n

n

nThe things that they got from the battle this time, first is the book which is their foremost objective.

nAnd other than that, 3 medals.

nIt could be said that they were very lucky.

nIt is because players who have 3 medals would avoid battles with high-level players as much as possible.

nThey probably ran away if Sally appeared wearing her usual equipment.

nThe five medals which were more than the three medals that the players who lost have, it succeeded in stealing the three’s composure.

nThey probably could not resist the temptation of having three times the medals at once.

n「The hunter, gets hunted……I guess」

nAfter saying that, Sally took out that old book from her inventory.

n「Well then, let’s read it?」

n「Un! Let’s do that!」

nThe two girls sat on the stone bricks and took a peek at the book.

nIt was in tatters, and they were not able to read each page properly, but when they skimmed the pages, they found a part that they were able to read.

n「【Ancient Heart】, guided by the spring water, within the faint lights, that shall appear. Oh Hero, cast out that evil, bring peace to the sea」

n「What does it mean?」

n「Spring water has something to do with the【Ancient Heart】… we probably can go to a dungeon if we have that? It’s like there would also be a battle」

n「……since it’s saying spring water… a fountain or something?」

nThe two girls found four fountains as the result of exploring the ruins.

nThere is a huge fountain in the middle of the ruins, and small fountains a little far from there.

nThe top of the fountain was made out of a diamond-shaped red crystal and was very beautiful.

nAlthough, it has withered without the sign of any water.

n「For the meantime, let’s test the huge fountain in the middle」

n「Un, let’s do that」

nThe two girls reached the huge fountain after a little walk.

nAnd then, Sally seemed to have thought of something and stood on the basin herself.

n「【Ocean】!」

nWater spread from Sally’s feet.

nIt fills the basin.

nTogether with that, the fountain started to shine with a faint blue color.

n「Ohh?!」

n「How is it?」

nHowever, that light gradually faded away.

nThe water that filled the basin also disappeared as if it was absorbed by the fountain.

nThey tried to listen with their ears, but there were no sounds of something activating.

n「n〜… nothing happens?」

n「… I guess so. But, I think there’s something in this fountain」

n「Un, I also think so. Let’s test the other fountains」

nThe two girls tested that on the other fountains, but other than releasing a faint light, no change happened.

n「Sally, we haven’t read that book till the end right? Let’s try reading it again?」

n「……let’s do that. There might be other hints」

nThe two started to read the book once again after being stuck. They carefully looked at each page, but still, they did not find words that they could read.

nAnd, they finally reached the chapter where they stopped reading.

n「The faint light is that light of the fountain, and that was enough for the spring water…」

nThey were not able to think of anything new although they tried to think about it, and turned the page to leave that aside.

n「Oh?!」

n「This……a picture?」

nThe last page.

nAlthough it was in tatters, there was a picture drawn there.

n「A pot? …no, a water jar?」

nAround the four fountains, people were drawn while holding a pot-like thing. Some round thing is floating on the top part of the picture. That was dyed with red.

n「This is, the【Ancient Heart】?」

nMaple said as she pointed at the red circle.

n「……it might be so. n〜 …we need to place water jars around or something? I don’t get it…」

nThe two girls thought deeply while they groaned, but the information they got from the picture was too vague that they could not connect it to an idea.

n「Let’s take a break. We won’t be able to think of anything if we continue like this」

n「That is true」

nThe two girls sat in the center of the ruins and loosened up.

nIt is easier to relax being in a place with a clear view rather than hiding in a weird place because it is easy to notice the approaching players.

n「Including today, there are only 3 days left in the event huh〜…」

nSally whispered.

nThe event has passed its turning point. There is only a little time remaining.

n「I think that it was a very, veeery dense four days you know? It might be denser than the playstyle we did up until now!」

n「Ahaha, that’s true!」

nDefeating the Goblin King, spent a night in the forest where wandering ghosts appear, fought and defeat a monster bird with overwhelming strength in the snowy mountains and receive Syrup and Oboro, and after that, exploration in the bamboo forest.

nThere was also the fight against their imitations, and they explored the dungeon in the desert while running away from the snails together with Kasumi.

nThey were able to get a new connection with the encounter with Kanade at sea, and they also gained a medal.

nJust like Maple has said, these two girls have spent the event with very dense contents.

n「Exploring this ruins… and another dungeon should be enough」

n「We’re going to use the whole fifth day at this ruins?」

n「Un, let’s move with that in mind. It might take just that long」

nThe two girls ended their break moderately and started to explore the ruins again.

nUnlike the first time, they were planning on spending time and find underground or hidden rooms.

nThe reason is the old picture from earlier.

nThe two girls guessed that the water jugs that was drawn in the picture might be somewhere in the ruins.

nThe water jugs are going to be needed to reproduce the situation in the picture.

nThey cannot tell whether that picture is absolutely right, but that is the only clue that the two girls have right now.

nThey continued to explore with the two of them or split from time to time, but in the end, the sun was about to set without them being able to find anything.

n「Let’s stay under some roof」

n「Let’s do that」

nThe two girls took their meal while disappointed that they were not able to get results like they expected.

n「There was really nothing〜」

n「……there might be a different change when the night comes, so… you want to take turns and explore?」

n「Un, okay!」

nThe reason why the two of them are not exploring at the same time, with one of them resting, is because the exploration for tomorrow still remains.

nThey learned very well during the escape from the snails that they must move with leeway or else they would make mistakes.

nAfter they had talked for a while after eating dinner, Sally went out to explore first.

n「Be careful〜!」

n「I’m going」

nMaple called Syrup and played. There was nothing else to do.

nHowever, resting is a proper job for certain times.

nSince the two of them decided it, she cannot break their promise and go explore by herself.

nAfter a while, Sally returned.

nAnd from how she seemed, she did not have any result. Her expression did not look well.

nAnd after that, Maple departed after a while.

nThey repeated that many times and Maple’s turn came again.

n「I’ll go now okay」

n「Un, I hope you find something…」

nMaple explored inside the ruins.

nThe first place she went to is the huge fountain.

nShe went to the huge fountain first, every time.

nAnd after that, she would check the smaller fountains while walking around.

nMaple looked up to the sky.

n「What a beautiful moon……」

nThe full moon in the sky showered the ground with a faint smile.

nShe would not be able to feel the moon shine so bright like this because the world in reality is full of the light of electricity.

nMaple walked towards the passage connecting to the huge fountain.

n「n?」

nMaple stopped.

nThe huge fountain has the change that they have been waiting for.

nThe fountain, it faintly shines without the two girls doing anything.

n