Playing 【NWO】 And The Start Of Our Journey (2)

Hey, Shun here! 

Visiting foreign places is great but sometimes, you have to first research if the place is safe before going there. Assessing the public safety is always something that should be considered when visiting other places, after all.

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(Shun's POV)

In the face of a beaming, fully armored, kodachi wielding, cute bunny girl lolita named Tsuka, the old woman began tearing up as she explained her tragic past to us. Her grandson apparently went inside the forest to look for her favorite fruit to give to her as her birthday present but, unfortunately, he never returned.

"That necklace… I remember giving it to him before he left since I've heard that a pack of wolves has been terrorizing the forest nearby recently. I… I didn't know that he would go to that forest just to get me one fruit during my birthday…"

It was a tear-jerking story that seriously affected our resident Vorpal Bunny as she started to try and console the grandma while speaking using her broken speech.

"Don't… worry grandma. Tsuka, and Master, will beat up those bad guys~! I, promise! Right, Master~?"

Because she's obviously from such a war hardened race with such a terrifying name, I figured that Tsuka will grow up to be a cold faced battle maiden bunny of sorts but it seems like Pochi, Tama, and us influenced her for the better. Ever since she started hanging out with those two, as well as Ikumei, Zenko, Maichi, Rokuko, and Koharu, she started to show more and more emotions — which made me really happy deep inside.

Now, because of her influence, Fenny is also changing subtly but I think her personality is already kind of established? If that is even the right term to use. She's not talkative but her face is more expressive now, if you get what I mean.

"Of course. Don't worry grandma, we will surely slay that beast who killed your grandson for you!"

As soon as I said so, Tsuka added, "…And get, fruits for, birthday present~!"

Upon hearing our words, the grandma's eyes lit up. Then, while looking at Tsuka with a fond and melancholic look in her eyes, she gave us a slightly different quest that what it should be.

You see, the name of the quest she usually give to the players was [The Dark Woodlands Avenger] but now, the name is [In Memory of My Precious Grandson]. The quest description changed as well, from just killing the boss to clearing the [Dark Woodlands] dungeon a hundred percent and bringing her the rare drop named [Vitisvini Lumen Fruit].

After accepting the quest, courtesy of an excited Tsuka, we went to the target location and immediately entered inside the dungeon under the eyes of some players who's wearing the same design of armors and weapons. They probably want to stop us from entering but we just ignored them as we marched towards the dungeon with Tsuka in the lead.

Man, these people are like they're still studying in one middle school or something, wearing a uniform.

"Oi! You need atleast a party of three to enter this dungeon!"

"You look very low leveled for it as well!"

Also, who cares about level difference? Definitely not us.

Without answering to there calls, we immediately entered inside. As soon as we entered inside the 'dungeon' which basically have an enclosed forest-like design, we heard many piercing howls from a distance.

"Are you ready, Tsuka?"

"Yes, Master~! Tsuka, ready to beat up, bad guys~!"

Well, it's time to mow down some wolf monsters this time, I guess?

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Not much could be said about the initial minutes of our time inside the dungeon. While I did mostly made Tsuka battle the wolves on her own because she apparently wanted to punish these bad guys, I myself traveled to the most obscure corners of this dungeon and killed every monster I encountered there in just one hit through their head, chest, or by mostly decapitating their heads.

It was very anticlimactic and probably the only memorable fight we had inside that dungeon was Tsuka's one on one against the big boss that only last for about a minute or so. Unlike me who idiotically dumped all of my point to my AGI, Tsuka distributed 20 to her STR, 40 to her DEX, and 40 to her AGI.

She's been allocating her stats like this ever since so, even though she's fast, have a high level of dexterity, and could hit relatively hard, she's still prone to getting punished for when she gets hit by hard hitting attacks like what Pochi does. However, Tsuka does have something that went in her favor though.

Tsuka have this uncanny ability to 'sense' attacks coming from even a mile away using her terrifying instincts. If I were to compare her wild instincts to Pochi, Tama, Zenko, or Ikumei, her instincts is even better than all of these beastkins I mentioned combined and more.

Through her battle with this boss that's obviously way above her league in terms of stats, I witnessed first hand just how terrifying a member of a battle race that's innately born to fight is. It's almost like Tsuka is giving this boss a masterclass as she completely destroyed it from start to finish.

It's not even close.

Watching that battle, I was left wondering… How on Earth did I managed to pull off that win against that Vorpal Bunny?

Although I have a vague idea as to how, I'm not completely sure so I won't talk about it. Anyway, after that fight, Tsuka and I was transported out of the dungeon while Tsuka was sporting a triumphant look on her face.

We then went back to the grandma to submit our quest — while once again ignoring the guys outside — before I got kicked out of the store since the grandma needed to talk with the one who took the quest, in this case Tsuka, one on one and give her, which I just assumed, is her exclusive reward. The quest is different from the regular quest that the NPC gives and did I forget to mention that the difficulty of that dungeon was a few levels ahead of its regular difficulty?

It's like the regular dungeon is on Normal Mode while what we encountered inside was on Hell Mode.

Once she got her rewards, Tsuka just smiled me radiantly before showing me the great haul that she got from that quest.

"Master~! Look~ look~! Tsuka, pretty~?"

"Uh-huh. You look really cute on that new set Tsuka."

"Hehehe~. Thank, you, Master~!"

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Going back to the real world after some not very action packed battle against the mobs inside that dungeon, me and Tsuka immediately went downstairs to help Mom in preparing our dinner. Of course, Tsuka was just on the sidelines watching, being our dedicated cheering squad along with Miu who also sadly couldn't participate due to Mom's high standards when it comes to food quality.

When I was young, I was more often than not getting kicked out of the kitchen since Mom didn't like my cooking before getting an intense one on one cooking lesson with her a few hours later. She's quite strict but she balances it out with her supportive and caring nature.

"Mom is really mean. Why are you kicking your youngest daughter out of the kitchen when we're trying to learn from you? That's really mean you know?" Miu said while pouting. She currently have Tsuka on top of her lap, petting her to get over the bitterness she is currently feeling.

Whilst we were serving all of the dishes, Mom decided to reply to Miu's bitter words.

"Miu should first practice more in cooking. If you could improve on that, Mom will cook with you everyday and together, we will serve food to your Onii-chan and Dad~." As soon as she heard that, Miu immediately brightened up and her fighting spirit was ignited, reminding me of how fired up she is everytime we were out to battle a boss or something.

"I will do it! Of course you have to teach me Mom!"

Mom really is Miu's mother. She knows how to motivate her daughter, or so I thought.

"Fufu, of course I'll teach you everything I know. I could be kind of strict though…"

"I'm ready for that! You and Onii-chan are kinda the same already when it comes to that!" Hey! What do you mean by that, my dear little sister? I'm not as strict as Mom when it comes to teaching… Probably…

"Squeak~? Master, not strict, you know~?" Good thing I have Tsuka. She's the best little spirit bonded familiar for me.

We continued to talk about even the most trivial of topics as we happily. It was definitely not as exciting as conquering a dungeon but it's easily the best part of this day to us.

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A few hours passed and it was already about time for us to leave. In terms of preparations, we already bought some [All-Purpose IDs] that will help mask our identities. Buying it also comes with the privilege to be able to change your identity into something you prefer, with a realistic background while you're in a different dimension, just by paying d-coins for it.

Of course, you could also not do that and, by paying a relatively smaller amount of d-coins, you could carry over your status from your own home dimension to the dimension where you are about to go to. It's really useful for us, that's why all of us have bought this ever since we discovered it on the [Dimensional Shop].

After a brief discussion among us five, we decided that we'll just carry over our status from our own home dimensions without changing anything. With everything set, I decided to open the [Group Chat] to see if everyone is ready.

✽✽[Group Chat]✽✽

Shun: So? Is everyone ready to leave?

Kaede: So it's almost time for everyone to leave, huh…

Rikka: Well, it's not like they will be away for that long if you think about it.

Satanichia: Uh-huh. It'll just be an instant for us.

Shun: Yeah, that's true. Well, there will be lots of quests to come in the near future so you don't really have to be upset about not being able to come guys.

Kaede: That's true!

Pochi: Yes! Liza helped us put our dress and toothbrush and everything inside our bag nanodesu! Liza is amazing nodesu! Ah, Pochi will bring sou-ve-nirs for everyone also nodesu!

Tama: Umyuu~? Tama, too. Master [Admin], Liza is very helpful~. Liza is great~?

Shun: That's good. You two really are lucky to find Liza. How was your training going though? You shouldn't slack off on that, okay?

Pochi: No problems Master [Admin-sensei] nodesu!

Tama: Liza accompany us train~…

Mutsuko: I'm ready Shun. I got many items with me but I already put them inside my inventory. I can't wait to see this monster the quest is talking about!

Mutsuko: By the way guys, like Pochi said, we'll bring you many souvenirs! Also, Rikka-chan and Shun-kun are absolutely right. It's like how our previous quest turned out.

Rokuko: Yup!

Rokuko: Right, I'm ready too, Shun! Seiko helped me pack everything!

Shun: That's good. Anyway, I think it's time now? The system will inform us if we could leave at any moment…

System Message: [Quest] has now officially started. Point your smartphone at a wall or a door and enter through the portal that will appear…

System Message: Good luck in your adventures!

Shun: Speaking of… Well, I guess I'll meet you guys soon.

Tama: Waku waku~!

Pochi: Yes nanodesu!

Mutsuko: See you Shun!

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Before I closed my phone, I saw the messages coming from Kaede-san, Rikka, and Satania-san. So, while once again opening the portal using my room's door and smartphone, I replied to their messages by saying, "Thank you. You guys take care as well. :)" before opening my room's door and going through the portal.

I was accompanied by my spirit bonded familiar, Tsuka.

As soon as I got through the portal, I was greeted by the sight of a busy street, with many people passing by. When I looked behind, I saw a door that leads inside this building that we are currently in while on our right was a flight of stairs that leads to the sidewalk where pedestrians are passing by.

The structures surrounding us is a mixed bag but it definitely reminds me of the old Japan. My thought was further backed up when I spotted a few tourist-like people who's marvelling at the old and historic buildings all around the street.

There's a couple just a few ways away from the flight of stairs, looking at a huge map of the place we are currently in. Are they tourists as well?

While I was assessing our current situation, Pochi, Tama, Mutsuko-san, and Rokuko passed through the door as well. That was when I heard a group of six students talk amongst each other while walking down the streets.

"Next up is Yasaka Shrine isn't it?"

"Yep, it is!"

"Hee… Oh, c'mon guys, let's take a rest first. Since we're here already, I want to taste some sugary Kyoto coffee."

"Yeah! Let's have some!"

While this group definitely caught my attention, what I was concerned about was the group of guys behind them.

"These guys… Those are the look of people that's up to no good, isn't it?" I murmured.

"We just arrived but Shun-kun already caught wind of trouble, huh. Nice going Shun-kun! Protagonists are usually wrapped up in trouble so we could probably find the antagonist by following trouble!" That's some logic you got there, Mutsuko-san. I don't think she's wrong though.

"Which person Master [Admin-sensei]!? Pochi will punish them using Pochi's Sword of Justice nanodesu!"

Well, looks like our quest is off to a great start… I think?

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※~To be continued~※

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Author's Remarks:

※ Done and dusted. End of Arc 11 everyone! I hope you liked the transition. If it wasn't to your taste, do tell me the points where I could improve on! Thank you for reading!