What a Day...

Chapter 118 - What a Day...

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"Let's go!" Thunderous cheer ran through Astra's mouth as the spider's half sliced body flops to the ground, pumping her fist in delight.

"W-We won...?" Flabbergasted, Lara's foot became weak and collapses on the ground. It seems that this event happening was too surreal for her to properly process. "F-Finally..."

"Sai, he did it. Amazing..." Likewise, Lemuen's feet gave in as well. Breathing a sigh of relief, Lemuen looked at the person beside her walking away towards the scene. "Akari... Seriously?"

"Yes." Akari, drinking a Mana Potion, looking unfazed as ever, curtly responded. "I'll be going then."

"Just a normal day for you, huh..." Lemuen replied, then rose to the ground as she breathes another sigh. "I'll go as well."

"Sigh," I put my sword back to its scabbard as the tension from the fight slowly diminish. Listening to everyone celebrate, someone poke my side, which I turned in response. Hm?

"Good work, Master." Luna, bruised from the battle, beamed as she greeted so. Partial of her maid clothes were torn apparently. She looked somewhat badass... "It really was a close call, wasn't it?"

"You said it." Beside Luna was Seia who responded instead. Her now three thick tails were wagging vigorously, still tensed from the battle most likely. How cute! "You saved the day once again, Sai. As expected of you, I guess? Haha..."

"Right?" Someone vehemently slapped my back. It was so hard that I groaned in pain. Before long, shade hair of red appeared on the side of my vision. "Yah, it was so fun. I look at you different now Sai. You weren't lying when you said all those stories."

"What?" I retorted, stroking my shoulders. I'm bruised as well, you know?! "Don't tell me, you didn't believe me all this time?"

"Partially." Astra curtly replied. "I mean come on; your stories feel surreal, unbelievable. Who the hell would believe someone that they fought against one of the Four Elementals, huh? Tell me."

"W-Well, now that you mentioned it..." But what about the Mini-Dryad. It was my proof, you know...?

"T-The Four Elementals, you say...?!" The four of us turned around. Mikael, who was walking towards us had her eyes fully widened. He looks hilarious. At any rate, he's badly injured... "I-Is that real...?"

"...It's real." One of the members came likewise. Our head once more shifted to Akari with Lemuen following her behind. I'm glad they're okay. "It's that one we fought in the jungle."

"So, it's true..." Lemuen added. She looks worn-out. "I can't believe it..."

"It's a life and death situation, though." I replied. "We were just lucky we have something on our end that change the tide of our situation."

"Even, so...!" Mikael, clearly dumbfounded, asked so. "Just who are you, guys..."

"Enough of that." I'm pretty tired. I'm not really fan of someone talking about me. I would really like it if you guys talk about it when I'm out here.  "Let's first have a long rest. The mission will go for later."

Really, this went longer than I expected. To be honest, I felt so stupid fighting that giant spider boss. It was supposed to be the weakest Chaos Mode Boss in the game, but it felt like the hardest when we fought it...

I would have finished it faster if I were alone...

Playing the game for who-knows-how-many-years, I have memorized all enemies moves and their behavior. If not, I at least already got a gist of what their next attack would be. Ah, I see now...

I have always been playing alone... This time, I was fighting a Boss together with everyone. The Boss was constantly changing its target, hence, its disrupting the moves and behavior that I know of...

"Hey!" Pondering so, I was interrupted by our beautiful ranger leaping down from the high grounds. If it wasn't for her and the situation would have been more bothersome. "I'm back!"

"Lily!" Relieved, Luna rushed at Lily and hugged her. They look so cute together! "I'm so glad you're alright. I haven't seen you ever since that giant spider attacked us."

"Hehe~! Ah, it was a plan told by Sai to keep myself hidden." Lily explained. "Sai mentioned that the giant spider was disrupting everyone's mana, but only those whom it can see and detect with." Lily started flaunting her cape. "It seems that the spider wasn't able to locate me because of this."

"Oh, that means you're safe from mana disruption, huh." Astra strokes her chin. "Ah! So that means, you're the one who..."

"Correct," I interjected. "I gave her the Ability Scroll and have her remove the mist for us. You could say that she was the catalyst of our plan on defeating that spider."

"Oh, that means you're the MVP of this battle, huh." Astra replied, grinning.

"Haha, y-you should thank Sai instead of me." Lily's cheeks began to flush. In response, the others started smiling, as if to tease her. "Ugh..."

"Fufu~! What's wrong, Lily?" Seia asked in a teasing manner. "You're blushing."

"You're amazing, Lily." Luna added. "If it wasn't for you and we'll surely experience worse than this."

"Ah, shut it! You guys were just teasing me at this point." Beet red. Lily covered her elven ears with both of her hands. "I told you guys; it was Sai who told me to do it not me!"

Despite Lily's exclaim, the girls kept easing her further. This is great, a good morale after a difficult fight is great for everyone.

"Hey," As I listen to the girl's banters, I turned around to face the person who called me. A girl with a surly look, sporting a long brown hair, looking at me anxious. She looks worn-out. "There won't be anything like that big spider coming at us, will we?"

"Oh, Lara. I'm glad you're okay." I replied. Oh? despite the sulky face, I don't feel any discomforting feeling emanating from her anymore. "You don't need to worry about it anymore. As far as I know, we won't be meeting something of that any minute now."

"R-Really...?" Finally relaxed, Lara heaved a sigh of relief. "I'm glad. It's the first time I fought against with such caliber as that spider. To be honest, ...it felt so overwhelming."

"Well, yeah..." Good thing that old man knows their limit. If they dived deeper and they will probably become that spider's lunch. "Anyhow, thanks for the support. Having a bard on our team sure was a pleasant experience."

I wonder if we can find a bard who can join us. Although, as much as I want them, I would prefer it to be a person I closely know about. Having a complete stranger to join us is a bit...

Nonetheless, this girl...

⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩

『Lara』 Current stats:

『HP: 279/300』

『MP: 20/20』

『Melody: 10/10』

『Armor: 18』

『AGI: 30』

『DEX: 25』

『Endurance: 60』

Armor: 『Ember's Weave』

Weapon and Equipment:

『Dragon's Inferno』『Bagpipe』

Accessory:

『Blizzard Boots』『Brass Cap』

Skills:

⟨⟨Double Jump⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩

I knew it...

"T-Thank you..." Lara replied. Shortly, her face turned downcast. "Although sadly, there is a limit on how much I can use it. Whenever we're fighting, I always feel like I'm lacking."

Guess it. Just like a Mage, who needs mana to fuel its magic, Bard was likewise the same, which also needed a power, called the Melody to fuel its uses.

And yeah, it can also be permanently increased, using an essence that is. Although looking at Lara's status, I doubt they even know its existence yet.

"No wonder my friends say that Bard was as trash as a mage..." Lara added.

"Really?" So, it's being ridiculed as well, huh. Well, they're quite similar after all, needing to increase its fuel to function properly. I didn't realize... Ah! "Now that I realize it, we still haven't picked-up the drop yet, aren't we?"

"Yes?" Lara turned confused, but I ignored her and walk towards the spider's corpse.

"I think it's something here... Oh, goddamn!" I was shocked. In front of me was not three, five, but seven Monster Bag was lying near the spider's corpse. "This is beautiful..."

I tried touching the other bag and to my surprise, I can physically touch them—which means, it is possible to steal someone's loot before them... pretty concerning. In the game, only the player can see their own loot and not the others, since it might cause someone stealing their share...

"Master? Ah, Monster Bag!" Luna, together with everyone who followed me said so. "That's great."

"I can't wait." Astra added.

"I wonder what's inside? I'm excited. Hehe~!" Seia remarked. Her tail is wagging excitedly. "Ah, Sai, don't say anything. You'll spoil the excitement."

"Roger that." I nodded. "Since we're done here, how about we take a rest for now? We still need to explore this fortress after all. Although, if you don't want, I don't mind exploring this place myself."

"Hell no!" Astra retorted. "As if I'll pass on something this rare. I'm going."

"Me too, Master." Luna agreed to join as well. "Although, I doubt you'll need to tell us that, since no matter where you go, we'll just go and follow you... On an adventure, that is."

Everyone nodded as well. That's great but what do you mean on that last part, Luna?

"Alright," I nodded. "Then, let's take a rest here for an hour, we'll explore this place after that. Cool?"

""Yeah!"" The girls answered in unison. Aight, as for me, I'll take a sweet rest in the meantime...

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[??? POV]

"The blizzard became worse than before..."

Turbulent whisper of the strong wind resonates as the edge of the window clanks from the current. It's been a few days since the blizzard started, and now it's getting worse than before.

With a concerned look on my face, I face myself in front of the window. The sight before was white, everything was disturbingly covered in thick snow.

"Just when will this blizzard stop..." I sighed. As a person with an important position in handling this city, I can't help but be worried. "This is concerning."

The Wintervalle is starting to flourish big. After a few years, and surely be recognized as a force to be reckoned with. Moreover...

"Seymor, where are you..." Not before the blizzard came and Seymor started its trek to explore the arctic of the north. Damn it that bastard! You have a position in this thriving city. Don't you dare die before this city reached its peak...

I sighed, once again. "I hope nothing bad happens..."

* * *

Somewhere between the arctic...

Giant form of ice started materializing as it forms into a hand and slowly emerge to the icy ground. Once surfaced, it started materializing into a form of a feminine human, which in turn, floats upon its completion.

Blink! Its eyes beamed with blue as it looks into its front, beginning to advance. It was looking at...

The Wintervalle City...