Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Log Horizon. This is a fanfiction used to help with my writing skills and the fact I enjoy writing stories like these. All I own is the ideas and sub-plots used to make this fanfiction and explore Log Horizon and Naruto in a different way. Also, don't own any of the games and anime I make reference to in this story, but still got to give homage to video games since this is technically a video game fanfiction as well.
"Are you sure you can afford all this?" A somewhat plumped man asked, standing behind a booth.
Seriously? Las Boss gritted his teeth, annoyed at the shopkeeper before him. It's been like this with each shop Shiroe, Naotsugu, and he had entered. All because of one issue.
"Yes, my friend can." Shiroe spoke up, snapping Las Boss from his fury.
"Then why is your friend not speaking?" The shopkeeper asked, a skeptic look on his face. His eyes aimed right at the notepad in Las Boss's hand. "It's always the silent ones who steal."
"He can't speak, but that does not mean he has no money." Las Boss smirked at the shopkeepers shock when he poured a hand full of gold coins onto the booth counter. "We are able bodied Adventurers, after all."
Of course. We can easily rob and kill you with being level ninety as well. Las Boss thought. His two friends and himself at least confirmed so far the world they were in was either related or the very game Elder Tales.
The three were stuck within their avatars, but the different bodies paid off with having all their attacks and spells of their level ninety characters. Robbing a place would be easy for the three, though all three were against it. There was no point in stealing when you had plenty of money and supplies you needed already.
"I can tell." The shopkeeper took the money, still wary of the three. "But, do you know why all the other Adventurers are acting odd today? I had a few come at me shouting for me to get some kind of GM thing. You all never acted like this before." The shopkeeper glanced at the other Adventurers. Some of which still in a panic or collapsed completely into depression due to the fear and stress.
-Something has changed. They are shocked by it, hence the odd things you beem seeing.- The shopkeeper frowned at what Las Boss wrote and showed him. -But, I recommend you keep stock of your wares. The next few hours will get hectic.-
"You're an Adventurer, not a shop owner. However, thank you for your purchases." Las Boss rolled his eyes, but stuff the items he bought into his Magic Bag. It still worked in storing much more than it appeared, just like when Elder Tales was a game.
"Las, why have you been on a buying spree since we left the building?" Naotsugu asked, all three of them leaving the market place with their purchases in their Magic Bags, "Planning to hold a real festival?" All three of them kept their eyes opened to their surroundings.
There were still players still panicking at their situation. Yet, now, it had quiet down. Many had formed grouped, talking in hushed tones. Some just stood there, waiting for someone to come and help with a helpless look in their eyes that Las Boss seen before. The shit game he was playing before had claimed many innocent gamers over and over again in the orphanage he went to.
But, then again, some people were deal a good hand in that shit game. That is, till it turned on them, Las Boss thought before focusing back on the knight. -You already forgot our conversation before, underwear knight.-
"Of course not! You two still have yet to announce your love of panties!" Shiroe and Las Boss moved away from Naotsugu. "Why are you closet perverts moving away?"
"We simply gotten supplies before the rush happens." Shiroe said, ignoring Naotsugu's question. He adjusted his glasses, looking over the other players. Las Boss noticed the wary eyes on them. "This world has no laws outside possibly not fighting in the player cities. People will realize this soon and try to create their own order out of the chaos that could spark any moment. It will be a mess."
"Scary. So, what are your plans, Beady Eyes, NEET?" Naotsugu sighed, "Is this reason we made a party? Part of the plan?" Naotsugu and Shiroe looked at Las Boss when he snapped his fingers.
-There really isn't a plan yet. There is just so little we know that our goal now is to get information. We have no worries for supplies now.-
"Indeed. Though, I rather not test our luck outside Akiba for information. Not with the fact we have no clue that death here is like the game or like real life yet." Shiroe added, nodding at Las Boss. In Elder Tales, players who died in battle revived in the Cathedral. Though, testing that was something none of the three wanted to volunteer for.
"But, what else is there really to know. We are either stuck either in the game or now in a fantasy world like the light novels. I understand we might need to figure out the fighting system, but so far everything else is just like the real world or like the game." Naotsugu sighed, shrugging at the two glasses wearing men.
Yep. Games are won by those who have the most, yet accurate information. Las Boss nodded before realizing something. He showed his notebook for his response, yet the two others were not noticing Las Boss's notebook.
"There are plenty of things we need to figure out. Like if we still get hungry and such," Shiroe said, though avoiding the looks of the hopeless players glancing at them for help. "However, we need to be on guard. We have no idea how bad things can go at this point."
Guys? Seriously?
"But, it is not the worse. dude. I mean, we have food and can buy a hotel room." Naotsugu grinned at Shiroe.
I need to say something! If you don't look, I will do something to ya. Las Boss thought, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance.
"The issue isn't so much sustaining ourselves," Shiroe sighed, frowning at Naotsugu. "We don't know how this world works. It could be just like the game or it could far more different with magic involved. Also, we have no clue how everyone will react once out of the current shock. Not everyone can adapt to such a situation."
That's it. You two asked for it. Las Boss put a finger from each hand into his mouth. An evil smirk on his lips as the other two had yet to notice him.
"That is true. This could become a chaos fes-ACK!" Naotsugu and Shiroe jumped with getting a wet willy to their ears. "Ew! Gross festival!" Naotsugu and Shiroe moved away from Las Boss.
Finally noticed me, eh? Las Boss let a chuckle out before showing his notebook. The two men noticed various comments from the mute man, mostly of annoyance that they weren't allowing him in on the conversation.
"Ah, sorry," Shiroe slightly bowed, sheepishly scratching his head.
"You are hard to notice when quiet. At least the chat had a bing to give us a clue when you texted something." Natosugu sighed, giving a wary eye at Las Boss. "But, do you really think the problem is your body?"
-Yeah. I am a twelve year old. It is probably the only incorrect data I can think would cause my voice to not work.- Las Boss shrugged. There could be other reasons. However, the best clue is the fact we are now in our avatars from Elder Tales, yet everyone sounds like they did before on voice chat. If the voice is too young for an older body, then of course my voice would not work.
"Don't you have an Appearance Reset Potion?" Naotsugu asked with a smirk. "You can fix this problem festival in an instant!"
-Yep. Hence the rush for supplies as the shopkeepers. It would be more suspicious of a twelve year old Adventurer than a mute man.-
"He's right." Shiroe sighed, before looking at Las Boss. "But, you should change your body. I am amazed you are find walking with such a difference in height. I am still tripping over my feet even though my character is only a few inches taller." Las Boss nodded in agreement.
If I had not have practiced with different body heights, I would be screwed. Though, this body was here before. I got clear muscle memory and it reacts to my thoughts quite well. Las Boss thought, looking at his arms. They were much longer than his original body's arms, but it no longer even felt weird using them. It was like he used them every day, in fact.
"Heh. That would make you the mascot of the story!" Naotsugu shouted, getting a nasty glare from Las Boss.
Just wait till I get my voice back, panties lover. Las Boss sighed, reaching into his Magic Bag. He pulled out a vial with a man and woman sculpture on it and orange liquid inside. Appearance Reset Potions were given at a failed event that flopped years ago. It allowed for the player who uses it to change the physical appearance settings of their avatar, so it was mostly a gag item. However, Las Boss knew the potions still sold for a lot of gold in the game due to rarity and with constantly making items of high enough quality for some people asking to trade such items in exchange for such a rare potion.
"Santa Claus?"
"Huh?" All three looked down, seeing a cute little girl standing before them.
"Are you Santa Claus?" All three paled at the adult woman's voice that came from the girl's month.
"Ah.. .Oh! Wait, she's talking to you, Las!" Naotsugu laughed while Las Boss grumbled.
Yet you guys won't tell me who this Santa Claus is that everyone calls me! All due to that damn costume for the Winter Festival! Las Boss gritted his teeth. Santa Claus was a nickname given to him for some reason due to all the items he given away due to all the crafting he done around the Winter Festival event. Since he was paid through the game itself, there was no point for Las Boss to sell the crafted items unless of really high rarity and such.
I would have not had fun with the crafting system and gotten the Crafting Sage title. I wonder if I can do potions and crafting like in real life now? Las Boss sighed before seeing the girl's eyes light up with seeing his Appearance Reset Potion.
"Can I buy your potion?" The girl said in a kid like tone. However, she was shocked when Las Boss shook his head to both sides hard.
"I'm sorry, but Boss needs it for himself." Shiroe sighed. "You should look in the market before everyone begins to get stuff off the market."
"But… There's one right here!" The girl shouted, pulling out several small balls.
"What?" Naotsugu asked before the girl threw them on the ground and a smokescreen covered them all. "What the fuck festival?!"
Huh? Las Boss suddenly felt something grab the potion and pull on it. No, you are not taking this! "Flaming-"
"No! Las!" Las Boss was choked from someone hitting his throat through a choke hold. "The guards will be summoned if you use a fighting technique! That would be a death festival! Game over!" Las Boss looked down, seeing Naotsugu's gauntlet against his neck with his very narrowed vision.
So what? That kid stole my potion! Oh, that's it! "Healing Wind!" Las Boss shouted unleashing a torrent of healing green wind for the smoke to the cleared. Shiroe was coughing, trying to breathe while Naotsugu looked around in shock.
Las Boss searched his surroundings, seeing surprised bystanders and a small bag full of gold coins before his feet. He collapsed to his knees, realizing that bag was the only sign the thief was once there.
"She must of had a thief type subclass," Shiroe said, his breathing heavy from his coughing. "Are you alright, Boss?"
This is not even a fourth of how much a Appearance Reset Potion is worth! Las Boss sunk his head, holding the bag of gold. At least give me the proper payment if you're going to take my only means to my old body… Though, I can't remember what I looked like except my face is roughly the same.
"That was a rude festival." Naotsugu sighed, "Though, I don't blame her for aiming for Las. He looks more like a bad guy than a hero."
"That was rude coming from you, open pervert." Shiroe said back, smirking with the scowl he got from the knight.
"You're just as villainous, Beady-Eyed Closet Pervert," Naotsugu said, pouting at the mage.
So what about looks! I just got robbed, Las Boss glared at Naotsugu before slightly flinching. Oh, now I get it. A tired, somewhat mean looking face stared back at Las Boss. Bags under the person's eyes and a pale face to match the sickly appearance of someone close to dying or been on the darker side of a city for too long. The fact it was his own pair of determined filled eyes staring back at Las Boss in Naotsugu's reflecting armor just gave him chills.
I really need to make sure never to pull so many all-nighters in a month span again… Was it a month? Las Boss let out a sigh, standing up. He put the bag of coins into his magic bag. Oh well. I gotten used to this body, so just some more training and I should be fine… But my voice…
"AAAAGH!" Shiroe and Naotsugu watched as Las Boss threw his head back, ruffling his hair in frustration.
"Calm down, Boss." Las Boss looked at Shiroe, finding the mage's hand on his shoulder. "Let's look through the markets. You have plenty of money to buy the potion if we find it?"
-Hopefully. The price is probably shooting up now as we speak.- Las Boss showed his notepad. However, Las Boss had a chill go up his spine. He noticed Shiroe tensing as well.
"Shiroe? Shiroe! Is that you?" A cheerful voice chimed.
"Huh? Who's that?" Naotsugu turned while Shiroe and Las Boss moved behind him. Las Boss saw the blond elf heading straight for them with a bright smile and bouncing melons.
"Boss…" Shiroe said, his head dropping for his glasses to hide his eyes.
Las Boss smirked with a nod to Shiroe. Activating the Anti-Hugger Shield!
"Huh? What are you two doing," Naotsugu yelped as both mages pushed the knight before them.
"I am glad I found you, Shiroe!" The elf latched onto the Guardian, hugging him without realizing it. "Huh?"
"S-Sorry. Shiroe used me as a-"
"You're the Guardian who saved me!" The elf chimed before hugging him more. "You can touch my boobs as a reward!"
"Agh! What the hell is this girl talking about," Naotsugu shouted, trying to get the woman off. "Get her off!"
"Seems Maryelle knows Naotsugu from somewhere." Shiroe chuckled.
True. Which is odd considering he just logged in after two years hiatus. Las Boss thought, but was enjoying the scene of Naotsugu struggling to get free of the mighty Sunflower of Akiba, Maryelle.
The elf was the guild master of the small guild, Crescent Moon Alliance. Even though the body of the woman was a graceful elf, Maryelle's smile and cheerful demeanor was clearly her own identity that Las Boss could recognize anywhere.
Yet, amazingly, she's still teasing now and can hug all she can with this now reality. Even in the game, she would hug other people with the hugging button. Las Boss sighed, shaking his head with remembering all the times Maryelle teased him over voice chat to try and get a response from him. However, he flinched with seeing Maryelle's attention shifted to him.
"Ah! Las Boss is here, too," Maryelle hummed happily. "Shiroe, can we talk? Ah… In a better place. It's like a funeral here."
The silence whispers around them went abuzzed, many of the others looking at them with either looks of wariness or hope. Las Boss frowned, but simply ignored the looks. He got used to such looks from when he was still in the orphanage, where suicide and depression was commonplace. That and seeing it over and over again makes you numb of it.
"Ah, yes. Where do you wish for us to go?" Shiroe asked, trying his best to focus on Maryelle and away from the lifeless eyes laid on them.
I don't blame Shiroe. It takes time to adapt to such looks. Though I gotten used it long ago, Las Boss sighed, though would like a change from the gloomy scene around them. Not even the hardened of souls could stand such conditions for long. Though, Las Boss was a bit different. I wonder how many times have I been in their shoes before?
"Let's go to the Guild Hall Building. We have plenty of private space in the Crescent Moon guild hall." Maryelle said, relief filled her voice. All three man nodded and followed her, wanting a chance to breathe without the despair crashing down around them.