This is Shadyna, preparing to commit heresy!

I mean, I am already qualified for [Heretic wretch] profession, emitting a dark glow from multiple spots, and kind of torturing one of her most devoted NPCs. It's fine if I pull another heretical act or two, right~?

And yes, I left the jerkass bishop to melt in poison for an eternity in the bar. No one seems to mind that, really. Guildmasters prefer having him at our place since the alternative is the overcrowded plaza where Sateri's statue resides. Meanwhile, the bar gets more rich customers so Linny is definitely not complaining either.

Guys, aren't you a little too quick to forgo morality in exchange for convenience?

Not that I am in any position to call them out, being the one who created this whole situation in the first place…

Anyway, my investigation on Sateri has hit a dead end (again). Apart from my own guild, a beautiful mother-daughter pair, a few warehouses worth of materials, and a chest filled with gold coins from the NPC trafficking operation, the last few days have been a waste of time!

Okay, maybe that wasn't exactly a waste of time, but it is a fact that my relationship with Sateri made no progress whatsoever! If I was in an eroge, this lack of progress could only result in a bad end, and considering her status as the Goddess of this world, "bad" is probably a slight understatement of the fate my cute avatar would suffer in that case.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I will save our marriage at all cost, and anyone getting in the way will have to do so over my cold, dead body!

_ Helen: Little bird looks like she going to commit a crime after breaking up~

We have NOT, okay? And just how many innocent maidens' hearts did it take for you to know that, you womanizing busty bartender!!!

_ Mera: Yes, let the darkness consume your humanity~

You are supposed to stop me! Also, being an elf-treant hybrid, I have not a shred of this thing called "humanity" in me by definition!

_ Shadyna: Mera, don't you need to support the raid parties?

is a good tank, but her role can be filled by many others. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Mera's MSP (casting speed) specialization is a rare breed. For healers, it is more efficient to invest in MAT, as that allows more HP healed per spell, which means less mana potions consumed in total.

For fighting mobs and bosses, Mera's playstyle doesn't seem to have any obvious advantage over others, with a massive detriment to her own wallet. I can understand if she was a PvP maniac like , but that wouldn’t explain how she was always attending big battles rather than working at the counter…

_ Mera: They will be fine. Su was their original supporter after all~

That doesn't mean you should skip your job to follow me around. And I'm not saying that because I'm scared of being near her without Hessy shielding me from the mental assaults, okay?

_ Mera: Then she will be overwhelmed by the amount of players, unable to prevent her allies from suffering horrible and painful death one by one, before becoming the sole survivor on top of the corpses of her comrades… Ufufu… Ufufufufu~

Yup, she's a sadist alright. I wonder if I can smile brightly while sowing despair in others like that someday? The ability to hide my expressions, at the cost of my own sanity… What a tough choice~

_ Shadyna: Mera, are you a better support than Su?

_ Mera: Hmm~ It's more about using the right tools for the right victims, pro~bably?

What tools are you talking about there, you sadistic waitress?!

_ Helen: And there's this tendency of her to ignore everyone else in need to help little girls in the vicinity…

Uwa… I suppose and will get the best support possible, at the expense of, I don't know, the rest of the guild!?

If Hessy gets into trouble again, it won't be my fault, okay?

_ Helen: Well, it can't be helped. Mera is needed here to be guildmaster's punishment after all~

_ Shadyna: WHY?!

_ Helen: For destroying the economy, and to make sure you don't do it again so soon. That's what Hessy said~

Why are you treating me like an inevitable instrument of doom?! Hessy, please do not copy Sateri's behavior. I won't be able to handle it if both of you charge at me at the same time, in more than one way!

_ Mera: I'll do my best~

Why?! Hobby? Do you have a hobby of bullying cute defenseless girls? I can't think of another reason how you can be so ecstatic upon being treated like a torture device!

_ Helen: Let us do our best as well~

But you don't even know what I'm doing right?!

We are just getting started and my mental health is already in jeopardy. Uuu…

…

_ Mera: Hmm~? Are you not going to go out today?

Technically, it's outside. Outside of the tavern, that is.

_ Shadyna: Well, I can't [Teleport] to my destination this time, so here is as good as any.

We are wandering in 's shopping district. A short walk with beauties in each arm every day is good for your body, or something like that.

_ Helen: Apart from space, didn't you travel everywhere else during your aimless rampages?

_ Shadyna: How rude~ I was sightseeing in peace.

And a bit of "tribute" collection as well, but pacifism and materialism are not mutually exclusive, un!

By the way, I have conquered "space" already. Because Sateri said something about the place being a work in progress, I have not shared my findings with anyone else. My friends here all know about me climbing the gigantic tower though.

They aren't thinking that I quit after getting bored, are they?

_ Shadyna: I'm heading over there.

Pointing upwards to the clear blue sky, I declare with the brightest smile I can muster. That's right, just a casual walk to space. Nothing to see here folks~

_ Mera: , that's harassment you know~? Even though we have such ample bosom, floating in the air is ki~nd of hard, don't you think~?

Not impossible?! Is this another whacky law of physics that Sateri implemented?! Kuu… Appearance having a big impact in gameplay is discrimination!

_ Helen: Mera, don't deceive owner like that. Owner is the type that will follow strangers who offer her candies after all~

Why are you treating like a gullible kid?! If I was that easy of a target, I would have accepted 's invitation back then you know?!

Still, they can't float with just the body fat huh. What a shame~

_ Mera: Bu~t, wasn't flying in our last gathering~? I figured if we diet hard enough to be as petite as her, we mi~ght have a chance.

Then don't customize your avatar to have those balloons!

_ Shadyna: If being lightweight makes you float, wouldn't newbies fly away because they have empty inventory?

As much as I hate to admit it, I weight more than both of these bountiful ladies combined due to my inventory being filled with trash materials. Having (very) high STR is both a blessing and a curse…

_ Mera: Not without us freeing them from the shackles of existence, of course~

Can someone explain to me how this person is a healer, and a good one at that?

_ Helen: Be it heaven or hell, I will always be with our cute guildmaster~

I appreciate the enthusiasm, but couldn't you phrase it so that the passing degenerates don't glare at me enviously? Background ladies, that wasn't my fault, so stop staring please.

Being near a womanizer is dangerous…

_ Shadyna: Thanks. I'm not taking anyone with me though.

_ Helen: Eh~?

_ Shadyna: My destination is the sun. I'm confident that it will have environmental damage so it's best if I go alone.

As long as I have them in the party, [Friendship Engine] is usable. There's no need to put them in danger if I can help it, un.

The pacifist girl takes good care of everyone under her command~

_ Helen: *Gasps* After having your way with us, you are throwing us away?!

…Excuse me?!

_ Shadyna: You are the last person I want to hear that from!!!

Explanation spiced with a spoon of insanity-inducing despair in progress, please wait~

…

_ Shadyna: To sum it up, Sateri is the Sun Goddess, no NPC knows anything else about her, the sun is within my area of operation. Therefore, I will fly to the sun.

_ Helen: … Both the explanation and the summary make no sense.

Shocked face~

While the cute tree girl is recovering from the big reveal of the century, the sadistic waitress is deep in thought. Her eyes are closed, and she is not smiling like usual. Kind of hard to believe that our carefree maniac can make such expression, at least outwardly.

Suddenly opening her eyes, Mera turns to me like a detective figuring out the last piece of the puzzle to catch the culprit.

_ Mera: In other words, goes after anything that is cute.

…Sateri-dammit Mera! Your deductions are just as bad as mine! What do my preferences have to do with anything I have explained to you so far?!

_ Helen: I understand that feeling~

This beautiful womanizer is not helping!

_ Mera: With that said and done~…

And she's back to her usual self already. What is this rapid mood swing? Did she do that on purpose to prevent any attempt to defend myself from the baseless accusation…?

_ Mera: E~veryone may suffer a slow and painful death if you destroy the sun, you know~?

_ Shadyna: …Eh?

The unexpected warning aside, how did she even come to think that I was going to destroy the sun in the first place? My plan was to fly straight to it, then throw Gelly repeatedly until I arrive at the center, where Sateri's avatar is (I think). Considering the lack of creatures up there, it is peak pacifism if you ask me!

…Okay, maaaaybe the sun will get a small dent or two as that's the only way to get inside. It's not like I will be firing hundreds of unguided rockets at the surface in an attempt to erase the whole celestial body from existence, okay? It would be bad if Sateri is really there and gets caught in the blast.

_ Mera: The NPCs said that, did they not? Sateri-chan is keeping the darkness at bay. So, , what do you think would happen if the sun goes out?

_ Shadyna: …It'll be nighttime?

Uhm… why are you two patting my head as if I was a child who said something stupid but got a pass because that was cute? I answered that correctly, did I not?

_ Helen: That too, although it was the corruption raids that Mera was worried about.

_ Shadyna: Ah…

Corruption raids are the only time when the game world receives no light from the sun. When they end, the sunlight burns the rest of the horde to ashes. While I'm not really familiar with the lore behind them, it's not hard to guess that losing the sun will impact the raids in some way.

Going by logic and immersion, raids simply won't end. There's no light to wipe the horde, so they keep coming. Players will be fighting 24/7 with no time to gather their loots and resupply. Eventually, the walls will fall, and everyone will be in for a heroic last stand with no chance of victory. If Sateri is in a sour mood and does nothing about it, we will have the first player-made bad end in an MMO, and my name will go down in history as the idiot who triggered the apocalypse knowingly.

Yikes.

Let's prepare some countermeasures, just to be on the safe side. Even though I don't intend to destroy it, I don't want to play into Sateri's hands, especially if I saw (was told) that in advance.

_ Shadyna: Do you have any idea to prevent accidental destruction of the sun then?

_ Mera: Aw~ I was looking forward to the despair on everyone's face as they…

Welp. Even the end of the world will not take this one's enjoyment away. Next!

_ Shadyna: ?

_ Helen: …Knock politely~?

Are you seriously suggesting that there is a door somewhere on the surface of the sun?!

I also have to assume that no matter how gently I handle the sun, there's always a chance of it blowing up by a scripted event. Being the only person near it, I will get a guilty verdict due to circumstantial evidences…

Sateri, why are you so bent on painting me as a villainess…?

In that case, I may be better off preparing for the aftermath instead of trying to avert the destruction. How am I going to do that though…?

I need sunlight… Lots and lots of light… Ah.

_ Shadyna: Uhm… I am going to buy a lot of materials. Are you two good at haggling?

Despite being a frequent patron to some of the shops here, I have never done a big transaction alone. Makes one wonder why I am still a guildmaster of a crafting guild huh. If it hadn't been for the lack of difference compared to a manager with all permissions, I would have let someone else have that honor.

Speaking of which, I still do not know who the guildmaster of the old [Cooking] guild was. Oh well, I'm sure it was Hessy or one of the managers anyway~

_ Helen: I'm sorry, I have always been an accountant. Dealing with customers is not my forte, except for the occasion after-hour activities~

…Let's not ask about what such "activities" entailed, un.

Meanwhile, Mera is smiling in silence. What's that supposed to mean…?

Oh right, she's an equal to the black company CEO that is Linny. Rather than asking whether she can handle the snaky merchants, I should ask whether there will be anything resembling an economy left after I set her loose. That's the impression I am having right now, judging from that sinister smile.

Well, since I am a pacifist with an unyielding love for all living beings…

Screw the not-alive economy~!

_ Shadyna: Alright, here's the fund. Please buy as much materials as possible for this recipe.

Lost Gold Coin x a scary amount~

Shared the perpetual fire shooter recipe~

_ Mera: Oh my~

It's close to the budget of the arena, by the way. That [Soul Core] wagon really fetched a high price… And they were sold at a discount too.

_ Shadyna: Well then, I'm counting on you two! I'm going now~

_ Helen: Where are you going?

I am already running at full speed towards my destination. Better do it now while the market is still in one piece.

_ Shadyna (Party): To the skill scroll shop. I am going to unlock [Elemental Barrage]!

_ Helen (Party): Eh~?

Operation Changing Lightbulb is a go~!

____________

After another painful boss rush with many sacrifices, the victors return to the cafeteria to celebrate, as well as dismantle the corpses for the loots.

_ Torenis: What a pain. They are becoming stronger.

The number of boss was absurd as always, even the guild specialized in large-scale battles had a rough time.

_ Vladina: It wasn't that bad. Their stats were not overly inflated, and we have a sturdy frontline that can take on the enemies one-on-one.

It is no doubt that the players have learned from their past battles and improved drastically. The once chaotic free-for-all survival of the fittest turned into an organized battle formation. Each player knew from the beginning what they are supposed to do, and worked with each other to hold the line until the heavy firepower came to relieve them. The teamwork and discipline were a general's dream come true, in spite of a death count that somehow surpassed the number of total combatants.

In fact, their battle plans are getting so stable, the greatest threat is their own friendly fire, particularly from the strongest players being distracted by random chatters from outside.

Everyone knows how to read the mood though, so they won't say anything about it.

It's definitely not because the players in question are weapons of mass destruction that can wipe the floor with everyone else in the boss arena, really.

_ Olkan: So many good materials, but not enough coins to upgrade the gears… If it weren't for yesterday's crash…

The guildmaster of is having mixed feelings while putting his share into a container for transportation. Although he is at the top, that does not mean he can just hoard whatever high-grade materials his guild acquires. If anything, the nature of his guild resulted in everything being an exchange one way or another. It keeps the motivation up, but when the wallet's tight, they struggle more than most conventional guilds in comparison.

For this raid's loots, only the participants will receive the items, since the supply is limited. Meanwhile, the crafters behind the scene have an exclusive contract as providers for [Enhance] and [Enchant] services. However, with the stockpiled [Soul Core] tanking in price for the next few days to come, there are not enough actual coins to pay the crafters. Until other sources of income fill the empty coffers again, there will be no meaningful gear crafting for his members.

_ Linista: This is why I kept telling you to have dedicated crafters… Would you like a loan to get out of this predicament?

The former manager understands the internal problems of all too well, it didn't surprise her one bit to see in this situation.

_ Olkan: No thanks. I don't want bankruptcy.

_ Linista: Tsk.

While the cafeteria crew and other crafters are distributing the spoils after plucking out the last items from the corpses in true adventurer manners, an unexpected conversation takes place in 's guild chat.

_ Manager (Guild): Uh… Guildmaster, we have a problem.

_ Olkan (Guild): I'm all ears, honey.

_ Manager (Guild): Keep that up and you will be selling your body by the end of this. Listen, someone just bought most of our mid-grade materials.

Items on the shelves are being sold well, yet that is a problem. The guildmaster is confused, as expected.

_ Olkan (Guild): Isn't that a good thing?

_ Manager (Guild): They were sold without any price adjustments. Prices have skyrocketed and we do not have supply for our own crafters.

When a large volume of goods changes hands, the price has to shift to reflect the new supply-demand balance in the market. In other words, if someone buys too much at the old price, other merchants who depend on said goods will have to ramp up their price or operate at a loss. Although some volatility is unavoidable, a stable environment where the majority of merchants can ride out short-term changes is supposed to be one of 's appeals, next to the discounts and ladies with ample chests.

Needless to say, it is not good for the guild's image if someone managed to wreak havoc on the supply chain without anyone noticing.

_ Olkan (Guild): How the heck did that happen?!

_ Manager (Guild): They avoided detection by commissioning our newbie merchants to bulk-buy through many shops in rapid successions. Our accountants estimate that we will lose money due to disruptions and contract breaches if you don't open the emergency stockpiles soon.

It is indeed the greatest danger to the handsome merchant and his guild in general: Monetary losses.

_ Olkan (Guild): I'm on my way. Dear Sateri-chan, why does this keep happening to me!?

Frantically leaving an order for a guild member to handle the rest at the cafeteria, quickly departs, not forgetting to throw a glance at , much to her confusion.

No, she was fighting the bosses the whole time, so it can't be her, even if she is one of the few individuals who can pull this kind of destructive maneuver in short notice…

_ Linista: What was that all about? Did someone sue him for harassment?

_ Vladina: Isn't that just daily occurrence?

_ Linista: You are one to talk…

From the back, the lead waitress who was silently working overheard , and has a hunch.

_ Hessenria (Guild): Hey, …

_ Shadyna (Guild): It wasn't me! Mera was the one… Actually, sorry.

Culprit found. At least she confessed quickly. The bad feeling is becoming more accurate, and the waitress does not like that at all.

_ Hessenria (Guild): Sateri-chan dammit Mera, you were supposed to stop her, not join her!

_ Vulkerzelianna Merashiel (Guild): Eh~

_ Helen (Guild): I helped out as well~

Turns out, the experts in economy do not necessarily want to protect it.

Because it was partially her fault, having sent those two to begin with, decides to turn a blind eye and not think too much about it.

The economy will be fine… Eventually.