Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles Volume 1

Ch.9

Authornote-Due to my day job, I might be working on Friday this week, hence an early day release. Hope you all enjoy the early treat. :)

"To think we took down a PK Party so easily," Naotsugu said, snapping Shiroe from his note taking. Shiroe looked up, noticing they were almost to Akiba. Naotsugu cleared the path with his sword as they walked. "But, they could do something better with their time instead of killing others and stealing their stuff. It's basically a bad guy festival to kill others for fun." Naotsugu looked at Shiroe, putting his sword on his shoulder with the pause.

"It's not that simple," Shiroe stated, looking back at his notes he taken based on their latest combat experience. Our teamwork is not perfect, but we are getting there. Boss is always at his over hundred percent adaptation rate. Akatsuki is also adapting well to combat with us. Naotsugu is almost back to his game efficiency as a raid tank. That PK battle at Loka really helped to show our weaknesses and strengths, BUT I need more information.

"What do you mean by that, Tactician?" Naotsugu sneered before recoiling back when he tried to walk again. "Naruto! Don't do that! You're text boxes aren't completely see through you know," Naotsugu fused, glaring right at the text box before him.

[You asked, I will answer. The poor souls have yet to set themselves a goal to live by. Not that I don't blame them. There's no worries about surviving, food is tasteless, and quests have stopped. There's just nothing to do and that leads to bad ideas galore.] Shiroe frowned with reading the box, looking back at his notes. They were cryptic in nature, though it was his normal means of making notes in the old world. However, now, it was handy as he only knew Las Boss could translate them.

Though, how can Las Boss translate my horrible shorthand when most of the students and teachers at the college can't? Shiroe held back a sigh, putting his nose back into the notebook to write some more notes. But, we would be the same if we had not set a goal. However, our quest is well beyond the simple quests many players are used to from the game. But, can we pull it off? Shiroe bit his lip in thought before seeing another text box in front of him when he looked up.

[Take a chill pill, Shiroe. If you keep your nose to the notebook, you might end up breathing ink soon.]

"Ha ha. Clever joke coming from someone who lived like a crazed mangaka," Shiroe sighed, putting his notebook away. "But, we don't have the luxury to keep waiting. Each day that passes is another day they spend in torment." Shiroe frowned, fighting back a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. If I had called Minori and Tohya on the first day, I could have stopped them from joining Hamelin. Maybe even save their friends, too.

"My lord, are you alright?"

"ACK!" Shiroe spun around, finding Akatsuki kneeling down before him. He glared at Las Boss who was snickering at him, squatting next to Akatsuki.

[Your faces were priceless. Nature Walk is badass even right at Akiba's gate.] Las Boss chuckled, forcing Shiroe to look around and realize they were indeed on the bridge connecting the zones to the city.

"Will you two stop that? I don't like freak out festivals," Naotsugu growled, turning back around and heading for the gat.

[As if. My build is now an official crowd control Druid with my new Transfer Class Skills. No way in hell I am not taking advantage of them.] Las Boss grinned, an evil glint in his eyes when Naotsugu stopped to read his text box before him.

"More like an OP troll festival," Naotsugu grunted, turning around to see Akatsuki standing and glaring at him. "Why are you glaring at me shrimp-Ack!" Naotsugu yelped, getting a knee right to his nose.

"My lord, may I kick this moron? Akatsuki asked with a blunt face, yet her twitching eyebrow showed her annoyance.

"Ask before you kick me!" Naotsugu shouted, "And why did you hit me?"