Ch.108 Sunny but Cloudy, with Signs of Clear Skies in Some Areas
According to the two of them, I'm apparently not okay. Something seemed off about me, so they asked me a lot of questions about what I'd been up to since leaving the Fairy Forest.
"—And then—"
A perfect answer based on a clear memory. The listeners tilted their head in confusion, and the speaker tilted her head in doubt, and the questioning continued.
"...Yes," "Hmm hmm."
When the conversation ended, Cern-san looked a little downcast. Nabla-kun was putting a branch on his jaw, with a thoughtful expression.
And then it was their turn, they recounted the events of yesterday and today.
As I listened with my head tilted, I suppose it was inevitable that there was something wrong with the content. What I remember and what they remember are different.
"I see..."
I cross my arms and close my eyes in deep thoughts, thinking what if what they're saying is true and my memory is wrong? Nothing is absolute. That's why I try to accept it without immediately dismissing it.
Is their claim correct? Is it just my memory? I keep telling myself I can't be wrong, but the more I think about it, the more those "what ifs" sow the seeds of anxiety.
The fact that both of them, especially Nabla-kun, told me it was strange also played a part in what shook me.
"..."
Perhaps that's why, I'm using appraisal on myself.
My actions, driven by anxiety and a desire to check on the seeds and collect them before they sprouted, were ultimately ill-advised.
"Eh... I got something on me..."
Regardless of whether your stats are increasing or decreasing, if you suffer from a status ailment, a special mark will appear. This time the mark is a strange icon with a stylized human face and a question mark on both side.
An unfamiliar icon appeared below my HP bar.
"...What do you mean, something on you?" "Huh?"
This...is it confirmed? Once it enters my field of vision, there's no escaping it. No, rather than running away, I should say that I can no longer look away from the possibility that it might be true. I've been forced to acknowledge it.
"...It seems I was being attacked by someone."
My memory is hazy. The fact I don't want to acknowledge this has to do with this icon and a specific detail that makes my memory extremely unnatural.
"Huh?" "You were attacked?"
Indeed, every time I listened to their stories and recalled the same scene in my mind, only images that seemed to forcibly fill in the gaps left behind, as if inconvenient parts had been cut out, were coming to mind.
The vague events of that moment, which I thought about in my mind while descending, were probably one of them.
The question of when this status effect icon appeared can be answered by looking at my previous exchanges.
It must have been after arriving in Canadil. Apparently, there was nothing particularly strange about me before I left the Fairy Forest or when I flew away.
"I was afflicted with a status ailment without realizing it. This is probably the result of that..."
"Does that mean there is an invisible enemy here...?!"
"Huh... What?! Where, where?!"
The two of them look around and assume a defensive posture. It's good to be cautious, but you'll jump to conclusions if you don't listen to the end.
I speak up to supplement the insufficient explanation.
"No, I think it was done in Canadil and not here, or perhaps while in flight."
"...Not here?" "Ah, in the city...no, no, it might be somewhere else!"
"Huh?" Nabla-kun turned towards me, lowering his guard slightly, while Cern-san almost relaxed but remained unshaken. Is the difference in their actions due to the difference in their level of trust?
"From what the two of you have said—" I said, voicing what I had been thinking earlier, and showing a somewhat understanding response, but then with a rather sharp tone, she replied, "Even so, you're being far too calm."
"Well, I understand what you're saying, Cern-san, but... I don't think it's happening here, at least. Because, you see, if it had happened here, they would have done the same thing to both of you, not just me, right? It would have been harder to notice. Besides..."
"Certainly." "Besides, what?"
"There's no way that Fairy Flame Gerbil would allow intrusion ... Surely Cern-san would know?"
"Ah... ah..."
She, who was killed by the sparrow lookalike, should understand. This isn't a game of hide-and-seek where being found is the end; it's a deadly freeze tag where entering means certain death. And what's more ... If it tags you, you won't be able to tag it back. Because you won't be able to move. It's a fun game of tag where you don't know where the "it" could be. There's no way they'll be let off the hook.
Also, while exploring this forest, I saw other creatures that are similar to the sparrow lookalike. There were far more than ten or twenty of them.
Even if the unknown person who inflicted the status ailment manages to defeat the sparrow look-alike, the system would choose the next strongest raid monster in this forest... The 2nd generation of Fairy Flame Gerbil would be born soon after (3 minutes after the fight)
I'm sure the monster that was chosen next was different in my previous life, but I have a feeling it's not going to be the case now.
Fighting them is tough enough, but that's not the only enemy they'll face. Besides, it's not something that can be defeated solo, and if they came in a large group, it'd notice the commotion. If they had that much power, Nabla-kun wouldn't be alive by now.
If they're strong enough to overcome all of those issues, then they must've used a bug or some kind of glitch. After all, cheaters aren't allowed in this game.
If they get caught, they'll have to pay a lot of money again to buy VR headsets and game software, so no sane person would do it. It's clear the devs have a strong resolve not to tolerate cheating.
Would they really take such a risk to carry it out here? It's even more questionable if they were targeting me. After all, they didn't need to come all the way here; they could just wait in Marathos or Nemor, and I would come to them on my own.
In addition to the shocking fact that someone has manipulated my memories by some means, I've been afflicted with a terrifying status ailment of unknown origin. If I had to give it a name, it would be something like memory alteration. Yeah, that fits perfectly. I feel absolutely awful.
"I will not forgive anyone who attacks Vester. If they are here, they will be defeated."
"Thank you, Nabla-kun"
He's the one who gets angry on my behalf. He's shadowboxing, snorting and breathing heavily. He's a good kid who cares about his friends.
"So, do you have any idea why you might be under attack?"
"Do I have any idea? Well..."
I try to remember, but nothing comes to mind. Maybe I just haven't noticed, but as long as I'm alive, it's practically impossible to be completely free from a grudge, so if there are no relevant memories, then that's fine.
"There probably isn't any... ah"
There's nothing I can do if even that memory has been altered... Just as I was thinking that, a certain exchange came to mind.
"Huh, there is? I know I'm asking the question, but Ves-chan doesn't seem like the type of person who would make enemies..."
"I don't want to think this is the reason, but I guess if there's one, then I suppose it's that. Is it resentment? It's not my fault, so it's like misplaced resentment..."
The words that came to mind were "paparazzi." Yes, it was about that rumor that Sakidori Midori-san had told me about, about a fairy that doesn't require permission.
Those who were misled by false information and took the photos saw their karma increase. Players who didn't want their karma to increase, and had no intention of doing so, were furious when the information was inaccurate. Unable to find the source of the false information, they turned their anger towards me, the person responsible for increasing their karma.
This is purely speculation, but if this is the case, it's an unfair situation. It sounds like a self-centered, unreasonable complainer.
"That's so unfair! If that's true... it can't be resolved through discussion, right? Is it best to just avoid that person? But I don't know who that "Umm..." is. Oh, um, what?"
I slowly raised my gaze, which I had kept down the whole time I was talking about what had come to mind, and met her eyes. I felt guilty towards Cern-san.
When I net them while exchanging messages with Sakidori Midori-san about the paparazzi was in Canadil. Yes, Canadil is where I was today.
What is there to feel guilty about about that?
Apparently, before my memories were altered, I lied to Cern-san, who wanted to return to her family, and went to Canadil without telling her. I didn't actually say it out loud, but my demeanor and actions apparently told the story.
Seeing that Cern-san looked downcast, I discreetly asked Nabla-kun what was wrong when I handed him the souvenir.
I can somewhat understand what I was thinking when I did that, back when I was normal. That's why I feel like I've poked the wrong foot, but it's too late now.
I've already honestly recounted my actions to confirm the situation. After hearing their side of the story, I figured out why I lied, so there's nothing I can do about it.
"I'm sorry. I lied to you."
Normally, since I'd only just met her yesterday or today (and had met her before but apparently hadn't had any contact with her), I shouldn't have been that close to her, so there was no problem with not telling her I was going to Canadil. However, I felt a pang of guilt about lying to someone who was suffering.
Before I talk about what happened after we left the fairy forest, if I had just thought about why I lied when I was in my right mind, I wouldn't have hurt her... but that's just sophistrt. At this point, I didn't even have that memory.
"Huh? Oh, you mean the fact thst you've been to Canadil?"
"...Yes. I should have noticed how you felt, Cern-san, but at the time I must have...no, I must have tried to deceive you. I'm so sorry—"
This complicated situation arose because of the conflict between the normal me who kept secrets, and the normal me who is open and frank.
I continue to bow my head in order to punish my own foolishne-
"Yes, that's fine. I forgive you."
"...Huh?"
However, the response came without hesitation, in a tone that was neither angry nor sad, and completely devoid of any hint of displeasure, causing me to involuntarily look up and ask again.
"Actually, I already knew it. Well, I was honestly annoyed that I was lied to, but I guess there must have been a reason why he had to do it. For-ex-am-ple, for the sake of someone you love."
Cern-san's gaze alternated between me and Nabla-kun.
I can't say for sure, but it was probably an action taken with my own and Nabla-kun's safety as my top priority. I might have considered Cern-san to some extent, but I can't say for certain that I acted 100% for her sake.
"...I don't think so... I really don't... but. Am I imagining things, or did I hear some kind of extra... no, secondary commentary?"
"Hmm? I wonder~"
"..."
Nabla-kun is an important person to me, but only as a fellow member of the same species... Who exactly am I making excuses to?
"I mean, Ves, you don't need to ask me for permission no matter where you go, right? Trying to restrict your actions or making it a permission-only thing to do...that's not something a friend should do."
"Friends?"
"Yes, friends. You were there for me when I was scared, anxious, in pain, and crying. Just that made my heart feel a little lighter. Ves-chan and Nabla saved me."
"I didn't do anything special. I just listened silently to your monologue."
"Yeah, I was just listening too."
"...Besides, you know. We ate the same meal, talked all night, and said good morning to each other in the morning... That's basically a sleepover, isn't it? ...I don't do that kind of thing with anyone but really close friends. You didn't know that, did you?"
Contrary to her seemingly malicious tone, the expectant gaze flickers slightly, looking at me.
"Oh really? I didn't know that." "Yeah."
"So, um... if you need a reason to become friends, how about this?"
Her eyes trembled slightly, as if gauging my reaction.
"...No."
However, she quickly lowered her head, shook it slightly, blinked once, and then looked up. The hesitation that had been there moments before was gone from her eyes.
"Would you be my friend?"
Perhaps due to the sunlight, Cern-san's eyes and cheeks were flushed crimson.
My apology has somehow been transformed into an expression of affection, and now she's extending her hand straight to me like this.
...Cern-san is strong. Truly amazing.
"What's the big deal? I've always considered you a friend... But, well, if you want something tangible..."
I gripped her index finger back firmly.
"Yes. So, we're still friends."
"I am your friend too. Do not say too many unpleasant things."
Nabla-kun is also extending his branch.
"I-I won't! ...But if you do something wrong, I'll warn you as a friend. ...Hehe, we're friends."
We continued like that for a while, and by the time we let go, everyone's faces were red.
What we're saying might sound nonsensical, but we didn't do anything shameful, yet we felt embarrassed. That's all there is to it.
"Well, the sun is pretty strong, isn't it?"
"It's hot. I wonder if i would cool down if I pour some water on myself."
"Oh, let's give Nabla-kun a spray of mist water."
"Ohhh"
"O-ohh, that's right."
As I held out both hands to Nabla-kun, trying to cool off the embarrassment, a loud voice suddenly rang out.
All three of us had shaky voices, but Cern-san's was the most shaky. I wonder why.
I exchanged glances with Nabla-kun, feeling a little worried, when she seemed to remember something and spoke next. It was the second shock I'd experienced that day.
"I was thinking of letting Ves-chan see this too. Nabla has already seen it though..."
"Maybe things will work out somehow?" Cern-san said, as she runs off behind Nabla-kun.
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〘Consumable Item: Dododozel-kun Jelly〙
★★★☆☆
This set of 6 jellies features Dododozel-kun, the mascot character of Canadil, the capital of the Koakyuyou Empire, on the packaging. The jellies are made with apples, grapes, oranges, peaches, pears, and cherries from Canadil.
A fairy chose this souvenir to share a fun time with a friend who is unable to move from a certain location. She spent 30 minutes agonizing over the purchase, hoping to see his happy face.
Gains heat resistance for 1 hour
Made by: Hananara Confectionery
〘Dododozel-kun〙
The mascot character of Canadil, the capital of the Koakyuyou Empire.
This character is a stylized fusion of two monsters: Dodo, a sea lion-like monster with wire-like fur, and Dozel, a dolphin-like monster with a spiral, drill-like snout and wings. It's a cute, laid-back character that looks like a plush toy made of yarn.
You can occasionally see them walking around town.
It's nearly 3 meters tall and surprisingly large, making it popular with adults who enjoy the feeling of being looked down upon by something massive. Children are drawn to its cuteness, but many are frightened and cry because of its size and imposing presence. Currently, there is discussion about whether the costume should be made a little smaller.
Dodo and Dozel were chosen because they are monsters that frequently appear and inhabit the area around Canadil.
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TL: Sorry if the translation is a bit iffy, there's so much ruby texts in this chapter I got sensory overload 😵💫