"Alright, here we are!" - Garami

After a long track through Mayhem Island's underground tunnels, we reached a place that could only be called an "underground Japanese garden". Purple-ish cherry blossom trees were in full bloom despite the area being in complete darkness..., or not.

There may not be access to sunlight in this cave, but there are some glowing crystals up in the ceiling. They must be responsible for giving the trees light for photosynthesis and all that other plant stuff. There's even a small lake that gives fresh water to the plants. Quite the wonderful work of nature.

"This place is amazing." - Alf

"Show some more enthusiasm, old man. It's darn right beautiful!" - Mira

"O-old man...?" - Alf

"It ires me, but I have to be in agreement with Aureola on this. It is quite the romantic spot you have chosen." - Noire

Alf is caught by surprise fire and the so-called angel refuses to call me by my name. The only nice about this place seems to be its appearance... That, and the promise of income.

"Remember, we're not here for flower viewing. Alf, your date is over there." - Garami

I pointed to a building located in the furthest part of the cave, something that could be confused for a Japanese shrine. There are some details different from the original deal (not that I've ever seen one with my own eyes), but it alongside the cherry blossoms sure gives off an Eastern vibe.

"Is that building the Trial Ground?" - Mira

"According to the info from the Union, yes." - Garami

"...You people, most adventurers never can afford to give a single thought to the idea of obtaining greater power from these places, yet how many have you visited again?" - Noire

"Just twice. Once for me and Garami each." - Mira

"Ehh...for real?" - Noire

If Noire's reaction is anything to go by, it seems our Guild is playing the same game as the highest-ranking adventurers already. The common adventurer is prolly too busy to earn enough for a living, but we, mostly I, have enough cash to splurge on high-quality consumables and comfortable everyday living, so we do have an advantage there. Money is power in every world...

"So, all I need to do is use this coin, then the Trial starts?" - Alf

"Yup. Just make sure you're registering on the safe mode Trial. We've had enough 'accidents' as it is." - Garami

"Yes, a 100% dangerous accident ratio. Both times!" - Mira

"How are you people still alive...?" - Noire

After a friendly round of chit-chat, we moved to the shrine. Instead of the offering box, you would find in a normal Japanese shrine, this one had an access panel not that different from the one in the Knocker's Cave or the one I reached at the end of the labyrinth Trial in the Shadow Pits.

"Well, wish me luck." - Alf

Alf inserted the bat-type Extra Medal into the opening on the panel, and the doors to the inner parts of the shrine opened up for a moment, before closing right afterward. Like with Mira's case, Alf had already disappeared when the doors slammed into our faces. Yet another case of instant teleportation.

"...Okay, detective Bloom. Do some sleuthing!" - Garami

"Yes, Master!" - Bloom

I wasted no time in calling on Bloom, who was specially dressed in a detective outfit that would make the famous sleuth living in Baker Street proud.

"What are you two doing?" - Noire

"Quadruple-checking if this thing isn't bugged like the first two!" - Garami

"Searching for faults, searching for faults, searching for faults...!" - Bloom

"Ahaha... Right. Bloom was in just as much danger as Garami during her Trial..." - Mira

Frankly, she may have been getting the worst shock of the two of us. Let's hope she'll not develop some sorta trauma for Extra Trials because of this. It will lower her capabilities as an assistant/bait.

"All green! We are in the clear! This terminal has no faults whatsoever! And Alf is playing safely." - Bloom

"Poor Alf. Reduced from an 'old man' to just an afterthought." - Mira

"Keep the crocodile tears and start working. We got treasures spread all over the place that would be a waste not to take back with us." - Garami

I spread my arms to demonstrate my point. The cave was littered with small fragments of crystals that had broken off from the ceiling lighting, and old branches from the strange trees, and even the water here can fetch us a good price.

"I could try to shoot down crystals-" - Noire

"Stop that! You'll make the whole ceiling come crashing down! Restrict yourself to the stuff that's fallen to the ground naturally. The same goes for the trees." - Garami

"Tch." - Mira

Hey, why did you click your tongue there? And why do you look like you're about to chop down a whole tree? Stop that.

"The trees are part of a new species known as 'Antrum Lignum'. It has many special traits, such as only being able to grow within dark areas through crystal-induced light. And that its pollen is a natural monster repellant." - Bloom

"And the downside is that people have yet to figure out how to cultivate it artificially. According to the Union." - Garami

Both girls gave an understanding "Aha" upon hearing my words. It's not a big surprise. Seeing how beneficial this tree can be in the war against monsters, the Union can't have it turn into an extinct species due to reckless harvesting.

After putting the girls at speed, we started to gather as many materials on the ground as possible...

How odd. There are way fewer leaves and fallen branches compared to the number of crystals. The latter grows like coral, with the oldest parts deteriorating and breaking off the main body, which doesn't exactly give one much to collect, but there's still considerably more of them than tree remains. Did someone get here before us? But the people in the Union said the crystals are worth more than the plants...

Meh, probably not anything too important. Mira and Noire are picking up the crystals without any worries, so why shouldn't I do the same? It was prolly just a bunch of adventurers who needed to keep monsters away from them on their way home.

"How long will Alf be in there?" asked Mira all of a sudden.

"That depends entirely on the Trial," I said, remembering how long it took me to travel through the dark labyrinth compared to Mira's Trial in the Knocker's Grotto.

"In that case, how about a little challenge to keep us from getting bored?" - Mira

"What do you have in mind?" - Noire

"The girl who finds the most valuable treasure before Alf returns will have their dinner when we return to civilization paid for by the losers~." - Mira

"That's all?" - Garami

"Well, gambling and bets aren't my strongest suits..." - Mira

You know you're bad with them, but still wanna play?! Mira, you're either a true gamer/gambler or a masochist. Or both, which is the most likely scenario...

"You can count me in. Better than being bored." - Noire

"I'm good to go too!" - Garami

Hehehe~. You can't beat a scout-class user when it comes to finding stuff~.

---

I lost... This blindfold's 3D map is good for detailed search, but... It is useless when you have to look over long distances. I kinda knew, seeing as I had to take it off now and then when I wanted to see into the distance, but it was so helpful for finding hidden gems. Literally. And even then...

"When we return, I expect a gourmet dinner at a first-class restaurant." - Noire

"DAMN IT ALL!!" - Mira

That Noire, she found a giant crystal hidden in the lake. Plus a bunch of other big ones hidden in the dust.

"How in the world..." - Garami

"I have confidence when it comes to my eyesight." - Noire

Just that? Did I lose to just that? Sad...

*CRASH!*

Whoa-, what was that!? An enemy?!

"Ouch, oh, gah-!" - ???

"Something" came crashing out from the window located at the top of the Trial Ground shrine. They fell from the roof, down the stairs, and rolled a few meters across the plain before finally stopping. Poor guy..., I mean, poor Alf. After I'm finished with him, that is! Now I can't try to one-up Noire's finds!

"Hey, mister dynamic entry. Are you still breathing?" - Garami

"B-barely... I managed to protect my neck..." - Alf

"How did you end up there..., and are those bitemarks?" - Mira

Wow, that's some nasty scars, alright. And from their positioning and shape, they gotta be bat bites. Poor Alf got them all over his body. Tch, guess I can't punish him. He's already in tattered pieces.

"Please do not comment on those. Alas, I did manage to secure one reward...whatever it is." - Alf

Alf had a small treasure box in his hand... It is really small. Just a tad bigger than a ring box. Wishing to see the spoils of his..."biting" endeavors, I guess, Alf didn't waste any time opening the box. Inside it laid...a set of false teeth?

*Clack*

"Clack?" - Mira

*Clack, clack, claclaclaclaclaclaclaclaclaclaclaclaclaclaclacla-!*

"GYAAAAA!!" - Alf

The teeth suddenly started to move and jumped outta the box and started to bite Alf! What are those? Killer chattering gag teeth!?

"Hey, Alf! Stay with me!" I shouted to him after brushing off those deadly dentures. It didn't take much, as they turned to dust just by me grazing them.

"Noire, give him a heal. You said your healing spells are of the highest rank there is, right?" - Mira

"O-of course it is! I am glad that you remember." - Noire

Noire started to cast a spell on Alf while trying to hide a happy smile on her face. Is she the type that's easily won over by compliments?

"Alf will be fine. He did not have any real wounds on him, but the shock added to the exhaustion he must have experienced during that 'trial' or whatever must have been the last straw to break the Giant Lizard's back. Let him rest for a little while, and I think he will be able to move again," said Noire after finishing the healing spell.

"Phew, that's a relief." - Garami

Wait, hold on. "Giant Lizard"? Is that some sorta regional replacement for a camel or a horse?

"Hey, Garami? Are you sure you want to use your Medals at this place? After seeing how Alf turned out?" - Mira

Guh, that's a good question. On one hand, this is Alf's first experience with high-end content such as an Extra Trial, but on the other hand, he was playing in the safe mode, so seeing him getting this beaten up is making me double-guess just how "safe" it is...

"Ah, whatever! Things will go how it will go!" - Garami

"Wow, how manly~." - Mira

"Master, please don't turn radical just because there is no potential physical danger to your life! Mental damage still exists!" - Bloom

This fairy avatar. She only pops up now when things start getting risky for her...

"Hmm? Why is Bloom so against Garami getting beaten up black and blue from the Trial? It's not like she can also participate." - Noire

"The thing is, she is forced to do just that." - Mira

"What?" - Noire

"Ah, I guess it's fine to tell you. Bloom here isn't a real fairy, but the effect of one of my skills." - Garami

"Is that for real?" - Noire

"Yup. I guess you could call her an AI assistant..., no, that may not get the point across... How about I called her a 'token that can think and act for herself'? Does that help?" - Garami

"...I still have some questions, but whatever. Have fun getting your butt handed to you, as they say nowadays." - Noire

"Idiot. I'm not gonna fall for whatever got Alf. I'm already an expert when it comes to Trials or Dungeons or whatever compared to that bag of lazybones lying over there. Nothing's gonna stop me!" - Garami

"In that case, good luck." - Noire

"Have fun~." - Mira

Hmph, let's forget about those girls and start taking revenge for Alf. I went up to the terminal and added the Spider-type Medal to it. It feels like it would give the rewards I want the most for upgrading my new items. A flash of light later, and I found myself in..., the alley of an old, Japanese-looking village? Is this the area for the Trial? Ah, there's the info screen...

Extra Trial: Alluring Spider Alley Requirements: Medal: "Spider", "Wakoku", or Charm-related medals. Wakoku-related Trial Ground. Quest Content: The challenger finds themself in a location that is based after a Wakoku-styled village. To clear the Trial, they have to reach the shrine located at the center of the village without losing too many points. The challenger will lose points by being caught by the female spider-type Youkai prostitutes' charms and traps. Rewards: Possible rewards from the "Spider" category based on the score:

T3 Skills Ex-rarity Items

...If he had a similar Trial, no wonder Alf couldn't win. He seems like an easy mark for those kinda women. Actually...wouldn't he have been chased after female vampires then? Ohh, that enviable bastard! Whatever. Let's go and reject all the busty spider ladies out there. ...This may be a more horrible Trial than I expected...