chapter 3
Status window disappeared (3)
The wagon with two people on board soon entered the back of the wide yard. Inside the high walls, buildings for various purposes were boasting of their majesty.
Just by looking at it, it feels like some kind of high school.
This was the headquarters of the player guild headed by Luana.
Because the facilities are much better than normal inns, most of the guild members used to settle for lodging here.
Chris got off the wagon before Luana. Then he reached out his hand and helped her.
She actually holds a high-ranking title of nobility, so she’s just being polite and disinterested.
“Are you back!”
When Luana got off the wagon, guild members gathered here and there to greet her.
Most of them are newcomers with little skills and experience.
Chris raised his eyes slightly, noticing the unconcealable anxiety on their faces.
It seems that he is more focused on himself than usual.
‘I see what’s going on.’
Chris followed Luana, trying to ignore the gaze directed at him.
She immediately moved toward the building she was using as her office and accommodation.
Apparently, it didn’t seem like it was something that could be talked about loudly in front of the guild members.
Shortly after entering her office, Chris forgot his shyness for a moment and looked around the gorgeous interior space.
Luana was not an extravagant person, but she had the dignity of a guild master. And this was the minimum luxury for that.
The world we live in is also different.
Just as Chris was feeling that way, the guild officers entered one after another from the outside.
After bowing to Luana, they sit around the conference table, looking as if they are carrying the weight of the whole world on their back.
“… … .”
Now I know enough that the matter is heavy.
Chris almost instinctively found a corner seat, but Luana offered him a seat next to her. Then, most of the executives openly expressed their displeasure.
“Lady Luana, don’t give such a place to outsiders… … .”
“Chris is a guest I personally invited.”
It was as if he was asking if he would be able to seat the guest he had invited.
After Luana said that, there was no further protest.
At the moment when Chris was choking with frustration, the meeting finally began.
“I believe that everyone knows why we are here today. I went outside myself to seek advice from Chris.”
“… Do you have any advice for Luana-sama?”
Chris asked her in a puzzled tone.
She was an outstanding player and the master of a powerful guild. He was also a high-level wizard.
Unlike other people who just rely on the game system, he is a person who studies and uses magic himself.
So I didn’t think I needed the advice of a mercenary like him.
However, Luana firmly nodded and finally revealed the main point.
“Chris is the best expert on this matter. Chris, our guild members have lost their status window since last night.”
“… yes?”
Chris naturally recalled yesterday’s battle and let out a surprised voice.
I couldn’t believe she was experiencing the same symptoms as him.
As if Luana misinterpreted his astonishment, she immediately added a detailed explanation.
“It wasn’t just the status window that disappeared. Not only can I not use skills, but all of my magic and health bonuses are gone. in short… … .”
“Isn’t everything involved in the game system, like me, unusable?”
“Uh… … !”
Chris cut Luana off, but surprise outweighed protest.
While the executives were greatly agitated, Luana asked him.
“How did you know that?”
“I fought a player on my way to this city. He had exactly the same symptoms.”
“Um… … .”
The relatively quiet office was filled with hum.
A sigh of relief stands out rather than a look of concern.
I thought they were the only ones who went bankrupt, but I felt very fortunate that it wasn’t.
On the other hand, Luana seemed to think more deeply than the other executives.
She carefully chose her words and spoke to the officers.
“After all, this case is not serious. I don’t know how long this condition will last. For the time being, let’s stop all activities and look for a solution.”
“Are other players experiencing similar symptoms?”
“Right now, we are collecting information by mobilizing all of our personal connections. If you wait half a day, you will find out.”
Luana suspended the meeting until news came in.
Then he ordered an attendant to bring him a meal.
Appetizing-looking grilled pork was placed on the table, but the executives seemed to have lost their appetite and did not contribute even a single piece of meat.
The matter was not urgent to Chris, so he picked up a much more expensive dish than he usually ate. Then the guild’s vice-captain glared at him.
This young man of a similar age had hated Chris from before.
It seemed that Chris, who was saved by Luana, was doing this because he didn’t join the guild… … .
Chris felt resentful about the matter.
At that time, when I was no different from a normal person, even if I joined this guild, I would have been treated like nothing but baggage.
Chris tried to avoid his gaze, but he was very persistent today.
Apparently, he was doing this because he had been deprived of the seat next to Luana.
Around the time he finished his uncomfortable meal, the guild’s attendants delivered information gathered from all over the continent.
Where news came in, without exception, they expressed their opinion that the status window seemed to have disappeared.
“We weren’t the only ones like this. Could it have something to do with the meteor shower that fell yesterday?”
“I don’t know how long this situation will last. For now, we will continue to collect information, so please wait at headquarters.”
Players who lose their status window wander around as usual, and you never know what will happen.
Most of the players now were in slightly better condition than the average person.
Because of that, Luana immediately stopped all outside activities.
Chris kept his composure on the outside, even as he harbored a subtle anticipation for the unexpected news. He does not know how long this situation will continue or how it will develop.
So for the time being, I wanted to stay in the guild and observe other players.
After that, there was a calm like the eve of a storm.
The players trapped in the guild headquarters trembled with anxiety and searched only for their status windows all day long.
For them, who have always been protected by the game system, they must feel very naked.
Chris went through the information and magical experiments with Luana.
But no sharp clues were caught. When everyone was feeling powerless like that, it was finally four months.
“Fire! Everyone come out!”
In the middle of the dark night, a fire broke out in the guild headquarters quarters.
Surprised, the guild members somehow managed to put out the fire, but found obvious signs of arson.
Someone had sneaked into the guild headquarters and set fire to the accommodation.
Luana, Chris, and the guild’s executives gathered in the middle of the night to hold an emergency meeting.
She was the first to suspect the other guilds.
“Could it be that other guilds are taking advantage of our weakness to keep us in check?”
Since ancient times, Luana has tried to protect players and at the same time prevent excessive brutality by players.
Thanks to that, she had many enemies.
For players who want to run amok in this world, she is no different than an annoying shackle.
“Surely it will. We also show bitterness to those who are suspicious.”
When she gave her opinion, the vice-captain said, “What a nerd.”
The other executives also nodded in anger.
Seeing the scene, Chris was a little dazed. Is this really a meeting of powerful guilds?
At that time, Luana, who read Chris’ uncomfortable expression, immediately sought his opinion.
“Chris, do you have any guesses?”
“First of all, it won’t be checked by other guilds. Because, they are in a hurry to protect themselves right now.”
The disappearance of the status window is the same for other players.
In a situation where one’s strength and source of power have been lost, there is no way one can comfortably commit acts of terrorism.
If he’s properly sane, he’ll try to get the status window back.
The other executives snorted at Chris’ comment, but Luana nodded at his opinion.
“Come to think of it, it is. So, who is behind this arson incident?”
“I don’t know who started the fire, but I think I know who caused it.”
“… What do you mean by that?”
“By now, the citizens of the city should have noticed the strange behavior of the players. So you’re going to try to repay what you’ve been through. I heard that our vice-captain was harassing the merchants a bit.”
When Chris’ gaze turned to the vice-captain, his face turned red.
He squeals like a cat whose tail has been stepped on.
“What, what nonsense!”
“When I was working as a mercenary, I heard a lot of stories. It’s already an open secret that this guild collects a protection tax. If you go right away in the morning and ask the merchants, you will get an answer.”
“… Vice-captain, are Chris-sama’s words true?”
Luana glared at him with a stiff expression.
To think that the guild, which had been moving to prevent the players from committing atrocities, was taking the lead in taking the protection.
If she had known in advance, she would never have forgiven her.
The vice-captain shook his head with a blushing face, but he couldn’t even make a straight excuse.
In the end, the vice-captain was immediately placed on probation and expelled from the meeting room.
After defeating all the executives, Luana sighs while having a private meeting with Chris.
She was obviously a sincere and dedicated person, but not even her men.
Most of the guild members gathered here were attracted to the decent guild headquarters rather than her ideas and correctness.
Being protected by a huge guild and full of desire to live well, they even collected a protection tax without her knowledge.
Chris was honest with her.
“Actually, the story about this guild has been around for a long time. On the outside, they do only the proud things, but behind the scenes, they do everything they can. … .”
“Well, then why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“If you said it earlier, how do you deal with it? I’m just saying that because they’ve lost the status bar, or… … .”
There was a fear of being retaliated against by the accused if he made a false accusation. Of course, that’s not to say there aren’t any concerns about it now, but Chris thought it would be nice if they attacked him instead.
The moment Luana was wrapping her hair and moaning.
Torches flickered outside the windows.
When Chris points it out, a startled moan erupts. Well-polished spear knives were reflecting the light from the assailants’ waists.
“Could it be that the citizens came to take revenge on us?”
“hmm… Other than that, the condition of the equipment is very good. Anyway, that wouldn’t be it. It’s because secretly setting fire and attacking with a knife are on a different level. That sounds like the vice-captain gang. They don’t seem to want to be quietly purged by Luana-sama.”
“… … .”
Originally, he wouldn’t have thought of rebelling against Luana head-on.
Before she was a guild master, she was an excellent wizard… He was a top-notch player.
Even if several people attacked him, he was no match for the vice-captain.
But now she’s a mediocre mage at best.
Using the wealth and influence of this guild, they could prepare any number of magic tools that could block that level of magic.
While Luana searched for her wand with trembling hands, Chris leisurely drew his longsword and left the conference room.