Chapter 22
Here we are again in an all too familiar setting. It's Sunday afternoon and like always I have nothing to do. Maybe I'll just sit here for the rest of the day and see if I can take a nap. That won't do though, it was hell getting my sleep schedule back in order the last time I did that.
Yesterday's picnic wore me out greatly, I can still feel the pain of the strikes. That's the only reason I'm taking it easy for now. It's not that I don't like relaxing, it's just ever since I met my friends I haven't had many moments of quiet. I guess I just have come to accept chaos.
'Bzzz! Bzzz!' The relaxing day is about to go down hill I can already feel it.
To my surprise it's a group message from Uni, one of the less psychotic people in the group. However she still has her moments like all the rest. Opening up the message I can finally read what's in it.
'A new quest came out today in 4 Goddesses Online, it would be fun if we all did something together again.'
I know I'm going to regret this but it's better than rotting away. Taking out my laptop I start it up. Entering the password I put on it to keep Maurice out, we'll save the story for another day. Finally it's time to start gaming.
Going to the website is no longer required since last time I downloaded to link and made a shortcut. It's actually been some time since I played last. Knowing the friends I have they've been leveling up all week leaving me in the dust. It can't be helped though, it's an unwritten rule or something.
Once the game is loaded completely I can see where I am. So apparently I'm in a small town to the south of Leanbox. The land of Green Pastures isn't my favorite land to say the least. You'd think I'd spawn in a Lastation town of sorts being my character's nationality.
The first thing I have to do before I can complain though is look where the quest marker is. To my luck the quest giver is in a nearby town. So the quest itself is in Leanbox? Well this is going to be fun.
'Ping!' A PM from Uni.
"We'll be right there, stay tight in Hero City."
So that's what this town, or rather city is called. I can't believe they're all coming to me just to start this quest. It'd be much more efficient for me to meet them in the town. Oh well, they're an odd bunch.
While I wait, I guess I could check out some of the item shops set up around here. Already I can see a few stalls and actually buildings with wares amongst them. I have been meaning to get a new sword, the one I use is still that crappy on from the first time I played.
Looking around I don't notice anything in particular that catches my eye. Most of the stores only carry spears. Now that I think about it that only makes since being leanbox's weapon of choice.
Sigh, finding a sword here will be harder than I thought. At this rate I might just have to go and use weak weapons for the quest, unless it's a simple gathering quest.
"Come one come all to my great stand. Let's get something out of the way though, yes these wares were probably ripped from the hands of dead adventurers."
Great… one of those merchants. The ones that don't do any of the crafting and instead just take dead peoples items. I used to be one of those back in the day, trying to make some quick gold. Credits in this games case.
Might as well see what he has to offer in terms of swords.
The mans stall covers almost everything in terms of items. Healing potions, agility potions, charms, jewelry, and even swords. All that's left to do now is see what he wants for one of the blades.
"Good day shopkeep, I'd like to buy a sword from you if that's alright."
"Ah yes hello friend how are you?" Wait, he called me friend? Have I met this guy before?
"It's me William, we met back in Lowee." He let out a chuckle that just makes him sound more insane. Can I really trust this guy?
It is true that I need a new weapon. Shady arms dealers only end up getting you killed. I guess I really don't have a choice in the matter, he's the only one selling swords in this town after all.
"Yes I remember you now about that sword."
"Patients Friend, I will give you good wares. Just let me find it."
He reaches into a fancy looking chest behind the stall. Out of it he pulls a carefully wrapped sword. He takes off all the wrapping and I can finally get a good view of what I'm probably going to end up buying.
The blade was crimson colored and gave off the aura of power. Every so often flashes of red lightning would appear on the blade. In terms of the hilt it looked like any other katana hilt. A diamond pattern on each side of it leading up to the circular cross guard.
I don't care what anyone else would say about such a cliché sword, it will be mine!
"How much for it?" I already know I'm not going to like the answer.
"It's hard to put a price on it but… fifty thousand credits should suffice."
Fifty… thousand… credits! That's way too much for one blade. Even so I still have about seventy eight thousand credits in my pouch. Something just doesn't feel right about blowing that much money.
Maybe I can come back later after the quest with some rare item and trade him. Too risky though, someone might buy it before I get back.
"For you my friend I'll drop the price to forty thousand."
Well that's sort of a relief, sort of. Not as bad as the original price so I should consider myself to be one lucky bastard. What the hell, I'll buy the damn sword.
"Sold!"
"One more thing, sixty thousand and I'll throw in this shiny new revolver."
Wow, he really is the definition of a merchant. Not only knowing what I like, but giving a bundle offer. The revolver I use isn't too good anyway, I've actually been thinking about scrapping the hunk of junk.
"Ok, you have a deal."
He gives off the same creepy smile as before and begins wrapping up the items. After a little bit a new screen pops up in front of me.
'Do you agree to pay 60,000 credits to William?"
Obviously I select yes and then the screen disappears. Light flashes before the both of us and when it subsides a huge bag of money is in front of the crazy merchant. The items I just bought are in my inventory now.
"I guess I'll see you some other time. Take care."
As I turn around a hand goes on my shoulder and I halt. What does that old fool want now? (I'm not sure if he is that old but his avatar looks that way.)
"Before you go, take this as a sign of your loyalty."
A new item appears in my inventory. I suppose he wants a thank you from this. "I have no use for it anymore and nobody wants it. Maybe you'll find use for it somewhere."
Great so now I'm getting the scrap that no one wants? I'm feeling the love here man. "Thank you, I'll see what I can do."
Even though I'm being polite right now, I still don't want to be here longer than I need to be. And with that I'm off finally to wait for my friends.
About ten minutes have passed since I had and encounter with that insane merchant. I decided to check up on the quest details a little. So the story behind this new quest is that there are some rare materials in a dungeon that a wealthy person wants to own. As well as the basilicom of the area would like to collect mapping data on this new unearthed dungeon.
Now I'm not so sure about this. Last I checked, unmapped dungeons have a lot of high level monsters and traps… a lot of traps!
I sense a disturbance in the force, like something really bad is going to happen on this adventure. Usually my gut is correct about this sort of thing, but I feel like cheating death more than ever today.
Besides, it's too late to quit now, the party I'm with has just arrived. The only avatars I haven't gotten a chance to see yet are Neptune's, Noire's, and Blanc's. Let's see what they have to offer.
Neptune's avatar is a huge jump from her normal self. For instance she's much taller than she is IRL. Her hair is a darker shade of lilac and worn in twin braidssince it's longer. The suit she is wearing is a black bathing suit sort of outfit with gloves reaching up most of her arm, and boots reaching up most of her leg. The top her hands also have the same N logo that Nepgear has. The hand portion of her arm wear resemble claws of sorts.
Noire's isn't too out of this world, containing a black bathing suit outfit much like with silver linings in some parts. Much like Neptune she has gloves and boots reaching up a vast majority of their respective limbs. Her hair is pure white and worn down completely as well as her eye color changing to teal. The hand portion of her arm wear resemble claws much like Neptune.
Finally Blanc's avatar has spiky light blue hair with a shade of pink eyes. The outfit on her is a with one peace like most of the others with lines of blue in some areas with black triangles on her side. Her gloves go up all of her arms and to her shoulders. Much like Noire and Neptune she has claw hands as well.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Jack, getting here proved more difficult than anticipated." Noire opens up with the reason of their tardiness.
I don't mind it one bit mind you, but I can't let out how soft I am to apologetic girls yet. Other than that, I'm ready to go get some rare materials in the name of the basilicom and some rich jerk.
"It's fine, so shall we get going to the cave entrance?"
All of them nod and we begin to head east towards the cave of unknown origin. One thing's for sure, the fun has just begun.
After about fifteen minutes of walking (we were also slowed down by monsters spawning in our area), all nine of us reach our destination. As I said before, I have a bad feeling about this.
"Are… are you sure we should go in?" I'm asking the same question Nepgear.
"I'm… scared to go in." You and me both Rom.
However with a party of nine this will surely be a piece of pie. Oh wait… have I been saying that wrong this whole time? Oh who cares, I'm going to go in.
"We can't let our fears get to us, we must persevere." Vert in this game you are so motivational.
"Besides, as long as you have me around we can't lose." I wish I had that special Noire brand arrogance.
Rom and Nepgear are both nodding now as a show of the new confidence surging through their bodies. Noire's right though, I bet her level is ten times what mine is right now. Even with my new weapons I still won't be able to catch up with all of their skills.
"I'm going because all of you need me." Well it appears the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree Uni.
"I can't let a bunch of dummies do all the work." I wish I had that child innocents Ram.
"All right, we're all on board now, let's go complete a quest everyone." Neptune's personality changes drastically when she plays this game apparently. I'm not saying that's a bad thing mind you, I actually like this Neptune more.
With all of us in unison, we walk through the cave entrance and are prepared for what awaits us within the depths of this uncharted wonder.