Chapter 46

<045. Easter Egg (1)>

Why is he suddenly like this?

"It's a change of heart, I guess."

"What do you mean?"

"The Sanctuary of Flowers is at the end of the Eastern Forest. It's dangerous to go there, even if it's just a forest."

"Yes, but if we slowly clear the path and then suddenly ignite the fire, wouldn't this pollen be completely purified?"

Only the flames of purification can restore everything to its original state.

Ib's crazy idea made my body hair stand on end.

The Eastern Forest, being Area 1, doesn't have a particularly strong final boss.

However, the Sanctuary of Flowers, also known as the Extra Field or Hidden Field, has a higher difficulty than expected.

But if I were to ask whether the unit led by Ib von Loen格林 can burn it down... it's possible. A magic power of 22 is no joke. It surpasses the human limit of 17 and the genius level of 19, reaching the divine-blessed value of 22, which can set the earth ablaze and shoot meteors from the sky.

Of course, that much training is necessary. Right now, Ib has outstanding talent but lacks practical experience. Still, if he really wants to shoot the flames of purification, he can.

What I need to think about is the conclusion when this golden Ib burns down the Sanctuary of Flowers, quenches his thirst with the blood of fairies, and wraps himself in their hatred.

"There's no benefit in this."

"···What do you mean?"

"Don't talk about burning down the Sanctuary of Flowers. Is that something a leader should say?"

"···I didn't expect you to say something like that."

Oh, you think so too?

Actually, I do too.

But we need to stop it.

Interestingly, this episode has a solution.

"Anyway, it's not something a leader should say."

"Uh. I should... reflect on that. Yes, I said it in a fit of anger."

"Exactly. Do you plan to burn all the fairies inside as well?"

"···There are fairies in the Sanctuary of Flowers?"

Ah.

Right.

That's a story that will be revealed later. Specifically, it's the story that unfolds when Kelters, Ib, and the cheerful friends enter there.

Hmm.

Here, I need to be bold.

"Of course. They are there."

"How do you know?"

"It's written in the royal archives."

Really. It is written there.

"You've never been to the royal archives, have you? Read more books. Intelligence is not the same as wisdom."

"···Oh, I planned to go and read them after this summer vacation!"

That's right.

You read the fairy legends in the royal archives during the summer vacation.

Using that as a clue, if you go to the corner of the 1-1 map, you can summon a fairy, and then you can recruit the fairy race as allies.

Well, isn't that common?

The hidden stage of Act 1 usually opens around Act 4.

"Anyway, the pollen flying from the Sanctuary of Flowers, the problem of hay fever, I can solve to some extent."

"···Really? For real?"

"At least I can make it so that you can live without being affected by the pollen."

"Ha. You're not just showing off, are you?"

I tilted my head.

"Me? Showing off? In front of you? Why?"

"Stop talking in fragments! It makes me even angrier because it seems like you're genuinely questioning it!"

"Anyway, I think I can solve it to some extent."

"···Hmm. Ahem. If you can do that, I have no complaints. What's gotten into you? You're even doing good things for me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Give and take. Let's talk about the price now."

"············."

There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

***

The first thing I asked for was the opening of Wolfram's storage.

"···This is where you hid the items from your illicit wealth. The ones you couldn't sell."

"Hmm."

"Did you hide something amazing here?"

"No. There's nothing special."

Ib looked at me suspiciously, but there really isn't anything.

This is just a junk storage. In the main story, Ib sold everything Wolfram had for the academy's operation, so this is really just a storage of trash. How disappointing.

However, there is one useful item in here.

An item specialized for this episode.

I found glass bottles filled with a shimmering brown liquid.

About fifteen boxes.

I was worried they might not be here, but it's a relief they are.

"I found them."

"Ah, they're here. Let's take this one first. We'll settle the rest later."

"···? What is it?"

I didn't answer.

After all, I can't say it's an Easter Egg.

***

An Easter Egg, a term derived from Easter eggs.

In games, an Easter Egg is like placing a raw egg among the Easter eggs. It refers to hidden fun elements within the game.

And this D/Z SAGA has a few Easter Eggs, one of which is in Wolfram's illicit storage.

"Is this alcohol?"

"Hmm. Yes."

"···You said there was no expensive alcohol in there."

"It's not expensive alcohol. The type is what matters."

"Type?"

"It has to be whiskey, rum, or gin."

"You're quite knowledgeable about alcohol types."

"Develop your intellect. You'll have to attend banquets where only those drinks are served in a few years."

"·········Eek!!"

After verbally putting Ib down, I continued my work.

Anyway, I was really worried they might not be here, so it's a relief they are.

"Hmm. This should do."

"What are you making?"

"Truffles."

"···Truffles?"

Ib tilted his head as he watched me work.

"Inside the hollow chocolate, you put alcohol, and then cover the hole with more chocolate. It's that simple."

"Ah, so when you eat it, the alcohol inside leaks out. It must be flavorful."

"Hmm."

"Chocolate···. It's good. I've had it a few times at the royal palace."

As I worked, Ib's eyes lit up.

Probably more interested in the chocolate than the alcohol.

"Stop wandering around and eat this."

"···Ha. Black bread? You're giving black bread to Ib von Loen格林?"

"It has chocolate cream inside."

"I'll eat it. ···Hehe."

As he said that, Ib leisurely ate the cream black bread, and I focused on my work again.

The size of the truffles I needed to make was very small, requiring extremely meticulous manufacturing.

"It's difficult."

Honestly, it's incredibly difficult.

Should I just give up now?

Do I really need to work this hard for Ib?

Even if Ib cries and his strength drains, will it really affect the life of Wolfram von Loen格林?

As I genuinely pondered this,

【Your repeated actions have a slight impact on your skills.】

······.

I have to keep going.

***

Afterward

Ib and I headed toward the Eastern Forest.

"···I have to go with you?"

"Yes."

"Why? If you need protection, there are good people around who can do it, not just me."

"I agree, but it's unavoidable, isn't it?"

"······The Eastern Forest is full of pollen."

"Then wear the full-face helmet. What's wrong? Even golden Ib would look good in it."

"Stop calling me golden!"

Ib sighed deeply and finally, reluctantly, put on the golden helmet.

"Huff. Sigh. Sigh···."

"Let's go."

"Y-Yes···. This is really uncomfortable to breathe in. Really···."

Well.

It's like walking on a drill field wearing a gas mask.

"You're working hard."

"Ha. Now you're comforting me?"

"No. I'm immune to pollen, so I don't know. I'm just saying good job."

"I'll be the one who killed you someday."

Hmm.

Should I report you now and have you arrested?

***

At the entrance of the Eastern Forest, we turned to the side.

Standing in an empty field, we looked at the air. Dense trees blocked the path ahead.

"What? There's nothing here? ···Sigh."

"Look closely."

Hidden maps are usually at the entrance of dungeons. Ib is a noob. Just a noob.

"What? Really···."

"You see what you know."

"I'm getting really angry···."

Here, I activated my skill.

I took a sip of the mana potion Ayla prepared and activated the royal bloodline.

"【The descendant of an old friend who made a solemn pact long ago has come here. In the name of one who is worthy, I call upon you. Reveal yourselves and open the door.】"

"···W-What's going on?"

"Hmm. Watch closely. Changes will happen now."

After that, a crack appeared in the air that was previously blocked by nothing.

"···Uh."

"Hmm."

Then, something intense began to seep out from inside. Something so intense that even Wolfram, with a magic power of 3, could sense it.

It appeared as light, felt like darkness, and carried the warmth of fire and the elegance of shadows.

The only word to describe it all was 'aura.'

Not the main entity, just the aura.

Eventually, a red wolf appeared in the crack.

"···I have confirmed the bloodline of the old friend."

"Is that so?"

"It has been 150 years since an old friend who remembers the pact came. However, even if you are an old friend, you cannot enter with a stranger. If you want to enter, prove your worth."

"Worth?"

"The power to step on the land of the fairies!"

Saying that, the wolf bared its fangs.

Oh, intense aura. No joke. I'm sure I'd die in one second.

But this royal bloodline skill prevents me from showing any ugly face.

"U-Ulfram, step back. I'll handle it···."

"No, there's no need."

"Y-You'll die? S-Step back···."

"Red spirit."

"Yes. Will you challenge the trial?"

Trial.

Now, I have to fight this guy to the death.

In the original, Ib was the only one who met the criteria.

Because of the promise with the first emperor, only those with royal bloodline were allowed to enter.

There, Ib would proudly declare:

【When stepping on the land of the spirits, it's Kelters. And we will all step on it together.】

【We all came here by working together, after all!】

So, in the end, they challenge the spirit's trial. The deduction part was fun, and the trial was a puzzle battle, which was also interesting.

"Ah, I forgot to mention. This guy is also a child of the pact."

"···What? What are you talking about?"

But.

What does that mean,

"This guy also has royal blood. Will you please step aside?"

"···Eh. Um. Oh. Oh. R-Right. Y-Yes···."

"Please treat us well according to the pact. And clean up the pollen for us."

"Ah, Y-Yes?"

"The pact was made between the fairy queen and our great ancestor. It's only natural to meet the fairy queen first."

"Y-Yes···."

"Then, I'll ask you to do that."

"Ah, I understand. Y-Yes···. I'll do that, of course···."

The wolf lowered its tail and stepped aside, and Ib and I walked in.

"···Wolfram."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, but this doesn't seem right···. Is it just my feeling?"

Ah.

Now that I think about it, this ruins the story where he, through friendship and effort, steps on the land of the fairies with all his companions.

Hmm. Hmm.

"It's just your feeling."

"Is that so···? R-Right?"

"It's just your feeling."

"······Yes."

Puzzle? Deduction? Everyone's friendship? Who cares?

Do I have time to worry about that?