kscans

Chapter 842 - From the Foot of the Giant Tree

Several dozen minutes had passed since I politely declined the kind NPC lady's offer and bid her farewell.

...And in those several dozen minutes, as I crept through back alleys to avoid prying eyes, I was unexpectedly bombarded by NPCs calling out to me.

In any case, several dozen minutes later.

"...If this was real life, people would be dying."

I'd arrived just short of my destination. From the shadows of a side street... I then took the liberty of hopping onto a nearby roof, hiding myself even more thoroughly as I surveyed the scene and couldn't help but mutter my thoughts.

Stalls were packed in tightly, and a wave of people that seemed to be composed almost entirely of players churned below. It was a festival, a riotous scene where countless conversations—none of which would have been possible without Arcadia's unique "Voice Assist" feature—formed a massive cacophony that livened up the night.

To be honest, I'd rather avoid plunging in without the protection of my stealth-master kouhai. Even if I wasn't spotted, it was obvious I'd be in for a world of hurt.

Still, my upcoming plans... To challenge the "tree" right at its base, directly above the roots...

In the plaza, where the twisting grooves of the great roots had been filled in and neatly paved, I had to procure some items before I could tackle my destination.

"Maybe I should just show my face and ask the fine ladies and gentlemen of Arcadia to clear a path... Nah, not happening."

One hundred percent a joke. As I playfully muttered an option my personality would never allow, I steeled myself and was about to step off the roof to brave the crowd—

"—Excuse me, beautiful young lady over there."

"H-huh...?"

Just before I did, a voice from behind stopped me in my tracks.

While I'm unfortunately not blessed with any perception-type skills, a player's avatar is fundamentally superhuman. This isn't limited to simple physical prowess; all five senses, including sight and hearing, far surpass what is normal in the real world.

Because of that, physically sensing someone's approach by reading the air is a piece of cake. This isn't just true for top-tier players like the rankers; even regular players are no exception.

That's why I was so surprised when I turned around...

"I am not a suspicious person. Therefore, there is no need to be alarmed."

...because the man who had approached so closely without me sensing a thing had no colored cursor above his head—the mark of a superhuman granted an unreasonable mystery.

And more importantly...

"Then again, that's exactly what a suspicious person would say, isn't it?"

"...No, uhm. I can tell you don't have any hostile intent or anything."

This was a genuine first.

My avatar's body, which far surpassed my physical one, was feeling a tension in front of an NPC that I'd only ever felt when facing high-level players on the battlefield.

...Alright, now I'm going to think something super cool in my head without saying it out loud.

—This NPC... he's strong.

Well, while I was seriously engaged in that little game of make-believe, the man with long, light-blue hair tied up at the crown of his head... I assume he's a man, based on his voice...

The youthful, handsome man, whose gender would be hard to discern if he stayed silent, closed the distance, the hem of his magnificent coat swaying gracefully.

I feel like a critic, but even his slightest movements are fluid.

"O visitor from another world. Forgive my forwardness, but I perceive you to be a person of great renown."

And on top of that, his entire demeanor, including his turn of phrase, is utterly elegant. It seems to me that he must be a person of great renown in the NPC world as well.

"In that case, I imagine diving into that sea of revelry would be quite a chore. ...Having witnessed the struggles of... similar individuals, I have recently taken it upon myself to offer 'consideration.'"

"Huh...? Ah, ahh... I see..."

Next thing I know, I can only find things to praise about him. The conversation moves quickly, and his concise yet polite words get straight to the point, allowing me to see his intention.

In other words...

"Pardon me, I've neglected to introduce myself. I am Septra, of the Thousand Memories. If you would be so kind, may I ask your name?"

"...My, how very polite of you. Yes, of course."

This whole surprising situation was...

"I'm Haru, of the Eastern Faction, Istia. ...I guess people around here call me the [Acrobat]."

"Thank you. In that case, Haru-sama the Acrobat—I shall take your order for the items you require."

...a surprise pop-up service from a kind NPC.

◇◆◇◆◇

The "Giant Tree"—a name the NPCs have passed down, `Key Tree-sama`, has led to the player base also adopting the moniker `Key Tree`. It is an unnaturally enormous entity.

Setting aside its lore and significance for now, as they're mostly speculation, what's important for us gamers is its function as a "facility."

To put it simply, it's a massive, multi-layered labyrinth.

It's a very orthodox and traditional piece of content, with the difficulty increasing as one ascends the floors. But of course, being a huge feature implemented in Arcadia, it's not without its quirks.

First and foremost, within the Key Tree Maze, which is estimated to have at least a hundred floors, players' "power" is restricted.

Specifically, this applies to levels, stats, skills, and even equipment performance.

As for levels and stats, it's simple. Your individual progress through the floors unlocks numerical values... or rather, it's easier to think of it as allocating points to a separate set of stats exclusive to the Key Tree Maze, where clearing one floor equals one level up.

As for skills, the ones you already possess are unlocked in stages for every ten floors you clear. This means that up to floor ten, the so-called lowest tier, you have to challenge it practically skill-less, leading to a situation where the beginning is said to be the hardest part.

Apparently, weapon proficiency skills are permitted from the start, but that doesn't change how tough it is. Builds are broken, and you have to fundamentally rethink your entire approach.

And what's interesting is the equipment. While there are no restrictions on bringing your own items, existing gear basically ceases to function within the Key Tree Maze.

Abilities are silenced without exception, weapons lose their attack power, and armor loses its defense.

Naturally, this renders them useless against the enemies in the Key Tree Maze—in other words, the dungeon. This applies even to special items like `Anima` and `Terror Armaments`.

I think it's a generally disliked feature. That's precisely why a relief system has been put in place, as if it were a matter of course, to avoid dampening the players' enthusiasm with complaints.

—Well, I'll think about that when the time comes.

"Personally, I don't mind a 'welcome back, newbie' experience after hitting the level cap."

With the help of Septra-shi from the "Thousand Memories," I managed to get my supplies while avoiding any trouble or near-death experiences and arrived inside the labyrinth.

As you get closer, the Key Tree takes on the appearance of a sheer wall. You just have to touch it. A dialogue box appears without fail in the player's vision. Tap 'Yes' and you're instantly transported.

And so, beckoned by the familiar blue light of teleportation I'd passed through hundreds of times in a single day half a month ago... I opened my eyes to find a dimly lit corridor, exactly as I'd expected.

This is plain. Aside from the material, which is clearly that of a tree, it's a simple, square path, the likes of which has been seen in countless games.

Devoid of any decoration, it's an utterly simple and desolate construction—which is perfectly fine. It has a real 'lowest floor' vibe, building anticipation for the upper floors.

Alright, first things first...

――――――――――――――――――
◇Status / Trance / Restarted◇
Title：Acrobat
Name：Haru　 Lv：1
STR：0
AGI：10
DEX：0
VIT：0
MID：0
LUC：0

◇Skill◇
・[Naraka Gandharva]

・Active
──None Skill──

・Passive
──None Skill──

《REJECT SENTENCE》

◇Arts◇
【Kesshiki Ittoryu】
《Flying Water》
《Striking Iron》
《Heavenly Snow》
《Withered Flame》
《Heavy Light》
《Seven Stars》
《Blade Thunder》
　Secret Technique：《Bound Wind》

【Shifu Ittoryu】
《Gale》
《Droplet》
――――――――――――――――――

Without much thought, I dumped my meager initial status points into Agility (AGI) and drew a "sword" from the scabbard on my left hip, replacing my now-unusable Rabbit Short Sword.

The weight in my hand tells me that my favorite Rabbit Short Sword is far lighter. However, the sense of reassurance and trust that fills my heart is, amusingly, worlds apart.

A player with initial stats can't equip much.

And so, clad in my non-armor outfit of a [Series Lounge No.6] jacket dress and culottes, I wield a single, specially made [Iron Straight Sword].

—The item I procured, a special material called a [Key Tree Branch], was used as a catalyst to create a weapon capable of clearing the Key Tree Maze. It's a makeshift item, but it should be fine.

And with that...

"Alright, let's go. I'll trample everything in my path with the spirit of a beginner."

For now, my target floor is the current 'upper tier,' the thirty-first floor.

—Wait for me, partner. I'll catch up to you soon, Sora.