Log Horizon Web chapter 55

Web Chapter 55


1

The dull red fox light illuminates the luxurious room.

The room which seems to be empty has a occupant.

Unlike the bug light common in Akiba, it is a weak flame. It cannot light up such a spacious room. The flickering fire is unable to shine into the dark corners of the room.

A woman with black hair curls up in a corner with a scrawl wrap around her.

But she doesn't look desolated.

This is a room outfitted with extravagant furniture. A beautiful cotton couch, walls adorned with damask, a bed with a canopy and a table made from marble. But you can't feel the tender usage of the owner in these items. They are simply commanded to be displayed there, giving off a mechanical atmosphere akin to strangers.

Nureha who appears to be hiding amongst the shadows of the furniture is mulling away a sleepless night as usual.


Paper pours down like a waterfall from a small round table, widening her field of vision. A document which seems to be filled with some words is stained with a red mark like a flower. On closer inspection, it appears to be red wine.

Nureha focus on the scenery in this dim room.

It is impossible to read the small words written with dedication on the papers in such a dark room. Nureha is just using her eyes to battle the illusions that are rising from the darkness.

All sorts of things emerge from the darkness, most of them being blurry white humanoid figures.

The figures with hazy outlines are conversing in tiny voices beyond the range of Nureha's hearing, deepening their divide with Nureha. The smoke like shadows with hazy faces seems to be judging her as they look at her tauntingly.

Nureha clenches her fist as she glares at them.

Suddenly, a giant hand materialize. If the hand grabs Nureha's hair, it will drag her towards the white figures. Nureha lets out a feral growl, realizing that the shadows will dissipate if she does that.

The sound of the curses lingers in her ears for a long while.

This guild house with 16 luxurious rooms is for Nureha's personal use. Aside from Nureha, there are only 10 people with permission to access the guild building. At this late hour, only the people of the land maid on duty is present.

Nureha spends the seemingly endless night alone in the shadow.

She don't have the memory of what she has done to deserve this, a deep fatigue encompass her. Her blood that has turn cold circulates around her heavy limbs, as though she has sink under water.

This is normal. She has always feel this way.

The exhaustion didn't go away even with this adventurer body.


A slender hand raise before her eyes.

Thin, white and tender, fingers that are like delicate art.

Like a bewitching sculpture, her nails glitter with a pink glow.

Her flawless skin extends down from her fingertips. Her wrist seems to lack warmth, but seems to be soft to the touch.

Joyous feelings she cannot suppress is mixed together with the disgusting darkness she is unable to keep away.

Even though Nureha do not agree her body has such a high value, she understands why others fall heads over heels over her. It is a rotten happiness.

With a sweet husky voice, fragrance of flowers and clothes that fit snugly over the curves of her body, these are things others craves for. If she thinks of it this way, an impure sense of joy wells up.

Nureha looks with contempt at the white figures in the shadows who lets out a short burst of laughter. The white figures seem to be groaning accusingly at her, but the winds have turned. Nureha who has been enduring such pains is no more.

Nureha wears her blanket like a mantle as she caw like a bird.

She thinks this is a sound that bodes misfortune.

She can't let out such a loud and irritating voice in front of anyone, be it the young head of the ruling clan, the chief Sentinal Roreiru, Zerudeyusu or Nakarunado. Tempting others with her alluring honeyed voice is the norm for Nureha. It has always been like this before, and will continue to be in the future.

She thinks this is too boring.

She thinks this is silly.

Even though she thinks this way, the crowd which craves after the boring and silly Nureha continues to fight, sigh and belittle others in order to show their own superiority are so interesting.

Nureha treats them poorly with malicious words, but they continues to give their whole fortune and even lives pathetically for the sweet husky voice of Nureha. This is the weapon and armor Nureha uses to mill away the endless night. It allows Nureha to forget the pain momentarily as the screams of all those fighting over her drowns out the sorrow.

The people who worship the worthless Nureha like treasure seems so silly.

They are able to grant Nureha warmth and a numbing sense of healing and sweetness.

Just looking at them gives Nureha so much joy. On top of this, just by observing the bickering of these dull people around Nureha, she can confirm once again that the world is worthless just like she is.

She can't help but smile when she remembers the warning given by the adventurers with pallid faces -- This world is not a game. We have to struggle for survival.

Nureha is aware of the sinister smile she is showing.

What a foolish thing to say. Meaningless. What's the use of saying this now. Nureha thinks as if she is half asleep. The young adventurer who said this is now a member of Plant Hwyaden, working dedicating his life for the guild. Is the struggle he is talking about referring to the tax imposed by the guild?

Foolish.

Just hours after the Apocalypse, Nureha swindled all the money, food, weapons and armor of the adventurers around her. It was too easy. They believed all the ridiculous lies she told them after falling into a panic. With her gentle words soothing them, distracting them from their worries, Nureha is able to organize them, and became the richest adventurer with the most assets in Minami.

One month after the Apocalypse, she is able to gain control of the Guards in the south with her Overskill.

The coup is over without anyone knowing it. With her overwhelming military force, Nureha negotiates with the aristocrats and rulers of the people of the land, amassing even more wealth. With this, suppressing the cathedral was a piece of cake.


That's right, it is that simple.

Is this the secret to this world, the struggle for survival the young adventurers warned her about? Nureha doubts.

This is beyond the realms of silliness.

She remembers both the innocence and the hatred of the young man.

This world is not a game. Nureha laugh from the bottom of her heart when she hears this. Nureha is thankful for the comedic element of these words. Looking at the serious and desperate face of the youth, she was tempted to turn his worries around, but she maintains her attitude of a loving big sister. She is aware that this is the mask he wants the most.

But the impulse to laugh continues to fill Nureha's heart.

She knows. She has always known.

Nureha has never played.

She does not view Elder Tales as a game or entertainment to be played.

For most players, Elder Tales is just a MMO computer game, but it is a tough battlefield for Nureha.

If she stops shedding blood and tears, she will be forgotten.

If she is forgotten, she will disappear from this world.

If a person is not sought after or cherish by someone else, that will be the same as being dead. No, it will be worse than death. Being dead might just be a vast emptiness, but to live life without any meaning, without anyone caring about you, just treating you like dirt... Being an unimportant flawed presence your whole life, that is an unending hell.

In order to gain the goodwill of others, in order to make others love her, in order to make them fight for her, Nureha dedicated herself in research with abandon.

No matter the hardship, it is hundred of times better than being ignored by others. The fruits of her research allows her every gesture and word to garner the favor of others, which Nureha discard like trash onto the floor. Only players whose eyes have been muddled by selfish wants will present their goodwill to the twisted Nureha.

We have no choice but to compete for survival in this place.

A comedic line. A warning that seems to hold enigmatic secrets are the best jokes.

It seems to suggest that there is no need to fight for survival in their old world.

Maybe that is true. Maybe that is the case for that youth. Maybe he is living like the flowers in the greenhouse, protected from the dangers of the wilderness. When she thinks of this, she feels the impulse to laugh out loud, to burn all the darkness and hatred inside of her away.

From what Nureha knows, every moment is a battle for survival. Be it the old world or this one, that doesn't change.

Analyze the system, find the weakness, make them careless, manipulate them, earn their trust, betray them, take everything from them. This is the basic rules of the world. To say it out loud to show your determination, that is beyond stupid.

She is aware of the reason she gained control of the south so easily.

Nureha planned this from the very beginning. Of the tens of thousands of adventurers wandering in this world, Nureha is the first one to see this as reality and not just a game. This is the norm for Nureha after all.

Nureha has been garnering the goodwill of others ever since Elder Tales was just a game, and walking the thin line of sowing discord and gaining the favor of others. She has always been chasing after the advantage for herself. That is why she is beloved by the people and became the center of Plant Hwyaden. The world chose Nureha and she obtained happiness. She obtained everything.

She listens to the sound of her own breathing while glaring at the shadows. Why is her, the chosen one, in such a pitiful state? Nureha shivers as she hugs her tail like a pillow. Why is she cowering like a wounded beast, struggling to mill the night away with bated breathe?

Nureha grinds her teeth and her fox ears fidgets.

She lift her head and looks up, the door which shapes the light into a rectangle opens, with the figure of a maid in thee middle.

"Lady Nureha."

"..."

Nureha averts here eyes, blatantly ignoring her words. The maid who oversees the actual operations, Incitis. Although she is Nureha's key advisor, Nureha is totally not interested in her. On further thought, she might be a woman who is haunting Nureha like some sort of curse.

"You are not sleeping on the bed again."

"..."

Nureha looks at the silhouette of Incitis standing against the light at the door.

In place of her usual emotionless mask, Incitis is showing a broken smile. Although she only shows this smile to Nureha, Nureha feels her stomach cramping every time she sees it. No matter how she tries to clean it, no matter how she attempts to mask it, Nureha still feels the pungent smell of a hand creeping out from the darkness of the room.

"Are you thinking about Shiroe?"

"..."

Nureha keeps on staring.

But Incitis won't back off or disappear from intimidation like the white figures.

Incitis continues to wear her humourless smile like a sticker on her face and speaks calmly.

Incitis seems to be gliding as she approaches Nureha who seem to have given in.

Nureha bit her lips when she smell cold steel as Incitis comes near her. It is the taste of clean blades that doesn't match well with women.

"Is that it?"

"Don't talk about him."

Her furious words seems to fell on deaf ears.

It has always been this way. Of all the demands Nureha makes, Incitis refuse to oblige on this one thing. Incitis is willing to give up everything for this one issue.


"I told so didn't I? Of course I did. This man won't do. It didn't work despite all your efforts. That man has no worries to hold him back. He has always been like this. That is not a normal player, just background noise who has made some minor accomplishment... Hey, Nureha?"

Pain and horror seeps into Nureha's view.

"That man is beyond your grasp. He is just a traitor with a little street smarts. Or rather, he has an obsession with cleanliness. And you stink like the sewers."

She knew it was coming and has braced herself, but Incitis's remark still stung like salt on a wound. The countless memories she has suppressed in the darkness squirms in Nureha's chest like restless spirits.

That is what the white figures has been whispering about.

It is the past Nureha has already left behind on the old world.

"Who do you expects to approach and caress you? A filthy, broken hobo like you? Aren't you nothing but a stowaway on a train? Even the specks of dust on you are lies. The truth is your past smells more pungent than a open sewage cover. Wearing your disgusting smile, with no control over your desires as you gaze longingly over our side, a lowlife like you?"

The intense terror that holds a stranglehold over Nureha awakens.

The plastic plates. Soup with pieces of trash mixed in. Hiding in the narrow storage compartment, hoping to evade detection.

"Please face the truth. Don't ever hope that a woman like you can connect socially with anyone. That's right, a dirty robber like you will only be able to make a contract with someone like me."

She grits through the feeling of nausea.

It worked this time.

Lucky.

To hide her weakness, Nureha has to keep her eyes wide open. Incitis tells the truth. But she cannot bring herself to say it out loud. Nureha knows better than anyone else how filthy and disgusting she is.

But knowing it yourself and someone bringing it up are two different matters.


"Because you are a princess that looks nice from far but is far from nice."

Incitis pulls Nureha up by her ears, threatening to tear the fox ears off the glaring Nureha.

"That is why I told you it is troubling for you to run off to Akiba, Nureha. Please use some common sense. Things are different from your time in the saloon. You have a castle filled with mannequins you collected now. I am going to secure the Yamato servers properly this time. Isn't that our deal, Nureha?"

Nureha's hope and prayers.

A dream she bet everything on so she won't have to go back to that place.

She is literally willing to do whatever it takes to not go back. That's why she teamed up with Incitis. This is Nureha's castle, the city that never sleeps with its bright lights and wonderful reputation.


"You think you can make a home by on your own?"

Nureha nods defiantly in order to hide her weak side from Incitis.

"Is that so. The conference of the ten is about to begin." Incitis seems to have lost interest in the current Nureha. It is impossible for Nureha to attend all the meetings too, she has no interest in the actual operation of the guild.

"Because you are our honourable princess. Allow me to bear the message on your behalf. Because you are precious guild master, Nureha."

Incitis footsteps grow distant as she leaves after leaving some sympathetic words as a parting gift.

Nureha is loses herself in her cursed past and self loathing, curling even more tightly into a ball and hugging her tail close.

Her extremities feels painful and cold. The blanket wrapped around her body feels heavy and doesn't bring her any warmth.

Her heartbeat grows erratic, her vision turns dark similar to an anemic attack.

Terrible experience and shameful recollections wells up, threatening to pull Nureha back to the old world. Incitis remarks are spot on, forcing Nureha to fight the puppet like figures alone.


But a hint of a smile grew on Nureha's lips.

...That's right, a dirty robber like you will only be able to make a contract with someone like me.

You are wrong.

Such a contract is just a verbal agreement that you can't bring yourself to voice out. It is even less binding then a prank between good friends who happen to meet on the streets. Aside from her contract with Incitis, Nureha now has another deal with someone else.

... Someone who is going to act as her enemy in order to fulfill her wish.

The young man whom Incitis has dismissed as useless left these parting words for Nureha, offering some meager support for Nureha.

The dull rings of the bell from somewhere far away tells her it is 9pm.

The hands on the face of the clock seems to be clogged with glue, moving o slow that the night seems endless. The body of the adventurer is able to move effortlessly even when you feel sleepy. This physical advantage became the lock that traps Nureha in the dungeon of nightfall. She alternate endlessly between dozing off and waking up startled. Nureha wages her battle tonight in her room as usual. Maybe some day it will end. She has never uttered anything close to prayers. Nureha falls into shallow slumber with an empty smile.


2


A group of men and women gathers in the weird room. Ornaments adorns the pillars and drapes hangs on the walls. Flowers are displayed from vase with delicate designs, the tables and chairs are plated in gold. But they all pale in comparison to the congregation, their life seems to be siphoned away by the people present in the room.

The 8 members with colorful personalities are seated around the table.

"Where did Incitis go?"

A man wearing clothes like a court official and glasses asked.

"She went to visit our princess. It shouldn't take long. Don't worry Zerudeyusu."

The woman in military attire replied.

"Setting the meeting time to be 'when the moon rises', that is too casual right?"

"The princess has always been like this."

"Those two should just marry each other."

The young voices filled with arrogance joins in with interest, mixing with one another.


This room is shaped like a stairwell, with each step about 4cm apart. Instead of steps, it is closer to a series of platforms with ascending height, an interesting room. Each platform has each unique style, bringing with it a unique flavor.

There are leather couches and chairs, tables and bookshelves are spread out around the place. The number of seat and steps are ten. The torches at the edge of the rooms are also placed at differing heights for each platform, as if they are directing the way to the exit. The position of the torches also reflects the status of the owner of each platform. The unorthodox structure of the room completely represents the relationships among the group.

Kazu hugs his sword and sinks into his chair at the low platform, surveying the room. This is the 'conference of the ten'. This is the meeting that decides the policies of the south, literally a meeting of a core group.

The attendees of the 'conference of the ten', are known as the ten seats or seat generals.

There are only two absentees. The guild master Nureha and Incitis who went to get her.

Incitis should be showing up soon. But it is hard to say whether Nureha will show up. She is whimsical and seems uninterested in the operations of the guild, missing most meetings of such nature. For a mammoth organization, the decision of the founder and leader Nureha is unnecessary for everyday operation. The members has grown use to the absence of Nureha.

This is a periodical conference of the ten. Kazu is not aware of any special issues to be discussed.

But that doesn't mean he can let down his guard.


The relationships between the seat generals are complicated. It is unique as the guild was formed by absorbing all the adventurers in the west of Japan. It is fundamentally different from the guild formed by friends or people with similar interest in MMOs such as Elder Tales. This colossal organisation made from lots of guilds has the goal of helping the adventurers survive in this alternate world.

It has been ordered according to the relations of each group from the very beginning. Although there are individuals that call for equality similar to normal guilds, the fact is that they are divided into various cliques. People with a normal level of street smarts are able to understand this.

And there is more.

To found such a gigantic guild, Nureha has pulled the Guards from the south to her side from the very beginning. The Guards from the south are under the jurisdiction of the Itsuki clan. It is an order that works for the people of the land from the very start.

As the guild master, Nureha obtain the status and power that matches her position, the 'Counsellor of the West'.

The senate that rules alongside the Itsuki clan has also displayed great worry and interest in the rise of Nureha.

The streets of the south, the cliques among the adventurers, the Itsuki clan and senate from the people of the land... The numerous forces are constructed on a delicately balanced scale.

Kazu represents one of them.

The security organisation 'Miburo' keeps the streets of the south safe. They fight crimes and punish evil doers.

Officially they are a department within the guild.

But in actual fact, they are Kazu's private army.

One of many like group that are determined to stop the corruption in the south. They are not the strongest within the south, but managed to obtain a seat within the council of the ten.

Behind Kazu are two bodyguards dressed in black. Few seat generals attend meetings with guards.

Bringing guards is meaningless for this conference.

Kazu squint his eyes and look towards the seat at the top seat.


The top seat is a delicately crafted feminine throne that seems to be from a fairy tale.

This empty seat belongs to the guild master Nureha.

One step down is the tea server and silver cart. A round seat that appears unused. There is no one there, but it actually belongs to the no. 2 seat of the council. It is the seat of the maid Incitis.

Both of them are still absent.

The meeting will probably begin when Incitis shows up.


The 3rd platform is spacious, with a chair that looks practical flanked by large file cabinets. A man with glasses is filling in numbers and instructions on a form. He has a mean and squeamish feel about him. He raise his head and blurt out tacky comments from time to time. The 3rd seat known as the spy tower, jack. The man in charge of finance and development, the iron blooded minister.

Further down a woman in military dress relaxes on her seat, with wine bottles littered on the floor. The fourth seat Mistal Torti, general of the east. The strongest general from the senate and the commander in chief of all people of the land army vanguard.

"Another idle day. The fragrance of blood fills the air. It feels rotten. There is so much time, I won't mind waiting for the moon to set if I get to battle."

She maintained her beauty even after the age of thirty. Instead of the rigidness of a military woman, she has the swagger of a cold criminal. Sitting in the middle of a 2 person couch, she rest her arms over the back of the couch in a relaxed manner.

"Didn't you came here for the high grade wine, Lander?"

An adventurer of immense proportion teased while seated in his leather chair. The fifth seat. The general of the south, Nakarurano. His armor that is comparable to construction machines shows everyone clearly that he is a Guardian.

Mistal did not take any offence with his words, replying "That's right" without much thought.

"That's smooth." Nakarurano replies with a bitter face and raise the empty glass in his hand. A maid with a presence as faint as dirt on the wall appears like a spirit and pour wine into the glass.

These two generals are in charge of offensive warfare.

They lead the People of the land army and the Adventurers army respectively.

Mistal is ranked higher among the ten seats because the adventurers in the council wants to appease the elders in the senate. In terms of actual military might, Nakarurano's army is actually several times more powerful than Mistal's army. In the old world, Nakarurano is the guildmaster of the strongest guild in Kansai, 'Howling'. His dominance in the past still has influence among the factions in Plant Hwayden.

"Getting sleepy here. Really, why are we having the conference at night.

The 6th seat complains as he stretch his back.

"You are always sleepy, even in the day."

Zerude comments without lifting his head from his books. At first glance, he looks like a normal guy in shirt and jeans you can find in any corner on the streets. Wearing a cloak with a fantasy theme on his shoulder, he sound out in protest.

"I am just standing by for the 'GM call'."

The other participants laugh bitterly upon hearing this.

The young man Quon has neither the ability or interest in becoming one of the seat generals. But when Elder Tales were just a game, he was a game master. Game masters has game avatars similar to adventurers, and will investigate any reported game errors and to mediate any disputes between players, the operating staff in the game world. In simpler terms, they are customer service officers.

As an employed staff, he is well versed in how the game operates and is knowledgeable in many aspects of the game.

He did not log in from the special mainframe from the company, but is online from his home computer, that's why he was affected by the Apocalypse as well. Although most of his abilities as a game master has been sealed, but there is still a chance that he can contribute with his deep understanding of the game. That is the reason why he is one of the seat general.

'GM call' is one of the game master ability Quon retained, allowing him to receive pop up notification of events happening within the Yamato server. He is also able to receive messages from F.O.E as well, but he has not been contacted since the Apocalypse. The event notification has been limited to the timed and trigger events.


"Are you telling us that the connection with the upper world is fading?"

One step below Kazu, the old man in the eighth seat says with stifled laughter.

"Shut up. The supervision of 'goal' was decided by the conference."

The old man smiles as he watch Quon being mocked. There is a hint of cloudy cruelty behind his laughing eyes. The 8th seat, the sage of Mirror Lake, Sheredo Gun. The leading authority on People of the land magic and history. With his knowledge and magic powers, he pushes the frontier of the development of new techniques together with Zerude.

"Our princess... will probably be absent tonight too."

The ninth seat Roreiru Dawn, the chief Sentinal, stepped into the hall as he mumbles to himself. Together with him is the talented beauty dressed in a maid outfit, Incitis. Her footsteps akin to striking the floor resonates like a bell announcing the beginning of the show. The conference of the ten is in session.


"Let's start the conference of the ten. Let's begin with the report on the social welfare facility in the city."

Incitis foregoes the opening address and starts the conference abruptly. And this topic has been on the top of the agenda recently. Kazu holds his breathe as though he is diving under water, keeping his heart cool and collected.

Minami is a peaceful and prosperous city.

But this is built on the exploitation of the people of the land. There are 10,000 adventurers living in Minami, the people of the land is 3 times this amount. Although the people of the land operates many eateries and lodging rentals, most of them does this as serfs.

Serfs are people of the land who provide services for the adventurers. It is popular as it relief adventurers from the hassle of everyday life chores while providing the people of the land with relatively high remuneration. But this in turn leads to the development of troublesome issues. The prosperity of Minami is constructed with the cover up of these filth and corruption in mind.

The conference carries on as Kazu's mind drift away.

The biggest policy the governing body of Minami is pushing for is the administration of Guildpass.

The people of the land residing in Minami and affiliated with PLant Hwyaden can collect their pass at the state run office. The Guildpass is divided into many ranks, allowing the holder to enjoy free services at the corresponding restaurants and hotels befitting their status. This will eliminate the need for members to bring a wallet when going out.

The Guildpass are issued free of charge and can be renewed every 3 months, which will contribute to the economical development of Minami in the future.

Kazu renewed his resolve as he listen to the glamorous report.

Things are definitely going to get ugly.

He understands the benefits of Guildpass. This will guarantee the minimum quality of life for adventurers who are avoiding fighting monsters for loot. It will also free up the purchasing department to move in a more meaningful direction. But this comes at the expense of the people of the land. Miburo exist to uphold the justice in the city. This means protecting the weak. In order to lessen the suffering of the people of the land who are being ignored by the adventurers, Kazu's group fights on.


The conference breeze through the survey report of Nakasu and the raiding grounds, and move on to the situation in Akiba.

"Seems like Akiba is sending a campaign army towards the northeast."

"That appears to be so."

Nakarunado replies to Incitis' query.

"They consist of 5 legions led by the berserker Krusty. Agent One reports that members from Blackswords, HiRyuji and Mad Hatters are also taking part."

Both Akiba and Minami are troubled by the affairs with the people of the land in different ways.

Just like Minami working together with the leaders of clan Itsuki, Akiba is collaborating with the people of the land in the league of freedom cities. The seat generals feels the deciding factor is the speed difference in political change between Akiba and Minami.

Minami was able to secure a stable social environment, better quality of life and development of technology before Akiba, and has outstanding achievements in every faucet of life. For the adventurers trapped in this alternate world, Minami provides a stable livelihood that is highly valued by the players. That is the happiness of adventurers living in Minami.

"Black heart glasses is missing too."

The tenth seat pulls up his sleep mask and chips in.

The 'Protean Clown' was laying back on his beach chair made from canvas and a wooden frame. His brief words seems to suck the life out of the conference, quieting everyone down.

"Black heart glasses is missing too", the tenth seat repeats as the room remains strangely silent. "I am not sure if he is with the campaign to the northeast. But he is definitely missing. What should we do, Incitis?"

KR smiles mischievously as he looks up at the others from the lowest platform.


3

Naotsugu enters after opening the heavy wooden door and dust off the snow on his body.

For Naotsugu, the snow storm brewing outside is just a gentle breeze with snowflakes. It should be early noon right now, but the thick clouds makes the surrounding dark and cold.

Thanks to his anti-freeze equipment, Naotsugu is able to move in the snow, but it still hinders his movements. As a guardian, Naotsugu is covered in full armor from head to toe, not equipment fit for traveling in the snow. Naotsugu is able to manuver in such adverse weather because of his body as an adventurer.

"Naotsugu...?"

"I'm back..."

Naotsugi replies to Shiroe's voice which came from the depths of the cabin.

Naotsugu removes his gauntlets slowly. These gloves are the state of the art production class item that didn't exist when Elder Tales was just a game. These hand made armor are more versatile than loots the level 90 Naotsugu is able to obtain in raids. As they are made by hand after the Apocalypse, he is unable to take them off with the use of the game menu.

Instead of a gauntlet, it feels closer to being a weapon in terms of weight. Naotsugu took off and store his equipment in his magic bag one by one. Under his imposing armor is indoor clothes and 3/4 pants. He is as casual now as he was back in the old world.

On this snowy mountain, the builders of this cabin was very practical with their design. The house is made from 2 layers of thick walls, with hay stuff between them.

Reinforced by the thick curtains, the cabin maintains a comfortable temperature. After taking off his thick boots, Naotsugu sticks his toes inside his indoor shoes. With his habits of throwing his shoes aside when he returns home, others tends to tease him to be acting like an old man. But he inculcate this habit since he was a kid, so he dislike it when others point this out.

"How was it?"

"All is well. The wind is blowing the snow are falling."

"I don't think the snow will stop even if you cry."

"Crying are for shrimps."

"Don't talk about others behind their backs."

In Japanese terms, this room is about 10 tatami big.

The fireplace is burning with a red glow. Shiroe is sitting on a thick rug, surrounded by dozens of notes and maps. Naotsugu recognize something from here. The map of the region they are in... Notes and legends are written in red words, summarizing Naotsugu's observation for the past week.

Although it is warm and comfortable in the cabin, they have been away from their friends in Akiba for about a week. Naotsugu look around moodily.

"Where is the tiny old man?"

"He is not an old man yet. He is about our age."

"But he looks just like one when he laughs."

Shiroe is not wearing his trademark white cloak today. He carefully tidies his logs without looking up at Naotsugu.

"Need help?"

"Thanks but no need. I will be done really soon."

"That so."

He must be focusing.

In order to not disturb Shiroe, Naotsugu takes a seat on the fur rug.

"..."

"..."

Shiroe took out a notebook and place it besides his logs to write something down. There are no typewriters or computers in this world. Although Shiroe seems to have a hard time consolidating his reports, Naotsugu will definitely be rejected if he offers to help. Shiroe has always been that stubborn.

Since the day they met. Naotsugu starts to reminiscence.

In the Debauchery Tea Party days, the topic of hanging out together for a meal came up. Since this is a server based game, the members must be residing somewhere in Japan. It is unlikely for everyone to join in, but there are still 5 members living in Kanto.

Shiroe was drinking black tea the first time they met.

Is that Oolong tea? Naotsugu asked, and received the explanation of the difference between Oolong and black tea from Shiroe. It took 30 minutes, and somehow lead to the topic of the political situation in Taiwan and tea investment in general. Back then, the big news was the European Union was going through the 'Vital Fall', so normal college students won't know about the subject of Taiwan politics and the economy of tea.

This offline meeting is the start of Naotsugu and Shiroe's friendship.

Both of them are in university and live about an hour's bicycle ride away from each other. Having friends not from your school is also a precious relationship. He will bring Shiroe who prefers to stay indoors out to hang out from time to time.

There are times when they have blindsided by the willfulness of Kanami.

Go to the fish paste factory in Odawara. They are on the verge of losing it when Kanami said that. But it was a fun trip when they went over and more importantly, the fish paste was delicious. Naotsugu thought that Kanami's character and penchant for tasty food is top notch.

And so, Naotsugu and Shiroe spent a lot of time together.

Having gotten use to the silent Shiroe, Naotsugu stretch out his legs and relax. He did this from time to time when he was in school, and is still doing this in Log Horizon.

The heat of from the fireplace radiates to his toes which was buried in the snow. The numbness melts away as he regain the warmth in his body.

Naotsugu twist his body and took out a metallic flask and cups from his magic bag deftly.

He poured Mog milk into the cup. Crushing the Mog fruit and adding it to milk gives it a taste similar to banana milk on earth.

Naotsugu grunts as he pass one of the cups to Shiroe, who took it and mumbled "Kay". They drank the Mog milk that is slightly too sweet. That's what friends are for. There are quiet times, and there are times when they talk passionately about stuff.

"Shiroe and the old man's snowy mountain prison party."

Naotsugu is muttering nonsense not because he is malicious, but because he is bored.

"Are you bored, Naotsugu?"

"Yeah. There is nothing around here."

"It feels really rural."

Naotsugu replies without much thought. (TL: google translate this ==> シロエの返答に直継は呆れ返る)

The cabin is a restricted zone, with the snowy mountain zone just outside being a square field zone 64km wide. There is only one adventurer in this field zone. He checked before entering the cabin, so that is definitely it. This is not a rural area, it is the wilderness. Tear Stone is like a deserted island on the Yamato server.

"Speaking of which, where were you born Shiroe?"

"Tokyo."

Naotsugu sight when he hear this curt reply. Tokyo people are really troublesome. They can't even differentiate between a rural area and the wilderness.

The speechless Naotsugu use his arms as a pillow and lie down.

About ten days ago, he received a request from Shiroe to watch over their home. He plans to leave Akiba for a trip, that's why he is asking Log Horizon for assistance. Naotsugu rejected him in a second and ended up here. He didn't ask where they were going or what they were going to do. But he knows there is going to be trouble so he tagged along. The others might think Shiroe can make the trip alone, but Naotsugu knows Shiroe will need back up. He can tell just by looking at Shiroe's face. If everyone understands that it is necessary, Shiroe open up and call for help from the others.

If it is necessary for everyone to join in, he will not hesitate to ask the rest to join in. Because it is hard to explain why he has to do this himself.

Naotsugu thought Shiroe has grown since the Crescent burger incident, but it seems that it is not that simple for someone to do things contrary to their nature.

This is a weakness of Shiroe, although he has many good points to balance this out. But the problem is that Shiroe holds back too much. With his intelligence, he should push his dumb friends harder to strife forward. Even if it is his old friend Naotsugu.

"I think it is about time to explain why I have to be imprisoned in the cabin of this snowy mountain."

"You are not trapped. We are just living in this secluded place."

"Shiroe, this is a sausage party."

"But that means it is peaceful here."

That probably strike closer to home than Naotsugu expected, because Shiroe is actually half serious in his reply.

"... I'm holed up here because I don't want anyone to know my whereabouts. There are no problems yet, but considering future events, I don't want others to preempt my plans."

While wrapping his mind around the joking dialogue, Shiroe falls back to his habit of lengthy explanation.

"Anyway, the goal this round is money. I'm looking for a way to generate lots of money. In order to do this, I have to convince someone."

"That old man?"

Naotsugu recalls their companion. The small sized people of the land elf sage, just staying next door. Literally.

"Ah, that is someone else. Re Gun is a chess piece for the battle this time. He is part of the persuading party, I can't do this alone. He is famous here after all."

"I can't tell from his looks."

"Does the Sage of Mirror Lake rings a bell?"

Naotsugu understands now. Shiroe was talking about that guy.

The Sage of Mirror Lake is a well known NPC in the MMORPG Elder Tales. But even so, Naotsugu has never seen him appear in the game before. He is a sage that is referenced often in the rumors and legends of the game. In the raid 'Prison of 9 heroes' he took part in during the Debauchery Tea Party days, he was mentioned in the background lore.

"So this guy really exist."

"Yes he does."

"But why are we in the deep mountains to think about money making plans? Why not borrow some from the Round Table Council if need cash?"

"Well," Shiroe cross his legs and sigh with a troubled look "The amount is rather big this time."

Naotsugu starts to feel a headache.

The 'rather big' Shiroe is saying cannot be trusted. The 'rather big' he mentioned last time when he schemed to buy the guild building can make anyone's face pale.

"Exactly how much?"

"The total is 80 trillion."

Deranged, you can't describe this amount in any other way.

Even if every adventurer in Yamato server has 10,000 gold, you can't reach that amount by pooling everyone's money. Not just Yamato server, it can't be done if you add in the wealth of every adventurer in the world, an impractical amount. Naotsugu looks at Shiroe with slack jawed. Shiroe burrow his brows and mumbles to himself.

Naotsugu understands when he looks at the mumbling Shiroe. Shiroe wasn't joking or have any other intention in mind. He is seriously contemplating on how to earn this amount.

"So, can we earn it?"

"Not all of it, we will need to divide it lot of times... bit by bit."

It is still an astronomical figure no matter how small a bit he divides it, Shiroe smiles bitterly.

"This will be tough. Tell me more about the scheme you are thinking about."

"There are no schemes. We will simply have to beg for it. We have to convince him no matter what."

"Convince who? How?"

As the two of them sip Mog milk and converse, the door to the room besides them open and a robed man appears.

"Master Shiroe. Seems like our guest has arrived."

A people of the land mage with shifty eyes taps Naotsugu's shoulder enthusiastically as he giggles. Re Gun has ill manners even for a people of the land, which annoys Naotsugu.

"Please let Sir Naotsugu join us. Even though we are still have a long way to go, the negotiation Master Shiroe is hoping for is about to begin. This is really amazing. In a way, negotiation is war level, no, national level magic."

What do you mean by national level? Naotsugu's query was interrupted.

Because the door to the cabin has been knocked.

just 20 minutes ago, there shouldn't be any adventurers within a 10km radius of this area. So is this a people of the land? But can a people of the land make their way to the snowy Tear Stone?

Under the watchful eyes of Shiroe and Re Gun, Naotsugu draws his sword from his magic bag and approach the door cautiously.



Web Chapter 55 END