Wiseman – Chapter 50

Translator: Jun,  Editor: Sage Yomeiri,  Proofread: Kira and Nara,  TLC: Kenar and Kira

Small Animal Paradise

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After meeting with the elder, Mira had found traces of Soul Howl. This meant she was able to decode the document she had correctly. This also meant Soul Howl has been seeking the Holy Grail of Divine Light. If she continues on trailing him, she’ll be able to catch up to him without fail.

After Mira expressed her gratitude, she left that place behind. Before she did, she was given a tree by the little girl, the one most delighted with the offering of confectionaries that Mira had given. This was a tree born from the offering (fertilizer) that was given by the man who came and requested the root.

With this task done, Mira headed out to fulfil the request of a friend to gather a certain item. The location of the item is nearby, about an hour on foot, from the root of the Sacred Tree. Mira summoned Pegasus again to assist in her transit. However, it seemed Pegasus has still been worrying about Mira by the way she has been licking Mira’s cheek many times over.

After ten minutes of travel on Pegasus’ back, the duo have descended upon the back of the lake closest to the Sacred Tree. This somewhat open space had become an oasis for the small wildlife, lakeside decorated with a multitude of flowers in bloom. A small waterfall feeds into the lake gently, coming from a somewhat small rocky mountain nearby, creating a pleasant sound as it pours down. The verdant scent of the forest had harmonized with the scents of the many flowers, bewitching Mira to forget her time and take in the natural splendor.

(To think there is such beauty here….) [Mira]

From Mira’s memories, this place wasn’t as overflowing with color as it is now. As she reflected on if this was due to the thirty years that had went, she felt she is feeling the sense of the grandness of time.

Since she was here, Mira had Pegasus stop at the banks of this paradise. As she got off, a small animal with golden fur that resembled a squirrel made its approach to them. As if nothing, the critter ran up to Pegasus’ feet, up her leg and her body and sprawled itself on top of Pegasus. The forest soon came alive as more critters drew upon the mythic being, nestling on or around her. Although surprised, Mira was more bemused how Pegasus seemed to be now a christmas tree. Her steed did not seem to be troubled and openly accepted this.

This all happened because Pegasus is seen as a sacred beast. In the eyes of the animals around, the safest place is to be near her.

Mira’s gazed was focused on a seemingly young blue rabbit on Pegasus’ back. This being is called a Pure Rabbit; its fur is a well-known good luck charm. However, it is mostly well known because its round, cute eyes and plump body makes it very adorable. In the comprehensive group rankings in Arc Earth Online, this rabbit was deemed so cute to the extent that it’s one of the critters that is hotly contended for the top one position for cuteness.

This was the first time Mira had encountered a Pure Rabbit directly. These things are extremely vigilant, so they can only be seen by afar by scouts at the most. Since she had this rare chance, Mira’s eyes were glued to the cuteness of the Pure Rabbit that she had only seen in screenshots.

(To think this animal is actually this…. So plump and fluffy….) [Mira]

She soon found herself trying to touch this exceedingly cute and fluffy creature. The rabbit in question noticed her approach, jumping off of Pegasus in fear and hid behind Pegasus’ legs in a heartbeat.

“O-oh….” [Mira]

Her outstretched hand had stiffened to this outright rejection. As she took it in, Pegasus suddenly neighed in a soft voice, as if speaking. It seemed something listened, as the once afraid Pure Rabbit hopped towards Mira.

“This…. Perhaps you have spoken to it?” [Mira]

Her line of sight went from the approaching ball of fluff to Pegasus’ face, as Pegasus moved her head to Mira’s outstretched hand as if to ask for praise.

“Indeed. You are a good child, are you not?” [Mira]

As she gave the well-deserved pat, Mira returned her gaze to the little rabbit. The long bobbing blue ears twitched, acting to keep its awareness. However, it increased its cuteness factor beyond Mira’s threshold. She bent down and pet that exceedingly cute being to enjoy the fluffiness until she is content.

Though it is absurdly fluffy, its real body is quite small; the warmth from its body was transmitted to her petting hand.

As not to frighten it so much, Mira stroked the thing’s fur gently. It might have had an effect as the Pure Rabbit nudged its body more onto her hand playfully, seeming understanding Mira had no ill will. Without knowing how long it would stay and wanting to cherish it a bit more, Mira picked it up gently and held it in her arms, lavishing it.

Pegasus suddenly neighed grandly. As if on cue, this Pure Rabbit, which was making kyu-ing sounds while nudging on Mira’s chest, suddenly jumped down and seemingly prostrated before Pegasus, as if an official is begging forgiveness from his Emperor.

“Pegasus…. What have you told that little one this time…?” [Mira]

Having not understood the situation, Mira was left to tilting her head.

“Pegasus? Is something amiss?” [Mira]

She said so as she smoothens Pegasus’ mane. She in turn pressed her face into Mira’s chest.

(This is…? This one does not quite understand.) [Mira]

While she gently brushed Pegasus’ head with her hand, Mira looked at the ground. She saw the Pure Rabbit, ears and body still bent down, making kyu-ing sounds more.

She honestly wanted to relish in the fluffiness of blue once more, but as it is she realized there would be no end to this. She was confident she could just stay and play with the Pure Rabbit for eternity, but she had come with a purpose here. So, sadly she couldn’t stay for long. With pain in her heart, she started to pluck the animals off of Pegasus’ back and then dismissed Pegasus.
However, when she did so, the animals started to gather around Mira this time. This was the result of them seeing Mira as the master of Pegasus. It ended up that they trailed her as she made her way to the rocky mountain, the entrance of a labyrinth, seemingly convicted to follow her to wherever she went. She of course noticed this.

“Little friends, please do not follow this esteemed one. My esteemed self is heading to a dangerous place.” [Mira]

None of the animals understood what she said. In fact, the golden squirrel-like animal had just climbed Mira’s body and spread itself on Mira’s right shoulder. Even the Pure Rabbit earlier had been looking at Mira with its gleaming beady eyes, just begging to be carried around again.

As seriously tempting as this situation is, she just can’t enter the labyrinth like this. While she steeled her heart, she summoned the being under her command that is most suitable as a negotiator.

[Summon Magic: Cait Sith]

A tiny magic formation materialized in the sky. From it, a kitten with the appearance of a particular magician jumped out of it with a plop.

This cat as it fell, tucked itself forward and spun in the air three times before landing on both of its feet. As the feline landed, the magic circle above dissolved as it spurt out confetti, creating an elaborate performance. To top it off, the cat pulled a placard from seemingly out of nowhere with a 10.0 written on it.

“Meowster! As you summoned meow, I jumped out~! Since it’s the furst time in awhile, I tried to be more elaburrate! Meowster~! How meowny points do you rruate it?” [Cait Sith]

“…Six points.”[1] [Mira]

“H-how meowny-?!” [Cait Sith]

While he reacted, the shocked Cait Sith turned around, and drew a line across the placard he was holding. With such a performance in front of her, Mira unintentionally sighed.

What she summoned was the fairy Cait Sith. These are one of the few existences who are both able to speak and not within the realm of advanced summoning magic. Their capabilities are as a whole not suited for direct combat, but makes for excellent scouts, especially with a special skill to gather information from animals by conversing with it.

“W-wait meow! Meowster has become a gurrl! You’re very beautiful meowster! Full points meow!” [Cait Sith]

As he looked up at Mira, Cait Sith was jumping up and down, meowing some more while he discarded and furnished two placard, with another big 10.0 written on it, waving both around in both arms. At this display, the animals that had already taken distance from Cait Sith’s abrupt appearance took a few steps more back.

“Fumu…. Every one of you lot have taken my plight so lightly, have you all not…. It matters not to my esteemed self. Group member number one, my esteemed self wishes yourself to do something. Are you willing?” [Mira]

“By all means meowster!” [Cait Sith]

Cait Sith puts his legs together in a standing position and salutes. On the placard he was holding behind his back a “Snap!” sound effect was written.

“Please tell the animals here my esteemed self will be heading to a place fraught with danger, and for their safety, it’s best they stay here. Is your person up to the task?” [Mira]

“I’ll furfill it as if meow life is one the line~!” [Cait Sith]

Cait Sith took a guts pose, holding a placard with the words “Call to the Gods of Heaven and Earth!”. He began to call out to the animals with his meows, jumping to the center of the group of small animals and continued his meowing spiel.

After a bit of meowing the little animals finally understood, and started to disperse albeit reluctantly. The Cait Sith then talked to the golden squirrel-like creature on Mira’s shoulder, and it too finally gave it, jumping off and climbing a nearby tree.

“Mewsion complete, meowster!” [Cait Sith]

“Fumu…. You have this esteemed one’s thanks.” [Mira]

After she gave the saluting cat fairy her thanks, Mira held the fairy cat in her arms. She started to feel lonely with all the small animals leaving her, so she decided Cait Sith will be her new hug pillow replacement.

“Nyahaha! It tickles meowster!” [Cait Sith]

Despite saying it, he was flapping his limbs in delight. A new placard appeared with the word “More!” seemingly shining from it.

While stroking the cat’s neck, Mira continued her trek to the rocky mountain.

The Daemon’s Maze, Primal Forest entrance is located inside the crevice of the rocky mountain next to the lake. Now equipped with a Cait Sith helmet, Mira ventured forth.

As she entered the crevice, the downhill slope became immediately steep, with space barely enough for an adult to pass through. Mira’s footfalls on the rocky surface echoed inside.

She soon reached the point where you can only hear the waterfall earlier faintly and with the light from the entrance no longer reaching inside. However, her path was still illuminated, thanks to the built in Cait Sith helmet feature . His ability had light shine from his eyes. Since he kept still on her head, she was able to light her way as if she was wearing a miner’s helmet.

“Meowster, it’s suspicious up ahead. I’m detecting a vurry suspicious magic reading.” [Cait Sith]

Ten minutes into her trek, the downhill slope began to shallow, changing into a leveled passageway. Ahead was what Cait Sith was cautioning about; countless crests that were shining akin to fluorescent lights, carved closely together on the rocky walls.

“Fumu…. This is what is the barrier of this place, is it not.” [Mira]

Where she stopped, the words “Daemon’s Maze, Primal Forest Management, Adventurers General Association, Karanac Branch” were grandly written on the floor. While she stroked Cait Sith’s back, she mumbled to herself whilst she took out the pass for restricted regions that she received from Leonil.

“Interesting…. Fumu…this is….” [Mira]

“Meowster, the magic purresence I felt is vanishing.” [Cait Sith]

The moment Mira held the pass in her hand, it began to glow, whilst the crests in the surroundings began to lose their luster. Mira couldn’t guess how it works, but judging by the magic-sensitive Cait Sith, the crests are able to judge if someone has permission to enter.

With each step Mira took forward, the crests in front of her dimmed more, and the crests she passed slowly regained their color.

Cait Sith hopped down from Mira’s head and walked a bit further ahead in the illuminated passageway to help guide Mira. Even though he felt the barrier, he was strong enough to resist since he was close to Mira. Soon, they began to see the light out of the tunnel.

As Mira stepped out from the passage, she came upon a large open space, opening up into a dense forest.

Light pours down onto this space like sunlight, however there is no hint of the sky in the dark ceiling above. There, one can see ivies covering the ceiling like trellises on the otherwise unremarkable rock. The light seen seems to be coming from the tips of these peculiar ivies.

Down below, the leaves of the plants are vibrant from basking in this light, with the flowers blooming in full strength. The trees grew thick and tall, the sea of trees spreading as far as the eye can see. Once more, Mira finds herself in quite the breathtaking scene.

“Meowster, we’ve finally rurreached this unexplorred region.” [Cait Sith]

Cait Sith turned around and pointed at the jungle in glee. However, this certainly not an unexplored region at all.

“My esteemed self thanks you for your service.” [Mira]

When Mira puts the pass into her item box, she raised her voice and held her hand above the Cait Sith’s head to sent him home.

“Meowster, it’s been a long time since we had an adventurre, but I’ll obediently wait meow~~.” [Cait Sith]

Sadness could be sensed from his voice as Cait Sith prostrated. The placard that just appeared seems to scream his sorrows “No way~! Eraser body~!” Furthermore, for Cait Sith to suddenly call her a pettanko (indirectly), she could clearly sense the regret he had.

“What an incorrigible fellow you are….” [Mira]

To have experienced a summon disliking being dismissed, she could only remove her hand that was about to carry through with the dismissal, impressed that her summons could even have this kind of response.

“Meowster is a verry reasonable lady meow~! I will forever stalk you wherever meowster goes!” [Cait Sith]

“…Don’t you mean you will follow my esteemed self wherever this one’s whims take this esteemed one?” [Mira]

“That too, meow.” [Cait Sith]

Cait Sith threw sign, with the words “Whole-hearted devotion” written on it into the air, and followed it, spinning in midair. As he landed, his outfit changed into one you’d see on adventurers. However, he misjudged as the sign fell on top of his head. Cait Sith looked unfazed but the placard had the words “Ready for adventure…but that was embarrassing”.

“…Let us be off then.” [Mira]

Mira looked around slightly, taking a child-sized leaf from a nearby growing vine, and walked on to the edge of the forest.

“Meowster! Don’t leave me behind meow~!” [Cait Sith]

Cait Sith abruptly rose up with vigor and ran after Mira who was in a rush.

The duo were heading to a crevice on the opposite side of this dense forest. As they neared the gap in the rock, a descending road paved the way deeper in. This was the real entrance to the Daemon’s Maze Primal Forest.

The so-called road was a steep slope with a smooth, glasslike finish. Due to that, the trip down is one-way only; it’s impossible to try to climb up. It’s a common feature since the time of Arc Earth Online that each Daemon’s Maze have a seperate entrance and exit.

Mira equipped her Cait Sith shoulder light, and activated it with a bop on the cat fairy’s head to light the way.

“It’s purretty dark down there meowster.” [Cait Sith]

Cait Sith swung his feet lazily as he laid on top of Mira’s shoulder, the tips of his feet poking her shoulder as they swing. He looked like he was having fun, especially since he didn’t have a sign appear. He clung onto her shoulder with his hands, understanding what’s going to happen next.

(No matter how many times this one does this, this always sends my heart a flutter.) [Mira]

The trail before her after all is like one long slippery slide. She smiled as she stepped forth, a foot away from the edge of the slide.

“Now let us go!” [Mira]

“Meowster! It’s the start of an adventure meow!” [Cait Sith] (ED: Cue Super Mario 64 slide theme)

With an excited hop, Mira launched herself onto the slide, quickly getting into a sitting position as she rapidly accelerated down the slope.

(Ha…ha…. This was fun back then when it was still a game, but now that this is all real, this is quite….) [Mira]

Her speed created strong wind pressure on the body, and with how the slope had curving segments, it had enough centrifugal force to literally send a person flying. However repetitive the segments became, it has enough force to continue sending fear into someone. This was doubly so as she couldn’t see ahead; there was an all-encompassing darkness in front of her that robbed Mira’s ability to see ahead.

“Meowster! I’m starting to get worn out meow!” [Cait Sith]

“Bear with it!” [Mira]

This slide was like it came out of an amusement park, twisting and banking to the left and right. Whenever they hit a corner, the cat fairy screamed a meow. Probably thanks to him acting all emotional, Mira kept her calm.

About five minutes since they got on, the sight of the end rapidly appeared. (ED: Five minutes…too long for any thrill ride)

Mira and the fairy cat were thrown off into pouring light at the end of the slope. It seemed to have caught them, slowing them down gradually as the both of them fell in an arc to the ground. The light had considerable effect as the two of them landed with a light impact on the ground.

“ME-OWW!!” [Cait Sith]

Mira hand landed on her rump, but it didn’t hurt as bad as it should. Instead, she heard someone ELSE moan in pain instead.

“Oh my…. My humblest apologies. Are you alright?” [Mira]

“I-it’s nothing meowster~. I can actually call this a surrvice meow~~.” [Cait Sith]

Mira jumped off of the squished Cait Sith. The cat in question who had fallen first and became an impromptu cushion had gotten up unsteadily on his feet. He hopped off the pain as he raised a sign saying “I’m alright”.

One person and a small animal set their gazes at the surrounding once again, it wasn’t the same dense forest from not long ago; there was a room with dense greenery and inside of it were dense forest and familiar lights falling in a downpour from the ceiling. Inside of the illuminated scenery, there was a bizarrely twisted tree stretching around until far away in the distance.

What the two of them landed on was a root of the said tree. Behind them, except for the hole they were launched from, there was a wall of rock that soared up sky high, expanding all around this space. On the towering tree, there were countless vines twisting around, hugging closely as they raced for the sky. In the distance, the sound of an animal’s cry could be heard. This scene brought its own sense of serenity.

“Meowster! It’s a new land meow! We’ve actually discovurred a new land with an unxplurred region inside!”

Cait Sith group member number one surveyed the vicinity. Still high on his emotion, he brandished a sign with “Cait Sith Exploration Party” written on it and stabbed it on the surface below. That was the intention, however the root’s surface was too hard and the sign was easily dislodged and fell off. This left the cat fairy distraught.

(Fumu…. How many of it will this one be able to find….) [Mira]

After feeling around the area nearby, Mira confirmed that what she was looking for wasn’t here and moved on. Cait Sith noticed his “meowster” on the move and ran up to her, tailing her as he watched around carefully.

Mira hopped down from the root and went on to hop from tree to tree. As she landed on a particular tree, the object she was searching dropped down, seemingly as if it was shaken loose from the branches.

This item was a seed which emitted an emerald pulsing light. This seed, the size of Mira’s palm, was the Seed of the Founder which was requested by Solomon.

“And we finally have one….” [Mira]

Having landed on the ground to pick the seed up, she sighed and looked on at the sea of trees.

These trees weren’t actually trees. There all were actually portions of branches of the Gopherwood Tree, the ancestor of all trees and shrubs of the world. In essence, it wasn’t a forest, but it can still be called the “very first forest”.
Since everything is from the Gopherwood Tree, it is possible to obtain the Seed of the Founder. However, even in the Arc Earth Online time, it was not possible to find a definite area where it would appear, which made the appearance of a large amount of players walking around and looking at their feet a common sight.

Having remembered those bitter times, Mira sighed as she looked at her objective in her hand.

“Meowster? How meowny more does meowster need?” [Cait Sith]

Cait Sith group member number one climbed on her shoulder once more, asking his question while pointing at the seed. While she rubbed his furry head, she spilled her frustration.

“This is but just one. We must have nine more. This request will tax us quite arduous; those all are small seeds in a dense forest as such, with no guides to point the way. All we can do is to muster as we can.”

Cait Sith looked at the seed again and gave it both a whiff and a lick. Suddenly, he hopped down and looked around the periphery.

“In that case meowster, I smell something like that meow that a way!” [Cait Sith]

While he said so, Cait sith pointed at several branches with his hands. His face would look confident, if it weren’t for the fact his tongue was hanging out and his eyes were cloudy. He was holding out a sign that bluntly said [TASTES LIKE $#!&].

“Fumu…. So, yourself can accurately find them?” [Mira]

“It’s quite a…purrticular seed meowster. Howevurr it is simple if meowster has the uniquely masterrfull sharp senses of my humble self meow!” [Cait Sith]

He did a thumbs up with his dainty paws, though his tongue was still lolling out.

“Splendid. Fumu, you have my esteemed one’s praise.” [Mira]

Mira held the Cait Sith up in her arms almost immediately and dashed to the skies towards the indicated direction with .

“Meowster! It’s right there!” [Cait Sith]

He raised his voice as he was held near Mira’s bosom, looking at a branch that extended below her feet. And, as exactly as he stated, Mira had found the seed at a place entwined by vines at that branch.

It was indeed good of Mira to keep Cait Sith along. It was standard to use them as scouts, however Mira did not know prior they can be helpful in this kind of work. She started to get excited as her fortune turned.

“Now let’s hurry on! Have you found the next one yet!?” [Mira]

“O-oh! Meowster, umm…. Yes! I sensed one that way meow!” [Cait Sith]

As his gaze darted to and fro, his sharp senses picked up the trail. Since it was far away, he activated his to point the way with his gaze.

“Good! Very good!” [Mira]

With the harvesting of the troublesome seeds becoming quite easier beyond what Mira expected, she was over the moon, showering Cait Sith with her affection. She was praising him as she stroked him all over.

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Notes:
[1] If you’re wondering, the rating Mira gave is accurate with relation to how dives are graded. Each dive is grouped by the degree of difficulty, judged accordingly by how clean the dive is (how near and far to the dive platform), the apex of the jump, the neatness of the roll, and the cleaness of the landing. If you’re curious, Cait Sith’s group would be classified as 103A (1 – forward roll, 0 – no flying [transitioning of position from first roll to next], 3 – three rotations, A – tucking in [knees braced, shin and toes pointing straight]).
Had Cait Sith popped up in a high arc and cleared the magic circle by the minimum of 2 feet, the score would be much higher.
As for the degree of difficulty, the score according to the degree of difficulty, assuming it jumped out from three meters, the DD is at 2.5 (this is the score multiplier for competitions) so if this were an event, the score would be a total of 15.
http://nazr.in/11uI – guide on diving and scoring
http://nazr.in/11uJ – guide on grading the DD.

ED: Since the author tried to insert cat pun here and there, I tried to make it less irritating and make Cait Sith speak like a felyne from Monster Hunter.