NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21
The Valdeon Saga had a distinct change between day and night, much like other games.
For instance, taverns could only be accessed at night, and general stores or blacksmiths would close their doors at dawn.
Other NPCs would retire for the night, making encounters in the fields during late hours impossible.
If I had to pinpoint two important aspects among these:
At night, you could encounter shady NPCs and trade secretive items at the ‘night market.’
Also, certain locations would host ‘special events.’
[Investigate the crying sound by the lakeside at 3 AM.]
[At midnight, uncover the identity of the mysterious shadow found at the ‘Peanut and Beard’ pub.]
Among the game’s achievements is unraveling all 66 hidden mysteries of the Valdeon continent.
This means there are even more events occurring at specific times.
The ‘masked vendor’ I was about to meet only appears at 2:33 AM if certain conditions are met.
I have no clue why such a vague time.
Only that damned game developer would know.
Sigh.
It’s currently 9 PM, with about five hours left until the meeting time.
I spent about two hours chatting lightly with Angela over a meal.
– “Mmm! This pumpkin pie is amazing! Y-you should try some too! Here, ah~.”
– “I’ll eat it myself.”
She still seems to feel guilty about relying on me, but that’ll probably change once she enters the academy.
Time flew by, and it was now 11 PM.
I could now satisfy the ‘conditions.’
“Surely, nothing has changed from the game?”
To meet the masked vendor in the original game, this condition must be fulfilled:
[Investigate the suspicious rumors circulating among the people (0/3)]
Just chatting to hear any rumor won’t do.
You must select NPCs specifically discussing the ‘masked vendor’ to piece together the clues for him to appear.
“So, do I need to talk to everyone here?”
No way.
As I said before, I’ve used this hidden piece multiple times.
“I’ve memorized which NPCs have clues about the masked vendor.”
The first one is right here.
[Valhalla]
This is the largest tavern in the area.
Perhaps because it was night, many people were loudly clinking their glasses.
“Haha! So this guy almost died in the dungeon!”
“Anyone would think I made a mistake! It was you who couldn’t stop the goblins up front!”
“Sigh… Are we not getting a healer for our party? Preferably a handsome guy…”
“Right. It’s drab with only women around.”
“Who cares about men! We’re going all out as gals!”
…Well, it’s completely packed with women.
“Huff.”
After taking a deep breath,
I pushed open the tavern’s old door.
Creeeak.
Once inside, the noisy atmosphere quieted for a moment.
“……”
“…Oh.”
Why does it seem like everyone is looking at me?
‘Forget about it.’
I just need to do what I’ve come to do.
“Excuse me, I’d like a beer.”
I walked to the counter, sat down, and ordered a beer.
“Yes~ I’ll prepare that right away!”
The waitress in an apron who just took my order had the first clue.
[Owner of the tavern, ‘Valhalla.’]
<Matilda>
When she brings the beer, that’s my chance to ask.
“Here you go! Your beer!”
“Thanks. Oh, but by any chance….”
“And here are the cream pasta, grilled meat, seafood stew, buttered bread, vanilla ice cream, beef stew, and assorted salads!”
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
Delicacies I didn’t even order were placed one by one on my table.
“…I didn’t order any of this?”
“Yes~ Those people over there, and the one sitting next to them ordered everything for you. Of course, they paid in advance.”
Matilda kindly pointed out each woman in the tavern who had treated me to food.
“What on earth…?”
“A beautiful person can’t just drink without some appetizers, you know? They’re just being sweet.”
Matilda chuckled and left.
“Um…”
Just then, someone called me from the side.
It was the dual-ax wielding warrior who just shouted “Who cares about men!” to her teammates.
“Excuse me? What is it?”
“D-do you happen to have a party…?”
“…Huh?”
“Ahem… I, uh, was wondering if you’d like to… uh, join our party…?”
“I’m not even a healer.”
“It doesn’t matter! I-I’ll protect you! Uh, I mean…”
I could see her fellow party members giving her small supportive gestures behind her massive shoulders.
‘……’
Damn.
This world doesn’t let a guy drink in peace, even alone.
*
– “Rumors? Hmm~ Now that you mention it, I heard about a strange black shape over by the plaza lake.”
[Investigate the suspicious rumors circulating among the people (1/3)]
Fortunately, I could collect a rumor from Matilda.
I left without eating anything.
I felt uneasy that they might take advantage of me if I started eating.
‘Nothing is ever free in this world.’
Anyway,
The second clue was easier to collect than the first.
To be specific, the second clue involved investigating a ‘poster’ instead of talking to people.
≪Notice≫
Beware of the mysterious merchants appearing at night.
Everything they sell is a sham.
Please buy items certified by merchants of the Empire.
≪Notice≫
Ignore any voices calling out as you pass by the plaza in the late evening.
If pursued, immediately request help from nearby patrolling guards.
They will be gone in no time.
≪Notice≫
If you purchased a suspicious mask here, contact the management office immediately.
It may devour you.
If left unattended for long, it could lead to death.
“Ugh… this won’t work.”
These kinds of things can’t count as ‘clues.’
As I scanned around, I finally spotted what I was looking for.
Unlike the other posters, a suspicious old paper stained with black was plastered there.
≪Notice?≫
Buy a maskBuy a maskBuy a maskBuy a mask, buy a mask, buy a mask
Buy a mask buy buy a mask buy buy a mask buy a mask
Buy a mask buy buy a mask buy buy a mask buy buy a mask buy
In a game, upon investigating this poster,
[▶ Suspicious poster. Did a patrol soldier really stick this up?]
A monologue script would typically pop up.
[Investigate the suspicious rumors circulating among the people (2/3)]
And with that, I completed the second clue.
The final clue would be with the patrolling guard here, ‘Matheus.’
It must be.
‘…Damn variable.’
And in this world where genders are reversed,
The Matheus I knew, a mustached young man, had transformed into…
“Ah! Huh! Hello! Your steadfast shield! Magdalina! Y-you’re looking for me…?”
“Hang in there, Magdalina!”
“A man actually came looking for Magdalina… I never thought I’d see the day.”
She had turned into a woman named Magdalina.
I wondered if she was a gender-swapped version of Matheus or a completely different being.
I was so curious that I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
“Hello, Magdalina. Thank you for your hard work protecting the Centinium even at this late hour.”
“Hehe… It’s nothing! My duty is to create a safe street where young gentlemen like you can walk around without worry!”
“Didn’t she just complain about not wanting to work until a moment ago?”
“She said it was sad to end up stuck in a place full of women instead of dating with a soldier’s status.”
“Shut up!”
Magdalina scolded her chattering teammates from behind.
I forced a smile and got to the point.
“Actually, I found this and wanted to report it.”
I showed her the suspicious poster.
“Hmm? What’s this… Ah?!”
Seeing the bizarrely written poster, her once pink cheeks went pale.
“W-was this really up?!”
“Yes.”
“Gulp…”
“Surely it wasn’t posted by the management office?”
“That’s correct. Actually, we’ve been receiving a lot of reports about masks lately… Given the situation, this poster is just too much!”
“M-masks, you say?”
“Ah… Sorry! There’s a clause preventing me from discussing public matters with civilians…”
What the…
Unlike the game, she wasn’t sharing information right away.
‘Must not hit a wall here.’
So Matheus and Magdalina are different people?
Matheus was always open and shared everything.
‘Not much I can do.’
I really didn’t want to do this, but for the sake of the hidden piece…
Glomp!
I reached out and took Magdalina’s hand.
“W-whaaa?!”
Her previously pale face quickly turned a bright crimson.
It felt weird playing with someone’s emotions like this.
‘Squeeze out those tears.’
I recalled moments from when I was chopping onions and the time I lost my parents in an accident as a child.
I could feel my eyes getting moist, so I cautiously lifted my lids.
“Wah… I got scared seeing that poster… I felt so uneasy I had to come find you… I thought seeing a reliable soldier like Magdalina would soothe me…”
“Y-you did…?!”
“But I know your responsibilities are important, so… I’d like to hear related stories to be cautious even if I go alone… Is that okay?”
I packed in all the skills of begging I had when asking a professor.
I looked up at her with the most pitiful face I could muster.
“If you wish, I can always stay by your side to protect you. It’s best to do that… Hmm, if we marry, what name should we choose for the child? Hehehe.”
A pop sounded from Magdalina’s head, and her eyes started spinning.
She’s breaking down.
I did not see this coming.
*
[Investigate the suspicious rumors circulating among the people (3/3)]
Somehow, I managed to get a clue from Magdalina.
“…I can’t do something like that again.”
Calling me cajoling was stomach-turning.
I’m going to be sick.
‘Ugh.’
Wiping my eyes hastily, I sat on a bench.
This area was a plaza situated at the center of a large lake.
Now that I had collected all the clues, if I wait until 2:33 AM, he would appear.
A brief moment later.
Tick!
[2:33]
The clock tower in the middle of the lake indicated the time.
And then came the voice.
-Hey there! Don’t you need a fun mask? There are many reasons in this world to hide one’s face.
-Let’s wear masks and become someone else. Let’s conceal my usual self within.
-Now we can cry and laugh together.
Three slithering voices sounded like they were creeping in.
A shadow, exuding a sinister aura from the alleyway, slithered closer.
[Masked Vendor]
<Peace>
At last, I found him.
My hidden piece.