Before Stage 2 began, happened the third of a borderline scandalous secret soirée.

“Konbanwa,” a certain Yamato Nadeshiko said from inside the hot water pool. Her visage might be only visible from the neck up but she was still as graceful as ever.

“...Konbanwa,” he replied, stifling his smile while making his way to the stone-crested pool.

“I thought you wouldn't come.”

“Naze? Why wouldn't I come?”

“You’re not blind or deaf. Surely you’ve heard of my reputation by now.”

Her oriental-descent face hardened for a second before returning to normal.

“Yes. But…”

“But?”

“But I understand the necessity of it. Father said to give mercy if you can afford it but never hesitate to be ruthless when you have to.”

Sakuya said in one breath, eyes straight into his.

“...Hm,” Viers hummed, mainly because he wasn’t sure how to answer.

It wasn't as if he sought justification for his actions, but hearing that someone understood… didn't feel bad.

“And…” her voice went up then down. “I want to talk to you more… so I came.”

It was as direct as it could be and very unexpected for Viers. He was more accustomed to the roundabout conversations of all the rom-com Japanese mangas.

Viers let out an unhidden snicker in amusement. “You can talk to me anytime but you chose to do so while we’re in a bath together? How bold.”

The other side wasn't able to deal with the direct counterattack as gracefully as Viers did. From Sakuya’s expression, he could imagine her brain was just hit by a storm.

“T-this is… Auu… Nnn.”

She sunk deeper into the hot spring until her mouth was below the waterline. Red as a lobster was an apt depiction.

“Well, we got the limited free tickets to a magical onsen, didn't we? Shikatanai.”

“S-Sou desu! Shikatanai!” Sakuya lit up, taking the extended olive branch eagerly. “Very true, Tanael-san.”

Actually, the effect of the supposed ‘body purification’ of the spa was the last thing on Viers and Sakuya’s minds. It could even be said they didn't really care about it.

The silence that followed was not the stifling kind. Both were seeing the mountains far, far away.

“And so Stage 1 is over,” Viers spoke first.

“It is.”

“What’s your rank?”

“San-juu-san.”

33rd… higher than I thought.

“A-Ano,” Sakuya reached out, nervously. “W-Which portal will you choose tomorrow, Tanael-san?”

“Yeah, I have a bit of a headache there. There’s no soul world so my choices are open. I’ll go with my gut feeling. I’ll pick the water area. You?”

“My affinity is wood so perhaps the earth area is best suited for me.”

“A most impressive deduction, Sakuya-hime.”

Splash.

His jab was gifted by a splash of water to the face. Sakuya smiled playfully.

“If I’m truly a hime, a princess, will you become my retainer?”

“I think I will make for a lousy retainer,” Viers said. “You should seek someone better.”

The small talks continued. Both thinking a little more, just a little more. Stretching the time, chaining one second to the next. Until the time limit came.

“It has been a pleasure meeting you. So, here’s where we part then. Best of luck to both of us.”

After the third time, they had become skilled in moving while hiding the sight of their sensitive area. The other generally looked away out of politeness and was appreciated by the other side.

“Watashi mo desu, Tanael-san. Oyasuminasai.”

“Oyasumi,” Viers replied.

And so their last meeting ended. In the future, there might be no opportunity for them to converse like this again. They both realized this and the goodbyes were heavier than before.

Alone at last, Sakuya’s thoughts were in a jumble of knots.

Kore wa ai… dewa nai.

This isn't love, so she realized. As naive as Sakuya was, she knew her own feelings towards a man that she only met three short times were not love.

It was a bud, which might either wilt or bloom.

However, she could choose to water it or not.

If you find a man you like in the future, you must pounce upon him and not let go.

Pounce upon him and not let go...

Pounce upon him...

Pounce...

Her mother’s words echoed as if her mind was a valley.

I’ll try, Okaa-sama!

In that secret onsen filled with special memories, Sakuya made a cute fist pump.

***

Stage 2 water area was similar to Regidana’s climate. This place felt tropical. Viers checked his disguise and sighed in relief when it was still intact and his Thousand Treasures Casket followed him here.

Good, the Impersonator Mask is still on and my unequipped stuff is all stored in the Casket... What’s this?

Got two extra items, one was a map. There was something written on the bottom right: Top 10 reward. The other item was some kind of wooden handle the size of his palm.

Aaand that’s it. No more direction on what to do from here… Aletro chose a hands-off approach for Stage 2.

“Hells and Damnations! That monster Tanael is here!”

“Shit… I was hoping I won't meet him ever again.”

“It was because of him I didn't reach the top 100...”

The cursings brought Viers attention to his surroundings now that his internal affair was in order.

Ten… Twenty… Fifty… Sixty-two. These are my rivals in this Stage. Including me, that’s sixty-three.

After the scan, Viers was glad he didn't find many high rankers. The most dangerous one was the currently standing aloof elf. He was blonde, tall, and didn't talk much. He was the 8th ranked white spark holder.

Viers made a special note of his potentially biggest obstacle. The rest of the gang was pretty much small fries. Not to be dismissed out of thought but compared to Viers, they were very much lacking.

And then…

“So,” Viers cocked his head to a certain person standing not far from him. “Why are you here?”

“...Ikenai?”

Sakuya swallowed her bashfulness as deep as she could but the sudden red makeup that appeared on her face gave it away. She was no longer in a kimono. She was now wearing a men’s attire for ease of movement, shirts and trousers. Just like Viers and the rest of the players.

“Do as you wish.”

It was unexpected but whatever. He wasn't here for playing nor courting. Viers took pride in the fact that he was a guy who didn't use his dick to think.

The sun was staring at them from up above in the fullness of its might. Beads of sweat started forming on his neck. With nothing else to do, Viers started walking to the sorry-looking town. From the square, he could see that most of the buildings were wood shacks. The starting location was not a prosperous one.

“Tanael, we can achieve more if we act as a group.”

Seeing him leaving, someone said that to Viers.

“I don't play well in a group. Good luck, hunters. Treasures or shards,” He kept walking without turning and waved to those behind him.

***

While Regidana was a well-maintained city in the center of civilization, walking in this shantytown gave Viers a sense of nostalgia as if he walked the sandy roads of Nassau.

Not the 21st-century one -he’d never been there- but he had been to the 18th-century Nassau as a hooded pirate-ninja-assassin with the stabby-stabby tendencies.

I should wear something white in this place. Something that comes with a hood. Perhaps add a pair of cutlasses and four pistols?

What he needed the most right now was information and where else would he get it other than the tavern? Years of oldie JRPG games conditioned him to think so.

“Bartender, I seek the greatest treasure in these waters. What do you know about it?”

He stepped into the establishment -a decent establishment because there were no visible rats- like a badass and walked to the counter.

“You buying somethin'?” The bartender asked.

“Your best drink,” Viers slid a gold coin forward.

The bartender whisked the coin away and whipped something up. With his square chin, pointed to a person drinking alone in the corner. Viers took a sip from the yellow drink and it tasted like piss. It would make a perfect gift for the person in the corner. He seemed like a guy who appreciated this kind of beverage.

“Hey man. I’m searching for treasure, the best there is. Whaddaya got?”

The man looked at Viers with half-focused eyes and replied with a drunken drawl.

“First~, I’ll need to refill my drink...” Viers had already filled the man’s empty mug with the piss-flavored drink he’d just bought. That was enough to loosen his tongue.

“Treasure you seek, eh? Crazy Pete, they all call me. Unaware that I’m the only sane one in this stinking town. And I know where to find the legendary place with treasures to fill ten whole ships with more to spare.”

“Where?” Viers demanded.

“The legendary City of Pearl, long lost 500 years ago. Destroyed overnight, sank into the sea. We all know the tale but few folks believe it nowadays.”

“What kind of treasure is inside? Rusted big fork? Painting of a naked lady?” Viers asked jokingly.

“Many, young man. Extraordinary ones, in riches and power. The surrounding islands speak for themselves. The instances of valuable trinkets washing ashore or someone finding a magical bauble underwater happen frequently. That’s why this place is full of men of fortune, such as you. But those are nothing compared to the greatest treasure of all, hidden in the depths of the city.”

“Hard to believe there’s still treasure washed ashore after 500 years but whatever. Well go on, out with it. The numero uno treasure is?”

Crazy Pete, leaned forward, tone deep. He got a few points for theatrics.

“The Crystal Trident… Legends are it is imbued with the power of the Sea God. Whosoever possesses the trident shall command the tides and storms itself!”

Viers rolled his eyes. Oh, where have I heard that before?

“Girls, what do you think?” Viers sought counsel.

“Considering everything is made by Aletro, this sunken Pearl City might really exist, Lord Viers,” Farley said.

“Or it might be a made-up story by this drunk. This Crystal Trident sounds like a divine weapon to me. No way it exists,” Paina was skeptical.

“Why not? Consider Aletro’s power for a second. Is it strange for a person such as he to possess items worthy of legends? If this Book World is akin to a storage item, the Crystal Trident’s existence is not improbable to me,” Clarissa argued.

City of Pearl and Crystal Trident… Is this Stage 2's main quest?

“Okay then, Crazy Pete. Do tell, where is this legendary sunken city?” Viers asked.

“Aye, Crazy Pete knows how one might find the City of Pearl,” he took big gulps and showed his yellow teeth with a few missing.

“I’m listening,” voice sterner than he realized.

“But first you must do something for Crazy Pete.”

Sigh… Here it comes, the bothersome chain quests.