A wise man once said—
'Without harmony, one could never reach the sky.'
Now, that's obviously a quote I made up, but I truly believe in it. Harmony between the mind and the body, harmony in human relationships, and harmony in one's actions.
I know I sound like an old and greasy cultivator, but fighting calamities will never be easy without proper teamwork. That is why our Saint party practices together a lot. Even if our skills differ greatly from each other's, we need to get used to fighting in a group.
It is also why it took a while to adjust our combat style when Anna and Tina just joined.
I expected the same thing, more or less, with the addition of Luna, however...
''She's a goddamn alien.''
Liana exclaims with a serious face.
Luna has seamlessly inserted herself into our party without even trying. Still...
''No, don't call people alien...'' I refute, but inwardly, I also feel the same. ''Well, maybe she is an alien. Who knows.''
''It's a bit startling when she casually speaks about our habits and such, but I can see she's not a bad person.'' Tina remarks. ''I wonder how much she knows about us.''
''It is such a curious ability...'' Sariel rubs her chin. ''I have consumed almost too many books in my life, but I have never come across information about it.''
''Uegh... You read when you're bored...?'' I nearly spit out my drink. ''What a monster...''
''The majority of it is fiction, though.''
''Ah, we're in the same boat, then.''
It has been a few days since the fight with IV ended. Even now, I can practically feel Mermaid Queen's headache as she has to organize a huge recovery plan for the whole city. Waking up the ones who got replaced, repairing the hole I made, calming down the people, etc.
During this time, we've gone out to help with the effort, and we got to know Luna a bit more.
Luna, I feel, is an extraordinarily sweet girl, even when compared to Anna, who has a dark side I've not seen recently. She helps people constantly, is humble, and always encourages positivity.
Like me, she also attracts eyes everywhere she goes because of her godly beauty, but she seems aware of it. She gets embarrassed when I compliment her, though.
If there's one thing about her...
She is definitely a pervert. If it still isn't clear the moment I read her notes, I've noticed Luna daydreaming with her cheeks flushed numerous times, and most of all, my pervert radar is running amok.
Perverts surrounded me. This is a fact.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Not counting my elven fiancés, whose fetishes I've seen glimpses of since my childhood, even Tina and Anna, who I initially thought were normal girls, turn out to be massive degenerates as well.
Tina likes to chain me up, while Anna is... Um.
''I am curious, though. How is her life with that ability?'' Tina raises her question. ''She seems... Lost, sometimes.''
''She did say she started seeing us in her dreams back when she was a child, so... Wait, how old is she again?'' Anna tilts her head.
Suddenly, a beautiful shade of purple invades the space between Anna and me, accompanied by an invigorating scent.
''I'm 92 this year.'' Luna says casually, sipping the juice in her hand.
''O-Oh, I see.'' Anna replies, a bit flustered.
As the Divine Maiden returns to her seat on the other side of me, I start to think. Honestly, now that I've known Sariel's age, which is in the realm of four digits, 92 doesn't seem that impressive to me anymore.
----------------------------------------
After spending a few more days to relax things up, we are about to depart from Atlas... Except we don't really have a reason to. We have a reason to stay, even.
The city is so goddamn fun.
Even though the entertainment industry here hasn't evolved to the level of Earth's yet, there are an abundance of ways to stay occupied and immersed. I believe it is such a rich experience because of the variety of strange creatures maintaining the places—they each add a bit of their uniqueness to their job, which is a blessing.
From casinos operated by lucky clownfish, carnivals full of skillful dolphins, fighting clubs dominated by sharks, and music concerts by mermaid singers to underground bars layered with octopus mafias.
Each and everything here has a unique charm to it.
I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying my time here.
There's nothing urgent coming up just yet... So I can chill here for a while, right?
With such thoughts lingering in my mind as I come back to my room after an errand for my daughters, I notice a watery, ethereal woman walking opposite my direction.
''Hm? Hey there, Mermaid Queen.''
''Esteemed Saint... Hello.''
Crap. She seems seriously overworked.
Even her usual '~' is gone...
''Are you alright?'' I ask right away.
''No.'' She replies.
''...''
''...''
''Well, good luck—''
''Wait.''
''Please, I don't want to be a civil slave—''
''It's not that.''
''Huh?''
Sighing, Mermaid Queen takes out a piece of paper from her cleavage and hands it to me. Inside contains information about a roleplay called 'Dark Fantasia,' which runs on the Dream Engine.
''Er... What is this?'' I tilt my head in confusion.
''It's exactly what you see.'' Mermaid Queen sighs once more. ''I am asking if you want to try it. Unlike me, you seem to be able to search for entertainment, after all.''
If I'm not imagining things, she's being salty about me playing. I feel a bit sorry, but my hands are tied.
Though...
''The Dream Engine is still running?''
''IV left it intact for some reason. It has been tested numerous times and seems to work well.''
''But... Why this all of a sudden?''
''Just because.''
''???''
Leaving behind the utterly confused myself, Mermaid Queen continues to walk to her room with tired steps.
After looking at the paper in my hand for a while, I decide to ask my party about it.
''Isn't this just VR?'' Liana raises her eyebrows, a hint of excitement present in her voice. ''It's been a while since I've played the VR game in the trial world...''
''Um... The title is quite ominous, though.'' Anna comments. ''Dark Fantasia...''
''I'm in.'' Emy says, munching on her snack.
On the side, Tina and Sariel simply shrug, indicating their indifference.
''I will follow your decision, captain.'' Luna says, putting her fists in front of her chest.
''So no one seems to hate the idea.'' I nod acknowledgment. ''We'll try this one out, then.''
Dark or not dark, it doesn't matter as long as it's fun.
However, it seems I've underestimated the 'dark' element too much.
Evidently, as soon as we are transported to the virtual realm—
''AAAH—!''
''IT'S AN AMBUSH!!"
''MAYDAY! MAYDAY!"
Dreadful screams fill the space, and accompanying those is a densely mushy and uncomfortable atmosphere. The sky has turned orange—almost red, and I can even see ashes flying in the air.
An oppressing heat hits my entire body, and the flickering lights tell me that a huge flame is running rampant. A wounded soldier crawls to my feet, mumbling incoherent words.
''What the hell is this...''
I mutter, but it is already too late.