Story Update 12: Broken Coral



We must report the results of our investigation to them in any case.
Yeah, we need to tell them about the dreadful stuff hidden below the town.



There's something we need to tell you about that. Can we have a little of your time?
Is it a pressing matter? If so, then I will make time immediately.



Even if we do know what's causing these strange events, if we have no means of remedying the problem, Etria is doomed.


Leave it to Achievers.
...Are you saying that Achievers will continue investigating the ruin for a way to get rid of the calamity? Very well. I shall accept your help. Thank you, Achievers. I wish you the best of luck on your investigation. I am sure you will need to find another Geomagnetic Field in the forest, but the 3rd Stratum is still unexplored. We have no new information on any Geomagnetic Fields there.
I see... I suppose we'll just have to look for it on our own.
Regrettably, yes. We were thinking of starting off by creating a map of the area, but... I am not sure if the Radha soldiers will be enough for the job. How about we work together on this?


If you are going to continue down into the Labyrinth, do you mind giving us a hand? It would mean a lot to us if the ones who defeated the King of the Jungle would aid us...
I am sure that the soldiers' morale will improve once they know that the Highlander is fighting alongside them. I am counting on you, Dude.


It seems I was right in asking for your help, Achievers. Keep up the good work.



This time, we'd like for you to create maps of the 11th and 12th floors of the forest Labyrinth. The third Stratum is full of mystery, even for we in the Radha. In the past, there were supposedly those who ventured into it, but no records survive of them. Though the Radha's brave soldiers are devoted to the task, the going is slow due to the threat of dangerous monsters. Our request to you is that you cooperate with them to complete these maps.
Dangerous monsters... Has something in particular come up of late?
Nothing specific, but in recent years we've seen reports of monsters native to lower Strata seen out of their depth. Even Cernunnos, whom you defeated recently, is said to hail from a much deeper Stratum.
In recent years, huh...? That might be related to the calamity that's been growing down in the depths.
That's certainly possible. I believe the drop in our soldiers' morale is due to their fear of these terrifying monsters. But if renowned explorers like you were to lend a hand, it would lighten their spirits considerably.



If this is caused by the calamity within the Labyrinth, the situation may be more serious than we thought.
So, you're saying that Cernunnos and Fenrir were in the upper levels because the calamity made them go berserk? Ugh! This calamity thing is nothing but trouble for us.
I'm pretty sure there's no such thing as a good calamity, Arthur.
Well... yeah.
He does have a point, though. This calamity has only done harmful things to us. We have to do something about it...
Yes, if the Yggdrasil Core is allowed to reach the surface, who knows what will happen to this city, or the world. ...I will give my all in the protection of this city.
Yeah, I wouldn't want any of these people getting hurt! Right, Dude?


Of course!
Nobody wants to see a familiar face go away... or a city be destroyed!
But first, we'll have to explore the Labyrinth. Let's hurry and find the Geomagnetic Field. Come on! Let's go, Dude!









The soldier makes a slight bow, then begins to explain the details of the quest.
You see, there's a man-eating plant that's been appearing here on B10F and attacking everyone it sees. We were sent here to kill the man-eater, but it's too strong for us. So, we'd like the help of you strong and skilled adventurers who have a grasp on surviving the 2nd Stratum.
A man-eating plant, eh? Do you know where we can find it?
There have been reports that the man-eating plant is hiding somewhere in a small room here on B10F. Oh, and the plant is very fast, so you'll have to use this.
The soldier reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pink sachet of incense.
If you burn this where the plant is, it should numb it, keeping it from moving. That's when you should strike! I'm sure Achievers will be able to handle it, but I wish you luck. There isn't much known about it, and it has claimed many victims. Please, be careful.



A fast-moving plant monster, huh? If there's a way to stop it in its tracks, we'll take it.
A small room on B10F... There are several. Which one can we find it in?
You resolve to look for the monster in one of the small rooms on the 10th floor.


!As Raquna says, you can feel a distinct ill-will directed towards you. Whatever it is, it must be the plant monster you were sent to defeat. If you believe this to be the place, you should try kindling the pink incense in the middle of this room.


You decide that the monster must be in this room, and burn the pink incense given to you by the soldier.


The room begins to fill with a spreading cloud of pink smoke... Without warning, you hear a heavy thud right beside you!
H-Huh!?
You see a large plant monster there, writhing in pain! However, it still harbors malice toward you, and slams its vines on the ground like whips!
This has to be the man-eating plant we're after.
Heh, if you ask me, I'd say the incense just made it madder!
This monster is surely the one behind the attacks! Take this opportunity and defeat the beast now!










The soldier said it killed a lot of people... I'm sure he'll feel safe now.
You decide to return to the pub and make your report.






The Hall's job must've been really tough. I can tell by the looks on your faces. But you did it. That's simply incredible. The people at the Hall were all impressed by your skill. They told me to thank you. You really did it this time.












As you turn your gaze forward while listening to Ricky, a soldier emerges from the other side of the clearing.


We've all been looking forward to meeting the skilled warriors who felled the King of the Jungle!
Hahah, well, who wouldn't!?
They told us to come and help you with your maps. How are those coming, eh?
...... The thing is, these floors are totally different from the previous ones, and the new monsters here are so strong...
The soldier trails off with a rather embarrassed expression.


So, you're making no progress?
The blunt question causes the soldier's shoulders to slump and his gaze falls to the floor.
B-But if famous explorers like you were to give it a try, I'm sure you'd have the maps drawn in no time!


That's one of the Radha's brave soldiers we heard about, eh...?


Let's draw the maps on our own.
Yeah... They did ask us to do this, after all...
Besides, there might be some soldiers who could help us. Right...?
You pray that Ricky is correct as you step into the new Stratum to chart its unknown expanse.

Dude, isn't this where that man said we could find the owner of this boot?
If I recall... the mining point on the 11th floor... That's where he should be. I don't know if we can believe that man, but it may be worth looking anyway.
The strange man's advice did say that the boot's owner would be here, but following it is up to you.


On closer inspection, you discover a broken wand. There is something inscribed on it, but the damage makes the lettering illegible.


This is probably one of the things we're looking for. Let's take it with us.
You believe this to be an article of one of the deceased, so you place the wand in your pack and continue on.




Are you getting tired, Ricky? We could take a break somewhere.
You look around and find a rather large boulder at a dead end. It seems large enough, in fact, for you all to have a seat... If you wish to spend time resting, you could do so on the boulder.



Alright, I get first dibs--
Owww!
Just as you are about to take your own seat on the boulder, Arthur jumps up with a strangled cry. Curious as to what happened, you look at the spot where Arthur sat and find a broken piece of coral...
I-It stabbed me in the butt...!
Yikes, are you okay?
It really hurt! You try getting stabbed in the butt like that, see how you like it!
Ugh, will you stop saying that?
Upon close inspection of the boulder, you indeed find coral growing everywhere on it, rendering it unfit as a seat...


Though broken, the coral may still be usable in crafting something, so you place it in your pack. After warning the others not to rest on the spiny boulder, you return to your investigation.




You push the plants out of the way and uncover a chipped axe. Perhaps the vegetation protected it, as it doesn't look worn. It is chipped, as if from a fierce battle...
This must be what we're looking for. ...He made it this far, it seems.
You believe this to be an article of one of the deceased, so you place the axe in your pack and continue on.




Ugh, look how big it is... ...And there's no way that's the only ant around, huh? I mean, it is an ant, after all...
Yes, which is why it's best we avoid fighting them to conserve our strength.
You cautiously observe the ants' movements as you press onward.


They're all survivalists, and one of 'em has brown hair.
Huh? That's exactly what that creepy guy at the pub said.
You recall the oddly specific advice that the strange man at the pub gave you. As Arthur said, one of the men in front of you matches the description perfectly.


You ask the survivalists if one of them has lost something. You produce the boot from your pack, and the chestnut-haired young man cries out in recognition. He asks you how you knew it was his.
Someone at the pub told us it belonged to you. Do you know him?
You describe the man to the survivalist, but he only shakes his head. It seems he does not know the man from the pub.
...What's going on here?
You have no answer. The survivalist hands you a freshly mined lump of ore.


He gives you his thanks and returns to his party.
We've finished the quest, but... something about this bothers me. How did that man know so much about the owner of that boot?
You have your own doubts, but you decide to return to the pub and turn in the mission.










I'd like to see what kind of ring he makes out of it.










Still... That guy from before didn't know the owner at all? How could he possibly have known so much about him, then?


The answer was before your eyes, but you weren't looking. That's all.
Whoa, you again!?
Ah, pardon me. I just happened to overhear you.


Hrm... You ask, and I shall answer. The facts lie in simple logic that anyone can understand. Examining the size of a shoe allows one to easily determine the gender and general physique of the wearer. The shape matches most survivalists' boots, and it has been modified to allow one to move with great stealth.
Now that you mention it...
But how could you tell how many people were with him just from his boots?
The sole answers your question. You can see that it shows a great deal of wear, yes? This is the same pattern of wear that a person who fights on the front line--such as yourself--would have.
...I see.
For a long-range support unit such as a survivalist to be on the front line... It isn't difficult to deduce that there are few people in his party.
Huh... You can get that from a single shoe.
How'd you figure out where he was, then?
The bluish-black spots, with splashes of mud, can only come from spending time near water. No place in the forest, save for the recently pioneered 3rd Stratum, is damp enough to cause those stains.
Oh, okay... What else?
From the scratches and spatters of mud on the higher parts, it was clear the owner spent extensive time digging. From all these indications, I deduced that the boot belonged to an adventurer looking for raw materials. Oh, and there was a strand of hair caught in the lining. That was the simplest clue of all.
Whoa...! This guy's crazy!
I thank you for the compliment. Now, then, I believe I have adequately explained my logic to you. Do you have any further questions?


Who ARE you?
I am Austin. A detective. I have business here in this country, and will be staying here for some time. If you need any help, come ask me.

...He really likes to talk, doesn't he? Either way, it's good that you were able to return the boot to its owner. If there's something we don't know in the future, maybe we could ask him. Good job, everyone.









Hrm... It seems you're the perfect people for my first case here. This must be fate. Lady Luck is on my side.


He's, uh... How should I put it... He's kinda strange, isn't he? What do you think, Dude?


I like him.
What!? Really?
Hey, me too! That old man's kinda funny.
He did figure out who owned that shoe, so I'm sure he isn't just all show. There are a lot of people who enjoy flaunting knowledge of trivia, but few who can actually put it to such use.
I agree. ...I'm sure we'll cross paths again.





































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