"Well, I think we found out what killed those two players." I remark grimly, watching the three Nepenthes. Like a staring contest, the three carnivorous plants stared my party down. All three were about 10 meters away. I look to my left to see Harry One and Issin shift uncomfortably.
"How do you like our odds?" Klein asks from my right. I turn to look at him, making sure to keep an eye on the Nepenthes. Fortunately, they didn't seem to be taking any hostile action so far..
"We can take them as long as we play cautiously." I answer back, biting my lip. I had a plan. But when the lives of others are in your hands, it becomes a lot harder to motivate oneself to put those plans into motion.
If we don't execute properly, or someone messes up, or another Nepenthe gets behind us, we very likely will lose lives. I think to myself. I run down a mental checklist.
There were three enemies. All three were of the same type. They were all about 10 meters away and spread out from each other by what looked to be maybe six or seven meters. From the previous engagement, I knew they could spit some sort of fluid that must be toxic or acidic or both. They also had two appendages by which to strike an opponent. In such a case, the best option would be…
"Klein, you're with me. We're going up the middle, targeting the center Nepenthe. We need to neutralize its appendages, keep it busy. Otherwise, it will pose a threat to the others." I begin issuing orders. Klein nods and grips his sword determinedly. Dale, Issin, and Artoria, you're moving up the left to take the one on the left. I want Issin to advance up the middle, be mindful of the fluids it spits. I don't want to find out what that does to a person. Dale, you'll advance up the left flank and operate both as an anchor and to neutralize its right appendage. Artoria, you will advance up right of Issin to take the Nepenthe's left flank and try to get in to kill it. It looks like that thin spot, below the pitcher might be a good place to put your blade." I carefully direct my left flank, earning a group of nods of understanding.
"So, my job is to lock it down and prevent it from moving, correct?" Dale confirms. I nod.
"Correct. If they get closer to each other, we run the risk of overlapping lanes of attack, which would overwhelm us." I explain carefully, watching the Nepenthes. The one on the right had started to move away, thankfully, but the one on the left was advancing towards us.
"Kunimittz! Up the middle on the right, mirror Issin!" I shout quickly, worried whether we might get pressed into a fight before my formations were assembled. "Harry One up the far right to lock down the left flank and prevent movement! Dynamm up the right side on the left to try to down the Nepenthe from its right!" I quickly issue the orders and my party quickly arranges themselves into their groups.
"Alright! Let's go! Mind their projectiles! They will swell their pitchers before they shoot!" I shout as I charge. Klein charges with me, with my flank groups spreading out to charge the other Nepenthes.
As we charge, the Nepenthe on the left swells its pitcher and fires. Issin seemed to have been ready however, and he dodges to the left, avoiding the liquid projectile as it flies past. I hear a smack as Harry blocks a swing with his sword, advancing aggressively on the Nepenthe.
"It's gonna fire!" Klein shouts as the Nepenthe in front of us swells its own pitcher. I charge forward while jumping to the right, allowing me to continue my advance as it fires and misses. Klein dodges to the left. Within range now, I raise my sword as the Nepenthe swings its left tentacle-like appendage at me. My blade blocks the blow and I feel the weight through my wrists into my arms. The blow had more strength than one would think a plant could muster. I look at Klein as he deflects a blow moments later, before advancing on the Nepenthe to get within its guard.
"Careful, Kunimittz!" I hear Dynamm shout as Kunimittz rolls aside to avoid a shot from their Nepenthe. Meanwhile, I roll aside to avoid another swing from the Nepenthe in front of me. I make a horizontal swing at the Nepenthe but am forced to dodge aside before I can complete the swing. Klein however gets a light slash across the Nepenthe's side, draining a small portion of its healthbar. The Nepenthe, having taken damage, turns to face Klein and I take my chance, making another horizontal swing at its stalk. The blow connects, and I watch as the healthbar drains and drains and hits zero. The Nepenthe goes down.
I look over to see Dynamm finishing off the other Nepenthe while Harry keeps it occupied. Looking over at Issin's team however, they were struggling to get through the Nepenthe's guard. I nod to Klein and charge over, getting behind the Nepenthe. I take a swing at the Nepenthe's stalk, damaging the plant and earning its attention. That affords an opening, and as I dodge the first swing and block the second from the Nepenthe, Artoria and Issin bring their blades down, finishing the Nepenthe off.
Panting, I look over as a charging Dynamm and Kunimittz slow down to a walk. Klein and Issin cheer. I let out a sigh. Fighting was turning out to be more energy consuming than I thought.
"Everyone alright?" I ask, looking everyone over.
"Issin got grazed." Artoria reports. I look over at Issin to see a glowing red slash along his upper arm.
"You alright?" I ask Issin. He grins and nods.
"Yeah, I'm good. Stings and burns a bit though." He replies, chuckling. I look at his health bar. He was still green, having only lost about eight percent of his health. Confirming he wasn't critical, I nod.
"Good call on that formation. Are you sure you only have two years of simulation game experience?" Klein asks and I turn to look at him.
"Promise." I reply and he nods.
"Must be a natural then." He compliments me.
"Thanks." I nod politely.
I'm really not. I'm just all that was available. I'm just doing what I've always done. Besides, if I was any good, I would actually be able to bring some of my friends home alive. I think to myself as I check the clearing to make sure there wasn't anything else to surprise us. Fortunately, I find nothing.
"I say we take a brief rest here. Let Issin recover and allow us to catch our breath." I say, looking around at the party. Issin and Kunimittz nod.
"I agree. Taking point can be tiring." Kunimittz agrees.
"Thanks… sorry for the trouble, guys." Issin states. Klein shakes his head.
"Not your fault. Besides, it's better to rest than regret it in a fight." Klein says as Artoria, Harry, and Dale sit down. I sheathe my katana and sit down a little away from the group. I rub my face and yawn.
Maybe starting this quest tonight was a bad idea. I'm getting tired. I think as my stomach growls and I frown. And no food either. Not exactly ideal questing conditions. Guess I screwed the pooch there.
As I think, I hear footsteps and look up to see Klein walking over. He sits down across from me. He waves politely. I nod back, wondering what brought him over.
"I wanted to thank you." Klein says.
"For what? Not really done anything to earn thanks or gratitude really." I reply, cocking my head. There really was no reason for him to thank me. At least, not that came to mind.
"You have taught me to fight, and organized my friends. I was scared to leave the Town of Beginnings. All of my friends were really. But you dragged us out, organized us and so far, things are going great. I actually… no, we are actually confident that maybe we'll make it through things yet. So, sincerely, thanks for taking us with you." Klein explains, bowing his head gratefully. I stare at him in shock. A jolt of pain shoots through my chest.
Don't… don't thank me. Please. I'm not a good leader or a good person. I'm just a mediocrity that's good at staying alive on the blood of others. Feelings of disgust rush over me as I think.
"See? I figured it out… the reason I keep appearing again and again around you all." Musashi states, her characteristic grin on her face, as if there wasn't a single issue in the world to worry about. Bathed in reds and orange in the ruined temple, from the blazing eye peering down on us from a rent in the universe, Musashi laughed.
"I never thought I'd find the thing I had yet to slice here!" Musashi continues happily, with a sense of excitement radiating from her ever chipper voice.
"What? Hold on a minute, Musashi. What do you mean?" I interject, glancing up at the sky above, then at that smile of hers. In this moment, it didn't seem so happy after all. It seemed lonely.
"Sorry, but no-can-do, Ritsuka. We're pressed for time here and waiting on bureaucracy isn't my cup of tea." Musashi replies, smiling as she speaks firmly, assertively.
"Everyone in Olympus, all the other heroic spirits like Artoria and Helena and Tesla gave it all for this moment. To save Proper Human History. I get it. I'm not of this history, or yours. But, you gave me a place in Chaldea, and that's the closest thing to home I have had. I lost my world, and despite trying to get back… so so so many times all I ended up in many different other worlds. Drifting between worlds, I would just jump through these lights, rifts into other worlds, hoping… hoping that this one would be the one that brought me home. I ran into you in Shimousa doing just that. But that's just it. Those entrances kept closing, each time a world rejected me, that world was shut… and so slowly… ever so gradually, the number of rifts, of other worlds, dwindled." Musashi speaks, her voice so soft, lonely, and painful. It made my heart crack bit by bit. Yet, she kept smiling. Even though I knew it was just a mask, that she was lonely, and had nowhere to go. She continued to smile, for me, for us. So that we could all pretend things were alright.
"What are you saying, Musashi?" I ask, my voice cracking as I try to not break. Not in front of her. She just shakes her head.
"It's obvious isn't it. Eventually, I'd run out of worlds to go to. I tried to deny that truth for as long as possible but that's the fact. There wasn't a place for me anywhere. In any world." Musashi explains.
"What the fuck do you mean!? There's a place for you with us! You belong here! Don't you say there isn't a place for you… it's not true… it's too… it's too damn sad." I snap back at her, trying to force anger to cover that I wanted to cry. Musashi just smiles and shakes her head.
"That doesn't make sense now does it. My world was probably a lostbelt, and so of course I couldn't go back. My world was already gone, and I had become a wanderer, a space-time nomad with no home. It's not like I didn't try to find a home. There were some nice worlds out there. Did you know I had a son in one? Not… by me myself. But… a Miyamoto Iori." She says, laughing. "So of course, I'd try to settle down and call such places home." She continues as I stare at the orange and red bathed ground of the ruined temple.
"I ran from reality. Living in those other worlds, I could pretend that the truth wasn't there-" Musashi explains as Mash interrupts her.
"You said that you stopped ending up in other worlds though." Mash interjects, and Musashi looks at her with a smile.
"Correct Mash. Recall what she mentioned in Russia, that she only managed to revisit our world through Shimousa. That means her world shifting is finit-" Holmes explains, but I shout at him. I didn't want to hear that bullshit.
"Cut the shit, Holmes!" I snap at him, eliciting a laugh from Musashi.
"Wow, you're getting so angry." Musashi says, laughing, seemingly actually amused. I look at her.
Don't… Don't laugh at that. You shouldn't laugh at that. Goddammit, get angry! You deserve better! I think to myself, gritting my teeth until my gums hurt. But then her smile softened and she looked at me with such sincere eyes. My heart was crumbling, and it felt like my throat had locked up.
"Thank you, Ritsuka. Genuinely. For getting angry on my behalf." She thanks me. I hadn't done anything. Nothing to deserve praise. She had saved me time and time again. Why the hell was I the one being thanked? Of course I was angry!
"But don't worry about me. This is my 15 minutes of fame. Besides, you've been with me long enough. This is just how I am! So, for being there, for being such a good friend… I'm going to repay you. I'll do right by you and do this right." Musashi speaks softly, warmly, smiling fondly. But I can't meet her gaze. This was just Shimousa all over again. It was Ereshkigal all over again.
"Kaze?" Klein asks me, breaking me out of my reverie. "You alright?"
"Oh, right! Sorry. Just got lost in thought. Been a busy day with a lot to think about." I smile and nod reassuringly. I recall the conversation.
"And don't mention it. I was just doing the right thing and strength in numbers is a real thing too, after all." I say, smiling. Klein seems to be reassured and nods.
"Well, thanks again." He smiles, thanking me again. I nod and bow my head politely.
"So, how did you and Artoria meet?" Klein asks. I blink and look at him, then at Artoria, who was laughing as Harry told a joke. I look back at Klein.
"Oh? Artoria and I? We met in a game. I helped her with a quest and we hit it off from there. Now we regularly do things together." I explain. Klein nods
"So… are you two like… together?" Klein asks, holding up two fingers. I stare at him, feeling my face get a bit warm.
"Oh! Together? Like that? No. Not at all." I reply, shaking my head and laughing.
"Really? You two just seemed close, so I figured you two were a pair." Klein responds. I again shake my head.
"Hardly. We just get along well. Similar interests and similar jobs. We both work in repairs." I explain. Technically it wasn't a lie after all. Klein nods and looks at Artoria, then back at me.
"Alright. Sorry if I embarrassed you or touched on a sensitive topic." Klein says and wave off his concerns.
"Nah, you didn't." I assure him. I look at the others and nod. "We should get going. Everyone looks recovered and rested." I comment. Klein looks at me, surprised at the topic change.
"Right, we probably should." He replies, standing up. I stand up as well. The others, noticing us get up, stand up.
"We moving out?" Dynamm asks. I look at him and nod.
"Correct. Time to get back to the quest." I answer, then look at Issin.
"How are you doing?" I ask. Issin gives me a thumbs up and grins.
"I'm fine. I'm recovered now!" He replies. I nod and stretch reflexively. Though, stretching probably didn't do much good in a game. I sigh and look around.
"We'll double around and start heading east from here. If we don't get an ovule by the time we get back out of the forest, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow." I explain as the others nod and listen.
"Sounds good to me." Klein agrees. "I'm getting a bit tired after all." He adds.
"Me too. Heading back seems wise." Artoria agrees with Klein. The others nod, affirming that they feel similar. I nod and turn east and begin leading the group out of the clearing and back into the dark forest.
Who knew hunting quests were still tiresome and tedious even when it's practically real life. I think to myself. Artoria catches up to me, walking alongside me.
"So, what were you and Klein talking about?" She asks me, looking up at me.
"He thanked me for taking him and his party with us, then he asked how we met. I told him we met in a game." I explain as Artoria listens, looking ahead. She nods.
"Really? Just that? Seemed you were talking for longer." She comments, and I shake my head.
"I may have spaced out for a bit." I reply, eliciting an odd look from Artoria.
"What?" I ask. But she shakes her head.
"Nothing." She responds and drops back a few steps, leaving me alone on point. I shrug my shoulders.
What was that look for? I wonder to myself as I keep walking. As I walk, my mind begins to wander and I begin to recall the events of earlier today. Kayaba Akihiko was the creator of this world. But what did he mean by saying he wanted to intervene in it? Were we going to have some digital divine intervention? Also, what were his motives and why did he need such drastic parameters such as trapping players in the game with genuine permanent death in game and real life? The singularities, I could understand. Goetia wanted to remake the world and to do so, he had to collect enough energy. The Lostbelts likewise made sense. Simply being failed alternative worlds, there wasn't a motive there. The foreign god and crypters had a motive, but the methods they worked through, that is the Lostbelts, made sense. But this was not such a case. It was entirely illogical. What did Akihiko gain by trapping us that he couldn't gain from simply running the game normally? He didn't exactly sound cruel or sadistic. Was it a simple god complex? Were we trapped here as essentially followers of his little attempt at god? Or was there something else at play?
I just can't make heads or tails of it. He makes no sense. I think to myself, chewing my lip. Simply put, his behavior wasn't anything like a Crypter or Lostbelt King, despite those being what I feel he should be compared to, based on what thus far is known about him. I shake my head, unable to come up with any conclusions.
"What are you thinking about?" Dale asks, having walked up alongside me without my noticing. I start and look at him. "Sorry if I surprised you." He comments, noticing my surprise.
"Ah, no worries. I just… I've been thinking and I just can't figure out Akihiko's motive. He said he wanted to create and intervene in this world but like… what did he mean by that? That could be interpreted in a myriad of different ways." I answer, explaining my thoughts as Dale looks at me, listening and nodding. He scratches his chin and looks ahead, thinking.
"Can't say I understand either. But Akihiko, in the interviews, fancied himself a visionary of sorts and saw full dive virtual reality as an untapped world of potential. So it probably has to do with his view of the technology as a whole." Dale responds, then shrugs and laughs. "But I guess only he knows. We just need to get out of here. No use pondering the motives of our tormentor." He continues. I nod and shrug.
"Yeah, you're right. I'm overthinking it." I reply and chuckle.
A visionary huh? Lovely. Paracelsus was one of those. Visionaries are the worst. They will do anything under the sun in the name of their vision. I think grimly to myself. As I think, I notice movement to my left and stop. I look to my left and Dale pauses to follow my gaze. About 15 meters away was a Nepenthe, but it was different, with a flower on top. As I stare, the rest of the party walks up and takes notice as well.
"Well, there's another one." Dynamm comments plainly. But Artoria nods and grins.
"It has a flower. It probably has an ovule then!" Artoria comments. Klein looks at her.
"Finally! A lucky find then! Shall we get on with it then?" Klein comments, drawing his sword. I nod and draw my sword.
"Yeah. Same strategy, but this time, Kunimittz and Artoria are to take the front, while Dynamm and Dale move up the right and Issin and Harry move up the left." I state as I observe the Nepenthe. It hadn't seemed to notice us yet. "Klein and I will provide support." I add.
"Right!" Kunimittz responds as everyone draws their blades.
"I want to sleep tonight so let's not delay!" I shout as I move forward. The rest of the party explodes forward. Everyone splits into their teams quickly, used to the strategy at this point. The blast of poison or whatever it was is deftly dodged by Artoria and Kunimittz while Dale and Harry handle the swinging appendages, creating openings for Issin and Dynamm to use mirrored horizontal slashes along the stem of the plant, dispatching it deftly. The Nepenthe bursts into particles and I look at the rest of the party.
"These things are a cinch once you actually get used to the strategy." Harry states. Klein laughs.
"Right? That went smoothly!" Klein cheers, giving a high five to Issin and Dale.
"I got an ovule in my inventory!" Dynamm reports, walking over to me and handing me the ovule. "You're the one with the quest, so you take it." He says, stepping back.
"Thanks. Let's get out of here! I'm about tired of this gloomy forest." I say, looking at the group, eliciting a round of cheers and nods.
"Wish we had money for drinks, we'll need to plan a belated victory party!" Issin states as we begin moving east, with our spirits high as returning victors. I sigh, smiling.
Glad that I have a party. I doubt I'd have done so well on my own. Without the Storm Border, it's rather lonely and I have no direction. I think to myself as we pass through the forest.
"So, Kaze! Do you have any siblings?" Harry asks, walking up alongside me. I look at him for a moment before looking forward.
"I do not. I am an only child. My life story is pretty boring. Only child. Small town. My high school wasn't even a true high school, it was basically an attached department to the university." I explain.
Though, I only spent a year at the high school before ending up in the ass end of the world. I think to myself as Harry nods.
"We all are from Tokyo, so I can't say that sounds like too familiar of an experience." Harry replies with a chuckle. I laugh.
"Fair. I've only been in Tokyo for a little bit. I transferred schools. Though, I guess I'm now a shut-in, involuntarily, thanks to SAO. Tokyo's a big change for me." I explain, earning a chuckle from Harry.
I never thought I'd have to build up such a web of lies. Is this going to be my life when I finally leave Chaldea? I think to myself and as I do, the thought of leaving Chaldea sends a shiver up my spine. But Chaldea is where my friends are. You never know what is out there in the world. My thoughts darken and I frown. Harry looks at me.
"What is it?" He asks.
"Ah, just thinking about what my family must be thinking right now." I say, shrugging and dashing the thoughts. Harry nods.
"Good point. The real world must be melting down right now over this situation." Harry responds.
"I just hope I don't starve to death on the other side. I know Klein was going to get pizza but I was planning to run down to a konbini myself after doing some light exploring." I comment, wondering how my body is doing in the real world.
"Well, if you go AFK, I guess we'll know things aren't going to well." Harry jokes, laughing. I laugh along.
"True. What happens if you die in the real world but not here? Do you just freeze in place?" I wonder out loud.
"I dunno. I wouldn't want to find out though. I like being alive." Harry replies. I nod.
"Ditto." I chuckle.
"Oh! I can see the edge of the forest!" Klein calls out suddenly, rushing up alongside me, pointing forward. I focus and realize he is right. We were nearing the exit of the woods. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Well, I'll be damned. Freedom at last!" I chuckle. Artoria runs up and ahead of me, quickly reaching the forest edge. She turns to look at us, silhouetted by the moonlight. She waves us over, encouraging us to move faster. Klein and I laugh and speed up to a fast walk to reach her. Stepping out into the open again, I look around for the village.
"Guess that's one quest behind us now." Harry comments, soon catching up to us while the others slowly arrive.
"Careful you don't jinx us." Dynamm comments, walking up. "We haven't turned the quest in yet."
"Correct. Let's be on the lookout just in case until we turn the quest in." I state, spotting the village and beginning to walk in its direction.
The walk back to the village passes in silence. With the rush of the quest wearing off, people were yawning and eyelids were growing heavier. I catch myself yawning and wondering when I will sleep in a real bed with nice soft linens again. In my nearly two years at Chaldea, it was my humble bed that had become the real treasure to look forward to after missions.
After a short walk, we reach the village and approach the house where I had received the quest. I turn around and face the others, and look at Klein.
"If you would be willing to, could you go find a place for us to camp out? I'll turn in this quest with Artoria and then be on my way over." I say. Klein nods.
"Sure thing. See you in a few." Klein replies and turns to head for the northern side of the village, with everyone except for Artoria following him. I then look at Artoria, nod, and turn towards the house and walk up to the front door. I open the door, letting Artoria inside before following her inside.
Inside the house, nothing had changed. As I step into the common living space, the woman walks downstairs and looks at us.
"Oh, welcome back. Do you have the ovule?" The woman asks hopefully as I nod, taking the ovule out of my inventory and handing it to her.
"Yes, we do. Please, take it. May it help your daughter." I reply with a smile.
"Thank you! Thank you!" The woman replies, smiling gratefully and happily. Artoria smiles softly. "I will be right back…" The woman continues, leaving and entering another room. I look at Artoria.
"That's one quest complete." I state, smiling and offering her a high-five. She returns the high-five. The woman returns from the room carrying a sword.
"This sword has been in my family for many generations. Please, take it. It's all I can give for you saving my daughter." The woman says, walking up and handing the sword. I take it, placing the sword, apparently dubbed 'Anneal Blade' in my inventory.
"Thank you, mam. Please, take care and I hope your daughter gets better." I bow my head as I speak politely. The woman smiles.
"Thank you young adventurers." The woman replies before turning to head upstairs. I look at Artoria and nod, signaling to leave. I head for the door, heading outside with Artoria. I then look at Artoria and take the sword out of my inventory.
"Here, for you." I offer her the sword. She takes it.
"You don't want it? I have a sword now." She replies as she equips it. I shake my head.
"No thank you. Not my style." I answer, patting my katana for emphasis. She nods.
"Well, thank you. I'm probably not the best choice for this, but thanks." She responds. I thump her on the head.
"Nah, you're perfect for it. Now, come on. Let's go meet up with the others." I comment, earning a faint blush from the meek girl as I begin walking north after Klein.
It doesn't take long to find Klein. They are just off the road maybe 50 meters north of the village. I walk over. Klein and Dale are standing around talking while the others are sitting and chatting quietly among themselves.
"Quest complete!" I call out, catching the attention of the party as they look at me and grin.
"Well, that puts us with our first quest well and truly behind us then!" Klein responds, clapping briefly. "I found a spot for us to camp, though we lack any gear to camp." Klein adds. I shake my head and shrug.
"Frankly, I could sleep anywhere right now. But just in case, we should take turns in watches." I comment, yawning and sitting in the grass. Artoria walks a little further into the grass and sits down.
"I was thinking the same." Klein concurs, nodding.
"I'll take first watch then." Dynamm speaks up, raising his hand to confirm his volunteering. Klein looks at him.
"Thanks Dynamm." Klein responds as Dale raises his hand.
"I can take second watch." Dale volunteers. Klein nods.
Steadily, who is on watch is sorted out. I end up with the last watch, with Artoria being the person before me to keep watch. With watch sorted out, everyone spreads out, lying down while Dynamm leans up against a fence post. I lay down and stare at the night sky, reflecting on the day as I yawn once more.
What a day it has been… I think to myself as my eyelids grow heavier.