*****
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Legacy Quest: Dweller Convergence
Tale I: Equivalent Exchange
Objective: Obtain one Dweller Skill.
Rewards:
Sanctuary of Serenity Upgraded to Level 2
Privilege: Free Time (2 Huor)
+5 free stat points
Skill Card
1000 Myrr
Complete
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Tale II: Parental Bonds
Objective: Obtain two Dweller Skills.
Rewards:
+10 free stat points
Privilege: Closing Permit (2 hours)
Ascension Card
5,000 Myrr
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Tale III:...
...
..
Update pending.-
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After finishing my lecture to Iris, I looked at the chained quests we'd obtained after Iris acquired the Dweller skill.
As the letter mentioned, the system seemed to encourage us to seek out more.
There was no penalty for failing, and it only went up to Tale Ⅷ, though it seemed like it could be upgraded.
I still don't know exactly what the goal of all this is or what's so special about that type of ability, but I'll make sure to get them if that makes whoever's running this happy.
It's also convenient, since I realized that acquiring abilities is the way to get out of here.
It started by just giving us free time, and gradually offered more and more benefits.
That's fine, since it would allow us to stop wearing ourselves out by having to be on alert for a customer all the time.
Everything's fine on that front, but I noticed something else—something that had suddenly appeared in the corner of the status screen.
___________________________
40 free stat points
4310 Myrr
3:06:14:24:03
___________________________
Right below the current amount of Myrr, I saw a strange countdown that wasn't there before.
If I'm not mistaken, it's about three and a half years, and I don't know what it means.
"System, what does this countdown mean?"
[I cannot answer that question]
"(►__◄)"
This system really pisses me off; everything about it is frustrating.
"Okay, I asked the wrong way. Let's see… what will happen if this countdown reaches zero?"
[I cannot answer that question.]
I've always thought that, in any situation, discussing it or working things out with words should be the priority, but this system really makes me want to go along with Iris's idea of giving it a physical form—though mostly just so I can beat the crap out of it.
But I still have to be patient. I can still get some information out of it, depending on how I phrase my questions.
...
.
"Damn it, you and your stupid countdown."
I really tried everything—looking for different approaches and asking questions from various angles.
The system refuses to answer anything, no matter if I ask whether it's beneficial or dangerous, if it's related to the missions, if there's any way to delay it, speed it up, or anything else.
Since there are no clues at all, I couldn't figure anything out no matter how many general questions I asked; it's just a countdown to something unknown.
And worst of all, this wasn't in that letter about the future.
I don't know if it's because it isn't really important and wasn't worth mentioning, or if it's something that didn't happen to him—or rather, that countdown might be a direct result of that letter.
I really can't confirm this.
And it seems I have no choice but to watch as the number keeps going down.
The only thing I can hold onto is that if I later understand or find something related, or learn enough, the system might eventually answer me.
Although what exactly I need to know or learn is a complete mystery.
There isn't even the slightest clue other than the time remaining.
So I have to figure out what might happen during that time period.
"Ugh! Honey, I can't"
"Huh?"
While I was thinking about what to do, Iris came up to me.
After I scolded her, she started testing her skill as a Dweller of Darkness. Judging by her disappointed expression, it seems it didn't go the way she wanted.
"I can only stick my hand in, and then it spits me out hard, as if it doesn't like my taste."
"What are you talking about?"
"Look, this is different from Sister Rose."
I watched as she demonstrated it by sticking her hand into the shadow cast over the reception desk.
She reached out toward the shadow as fast as she could, and her hand did indeed seem to enter the shadow, but in the blink of an eye, her hand snapped back, as if it had been violently pushed away."
Well, compared to Rose, who was able to make her entire body disappear into the darkness for a few seconds, it certainly seems rather lacking, but according to the logic of this world, it was most likely that…
"It's probably the rank. You remember how skill work, right?..."
"Yeah, I did my homework!"
"Good. We had a misunderstanding before about what unique skill were, but anyway, aside from the fact that they seem to grow with the user, they don't seem very different from normal ones. Just imagine that their limit is infinite."
"Honey, why do you like to explain things in such a complicated way?... But I think I get it. Since my older sister Rose is Rank 4, her skill is Dark Dweller (4) and mine is Dark Dweller (2)."
"Yeah, well, that's all I can think of."
"Well, you must be right… Ah! Right, honey, I've been thinking about a few things."
"What? What were you thinking about? 눈_눈"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You know exactly why—tell me what you're thinking."
I have to be careful and cautious when Iris is thinking. A lot of the time, it's not a good sign, and now that she's gotten that previous curiosity out of her head, new ones are probably popping up.
And now, with this new world, I have to be twice as cautious and nip anything wrong in the bud.
Last time I let myself be talked into it, and now it really does look like that harem thing is taking shape.
"Alright, let's do what we always do: I'll tell you my idea, and you'll come up with the plan of action."
"You forgot to mention that I have to agree to whatever you're thinking first."
"Oh! Right. Well, just minor, unimportant details."
"No, it's really important, and I'm telling you right now that I'll refuse to do anything dangerous."
"(￣ 3￣), it's not dangerous… I just want to hunt a dragon and—"
"Denied. Forget about it."
"Hey, but honey, what's wrong with that?"
"(ㆆ_ㆆ), I'm not even going to take the time to explain that to you—besides, you don't even know if those creatures… no, I guess they do exist."
Come to think of it, there are a lot of related items in the shop, like materials from minor, ancient, and real dragons, and a whole bunch of other related stuff.
They're even among the most expensive items, so I guess there must be plenty of species out there.
Hmm, maybe if it's a weak or minor dragon… hmm, I need to look into what its danger level would be.
Well, come to think of it, it might not be that impossible to fulfill what Iris wanted—I just had to do a little more research and see if it was feasible.
"Yeah, honey, there are mythological creatures too. I want to hunt one, you know? There was even something called a Jörmungandr poison sac. Honey, that means there's a world-encompassing serpent here—I want to hunt it, or maybe keep it as a pet."
"Calm down!... I can consider whether the rest is feasible, but forget about that Jörmungandr: it sounds like it's an apex creature in this world."
If that venom sac was among the most expensive items, it was obvious why; it was better to stick with the dragon idea.
"Yeah! Anyway, a dragon seems more exciting than a snake. Oh! And if by any chance it has an egg, I want to hatch it and keep it as a pet."
It doesn't really sound right to raise the offspring of something she plan to kill, but that plan is still something I considering.
Although it would be nice, since a pet could relieve Iris's boredom—and actually, there's something even better than that.
"love---, don't you want to go outside?"
"Oh! Right, honey, I almost forgot—for getting the skill, the system gave us some free time."
"Yes, even if it's only for two hours."
When I saw the rewards for that first mission, I noticed this and asked what it meant. Sure enough, it lets us go out, but that doesn't mean the shop closes.
In fact, it'll stay open and customers will come in, so it made more sense for one of us to stay behind and watch the shop.
"Well, two hours is enough. Hmm, but I can't make up my mind, honey. What do you think? I want to go to Amy's city, but also to Sister Rose's, or maybe I'd like to go to the academy—huh? Where did Li-Lin come from?"
We can also go to any place a customer came from, which is convenient.
Also, according to the system, when the time runs out, it'll forcibly bring us back, but it told us that, depending on the distance, it'll deduct Myrr from our balance.
"It's better to go to Amy's kingdom. Besides, I think it would be a good idea for us to synchronize before you leave."
Iris isn't a little girl and can take care of herself for two hour, but things are different here.
Outside, she doesn't have the advantages she has here, and Iris is, oddly enough, very good at getting into trouble.
So I feel I'd be more at ease if we were synchronized. That way, she can have fun and experience whatever she wants, but she'll have my caution and, well, the ability to stop and think.
"What are you talking about, honey? Let's go together—I'm not leaving without you. I want a date with you."
Or so I thought, but Iris doesn't seem to agree with me.
"That's a little hard to do. We don't have the privilege of closing up yet—what if a customer comes in while we're out?"
"Honey, I want a date—I want to go out with you.ヾ(≧へ≦)〃"
"love, there are things that—"
"Y don't want excuses honey. You'll see—we can make it work. I'll find a way..."
"..."
Iris seemed like she really wanted to go out with me and made a strange expression that means she's thinking, so I didn't say anything—I just hope nothing crazy comes of it.
"System-chan, tell me something—can you let us know if a customer arrives while we're out?"
Finally, after thinking for a moment, she spoke to the system, and luckily, it was something very logical—though I feel like she's imitating me in some way when it comes to how I usually ask the system questions.
[That is correct.]
"No, I still don't think we should."
"Wait, honey, this is my moment to shine. Okay, System, answer me this: you said you'd bring us back by force if we didn't return by the deadline you set, right?"
[That is correct.]
"Okay, so, System-chan, doing the math and tying up all the loose ends, I can deduce that… you're a cute girl, right?"
[That's incorrect. I lack any kind of gender identity.]
"Love, what was the point of all that?"
"Ah! ups (╹ڡ╹ ) I got a little sidetracked there. What I meant to say is, System-chan, answer me this: can you intentionally bring us back before the hours is up?"
[That's correct. I can forcibly teleport users back to the Sanctuary of Serenity for a certain amount of Myrr.]
"See, honey? I've got it figured out. If a customer comes, System-chan will let us know and bring us back. There's nothing to worry about."
Well, if she wanted to go with me that badly—to the point of coming up with that solution on her own—I guess I should go.
I really don't want to waste Myrr unnecessarily, but all of that is based on the premise that a customer happens to arrive within that two-hour period.
Still, I want to ask my own questions to be completely sure.
"Yeah, I see what you're saying makes sense, but System, tell me something. You said earlier that you're linked to this place, not to us. How will you let us know?"
[I'm linked to Sanctuary of Serenity, but my connection with users will remain even when they leave it.]
"No matter the distance or location?"
[That's correct.]
"So what criteria do you use to charge the Myrr that—"
I quickly asked all the questions I thought you might ask.
..
.
"Alright, honey, we know everything we need to know—let's head out on our date."
"...Okay, let me buy a few things just in case... hmm, if you had to choose a weapon for self-defense, which one would you pick?"
Well, I've asked everything I wanted to ask; now all that's left is to get properly prepared. We had over 4,000 Myrr, so buying self-defense gear should be fine.
"Oh! Are you going to buy gear? Then I want a sword. No, better yet, a broadsword—it sounds... Oh! Wait, I know! An axe—yes, definitely a giant axe fits my profession!."
That wasn't exactly what I meant, but I guess it's fine. Besides, she has a storage space where she can keep it.