9. Arcana Online

9. Arcana Online9. Arcana Online

My contractor's daily life was monotonous.

Wake up in the morning, have a meal, take me along to receive sword training from an old human.

No, I don't understand why my contractor is swinging a sword.

For a moment, I suspected that the staff my contractor carries might actually be a sword.

After training, they eat a snack. Then they spend time leisurely reading books in a place called a library where books are kept.

A week has passed since then.

"Feeling cooped up staying only in the village? Let's go out today!"

Is it finally time for me to shine?

I've been living like a parasite, just eating.

I was ready to earn my keep, but what is this?

My contractor surrounded by rabbits.

Not being attacked, but being showered with affection.

"Oh my, it tickles when you lick like that!"

The rabbits are being affectionate towards my contractor while avoiding my scary gaze.

What is this...?

After being cuddled for a while and even receiving carrots as gifts, we moved along the path and saw slimes in the distance.

I thought this time I would surely get to act, but my contractor is waving.

"Hello!"

"......"

However, the slime just looks at my contractor once and goes on its way.

While I was still trying to process the situation, we encountered a group of goblins.

This time for sure...

"It's been a while!"

"Kuruk! It has been a while, human."

I was at a loss for words seeing them warmly greeting and chatting with the goblins.

Why does this human get along well with other races when humans usually shun those even slightly different from themselves?

Unable to keep up with this situation, I was in a daze in my contractor's arms as we moved along the path.

This time we encountered an orc.

They're the creatures I hate the most because of how ugly they look.

I thought they were going to greet each other, but unexpected words were spoken.

"Excuse me, if it's not rude, may I ask you one thing?"

"What is it, young human?"

"Do you have parents?"

"I won't let this slide! Young human!"

I thought we were finally going to have a proper battle, but it ended anticlimactically due to another orc appearing suddenly.

The orc with a huge sword, no, the orc warrior, cut down the charging orc in an instant.

"Young human. Didn't I tell you not to come around here because it's dangerous?"

"I can protect myself now!"

They strike a pose, raising one arm.

They say they've gained muscle from sword training, but it's just soft.

The orc warrior looks at them with a dumbfounded expression.

"Young human. Be careful, you might meet your ancestors in an instant if you act recklessly."

"Are you worried about me!? Thank you!"

The orc warrior passes by my contractor, who's greeting him slyly, and goes on his way.

As he passes by, he mutters, "These days, the shame of the tribe..." What does that mean?

Judging by the magical power he emanates, he's not an ordinary orc warrior. Is he a 'named' monster?

I thought I could finally be of use this time, but someone else took the lead.

Perhaps noticing my dejected state of mind.

My contractor looks at me.

"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Too tired from being outside for so long? Should we go back?"

I shook my head to indicate no, but it was useless.

Thanks to my contractor making a fuss about how cute I am, I was having another tiring day.

If you ask if it's bad, well, it's not.

These experiences aren't bad in an otherwise monotonous daily life.

If it's just once in a while, that is.

*

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*

After finishing the walk with Yong-yong, I returned to the village.

Yong-yong, tired, was sleeping in my arms.

It's so cute I'm going crazy.

To the extent that I want to tell the whole world about this cuteness.

Wait a minute. There's a way to spread the word, isn't there?

Should I stream to let everyone know about our Yong-yong's cuteness?

No, I can even record videos, right? Then I can capture our Yong-yong's cuteness on video!?

The deliberation didn't last long.

[Viewers: 0]

No one had entered, but it didn't matter.

I filmed from various angles to capture our Yong-yong on screen.

If I had done this earlier, I wouldn't have needed a camera!

The saying "if your head is dumb, your body suffers" wasn't wrong.

While I was focused for a while, a chat message appeared.

[Finally, you've started streaming! What channel are you playing on that I can't see you? I've changed channels hundreds of times in the beginner village!]

"Huh? What do you mean? More importantly, why are you searching through channels?"

[To find you! What channel are you on!?]

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine.

C-could it be a stalker!?

I hastily ended the broadcast. seaʀᴄh thё novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I didn't know there would be stalkers even in games.

With an eerie feeling, I returned to the inn with Yong-yong.

I entered the room, locked the door, and placed Yong-yong on the bed.

Looking out the window, I couldn't see any suspicious people.

Well, I haven't met any players so far anyway.

Hmm, is it actually an unpopular game...?

Well, it doesn't matter much now.

Because I have our Yong-yong.

*

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*

"Argh! They ended the broadcast again! At least tell me what channel you're on!"

I shook my head so hard my hair got messy.

My flowing brown hair fell over my shoulders.

I wanted to cut it short, but I lost a bet with guild members and had to grow it out.

My beast-kin ears, the mark of my race, perked up, and I noticed someone looking at me curiously.

The moment I looked at that person with sharp eyes, they disappeared with quick steps.

No, where on earth are you hiding!?

I've been living in the starting village 'Cradle' for over a week.

A high-ranking fighter unable to hunt for over a week.

I've searched through hundreds of channels in the village, but I haven't seen even a single strand of hair.

I thought about giving up midway, and worried that they might have quit the game, but today they turned on the broadcast.

Thanks to that, I learned one thing.

That they haven't quit the game.

Moreover, they were carrying some kind of snake, are they a summoner?

Summoners are already rare, but summoners with summons are even rarer.

There's a reason people say not to become a summoner.

The method of obtaining a summon differs for each player, and due to the extreme difficulty, it ranks first in population... from the bottom, in a game played by tens of millions.

As expected, my instincts were right.

But what's the use of being right! Which channel are you on!?

If I hadn't approached so hastily, I could have recruited them!

I should have approached more carefully, but I've been through so much mental stress that I rushed it.

I need to return to the guild to report to the leader.

I took out a scroll from my inventory and tore it in half.

[Return Scroll]

Allows one-time teleportation to the guild hideout.

In an instant, light enveloped my body, and when I closed my eyes and opened them again, I had arrived at the guild hideout.

As soon as I arrived, I opened the office door and entered.

"Leader!"

I came to meet the leader who was doing paperwork in the office, but she was covering her face with her hands.

"What's wrong, leader?"

"......"

She pointed behind me with her finger, what's going on?

When I looked back, the door was shattered.

Ah, a mistake.

"Sorry, sorry. I made a mistake again."

"So, what's your business?"

"Well, you see! I couldn't find them, but I got some information!"

I told the leader about what had happened, and she seemed to be thinking deeply for a while.

At that moment, she said something unexpected.

"I can find them. I met them in real life. And I'll recruit the girl."

"Really!? What's with the sudden change!? Well, if they already have a summon while still in the starting village, it proves their ability."

But wasn't there something strange mixed in there?

"How did the leader meet that child in real life?"

"We ran into each other by chance."

I can't understand the leader's true feelings as she speaks with a smile.

Well, she's always smiling anyway.

I might be the only one who's seen the leader's other expressions, right?

That means...

"I made the leader's expression change!"

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I can control the leader's emotions!"

"Get out."

I was kicked out of the office.

Heeeng. So mean.

*

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*

Inside the quiet office after chasing Sasha out.

While sipping a cup of warm tea, I recalled that day.

The young girl I encountered by chance.

I was surprised when we bumped into each other in the alley, her wearing a hoodie and hat pulled down in the middle of summer.

What could be the reason for bundling up like that in this hot weather?

The moment I saw her face, I knew.

A young girl with blonde hair like mine and blue eyes that gave a beautiful and mysterious feeling.

To be precise, she was the girl from the video Sasha showed me.

At first, I thought it might be because of her appearance, but I accidentally saw traces of self-harm on the girl's wrist.

I wondered what kind of story she had, so I investigated.

And I learned shocking facts.

She had a history of nearly having a big incident due to stalking when she was young. She lost all her family in a plane accident and was living alone.

And I learned that the girl, no, she was an adult.

What on earth happened to her...

The more I investigated, the more I found only a gloomy past.

And recently, she had her house cleaned by a cleaning company, which looked like the actions of someone preparing to leave this world.

I need to act before it's too late.

I need to let her know that the world is still worth living in.

It's not that I'm helping her because I think she's a child.

Reaching out to someone who's struggling.

That's what it means to be an adult.