I had no idea this place was here!
This place...
It's called "Lost Ground."
Um... a place that was lost?
Yep.
Sorry to make you wait.
We only waited for a bit.
Nice to meet you!
So you are Tabby?
Great to be working with you!
What shall we do?
Let's go Home. Tabby, you've never seen this before, right?
Home... a room used exclusively just by a Guild?
Yes, yes.
So, shall we go Home?
And you?
I'll go to where he is.
Him?!
There's another candidate.
Oh?
As I thought, you came.
Want to go for a walk?
Why?
You won't if I don't have a reason?
Not really...
So, shall we go?
You coming?
In Town, you can't be PKed.
So relax.
That's not my problem!
Why did you login again?
Why...?
You were talking about how this game had no point, so I thought you wouldn't come back again.
What does that have to do with it?
This has something to do with it.
Huh?
I don't get it.
You have a certain characteristic.
What did you say just now?
A certain characteristic...
Ovan said it too.
Hey, exactly what relationship do you have with Ovan?
It's not just being in the same guild, is it?
"Hey" is for horses.
Eh?
Shino.
Shino?
Hey, Haseo-kun...
Will you come to our place?
You still haven't joined a guild anywhere, right?
Hello?
Before that...
Yes?
Answer my question from before.
What relationship with him?
Yeah.
I suppose that when Ovan's not there, I become the acting Master.
I suppose we're alike.
What kind of a guild?
The "Twilight Brigade." Never heard of it?
I heard that you're searching for something.
The Key of the Twilight.
But not just that.
So, I wonder if you will answer my question?
You don't have to respond right away.
Where's Ovan?
He's with a new member.
New?
Yep.
I invited her.
I refuse.
Wha?
The guild.
I see...
No helping it. I get it.
I...
...am needed. But we can't force you to join.
Alright. This is my Member Address.
I'm registered, so if you need something, call me.
Ah, by the way...
When you're talking to a person, look at their eyes.
Eyes?
This is a game!
What purpose is there to look into some CG eyes?
It's a game, but...
I guess, because it's game.
Who wants to talk to someone who's looking somewhere else?
I don't get you.
Babies, you know...
Even though they can't say any words, they always look at their mother's face.
Wha?
You can't do something even a baby can do?
Well, see ya!
It's been a while.
I've always been here.
It's like a secret base!
New girl?
Yeah. Tabby.
Tabby.
He's Sakisaka. You'll be under his guidance for the time being.
Buhii.
Meow.
Nice to meet you! Good to work with ya!
Yep, yep. Good to work with ya.
So, you going somewhere?
Gathering intelligence.
Well, that's cool.
Even if you're not here.
As long as we've got enough people, you don't need to lend a hand.
Sorry.
Tabby, was it?
Yep.
Your level is...
You just started?!
I'm a hardworking beginner! Good to work with ya, senpai!
Oh, jeez...
What do you wish to know?
About the Brigade.
You refused her, right?
Yeah... but...
Well, that's okay. You didn't know much.
So...
So, what is it?
The Key of the Twilight.
A legendary item said to have once existed in The World.
The Twilight Brigade is searching for that.
Legendary?
It's written here and there on the BBS.
I'll go look.
No, that's unnecessary.
At any rate, those are all conjectures.
The only thing that'll tell you is that no one knows what use the item has.
Hmm.
Some say it increases all your stats to max, or increases your drop rates.
Or gives you a weapon that there's only one of.
Or it grants any wish.
That's enough.
It has also been said that it is an item which can completely change the rules of the game from its core.
But if the rules of the game are changed, the game is no longer fair.
Something like that...
...can't exist.
But the Twilight Brigade is searching for it with a mindset that it does exist.
As a guild, it must have to have quite a few members.
It's a small guild. At most a handful.
And all of them believe it?
Who knows? They might just find the whole thing intriguing.
Huh?
The Guildmaster is that Ovan.
Want to meet?
With Ovan?
With a former member I know.
Former...
Ah, she just logged in.
It's another thing if she wants to talk to you, though.
If it's okay, I'll introduce you two.
One more! That makes 45!
Huh?
U-Um...
Umm...
You're the leader, Tabby.
You have the trigger for the combination attack.
Whenever is fine.
Okay.
Alright, Sakisaka-san, let's go!
Hiya!
Amazing!
That was insanely powerful!
Wasn't it? It's useful for gaining Levels quickly.
But this isn't possible by yourself, right?
Well, yeah...
Please help me train!
Me?
Sakisaka-san can use spells...
And Ovan is too strong, so he kills the enemies before we can even use a combo.
So Sakisaka-san is the only choice!
I guess it can't be helped.
You're late.
I heard from Phyllo. Come here.
Y-Yeah...
How far are we going?
Be quiet and follow me.
I don't want anyone to hear.
That I had entered.
This is fine.
So, you want to hear why I left?
Since that old man has talked about it,
what happened with you and the Twilight Brigade?
Nothing yet...
Well, that's good. It's best if you don't get involved with that kind of Guild.
That kind...
Didn't that Guild give you a hand?
Give me a hand?
The one who gave the hand was me.
I dunno if it was the The Key of the Twilight or what,
but I was in some random area,
and had to wait for who knows how long.
If you weren't forced to do it, why didn't you just log out?
But doesn't going to a place like that
mean that you believed that it existed?
How does the Brigade view the The Key of the Twilight?
Why are they searching for it?
To be frank...
What I was interested in wasn't the item.
Why are you interested in the Brigade?
Ovan... I suppose.
I see. I was the same way.
But, you know...
Even if you enter, you still won't understand a thing about Ovan.
I don't know what that means.
You'll just be used.
For what?
That's right...
There's another kid that left. Want to meet with him?
Yeah.
Wait for a little.
He's a bit of a troublesome kid, but he said he'd meet with you.
Troublesome?
How slovenly...
I'm exhausted...
Your job is restocking. Don't complain.
But my job in real life is enough.
Hm? What's up with that?
Huh?
This?
Picked it up earlier.
The god of trading has descended!
What?
That's what I've been looking for!
Would you like a taste of its cutting ability?
That's fine, I know how far your temper goes.
You can do what you like with it for a while.
How generous of you!
Idiot.
Pride only hastens one's downfall.
Hmph.
More so than this, I want a weapon that is exclusive, that there is none other of in The World.
Tawaraya, you can get it, can't you?
This is interesting.
What are you talking about?
The Key of the Twilight.
If I get it, I will create the ultimate killing weapon.
You think it really exists?
I don't. Just kidding.
But even Naobi is looking for it.
Can we really be sure that it doesn't exist?
Naobi only has an interest in what Ovan has an interest in.
Smoke doesn't rise from where there is no fire.
A merchant can make smoke rise from where there is no fire.
Oops, time for work. Don't drop that!
Yeah, yeah...
So, it was in vain.
You know...
I think it would be better for you to go in my stead.
He really seems to be interested in you.
I see...
I don't get it...
Perhaps I said too much.
I didn't mention names,
but I told him you were with Tabby.
I see...
He's spoiled... perhaps.
I think you should go.
Okay. I'll do that.
You're quite obedient today.
I was thinking the same thing.
But...
Hm?
That kid...
Haseo... I think he'll come.
He'll come for sure.
Why?
Girl's intuition.
There he is!
Well, I guess you succeed.
You're weak, but at least you have competitive spirit.
Who are you?!
You're... Haseo, right?
B-Set didn't tell you anything?
She said, "You'll know when you're there."
She didn't tell you all about me?
Huh?
Saving the weak, crushing the strong, justice's...
PKer?
Well, something like that.
So?
What shall we do?
What shall we... do?
You want to defeat Ovan, right?
What?
Oh, so you just want to hear about Ovan.
Yeah.
For now.
Well, sit.
That guy...
He's not worth your time.
Or, that he believes that that exists in a time like this.
That meaning, the The Key of the Twilight.
The world keeps on spinning because legends are legends.
Look, imagine if demons and dragons were around in real life.
There'd be nothing you could do.
Have you met Ovan?
Yeah.
What do you think of his left arm?
What... meaning?
However you look like it, it's a cheat, right? Normally even the elite can't get it.
Cheat?
An illegal act. Like modifying data on your own.
You'd best stay away from him. Even though I don't know why you're interested.
Alrighty then.
My information payment.
Eh?
Give and take.
Pay up.
I don't have hardly anything!
Then you'll have to give me your body.
Just kidding!
It's a joke.
This game might not be suited for you.
I'm going back.
O-Ovan...
Leveling on your own?
Yeah.
What about you, Ovan?
Waiting for someone.
Sorry to make you wait!
Huh?
An acquaintance?
Haseo, I'll introduce you. She's...
I'm Tabby!
As of today, I'm the newest member of the Twilight Brigade! Haseo, nice to meet you!
Can I go shopping?
Yeah.
Alright, see ya!
Isn't she energetic?
Haseo... won't you go with me to my place?
I don't get the point...
Words are powerless.
For example...
The Key of the Twilight.
The more I explain, the more you'll doubt me.
So, it's real?
Proving it isn't real... or if it is, searching for it.
Either way makes the game more interesting.
Won't you search with us?
I'll think about it.
That's good enough.
Well, I'm going then.
It's been a long time.
It's rare for you to come into Town.
Not really.
Did you come especially to see me?
What if I said yes?
Haseo, eh?
The same as always.
Well, whatever. Let's go someplace else.
Yeah.
That's a good idea.
You know, I...
I think Haseo...
will come for sure.