kscans

Chapter 497 - The Love Stampede

The area around the World Tree was enveloped in mist. Parfait and many other players were confronting the Illusion Dragon Suien Mikazuki.

Since it was during an event, they wouldn’t lose in terms of numbers, but the battle had yet to begin. However, the Illusion Dragon was already attacking. A mental attack, using only words.

The simple statement that first love never works out seemed to deal massive damage to some people. Natsu must have taken a critical hit, as she was down on one knee. Parfait, incidentally, took no damage.

"I-it’s okay, it’s not like it’s an absolute—"

"Nat-chan, calm down."

It seemed other players had taken damage besides Natsu, but they still had enough energy to launch long-range attacks at the Illusion Dragon’s shadow floating in the sky while shouting their retorts. None of their attacks seemed to be effective, though.

"You mustn’t avert your eyes from the truth. The greater the expectation, the greater the despair. Come, accept the truth…!"

For a dragon that governed illusions, telling people to look at the truth was some kind of joke. Moreover, this dragon was an acquaintance, and it felt like there was a person inside, not an AI.

Parfait remembered something.

She had heard that Suien had terrible luck with men. Every man she dated turned out to be a loser, to the point where some people even said she emitted pheromones that attracted them.

According to Randa, "I had to keep her company while she stress-ate every time a relationship ended! And I had to pay!" She would say she was done with love, but before you knew it, she would be dating someone, and before you knew it, it would be over. Randa said it was a pain.

Parfait could only think what a tough time she must have had, and she felt a little sympathy, wondering if these words were born from her own experiences.

"Truth, number two…"

If there was a number one, there would be a number two. The players stopped their attacks and quietly waited for Suien’s words. For some reason, the sound of people swallowing their saliva was unusually loud.

"Childhood friends are a losing flag."

There were about three seconds of silence, followed by shouts of anger and resentment.

"That’s not true!"

"It’s just that I don’t want to ruin our current relationship!"

"We’ve skipped all the steps and we’re already family!"

"It’s the ultimate romance buff!"

Once again, players were divided into those who took damage and those who didn’t. Natsu, however, was no longer on just one knee. This time, she was lying face down on the ground.

"A-are childhood friends a lost cause…? But he’s more like a brother than a childhood friend, so I’m safe…? No, if anything, he’s like a step-brother…?"

"Nat-chan, let’s take a deep breath."

Natsu was a young maiden in love with Ruth, a subordinate of her father, Mist. It was her first love, and their age gap was large, but they were close enough to be called childhood friends, so she was taking considerable mental damage.

Parfait thought she didn’t need to worry about such things, but as someone who had yet to experience her first love, she didn’t quite understand Natsu’s feelings. The same likely went for Chris, who was also undamaged.

Balbara seemed to have taken some damage, but she appeared to be immune to the childhood friend issue.

"Truth number three."

Parfait looked up at the sky again, wondering if there was more. Once again, the attacks ceased, and silence fell over the area.

"There is no such thing as a prince on a white horse."

This time, voices from the women rose up.

"Yes there is, you idiot!"

"The prince is just a late sleeper!"

"I’m prepared to wear any glass slipper you throw at me!"

"Princes on white horses exist! So do cat queens!"

For some reason, Parfait heard a voice that sounded like Orion from the clan "Cats are God," but she dismissed it as her imagination. Besides, a prince on a white horse was a prince who rode a white horse, not a horse prince.

She had been relieved that this truth probably hadn’t dealt much damage to Natsu, but it seemed her train of thought had taken a sharp turn.

"A white horse… I see. If I raid Colony ‘Zoo’ and give him one as a gift…!"

"How do you manage to come up with the least plausible idea imaginable?"

Love was a strange thing, to think that Natsu, who boasted the top grades in her year, could become this much of a mess.

It was unclear whether they were just playing along or had genuinely taken damage, but the other players were also shouting various retorts. However, the truths Suien spoke seemed to be inflicting a fair amount of damage.

"The ideal traditional woman is an urban legend."

"There’s no demand for real-life tsunderes."

"Kabe-don is a turn-off."

"The person you like already has someone."

Some of the truths resonated with people, but others were truths they would rather not know, and the area was like a field of corpses. The mist made it hard to see, but it looked like many players were down on one knee.

Parfait figured this mist was probably intended to amplify the mental attacks disguised as truth by obscuring the surrounding situation.

"It seems you have understood the truth of the world…! Do you see now? Love is but an illusion, affection is unnecessary. Only those of you who understand this and have taken no damage are worthy of fighting me… Come, turn the loneliness of your lives into strength and attack!"

"May I say something?"

Chris raised her right hand slightly and called out to the shadow of the Illusion Dragon. Her clear, dignified voice was audible to the others, and the sounds of resentment died down.

"…Huh? W-what is it?"

Suien’s voice faltered slightly upon seeing Chris, but she quickly composed herself.

"I heard that my father’s first love was my mother."

The surroundings began to stir at her words.

A truth that refuted the statement that first love never works out. Those words seemed to give the players a faint glimmer of hope.

"It seems my mother’s first love was not my father, but she said she was grateful for the unrequited loves of her past, for they were wonderful experiences."

The commotion grew louder. In sync with it, the Illusion Dragon flinched.

"W-well, it’s not as if things like that are impossible…"

"Then, Suien-san, no, the truths you spoke are not absolute. There is a possibility, even if it’s one in ten thousand."

Cheers erupted from the players.

A "Gnnn" sound came from the Illusion Dragon, but then another voice was heard.

"Well done, breaking through the false truths. Indeed, the possibilities of love are infinite!"

Parfait thought the voice sounded familiar and turned in its direction. Immediately, the surrounding mist cleared, and a dragon appeared with the sun at its back.

Its massive black body was bound by chains, it had three eyes, and a person-like figure could be seen inside a giant red jewel at its throat. What it said was sensible, but its appearance was incredibly ominous.

As all the players stared in shock, a world announcement was broadcast.

"The Cursed Dragon Ren Brandle has arrived as reinforcements. Please join forces to repel the Illusion Dragon Suien Mikazuki. I repeat—"

(Instructor Ren!?)

Parfait couldn’t hide her surprise, as the figure was completely unimaginable from the Ren she knew in real life. Chris and Natsu were the same, staring up at the Cursed Dragon with their mouths agape.

As soon as the announcement ended, cheers erupted from the players. The excitement was not just from cheers, but also mixed with cries of surprise.

"No way! The Cursed Dragon really exists!?"

"Balbara-san? Why are you so surprised—"

"Of course I’m surprised! The Cursed Dragon is a super-duper rare monster that’s said to have only appeared once before!"

The Cursed Dragon’s name appeared in various in-game texts, but it had apparently only appeared once in the game’s long history, with no trace of it since.

"Could it be that it appears when you refute the Illusion Dragon’s mental attacks with facts…?"

At Balbara’s murmur, the surrounding players voiced their agreement with shouts of "That’s it!" and "No doubt about it!"

As Parfait thought about what a troublesome spawn condition that was, the battle between the now-visible Illusion Dragon and the Cursed Dragon began in the sky.

"Why does Suien-san say things like that!"

"Anyone who looks happy is the enemy! All couples should be destroyed!"

That sounded rather petty. So petty, in fact, that it made one question if this was truly a dragon that created the world. It couldn’t be helped, since the person inside was normal, but Parfait wanted to ask both Suien and Ren what they were doing about their jobs.

It seemed like a simple quarrel, but whether it was due to reason or just an act, they moved to a more open area a short distance away to avoid damaging the venue before the battle truly began.

It became a ground battle instead of an aerial one, so as the announcement instructed, the players attacked the Illusion Dragon. Smaller illusionary dragons, which seemed to be clones of the main one, appeared, so Parfait and her group, given their strength, focused on dealing with them.

Many players had gathered for the event, and they were chipping away at the Illusion Dragon’s HP without much trouble. The Cursed Dragon’s attack power was high, and it seemed they could win even if the players did nothing, but everyone was attacking with all their might, likely for personal reasons, Parfait thought.

When all of the Illusion Dragon’s HP was depleted, it staggered, but a smile formed on its lips.

"Impressive… But remember this. I am an illusion born from the resentment of those whose love has been broken. Even if you defeat me, a second and third version of me will appear. Enjoy your fleeting love while you can…!"

The Illusion Dragon Suien Mikazuki’s body turned into mist and then vanished.

"Suien-san, the time will come when you too will realize it. Love is a wonderful thing…!"

The ominous dragon was saying something nice, but it was nothing short of surreal. Nevertheless, the appearance of the super-rare monster, the Cursed Dragon, sent the players into a frenzy of excitement.

"You all did well. Now, for your reward—"

Even greater cheers erupted from the crowd. Not only would they get drop items from the Illusion Dragon, but the Cursed Dragon was giving them a reward too.

That’s what everyone thought, but they were wrong.

"Offer up your love stories."

Silence, followed by voices of confusion. As everyone wondered what it meant to offer up love stories, the Cursed Dragon continued.

"Come, speak. Sweet and painful love stories, heart-wrenching love stories, embarrassing but happy love stories, anything will do. Offer your love stories to me. Now! Now!"

(That’s definitely Instructor Ren…)

It was no different from how Ren usually acted at the café. The last person to fall prey to this was Natsu.

Only voices of confusion could be heard from the crowd, no love stories were told. The Cursed Dragon then shook its head.

"I see, you have no love to speak of. Then it cannot be helped."

The Cursed Dragon’s red eyes slowly began to widen.

"Do you know of the suspension bridge effect? It is said that a man and a woman who meet in a dangerous situation are more likely to fall in love…"

Parfait had indeed heard of such a thing, but she wondered what it had to do with anything and waited for the next words.

"Then I shall become that suspension bridge! Come, fall in love! And envelop the world in love stories!"

As the Cursed Dragon’s eyes opened completely, the clear blue sky was covered in black clouds, and lightning began to strike the surroundings.

And a world announcement was broadcast.

"A Stampede has occurred in the Spirit Country. The Hardline Romance Faction, Cursed Dragon Ren Brandle has begun its invasion. Please engage and repel it. I repeat—"

(Instructor Ren, what are you doing!? And what’s a Hardline Romance Faction!?)

And so, the battle against the extremely troublesome hardliner of romance, the Cursed Dragon Ren Brandle, began.