Chapter 353 - Most Important Position
Monday
It was Monday, but a public holiday, so he woke up after sleeping in a reasonable amount.
Miki had apparently been up late yesterday as well, waking up around the time he was fully awake.
"Breakfast and lunch together?"
"Mhm, mhm…"
"…Go wash your face."
Two slices of toast, including his own. Bacon and eggs, and for salad, lettuce and tomato should be fine.
Come to think of it, if I could get Olive Oil, I think I could make French dressing. Olive oil, vinegar, sugar, and salt, was it?
If I had Soy Sauce, I could make Japanese-style dressing, sesame dressing, and so on…
By the time Miki had washed her face and changed, breakfast and lunch were ready just in time.
"Good morning, Big Brother!"
"Morning. You seem awake now."
"Mm!"
She properly said "Itadakimasu" (I humbly receive), and then he realized he had forgotten to get drinks. Since it was too much trouble, he just poured orange juice into glasses and that was it.
Miki eagerly began spreading butter on her toast. He decided to ask about yesterday.
"I saw the World Quest update, is it starting today at 2 PM?"
"It opens at 2 o'clock, so we must log in by 1 o'clock. There will likely be many participants, so it will be a scramble for positions."
Miki said that the demon disguised as Nat—the one he had seen too—was defeated, and after that, they proceeded further inward and reached a large door.
When someone touched it, that's when the World Quest update announcement occurred.
"A display like an hourglass appeared on the door. And simultaneously, there was a World Quest update announcement."
"Well, since it's the finale, it's like 'all players come participate,' huh."
"Mm. If only the top players cleared the final part of the World Quest, there would be dissatisfaction."
Bell-buchou, Leona-sama, Marie-nee, Nat, Iincho, and the others who were with them apparently agreed and dispersed, thinking, "Well, that's true."
"Hmm. Wait? But you were playing late last night, right?"
"It became a discussion of whether demons still remained."
So, instead of going straight back, they searched around before returning.
However, they apparently withdrew before the day changed, after doing a moderate amount. Bell-buchou and the others in the same party did too.
Since the real event is tomorrow anyway, there's no point in trying harder now, I guess.
"When we returned, we found out the total number of demons was 13. We must be careful of the remaining two today."
"How did you find out?"
"Apparently, there's a person among the Game Dolls fans who has contact with the Dragonfolk. They frequently exchange information."
…They haven't found out about me, have they?
I'm a little uneasy about that. The Dragonfolk seem to be under Vermilion-san's jurisdiction.
Come to think of it…
"What happened to the Necropolis church we talked about before? It's on the south side, right?"
"…Hmm. Everyone from the Throne of the Thunder Emperor created and installed a bronze statue of the Scarlet Goddess. One that closely resembled Leona-dono."
A bronze statue, huh. They're Leona-sama's guild's Dwarves, so it probably became a Blacksmithing project rather than Woodcraft.
But to make it resemble Leona-sama… I feel like that's my fault. No, it's the fault of the Nameless Goddess Statue. Yes.
"And it went well, right?"
"Mm. This is also thanks to you, Big Brother."
He was happy to hear her say that so proudly, but…
"If there wasn't a Goddess Statue in the church, wouldn't they think about trying to decorate it?"
"I don't think many would move to action based on speculation. It is precisely because Big Brother succeeded with a wooden statue that they decided to dedicate time and effort to it."
So, it's because I succeeded, huh?
Huh? If I hadn't done that, the situation where a Goddess Statue was placed in the church wouldn't have happened?
No, if this World Quest had progressed smoothly from the beginning, they would have had time to try that before me…
*
"'Sup."
Shou-kun.
Only Mion was in the Virtual Club Room.
Seth (Miki), who had gone ahead, was naturally absent, and Bell-buchou was already playing IRO.
Yata-sensei… might appear around the time that door opens?
"Bell-buchou seems to have already gone to IRO, but did you see her before that?"
Yes. She was very determined to finish the World Quest today.
"Ahaha."
It starts at 2 PM, so will it end by evening? Or will something happen and drag on until night, I wonder.
Shou-kun, what are you planning to do there today?
"I'm on standby for emergencies, but I'll probably be bored, so I was thinking of bringing some grimoires to read."
I see.
Since waiting idly would be boring, he planned to bring his books on Applied Water Magic, Spatial Magic, and Basic Alchemy.
He'd have Mion watch a live stream by Leona-sama or someone, to grasp the situation, and if it turned out he had to do something with the highest administrator's ring, then he'd be ready.
If a calamity happens again, Sweee and the Fairies on the island would be in danger too…
"Alright, I'm off."
Yes. Have a good trip.
*
"Whoa. Hello."
The Dragonfolk guard, who noticed him transfer in, bowed and went to call Vermilion-san.
It felt quite hectic outside this room too, so I suppose they're preparing for the door to open at 2 PM.
"Alright, sorry for all the commotion!"
"No, no. I'm on standby, so please don't worry about me."
He moved to the same room as yesterday.
"Yahoo~"
"Ah, hello."
Azure-san greeted him.
"Geira's already out preparing, so I'll explain today's schedule."
"Ah, yes."
Vermilion-san, Geira-san, and the Dragonfolk-san who acted with him yesterday were apparently heading to the location of the aforementioned door.
Azure-san and Shou would wait here, ready to deploy if anything dangerous occurred.
He informed them that he would need to return for dinner but could come back around 7 PM.
"Alright, I'm off. Shou, I'm sorry, but please keep him company."
"How mean."
Azure-san said, still smiling.
He seems to be good at magic, so I'll ask him if there's anything I don't understand in the books I brought.
"By the way, isn't Argenta-san here today?"
"I think she'll be here a little later. Bringing the Princess."
"Is it okay to bring the White Dragon Princess here?"
"It's fine, she doesn't have any trauma or anything. I don't intend to force her, but I imagine she'll come along if she hears you're here."
It's a good thing I brought Camlus Compote…