Chapter 90

The smoke seen from the mansion turned out to be a signal fire. Indeed, it looked like a big fire, but it was a signal fire to call for help during the Zephyros attack. No wonder it looked like volcanic smoke.

"Small signal fires are often mistaken for magic practice. That one was on a large scale, though."

"Hmm."

In my previous life, even a small bonfire would bring the fire department, but in this world, with mages and monsters, there's no shortage of action. You occasionally see smoke. Truly, a world with magic changes everything.

Miharu slowly stroked the fluffy back of Goo-chan, who was walking leisurely, while listening to the explanation from the lady Kongo and nodding in agreement.

The lady Kongo and her companions apparently realized it was a rescue signal right away. 'Noise' is really terrible. It's heartbreaking to think that they had to rely on signal fires in a modern society. When you call 110, it connects to 111, and all communication devices are affected. Magic is really troublesome.

We were escorted by the samurai group that came to our rescue and were walking through the forest toward the mansion.

Mii-chan, pressing her puffy cheeks against Goo-chan's fluffy fur, yawned sleepily and sprawled out on the back. *Purr*.

Everyone was healed by the sight of the cute and young Mii-chan sprawled out on the griffin's back, their faces relaxing. By the way, her clothes were torn to shreds and covered in blood and mud, so she was wrapped in a blanket provided by the samurai. She needs to change quickly before her parents see her when they get home.

"But that's bad, isn't it? To be in such a state that we need to receive recovery magic from our protectors."

"We were in danger, so we were saved."

Lady Kongo chuckled, and the old men who joined later, including Martini, thanked us with bloodstained appearances. They had some deep wounds, so it was quite dangerous. It seems that Flora, like in the original story, was quite skilled, and they were almost killed.

It feels strange to be in the same situation as the original story. It's like the discomfort of seeing an actor in person and realizing they look the same as on TV, even though TV actors are just illusions.

Martini and the others were preventing Zephyros from coming to the rescue by continuously attacking with needle-like attacks. They were the MVPs of this battle. Some of the old men couldn't participate in the end.

"I might need to travel all over the country to use 'Instant Teleport' effectively."

"Rejected."

Traveling all over the country sounds like a leisurely trip. I want to go too. Some fresh manjuu would be good as a souvenir. I wonder if the girls would like it. It has a unique smell.

In the end, the old men from Odin didn't make it in time. Well, they were far from home... It couldn't be helped. In the future, to make sure the old men from Odin can use 'Instant Teleport,' we need to have them travel to various places. We'll think about that later.

There's something else to consider. What is it...?

"Hey, isn't Arashi the only one who's different?"

"Different?"

With the sound of the train as the background music, Fligg joined the conversation, and I nodded slightly. Was Fligg really trying to help Mii-chan by coming by train?

She continued with a deadpan expression. There's something that's been bothering me. Arashi was in Zephyros, so I finally noticed something odd.

"Isn't he just too stupid? Would there be someone that stupid in reality?"

His actions were too stupid. He was completely oblivious to his surroundings. I had accepted it because it was a novel world, but the old man from Sotokuni and the old woman from Ryusui seemed cunning.

"Indeed, that level of stupidity is not normal. He's almost like a character from a novel. Is there something odd about him?"

The old man looked puzzled, but even in a novel world, I think it's odd.

"That's why it's odd. The other characters seem grounded in reality, right?"

Arashi was clearly a straightforward character, but there seemed to be something more behind his laughter. Each character was thinking and acting carefully.

"Probably, even though it's definitely a novel world, a novel is like a edited version of a part of the story. It's like a video that edits and shows the shining moments of a newlywed couple's life at their wedding."

"That kind of video makes people watching it feel uncomfortable. Especially for those who have no significant events in their lives, it becomes a sad video."

"Putting aside the kind of comments that make newlyweds feel down, I think the novel's descriptions are just a part of the story."

Putting aside Fligg's dangerous comments, I speculate that even the main characters in the original story have personalities that weren't shown. The Holy Maiden, for example, didn't seem to feel any guilt when she took Loki's credit. Considering her image in the original story, she should have seemed a bit more apologetic.

"That's the connection to Arashi?"

"Zephyros was one of the few main characters who could recognize the player. He even talked to the player in side stories."

That's the key point. A mob player. I, who was treated as air by the main characters, wasn't spoken to by anyone. In side stories, the main characters were the ones treated as air. We didn't interact.

"The main characters in the original story didn't get involved in side stories. They were air, so their character images didn't change in side stories."

"Hmm... I see. Zephyros, being an enemy in side stories, had more of his personality and actions described. His character and actions were more detailed than the main characters in the original story, right?"

"Yes, I understand, Miss. His overly stupid actions reflect his in-game personality. That's why he acted so terribly."

Fligg looked impressed, and the old man from Odin looked intrigued. It was unexpected.

That's right. Zephyros is a useful character. He can be killed and revived by the 'Blessing of Anemoi,' a cheat ability.

That's why he randomly attacks in transport quests, material gathering quests, and escort quests. He's always attacking. The way he was used by the game company shows how cruel they were. He also appeared in side stories.

If his in-game personality is reflected here, it makes sense that he became such a stupid man. He's a bit pitiful.

Even though this is a novel world, I think the freedom of personality is high. A character's feelings in a novel are just a few lines. You can't fully express a person's personality with just a few lines. Side stories are the same. The soldier who says, "This is the destroyed Tokyo," is free in everything except that one line. His personality isn't set.

In that sense, Zephyros, who is involved in the main story and the original game story, had his personality and actions described in detail, which is why he became such a disappointing Martian.

"So, what's the key point of this story? I understand that Zephyros reflects his in-game personality. So what? We just need to make sure to kill him this time."

With Fligg's ability, he won't escape. We can kill him, but the key isn't Zephyros.

"The key is that other game settings are also reflected. That means we've been mistaken all along..."

The two looked interested, so I pressed my puffy cheeks into Goo-chan's fluffy fur and continued.

"Alchemists might exist, don't you think?"

"Alchemists? In a novel world, the conclusion would be that they don't exist... Oh, I see. If game settings are reflected, there should be alchemy shops, right?"

"Or, even if alchemy shops don't exist due to the novel's setting, alchemists themselves might exist, right?"

They both seemed to get it and understood the flow of the conversation.

"Yes, the number of healers was reduced to a rare level. I think this is due to the novel's convenience. But healers other than the Holy Maiden did exist, right?"

"In the game, healers became adventurers. There were many of them, but in this world, they were reduced to just 30. That means... Alchemy shops were few. Considering the ratio... It's possible that there's only one family."

"...If they are that rare, it's not surprising that they are targeted. They must be hiding their power."

I know how powerful alchemists are. They were nameless mob characters. A hooded figure whose gender was unknown.

I don't know who the alchemist is. But if the game's power is reflected, the alchemists I thought didn't exist should exist.

"But we won't find them just by searching blindly. Do you have a lead?"

"There's one. There was a side story involving an alchemist. If that side story is active, there's a chance we can meet them."

In this novel world, they must be completely hiding their power because it's dangerous. But if the side story, like Zephyros's personality, is reflected in this world, there's a chance they exist.

"Let's save them and make them our ally."

Completing that side story made us friends with the alchemist, and we could get new recipes and low-level alchemy items. We could also run a shop. I don't need the recipes since I remember them, but the other things are useful.

Of course, due to the novel's setting, they won't open a shop in the city. But having an alchemist as an ally would be a great help.

"You were thinking about this even while fighting such a dangerous battle. Miss, you really are a game brain."

"I've seen the technique to make potions before. I've been thinking that there might be someone who looks like an alchemist. It's not a game brain; Mii-chan is just smart."

She puffed out her cheeks proudly and smiled. The potion for reducing magic power that 'Yggdrasil' gave to the Yuki family pointed to the possibility of alchemy. But since there were no healing potions, I had my doubts. It's not a game brain; Mii-chan is a girl who loves playing outside.

"When does that side story start? Even if we help, we don't have the power to protect the alchemist, do we?"

"That side story can be triggered at any time. The original story hasn't started yet, so we have time. So, Fligg, can you make a hidden base soon?"

"Sure. I'll try to establish a base as soon as possible."

I nodded and ended the communication with Fligg, who shrugged and smiled seductively.

Then, I'll start building a base too.

First, I'll show the cute Mii-chan smile to the people at the mansion.

As we moved from the forest to the garden, we saw the grand mansion. The walls were damaged, and many people were injured, with maids carrying first aid kits.

Now, I'll use recovery magic like crazy.