kscans

Chapter 841 - Breath of Life

That day, after I disgracefully fell asleep, the virtual world underwent a number of changes.

First and foremost, ‘Green Connect’… [Green Connect, Jehatreglie], is most likely still here. It hasn't become confirmed public information yet, but there are several pieces of evidence.

One, there was no announcement of its defeat or vanquishing.

Two, the raid participants haven't received any ‘rewards’ other than experience points.

Three, my Anima is still quietly sitting at the third tier.

Setting aside the third, highly personal and vague reason, the first two are decent grounds for speculation. And considering the massive parting gift it left behind, it wouldn't be surprising at all if its existence continued, just as its name ‘Connect’ implies.

Now then, what happened after all that?

While I was unconscious, what kind of changes did the world undergo—

“………………………………I could see it from the central Safe Area, but still…”

A little ways off. Atop a tall, pointed tree that grew on a small hill.

After a series of life-or-death battles that was truly something else, I had gone for a run to break in my revived skills, including the ones that had evolved. This brought me to a point roughly five hundred kilometers due west.

“Arcadia is seriously insane…”

Even perched high up, I had to look up to the heavens. What I saw made the giant tree beneath my feet seem like a toothpick, or rather, a minuscule splinter—

It was the majestic sight of a ‘Tree’ that existed outside of all reason, so colossal that it could only inspire awe.

Its exact height was impossible to measure. The trunk, which easily pierced through the clouds and then some, became transparent above a certain altitude. Along with the canopy of green leaves flourishing at its peak, it had the appearance of a spirit.

And then, there was the lower part of the trunk, a physical presence rooted in the earth… and at its base, filling the crater that the ‘monster’ had once occupied.

Retaining its biological form and features, the giant body, whose dynamic activity seemed to have ceased completely, was now sleeping, integrated with the roots of a giant tree that defied the very term.

Leaving the giant tree aside, I could no longer sense any presence or pressure from the body. Intuitively, I could tell that its form was ‘finished’.

—For the past half-month, with summer vacation over and university life resuming, I had spent a long time away from the virtual world.

Half of it was me playing the diligent student, deciding that if I couldn't play seriously anyway, I should take the opportunity to focus on my studies… and the other half, regrettably, was me trying to maintain my peace of mind by averting my eyes from the world, which had exploded into a massive festival, leaving me behind.

Therefore, I had only logged into Arcadia a handful of times since that day. And that was just to exchange greetings of mutual appreciation and to inform my friends and acquaintances of my unavoidable cooldown period. For a full fifteen days, I, the [Acrobat], had done nothing that could be called an activity.

So, this was truly my first time visiting this completely transformed place since that day… and really, you know.

Now that I've seen the reality of that great transition with my own eyes.

“Man, what a mess this is… huh!”

It’s so far beyond the scope of a game that all I can do is laugh strangely.

With a single step, I kicked off from the top of the comparatively tiny tree and launched myself into the night sky. And as I soared through the air, slicing through the cool wind, what I saw below me was—

In the distance, at the base of the colossal tree, a glowing ‘city’ was nestled.

◇◆◇◆◇

One of the ‘common knowledge’ facts of Arcadia, built up since the beginning of the service, was that NPCs only existed in the faction towns within the [Trial Spheres of Partition].

They couldn't use transfer gates like players, and therefore couldn't visit the game's main area, the [Garden of Divine Creation], which existed in a separate space.

Furthermore, no native NPCs had ever been confirmed in the Garden of Divine Creation. In other words, the endlessly vast main conquest field was truly a place for players alone.

…However.

“Oh, good evening. You’re a surprisingly beautiful young lady. I haven't seen you around before.”

“Ah, uh, thanks. Nice to, meet you…?”

Today, that common knowledge has been shattered for half a month now.

As I stepped into the ‘city,’ I was met with a sea of people, just like the one I had experienced on the day I broke through the [Trial Spheres of Partition].

The sight of what seemed to be, no joke, over a hundred, maybe even a thousand players packed together was more than enough to make me shrink back in an instant.

And so, I tried to play it off. I quickly ducked into a side alley to hide and continued to pick a route that would take me as far away from the crowds as possible. Then.

I ran into a woman.

She looked to be in her mid-thirties. She had called my transfigured body a ‘beauty,’ but she herself was a beautiful woman with a gentle smile.

And the most notable feature was—no matter how long I stared, no color cursor appeared above her head. In other words, she was…

“Are you perhaps lost? Where would you like to go, young lady of the rare people?”

“Ah, no, um…”

Not a player.

Which means, a genuine Non-Player Character. Beings born and living in this world, completely different from us, who dive in with only our minds.

They didn't just spawn in the Garden of Divine Creation.

They traveled all the way here from the Western Faction's district of Vestol, across the barrier between worlds. And what are they doing? …Just building.

As if they understood everything.

As if it was always meant to be this way.

As if it were the most natural thing in the world—at the base of the giant tree that had emerged from the back of the shattered ‘Green Connect,’ they were simply building a ‘city’ to welcome the players.

And now.

The ‘city,’ reborn on the site where the ancient ‘Country of Trees, Flames, and Peace’ was said to have prospered, is itself called ‘Second Vestol.’ It welcomes us, the rare people, who busily flock here in droves.

“Are you out for a stroll? Sightseeing? If you’d like, shall I show you around?”

And just like that.

They welcomed us with open arms, blending into the world without any sense of incongruity.

---

By the way, her name is Richuka. She's an apothecary, and her husband, Irgo, is apparently a receptionist at the private guild hall in Vestol.