NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68
[Gray City] Today, the reaper Mei takes a break #Kainoh#Star’s Flow#Gray City
“Uh, a motorcycle….”
To get the highest grade mode of transportation in Gray City this easily, I’m really lucky.
There’s even fuel lying around, so I don’t have to worry about running out of gas.
-So what exactly does Okeanos do?
“Well, you see, in Gray City, when you explore the area, everything gets recorded on the map…? If you fill this map completely, without any blank spaces, and meet certain conditions, you can see Okeanos.”
Finding those certain conditions and exploring all the areas is no easy task.
For instance, the condition I needed to see Okeanos in single-player was to catch 50 fish in the gray river and raise them for two in-game weeks.
Exploring all regions is not simply going to those locations; I also have to discover materials, beasts, and hints of techniques that are there.
It’s not only difficult, but it also involves an incredibly tedious cycle of tasks.
That’s why Okeanos is called a “dead-end content.”
“Oh, for today, I guess I’ll finish the Ashen Desert first.”
Now that I have a motorcycle, it’s better to finish off the largest and most tedious area, the Ashen Desert, right away.
[Oh, it’s Izumi!]
Just as I was about to rev the engine and set off with my plan, I heard her voice from behind.
And I’m not such a fool that I’d confuse a voice I’ve heard hundreds of times.
“Uh, is that, um, Natsune, senpai?”
[Correct!]
When I turned around, there stood a character with “[Natsune]” written above her head.
….
“…Ack!”
I almost lost consciousness.
Indeed, Natsune’s beauty cannot be concealed even when moved as a game character.
-LOL
-This time, no nosebleeds?
-The reactions are always new!
“Uh, that time I was just feeling unwell….”
Since this was a sudden collective collaboration and even Natsune came, I just couldn’t hold up back then, being the inexperienced me.
But now, I might be able to have a casual conversation…
[What does Izumi plan to do now? I heard you were with Koga earlier.]
“Uh, well, it’s that. I was thinking of going on a, um, trip….”
It might be impossible….
[Trip? Wow, that sounds fun! Izumi, can I come along?]
After calming my racing heart, I explained my goal, and Natsune asked to join me.
“…Eh?”
Natsune wants to travel with me? What on earth does that mean?
I can’t wrap my head around it.
Why on earth would someone like her want to move together with someone like me?
Ah.
“Could it be that my rare item is the goal…?”
Pfft! What are you saying?!
-LOL
-How did you reach that conclusion?
-It’s hard to believe your favorite is asking to join you.
“Hehe….”
Natsune continued to snicker as if she found it amusing.
Was what I just said really that funny?
But I can’t help it.
Going on a trip with Natsune? I’ve never even imagined that.
[So? Is it okay if I come along? When Izumi isn’t exploring Gray City, I’ll wait by going back to the base.]
This motorcycle is a two-seater.
Honestly, going together isn’t a problem at all.
But if I’m moving along with Natsune, I’ll be so nervous I won’t even be able to speak properly.
What if it causes a problem during the broadcast…?
As much as Natsune is my favorite, I really want the Izutomo crew to enjoy watching my stream.
What should I do…?
[…No, right?]
“It’s, um, okay! Let’s go together! It’ll be fun!”
-I feel a bit abandoned.
-Me too, LOL.
What can I say?
With Natsune saying it like that, you guys will have to make a sacrifice.
★
Ashen Desert.
The largest and most challenging area to explore in Gray City.
No matter how I look around, all that’s there is ash.
Finding food or materials is a complete chore here, making this place of no help to beginners at all.
But this area definitely isn’t without meaning.
The Ashen Desert is where you can learn advanced crafting techniques.
Of course, in single-player, you can clear it without learning this technique, so it’s not particularly useful.
However, in multiplayer, where there are no clearing conditions, it’s quite a useful skill, and for users like me who are focused on Okeanos exploration, there’s a need to find it just to fill in the exploration stats.
However, the Ashen Desert is so immense that simply walking or riding makes exploration difficult.
But who am I now? The owner of an advanced mode of transportation, the motorcycle.
I decided to nickname my motorcycle Bimana.
[…It really seems endless.]
-When will we finish exploring this place?
-Let’s just go back to war.
Natsune seemed flustered by the seemingly endless gray landscape and let out an awkward chuckle.
Come to think of it, I was like that at first too.
The existence of Okeanos, which only unlocks after clearing the first single-player,
And upon realizing that you need to explore to see Okeanos, reaching the Ashen Desert felt overwhelmingly vast that it made me want to sigh.
Of course, in multiplayer, you can find Okeanos from the start, but that doesn’t reduce the vastness of the Ashen Desert.
“So, so, um, Natsune, let’s explore the west first….”
Since Natsune and I have already formed an alliance, the areas she has explored get shared with me too.
Natsune is indeed amazing.
She’s a tremendous help in my life.
[…But Izumi, no matter how much I look around, all I see is ash. How do we explore this place?]
“Ah, you just have to find the spots where the ash looks darker than the surrounding area on the ground.”
This vast ash desert might make one sigh in frustration, but the developers seem to have a conscience as they made the ground in possible locations a bit darker.
Of course, one out of three of those places could still be a dud.
“Then let’s get started…!”
[…Sure!]
★
About an hour later, when we gathered for a progress check, the exploration percentage was showing 38%.
38% in just one hour? That’s incredibly fast.
Going by these numbers, it might be done in under two hours.
[Hey, Izumi. You said you’ve seen Okeanos before, right?]
“Yes….”
[When you explored the entire Ashen Desert back then, how long did it take? And were other areas all similarly this level of effort?]
Natsune‘s voice was laden with fatigue.
Well, I imagine this is probably her first time in Gray City. Starting with such repetitive grind content probably isn’t very enjoyable.
Especially since other areas usually have various content to explore. The Ashen City is honestly nothing but grinding tasks.
“Uh, hmm….”
I’m sure when I did it alone last time, it took about 8 hours to do both the map recording and exploration, right?
That was just for the Ashen Desert.
Is it okay to honestly say this?
“Uh, well, the Ashen Desert is a special area among the exploration regions….”
[I see. So other areas are much better?]
“There’s more varied content in other regions, so it’ll be more fun. And when I did it alone last time, exploring the Ashen Desert took a total of about 8 hours….”
[Are you serious?]
“Yeah….”
I couldn’t lie to Natsune.
Even though the exploration number was showing 38% in just an hour, depending on the situation, there’s a chance it wouldn’t finish within two hours.
“Um, well, Natsune, if you’re tired, it’s okay for me to do the exploration of the Ashen Desert alone.”
Basically, this trip was originally meant to be done solo.
Even if Natsune took a break, it wouldn’t be a big problem….
[No, no. I originally asked to come along. It’d be wrong for me to rest. I’m sorry. I almost put a burden on you, Izumi.]
“Ah, really, I’m really okay….”
[Great! Then should we head back to exploring?]
“Um, Natsune…?”
[Yes?]
Natsune turned her body back west but glanced at me again when I called her.
“Actually, I think I might have to stop here for today….”
Before I knew it, it was past 9 PM.
Following Koga for an hour was too much of a waste of time.
I can’t say anything if I consider it my own fault…
But no, it’s not my fault since the Izutomo didn’t stop me, so it’s not really my fault.
[Oh. It’s already past 9?]
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
[It’s okay. There’s nothing to apologize for. How about I scout ahead? I’m still looking to do a bit more.]
“Ah, um. You must be tired too, senpai….”
[It’s fine. I want to see the scenery of Okeanos quickly, so I’ll fill it up to about 50%.]
“Thank you….”
[You’re welcome! Rest well, Izumi!]
“Yes…. You too, Natsune. Thank you for your hard work….”
After saying goodbye to Natsune, I logged off from Gray City.
“Haa….”
Once the tension eased, all the strength in my body naturally drained away.
I can hardly believe I formed an alliance and am now traveling with Natsune. It honestly feels surreal.
-Were you tense?
-You were trembling way more than usual.
“Ah, how can I not be nervous…?”
Wouldn’t you guys be nervous if you were gaming with me?
…Maybe not.
Anyway, it’s not just chatting together, but now I’m going on a trip to see Okeanos.
If I let my guard down, I might be so rattled that I could just faint.
“Well, at least I managed to finish without any problems, that’s a relief….”
-I wonder if I can finish without issues tomorrow.
-To be honest, things were shaky today.
Hey, stop with the negative talk….
“I guess I’ll head off slowly. See you next time….”
-Bye, Izumi!
-Bye, Izumi!