Vol. 9 - Ch. 456 - First night of camping!

"It's not right. It should be our first night on the camping trip, why are we not frolicking much?""Well, it would be a bit too deplorable to try something like a test of courage with just us boys."

Mert replied in a stately manner to my murmuring.

The brightness was hidden by the hue of darkness, and it was a bit after the evening time when we entered our respective tent assigned to us.

Altogether 8 party members could sleep at once in this tent, and it also provided a recovery effect. We brought it at our guild's expense considering it wouldn't be the last we're going to use it. At the end of our discussion, we decided it would be cheaper to buy then rent them for various reasons and settled on buying three.

We, the boys, were using one while girls were making use of the other two tents and <Thunder Javelin>.  The item <Tent> actually shared the same space expansion trait like the <Thunder Javelin>---basically space inside was larger than what it appeared from outside, large enough for even an adult man to easily walk inside and there would still be space left.

Truly fitting the theme of a game-istic world, no? You could also set up tea and chairs inside to have an elegant tea time!

Of course, we had also sketched out wonderful events just for this special time! Can't call it camping without having summer-like games or it wouldn;t be no different than make-believe event!

This was why our first game was a test of courage. The standard of summer camp night. Alas, an unfortunate preceding took place before we could start it. Once it had turned to night, I immediately proposed 'when you speak of summer night, a test of courage is a must' in a high-strung tone but Sierra immediately shot it down saying in imperious tone.

I knew Sierra wasn't good with ghosts but I really didn't expect her to shoot it down in a second......isn't it a pity? Even though there aren't any <Ghost> here. The only spooky thing in this dungeon was the nighttime scenery.

So our first camping night was basically spent inside the tent. My gaze suddenly landed on Mert and Satoru over the table.

"What're you doing, Mert, Satoru?"

"This? It's just a strategy board game." (Mert)

"Strategy...though it's hard to say if it's a good one given its name is <Flower Gathering Butterfly>." (Satoru)

"But this is good enough as stimulation for guild battles. It requires quite a level of strategy actually and it's also fun." *Mert)

"It's just a board game at the end though. Well, not that I can comment on anything when I have never participated in guild battles." (Satoru)

They were playing the board game that Mert had brought with himself. The board's base fashioned after tile design, with big spaces on the centre and four cardinal directions.

This board game also seemed to have a card game. You pull a <Flower Card> from the heck and place it on the big spaces. Then players will use butterfly cards that had been distributed to them beforehand in turn---they can summon only up to three butterfly cards---and advance through the spaces in turns, aiming for flower cards.

If a player reaches a flower card before their opponent, both the butterfly card and the flower card become the possession of that player. Points are obtained from the acquired cards, and victory or defeat is determined by their values and roles.

Well, just that alone wouldn't be interesting, right? The fun part about game basically is it have varieties of flowers and butterflies. So it's not like player could obtain any card, some flower can only be obtained through butterflies. Like only swallowtails can collect azaleas.

The cards with limitations reward high points. On the other hand, dandelions were the lowest ranked to be able to be acquired through any butterfly card.

Of course, the game obviously has some obstacles---like praying mantis and dragonfly cards---placed around the spaces capable of intercepting the player's butterfly card. And the cherry on top, well, if you can call it that, were two disaster cards in the heck capable of sweeping the board in one move.

When a flower card is taken, the one that loses it would replenish their hand by drawing one card from the heck. This continues to repeat until there's no card left in the deck and at that point, the game ends.

Well, it might not sound interesting just from explanation alone, but it's mechanic was more deeper than words could offer. It was mainly a game of strategy with a sprinkle of luck---undoubtedly a good place for mental training for its similarity with guild battle.

The game wasn't in <Dungeon> when I was playing it so it was more like game reality's original game. Oh wait, rethinking about it, it's like a game inside a game. Is that what game-ception is like?

"Focus more, your last flower is almost going to be mine."

"Darn it, like hell I would let it be taken! Goooo, fly my jumbo dragonfly! Chow down that butterfly!"

"Alas, this is the end as you encounter praying mantis. All of your cards have become the prey of mantis in exchange for reduced agility."

"Noooooooo!?"

It seemed like Mert held an overwhelming superiority in the game. I could pick up Satoru's tragic scream a while ago. Mert calmly picked up the final card and ended the match.

Nevertheless, he sure has become good friends with Mert huh. Satoru had started to take it easy in his manner now.

"Darn, it's because you're too strong, Mert-san. How about you give it a try, Zephyr-san? Please avenge my fall as well by taking down Mert-san."

Wow, that's some bold statement to make in front of the person himself, eh. I guess Mert sure had beaten him down soundly in the game. But I did find it interesting, I might as well give it a chance. Not everyday you play a game inside another game.

"I noticed it earlier as well, but isn't the difference of treatment between me and Zephyr different?"

"Hmph! There's no way Zephyr-san would lose against someone like you!"

"......Heh. Just fine."

"Hey-hey. Can you please hold your expectation off from a beginner?"

Unexpectedly, the boy's tent was firing up in its own way. Celestine served the tea while we concentrated on board game.

I lost in the first round. I saw that coming as a through amateur. Then when I reflected upon my game, I suddenly recalled Mert's game; it might become a good reference for guild battles. Then I thought, wouldn't the reverse hold true as well? It didn't take long for me to become a rising player. I mean, there's no way I would lose in a guild battle after all.

Unknowingly, the game had then become the place for me and Mert to excitedly exchange our strategy. Sometimes he would interject 'ah, not that' or I would say 'not there too' or 'this sounds like a better idea' etc. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N0ᴠᴇFɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

The game was interesting and we both were absorbed into it, I like that but our arguments were equally amusing. It reminded me of my time in <Dungeon Activity> forum site etc. I used to play the game during that time. It feels like it was yesterday's thing.

Unfortunately, while the board game was perfect for us, this couldn't be brought in the presence of guild ladies. Flowers were one thing but it also had burgs of course.

I also asked Mert to see if he had any plans in my mind. Something to increase the liveliness for everyone's camping. Maybe we should try a campfire the next day?

But it's a pity we couldn't do the test-of-courage.

Alright, I would definitely make it a possibility next time in <Sea-Dun>! Now I just need to come up with an excuse to pass through Sierra's block.