Chapter 19: Talk Therapy

“Plague?… I didn’t know there was such a situation,” the adventurer exclaimed, clutching her wrist as if she had uncovered a world-shattering secret.

“Aku, you didn’t know?” Minella’s eyes widened in surprise.

It was hard to imagine an adventurer so familiar with the local plant toxins not having heard of this before.

Recalling the Sphinx’s words from the Seven-Colored String—“Keep it a secret for now, explore on your own!”—Aku felt a wave of helplessness.

There was so much content in the game, so varied and complex, that she still couldn’t accurately judge the main gameplay.

Just like this sudden main quest triggered on a side route, which could probably be activated by other characters as well, the conditions seemed quite loose.

Aku lowered her head and covered her face, like a remorseful teenager regretting running away from home: “I came to Pachacan without knowing anything…”

She had started the game knowing almost nothing; this near-blind exploration was as thrilling as opening a mystery box.

She didn’t even know if this game was a warm, everyday life story or if it would suddenly turn dark, cruel, and terrifying.

She felt a gentle touch on her head—it was Minella.

Like comforting a child, the miner softly stroked her hair.

“It’s alright, we all came here knowing nothing at first,” Minella smiled. “Choosing to be an adventurer at your age is truly admirable.”

“I actually didn’t know I’d become an adventurer at first…” Aku’s eyes showed confusion.

She looked at Minella for guidance and asked, “Minella, why did you choose to live in this town?”

“Me? I just wanted to follow Juya, to be with her.”

The injured miner glanced down at her wounded foot, lifted her other leg, and leaned lazily back in her chair.

“At first, I came to Ilsolado with my sister and brother-in-law to make a living—I was their burden.”

The game screen faded into a flashback of Minella’s past.

Thirteen years ago, her family had heard tales of Ilsolado’s new continent and its legendary Golden Land from adventurers in a tavern.

Several adventurers, missing eyes, arms, or legs, proudly showed Minella’s family their spoils from the new continent—a set of rugged gold and silver jewelry.

This was enough to convince the civilians present that the “Golden Land” spoken of by adventurers was real.

In Elias, it was a legend that captivated countless people.

At that time, less than twenty years had passed since the discovery of the new continent, yet the story of the “Golden Land” had spread so far that even children in the most remote villages of Elias knew of it.

“We lived on Green Island on the outskirts of Elias then, and we heard that the new continent was short of manpower and paid well. For a livelihood, we boarded a ship bound for Ilsolado.”

Minella’s narration was accompanied by a sound effect evoking vague, weathered memories.

In the scene, Minella and Juya were young, the sails billowing in the sea breeze behind them, their youthful faces glowing with hope for the future.

They arrived at White Rock Town, not far from the governor’s mansion in Pachacan—a fine transit town.

Elias people crossing the sea in search of fortune crowded the place.

The new continent was just as sunny and fertile as the rumors said.

Marta running the tavern appeared briefly in the scene, laughing and joking with them.

Though they never found a treasure-filled Golden Land, settling in White Rock Town allowed them to eat well, dress warmly, and live more comfortably than ever before.

This stable life lasted ten years until three years ago, when a sudden plague swept through the town and all of Pachacan.

According to the church, the disease was brought by the local Uka people of Pachacan.

They called it the “Blight.”

“The first cases were discovered in Elias traveling merchants staying overnight in the town.”

A merchant, unaware in his sleep, scratched his chest until the skin broke, the infected area turning into a black, muddy pulp.

Those most affected were groups who frequently interacted with others; Juya’s husband, a miner working daily alongside his colleagues, was unfortunately infected with the Blight.

White Rock’s clergy were helpless, watching countless patients’ skin decay like rotting wood as they quietly died in their beds.

No one could trace the origin, determine the transmission method, or cure the plague.

The church in Pachacan’s capital sent inquisitors who sealed off the town until all those infected with the Blight had perished.

White Rock Town was marked as a taboo place; most survivors chose to leave, and adventurers and merchants visiting the town became increasingly rare.

The town’s main labor force became women, mostly relatives of the deceased, who chose to stay in the scarred White Rock.

Juya and Minella both stayed and became miners.

“Well… it’s all in the past now. Isn’t it better with adventurers like you coming here? Things will slowly improve,” Minella said openly. “This is our home; I won’t leave, and Juya won’t either.”

White Rock Town had witnessed their growth—it was their rightful home.

“And that old Ortega won’t leave either, no matter what. I think our town has a bright future—we’ll soon outlast that stingy old miser!” Her ire shifted to the Mediterranean knight.

“Exactly!” Aku, suspecting that any Mediterranean model in the game couldn’t be a good guy, nodded in agreement with Minella.

With a vent for their frustrations, the atmosphere lightened instantly. Minella and Aku laughed and chatted, mocking old Ortega.

How he hid in his manor during the plague, delayed wages due to cash flow issues, never returned home even after his wife died in Elias…

Aku’s character profile in the lower right corner kept updating with “ding ding” sounds.

She clicked to check, and the system’s verified information closely matched Minella’s words.

Minella was just speaking frankly; it wasn’t intentional slander.

That Mediterranean old man was truly despicable!

Alarm bells rang in Aku’s mind—tonight’s promised help at the manor would be far from easy.

Judging from the current side quest triggers, the supplemental information behind them was crucial to the game’s worldview.

Aku recalled the somewhat intrusive hiring question and felt a bit nauseous.

Chastity as part of religious practice was normal, but why ask about it during recruitment?

Aku doubted the old steward was just going through the motions; if he were, he wouldn’t have asked her to layer on so much armor.

The mysterious room in the market, the plague three years ago, the church’s unclear purpose… what role did devout Ortega play in all this?

…

Before leaving, Aku didn’t forget Marta’s request; she gave Minella a big hug and straightforwardly urged, “Thank you, Minella. It would be great if you could help reopen the town’s tailor shop.”

Minella’s carefree nature sometimes let conversations stray—being scolded half an hour by the Mediterranean old man was an example.

Faced with Aku’s direct words, Minella had to respond, nervously looking away: “Well… that belongs to Marta. She’s already busy enough; it’d be rude to trouble her more.”

“Marta hopes you can find a safer, more stable job. Your craftsmanship is excellent; Marta would definitely support you.”

“You’ve even fixed the tavern’s doorbell! You could help everyone more,” Aku clenched her fists at her chest, looking hopeful. “Please, Minella, everyone really needs a tailor!”

“Hmmm…” Minella took a hesitant half-step back.

Aku’s moral persuasion worked quickly on someone like Minella, who soon showed signs of doubt.

“Then I’ll go tell Marta you’re considering it!” Aku didn’t give Minella a chance to back out and dashed out.

As a player, Aku had many ways to force Minella to leave White Rock Town as Marta wished, but was that truly what Marta wanted?

Marta appeared often in Minella’s memories, showing a deep bond between them.

In this first playthrough, Aku would choose the way she liked best!

*

At the Black Camel Tavern, the doorbell rang as Marta lifted her eyelids to see who had arrived.

The footsteps belonged to the new adventurer, no doubt.

Aku entered and headed straight to the bar, excitedly reporting, “Marta, Minella said she’ll consider helping at the tailor shop!”

“…That’s unexpected,” Marta sat up, a smile creeping into her voice.

Working at the tailor shop paid far less than mining; the fact Minella was even considering such a mundane support role was surprising.

Minella was a restless person who had often complained about such chores at home.

Marta poured Aku a full glass of thorn fruit wine and fetched dozens of silver coins from under the bar.

But that wasn’t all—she reached out her hand to Aku: “Your notebook, may I borrow it to write something?”

Marta had seen Aku summon her menu multiple times and knew she carried a portable notebook.

Aku was momentarily stunned, a small surprise at such a realistic game detail—even the menus of countless families had interactive content.

“Of course.” She handed over her notebook at her waist.

Marta took the notebook and scribbled something on a page.

“Thank you, Aku,” she returned the notebook. “Minella is very stubborn. Please be sure to accept this reward.”

[Completed Marta’s Request: You resolved a matter weighing on Marta and Minella’s hearts.]

[Achievement: Minella’s Counselor]

[You received Marta’s special thorn fruit wine recipe!]

[You received…]

Notifications of quest completion, achievements, and item rewards popped up one after another, providing rich positive feedback for the player.

“It’s what I’m supposed to do!”

An adventurer never refuses a reward, and Aku gladly accepted it.

“Thorn fruit wine isn’t exactly a secret recipe, but Black Camel Tavern’s flavor is unique. Take it elsewhere and let others taste it,” Marta said as she reclined in her rocking chair, smiling confidently and waving her hand. “I’m going back to sleep. Make yourself at home.”

Marta quickly fell asleep, her soft snoring beginning less than a minute after lying down.

“…” Aku tiptoed out.

Waking Marta would surely cost favor points—definitely!