"Wait. Stop." I hold my hand out, effectively stopping the girl for the moment. "Give me a second."
'2B? Explain.'
"Look at your last reward."
Doing as I am told, I scroll down with a thought.
Companion: Furina de Fontaine
Rarity: EX
'This…isn't this human trafficking?!' Feeling a bit of disgust, I feel my mood worsen.
"Ren, drop the righteous hero act, you kidnapped Meili, remember? Or, should I not bring up Beatrice too?"
'I had a good reason to do both, and you know it.' I glare at the screen.
"Then instead of assuming this is human trafficking, give the system the benefit of the doubt. If that's not enough, just ask her. That's if she isn't scared out of her wits by your outward reactions."
Looking back at the white haired girl, or Furina as she introduced herself, I notice the nervous look I'm getting. "Ahem, sorry about that, I just wasn't expecting…this." With a sigh, I force a smile. "I'm assuming you know what's happening? And, weren't just…taken away from your home without consent?"
"Y-Yes! The s-system has informed me quite clearly what has occured, and I did so willingly."
"So you know everything?" I ask, trying to meet her eyes, but she refuses to do so.
"Only the important bits?" She answers, in a tone that inspires little confidence.
"Do you at least know my name?"
"Ren Fujimura." She says proudly, reminding me of Beatrice when she gets in a prideful mood.
"Good enough." I sigh for the nth time today. "So, I have to ask, what is a companion?"
"Well, the… uh… screen! It said that companions are here to help the player out in their journey."
"So, you're forced to help me? Sounds more like a slave than a companion."
"Wh-What?! N-No, of course not…" She shakes her head. "I had a choice in the matter too, I wasn't forced into anything!"
"...That's good." I sigh, feeling far more stressed than ever.
"What is?" A cold voice reaches my ears, as I feel fear, but not for myself.
"Elsa, Don't!" Holding a knife to Furina's neck, is an unhappy Elsa.
"Kyaa!" Furina screams, struggling in vain.
"Elsa, let her go! She isn't a threat." My eyes meet the unfeeling eyes of Elsa's, and I feel relief fill me as she releases a now petrified and shaking Furina.
"Hmph. I'll be waiting for you, Ren-kun." Getting off the rock, I checked on Furina, who was now on the ground.
"Furina, I'm so sorry about that, I- '' Suddenly in a hug, I hug her back and keep quiet as she cries into my shoulder.
'She got frightened so easily, not a fighter then? In terms of team composition, both the mage and damage dealer roles have been filled out by Betty and Elsa respectively. With Meili serving as our specialist role. Where does she fit into all this?'
'And who exactly is she? To be so highly ranked by the system?'
After a few more moments, her crying is reduced to just sniffles, and I allow her to seperate. "Are you..?"
"I'm fine, thank you." She responds, the haughty tone she had gone. "Sorry about your shirt."
I could feel the wet patch on my shoulder, but waved off her worries. "It's fine, and I should be apologizing. Elsa, she's usually not…Actually, I honestly can't tell you what she's usually like, because I haven't known her for long." Standing up off the ground, I offer my hand to her. "I know we just met, so my words probably don't mean much to you, but I truly am sorry about that." Taking her hand in mine, I helped her up and off the ground.
Reputation with Furina has Increased by 15
'So even she's susceptible to the system's reputation system.' Dismissing the screen with a thought, I sigh. 'So is every man and woman I meet and befriend going to fall in love with me?' Unfortunately, I am not given an answer from the moody voice in my head this time.
"Ren, can you tell me about yourself?" She suddenly asks, still holding onto my hand.
"Sure." I lead her to the rock, as we sit down side by side. "Like you said, my name is Ren Fujimura. I don't know about yours, but my home world was…mundane. No superpowers, magic, or gods (I think), just humanity and their imaginative minds." That created this previously fictional world we're now in.
"Right before I came here, I was…I was…" Feeling a sudden headache, I realize the implications behind this sudden pain.
They had erased, distorted, or sealed my last few memories. Is this-
"Ren?"
Noticing the concerned look in Furina's eyes, I fake another smile. "Sorry, I just had a thought. Your…introduction, it seemed unlike you, especially now that we've talked more."
"Ah… That. I…I'm sorry, it was…a force of habit." She tries to smile, but grimaces instead. "...Nevermind that! You were telling me about yourself!"
Chuckling at her quick change of tune, she doesn't find the same amusement in the situation as I do as she pouts. "Sorry. I guess, there isn't much to say about me. What you see, is what you get." Sure, if you can see past the walls of lies I've created.
"Hey, that's hardly an answer!" She complains. "But…You have your reasons, and I'll respect that."
"Thank you…" I nod, but something on her outfit catches my eye. "I'm sorry, but I've been meaning to ask. What's that?" I point at the blue gem on her outfit's bow, feeling something from it.
Hydro Vision
Rank: EX
Exclusively Allows Furina De Fontaine to use Hydro Elemental Abilities.
"A…A vision? But, how…I-"
"So you know what it is?" I ask, but based on her reaction, this strange ornament of hers wasn't there before.
"Yes, but this isn't…" Focusing on it, I try to gauge whether the strange gem is magical in nature.
Feeling the air around us, I don't feel a speck of magic coming from it.
"Um, Ren? Are you listening to me?"
"Yes, elemental powers, right?" Oh, well. As long as she isn't completely useless.
A Distance away from the Camp
All I could see was red. My stomach was being pierced and rearranged by an external force. It hurts…Make it stop! It hurts, It hurts, It hurts, It hur-
"Eno-Enough!" I breathe out, as the pain soon fades away like a bad dream.
"Mou~, already?" Elsa asks disappointedly, as she sports a heavy blush on her blood stained face. "You're far more composed than you let on."
"Sh-Shut up, and get us…back." Losing strength in my legs, I fell onto her. Putting one of her arms under my legs, she begins to carry me like a princess, to which I don't blink an eye at. "And stop looking at Furina like that, you scared her enough before."
"...She's a liar." She replies, mostly uninterested. "But unlike you, she's bad at it."
"Ugh. Just trust her for now." With multiple pop-up screens from the system, I finally give them a look.
New Skill Developed!
Pain Tolerance - Lvl 1/100
Reduces Pain by 1%
You are able to think clearly while in pain.
Pain Tolerance has Leveled up! x17
'Convenient, but not necessarily needed.' Dismissing that screen, I look at the other one that popped up.
Re-equip Armor?
Y - N
Choosing yes, there wasn't any apparent physical change due to a certain setting, but I didn't have to look at my equipment screen to know my armor was on. Call it a gut feeling. Waving away that last screen, I look at my last pop-up.
Daily Quest Completed!
Give Elsa her "reward" - 1/1
Rewards - Status Recovery, 1 Gacha Coin, 3 SP
Accepting all the rewards, I immediately pull out the coin and break it in my hand. 'I have a good feeling about this.' Burning up in my hand, it disappears without a glow.
Gacha Coin Used!
Trash
Rarity: Trash
'What.' So much for a good feeling. 'Elsa must have really rearranged my guts…Ugh. Gross.'
Flugel's Tree
Stopping Clara at the foot of the tree, I hear Furina gasp from beside me. "Woah, I knew it was big from afar, but I didn't think it was this big." Phrasing.
"Hm. From what I remember, it was planted four hundred years ago?"
"Yes…How does Betty's contractor know this, I suppose?" Beatrice asks, sounding more curious than suspicious.
"I have an education?" I shrug.
"Betty is curious about her Contractor's past, In fact." Great, that's two now.
"I've been meaning to ask. Is that like your thing?" Observing the tree carefully, a screen appears before me, effectively breaking my gaze.
Conditions Met!
Would you like to open [The World Tree and The Tree Elves] Dungeon?
Y - N
"Thing? Explain, blue…girl."
Staring at the screen, a thought hits me. 'How the hell do I explain a dungeon to them? And, that's if they can enter with me. If they can't, how do I explain my disappearance once I reappear much later?'
"Hey, I have a na-"
"Fuck it." Selecting Y, the change is instant as a giant door appears at the base of the tree.
Dungeon Key Used!
The doors are blasted open by an unknown force, as we all stare at the unexplainable phenomena. "Well, let's go! Onwards to the World Tree!" I move on, directing Clara to move inside the tree, she does as asked, trusting in me.
"What?!" I hear from both Meili and Beatrice.
The World Tree, Forest Trail
'Normal trees within a gigantic tree, That's interesting.' To say this place was a sight to behold was an understatement, but I had neither the time nor the will to appreciate its beauty at the moment.
"Woah, this place is…" Slowing our pace, I let everyone absorb the sights, while I absorb the text on the screen that just appeared.
New Quest!
The World Tree - Part 1
Objective:
Find the Tree Elves - Incomplete
Further Objectives Are Hidden Until Prior Objectives Are Completed
Rewards - Skill Book, 5 Gacha Coins, 20 SP, 30000 EXP
'So the quest is split into parts, eh? Looks like this'll be even longer than I thought.' Stopping the cart, I hear…something. "Elsa?" I turn in her direction, and find her with a smile I'm all too familiar with. Too bad she won't like what I'm about to tell her. "During our stay here, I'd like for you to stay on the backline protecting everyone else." I don't provide a reason, because I don't need to.
Ignoring her less than pleased frown, I turn to my right. "Beatrice?"
"Yes?"
"Don't get mad." Grabbing her by the waist, I put her over my shoulder. Hopping out of the driver's seat, I landed a few meters away. "I'll be back, so don't go too far!"
"Wai-" Jumping into the tree line, I activate Magical Reinforcement, and begin to weave around the trees.
"Stop it, I suppose!" Jumping onto a tree branch, I come to a halt. Setting her down beside me, I put a finger to her lips as I soon pointed out the clearing ahead of us.
A large encampment was ahead, and inside said encampment was a large amount of green, pig looking…monsters. 'Observe.'
Orc
Level: 40
An Invasive monster species that "preys" upon Elven Women.
'Prey upon? Why the quotations?'
"Let me go! You damn mons-! Kyah!" Looking down at the entrance, I notice a small group of Orcs bringing in a tied up woman, probably an elf if the orc description is to be believed.
There's probably an odd fifty of these things inside, and since I brought Beatrice along this should be a cinch. "Hey, Beatrice?" Looking over at her, I notice the way she looked at the Orcs, with absolute disgust and prejudice. 'Looks like I don't need to convince her.' "Shall we?" I offer my hand, which she takes with a sigh.
"Murak."
Landing gracefully at their camp's front entrance, the one keeping guard immediately takes notice. "Intrud-!"
"Minya." With a Yin crystal now in its forehead, I move on as I'm awarded xp for simply being alongside my spirit.
"Again. Prioritize precision over power, since there are captives." I ordered.
"Minya." Gone were the two that were standing around, but so was our stealth as a large group came out of a tent.
"Intruders! Oink!" They squealed disgustingly.
Running at us, they only used melee weapons, which resulted in them being mowed down by the Minya turret named Betty.
Now with the entire camp beginning to fall like dominoes, I hear a gruff voice coming from behind a large group that hadn't approached us. "Move."
"Prepare some more, Beatrice."
Walking out the crowd, is a scarred orc with war paint all over its body. "You. No. Elf." He speaks, with a snort between each word.
"You want a cookie?" I mock, unimpressed.
Gergur, Orc Chieftain
Level: 60
"Kill!"
Not necessarily interested in a slightly bigger orc and his unimpressive "army", I give Beatrice the go ahead. "Don't miss."
"El Minya."
You have Defeated:
Orc x 57
Orc Chieftain
You Have Leveled Up! x4
'Sweet.' Dismissing that window, I feel my shoulders relax as most of the tension disappears.
With my adrenaline high gone, my sense of smell seems to return, as I breathe in one of the most putrid smells possible. "Ugh…The hell?" Pinching my nose shut, I look around for what may be the cause.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I'm unable to find the source. "Let's find the captive and leave, Betty can hardly stand the stench any longer."
"Yeah." Our search isn't long as we head towards where we heard the most noise. The largest tent in the camp.
Opening the tent flap, I quickly shut it so that Beatrice doesn't see it. "...What is the matter, I suppose?"
The image was as clear as day, women, naked and… 'Those fucking monsters.'
"Beatrice, stay here. Don't follow me, please." Walking in, the smell only seems to get worse.
Approaching the prone forms of the elven women, I'm suddenly pushed onto the ground and straddled at knife point. "I'll kill you, you mons-Ack!" Punching her off me, I sigh.
"Do I look like a monster to you, woman?" I ask as I get up, to the now visibly surprised elf, and judging by her attire, the same one from earlier at the entrance. "No, don't answer that."
Ignoring her for now, I cast Observe on the unmoving elves on the ground.
Maya
Level 30
[X] Press Here To View Stats
One of the Elf Queen's Hunters.
Status Effects:
Pregnant - A (50%) Decrease In All Stats
Full Of Liquids - A (75%) Decrease In Agility, Endurance, and Strength
Broken Will - Unresponsive, ???
Most of the other screens that appeared were much the same, which was a depressing fact. "Y-You're a human?!"
Looking back at the elf I punched, I notice the commonality between the tree elves. Blonde hair. "I am. What? Still going to kill me?"
"N-No! I'm sorry, I thought you-"
"Well, you thought wrong." I sigh. "Listen, you seem to be fine, and…untouched. Do you know how to fix this?"
The elf frowns, a dark look appearing in her eyes. "No. There isn't. Once the… thing in their stomach gains a conscience, it'll eat right through them to get out."
That is… "Disgusting, I suppose."
"Beatrice! I thought I told you to stay outside!"
"Hmph! Betty isn't a child you need to coddle, Betty is very aware of this world's cruelty." She glares.
"A…A great spirit!" Suddenly the elf kneels before Beatrice, making said spirit roll her eyes.
"...Please…kill…us…" We all hear from the elves.
"...I shall grant your request, In fact."
"Beatrice, No!"
"Minya."
To Be Continued…
Beatrice, Yes!