Chapter 91

"Alright, we're going to teach you guys how to acquire the [Climbing] Sense... What exactly do we need to do?"

Taku asked Ivan and the others, getting to the basics. While a Sense can be acquired by meeting certain conditions and spending the required SP, the key is whether you can master and make it your own.

"Well, that's right. Climbing has a broad definition, but in this case, it's best to understand it as the Sense for 'climbing steep places.'

We started with rock climbing. In real life, rock climbing requires a lot of safety equipment, but in the game, things like anti-slip powder, specialized shoes, and impact-absorbing pads are omitted...

What you need are a harness to wear the rope, a set of bolts to hammer into the wall, and other such items, which you can get as a climbing kit in the third town."

"Wow, they have all that?"

In the first town, I knew about the library, bookstore, general store, and antique appraisal shop. In the second town, according to Martha, the baker, and her, you can buy livestock and vegetables, and there's an old pharmacist.

The third town, being a mining town, it's not surprising that they have such things, but since it's not much of a rumor, I didn't know about it.

"Well, even I didn't know until I found it. If I told a beginner about bouldering, they wouldn't understand. It's rock climbing without a rope, but it's not something that can be popularized among those who aren't used to it."

Ivan spoke from his own experience. Just being able to climb a rock face without equipment, how skilled must he be in real-life climbing?

"Well, I can climb bare-handed. Taku and the girl, I'll lend you my equipment, so give it a try. Hiyama, you go up and set the bolts!"

"Got it."

Hiyama started climbing first. We watched him from below, but soon Ivan gave us the next instructions about equipping the harness and the Sense's assistance.

Once you get used to the equipment, you can descend gracefully like a ranger team, and in climbing, there are overhanging walls. Compared to that, the wall in front of us is said to be beginner-friendly.

And with the Sense's assistance, once you start climbing, you naturally know where to place your hands and feet. It seems you can feel the subtle undulations of the wall.

"Taku, who goes first?"

"You can go first, right?"

"Got it."

We decided the order with minimal conversation and placed our hands on the rock. Indeed, from the moment my hands gripped and my feet left the ground, I could feel the wall's fine undulations. It was as if markers appeared in my field of vision, showing where to grab. But—

"Impossible! I can't go any further!"

I shouted. Within my reach, there were no markers.

But Hiyama had climbed this spot, and it was said to be beginner-friendly. I stopped after advancing about three times my height.

"Are you okay! Yun!"

"Impossible! My arms are shaking!"

"Calm down, girl. Come down once!"

"Okay!"

I looked down and carefully descended step by step, confirming my footholds. In the end, I kicked off the wall from a height of about my own height and landed, but my knees were trembling, and I couldn't stop myself from sitting on the ground.

"Hard! What's going on! I can't see the path!"

"Well, Taku, try it like Yun. I'll explain to the girl in the meantime."

"Alright, then I'll go next."

Taku started climbing. Like me, he initially made smooth progress but then stopped. It was roughly the same spot as where I stopped.

"First of all, in real rock climbing, there are no assist markers in your field of vision."

"What a surprise..."

"So, the markers are a game assist. There are places you can grab even without the markers. Try climbing with that in mind."

...The path I can't see but should be there. Supporting my body with my feet. It's scary. In many ways.

"Damn! Maybe I'm not cut out for this? Climbing is tough!"

"...Welcome back. Taku, the problem was before you even started climbing."

"Yeah, the girl is right."

I had noticed it before Taku started climbing but didn't mention it. I was surprised he just went ahead. Ivan nodded in agreement.

"What is it?"

"「The metal armor is too heavy, right?」"

"Oh, I see."

"Then, I'll go next."

We switched again. When I tried grabbing places without markers, it was indeed more stable. I moved more slowly, choosing with my own eyes, but I could steadily climb.

Ivan also climbed to a certain height and then came up without assistance.

"How's it going? Did you get the hang of it?"

"Hmm, my arms are pretty tired, but I understand the method, so I think I can do it on my own."

"Well, it's all about repetition."

Iwan watched me progress slowly and steadily. Taku also started climbing once we were far enough apart. Looking up, there was a small resting spot not far away, and Hiyama was peering down.

"Yun, Ivan, just a little more!"

"Got it!"

I reached out to a nearby protrusion for a final push, but it was unexpectedly far. It was just out of reach, and my hands were already trembling.

"...My right hand can't reach it."

"Then, turn your head to the left."

"Huh? Why turn left if my right hand can't reach it?"

"Just try it, even if you don't believe me."

I was instructed, but it didn't make much sense. However, with my arms nearing their limit, I had no choice but to follow. I stretched my hand while turning my head to the left.

Surprisingly, my arm extended a bit further and I could grab it. I pulled myself up, using the protrusion to climb the remaining distance.

"...Pant, pant. It's tough."

"Well, the intervals between the undulations are narrow here, so there are fewer places you can't reach, but smoother, vertical, or overhanging walls are more challenging."

"...That sounds really hard to climb."

From the release of tension, I was almost out of breath. Taku, who followed, seemed a bit more relaxed than me but was also showing signs of fatigue.

"Alright! We climbed, so let's climb more!"

"No, let's rest a bit. I'm tired."

Taku sat cross-legged, checking his body. I also took a short break—

"Ah!!"

"What's wrong!? Yun!?"

"Girl, calm down after shouting."

"Sorry. I need to hurry and prepare dinner, or my sister will..."

I quickly opened the menu. It was six o'clock. The sun in the game sky hadn't set yet, but the real October sky was already dark. I had unconsciously equated the game sky with the real one, losing track of time.

"Then, let's leave the avatars here and take turns resting. I'll level up my climbing with Ivan and the others."

"Got it. I need two hours for dinner preparation and cleanup."

"Well, women take longer to prepare, so let's pass the time with some guy talk!"

Ivan shouted loudly again. The misunderstanding still hadn't been cleared up, but I couldn't deal with it right now.

"Then, we'll rest after that."

Two hours, so I'll return around eight. After that, when I switch with Taku, dinner will be late.

I felt bad for making my temporary body work so hard.

I then left the game world and shifted my consciousness to the real world.

Rushing to prepare dinner. My father was on a short business trip and would return the next day. My mother was on night shift and would quietly return in the early morning to eat and sleep. I had to consider this and prepare dinner and breakfast in one go.

It was a cold autumn season. The main dish for tonight was a white stew made with delicious pumpkins harvested in the fall.

The yellow of the mashed pumpkin mixed with the white of the stew, giving it a slight yellow tint. The rice was cooked, and the other dishes were ready.

The menu was rice with white stew, tuna mixed with warm vegetables, and corn soup.

For breakfast, I could use the leftover white stew with toast.

"Wow! Dinner is just ready. Perfect timing for logging out!"

"It's ready. Were you playing OSO until just now?"

"Yeah, today, Kohaku and Tobi and I were heading for the peach wisteria tree in the horror cave."

At the table, she started eating energetically, as if being rushed. But the food wouldn't run away, and a girl should be more composed.

"Take it a bit easier."

"I'm keeping Tobi waiting, so I need to get back and log in quickly."

"Is Miharu also taking a break? And what's Tou Tou Ka? What is that?"

"Toh-toh-fa... ...uh..."

Don't talk with your mouth full.

"The peach wisteria tree is a single tree on a hill that blooms with pink wisteria-like flowers, and it's always in full bloom."

"Wow, it sounds perfect for a flower viewing."

A drink under the moonlight would be nice. But thinking about that, I might be called to cook again, so I quickly dismissed the thought.

"Ah, I don't think it's possible. The monster spawn rate is high there, so there's no time for flower viewing. If anything, it would be a blood flower viewing instead of cherry blossom petals."

"That's a word I don't want to hear during a meal."

I sighed and poured the corn soup into my stomach.

"But once you clear the area, the monsters temporarily stop spawning, and you can get one petal from the peach wisteria tree per person."

"Is it a quest item?"

"No, it's a newly discovered resurrection item. One use, revives you with 1 HP. People go there for insurance, but it's far from the portal and has many enemies..."

I feel for you. But a resurrection item is good to know. I'll check with Taku later and do some research on my own. After making a mental note, Miharu finished the last bite of her stew.

"Thank you for the meal."

"You're welcome."

"Will you play OSO after you're done, big brother?"

"Yeah, a bit with Takumi. Can you prepare the bath?"

"Sure thing."

While Miharu started preparing the bath, I washed the dishes. After a while, when Miharu got in the bath, I put the dishes on the drying rack and took my turn.

After washing off the day's dirt and returning to my room, it was 7:45.

I put on the head display on my still damp head and re-entered the OSO world.

It's been a while.

I had some business and went back to my hometown, where the cold got to me and I caught a cold.

I don't have a fever, but I have a runny nose and a sore throat, which affects my concentration.

Everyone, it's getting colder. Dress warmly.

Correction: 大桃藤 → 桃藤花