Noya

Willow: This is not a proper reason that you should put in your CV. Next time, write something like: I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing the free lifestyle out in the wilds with them.

"Nicknamed 'Loxy,' is an RV assembled, in its entirety, by Noya alone." ...That's what the Boss said I should write, but come on, that's not what happened! Back then, Iris, Amber, and I pooled every last Dorra we had to get our hands on all the parts needed for 'Loxy.' So really, it was a team effort. All I did was put the engine, steering wheel, seats, axles, chassis, and other scavenged parts together by following my instincts. Somehow, it worked! Hehe.

Statement from scam victim "N," from the Imperial Guard archives: "The scammer set up a stall near the alley entrance—the third one on the left of the Stargate Inn, inside Emor's Ash District." "Yeah, average height, dressed like a Trekker, with a very noticeable scar at the corner of his mouth." "He said he was selling the rarest of the rare: a Sherlock Tamago. He said that if you raised the pet inside the egg to level 999, you'd be able to summon it outside the Monolith." "Right, that's exactly what I did! I raised it to level 999! But Sherlock never showed up. So the guy was definitely a scammer."

Note: Since Noya has no recollection of this event, this account is written by Willow.

Trekkers love having all sorts of contests, but the Wilderness Survival Competition, hosted by the Trekker Association, is by far the most prestigious of its kind. Gifted with speed of the puma, strength of the bear, and eyes of the hawk, Noya outlasted all other participants in the Southern Lushwood Jungle, taking first prize. What's more, during the competition, Noya showcased her exceptional skills on the grill, to the point that the judge from Fenghuang Diner invited her to become an honorary chef.

"Big sale at the Monolith convenience store! Buy a Potentials Juice and you have a chance to get another one for free!"

I still remember the day when I saw an ad at Portia's when we were climbing the Monolith. Iris said we wouldn't be that lucky, but I opened my Pep Pep Juice from the Wishing Box to find a "BOGO" on its ring, even though we had no idea where to collect the second bottle. That's why I made a point of taking the empty bottle with me when I left the Monolith. I've kept it by my side as a good luck charm~

This is the reward from a certain commission. At first I thought I had been scammed with a useless piece of paper. But it was thanks to this treasure map that we were able to find the Boss in the desert. Such a historic moment is definitely going on my resume!

A veteran knight once told me about that Tamago Pet scam. This particular victim actually leveled up a fake tamago all the way to 999. With that kind of determination, they will succeed at anything they set their mind to. —Tilia

Title: Operation: Bearly Possible Synopsis: Five bears calling themselves the "Invincible Five" suddenly appear before the adventurer. The five bears are: Captain Magic Bear Vanessa Vice-Captain Hammer Bear Caris Strategist Illusion Bear Bernadette Knight Armor Bear Elsa Vanguard Axe Bear Ursula "Stop right there, Ku-ma! Not one more step into the dungeon!" Vanessa warns the adventurer. "Stop, Ku-ku! Stop, Ku-ku!" Caris echoes the captain's words. The adventurer looks down at the pink plushie bears that barely reach waist height even stacked up. Is this adventure really going to work out?

Here's an excerpt:

Flowers, applause, and dazzling flashes of light. On the stage of the medal award ceremony, Galavera almost teared up from the constant flashes. She glanced at Daria, who was standing next to her, with admiration. Her partner was calmly reciting her speech without skipping a beat.

Daria knew this would happen, so she only assigned Galavera one simple task: stand to the side, keep your back straight, and smile. "Of course, don't just stand there like a statue. Hmm, let me think... I'll leave the end of speech to you. You're great at doing mic drops." Daria leaned down and smoothed the creases out their dresses, making final adjustments before they went on stage.

"Shouldn't I prepare a something in advance?" In her mind's eye, Galavera could see the audience at the ceremony—esteemed board members of the companies and organizations sitting in velvet chairs, potential big clients to the guild. "What if I get carried away and end up saying something like I want to pluck the stars out from the sky up there again? I'm always told to not say far-fetched stuff like that because it makes us look unprofessional, then the big business in the Gold District will want nothing to do with us." "But Galavera, this dream of yours sounds so romantic. I really like it." Her partner didn't see the problem. "If the captain asks, just say it was from my draft." "I'm not gonna have you get blamed for something I said. Hehe, I already know what I'll say!"

Daria's speech was finally coming to its conclusion. The memory stopped. "Of course, our goal doesn't stop here," Daria smiled as she passed the mic to her partner. Galavera straightened her back even more. The flashes were on her again. She held back tears and said loudly, clearly, without the microphone. Even those sitting in the back row could hear her every word. "We will be plucking the stars out from the sky next."

The awkward silence lasted a second before the applause broke out. The company's directors made the gesture of clapping, if only to maintain their usual formal decorum. The award ceremony came to an end.

Galavera let out a happy whistled. She'd be dealing with the captain's fury later, after they got off the stage. Worst case scenario, she'd get fined again. No, actually, Daria would probably get fined this time, too.

Here is an excerpt: Galavera licked her pale lips. The stones beneath her feet had caught her unaware; she staggered and had to use her sword to steady herself. Daria, who she was carrying on her back, wasn't so lucky. Galavera's stumble had made she slip a little. Galavera paused to adjust her stance. She had to make sure that the unconscious Daria wouldn't get injured again.

She had no idea how long they'd been walking. A seasoned Trekker would always try to minimize her presence inside the Monolith, avoiding unnecessary combat with the Stellaroid. It was a race against time. She realized the cloth on her back had grown increasingly wet and sticky, a mixture of her own sweat and Daria's blood.

She's still breathing. Don't panic. Galavera forced herself to stay calm. She felt her partner's heartbeat—weak, slow, hanging on by a thin thread. The wind inside the Monolith carried death's chill, swirling around the two Trekkers.

"Mm..." A soft groan came from behind her. To Galavera's ears, it sounded like thunder! A sign of life! "Go to the right... There's an Aqua Glopo... You must... stay hydrated..." Even though she could barely string a whole sentence together, Daria was still dutifully guiding her partner's way.

"You know that no matter how badly I'm injured, I won't die from it! A few weeks of rest and I'll be fine!!" Galavera heard a faint reply by her ear. Daria couldn't keep the pain out from her heavy breathing. "Mm, but sometimes the body just reacts by itself..." "Daria, don't fall asleep. Talk to me." "Your back is too stiff... No way I can fall asleep..." "Daria... Daria!!"

Three days later, Galavera carried Daria out of the Monolith, but they had paid a heavy price. Daria had lost one of her legs.

The Twin Stars shone but for a brief moment above Torina before they fell to earth.

The performance on stage was coming to its climax. Out of the three girls in the audience, only two were still awake. One girl reached out and touched Noya's sword. "Noya's sword looks exactly like the one from the play. You don't think it could really be the legendary sword?" "Noya bought it at a blacksmith's shop yesterday." "So she just bought the same one. Come think of it, she still hasn't named this sword. Do you think naming it would bring good luck?"

"Noname." "Huh Noya, you're awake?" "No. She's talking in her sleep." That's how this seemingly ordinary long sword got its name.