Chapter 149
Chapter 149
The Calm Before the Storm (1)
The following morning, we gathered at the plaza of the Floating Island. Not only us, but every student who had come up to the Floating Island was assembled there.
Standing at the front of our group, I yawned absentmindedly. The reason we had all gathered was for the upcoming speech on the Floating Island.
“Ah, I'm hungry.”
Aro, who had already complained that even standing was too much trouble, was leaning limply against my shoulder. Thanks to that, I could hear everything she said clearly.
“Please bear with it a little longer. Let's go eat something delicious afterward.”
“Oh? What are we going to eat?”
“Garlic.”
“......”
At my playful reply, Aro jabbed the side of my head with her long snout. I chuckled.
-It's time, I see. Since I've already introduced myself before, I'll skip the introductions.
Right on cue, the speech by the Administrator of the Floating Island began. Despite his head full of white hair, his voice was filled with vigor.
-I hope you've had ample time to explore the Floating Island over the past two days. However, this island has far more to offer than you might imagine.
As the Administrator spoke, members of the Imperial Knight Order began to appear. Each of them carried a large box in their arms.
The moment I recognized what they were carrying, my eyes lit up.
-Starting today, the Floating Island Festival officially begins. The island's residents have worked hard to prepare it. We have special stalls and shops for you.
The students tilted their heads at the mention of special stalls and shops. The word "special" alone was enough to pique their interest.
-If you speak with the residents of the Floating Island, they'll give you missions. Completing them will reward you with 'Horns.' You can also obtain Horns by defeating monsters that inhabit the Floating Island.
The members of the Anaye Order all turned to look at me.
Their expressions clearly asked, How in the world did you know that?
I merely smirked and shrugged.
-The Horns you collect can be spent at the special stalls and shops I just mentioned. Also, powerful evil spirits appear on the Floating Island every night. I strongly advise all of you to wear the necklaces we're distributing now at all times.
At the Administrator's words, the members of the Imperial Knight Order began moving. They first handed necklaces to the top students of each department, and they quickly spread throughout the student body.
Since we were grouped as a Religious Order, I received ours personally.
-The necklaces we've distributed will protect you from the evil spirits. Therefore, while you're on the Floating Island, especially after sunset, you must never remove them.
I let out a quiet snort at the Administrator's words. Knowing the truth about the so-called evil spirits, all I could do was laugh.
There wasn't anything grand about them.
Those necklaces were nothing more than tracking devices. Evil spirits didn't actually appear, nor did the necklaces possess any power to protect anyone.
-The Floating Island bears no responsibility for any disadvantages resulting from removing your necklace. With that, I'll conclude my speech. I hope you all enjoy your time here.
The Administrator finished his speech.
Now, the Floating Island had truly begun.
***
“My body... It's getting itchy.”
“Yeah. Just wait a bit.”
After returning to our lodging, we selected our members. We planned to begin working on the Floating Island's scenario quest.
Winter and Aro said they wanted to explore more of the Floating Island, while Canis said she had something to take care of and dropped out. In the end, I had no choice but to bring along one well-behaved companion.
Following the glow of the Aroma Band, I soon arrived at the place I had been aiming for.
“Hm? It smells. A terrible smell.”
“I know.”
The moment we entered the alley, a horrific stench assaulted us.
Worden groaned, but neither of us stopped walking.
A secluded alley.
Its twisted layout made it nearly impossible for ordinary people to find.
It was a strange place where a special NPC resided.
“Hm? You're back again. Have you already gathered a lot of Horns?”
Someone was sitting in that bizarre alley.
Dressed in ragged clothes with a grime-covered face, he looked every bit the stereotypical homeless man as he greeted us familiarly.
Worden looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Old man. I've come to receive a mission.”
The homeless man let out a raspy chuckle at my words.
Even his laughter possessed the remarkable talent of sounding sinister.
“Heh heh. You're an interesting child.”
After saying that, the homeless man pulled something out from his belongings and handed it to me.
It was so filthy that simply touching it felt unpleasant.
I instinctively reached out with my left hand, but caught it with my gauntlet instead.
This time, the gauntlet showed no unusual reaction.
“I'll return soon.”
“I'll be waiting, young student.”
With that, we left the alley.
“Phew!”
“Hah!”
We both began taking deep breaths.
It wasn't merely the smell.
With his sharp instincts, Worden realized that every hair on his arms was standing on end.
“Getting goosebumps... just because of a smell?”
“I was surprised too.”
Even though this was our second meeting, I still couldn't get used to it.
I sniffed my clothes.
Despite standing in such an overwhelmingly foul place, my nose hadn't gone numb, nor had the smell clung to my clothes.
It had obviously been treated with magic.
The intention was simple—to deliberately create an unbearable stench that would keep people away.
“What's that?”
“A mission. Read it.”
Worden quickly regained his composure and pointed at the paper in my hand.
I immediately held it out to him.
Although his face was full of curiosity, he hesitated to reach for it, so I forcibly shoved it into his hands.
“Ugh...”
Groaning, Worden unfolded the folded sheet of paper.
Neatly written words were inscribed on it.
“Siren? Project?”
That was all it said.
Worden looked at me in confusion.
It was one of the Floating Island's hidden secrets.
The purpose behind the Floating Island's existence was simple.
It was a magical academy.
More specifically, it existed to research the unpopular field of study known as "Resonance."
“Hm? I smell something fishy.”
“I do too.”
The shameful secret of the Floating Island was something that most of its inhabitants didn't even know.
This hidden quest, divided into three parts, could only be obtained from the solitary homeless man.
“Where? Where are we going now?”
“To stir up some trouble.”
Answering Worden's question with a fierce grin, I led him onward.
Our first destination had already been decided.
There weren't that many areas where players could actually operate on the Floating Island during the game. Which also meant there weren't many places whose terrain I recognized.
“Cult Leader? This is the right way, isn't it?”
“......”
I couldn't answer him immediately.
For now, we had simply been following wherever the bracelet led us. It had miraculously guided me to the place I wanted before, so I figured it would do the same this time.
Instead, the bracelet gradually led us somewhere increasingly strange.
The place I had intended to visit was where the first quest could be completed.
It was a dialogue-based quest that revealed the existence of the Floating Island's hidden secret.
To complete it, we were supposed to head to the district where the island's nobles lived.
“Hunting? Again? I'm all for it.”
Instead, we were heading deeper and deeper into the forest.
Worden muttered enthusiastically. Thinking we had entered the forest to hunt, he never questioned it, and I saw no reason to tell him otherwise.
“Ah. Wait.”
Something suddenly clicked.
The Floating Island's hidden quest was divided into three major parts.
Discover that the Floating Island held a secret.
Uncover the Floating Island's secret.
Rescue the Suppressed Siren.
But since I had played through the Floating Island several times in the game, I already knew exactly what that secret was.
“Get ready.”
“Huh? Y-Yes.”
I ordered Worden to prepare for battle.
Although he looked puzzled, he nodded and pulled out his slingshot.
Despite his massive physique, the weapon he carried was merely a slingshot.
A chuckle nearly escaped me, but I barely managed to hold it back.
I figured the bracelet was probably trying to lead us directly to the Siren's rescue.
That was why it had guided us this deep into the forest.
After all, I had already fulfilled all the conditions the quest required, so it wasn't difficult to understand.
Using Blood Magic, I created a sword.
“Feels... tense?”
I briefly considered calling the others from the Religious Order, but decided against it.
There weren't any mental abnormalities severe enough to require Winter.
Aro's support would have been nice, but it wasn't necessary.
Canis would have been helpful as well, but if needed, she'd come the moment I called her name, so I considered her reserve strength.
I nodded as I watched Worden assume a combat stance.
Just having this guy with me was enough.
“Do you know why the monsters here all have horns?”
“Huh?”
“Isn't it ridiculous that ordinary beasts become monsters just because they grow a single horn?”
Only then did Worden's expression stiffen.
He might have been naïve, gentle, and occasionally slow to catch on, but he wasn't stupid.
“Don't tell me... Chimeras?”
Worden's answer was only half right.
Since we had been dealing with Fiendbeasts so often lately, everyone's thoughts naturally gravitated in that direction.
If I asked the others the same question, they'd probably give the exact same answer.
But this wasn't something as serious as Chimera creation.
“It's an experiment.”
“An experiment? Hmm.”
“The Siren Project.”
Back in ancient times, experiments designed to obtain the powerful abilities of ancient beings had been widespread.
The laboratory where Astral had been imprisoned had probably been built for a similar purpose.
The Floating Island had conducted such experiments as well.
And they had actually succeeded.
“......”
Following the bracelet's guidance, we arrived at the deepest part of the forest that dominated the Floating Island.
There stood an enormous jewel radiating an ominous color.
Countless chains were wrapped around the massive jewel, and beneath it lay a bizarre magic circle.
-Grrrr.
A powerful presence emerged from the surrounding darkness.
Yesterday, all we had encountered while hunting were boars, deer, and horses.
The others had mostly seen monkeys and similar creatures.
But this one was different.
It was a tiger—a predator born at the top of the food chain.
A massive horn protruded from its head, while numerous smaller horns covered its body.
Its sheer size rivaled that of an elephant.
“Oh? It looks pretty strong.”
“We'll see.”
The field boss that Soloven and Winter had supposedly defeated.
A creature far stronger than the horned wolf finally revealed itself.
But I wasn't worried.
Unlike Soloven, I had no intention of holding back my abilities.
And, regrettably for anyone standing against us, Worden surpassed even Winter by an overwhelming margin in combat.
“You handle the small fry. Try not to damage the jewel.”
“Hm? Got it.”
Behind the horned tiger, countless crimson eyes appeared.
I hadn't realized there were this many carnivores lurking here.
The beasts we should have encountered at least once on our way here had instead remained hidden, patiently waiting for the right opportunity.
“They're cunning. Stay sharp.”
A rough count put them at around three hundred.
Not only were there a lot of them, but they also possessed the patience to wait for the perfect moment.
For the first time in a while, I felt my blood begin to boil.
Worden made the opening move.
The instant the lead carnivore lowered its body to pounce, Worden fired a flask instead of a marble.
-GRAAAH!
A wolf took the flask head-on and let out a scream.
The flask was filled with a liquid that, once ignited, was nearly impossible to extinguish.
Flames instantly engulfed its body.
That marked the true beginning of the battle.
I activated my Lightning Armor and charged forward.
-Kiiing.
“Fwee. Fwee.”
I immediately took out the Holy Scripture and summoned the Lightning Spike of Anaye.
Before using it, I quickly engraved the Thunder Horn Mark onto the Blood Magic sword to reduce the enemy's health as much as possible.
I also intended to make full use of the badge I had obtained this time.
Whistling to activate its effect, which increased my attack power by half of my defense, I swung the sword-shaped Lightning Spike of Anaye.
The world flashed brilliantly.
A colossal bolt of lightning erupted into the sky.