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Ludger usually went to the forest in a way that avoided any encounters with monsters, but he was not always successful.

But now he had Crim chaperoning him everywhere, and all he had to do was to stay back and watch in awe. It felt strange to be so safe while gathering herbs, though it was a welcome change by him.

“Alright, this should be enough for today. Let’s go back to the city.”
“Ah, alright!”

Ludger’s basket was full of herbs now, and he carried it on his back as he spoke to Crim, who had been lost in thought for a bit.

She quickly threw the last few herbs she was holding into the basket and walked alongside Ludger.

More monsters appeared on their way back, which she swiftly defeated, and before long the town was in sight.

“…Maybe if I could fight like you I would’ve been able to do something about Juna’s sickness too.”
“…Huh?”

They were descending the hill leading to the town when Ludger started talking again, lightly pulling the basket’s straps on his shoulders. Crim turned to look at him slightly surprised, but he just continued talking.

“I already know where to find the last herbs needed for her medicine… but that’s also the main lair of the forest’s king.”

While Ludger said that with a melancholy voice, Crim saw a new popup on her peripheral vision, saying [A new quest has been found].

It seemed like she had inadvertently triggered a hidden quest.

“Still, I’m not trying to egg you into helping me. You might be strong, but that place is entirely different. We can’t just waltz in there like it’s our backyard.”

Ludger advised that with a stern voice, and did not tell Crim the correct location.

If the NPC was so opposed to giving all details of the quest, it could only mean that she had not yet fulfilled all flags, or maybe she was still too weak for it.

She had gotten excited about it for a moment, but had to reluctantly give up on it for now.

“Hmm…maybe I’ll find a party….”

Crim rolled around in the bed she was borrowing as she muttered to herself.

She was starting to think that staying in Ludger’s house and helping him around would lead to a series of connected quests, which made her excited about the future.

Then there was the fact that the room still had two empty beds, which made her suspect she would end up having a small party with a few other combatants.

“Things are lining up so nicely, I hope someone comes soon.”

Maybe that was hoping for a bit too much though.

She decided not to build too many castles in clouds, and buried her face in her pillow.

That reminds me, I haven’t met a single player yet.

“That’s weird…this all is really weird.”

She quickly raised her head again, muttering at that sudden realization.

MMORPG players were usually very zealous, and usually there were plenty of brave adventurers just a day after release, and in a matter of three days they would have mapped out most of the game world.

“But I haven’t met a single player yet… that can’t be right… Actually, just how big of a map did dad make?!”

Was this town really that far away from the Starting City Wyndham?

Being alone for so long was unexpected in an MMO, but it was not exactly a major issue either.

As he thought of that, he recalled that there was something he could do in a situation like that. Calling support.

So she decided to finally give that button a try, as it had been there in her menu for a while already.

“Hey, Kou. I was starting to get worried that you forgot about me.”
“Ah, dad. I’m a bit curious about something actually…”

With that, Crim began to explain how she felt like she had been forced to play solo so far.

“I see. That is certainly a difficult issue.”
“So, can you do something about it then?”
“Hmm… I’d really like to help since it’s our fault you ended up there anyway… but that would require resetting all your current progress. Is that alright?”
“Oh, that’s…”

Crim could only mumble idly hearing Sora’s words.

Accepting the offer would make things much easier, that was true. But then she just kept thinking of Juna and George, the NPCs she had befriended.

Restarting the game and playing properly seemed like the right choice.

But Crim refused to accept that option.

“…Ah, right. If you just want to meet other players, then there should be a Transport Plaza somewhere in the city you’re staying at. Have you tried activating it?”
“What’s that?”
“So you didn’t find it after all. I guess it makes sense since the tutorial happens all in Wyndham. Hmm…”

Sora then explained what that was and how to activate, which Crim would have learned from the tutorial if she had spawned correctly.

She did as told, going to the center of the town and activating a device he found there. That made a blue crystal emerge from the ground, which looked like some sort of core, and various other rings lit up around it.

At the same time, a new window separate from the one showing her stats appeared.

“From there you should be able to travel to cities you’ve visited before, or friendly places. There should also be a button to travel to Valhalant somewhere in there. That’s a neutral city that can’t be put under control of players, so if you’re feeling alone and want to socialize you can always try going there through the Transport Plaza.”
“…Ah, I found it. Thank you, I’ll try going there.”
“Alright alright, Have fun then.”

After thanking her father, who was waving while smiling, she ended the call and pressed the button.

That made all the rings move while she was inside them, and then shortly after she was enveloped by a white light.

Then loud noises thundered into her ears.

The silence that had accompanied her was suddenly broken by a multitude of voices.