53. Arcana Online
53. Arcana Online
Some players using stealth skills were hiding at the starting point.
They probably planned to steal the treasure from other players who found and brought it back.
But that thought was foolish.
Monsters began to reveal themselves one by one at the starting point.
Huge warbears appeared.
"Groar!"
"W-wait a minute!?"
The warbears shouted "No need for questions!" and sent the players flying.
The 30m-sized warbears hunted all the hidden players and started walking into the forest.
Among the spectating players, some looked at the warbears acting cute in their arms.
"Y-you... can you transform like that too...?"
"Kyang!"
It acted cute, pretending not to know anything.
As players petted them thinking "I guess so," everything was being recorded without missing a beat.
All physical contact is a paid service that will be billed later in bulk.
Judge Nia was looking down at this scene with a blank expression.
"How is it? Everyone looks happy, right? At this rate, it doesn't seem like it would harm the Arcana continent, right?"
"No comment. There's still a lot of time left."
My words lacked persuasiveness as I earnestly petted the warbear nestled in my arms.
After some time passed, the first player to find the treasure appeared.
The treasure was, of all things, a [One-day Date Pass].
A treasure that allows you to go on a date with the mascot of your choice for a day on a predetermined course.
The Silver Fox Clan had perfectly planned the entire schedule.
The player who confirmed the treasure started running towards the starting point.
If they just make it back, they'll be first place.
But no one was going to let that happen quietly.
From players trying to steal it to monsters starting to swarm.
The player panicked at the sight of them charging through trees, was finally caught, and had the treasure stolen by another player.
It turned into chaos, but the spectating players loved it.
After much struggle, a player brought the treasure to the starting point and took first place, followed by one or two more players returning with treasures.
Two choices were given to the players lying face down on the ground, gasping for breath.
Whether to be satisfied with the current reward, or to advance to round 3 with the reward at stake.
If they win in round 3, they can get an additional unique-grade magic stone.
However, players satisfied with their current rewards exited the Colosseum, and only one player decided to advance to round 3.
"What's round 3?"
"It's simple."
A simple round where you just need to get past the gatekeeper and put your reward in the box.
It's set up almost like an event match, so anyone can easily succeed.
If it's too difficult, players might not participate later, right?
The arena changed with a tremor.
An atmosphere like an audience chamber.
A skeleton sitting on a huge throne.
You just need to get past the skeleton and put the reward from round 2 in the box behind the throne.
The player, thinking it was a regular skeleton, easily put it in the box and won.
A few players who realized it was an event match looked regretful, but they'll learn the truth later.
That it was easy to pass because there was only one person now.
"A skeleton... no, an arch lich?"
"That's right! It was hard to get! And it's a Grand Magician level one!"
One of the 7 Magic Realms.
I was able to get it from 'The Library Containing the Truth of the World'.
If Yong-yong hadn't stepped up then, we would have been in trouble.
There are only two conditions that interest an arch lich.
A strong player. Or it will respond if two or more players challenge it.
The player who advanced to round 3 was too weak, so the uninterested arch lich stayed still, allowing them to pass easily.
This should be good enough for promotional effect.
After the event ended, disappointed players dispersed, and I took a walk around the village with Judge Nia.
I allowed her to accompany me from area 3 onward on the condition that she'd come with me.
Seeing how she can't resist cute things, she'll probably go crazy when we enter area 4.
Area 4 is especially full of cute monsters.
As we entered, monsters that spotted me swarmed around, but Judge Nia wasn't going to just stand still watching this scene.
She took the monsters into her arms and showered them with all sorts of affection, but strangely, she was quiet.
Usually, these children hate humans, but is it because she's not human?
"Are you okay with this?"
"Woof woof!"
Fenrir, who moved from area 3 to area 4, says.
That she's a terrifying being...
It says she's not cuddling voluntarily, but to this extent...?
Even Fenrir, a monster that used to rule one of the Magic Realms, is meekly cuddling in fear.
Just how strong is she?
Should I recruit her...?
"Judge Nia! Do you want to use one of these!?"
I held out a magic stone to the Judge buried among the monsters.
She stared at it for a while and then refused.
"I have no intention of being bound to anyone."
The Judge flatly refused.
But such things are useless in front of fluffy creatures.
"I'll let you spend time with the children whenever you want!"
For a moment, her pupils shook as she flinched.
"By the way, if you help me, we can go get even more fluffy creatures!"
"M-more fluffy creatures than this...?"
When I held out the magic stone to the Judge, who was drooling and letting her imagination run wild, she immediately used it.
At that moment, messages popped up.
[An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched judge.]
[An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched judge.]
[An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched judge.]
[An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched judge.]
The messages displayed in red seem to indicate something big has happened?
Then in an instant, all the messages disappeared and a golden message appeared.
[Danger of the Golden City: Eldorado confirmed.]
[Main scenario quest conditions have been met.]
[CHAPTER 3: Destroy the Golden City of Eldorado.]
[Time remaining until invasion begins: 167 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds]
"Huh...?"
*
*
*
[Did you check the main scenario quest?]
It says to destroy the Golden City of Eldorado?
[Comments]
- Are you crazy? The kids there are so cute!!
- I'm going to protest to the game company!!!!
- This is animal abuse!!!!
[We oppose the main scenario quest! (photo)]
Can you see the photo? Are you planning to take away the home of these cute children? Are you even human?
[Comments]
- Even real demons wouldn't make a quest like this.
- I've become best friends with a warbear there!!
- My bear said it would wait for me tomorrow!!
[But isn't it just a game?]
Why are you getting so immersed? Don't you know it's just a game?
[Comments]
- I might not see the game, but I can see your parents' burning hearts as they watch you.
- Instead of spouting such nonsense, go be filial to your parents.
- Are you even human? Doesn't seem like it.
[Do you know how good the main scenario quest rewards are?]
Did you forget the rewards other users received last time, except for first place? I'm definitely participating.
[Comments]
- Can't resist the rewards lol
- Isn't it just a game anyway? lol
- Monsters revive when they die, don't they?
- [Author] Do they revive?
Community opinion was split in half.
From how good the main scenario quest rewards are, to those saying to treat the game as a game, and those opposing how we could hunt such cute children.
Isn't it a battlefield rather than a community?
I closed the burning community and consulted with Rea unni.
"Our guild is absolutely on Yuna's side. So we need to gather forces from now on."
"Then I'll go around asking for help from other monsters."
"We'll try to recruit players to our guild somehow."
Rea unni confidently said we could attract as many players as possible since public sentiment is not bad currently.
"But you know we can't help for free, right?"
"Ah, if you mean magic stones..."
"That's not what I'm looking for."
Rea unni smiled mischievously.
What on earth does she want?
"I don't want much. All the guild members agreed to this too."
Then she whispered in my ear.
To call her unni and oppa.
"Th-that's impossible!"
"You can do it! It's about overcoming your trauma and taking a step forward!"
She held my hand tightly and said confidently that I could do it, but it's driving me crazy.
What am I supposed to overcome!?