13-013
The heat of the party had cooled completely.
Even though it was early summer, the night breeze was cool and strong enough to make the hem of my tunic flutter.
A shadow of clouds swept over the ground.
The moon is so bright that the shadows are created even in the middle of the night. Shiroe follows the contrast between the shadows and the moonlight as she walks the streets of Akiba past midnight.
There was no destination in sight.
It's like escaping from an obscure, black feeling. Or as if to make sure. Shiroe didn't understand his own emotions.
It felt as if there was a heavy, enormous mass in his chest. Not like the ocean at night, and not that fresh, but a sluggish, dark, unidentifiable mass that seemed to be made of coal tar, too dark to grasp. The energy it possesses is huge, but it is not going anywhere, it is just there.
(...........................it's just there.
Shiroe knows this.
This is an unavoidable emotion.
Of course there are bad people. The Guild of Hameln can't be called a good guild. If the opportunity presented itself, Shiroe would be willing to do what Brigantia did, even if it meant getting into a fight.
But even if the Hameln is evil, it's still a minor villain. The current situation in Akiba's town is not entirely due to the Hamelung. Many things, many "uncontrollable" things came together to create the current atmosphere in Akiba. I'm feeling a sense of helplessness about that atmosphere.
And if she only takes out her feelings on Hameln, Shiroe knows that it's just taking it out on her.
I'm sure you're not the only one.
It's not cool to take it out on someone.
He doesn't want to take a hit just for his own exhilaration.
That's why Shiroe is unable to expose the blackness inside her. It's as ugly to expose the blackness in Shiroe as it is to the Hamermen.
(But if that's the case.)
If that's the case, Shiroe has nowhere to put his feelings.
If Hamelin is the lesser evil, so be it.
Then who is the greater evil?
Is it the fault of the major fighting guilds that have a sneaking suspicion of how the EXP pots are supplied, but have overlooked them in order to expand their own power?
Is it the fault of these new players who know they are being exploited, but continue to be under the spell of being vulnerable and having someone else protect them?
Is it the fault of small and medium-sized guilds that understand the inequality between guilds and have rallied to break it down, but are too caught up in their own interests to work together, or are capable of nothing but skirmishes?
Is it the fault of all those players who know the atmosphere in the city is getting worse, but decide to sit on the sidelines and sit on the sidelines and pretend to be irresponsible third parties?
--That's bad.
It's bad, all of us.
But that evil is a small one, and it's almost always a little bit of stupidity or selfishness. No one is the "mastermind" behind all the evil.
There is no evil that can solve all of our problems by defeating someone. It's not done so conveniently and easily.
It's all a little bit distorted, and it's just frustrating.
And in the midst of the distortion, Shiroe himself is there. In Akiba's increasingly stifling, snarky order, I have more levels and equipment than the majority of Akiba's inhabitants, yet I'm still doing nothing in this way. I was fully aware of the situation, but I was still overlooking it at this moment.
It's no different than the "indifferent city dwellers" that Shiroe is frustrated with. The fact that the people you know are in trouble makes it even worse.
I'm sure that Marielle was unsuccessful, but she was able to get the guild federation out of the way. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.
It's not just the small and medium-sized guilds that can't do anything but skirmish," he said.
(I'm not cool. )
Before I knew it, I had reached the bridge. An old western bridge, stone and mossy, hung over the river of Kanda. Leaning against the parapet, the scent of the water and the sound of its swaying spread through the moonlight shadows.
So what should I do?
Shiroe doesn't need to consciously work on these feelings, but she does. It was part of Shiroe's character that she had to think when given a problem to solve, and part of the "role" she had taken on during the Prodigal's Tea Party.
The storylines are built up and then discarded.
At Shiroe's right hand are the red card soldiers. On Shiroe's left hand, the soldiers in black playing cards. They intersect and play the sound of logic with the spear of denial and the sword of affirmation. Meaningless facts are weeded out, possibilities are examined, and reasoning flows away into the river of night.
There is no answer. There is no way to answer it. We know from the beginning that there is no convenient answer. Shiroe had a handicap that was too great for him to begin with. Moreover, it is a handicap that she willingly carried.
(It's presumptuous to even think of a handicap. It's just a fluke. ...I was just running away from it. I'm a solo player because that's what I wanted to do.
I wonder what she would have said. Shiroe raises her gaze from the river's surface to the moon. The pure white moon lit up the pre-dawn streets of Akiba with a sheen like unwashed silk.
(He was a bold man.... And he wasn't cowardly or unattached like me.)
I think he would have opened his mouth wide and laughed and solved everything with the force of a typhoon. Or he would have gotten tired of it all and thrown the streets of Akiba out of business.
What makes it more realistic is that after he did the things he wanted to say and do as he pleased, he would have said "I'll figure out a way to clean up afterwards, White! It's fine, so! What's your problem? No, you don't! White, you're a genius, why don't you just go ahead and do it? And would it be a line of homework?
Call the telephonic function.
In the friends list, two names.
--Toya and Minori.
They're probably the twin brothers in Hameln.
I'm going to help them. I'll see what I can do. But it can't be the same as when I saved Serara in the Crescent Alliance.
For one thing, in the case of the Crescent Alliance, it was Marielle. Whether explicitly or not, Shiroe was acting as Marielle's representative in rescuing Serara. In other words, there was a "client".
Of course, he wanted to save the girl Serara, but Shiroe knows that somewhere along the line, he was naive in thinking that he had a request and that he was just doing the job.
Secondly, although Shiroe wants to save Touya and Minori, he wants to do something about "everything" more than that. I felt it when we escaped from Susukino. There must have been several players in Susukino who were in the same situation as Serara. Shiroe felt somewhat uncomfortable that they had abandoned those players and rescued only Serara.
But that was also on the premise that the mission in front of him was to rescue Serara, so to speak, and he returned to the city of Akiva with his eyes closed.
I don't want to do that kind of escape this time.
Then we will save the twins, abolish the tyranny of the major guilds, improve the atmosphere of the city and restore a new order--. Can Shiroe, a lone player who doesn't even belong to a guild, do such a thing? What if I told you. It's impossible.
You're not in a guild, right?
It brought a dull but excruciating pain to Shiroe.
Come to think of it, Shiroe had always seen guilds as something that belonged to him at any given time. The guild has always existed independently of Shiroe, and he has always viewed it as a good or bad fit or not fit.
It was an irresponsible attitude.
It was irresponsible.
It's a good thing that you've got a good idea of what the current atmosphere of Akiba is like in the city of Akiba.
I've never once "joined" a guild, nor was I "responsible for" a guild. On top of that, imposing his own preferences and convenience... what an arrogant way of thinking that was.
'Guild. .........Guild. Ka.........
Do you still hate the Guild, Shiroe?
Karari. It was Nyanta who emerged from the shadows of the building with the sound of a piece of asphalt rolling around, and it was Nyanta.
Nyanta squinted his serene eyes and questioned Shiroe's soliloquy.
''........''
Shiroe was surprised but shrugged her shoulders and gave up a bit of space.
'No, I don't think so...'
Shiroe believes that his dislike of the guild was probably due to a few unfortunate encounters. His association with the Crescent Moon League melted away his stubborn beliefs.
Now, I can understand my arrogance.
On the other hand, I also remember the PKs I met in the suburbs of Akiba, and the gang of muggers I met in the streets of Susukino. It's true that the guild system is a corruptible one. It's easy to imagine that morale is declining in a major guild where turf wars are the norm.
I'm sure that's one of the reasons why.
Nyanta responds to Shiroe's recollection.
But if there's something that doesn't go bad, you can't trust it.
Life, illness, old age, and suffering are the laws of the three thousand worlds.
Everything that is born decays or suffers from disease. It can age and decay. It will die sooner or later. To deny it is the same as denying birth, you know.
I'm sure Shiroe knows that. For example, that place was especially comfortable, but it was only comfortable because everyone was trying to make it more comfortable.
A treasure that can be obtained without anyone doing anything is not a treasure at all.
Shiroe recalls.
Yeah, really, I think you're right.
The effort was so natural and everyone paid for it as a matter of course that I didn't even realize it was an effort. But now I see that it's a noble thing to do. I also wondered how much effort the cat-eared fellow in front of me was making that I couldn't see.
It's the same effort that Marielle, for example, is making.
How much that smile on Marielle's face supported the
If you're comfortable in Akiba, it's because someone somewhere is making an invisible effort without saying a word. Shiroe thinks.
'Squad leader. What should I do...?
At Shiroe's words, Nyanta looks up at the same moon.
The black ears twitch in the wind over his head and become quiet.
'I hope you do the most amazing thing.
Great.....
Shiroe looked at Nyanta. His expression was calm as usual, but in the moonlight, he looked more mature than ever.
"You are too reserved, Shiroe.
These are the words that Naotsugu said to me on that day.
Shiroe followed up on the meaning of the words that were spoken at that time.
If it wasn't a one-off flirtation, he thought hard about the meaning of it.
What did it mean?
What I was doing to Naotsugu.
What I was doing to Akatsuki.
In other words, those two people knew that kind of thing a long time ago.
I waited for you?
Yeah.
You were waiting for me, both of you?
Yeah.
'Don't go anywhere else. You were there for me.
Yeah.
You've been waiting for me to ask you to join the guild.
Shiroe slumps down. The black oceanic mass in her chest roars and undulates. Emotions that have nowhere to go but down, raging under the stifled lid, threatening to overflow.
The sound of summer bugs and quiet water. The rest, in the white moonlight, Shiroe stands there like a stick, clenching her fists and struggling to hold them down.
--he was counting on me.
-- He bought it.
--he was waiting for me.
I thought I'd been thinking and analyzing and worrying about so many things, and I wondered how I hadn't figured that out. Or maybe it's just that my blood is that bad. My distrust of myself and my sense of inferiority are as high as an embankment, yet my happiness and closeness wash away the cold, frozen yoke of trust.
'Will I make it?'
Yeah, of course.
Meow-tah squad leader. Kyanta Squad Leader, please come to my place. I'd like to have the squad leader with me. I can't take you away from the leader.
Shiroe looked at Nyota and invited him to join her. Nyanta smiled shyly and said, "I want a good porch.
Yes, we'll make it. We'll build it for you. We'll make a good porch for you, too.
Shiroe nodded.
If you want the 'most amazing thing'. If you're allowed to want it. Shiroe had a plan to come up with, albeit with a huge responsibility that he could not support.
If you have a friend to carry it with you.
◆
The inside of the dark room was damp.
The uncarpeted floor was made of ancient concrete and sucked in unlimited heat, making it as cold as the soil of a graveyard at dawn, even in early summer, as it was now.
Wrapping his dull tinted, dirty cloak tightly around him, Minori turns over for what seems like the umpteenth time.
The night seemed long and endless.
Her tired body craved sleep, but whether it was because the bed was too tight and cold, or because she was worried about what tomorrow might bring, sleep was shallow and easily awakened by a sudden movement.
As I emerge from the darkness of night, I worry about the creaking pain. All I can remember are vague dreams, the contents of which dissolve vaguely in the darkness, leaving behind a trail of turmoil and regret.
Working as a seamstress in a small room for most of the day, her hands ached as if her muscles had become dead trees. Only today, no matter how many times she stroked them with her cold fingertips, the pain didn't go away.
Next to me, my brother Touya is asleep, hugging my knees.
Nearly twenty of my friends were asleep in this room.
The guild
A mid-sized guild that claimed to be a mutual aid guild for newcomers.
It is now Minori and Touya's guild as well.
After the catastrophe, the city was in a state of confusion and stagnation. Everyone was stunned by the suddenness of the event and didn't know what to do. Minori thinks the reason the city didn't go into a state of mass warfare during the first few days was because many players didn't know what to make of it, expecting it to be some kind of elaborate joke.
That's exactly what happened to my brother and sister too.
For the first few hours, we didn't know what was going on.
In the days that followed, we knew what happened, but we didn't know why it happened.
I still don't know why. What I understand now is "Why did this happen? All I can say is that I lost myself in the unanswerable question, "What happened to you?
The days that followed were, to tell the truth, foggy.
I was hungry, I remember, but I didn't know how to eat. I didn't even know how to eat. I bought a few food items at the market and shared them with my brother, Touya, and we ate. As he tried to leave the city, he was attacked and all his money was taken from him before he knew why.
It wasn't until he was broke that he remembered Shiroe's advice to leave all non-essential items in the bank's safe deposit box if he was going to leave town.
Many of the players seemed to be in contact with their acquaintances and trying to gather information. However, they were novice players and had no one to rely on. There was only one person, but they were hesitant to contact that name.
Maybe if it had been right after the Catastrophe, we might have been able to contact him. The two of them spent the days following the disaster in a stupor, losing their possessions and being too bogged down in this world.
Minori considers herself and Touya to be close to each other as brother and sister.
I've heard it said that when a person reaches the age of junior high school, the relationship between brother and sister, or sister and brother-in-law, often turns sour. The fastidiousness and independence of those age groups make it difficult for them to get along with their older siblings, who are often the targets of exclusion. The classmates say that they can't help but be an eyesore.
However, that being said, she and Touya are close siblings, and she has no intention of fighting with them.
It's not that I don't want to fight with you, I just want to help Touya out in the first place, which is what Minori has always wanted to do.
There's a reason for that.
As a result of an accident at an early age, Touya lost the ability to walk. There was nothing wrong with the leg, an organ in itself, but the aftereffects of the accident had left him with an abnormality in his nerves.
It's not that he doesn't fight with Touya because he feels sorry for her for that reason. The accident was very unfortunate, but it was not something that Minori could do about, even though she sometimes wishes she could have changed.
However, Touya is a cheerful and hard-working person, even from her older sister's point of view. Even under such circumstances, she has never shown any anger or frustration towards the people around her. The life of a family of disabled people is not easy. Touya is always on the lookout for ways to ease the burden on her mother and father.
She remembers how she and Toya used to talk about trivial matters when she had to take them to and from the hospital twice a month. Like a junior high school boy, Toya would joke about manga and the Internet. According to the doctor, the examination can be quite painful at times, but he has never shown any such signs.
Minori sometimes wonders if Touya's childish behavior is actually just out of concern.
Minori's opinion of Touya was that he was a "well-behaved younger brother". Of course, in her eyes, he was childish and bossy, and if she called him an idiot who didn't think about his future, he was an idiot.
But in essence, he was a trustworthy younger brother. Even if he is lame in both of his legs, or there is a possibility that he will suffer from a recurrence of the after-effects in the future, Touya will still walk the path that is typical of Touya.
If that is the case, I was born first, even if it is by a few hours, and I must fulfill my sisterhood as a sister. I am Touya's protector. I want to be able to provide Toya with the abilities she needs when she needs them.
A certain amount of respect, which is hard to come by in a relationship like that between siblings, or brothers and sisters, especially when they are younger, is what made them such close siblings.
It was for that reason that he had started the Elder Tail.
Touya was too exhausted to go out after an examination. What Touya was interested in was an online RPG. Tired of playing indoors, they begged their parents - with the promise that they would not neglect their studies - to allow them to play a game.
The game is started with her sister.
A world where Touya could run around as much as he wanted without worrying about anyone else. Touya was very happy to have fun, and Minori was excited about a kind of game she had never experienced before.
They both loved the Elder Tail.
But that's why Minori knows better than to say "you can't do anything about it".
Being a child can be a cruel thing sometimes.
It means that it's impossible to get what you want, what you want, what you want with all your strength. Minori had grown up loving her parents, but she couldn't say as much as she wanted to.
It was not a good idea to put a burden on her parents as long as they were with Touya. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do with it, and if Minori has a mature way of speaking and thinking for her age, it's because of this reason.
Touya, too, is probably what the world would call a liability.
I'm a child, so I'm no less a hindrance than Touya.
I'm not good enough, I can't take care of myself, I'm a liability - those are the traits that cloud the faces of the people I love.
--Once, after the Catastrophe, I saw Shiroe from a distance.
As soon as I saw the tall figure with the glasses, I knew it was Shiroe.
He was unable to speak to her. It was because next to the blood and dust-stained figure was a heavily armored warrior who looked as experienced as Shiroe, and a beautiful girl who looked like a spirit of the night.
Shiroe has Shiroe's battles to fight.
With that in mind, there was nothing he could say to Minori.
When she closed her eyes, a menu opened up behind her eyelids.
Minori's friend list is short. His brother, Touya. Some of the same novices he met in Hameln. And Shiroe.
I gently stroke Shiroe's bright, shiny name with my imaginary fingertips.
To Minori, who no longer has most of what seems to be her own possessions, it's a treasure that no one can take away from her.
(I should have learned a few more things from Shiroe-san...)
I think as I wrap my cloak around my cold body. The darkness this night seems to be even deeper than usual. A dull ache in her chest interrupts her sleep.
Suddenly, there is a soft sound like the ringing of a bell in Minori's ear.
He swallows his breath sharply and is surprised to hear it sound louder than he expected in the dark room.
In the back of my brain, the name of Shiroe, whom I had just stroked, pulsed through my brain.
I check to see if I've accidentally used the telephonic function, but there's no sign of it. The call had arrived from Shiroe's side. At this late hour of dawn.
The sound of the bell rings again.
I know from experience that this sound can only be heard by Minori personally. However, if you speak out, the members of the Hameln might notice you, or you might wake up the others around you.
Still, it was difficult for Minori to ignore the sound of the bell.
Manipulating the menu in his brain, he only replied with a small 'yes' in a voice that seemed to disappear.
''Um......... Good evening. Do you understand? Shiroe, but
.....
Not only is it a familiar, nostalgic voice, but it's like a bridge to the good times, and it fills Minori's heart with excitement.
In the dark and damp bunk, in the dirty woolen cloak, Minori gives a small sniff.
''........Minori, right?''
Shiroe's words pass by her ears once because the feelings are too overflowing and her nose is watery. Minori can't reply. If she spoke out, the others in the room might think she was suspicious. But more than that, she doesn't want Shiroe to hear her voice, which is cracked and wet with tears.
In her mind, that was exactly what she had nodded dozens of times, but all Minori could do was mutter 'yes' in a fading voice.
''--''
....
The sound of breathing flowed between the two of them. Minori struggles to keep her own inaudible nose from fooling her, and she tenses up so much that she's afraid Shiroe will be stunned, and she tenses up so much that her eyes twitch, afraid that Shiroe will be stunned. Why at this hour? Why would you do that to yourself? Such questions are the only ones running around in my head.
''You know what, Minori? Listen carefully. If you're wrong about something or have something to say, give three little coughs. ........is that clear?
At Shiroe's question, Minori finds herself struck by lightning.
(I know. Shiroe knows all about it.)
And where I am now. What kind of place is Hameln?
The monotonous, forced labor of daily life had paralyzed my ability to think, but now I can feel my thinking power coming back to life.
(I don't want Shiroe-san to be the only one who has to deal with this...)
If you belong to Hamelin, you'll understand. Even if you are 10 levels higher than Touya or yourself, a newbie has no systematic knowledge of the Elder Tail's alternate universe. Even a mid-tier Hameln player's understanding of the Elder Tail's combat system can be beyond Minori's own.
He had never mentioned it to call for needless strife if he opened it up, but the "common sense" that Shiroe taught him while playing is certainly a force that keeps him and Touya alive in this other world. Shiroe is a benefactor. Minori has always felt that way.
Or, I've always hoped that he was more than a benefactor.
Just cough.
Minori gathers up what little heat she has left and moistens her throat in a small, tiny way.
Konkotsu. Just a small cough.
He seems to be thirstier and more twitchy than he thought, and a pitiful sound leaks out of him.
I owe Shiroe a debt of gratitude. I must repay it. Minori swallowed her saliva over and over again as she thought this, and listened carefully.
''Minori and Touya are in 'Hameln,' right?
One little cough.
I'm delivering an EXP potion to Hamelin.
One more cough.
"...are you okay?
....
A finger-touching silence aims for a room filled with darkness.
If he asks me this much, I can see what Shiroe is asking. Minori knows what she's trying to do.
But because she could see, she felt a crushing pain in her chest. Minori has no idea how Shiroe is going to "do" it. But the method is not the problem. What matters is that Shiroe is on the verge of making such a decision to help Minori and Touya.
What is the price Shiroe is willing to pay to get rid of them? What will Shiroe be willing to pay in order to save the two of them, the two laggards in this other world that requires survival?
How much are we both worth?
If you ask that question, there's only one answer.
It's okay. You're still going to be okay. ...We get fed every day, and my level of skill as a seamstress is improving little by little. Touya and I can survive here, too. So we'll be fine...
A voice in his own chest, as if he were a stranger, as if he were telling himself. As if to close the door of an open wish, Minori coughs, one small cough.
--It's okay, he says.
''Really?''
Shiroe asks again. His voice is gentle, and Minori can't help but think back to the days when they played together.
The time when Touya had lunged at the enemy and she had run in to follow him, and her inadvertent move had brought in enemy reinforcements instead.
While Shiroe used a sleep spell to put the reinforcements to sleep, Touya fought desperately, while I went around recovering everyone else. There are a lot of enemies and HP is always on a reddish display. I'm in a state of flux, my MP is exhausted, I'm screwed, I'm wiped out! Many times I thought to myself, "I don't want to be a part of this," but in the end, I was exhausted and the three of us survived.
I've heard that level 90 is the highest level in the Elder Tail.
If they died, their experience points would be lowered as a penalty, but I made them wander between life and death by letting them go along with a mere 10 levels or so of their own. It's a shameful thing to do, and I apologize for it, hitting Touya on the head with my fist and making him apologize.
They shouldn't hurt Shiroe's precious experience for their own sake. But yet Shiroe was smiling and laughing like a child.
--I was amused. It's an adventure, you know. There's a skill to be learned in a pinch. ...I think Minori is a bit too well-behaved. That was fun, right? I had fun.
His voice was gentle and Minori was saved. And the same kindness that was in that moment came through the invisible line of telepathic communication.
So I return the cough once more.
--It's okay, he says.
Because then, the next time I see Shiroe, I might be able to talk to her with a smile. Of course, that would take some time. I look like a dingy, vagrant child now. I haven't even taken a bath. I can't even say I'm a girl.
There was a small, choppy ache deep in her chest, but still, it would be much better than bothering Shiroe. Minori reminds herself of that reasoning, which she can no longer believe.
''........Okay. It's okay, isn't it? But let's play together again. I want to play with you. I had a good time. So just hang on a second.
.................
Then you don't understand me at all.
No, maybe it's because they understand everything.
Contradictory thoughts cracked inside Minori's chest, and hot tears rushed up from deep inside her nose. Why is Shiroe so uncomprehending? And why does she say such kind words?
The frustration of not having someone understand your concern for them, the apology, the confusion, the guilt and sorrow for getting them involved. The same amount of happiness, kindness, joy, and hope as those negative emotions.
........and trust in Shiroe.
These two conflicting emotions mingle and stir inside Minori like a washing machine. She has to say something. But he doesn't know what to say.
If I'm going to stop Shiroe, this is my last chance to do so.
I cough. How many times? Is it one time of wanting help or two times of not wanting help? Minori is left with tears that have spilled out, once at first. Then two small coughs.
'What's wrong? What do you want to say?
......... I coughed three times. I... No, I wasn't trying to tell you that, Shiroe-san... Shiroe-san isn't our father or mother. You are kind, but we don't have the right to take advantage of that. So you don't have to carry us around like a burden.
But the words don't ring in his voice.
Minori struggles to hold back her asthmatic exhalations as they spread through the quiet, musty guild hall of Hameln.
'If you have something to say, you said three times.
I understand. I'll hurry up to hear it. But I've already made up my mind. I'll do what I can.
You said it yourself when you were with Toya. "The vanguard who cannot trust the vanguard will pay for their sins with death. If the vanguard cannot be trusted, the rear guard will follow suit. That's why I believe in Minori's "it's going to be okay" for now.
Minori will also believe in us (the rear guard). We will come to your rescue.
The call is cut off with a small disconnected sound.
Minori squeezes herself into a hug. In his chest, something warm and certain that wasn't there an hour ago has begun to grow.
◆
When Henrietta opened the door, all the participants were already there except herself.
Two days after that boisterous feast, the Guild Hall of the
''What's wrong? I didn't expect you to be here unexpectedly.
Well, have a seat, Henrietta. Henrietta.
Marielle, the guild master, recommended Henrietta to take a seat.
The Crescent Moon Alliance's meeting room, which, until yesterday, was littered with leftover food and liquor bottles, is now neatly cleaned up and exudes an air of freshness.
Seated at the huge table were four men and four women.
From the Crescent Moon Alliance, Marielle, the guild master, Henrietta, who was in charge of the accounts. And then there's Xiao Long, who is taking care of the fighting and hunting. They are the three people who are practically leading the Crescent Alliance.
And Shiroe is sitting across from them.
(Oh........Shiroe-sama.)
I'm told that Shiroe-san has something to tell you today.
The younger Xiao Long continued as he bailed on Shiroe.
''We haven't heard the contents yet either.
Marielle and Xiaolong said, but Shiroe's expression is hard. It is true that Shiroe's eyes are sharp, or rather, she has a habit of staring, but even so, there is a quiet power to her today. The charming round glasses don't help, but you can sense a spirit that's so strong that it's useless.
(Hmm.....)
Henrietta keeps the situation in mind.
Normally Shiroe is also dependable. But the Shiroe in front of me is a different person. You can't do this together.
I'll take care of you. It was me who called out to you today. ........First of all, the big party the other day. Thank you very much. Miss Mari and everyone from the Crescent Moon Alliance.
Marielle waved her hands in the air at Shiroe's words.
'Never mind! It's nothing at all!
Xiao Long also waved his hands in the air and said it was outrageous. It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about the cost, though.
The most important thing is that the Crescent Moon Alliance is enjoying themselves. It was in fact a festival for them. The fact that the gratuity would have to be formalized sooner or later was a topic that had been raised within the
It's no problem. I've enjoyed every bit of Akatsuki-chan.
Henrietta also smiles with an enraptured expression as she recalls Akatsuki's adorable reaction. At this time, that Akatsuki herself was teary-eyed should be put aside for discussion.
You can find a lot more than a few of them. This time, on the contrary to the last time, I was able to ask for your help.
(Oh dear.) That's..... Well.
Henrietta looked at Shiroe from behind her talented rimless glasses.
The offer couldn't deny that it was somewhat surprising.
From what she's seen, Shiroe is a competent player and has a compassionate personality. For example, if the other party is inferior to you in terms of ability - frustratingly, as in the case of the Crescent Moon Alliance and Serara - he's not someone who would hesitate to lend a helping hand.
In that expedition, Shiroe and his companions had done an excellent job of filling in for the Crescent Alliance's rescue team. Probably dozens of times better than Henrietta and her friends did. If he feels he can be useful and do well, Shiroe will not hesitate to help.
But what about the opposite?
As Henrietta sees it, Shiroe is common sense and compassionate, but at the same time, she feels that he is an introspective and very...clumsy young man. I'm not very good at getting help from others compared to helping others.
That Shiroe says, "I need your help.
(What kind of request can I ask for?)
Of course, Henrietta had no idea that she would price her thanks at the feet of Siloe, who was not good at asking for help from others. It would be even less so with Marielle. However, the truth is that it was surprising to see him clearly ask for help.
"Whatever you want to say. Mr. Shiroe, please say anything!
Yes, he is. Shiroe-sama is a benefactor of the Crescent Moon Alliance.
As the little dragon said, Henrietta also returned a welcome answer. In this case, I have no choice but to return it. The
But at the same time, Henrietta was also curious about Marielle's condition. Marielle hadn't lost her somewhat tense expression since Henrietta had entered the room.
Of course, on the surface she is acting friendly, and Henrietta doesn't suspect for a minute that her care and kindness will be overshadowed. They have been best friends for a long time now. I'm well aware that it is impossible for Marielle to dislike Siloe.
But then, what is the weight of Marielle's expression?
(Does Marie know what Lady Siloe wishes for?)
Shiroe didn't even smile at Henrietta and Xiao Long's welcoming words, but instead, she rubbed her glasses up with her fingertips and straightened out her purpose.
''Two children I know are in a certain guild--in detention, or rather, they've been made to belong to a certain guild. I'd like to help those two.
Xiao Long nodded at Shiroe's words.
''Is that what you mean? We can just have the guild canceled, right? A random decoy operation? At your service, sir. ... oh. Or is that it?
Is it aftercare after you've rescued them? Will you be taking care of these two in the Crescent Moon Alliance? Of course, you're welcome! I'd rather ask for more friends.
A bright little dragon's reply.
However, Marielle's expression tightens even more at those words.
(-- That won't happen. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can help them. It's a wish of Shiroe-sama that she would go out of her way to wish for our cooperation, even making a seat like this...)
I heard that the guilds that aren't of a good nature are collecting new players and raking in the 'EXP pot'. They are probably selling them to fund their operations. I don't think that in itself is unacceptable. --I don't think that is in itself unacceptable.
But like it or not, I don't like it.
Shiroe continues in a conciliatory tone, but Xiao Long's movements stop abruptly.
Things have come to this point where I can finally understand the conversation.
It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. It's certainly not of a nature. It's not benign. But they have a big guild backing them...
Henrietta raises a natural question. If the guild is the Hameln, then its clients include the Black Sword Knights and the Silver Sword. They are both the leading guilds in this Akiba city. If you talk about combat alone, they are among the top five.
Yes, that's right. I'm thinking of asking you to leave.
Shiroe spoke up straight away.
A heavy silence flowed through the conference room.
A small sigh from Marielle.
(After all, Marier knew or predicted it...)
That explains the tense expression on his face.
It's not a good idea. That........... Does that mean to crush it? Is that-- really? How is it possible to leave one guild in the first place? Even if we beat him on penalty kicks and beat him stiffly, that would probably break his pride, but to think that the guild itself would be destroyed...
The little dragon raises his voice timidly.
The only way a guild could be disbanded is if the guild leader decides to disband, or if all members leave the guild. That's what the system does, at least.
The means of PK can indeed kill player characters. However, in this world of resurrection, killing cannot be decisive damage. It might be able to affect the morale and property of the guild members, but it shouldn't be able to directly affect the survival of the guild itself.
Hence, the impression that Xiao Long had, "Is it possible to destroy the guild? You are right to ask the question. In theory, that's a situation that would not be possible with outside interference.
For example, it might be possible for a super-major guild to use its ample funds and other resources as bait to draw out the members of a weak guild and, as a result, destroy the guild. That kind of strategy can be heard in the streets of Akiba.
However, even if they invested a lot of resources, such as bribes and funding, there was no guarantee that it would destroy the target guild. For example, if the Crescent Moon Alliance is targeted by such a bribery attempt, most of its members will be pulled out, but if Marielle is the only one to stay and resist, the Crescent Moon Alliance will continue to exist in the system.
It's a difficult task to destroy a guild, and a difficult one to accomplish. It's not something that can be destroyed by aiming. If such a thing were possible, the current state of Akiba would never have existed.
It's not just a matter of how many times I've heard the words "crush the guild," or "make them leave" used in a scene where it's all talk of abuse and selling. They are threatening words, not the kind of words you would hear as a plan.
Xiao Long thought that he should take Shiroe's words as an enthusiasm, a goal, so to speak. ''I'm going to defeat you!'' And as a similar declaration.
'No.' I mean that literally. You will be asked to leave the city of Akiba.
However, Shiroe outright denied that little dragon's suspicions.
Her calm, emotionless voice was even more chilling. Henrietta surreptitiously asked about Shiroe's expression. If what was floating there was anger, frustration, and determination, Henrietta could not have been more certain.
However, it's a faint smile that may or may not be there. It's not the same thing as a smile, but the expression of a hunter who raises the edge of his lips slightly, which has nothing to do with amusement or happiness.
Shiroe has already made up his mind to the point where he doesn't even need to make up his mind.
(Ah......... (Shiroe-sama is)
I'm sure he'll do it.
Henrietta thought.
There was no point in stopping it, she thought, too. Maybe Siloe's resolve would not change.
He remembered this look on his face when Henrietta's father, a stockbroker, was embarking on a big market, or selling in the midst of a great depression when the market was raging. It's the same tiger-like smile he used to wear on his doorstep before dawn, when he couldn't come home for days, and when he did occasionally come home, he would pop out for a short nap and a shower.
At the same time, Henrietta can understand Marielle's bitterness.
The Hameln is backed by a major guild. Their customers, the Black Sword Knights and the Silversword, are using the EXP Pot's experience-boosting effects to break through the 90th level.
It was a method of growth that only an A-class guild with abundant funds could use to force their way up to the next level, but it was certainly possible to aim for the next level if that method was used.
Taking the EXP pot from newcomers and selling it is an act that is out of line from a moral standpoint. Even Henrietta would find it repulsive, and if such a thing were to be discussed at the Crescent Moon Alliance, she would probably oppose it with her head held high.
But I can't even say with certainty that it's an unforgivable sin.
Whether there was mental pressure or some kind of intimidation, those newcomers joined the guild on their own and are still enrolled in it to this day. As long as that is the case, it cannot be said that their winding up and resale is a violation from a game perspective. And that means it's not "illegal" in this other world.
(Law.......... Law, is it......... Surely it is no longer something more ephemeral than a mirage on a summer morning. Whether it exists or not is doubtful. (But..........)
And there's the issue of feasibility.
Let's say that the act - whether legal or illegal - is evil. But if you ask whether there is a person or organization in Akiba that can condemn that evil, the answer is no.
The big guilds have a huge voice, and no one would be crazy enough to oppose a major guild without much merit. Members of major guilds are already using the guild's name to prioritize the use of the city's facilities. It's a bit of an outrageous way to treat small and medium-sized guild players in an unfair manner.
Under these circumstances, aligning with the opinions of guilds like Shiroe's is to make enemies of the big guilds. As the leader of a small but united organization called the Crescent Moon Alliance, I understand the significance of Marielle's stern expression.
It's not so much what justice is, but the fact that no one has the authority, power or warfare to carry out that justice. As a result, justice has become a mere pie in the sky, and justice has become fuzzy. That's the current, untrue truth of Akiba's town.
(Marie.....)
Henrietta also bites his lips.
I am indebted to Shiroe. I also have a personal liking for him.
Of course, among men who don't have a shred of cuteness, there is a proviso that says, but he's a young man I can consider a friend. But that doesn't mean I can't nod my head in agreement with some "requests".
If it was originally intended to be a sincere warning to stop Shiroe's outburst, it might be.
But looking at that fearless determination, those words won't even come out.
Is it okay for me to interfere in the first "battle cry" that Shiroe, who is usually so introspective as to seem reserved, has shown for the first time? If asked, there was no way he could be confident in his answer.
While looking at the two executives clamoring like that at the side, Marielle opened her mouth after hesitating a few times.
''Shiro-boy........ I understand how Shiro-boy feels. But................................ No, we are.........
It would have been an apology in reply. The guild leader himself refused Shiroe's wishes without letting Henrietta or the guild's executive named Xiaolong tell him.
Marielle understood that Marielle was prepared to open her mouth, knowing that her words might offend Shiroe and cause him to dislike her.
However, Shiroe crisply interrupted Marielle's words.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I have to say the rest.
Then it's only half.
It's only half then.
You can't start with Hameln. That won't be enough. You won't reach the end of the line. It's just a wayward journey.
I'm going to make this clear. I don't like the current atmosphere in Akiba. It's impatient, uncool and unseemly.
Amidst the stunned surroundings, Shiroe was the only one who continued to speak as if she had been convinced of everything from the beginning.
''So, I will clean up the city of Akiba.
The matter of 〈Hermern〉 is a companion to that. Minori and Touya are my friends, so I'm just going to help them.
We have a lot of other things we have to do. We can't be wasting our time with this stuff.
Both the little dragon and Henrietta. And even Marielle was frozen like a statue. Shiroe was the only one who continued to speak to the three of them.
''Since when did being in a small guild become such a bad thing that you have to sneak around?
Susukino was indeed devastated, and with only 2,000 people, it's not hard to see why a strong guild would dignify itself. But Akiba is our home town. It's home to more than half of the players on the Japan server. It's the largest city in the server.
It's not cool, it has a bad atmosphere, and it's a bit clunky, and everyone is walking around looking down.... I don't think so. Then it's like we were all born to be uncool.
I don't want to talk about how bad those things are, the occupation of the hunting grounds, the advancement of the big guilds, and the feuds between rivals, but I can't stand to see them strangling me.
Do we have to make the new guy cry to do such a thing?
Do we have to kick the survivalist that got sent to another world to do it?
There are 30,000 of us, but there are only 30,000 of us.
Everyone has been taken for granted. You underestimate the other world. You are not desperate enough.
It was a tremendous story.
Seeing that Marielle is frozen, let alone Henrietta and the little dragon, this must have been a story I hadn't expected.
I understand rescuing someone I know. But it's out of line when you try to destroy a single guild while doing so. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do anything about it, but I'm sure I'm going to be able to tell you that this is insane.
But what shook everyone who was listening to the story was not so much the content of the story, but rather Shiroe's voice. It was a calm voice without a trace of high spirits, but what flowed was steel. Sharp enough to cut if you touch it.
Henrietta's breath, which she had been self-consciously holding, came out in a steady stream.
I had misjudged this young man Shiroe. This young man Shiroe. I thought he was capable and kind, but I thought he was an introspective and shy young man. But that's not the case. At his core, this young man is an extremely pure young man. He is dedicated to his goal, and his ideas and methods are linear. He is efficient and unrelenting.
Fight and take. This young man is true to that simple principle. He may wander around a lot until he decides. His blade may become dull. But once he's decided, he's the kind of young man who "does it".
"Marie.........?
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of it. You'll be able to see that you're not the only one who can do that. If you're going to go by that calculation, you can't respond to Shiroe's proposal.
However, Shiroe said that he would change this entire city. That means that the return on winning the game has jumped.
Hence Marielle's hesitation. Return, in this case, is the improvement of the status of small and medium-sized guilds. But it's not just that. It's also more about the soul.
''Ours is........''
I need your help.
Shiroe bowed her head for the first time.
'Shiroe-sama? How are the rest of your people doing?
Henrietta interrupted to give Marielle, who was looking for words, a helping hand. Originally, members like Naotsugu and Akatsuki, for example, should be able to be in this seat.
''I'm hanging on to the investigation and preparations. I'm sorry for the delay in greeting you.
I, Shiroe, have formed a guild as the guild master.
It's called the Log Horizon. Naotsugu, Akatsuki, Nyanta and I are the members of the guild, and this mission will be the first mission of the guild.
I made the guild...
'Yes. I'm sorry you had to invite me over.
No.....
Marielle shakes her head like a child.
I'm sorry. No need to apologize for that.
I see. White boy. Congratulations to you, right? You made the guild. You made it, didn't you? You made a home, didn't you?
Marielle smiled. There were tiny teardrops in the corners of her eyes.
Siloe, who had avoided joining the guild, made room for herself. Henrietta couldn't accurately gauge the implications of this, but she understood the meaning of Marielle's tears. Henrietta's naturalistic friend was congratulating the young man named Siloe wholeheartedly.
''Gilmouth. Can't I just listen to what you have to say? Me. I'm interested. We're doing a lot of work in the city, and I'm beginning to get that bad vibe you're talking about.
I've been wondering if this town is going to keep going on forever. I've been thinking about it for a long time.
Xiao Long gave his opinion in a few words.
He is also a senior member of the
Henrietta agrees.
''Yes, whether or not we can cooperate depends on the method. We can't just go along with a plan that is completely unpredictable, can we? Master Shiroe.
Marielle, who should have originally been thinking of taking the brunt of the argument herself, seemed a bit sniffy as her two subordinates stepped forward, but she quickly urged herself to speak, "Shiroe, talk to me, Shiroe," she said.
At his words, Shiroe seemed to organize his speech for only half a second, but then he abruptly came to a conclusion.
''We need funds. For now, five million gold coins.''
How dare you?
Henrietta screams. She's in charge of the Crescent Moon Alliance's vault, and she has a pretty accurate grasp of the guild's assets.
The funds in the 〈Crescent Moon Alliance〉 guild account are 60,000 gold coins. If she thoroughly disposed of the inventory items and other items, she would be able to prepare for it with 100,000 pieces. If he could dispose of all the personal property of the guild members, he could probably achieve up to 500,000 pieces.
But that's the limit. Even if he threw away all of the members' assets, he would not be able to raise more than 500,000 cards. Henrietta, who is at level 90, has about 20,000 assets on hand. Considering the fact that she was quite wealthy if she had 50,000 in her personal possession, 5 million gold coins was an extraordinary amount of money.
How can you collect that kind of money? It may be a bit late to say this, but we're a small guild.
Oh, oh, is it money?
Sure enough, desperate groans spilled out of the mouths of Marielle and Xiaolong.
If it's warfare and labor force, they can "try their best". But when it comes to raising funds, the girls will probably feel it's just an impossible challenge for them.
''What do you think, Henrietta-san?
Me?
Henrietta, you have a master's degree in business administration and work in accounting in your former world, right? I think I can do it. Everyone in this world is still "underestimating" me.
It's not that big of a deal. It's just a matter of pulling the strings.
....and pull.
Henrietta's consciousness is stretched out.
A ripple spreads around Shiroe's words.
--you've underestimated and licked the other world too much.
Why is Shiroe saying that? What do you think I'm licking? This is the world of the Elder Tail. If you want to call it a different world, it's a different world, but when it comes to the known world, there's no better place to call it a known world.
What kind of money? Whose money? You don't have to think too much about it. They don't want to follow the rules anyway.
Isn't that so? .... 'There are no rules here'. We don't make up our own narrow rules.'
It's messed up in a way.
But that's why Henrietta can understand it. Perhaps only Henrietta can understand. The only people in this room now are me and Shiroe.
I'm the only one who can hear what she has to say. You will be able to find a lot more than just a few of them. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to find out what's best for you.
What Shiroe is saying is.
(It means to make the rules for collecting money........)
It's not just a matter of time before you're able to get your hands on a new one. That means take it away.
Taking away doesn't require you to do anything violent. On the contrary, it doesn't require you to be dishonest or use outrageous methods. Those are subterfuge, she has learned from her father and the workplace. Illegal or psychologically-charged means are the last thing she needs to play her cards.
If anything, a 'rule' is preferable, where everyone is happy to bring in the money.
"...go ahead, sir.
Henrietta nodded.
'We can raise those funds.
"Huh?
What?
To Marielle and Xiaolong's surprise, Henrietta responds to Marielle's and Xiaolong's surprise with a still slightly hazy thought. In her head, she's in the middle of fleshing out the plot she came up with with some minor revisions.
The highest hurdle is to get 5 million?
Henrietta asks Shiroe directly. That was the only line that had to be made clear.
The only hurdle is the entrance to collect 5 million. The highest hurdle is beyond that. It's...well...the good will and hope of everyone.
If a lot of guilds in this Akiba city don't care what the atmosphere is like in this Akiba city.
In that case, we will lose. But that's just the way it is. I don't have a crush on such a town, but I don't believe that's true. But I don't believe that's true. There are more people who like the city of Akiba than those who don't like it.
I know it's a little late for this, but I don't want to curry favor with the Crescent Moon Alliance by asking for their help. I called upon the Crescent Moon Alliance because I need their help. I want you, Miss Mari, Henrietta, and Xiao Long to do something for me.
I will say it again. I need your help.
The little dragon gave a small nod. Seeing this, Marielle looked into Henrietta's expression. ........The words Shiroe is saying are genuine. Because Shiroe was serious, the little dragon wanted to hear the rest of the story and Marielle hesitated to make a decision.
And Henrietta thinks that if Shiroe is serious, maybe he can find a winner in this tremendous operation.
The severe financier's intuition inside Henrietta whispered that.
'Yes, Marie. As you wish.
Ours is.... We, the Crescent Moon Alliance...
Marielle clasped her hands together and replied to Shiroe with the expression of a guild leader.
The Crescent Moon Alliance is going to go along with Shiroe's plan.
--You'll be able to see that it's a much cooler place. If this is the case, something will be lost.
But you know what? We're in a tough spot. So I'd appreciate it if you don't run away in the night.... But there's nothing to do either. If we continue to turn a blind eye to it, our feelings will be completely rotten.
It's a matter of the soul.
So, if we have it, we'll bet on it.
--Tell me, Shiroko. Tell me, Shiroko, how to do it.
If we do nothing when we can do something for that, we'll regret it forever.