A New Party Member.

∆ But... What if this could be different? ∆

Light.

Right after I parted from Miura at the potion shop, I decided to go to a tavern that was nearby.

I'd forgotten to eat something earlier, so I was pretty hungry now that things had calmed down.

This sure caused me some problems during the Quest, I felt a little more tired than usual and most of my attacks didn't have as much effect.

Because of that I had to finish off the Fallen Knights like this. Good thing Miura was with me, I'm sure she couldn't finish them alone.

Soon Katsuo put his hands on his head as he looked up and walked with a small smile on his face.

But now that this is over I can rest and enjoy the rest of my day in peace.

And so I walked a little until I passed the square.

Soon, if he and I continue at this pace, we will level up to Lv60 and then he and I will be strong and go to the Dungeons.

Usually these places aren't that easy to find and I've only found one dungeon since I started playing.

And that dungeon I found was in a difficult place to find because of its environment. I still remember when I entered and after I fought the first enemy, he was Lv61 and I was Lv27.

I ran away because I realized I wasn't going to beat him no matter how hard I tried.

This was something that happened so fast that I don't even remember what the monster looked like.

But now that I think about it.....

Katsuo stopped walking and started thinking to himself.

If I still remember, there was something about Dungeons written on the game's official website on Boogle. Dungeons are not normally explored or completed in a single player.

Normally you gather a squad of maximum 7 people and then enter the Dungeon, with the necessary requirements and equipment everyone can leave there alive.

It's not easy to complete a dungeon, they are big and long to the point that it takes days or even weeks to complete a simple low level dungeon. Also, there are many floors and corridors in a dungeon, meaning Dungeons are entrances to a maze with any careless person.

These Dungeons also contain various types of enemies that you can imagine. From ones that any player might have seen just playing the game normally, to new creatures that can kill anyone who is careless easily and quickly.

Looking at the sky for a few seconds and then letting out a brief sigh.

"Where would I find a member for the group?" (Katsuo)

I've never tried to party with anyone, I'll probably need Miura's help with that.

Looking at the floor a little thoughtfully. Katsuo looked slightly to the side. A girl with her head down, looking lonely.

Sitting on a wooden bench with her staff in her hand as if she was waiting for someone. The kind of person who didn't have parties to go out to.

Her to approach her now and then invite her to join our party. Would she join?

Katsuo at that moment tried not to think about anything and soon started heading towards her.

Arriving at the halfway point Katsuo stopped walking after seeing some people gathering near the girl.

There were 3 people in total. All of them wearing pieces of armor the same as each other.

Everyone seemed to be smiling strangely at her, as if they wanted something.

I sensed that something might be up and quickly hid behind a statue of a person before any of them could see me. And right after a few seconds I started spying on them.

All I could see was them in front of her talking about something. It was hard to hear, so I could only see the lips of one of them moving.

Another time passed between the 4.

One of them started to walk away as the girl got up from the bench, leaving her staff behind. And soon she started following him with the other two who were right behind her to an alley that was nearby.

They were all smiling at her as the girl kept her head slightly lowered and you could still see her expression. A sad look and almost a drop of life in it.

Is that exactly what I'm thinking?

If yes, then why doesn't she ask for help?

Should I intervene in this?

Stopping spying on them, Katsuo sat down on the floor and placed his hand and forehead looking thoughtful again.

However, with a sad look spreading across her face for a few seconds. But then he lowered his head to a point where no one could see him.

(Seeing this reminds me of something...)

He then took a deep breath and stood up from where he was and...

In the alley, the 3 guys surrounded the girl from all sides. One of them pushed her against the wall and put her hand on the wall at the same moment.

"You are really beautiful"

He then brought his hand closer to her face and began to touch the girl's face. It started to cry.

"It's really a shame, but we're going to have to do something with you"

He then using his other hand directed her to her chest as she smirked.

Just as he was about to play, a voice could be heard from inside the alley.

"Hey? Is it okay to do this with one person?"

Everyone looked where that voice came from. And just to see a boy standing there walking towards them, one of them said.

"Do you happen to know her?"

The boy then began to smile as he scratched his head.

"Do I know her? Of course she is my teammate"

The girl, her eyes still lifeless, looked at who the guys were talking to. And then, just a few seconds later, good of her appeared again.

The person she was looking at at this very moment was Katsuo, the person she had met the first day after the event started.

Katsuo then held her hand and the two started to walk away.

"Well, we're leaving now. Thanks for taking care of her for me" (Katsuo)

While the other 2 remained confused by the situation. One of them even went after Katsuo and put his hand on her shoulder.

"I see. She's your girlfriend isn't she? Why don't we do it like this, she's in our debt and no one here is going to get hurt ok?"

Katsuo then sighed, released the girl's hand and approached her ear with a low voice.

"...I'd like you to keep the image you still have of me safe, so close your eyes and don't look back... Why am I getting angry right now..." (Katsuo)

Author: 'Pog Reaction'

Katsuo then smiled happily at the guy. But soon that smile quickly turned scary.

The girl then closed her eyes, preventing herself from seeing anything.

Extremely Dark.

"And so... We have a deal-"

Soon... The sound of something falling to the ground can be heard by the girl.

And in a few seconds...

"Ahh!! My hand!!!"

A painful screaming sound beside her getting louder and louder...

"What do you think you're doing!"

"Pick it!"

Footsteps that grew louder as the sounds of swords became visible to her ears...

Soon... The first sound of two swords clashing echoed through the place.

"Haah!"

...and more and more and more...

...

"I almost hit him!"

...

"There is!"

...

... Until the brief sound of something being pierced was heard after yet another clash of swords.

"No!!"

...

"I will kill you!"

...

More sword sounds were heard. Until quickly another sword clashing sound was heard. And then that fight turned into silence with someone groaning in pain in the background.

And then silence prevailed again. And the girl who was crying again fell to the ground on her knees.

Slow footsteps were heard, getting louder and louder... Until they stopped beside the girl.

And a calm, reassuring voice was heard.

"You can open your eyes, it's alright now"

Even though she couldn't see the person right now, the voice sounded…trustworthy.

The girl who was still crying slowly opened her eyes.

And when she came to, she saw Katsuo with a small cut on his cheek looking at her on his knees. He was still handing her back his staff that he had left behind.

"Y, under, Your..."

"Oh, that? I'm fine, don't worry about me" (Katsuo)

He then smiled and stood up. And then he held out his hand to her.

"Let's go. I'll take you to a safe place until things calm down" (Katsuo)

She wiped away her tears and took Katsuo's hand, who helped him to his feet.

And the two left there while the player who was on the floor leaning against the wall with his severed hand, looked at Katsuo still panting and almost lifeless.

His vision grew increasingly blurred until he closed his eyes and fell to the ground.

His health bar soon reached zero, then a screen appeared over his body.

[Revive: 30 seconds left.]

The counter on this screen began to slowly decrease.

His body began to slowly separate into the petals of a pink flower.

And time passes and your counter has reached zero. His body, completely infested with petals, turned into a small flower.

∆

Chrysanthemums: These flowers are used to represent life and death, the sun and rain, and these flowers prefer to be offered on All Saints' Day and All Saints' Day.

∆

In the middle of the streets, the sun began to set and the night began to appear. Katsuo and that girl walked without any defined path until then.

"We're far enough away from them already, do you happen to have anyone you know around here?" (Katsuo)

She didn't say anything, just shook her head slightly with a no.

"Not even any friends you've met?" (Katsuo)

She again shook her head.

"I see, fine then. I'll stay with you until you feel safe" (Katsuo)

"O-Okay-"

And at the same time. Her belly started to growl. Realizing what had happened, she looked down.

Katsuo looking at that, put his hand on her head.

"Don't worry about it, let's go to some tavern nearby" (Katsuo)

She then raised her head again. Looking at Katsuo with another smile on his face.

"Oh! And by the way, we're right next to a Tavern!" (Katsuo)

The girl then looks to the side. And indeed there was a Tavern right next to them.

And the girl heard another sound of a growling belly. She thought it was with him again, but the sound was actually Katsuo's. Who put both hands on her belly with a nervous smile

"Hehehe. Looks like I'm hungry too. Well, there's no time to waste, let's get in soon" (Katsuo)

Katsuo took the girl's hand and she started to blush slightly. Katsuo then proceeded to take her inside the establishment.

...

Inside the establishment they both went straight to a table and sat down. A few seconds later, a man wearing a servant's outfit came towards them.

"Welcome, do you want anything?"

He then took a small piece of wood and handed it to each of us.

I watched that 'menu' and then lifted the piece of wood and said

"I'll want this one" (Katsuo)

"Understood, what about your date?"

She remained silent without even picking up the 'menu'.

"She still hasn't made up her mind" (Katsuo)

"Okay. That's it for now, I'll be back soon to order when she's ready."

He then walked away from the table.

I looked at the girl. Who remained with his head slightly down with a sad expression on his face.

It looked like she still hadn't gotten over it from before.

"Don't worry about it, I'm around and none of them will do that to you again" (Katsuo)

She then lifted her head a little and started looking at me.

"I promise. Ah! I know, you don't have to pay anything now, leave everything to me" (Katsuo)

Her sad face turned slightly into a smile.

"Thanks..."

It was all I could hear from that low voice as she smiled at me lightly.

"No Problem" (Katsuo)

This situation continued. And Katsuo felt something different inside him. Perhaps it was a sense of relief for him.

After a while, the same guy as before came back to our table with my order. A simple roast beef was my order

He then took the order to the girl who shyly spoke to him.

"II want one..."

It took a while because of the girl's shyness. But in the end he took her order and left the table again.

Katsuo then took the fork and soon tasted the roast beef. And a smile spread across his face.

(Tasty...)

"Oh... So good!" (Katsuo)

Katsuo began to eat the meat, and with each bite he moaned in pleasure. It seemed that hunger had really affected him in a different way.

And then...

"Hey, you have to prove it" (Katsuo)

Katsuo with a happy smile started to bring the fork with a piece of meat to the girl.

She slightly lowered her head as she blushed. But soon she ate the piece of meat with her fork.

"So what do you think?" (Katsuo)

"Well..."

"Isn't it? This meat is very good" (Katsuo)

We finished eating and I paid as I had promised. We left the place and walked back through the city streets.

"So. Do you feel a little better already?" (Katsuo)

She remained quiet, but only shook her head with a yes.

"Very good!" (Katsuo)

...

"You know... I've been thinking about something since I saw you... Wouldn't you... be buried by joining my group?" (Katsuo)

Silence formed. Katsuo soon blushed and tried to explain the situation.

"N-No need if you don't want to, I'm just asking-" (Katsuo)

"It's all right..."

...

"Eh?" (Katsuo)

She then looked at me and smiled briefly while blushing.

"I agree to join your group..."

"So I'll see you tomorrow. Is it okay for us to meet at the guild?" (Katsuo)

She then nodded and started to lead the way. I just stood still.

"Oh! Wait!" (Katsuo)

She then stopped walking and turned to me.

"I still don't know your name!" (Katsuo)

...

She then lowered her head and said.

"Shizuko... Shizuko Harumi"

"Oh, I'm... Katsuo! Katsuo Shin"

"Pleasure... I'm counting on you..." (Shizuko)

She then turned around and continued walking alone.

Katsuo in a low voice...

"Shizuko..." (Katsuo)

He then smiled slightly

(It is a beautiful name)

Dark.