Chapter 29: Trap Door

“Right. Now what do we do?”

After Fen, Ellis, and I pick up the drop items from the centaur-ish golem, there’s a silence in the room.

For a moment.

Because right after I said that…

Rrrrrrrrumble!

“Whoooa–!”

The entire room trembled all of a sudden!

The center is sinking into the ground-!

I was standing the closest to the center, and the ground buckled underneath me.

Sudden shift is sudden!

If it was rl, I would have completely fallen over, but with my increased strength the muscles in my legs bulge as I barely force myself to stay upright.

Still, there is a lot of flailing, so my attempts to stay upright are anything other other than elegant.

K-thud!

With a loud thud that reverberated through the hall, the ground finally stopped moving.

There was silence for a moment before Ellis timidly moved to the edge of the sloping hole in the ground.

She peered in and said,

“… It’s a spiral staircase.”

“…Y-yeah…”

I manage to respond.

That was scary. Japanese people might be used to earthquakes, but it doesn’t mean they’re pleasant to experience!

From where I was standing, the drop in the floor put me at only a few steps down from the surface, so I’m still above ground at least.

Fen shook his head at me.

In admiration?

I’m going to pretend that’s the case.

“Well, that scared me! But at least now we know where to go. Into the belly of the beast, huh?”

I quip with a little grin.

Fen rolled his eyes, but at least Ellis laughed.

And so we start down the stairs, me in front as usual.

When you look down the stairwell, it’s super dark with a damp, cool feeling.

The three of us go down carefully.

Well, I assume three of us, since Fen disappeared somewhere.

His ability to sense danger is probably going to be legendary some day.

And as we head down the stairs, there definitely is a sense of danger.

“Gah!”

The torches on the walls flare up as we approach them, and I flinch, almost slipping on the stairs.

“Are you okay? The torches seem to sense if we’re close to them,”

Ellis said with an analytical voice.

I can’t help complaining,

“Man, I hate auto-lights, they always freak me out. And I get the sensors and stuff on electrical lights, but these are completely analog fire torches, you know? How is this not freaking you out?”

“Huh? Uh… Well, it’s just game mechanics?”

“Even so, I don’t like sentient inanimate objects.”

I glare at the torches every time we pass one by.

Once you know they’ll light up it’s fine, but it’s still something I don’t like.

Even though a lot of public buildings use auto-sensing lights, it still freaks me out every time I walk into a room and the lights turn on all by themselves.

“Sentient is…”

Ellis laughs a little.

“If it’s not because they’re sentient, then it could be someone else is watching us.”

I lay out my theory of auto-sensing light conspiracy.

Maa, half of it’s just me being silly, anyway.

Down the – self-lighting – spiral staircase, there’s a self-lighting stone corridor; cool and dark except for the warm lights from the (creepy) torches.

Despite my reservations about the self-lighting torches, the ambience seems to suggest that there’s not something completely devious going on.

Except for the fact that the corridor ends in a dead end.

When nothing happens even when we reach the end, Fen reappears – aka comes out of stealth.

I guess he was with us the entire time, but with him popping in and out of stealth like that, it’s like we have a stalker ghost or something.

“Hold on, there’s some kind of pressure plate.”

Fen stands between me and the wall, before I can go ahead and check out the wall (and see if I can smash it in).

Ellis peers over my shoulder eagerly.

“A pressure plate? A trap? Or a switch to go further in?”

She asks.

“I’m not sure, but I think if you trigger it something will happen, and if you dismantle it something else will happen.”

“I’d ask how you know, but it’s your trap sensing skill thing, huh?”

I say in response to Fen’s statement, resting my axe on my shoulder.

“Yeah. It’s very cheat-y, honestly, since it just tells me things according to my Talent level.”

Fen seems slightly displeased that the Talent is so hands-off, but it’s just a game, you know?

I mean, just think about how ridiculous would be if I actually had to translate things.

Hint: I wouldn’t have taken .

“… Naru. Try triggering it.”

“…”

Well I probably would have done it anyway, but seriously?

“You’re not going to try to dismantle it?”

Fen shrugs and simply says,

“I’m curious.”

“… Aren’t you adapting to me a little too well?”

“You only have yourself to blame for that.”

Ellis stifles a giggle at our back-and-forth conversation.

“Well, whichever the case it is, hurry up and do something!”

She said.

I sigh.

“Hai, hai, I, your fellow punching bag, am heading off.”

Even though I couldn’t see anything… but according to Fen the paving stones have a slightly different color in one spot.

Really, it’s made to be impossible to detect without the corresponding Talent(s?).

I confidently strode out and stomped on the spot Fen indicated.

“… Ah. There’s a click – Whooa-!“

Right when I said that, the floor suddenly dropped out from under me.

Clang-!

I land on my feet and freeze.

Kuu-! My legs are numb!

“What kind of freaking ****************!?”

From the pitfall in the floor, a string of curses sailed upwards.

Ah, that’s me, by the way.

Dropping a golem-taur thing on us, the sinking stairs in the middle of the floor, and now the pitfall…

It’s not quite enough to think of it like a fun-house with bad taste or a ninja house, but it’s kind of annoying.

“…Ah-! The pitfall closed back up!”

Above me, the two halves of the pitfall suddenly closed up again.

“Tch. I can’t hear them through the floor. Hey, Fen, Ellis, can you hear me?”

Since they didn’t reply to me just yelling, I activate Party Chat.

[“Naru. You’re still alive.”]

Is it just me or did he sound slightly disappointed?”

“Yeah. What, thought I’d die from just that?”

[“Since I have no idea how deep it is, yes.”]

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.”

“[Hehe. Well, when Fen disabled the switch on the wall, the whole end of the corridor slid open into the next room. What’s down there with you?”]

Ellis changed the subject.

“… I’ll remember this, Fen!”

There was no reply.

“Haa… Well, as for what’s down here…”

This stone corridor I’ve fallen in runs underneath where the “dead end” was, so I guess it’s a way to bypass the wall if there’s no with you.

Whether they made this situation with in mind or if it was just a fun extra is something I won’t trouble myself over.

Ah. They’re immobile, for now, but those are gargoyles on the pedestals beneath each torch.

“…Looks like disabling the trap would let you bypass more golem gargoyle monsters.”

I reported.

There’s a bit of a silence, then,

[“Ah, un. Fen will take the path over here, since there aren’t any monsters, but I’d like to level some…”]

At Ellis’ words, I chuckle.

“Heh. If this was real life, most people would be happy to avoid the trouble, but in a game we jump into the pit of monsters for ExP.”

[“Well, if there was such an obvious way to get stronger in the real world too, then people would do the same thing.”]

Kacha!

“Kyaaaaa-!”

A few seconds later, Ellis falls through the ceiling.

“Whoa-!”

I wasn’t able to catch Ellis, but then I wonder if it would have been a bad idea anyway.

You know, since sometimes trying to help is worse than not doing anything.

Especially when it involves gravity and free-falling.

“Ow…well, I lost a little HP, but it’s not too bad.”

Ellis sighs and her eyes flick upwards to check her health.

“Un, it’s not a bad fall. Is Fen really not coming?”

I flick my eyes upwards again as I ask.

“Un. Yeah, he said it’s pointless even if he came, since he wouldn’t be able to fight golem-type monsters.”

“Yup. I guess that’s true. Well, let’s go!”

Although he would have gotten experience just by tagging along, given Fen’s personality… well.

No way is he going to free load.

Is it pride or something?

As Ellis and I proceed down the hallway, the gargoyles come to life one after another… would have been nice, but they kind of all flew over at us at once when we approached the first one.

“!”

Ksssh-!

“… In a narrow hallway like this, Maelstrom is pretty effective, h-uh?”

I can’t help but observe.

Ellis nods.

“Against flying creatures, definitely. There’s a chance for it not to effect ground creatures, especially heavy ones. And the CD is too long, so I can’t spam it indefinitely.”

“And it doesn’t do much damage.”

Skills that don’t do damage … well they’re not worthless, but… they aren’t exactly my style.

“It’s a CC skill, after all.”

I don’t bother to attack the gargoyles, since my axe durability will decrease, and we’re fighting these to let Ellis level some of her Talents.

“! !”

Ellis carefreely uses her Water Magic as the gargoyles are obstructed by Maelstrom.

There are only 6 gargoyles that come over at a time, so most of them (4 out of 6) are caught in the whirlpool of water.

For the ones that managed to slip away, I obstruct them with punches.

Luckily my Def and END are enough to prevent me from taking any damage from them, so Ellis can practice her magic without a worry.

Or like…

“Aren’t these guys a little too easy? Even without a vanguard, I think a mage would be able to take them out solo.”

I frown as I kick a gargoyle back behind the latest Maelstrom.

“Hm… I don’t think I understand what you mean. It’s a dungeon inside a starter city, after all. !”

Ellis tilts her head thoughtfully as she thinks about my question, not forgetting to blow off the next monster.

That’s right. Fen and I were the only ones who did that Hidden Ruins quest.

As we move slowly down the corridor, I explain.

“Nah, well, the [Scribe] quest was a level 5, but you have to be way above that to get to the area, and now this follow-up quest is too low level for me.”

Un. I feel like the Hidden Ruins was a lot more difficult.

“… Just so you know, Naruesin-san, even if I could do it, I would still be having a hard time with these going solo …”

Ellis said.

“Umu, but you also haven’t made it to the next area, where the [Scribe] quest takes place. I guarantee that you could kite all the gargoyles in this hallway and then 1-hit KO them. …Well, forget it.”

“U-un.”

Ellis frowns a bit, clearly not convinced, but decides to ignore it.

We continue chatting as we walk down the now emptied hallway.

“Anyway, what I’m trying to say it, don’t you think the beginning play of this game is a little weird?”

I ask.

Ellis purses her lips together a moment, thinking.

“Hm. Yes, it feels weird. There are a lot of quests, but there aren’t any interesting quests. Or like, there are quests that feel like there might be quest chains to them, but they don’t really go anywhere. On top of that, it’s too hard to get to the next level, and there aren’t that many good equipment drops.”

“Heh… is that so? Then OriginStory might become a defunct game after a while.”

A game that rises up due to some novelties, and then just as quickly dies out because all it had were those novelties.

Uu-n, it seems a shame for it to be like that, but that’s how things are.

Just when I was thinking what other game I would go back to playing if OriginStory turned out to be kind of boring, Ellis spoke up.

“But that would be weird too… I mean, look at how much effort was put into the gameplay. I can’t think that the devs didn’t think about the world and lore… Come to think of it, the devs released something about a major update happening soon.”

“Ugh. When?”

Having a major update this early in the game? Who does something like a major update within a month of the game starting?

Although I understand maintenance patches.

“Let’s see…”

Without bothering to activate her magic, Ellis leaves the small rock golem that leapt out of the shadows at us to me as she checks the in-game dev notice.

Oooi. I was trying to avoid damaging my axe further… well, whatever.

It was small so it crumbled in 1 hit.

“… Although the exact date is yet to be determined, due to the current progress of the players in OriginStory, from the Beginner Area Karolstrem Duchy, a large expansion is due in the near future.”

I pick up the copper pieces that dropped from the golem and toss half to Ellis.

Wrinkling my brow, I say,

“… There’s only one Beginner Area, yeah? Why bother naming it in the notice?”

“It looks like the expansion will add other areas… but it seems strange to add beginner areas a month in…”

What the heck are the devs doing?

Ellis shrugged and said ‘Oh well’ with a sight. She exited the notice window as we came to a small ladder leading upwards.

Right, let’s finish this dungeon and then go interrogate the Chibi on what he’s been able to find out.

*Grrroooong-*

A creaking, grinding sound reverberated through the stone halls as I pushed the stone trap door open and pop my head out.

I ignore Ellis’ “Be more cautious” and look this way and that.

You have discovered the Scribes’ Repository.

Your Party is the first to discover this area. +50% Exploration ExP.

Un. Looking around, we’re on a large stage.

Looking in the direction we had come from, there are stone stairs going down and a stone bridge that looks like it’s suspended over a large chasm.

In the middle of that stage was a podium in front of us, and behind us along a stone wall is a door.

And sitting there waiting for us is Fen.

So he made it here before us… tch.

Not like we were competing, and because Ellis and I had monsters to fight it’s only natural that it took us longer, but part of me is disappointed.

If the system didn’t count the discovery as the party’s discovery, I wouldn’t have gotten the bonus ExP… Hm?

The notice only popped up when I showed up. That means that the [Discovery] Talent’s effects don’t apply to the rest of my party, huh? So even if I was in a party with someone, just because he ran around and found stuff doesn’t mean that I would get the bonus ExP.

Well, whatever.

I raise my hand, from my spot half in the trapdoor, and say,

“Yo, Fen! How’d it go?”

He looks up, a little startled, but shrugs.

“There were some traps along the bridge, but I only sprang one, so it was good.”

“So your [Trap Master] leveled pretty good, huh?”

“Not great, but some.”

He shrugged again, but the corners of his mouth kept twitching upwards, so I guess it really was good.

I climb out of the trapdoor and help Ellis up while I explain what we had to deal with.

It wasn’t anything he didn’t expect, so the talk was over quite quickly and the three of us turned our attentions to the podium.

—-

—-

TALENTS

[Axe]Lv24 (+1)

[Bolstered Endurance]Lv27 (+!)

[Sharp Senses]Lv22

[Scavenge]Lv22

[Spirit of the Wild Hunt]Lv21

[Inheritance of the Forest Guardian]Lv23 (+1)

[Discovery]Lv18

[Bolstered Dexterity]Lv19 (+1)

[Counter]Lv16

[Mine]Lv15 (+1)

[Scribe]Lv10 (+2)

Avg Lv: 18

TP: 18

—-

—-

EXTRA

A few months ago:

“They should drop only weapons! It’s too bad if players would drop their armor. There’s set bonuses, and crafted armors.”

“Hmph, so people who get attached to weapons don’t matter?”

“What do you mean? In this game, armor is such a huge part of DEF, you know? Weapons are, like, additions at best.”

“…Tch. You bastard. That’s not what you were saying when we played Oath of Dragons!”

“Fk off! You, give me back my gold tier axe!”

“Huh, wanna go-?!”

“The two of you, calm down! We’re about to start the meeting, so what are you two talking about?”

“We were talking about the topics you wrote down on the board.”

“That’s right, Director. Why is one of the topics ‘Revise the Death Penalty’? We didn’t hear anything about it in our department.”

“Ah… that’s… anyway, there were some things from MY boss, so… at any rate, regarding what you’re talking about, OriginStory isn’t a grind-game where you grind for equipment and go through them like Satoru-kun goes through girlfriends, so we’re not going to do that kind of death penalty.”

“…D-director… don’t use me as an example.”

“Ufufu… you boys are always like this. To think these are Nusphere’s development team heads. But that’s right, Director, let’s start the meaning. What is the reason for changing the death penalty?”

“What was it again… Hm. Let’s see… According to the Boss, ‘we have a chance to add a huge overhaul as soon as the players get to THAT point, so we should give everything a good consideration.’ Ah… Hirasaki-san, if you could explain?”

“A-hem! Right. So, previously during the initial development, we put a lot of effort into combat, crafting, and AI systems, as well as all the lore and war-games that are going to be unlocked soon. To be honest, having finished the game in 10 years with just this was enough.”

“Ha-! Although we were working on other projects for the first 3 years, too.”

“Ugh, don’t remind us…”

“We still spent a good part of our time on OriginStory, though.”

“Un, those days were like hell…”

“… AS I WAS SAYING, I think now that we have the opportunity to, we should consider the other aspects of gameplay that would be easy to tweak.”

“Easy to tweak? Hey, if we just mess around without any plans, we’ll have to do ANOTHER big overhaul right after this one, you know?!”

“And the deadline is not far away! What are you thinking!?”

“That’s right! Director, Hirasaki-san, don’t ask for the impossible!”

“C-c-calm down. I understand you are all frustrated, but this isn’t my decis – ahem, Chief wanted to give the game more depth. Now, now, everyone, don’t yell at this Director, but obediently listen to Hirasaki-san.”

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ …. “ “ “ “ “ “ “

“Ahem. Although of course Chief would like to have this out with the next overhaul, but he’s not being completely unreasonable. Partial implementation, or at least an announcement about the change in death penalty is enough for the big deadline coming up.”

“Okay, I understand. But why does Chief think we need to overhaul the death penalty?”

“Chief… …. … thinks we haven’t been focusing on PK enough.”

“”””’’””WHAT?!””””””””

“*Cough* That’s right. Chief said, erm, ‘Where’s the thrill of being hunted down, or fighting it out with your enemies, and the bloodthirsty feeling’. Hai. Like that.”

“… Dammit. Who let Chief read light novels right before the deadlines! Stop him!”

“Ugh… So Chief wants to encourage LN scenarios…”

“But this game isn’t a PK game, though, and that was done on purpose, right?”

“That’s right! This is going to go against what we decided as the foundation of the game!”

“Un. We decided that unless it was an event like a Guild War or something, we wanted to make it so people wouldn’t be likely to attack others.”

“…Hang on sec. Could it be… that Chief thinks that we need to give more incentives to PvP? That is literally what the “Cities” overhaul is going to be? Why is he considering giving benefits to PK play?”

“That’s right, that’s right! We’re not making that type of blood-thirsty game. As long as we encourage healthy PvP play, it’s fine to neglect PK, right?”

“Hm…”

“What? You don’t agree?”

“No, it’s just… the overhaul is going to promote massive groups of players killing each other at set times. So killing players is only ok when the majority are doing it? Although PK players get a bad reputation, it’s not like all of them do it just to harass others. In some other games I’ve played, there are some guys who play in PK mode for the thrills.”

“Most of PK players are jerks, though….”

“Well, what I mean is, I agree we don’t want to overdo it and cater to PK, but I think it’s unfair to ignore that some players like that kind of excitement.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Well, I guess that’s a way to play the game too…”

“Ahem, returning to what I was intending to say, yes, the Chief told us to think about PK. But that doesn’t mean that we should be catering to PK players. How should I put it… although we’re not trying to make our game world replicate real life exactly, there should still be natural consequences to actions players take within the game.”

“Ah… because there aren’t any majorly good or bad consequences, there really isn’t any point to do PK, and also no reason not to PK.”

“Exactly. Right now, there’s no benefit for killing someone, and at the same time there’s no real guilt over killing someone for no reason, because the penalty isn’t very strong. On top of that, there is also no major consequences for killing other players.”

“I see, so that’s why we’re looking at tweaking the death penalty, and possibly how the red names work as well?”

“Yes, exactly … also, apparently our hidden company players are saying there just isn’t enough incentive not to die if you’re only doing PvE. Of course, during PvP the stat reduction is annoying, but until the overhaul there’s no real compulsion to PvP.”

“I see. Alright. Thanks for clearing that up, Hirasaki-kun. So, is everyone ok with adding this topic onto our tasklist?”

“Understanding the benefits to considering it versus having the time to consider it is…”

“… I understand, I really do, but… I don’t think there’s an option to refuse from the Chief…”

—

This was a conversation that occurred a few months ago.

That their deadline was shortened by a week due to the actions of a certain werebear most recently, and the wails of despair that sounded within one of the Nusphere Gaming Company’s conference rooms will be kept a secret from the players.