kscans

Chapter 296 - The Tamer Guild's Quest

Two weeks after the consultation with Diite, the event began.

This time, the event didn't just start abruptly. It kicked off in the form of a quest from the Tamer Guild.

The Monster Sealing Encyclopedia was an item managed by the Tamer Guild, with the backstory of being a magical grimoire created to investigate the ecology of monsters.

Despite the name "sealing," it wasn't as though the monsters were literally drawn into the book. It simply recorded information about the defeated monsters, and you couldn't summon them from it. The word "sealing" was chosen for its evocative imagery.

Diite had mentioned that they eventually wanted to allow players to use the book to summon monsters, but that feature wouldn't be implemented this time. It was likely just a bit of foreshadowing.

On the first day of the event, most players were in town, which was a change from the usual. Events in "Another Frontier Online" usually started at midnight, but this time, there was only a world announcement, and the Tamer Guild quest had yet to begin.

The Tamer Guild didn't open until nine in the morning.

Since the announcement stated that completing the quest marked the start of the event, players had been lining up outside the Tamer Guild since early morning, forming a massive queue.

Waiting, it seemed, was part of the fun of an event. Many players were chatting with friends while waiting for the guild to open.

According to what Hayato heard from Ney and the others, the situation was similar in every town, including the remote town of Grandbell. Some of their members had even been waiting in line all night.

Hayato had planned to pick up his Monster Sealing Encyclopedia at the Royal Capital's Tamer Guild, but he gave up when he saw how crowded it was.

In the first place, Hayato couldn't defeat monsters on his own, so there was no reason to rush. He had gotten to experience the festive atmosphere of the event's first day, so he was satisfied enough.

I’ll just browse some shops and head back to the base.

Just as he had that thought, someone called out to him from behind.

He turned around to find Maris standing there with a smile. As always, her calico cat, Siegfried, was perched on her shoulder.

"Hey, Maris. And Siegfried, too. Looks like the Tamer Guild is in quite a state."

"It’s a surprise. At first, I thought the number of people wanting to become Tamers had increased, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Did you come to get an encyclopedia too, Hayato-san?"

"I did, but it looks like it’ll take a while, so I was about to head back."

"In that case, may I join you on your way to the base? It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to get into the Tamer Guild facilities for a while, so I was thinking of killing time somewhere."

"Of course, I don’t mind. Then let me treat you to a drink. And Siegfried, too, of course."

Siegfried let out a short "nya."

"He says, ‘See that you do,’" Maris translated.

"Such royalty. Then, though my abode is humble, I would be honored to host you."

Hayato and Maris began walking toward the base.

The Royal Capital was bustling with energy on the first day of the event. Not just the players, but the NPCs seemed to have caught the fever, too. The street vendors were especially aggressive, calling out to the people in line, suggesting they have a delicious bite while they wait.

Hayato realized he too was being swept up in the excitement.

He had been present for the start of events before, but this festive atmosphere always got his spirits up. He was so worked up that he felt he might carelessly buy something he would normally deliberate over.

A little wasteful spending wouldn't be a problem, but he didn't want any regrets. To calm himself down, he decided to talk with Maris.

"Are you participating in the event, Maris?"

"It’s sponsored by the Tamer Guild, so of course I will. In fact, it’s something Tamers should be taking the lead on."

"Oh, really? Does that mean you know what it’s about?"

"I am affiliated with the Tamer Guild, after all. I’m not on the management side, so I wasn’t involved in helping, but I’ve heard the general gist of it."

Listening to Maris, he began to understand the bigger picture.

He knew the objective was to collect monster information using the Monster Sealing Encyclopedia, but he learned that the Tamer Guild would ultimately collect the encyclopedias to research monster ecology.

There was still much that was unknown about the ecology of monsters. By gathering a large amount of information, the Tamer Guild aimed to more efficiently collect data on and manage monsters.

"The Tamer Guild has been having its members gather monster information for a while now, but the collection rate hasn't been very good."

"Monopolizing information can be profitable in itself, after all."

"That’s part of it, but it seems most Tamers think their own pet is the best in the world and don’t have much interest in other monsters. That’s the analysis, at least, for why information isn’t coming in."

Hayato had heard a rumor that the Tamers who gathered at the Tamer Guild did so to brag about their pets. Apparently, the guild occasionally held pet-bragging contests that got quite heated.

They were strictly bragging contests, with no rankings. To do so would surely spark a war.

"I think I’ve heard something like that. Tamers might find other animals cute, but they’ll never budge on the fact that their own pet is number one."

"Exactly. I think so too. My pets are all number one in the world."

Maris declared this with a serious expression. Faced with such an unclouded gaze, Hayato was at a loss for words.

"But it’s a problem when we don’t have enough information."

"A problem?"

"Do you remember when I mentioned there was an organization involved in illegal trafficking?"

Hayato recalled.

He had heard a story about a group of people involved in illegal pet trafficking and poaching, and how they had been taken down in one fell swoop. Maris had been so busy dealing with the aftermath that she couldn't go to the floating island.

"Was that when you were too busy to come to the base very often?"

"That’s the one. We dismantled the organization, but the information that came out of it was far more accurate than what the Tamer Guild had, which became an issue within the guild."

"Something like that happened?"

"Yes. Monster habitats, their favorite foods, their weaknesses, the skills they learn through training, and even undiscovered monsters. In terms of information alone, they far surpassed the Tamer Guild. This was deemed a grave situation, and it was decided that we should borrow the strength of not just Tamers, but all sorts of people. That’s what this Monster Sealing Encyclopedia is for. It seems they created it in cooperation with the Magician's Guild."

"I think I get it, but what do you mean by a ‘grave situation’? It doesn’t seem like a problem if the dismantled organization’s information was more accurate, does it?"

To him, it sounded like a game strategy guide.

Even if that organization’s monster information was superior to the Tamer Guild’s, it didn’t seem like it would constitute a grave situation.

Maris smiled at Hayato, then stroked the cat on her left shoulder with her right hand.

"It would be fine if everyone were like you, Hayato-san, unable to think of bad things. But some people use their pets for ill purposes. Not as a force for defeating monsters, but as a force for crime. There are people who think that way."

"Ah, I see."

"The Tamer Guild also serves as a deterrent for Tamers and their pets. We are, after all, letting monsters into the cities. A lack of information means there’s a possibility of being outmaneuvered in how pets are handled. For example, if someone were to unleash a large number of unfamiliar monsters in the middle of a city, regardless of their strength, it would cause a panic, right? During that time, they could commit theft or any number of things."

"I see. So if you have the information, you can also prepare countermeasures."

Maris nodded, then let out a deep sigh.

"There are all kinds of Tamers. Some simply want to dote on their pets, some treat them as companions on adventures, and some use them for war. Cracking down on those who use pets for evil is one of the Tamer Guild’s jobs, so a lack of information is a serious problem."

Hayato more or less understood. This was the setting that served as the catalyst for the event.

Maris was a girl who adored pets. The idea of using those pets for malicious deeds was probably unforgivable to her.

"In that case, I’ll help too. If it works out, I’m sure everyone in the clan will help as well."

"Really? To be honest, I was hoping you’d say that. With your connections, Hayato-san, I feel like you could seal every monster in the world."

"I don’t know about that, but we do have a lot of strong people, so our chances of winning will increase. We could even take on that dragon over there. What is that?"

He was about to say that they could even defeat that dragon, but for some reason, a dragon was sitting politely near the entrance of their base. It looked like a normal dragon, but there was no reason for one to be here.

He thought it might be one of the Genesis Dragons, but it wasn't that large. The poised dragon looked familiar. He wracked his brain but couldn't place it.

Maris let out a small "Ah."

"That dragon is…"

"You know it, Maris?"

"I think you’ve seen it too, Hayato-san. It’s the dragon Lancelot fought in the final match of the Clan War."

Hayato finally remembered.

In the last Clan War, he had been forced into a one-on-one battle due to Diite’s arrangements. The opponent Lancelot had fought was that very dragon. He remembered how it sat there, perfectly still.

"Oh, from back then. If it’s here, that means…"

"It’s probably here as a guest."

While Lancelot was fighting that dragon, Maris had also fought a one-on-one battle against its master.

Hayato recalled that her opponent had been a woman dressed as a clown.