Chapter 97: Accelerating Conference, Surging Desires, and Respective Leads

"Regarding information on Lycaon the Night Raider... honestly, I don't know that much either, you know?"

"I don't mind. Even just its movement patterns are valuable information."

"Let's see..."

Lycaon the Night Raider. My trauma and goal in this game.

Although it's the culprit of the crappy restrictions imposed on me at the very beginning, it's also thanks to this "Curse (Marking)" that I was able to reach this moment.

Back then, I fought recklessly without analyzing its movements properly, and furthermore, due to the vivid impact of Wethermon's existence, there isn't much information I can assert clearly, but its rampage is still burned into my memory.

"First, physical attacks. It has few preliminary movements and the startup is far faster than average bosses, but basically, the foreleg attacks come in three patterns: diagonal, vertical, and horizontal swings. It uses delays as a matter of course, but there are quite a few safe zones. Bite attacks... or rather, physical attacks carry the Destruction Attribute by default, so if you get hit, you'll be bitten off normally... or rather, my legs were munched on. Next, the field attack turning shadows into spears. Regarding this, it's a surprise attack after diving into shadows. This is almost a first-sight killer (noob killer) since it combines with the clones I'll talk about later, but there's a sound just before it jumps out of the shadow, so you have to judge the spawn location based on that. Basically, since it's a night battle, it launches surprise attacks from your feet as if it's natural, so identifying the spawn location while running is the better way to take no damage. By the way, regarding the sound at spawn, clones sound like a stone dropped in a swamp, and the main body sounds like a heavier version of that. And about the clones... as far as I confirmed, maximum two. At least during the random encounter outside the scenario, their movements while deployed were easy... they only used straightforward movements without delays, and the lurking surprise attacks were three simultaneously, but once you knew the location, identifying the safe zone was easy. Since the clones themselves disappear over time, in extreme terms, if you just run around, they aren't much of a threat. The most troublesome thing is..."

"...Sorry, could you write that down?"

Oops, once I remembered, my mouth started running at full throttle. Seeing Saiga-100-shi, who was prepared to listen at first, holding her forehead, I chuckle under my mask thinking I remember more than I thought.

"Well, basically, my impression from fighting is 'a big wolf.' But I don't really understand the last attack I took."

"Last?"

What I recall is that attack where Lycaon bit off my legs.

I know it was a Bite attack, but I don't understand the principle behind how I got hit.

"At least at that point, I wasn't making any mistakes that would lead to getting hit... or rather, I was completely out of the attack range of the clones and the main body."

But when I realized it, my legs were bitten off. I know Lycaon did something, but I don't know the trick.

"I thought it was a coordinate-designated unavoidable attack, but it seems different... it felt exactly like the hitbox bugged out..."

What is it? I feel like I'd understand if I could see it one more time, but that's probably not realistic.

Telling Saiga-100-shi, who still showed a stance to listen, that this is all the information I know, she ponders something and then looks straight at me.

"It wouldn't be fair if we didn't return the favor for the information provided. In that case... how about providing a method to lift the curse of Lycaon?"

"Eh, seriously?"

"That said, the method itself is relatively well known, but with 'Black Wolf,' you can get it done several times easier than doing it from scratch."

Lycaon's "Curse (Marking)" clinging to my torso and legs. It has helped me, but I've suffered more trouble from it. I can lift this cursed thing.

At Saiga-100's words, I raise my evaluation of the clan "Black Wolf" by about three stages.

"Towa... cough, hearing about the player Pencilgon hangs out with, and seeing what kind of person he is in reality, I am convinced. You guys will continue to mess up (do crazy things) in the future. That's why I personally want to maintain various connections with you. I heard you formed a clan including Pencilgon and that guy over there, so how about allying with us 'Black Wol'..."

"Hey 'Black Wolf'-san, can you leave that offer for later?"

And here, a voice interrupting my conversation with Saiga-100.

Pencilgon is negotiating the price of the Tome of Truth with Professor... I can't shake the feeling that only that corner is playing a different game, but she isn't even looking this way. The self-proclaimed facilitator isn't facilitating at all, but I'll turn a blind eye this time.

OiKatzo, perhaps resigning himself that he'll be caught anyway if he tries to run, ordered additional cake and is complaining that the flavor is weak. What did that guy come here for... Ah, he has nothing to do because he has no connection to Uniques! Going into a fork-throwing stance without saying anything... OiKatzo is a dangerous guy.

Saiga-0-shi is immobile and silent enough to make me wonder if she fell asleep. Is this it? A demonstration of power by the clan "Black Wolf"?

Then, by process of elimination, the one who interjected is narrowed down. Only one person interrupted at this timing.

"At least that wasn't included in the initial questions, right?"

"Mu... well, that's true. Besides, regarding this, it's content I should discuss with her..."

From my perspective, the conversation without a subject is gibberish, but it seems the meaning is understood between them. Replacing Saiga-100 who backed down easily, Animalia-shi steps forward as the next conversation partner.

"Sunraku-san, first let me state the conditions we offer. Simply put, we, the clan 'SF-Zoo,' are prepared to accept all your requests as much as possible."

"Heh, ah, yes."

I completely lost the initiative in the conversation. Being told they'll do practically anything unconditionally feels like taking an uppercut on the first turn.

"And I think you already know, but our request is just one... I want you to teach us the method to visit the Vorpal Bunny country 'Rabituza' multiple times."

"Well, figured as much..."

If anything, I thought they would demand "Disclosure of the Unique Scenario related to the Talking Vorpal Bunny," but at the content generally within expectations, I fall silent and think.

"Ah—, regarding that... it would probably be better to ask the person... the bunny herself? So I'd like Emul back for a moment."

A few minutes later, Emul, returned by the reluctant SF-Zoo clan members, had eyes devoid of light as if she had been shown a dark and serious story with no salvation. What on earth was done to her...

"Emul, pull yourself together—the wound is shallow—"

"Humans are scary desu wa... What is a double peace desu wa... The pose of a female panther? I am a rabbit desu wa..."

I try flashing a carrot in front of her eyes, but her sanity, which has departed to the beyond, isn't returning... Can't be helped, I'll use the trump card.

"Rabituza Pie."

Twitch (Ears move)

"Special Rabituza Parfait."

Twitch twitch (Ears move further)

"All-you-can-eat, on me."

"O-One more push..."

"I'll add the magic book you wanted for a while, and the price is all on me."

"Really desu wa!? There are about three magic books I want right now desu wa!"

As expected of the sister of Money-Grubber (Elk) and Rip-off (Peets).

Emul, who had been mobbed as a screenshot model, revived and started slapping my head peshin peshin. Is the slightly stronger slapping due to resentment for being sacrificed to the zombies?

"Haa... so cute............ Ah, please don't mind me."

"Ehh..."

I look at Animalia-shi, who is holding some crystal-like item and photographing Emul with tremendous momentum, with half-closed eyes, but it seems ineffective. Deciding not to care anymore, I ask Emul.

"Hey Emul."

"What is it desu wa?"

"If I recall, Rabituza invited Pioneers to defeat the snake, right?"

There are two Unique Scenarios to visit Rabituza.

One is "Invitation from the Rabbit Country," flagged by achieving the mysterious condition of Vorpal Soul generated by me. Honestly, I don't want to reveal this one.

And the other is the Unique Scenario "Tour of the Rabbit Country," which starts with a normal Vorpal Bunny guide and is also listed on strategy sites.

"That seems to invite players... no, Pioneers quite regularly, but Rabituza doesn't prohibit humans from entering, right?"

"Hmm, I think that's probably right desu wa."

Actually, I, staying in the Rabbit Palace where players visiting Rabituza via "Tour of the Rabbit Country" cannot enter, often see players in the castle town from the palace window. Players frolicking while watching Vorpal Bunnies doing business and making noise just like a human castle town, or players who went crazy and attacked rabbits only to be beaten to death... Watching from a kind of god-like perspective is quite a way to kill time, but I've never seen a player come multiple times except for "Invitation from the Rabbit Country."

"Asking straightforwardly, is there a way for them to go to Rabituza again?"

"Mumumumumu... I'm not involved in Rabituza's politics so I can't answer clearly desu wa... But maybe if you ask, Sunraku-san, it might work out desu wa! A-ydward-oniichan is an intellectual with flexible thinking desu wa!"

A-ydward... Above B-ilac. Excluding Vash, the first letter among the named ones. In other words, the eldest son among Vysache's children. If what Bilac said before is true, he is the NPC who is the current King of Rabituza.

Excluding Vash as he is retired or rather the Big Boss/Exception, that Aydward-oniichan or whatever is probably the Number One in Rabituza.

"Hmm... Can you go ask right now?"

"By all means, immediately and swiftly! And I will listen to the story carefully, cautiously, and politely desu wa!"

Saying that, Emul teleported away in an instant. Being mobbed must have been quite traumatic.

"Ah..."

And watching this side is interesting too. Like litmus paper; dyed Red (Joy) when Emul is present, and dyed Blue (Disappointment) when she's gone. Now, I didn't send Emul away just to see Animalia-shi's reaction. It's due to the silent instruction from the villain model performing strange Dances (Gestures) at the edge of my vision for a while now. If Emul is here, the conversation doesn't progress... mainly because SF-Zoo won't listen.

"Since you went out of your way to gesture 'Make time,' you have something you want to say, right?"

"Helps that you understand with just eye contact."

"You seem in a good mood, but how much did you overcharge?"

"Fufufu, 20% of the debt."

She's truly nasty... Library paying that casually is also Library, but if both sides are satisfied, it's not for an outsider to comment.

"Now then, until Emul-chan comes back, shall we hear the offers from you all as 'Black Wolf,' 'Library,' and 'SF-Zoo' to the clan 'Wolfgang'?"

At the same time Pencilgon asked the three, three emblems were displayed in the void. One was a black wolf holding a sword in its mouth, another was a book with a bookmark, and the last was a paw print and feather emblem.

The face of Pencilgon looking at the three emblems was a very wicked smile reminiscent of the tyrant "Pencil Warrior" who once reigned over the Unite Rounds server.

Author's Afterword
Apparently, there is a heroine who forced her way out of the New Continent group with unreasonable demands to come see him, only to be unable to speak properly due to nervousness and is now meditating.

She needs to show her good side soon...