Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Coeurl Labyrinth & Boss Cat

"Eii!" - Dusk

"Burn away!!" - Dawn

"*Terrified bat-noises*!!" - Echo

Poor Echo. I should give her a raise after this... But I don't pay them at all!

Anyway, things are looking good here in the Coeurl Labyrinth. The twilight sisters are battling demonic feline monsters by having Dusk take the heat while Dawn dishes out more heat. It's the same strategy the two had been doing from the start, but with one new addition to the equation.

Whenever Dusk's HP seemed to get too low, Echo swooped down and healed her with [Bloodline Recovery], acting as the final piece in the puzzle these two girls were missing in their team composition. Aino also supported them with fast fireballs to compensate for Dawn's drawn-out incantations, while I gave them a warning whenever a new monster was getting too close.

"This is incredible! We have never hunted so many monsters in one setting!" - Dawn

"It is like a dream come true...!" - Dusk

Just how horrible were their gaming hours before we met?

"Garami, I think we have enough 'Diacato Fur' now." - Aino

"Good...hmm? I don't remember that being part of the quests I accepted." - Garami

"No, these are for me. I needed them to tailor a catgirl costume." - Aino

Note to self: push all cosplay-related stuff onto these two. Even if they'll not like it.

Other than that, I'd say we're doing some significant progress. The twins' levels have increased from around 10 to 20 during these two hunting days. Aino has also gathered groups and materials that I had no idea she was collecting... 

Best of all, Echo is getting some excellent class proficiency with this, even if she's getting frightened out of her batty mind by the giant beams of deadly light that almost hit her now and then. Her level is up in the 40s now. 

Skill List:

Attack Skills:
Active Skills:
Passive Skills:
Perception Skills:
Elements: Monster Skills:

Wow. She's been working out. Did she find a good teacher in her free time when I wasn't logged in? Bloom said she took the demons out for a walk in the cities and the Adventurer's Union whenever they felt bored. That would explain this high increase in skill levels. AP alone won't be able to cover this.

I wish I had such an amazing teacher. The recent updates prevent Dungeon bosses from acting as teachers, so I can't ask Miranda anymore. I wonder if she has some arachnid girlfriends she can ask some favors from for my sake?

"How are you girls faring?" - Aino

"I am alright." - Dusk

"Me too! Let's defeat some more kitties!" - Dawn

"Sis..., don't call them that. It makes me feel guilty..." - Dusk

"*Gasp*, you're right! I'm so sorry, Dusk!" - Dawn

And with that, the two sisters hugged each other while small tears formed in the corner of their eyes. Sibling love. How...beautiful. 

"Now, should we move on, or is this enough?" - Aino

Aino turned her question to me. I looked at the two fairy sisters (better said, I turned my head to give the impression of looking at them) and gave my judgment.

"They're good. I'm even starting to think there was no need to test them from the start." - Garami

Hearing my conclusion, the twilight sisters jumped around in joy while Aino silently nodded to my words. Those two have a solid foundation for their abilities, fulfilling their roles in a party to the tee. In exchange, however, they have sacrificed the ability to act "independently".

Maybe it's a result of the two twins playing together all the time, but whatever the case, in a proper party with specific roles, they have no weaknesses. That is good enough for the moment, as the event is a team operation. Teaching them the art of solo playing can wait until afterward.

"But we're still not completely in sync with each other. No wonder, seeing as we've only played for two days now." - Garami

"You're saying we should keep on hunting then?" - Aino

"The boys are busy with the finishing touches on the vehicle, but they should be ready for the event. Since we have nothing else to do, we could spend time looking through this place. Something about it seems off to me." - Garami

"We were thinking the same thing!" - Dawn

"Mhm. Fields and haunts..., they generally have something special to them." - Dusk

So it wasn't just me who caught on to the weirdness of this Coeurl Labyrinth. There are many feline monsters here, but the EXP and materials they drop aren't worth the long trip. That allowed Rolf to build his base here, away from people's eyes, but would the game administrators go all the way to make such a boring place without any treasure hidden somewhere? I wouldn't have if I were in their place.

"It may be a wild goose chase, but we have nothing else to do right now anyway. Oh, but I have to work on our costumes tomorrow." - Aino

"No probs. Let's take it easy and see what we can find." - Garami

With that decided, I had Echo go ahead and search the perimeter. She should be able to handle anything, especially with [Vampiric Survival] allowing her to withstand an attack with 1 HP. It is similar to a skill called [Battle Continuation], except Echo's version also provides a boost to Drain-type skills when one is low on HP. 

We kept investigating the hills in search of clues...but to no luck. There is NOTHING here! How boring...

"At least we are all earning enough EXP~." - Dawn

"Sis...they changed the EXP rules with the last update." - Dusk

"Heh~?" - Dawn

"Now, the EXP you obtain...depends on how much you contributed to defeating the monster." - Dusk

"WHAT!? ...Oh, that means nothing to me." - Dawn

"I doubt it would. Not with that kind of firepower." - Garami

"The [Party] skill has been reduced to just gathering people now~. Though, I did hear it also provides a bonus for resisting team-breaking effects, was it?" - Aino

"It does. I haven't seen one of those 'team breakers' myself, but I guess they are skills with the effect of disbanding groups formed by other skills." - Garami

"Wow, that sounds like an annoying one." - Aino

"Maybe bosses...have them?" - Dusk

"As expected of my sweet Dusk! You never miss a clue!" - Dawn

"V." - Dusk

Ouch. That seems like a nasty future. I should consider improving my own [Party]'s levels...!?

"I just lost Echo." - Garami

"Eh? Didn't she go ahead of us?" - Aino

"That's the problem. Everyone, get ready!" - Garami

Echo's signal had disappeared all of a sudden, with no warning. I doubt Echo wouldn't be able to warn me about a strong monster, meaning she was taken out before even registering that she was attacked. This could be troublesome...

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"Burning grudge, Flare Bomb!" - Aino

The first to notice the attacker was Aino, who released a shortened spell toward...something. It is outside my detection area, so I don't know what she's firing at. But my questions were answered almost instantly. 

A huge panther jumped onto the scene. It had some weird, blade-like claws on its forelimbs, along with extremely long whiskers that were moving around as if they had a mind of their own. And more importantly, it's as huge as a truck. 

"Watch out! That thing tanked my Flare Bomb without even flinching!" - Aino

Ugh. Is this like the frog I once encountered in the Darkland Plains? ...No. This one feels much worse. And it is not alone.

From the edges of my detection range, smaller panthers came sneaking toward us. There are around 2 dozen or so of them, they don't have those wicked blade claws on their limbs, and they're only the size of regular panthers...or maybe a little more. I could easily ride on top of one of them...if they were not looking at us with those hungry eyes. Stop that! Please?

Alas, my silent prayers were not heard, or maybe just ignored, because the giant panthers came jumping at us with drooling mouths and sharpened claws. Yeah...we're not winning this one. 

---

After I respawned, I sent a message to the girls to return to the Union for a reflection meeting. I was the first to arrive. then came the twilight sisters. And they arrived with gloomy faces that could make you believe the world had ended for them.

"...Cheer up. I don't think you're responsible for leading those cats to us." - Garami

"We know, but..." - Dusk

"Traumas are not so easily removed just by knowing that..." - Dawn

Ah, so this used to be an everyday occurrence for them. It's impressive that they're still playing the game. Let's order some drinks for them. On me.

"Hello, sorry I am late...why the funeral mood!?" - Aino

"We did sorta die." - Garami

"But that's only in the game! And there isn't any death penalty even!" - Aino

You don't need to tell me. Say it to them, if you dare. 

"Anyway, I have contacted Rolf and figured out what went wrong there. Do you girls remember the name of the area we went to?" - Aino

"The Coeurl Labyrinth, right?" - Garami

"Yes. And those panthers we encountered were the very same Coeurls that the place is named after." - Aino

Oho~? Now I'm starting to see a connection.

"According to Rolf, the place is named as such because if you spend too much time and wander too deep in that field, a flock of those demon cats will come and eat you." - Aino

"Figures. And even they are demons? I almost expected them to be aliens." - Garami

"I asked Rolf the same thing, and he said that they are undoubtedly demonic. They evolve from the Diacato we often found in the Labyrinth." - Aino

Ah, those little critters. Did the big cats hunt us down because we overhunted the little ones? 

"Why did they suddenly attack?" - Dusk

Hey, the twins have finally cheered up. Hot cocoa does have that effect. Glad I ordered some for them.

"Rolf thinks they caught our smell and came running. According to him, there are too few food-related materials to be harvested in the Labyrinth, so the Coeurls must be sustaining themselves by eating other monsters." - Aino

"They are predating on the players?!" - Dawn

"No wonder they were so hungry..." - Dusk

If the rumors about the Labyrinth being as good as deserted by now, then she's not wrong. 

"The smaller specimens are the Coeurls, a D-rank demon cat, while the larger one leading them is called a Cruel Coeurl. A C-rank monster." - Aino

A C-rank... That's way above my level. Sure, Bones, Palug, and I did defeat that Lich who should be on the same racial rank, but that guy was being held back by that brainless summoner of his. This cat is a wild leader who won't have any such weaknesses, plus we're fighting on their turf. I honestly can't see a way to win this. 

"How's Rolf staying safe? Even if it's not in the middle of the Labyrinth, he still built his secret base far into that panther-infested hunting ground." - Garami

"Great minds think alike. I was wondering the same thing when I contacted him, and this is his answer." - Aino

Aino took out some rusty-looking herbs from her Item Bag and showed them to us. What is this stuff? It looks unappetizing. 

"These are called bronzevine. Think of them as the opposite of silvervine." - Aino

"Eh? It's that simple?" - Dawn

"More precisely, he caused a city-wide depletion of bronzevine to create his hideout, according to the culprit himself." - Aino

Hey, hey. This place is big enough to roam several thousand demons. Just where did he get the cash for such a big purchase?

"So, are we supposed to make some type of monster repellent with these herbs?" - Dawn

"That would take...some time." - Dusk

"It's as Dusk says. The event would have already started before we would finish that item. Besides, there is not that big of a need to explore the Labyrinth. If anything, I wanna take a look at the Darkland Plains." - Garami

"The Darkland Plains?" - Dawn & Dusk

"That is where Garami's Dungeon is located. I heard they even built a temporary town there, but after people couldn't enter the Dungeon for a long while, they tore it down." - Aino

And good riddance! Dungeons shouldn't have cities so close to them!

"But enough about the Plains. I have an idea regarding the Labyrinth." - Garami

"An idea?" - Dawn & Dusk

"Okay, but I cannot be part of it. I am going to be busy tomorrow, and it's too late for something today." - Aino

"No worries, no worries~. It is just a little experiment of mine. If things go well, we may end up with a trump card for the event... And I may erase some of my debt." - Garami

"Excuse me, what was that last part?!" - Aino

"Hmm?" - Dawn & Dusk

"Nothing to worry about~. If things go well, the only thing that will hurt is my wallet~." - Garami

"That is not the line I want to hear from someone talking about debts or whatnot!" - Aino

What an overreactive cosplay-loving fox. Not that I think this is a bad idea. Those guys would love to join in on this project. And they are not the only one who will end up happy if this succeed~.

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