Chapter 2-6 : The Second Event Begins
Several days have passed since Umika and I were attacked in the forest. We haven’t been playing together since then because she said she was busy with something.
I guess being an internet idol is not easy. Or maybe she has been busy with something else? For example, a secret training session. I have no idea.
Anyway, today is the day of the event. As soon as I logged in, I received a message from Umika saying she would wait for me at the event meeting point. We promised we would enter the event together after all.
I also received messages from Rin and Ruka. Seems like the four of us will be playing together. I haven’t introduced Umika to the two yet, but I hope they will get along.
Spawning at Erst Town, I headed out to the town’s plaza, which was today’s event meeting point.
As expected, there were so many people here. Looking for my three friends could be difficult.
「ー?」(Alice)
While I was looking around, suddenly someone hugged my right arm.
I turned my head and saw Umika.
「Umika!」(Alice)
「Alice onee-sama~ It’s been forever. I missed you~」(Umika)
「It’s only been a few days, right? What have you been doing?」(Alice)
「It’s a secret~」(Umika)
I guess it’s real-life stuff she’s been working on. I’m curious, but I shouldn’t ask any further.
「By the way, how’s my dress?」(Umika)
That’s right. She’s wearing her new dress armor. Apparently, Lynette made it in time.
The dress has a cute design that fits Umika perfectly. Lynette really has great taste. I expect nothing less from the best armorsmith in town.
「Um. It looks great on you. You look cute.」(Alice)
「~~~!! Thank you, Alice onee-sama!」(Umika)
Feeling happy being praised, Umika hugged my arm tighter.
「…..」(Alice)
「Umm, you don’t like it? I will move away if you want…」(Umika)
「No, I don’t mind.」(Alice)
「~! Thank you, Onee-sama!」(Umika)
She hugged even tighter and pressed her head against my shoulder.
I don’t mind people hugging me. Rin hugs me a lot, so I’m used to it.
I was just wondering. I thought Umika wasn’t the type girl who liked touching other people.
She really has changed after the incident in the forest.
「Alice, I’ve been looking for you.」(Ruka)
「Ruka!」(Alice)
As I wondered about Umika’s sudden change, I heard Ruka’s voice.
「Thank god. I’ve been looking for you too.」(Alice)
「…Who is this girl…?」(Ruka)
Ruka approached me and squinted at Umika.
「Ah, she isー」(Alice)
「Nice to meet you. My name is Umika!」(Umika)
「…I’m Ruka.」(Ruka)
Is it just me, or the air has gotten heavy for some reason…?
「Say, Ruka-san, what’s your relationship with Alice onee-sama?」(Umika)
「’Onee-sama’…?」(Ruka)
For a split second, I felt like Ruka’s eyebrow twitched. Or was I imagining things?
She’s not an expressive kind of person, so it’s hard to tell.
「Alice is my precious friend.」(Ruka)
「Friends. I see.」(Umika)
「What’s your relationship with her?」(Ruka)
「Alice onee-sama risked her own life to save me. She’s my prince on a white horse! ーno, princess on a white horse!」(Umika)
「So, Alice saved you once, but what about it? Alice once let me sleep on her lap.」(Ruka)
「What!? Alice onee-sama’s lap pillow!? Gununu! I’m so jealous…!」(Umika)
Seeing Umika’s frustrated face, Ruka slightly smirked.
What is this? Some kind of competition?
「Ara~ Did I just hear “Alice’s lap pillow?”」(Rin)
As I sighed, watching the two competing, I heard Rin’s voice from behind.
「Rin.」(Alice)
「ー!!」(Ruka)
Before I could turn around, Ruka suddenly hugged my other arm.
Now my both arms are being hugged…
「This side is mine. I won’t give it up even if it’s for Rin.」(Ruka)
「Arara~ Well, it doesn’t matter. I can hug her anytime I want~」(Rin)
「What is that privilege!? I’m jealous!」(Umika)
「Fufu~ It’s the privilege of being her childhood friend and real-life friend~ We meet almost every day on campus. We even play together in her room a lot. Right, Alice~?」(Rin)
「Well…」(Alice)
「That’s not fair.」(Ruka)
「Yeah, that’s not fair! Using your real-life relationship in this competition is beyond fair!」(Umika)
「Ara~ Is that so~?」(Rin)
I knew it… It’s some kind of competition…
「Anyway, you must be the rumored internet idol, Umika, right?」(Rin)
「And you are the rumored Tempest Queen.」(Umika)
「Oh? Never thought an internet idol would know me.」(Rin)
「I’ve been searching information about Alice onee-sama this past week, and I read about you from the forum.」(Umika)
「I see. Alice, looks like we’ve become famous since the PVP event~」(Rin)
「I’m not happy about it, though…」(Alice)
Unlike Rin, I don’t really want to stand out in this game.
「Say, Umika-san.」(Rin)
「No need to be polite. You can call me Umika.」(Umika)
「Alright. Umika, I heard from Alice you challenged her to a fight.」(Rin)
「And was defeated miserably, yes…」(Umika)
「So, why are you being touchy toward her? I thought you would hate her after the fight.」(Rin)
「Hate her? No way! Alice onee-sama… Sheー」(Umika)
Umika glanced upward at me. Her face was bright red.
「She put herself between me and danger to save me. She is the coolest person I’ve ever met! Ever since that incident, I fell in loー I mean, I grew to respect her so much!」(Umika)
「Hohoo~ I see, I see~ You grow to respect her, huh? I see, I see~」(Rin)
Rin grinned suspiciously at me.
「Wh, what?」(Alice)
「Nothing~ I’m just thinking, “Aahh~ My dear Alice has grown into such a reliable person.”」(Rin)
「What are you talking about? I’m always reliable.」(Alice)
「Fufu, true~ Alice onee-sama~」(Rin)
Ugh, she’s teasing me…
That aside, I never expected Umika would think so highly about me.
『Dear esteemed players, the event will begin in a short while. Those not participating, please move away from the plaza.』(Taurus)
Seems like it will begin soon.
A giant half-translucent screen appeared above the plaza showing Taurus’ face.
『Thank you for participating in our second event. The theme of this event is Summer Camp with the genre of survival.』(Taurus)
Summer camp? Is it because it’s summer in the real world?
Unlike the last event that had the PVP genre, the current event seems to be a survival kind of game. I guess it will be PVE then.
『You won’t be able to log out during the event. However, you can retire anytime by simply killing yourself. Have no worry, because there will be no death penalty during this event.』(Taurus)
“Simply” kill yourself, huh? What a bizzare way to retire from the game…
Well, at least there’s no death penalty.
『When the event starts, each player will be teleported to the event field and will spawn at random places in the field.』(Taurus)
What? That means… We will be separated?
「No! I want to play with Alice onee-sama!」(Umika)
「I want to play with Alice too.」(Ruka)
「Fufu. Don’t worry, we can search for each other later. Right, Alice?」(Rin)
「Un. I will find you guys.」(Alice)
「I hope we won’t spawn too far away from each other…」(Umika)
Umika looks worried.
Unlike Rin and Ruka, she’s still a beginner, so I think I will look for her first if we get separated.
『There will be a huge variation of monsters spawning in the field. Of course, there will be unique monsters and mythical beasts as well. If you’re lucky, you might be able to make them your pets.』(Taurus)
Mythical beasts, huh? I wonder if I can catch one.
I think Levy will be happy if they get a new friend.
『The goal in this event is to survive as long as possible. The duration is seven days. The players who manage to survive until the end will be rewarded.』(Taurus)
Seven days? Isn’t that too long?
『Some of you might think seven days is too long. Rest assured, it won’t take a long time in the real world. As you all know, time passes three times faster in this world. However, we have adjusted the time flow in the event field so that it flows even faster. Seven days in the event field will only be equivalent to one hour in the real world.』(Taurus)
Seven days in the field is only one hour in the real world, huh? Certainly that’s way faster than the default in-game time flow.
Perhaps the game management designed this event with the people who are busy with work in mind so that they can still participate.
『That’s all from me. You will be teleported in a minute. Dear esteemed players, please enjoy this event to your heart’s content.』(Taurus)
After saying that, Taurus bowed, and then the screen disappeared.
Not long after, the entire floor in the town’s plaza was glowing. The players then began to disappear one by one, being teleported to the event field.
「Please, spawn me near Alice onee-sama, please, please, please!」(Umika)
「Spawn with Alice… Spawn with Alice…」(Ruka)
Umika and Ruka hugged my arms so tightly that I felt like they might break my bones. It kinda hurts…
Well, it’s not that I don’t understand their feelings. I don’t want to be separated from them either.
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