149. Bond
White Candle Star, underground lair.
Three months of clearing had already wiped out the monsters here completely. The 25 players, each at Alpha tier, could easily handle these low-ecological weak magical creatures.
The leaders of several major guilds stayed behind to think about how to transform the goblin lair.
The system indicated that this place could be converted into a dungeon by contacting a lord. However, this would lower the livability of Believer's Village. Considering that the village was no more than a rural homestead, they felt it was necessary to deliberate further before making a decision.
"This has nothing to do with us, let's go." Cumin Powder casually grabbed Caramel Snail and started heading back.
Caramel Snail's head was directly embraced in the other's arms. That soft warmth and the scent from intense exercise momentarily made him forget this was just a game:
"...You're still a girl, can't you stop doing this? You should at least be mindful."
"Ah, Little Cow, why are you acting like a woman?" Cumin Powder pouted. "It's just a hug, don't act like some single shut-in."
"But I am... I don't have a girlfriend, and I'm always at home playing games," Caramel Snail muttered.
"Oh wow, hit the nail on the head, huh? Sorry, sorry." Cumin Powder patted his shoulder.
"You two seem really close," Gary Don packed up the camping tools and joked, "If all else fails, you guys are quite compatible. What's it called? Herbivore boy meets carnivorous girl?"
"Huh? What outdated term is that? Nobody says that anymore," Cumin Powder sneered. "Besides, our Little Cow is now a pro player too—why not start a livestream? I'm sure some girls would like your type. Just find a fan to date, and problem solved!"
"Spare me..." Caramel Snail sighed. "As an ultimate social phobic, talking to so many people in a stream would kill me."
"What? Money and girls, and you're still not satisfied?" Cumin Powder spread her hands.
"I don't have many friends in real life. Nearly 20 years, and I can count the girls I've talked to on one hand."
Caramel Snail murmured:
"It's only with you that I feel comfortable."
"Oh?" Cumin Powder crossed her arms, dissatisfied. "So, you think of me as one of the guys?"
"No, not at all." Caramel Snail said casually, "You're different from other girls. Or rather—Cumin Powder, you're very special."
"I'm... special?"
"You're straightforward, you don't hide your thoughts, and you're clear about what you like and dislike. No one could dislike a girl like you."
"...What about you?"
"Me too."
Cumin Powder's eyes flickered. Turning her head, she put her hands behind her head and said nonchalantly:
"...There are some things I wouldn't say so bluntly."
"Huh?" Caramel Snail was puzzled.
"Some people are dense, but I won't say who." Gary Don munched on his fried chips and quietly stepped back, distancing himself from the center of this frustrating duo.
—What is even going on here?
Caramel Snail scratched his head.
On one side, there was the girl bro acting all mysterious.
On the other, there was the frustrated cook staring at him like he'd let them down.
What was happening now? What was going on?
Thankfully, his confusion didn't last long. Caramel Snail's gaze shifted forward: out of the woods came a gray-haired woman carrying a basket, the camp's guide NPC, 'Weaver' Yavanna.
"Hmm, time to settle those earlier tasks."
Without a second thought, Caramel Snail walked straight toward Yavanna.
"Hey, I was just getting to the good part!" Gary Don wailed, stomping his foot. "Caramel Snail! I hate how dense you are!"
"Pfft."
Beside him, Cumin Powder chuckled lightly, shrugged, and said nothing, acting as if it had nothing to do with her as she followed him.
She walked up just as Caramel Snail pulled out some collected materials from his bag:
"Hello, Yavanna, I'd like to submit a task—"
"I'm not in the mood."
Before he could finish, Yavanna coldly interrupted:
"Just leave it in my house."
"Tch..."
Caramel Snail's eye twitched. Cumin Powder stepped forward, taking out a small package to present to Yavanna:
"Weaver~ I'd like to submit the previous task."
Caramel Snail quickly leaned toward her ear: 'It's useless. This NPC isn't in the mood right now—'
"Alright."
Yavanna raised her head, revealing a gentle smile:
"These flowers are exactly the dye I need. You even wrapped them up, well done."
"Ah? No, the package was something you gave me earlier..."
"Really? Then thank you for returning it." Yavanna said, pulling out a wallet from her chest and handing several large Dina notes to Cumin Powder. "Here's your reward. If you need more, just come find me."
Cumin Powder turned her head, looking curiously at Caramel Snail:
"Little Cow, what now? My favorability with Yavanna is at 520 (Respect)..."
Caramel Snail couldn't hold it anymore. Looking at Yavanna, he still chose to quietly activate his disguise mode, letting the persona of 'Saga Qi' take over.
"Phew..."
After a brief preparation, he immediately said gruffly, "Miss Yavanna, isn't this a bit too much?"
"Is it?" Yavanna didn't even bother looking at him and continued focusing on Cumin Powder.
"Isn't it obvious? We're both here to submit tasks. Why only accept hers and not mine? We're both from Azure Star, right? There's no need for discrimination on another planet, is there?"
Yavanna completely ignored Caramel Snail's complaint.
"By the way, why is Miss Yavanna so kind to me?" Cumin Powder asked curiously.
"Ah, you might not believe this," Yavanna blushed slightly, gazing at Cumin Powder's face. She spoke softly: "I once had a sister named Daisjia. Your face resembles hers… The moment I saw you, I thought: if Daisjia had grown up, she might look just like you."
After speaking, she fell silent for a moment. Then she shook her head and apologized:
"Sorry, that sounds so strange, doesn't it? Please don't mind me. Your name is...?"
"Asakusa Yazuko," Cumin Powder said. "Or you can just call me Cumin."
"Cumin..." Yavanna muttered. "You Descendants really like to eat, huh."
[Favorability Increased]
With such high favorability, maybe a new quest could be unlocked?
"Oh right, speaking of which, we found an abandoned laboratory in the goblin cave earlier," Cumin Powder suddenly remembered and private messaged Caramel Snail to take out what they had discovered.
"Laboratory?" Yavanna was confused.
"Inside, we found this," Caramel Snail handed over the "Dragonfall WeaponDesign Manuscript."
As Yavanna received it, Cumin Powder added:
"The lab's owner was a [Doctor] from the [Secret Society]. This manuscript seems to be a tool he created to combat a certain enemy."
"—Hidden?!"
Yavanna froze as if struck by lightning. Her pupils contracted violently.
Could it really be the Hidden?
The words of [Adventurer Saintess] Virlia echoed in her ears:
"This planet has already been infiltrated by citizens of the [Society]. Narrative-level civilizations are constantly monitoring the situation here. One day, you will be discovered."
"If Gaia's people find you, they will assimilate your will into the Ether. In such an environment, you'll have no resistance and will immediately succumb to the [Society]."
No.
After hiding for so long, finally living peacefully here with Mr. Li Aozi… only to be found?
Could she never escape the clutches of the Secret Society?
"No..."
Yavanna whispered.
"What we deduced is that this [Doctor] betrayed the [Secret Society]. His research involved a little girl named Diaran, who seemed to be a weapon against the Secret Society..."
"Weapon?"
Yavanna raised her head. Her web-like eyes stared at the two, her tone excited:
"You said there's a weapon specifically for dealing with the Hidden?"
The two exchanged glances.
"Uh, I guess?"
"Weaver, you can check the design's contents..."
Yavanna struggled to calm herself as she flipped through the manuscript. The more she read, the more excited she became. Her heart pounded rapidly.
"Hehe, haha..."
The wind blew her hood back, revealing her true appearance to the two players for the first time:
Her mouth stretched wide, with six additional eyes appearing on her forehead. Corrosive mucus seeped from her teeth, and her skin had a watery, fractured texture.
"Mr. Li Aozi..."
Yavanna clutched the manuscript, her eyes filled with madness. Her voice, eerie and clear, echoed like whispers in a valley:
"I see hope."
...
The manuscript's pages fluttered in the wind. Sunlight highlighted a line of text:
"...Although it cannot guarantee 100% success, Diaran's current strength allows her to absorb up to 70% of the Ether Blood from a target. For citizens of the [Secret Society], being absorbed twice would completely degrade them into mortals."
"I once thought this was a great victory. But the situation is grim. Many experimental subjects vanished completely soon after losing their Ether Blood, their bodies turning transparent."
"It was then I realized that once one enters the Society, everything personal is already lost. Yet, I still choose to believe in Diaran. After all, she's only 14 now."
"Given time, she will undoubtedly become the savior of the Star Abyss, an existence like Leoz. Diaran (Fallician: Executor)."