Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun shone upon the land, the flowers bloomed. The trees shields the people from the hot sun, as the roof they had above their heads. It was another normal day. People woke up early, they worked, they talked, they argued.

They live.

Although they have been at war for a few month against the empire, whose goal is to conquer the continent, life goes on normally.

The conflict between the two sides is a trend at this point. It goes back to the times of old, way before magic was a thing, way before dragons came into being.

Empires fall, kingdom rises. The land stays the same, the name change.

But now, this might be it for the kingdom. Annual conflict with the Empire aside, the king of Asterin, foolish as he might be, now have the demons knocking on his door.

Oh, and a dragon too.

Maybe.

Perhaps.

Hopefully not.

In a quest for expansion, and maybe in a blind faith towards the church, he expanded north. Into the lands of nomads. The horned heresy. The demons.

They didn't take too kindly on their village being razed to the ground in the name of a human "goddess".

And to add salt into the wound, the garrisons used the domain of the Black Dragon to set up camp. Without its permission.

They were destroyed.

Fighting unprepared demons might be easy, but a force of nature? Hardly.

Now that the news had spread everywhere, thanks to overly competent merchant, or by words of travellers, the nation is in chaos.

Not rioting on the street, but still there, and endless worry in the back of their heads.

Until she came.

From the sky, from the heaven's above....came her. Came the beginning of a bloody tale.

"Woh....windy." A girl, not realizing she is thousands of meters high up in the air, plummets as gravity did what gravity do best.

She wields a towering tower shield that beats her own body in height and width, a short, harmless looking knife, and most powerful of all, her positive attitude. Her entire attire is clad with dark colours but bright, red lining, giving any onlookers a sinister vibe.

If the wearer weren't such a cute girl, that is.

"Eh?"

Her eyes moved down towards something that look white and fluffy.

Clouds.

"Hmm....maybe I'll get another flying skill this time!" said girl exclaimed excitedly, finally noticing the ground closing in on her after passing trough the byproduct of evaporated water.

Maybe thats a no on that skill. The hidden quest this time look fairly ground based. An approaching fast.

It seems she will be landing inside a city, in a place that almost look like the first floor of NewWorld Online. Or at least that's what she can perceive from where she is.

Hundreds of meters in the sky, and descending.

"Oh! Pfashafatui!" She spat out some cloud that have entered her mouth, but end up swallowing some of them anyway. It tasted bland, like distilled water, with some.....feathers?

Did she just pulverize a bird?

"Hee....." She wondered restlessly as air rush past her hair, causing them to dance wildly.

It was a very strange start for a quest by her opinion, but a hidden quest was never normal in the first place. And by the way she discovered said hidden quest, this one is definitely far from it.

"Wah!..Self-Offering Love!" The girl yelled as the ground get closer and closer, and her hair changed into a glowing golden colour, and a pair of white dove like wings sprouted out her back. A similar golden halo appeared on her head, floating on it, and falling alongside it, like something is holding it in place to always be linear to her head.

She had activated her support skill, 《Self-Offering Love》.

With her quick reflexes, she hurriedly spreads her wings wide. It's like having more body parts. How did the developers achieve such a thing?

The wings should help her avoid the fall damage, and reduce said damage in the worst case that it don't. At least, that's what she thought. It was already too late for a slowing attempt. Not that she knew if aerodynamic physic exist in this game.

In the end her posture and lack of familiarity with the other function of her support skill failed her, and she hurtled towards the ground at the speed of a diving hawk.

PAP! KATOM!

Sounds of broken ceramics and glass boomed out, startling every commoner around.

"Ow......oh, that didn't hurt!" The girl had landed on her feet, barely, making a shallow crater of about 10 to 12 meters in diameter, shaking the ground around her landing site. Dust travelled upwards due to shockwaves and covered the air around her. But again, 0 damage.

Yay Vitality!

"Uwaaa~" she rubbed her dizzy head, as she struggled to stand up straight.
"I forget I have a pretty high defense, hehehe..." she laughed, before seeing the silhouette of a crowd trough the dust cloud.

"Eh?"

She have landed in the heart of a town, or more precisely, on top of a fountain.

Former, fountain.

"Woww...." She flapped her wings unknowingly well to clear the flying dust, and gawked at the scenery around her.

A place that looked like the usual fantasy type marketplace where people are buzzing about their day. She had never seen such detail, even in NewWorld. There's even random trash on the ground. They haggle for a reduced prize, gossip with each other, and trade items, like any other day. That is, before a certain someone crashed into the fountain, seemingly from the heavens, and caught their attention.

"An Angel!" A random onlooker shouted.
"That startled me!" A women who hadn't realized anything sputtered.
"A messenger of god!" someone exclaimed.
"She's....cute..." A boy holding his mother's hand, whispered to himself.
"Call the pope!" a passing by sister yelled out to her coworkers.
"GYAAAT!" .........some weirdo was knocked out cold by a bat and dragged inside an alleyway.

A bunch of people started panicking, while others just stood still in their spot showing their teeth in wild bewilderment. Some fell on their back, some on their buttocks.

"Wait! No! It's just a skill!" The girl tried to explain to the people she thought were NPCs.

But to no avail.

"S....skill?" some people asked, visibly confused.

"She must be giving us a warning!" others guessed. "Pray harder!" another assumed. "May god have mercy on our soul!" People start madly shouting prayers and songs of praise.

"..." Maple stood there starring into the air, confused. She opened her system and start searching for something, until she came upon something new in her system.

A quest menu.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

"We must inform the king immediately then! That old ma-I mean His Majesty would surely be thrilled to hear hope had shone it's light upon the kingdom." The pope bowed once more. "If I may, Child of-"

"Um, I have a name...." The girl interrupted the man.

"W-what?!" The pope, suprised, startled the poor girl again.

"?!?!"

"M-My dearest apology....umm....?" The pope paused, for the girl to inform them.

The first Named Angel.

He can already taste the glory. All the invites to noble parties to recount the story-

"Oh, my name is Maple." The girl picking up the hint, answered with a smile.
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Right.

What an odd name.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Despite his regal opulence, the king was renowned for his humility among those within and around his realm. In spite of his kingly stature, he regarded himself as a man first and foremost. He never hesitated to extend a helping hand to those in distress, readily disembarking his carriage to aid a fallen lady. Yet, this noble act unwittingly spawned a peculiar trend, with ladies "falling" every time his carriage passed. Subsequently, he ceased this gesture to avoid being the catalyst for such mischievous charades.

"If it is indeed a joke, it's quite effective," he mused, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

"Your highness, if you would kindly listen..."

However, even the king's humility had its limits. King Killian of Asterin was not a man who placed his faith in ethereal deities. Although he allowed the church to practice their beliefs, he himself believed solely in the diligent toil of humanity. He was a man of practicality, who relied on tangible results.

Alas, he was once a good king...

The saga began in the aftermath of a territorial conflict, a harrowing war that erupted between the kingdom and its neighboring realm, the enigmatic and nameless dominion of the demons. Rather than bestowing a proper title upon their lands, the denizens simply accepted being referred to as "Demon Country" by the populace.

Motivated by an insatiable hunger for power, fueled by sweet encouraging words from the church, the human king dispatched his forces to engage in warfare, blindly fixated on “safeguarding” the lands his forefathers had laid claim to.

Little did he realize that this decision marked the inception of his undoing.

The demons, resilient in their defense, emerged victorious from the conflict brought to their doorstep, thus unveiling a new, formidable ruler to lead them, born from the chaos they themself wrought.

Moreover, the king's audacity further ignited the ire of the ancient dragon Thaumiel, as he brazenly encroached upon the creature's sanctuary to establish his encampment throughout the year-long strife. And so, Killian, the human king, found himself overwhelmingly outmatched by the circumstances he had foolishly courted.

Suddenly, a soft voice, like a gentle breeze, rudely jolted the king from his deep contemplation.

"Um...hello?" the voice delicately penetrated his consciousness, accompanied by the presence of a radiant maiden adorned with a halo and mystical wings. Clearly burdened by some quandary, she unwittingly interrupted their solemn gathering.

Realizing her unintentional intrusion, the maiden rapidly apologized before quietly shutting the door she had entered through. The king and his retinue were left stupefied, their minds struggling to comprehend the ethereal sight that had confronted them. They blinked in disbelief, momentarily questioning the veracity of their own eyes.

"Your Highness, do you still believe my words to be mere jest?" The pope's statement resounded in the room, urging the king and his astonished guards to reconcile with the reality before them.

"She is undeniably an angel, both in appearance and in heart," the pope continued, reaffirming his conviction. He had borne witness to her celestial essence firsthand and bore conviction in his words, after all.

Earlier...

Maple was utterly confused as she asked, "Eh? Meeting the king? Like right now? I don't think I have the mental capacity for that."

Regaining her composure, she proceeded to hand the old man with the blue staff some potions. She always carried plenty, just in case she encountered a rare event, much like the one she was experiencing now, or so she had believed.

"Hmm..." Maple seemed bothered as a menu popped up when she handed the potions to heal the child, and to the old man, who was now examining her and the potions closely.

It appeared that she had acquired a new title: 《Kind-Hearted》.

However, that wasn't the source of her unease. Another quest menu popped up, indicating a new mission. The reward seemed to be an upgraded version of 《Self-Offering Love》.

The quest was titled 「Unyielding Compassion」. Probably, the name of the new skill too.

To complete it, she had to 『Solve the conflict of the Fallen Angel Lucifer』, whatever that means.

"Woahhhh..." Maple couldn't help but feel excited. She now had two quests simultaneously. She was so thrilled that she asked the pope if he knew the whereabouts of Lucifer.

"A-a Fallen Angel???!!!" the pope yelped with a worried expression, which quickly turned serious. "....We must first present you to the king!"

Maple frowned but eventually gave in. It was probably part of the first quest, after all.

Present...

"I must finish this quest quickly!" Maple panicked, glancing at the in-game time. The next event was about to begin, and she have to do her homework after that!

"Ummmm...." she pondered for a moment and decided to message Sally.

However, Sally was not available.

Even when the event is starting? Thats weird.

Maybe she can reset the quest?

"What?" Maple tapped the logout button but found it missing, leaving an empty little corner on the system interface.

She frantically searched for it, along with her friends and even her loyal pet turtle, Syrup.

"Is this quest really trapping players in an entire quest map?" she wondered, still full of doubt. After all, she could still access her game menu, but with the removal of the logout button....

".......Emergency logout!" Maple yelped. It was her last resort if anything went wrong—a command that immediately disconnected her from the game.

But alas, nothing happened.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

In the grandeur of the brightly lit castle, a spacious room accommodated a lone figure eagerly anticipating the arrival of the individual who had valiantly saved his people. Seated upon his throne, the king's face beamed with delight as Maple forcefully pushed open the door to his majestic throne room. She appeared different now, devoid of her customary wings and halo, while her once golden tresses had transformed into a striking ebony hue. Nevertheless, the king's discerning eyes immediately recognized her as Maple. Such trifling changes mattered little, as he surmised that she had likely employed illusionary magic to conceal her altered appearance.

A hearty laugh escaped the king's lips, signifying the overwhelming sense of relief he felt. The threat to his kingdom can be considered vanquished, and now he could rest easy.

Have a problem? Pray to god, and he'll send you a solution.

"Ah, dear savior, you have returned triumphant!" he exclaimed, still cherishing his seat of power. All his attendants in the room comprehended what was expected of them as they swiftly departed to arrange a grand feast in celebration, respectfully bowing their heads as they passed by Maple.

However, Maple scratched her head in slight dismay. "But I need to go..."

Upon witnessing her intention to leave, the king's grip on the chalice in his hand grew loose, causing it to slip from his grasp and fall to the floor with successive clinks and clunks, the sound resonating melodiously as it descended the steps, ending it's graceful fall on the throne room's floor.

"What?! Where are you going?!" the king exclaimed, rising abruptly from his throne. He could not permit their savior, the beacon of light and their source of hope to leave, not now.

"To complete my next quest," Maple responded.

"A-quest?!" the king gasped, taken aback by her statement. A quest from God. After all, who else can give the being in front of him task, if not the All Mighty himself.

"Yes!" Maple affirmed, raising three fingers as she enumerated her forthcoming endeavors. "Uhh...dragon, Demon Lord, and Fallen Angel."

She proceeded to outline the details of her quest as dictated by the system.

The king fell into a momentary stunned silence, his mind processing the weighty implications of her words. Eventually, a resounding laughter erupted from him, filling the room with unrestrained mirth.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" he boomed.

Confused by the king's sudden outburst, Maple turned to the knight who had just entered the room.

"You heard her," ordered the king, who had already resumed his consumption of food and indulgence of wine. "Prepare an adventurers guild card for her."

"Uh, yes, Your Majesty?" responded the perplexed knight.

It had unquestionably been a day filled with intricate complexities for all involved. But the king has his reasons.

Why send the knights with her, when they would be mere decorations? Let her go on her own, and he'll wait for the good news, all comfy in his castle.

What a wonderful world.

🔸

"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh," a woman draped in a flowing robe pondered the missteps of her life. Her humble origins as a commoner's daughter had left her unsure of what lay ahead. She had devoted herself to relentless studying, hoping to secure a promising future.

Would she become a merchant, perhaps? Or a maid serving a nobleman? Maybe even find employment within the castle walls? Her aspirations were grand, fueled by a relentless hunger for success.

Yet, despite her dreams, everything unraveled before her eyes. The harsh reality of power, wealth, and influential connections became painfully clear. She lacked the funds to establish her own merchant business, and her so-called "close" friend had seized the opportunity to secure a maidservant position within a noble household, only to mysteriously find herself pregnant and abruptly dismissed. Eventually, she met a tragic end alone in a dingy alley behind a tavern, a victim of an unexplained assassination.

Securing a job at the castle proved unattainable as well, as she required a recommendation from a high-ranking noble. After all, the royal family wouldn't simply pluck a commoner from the bustling streets to serve them tea and meals.

In the end, she reluctantly settled for a role as a recipient at the adventurer's guild, armed with nothing more than her hard-earned ability to count and read letters.

But even that was not without its perils.

Her day took a turn for the worse when she inadvertently insulted a noble, prompting her to flee for her life. Who would have expected an aristocrat to frequent the adventurer's guild to sell their merchandise?

No one.

Desperate to escape her pursuer, she stumbled upon a low-level trader preparing to journey to Aquaris, the sole fortified town between the capital and the demon kingdom. While her decision exposed her to the looming threat of a demon invasion, she believed it was still preferable to being sold on the black market, vanishing without a trace. With great caution, she guarded her true identity, ensuring that her past remained concealed.

And yet...

"Why...?"

She gazed at the bronze pendant dangling from “her” neck, an identity of an adventurer through its distinct emblem.

'HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE VERY PERSON I'M TRYING TO ELUDE IS SITTING BESIDE ME IN THIS WAGON?' she silently screamed.

"Eh? Did you say something?" Maple inquired, her eyes locked onto the guild receptionist, whose face remained hidden beneath her robe.

"Heyyyyyy I'm talking to you. Heyyy." she tried to iniate a conversation with the NPC, who she considers as her “wagon-buddy”.

"..."

"Hey misssssss." Maple kept trying to get her attention. The king had not send anyone with her, as a guide. After all, they would probably just drag her down. That's why he just gave her money, loads of them.

Coins. Usable coins.

Maple have a lot of gold currency, but it would be a hassle to keep finding pawnshops to trade it for real money. Just as the king himself explained when Maple materialized a hill of gold in his throne room, much to his suprise.

She was also given a fake identity.....as a new adventurer.

But the king had a hunch she would end up standing out anyway. Who could have guessed?

"Missssssss. Can't you hear meeee?"

It was a long ride for one of them.

🔸

She watched the law enforcement officer who had just concluded their interview with her depart in their patrol car. With a heavy heart, she silently collapsed onto her bed, drained of both physical and mental energy.

But why? What had transpired?

Well....

Her dear friend, Kaeda, had vanished into thin air. Yes, you read that correctly—literally vanished. And to make matters even more perplexing, it happened right in the midst of 3rd period at school, causing quite a commotion.

Earlier in the day, within the confines of the school walls...

🔶

"Sally, Sally!" Kaeda urgently whispered, using her in-game nickname, desperate to capture her attention. Perhaps she had stumbled upon a new discovery related to the game they had been engrossed in. Fortunately, the teacher was running late, giving them a fleeting moment to converse.

Turning back in her seat to face Kaeda, who sat behind her, Sally interrupted with a hint of resignation in her voice. "Let me guess. You got another broken skill, haven't you?"

A mischievous grin spread across Kaeda's face as she nodded eagerly. "I've stumbled upon a hidden quest!"

Sally, becoming somewhat accustomed to these consistent surprises, let out a weary sigh. It seemed as though this had become a regular occurrence. "And, what's it called?"

"It's called 'Invitation To 🌫🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲'," she exclaimed, her eyes suddenly moving to Sally's forehead, seeing something. "Eh? What's this Risa?" And in that very moment, her hand extended, reaching out to touch whatever that had caught her attention.

"Huh? Invitation to wh-"

BOOOM!

An abrupt explosion reverberated through the air, stunning Sally and cutting off her question mid-sentence.

The shockwave hurled Sally backward, its accompanying intense light temporarily blinding her.

Around their table, the other students were strewn about in a circular pattern, disoriented and bewildered. Amidst the chaos, Sally's distress was magnified by one glaring fact—Kaeda was nowhere to be found.

Unlike the others, Kaeda's table and chair remained undisturbed, and Kaeda's school uniform lay neatly folded on her seat. Everything she had were on the table, meticulously arranged, hinting at a silent kidnapper who had paid a curiously polite visit.

"KAEDAAA!" Sally's voice screamed through the room as she desperately sought answers, scouring every nook and cranny for her missing friend.

She checked under the table, inside the table (?), outside the windows, and even up on the ceiling, frantically searching for any trace of Kaeda.

Despite the presence of circular black lines surrounding her table, there was no sensation of heat or warmth.

"Where is Kaeda?" Sally cried out, her voice filled with anguish, addressing her bewildered classmates in a desperate plea for information.

As the commotion settled and the chaotic voices subsided, the teacher finally arrived, drawn by the uproar that filled the classroom. Curiosity ignited within the room as everyone turned their attention to their teacher, eager to share their versions of what had just transpired.

Some whispered rumors of a neighboring school pulling a prank, while others speculated that Kaede had mysteriously been transported to another world, a phenomenon known as isekai. Whispers grew louder, of a tale of Kaede being vaporized by an unexpected lightning storm, yet anyone foolish enough to utter such nonsense was promptly silenced by a resounding slap from Risa.

In the aftermath, authorities and the higher echelons of the school were summoned, seeking resolution to this peculiar situation, resulting in an early dismissal for all. As the other students dispersed, Risa remained, wracked with worry and unanswered questions. She tirelessly attempted to contact Kaede through messages and phone calls, but only her parents answered, as Kaeda, being the good student she is, never had the thought of bringing her phone to school.

Both side echoed the same desperate inquiry: Where is Kaede?

That night, sleep eluded Risa, plagued by a restless mind and a troubling sense of guilt. Perhaps it was a combination of the hollow pit in her stomach and the weight of self-reproach that kept her wide awake. After all, the haunting memory of Kaede's last words..... it was her name.

The present moment eventually overtook Risa's dream-laden state as the morning sunlight pierced through her bedroom window, abruptly pulling her from her slumber. Drenched in a cold sweat, she jolted upright, her mind still trapped in the tendrils of a vivid nightmare. "Explosion!" she exclaimed, but quickly corrected herself, realizing the absence of heat and destruction that would typically accompany such an event. Confusion filled her troubled mind as she grappled with the fragments of her distressing dream.

Just what happened?

"Bright...light?" Risa pondered aloud, her voice hanging in the air as she searched for understanding.

Silence enveloped her room, its stillness broken only by her own ragged breathing. With tears flowing freely down her cheeks, she clasped her knees tightly, seeking solace in the darkness encroaching upon her spirit.

"Where are you...?" Her broken whisper carried the weight of uncertainty, a plea lingering in the empty spaces of her room.

".....you idiot."

Chapter Text

The creaking of the wooden wheel resonated through the air as the time-worn but commendable buckboard made its way towards the final destination. Describing the wagon as old or even ancient would be an understatement, for it had dutifully fulfilled its purpose for generations, outlasting the very lifespan of any human it was handed down to. Crafted meticulously by elven hands, its enduring journey thus far was a testament to the remarkable resilience of this modest man-made carriage. But enough about this wooden contraption; let us now shift our attention to the intriguing characters aboard.

Seated behind the coachman were two figures who aroused a sense of suspicion. One of them, a carefree and lighthearted girl, exuded a jovial aura. A rare sight in this world.

The other, adorned in a robe, concealed their true identity.

Despite the enigma that shrouded these passengers, the coachman refrained from prying into their affairs. In a world where uncertainties loomed at every corner, it was far better to disregard the details concerning anyone. One could never be certain if they were transporting an ordinary traveler or an elusive fugitive. Truth be told, it was preferable not to know. Little did the coachman realize, the individual hidden beneath the robe was desperately fleeing from a deplorable misinterpretation, while the other passenger remained blissfully oblivious—a naive innocent caught up in peculiar circumstances.

"Ah!" Maple exclaimed, her eyes fixated on a distant object beyond the rolling hills. The silhouette of a city began to materialize against the horizon. "I can see it!" Impatient to reach their destination, she rose from her seat within the moving carriage, losing her balance along the way as she hastened towards the front. Leaning over the board on the right side of the coachman, her gaze remained fixed on the cityscape. "Is that the city?" she inquired, her focus only on the urban sprawl before her. The coachman simply offered a nonchalant humming sound in response.

The city was encircled by a complex network of water canals, some as deep as the shallowest seas. With five resplendent marble bridges adorning its periphery, the city stood as a testament to architectural elegance. Two of these bridges emerged from the depths of thick wilderness, while one gracefully descended towards a lower portion, housing the squalid slums on its outskirts. The other two, stretching towards the shoreline, extended their graceful arcs in the direction of a bustling port that spanned the entire length from the right to the left. This harbor served as a haven for all kinds of vessels, ranging from fishing boats to traders and transport ships.

"Wow..." As the carriage traversed one of the bridges, Maple gazed down upon the bustling canals below. She observed merchants, perched in small boats, engrossed in lively trade—exchanging their earthly wares with aquatic denizens. Strangely enough, each of these aquatic beings bore the visage of a remarkably handsome human male model. In their very presence, they possessed a beauty that surpassed the most alluring humans, easily gracing the covers of esteemed magazines. And yet, there they remained, concealed in the depths of Maple's eyes, discreetly navigating the waters as they cautiously traded a myriad of colorful seashells and the spoils of their hunts—offering golden necklaces, enchanted gemstones, and even weaponry—in exchange for human craftsmanship, delicacy, and armaments.

"Halt!" Two spear-wielding guards stationed at the entrance crossed their weapons, motioning for all approaching wagons to come to a standstill for inspection. Sensing an opportunity, Maple alighted from the carriage and leaned over the edge once more. It was not every day that one could feast their eyes upon a group of splendidly attractive ikemen in person. Well, perhaps not in person, but rather within the confines of a realistic simulation.

A game.

Reality crashed into Maple's consciousness with violent force. She scrambled frantically in search of the elusive logout button, her heart pounding in her chest. To her dismay, it remained stubbornly absent, mocking her desperate attempts at escape. Panic gnawed at her as the realization set in that she had been immersed in this game for nearly an entire day. If she hadn't taken a bathroom break before diving into the game, she dreaded the possibility of awakening in a puddle of her own making.

Ah well, at least the graphic is better now than before she played it last time-

A sudden realization struck Maple, causing her to clutch her head as a headache crept in. How did she even log into the game? It felt as though she had blinked, and suddenly she found herself in an expansive new level or perhaps a colossal quest area. One thing was certain—it was vast beyond imagination.

"What now? I can't even reach Sally..." she muttered in frustration, her worry temporarily overtaking the fear of bodily functions gone awry.

But before she could delve further into her predicament, a thunderous battle cry shattered her thoughts. Startled, Maple failed to notice the imminent attack from behind.

A resounding "THUNK!" reverberated through the air as something pressed against her back, propelling her forward over the marble ledge. "Eh?" she managed to utter, her body lurching helplessly toward the water beneath her.

Within an instant, Maple descended into the water, not splashing but rather carving through its surface effortlessly, like a skilled diver plunging deep into the depths of the canal. Observing this unusual scene, a trader, a fisherman, and a sea elf submerged in the water each raised a sign, respectively displaying scores of 8, 7, and 9.

"Glub?!" Maple flailed about, attempting to swim. Despite her impressive vitality allowing her to withstand any attack unscathed, her other attributes were woefully lacking. With an agility stat of 0, swimming proved to be an insurmountable challenge. She might as well have been crawling along the ocean floor, slower than a snail. Such was the extent of her aquatic ineptitude.

Desperate and surrounded by water, Maple reached out for the shimmering light that beckoned from the surface. Panic welled within her as water invaded her mouth and lungs. She vowed to unleash a torrent of complaints about the harshness of the game to Sally once she respawned in the safety of the designated zone. Just because they updated the graphics, doesn't mean they have to make the sensation of drowning any more realistic!

"!!!" In an instant, a brilliant blue flash swept her off, catapulting her upward to the water's surface. Coughing and sputtering, Maple greedily gulped in the familiar air, relief flooding her senses. Tears welled up in her eyes, moisture escaping from their corners, as she turned to gaze upon her savior.

"Oh, thank you thank you-" she began, but her words faltered midway as she locked eyes with a breathtakingly handsome ikamen sea elf gripping her arms.

"....Woooah..."

The sea elf glared at her, breaking her trance. "What are you staring at, brat?"

"A," Maple blurted out, her gaze unwavering. The sea elf's anger intensified.

"STOP STARING AT ME!" he bellowed. "What's wrong with you, you huma-"

"Your voice is beautiful too," Maple interjected, her words dripping with sincerity.

"Pfffah!" The sea elf blushed, inadvertently releasing Maple's arms, causing her to gradually sink back into the canal.

"Dammit!" He dived back in to get her again.

🔸

"Grr..." Resurfacing onto solid ground, or more precisely, the small dock nestled within the canal, Maple wrapped herself in a towel offered by an observant merchant who witnessed the entire spectacle. Meanwhile, the sea elf bobbed in the water adjacent to Maple, still scowling intently.

"Quite a fall!" the merchant exclaimed, acknowledging the significant distance between the water and the top of the bridge, easily exceeding 150 feet. Even a mere human, should they have plunged into the water with minimal effort and proper posture, would have likely sustained a serious head injury.

Yet, against all odds, Maple appeared unharmed and unfazed.

"You're quite resilient, young Lady," the merchant remarked upon noticing her expensive-looking armor. "Might you be an adventurer?"

"Huh, yeah!" Maple replied, proudly displaying her gleaming bronze emblem.

"Ah, I see... that sheds some light," the merchant murmured to himself. The bronze emblem failed to epitomize the true extent of the girl's prowess. He could sense it, a gut feeling signaling that this was something significant.

"Excuse me, miss," the merchant began.

"Mm? Yes?" Maple responded, handing the towel back to its owner. As he retrieved the towel, the merchant continued his inquiry.

"Would you be interested in a small commission?"

"Eh?"

"Enough of this!" the sea elf thundered, slamming his fist onto the pier. "Don't you have anything to say... to me?!"

"Ah?" Both Maple and the merchant gazed at him, bewildered. "But I already said you were bea-"

"Not that!" the sea elf interrupted, slamming his hand again.

"Eh?" Maple's memory suddenly recalled the events that unfolded earlier. "Ah!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet. "Someone pushed me!" Determined to find her way back to the bridge, she briskly walked away.

"Tch!" the sea elf clicked his tongue. "Damn humans. They're all the same. Ungrate-"

"Thank you for saving me, handsome mister!" Maple shouted, waving her arms vigorously. "I'll treat you to some cake afterwards!" And with that, she swiftly disappeared around the corner, moving at a leisurely pace.

"........ful," the sea elf muttered, flabbergasted by the sight.

"Hehe," the merchant chuckled at the elf's expression.

"What are you laughing at?!" the elf accused the merchant, a hint of anger in his voice.

"Heheheha!"

"I'm not trading stuff with you anymore."

"Sure, good luck finding anyone else that is willing to buy you a different type of cake everytime."

"TCH!"

🔸

Maple traversed the multi-levelled city, stumbling upon an assortment of shops. However, the mere thought of allowing the mischievous prankster who had shoved her off the bridge to escape unpunished propelled her to hastily pass by the enticing food stalls. She made a firm vow to return later, after she had given the culprit a piece of her mind.

Breathing heavily, she came to a halt in front of the bustling gate teeming with people eager to enter. "Finally, I've arrived," she gasped while clutching her knees. To casual observers, it might have appeared that she was simply strolling, but for Maple, it was the most arduous sprint she had ever undertaken in her life, both inside and outside the game.

A bewildered voice interrupted her exhausted state. "H... how are you still alive?!" Maple turned her gaze to the right and found herself encircled by a group of guards and chattering townsfolk. Amidst them sat a bound girl whose outburst had been directed at Maple herself. The girl was none other than the Hero, the Chosen One, as the demon intelligence had discovered.

She had been specifically chosen, instructed, and assigned the task of assassinating humanity's greatest weapon. The survival of her entire race rested solely upon her success. Hence, it was not unfounded that the sight of Maple, completely unscathed and unaffected, bewildered her.

Perplexed, Maple scanned the girl from head to toe. Despite their apparent similarities in age, the girl's distinguishing features were her vibrant blue hair and agile armor under her robe. "Are you the one who pushed me?" Maple inquired boldly.

Silence enveloped the atmosphere as the girl remained mute. "Miss, are you the individual who was pushed earlier?" one of the guards interjected, observing the peculiar exchange between the two.

"Um... yes," Maple replied, her curiosity piqued by the direction the conversation was taking.

"Well, do you know her?" the guard probed further, subtly shifting his halberd towards the girl.

"Um, no," Maple responded, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I see... It appears that there is no further need for investigation," the guard remarked, gracefully waving his hands to signal the others. "Escort her to the execution grounds!" His words sent a chill down the girl's spine, yet a glimmer of determination pierced through her fearful gaze.

Despite the imminent danger, she had made a resolute choice. Even in failure, she would face her demise with honor.

"Wait!" Maple interjected, urgently tugging on the guard's sleeve just in the nick of time.

"What is it now?" The guard's impatience was palpable. This made Maple even more nervous, as she struggled to find the right words to address a grumpy adult.

"Could you perhaps... consider letting her go?" she hesitantly proposed.

"What? Do you suddenly know her?" the guard questioned with a hint of bewilderment and amusement.

"No, not at all..."

"Then what is the meaning of this?" The guard's irritation grew, but still, he smiled. Maple felt her anxiety rise, realizing she had to navigate this conversation carefully.

"Is there not another way?" she ventured to suggest.

"...........Excuse me?" The guard pondered her words. In most cases, the guilty would be condemned to a wooden platform, where they would confess their crimes before meeting their fate at the hands of the guillotine. However, in this city, murder, whether successful or unsuccessful, was deemed a capital offense unless the victim themselves chose to spare the guilty.

The guard's composure faltered momentarily as he observed Maple from a different perspective. Her ornate armor and the emblem of the rose inscribed upon it unmistakably hinted at nobility.

"Ah, my sincerest apologies, miss," he stammered, his demeanor suddenly shifting to match that of an attentive air hostess, but his smile disappeared. "How could I have prescribed such a crude action? I nearly forgot that there is an alternative path for her atonement."

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"Eh?"

🔸

Maple traversed the streets in eerie silence, drawing the attention of every passerby. Or more accurately, their attention was fixated on them — Maple, trailed by the girl from earlier. The girl's countenance conveyed a profound sense of shame, violation, and disgrace. Any semblance of honor that may have remained had been stripped away mercilessly.

"The city looks nice," Maple attempted to spark a conversation, hoping to break the oppressive silence.

No response.

"How do you think they build the canals? Did they ask the sea people for help?"

Silence persisted, as Maple failed to hear the silent "They're called sea elfs."

"......Why-"

"CAN YOU PLEASE DROP IT!?" abruptly interjected the girl following her, her voice laced with frustration.

"Ah, um....."

A collar gripped the blue-haired demon's neck, as if emphasizing the reality that they had been transformed into a slave. It all began when the chief guard mistakenly mistook Maple for an ordinary noblewoman bent on exacting revenge by depriving someone of their freedom and dignity.

A steel collar was violently fastened around the girl's neck, resisting all her struggles, while simultaneously, a token was handed to Maple — a ring.

Initially, it had served as a noblewoman's emblem engraved upon their hand. However, many of these esteemed ladies found it distasteful, believing it compromised their image. Thus, they opted for the subtlety of a ring instead.

How quintessentially human, that aesthetic considerations often take precedence over practicality.

"Why are you.... trying to talk to the person who tried.... to kill you!?" the girl shrieked relentlessly, her voice barely audible amidst the tightening grip of the collar. Wheezing with each word, she persisted in her fervent outburst while Maple descended into panic.

Desperately clenching her hands, Maple aimed the ring towards the collar, attempting to halt its constricting progression. However, her well-intentioned act backfired catastrophically.

A jolting surge of lightning coursed mercilessly through the blue-haired girl's frame. "YAARGGH!" she cried out in agony, contorting uncontrollably on her knees.

Onlookers ambled about, observing the scene with an array of expressions.

From the upper class, some exhibited amusement, while others appeared disinterested.

The lower class fixated their gaze with resentment and perhaps, a tinge of fear.

To them, this was merely another daily episode that unfolded when a slave dared to challenge their master. It constituted a familiar, almost ceaseless predicament. Regardless of the slave's backstory — whether it be thievery, robbery, or something far more sinister — the common sentiment prevailed: death was preferable over a lifetime of servitude.

"I knew it," the girl spoke through gritted teeth, her voice dripping with malice. Maple suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing the extent of her error.

"I didn't mean it!" she exclaimed, extracting a potion from her belongings and attempting to touch the shoulder of the girl still on her knees. However, her hand was promptly swatted away.

"DON'T TOU- ARGGK!" the girl choked, the collar's grip intensifying. Any attempt by a slave to harm their master was strictly forbidden, prompting the collar to constrict further, with the explicit aim of eradicating the slave's life.

"Let... let me die..." The girl's vision gradually faded into darkness.

And at last, darkness enveloped her.

"..." For a timeless period, the girl wandered aimlessly through the abyss, burdened by an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame for failing her race, her lord, and her friend.

"..."

Lost and adrift, she felt a gentle warmth against the back of her head. "… What?" With a faint glimmer of hope, she slowly opened her eyes. Before her, a blurry figure with black hair loomed.

"... Rin?" she whispered uncertainly.

"Huh? Who's Rin?" a high-pitched voice, reminiscent of her lord, responded.

"Rin?!" The girl, now awakened fully, exclaimed. But to her surprise, it was Maple who stood before her, wearing a faint smile, and a mouthful of some food on a stick.

"... Oh, it's you..." she sighed in disappointment, allowing her body to relax as she lay her head on Maple's lap, her touch gentle and nurturing, like that of a mother tending to her baby. Memories of her own mother, before she...

"Wait a moment!" The girl leaped up with a graceful front flip, landing securely on both feet, before scanning her surroundings.

Maple had been sitting beside a fountain, absentmindedly caressing the her head, drawing the attention and amusement of the onlookers. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she noticed the smiles and laughter surrounding them.

"Ugh..." she grumbled in frustration.

"ARRGHHH!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs before finally succumbing to unconsciousness once again. It had been a long day for her too.

Perplexed, Maple sat there, her face etched with confusion, trying to make sense of the situation.

Taking a bite of the grilled fishballs in her hand, she pondered.

What was that about?

As the moments ticked by, an ethereal silence surrounded Maple, leaving her alone with her thoughts, as she contemplate if she should get rid of the ring, or keep this awfully intelligent new pet for Syrup when she get back.

"Hmm...." Syrup can stay in the ring, so can this one too? She pointed it to the unconscious girl on the ground.

Slurp!

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

[New Summon Obtained!]

『〖Wind Oni〗』

『Description』

The Wind Oni, a formidable creature created through the union of a High Orc and a Wind Fairy. Although their physical appearance resembles that of their mother, this is due to rare dominant genes. Fueled by an unyielding thirst for revenge, their power knows no bounds, yet it also possesses limitations.

Due to unique circumstances, they are vulnerable to wind magic.

『Skills』

《Wind Armor》

Envelopes the target in a subtle yet powerful turbulence of wind, enhancing their speed by 50% for a duration of 5 minutes.

《Wind Shield》

Summons a protective wall of howling wind, effectively blocking incoming attacks.

『Awakening Conditions』

????
????
????

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"Hoo...." Maple read the panel that appeared. So that's why her AI seems complex.

She's a quest NPC, and a pet at the same time.

Wind Oni, huh?

Chapter Text

Maple hurried through town with a sense of urgency in her step. Upon acquiring what she considered a new team member (albeit more like a slave according to the person in question), she felt it was time to address the next pressing issue at hand.

"Hngghh..."

Traversing the streets somewhat awkwardly, her desperation grew and grew noticeably. Her eyes darted around frantically, flitting from thick shrubs to dark alleyways, seeking a secluded spot with no NPCs.

The reason for such.... behaviour?

She needs to pee.

Under normal circumstances, she could have simply logged out briefly and returned, but to her dismay, the log out button was nowhere to be found, again. Her friend list was empty, again. And even the emergency logout feature failed to respond.

You guessed it.

Again.

"Gah!" she grabbed her hair, trying to come up with something, almost coming to tears.

It was a frustrating situation, a courtesy of the game developers she will no doubt complain to after everything is solved. She is too nice that the thought of suing them didn't even come to mind, like any other normal person.

But waking up soaked in her own urine was a minor concern compared to relieving herself in the presence of a bunch of codes masquerading as people. Even if its a game, she still clung to a semblance of human decency, even if the people around her aren't.

"Huhuhu..." Devolving into a panicked cry, her "pet" companion unexpectedly became the helpful one.

"...Do you need to pee.... or something?" the blue-haired oni inquired, a little taken aback when Maple fervently nodded in response. "Then..." she glanced around, her gaze settling on a hanging sign.

The wooden square dangling from metal chains had the shape of a beer mug carved into it. It was an unspoken rule, a picture, over words. After all, almost every commoner is illiterate, except for the merchants.

"...A tavern, perhaps?" Before she could suggest anything further, Maple dashed—well, more like speed-walked—towards the building. The "pet" pondered if she had misjudged her target. Could this.... girl, truly be the hero? Or did she turn herself into a slave for no reason?

Unconvinced but not having a choice, the demon concealed her distinctive features with her rugged hood, though unnecessary given her lack of horns. No one had realized her true nature so far, evidenced by the gate guard's nonchalance earlier.

But then again, she wouldn't be assigned such a role if she had horns in the first place.

"...." You never know what life brings you, truly.

Entering the tavern, she found no sign of Maple but instead encountered a perplexed tavern keeper holding a gold coin. She could tell what happened.

Making her way past the puzzled tavern owner, she spotted Maple peeking from behind a partially closed door, gesturing for her to join.

"...What's wrong?" The door clicked shut behind her. "How... how do I use this?" Maple gestured towards a large hole in the ground, with two parallel planks on two sides.

"..."

Silence followed.

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"Ahhh...." Leaving the... "privy chamber" as people called it, with a smile, Maple immediately bumped into a smug and grinning demi-human.

"Keh keh keh." The purple haired girl giggled. "How can you not know how to use the pisser? Are you born yesterday? HAHAHAHA!!!" she laughed harder, ensuring everyone in the establishment can hear.

Maple's face heated with a red hue. Ignoring the NPC's slightly "colourful" words, having such things said out loud by a nonplayer character is still quite embarrassing, even with no other players around.

The demi-human with feline ears gestured to her head. "My hearing is quite good ya know?" she leaned in. "What are ya? A stinking noble? Bet you never done anything by yourself."

Maple is starting to get, and mind the language here, a little bit pissed off.

Sure, it makes the game seems more realistic with the dialogue, but the developers didn't, shouldn't, have made them this mean. She was raised a polite and kind person; her people are kind and polite too. Why make it this way? The developers are her fellow countrymen, aren't they? Weren't the game.... more friendly, before?
🔶

"There she goes again..." some of the people drinking sighed. Ever since she got sponsored, she'd been quite arrogant, picking fights with nobles sometimes. Her patron of course scared off any who tried to retaliate, fuelling her arrogance even more.

Usually, a noble sponsors an adventures group or in rare cases, individuals, and in return, their action give rise to the noble's fame.

But the marquess that sponsored her is a bit of an odd character.....in return for his support, she just had to talk to him sometimes, while making sure she ends every sentence with "Nya".

Not that she minds, life has been easier since. Who knew those people in high places has pockets so deep?

"I-I've never used this type of toilet before, okay?!" The poor girl in revealing armour argued back. It's not like it matters, but oftentimes you just had to defend yourself and your pride, especially if you're a noble, it seems. Classic noble behaviour.

"BAHAHAHA, you've been shitting in the forest before this then?" the catgirl fanned the flames more.

"Dress like a slut too. Are you going for a knight image?"

It's easy to deduce her identity.... handed over an entire gold coin to use the loo, have a matching and decorated armour and shield, along with a slave following her wherever she ordered her too. Don't even know how to use a simple pisshouse??? Putting her smooth white skin that probably have never tasted the harshness of the outside world aside...

Everyone knows she's of the upper class. Would be strange if she wasn't. But no self-respecting noble would ever use a tavern like this to relief themself, especially with only one maid, wearing such an attire.

Perhaps a female knight? A dame, so they called. But if you call that flimsy piece of metal that don't even cover her armpits, neck, or lower half as armour, than what's even the standard at this point? It's more likely she dressed for a men than for herself.

"You whore." she keeps fanning. The girl looked down on the ground, trying to calm herself down, while she doesn't know some of the words, the way it was said still anger her, and she clenched her fist, which was seen as a provocation.

"Ah? Wanna fight? I'll show you what's good!" the catgirl raised her own clenched fist.

"What? No-" and, as if it something possessed her, the girl blanky stared at no one in particular, before changing her mind and confidently declaring "I accept!" as she pointed her finger right to the bipedal feline's face, as if to press something.

"Heh." Smirking as if she had already won, the cat on two legs walked past her and opened a doorway behind while yelling something to the crowd, swinging her arms in a rude but inviting way, as if to say, "Come on, then?" Perhaps having spent enough of her time being around the upper-class humans helped her pick up a thing or two about being sassy.

"..." And the dame in ashen rose armour followed, accepting the invitation to the clearing behind the tavern.

🔶

A new quest.

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「Defeat Taro, Woe of The Noble」

<Rewards>

[Beastman's Bane]

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"Oh." she accepted the quest. She normally doesn't do this. But since there's a quest for it, perhaps it was meant to be. It's definitely not her losing her cool over a carefully coded catgirl that's meant to annoy players.

"I accept!" Maple declared, pointing her finger towards the catgirl, while at the same time pushing the confirmation button for the sudden quest.

"Heee....." The feline flashed a sinister smile. "You all heard that right? No take backs!" She yelled to the crowd that has been looking. With such a boring world, they didn't interfere.

It was good entertainment after all.

"Sigh....." The demon girl sat down on an empty chair, as her "master" was led to a backdoor, to a clearing behind the tavern.

A rare sight, considering how expensive real estate is in this town. But the owner had at least the wit to put it to use. Surrounded by low buildings on all site, he had planted his own crop there to save money on cost. The small bunch of potato sprouts speak of the owner's effort. It was not plenty, not at all, but it was honest work. Perhaps he was a farmer before this? He knows well to use only half of the field at one time, letting the other rest. Said resting, empty field would be the one used for their battle.

"Hey, girl. Ya sure you wanna leave that Lady of yours alone?" A man from another table called out, his mates snickering along, stuffing their face with beer and jerky. From where they sit, they can clearly see the show that is coming, but some of the tavern's regulars had decided to grab their mug and stand outside next to the door or along the walls.

"..." He was ignored, and this amused them even more. Probably too speechless to reply, they assumed. After all, what can she do, want to do, would bother to do in this situation? The chain may be hidden by her robe, but not well enough. A slave that loves their master? Stick to your fairy tales if you believe such a thing. "Hey, girl, if anything happens to that Lil Lady of yours, why don't you consider-" Before he could muster anymore of his filthy ideas, an ear ringing scream landed on everyone's ears, and it continued into groans as the owner run out of energy to continue her screaming.

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Blood. Blood was everywhere. Everything red was on the ground, except for the catgirl's legs, which were nowhere to be seen. Like the result of a sick fetish, the girl squirmed on the ground, spasming from the phantom pain of losing both her walking limbs. The bystanders gawked, mouths and eyes wide open, none knowing what had just happened, until the waitress who rushed to the doorway to check the noise screamed for someone, anyone from the crowd, to help her. In response, a woman who happened to be among the many men and the waitress carefully tied the wound close before lifting her together to the nearest chapel, as the town infirmary, even if not strictly for military use, proved to still be too far for a case so severe.

And the cause of all this was just as confused herself.

"Huh?" She scrolled the white see-through panel in front of her. She had clearly beaten her, so why was the quest not showing a success notification? "Ah!" A lightbulb. "Maybe I need to finish her off?" Maple guessed, hammering her left hand with her right hand balled up as a fist. She said it loud enough for everyone to hear. Some reacted with a glare, completely at a loss as to how she could mutter such a thing, some, smarter ones, with fear, of what actually was in front of them masquerading under the skin of a young girl.

"Ah well." Maple hung her tower shield behind her. The way she won was instant, faster than she herself could react since the mean catgirl suddenly lunged at her and kicked her tower shield with both her feet. And then the rest was history. "Oh." She looked at her feet, reacting to the wet splashing sound.

"Yikes."

She was filing a complaint, definitely. It had a strong iron smell; she hoped it wouldn't stick to her armor now.

Ignoring everyone making way for her unanimously, she tapped the shoulders of her companion and dragged her by the hand out of the tavern, leaving the pensive mood and tense alcoholic metal-smelling premises.

"So," she started talking. "Like you said earlier, food, weapon for you, and a map, right? Well, I have lots of food in my inventory since I go out camping with Sally a lot, and I think we don't need the map since I-"

"You're messed up."

"Huh?" Maple did a slow 180-degree turn and saw a glimpse of what seemed like a weird, scared glare before the hand she was holding yanked itself out of her grasp. "What?"

"It's... it's nothing."

"... Right."

The conversation was left unspoken and unfinished.

...

Spending the rest of the day until the sun was mere two hours away from touching the horizon, they finished their shopping tour of the town. Business was made easy by Maple simply dropping a sizeable sum of gold coins on any countertop the shop had.

"..." The demon girl watched, half amazed, half befuddled as everything they bought disappeared into some invisible pocket dimension. "..."

"Are we missing anything else?"

"No..." The demon said, glancing to the side and seeing something she hoped she didn't.

Following her gaze, Maple leaned her head along and saw the same thing she did.

"... Are you here... to laugh at me?" The almost corpse-like demi-human weakly spoke. Leaning on the chapel's stairs, she lacked the energy to even look up as the two approached her. Still missing her legs and looking quite despaired, the sight impacted Maple a little. It really irritated her that the devs would even go as far as to have an aftermath cutscene like this. It makes you feel guilty. Why would they try and make people feel awful in this game?

"Wait..." The NPCs, they have been reworked, right? Then, if the game is more flexible now...

Crack!

She used a potion, breaking the top in half with her thumb. The glow dissipated, and the catgirl looked better than before, but still legless.

"What are you... doing?" With newfound vigour, she raised her hand and head, feeling her body healing.

"... I can't." The HP bar of the catgirl was at 100% after the first potion. "I can't bring your legs back."

"..." The demi stared at her face, hard and long. "You're one weird person, aren't you?"

"?"

"I lost. I provoked you and lost. I lost fair and square. Why are you..."

"Because I caused this." Maple argued back, internally realizing how different the programming was. When you exhausted their dialogue, NPCs used to repeat the phrase connected to their quest, but ever since she was thrown on this unknown event floor, they had never been so alive. Their expression, their reasoning. Their entire behaviour. Perhaps...

...The devs are using her to beta test AIs!?

"...Why..." The feline, still unable to comprehend Maple's intention, kept repeating the same question, her gaze fixed on the ground, with a wet, fuzzy feeling in her eyes.

"Do you... have anywhere you want to go?" Maple asked, intent on testing out this new flexibility in the AI's programming. But she was met with silence once more.

But this prompted Maple to let out a determined huff, as both her hands reached out.

"Wha-"

🔶

"..."

The catgirl gazed up at the sky, watching as the green treetops shifted and vanished from her sight, only to be replaced by new treetops moving into view, creating a continuous, mesmerizing dance of foliage against the blue sky.

A bit slow though.

Ah, that one has an empty nest.

Oh, one with some fruit just after.

Wait....

"Why are you carrying me?"

"Well..." Maple turned her head a little, looking up at the feline she is carrying. Thankfully, that weird looking backpack-chair thing she bought on a whim proved to be not such a wasteful spending after all. Not that she needs to worry on her spendings. In this new.... Level, wherever she is, the currency is heavily favoured on her side. Every single coin she had is gold, and only gold. Even a single gold coin is something so respected and sought after here. Buying her first shield and armour set from Iz cost her a few millions, but that was way back when. After being a guild master, and being among the top places in every event, her current wealth, in this world....

"..." For a moment Maple imagined herself shaking hands with that bald guy who was the owner of that one shipping company. No... he would be the one shaking her hand even.

"You can't walk, and you said you had nowhere to go, so I'm bringing you along." She smiled up at the catgirl, having nothing else to say to express her guilt. She's not good at such thing. Honest, yes. Communicative? Not so much. "Don't worry, you're light as a feather."

"..." The newly crippled girl, lifting her gaze, stared at their destination that her back is facing.

The mountain stood like a colossal titan; she swears she could see something humanoid in the shape. The jagged peaks pierced the heavens, casting foreboding shadows across the landscape as the cloud had to make way for the tip. The tip that is hidden in the mist, as if hiding something on the sharpest point.

The entire mountain screams everything that is to be screamed about it.

"And to think it's still a few days walk away..." Courtesy of her sharp eyes, and the sheer size of the mountain and its fellow lump of earth around it.

"Yea.... but I'm kind of in a hurry though..." says Maple, as she held up a potion flask on top of her head, right beside the catgirl's head. With her other hand holding an identical one to the demon girl.

""?"" They flashed her a confused look.

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They reached the halfway point after a few hours of tumbling around in a sphere of poison.

"Heheh." Giggled Maple as she pointed to a bunch of sticks that she gathered, and with her short sword in her hand, chanted, "Fireball!" and a ball of fire, as the name goes, shoot out and lit them a warm campfire.

In New World Online, you can feel what your real body feels in the game. Tiredness is one of them. And after being awake all day, after all that shopping and fighting before said shopping, even Maple would find herself drowsy. While physical tiredness isn't exactly something to worry about since the body is put to rest as the player is in the game, mental fatigue is another thing entirely.

"Haaa..." Letting out a lethargic gasp, Maple rested her shield on a tree, and quite literally summoned a picnic blanket from thin air, along with some food she didn't buy earlier.

... Solemnly standing in silence staring at the blanket and the basket of infinite sandwiches, Maple finally broke out of her illusion when she heard the demon girl barf. "Ah... sorry, was it because of the thing we did earlier?" Worried, but too tired to walk over and offer her and the traumatized catgirl a potion or something, Maple simply plopped down next to the basket, her head and back resting on her shield. She explained how there's food in the basket and all that, before her eyelids started drifting down without her controlling it.

Staring at the fire, she asked a question before she drifted away into the land of dreams.

"I still don't.... know your name."

With her vision finally dark, she heard two voices answering.

"...Rin."

".... Taro. Subayai.... is my tribe's name."

With that, and the moonlight streaming from between the leaves above, the world around her grew quieter, hushed into a whisper, with nothing more than the crackling fire and distant owls calling to one another to accompany it. And so her eyes, behind its lids rested as well, heavy with the promise of dreams and wonder. 

The weight of the day begins to wash away.

"..."

"She's fast asleep." Said the beast girl, still gazing at the fire, telling from her keen ears. "So..." she started a conversation. "Rin, huh?" She caught a glimpse of the collar hidden behind the robe earlier. "What's your story with her?" she asked. Since she answered Maple question's as well, she imagined they also recently met each other.

"Shut up." Responding with malice, Rin, jumped and scaled a tree, laying down on the tree branch.

"Geez, what did I do to ya?"

Silence.

"You're tired too huh?" Again, she could tell with the sound. Awfully upset at her though, she wonder why.

Silence again.

"Right..."

The fire crackled.

"Wait... am I the night watch???"

🔶

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"...ke up."

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Is that.... screaming?

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"Wake up."

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"WAKE UP!"

"!!!!" jolted awake, she found her eyesight blurry at first. From the crackling fire, she can make a shadow of a dog playfully biting her hand. "Aww." She went to caress it with her other hand. Only to find another dog also playfully biting it.

But before she can "Aww" at that one too, a Morningstar attached to metal chains came smashing into one of the so called dog's head, spraying its warm blood all over her face.

".......Wa.." Meek and confused, but slowly coming back to reality, or game reality, Maple stood up and smashed her other hand with the one other wolf still trying to tear it off into her shield right behind her, and she watched as the wolf's head got absorbed by the shield in a disgusting way.

Rin was on top of the trees, avoiding the reach of the wolves while Taro was nowhere to be seen.

Taken by surprise, but not at all in trouble Maple slowly dispatched the wolves one by one as they kept ramming and trying to bite her legs, which then she can just hit them with the shield and let them handle the rest.

"So that's why..." said Rin as she witnessed one wolf literally breaking their teeth on Maple's unarmoured leg from behind. With the campfire taken out in the scuffle, Maple herself was fighting blind, while Rin could manage with her demon eyes.

That's why... she already knew what happened to...

"..."

"Rin." Maple called her name, snapping her out of her reverie. "Where's...."

"..." not needing more elaboration, she leapt down with poise, walking to the right.

"Rin?" Maple murmured, intending to follow her before Rin halted before a random tree.

"...Rin?"

She refused to look at Maple.

"..." But no more question needs to be asked as Maple recognized the hand poking out from behind the tree and drag marks that stretched behind the tree from the campsite. ".....Taro?"

With her slow AGI, the reality of the situation was gradually revealed to her as she sauntered over to see.

She dropped her shield.

It was a display of nature's brutality. The..... corpse, lay sprawled in a twisted, unnatural pose, the remnants of life stripped away like it meant nothing. There were sign of the victim fighting back, but with herself bound to the chair... alas... Her stomach was horrifically torn open, the once-coiled entrails now spilled out and mingling with the forest floor. Insects and ants are already at work transporting the food back to their nest. Both her ears have been bitten off, leaving jagged raw wounds that exposed sinew and the white bone under her skin. And Her face? Not even a mother could love it anymore.

Rin watched as Maple dropped to her knees and started fiddling around, pulling out a flask.

It disappeared into thin air as she snapped it in half with her thumb.

Nothing.

"Hey..."

She pulled out a bigger one and out of desperation, unscrewed the top and poured the liquid into what was left of the catgirl's mouth, now simply a disfigured mess of a hole.

"...Hey" Rin called out again but was ignored.

The liquid flowed out from the opening on the stomach, flooding the world of the insects, giving them a taste of a biblical flooding.

"HEY!" Rin, running out of patience, snatched the glass bottle and threw it away.

"SHE'S DEAD!" she grabbed Maple's face with both her hands, screaming into her eyes to get the point across. "DEAD!"

And as if to get the point across, a system panel popped between her and Rin.

A mission success notification.

New skill obtained! 

She wanted to barf, right there and then. But the system panel's appearance reminded her how it was all just a game.

Right.

Definitely.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"You're right, haha." Maple softly laughed and Rin immediately regretted her decision. As if nothing ever happened at all, Maple grabbed her hand, and they continued their journey before the sun is even rising.

Somewhere along the way, Rin swore she could hear Maple repeatedly saying how everything is just a game under her breath.

What a sick, twisted person, Rin thought.