdinian grin!

I'm pissed... but it makes me feel better... now I can sleep better.

Okay?　Aladdin and the others should be safe by tomorrow. You have until then to decide.

A time limit has been added to the quests. Excellent.

"Oh. I'll decide what you want.

Hmm.

I come back and Lily and the others look at me.

'Tact... you seem different from before.

'...Do you prefer someone like that guy?

No, you don't, do you?　Takuto Onion.

...suspicious.

What are you talking about...these kids. Then Sins smacks me on the head.

'I think it's possible,'

No!

'We're leaving, don't be stupid.

Are you sure?　Tact.

Yeah. Yeah. We have an idea of where the enemy camp is. We'll take the shot tonight.

Lily and the others, all nodded at that. Then they sent an email to the guild members and logged out.

'To anyone who can get into the Sandwall Desert this evening. I need help with a tricky quest.

If you don't bother to put a player limit on the guild's quest requirements, feel free to rely on us all. The difficulty of the quest is probably too much for us to handle on our own.