First, he outsmarted his opponents with his usual brain. But then, he started swinging the burly guy around the same way he did with Ewa and made a crater from that punch. I get he didn't create a second character, but there were too many changes for me to track. What's worse is that Lyco seems to have a good idea what happened, but he keeps mum about it for some reason. So there's no way I can force him to tell me everything unless I want to break our promise.
"Hey, sis. Is something the matter?"
I break out of my thoughts upon hearing Nelli's voice. Even when I cringe at her calling me "sis", it's enough to bring me back to the present.
"It's nothing. I'm just shocked he managed to win every fight on stream," I groaned. "Are you sure he's still an [Insignis] at this point?"
"According to his stats, yes," Lyco answered. "Don't tell me you're jealous of Lunar's growing wins? Cause he might be able to break whatever records Savior and his goons are doing right now."
"Says the guy who kept complaining how he met your favorite pro gamer idols before us."
"Hey! I said 'alleged'!" He starts waving his finger at me like he was a teacher scolding a student. "We don't know if the [Dungeon] pro duo are the same jungler and support from Eclipse, or did they really play it after that unboxing video of their [VeilCons], but I know if that guy got their autographs and keeps them for himself, he's gonna meet the muzzle of my pistol."
I dryly chuckle at his brief pettiness. Though I must admit, I'm also a fan of Eclipse Warriors, too. So I'm also hoping he will get their autographs as well.
"But so far, most of the fights are kind of boring," Nelli said. "I get he's super strong and smart against his opponents. But it's starting to get boring after the 10th guy who tried to hit him from behind."
I stare at the stream right now where Venus is busy talking about her favs while a feed showing Lunar resting under the tree is playing in the background.
"Good point. The fights can drag on if there's nothing noteworthy to happen," I said. "If anything, Lunar's fights are mostly about avoiding ones he can't beat on his own and ones that he managed to overpower through strength alone. Besides, the 20-minute mark is almost up, and we're bound to see any team fights soon."
"But knowing Lunar, that guy won't team up with anyone, especially when they made contact with a certain group of Vipers," Lyco agreed.
"Really?" Nelli stares at the feed. "But he looked friendly when he talked to those [Dungeon] pros. Don't tell me he's going off solo for the whole event? Isn't that dangerous even for a hot and strong guy like him?"
Well, if he were Lowry, yes. But as Lunar, I'm not too sure.
"If anything, he might surprise us with another fight ahead. While the arena prohibits fights with 20 against 1, it still doesn't mean the players would try ganking against him."
"If they could find him, of course." I see Lyco stretching his arms out. "But we should keep trusting that guy. Knowing him and his risky ideas, I know he will survive to the top 50. Speaking of which, can we talk for a second, Romi? I think I kinda forgot something from you."
"Something from me?" What kind of Nazi Grammar are they using? I already did him a favor, and he gave it back days later. What could he possibly want from me again?
"Yeah, yeah. While you guys are at it, could you guys grab some bottles of [Orange Juice] at the stand there?" Nelli asked before I could say anything. "I'm a bit virtually parched and I want to keep watching to see if Lunar does something amazing again."
Geez... Well, at least it's a good excuse to separate from her for a while.
"Okay, it better be good or else, that commission you've asked for will be doubled in your pay."
"Yeesh, I'm not talking about my new coat, but you're already in salesman mode." Lyco raises his hands defensively. "I just want us to talk in the alley where your sister won't hear us."
Huh? Won't hear us?
Wait, I think I'm starting to get why he wants to talk to me.
"Alright. Let's go." I turn to my sister. "And please don't go anywhere. I don't want you to encounter some unruly events and [Quests] without my permission."
"Geez... I get it." Nelli groaned. "It would be better if you remain my quie-"
"OKAY! I think we should get going!"
Lyco starts pushing me towards the alley without letting me have a word on Nelli. Once we arrived, he sighed in relief while I looked at him solemnly.
"Thanks for the save, Lyco. I almost got p*ssed off when she's about to say the "D" or "M" word."
"No problem. I wouldn't let a guy or a trans guy like you hit a woman. It's disrespectful." Lyco briefly grins with a shrug before his expression changes to serious. "Now, did you see anyone suspicious during the event?"
He didn't waste any time jumping into the main topic. He really is Lucas's trusted co-writer.
"Nothing so far. I was too focused on Lunar's fights to notice." I hum while recalling the last few minutes I mentioned. "Although I did see some robed guys with NPC crystals on their heads when the MC explained the rules of the event. Do you think they're the ones you guys are looking for?"
"They must be. Looks like Lunar's suspicions and predictions are on point," Lyco also hums with a serious frown I've never seen on him before. "I never expected them to be on the move already."
I raise my eyebrow. "And who are they anyway? What kind of crazy [Quest] have you guys been up to this time? I get the privacy clause we made, but I feel like you're just holding out against me instead of the other way around."
"Well, Lunar did say I'm also allowed to tell you this: It's the Vipers. He thinks that there's something sinister behind the failed [Dungeon Run] that he was in."
"You mean the same one they claimed he 'committed mutiny against them'? I don't think I follow."
"Me neither. But if I say anything more, you might also get involved in their current feud."
"Feud"? Okay, this is getting ridiculous the more I hear about this.
"Don't tell me you also got involved in whatever nonsense Lunar found himself in? Besides, there is no way he can change his appearance and skill set overnight, and his disappearance occurred after that run." I lean over to Lyco's face as he starts to sweat. "So let me ask again: What the hell are you guys up to?"
I seriously don't want to be Nosy Ned here, but my curiosity and worries are going overdrive, and there is no way I can leave him alone until I get some answers!
"U-Uh... Well... You see, uh..." Lyco muttered. "Seriously, Romi! Can't you be patient for once? Lunar is never the secretive type, and we will tell you once you're..."
"And when is that day?" I interrupt. "I'm sorry, Lyco. But I'm also Lunar's friend and I need to know right here a-"
[Oh, is that you, young lad? I didn't expect you to be here.]
Huh? I turn around and, to my shock, I see a burly woman standing between us by the alley entrance. We scream out of shock, but we stop to see that it's only a petite woman with surprisingly muscular arms who has on her bare arms. The only way I could tell she was a woman was her braided brown ponytail, lean figure, and breasts. If I blurt all of these traits out, she and Nelli won't forgive me.
"M-Miss Blacksmith?! I-I didn't expect you to be in
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Huh? Did he know about this NPC? I had never seen her before in here, and yet, she recognized Lyco immediately.
[Oh, I'm just here doing my daily shopping. Where Lunar? I heard he's visiting this town recently.]
And she knew Lunar, too?! I didn't know an NPC who could remember a player before. And yet, I never recognized her with muscles and fang-like canines in her teeth before.
"He's busy with the arena event. But we're watching to support him. Do you want to join?"
"I wish. But I'm still busy with usual work, so I have to pass up on your invitation."
And then, her eyes turned to me next. I guess I should ask her before I miss my chance.
"A-And who are you?" I nervously asked.
[Me? Nothing much. As that lad said, I'm the village blacksmith. Though it is too early for me to tell you my name, I can tell you that I'm well-acquainted with him and his friend.] Suddenly, she walks over to me and stares at me with her hand over her chin. [But I have to ask: Are you also the young lads' friend?]
"U-Uh... Yeah..." I answered while controlling my stutter from my shock. "I'm Hiromi, nice to meet a friend of Lunar and Lyco's."
I try to reach out my hand for a shake. But for some reason, she kept staring at me with a frown.
[Huh? Hiromi... I doubt it's a perfect name for someone like you.]
I raise my eyebrow at her response. "Excuse me?"
[No offense, but I was talking about your dress. I'm not much of a fashionista like my wife, but I doubt you and that frilly dress don't mix well together. Not to mention your sharp eyes. You look more like a strong man than a dainty woman to me.]
...No way.
I didn't mention anything about my gender or my appearance, but this lady managed to deduce everything about me with just a glance. But if I say it out loud, there's a chance Nelli might snap out of her fangirl-ism from Lunar and will tell everyone that I'm a girl.
"I-I'm not sure what you're talking about, Ma'am..." I back away as I try to rebuke her claims. "Besides, this dress was made by my sister."
[Your sister, huh? It makes sense if it's her creation. But to me, it doesn't fit you well. Even if a loved one made that dress for you doesn't mean it aligns with what you really want in life.]
This lady... Just who the hell is she? Is she a...
["...a psychic?" Is that what you thought of me, right?]
My eyes widen, and I gulp at her correct guess. Is this game trippin' me right now?
[I'm just messing with you. I'm more of a good observer than a psychic,] the blacksmith corrected. [As a blacksmith, I always have to discern the character of the wielder before I make a weapon that is right for them. If you can take that observation and turn it into a design, then you might be able to create something compatible with both the weapon and the wielder. That's the same as making clothes and accessories for their client. Does that make sense to you, young man?]
...
I have no words for her. She's only an NPC following the AI of the game, and yet...
"Uh... Ma'am... I hate to interrupt, but we're about to finish our chat here and we need to get back to our seats soon."
[Ah. Sorry about that, lad. I should be going as well.] The petite blacksmith turns to me next. [I still do not know who you really are, young lad. But you can't lie to yourself for the sake of others. Open up and you can break the limits of your true self.]
My...true self...
I guess... I'll keep her advice to heart.
[And before I truly go...] I look up at the woman again. But this time, she shows a stern expression on her face. [Be careful of the men who would take advantage of your weakness. I don't know what you're desperate for answers, but the patience will be rewarded. If anything, I can introduce you to my wife when the time comes. But for now...]
The woman leaves the alley while waving goodbye without looking back.
[Don't get hasty, lad.]
And with that, the mysterious blacksmith left with a warning. I'm a bit scared of that encounter, but I'm relieved how nice she was to me as well. She even recognized that I was misgendered for some reason. Either way, I feel like this isn't the last I'll see of her.
But then, I realized something.
"Wait, there are same-sex couples in this game, too?" I ask while turning my attention back to Lyco.
"Dude, you're not the only one who was surprised at the inclusion."
God, has it been 15 minutes since the event started? I feel like I'm losing my breath after running for hours. But that is excepted when I had to fight for my life to the top.
Thankfully, I managed to defeat about 12 players during my stay in the jungle biome. Most of them were not as good as Fred and Waz, but they were still tough to beat, and I barely survived with my [HP] still in red and my [Wolf's Fury] still on cooldown. Thankfully, this event includes several lootable items around the map to pick up. It really makes up for the rule against using our consumables for the event. Since there's no one around trying to pick a fight or ambushing me, I decide to take a breather under the tropical tree and eat a free coconut and berries I found along the way. And thanks to my skills, I managed to pick ones that are not poisonous, so I eat them immediately to restore my [HP] and [SP]. I did pick up several [Mana Berries] along the way, but I barely used my magic to get through my fights, so I should save them for the time being.
But I'm a bit of a bind right now. After 20 minutes, the event will reveal our locations to others in a brief time, and at the 30-minute mark, the team-up ban will be lifted. Not only will it push us into a big fight, but there's also a chance the guild parties will regroup and start hunting as a team in the mid-game. I could try moving to another biome, but there's a chance someone would take advantage of my plan and end up ambushing me with a kill. Plus, most of the time zones in the biomes are randomized. If I end up in a biome with a full moon, I end up exposing myself as a [Lycan] in front of the livestream. My only option is to deal with the players before they can regroup, with the risk of exposing myself to danger and losing my resources before the endgame. Besides, if I don't thin out the number soon, the odds will be against me.
Just thinking about it makes me throw the core of the apple into the bush in frustration. I need some way to counteract this worst-case scenario...
Rustle...
Huh? I don't feel any wind here, and yet, the bushes where I threw the core started moving on their own. I should ignore it since there's a chance a player might ambush me again, but my curiosity won't let me. Seeing that I will regret it either way, I take a quick peek behind the bushes.
And to my relief and excitement, my curiosity has rewarded me with a gift.
A gift that can turn things around at the start of the 20-minute mark.
[A few minutes later, back in [Initio]...]
"Here you go," I said while handing Nelli a bottle of [Orange Juice] along with her favorite red velvet cake Lyco and I bought from the bakery.
"Oooh~ You even ask them to add cherries on the slice, too! My favorite!" Nelli accepts all of them in glee, leaving me with a simple choco cake roll and a cup of choco chip frappuccino on hand. "Thanks, Hiromi!"
"Lucky you, guys. I only got a decaf and a doughnut on me," Lyco groaned while getting back to his seat on the balcony of the bakery. "Any updates on Lunar?"
Nelli shakes her head and answers, "Venus just switched players during the stream. Seems like nothing has happened to him yet. Last time I saw him before the switch, he ducked into the bushes and disappeared. Do you think he got bored no players were attacking him?"
"Knowing Lunar, I bet he's planning something. It's almost the 20-minute mark, and they will reveal the players' locations soon."
I nod. "Yeah. He's fighting alone in a battle royale-style event, and there is no way he will survive in a group battle alone."
"Well, he better keep himself in the game! I can't bear seeing him die so soon, and I already made donos to Venus that he will get to the top 50!" For some reason, Nelli takes out a [Mana Crystal] shaped like a lightstick and waves it around. "Come on, Lunar! I used all of my [Adament] and Bits to support you!"
It seems like my dainty sister has already caught the battle royale fever thanks to Lunar. Though she's a bit scarier than his sister...
[Attention, all players participating in the arena...]
Well, it seems like the 20-minute mark is almost up.
[Your location will be revealed in a few seconds. Please relocate or prepare for the mark.]
I guess that means once the footage rolls back to Lunar, it's another bloodbath at the end of the mark. I'm a bit worried about Lunar, but I know he will be struggling to find a way out of his predicament. If he might encounter a high-level player or one of the Vipers, he won't stand a chance against...
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF
Huh? Did something happen in Venus's stream just now? I noticed Nelli and Lyco's expressions changed as their jaws dropped.
It isn't until I look at the stream footage that my jaw drops as well. How in the world did that guy do it? It's impossible!
But then again, he can make things possible with those items he brought... Something that we haven't seen from the other players.
I guess he isn't the guide seeker for nothing.