Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Easter Egg (1)
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Why was she suddenly acting like this?
"What's with the sudden change of heart?"
"Pardon?"
"The Flower Sanctuary is at the far end of the Eastern Forest zone. A regular forest might be one thing, but going all the way there is dangerous."
"Yes. But if we slowly clear a path and then ignite it all at once with purifying flames, wouldn't that cleanse all the pollen too?"
Only the flames of purification could restore everything to its original state.
Eve's insane idea sent chills racing down my spine, every hair standing on end.
The Eastern Forest zone, being Zone 1 territory, didn't have an overly tough final boss.
But the Flower Sanctuary—an extra field, or hidden field as it was called—had a difficulty level higher than expected.
That said, if you asked whether the squad led by Eve von Loengrin couldn't burn it down...
They could. A Magic Power stat of 22 was no joke. Surpassing the human limit of 17 and even the genius threshold of 19, reaching 22—the stuff of divine blessings—she could incinerate an entire continent solo or summon meteors from the sky.
Of course, it required that level of training, and right now Eve had the talent but lacked real combat experience. Still, if she really unleashed those purifying flames as she suggested, she could do it.
What I had to consider was the aftermath if this golden Eve torched the Flower Sanctuary, quenched her throat with fairy blood, and wrapped herself in that hatred.
"There's no upside to it."
"...What?"
"Don't spout nonsense about burning down the Flower Sanctuary. Is that something the one at the top should say?"
"...I never thought you'd be the one saying that."
Oh, you think so too?
Honestly, so do I.
But I still had to stop her.
Conveniently, this was an episode with a solution.
"In any case, it's not something a leader should say."
"Ugh. You're right on that count... I got carried away. Yeah."
"Exactly. And what about the fairies inside? You planning to burn them all alive?"
"...There are fairies in the Flower Sanctuary?"
Ah.
Right.
That gets revealed later. Specifically, it happens when Kelters, Eve, and their merry band of friends venture in.
Hmm.
Time to play it bold here.
"Of course there are."
"How do you know?"
"It's in the imperial records."
True story. It's written right there.
"You've never been in the imperial archives, have you? Read some books. It's not about grades—it's about wisdom. Intelligence doesn't equal insight."
"...Oh, I was planning to go in after summer break this year and do some reading!"
Yeah, figured.
That's why you hole up in the imperial archives during summer break, reading up on fairy lore.
That leads you to the corner of the 1-1 map, summoning a fairy, and eventually recruiting the fairy race as allies.
You know, the usual.
Act 1's hidden stage unlocks around Act 4 anyway.
"Anyway, the pollen drifting from the Flower Sanctuary—the root of the pollen sickness issue—I can solve that to some extent."
"...Really? For real?"
"At the very least, I can keep you safe from it."
"Ha. You showing off or what?"
I tilted my head.
"Me? Posing? In front of you? Why?"
"Stop talking in bits! It pisses me off even more because it feels like you're genuinely puzzled!"
"Anyway, I can handle it to some degree."
"......Hmph. Well. If you're doing that much, I don't mind. But what's your angle? Doing me favors out of the blue."
"What are you on about?"
"Give and take. Let's talk terms from here on."
"..............."
Nothing's free in this world, right?
The first thing I demanded was access to Wolfram's warehouse.
"...This is the warehouse where you stashed your ill-gotten gains. The stuff too worthless to sell, so it got left behind."
"Hm."
"Hiding something impressive in here, huh?"
"Nah. Nothing like that."
Eve eyed me suspiciously, but really, there wasn't.
This was just a junk warehouse for real.
In the main story, Eve scraped together everything Wolfram owned to fund academy operations and sold it all off, leaving pure trash behind.
I mean, doesn't a place billed as 'the trove of treasures hidden by the deposed former president!' usually unlock around Act 8 with some endgame weapon to tinker with till the finale?
But Wolfram's corruption was all within academy bounds, so Eve could confiscate and sell it all. Thus, nothing but garbage here. What a shame.
Still, amid the junk, there was one rare useful item.
Perfectly suited for this episode, too.
I found the glass bottles filled with sloshing brown liquid.
About fifteen crates' worth.
I'd worried they might be gone, but finding them was a huge relief.
"Found it."
"Ah, so that's it. I'll take this from the stuff in here. We'll settle the rest separately."
"......? What's that?"
I didn't answer.
Couldn't exactly call it an Easter egg, could I?
Easter egg. The term comes from hiding raw eggs among Easter ones.
In games, it means fun hidden elements tucked away just like that.
And D/Z SAGA had a few Easter eggs, one right here in Wolfram's corruption warehouse.
"That's booze, right?"
"Mm. Yeah."
"...You said there were no expensive liquors."
"It's not about expensive. It's the type that matters."
"Type?"
"Whiskey, rum, or gin."
"Quite the connoisseur of booze types."
"Build some wisdom. A few years from now, you'll be stepping into banquets where that's all they serve."
"............Grr!!"
After verbally flooring Eve, I continued preparations.
Man, I'd been sweating bullets that it might not be here, but lucked out.
"Hm. That should do it."
"What are you making?"
"Booze truffles."
"...Booze truffles?"
Eve tilted her head as she watched me work.
"You fill a hollow chocolate with liquor, then seal the hole with more chocolate. Simple as that."
"Ah, so the booze seeps out when you eat it. Sounds flavorful."
"Mm."
"Chocolate... Nice. I've had it a few times at the palace."
As I worked, Eve's eyes sparkled.
Probably aiming for the chocolate over the booze.
"Quit wandering around and eat this."
"...Ha. Black Bread? To this Eve von Loengrin?"
"Stuffed with chocolate cream in the middle."
"I'll dig in... Hehe."
As Eve leisurely munched on the cream-filled black bread, I refocused on the task.
The truffles had to be tiny, requiring delicate work.
"Tricky."
Honestly, insanely hard.
Should I just bail right now?
Did I really need to go this far for Eve?
If she broke down crying snot and all, leaking strength everywhere, would it even affect this Wolfram von Loengrin's life one bit?
I pondered it seriously.
......
Guess I'll keep going.
Afterward,
I headed to the Eastern Forest zone with Eve.
"...I have to come along too?"
"Yep."
"Why? If you need an escort, there are plenty of better people around than me."
"I think so too, but what can you do."
"......The Eastern Forest has pollen everywhere."
"Then wear that full-face helmet. It'll suit Golden Eve just fine."
"Stop calling it Golden!"
Eve sighed deeply, then reluctantly nodded and donned the golden helmet.
"Hoo. Ssssh. Shiiiik..."
"Let's go."
"Yesss... Breathing in this is seriously uncomfortable. For real..."
Eh.
Probably feels like strolling the training grounds in a gas mask.
"Tough luck."
"Ha. Comforting me now."
"Nah. I'm immune to the pollen, so I don't get it—'tough luck' is all."
"Someday when you drop dead, I'll be the prime suspect."
Hm.
Should I report her now and get her hauled off?
Veer right at the Eastern Forest entrance.
Stand in an empty clearing, staring at thin air. Dense trees block the path ahead.
"What? There's nothing here? ...Shiiiik."
"Look closely."
Hidden maps always have dungeon entrances. Eve's a total noob at games. Gamers, man.
"What the hell..."
"You see as much as you know."
"This is pissing me off so much..."
Alright. Time to activate the skill here.
Down a mana potion Aila prepped for me, then trigger Imperial Bloodline.
"【Though the ancient friend with whom we forged an eternal pact cannot be here, his descendant stands before you now. In the name of one worthy, I summon you forth. Open the gate and reveal yourselves.】"
⟨ Imperial Bloodline ⟩
"...W-What the heck?"
"Hoo. Watch closely. Things are about to change."
Then, a sharp crack split the empty air that had been sealed shut.
"...Ugh."
"Hm."
From within, something intense leaked out—potent enough for Wolfram's measly Magic Power of 3 to sense.
It appeared as light, felt like darkness, held the heat of fire and the shimmer of shadow.
The word for it all lumped together? Aura.
Not even the main body—just its aura.
Soon, a crimson wolf emerged from the rift.
"...I confirm the blood of the ancient friend."
"I see."
"It's been a hundred fifty years since an ancient friend who remembers the pact. But even so, no outsider may enter with you. If you wish to proceed, prove your worth."
"Worth?"
"The strength to tread this fairy land!"
With that, the wolf bared its fangs.
Whoa, intense aura. No joke. I'd die in one second flat, for real.
But this Imperial Bloodline skill ensured I never showed a pathetic side, anytime, anywhere.
"W-Wolfram, fall back. I'll handle th—"
"No need."
"Y-You're gonna die! G-Get back..."
"Crimson spirit."
"Yes. Will you face the trial?"
Trial.
Just beat the crap out of it from here.
In the original, only Eve met the criteria anyway.
Something about the first emperor's pact letting only imperial blood through.
Then Eve dramatically declares:
【When we tread the spirit's land, it will be with Kelters. And we'll all step in together.】
【Because we've all come this far as one!】
Leading to the spirit trial. The deduction part was fun, and the puzzle battles too.
"Oh, right, didn't mention. This one's a child of the pact too."
"...Fine, come at m—what?"
But.
So what?
"She's imperial blood too. Now step aside and open the gate."
"...Uh, um. R-Right. Y-Yeah... Okay..."
"And per the pact, give us a proper welcome inside. Oh, and tell the flowers to clear the pollen."
"Uh, sure?"
"The pact was between the fairy queen and our great ancestor. Protocol demands we meet her first, no?"
"R-Right..."
"Thanks."
"O-Okay. Yeah... Guess so..."
The wolf tucked its tail, slunk aside, and Eve and I slipped right in.
"...Wolfram."
"Yeah?"
"Not sure what just happened, but that felt wrong... Am I imagining it?"
Ah.
Come to think of it, her story of friendship and effort letting the whole crew into fairy land? Totally wrecked.
Hm. Uh.
"Just your imagination."
"Is it...? Yeah... right?"
"Just your imagination."
"......Okay."
Puzzle? Deduction? Group friendship? Who cares.
Like I have time for that?