The thirty-fifth floor, the current frontline, housed the Wandering Woods—a dense forest where sunlight barely penetrated, disorienting most who entered. Yet some, like Hachiman, were immune to its tricks.
"How do you not get lost?" Lisbeth asked.
"My eyes pierce through deception," Hachiman said.
"Yeah, yeah, because you're so cynical," Lisbeth teased.
"Tch," Hachiman muttered.
"This spot looks good," Egil said.
"Let's set up here and hunt," Hachiman suggested.
Hachiman found himself hunting with Egil and Lisbeth, thanks to a chance encounter at Egil's stall days earlier.
"Hey, Egil!" Lisbeth had called.
"Yo, Liz. Need something?" Egil replied.
"Nah, just passing by. Oh, is that Hachiman? Hachimaaan!"
Hachiman hurried over. "Don't yell my name in town!"
"Whatever! If you're free, wanna hunt?" Lisbeth asked.
"Why?" Hachiman said.
"I've slacked on leveling, so I need to catch up," Lisbeth said.
Hachiman tried to dodge with an excuse, but his usual line slipped out. "Uh, sorry, I'm kinda busy with stuff."
"Cool, let's go!" Lisbeth said.
"I just said no!" Hachiman protested.
"Your 'busy' excuse is what you say when you're free," Lisbeth grinned.
"Tch… fine, just a bit," Hachiman relented.
"Thanks!" Lisbeth said.
"Hey, mind if I tag along?" Egil asked.
"Don't care, but you leveling too?" Hachiman asked.
"Been focused on business. I'm rusty for the next boss," Egil said.
"Three it is. Close shop, Egil," Hachiman said.
"On it," Egil replied.
"Let's go!" Lisbeth cheered.
And so, here they were.
"I'll pull enemies," Hachiman said.
"Thanks," Egil said.
"Do it, Hachiman!" Lisbeth said.
With confident strides, Hachiman vanished into the forest, unfazed by its maze.
"How's business, Egil?" Lisbeth asked.
"Wandering Woods drops are scarce," Egil said.
"Figured. It's the frontline, and enemies roam in packs," Lisbeth said.
"Too tough for mid-tier adventurers. Only a few can solo here," Egil said.
"Good thing we've got Hachiman. Never gets lost and pulls just the right number of enemies," Lisbeth said.
"Yep," Egil agreed.
"Here he comes," Lisbeth said.
"Three incoming. I'll hold two; you each take one," Hachiman called, bursting from the trees.
Three agile, gorilla-like monsters chased him. Hachiman expertly kited two, letting Egil and Lisbeth, both powerhouses, hammer one with heavy blows. It fell quickly, and they turned to the next. Hachiman soloed the third, and it dropped soon after.
"Piece of cake," Lisbeth said.
"Even if more come, use the terrain and take them one by one," Hachiman said.
"Got it!" Egil said.
Hachiman felt at ease with them. Both were considerate yet kept things natural, striking a perfect balance—perhaps their merchant instincts at work.
"Next round!" Lisbeth called.
"Bring it!" Egil said.
They hunted for hours, leveling up and gathering heaps of materials, returning to town with satisfied grins. But then Hachiman paused. "I saw something interesting earlier. Wanna check it out?"
Curious, they followed him to a clearing with a lone, towering fir tree.
"A fir tree? Huge," Egil said.
"Like a Christmas tree?" Lisbeth asked.
"Yep. A suspicious tree in a suspicious clearing. Maybe a Christmas event spawns here," Hachiman said.
"Could be," Egil said.
"That's all I wanted to show. Let's rest and head back. No enemies spawn here," Hachiman said.
After a break, they fought off enemies on the way back to town.
Days later, Kirito called Hachiman. He seemed recovered on the surface, but something lingered—though, to Kirito, Hachiman looked like he was carrying his own burdens too.
"Yo, what's up?" Hachiman asked.
"Egil told me about that giant fir tree," Kirito said.
Kirito had tried finding it but got lost, so he asked Hachiman to guide him for a "tourist trip." With raids on hold, Hachiman agreed. They tore through enemies, only hitting a snag when Hachiman miscalculated, pulling a dozen gorilla-like monsters. It was less a crisis and more a massacre, with the enemies routed effortlessly.
Nearing the clearing, Hachiman suddenly tensed. "Kirito, hold up. Something's here."
"Mid-boss level if you're on guard," Kirito said.
"At least not a regular mob," Hachiman said.
They crept forward cautiously.
"There," Hachiman said.
"Just looks like a tree. A treant?" Kirito said.
"Camouflaged. Let's hit it," Hachiman said.
They ambushed the treant, but it countered, whipping multiple flexible arms. Closing in was tough.
"Kirito, can you cut those arms? My reach makes it tricky," Hachiman said.
"No problem," Kirito said.
"Switch. You cut, I'll combo," Hachiman said.
"Got it," Kirito replied.
Kirito charged, dodging arms and slicing them off with precision. Hachiman leapt in, chaining Fad Edge into Crescent Moon, slashing the treant's HP by twenty percent. After several exchanges, the treant shattered into light fifteen minutes later.
"Whew, took a bit," Kirito said.
"Mid-boss vibe, probably won't respawn. If it does, small parties could be in trouble. I'll report to Argo," Hachiman said.
"Hey, it dropped something. Mirage Sphere," Kirito said.
"Never heard of it," Hachiman said.
"Lots dropped. Split 'em?" Kirito suggested.
"Hm… links with your map and makes it 3D?" Hachiman said.
"Dunno. The clearing's safe, so let's test it there. Seems reusable," Kirito said.
They headed to the fir tree clearing.
"There's the giant fir," Kirito laughed. "In this brutal game, imagine it decked out with lights."
"Would be hilarious," Hachiman said. "Let's try the sphere."
They activated the Mirage Sphere, and glowing, holographic maps materialized.
"Cool," Hachiman said.
"Useful for explaining routes," Kirito said.
"Just a walk, but this is a nice find," Hachiman said.
"Gotta collect all the map data now," Kirito said.
"Total guy thing, collecting stuff," Hachiman grinned.
"If it doesn't respawn, no one else gets one," Kirito said.
They laughed, enjoying the moment.
Hope this lifts Kirito's spirits, Hachiman thought.
Hope this cheers Hachiman up, Kirito thought.
Thus ended a day on the thirty-fifth floor. The Mirage Sphere would become a coveted item, treasured by Raiders in the battles ahead.
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