9 – omen – 1

Even in a game world, the moon sets and the sun rises. As always, the dawn created by the sun rising from the east was beating down grace, regardless of whether it was the palace or the slums where the beggars lived.

The day was just beginning.

The workers are sick of it, but they raised their heavy bodies for labor.

It was the same with the court ladies. No, they were starting their day more diligently than the sun defying the night sky.

Of course, so did I.

“Sage? Are you awake already?”

“Yes.”

What was prepared for me was a building for distinguished guests within the palace. Currently, I am the only one who uses this building, which can only be used by precious guests that even the royal family can appreciate.

That’s why I’ve been able to monopolize this wide and splendid garden for several days already. Of course, monopolizing does not mean doing anything special.

I’m busy chasing achievements.

So there was only one thing I did in this garden, and that was what I did every day after entering this world and becoming accustomed to being a sage.

morning meditation.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like being still. Even so, there is one reason why I meditate every morning.

It was to act as a sage.

Being able to use all skills means that I can improve my abilities only if I do what other jobs have to do.

No matter how old I am, this game is still a game that values growth.

In order to return safely to reality without dying, training could not be stopped.

Meditation is good for increasing the power of magic, so just wake up early in the morning and train like this.

“How would you like to eat? I, if you wish, with the princess…”

When the maid asked politely, I shook my head. It wasn’t bad to have a meal with the princess and increase intimacy, but now there was something more important than that.

“I have to go out and come back today because I have something to do.”

“I see… then hey. May I ask where you are going? Your Majesty and the Princess will be curious…”

“Just tell me I’m going to do something important.”

I remembered the moon I saw when I went out to meditate at dawn.

Because I saw a slight change in the appearance of the red moon that proves the hardcore mode.

I somehow postponed it during the main story, but I had to prepare for an event that could not be postponed any longer.

“The princess will be disappointed… I see.”

I smiled at her.

I can’t help but be disappointed

In addition to the achievements that can only be obtained from that event, there is a sage-only equipment.

If you ignore it, the death toll will easily exceed tens of thousands.

In Pursuit of the Eight Stars, battles are basically fought in fields and dungeons.

Of course, there are definitely cases where battles are fought in other places through events, but most of them could be seen like that.

In the case of the field, there is almost no limit on the number of people. At least two people in the party, no, it was possible to do it alone, and if you had the ability, there were plenty of cases where you could gather mercenaries, troops, or adventurers to attack.

But the dungeon was different.

The dungeon strictly limits the number of entries. For example, if the limit is 3 people, only a maximum of 3 people must enter the dungeon.

And, it was impossible to enter the dungeon unless they were annihilated or attacked and came out.

According to the setting, God’s blessings and the rules of the world were all, but in reality it was just for balance.

But anyway, as long as it entered the game, I had no choice but to follow the rules, and this dungeon.

This dungeon, called the toad dungeon, was also the same.

but like a dog

“Yaaa!!”

A female warrior in a bikini armor hit the head of a toad-shaped monster with dozens of tentacles on its back with a double-edged axe.

Keeek. The expression “is the most appropriate” and the moment the monster fell with a hideous sound, the Lizardman archer in the back pulled a protest.

“Haap!”

The arrow fired with a spirited spirit turned into light and pierced the green brain exposed from the split head of the fallen monster.

“Kwaeeeg

Even though its head was split and an arrow stuck in its brain, the monster did not die. It just tries to continue the attack by converting the tentacles on its back.

The female warrior in bikini armor shouted with her eyes wide open.

“Living tentacles! This place is heaven! How much is that for one!!”

A rain of arrows rained down behind the female warrior who ran towards the tentacles with her face flushed red. The Lizardman Archer’s multiple shots dropped the tentacles one by one, and each time they were destroyed, the female warrior let out a scream.

“no!!”

Despite the female warrior’s screams, arrows pierced all tentacles. With that, the owner of this dungeon was completely silent, and the female warrior glared at the Lizardman with her eyes closed.

“I should have left at least one!”

“What did you say.”

Hitting the floor with his long tail, the Lizardman Archer flicked his forked tongue like a snake.

The female warrior aimed an ax at him.

“You damn bastard.”

“What did you say.”

“Is there anything else you can say?”

“What did you say.”

“Hey! Sage! What do you say!! You know how much that fine tentacle sells for in a back alley!!”

The anger of the female warrior, and the cynicism of the Lizardman.

I understand everything.

But I had something to say to them first.

“Stop stepping on the floor. You trash like rats.”

One of the monster’s attacks is to curse the floor. It’s a debuff that takes continuous damage, and a proper player would never step on the floor in the process of attacking, but these guys didn’t care about that and were fighting by stepping on the floor at will.

I almost threw up because of that.

Thanks to that, the count for the ‘Healing Master’ achievement increased, but the hard work was undeniable.

“No. Sage. Can I say such harsh words?!”

Did I say something so harsh? After reflecting on myself, I came to a conclusion.

“You can curse at those who step on the floor even though they heal.”

Be thankful you didn’t get slapped in the face.

“Sheesh.”

While we were bickering, the Lizardmen started collecting tentacles.

After collecting the tentacle that had been destroyed by the arrow, he put it in his bag, and the female warrior pursed her lips and grunted.

“Ah. It looks like I won’t be able to receive additional compensation.”

“Isn’t it done because the request itself was completed? Human woman. You are too greedy.”

“What would a lizard like you know?”

Towards her snort, the Lizardman slammed his tail again as if dissatisfied. In the meantime, I passed the monster and inspected the wall.

“Sage. What are you looking at?”

“I have something to check.”

I’m not really interested in the tentacles, which are evidence for clearing that quest. Even if I don’t receive a reward, the quest comes out as cleared, and in the process, points for achievements are accumulated.

The important thing is this.

“Sage. What is this painting called?”

The Lizardman, who came closer with hissing and snake breathing, stared at the wall with me.

What was painted on the wall was a deformed monster with nine tentacles. After harvesting all the tentacles, the female warrior came towards us carrying a baggy bag on her back.

“Ah~ Let’s go quickly. I’m tired. Hey. Lizard. Sage. Shall we have a drink today?”

Ignoring her temptations, I looked more at the monster painted on the wall and found a trace.

“What? That.”

When one side of the secret device was pressed, the device hidden in the corner of the wall activated and a small jewel that was exquisitely hidden fell out.

The color of the jewel was stained with blood, like the moon in the night sky.

“Huh? What is that?”

“It’s a new discovery.”

“As promised, this is mine.”

When I entered this dungeon, I had already negotiated with the people who would become my party members. Get all your rewards. In exchange, I will take any additional findings.

The original purpose was also points and this according to clearing the quest, so there was nothing to regret.

The female warrior looked at the full bag and the red jewel in my hand, then smiled.

“Eh… I said so at the time. Looking at it now…”

“See?”

“I don’t think that’s worth much in my eyes as a gem appraiser. I think it’s only right that I should take an extra tentacle or two. Take this one.”

“…Uh. Um. No, you don’t have to.”

While preparing for an ambush, I reflected on myself. I hope it comes out like that here.

If I tried to betray him by doing something useless, I would immediately put a curse on him and try to attack him, but I guess that’s not enough.

“What is it? With that gaze? You thought I’d take that too? Ah~ Sage-sama. You’re too mean~. I’m not that greedy woman.”

She smiled and took a step closer to me. Hook, the woman’s body odor tickled his nose, perhaps because of the sweat shed during the battle.

“Of course, I’m greedy in bed, but ah. Maybe it’s because I saw the tentacles earlier, but my body is really hot~ Who’s going to comfort me today?”

this was expected Even when we had a party before, I suffered quite a bit because of that female warrior’s nymphomaniac. Even in the adventurer’s guild, other adventurers and me were seduced by ignorance…

“Stupid and lascivious person. Go out and do useless mating.”

The perfectly normal Lizardman hit the floor again with his tail.

It looks like you want to leave soon.

A dungeon is a space where stress and anxiety build up just by entering the dungeon.

The physical ability is good, but the lizardman who is vulnerable to mental attacks complained of dissatisfaction.

In response, the female warrior who had been seducing me heated up with nymphomaniac and frowned.

“From a while ago, you. Are you very annoying?”

“Hmph. I was bothered by four years before.”

“Oh yeah?”

The female warrior aimed her ax with a cruel smile, and the Lizardman raised her bow.

The reason why even a weapon is raised after only a few words of argument is probably because of the ominous red light emitted from this jewel and the uniqueness of the dungeon.

Anyway, if I waited and waited, it would only lead to bloodshed, so I grabbed the lute hanging from my back.

-Tiriling~

The strings of the lute plucked and the soft tone permeated the ears of the Lizardman and the female warrior.

Stress-reducing performance is one of the musician’s skills.

If I left it like this, there would continue to be quarrels and clashes, and it would probably have been a bloody fight in earnest.

I didn’t really want to see that, but when I finished playing, the two put down their weapons and started laughing.

“Ahahaha! Out of tune! Out of tune!”

“…Is this human music? It seems like a mistake, but it sounds good.”

As they said, there was a slight deviation from the performance, but the effect itself was not bad.

Of course, while controlling their stress and paying attention, my stress accumulated, but this much is not a big deal to me.

“Let’s go out.”

When I put the lute back on their backs and said, they nodded and started to leave the dungeon. Stepping back, I put the red jewel in my pocket.

“Ah. By the way, wise man. What is that jewel?”

“It’s a countermeasure against the upcoming threat. But it has nothing to do with you guys, so you don’t have to worry about it. I’ll solve it.”

“Sage. I am willing to help you if you ask.”

I only laughed at the Lizardman’s favor. Realizing that my laughter was a rejection, he wiggled his long tail and the female warrior giggled.

I glanced at the bag of jewels.

okay.

This is preparation for an event that has nothing to do with you guys.

After leaving the dungeon and returning to the guild, I heard various stories from the female warrior and the Lizardman.

Whatever the situation on the battlefield is, Leventia, who was a member of the warrior’s party, is running amok.

The warrior seems to have changed a bit.

The elf archer Evangeline suddenly disappeared from the battlefield.

It was just information that wasn’t very nutritious.

The information I could get from the people talking in the guild was the same, so I rejected the adventurers’ offer to go play and immediately returned to the palace.

Today’s class was over with Lucille, who had been waiting for me after I had finished my homework, chatting while walking around the garden, and teaching her a few things.

I was fortunate that Lucille followed me better than I thought.

When the day passed like that, I returned to my room to rest.

A knight came running with an urgent face.

“Tongue, wise man!”

“Well?”

She was a female knight of the Lily Knights. Her complexion turned bluish, and she gasped and spoke in a small tone.

“It seems that a problem has occurred on the battlefield where the hero is active. General Leoden is asking for the wise man’s wisdom…”

My senses were moved by her urgent report, and I unknowingly tinkered with the jewelry I had obtained earlier.

“It is said that new monsters that have not been seen before have suddenly appeared on the battlefield. So I request that the wise man come to the battlefield for a while and give me some advice.”

new monster.

new dungeon.

Pretty good items and some achievements

Signs of the ‘Pale Moon’ event were spreading from the battlefield.