Update 19: Overtime



Alright, everyone ready to go?!
Yes, ma'am!
<Yeah!>
We'll find those two even if it kills us!
Tell me somethin', Jude. You realize, yes, that the sun is not even completely up. What, exactly, are you crowin' about?
It's almost daybreak, and I haven't seen Sigrid or Momoe. Momoe's one thing, but Sigrid is usually up at least two hours before--
And you've neglected to check the spare bedroom right there...why, exactly?
...I...wasn't aware that was a spare bedroom.
...Do you think we should knock?
Yes, sure, I suppose--
...Mm. Morning, Judith...
Someone at the door, Siggy? I-- Oh, hey, Judith. How's it hanging?
...
...Earth to Judith?
...
Hey. Hey! Judith? What's everyone so wound up about?
Do you...think we might've done something? Are you okay, Judith?
You know what? I'm not going to say anything. You're both adults. I can completely see how this happened.
Huh?
Wha?
Momoe, we're leaving. It's time to go exploring.
Wha-- Hey, hey, hold on, at least lemme get my chestwraps on!




[Y'know, I'm surprised we didn't see water sooner.]
[How come?]
[I mean, this entire place is blue. I thought we'd be wading in water the whole time.]



...Keep a sample of one of these for me. They merit further study.

[I almost forgot what it's like to hit something that doesn't feel like it'll break my spear!]
[Same, but with my katana instead.]


Flaming Sleight of Foot!


Sensible Slash of Sword.
...





Hiya, crabby.



I d-didn't think water could-- Could be so cold...
Perhaps you should dress warmer next time, like me.






It seems to be watching your every move from its position amidst the grass some distance away. The only adventurers you can think of who would dare tread this deep would be the duo of Ren and Tlachtga. But would they hide themselves and watch you from afar this way?
...On your guard, everyone.
You weigh the options of approaching the unknown figure or ignoring it...
And...advance!
You attempt to approach the figure, but it seems to have anticipated this and disappears into the forest. You decide to remain cautious of any other unfamiliar figures as you go on your way...
Well, another thing to be concerned about for the pile.



Get offa me! ...At least have the courtesy to not do this when my girlfriend isn't around!
Wait, hold up, girlfriend?! You?! Committed to someone?!
Long story, can you burn this worm off-- Wait oh gods no don't do that!



I TOLD YOU NOT TO BURN THEM OWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!


OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW HOOOOOOOOT!
Hold still, Momoe, so I can-- Just let me put the fire-- Stop, drop, and roll already--









Hup! ...Good to know I've still got some acrobatic skill.
Good...for you...









I'll get you...next time...
Sig...rid...
<Fuck you, bear...>



Accursed ursine...
If only I was quicker...



Oh, come on, Dad, again?
Blame the bear.
I'm not blaming anyone, I'm just mad I got ripped away from my wife because of this.
...Ha.
What's so funny?
Oh, I'm just amused that my future daughter apparently mirrors me in one respect.
Yeah?
Same-sex attraction.
...I'M FIXING THE UNIVERSE RIGHT NOW DON'T DIE THIS TIME.




The wood seems to be of high quality... You decide to put them in your pack to take back to town.


Hey, free stuff.
Just as you're about to depart, you find more that could be used as materials in the tree before you. They are close enough for you to reach out and take, if you wish...
I'm not turning down more free stuff!
As you reach up in an attempt to collect more materials, there comes a sudden buzzing of wings! The insects who originally harvested the materials have noticed you and are even now flying directly toward the party!



Momoe.
I know, I know...








With other insects potentially lurking nearby, it is too dangerous to remain to curse your loss. You leave at once...
We're not diving for "free stuff" again.
Alright, alright, I get it, sheesh.



The sound grows louder and louder until your realize it is coming from all sides! You must act quickly before the situation gets out of hand...


_{Stay still, everyone.}
Thinking that times like these are when one must stand one's ground, you stand firm and still. You listen to the frog's song for a while, trying your hardest not to move a muscle. Eventually, the croaking grows softer in volume, and then fades completely. You have withstood the ordeal without putting yourselves in harm's way...! You give a sigh of relief before returning to your investigation of the forest Labyrinth.





My ears...


Ugh...


Stupid, stupid bat creatures.


Grumble, grumble...









Everything with wings...must die...

The joys of being able to dodge things.


[Getting real sick of all these things that can kill me.]

Thierry, some...bandages... Maybe a blood infusion, too...
Coming right up. Well, the bandages, at least.




[Oh, fuck me.]
Gonna echo that one.
Momoe.
Judith. Not everything about me is about attraction to other women. Seriously, please stop that.


And I didn't think...the ants could be worse...



Dad.
I know.
I had maybe an hour of enjoying existence before this happened again.
Yes, well, you'd understand if you had to fight these accursed dragonflies or bears.
Trust me, I fought the dragonflies--
...Uuuugh, what the...
Ah, we have company. Welcome to the end of existence, Momoe.
...What.
Oh great. Alright, I don't have time to explain this, I'm just gonna fix things. My wife's waiting for me.
Oh, hey, same. Except, well, girlfriend, not wife, but hopefully wife eventu--
Yes, yes, that's nice, please let me focus.



It seems air is seeping out from somewhere and forming pockets that are rising from below. There may be something worth noting at the bottom... You are tempted to see what it is.
Cover me, guys.
The water is easily shallow enough for you to investigate with your bare hands; there is no need to step into it.
Never mind.
As you grope around the bottom, you come away with a large shellfish. It seems this is what was creating the water bubbles... You wonder if it is good to eat.
Ooh, shellfish! I haven't had some good seafood in a while!
There's several good seafood restaurants in Etria. You haven't gone to any of them? Lords know the Super Byeahs give us a gigantic surplus of en...
Fancy places aren't for me, and all the good fish places are fancy as hell. Anyway, dig in time!
When you make up your mind to bite into the still-thrashing shellfish, you are met with a surprisingly sweet taste!


You are unable to find another shellfish, having just disturbed the water, but another may drift by later. If you happen to pass this spot again, perhaps you could search for another shellfish then.
Ahhhh, that hit the spot.


...Well, more for the surplus.



Oh, this'll be easy!


Never...mind...



DAD. REALLY.
Dragonflies. I don't know what else to say.
Seriously, ow, those things hurt...
Seriously, why don't you just, like...bring Elowen along? I know she exists.
Strict guild rules about party composition.
Boy, am I glad Guild ----- never had any dumb rules like that...
...So, uh, someone mind explaining why that name just got dropped and why we're in this void to begin--
No time, gotta fix.
Of course.






That wasn't even five minutes here!
It was bats this time.
I'm sure it was.
Daughter-whose-name-I-don't-know, can you please just let us get back to where we were?
Gladly. If you don't die this time.



...Why are we at the pub instead of exploring B13F more?
Well, we've forgotten to take requests for a while.
Oh, so we have.
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. You remember that detective guy, right? He told me he was going into the forest, but he never returned. I know a lot of the patrons in this pub look forward to his stories, and a lot of people are worried about him. He didn't say where he was going, but he did leave this note behind. It's a bit long, but let me read it.
[Oh boy, here we go.]
"Once property of man, now belonging to the insects who dwell below. The light of the ore becomes the sun. The shadow points to the four doors. From under the sun, south two steps and one, west one step, and again south two steps and one. There, below. The honey shall become an orb and regain its shine.
...I'm sorry, what? There has to be more.
...That's it. Do you have any idea what that means?
Absolutely no clue. Everyone?
Sadly, no.
I'm good at puzzles of human interaction. Logical puzzles? Nope, nuh-uh, no clue.
[Hell no.]
Ooh, ooh, I think I have an idea!
Well, anything's worth a shot. Let's check the rest of the requests, though.
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. Jackson the chef has another request. He wants to pioneer a new trend of using Bug Nest as the main ingredient in dishes.
Ew.
Let's see... I heard you can get it from Dragonflies on B13F. He wants three of them. What kind of food can you make out of a bug nest?
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. It's a mystery why, but the ants living on B12 become very violent at a certain time each year. They claim the lives of many adventurers... I want you to find the reason why they turn so antagonistic... Pun very much not intended. If we can find out what's happening, then we may figure out a way to deal with it. I'm counting on you.
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. The client is an experienced adventurer, but he said he saw something strange in the 2nd Stratum. It's a cute little plant that moves. He tried picking it up, but it ran away. He's been looking for it ever since, but he hasn't had any luck. So, he decided to enlist some help. The client says he saw the strange plant at a dead end on B10F in the 2nd Stratum. Though, he reports that it just popped out of the dead end, so try going through apparent dead end walls? It'll probably take some patience to find it, but good luck.



Alright, Katya, what was your idea about Austin's note?
Well, "insects" makes me think 3rd Stratum, obviously. "The light of the ore" is weird, but it probably has to do with where the Byeahs can mine for things, and there's two of them here. The one all the way up there doesn't make any sense, so that just leaves this place. From there, it's just some step directions.


And it leads right to this hole!
...Impressive.


Well then. Very nice work, Katya.
Ehehe, thank you. I've always liked solving puzzles like that.
Did he come all this way by himself? He doesn't appear to be with anyone else. You remember the quest from the pub to look for Austin in the Labyrinth.


One of the regulars at the pub became worried about me and hired you to find me, I presume? Well, I apologize for causing others to worry. Still... You didn't happen to come here using the note I left behind, by any chance?
Yup yup.
You nod, and the detective looks straight into your eyes.
Is that so... Allow me to ask you this, then. What is the sun?
The mining point!
Hrm... You are indeed very skilled and clever adventurers. You have my respect. But it matters not right now. You see, I am here on business. Since you're here, could you lend me a hand? In a matter of seconds, a certain monster should arrive. You're good at fighting monsters, yes?
Uh, yeah. What kind of monster's--
You hurriedly look around for the monster Austin spoke of, but you do not sense anything... Suddenly, an immense pressure surrounds you, just as the detective said it would!
Now then, my fellow adventurers. I'm counting on you.





Ugh... That's foul...






...Eh?!
When the detective approaches the fallen monster, it suddenly rears up and spits poison on him!
...Ahh, futile resistance.
You-- What--
You can't believe your eyes. The detective was hit with a massive amount of poison, but all he did was flinch!
How?!
You ask what just happened, and he smiles cynically.
Oh, it's an application of simple technology. Anyone could do it if they understood the principle.
...I'm curious, but evidently that's for another time.
After confirming the monster's death, the detective examines its carcass... However, it seems he does not find what he is looking for. Austin shrugs and sighs.
...Hrm, this one isn't it.
I apologize for involving you in my work. Just think of it as bad luck.
Still... In the end, he didn't appear...
[Who?]
Oh, don't worry about what I said. If you knew the details, it would only put you in danger. Now then, I must be off.


You were able to find the missing detective, as requested. You should report to the pub when you have time.
[Weirdo.]
[I'm with you on that one.]









Still...what a false alarm.







Some say that certain living beings live to collect things. In some cases, there may be no reason, and in others, it's part of the creature's ecology.
...Huh?
...Now, what does this mean?
Good question...



This is completely asinine.
I heard it works!
From who?
From, uh... From some weird Medic with a hat. She said if you wanna run into those weird plant monsters, just walk back and forth a bunch in this specific area.
That Medic's an idiot and you should feel ashamed for--



What.

Boink.






...I...
So what was that about Hat Medic being an idiot?
I take it back, but... What...?









Is this the plant? It really is cute. You found it at a dead end on B10F, right? Maybe you'll find another one there. If you want to find out, that's probably your best bet. Now then, here's your reward.
Why was it...there...
Judith, perhaps you should lie down for the rest of the day...

















These eggs must be the ants'. Clearly, they become violent in protection of their eggs.
Well, that was easy.
You have to wonder why no-one hypothesized this.
You should escape the nest so that you can report your findings on the ants' behavior.









Seems like it.
I can see why they would turn so violent, then. I'll put out a warning to other adventurers, telling them to avoid the ants in this season from now on.
Please do.








I've got a bad feeling about this.


I...knew it...



Y'know, somehow I'm more annoyed when there's a long gap between these.
Hey, if you wanna travel back in time and help us with these, be my guest.
Oh, good, Dad explained this stuff to you.
To the best of my ability. Quite frankly, none of this makes sense, still.
Don't worry, it doesn't make sense to me either. Only reason I know how to handle this is because of ------ and his weird powers. Swear to the gods, if he corrupts ----- and ------'s kid, I'm gonna be real--
Can you please just let us get back to what we were doing? You'll have plenty of time to finish that thought to me in, what, 30 years or so?
...Good point.





I wonder what's happened on the 3rd Stratum...
Good question, because this is news to us.



Guess t'ot'er explorers are tryin' to catch up t'you lot.
[Eh, I'd like to see them try.]




She's a wonderful woman. I see why so many of the customers go to the pub just to see her.
Yeah, Valerie's nice.
...
...What?
Oh, sorry. Old habits die hard, you know.
I didn't think it'd be this hard for someone to process that I'm in a serious relationship...



More business is always good, but it's getting too busy in here for me to handle. I'd take help from anyone... I'd even let a cat help around the place if it offered.
Aww, that'd be adorable.


Hey, Tenebris. You're veteran adventurers now, huh? You've overcome a great many battles to the death, haven't you? I can tell by your equipment.
You don't know the half of it, buddy.
We've been working hard to catch up to you, but the monsters are getting stronger... Have you met the Scissor Crab?
Big nope.
Their Charge is meddlesome. Taking a single blow from it can be a disaster, and yet its hard shell makes it a pain to defeat. Swordfish's Gale Slash is unpredictable. It could hit anyone. Getting hit twice definitely hurts, but if people in the back line are hurt, things will be so much worse. Man, exploring the Labyrinth is never easy, is it?
You said it. It's fun in the end, though!
[Why?]
Where else do I get to practice coming up with cool move names on the spot?
I mean, the enemies are strong. We were just talking about how it might be hard for our guild to go on. If we had Ryuguu Pearl, we could make Warding Bell, which would keep monsters away from us... But we'd need to explore the Labyrinth to get that Ryuguu Pearl...
Oh, Tenebris! I know you! Daddy talked about you. He said you're "hella adventurers!" Hellaventurers? Hellventurers? ...Oh, well.
...Aww.
I was playing with Daddy's map. It's really fun to read. He has funny notes all over it! On this floor here, you can ride a lotus flower, and it'll carry you across, and there are alligators! But it looks like there's a place Daddy didn't go, because he's scared of the alligators. Hee hee! I'm going to tell him that I know he's afraid of alligators when he gets back! Huh? Wait... Daddy's in the forest... So why do I have his map?
...



With your skills, I'm sure you could get 'em into fighting shape pretty quickly.
We seem to have covered the entire roster of known classes, though?
Hell, you don't even let newbies sign up to be Highlanders or Gunners, and yet we've got one of the former right here.
[Kind of a dick move, if you ask me.]



...I may just be overthinking things. I'm sure he has a plan prepared...



Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. This comes from Ian, the owner of the general store. He wants everything you can chop from the 3rd Stratum. Everything, huh...? That sounds like a lot. Good luck.
It's times like these I'm thankful for the Byeahs.
Not begrudgingly thankful?
I'm willing to put up with a lot so we don't have to risk getting ambushed while trying to do something none of us are good at.
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. This was posted by a biologist who has lived in this town for quite a long time. He says he wants to research the giant crabs that live in the 3rd Stratum, but he can't find any. They are supposed to live on B13F, so if there's something there, it has to be on that floor. Good luck, everyone.



Byeah...

BYEAH.



DAD.
Hey, don't look at us.
What could've even caused-- Oh no, don't tell me...
Don't tell you what?
Please do not tell me this happens when the Byeahs are destroyed...
That's a name I never wanted to hear again.
They creep you out too, huh?
You have no idea.












There are a lot of materials to be found in the forest, quest or no quest. Be sure to collect them if you can. Well, I'll have this sent to the client. Thank you.










As you walk by the water, you notice a large hole in the ground. The hole is large enough for an entire person to fit inside.
Katya.
On it! One fireball, coming right up!
Wait, no, I just wanted this torch lit!
...Oh.
You light a torch and peer inside. You can see that the hole gently slopes downwards. The tunnel turns not far in, making it impossible to see any further from where you are. You lean out and think about what course of action to follow next.
Judith, would you mind going in?
I am the most logical choice, I suppose...
You decide to send Judith into the hole to see what's inside. After a while, Judith jumps out with immense speed. The others ask what was inside, and the answer is: a giant enemy crab!
READY YOURSELVES!
You all raise your weapons, ready for the crab monster to come rushing out, but nothing happens. Perhaps the giant crab is not interested in following the intruder...? You can search the hole again if you wish.
...What? Okay, no, I'm going back in...
You throw Judith into the hole with the giant crab to see what the matter is. After a tense couple of moments, Judith emerges from the hole, undisturbed. It would appear that the "crab" in the hole is nothing but an empty shell. The crab probably shed its shell and left it here. You recall the quest you accepted at the pub to find a crab shell. This empty shell should be exactly what the client asked for! Find the time to return this shell to the pub.


Well, that was weird.









And what is that sample?
[One giant enemy crab shell, coming right up.]
...Th-That's the sample? W-Well, it is perfect for his research... Ummmm... Can you just put it in that box over there? No, no, don't hand it to me! Put it in the box... Thanks. A-Anyway, thank you! Here's your reward!





Next Update
Previous Update
Table of Contents