Story Recap
A suspicious group appears in Calloah Castle Town, headed by a man calling himself the Liberator, who claims he’s found a way to safely log out from the death-trap game. Players desperate to return to the real world seek his help and disappear from Eternity.
Among those who trusted the Liberator and “logged out” with his aid are Rao and Reilan’s friend Haru Kanata as well as Kiichi and Yoshino, two players who had once adventured with Shuutarou. Alas, it is all an intricate sham, and the Liberator is, in fact, a player killer.
With the help of his Overlords, Shuutarou exposes the murderer and his abettors, who promptly flee. Rao, Reilan, and Crest’s Calloah branch chief, K, chase them down and slay them, ending the serial killers’ cruel plot that claimed the lives of dozens of players.
Wataru’s frontline group successfully clears Ciola Tower, but their celebration is cut short by news about the tragic incident in Calloah Castle Town. Makoto calls Barbara, and Byakuren checks in with Rao and Reilan to make sure they are safe. The friends open up about things long left unsaid between them and promise to reunite soon.
Misaki, practicing alone as usual at the training grounds, gets into a verbal altercation with Yamata’s top two players, which results in her battling Yamata’s sub-master, Alan. The experience leads to them building a rapport.
With the Liberator dealt with, Shuutarou returns to Ross Maora Castle to tackle a new threat—an invading troop of NPCs. He decides to leave this task to Iron, reborn as Beorite, along with his pet slime, Punio. The two overpowered monsters wipe out all the NPCs but one, who is taken captive. Not hoping to learn much, Elroad asks the NPC some questions…and the answers prompt him to rush back to his master.
Aegis and Yamata temporarily ally to clear the Cerou Underground Labyrinth. Everything goes well, and they make it to the final boss, a spirit, but the battle is very strange—the boss doesn’t attack at all, merely repeating the same line of dialogue. The Yamata players are wary of this opponent, but Aegis continues its assault even when the boss finally utters a coherent plea for them not to destroy it. The spirit’s barrier is broken, and two angels descend from above to pierce the spirit with their swords.
Shoukichi and friends go to a monastery to retrieve mementos of the player killers’ victims where they meet the chief nun, who is an NPC. They receive Angel’s Blessing, a special stat and EXP boost that was unlocked with the appearance of the angels. With this buff, Shoukichi’s party feels optimistic about traveling to the front lines to join the effort to clear the game.
Sounds of a fierce battle filled the training grounds. A blade of light deflected a colossal greatsword and closed in for a counterattack.
“Raah!”
Alba spun around, making use of the centrifugal force generated by his greatsword to change its trajectory. He flashed a toothy smile as he and his opponent locked swords.
“Making gains against you is never easy,” he said to Wataru.
“Well, I’m supposed to know what I’m doing.”
The two men grinned at each other.
Among the players who had gathered to watch the mock battle between Crest’s top two members were Byakuren and Makoto.
“I called up friends from my previous party last night,” Makoto mumbled. His mind seemed to be far away from the spectacular competition in front of him.
“The one Rao and Reilan joined, with those children, right?” said Byakuren. “They are so lucky to all still be alive and well.”
Byakuren had lost a close friend, and she blamed herself for it.
“I don’t know if I’d say they’re doing well. I’m really worried about Shoukichi…”
Shoukichi’s crying during that call was still vivid in Makoto’s memories. It made him question why he’d gone on ahead to the front lines, leaving the vulnerable children behind.
“Barbara let me know she supports me, albeit in a roundabout way. Kyouko and Kettle were trying to be brave, but they’re probably having a rough time, too.” Makoto paused for a moment. “I’m not so sure anymore that I should be here…”
Byakuren had been listening with sympathy until then. She shot Makoto a sharp look. “Then go back if you have any regrets.”
Makoto momentarily glanced at her in surprise before averting his gaze uncomfortably. He scratched his cheek, hanging his head.
“Sorry for off-loading my worries on you.”
“It’s okay. We’re party members, after all…” Byakuren looked at the ground. “I have plenty of regrets myself. Everyone’s experiences are different, of course, but I understand how you feel.”
She’d been through a mental breakdown following the death of her close friend and many of her guild members, and for a long time, she’d cut herself off from her remaining close friends and the faithful players who stayed in her guild. She’d been plagued by regrets over what had happened and the choices she’d made.
“But you know what, Makoto?” She looked at him again. “You’ve shown great courage in coming to join the fight on the front lines. But even heroes need someone beside them…to show them the way so that they may not lose it.”
Makoto listened in silence that was punctuated by the noises of battle. Byakuren’s eyes were following Wataru and Alba.
“You have Misaki and me to rely on, but also Barbara and her party. You can choose to walk either path, and you will be supported, with nobody criticizing your choice. You’re more fortunate than most.” She smiled. “There is nothing shameful about going back and nothing foolish about pressing on. Ask yourself what you want more, sleep on this question, and find your own answer.”
“…I’ll do that.”
After his tearful call with Barbara followed by Shoukichi’s sobbing, Makoto had been riddled with uncertainty over what he should be doing. Byakuren’s advice finally helped him shake off his anxiety.
What’s foolish is pushing away a helping hand, thought Byakuren.
She saw some of her past self in Makoto, and she didn’t want him to make the same mistake she had. She also made a promise to herself not to betray her loyal guild members or her saviors, Makoto and Misaki. She would remain on the front lines and wait for Rao and Reilan to join her again.
“—!”
A cold chill out of the blue sent a shudder through Byakuren’s body. She saw that not only Makoto but also Wataru and Alba were on edge.
“Something’s wrong…,” Wataru said quietly.
He put the duel on hold and ran outside. Makoto and Byakuren nodded at each other and followed him.
Fort Sandras was in the dark embrace of the night, but the streets were still busy, and NPCs were carrying on as usual. Everything seemed normal.
“I can’t see anything concerning…but that bad premonition wasn’t just my imagination.”
Byakuren looked around, hugging her chest as if she was cold. Only a handful of players seemed to have sensed something, and they came out onto the streets to check what was going on.
“You don’t think it could be an invasion?” Makoto asked warily.
“It might be…but I’ve never had this sort of visceral feeling before,” Byakuren replied. She, too, was on her guard.
Wataru and Alba were a short distance away when they caught sight of someone and stopped short.
“Makoto! Byakuren!”
They turned and saw Misaki running toward them. Byakuren was a bit relieved; Misaki would be able to tell them if there was an incoming invasion. However, before Byakuren could say anything, Alba let out an angry shout.
“What in the world have you done?!”
He was yelling at six members of Yamata. Hiiiiive and Alan were among them.
Other players began to gather in the street, wondering what the commotion was about.
“I didn’t do nothin’,” Alan replied with an annoyed sigh.
“We’ve beaten the last boss in Cerou,” Hiiiiive told Alba, his gaze serious.
“The final boss of the Cerou Underground Labyrinth? You’d made it that far already…?”
“Well, to give credit where it’s due, it was mostly Aegis doing the boss-bashing.” Hiiiiive turned to Wataru. “The boss was some sort of spirit. It didn’t attack at all while we got its LP to zero. That triggered this weird event. Something was destroyed along with the spirit. Something happened.”
Hiiiiive was taking his time getting to the point. Stone-faced, Wataru asked him what he saw, exactly.
“These…angels appeared and gave us level-ups. We got the hell out of there, and here we are.”
A member of his guild sighed, pulling a face, evidently dissatisfied. “I don’t get it. Why did you call retreat?”
“You’re saying it’s these angels who caused this…change?” Wataru asked Hiiiiive.
Hiiiiive slowly shook his head. “No. I think it’s whatever’s behind them.”
“What’s behind them?” said Alba. “And what would that be—?”
His question was cut short by a high-pitched scream.
It was Misaki.
Makoto and Byakuren had to help her stay upright. She was shivering.
Beads of sweat appeared on Wataru’s forehead.
“So many…,” Misaki began haltingly, white as a sheet. “In Cerou… There’s no time… Is it even possible to stop them…? I’ve never seen so many in one place…!”
Byakuren wrapped her arms around Misaki, worried about her. Alan strode toward them.
“Move,” he barked to Byakuren, then looked down at Misaki, who was terrified. “How many monsters are comin’ at us?”
Players around them gasped, finally understanding they were in danger. Those in the know about Misaki’s ability in particular were seized by fear.
They heard a commotion at the town gate.
“There’s more! More people returning from Cerou!”
“Aegis folks…?”
“But…why are there so few of them?”
Aegis had come back to Fort Sandras. Some of its members looked absolutely petrified, their teeth chattering. Others stared ahead with empty eyes, muttering to themselves.