Chapter 25: Levels Don't Increase, but Restrictions Do

For the time being, I lightly browsed strategy sites and message boards, and there are a few things I’ve figured out.

First, while there is a Unique Scenario involving visiting Rabituza, no one has discovered a Unique Scenario that involves entering the Rabbit Palace. Naturally, unless someone is keeping it a secret, I am the only one who knows about the existence of Vorpal Bunnies like Vash and Emul.

Second, it seems Unique Monsters like Lycaon the Night Raider correspond to what NPCs refer to as the "Seven Colossi" (Seven Strongest Species), according to dedicated players gathering information from NPCs. So far, four of them have been discovered by players. The breakdown is:

• Lycaon the Night Raider
• Ctarrnid of the Abyss
• Siegwurm the Heaven's Ruler
• Orchestra of the Reverberating Nether

Among them, Lycaon and Siegwurm apparently appear as random encounters in all areas except the Forest of Rampancy. It seems my encounter with Lycaon the Night Raider was a complete jackpot (or a total bust). However, just encountering a Unique Monster grants experience points. While beginners will almost certainly die, just meeting one is considered seriously lucky.

Third, Shangri-la Frontier has surpassed 30 million registered users... Apparently, Firstia is currently overflowing with beginner players. Isn't it going to be bad if I don't move to the next area quickly? Both in terms of leveling and dealing with player drama.

If I focus too much on Unique Scenarios, the main scenario won't progress, which is a bit of a dilemma... With those thoughts in mind, I logged into the world of ShanFro.

"Ah, you're awake. Good morning, Sunraku-san!"

"Nn, ah... right. My respawn point was updated."

I didn't wake up in the inn at Secondil, but in a room within the Rabbit Palace in Rabituza. I don't know if she stayed by my side the whole in-game time or if she just came in at the perfect moment, but when I sat up, Emul was bouncing beside the bed.

"I wanted to ask, can I return to Secondil at this point?"

"You can~! With me, it's a piece of cake~!"

This Teleportation Device (Vorpal Bunny) is incredibly convenient...

"Then I want to head back to Secondil for now. I want to advance through the towns."

"Understood! Please wait a moment!"

After a short while, Emul chanted [Coordinate Movement], and Emul and I were standing in the back alleys of Secondil.

"For now, I'll stop by the old man's place to repair the Vorpal Choppers... and I need to do some leveling too."

"Ah, that's right! I forgot. Dad... the Boss said, 'Sunraku-san must wear this.'"

"Hmm? What on ear—...!?"

Suddenly, a collar Emul was holding wrapped itself around my neck. I instinctively leaned back.

『You have obtained the "Collar of Vorpal Spirit." It will be equipped automatically.』

Oi, oi, oi. There are forced equip items? Isn't this a cursed item? I opened the description to see what effect it had... and was left speechless.

• Collar of Vorpal Spirit
  • A collar of discipline created by the King of Vorpal Bunnies. It cannot be removed without the King's permission.
  • In exchange for halving all experience points gained, the stat points obtained upon leveling up are multiplied by 2.5 (decimals rounded down).
  • Because for the weak to obtain strength, extraordinary hardships are required.

"Eh, wait... adding a restriction now, seriously...?"

"It is serious~! 'Do not forget the Vorpal Spirit!' he said."

So, I'm asking, what exactly is this Vorpal Spirit? No, more importantly, this is a pretty hardcore restriction added... It's extremely bad that I now essentially need the effort of two levels just to raise one. ...No, wait. If I consider the benefits, assuming I have decent gear, this is a top-tier leveling accessory. Actually, to put it mildly, isn't this a broken item? If one level up gives 5 points, with double the effort and decimals rounded down... I'd get about 12 points. This is a broken item.

"No, anyway, I won't know until I try fighting."

Come to think of it, I haven't engaged in combat since being attacked by Lycaon. I haven't verified my current status or the demerits of the curse yet. I forgot because of the Unique Scenario, but that should be my top priority.

"Sunraku-san, Sunraku-san."

"Hm?"

"You're going to the next town now, right? Shall I help?"

『Party Request received from NPC "Magic Rabbit Emul." Do you accept?』

...This game is really well-made. I intended to go solo, but for now, I'll give up on grinding through the Wetlands of Tribulations. Unforeseen events have piled up so much that my plans are in tatters, but if I stitch the tattered cloths together, I might see a new pattern. My motivation is rising... Forced march conquest, let's do this!

"I'm counting on you."

"Count on me, indeed!"

In hindsight, various factors were intertwined, but forming a party with Emul here was likely the flag for all the troublesome events that would follow later.

Author's Notes & Lore:

Stat Points: There are items and methods other than leveling up to gain stat points. They certainly aren't things you can get in the second or third towns, but with the cooperation of high-level players, it isn't impossible to obtain them early.

Translator's Remarks:

Wetlands of Tribulations: The raw text is "Shiku Hakku no Numa Kouya." "Shiku Hakku" is a Buddhist idiom for "Four sufferings and eight sufferings" (intense agony/struggle). The author replaces the character for "suffering" (ku) with "drive/run" (ku), punning on "Four-Wheel Drive" or frantic running.