Chapter 21 ~ Petra and Jan
"Petra…"
The name formed slowly, quietly on Hikari's lips as he regarded the guide who had offered him his first tentative steps into this world. Around them, the gentle bustle of the evening market continued, a soft counterpoint to the focused intensity of the moment. Rentarou stood slightly aside, observing, while Hikari's piercing blue gaze met Petra's light brown eyes, visible beneath the familiar round lenses of her glasses.
Petra's gaze dropped to the cobblestones beneath her feet. "So… it is true then," she murmured, her voice barely audible above the market sounds. "No wonder the Shadow Ninja Squad hasn't returned since that day…"
She lifted her head, her eyes shadowed with a profound sadness, a hint of bleakness dimming their usual warmth. "I am truly sorry… for everything," she said, her voice thick with regret. "I couldn't offer any assistance. I couldn't even manage a warning…"
Hikari's response was calm, his tone light, almost dismissive, aiming to ease her distress. "You needn't look upon me with such gravity, Petra. It wasn't as if I faced certain demise against a group of… neophytes like them."
A fragile flicker of hope, a touch of warmth, returned to her eyes. A small, hesitant smile touched her lips. "With the limited resources you possessed, the odds were overwhelmingly against you," she countered gently. "Just tell me… how did you manage it? How did you survive, Rising Star?"
He held her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Let us just say their collaborative synergy was… lacking," he replied smoothly. "That deficiency was a significant factor contributing to my victory."
Petra's smile widened slightly, knowingly. She recognized the evasion, the characteristic way he deflected, cloaking his true capabilities. Just days ago, she thought, studying him – his hair seeming even more incandescently golden under the dying rays of the sunset – he was barely level one, utterly lost in this world. And now… now he's not only survived an encounter that should have been fatal, facing down the notorious Shadow Ninja Squad, but he's gained a companion, and both have reached level ten…
From nearby, a cheerful voice cut through the air. "Oho! If it isn't young Rentarou!"
Rentarou snapped his head around, spotting a nearby merchant – a short, stout man with tousled grey hair, clad in an apron smudged with the vibrant stains of fruit. Recognition flared in Rentarou's eyes. "Jan!" he exclaimed, rushing towards the merchant's stall with unrestrained enthusiasm.
The merchant, Jan, beamed as Rentarou approached, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He glanced pointedly at the white name and 'Lv. 10' designation floating brightly above Rentarou's head. "You actually did it, lad!" Jan declared, his voice thick with pride.
Rentarou stopped before him, grinning. "Thank you for the compliment!" He then hooked a thumb back towards Hikari. "But I wouldn't have made it without my friend here."
Jan's friendly brown eyes shifted calmly past Rentarou, first taking in Petra, then landing on the figure beside her – Hikari, with the ominous crimson 'Rising Star' hovering above him.
The merchant's eyes widened, pupils shrinking in sudden terror. "A Player Killer?!!" he gasped, recoiling slightly. "What in the seven heavens is a Player Killer doing in town?!"
Hikari, who had been calmly approaching the wooden stall alongside Petra, heard the outburst clearly. They came to a halt before the now visibly anxious merchant.
"Petra…" Jan stammered, his gaze darting between her and Hikari. "What is the meaning of this? Why are you associating with a… a PK?"
Rentarou quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Jan, wait, wait! He's not an enemy – not to you, or me, or Petra. This person, his name is Hika—"
Hikari shot Rentarou a brief, sharp look, a silent warning in his blue eyes.
"—I mean, Rising Star!" Rentarou hastily corrected himself, catching the near slip of Hikari's real name. "He didn't become a Player Killer by choice! He was forced to defend himself!"
Jan's apprehensive brown eyes met Hikari's steady blue gaze. "I… find that difficult to comprehend," the merchant admitted, "but seeing Petra with you… perhaps I can lend it some credence."
Rentarou nodded quickly. "Dispense Balance, 70 Diamo."
A small, brown pouch, jingling faintly with the weight of ten gold coins, materialized in Rentarou's outstretched hand. He passed it to the merchant, his smile wide and genuine. "See, Jan? I told you I'd do it. This settles my debt completely. Thank you… truly, from the bottom of my heart."
Jan took the small pouch, his hand closing around the coins. The fear on his face slowly receded, replaced by a look of genuine pride. "To be honest, lad," he said, his voice softening, "I never truly thought you'd succeed. I was just waiting for the day you'd lose heart and leave this game behind." He looked past Rentarou towards Hikari. "But now… I owe my thanks to your friend here. Rising Star… thank you, sincerely, for lending Rentarou your aid."
"It was nothing of consequence," Hikari replied curtly.
Jan sighed, a touch of melancholy entering his voice. "I understand. Now that you've both surpassed level ten… you won't be returning here either. Rentarou's a good lad. I'd grown accustomed to having him around town, especially since he spent literal weeks here, struggling… But now you're both setting off, aren't you? Far away…"
A warm smile lit Rentarou's face, crinkling the corners of his grey eyes. "Come now, Jan," he said gently. "Do you really think I'd forget you? I'll definitely come back to visit."
Hikari watched the exchange silently, his golden hair catching the last embers of the disappearing sunset. Is he attempting to garner sympathy? he wondered, observing Rentarou earnestly consoling the merchant. His gaze lingered on his companion. It appears Rentarou is the type to become easily invested in this game's world. He mulled it over further. Though, I suppose any rational person might. It's akin to forming attachments to characters in a beloved series. No… he corrected himself, it's potentially more profound. We don't merely observe these characters; we interact with them, and they, in turn, interact with us.
Hikari's gaze shifted, his blue eyes moving calmly towards Petra standing beside him, a spark of realization dawning within them. "Incidentally," he began, his voice thoughtful, "I have yet to observe any terrestrial statues, pyramids, stone arrays, gateways, or indeed, any mechanism that facilitates rapid transit between regions. How does one return to a previous area swiftly?"
Petra met his gaze, understanding dawning in her own eyes. "I comprehend your query," she said, a hint of apology in her tone. "But regrettably, Royal Fantasy Elixir does not incorporate such conveniences."
A flicker of surprise disturbed Hikari's composure. "Are you suggesting," he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief, "that this is a successful game without a world-based fast-travel system?"
"Indeed," Petra confirmed. "And that's without even mentioning the sheer vastness of this world, capable of supporting over ten million players online simultaneously."
The number struck both Hikari and Rentarou with the force of a physical blow. Rentarou gaped, his grey eyes wide. "Do you mean," he stammered, "that right now, in this world, there could potentially be ten million other players logged in?"
"Not quite in the literal sense," Petra clarified patiently. "Since the game's launch, the peak concurrent player count recorded was one million, three hundred thousand. Nevertheless, the game's infrastructure is genuinely engineered to handle a maximum capacity of ten million simultaneous connections."
Hikari absorbed this staggering figure. "To what extent must the map be scaled," he mused aloud, "to accommodate such numbers without players constantly feeling suffocated by the sheer density?"
"If one million players were logged in concurrently," Petra explained, "the calculated average distance separating any two players could be approximately one thousand in-game meters."
Hikari blinked. "That is… an extraordinarily vast distance," he remarked dryly. "Are we situated in the digital equivalent of Russia, perhaps?"
Petra smiled faintly. "Designing such an immense space through traditional methods would have been arduous, nigh impossible in the past. However, leveraging advanced Artificial Intelligence… yes, it becomes feasible when the AI shoulders the majority of the creation process." She paused, then added, "Hikari, could you perhaps display your map interface?"
"Display Map," Hikari commanded mentally.
The map materialized before them, framed by a softly glowing blue border. Most of its surface was obscured by a grey overlay marked with padlock icons, signifying unexplored or inaccessible regions. Only two distinct zones shone with the vibrant green of discovered territory. Petra reached out, her fingers interacting with the holographic display, zooming in deftly until the detailed layout of Maria Town filled the view. "This is Maria Town," she indicated.
Then, she began to drag the map sideways, revealing another settlement icon, then another, and another. "All of these towns," she explained, gesturing to the newly revealed points of interest, "are located solely within the First Region, the one you currently occupy."
Hikari frowned slightly. "I had assumed this was a relatively small starting zone and neglected to explore the map's full scale. So? What purpose do these other towns serve?"
"Much like Maria Town," Petra replied, "they function primarily as introductory hubs, guiding new players, providing initial quests, and offering a gentle push to begin their journey. Hikari, you concluded this initial phase of the game with exceptional speed, reaching level ten in record time. There are undoubtedly countless monsters, puzzles, and secrets within this region that you haven't encountered…"
She fell silent for a moment, her gaze dropping, a familiar sadness touching her features. "If I may offer my counsel," she added softly, "I would strongly advise spending a few more days here. In the Second Region, 'Spring Journey,' matters become significantly more complex. And now… you bear the mark of a Player Killer. Everyone will be pursuing you. In Spring Journey, you will begin encountering players and NPCs with defined 'Jobs' – Knights, specialized Adventurers, Bounty Hunters… The population is far denser, and the challenges far greater."
Hikari nodded slowly. "I understand. It implies there is literally nothing in this First Region compelling enough to hold the interest of powerful entities. Which means the Shadow Ninja Squad… they truly were mere neophytes, clinging to this area out of fear or inability to progress."
Rentarou looked utterly aghast. "Truly?!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking slightly. "Are you telling me that all my suffering over the past weeks in this zone… amounts to nothing compared to what awaits us?"
Jan, the merchant, chimed in grimly, overhearing the conversation. "And worse than that, lad, if you're killed, you lose ten levels. Since you're both level ten now… that means being sent right back to the starting point."
While Hikari remained outwardly calm, his blue eyes unreadable, Rentarou clapped both hands to his grey-haired head in despair. "This wasn't anticipated!" he groaned. "How can I possibly survive in such a brutal world?!"
"Petra," Hikari interjected, his voice cutting through Rentarou's panic with quiet resolve, "I appreciate your counsel. However, I intend to proceed regardless."
A subtle shift occurred in Petra's expression. The worry lines around her eyes softened, replaced by a faint, knowing smile. "Somehow… I anticipated you would say that."
"You still possess information I might require, do you not?" Hikari prompted gently.
"Yes," Petra confirmed. "Regarding travel across vast distances. There exists only one method for instantaneous transit in this world. A single, unique elixir, legendary in status, shimmering gold in color. It is known as the 'Instantaneous Teleportation Potion'."
Both Rentarou's grey and Hikari's blue eyes widened slightly. "Instantaneous Teleportation Potion…" Rentarou murmured, the name itself sounding mythical.
"To which rank does it belong?" Hikari inquired.
"Rank S," Petra stated simply.
The confirmation hung in the air. A moment of charged silence descended. The last vestiges of the sunset finally vanished from the sky, surrendering to the deep velvet of night. Stars began to prick the darkness overhead, and concurrently, the quaint, lantern-shaped electric lamps lining Maria Town's streets flickered to life, casting pools of warm, inviting light onto the cobblestones.
"I see…" Hikari finally said, a note of intrigued understanding in his voice. "They genuinely intend for this to be a true adventure, discouraging players from simply 'hopping' across the map. How… stimulating."
"There are, of course, other elixirs players utilize," Petra added. "Potions that enhance speed, or even grant temporary flight. They certainly aid in traversing distances. However, there is one final matter I must impress upon you. Rising Star, you will be targeted. By numerous players, certainly, but also by powerful, native inhabitants of this world – NPCs. If you harbor the notion that all NPCs are benign guides like myself, you are gravely mistaken. There are individuals capable of overpowering you effortlessly. I speak of humans, not merely monsters; of those aligned with 'good' as readily as those aligned with 'evil'. Your red name makes you a target for both factions. Above all, I implore you: avoid conflict with ordained Knights whenever possible."
"Are they truly so formidable?" Hikari asked, his curiosity piqued.
"The lowest echelon within the Knightly orders is the Silver Shield rank," Petra explained, "which corresponds to a B-Rank classification. The ranks ascend from there, potentially reaching the pinnacle of SSS-Rank. This is merely implanted data; I confess I have never personally witnessed a Knight, nor laid eyes upon the Teleportation Elixir. My knowledge base is inherently limited. For this, I apologize; I cannot offer more than what I know."
Rentarou felt a cold knot of fear tighten in his stomach. What does this mean? he thought frantically. Accompanying Hikari… it makes me a target for these incredibly dangerous people too? Oh, man…
A warm, unexpected smile touched Hikari's features. He reached out and gently patted Petra's head, his gesture surprisingly paternal. "Thank you for everything, Petra," he said softly. "You truly are like a little sister."
He withdrew his hand as a faint blush crept up her neck and touched her cheeks. "By the way," she stammered slightly, "my sister… she enjoyed the apple. She said… thank you."
Hikari's blue eyes flickered. That simple interaction, the brief exchange about an apple, which felt like days ago in this immersive world… Petra still remembered it. For a fleeting moment, he couldn't quite grasp the sheer depth of detail, the intricate web of data woven into the fabric of this game. Its capacity to retain and recall continued to astound him with each new revelation.
He turned, his expression thoughtful, and began to walk away from the small group gathered near the market stall. This is bad… he mused, a strange, exhilarating current running beneath his calm exterior. I'm actually beginning to feel a thrill… because the real game… is finally about to begin.
Hikari walked along the stone-paved path leading out of Maria Town. The morning sun cast a golden hue across the quiet road when a sudden voice broke the stillness.
"Wait—Hikari-san!!"
Rentarou's voice rang out, followed by hurried footsteps.
Hikari came to a gentle stop, tilting his head slightly but not turning around. Rentarou caught up, panting softly, and stepped beside him with furrowed brows.
"Are you really going to leave me behind like that?" Rentarou grumbled, his tone a mix of complaint and disbelief.
Without looking at him, Hikari answered in a calm, steady voice,
"Let's just hurry and enter the Spring Journey zone."
Rentarou's soft gray eyes fixed on him. He studied Hikari in silence for a second… then a faint smile curved his lips. He nodded and walked beside him.
As they reached the town gate, the cobblestone path continued into open wilderness. Both of them took synchronized steps forward—past the worn wooden arch that marked the town's boundary.
Hikari's sapphire-blue eyes darted from right to left.
No guards. No presence. Only silence.
Rentarou's steps faltered. His expression shifted. His eyes trembled slightly, blinking as if struggling to believe what he was seeing.
A breeze swept through, gentle but cold, brushing past them. It lifted Hikari's golden hair into a soft wave and rustled Rentarou's ash-gray strands.
"This… What does this mean?" Rentarou asked, his voice a low whisper beneath the whispering wind.
From somewhere, a soft OST began to play—light percussion, a wandering flute, and string chords. A cheerful yet mysterious theme—perfect for travel.
With a calm smile, Hikari stepped further into the open field beyond the gate and said over his shoulder,
"Don't be surprised. The guards abandoned their posts… in exchange for a bit of coin. They've run away."
Rentarou's gray eyes widened again, flickering with disbelief. "Is that… real?"
But Hikari only smiled faintly to himself. His blue eyes glimmered with calm certainty as he thought:
Well, well… trusting NPCs in this world won't be easy. Things are getting complicated…
[ A/N ]
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