Chapter 1143 - House-Sitting
Now then, the destination is far beyond the main district.
In the great depression of the Ruins of Nortalia, which was apparently called the 'Country of Sky, Water, and Freedom' in the distant past and became the ancestor of the Northern Camp... the pitch-black, colossal lake that fills it—
And the dungeon group of the same name, which are one of five arranged like the vertices of a regular pentagon or a pentagram. They are none other than all locations of the [Deep Realm of Blue Source].
As for the Ruins of Nortalia, I'll skip it since it's already been investigated, but the remaining four locations are so, so far away. In terms of positional relationship, they are in the most polar opposite arrangement as seen from the Great Bell Tower of the [Safe Area], which we recognize as the 'center' of the Divine Garden.
Furthermore, of the five points placed at equal intervals, even the closer two points are easily plunging into the 'Outside'... meaning the areas impossible to conquer by virtual world common sense.
In terms of distance, it's naturally beyond the second development base [Frontier]. Since it's like that for the closer ones, the two farther points are in the realm of idiots, no joke.
By idiot, I mean exactly [Traveler (Idiot)] or [Screen (Idiot)].
As the effectively fastest in the virtual world and almost the only one with free aerial maneuverability. In addition, I say this precisely because I pride myself on having some of the best idiot stamina in the virtual world now, but it's completely idiotic.
If I were to go, honestly even I would be like "O-Oh..." at the sense of distance, yet those guys normally "traveled" and walked it. It's not just idiotic, it's ridiculous.
Sure, they have superhuman specs that can't be compared to reality, but in exchange, the virtual world (this side) is a demonic otherworld overflowing with super-monsters and other human-killing super-environments that could never exist in reality. To enjoy a long journey alone (solo) is, to put it bluntly, not sane.
To give an easy-to-understand example, even that [Sword Queen (Ashe)], when I once lightly asked her, "Ashe, have you ever done a solo trip outside the circle?"...
────Absolutely, no.
She shook her head with a no-time, earnest, expressionless face.
Well, the fact that it's not "impossible" or "can't do it" but "don't want to (no)" is very Ashe-like and lovely, but that's how much a 'solo trip' in Arcadia is seriously not recommended. The current conclusion (standard) is that if you want to see hell, you're free to go (and even those with a rank are no exception).
In short, the solo traveler faction is great (idiotic).
Even if we exclude famous travelers like Lux and the others, it is even whispered that if you gathered the other nameless travelers who certainly exist... namely, those who follow their own adventurous spirit and enjoy the virtual world in positions far from the center stage, a Five Pillars War could be established.
In fact, I also think that is neither a boast nor a delusion.
If asked for the basis, I can only say, 'Look at Kanata-kun.' If I assume that there are many, many of those potentially existing, I can only tremble at the bottomless depth of those in the field.
If those guys were to suddenly surge to the surface all at once, it's no joke; the possibility of the ranks of each camp being drastically shaken is definitely not zero—
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In short, what I want to say is.
"..............................Hmm."
Very, very bored. It boils down to this.
For the time being, as a warm-up jogging, I enjoyed the early morning sky trip for a while, leaving it to Sapphire's mood. The current location is the first point of the destination.
Namely, the first of the [Deep Realm of Blue Source]... no, if the Ruins of Nortalia is the first, then the second, right in front of it. The weather is still bad... or rather, there is no weather, which is the work of the 'Blue Point' that continues to steal the "sky" from Arcadia even now, and this void-void lake (pitch black).
Both the surrounding environment and the giant lake itself are exactly the same as those of the Ruins of Nortalia I know.
A giant perfect circle, an extremely unnatural puddle. Not flowing from anywhere, not flowing to anywhere, just a massive amount that continues to exist there... and the center.
The entrance to the abyss of the perfect circle.
The light held by the "vortex" that takes shape without a sound—the gate to the different space (dungeon). Regarding both, it's my non-aggression zone in the virtual world where I absolutely don't want to enter, with its eerie, majestic appearance.
...In any case, contrary to the scale of the scenery, the surrounding environment of the [Deep Realm of Blue Source] is the epitome of silence. There are no signs of enemies, let alone animals or insects, and even the wind is dead.
The only moving things are the great vortex in the center of the lake and the teleportation gate (portal) shining in its very center. Or, if you look up, the stars flying across the space that has lost its "blue."
It's a lonely and tedious space with nothing to distract from the boredom of house-sitting.
........................Well, there wasn't, but there is now.
Following along for the investigation—meaning, the option of jumping into that great vortex, or rather the entrance to the bottom of the water, with Yura and the others is a self-mental-crash-impossible choice.
I'm really sorry, truly sorry, but it's impossible.
Forgive me, friend; forgive me, Saintess-sama... and so on.
While I didn't feel particularly apologetic as I resigned myself to the fact that what's impossible is impossible, I was quietly and blankly waiting for the return of the two who had plunged into the lake without hesitation about ten minutes ago.
"............................................Oh."
A sound effect visiting the world of silence. Blue light slightly livening up the colorless scenery. Accompanied by those, the avatars of the two appeared beside me... namely, at the edge of the lake.
"Tch... ..."
Splash.
"Ouch...!"
Splat.
...They appeared.
And immediately, what was unfolded was, as expected, a "pitiful sight" for two people.
Both were in a state of being soaked beyond just being wet. Since both of them, though in different directions, were in a layered style, it was a squelching disaster that looked even more miserable.
"O-Ohhh............"
Thus, for a while, I compared the [Screen] fellow who was rolling on the ground with a face that was clearly full of displeasure. Next, the [Orb Law] lady who was prostrate on the ground with a painful face...
"............Shall I, well, prepare a bonfire...?"
While taking out the fire-starting dagger—or rather, the card for the [One-Off Desire]—from my breast pocket, I extended a hand toward the latter (Sayaka-san), who looked pitiful, for no particular reason to hesitate.
Anyone would do that. If I did the same thing to the former, she'd probably bite me.