At the starting point, some players were using stealth skills to conceal themselves. 

They were likely planning to steal the treasure from other players as they brought it back.

However, that idea was foolish.

From the starting point, one by one, monsters began to reveal themselves.

Giant war bears appeared.

“Graaah!”

“W-wait a minute!?”

With a shout of "No questions!", the war bears flung the players away.

The 30-meter-sized war bears hunted down all the hidden players and began to walk into the forest.

Among the players watching this scene, some stared at the war bear cuddled in their arms.

“Y-you can transform like that too...?”

“Graaah!”

The little war bear acted cute, pretending it didn’t know anything.

I thought to myself, *Of course,* as I continued to pet it while keeping a record.

All physical interactions were paid services and would be billed later.

Judicator Nia was watching the scene with a blank expression.

“How is it? Everyone looks happy, right? With this, it seems Arcana’s continent won’t be harmed, right?”

“I’ll pass on commenting. There’s still plenty of time left,” she said, but her lack of conviction was evident as she pet the war bear in her arms.

After some time passed, the first player emerged, having found treasure.

The treasure was none other than a **[Daily Date Ticket].** 

It allowed the holder to go on a date with their desired mascot for a day on a predetermined course.

The itinerary was perfectly arranged by the Moonlight Tribe.

The player began to run back to the starting point to claim their treasure.

If they just got back like this, they’d take first place.

But no one would let that happen without a fight.

Players attempting to snatch it began to converge, along with the rushing monsters.

When a tree was smashed aside, players were startled, ultimately getting caught and having their treasure stolen by others.

While it turned into chaos, the scene was quite popular among the observing players.

After a series of ups and downs, the player who successfully returned with the treasure took first place, followed by others who brought back their treasures one by one.

Among the players lying on the ground, catching their breath, they were given two choices.

They could either be satisfied with their current reward or gamble their rewards for a chance to enter the third round.

Winning in the third round would grant them an additional unique-grade magic stone.

However, those satisfied with their current rewards exited the Colosseum, leaving only a single player deciding to proceed to the third round.

“What’s the third round about?”

“It’s simple.”

All they had to do was put their earned reward into a box after breaking through the gatekeeper.

It was designed to be almost an event match, so anyone could succeed easily.

If it were too difficult, players might not want to participate later, right?

The arena trembled as its appearance changed.

It had the atmosphere of a throne room.

A giant skeleton sat on an enormous throne.

All the players who thought it was just a regular skeleton easily dropped their rewards into the box and claimed victory.

Some players who realized it was an event match looked disappointed, but they would eventually find out the reality later.

It was easy to pass because there was only one player at that moment.

“Is that a skeleton...? No, is it an Acheron?”

“That’s right! It was tough to summon! And it’s a Great Mage level!”

One of the monsters from the Seven Great Magic Cities. 

It could be obtained from the ‘Library Containing the Truth of the World.’

If the little dragon hadn’t intervened back then, we would have been in trouble.

The conditions to attract the interest of an Acheron were twofold.

A strong player or two or more players challenging it would prompt a response.

The player advancing to the third round was too weak, leaving the Acheron disinterested, allowing for an easy pass.

This would provide decent promotional value.

After the event concluded, disappointed players dispersed, and I took a stroll with Judicator Nia around the village.

I had permission to accompany her from zone three onward.

Seeing her fawn over cute creatures, I imagined there would be chaos once we entered zone four.

Zone four was especially populated with adorable monsters.

As we entered, monsters swarmed towards me, and Judicator Nia, who wouldn’t usually stand still, was watching intently.

The monsters, cuddled up in her arms, were showering her with affection, and for once, she remained calm.

Usually, those kids would despise humans, but perhaps it was different since I wasn’t human?

“Is this okay?”

“Woof woof!”

The Fenrir, which had moved from zone three to zone four, spoke up.

It claimed to be a terrifying being... 

But is it really just because it isn’t hugging me willingly...?

The Fenrir, a monster that once dominated one of the Great Magic Cities, now cowered in fear while cuddling.

Just how strong am I?

Should I recruit it...?

“Nia! Would you like to use one of these!?”

I offered a magic stone to the Judicator, buried among the monsters.

She stared at it closely, then refused.

“I have no intention of being bound to someone.”

With a swift rejection, she shot me down.

However, that was pointless in front of the adorable creatures.

“I’ll let you spend time with them whenever you want!”

In an instant, she flinched and her pupils trembled.

“By the way, if you help us, you could gather even more adorable creatures!”

“M-more adorable creatures...?” 

She began to drool, imagining the possibilities as I handed her the magic stone, and she immediately used it.

At that moment, a message appeared.

**[An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched Judicator.]**  
**[An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched Judicator.]**  
**[An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched Judicator.]**  
**[An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched Judicator.]**

Messages in red suggested something serious was happening.

Suddenly, all the messages vanished, replaced by a golden message.

**[Confirming the danger of the Golden City: Eldorado.]**  
**[Main Scenario Quest conditions have been met.]**  
**[CHAPTER 3: Destroy the Golden City of Eldorado.]**  
**[Time remaining until invasion begins: 167 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.]**

“W-what...?”

---

**[Did you check the main scenario quest?]**  
It says to destroy the Golden City of Eldorado?  

**[Comments]**  
- Are you insane? How cute those kids are!!  
- I’ll protest to the game company!!!!  
- Animal cruelty!!!!  

**[I oppose the main scenario quest! (Photo)]**  
Do you see this picture? Are you planning to take away the homes of these adorable creatures? And still call yourself human?  

**[Comments]**  
- This isn’t just devilish; how could they create such a quest?  
- I’ve bonded with the war bear here!!  
- My bear said it would wait for me tomorrow!!  

**[But isn’t it just a game?]**  
Why are you so overly invested? Don’t you know it’s just a game?  

**[Comments]**  
- I may not know about the game, but I can see how worried your parents are about you.  
- Instead of talking nonsense, why don’t you show some filial piety?  
- Are you still human? I don’t think so.  

**[Do you not know how good the main scenario quest rewards are?]**  
Did you forget the rewards that other players received, except for the top prize? I will definitely participate.  

**[Comments]**  
- I can’t resist the rewards, LOL.  
- Isn’t it just a game? LOL.  
- Monsters come back to life when they die, right?  
- [Poster] Do they come back to life?  

Community opinions were divided.

Starting with how great the rewards for the main scenario quest were to the stance that a game is just a game, and opposing those who argue about how one could hunt cute creatures.

Wasn’t this a battlefield rather than a community?

Ending the heated community discussion, I consulted with Leah.

“Our guild will definitely support Yuna. So we need to start gathering forces now.”  
“Then I’ll go ask the other monsters for help.”  
“I’ll try to recruit players in our guild by any means necessary.”

Currently, the public sentiment wasn’t too bad, so Leah confidently stated she could attract as many players as possible.

“But you know that helping without anything in return isn’t acceptable, right?”  
“Oh, if it’s about magic stones...”  
“I’m not expecting that.”  

Leah smiled slyly.

What exactly is she hoping for?

“I don’t ask for much. This is something all the guild members agreed on.”  

Then, she whispered in my ear.

To call her “sister” or “brother.”

“M-maybe!”  
“You can do it! Overcoming your trauma and taking a step forward!”  

She held my hand tightly, confidently saying that, which drove me crazy.

What am I supposed to overcome!?