Chapter 216

First, to ensure sufficient light, I placed the gas canister onto the Portable Gas Stove and lit it. It was clear that everyone present felt a sense of relief. At night outdoors, a small light like this is deeply appreciated.... Hmm, there are buildings nearby, but no lighting.

"Think about it, this building has no lights or anything?"

Meleoron asked. Just as Uranus had thought, I swallowed the word "no." I would leave the answer to him, and I would continue preparing the meal.

"It's probably just a setting, but this village looks like an abandoned village where humans once lived.

Even if you take a look inside, there is no one there, but it is very tidy.

So, the light is just a formality. Even if I mess with it, it won't turn on."

"Looking back?"

"What a pity."

"If you are vigilant against other players, yes. If I get close enough to notice this stove fire, perhaps Uranus or I would notice it. How about the smell of the food... if it comes from downwind, it might be difficult."

"Uranus, please keep an eye on the people downwind."

"It's fine, I'm doing it."

As I said this, I took a pot out of Uranus's backpack, put a handle on it, filled the pot with water from a plastic bottle, and placed it on the stove.

While waiting for the water to boil, we discussed how to distribute the 12 Rice Balls.

The ingredients for the Rice Balls were plum, bonito, kelp, tuna, cod roe, and Salmon. Two for each person.

And since there are four people, everyone has three.

This isn't a battle of blood for blood. It's just that we don't really know each other's likes and dislikes. Which one will you take?

"Why did you buy such a controversial set?"

Uranus crossed his arms, displeased by Meleoron's suspicion.

"No, you were there when I bought it, weren't you?

If it doesn't work, then stop it."

"Since it's about Uranus, I think you must have had an idea."

Sharp words from a smiling Seam. Uranus's expression seemed itchy.

"... Isn't it limited? Please confirm just in case...

No, I didn't buy it without thinking."

I smiled lightly,

"I think it's a reasonable choice as far as free pockets go.

That? Uranus, I bought it without hesitation, but should I confirm it with everyone? I think"

When I said this in a dramatic tone, Uranus broke his neck and fainted.

I am also guilty of not checking on the spot. I don't mind. I like Rice Balls, and I can eat any ingredient.

Uranus recovered his drooping head, and after worrying for a while,

"Then...

Let's take them one by one in order from youngest to oldest. After one round, I will choose the smallest again."

"But that's fine."

What is the most important, youngest order?

Uranus pointed at the questioning Meleoron.

"First Meleoron. Next Seam, then Aisha."

"Eh!?"

"... Maybe I'm the oldest, aren't I?"

Ah, I see. If it were before the reincarnation, would it be like this?

But according to Meleoron, I am the standard. You are the oldest...

"No, you haven't even been born for a year.

Seam fits the age. Then Aisha. I am the last one. Is that fair?"

"..."

What's going on, it's not funny to be treated like this at a time like this.

"Aren't you treating me as a man and a woman the same?

If you don't like being treated like yourself, please stop."

"Ah..."

"No, it's fine. I'm less than 1 year old. Goo goo ga ga"

"You, stay that far away from me..."

"No, yes. I know, do as you please. Choose now, you big baby."

"Ba ba ba. Baba."

"Shut up. Take it."

Meleoron is also good at provoking. Pretending to be too much just to play with Uranus.

"Then I am... Tarako!"

"... Next is me, right? Then Ging!"

"Oh, I'll choose both. Then... let's go eat some kelp."

"No, everyone is in high spirits, I think I can only rely on this Ryu to fish for Salmon."

At the end of the first round, eyes gathered on Meleoron.

What's left is 2 plums, 2 bonitos, 1 kelp, 1 tuna, 1 cod roe, and 1 Salmon.

"Don't back down. Take the tuna!"

"Then I'll get you some Salmon."

"Ah."

"Yes, that's right. I'll use kelp."

2 rounds finished. 2 plums, 1 bonito, 1 cod roe.

"Then lastly, bonito."

"I'll go get some cod roe. Uhyo."

"Is the result like this... I like plums, but what about Uranus?"

"Ah, yes."

A place like this, it's destined that plums won't sell... It's delicious, and there are plums.

I ordered a cup of ramen from a big pile of things,

"This is good for one person, right?"

"I have six, so I have two left over."

When I checked just in case, Uranus nodded,

"Yes, one by one."

"... Aisha, do you want to eat two?"

"Hm?"

"No, I don't think it's a waste..."

"Please feel free to write it down and put it in the empty house."

"... If Aisha wants to eat three, I won't stop her."

"I didn't say that!"

Pfft, giggle.

These guys... they think I'm a glutton. I'm not that mean.

... Hmm, long and thin cup ramen, I want to eat about two.

Keep four disposable forks and the cup ramen at hand, waiting for the water to boil. This is a Portable Gas Stove, so it doesn't take long.... Because it's outdoors, the heat can dissipate without being trapped.

Last time we camped in the game, Kastro often guarded the Fire. It was convenient. He accepted it without hesitation, saying it was Training for himself. Kastro helped me a lot just with the cooking.

Looking up at the starry sky.... After all, eating outside like this isn't bad. For some reason, when I was in Greed Island, this time was fun.

Having a mat is convenient. Any large rug will do. Sitting on a Bath Towel and putting down a Rice Ball, it's a bit different, and it's also fun.

The water boiled, opened the lid of the ramen, poured hot water from the pot with a cup, and waited 3 minutes.

No one said anything, probably because it was already halfway through.... Presumably everyone is hungry. Sometimes, no one eats the Rice Ball first. Waiting for the ramen.

Uranus, who sat down like a cute older sister, looked up at the night sky.

"..."

Seeing Uranus, Meleoron and Sim whispered in each other's ears.

"... What?"

Uranus looked at the two with half-squinted eyes.

"Hm? No, not at all."

"It's nothing."

The two were giggling.... You're saying bad things again.

"What's wrong? Please tell me too."

After the two looked at each other, Sim stood up and whispered in my ear.

"Uranus earlier."

--A girl who fell in love with ramen?"

"Pfft!"

I couldn't help but burst out. How could you come up with something so silly! Others!

"What's wrong, Aisha?"

"Ah, no, nothing. Hello."

I became an accomplice. I cannot repeat this from my own mouth.

The ramen is ready, and everyone starts to eat. Seafood Ramen, three Rice Balls, a bottle of water.... This is the dinner menu.

However, Gohan is still good. It accumulates in the stomach. Rice is the best.

Uranus turned the noodles with a fork,

"Aisha, do you often eat this kind of thing?"

"Ah."

"I haven't eaten much these days. I ate it during a sleepover party."

I used to eat a lot when I lived alone. But when you have money, you stay away from this kind of thing. It's even more so when you have more opportunities to eat with people.

"Sleep..."

"Doesn't Aisha go to girls' night?"

Meleoron asked. Women's Association?

"What is it, girls' gathering?"

"Eh..."

"I mean it is. Go with your besties and Jajanken Jajanken Jajanken"

What is this, cuckoo fufu? No, I get the image, but...

…………

Are you there? Do I have any female friends of the same generation? Hmm?

For some reason, I look at Uranus.

Uranus seems to understand his intention and almost blows his ramen out.

"Geho!

Kehohoho... wait, Aisha. Why are you looking at me?"

"It's not good.

…………

I don't have a normal female friend.... There is no one here. If it's just appearance, there is Biscuit, but it's different. Not normal.... Lina? Aier is a disciple. At least not normal.

No... I was abnormal to begin with. Mother...

I don't mind. There is Gon and others. Having fun playing with my male friends, that is my habit, haha.

Even so, it is rarely possible, but... grumble.

... Is that so? My goal is to get female friends of the same generation. In that case, a girls' gathering would also... I have a negative reaction to the sound of a girls' gathering, but can we get Together for an overnight stay?

But when you meet girls, what on earth do you do?

"... Meleoron. Girls' night..."

I just noticed. Asking this means admitting you have never seen a girl. Ah... yes, it's too late. I have already heard what a girls' gathering is.

"Girls meet...

What are you doing? Specifically."

"Yes?

Ah, of course... going out to eat with Gohan is not what Aisha wants to hear.

Gathering at a friend's house, bringing sweets and juice, eating and drinking together?

We talk until late at night, then sleep, so we sometimes call it a pajama party."

Hmm. This is almost the same as an overnight party. Isn't it also very fun?

"Talking about hobbies, absent friends, or family.

... And, love flags?"

"Ugh!?"

Uranus and I Explosion at the same time.

... What is that...!?

A love story!? A love story!?

No need to wait.... Me? Isn't it impossible to say there are women among men?

In other words, it is a place to enjoy chatting. It's probably a bit different from playing with Gon and the others. Even so, a love story... is too harsh an Obstacle for me right now...

"... Sister, don't put it there.

Aisha, it looks like it will be difficult."

"Hmm? Because your complexion keeps changing, it's interesting.

Generally, I'm just explaining normally, right? I didn't adapt anything."

"You talk too much...

Let me tell you, even if men get Together, they talk about love stories or erotic stories, right?"

…………

Ah, I see. A story that can only be completed between same-sex partners... Then you understand.

In other words, is it...

I can say it like this, you haven't participated in a real overnight...

If I could change my gender, I would want to talk to Gon and the others.... This has nothing to do with my affairs or anything like that. Yes.

Gon and the others once changed gender, but... that's not real. Not that. I feel like Reina and Biscuit lost control, and it ended in many different ways.

──A real girls' party is not a dream, because there is a terrifying "side" to the gathering, where vulgar, dirty jokes are everywhere. The same goes for men's gatherings.

"Hmm...

Why don't we stay here?

I have to finish eating quickly and leave, you hurry up and eat."

In Uranus's calm rebuttal, we said: "Hmm!?" That's right. Because of the atmosphere, I intended to sleep here. It's dark here, so...

I remember, I sip my ramen. Uranus eats it the same way, but Meleoron looks at us strangely. I'm sure you want to say that slurping loudly is impolite, but this is the best way to eat ramen.

I finished the meal that was supposed to be a light meal with satisfaction, and then cleaned up. Cleaned the air bottle, washed the cans, and poured all the water into an opened plastic bottle.

I took out a portable gas stove and other unused items from Uranus's luggage, wrote "Please feel free, September 15, 2000," and put it in a corner of the empty house.

The empty plastic bottles and dirty Towel were ridiculously Heavy, so I had to put them in a bag, write "Trash" on it, and put it in the corner of the empty house. No way, I can't carry it.

"I wonder what will happen to the trash left like this?"

When I asked Uranus, after thinking,

"... I think the game system or the staff is cleaning it up.

Otherwise, the trash would pile up like a mountain. Isn't the city the same?"

Hmm... maybe that's it. I seem to be treated as a staff member, but you wouldn't ask me to clean up, would you? I don't like that.

Anyway, after packing up our clothes, we left the unmanned village.

The time is 20:45.

To reduce the burden on Uranus, in addition to assisting with multiple "Mole Catcher" and "Cyclops", I took on the "Rock Crawler" and "Killer Bee" attacking from behind by myself. If I fight, Master, I can reduce the trouble of defeating the leading Uranus by running backward.

Thanks to this, I have become accustomed to the feeling of fighting while draped in someone else's aura. Even if I cannot see the aura itself, I can discern its weaknesses from subtle movements and strike true. Now, if it were an enemy around B-Rank, I might be able to defeat it easily. Enemies above A-Rank? I have never truly fought them. Hmm, I cannot see through "Hidden" with "Hardness," so I cannot force myself...

It was a fairly slow pace, partly because the remaining aura of Seam was always unsettling.

────Finally.

It broke through a long Rock Area.

Beyond the sparse grassland, one could see the pitch-black lake water reflecting the moonlight and starlight.

As I ran along the lakeshore, Seam returned my backpack to me, and I carried it myself. Uranus opposed it, but I insisted that I did not want to be spoiled like this while being protected by an aura, and managed to push through. Carrying the Heavy loose seam was far more dangerous than carrying the Heavy me.

The aura of "En" was cut off midway, but no monster appeared, so he just ran past like that————

Finally, we arrived in front of the magical city of Masadora.

It was almost 23:00.

Everyone was walking on the road leading to the town with a mixed expression of exhaustion and a sense of accomplishment.

"It's been a long time..."

Seam put all of this into his words.

"Do all people who start this game do this?

And then you die, normally..."

The disgusted Meleoron complained.

Uranus walked on, he turned his gaze behind us,

"Since there are experienced people, that's even better.

If you try something like this alone without the proper skills, then the game is over as soon as it begins."

"Is that so...

Even if it's just to avoid monsters, it's difficult at first glance."

They might be screening. Do you have what it takes to challenge this game?... That large group of monsters came for real.

This is a game that puts your life in danger—as long as you know you have entered the game, everyone should have already made up their mind.... I am no exception. In the Hunter Exam I participated in, there seemed to be many victims. It is unfortunate, but I had no choice but to accept it as a natural result because I did not have enough ability.

Uranus sighed,

"... Well, most of them will soon return to the Rock Area. Return to Antokiba.

The wisest thing to do is to negotiate with another player to take you to Masadora."

So that's how it is... With Antokiba, I can earn money with peace of mind, without having to specifically go through the Rock Area thinking about the danger.

"Look, Motarike is there, isn't he?

That person who got involved with Aisha at the restaurant."

"Oh yes..."

What's wrong, suddenly. I don't want to remember too much, but...

"That guy, you can see, made it here on his own."

"... Hmm. I will do well."

I see. He does not seem to have that kind of power.

"The actions taken by those who once entered the Rock Area and fled back to Antokiba are roughly divided into two types.

Give up and live in Antokiba.

Find a way to reach Masadora somehow.

... As for how to get there, Training to fight monsters, recruiting friends to go with you, negotiating with Spell Cards to see if they can take you, preparing for a long trek, bypassing the Rock Area. Things like that... well, there are many things.

Everyone works hard at the beginning.

It was even hard for me to enter the game."

I understand. Actually, that is the problem. This is mainly Battera's fault.

"So, I can always go to Masadora. I will buy a Spell Card.

... That is the problem."

We listened to him quietly as we walked. Uranus was silent,

"I don't know what to do next.

You can't start without a Spell Card. We all know that.

But what next?

This game gives Roku no hints. Even if I try to ask the NPCs in town, I don't know what to ask.

Negotiating with other players, using Spells, buying information at the Trade Shop, etc., all cost a lot of money to get information that can serve as a starting point.

Even if information is very scarce, it's just spending money. Working and earning money takes too much time. If you take it slow, the cost of living...

So if you don't have the ability to fight monsters and earn money quickly, this game will definitely get stuck. It won't even let me return to reality. While I'm being lazy like this—

My body is starting to rust. I wasted my years and lost the power to fight.... It is natural for things like Motarike to accumulate in this game."

I see.... I wonder why there are so many people in this game who cannot fight, and that is why.

Is the reality of the game such that it is difficult even to leave the island?

"By the way...

If you are willing, you can get multiple items to return to reality, right?"

"There is a way."

"Then...

I wonder if anyone would try to get those people back to reality."

Facing my simple question, the expression on Uranus's face was complicated.

"That is..."

This is something neither I nor Aisa have done. I think this is the answer."

Ah.

... Hmm, that's right. But for me, Greed Island doesn't have much room for maneuver. I don't have the energy to take care of others. The same goes for Uran. If there wasn't, I think he would let me go home.

Uran, showing a gloomy expression,

"I have a different view.

It's not necessarily just because it's troublesome or you can't afford it.

Players who stay in the game survive in this game somehow; everything is about those who learn. Let these people return to reality.

What will happen after that?"

...?... One.

"Perhaps...

Someone enters the game as a replacement?"

"Ancestor.

The reason there are few new players in this game is because there are few free slots on the Memory Card. It is impossible to clear it without a Memory Card.

So, if a player leaves the game, there will always be Nen Users who haven't challenged it yet. In fact, there seem to be many people who want to enter. If there is space in the vacancies, more people will come in without realizing their own lack of ability.

Therefore, I don't think we can see a very bright future."

This is deep-rooted. It feels like there's no way to solve it...

"Hmm, it's the same thing over and over again, and in the end, players who cannot return to reality keep accumulating.

Otherwise, the number of casualties will increase. I don't know how many Nen Users have died in this game...

Accidents might happen where unaware children accidentally enter. The Game Software isn't good either. It makes you less cautious."

"...

Does this mean it's better to just leave those people alone?"

"Yes...

Unless the people running the game follow, I don't know what we can do. They don't seem to care.

That's why Motarike is like that...

I don't want to say it, but this is a sacrifice. Of this game.... In order not to cause more casualties.

That is the reason I say so."

Uran turned around and stopped.

We also stopped.

With the demon city of the night as the backdrop, finally approaching, he spoke.

"There are many such players in this city.

Those who have given up on returning to reality are fine, but most want to go back.

Especially near the spell card shop, one can imagine there are many players who want the 'Leave/Leave' spell that can return to reality.

That is why...

I can carelessly return to reality soon, yes yes, please don't say such things.

They are also desperate. I don't know what you are going to do."

".... I understand."

I only answer as Meleoron and Sim remain silent.

Uran turned to face the city.

"On top of this...

Please don't underestimate those people too much.

... Because it looks cute."

Uran walks.

We say nothing and follow him.

Meleoron walked to my side with a frustrated look.

"Aisa...

I might have done something pitiful to that Motarike guy. I was the one who made Uran say it..."

"...

It's hard to say who helped me, but...

I feel that too much sympathy is bad, because people themselves have a side of being overly sentimental. Treat me normally."

"... Hmm. I understand."

I stared at the back of Uran walking forward, walking powerlessly.

He...

He is very sensitive to the misfortunes of others.... Perhaps because I have lived in misfortune for so long.

I don't know what to do...