"...Huh?"
Fischl's eyes widened. She had been walking absent-mindedly, lost in her own thoughts, when Kairo suddenly surged ahead like a gust of wind. By the time she snapped back to herself, he'd already opened a fair distance.
She blinked hard—rubbed her eyes, even. No matter how she looked, one fact refused to change:
Kairo was definitely moving faster than before.
"Thou… thou art swift as a shooting star! Is this, perchance, fate's guidance?!"
Oz flapped his wings and translated with his usual calm. "Her Highness means: why did you suddenly start running so fast?"
Even he sounded puzzled. Kairo had been walking just fine a moment ago—why the abrupt burst of speed?
"What secret art is this?" Bright excitement gathered in Fischl's gaze. "Hath thou awakened some ancient power sealed within thy bloodline? Or did Meine Fräulein's august presence stir the depths of thy potential?"
Kairo let the chatter pass him by. His attention was fixed on the translucent panel hanging before his eyes—because a new set of choices had just appeared.
[After spending a day gathering supplies with Seele, you recall that when you first arrived in the Underworld you learned routes and caches from Nadja. Back then, many sectors hadn't yet fallen to Fragmentum encroachment, so you still remember the storage sites—some even hidden by you and Nadja.]
[With your help, Seele easily gathered a large batch of much-needed materials. She was overjoyed; the two of you worked together with seamless coordination.]
[The day passed quickly. Though you collected a great deal, there's still far more out there. Seele wishes to continue working with you over the next few days—hoping, as well, to spend more time together. Faced with her renewed invitation, you choose…]
Option 1: Decline her invitation.
Gathering supplies is important, but your freedom matters more. You've just escaped one heap of trouble; you're not eager to dive into another round of endless errands. Bow out gracefully and claim more pressing matters. Wildfire won't collapse without you, and Seele is capable enough to lead. Besides, the Underworld's supply needs are a bottomless pit.
Reward: Enhancement Balm — Electro. A paste blended from materials tinged with the power of fate. Applied to a suitable weapon, it grants a notable elemental enhancement.
Option 2: Accept her invitation.
You catch the faint hope in the girl's eyes. As a Pathwalker of The Hunt, you could gather faster even alone—when you don't know a location, sheer speed solves most problems. Yet her words carry another meaning: she simply wants more time with you. Memories surface—the small, stubborn child who grew into one of Wildfire's pillars, bearing the weight of the Underworld. Her road is long… and you're willing to walk beside her for a while.
Reward: Seele's Path (The Hunt) branch skill — Phantom Illusion. On use, enter an invisible state for 20 seconds. While invisible you cannot be detected; initiating combat from invisibility immediately grants an Amplified state.
Option 3: Accept Fischl's exclusive "resource points."
Let the Prinzessin der Verurteilung guide you to "secret troves" only she knows.
Reward: Belobog Red Sausage (×1). Delicious.
"What in the world is that third reward…? Belobog Red Sausage? Seriously?"
Kairo smothered a laugh. "Well, the Electro balm shows up again, but compared to Option Two—that's the real prize."
His gaze lingered on the second reward. If memory served, Phantom Illusion was one of Seele's signature techniques. Twenty seconds of true invisibility? That was absurdly useful—recon, repositioning, first-strike advantage… a lot could happen in twenty seconds.
Option One didn't fit his plans anyway. He needed to collect supplies in the Whispering Woods regardless. With Fischl along, he could load her with an extra bag—or three. Two people always carried more than one.
Option Two was all upside. It even came with a secret skill.
As for Option Three… what did Fischl have that could outmatch his Bio-Wave Scanner? Her "exclusive spots" were cute—but the scanner ran circles around guesswork. And the sausage? Come on.
While Kairo weighed the choices, Fischl frowned at being ignored. She quickened her steps, twin-tails swaying, and drew level with him. He still didn't look up.
"…"
Her lips drooped. He dares ignore me? Cheeks puffed, heel tapping once in indignation—then mischief brightened her eyes.
"Heh-heh-heh… Dost thou dare ignore the Prinzessin der Verurteilung? Very well! Let us see which mortal boasts the swifter existence!"
Oz sighed. "Translation: she wants to race."
Kairo finally looked over and chuckled. "About what you asked earlier—I'm in. I'll be going back and forth to the Whispering Woods these next few days anyway. If our routes match, I'll accompany you."
The thought of today's haul flickered through his mind. With the Bio-Wave Scanner, valuable materials practically jumped into his bag; each one was as good as Mora. Give him a few days and he might even gather enough rare ore to forge an elemental weapon himself.
Fischl's eyes lit at his casual agreement, joy flashing before she schooled her features and flicked her hand in regal composure.
"Since thou hast shown such resolve, this Prinzessin shall henceforth permit thee to travel at her side."
Oz translated dryly. "She is very happy."
[Choice recorded.]
A soft chime pulsed at the edge of Kairo's vision. The panel's light thinned—then a new line etched itself across it, one he hadn't expected tonight.
[A hidden condition has been met. Calculating reward delivery…]
To be continued…
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