Chapter 459 - An Excess of Smooth Sailing
—11:00 PM. The nightly raid, which ended after exactly one hour just like the first day, left behind some considerable scars.
The first thing I noticed was that the defensive walls our foreman and the construction team had built were battered and broken all over. In fact, they deserved praise for holding up as well as they did, but looking ahead to tomorrow night, a complete replacement and reinforcement would be essential.
Next, and more seriously, the players' equipment had taken more of a beating than expected. To be frank, none of them could have anticipated being forced into such a fierce battle. Of course, many had brought spare weapons, but…
There were still two days left. And considering the sharp increase in difficulty from the first day to today, their supplies were worryingly thin. Equipment maintenance was a must—the problem was, there were only two artisans who could do it.
And to top it off, both of them were tailors specializing in clothing. It wasn't that they couldn't handle other things at all… but you can imagine how inefficient it would be.
Not enough hands, not enough time. Furthermore, the only things we could bring in our currently restricted inventories were equipment.
In other words, right now, we didn't have any Luna, the universal catalyst.
We'd already found some substitutes for maintenance materials, but it was easy to imagine that the unfamiliar work would further drag down efficiency… All in all, we were in a tight spot.
Honestly, my foresight was too optimistic—I was way too complacent. Because things had been going so smoothly, I'd focused too much on making sure all the group members could have a lively, enjoyable time. I don't regret that, but if I was going to get serious, I should have done it sooner.
In a way, this event feels like it's systematically forcing me to confront just how warped my own standards are. I have to admit, on a personal level, I'm having a lot of fun.
Considering my position as the one everyone is relying on, I suppose that makes me a failure as a leader.
But, well—
"Aww, I'm so jealous. A bunny, really? I'm seeing green."
"As a pet, that wolf of yours is a pretty big win, don't you think?"
"This is dangerous… If there are training elements, I'm going to get sucked in…"
"Is it limited to one per person, you think?"
"Can't say for sure yet."
"A rabbit…! I wanted a rabbit, too…!"
"What's wrong with you? Monkeys are cute too! Go foster some love and friendship. I'll be doing that with my bunny, though."
"Oh? You wanna start a war?"
"There are people here who haven't even found a partner yet, you know!!"
And so on—even after having a near-death experience, if everyone can still make a cheerful racket like this, then I suppose it's all good.
"Hmm, lively, aren't they?"
"It's turned into a 'zoo' all of a sudden…"
Tetsu-san's words, picking up on my mutter from beside me, were spot on.
The [Stardust Beasts] that remained scattered about even after the battle was over were all creatures that had been “tamed” by their respective masters. Following Rizenon as the first, our ranks had swelled considerably during this raid.
Unexpectedly, the difficulty of taming itself didn't seem all that high. And although not yet confirmed, the general “conditions” appeared to align with our predictions.
Take the ones who tamed “boars,” for example.
Without exception, they are all power fighters. Furthermore, they all share the common trait of having won a head-on clash against the charge of the individual they successfully tamed.
And those who tamed “rabbits.”
They, too, are all speed fighters. In almost every case, the tamed individual was one they had engaged in a battle of agility, thoroughly dominating their opponent in close-quarters combat.
As for the “wolves,” an entire squad managed to tame one each, so it's likely due to overwhelming them in a group-versus-group battle.
The “monkeys”… are a mystery. But it's almost certain that the as-yet-untamed “snakes” and “sheep” also have some kind of “condition.”
In short…
"It seems almost certain that the theme is overwhelming victory in one's field of expertise, right?"
If that were the only condition, I should have been able to tame a rabbit myself, so there are probably other factors involved. But we can probably consider that one confirmed.
"…So what about the sheep? Do we have to have a jumping contest with them or something?"
"If that were the case, wouldn't the Acrobat have tamed them all by now?"
"No, thank you. I'd definitely get a title like 'Shepherd' or something."
Besides, if I'm being picky, I'd want a wolf. I've always wanted a dog.
Anyway—
"Well, I guess all the analysis and planning will have to wait for tomorrow…"
"Yeah. Everyone must be exhausted."
Tetsu-san, who said that, is a hero in his own right for preparing meals for thirty-six people each time. As a production class player who would normally stay in a safe zone, the mental fatigue from surviving in the middle of a danger zone with no sanctuary must be accumulating.
His sleepiness debuff is blinking, too. Best to get to bed early.
Clinging to the [Samidorizuki] I had entrusted to her, Nia let out a small yawn. Whether it was because she was sleepy or because she was using sleepiness as an excuse, she was stuck to me like glue and wouldn't let go.
Perhaps from seeing this for two days straight, everyone was starting to look accustomed to the sight, though they hadn't completely stopped paying attention, which was terrifying.
As a fellow male, I feel a complicated mix of gratitude and apology.
"Alright, well then—Everyone, good work! We'll review the results and discuss our future plans tomorrow at… let's see, eight in the morning! Meet in the common building. Dismissed!"
Good night! I shouted, clapping my hands to wrap things up, masking my embarrassment at taking charge with sheer volume. Yes, that was a good, crisp sound this time.
They were still excited from the battle and the fact that more than half of them had successfully tamed a beast, but they had just overcome a fierce fight that was undoubtedly beyond their limits.
It wouldn't be surprising if they were immobilized by phantom fatigue—something they themselves surely understood best. They responded obediently to their inexperienced leader's pushiness and began to shuffle off toward the barracks.
Everyone here is so calm, it's a real help. Seriously.
If I could be greedy, I'd like to get some beds set up in the barracks, but we've probably lost the luxury of allocating resources to comfort for now.
We're just critically short on artisans… If this [Starry Paradise] becomes a regular, recurring event, the demand for magi-tech engineers might just explode.
I'm even starting to think about getting into it myself. I probably wouldn't go so far as to master the craft, but just being able to provide support for the professionals would be a huge help—
"And with that, here you go, Nono-san."
"Whoa, there… oh? Are we not having our little tête-à-tête tonight?"
Come to think of it, I don't have the impression that Nia-chan usually stays logged in late. Perhaps she's a “good girl” by nature, but she's especially weak to the sleepiness debuff.
I handed my partner, who had succumbed to a drowsy, floppy state faster than anyone else, over to her friend, and re-fastened the sword I had slipped from her arms back to my waist.
"There's something I want to take care of, so I'm leaving the tuck-in duties to you tonight."
"Oho? That makes me want to spy on you instead, you know."
Compared to the sleepy blue, which was on the verge of fading out completely, the sparkling orange eyes were wide awake, her curiosity shining brightly.
At first, I found her hard to read, but after spending dozens of hours together, I've started to get a grasp on her—at least, on the surface.
She's brimming with curiosity but also highly cautious. Endlessly friendly, but the type you have to slowly build trust with to become a true friend.
She's a real handful, but I can hear voices from all over.
—You're one to talk.
And if you want my personal opinion…
"If you can keep up, you're welcome to spy all you want."
"Ah, no way, no way, impossible. My AGI is only 70. Well then, good night!"
"Haha, yeah, good night. You too, Nia. See you tomorrow."
It's not like I dislike people who are a handful.
Whether she was half-asleep or just being fussy, I dodged the hand she reached out towards me and gave her a few gentle pats on the head as a little bonus. After saying my goodbyes,
"Hup."
To take care of something that needed doing for the future, I dove alone into the dark, midnight forest.
I want a bunny.
Anyway, the Arcadia light novel is on sale today!!!
In addition to physical copies sold in bookstores, digital versions are also available, so if you're interested, please pick it up on your device of choice!
There's even a peaceful, Sora-is-adorable bonus story included!