episode_0029

[A new **World Quest** has appeared @#&#$!#]

“A new world quest…?”

I remember all the World Quests from [Arcana Academy]. After all, I had played [Arcana Academy] for a thousand rounds.

Therefore, when a World Quest suddenly appeared in front of the cherry blossom tree, I couldn’t help but be taken aback. Such a quest had never appeared in the ‘original work.’

I felt like something was amiss. If I had ruined the ‘original work’ with my actions, I could somehow make amends. But now that the quest had popped up, it meant that the deviation from the ‘original work’ had transcended my abilities.

“…This is insane.”

I brushed aside my complicated thoughts. Continuing to dwell on them would surely make my head explode.

Pushing the status window aside, I approached the cherry blossom tree. Quest or not, figuring out what this was all about was the priority now.

Kiiing-

With the intention of uncovering the cause of this situation, I drew out mana and gripped the hilt of my sword. The 5-star sword, brimming with mana, gently sliced through the cherry blossom tree’s body, revealing its core after about five minutes of labor.

“…A seed?”

It was indeed a seed.

At first glance, it could be mistaken for a gem due to its size, possessing a transparency suitable for ornamentation, all in a cherry blossom-colored crystalline form.

Upon seeing it, I instinctively knew. This seed had sprouted the cherry blossom tree, transforming a natural cave into a dungeon core of sorts.

“As soon as summer vacation begins, I should head straight to Elvenheim.”

As for me, there was no way to know what this truly was.

The possessor’s most potent weapon is knowledge, but this cherry blossom tree’s ‘seed’ was an unknown variable that had never appeared in the original work.

Elves are a long-lived species, living for over a thousand years. Therefore, the quantity and quality of knowledge they possess far surpass those of the human world.

If anyone would have information about this ‘seed,’ it would likely be them.

“I bet she’ll be delighted too.”

Muttering softly, I gazed at the crystalline structure. Emitting a gentle magical aura and softly shimmering, the seed didn’t seem particularly dangerous.

After all, dungeon cores weren’t inherently perilous.

In [Arcana Academy], a dungeon core was one of the rewards for clearing dungeons. Was it like some deranged game where rewards attacked players?

Perhaps that was why, forgetting the Adventurer Guild’s rule of ‘doubt everything,’ I reached out towards the seed.

The seed was soft and light.

Touching it felt like handling a tiny ball of cotton. It looked like a gem but was incredibly lightweight. Its texture was pleasing, and my hand kept gravitating towards it unknowingly.

I couldn’t understand why I was acting this way. It was somewhat different from when the cherry blossom tree enchanted me, yet it evoked a similar, indescribable feeling.

If the cherry blossom tree’s ‘enchantment’ felt somewhat unnatural and artificial, this seed possessed a natural charm that captivated people effortlessly.

Was the previous ‘enchantment’ by the cherry blossom tree related to this seed’s ability? Tempting and captivating to steal something away. If that were true…

Wait a moment.

“Oh no…!”

[Status Window Error]

[Status Window Error]

[Status Wind…]

“Ugh?!”

As my thoughts reached that point, along with a tingling sensation, my legs gave out in an instant. Dozens of semi-transparent windows floated before my eyes as my body collapsed, the seed in my hand melting away and releasing a strange magic throughout my body. A faint pink scent lingered in the air. My mind felt foggy. As a peculiar warmth spread through my body, my cheeks flushed crimson.

“Wha… What is happening…”

The overheated mind stops as it becomes too hot to think. The expression relaxes, causing words to stretch out. The head feels fuzzy, making magic calculations impossible.

The hand holding the seed refuses to open. With the body not obeying, I laboriously crawled to the remnants of the cherry blossom tree and leaned against it.

[Status Recovery in Progress…56%]

I have no idea what is happening to my body. Amid the corpses of monsters, unable to move, the fear of being defenseless if attacked grips me, instinctively clutching the sword tightly.

It felt like walking in a dream. Commands from the mind not followed by the body. With a body drained of strength, all I could do was hope for the status recovery to return quickly.

Sitting there dazed for a moment.

Suddenly, a piercing pain shot through my entire being.

“Ugh…?!”

As mana of a completely different nature than what I held so far entered my body, blood trickled down my nose.

If mana were a water tank, veins were hoses. Compared to the overwhelming amount of mana rushing in, the veins were too narrow.

Instinctively, I knew. Allowing mana to flow in unchecked would be dangerous.

To prevent a situation where veins burst like a hose bursting with water, I began circulating mana through them, closing them off to prevent mana from pooling in one place.

“Ugh…”

A groan akin to a whimper escaped.

It felt like a fire ignited within my body.

Veins expanding tautly, an excruciating pain flooded in every second, numbing the mind.

Struggling to maintain composure with B-rank mental strength, I slowly circulated mana within my body, ensuring it didn’t concentrate in one area.

When mana inflow ceased, and the seed I held had completely melted, it was after the completion of the status recovery.

[Absorption complete]

[Absorbing ‘Cherry Blossom Seed’s’ Charm (A) stat. ‘Charm’ stat (A) added]

[Absorbing ‘Cherry Blossom Seed’s’ Magic Power (D+). Magic Power (D+ -> C+)]

“Huff, haa, hoo, phew…”

Calming my labored breath, I raised my head. Through tear-filled blurry vision, a slightly altered status window appeared.

[Status Recovery Complete]

[A new World Quest has appeared. Check on the Quest screen.] [Check]

[Player ID: Cyan]

[Lv: 47]

[Strength: D+]

[Agility: C+]

[Endurance: C-]

[Mental Strength: B]

[Magic Power Level: C+]

[Charm: A]

[Owned Trait: Blink]

[new!][Owned Trait: Cherry Blossom Garden]

“…Huh?”

Amidst the dizziness, the first thing that caught my eye was the new trait at the bottom of the status window.

A person with a trait cannot receive a new one.

That was a fundamental rule of [Arcana Academy], and even after playing the game a thousand times, I had never seen a character break that rule.

Therefore, upon seeing the addition of a new trait in the status window, all I could do was raise a skeptical expression.

“…Let’s try using it once, for now.”

Closing my eyes, I focused on the new mana circulating within my body. Different from the mana I had been using, I drew forth a gentle, warm spring-like mana.

[Changing set trait to ‘Cherry Blossom Garden’]

[Activating trait ‘Cherry Blossom Garden’]

Somewhere, a soft spring breeze blew.

With a sweet floral scent, life began to sprout from the withered ground.

Mana particles scattered in all directions transformed into cherry blossom petals fluttering. Within the cave turned into ruins, a vibrant pink garden full of vitality unfolded.

“…Ah”

A breathtakingly beautiful garden that seemed to belong in a dream.

As I gazed blankly at the sight, petals gently fell around me.

[Trait ‘Cherry Blossom Garden’ grants the player the ‘Continuous Healing’ effect]

Outside the realm of ‘Cherry Blossom Garden,’ the ‘Continuous Healing’ effect disappears.

The wounded petals melted softly upon contact, regenerating the skin. The pain that supported the entire body like a pillar gradually subsides, and strength returns little by little.

“Ugh, finally… feeling alive.”

The scar on the back of the left hand had transformed unnoticed.

No longer the dark intersecting scar, but a cherry blossom-shaped pale pink scar.

It wasn’t just the scar that had changed.

My reflection in the blade seemed different somehow. A hint of pink mixed into eyes resembling amethyst.

Perhaps it was due to the newly added stat, Charm (A). Even my expression felt slightly altered.

Sensing a change in features that typically determine one’s overall impression—such as eyes, lips, and neck—it felt like a shift towards a more attractive appearance. Objectively speaking, what used to be considered pretty now seemed to have gained a touch more allure.

“Hmm, this might get a bit troublesome.”

I never enjoyed looking at cute girls with the intention of becoming one myself. Therefore, the enhanced attractiveness held no great appeal for me.

If anything, overly conspicuous looks tended to make me uncomfortable. That’s why I deliberately concealed my appearance while acting as an adventurer.

Well, they are my friends after all. Both Yerena and Regina are girls, so it shouldn’t matter much for now. Besides, I’m currently in a female body.

Muttering lightly, I glanced at the top of the status window.

[A new World Quest has appeared. You can check it on the quest screen.] [Check]

“Let’s see what has changed exactly; let’s give it a look.”

Without hesitation, I pressed the ‘Check’ button.