=== Mermaid City - part 3

There was a problem with the time and our coordination. As we decided to all go separate ways, things went steadily worse. Firstly we have to communicate via personal messages, and that didn't go well. Jielby, who is out promising puzzle solver, would talk to everyone on the side and ask them what exactly they are doing, as well as she did insist she had the solution.

That only was the beginning of our chaos, as Corona got really lost trying to find her part of the riddle. A far away land, covered by snow, and then a little cave...She was asking others for some directions, but no one was able to pinpoint the place. Eventually she turned to us, pleading to see if we can find anything. Well...I can say that we were not much of help for her.

Additionally to those troubles, there was also a strange hurdle Noctia was facing. She managed easily to reach her destination, but didn’t found what we were looking for. Instead of concentrating on figuring out the location that she needs to take the picture of, she ended up talking to random AIs, saying things like “Hear me out wicked spirits, you have no place here, leave those poor souls!” Damn, I thought out of all the people she would have the easiest time. All she needed to do is to find a spot relatively fitting. The riddles are so vague—no way would they describe a specific location, right?

[Actually, I think I will manage this by myself. You already bended the rules quite a bit, and I just want to be fair, right? It's not like we are going to win anyway, not with our team...Sometimes I feel like they are worse than randoms, but oh well.]

[If they are your friends, don't say that! Don't you think they care about you? They even tried to help you with your part. Seriously, if you think contest is fair you must be joking! *wiggle wiggle* Ahaha~ I'm only half-serious there, but listen. Some of the lines I wrote, especially yours, are something not a normal player would be able to handle. I can kinda offer tips, since they will absolutely help you with your hunt. But don't tell anyone, I'm offering assistance because it's you guys.]

[That's precisely why it's cheating! You want to give us unfair advantage over others. I don't know what your point here is, but wouldn't you feel bad for everyone else who had it fair and square? Actually...forget it, you probably want money for a tip.]

[Ahaha~ why would you think like that? Precisely because I'm trying to be fair to everyone, I realised that some riddles are harder. I don't want your money for the tip, but if you were to buy something from our selection, that would be very sweet of you. Ehehe~ You see how they are all just super cute? I don’t know a girl who would be able to resist the urge to try them on. *wiggle wiggle*]

Was I now looked at as a model or a mannequin by her? I could hardly get a good read on her eyes, but the way she talked, and how she moved her fox ears in an alluring fashion seemed to fascinate me on the spot. Her height was a little taller, but comparably, she had a larger heel on her little shrine maiden shoes. With her legs together and hands on her thighs, she bowed with a smile that pierced me the moment I would gaze at her. My eyes could not release themselves from the spell.

The mysterious atmosphere of this place, along with that I never set a foot here, was quietly invited into my delicate nostrils. A shrine maiden with her natural beauty and a strange outfit was standing right next before, as a guide to this eerie encounter. It was as if I were unclean and needed her help to cleanse the evil spirit that was...Before I knew it I had my hands on cheeks.

[This is so adorable...mind if I we took a picture together? Wait no! I mean I need to take that screenshot already! Dammit! What I was even thinking? Well anyway, cancel the photo, it will probably cost money. I don’t have a lot of money to spend.]

[Oh don't sweat the little details, I get asked that a lot. Ehehe~ Anyway, if you absolutely don't want my help, then good luck! I will be always here if you need me, but I doubt such a cute little lass would need it, right?]

[Making me blush again...okay you win. I'm going to try searching on my own first. But if you ever need my assistance...I guess a little posing session couldn’t hurt for money. I had worse days trying to hunt with those girls and failing.]

[That's so sad to hear! I know how bad some days can for business, so we will be in touch just in case, okay? Otherwise sure, if you want to see if you can do it solo, I'm not going to ruin your fun. Just remember you have time until midnight. *wiggle*]

That fox shaman girl who can stir people's minds, she spoke the truth. Returning to my search I sensed that the answer is close. From the start I noticed something peculiar about the riddle. It spoke of a daughter that had the night illuminated. Obviously, that's the Moon, and that person must be Lunar, the goddess of this world, who also seems to be worshipped in this very shrine.

The natural logic would be to search here, but I couldn't find anything about the strange waters. The only basin was the temizuya, it definitely did not feel out of place so I ignored it. Among the sounds of the day that just started, there was a silent swish. It also wasn't the wind, I could clearly hear running water in the distance. Following my ears I entered the backyard of the shrine.

It was there where I saw now clearly, there was a current running all the way down the hill, straight into the ocean. For now, I had either the choice of climbing upwards or returning from where I came from. The logical decision was to follow my hunch, and go to the place most fitting the mysterious description. That way I at least felt I would be able to find something useful.

[How are you doing girls? I'm freezing here! I'm not literally going to become a snow woman, but this place is pretty chilly. I also think I'm on the right track. This one person I asked seems to know where I should go. She actually lives here. Also, do you sisters think we could do something warmer next time? I would greatly appreciate that we think about the future.]

[But now it's not the time! I also found what I was looking this, and really girls, this is such supar vivid forest! Gashers, I can't even think straight about how I could describe this to ya all! It's like a dream come true, well minus the unicorns. Alas, this totals adorbs pegasus knight would have never mount a pure beast, unless they be so cuters that I couldn't resist! Ishishi~ of course kidders, I think I found my part of the puzzle so I'm sending this message just to check on you birdies.]

[Noctia here, Lord has sent me another hurdle to overcome. I seem to get the gist of what is happening in this city. Alas, I need not to waver my attention if I seek to succeed the task. You see my children, I talked with the people living here, they say incomprehensible things and in unison. Any attempts at a meaningful conversation, be it God or the riddle verse, all end up at in a loop which I would have a difficult time to describe. I wish luck to you, and let him always guide us.]

[Okay, whatever, I'm going to respond to their messages, but it seems we are losing by the minute. That's just my assumption, but I don’t think that of any of my capable comrades know what they are doing. Hence, it is all up to me again, as always...No matter, I don't want to fall behind—I still need to do my part. If that is the least we are going to succeed at, let me try.]

Soon enough I arrived at the place which appeared to be mystical and different from the usual trees and greenery. This pond, still and quite silent to the wind, had a smaller shrine near the shore. I was the single soul watching the surface of the lake. Nevertheless, if this is really what I was looking for, then I only to take a screenshot of it and return to the fox girl, right?

That was a simple plan enough that even Jielby would be able to succeed. I didn't really care if I was right or wrong. The effort was the last thing that mattered for me. Even since this morning we tried to group up and I suggested...Well, I don't think their minds were on the same page, but after we are finished with this we should have enough time.

Without thinking much I took a picture of this place, trying to have it in one big frame. In order to do that I climbed a tree, and from a good view I captured the entirety of it. It wasn't easy, since I'm not a professional photographer, but it worked. Happy that at least I done my job correctly, the least I could do was to tell others. However, I decided not to bother them.

[So you have found the lake? Good for you, it wasn't that hard was it? Ehehe~ Ups, there is something I forgot to mention. You can only submit one screenshot per line. As long as you are sure, there is no problem with the entry of course. You can even switch out your submission if you get a change of mind. Alas, you have time until midnight, and if you are still thinking, I suggest you wait until the last second with the decision.]

[Just now you recalled that detail, huh? Well doesn't matter, I had no interest in doing this from the start. I feel quite good. If you be so kind, I will go with this one and I will be done with it. I think I'm going to wait for others here as well, if you don't mind.]

[Most certainly...Oddie was the name? My name is Hinakon by the way, but everyone calls me Hina for some reason *wiggle* You have nice friends trusting you with this difficult job alone, so I'm going take that entry from you, if you please.]

The brief exchange between us made me realise how soft and gentle her hands were, although they didn't follow her face. It was as if she was accepting my picture with a sigh, disappointed. Perhaps I have just done something regrettable...Nevertheless, our objective today was not this silly finding a needle in a haystack, but getting everyone dungeon ready.

I went somewhere quiet and sat down. This shrine had that kind of places, and a path way leading to a garden. If my memory serves, it was there were our pink adventurous commander went. Even though I know she is having fun doing this, I hope that she doesn't forget our goal here. Technically the sooner we all finish this, we earlier we are going to be doing something worth my time. I just noticed that and...

[Okay sisters, I am done with my silly part. I am going to meet you all at the shrine, so just teleport here after you are done. I'm also going to tell you to step it up! I don't know how long we have until Noctia goes to sleep, so get done with this quickly.]

That message, although they would probably not understand what I meant, should at least haste their actions. I also forgot that you can’t directly teleport here so...After some time...

[Okay, this is your adorbs bird commander here, tweeting you from the forest of rainbows! It's so fabulous, I could live here. Ishishi~ just kidders, I done my picture. There was like a smaller shrine or something here, it had that green bamboo-boo tree. I realised that this is what I was looking for! Wowzers! I'm coming right away Oddie, just you wait my sweetie-tweetie crumb.]

[Noctia here, I seem to found my place of interest. It was actually the bridge in this city, the only place with a river. Hence, I will be returning to the nest soon, as my God has given me the sign. I should probably return to my bed...*Yawn*.]

Dammit! We took too long! But nevertheless, we still can just ask a random person. I actually tried talking with someone, while waiting here on the bench. They all seem not to be interested currently, so I was quickly disappointed. I wonder...

[Oh my gush, I have finally found the cave! It's so silent and the wind barely blows here. It must be the place. Also, it's quite shiny and pretty, like if the ice was actually sculptured by humans. I would talk about this more, for sure, but right now I need to get out of here as soon as possible! See you at the shrine! I'm also sorry if this was a huge...Oh my goodness! What if this was all for nothing? I don't think I would be okay with the thought that I...anyway bye!]

Yes Corona, if you are the reason that we did not succeed, don't worry. We can still do plenty things in the dungeon. And as I was thinking if I should submit the screenshots for them, instead of waiting for the three to show up here again...

[Oh there you are! You girls are working quite fast. Did you produce the screenshots? I forgot to mention something, you can only have one final submission, so whatever you do, you need to be absolutely sure that you are not wrong!]

[Of course, how would this smarty-harpy be wrong about her undeniable genius? Huh, I dunno maybe she just cuters? Yippe, that's the answer! I can't be wrong if I'm this silly-milly adorbs, ain't I? That's why I'm totals sure!]

[I also would like to submit my...*Yawn* it's the least I can do for this sickened children who can't sleep warmly at night. Let God bless their path, for trekking in faith is one step away from darkness. Speaking of the night...it is said that...]

[Go to sleep Noctia, you helped us greatly already. The submission is until midnight so when you wake up we will know. Actually girls, how about we stay up until the results are going to be posted? That way we can all go together, right?]

That is true, although I don't know if she was including the missing girl from this scene, which was me listening to them from a safe distance. If anything, we can spend the rest of this day on something productive, as Corona suggested, thus I also should join them.

[I'm already done with mine. Is that all...Hina was it?]

[Yes, but you have to wait for the results! We had so many submissions already, I'm really excited!]

[Oh okay, let's go girls. With or without a healer, let's finally...]

[Hey, thanks for coming! Be sure to not miss our...]

Although thinking that I was once again annoying for them, they did listen and we did some hunting...instead of dungeons. It's better that just waiting for the night, more interesting if anything. As soon the sky became dark the time has come for us.

Gathered at the shrine's main pathway, there was a bunch of people who successfully solved the puzzle, or so they thought. As for the smallest girls in the history, we had no vision of the main stage, yet I could perfectly hear her clicking shoes. And so, the grand results were announced very quickly. It seems that...we lost? The pair that won was really happy though.

[I'm so sorry for all the unlucky participants that they didn't win! However, just today you can get the tickets almost for free! This special offer is only available now...Ehehe~ but that's not all! I'm going to have another drawing from the people who lost. And by that I mean those who didn't answered right! It's actually a lot of people, so I guess maybe the riddles were a bit too hard? Anyway, if you believe in your luck, please stay for the rest of the show! We still have our young shine maidens to perform a dance.]

[Wait does that mean we lost? I’m so sorry guys! It’s my all fault I should have...]

[Well it’s not like we had a chance anyway. Those riddles and our time...]

[Yea that’s it! Oddie, you took the screenshot at night, right? It said so in your riddle...]

Well, that doesn't matter now. I didn’t even try to win to begin with...Although I feel somewhat bad about that.

[And the winner is...oh it's actually winners! Please give a big applause for the three young girls over there!]