After our coffee meeting with Arin and Annie at the cafe, we don't waste any more time scheduling our meetings in the game tonight as we head straight home without stopping anywhere for a drink or snack. Ever since Zac called us about the game, we've been a bit worried about its current state while we've been gone. I know it sounds a bit crazy, but Zac isn't the type to do prank calls...
Well, he did do jump scares and the usual practical jokes from time to time.
But I've never heard speak him with hints of fear in his voice before. The Zac I know is the one who jumps headfirst into battle with no questions asked. If what I've guessed is true, then we have to check it out and see for ourselves.
Once we got Mom's permission again, Kazuki and I quickly log into the game and after we say our brief farewells to the [Force Blade] guards, we don't waste any time running back to <Initio>.
"So what do you think happened that made Arthur panic like that?" Kazu asks as he stared at me with his neutral, yet a bit stern expression.
"I don't know. But all I know is that he better not have omitted any details again unless he wants to walk around with a real-life black-eye."
Yeah, I'm still pissed at Arthur about that. But he better not lie to me again if it's good for hi- HUH?!
Before I know it, we are stopped by a man in a plated armor holding a spear as I notice his glare towards us.
[Halt! Emerald-ranked Adventurers and civilians alike are forbidden to pass through this path until further notice.]
Forbidden? Hang on. From his attire alone, I can tell without looking at his name above him that he is the same as those royal soldiers my friends and I met before. I know they just finished their investigations at the <Tested Wilds> since I heard from the guild members that they can access it again, but I can tell something is up.
"Excuse me? I thought we were allowed to go here and fight monsters."
Oh, right. Kazu hasn't met these guys beforehand. I tap on his shoulder to get his attention.
"Kaz, they're royal soldiers from another kingdom. Show some respect."
"R-Royal?! Are you serious?! But how did you know they are one?"
I quickly shush him in response. We're already on limited time here and I have a feeling the soldiers have the same with whatever's going on with them.
"There have been a string of monster attacks that have been targeting several carts that contain important stock for most of the shops in <Initio>. Until the investigations are complete, we're barring low-ranking Adventurers and citizens for their safety. Rest assured, we will finish as soon as we can."
He then shows us the said incident. To my shock, I see several carts in ruins as several broken bottles and other destroyed tools are lying behind each cart on the ground. I even see several NPCs in bandages as some of the soldiers tend to their wounds and assure some of the younger NPCs to calm down and promised them that it will be okay.
"What is it? I can't see it through the filters."
Thank goodness for the [Guardian Player] features. Because unknown to him, I also see several mauled bodies lying near the destroyed carts, something that the system adamantly refuses to show a minor like Kazu. It might be best to leave him in the dark for now.
"Don't worry about it, Kaz. Let's not disturb their work until they're finished," I said to Kazu as I place my hand on his shoulder before I turn to the soldier. "And it's okay, sir. We're just on our way back to <Initio>."
[Oh, I see. Just be careful on your way, Adventurers.] I'm expecting him to leave us and get back to work. But he stops and turns around again to me. [By the way, do I know you, young man?]
I raise my eyebrows as soon as he asks that question. Don't tell me that NPC somehow knows me from the <Tested Wilds> bandit incident?
"U-Uh... No, I don't think so. Well, we shouldn't occupy your time, sir. See you."
We quickly leave the fields before Kazu can ask about it. Maybe it's just my imagination, then?
----
Eventually, we manage to reach <Initio> and to our shock, Arthur's warnings are true.
"Does anyone has any extra potions with them?! I'll pay extra for a dozen!"
"Hey, is there anyone who has a [Alchemy Mastery]?!"
"Give me a break! This is a video game, people! How the hell do those NPCs ran out of potions already?!"
Damn... Everywhere we look, we see many players scrambling around asking for potions or alchemists with some of them complaining about the NPC shops were "sold out". Arthur wasn't kidding when he said the game is a mess right now.
"Wind!"
I snap out of my thoughts as soon as Kazu calls out to me.
"Can't we do something? The town will be in ruins if this keeps up!"
He's right. Though we still need more information regarding this whole situation. They say the NPC shops were "sold out", so my first move is to head to a nearby general store and approach the NPC shopkeeper.
[Hey! Haven't we told you that we're all sold out?!]
Well, that's one way to greet a customer. I'm guessing that so many players have demanded potions from this guy so much that he might be annoyed at just the sight of me entering his establishment. It's understandable considering the town's current situation.
"Um... It's okay. I'm not here to buy anything. We just came back from the fields and we want to know what's going on in here."
To my relief, the shopkeeper sighs just as I noticed Kazu joining up by my side inside the shop.
[Sorry for that, young adventurers. But it's been hell for us in <Initio> for the past few days now. Ever since those strange monster attacks have started plaguing outside the town, we heard several carts were attacked and many of our requested stocks from the <Lucidus> kingdom to be either damaged, destroyed, or delayed.]
I see. I hadn't known that the kingdom was somehow connected to this town in an economic sense. And I guess the chaos outside <Initio> isn't just for gory show.
[At this rate, we won't able to meet our customers' demands. I even heard from some of the adventurers that they will be "quitting" this town if this keeps up.]
In other words, they will abandon the game because of this situation. To them, I guess they still see them as robotic NPCs. But the more I interacted with them, the more I feel that the AI part of the game's feature might ring true to us.
"WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN!"
I become startled as I hear Kazu shout this near my ear.
"This g- I mean the town is very special to us and we're not just going to abandon it because of the potion situation! If you want, we're going to sell our potions to satisfy their needs! So rest easy and we'll take care of this problem as fast as possible!"
Deafness aside, he's right. Sure, we do need some extra materials to create thousands of potions to sell them. But I've just begun to love this game and I'm not letting Dad and Kazu's hard work go to waste because of this chaos.
"Normally, I would scold you for not thinking about your words first. But I'm with you. Just leave the potions to us for now. We won't ask for anything in return, but we are asking for your support. Can you trust us?"
At first, there is silence around the store other than the noise outside. But after a few seconds, the shopkeeper smiles in response.
[Well, you two are my regulars. Just don't drive yourselves dry out there.]
I smile in return before Kazu and I bow to him.
"We won't. Kazu, I think it's time for us to make a few calls."
With that, we say our farewells to the shopkeeper and quickly call our friends as soon as possible. If we want to save <Initio> and [Isekai], we need some extra hands to help us first.
----
Wind's Masteries
[Archery] Level 18
[Woodcrafting] Level 7
[Swordsmanship] Level 16
[Cooking] Level 6
[Wind] Level 15
[Physical Enhancement] Level 15
[Hunting] Level 14
[Blacksmithing] Level 6
----
Kazu's Masteries
[Arcana] Level 19
[Thunder] Level 16
[Wind] Level 14
[Alchemy] Level 13
[Magecrafting] Level 10
[Magical Affinity] Level 17
[Scribe] Level 4