"There it is. The 'Sentinel Tree.'"
"Is that it...?"
"Whoa, it's massive!"
"There really is nothing else around it for miles."
"Perfect for driving practice, right?"
After nearly twenty minutes of pushing "Black" across the open plains, the legendary landmark finally loomed over the horizon.
"How much further?" Sinon asked.
"About five minutes, I'd say."
"Five minutes? But we're doing nearly a hundred kilometers an hour!"
"The scale is just that huge," I replied.
Because the Great Plains offered zero obstructions, Pitohui had been able to maintain a high speed for the entire thirty-kilometer trek from the ambush site. From the city, they were now nearly forty kilometers out.
"Alright, let's take a breather under the shade," I suggested.
"Agreed!"
"Especially you, Pito. Driving that distance takes a lot of mental energy. Here, use this." I pulled a thick, padded mat from my storage and handed it to her.
"Thanks, Shana! Honestly, that was more exhausting than the firefight."
"I bet. Go ahead and stretch out." I lay down on the grass nearby.
"Wait, is there only one mat? I feel bad for the others..."
"Whoever finishes their driving lesson gets to use it next," I said.
"Exactly. Don't worry about us, Pito," Shizuka added.
"Rest up, rest up!" Kei chimed in.
"Well then, I won't be shy! Come on, Shana, get over here and lie down next to me. Let's show the kids something scandalous!"
"I think the rest of you should take turns logging out to hydrate," I said, completely ignoring Pitohui's invitation.
"Hey!"
"Just lie down and shut your eyes, Pito."
"Fine..."
After the group took turns cycling out to refresh themselves in the real world, we regrouped.
"Alright, who's next?"
"Shana, teach Shanon-non first," Shizuka suggested.
I tilted my head. "Any particular reason?"
"Well," Shizuka explained, "Kei and I actually learned the basics of automatic driving from Tsuzuki-san a while back. We understand the theory of manuals, too, so it won't take us long to get the hang of it."
My eyes widened. "You guys learned from the Master? Since when?"
"Before we even started GGO. He taught us a lot—building defensive positions, room clearing, hand signals, even free climbing."
"No kidding... you guys went through the same boot camp I did."
Sinon and Pitohui leaned in, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Wait, this 'Tsuzuki' person... he's your mentor?" Sinon asked.
"To know all that... he can't be an ordinary person," Pitohui added. "Who is he?"
"He's a former mercenary," I said. "And the head butler for Yukinoshita's family."
Pitohui practically vibrated with excitement. "Oh my god! A Sebas! He's a real-life Sebastian, isn't he?!"
"I get the trope you're going for, Pito, but his name isn't Sebastian."
(Sinon hadn't met Tsuzuki yet, as he had been away during her recent visit to the Yukinoshita estate.)
"I want to learn the basics properly too," Pitohui mused. "I'd love to have someone like that teach me."
"The war is only going to get crazier," I agreed. "Maybe I'll ask the Master to hop into the game and give everyone a crash course."
"Wait, for real?"
"Don't get your hopes up. He's a busy man."
I climbed into "Black" with Sinon and began the grueling process of teaching a complete novice how to drive. While we worked, the other three decided to scout the perimeter of the massive tree.
"Wow... it takes forever just to walk around the trunk," Kei noted.
"It's like the tree from the commercials, but on steroids."
"Only in a game," Shizuka laughed.
As they wandered, Shizuka began idly tapping her knuckles against the bark. She stopped abruptly at a specific spot.
"Hmm?"
"What's up, Shiz?"
"Something... feels off."
"Well, it is the 'Curious Tree'!" Pitohui joked, referencing the old song.
"Pito, focus. Look, you two try tapping right here."
Following her lead, they both knocked on the wood.
"Wait... that is weird."
"It sounds... hollow?"
"Right? The resonance is totally different."
"Let's report it to Shana once Shanon-non is finished with her lap," Shizuka decided.
Back at the car, the girls sat on the mat to watch Sinon's progress, but the vehicle was nowhere in sight.
"Where did they go?"
"Wait, look! Over there!"
A tiny speck on the horizon was rapidly growing larger. Incredibly fast.
"Whoa, hey!"
"Ahahahaha! AHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Black" screamed past the tree at a terrifying velocity, the engine roaring in protest.
"What was that?!"
"Did you see Shana's face? He looked absolutely terrified in the passenger seat!"
"Is Sinon-non... a speed demon?"
"I think I heard her cackling..."
The reason was simple: unlike the others who had some real-world context for driving, this was Sinon's first time behind the wheel. In the infinite, empty expanse of the plains, she had no sense of danger. To her, a hundred kilometers an hour felt like a brisk stroll—until she hit the gas. She was laughing with pure, unfiltered joy while I was white-knuckled, trying to keep her from flipping the car.
Eventually, the car slowed and drifted back to our starting point. Sinon hopped out, clutching her head.
"Ow... Shana, that hurt!"
"That's what you get for getting cocky the second you learned where the clutch was!"
"You should take responsibility for that!"
"I have zero responsibility for your lack of a survival instinct."
"You hit me!"
"Because you were going to kill us both!"
Sinon puffed out her cheeks, nursing her head where I'd given her a disciplinary bonk.
"Next time, we practice where there are obstacles," I grumbled. "Maybe then you'll learn what 'braking' means."
"Fine..." But despite her pouting, she skipped over to the girls with a radiant smile. "That was the most fun I've ever had!"
"I... I bet," Shizuka stammered.
"A speed maniac in our very midst..." Pitohui whispered in awe.
Shizuka and Kei took their turns next, but since they had the basics down, their sessions were short and efficient. During the break, Shizuka brought up their discovery.
"A hollow sound?" I asked.
"Yeah. It's really distinct."
"It's curious, curious! Just like the song!" Pitohui sang.
"Pito, stop. Lead the way."
We gathered at the spot Shizuka had marked. I gave the bark a solid thwack.
"You're right. It's definitely hollow. There's a chamber in there. Let's look for a switch."
We searched the roots and the surrounding grass, but found nothing.
"Nothing here," I muttered.
"Shana, look up!" Sinon pointed toward the upper canopy.
"What is it?"
"See that? There's a dark spot... looks like an opening."
"Hard to see from this angle, but you might be right."
"Think we can get in?"
I thought for a moment, then backed "Black" up to get a better angle. I checked my Wire Launcher.
"I'm going to try to fire a line into that opening."
"Go for it! Let's see what's inside!"
I managed to hook the wire on the first try. Leaving the four of them on the ground, I began the ascent.
"Look at him go," Pitohui remarked. "He's so agile."
"Yeah," Sinon agreed. "He looks like a little monkey."
"Sinon-non, is that a bit of petty revenge for the head-bonk?"
"M-maybe. What of it?"
"So cute!" Pitohui pulled Sinon into a crushing hug, making the sniper gasp for air.
I reached the ledge and hauled myself into the dark aperture.
'It looks like a tunnel,' I broadcasted over the squad link. 'Wait here and keep an eye out for enemies.'
""""Copy!"""""
I moved deeper into the tree.
"Whoa..."
The tunnel opened into a massive, cavernous space. I hadn't expected the interior to be this hollowed out. A spiral staircase made of dark, polished wood wound down the inner walls. I descended to the base, where a glowing console sat in the center of the floor.
As I approached, the console flared to life, and a holographic girl appeared.
"Whoa!"
'Greetings, Guest. You are the first player to reach this location. Would you like to register as the Master of the World Tree Fortress?'
"Master? I don't fully get it, but sure. My name is Shana. Who are you?"
'Player: Shana has been registered as Master. I am the administrator of the World Tree Fortress, designation WT-01.'
"World Tree, huh? Do you have a real name?"
'I have no name other than WT-01.'
"That's a bit of a mouthful. Can I change it?"
'The Master has the authority to rename the administrator. Do you wish to proceed?'
I looked at her. She wore a flowing, floral outfit that looked like petals.
"It's a bit cliché, but based on your look... how about 'Floria'?"
'Floria. Yes... My name is now Floria. Thank you, Master.'
The AI's voice was mostly monotone, but for a flickering second, she looked almost... happy.
"Nice to meet you, Floria. Now, my friends are outside. Can you let them in?"
'Understood. Shall I open the main gate?'
"Yeah, please."
A massive section of the tree trunk groaned and slid aside. I stepped out and looked at the wire still hanging from above.
"So this was the reason for the hollow sound..."
I pinged the girls. "Everyone, gather at the spot where I went up."
When they arrived and saw the massive doorway standing open, they were speechless.
"What is this...?"
"It's a hidden facility called the World Tree Fortress," I explained. "Apparently, I'm the 'Master' now, though I'm still figuring out what that entails."
"No way..."
"Come on in. There's someone you should meet."
I introduced them to the AI. "This is Floria, the administrator NPC."
'Greetings. It is a pleasure to meet you.'
"Nice to meet you too!" Shizuka beamed.
"She's so cute!" Pitohui cooed.
"GGO... you never cease to surprise me," Sinon whispered, looking around the high-tech interior.
Floria turned back to me. 'Master, would you like to register these individuals as Sub-Masters?'
"How many can I register?"
'Up to ten.'
"Then register all four of them."
'Understood.'
"Also," I looked around the wide ground floor. "This space is huge. Can we use it as a garage?"
'Yes. This level was originally designed for vehicle storage.'
"Perfect." I pulled the keys to "Black" out and tossed them to Sinon. "Alright, Sinon. Time for some redemption. Park 'Black' inside. Right there—see that rectangular marking?"
"Hmph. Watch and learn."
Sinon drove the car inside, but as it turned out, high-speed racing and precision parking were two very different skills. She spent the next five minutes reversing, oversteering, and cursing.
"Go ahead, keep at it," I teased. "Don't worry if you scuff the paint."
"Guh... this is a humiliation! I can't believe I have a weakness like this!"
"Gotta knock that unearned confidence out of you once in a while. And for the record, I'm not a monkey."
Sinon froze. "You... you heard that?"
"Loud and clear."
"Ugh... fine! You'll pay for this later!"
"Yeah, yeah. Just park the car."
"This dismissive attitude... it's just like how you treat Pito! Ugh, just kill me now!"
"What are you even talking about? That makes no sense..."
After several more attempts, Sinon finally eased "Black" into the spot. She stepped out, chest puffed out in a victory pose.
"Hmph. How's that?"
"Only took you ten minutes," I noted.
"Shut up!" She began playfully drumming her fists against my chest.
Ignoring the "attack," I turned to Floria. "Floria, close the gate. We don't want any unwanted guests finding this place."
'Understood.'
As the heavy door sealed shut, I breathed a sigh of relief. "Safe and sound."
Sinon stopped her drumming and looked at me, frustrated. "Hey! You could at least pretend that hurt!"
"It didn't. I felt the impact, but that's about it."
"Kuh... just kill me!"
"Seriously, I don't get your slang."
Thus, the World Tree Fortress fell under Shana's control. It would go on to serve as a vital strategic asset during the war, and in the peace that followed, it would be opened to the public as a legendary base for long-range expeditions.
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