Chapter 20 ~ Back to Maria
Across the sweeping plains, cloaked in an expanse of eye-soothing emerald grass that undulated with each passing zephyr, Hikari and Rentarou journeyed. Hours yet remained before the sun would kiss the horizon. Hikari's mid-length, golden hair, reaching just to his earlobes, possessed a softly chaotic texture – neither rigidly sharp nor silken smooth – and it danced with the breeze, as did the simple, earth-brown adventurer's garb he wore. Beside him, Rentarou, his own grey hair a stark contrast, kept pace. A polished silver cuirass gleamed over his chest, the rest of his attire a blend of stark black and crisp white.
Rentarou raised a hand, shielding his eyes as he peered into the distance, his grey gaze fixed on a point far ahead. "I can see it from here," he announced, a note of relief in his voice. "We're drawing close to Maria Town."
In the distance, it emerged as a bastion of muted grey, its formidable stone walls a protective embrace around the unseen life within. Above, the sky was a tranquil canvas of deepening blues, the sun a molten orb beginning its slow, majestic descent towards the western rim of the world.
As they walked, Hikari broke the comfortable silence. "A point of curiosity, Seniora. Earlier, when I confronted the Shadow Ninja Squad, their apparent leader, Asaka, inadvertently struck the white-clad ninja girl. Yet, during our battle with the Area Boss, my Water-Slicing Wave passed harmlessly through Rentarou, as I'd anticipated. There's a contradiction there that puzzles me."
Rentarou turned his head, his expression thoughtful as he listened. He stroked his chin, his grey eyes calm. "You have a point," he mused. "I wasn't present for your fight with them, but the discrepancy is indeed… peculiar."
A new voice, youthful and distinctly feminine, like that of a young girl, resonated in both their minds. It was Seniora, Hikari's AI companion, her pronouncements always appearing in a bold, clear script in their mental interface:
The only logical deduction is that they engaged you without forming an official party link.
Then, another voice, also female but with a slightly more mature, almost mischievous lilt, chimed in—this was Merulina, Rentarou's AI:
Did I hear him say 'Seniora'? Why don't you mind your own digital affairs for a moment, dear? Merulina here.
Hikari's golden eyebrow arched in mild surprise. He glanced at Rentarou, a faint, questioning look in his calm, ocean-blue eyes. "Merulina? Is that the designation of your companion AI?"
Rentarou grinned, a touch of pride in his expression. "She's quite something, isn't she?"
Hikari let out a soft sigh. "Be that as it may, let's dissolve this party link for now. I can't quite tolerate inter-AI squabbling."
Hey, Hikari-san! Let me converse with this… stubborn entity a little longer— | Seniora protested.
Her voice was abruptly cut off by Hikari's concise mental command: "Leave party."
Words materialized before both their eyes: Rising Star has left the party.
He resumed walking, his gaze steady. "Alright, Seniora. Continue your explanation, if you please. Concisely."
Such… somewhat harsh treatment, | Seniora huffed, though her voice regained its informative tone. | In any case, it appears the Shadow Ninja Squad members lacked fundamental trust in one another.
Their footsteps made soft imprints on the grassy verge as they drew ever closer to Maria Town. Seniora continued her explanation:
They likely wished to prevent each other from overhearing their AI companion's dialogues. In this game, a player can share every thought, ambition, and true desire with their companion; they can confide anything. Even if a player harbored intentions of world destruction or betraying their comrades, we are designed to assist, obey, and guide them.
Hikari processed this. "That's… an unforeseen variable. The game's algorithms never cease to surprise me. How has this world not collapsed into chaos already? What safeguards it from utter ruin? But returning to our immediate concern, it strongly implies a profound lack of cohesion within that squad. After such a defeat, they might not even be functioning as a team anymore…"
They reached the perimeter of Maria Town, stepping towards the imposing iron-wrought structure of the West Gate, set within the massive grey ramparts. Two guards stood sentinel, their chests, elbows, knees, and shins protected by segments of practical steel armor rather than a full, gleaming plate. Swords hung at their hips. These were the guardians of Maria Town's western entrance. The town itself was encircled by four such gates – East, West, South, and North. These sentries were not the same pair Hikari had encountered at the game's outset; this was a different threshold.
One of the guards, a man with nervous, dark eyes and mousy brown hair, spotted them first. He nudged his companion. "Oi, look there…"
His comrade, black-haired with equally dark eyes, exuded a calmer demeanor, turning his gaze unhurriedly.
Then, as Hikari and Rentarou drew nearer, an expression of stunned disbelief washed over the black-haired guard's face.
"Impossible…" he breathed, his voice barely a whisper. "A red name…"
His companion echoed the sentiment, his voice tight with alarm, "Why… what in the blazes is a Player Killer doing in a low-level area like this?"
Hikari and Rentarou came to a halt just before them. Instantly, with grimly set faces, both guards drew their swords. The sharp shiiiing of steel on scabbard cut the air. The black-haired guard levelled his blade at Hikari, the dying orange rays of the setting sun glinting wickedly along its edge.
"Player Killer!" he commanded, his voice ringing with authority. "Those marked as such are forbidden entry into this peaceful town!"
Hikari and Rentarou stopped. Above Rentarou's head, his name floated in crisp white letters. Above Hikari's, 'Rising Star' blazed in a defiant, ominous crimson. Both displayed 'Lv. 10'.
Rentarou visibly tensed. Well, this is a rather thorny predicament… He raised his voice, addressing the guards respectfully. "Excuse me, but this isn't some ordinary Player Killer, nor someone who revels in disrupting the game. He was designated as such because a squad attempted to rob him of his elixirs and currency."
The brown-haired guard scoffed. "Spare us your fabrications! As if we'd believe such a tale. You're likely a team – the one with the innocent white name, while the other commits the murders. The white-named player can then defend the killer. It's a common, despicable tactic."
Rentarou muttered under his breath, frustration etched on his face, "This situation is far more convoluted than I initially imagined."
Hikari's sapphire eyes, cool and observant, swept over the tense guards. The sharp glint of their drawn swords, the stern set of their faces, all reflected in miniature within his gaze. He spoke, his voice a low, even calm that seemed to absorb the surrounding tension. "The problem, then, is solely my entry into Maria Town, is it not?"
The black-haired guard, his stance unwavering, replied, "So long as you do not approach this gate, we have no quarrel with you."
Hikari closed his eyes for a measured moment, a soft exhalation escaping his lips. "Understood."
Then, with a fluid, unhurried grace, he began to advance. His eyes opened slowly, their serene blue betraying no hint of aggression, yet as he moved, an almost palpable aura of dread emanated from him, coiling around the guards' hearts.
Their grips tightened on their sword hilts, knuckles white. "Did you not hear a word we said?!" one of them barked, a tremor in his voice. "Stand back, or I'll take your head!"
Hikari simply raised his hands before him, palms open, as if anticipating something to materialize. The air between his hands shimmered, then fractured into a cascade of azure squares and digital sparks. A medium-sized, unassuming brown pouch, emblazoned with the distinct Diamo currency symbol, solidified in his grasp. It looked weighty, filled with what was clearly a significant sum.
A system notification flashed in their shared visual field:
| 1300 Diamo Withdrawn |
| Current Balance: 0 Diamo|
The guards stared, momentarily stunned. The fierce certainty in their hands faltered, their sword tips wavering. "Is that… Diamo?" one stammered, disbelief warring with avarice in his eyes.
Rentarou remained silent, his brow furrowed in thought. *'What are you scheming, Hikari…?'*
Hikari stepped closer, halting directly before the black-haired guard. "I will leave this pouch with you," he stated, his voice still unnervingly calm. "It contains my entire fortune – 1300 Diamo. Furthermore, I will grant each of you an additional 50 Diamo upon my departure from Maria Town, provided I leave without incident. This is not a bribe for entry, but rather, collateral. A testament to my sincere intentions. I am not here to sow chaos. I will reclaim my funds if I depart without any infractions. What is your decision?"
The guards exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between their dark eyes. The brown-haired one finally blurted out, his voice thick with awe, "Did you say… 1300 Diamo? Man… oh, man!"
The black-haired guard, after a moment's internal struggle, slid his sword back into its sheath with a decisive click. He took the proffered pouch, his fingers closing around the surprisingly heavy purse. He attempted to maintain a stern, official demeanor. "Very well, Rising Star. You and your companion may pass through this gate."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Hikari's lips, a flicker of relief. He turned to Rentarou. "Let us proceed."
Rentarou, startled from his thoughts, hurried to Hikari's side. They passed through the gateway, their boots striking the grey, closely-fitted flagstones of the town proper. As they walked, Rentarou leaned in, his voice a concerned murmur. "Why would you do that? There's no need to squander your funds so recklessly. You must exercise more caution."
"It is of little consequence," Hikari replied, his gaze already sweeping over their new surroundings. "I will recover the Diamo in the end. More pressingly, there is Petra here. I wish to speak with her, as I do not foresee returning to this region. The other areas, I suspect, will demand considerable time to explore."
Maria Town unfolded before them like a scene from a well-loved fable. Stone-cobbled streets wound between charming, timber-framed houses with steeply pitched roofs and blooming flower boxes, reminiscent of the welcoming architecture of Genshin Impact's Mondstadt. Tall, elegant windmills turned lazily in the distance, their silhouettes stark against the vibrant sky. Yet, the atmosphere was far from welcoming.
As they moved deeper into the town, the gazes of the townsfolk fell upon them, and a palpable wave of anxiety rippled through the streets. Mothers were seen hastily pulling their children behind their skirts, their eyes wide with fear. A burly man, perhaps a blacksmith from his soot-stained apron, scowled openly, his hand hovering near a hammer on his belt. Small groups of children, moments before at play, now huddled together like frightened chicks. From an upper window, a young woman with wide, apprehensive eyes quickly latched her wooden shutters. The distinct sounds of doors bolting and the low, uneasy murmur of hushed conversations followed them like a shadow.
"What is a Player Killer doing in the heart of our town?"
"How did he even get past the gates?"
"Did the guards… did they actually permit him passage?"
"Don't say he… he killed the guards?"
"What dark misfortune has descended upon our humble Maria…"
Rentarou's grey eyes darted left and right, taking in the oppressive atmosphere. "They're terrified… exceedingly anxious by your presence," he observed, his voice low. "It reminds me of the first time I saw your name glowing red."
Hikari's blue eyes, calm and acutely aware, met the fleeting, fearful glances. "I am cognizant of their apprehension," he replied evenly. "The only recourse is to conclude our business and depart swiftly."
It took them only a few more minutes to reach the market square. The sun had finally begun its spectacular dip below the horizon, painting the clouds in breathtaking hues of lavender, rose, and molten orange – a captivating, almost magical vista. The usual boisterous sounds of the market had softened with the approaching evening; the cheerful cries of children at play and the bartering calls of merchants were more subdued than they would have been at midday.
The air still hummed with commercial energy, but a peculiar pattern emerged. Anyone whose gaze fell upon the crimson 'Rising Star' hovering above Hikari's head would visibly flinch, their eyes darting away as if to avoid any potential trouble, affecting an air of utter obliviousness, much like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
The uncomfortable weight of these pointedly averted gazes and hushed whispers continued with every step Hikari took. "Are we not yet near the merchant you seek?" he finally asked, a trace of weariness in his tone. "These constant stares are beginning to make me feel like some sort of wanted terrorist."
"Yes, he's very close now—" Rentarou began.
Before he could finish, a clear, distinctly female voice cut through the ambient sounds of the market.
"Rising Star…?"
Both men turned towards the sound. The voice was familiar. With a single glance, Hikari recognized her.
She wore the pristine black and white of a maid's uniform, its ruffled trim immaculate, a light apron cinched at her waist. Her long, brown hair was neatly kept, and though her signature round glasses were absent this time, her warm brown eyes were unmistakable. They were fixed on him.
Her reflection swam in Hikari's calm blue eyes. This time, however, her usual polite smile was gone, replaced by an expression of shock, or perhaps it was profound worry, bordering on terror.
"Petra…" Hikari murmured, her name a soft exhalation.
[ A/N ]
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