Have I met you somewhere before?
No.
Note: Ikoro is a guild for arena champions. Taihaku is the guildmaster.
But there isn't anyone that doesn't know Taihaku of Ikoro, right?
Haseo...
Shino!
Hey! Hang in there!
Repth!
What's this...
Damnit!
Hey!
Pick up the phone!
Hey!
Please!
Hurry!
Shino!
Sh...
Shino...
What is this...
What the hell is this!
Damnit!
Damnit, damnit, damnit!
Damnit...
Hey, hey, are you going?
I'm not going to attend such a pointless official event.
An official... event?
If you leave there just once, you can't go back there again.
What? That shouldn't even be called an event then.
Ah!
Er... you're from that...
What's an official event?
Are you referring to the Painful Forest?
Painful Forest?
You didn't read the event notification e-mail?
Whatever your question is,
you can find out the answer from messages on the BBS made by players who've gone to the event field.
I've never been there...
The duration is one week.
During that time, you need to do something in the deepest part of the field.
What is this "something"?
Who knows.
It's probably known only to those that reach there, I guess.
So no one that knows what it is yet...
The enemies there are stronger than usual.
Someone has yet to clear it.
Messages are starting to appear on the BBS saying it's impossible to clear.
You should learn how to do things on your own.
I have to go now.
I'm busy since I'm creating a new guild.
Ah, sorry.
I see...
Kuhn...
...is creating a new guild.
So you've come?
There's something I want to ask.
About Shino and that person?
I want to know about Tri-Edge.
About what?
I want to meet him.
Even though you said you want to meet him,
you are no match for him now. You know that, right?
I want you to tell me about your encounter with him.
He appeared at a place without a Sign, unlike the Lost Grounds.
There must be something special about that place.
Even if you say that...
I beg you.
Haseo.
Give up on Tri-Edge.
How could I give up so easily?
Shino... she's still unconscious in the real world.
I know that.
The hospital has no idea why.
You went there?
Since the cause is unknown,
they can't treat her.
That's why...
...I must meet Tri-Edge at all costs.
Still...
...you should give up.
Who should Saburou follow?
Which one is the real thing?
Both of them joined, despite being newbies.
Both Haseo and Tabby...
Their data didn't enlarge like we observed with Ovan.
Was there anything we noticed when TaN was still around?
If there was any during that time...
You would have reported everything to me. I know that.
Even back then, we did not ignore anything, no matter how insignificant.
However...
Tabby was treated as someone we had yet to understand.
Back then, we only cared about Haseo.
Ah well. It's time to cut Haseo some slack.
If he confronts Tri-Edge in his present state,
it could become interesting.
I'll leave the movement of the chess pieces in your hands.
Leave it to me.
You... what are you doing?
Hey!
So you came.
I've come at the time we agreed on.
This sure is a nice place.
I wouldn't feel bad if we fell asleep here.
Nice place, huh?
Hey, do we really need to meet here?
Well, at the very least I don't want to meet up at town.
TaN no longer exists, right?
Hey, did you read the e-mail?
I saw it, about the catgirl.
But it's unexpected.
Unexpected?
The black Multi-Weapon is the one I'm on good terms with.
You couldn't tell?
You should just do as you're told.
Don't concern yourself with unnecessary things.
But that looks more interesting.
At long last, I've found the snack that I like.
But it was eaten by my older brother.
I don't understand your analogy. You must be successful in approaching her.
Just approach?
Yes. I'll give you further instructions when that's successful.
Yes, Madam.
I wonder if she really understands...
There must be a Sign somewhere.
Where is it...
The Painful Forest,
is said to be the start of the event to defeat Tri-Edge.
Why's that?
The players that were able to leave the forest said that CC Corporation is up to something.
It seems to be a selection match to find the player that will defeat Tri-Edge.
Are you serious?
There's a limit to how fake things can get.
If they wish to get rid of Tri-Edge,
they just need to find his account, and delete his character data.
Ah, that's true.
Thus, it's just fake information.
Don't be surprised by that kind of thing.
Hurry up and tell me already.
Tell you what?
You, shut up.
Can't you say something nicer?
This doesn't concern you.
Of course it concerns me!
Even I...
want to do something for Shino-san...
What can you do? It doesn't concern you anyway.
Don't trouble yourself with Shino's affair.
Don't say that.
Come, follow me.
I've been here before.
There's definitely something here, right?
As you are now, it's impossible if you encounter Tri-Edge.
Also, you are not the type of PC that is willing to listen to what people say.
What are you trying to say?
You shouldn't be that vulgar.
It is best not to use it during a conversation...
You run and hide away, right?
I don't know if any player is capable of defeating a PC like that.
You won't know until you try.
You idiot!
You didn't even try.
If you try and fail, you'll be thankful if you even escape.
The risk is too high!
But he let you go!
He might not do the same with you!
Please don't fight!
Hurry up, if you want to do it.
Haseo!
You can't even handle a melee attack from a Harvest,
how do you intend to defeat Tri-Edge?
You understand, right?
Bastard...
come!
I am probably the only survivor up till now.
I know how strong he is.
So?
Don't you wish to save Shino?
Tch, you'll regret this!
Choose your words carefully, young one.
This is all you have?
Shut up!
It's not that I don't sympathize with you,
but what happened to Shino is not your fault.
It's my fault.
You should stop saying that.
You're a stubborn child that refuses to listen. You refuse to see anything at all.
Please stop, both of you...
So there was a survivor...
Phyllo, how are you related to Ovan?
Do you understand now? You will end up the same way if you confront him.
I cannot lose... Even if I die, Tri-Edge must...
"Even if I die", don't say such things so easily!
I...
I'll try to do something.
Thank you,
Haseo.
...will try to do something!
Do something?
You can't do anything as you are right now.
Clear your head.
Haseo!
What is it?
Phyllo, that's enough.
Let Haseo do as he wishes.
Don't do something not related to you!
Tabby...
If it's Haseo, he can definitely do it.
What can someone who can't defeat me do...
No matter what, it's bad to resolve things through violence.
Well, there are people that are like that.
Enough.
I understand your feelings.
It's fine if I get stronger, right?
Sigh... are they getting along or not?
Sorry about earlier.
About what?
I interrupted your fight...
I think you did the right thing.
It's because I couldn't just stand and watch.
The feelings of Haseo, who tries to keep everything to himself,
that probably changed a bit I guess.
Eh? Sorry, I was distracted and didn't hear what you said.
It's nothing.
It's not like this...
Time to go back, there's a strong one here.
Compared to the Painful Forest, this is probably much easier.
Rumors say that very powerful monsters respawn quickly in there.
That's the worst.
However, your strength will increase a lot if you clear it.
Well, that's a rumor as well.
Hey, where did you get that information?
That's it!
Mind if I sit here?
Who are you?
I'm going to reveal my PC Data.
This place is nice. You can observe people here.
Erm... Saburou-san, you are a girl, right?
Note: Saburou is a male name, hence Tabby's hesitation.
Yes, is something wrong?
Isn't it weird to be called Saburou?
That kind of backwards view, I think it's unsuitable.
Backwards view?
There are males that have names like Kaoru-chan or Hiromi-chan.
Are there any called Hanako-chan?
That's my great-grandfather, Hanako.
Eh?
I'm lying.
Haseo has waited here for friends in the past.
He's amazing, able to meet the expectations of everyone.
What about you?
Me?
Totally useless.
If you say that you're useless, you'll really become useless.
If you think you're fine, then everything will turn out okay.
Like curry that's been heated up after being left out for a few days.
Oh!
What are you trying to say?
There's no one here.
Erm...
You are?
Mind if I bother you for a while?
It'll be okay if I can get stronger.
Stronger.