Volume 2: Samurai Hunting

Chapter 10: Ambushed by a Magician

Since Dragon’s Krone first started their service, there has been a constant cycle with various version updates, and so we end up with today’s version.
From adding Dungeons or Areas, to adding new Mobs and raw materials, and new items that could be crafted from said materials. But even among those things, the thing that the players demanded the most, and the thing that was swiftly implemented, was better usability for the Livestreaming and Browsing. Several improvements to Livestreaming has been made since the early days.
Although the basic feature of paying in-game currency,「Manila[1]」, to view livestreams and videos was implemented into the system upon release, since then there has been many changes. Services such as「Stream Viewer Rankings」and「Search Functions」,「The Ability to Subscribe to Channels」, a genre system that placed video content into「Category Settings」, many things such as these were added onto the streaming service later on.

In the current day, there were countless numbers of genres that you could broadcast under in Dragon’s Krone.
Of course the genre that Aran streamed under, “Mob Subjugation”, was very popular among streamers and listeners, but another genre with deep-rooted fans was「Manufacturing」broadcasts.

Since there was no Cla.s.s dedicated to crafting and manufacturing in Dragon’s Krone, as long as you possessed the crafting designs known as a「Recipe」along with the necessary materials then it was possible for anyone to manufacture goods. If you possessed the one essential material for a Recipe, in other words a「Key Item」, then you could go to one of the many “Book Shops” and acquire the a.s.sociated Recipe.
Manufacturing livestreams had a high level of practicality to them. Teaching you how to unlock a recipe by showing you the Key Item needed, Introducing the production process for a Rare Recipe, and also, listing places where you could go to obtain the materials you need. Manufacturing streams covered a wide-variety of subjects.

「Suzu～, Did you find any～?」
「Not yet～」

Multiple fragments of light were s.h.i.+ning through the cracks in the tree line, desperately searching for something in the thicket were two Players.
The small elf with dark skin, Megu, and contrasting her was a girl with snow-white skin, Suzu.
This place was an Area that resided slightly to the West of the port city Crescendo, the two were in a clearing in the「Rabasta Woodlands」. After Players had progressed beyond Crescendo’s surroundings, this Area was the next place they visited. From low level Mobs to higher ranked ones such as Goblin-type 「Forest Goblins」and cannibalistic plants known as 「Man Eaters」, the Mobs here were one step above those at Crescendo.
However, the reason Players visited this Area wasn’t solely to level up.
An essential item, especially for low level Players. Here in this Area, it was possible to collect ingredients for crafting Healing Medicines.

「Hey, how many of these “Forest Herbs” do we need to make those healing medicines?」
「I think it was 2, but I want to collect as much as possible. I want to make enough for everyone after all」
「Oh yea, you never know when something like yesterday might happen again huh~」

The two of them, Suzu and Megu, had come to the Rabasta Woodlands for this very purpose.
The「Something Like Yesterday」 that Megu had mentioned, she was referring to a certain “accident” that occurred when their usual Party challenged a Dungeon not far off from Crescendo.
The person on tank duty, the Knight-cla.s.s Yamabuki, had failed his job of Aggro Control, and the Mobs changed their targets to Megu and Suzu. Suzu was unable to keep up her healing magic and the party was in danger of getting wiped out.
Luckily, due to Edgar’s efforts, they were able to escape danger by a hair’s margin. ‘As a back-up, everyone should keep some healing medicine on reserve in case of an emergency,’ Suzu had such an idea.

「”Better to be safe than Sorry” is what they always say right」
「Yeah~, I guess so, but this place has some pretty strong Mobs so wouldn’t it be better to bring someone along? Like Yamabuki…… Or maybe, someone like Ed~?」
「……ッ!」

‘In a certain sense, They’re both “Knights” right~’ Megu said with a grin.

「W-We shouldn’t go asking Edgar-kun and the others to help with these ch.o.r.es you know. Ch.o.r.es like these should be done by us rear-guard members, right?」
「Well, I get what you’re saying but…… Hey, what’s that suppose to mean! I am a spending member of the vanguard you know! I’m just in the rear because it’s dangerous for me to be in front!」
「Hmm, I wonder about that」
「Uwaa, How mean! It’s true that I haven’t been doing much lately, but still!」
「a ha ha, I’m kidding, I’m kidding」

Joking with each other, the sound of their laughter spread out and filled the dense forest.
Megu and Suzu have known each other since they enrolled at Kasumigaoka High-School. Their personalities were the complete opposite from one another, but, perhaps they were drawn to each other because each of them had what the other one lacked. Before they knew it, they were doing just about everything together.
Of course, the same could be said even now after Megu had invited Suzu to play Dragon’s Krone.
Even though they played together with Andou and Yamabuki a number of times, there were also many times where the two of them would have their so-called「Girl’s Time」; strolled around together and having fun conversations.

「Oh hey, are you streaming today too?」
「I am, the audio is turned off though…… Oh, I found another Forest Herb~」

Suzu replied as a smile came over her face.

「I wonder about it every time, but we’re just making healing medicine by following the normal course that anyone can do, will someone really watch your stream?」
「I’m not streaming for someone to watch you know. I’m using it to record what places we’ve been and where the ingredients drop. It’s sort of like taking notes.」
「……What’s that. Kinda like a journal of where we’ve gone?」
「Yeah. Also, if we find a place where Mobs sp.a.w.n that’s not indicated on the Wiki, or if we get some rare ingredients on our way, we’d want to remember where stuff like that happened, right?」

It was not just this time, but every time Suzu went harvesting for ingredients she would start a livestream.
Starting a livestream costed some of the in-game currency Manila, but there are quite a few Players like Suzu who use streams in place of a daily activities log.
There were also a variety of ways to use the videos. It could be used to record the places where ingredients are, but if you recorded a battle against Mobs then you could study your opponents attack patterns, and you could also revise and review your own way of fighting.

「Hmmm, I see. Suzu is smart huh. Maybe I should do it too」
「It might be a perfect fit for Megu since you don’t have any sense of direction」
「Yea yea, like that…… Hey, I don’t want to be told that by an airheaded like you!」

Along with Megu’s snarling rant, Suzu’s light laugh echoed out into the forest.
──And, it was in that moment.
A rustle, from behind the two was something pus.h.i.+ng its way through the foliage.

「……ッ!!」

Faster than Suzu could react, Megu had brandished her twin daggers in an instant, and widened her stance.
But, the only thing Megu saw before her was a dimly lit forest.
All there was were trees being swayed by the wind.
There was no one to be found.

「Megu, that sound just now-」
「……Something is here huh」

Sensing something, Suzu started chanting the defensive magic【Scutum I】just in case.
If a Mob had gotten close the them, then it would be a Forest Goblin, or a Man Eater.
It isn’t an opponent the two of us can’t defeat, but we’ve collected enough Forest Herbs already, so we should hurry up and return to Crescendo.
Suzu had come to such a conclusion, and was about to call out to Megu. It was then when-

「My apologies. Did I startle you?」
「……ッ!」

With a rustling sound, emerging from inside the bushes was a lone Player.
Based on looks alone the two of them could tell it was a high level player. Wearing an expensive looking red robe with a hood attached, was a Tall Female──
Flowing out from her hood was long curly black-hair, her exposed chest was quite voluptuous, a Woman with the cla.s.s “Wizard”. Displayed above her was the name「Timber」.

「You were in the middle of harvesting huh. Sorry for getting in your way」
「N-No……We were thinking of heading back soon anyways」
「Fumu, is that so」

Although she didn’t seem threatening, for some reason Suzu was overwhelmingly unnerved.
Perhaps because she felt the same way, Megu still stood with her daggers at the ready.

「Uhmm……Timber-san, are you also here to harvest?」
「No, I’m not here for that per se…… Your name is…… Suzu?」

Saying those words, the Female Wizard, Timber, slowly lowered her hood.
It was too dark to see clearly, but the two of them could make out the particular characteristics of Timber’s Avatar.
Her pupils were slender like that of a cat’s, and the whites of her eyes were instead dyed the color black. Her white pupil bewitchingly contrasted against the black exterior. Similar to Megu, she possessed dark skin. An Avatar of the Demon Race.

「Is something wrong with my name?」
「……This might be an awkward question, but, did you guys partic.i.p.ate in the Grand Mission the other day?」
「Eh? Grand Mission?」
「The Quest for the Mist Witch Lookout」
「……We did partic.i.p.ate, but what of it?」

Answering on Suzu’s behalf, was Megu who still had her guard up.
As if saying, ‘If you make any strange movements I’ll take you down immediately,’ she continued to tightly grip the handles of her daggers.

「In your Party…… Was there a Samurai?」

Timber continued on with her question.
She didn’t understand the meaning behind that question, but, maybe because of the eerie atmosphere here in the Rabasta Woodlands, but a uncomfortable feeling started to well up in Suzu’s chest.

「One of our Friends was there with us. However…… I won’t say anything other than that」
「What? A Friend?」
「Megu, let’s go」

As that strange feeling in her chest turned into anxiety, Suzu grabbed on to Megu’s hand.
But──

「Wait」

Timber’s chilling voice stirred the air.
Those dreadful eyes made her seem all the more ominous.

「Can you tell me the name of that player?」
「Why’s it that we have to tell you that, huh?」
「It’s very important that I find out. And…… I don’t want to resort to violent with you two」

As Megu refuted back, without having realized it, she saw Timber grasping a sinister looking staff in her right hand.

「……ッ!!」

Pulling along Suzu who was struggling to breath, Megu started to move.
In this moment, deep down inside Megu had never felt more grateful that she had chosen the cla.s.s Thief.
This was because, out of all the cla.s.ses, the Thief cla.s.s had Skills that ever effective even against experienced Players; The so-called「Escape Skills」.

「Like h.e.l.l I’ll ever tell you that-!」

As Megu let out an angry cry, from her feet came a gust, and a dust storm flew into the air.
The Thief Skill that could temporarily obscure your body:【Dust Smokebomb】.
Spreading out into the area like a shroud of mist, Megu and Suzu’s figures were completely concealed. Timber had completely lost sight of the two.

「Suzu! We’re Running!」
「Okay!」
「……ッ!! W-Wait!!」

As Timber’s voice rang out, the air began to waver as if it was alive, and the temperature gradually began to rise.
In an instant, along with a blistering roar, the high level Skill from the Wizard’s【Fire Magic】 Tree,【Inferno】, shot out and cleared away Megu’s【Dust Smokebomb】. Like dragons soaring into the heavens, several pillars of flame rose up into the sky.
The rampaging magic converted the vegetation into Objects, and a few meters around her were turned into scorched earth.──

「……Tsk」

Scattered in the surroundings, were the ruins of plants and charcoal.
Megu and Suzu were nowhere to be seen.

「And so, that’s what happened」
「……that so-」

During lunch break in cla.s.sroom filled with the sounds of afternoon laughter, gentle rays of sunlight shone through the windows.
Having adapted to playing as both Edgar and Aran, The drowsy Ran gave an emotionless response to Megu.
The subject that Megu was telling the thoroughly exhausted Ran about was, of course, the events at the Rabasta Woodlands: The「Ambushed by a Wizard Incident」.
Yesterday, during their Girl’s only outing in Dragon’s Krone（Or at least that’s what Megu and Suzu call it）the two of them were approached by a voluptuous Wizard and then were attacked while they were talking to each other.

「It’s not『that so~』! Me and Suzu were in serious trouble you know!」
「……Timber-san…… is like, ridiculously pretty isn’t she」
「Eh?」

The person to let out those words, was the long-haired Yamabuki who was watching the video from Suzu’s broadcast.

「……You, of all things, that is what you have to say?」
「Eh? I mean, isn’t she like dangerously pretty. With this level of beauty, she’s like, beyond human level」
「Yamabuki-kun……」

Ignoring Andou’s warning, Yamabuki had entered full play-boy mode. Megu and Suzu looked at him with narrowed gazes, quietly dyed the color of scorn.

「Alright, let’s leave the Gross Yamabuki alone. And so, that Wizard wasn’t after us, but she was after the Samurai that went with us to the Grand Mission」
「Samurai…… You mean Edogawa?」

At Andou’s words, everyone’s gazes focused on Ran.
However, Ran was again nodding off and was half-way to dreamland.

「Edogawa-kun」
「……huh?」

Suzu’s voice shook Ran to his senses.

「Ed, why are you so sleepy like that? Maybe, after we all log out, do you keep playing all by yourself?」
「M-My bad. No, it’s not like that……」

The character I’m playing is a different one though.
Not saying it out-loud, Ran replied in his heart.

「Anyways, we’ve been talking about why a high level Player like that would be looking for Edgar」
「But you know, maybe she attacked you because Megu-san said something that got on her nerves, right? The video has no audio so it’s just a guess though」
「Yeah, I think Andou-kun’s guess might be true」
「Be quiet!」

Megu retorted with a snap.
I was a bit catty since she was sketchy, but that’s not why she attacked us, is what I think. That Wizard was looking for our Friend who’s a Samurai…… Basically she wanted to know Ed’s name.

「Edogawa-kun, is she someone you knew? Before you retired that is」
「No, I have no idea who she is. Also, Edgar is a character I made just recently, so there shouldn’t be anyone who knows about it besides you and the others, Suzu-san」

More precisely, from the beginning I only made that character to play with Suzu-san and the others.

「Hey~, this Player called Timber, she might be using a fake name ya know」

The person who cut into their conversation, was Yamabuki who was accessing the Dragon’s Krone website using his smartphone.
It seems like Yamabuki was intent on finding the true ident.i.ty of the bewitching woman, so he looked up the name “Timber” in the Player database, but no Players by that name were found.
He sure works quickly, huh.

「…… Fake Name? Can you even do that?」
「It’s possible to change your Player name whenever you want, as long as you pay the charges. Your Player Data is under your account name and not your player name, so it’s possible to have duplicate player names. If you think about it that way then it should be possible to make fake names and aliases whenever you want to」
「Hmm~ so that’s how it is」

‘I never knew~’ Megu nodded her head.
Name changes, this happened particularly often for popular livestreamers. If your name and appearance both matched each other, then you would create a commotion whenever you went out anywhere.
Incidentally, when Ran plays on Aran, aside from when he was streaming, he used aliases on a number of occasions when leaving his Home House.
They started off simple like「Edogawa」, then to names like「Igusa」and「Poe」. Even like the name「Edgar」which he is using for his sub-character, Ran has used a mult.i.tude of aliases up until this day.

「If you’re right about the fake name, then she like super suspicious. Oh, she might even be friends with those Colluding players」
「That certainly is a possibility」

No matter how you think about it, the reason why their Collusion plan failed was because of Me after all.
They’re really barking up the wrong tree though.

「Anyways, it might be good if we refrain from individual activities though」
「Yea, you’re right. If she approaches us again, then we should report her to the admins for hara.s.sment」

And with Andou’s suggestion they decided to put off the “Ambushed by a Wizard Incident” for tomorrow.
However, despite being absentminded due to his lack of sleep, Ran could not stop wondering about that Wizard.

Ran watch and re-watched Suzu’s footage a great number of times.
Reflected on the screen of Ran’s smartphone was Timber’s sleek, frightening eyes.
The faces of the Players that Aran knew flashed through his mind, but no matter how hard he tried he could not think of any Demon Race Female Wizards.

「What a pain in the a.s.s」

Ran let out a quiet whisper that no one could hear.
However, even though he let those words slip out, swirling around in Ran’s mind was the thought: “Looks like I’ll have to look into this properly.”

Footnotes

1.

TL note: The name of the in-game currency used in Dragon’s Krone is “Manila”. It’s a type of paper, refers to the Abacá plant (used to make Manila hemp), and also the capital city of the Philippines.