Vol 7 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 4: Guild Master

1

This appeared to be a street on a late night

But the surroundings were bright, the street lights casting a long shadow of hiround

shi+roe thought it was late at night because the shutters of the shops were closed and there was no one around It was unbelievably quiet

After passing through a McDonald's and a aze as he went by a floral shop's sign board These were scenes he had grown tired of There was no sign of people in this silent street

shi+roe alking on a street that was an hour away fro to the locals, it was near a station that was forcibly included into the Tokyo subway line Stations with similar names with prefix 'north' and 'south' could be found around the area, a sign that this was a suburban satellite town

shi+roe was born and raised here

But this city built on lies was a stranger in shi+roe's eyes

The population in this new city was vast

It was full of facilitiesconvenience to the residents

But the distance from the inner city ard For example, the citizens would make their way to the inner city for electric appliances, clothing, and entertain here That was the sort of place this was It was convenient and had everything But when you really wanted to find so, you couldn't

It could not be viewed as a mini city, it was akin to a supplementary space for Tokyo, a place without its own heart

shi+roe's parents e A two story house that wasn't too big or ss in the area Be it the residence, station, the leftover farmland, or the trees, they were all unmemorable and ordinary sceneries that could be seen all over japan and were fading slowly

There was nothing worth protecting in this toithout its own heart, so it changed slowly over ti, shopping ed periodically The residents also changed at a high rate

This was also reflected in shi+roe's circle of friends shi+roe felt that it was a waste for one third of the elementary school classroom to be empty They planned for this amount of students shi+roe didn't know if this was the effect of the aging population or the city planning estih school, his class back, this could be viewed as theshi+roe felt that the world was blurry and untrustworthy and that people or things goingabnormal

(Speaking of which)

He raised his head as he recalled so

There was a small place called Brinjal Curry around here The candy house, wallet shop, and fruit store were right beside it That was a place he frequented with his friends when he was in high school, a cheap and memorable place

The signboard that had a dubious drawing of an Indian was gone

shi+roe was puzzled for a moment, but remembered with a hint of loneliness

He carelessly forgot that the Indian curry house closed down It was replaced by a beef bowl cafe for a few months and then taken over by a ranboard shi+roe ree vacation

He went into the ra food ever again

Even though they went out of business, shi+roe still wanted to try the taste of the curry house onewith a Yokohama accent and did not look like an Indian The curry was japanese flavor instead of Indian style (it tasted like Vermont instant curry) It was priced reasonably and caplants, not a bad place to eat once in a while

(It's a pity it closed down)

He sighed as he lifted his head to look at the shop, the flashy signboard of the ramen franchise restaurant with black and red words shi+roe stopped and observed the shop carefully On the roller shutter was a sign saying they were closed on Wednesday The restaurant was usually decorated with lots of flags, but it was quiet now He could not , it was all a blur to him

shi+roe scratched his cheeks and came to a conclusion

(So this is what it means to lose your memories)

shi+roe had forgotten what this ramen franchise was called

”So that's how it is”

It was not too surprising

He already expected this, and he didn't feel like it was alike the items inside a treasure chest with a broken lock

He ree

He understood the risk of dying in a raid Noredtheir strategy in order to eoblins, the opponents were around his level, so failure ithin expectations

shi+roe felt a troubling sense of loneliness

This faint eic

It filled the life of the young shi+rogane Kei

It was the same for elementary school, middle school, and after

Before he realized it, shi+roe was holding on to these feelings as he took a night stroll

He had lived in this town fronboards clearly

The ever renewing population ca But from their perspective, shi+roe was the one who disappeared Aso brief they barely left any trace The trace would then disappear from their minds completely

By thinking rationally, it was shi+roe who forgot, while the shops were the ones being forgotten

But shi+roe couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness as if he were betrayed

shi+roe felt ashamed as he looked for an excuse

His classotten about him

He didn'tclasses Since he spent his ti, it was only natural for them to not remember him Even shi+roe could not recall his old classmates This situation overlapped with hishim feel remorse

shi+roe felt a wave of willful anger wash over him

His ho, but it left no trace in shi+roe's heart

shi+roe walked along the silent street illuhts

He just noticed he had left the don area and crossed the abnore shi+roe strolled down the street leading to the elementary school which was lined with trees

A shadohich was supposed to be a friend rose fro out of place when the petite figure walked beside hiko tree and the bench in front of the bus stop and continued walking under the night sky

shi+roe was the only onein the streets, but he could hear the distant sound of heavy vehicles driving by With the growl of the wind in the background, shi+roe walked on with his eyes on his feet

Passing through a big park, shi+roe followed the lowing lights As expected, there was no one here

Tiles with drawings of fish covered the bottom of the man-made pond It wasin the off the water surface made shi+roe turn away shi+roe and the shadow sat on a bench overlooking the man-made pond

shi+roe concluded that this was a near death experience

He died during his raid with Silver Sword

According to the laws of this alternate world, he would revive at the entrance of the raid zone During the lag tih the bizarre experience of death, atching a dream

He leaned back on the bench and looked into the sky

There were no stars in sight

(So I ended up here in the end)

shi+roe let out a lonely laugh

shi+roe had spent countless nights on this bench He grew up in a dual income family and would scowl impatiently when social workers asked why he was alone in the park He was a regular here

He didn't really like anything here He just had no other place to go There was just hi of discomfort washed over him even if he hid under his blanket He was also afraid of the young men and woet this unpleasant feeling, the grade-schooler shi+roe ht to idle on this bench That was the only way

Although he didn't suppress his chest with his eyes shut like he did as a grade-schooler, the faint wound brought a silent certainty to shi+roe He was certain that he had failed

shi+roe frequented here often in the past

The adults co shi+roe was mature, smart, and exercised self-restraint That hy children about his age seeulf with other kids As a result, plenty of unhappy things happened

He squandered his classood intentions

Heartlessly slapping away the hand they offered hiood will

He looked down on the kindness they showed

He ran away frohts he should have stood up for

He failed to cos and hardshi+p of his parents

All these were delicate irreversible failures

The young shi+roe cried on this bench after every failure, pro himself to do this and that Sos were going well But as expected it was a failure, holding on to the feeling of being defective as he sat on the bench

' Just die and you will understand The incoliness of yourself Die a hundred tio on because it is too hard to face them'

He recalled William's words

He nohy people gave up raiding

Co hisand unbearable

shi+roe was fa behind it

If he would teleport here every tirew up in had died before

If this hat death h it countless times

That night when he threay an i when he slapped away the hand his friend offered hiht when he was made to say, ”Be careful” with a fake smile, and the time when he bid farewell to the library

Death was the feeling of wanting to die

Even though it had faded, shi+roe knew it very well

It was the feeling he bore in his chest Not just defeat, but the reopening of the wounds of previous failures as well Hadn't he tasted this h tiain But before he knew it, he ended up here again He had lived over a dozen years, would he ever get away from this bench? His doubt stuck to his back like a shadow

His future seemed so far away

After a dozen years, the amount of time was still beyond shi+roe's comprehension In this indefinite a his mistakes?

He rerit his teeth and knocked shi+roe away

shi+roe didn't understand why he did that

shi+roe didn't recall doing anything that would prompt Demiqas to help him

Williaht, no problem”

shi+roe could not co man would lend shi+roe his hand

In shi+roe'she did was made William lose face

He didn't know all sorts of things He hated his foolish self

The sa back information from his friends

shi+roe was not wary of Minaainst Minami's spy He was already aware of the spy's identity

shi+roe reilant about an unknown third party

He unclenched the fist he balled up unconsciously

Other than Adventurers and People of the Land, perhaps there was so else out there He suspected it to be the Kunie clan, but it was not the' definitely existed

Like ReGan said, shi+roe and the others were sulobal level spell It was just a coincidence that the game and this world were so sih the chances were not zero, there should be a better explanation out there

shi+roe recalled that the research and develop They were atte to use brain waves to input coetative state According to the latest reports, they were able to view a person's dream via video The research was mainly conducted in the medical field, and would probably move towards entertainreat news that caused quite a stir online

But the research had not advanced to the practical application stage yet Maybe a secret international organization was researching in secret, experi its subjects

But it was so else for tens of thousands of japanese to experience this, that's just stupid Also, shi+roe and the rest were not wearing any special equipment

There must be a better explanation for this

shi+roe had endured the sick apprehension that so was heightened when he heard about the Spirit Theory fro on the basis of the concept, he violently probed into the darkness with his i

shi+roe used the convenience of the Round Table to request all sorts of research

Roderick ca reality Soujirou found out about the changes in the ecology of etation in the south Charasin surveyed and collated inforue of Freedom Cities Eastal

The investigations revealed heaps of evidence that a third party existed This strengthened shi+roe's suspicion So coincidental that they 'just happened to think of' was also evidence of the third party's activity

(But I can't use those things as an excuse I was taking it too easy I stopped searching, bound by fear)

There was so much more that Demiqas could do The same with William

He should have confided with Naotsugu And Nyanta too

shi+roe's worry had brought so much trouble to the people around him He knew all that, but wasted the chance because of his lack of effort

People i for shi+roe there The wind blowing tonight was like an invitation for shi+roe to return back to his guild

They were living proof that shi+roe was cowardly and lazy, and pushed others away

shi+roe stood up, determined to return to the others

He would be letting everyone down if he couldn't even do that

And he owed Kinjo an apology

shi+roe was suspicious and did not say his piece

What a pity He should have shared everything For the sake of the future shi+roe believed in, he had to convince Kinjo As a fellow hu in this world, they should discuss the pressing issues together

Although he had no basis, shi+roe felt so had always been there since the Catastrophe happened

shi+roe who stood up on reflex heard a familiar voice for a moment

A whisper hinting on an upco

2

shi+roe felt a brief o and found himself on a white sandy beach

The sunlight reflected off the clear ocean

The waves rolled in slowly,foam in their wake

The ocean met the sky at the horizon and extended as far as the eyes could see

shi+roe was surprised by the crunching sound he made when he took a step

He started to walk along the pure white shoreline, looking at the flawless beach in awe

He couldn't do anything by staying here, so him on

shi+roe lifted his head as the wind blew on his face A shadow loomed from behind and took to the sky

What kind of seabird had such beautiful wings?

The bird frolicked with its mates in the dark blue sky

Looking at the in the air, shi+roe was reulls, flapping their wings wherever they went

(Speaking of which, what an a place this is)

He had no ih this was a near death experience

Did he co, he wondered He read sos had simply lost their means to recall these memories These memories were encrypted into the nerve cells and synapses of the brain so they couldn't simply be retrieved unless the huht about complicated matters, but he still couldn't remember this place

But, even though he had no , it was still a beautiful place

The clear winter skies and the sand dunes which extended all the way into the air

The cream colored beach formed a perfect contrast with the aquamarine ocean

shi+roe walked along the shoreline alone

The footprints he left in the white sand looked like they could have been left behind o They were a record that followed shi+roe's path

Maybe he had left it behind at the park bench, or it was simply swept away by the silvery sand under his feet, but shi+roe's sense of helplessness no longer lingered in his chest

shi+roe walked for a long tihts Light rippled in the sand with every step he tookOnly a faint sense of guilt still remained It was a debt he knew he had to return after he respawned

A clear crystal sound raised shi+roe's doubts

The heavenly body that illuminated the beach was a sphere of blue covered with clouds, soht it was the ht up the sky, a blue planet

( Is this the moon?)

As he looked around him, this appeared to be the correct answer

The sand dunes that were like parched dragon bones and the turquoise lights surrounding him This was a scene out of a fantasy

shi+roe checked the name of the server hastily and was convinced this was the rumored 14th server

The name of the server was Mare Tranquillitas

It was not registered on the auto translation systeinal text into consideration, this place should be called Sea of Tranquility

This was probably the test server of the Ataravu Corporation which was filled with content that was in the midst of development He chanced upon this place because of the Catastrophe, but shi+roe was not sure if there were other ways to this place other than through death

With noout, shi+roe was thankful that he could still breathe as he explored the depths of his memories

According to the Half Gaia project, the earth-like world of Elder Tales was divided into 13 servers This meant that the 14th server was an unofficial test server

Despite this, it was open to the public

Players could freely create characters on this test server Avatars created on it could not be rated to the normal servers They could only be used to explore the endless dungeons and the wide underground world of the test server

This was a in situation for both the players as well as the developers

Players with basic knowledge of the gas and errors in the syste with the balancing of the daarner feedback fro experience

For the players, the test server allowed theame in advance, such as the combat system balance, new skills, iteaer was the best way to obtain first-hand information on the new system

The success of the test server was only possible because of the benefits both parties mutually enjoyed

While Ataravu Corporation (North Alobal updates and versions were the fruits of the test server and its er-players

shi+roe had an alternate character in this test server

That avatar was a fe to his

Although shi+roe was quite knowledgeable about the test server, he wasn't aware that there was a 'surface' Such information could not be found on international sites either

As its naests, it was an environment created to conduct tests

The test server shi+roe kneas a collection of dungeons identified only by numbers and the concept of temporal continuity did not exist as old and new versions coexisted at the same time

When he thought about it, the fact that players couldn't log on to the test server the week before a beta-release of an expansion pack was probably because adrades

shi+roe chewed on the information he already had, but was unable to come up with new theories

He had never heard ru transported to the test server when one died

Had any other Adventurers noticed that this was the test server?

shi+roe thought that it ht be possible

Since the Half Gaia project didn't encompass the test server, did that ht up in overseas foru japanese players

shi+roe wouldn't even have known this was the Sea of Tranquility without this background knowledge The name was in Latin after all

As shi+roe thought about this, he noticed a figure looking up at him from a very close distance

The figure belonged to someone shi+roe was very familiar with, Akatsuki

The young girl in a caraazed up at shi+roe with alook

She re to his side

shi+roe nodded, cal Akatsuki down

He knew that sentle expression

A happy and satisfied smile with a bit of shyness

shi+roe started to walk on the beach, an invitation for Akatsuki to join hi here, and Akatsuki irling by the ocean seeer to move on

The couple took their ti the beach

They couldn't sense any hostility in this place, but this was a whole neorld for them

shi+roe atching the surroundings carefully while Akatsuki was taking it easy

Akatsuki turned around watching their footprints in the sand

shi+roe stopped and turned back Akatsuki caught up effortlessly eightless steps, running circles around shi+roe

The couple continued to advance Akatsuki led sometimes, played with the waves once in a while or pointed at the birds flying gracefully

The caramel coat suited the cute s-like lady very well

Maybe it was cold, but her face appeared to be slightly red and she would hurry to the front at times

This must be the world of Elder Tales With its clear skies and carefree sound of the wind that was unique to the outdoors It created a syround music to this world, with only the footfalls of the couple audible

Akatsuki see as she slowed her pace and fell behind

shi+roe waited patiently for Akatsuki

He was not bothered by the wait

Suddenly, shi+ny snowflakes fell from the sky

The scenery hite all around, be it the sand, the sea, shi+roe or Akatsuki They were all showered under the white glow

shi+roe reached out and attempted to touch it, but his chest hurt as he was reility of his dreams

Just like touching snow as a child, he couldn't grab and observe it even if he wanted to

shi+roe nodded at the wide eyed Akatsuki

The two of theht

They were going through an incredible experience

It brought an unfounded sense of quietness and satisfaction to shi+roe

Fear, anger, and regret all melted away in this wintery seaside The two of theht

”This is such a quiet place”

shi+roe said as he stopped at the cove with clear blue waters

”Yes”

Akatsuki beside him answered

Although it was a short exchange, shi+roe could feel the sense of awe from the sound of her voice

The toll of a bell sounded from the other side of the sea

It sounded like an unknown race that had spent tens of thousands of years alone signaling to its comrades

shi+roe had no basis for this conjecture, but he believed this cove was a special place

Akatsuki tre sadly

Right then, shi+roe re 'death'

Although it was temporary, 'death' was still 'death' It fell onto Akatsukia ret

But Akatsuki was ined, her eyes filled with strength

If this would teach hiested, shi+roe had the obligation to not waste this lesson shi+roe swore an oath in his heart

If this cove took awayof death, then he could offer them himself

shi+roe made a wish

In order to become a better person than yesterday, it was a necessary ritual to oals

shi+roe took out a small blade from his pocket and cut off a piece of memory

Akatsuki followed shi+roe's lead and cut off the tip of her ponytail, letting it fall into the sea

The falling snow and the blue seas were all fragments of memories

The soul in liquid form played the symphony of the waves

The tears of Adventurers who did not ated in this ocean It was not an assumption but a belief shi+roe could see the Spirit Theory at that moment

A tiny hand grabbed shi+roe's coat

shi+roe didn't look away fro”

Both Akatsuki, as nodding, and shi+roe calmed the excitement in their heart as they looked out into the sea

”Did you fall, Akatsuki?”

Akatsuki looked surprised by shi+roe's words and nodded gently

Akatsuki raised her head and opened her petite mouth

She wanted to speak

But this was very difficult for the young lady No matter how hard she tried, her mouth closed into a line

Instead of sorrow, Akatsuki's tearful eyes were filled with regret Akatsuki withheld the pain in her chest, keeping it away from shi+roe

shi+roe's heart ached as he looked at her Akatsuki failed after taking on a tough challenge shi+roe wanted to help her, but he was not by her side

”Is that so? I am the same too I died”

”You too my lord?” ”Yeah”

He could see that scene when he closed his eyes He could hear the steady counting of Silver Sword

The clashi+ng of blades, the burning inferno and freezing gale ic