kscans

Chapter 961 - The Light of the Forest

The enemies in Arcadia—or rather, the non-human entities, the monsters—can be broadly divided into two types: those that attack on sight (active) and those that are generally peaceful (non-active).

While this sort of ‘enemy personality’ is common in many combat-focused games, the latter type is considered quite rare in the world of virtual reality.

Proof of this can be seen in how most players refer to these creatures not as ‘monsters’ but as ‘enemies.’ I was clueless at first, but now the term ‘enemy’ is completely ingrained in my vocabulary.

Just how rare are they? Well, people casually throw around numbers like “one in a thousand, or one in ten thousand.” Setting aside for now the absurdity of a world with thousands or tens of thousands of monster—I mean, enemy—types, it just goes to show how skewed the ratio is.

Even now, I’ve only encountered a few types myself.

For example, the Fool Boars that graze in the Eastern Faction's beginner area Part 1, the [Plains of the Horizon], or the moonbeam turtles that inhabit a certain lake in the [Garden of Divine Creation].

…Is that it? In any case, the non-human entities of this world are belligerent. No, ‘belligerent’ doesn't even begin to cover it.

The way they bare their fangs the instant they see a player, as if to say ‘let’s kill ‘em now,’ almost makes you think there’s some kind of underlying reason or setting behind it.

In the end, what I'm trying to say is this.

"……………………So, uh… do we… attack? What's the plan?"

"Mmm…"

"…U-Um…"

This isn't a situation like hunting the Fool Boars, which are spread out in ridiculously large numbers across a vast plain as if to say, “Here, fodder for your growth.”

Nor is it like challenging the turtles that, upon taking a certain amount of damage, will detonate their shells like a lizard shedding its tail and flee… a situation where you have to swallow your guilt and attack not for their lives, but for the shell fragments they leave behind.

"…You hesitate in these situations too, huh?"

"Well, of course…"

Even if it isn't real, even if it's all just data.

To point your weapon at a 'generally harmless and peaceful being' that seems so alive in this virtual world—many players feel a sense of aversion to it.

It's not like there's any system-based punishment for doing so. There's no rule promoting non-violence. There's nothing, but…

Well, we are human, steeped in our own egos.

"""………………"""

"W-Well, I'm fine with whatever. I'll leave the decision to fight, and the fighting itself, to you guys…"

For instance, like this.

————————————……

It showed no sign of moving even as we drew near, merely turning its face quietly toward us and remaining perfectly still.

When faced with such a being, even in a game meant for entertainment, we hesitate to take up our weapons so thoughtlessly. It’s not just me; we all have troubled looks on our faces, wondering what to do.

Roughly five meters away. Now that we'd smoothly approached to what could be called close range without any obstacles, myself, Sora, and Asche were all tilting our heads in genuine confusion.

Is this lump of light really an enemy?

But first, there was one thing I wanted to say.

""………………How is this thing,""

As I opened my mouth, my voice perfectly overlapped with Asche's. I see, she must be thinking the same thing. In that case, let's say it together again…

"————'a rabbit'?"

"————'a rabbit'?"

"………………Huh? Wha-eh? Uh…?"

"…"

Even though she didn’t join in, she was likely thinking something similar. The only one who reacted to our question with confusion was Nia-chan, not Sora-san.

I mean, even Nia herself had said “a rabbit…???” with extreme doubt, but surely you couldn’t mistake this for a rabbit.

Because this thing, no matter how you look at it, is—

"A 'dog.'"

"It looks like a 'dragon.'"

—clearly a giant ‘dog’——————… Wait, what?

Our clearly conflicting opinions made Asche and I look at each other at the same time. Her garnet eyes blinked in puzzlement, and I'm sure I looked just the same to her.

Again, why? I mean, no matter how you look at it…

"…Huh? Wait, no, it's a 'dog.' A big dog. Sure, its outline is blurry, but you can't possibly call this form, so full of the comforting feel of man's best friend, a 'dragon,' can you?"

"…I don't understand what you're saying. It's clearly a small 'dragon,' isn't it? 'Dogs' don't have such a long neck, a thick tail, or magnificent wings."

"………………"

"………………"

""…???""

After stating our cases, only one thing became clear.

"Huh? Um… it's still a biiig 'rabbit,' isn't it? A 'dog' or a 'dragon'… I can't see it as either of those at all… What???"

Something strange was happening.

"…S-Sora-san."

"Sora."

"Sora-chan?"

"————…Ah, y-yes!?"

Naturally, we turned to the last person for her opinion.

"Ah, um… To me, it…"

The girl stared intently at the mass of light, which still showed no signs of moving, and finally…

"………………————a… a 'human'… shape… is what I'm… seeing."

As was largely expected, she gave an answer different from any of ours.

"And now for something completely different…"

"Huh, so that's how it is? Really?"

In other words, this meant one thing.

"…It's confirmed."

This thing, whose name we don't know and whose status as an enemy is uncertain,

"It appears as a different form to each of us."

—is, down to its very existence, a lump of utter incomprehensibility.

——————

It was in that moment, breaking its long stillness and silence, that the mass of light finally moved.

"Nyah!?"

Nia let out a cry.

But her surprise was directed less at the ‘light’ and more at the rest of us, who had all instantly taken a ready stance in reaction to its movement.

That was perfectly fine.

Even if her own reactions were slow, we would fulfill our duty to protect her.

I was confident that I could snatch her up and retreat to a safe zone in the blink of an eye. Not just me; Sora and Asche were surely just as confident in their ability to respond.

That's why.

"————Huh?"

"————Eh?"

"————Tch!"

It slipped past the guard and awareness of all three of us, moving from front to back.

One moment it was there, the next it had vanished, reappearing in an instant behind Nia. The feeling of astonishment and the fact that we couldn't do anything about it stained all our thoughts.

And so, quite literally, with nothing we could do—at a speed that surpassed even my own, the speed of light—

"""Tch————"""

"────────…Huh?"

No one could stop it from touching her.

---

To me, it looks like a large crow.