Vol 3 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 4: World Fraction

1

”Gyaapyi~!?”

The youth rose to the sky and spun beautifully, leaving a cloud of dust behind hi into the ocean head-first

”Oooh Oooh! Wasn't that showy!”

Maryele was laughing loudly as she watched the scene while relaxing under the parasol

This was the 'Meinion Beach'

One of the most beautiful beaches in the Sand Leaf peninsula with its sparkling white sand It was only a 30 minutes round-trip by horse fro at, a convenient place

Maryele took an ice-cold soda from the cooler that doubled as a table beside her She had taken off her singlet, revealing her bright bikini, an outfit ideal for vacations

Her equipment included a parasol, a deck chair, and a cushi+on, she was totally prepared for the beach

(Ahhh, this is it, this is it! This is paradise, I am so fortunate)

Maryele had a sht now her selic smile could melt anyone's heart

Even though there was no sunscreen, their bodies were e soot a sunburn The swimsuit also took quite a bit of effort to secure

In Elder Tales, a costume was equivalent to your equipment Elder Tales was mainly a battle RPG, equipment basically arments

Of course, if you removed all your equipment, your avatar would display you with underwear But this was a function to avoid displaying sensitive parts, a safety function in the game, akin to parental control, so there would only be dull and norarments

They could be seen on the character profile as well, but it didn't actually exist But this function didn't work anymore, if you stripped off your clothes you would be naked, both your profile picture and yourself would be in the nude

But underas very important, and the japanese had always lived in a civilized world, they could not endure life without panties

If you made underwear you could wear it, this was already a known fact But undergarh tailor level to sew The citizens had alliht

That light came from swimsuits

With its s points, there were many equipments for you to dress your avatar up in Elder Tales This included the special iteiven out for participating in special events

Swimsuits were obviously different from underwear

Like sweat absorption and friction fro hours of wear, they had many differences But there ays to overcome these differences after the Catastrophe, so the panties crisis was tided over by the excellent tailors

After the Round Table Council announced the newitearments

There was definitely high demand for them, and panties were a popular product for the tailors Stuck with the mindset of the old world, Maryele also wanted several sets of undergare periodically, so panties were one of the most profitable products for the tailors in Akiba

Hooks, laces, and elastic bands could be acquired easily by using the gaenuity and attention to detail was their technique inquality products Since it was ic ite

Swih known recipes were very simple, so they were relatively cheap since they were ns were quite expensive Maryele was an experienced player who liked swi was taken fro used for years

Maryele's sas a praiseworthy design from the beaches of the old world, a bikini The bikini itself was not sh-cut of the bikini made her very sexy

Maryele was conscious of that, so she put on a cotton hoodie

(Anyith soif they see this)

Maryele thought that she would be fine with the hoodie But the fact was the vague form of the bikini under the hoodie made the others even more uncomfortable, as they didn't knohere they should put their gaze But she was not aware of this, Maryele was enjoying her vacation on her deck chair with a big smile, she was peaceful and at ease

”Maryele-san, Maryele-san!”

The youth who jumped just now ran to her

The youth was holding a spear-like weapon with sharp edges on either side, he should be a Sa leather ar into the sea, just like a dog after a bath

”Heal me please!”

The youth was bleeding profusely from his head

”No problem”

Maryele nodded energetically, sat upright and cast Healing Light A six-pointed white star appeared at her fingertip, and the youth's HP was refilled after absorbing its light

”This is great, I'm cured!”

The youth felt his wound, the bleeding had been healed Healing Light was a low-level spell with a short cast tiap while waiting for the high-level spells to cool down But for low-level players, this was a powerful spell that could completely recover their HP

”Thank you!”

”Anytime, anytime”

Maryele smiled

”Don't est you ambush them from the side, remember to watch out for the restriction of your skills as well”

”Okay, understood!”

The youth ran off full of energy down the beach

At the far end of Maryele's view of the beach, the youth discovered an Ascot Crabits way onto the beach and th, if it spread its claws out it should be about 2 iant crab

He then charged the crab with his spear and struck at the side of its belly in an attempt to flip the crab over He seemed successful this time

There were 5-6 such beginners around Maryele, they were Adventurers with the lowest levels in this su camp

Maryele was leading these beginners at this beach

During the summer, there were countless Ascot Crabs, nickna on the 'Meinion' shore line If left alone, they would er the livestock and the farms, so the People of the Land despised them

But these ed frorind

Spending the whole day grinding like this should grant them plenty of EXP If they were injured badly, they could seek treatment from Maryele

They would take a break when they exhausted their MP

With a personalsession

Maryele's grand vacation plan was a big success

”Hahhhh!”

”Die! Die, die! Just die!”

”Accept your fate!”

Maryele lay down on her deck chair as she listened to the battle cries of the beginners, the ice-cold soda in the glass cooling the summer heat

This was just like heaven

She couldn't help but smile

Many of the beginners here wanted to be in the production line This was the 3rdto stay at this low-level because they abhorred fighting

This was not a proble on production were necessary to support battle guilds ent out to farm

But in this alternate world, being a pure production player was very risky If they had no battle power, they couldn't protect theh player level was beneficial to production as well, soredients could be obtained faster if they went by themselves

This point probably played a big part in convincing them

Or uilds did not have a coiven up The beginners gathered at this beach were passionately grinding by engaging the crabs repeatedly

To make it clear, every tiive up, Maryele would heal their wounds with her sunflower-like smile So even if they wanted to retreat, they couldn't do it, the pride of boys was such a pathetic thing

As for the girls, they were influenced by the furious fighting atht 'can't be helped, I will also train a bit more'

Only Maryele was not aware of this reason

(Everyone is working so hard Wah, the weather is so nice)

The sleepy Maryele continued to enjoy her vacation

The ade were patrolling the beach as instructors and lifeguards Maryele was standing by as the supervisor (she was just enjoying her vacation), and healed the wounds of the occasional casualty

Maryele as bored out of her ain

The air was dry, even if it was hot it didn't feel uncomfortable

When she saw a line of white bubbles on the surface of the ocean by chance, she waved over to Shouryuu as nearby

”Shouryuu look, what is that?”

Maryele pointed to the white line in the sea

”Eh, what is that bubbles? The trail of a boat? Hmmm”

But the discussion ended like that

The white line dissipated after a while, and nothing of interest happened after The group battled crabs until the sun set, leaving with plenty of crab meats and shells

Production subclass training began at the school caotten about the mysterious white line

2

Isuzu entered the 3rd day of their challenge of Ragranda Forest

Their daily challenges lasted less than 3 hours

The process depended on their sta

It didn't er, but it was obviously a probleed 4-5 battles for each trip

They could only keep practicing

Rundelhous explained it this way, but there was no significant gain in EXP with only 4-5 battles Each fight evolved into a battle of attrition, and they ended the trip after exhausting their MP anditself

Isuzu was not wearing ared into casual clothes

Because it was tiring to return to ca heavy equipment

The higher level party spent about 6 hours in the dungeon every day, so the low level party who retreated around noonti much to do

They could recover their HP and MP after resting for an hour

And they could challenge the dungeon again in the afternoon to earn sou They did not know the reason, but the party relented when they heard their instructors' harsh warning

And so, Isuzu's party could only dowater from the ponds, or just kill some time in the woods

Frole of the sun, it should be about 3pm

Isuzu was on her way to a pond nearby

It was not a big pond, but because there was fresh water flowing in, the pond was cool and clear, the water for the group was all drawn fro so no one had tried that, but Isuzu thought it should be fine

There were no showers in the hills

No one actually suggested it, but Isuzu's group decided to take turns to shower in the pond

” Huff! Ha!”

The distant sound of breathing came from deep in the forest

(Who is it?)

Isuzu peeked in the direction of the sound

The one training vigorously in the forest was Rundelhous He earing a light purple costu school, with a cloak of aprofusely

Hefor quite soround in darker shades eat, he eon

Rundelhous extended his left hand forward He created a big fireball, co it to the limit to the size of a fist This process required immense concentration, Rundelhous as always very concerned with his i his teeth

After shooting the ball, a large ball of mist formed in his hand, which he compressed into an ice ball and shot out like he did before This attack extinguished the fireball he shot out earlier

The ed into ice and fire clashed fiercely in the forest, producing lots of stea around,water

Incorporating defensivea battle simulation

Isuzu noticed 2 lines on either side of Rundelhous, she didn't understand theRundelhous for a few minutes did she realize what they represented

( The walls of the dungeon)

The 2 lines on the ground represented the tunnel in the dungeon, Rundelhous was fighting invisible skeletons that were co at him from the front

He keptaround all over the place, but he did not cross the line, because they alls

And he had beenfor quite a while now

It see time, but after about 5 minutes, Rundelhous fell on his knees and breathed out loud Heout an e sound

”Are you okay?”

Isuzu who had been watching from behind the trees asked hesitantly

He reminded her of a classmate with asthma who displayed similar symptoms

But Rundelhous see and facing Isuzu

”Hi Miss Isuzu what what are you doing here?”

Rundelhous se

But his fringe was full of sweat, so they were stuck on his forehead

”Don't push yourself alright?”

Isuzu said while holding back a laugh, but she failed to calm Rundelhous, orked in a panic to conceal his sorry state

”You You think I a, I am only here for an afternoon stroll and to listen to the birds sing on the invitation of the fairies”

Rundelhous' face was turning purple as he went on

(He was just gasping for air and still wants to talk like a prince, no wonder he is turning purple)

Isuzu thought, but Rundelhous kept up his princely smile even with his purple face Isuzu felt a sense of syaze and turned her back to him

”I I see”

An intense breathing sound came from her back as Isuzu spoke

A young couple alone in the woods with the heavy breathing sound of aBut no matter how frivolous Rundelhous was, Isuzu still wanted to commend him for his samurai spirit

(Eh I am weird in some ways)

Isuzu and Rundelhous were about the same level, and he looked to be in his early twenties, shouldn't be any younger than Isuzu Rundelhous was a boy and not frail at all

But there was a big gap between their battle prowess, Isuzu was a support class, Rundelhous specialized in da attacks His battle prowess should be several times better than hers

But ignoring battle powers or conditions, Isuzu felt she was superior than Rundelhous in a totally different category She didn't understand her own feelings

”Miss Isuzu what are you doing in a place like this?”

”I ao together”

Isuzu did not ask: ”Do you want to go?” The norht now she was not being polite to Rundelhous at all

”Shower? I have no interest in peeking at ladies bathing, don't look down on me!”

”No one said anything about showering together or letting you peek”

Isuzu kept her back to Rundelhous and retorted in a half-joking, half-angry hed, which made her happy

”It's not nice to let a lady wander alone in the forest, right?”

Isuzu blushed a little, calling herself a lady was a bit e It felt a bit too much, but she couldn't take back what she said

”You are right, yeah, I will just be an escort”

Rundelhous' voice started to recover

”Then allownearby? Which way?”

Isuzu turned around

The Rundelhous before her said: ”Please lead the way” She al at his expression, he eaty but was still char at hiainst any shoujo a's main character in the real world

(But I don't feel excessive pressure from this Is this also the effect of the alternate world?)

”Rundelhous-san, it is this way”

Isuzu tilted her head slightly, and as she started on the trail leading to the pond, the young man said to her:

”Miss Isuzu, please just call me Rudy, that's how my parents address me”

Isuzu listened to this with a tingling in her heart

3

shi+roe and Akatsuki were brought to the depths of the Ancient Palace of Eternal Ice, they did not knohich zone they were in

In the depths of the palace, it was cold despite it being summer, the cold was between 'cool' and 'chilly' At the end of the tunnel was a sculpted giant metal door

”This way, this is my abode, please come in”

ReGan who claie opened the door and invited the 2 of them in There were several thousand books in the library You could tell it was a library fros and the rooht line into the depths like a tunnel

There werethem

On either side of the tunnel ere shelves twice the height of shi+roe They were filled to the brim with delicacies known as books The journals and scrolls spilled onto the floor, for mini-avalanchesThis sight continued on deep into the darkness

ReGan searched around the rooo?' shi+roe and Akatsuki occupied a couch after clearing the books that were on it

”Eh, I apologize, I have es I prepared in advance”

ReGan was sorry about that, but shi+roe shook his head and replied: ”It's alright,” taking a few glasses and a bottle of black rose tea fro

This tea had beca the masses, it was thicker than brewed tea but was not as bitter, and you could add honey or sugar to it to fit your preferences The one shi+roewells and sweetened with syrup

shi+roe poured cups for hiave an expression of joy with just a sip Heaura, a man of mystery

Froe

”My gratitude, I have always been poor in searching for things Is this Dazanegg's Magic Bag?”

”That's right, I had someone make this for me”

shi+roe nodded and replied bluntly

”I have researched this bag before for the process of crystallizing the ic circuits, you would need purple flaht?”

”Yes, I gathered these materials before they could work on this”

shi+roe was iical Backpack' The sage ReaGan had a good grasp on the contents of the quest, eable than normal People of the Land

”Please excuse ain, I aic, but technically I aic scholar”

”Magic scholar?”

”Yes, soic I aical studies, but I have been focusing on doing research”

”Researching here?”

”Yes, I have lived in the Ancient Palace of Eternal Ice for over 30 years, this was originally the laboratory of o, I inherited his work and continued to research day and night, do forgive my poor dress sense”

” Mirror Lake you are the Sage of Mirror Lake?”

shi+roe renificance of this title

Sage of Mirror Lake

When Elder Tales was just a game, this was a title that was related to several quests, rumors, and books For instance, the crucial item 'Key of Eternal Darkness' for the major raid '9 Prisons of Heroes' was said to be e of Mirror Lake

But this was just a setting in the garound to the story, so he did not give it ht

”I guess I am But I still can't refer toa student When othersto my master”

”So the Sage of Mirror Lake is a hereditary title?”

”It is indeed, please call me ReGan”

With his hue of Mirror Lake did not have the air of one with such a grand title

The silence flowed between themshi+roe drank his black rose tea and his brain turned at high speed Attending the ue of Freedom Cities Eastal was due to their invitation, but it was also a step in gathering intelligence of the world Attending thisprovided the chance to know and interact with the leaders of the world, widening their inforet poking around in the streets

But this was a big catch

It had been 3 months since the Catastrophe

All kinds of knowledge about the world was gathered slowly by shi+roe's group At least the e to live their daily lives normally was co food, clothes, and shelter

But information like this made shi+roe think that ”there is so much more to learn”

There would be no problem if it was just shi+roe alone

Or if there were only a few ether, all problems could be solved No ht or as the truth of this world, shi+roe and the others were able to survive in this world with their abilities They could go on journeys indefinitely, or build a base in the deep mountains, they could survive no matter what

But shi+roe could not think of it this way There were 15,000 Adventurers in Akiba and almost 30,000 in the whole server, if he could abandon them, he wouldn't have started the Round Table Council

The 30,000 Adventurers could not ignore the People of the Land and live by themselves, they also needed a base of their own

In this area under the japanese server, the population was probably 15in nue impact on the world no matter what they did In fact, the new production e impact on the world

Even if Nyanta did not discover this new method, someone would definitely discover it after a few e of everyone's confusion and depression after the Catastrophe and took the initiative to control the situation

shi+roe did not feel responsible for the spread of the new production method, but he needed to understand the ie And there should be similar incidents in the future No matter how they tried to conceal it, Adventurers were still an alien existence in this world To achieve a good ending and divert them from the path of destruction, they would need deep and wide knowledge of the world shi+roe's group lacked such knowledge

(This conversationwith the nobles)

ReGan stared at shi+roe with interest and said:

”I claiic covers a lot of areas and has lobal-level ic”

” Global level?”

shi+roe rubbed his chin as he listened to this foreign term

”Yes, this is in accordance to the scale of the orized into action level, battle level, tactical level, strategic level, war level, national level, continental level, and global level This is just one way of categorizing they control, changes inthem by spell levels is also commonly used”

shi+roe thought as he listened

This was a rare way of thinking, if you categorized by the features of y, Summoners conjured creatures shi+roe could understand, that was a si it

shi+roe also understood grouping them by spell levels, which hat spells could be learned at each specific player level, the way used by the officials in Elder Tales

”To categorize by scale, you need to analyze the h observation Action class is aa sword to attack a ic, that is action class, hurting one or a group of le action The es are ht be”

From this perspective, shi+roe's basic attack, Mind Bolt, was an action level ic bolt that hurt the ene an arrow Even if there were dae or debuffs, they were just additional conditions

”Battle level le battle If you cast it, you can determine the fate of your enemies and your allied party”

This was a deep way of categorizing ic For example shi+roe's Astral Hypnos see on the way it was used, it could push a group of ene it as battle level made sense in this situation

”Tactical level ic cast by a group of Sorcerers belongs to this class”

Affectingenchantments? shi+roe could only find one spell in his arsenal that fit this description

”Strategic level is even larger in scale, the effect can last for days, a single spell can defeat a fortress, a tower, or a dungeon”

This was already beyond shi+roe's iination

It ame, but players role-played as Adventurers in Elder Tales, if the Adventurer had the power to destroy a dungeon by hiether since they had such overwhel forces

”Let's keep the rest of this short, war level can decide a war, national level can destroy an enemy nation, continental level can affect the whole continent with a single spell As for global level”

”It's a ic that can decides the existence or the fate of the world correct?”

”That is correct”

shi+roe understood the concept

It was still understandable if you treated it as academic research, but did such spells exist? No, in the world of Elder Tales, shi+roe was an Enchanter hiic was ridiculous, but the scale in this topic was too big, he was unable to relate to it

”About that Pardon orization, but does such ory?”

shi+roe's question ly and answer

”It does exist, Searching through the archives and with ic of this level happened 3 times, it is called World Fraction”

” The Catastrophe right?”

ReGan's expression confirmed shi+roe's query instantly

A ic of this scale could not be the work of one man

It her than huht on this

War level, national level, continental level Why was there a need to research ic that probably did not exist? The reason was because it actually did exist

Maybe it could not be done by People of the Land or Adventurers, but if a being like a fire elemental caused a volcano to erupt, or an earth eleical destruction of the national level

As an experienced player faic as just one of the skills of Adventurers, and could accept the existence of round and the story setting