kscans

Chapter 313 - A Strange Item

After returning from the floating island, I went to the Tamer Guild, had a meal at a diner Maris recommended, and then got accosted by a female butler and a maid. What a day, Hayato thought, feeling completely exasperated.

In the first place, this game didn't allow for player-versus-player combat, or PvP, outside of Clan Wars. The two of them drawing their weapons was no threat to Hayato. NPCs weren't bound by that restriction; they could attack players, and players could attack them. However, doing so in a town would result in punishment under the game's laws. The laws differed slightly between the Royal Capital and the Imperial Capital, but in either case, rampaging in a town would get you arrested.

"Um, you don't seem to understand, but that’s not a threat," Hayato said, pointing at the rapier of the butler, Ronios, and then at the survival knife the maid held in a reverse grip in both hands.

"Yes, I am aware."

"Then why—"

"We have done our research on you, Hayato-sama. You treat NPCs as if they were people."

"And?"

"If we were to cause a disturbance here, it would inconvenience the NPCs. I do not believe you would overlook that, Hayato-sama."

"…You have a nasty personality."

"I won't deny having a nasty personality, but even for me, doing something like this is painful, even if it is just a game. However, it depends on what one prioritizes. For us, our master's orders are absolute. We will do whatever it takes to carry them out."

The thought that someone would swear such loyalty in a game crossed Hayato's mind. In that case, this was likely not role-playing, but a reflection of their real-life relationship. If the butler and maid before him were genuine, then in reality, they served someone of a considerably high rank. It was even possible that their master was someone from a Foundation, like Ney. It was only speculation, but that was the conclusion Hayato reached.

If Hayato were to put up a fight here, then as Ronios said, the NPCs would be inconvenienced. If they caused trouble at this place run by a married couple, their business would suffer. As someone who ran a coffee shop in the real world, Hayato couldn't see this as someone else's problem. He didn't know what would happen if he were taken away, but he decided he couldn't cause trouble for this shop.

"Alright. In that—"

As Hayato was about to agree to go with them, Maris extended her right hand in front of him, cutting him off.

"You don’t have to go."

Hayato was surprised by Maris’s uncharacteristically strong tone.

"You’re probably thinking of going because you don’t want to cause trouble for this shop, right, Hayato-san? You don’t have to do that."

"Huh? No, but this is your favorite spot, isn’t it, Maris? You’ll get banned."

If the butler and maid were to rampage here, it wouldn’t be wrong for the shop to say that Maris had brought trouble. The chances of her being banned were high.

"In that case, I’ll have Hayato-san take care of my meals!"

It wasn’t much of a laughing matter, but Hayato felt a little happy. Maris had prioritized him over herself.

"If that’s the case, then I’ll lend a hand too."

This time, Surya also spoke up, her hand on her beloved whip.

"Owner! Sorry, but we’re going to get a little rowdy!"

Maris shouted towards the counter, but the owner’s expression didn’t change.

"Got it. If any of the shop’s fixtures get broken, you’re paying for them. And come eat here more often."

After saying only that, the owner and his wife retreated into the kitchen. The other customers also took their dishes and moved to a back room.

(It’s amazing that no one is panicking. Or rather, are they used to this?) Hayato wasn’t the only one surprised by this situation. Ronios and the maid were as well. They probably hadn’t expected to be given permission to rampage.

"Is this your power, Hayato-sama?"

"It has nothing to do with me."

"You are too humble. I am surprised at how well-liked you are by the NPCs. Personally, I would like for you to become our companion as well, Hayato-sama."

"My first impression of you is the worst, though."

"If it’s the worst now, then it can only go up from here. Now then, it seems we won’t be able to take Hayato-sama back without defeating you two first."

Saying that, Ronios looked at Maris and Surya.

"Our plans have gone slightly awry, but it can’t be helped. Prepare yourselves."

They both took up their weapons and assumed combat stances. Hayato felt a little uneasy. Maris and Surya were both tamers. They were at their best when they had their pets with them, but right now, their pets were not here. He didn’t know how skilled their opponents were, but they looked like formidable fighters. And then Hayato saw their equipment. Their clothes were a butler and maid uniform, but their other equipment was outrageous. It was all high-performance god equipment that would cost a considerable amount if bought at auction.

As he was thinking this, the fight began. At first, they were evenly matched, but gradually, they began to be pushed back. As Hayato had predicted, their opponents had pure combat skill compositions. They also had high physical abilities and good equipment. Maris and Surya also had combat skills, but nearly half of their skill compositions were for taming, so they were inferior in many aspects. The small space they were fighting in was also a factor. Maris used a long lance, and Surya used a whip. Both were mid-range or long-range weapons. It was difficult to fight in the shop, and they couldn’t bring out their full potential. They had been on the defensive from the start.

"This isn’t good…"

"Yeah… I wanted to protect you coolly, but…"

Surya and Maris each let out a sigh of resignation. It couldn’t be helped. It was highly likely that Ronios and her group had approached them knowing this would be the result. Even if the fight was unexpected, Hayato thought they were acting to maintain their advantage.

"Hayato-san! Use a Ring of Teleportation!"

Maris shouted. If he used a Ring of Teleportation to go back to the base, he could escape. The alliance proposal would probably come again, but he could get through this for now. However, something bothered Hayato. It was unlikely that an opponent who had prepared this thoroughly hadn't thought of that. There was a high probability that they could interfere with teleportation, or that even if he teleported, they had a way to deal with it.

Hayato looked at Ronios. Ronios seemed to understand the meaning of his gaze, and she smiled as she swung her rapier.

"It seems Hayato-sama is doubting whether he can teleport—you are correct. Cremola."

Ronios called out to the maid, Cremola. Cremola nodded, back-stepped away from Maris and the others, and took out a black orb. It was an item Hayato had never seen before, but he was surprised when he saw its description. It was an item that sealed teleportation, voice chat, and even return from death in the surrounding area.

"What is that…?"

It was no wonder that the words escaped Hayato’s lips. He questioned the very reason for the item’s existence. Teleportation, he could understand. There were rare monsters that would flee with teleportation when they were in danger, so it wasn't strange for an item to seal that. But he didn’t understand the reason for sealing voice chat or return from death. It was an item that could clearly restrict players in a game where there was no PvP outside of Clan Wars. And what was the point of sealing teleportation and voice chat in the first place?

If you considered its use, now was the perfect time, but the very existence of an item for capturing someone was a problem.

"We learned from your example, Hayato-sama."

"Huh?"

"We became friends with an NPC and were taught how to make an item like this. It cost a lot of money, but don’t you think it’s the perfect item for this occasion?"

"…So much so that I want to send a complaint email to the developers."

Putting aside the reason for the item’s existence, the fact that he couldn’t return from death meant he couldn’t even be attacked by Maris and the others and resurrect at the base. With teleportation also sealed, Hayato was trapped here. And he couldn’t even call for help with voice chat. It was so perfect that he could believe it had been prepared just for this occasion.

(I'll have to question Diite-chan about this. But that's for later.)

"Now then, Hayato-sama. I have revealed our hand so that you will understand the situation. Will you not stop this pointless battle and surrender peacefully?"

"We won’t hand over Hayato-san!"

"That’s right. If you’re going to take him by force, then we’ll fight to the end."

Maris and Surya said, standing in front of Hayato to protect him. Ronios looked troubled.

"However, you are both tamers, are you not? You have a calico cat as a pet, but with just that, you cannot possibly win against us, who are specialized in combat—"

"Ronios, wait. The calico cat is gone."

Cremola cut off Ronios’s words. Hayato had just noticed it too. Siegfried had disappeared at some point. Maris had a smug look on her face.

"We knew we couldn’t win on our own!"

For some reason, Maris was cheerfully saying something sad, but Surya nodded as if in agreement.

"It’s not something to be proud of, but it seems we were able to buy some time."

Buying time. Hayato understood from those words alone. Immediately after, the shop door behind Ronios and her group opened. There stood Esha, with Sieg on her shoulder, and Cecil, with both hands clasped behind her head. The two of them must have understood the situation in the shop in an instant.

"So this is the reason Sieg invited me for a walk instead of biting me."

"It’s a fight, right? It’s a fight, isn’t it? Alright! Let me in on it!"

Hayato stroked his chest in relief, knowing that the tables had turned. He looked at Sieg and mentally promised to prepare a large amount of Nekomanma Deluxe for him, to which Sieg responded with a "nyaa."