It seemed that the name of this city surrounding the Black Wall was “The Secret City of the Weeping Mist Princess”, and the name itself hinted at a sad backstory. It was clear that a figure known as the “Weeping Mist Princess” was involved and she was intentionally creating mist to hide something. The reason for this remained a mystery though.
After discovering a new area and earning some SP after a long time, it was time to help Shiitake and the others who were struggling to climb. Those of us who could fly, along with Karl, could have taken turns carrying them up. But none of us had the courage to suggest this in front of Iris, who was excitedly getting out her climbing equipment. I’m sure the others felt the same way.
“I’m the first to arrive… it’s creepy, but it’s a city!”
“Damn it! I lost!”
While this was happening, Shishu reached the top of the Black Wall the fastest and she was closely followed by Jigoro who was second. For Shishu who had a spider-like avatar, climbing a vertical wall or even walking on the ceiling was a piece of cake.
Among our companions who could also climb vertical walls swiftly were Ruby and Sei. However, each had their own reasons for climbing slowly. Ruby was looking after her grandfather Genjuro, while Sei was taking care of his familiars. It was heartwarming to see how close each pair was.
“No way, climbing the wall at almost the same speed as a spider with bare hands? Aren’t you too fast?”
“Let’s not try to apply common sense to Jigoro. More importantly, let’s head over to help Shiitake and the others. Wool and Roja don’t even have the climbing set.”
Ignoring Shishu, who was taking in the view of the cityscape, and Jigoro, who was frustrated with losing the climbing race, we decided to descend the Black Wall to assist the two who could only walk on all fours. Seventh Armor and I took on the task of carrying Wool, while we entrusted Karl with the transport of Roja. Shio, Moth-san, and Mikelo were on hand to assist our other companions who were still climbing.
“Hii… hii…”
“Out of breath in a game…”
“Just the thought of moving my body makes me tired~~…”
Iris’ equipment was sturdy enough to support even Eiji’s massive frame. Thus, despite their different climbing speeds, everyone managed to reach the top without any damage or accidents. Our safety net wasn’t needed, but that was for the best. Safety always comes first.
Ignoring the complaints of one particular individual, it took us a bit more than ten minutes to overcome the Black Wall and descend into the city, but we managed to infiltrate it successfully. However, our impressions from above contrasted starkly with what we found on the ground.
“The houses… they don’t function as houses.”
“To put it mildly, they’re ruins; to be harsh, they’re nothing but facades.”
The mist had obscured our view from above, but up close, it was clear that each building was merely a pile of stones stacked to resemble a structure. The Black Wall had its gaps, but this was far worse. This place was not meant for living; it was more akin to a large stone oven.
Upon entering a house that did not even have a door, it became obvious that there were no signs of anyone having lived there. The entire floor was dirt, not even wood or stone, and it was a dark room with no furniture and nothing but dust. This may have only been the case for the buildings near the Black Wall, but it was still shocking.
“Ah, looks like we can set up a tent here. It seems safe enough for logging out.”
“There’s no sign of enemies approaching either. No traces of monsters, so maybe this area is avoided by them.”
“In that case, let’s make a large enough building here our base and start our activities from here. It’s already late today, so let’s leave the thorough exploration for tomorrow.”
“I’m in… I’m tired…”
With Ruby’s assurance of safety, we decided to end our exploration for the day. We went through extensive and lengthy battles, so everyone including Shiitake was probably tired. Besides, since tomorrow was a day off and no one had any obligations, we planned to continue our exploration at that time. Now seemed like a good time to call it a day.
Afterward, we expanded our tents inside a large building to ensure our safety before logging out. In the end, today was just about moving around. But we were determined to make progress in our exploration tomorrow!
◆◇◆◇◆◇
The next day when I logged in, I found a few of the guild members gathered and engaged in a conversation. I decided to join in.
“Ah, it’s Isam.”
“Good evening. What were you guys talking about?”
“It’s about the event~~ssu. You know, the one starting the day after tomorrow~~ssu. The last bit of preliminary information has been released~~ssu.”
“Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed. Let’s see…”
When Shio pointed this out, I finally realized that the information about the event had arrived. During battles, notifications can be quite annoying, so I usually turn them off. It seemed that this time I had forgotten to turn them back on.
The event, titled “The Fresh Green Mountains, The Deep Blue Seas” was set on a deserted island, just as the previous information had indicated. It doesn’t seem to be an event-only field just like it was during the war event; one could revisit the continent if they wished.
However, there were features exclusive to the event duration. There were fixed dungeons generated according to appropriate levels, and materials that were originally rare even on the island could now be obtained in large numbers.
It seemed there was a limit, but the event was designed to entertain both old and new players. There were likely to be guilds recruiting new or free players, and some guilds might even form specifically for this event.
Furthermore, unique event titles and rewards were prepared for those who conquered the dungeons or engaged in significant activity on the island. There seemed to be continuous effects available for those who accomplished certain tasks during the event.
While some rewards might only be effective during the event or might not have any effect at all, they could still serve as memorable keepsakes. Moreover, it appeared that new players would enjoy slightly higher drop rates and experience gains, so there was no reason not to participate.
During the event, points could be earned for various activities, including completing the dungeons. These points could be redeemed for items both during and after the event. The amount of points earned would be displayed on the event menu screen in a ranking format, both for individuals and for guilds. It was mentioned that special items would be awarded to those who ranked high.
“It looks interesting to conquer the dungeons, and some of the items available for exchange look useful. However, I doubt I’ll stay in the event area the whole time.”
“Not interested in the rankings?”
“I don’t think a working adult like me can compete with students and hardcore players, especially when it comes to guild rankings.”
“Ah, I see.”
Depending on the contents of the dungeons, I was interested in the materials available there. I feel like I would be satisfied if I met Usuba and the others for the first time in a while after gathering all the materials.
As for our guild, we weren’t a lot, but we weren’t particularly keen on increasing our numbers either. Why? Because recruiting new members or even getting them here in the first place would take an enormous amount of time.
Also, an increase in numbers could lead to interpersonal problems. It would likely fall to me to mediate such issues, and I wasn’t confident in my ability to resolve them smoothly. Therefore, while I might befriend monster players during the event, I probably wouldn’t invite them to join the guild.
The matter of ranking points was similar. To reach the top, quotas would have to be set, but such rigid methods didn’t seem to suit us. At least I did not like it, and some might even choose to leave if pressure was put on them. It was best if everyone just enjoyed the event in their own way.
“Shi-chan and I might end up going quite a bit, especially since I found out today that I have friends among the human players.”
“Oh? Is that so? Have a good time then.”
In the meantime, I killed time until everyone gathered while petting Karl and cleaning his scales. However, I soon found myself roped into sparring with Jigoro. Thanks to him, I’ve gotten a lot better at using the tail and scythe, but… I was already worn out before we even set off!
“Brother, have you ever considered switching to the vanguard, even now?”
“No way! Absolutely not!”
“Easy now; no need to force it. Besides, it’s clear Isam is better suited for the rearguard.”
According to Genjuro, I was able to fight in the vanguard as well as in the rear guard thanks to the two who trained me several times. However, I knew better than to overestimate my melee skills against a vanguard fighter. Besides, it was a fact that I was better suited to use magic for support.
Generally, if I were to switch to the vanguard, it was clear that I’d be roped into sparring sessions on a daily basis by Jigoro at the very least. The thought of having to dodge their punches and kicks every day was daunting. Please, spare me!
“I’m learning a lot.”
“So that’s how you move the tail!”
“You’re doing great. I wonder if I’ll get a turn to spar with him someday?”
“Hahaha, give it your best shot when that time comes.”
“I will be~ rooting for you~!”
“It’s not you fighting after all….”
“Master’s skill with the scythe is truly remarkable~~degozaru.”
The men watching seemed to admire my fighting skills, though I wished someone would take my place. Eiji and Sei were often sparring partners for Jigoro, so I couldn’t rely on them. Seventh Armor had only recently started using a sword and was currently receiving lessons from Genjuro. He was in no position to face Jigoro.
Moth-san, Mikelo, and Nenashi were the only others capable of putting up a decent fight, but all three had their reasons for being unavailable. Mikelo wouldn’t stand a chance without using his evil eyes, and using them would escalate a sparring match to a serious battle. Moth-san and Nenashi rely solely on their physical strength in battles, meaning any serious injury could jeopardize future strategies. That’s why they weren’t chosen.
“Oh my, they all seem to be having a great time.”
“Isam-san is really accommodating, isn’t he~~ssu? Doesn’t he ever push back~~ssu?”
“I think so too… But maybe it’s just because he’s so caring? He doesn’t seem like the type to shy away.”
“That must be it. You couldn’t handle that troublemaker otherwise. Now, enough talk; let’s get going.”
The women watched us with lukewarm interest. They seemed to be engaged in their own conversation, which was too distant for me to hear. I would be sad if they laughed at me for being pathetic.
Nevertheless, we began our exploration. The black buildings and the mist drifting through the streets cast a gloomy atmosphere over the entire city. The dreary architecture reminded me of London in the days of Sherlock Holmes, though perhaps only I would make that comparison.
“Not a soul in sight.”
“The city seems vast enough, but it’s a veritable ghost town.”
Our target was a huge misting ash tree in the center of the city, but we encountered no one. The lack of engagement was disappointing, especially since we had been preparing for more intense battles.
However, this calm could very well be the literal calm before the storm. So we should remain vigilant for potentially stronger enemies ahead.
“Hmm… Ah, there’s still some distance, but I see something ahead. Be cautious!”
“Understood. How many?”
“Two of them. Can you see them, Shii-chan?”
“The mist makes it hard to see clearly~~ssu, but… there seems to be a gate or something in the back~~ssu.”
A gate then. Two figures near it probably meant they were gatekeepers. The thought of what or who we might be facing was as exciting as it was nerve-wracking while we advanced.
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