episode_0030

[World Quest – Chapter 0]

[Collect all the ‘seeds’ spread across the Arcana Continent]

[Reward: ]

[Failure Penalty: ]

“Huh?”

The newly appeared World Quest was quite straightforward. It instructed me to gather things similar to the cherry blossom seed I had just absorbed.

However, the information contained within that simple sentence was anything but light.

Firstly, the fact that things similar to cherry blossom seeds are scattered throughout the Arcana Continent. And it likely meant they had already blossomed like cherry blossoms.

“…”

I didn’t know how many seeds had spread or what abilities each seed possessed. But I was certain that those seeds should not be left alone.

After all, the cherry blossom tree itself seduced intelligent beings, drained their strength, and grew into a sinister yet beautiful carnivorous garden.

If I hadn’t discovered it and it had appeared in the middle of the Academy…the consequences would probably have been unimaginable. The key figures who would have prevented the invasion of the Demon Army in the future would have perished here.

“This can’t be ignored.”

While the reward and failure penalty sections of the quest were empty, it was not a quest that could be easily dismissed.

If such entities as the cherry blossom tree were to grow on the northern defensive line…the outcome would be truly dreadful. The defensive line would collapse, and the original world would be completely destroyed.

To prevent such a scenario, these ‘beings’ needed to be found. Absorb the seeds, grow stronger, and prevent the impending disaster.

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy.”

Originally, the [Arcana Academy] was a game where heroines could defeat the Demon King even without the protagonist’s intervention.

After all, this was just a romance. It was a game where the main focus was on romance rather than defeating the Demon King.

So far, I honestly hadn’t given it much thought.

I knew that the world would continue to function just fine even without me. That’s why I only wanted to intervene in the tragedies of the original work.

But the countdown had started long ago.

The blooming cherry blossom tree meant that other ‘seeds’ mentioned in the quest had also begun to bloom. No, perhaps some of them had already blossomed and grown.

And besides me, no one else knows about the existence of these ‘seeds’. They wouldn’t believe even if I told them about their existence.

“Sigh…”

Despite having gained new scars and fully recovered thanks to the effects of the ‘Cherry Blossom Garden,’ it was difficult to get up. A heavy sense of responsibility had suddenly settled deep in my heart.

“Really, this is despicable.”

I wish there had been death as the penalty for failing the quest. If that were the case, I might have developed the will to save the world from destruction, even if it meant wanting to live.

There is no penalty for failing this World Quest.

Even if the world and humanity were to perish, at least I could save my own life. The fact that I could be safe kept coming to mind. There was a way to escape.

The dungeons I had explored so far, the duel with Yerena Frost, and the ancient lich’s dungeon were all manageable. As long as I had knowledge of the ‘original work,’ I could navigate through the hardships.

But how about this time?

When I just encountered the cherry blossom tree, I almost died for real. If my mental strength had been even slightly lower, I would have been trapped by that tree for the rest of my life.

I have no idea how strong the ‘seeds’ that will appear next will be. I don’t even know how many more times I’ll have to risk my life.

Honestly, it’s terrifying.

Facing a situation where one’s life is on the line without knowing anything at all is terrifying in itself. The fact that I almost died just now is too eerie.

I gazed at the status window with a complex heart.

Knowledge of the future. Various connections’ locations. Various world quests and sub-missions to come. And the status window and birthmark.

It was an overwhelming power that transformed a timid, reclusive girl into a bold adventurer, leading her from living a bottom-of-the-barrel life dragged by the wayside to the Empire’s top academy.

With great power comes great responsibility, or so they say.

Having succeeded by using great power, it is only right to take responsibility for that power now. Surely, that’s the right thing to do.

Courage to act on what you know in your head is a different matter. Doubts keep creeping in about whether I can really save this world.

“Sigh…”

I rose, exhaling deeply.

With a light gesture, the cherry blossom garden melted away, and the shape of the birthmark changed once again.

The hair, mixed with a faint purple hue, returned to its original color, and the light pink tint in the amethyst-colored eyes disappeared.

[Player ID: Cyan]

[Lv: 47]

[Strength: D+]

[Agility: C+]

[Endurance: C-]

[Mental Power: B]

[Magic Amount: C+]

[Charm: A]

[Held Birthmark: Blink][Set]

[Held Birthmark: Cherry Blossom Garden]

Closing the status window, I moved my steps.

After releasing ‘Cherry Blossom Garden,’ fatigue rushed over me, making it difficult to continue thinking.

“For now, let’s think about this a bit more.”

A truth learned after over five years of adventuring.

For matters where immediate contemplation yields no answers, give it time to ponder.

Deciding to risk your life to save the world is no light matter. Sitting here now, pondering endlessly doesn’t seem to lead anywhere. I broke through the mental block.

“In the end, I didn’t meet the saintess.”

Normally, I should have received a related quest. But since the cherry tree suddenly appeared, it seems like I missed out on receiving the quest.

Exhaling a sigh, I moved on.

Honestly, capturing the saintess would make things easier going forward, but now that I’ve obtained ‘Cherry Blossom Garden,’ having a healer is not entirely necessary.

Upon absorbing the cherry tree ‘seed,’ the first thing that noticeably changed was the gazes of those around me.

Already fairly cute in appearance, gaining the Charm (A) stat added a subtle charm to my expressions and actions unconsciously.

The most noticeable difference was felt in the afternoon garden after classes.

I had defeated Yerena Frost in the academy’s first duel and entered as the top student in the swordsmanship department. So, I was already attracting various looks, but there was something slightly different now.

“Sigh…”

Exhaling lightly, just pushing my hair back made me sense some gazes turning towards me.

Not only I noticed this change.

“Cyan, did you put on perfume?”

“Huh?!”

A voice coming from behind me, lost in thought. Along with it, a soft breath felt on my neck.

Yerena’s breath gently tickling my neck made a creepy sensation rise up my spine, trembling with something eerie crawling up my waist.

My cheeks blushed like ripe apples, and my legs involuntarily pressed together. Struggling to calm my trembling body, I turned around.

“You, you startled me…!”

My voice held a hint of moisture. Her gem-like eyes trembled here and there, and a faintly sweet breath escaped through her lips.

And then, inexplicably, Yerena’s gaze seemed dazed.

Her silver eyes swept from my neck to my lips. In her gaze, overtly direct and warm unlike anything Yerena had shown before, my body involuntarily shivered.

The frosty eyes of the Frost family resembled those of predators from the north. Perhaps because of that, a chilling sensation crept down my spine as I watched Yerena gulp down her saliva with half-opened eyes.

Is this how a predator gazes at its prey? An unfounded unease that I might be devoured if I stayed like this gripped me strongly.

So, I cautiously called out to Yerena.

“Yes, Y-Yerena…?”

“Oh, um…? Uhm!”

In response, Yerena blushed fiercely, taking a step back. Along with her girlish reaction, her silver gaze that had been fixed on me loosened.

“Are you okay? Your face suddenly looks flushed, are you coming down with a cold or something?”

“No need to worry. The daughter of Frost who handles cold wouldn’t catch a mere cold.”

“Well, yeah. That’s true.”

After all, the Frost family itself has a strong resistance to cold.

The hereditary marks passed down through generations in the Frost family are of the ice element, so there’s no way they would be affected by their own marks.

Therefore, I lightly brushed off Yerena’s strange reaction.

“What about Regina?”

“Uh, well… I’ve been here all along…”

“Huh?!”

Distracted by Yerena, I hadn’t noticed Regina. Coming closer to me from behind Yerena, Regina timidly looked at me and asked.

“But, it does feel like there’s a faint cherry blossom scent in the air around Cyan Ciente…”

Could this also be because of the cherry tree seeds?

No matter how the marks are set to flicker, it seems impossible to conceal the changes after absorbing the cherry tree seeds.

With that thought in mind, I reached out to both of them.

“Have you two had a good day today?”

“It was just… okay.”

“I… didn’t have anything special happen…!”

I’m going to be busy starting tomorrow.

It’s time to start studying slowly.

So, in order to enjoy this last bit of leisure, I asked.

“Should we go make something special happen then?”

“Sounds good…!”

“I’m in agreement too.”

The two girls held my hand as usual. Watching them, I felt relieved inside.

Fortunately, it seemed like Yerena and Regina weren’t greatly influenced by the seeds. We’ll probably remain good friends forever.