NPC wa Eiyuu no Yume wo Miru ka? (MMORPG : Elysia Online)

I stared at the two of them, weighing the options. Both the northern ruins and the old city had their own advantages and risks.

If we went to the old city, we might be able to gather more information before taking any real action. However, there was a chance that the clues there were outdated or even irrelevant.

On the other hand, the northern ruins were likely directly connected to the Pillar of Balance, but they were also more dangerous. The monsters inhabiting that place were probably stronger, and there was no guarantee that we could return easily.

I let out a long sigh before finally making a decision.

"We're going to the northern ruins."

Celine looked a bit hesitant. "Are you sure? That means we'll have to be ready to face greater danger."

"The sooner we get there, the better," I replied firmly. "If there's something there, we can't afford to waste time."

Lyra grinned. "Great! I was getting bored just reading books in the library. It's time for some action!"

Celine finally sighed and nodded. "Alright. In that case, we need to prepare everything before we leave."

We immediately left the library and returned to the inn to get our gear ready.

After a few hours of traveling out of the city, we began to enter a wilder area. The rocky roads became less frequent, replaced by dusty ground and tall, wild grass.

"Not many adventurers come to a place like this, huh?" Lyra muttered as she looked around.

Celine nodded. "If there were truly important ruins here, someone would have found them long ago. The fact that this place is still a mystery means there's something keeping people away."

I remained alert, watching every movement around us. The atmosphere here felt... different. There were no sounds of birds or insects like usual. Only a gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of dry earth and stones.

"Stay alert," I said, gripping the sword at my waist. "We don't know what we might encounter."

Our footsteps echoed along the narrow path that began to slope upward. A cold wind blew from the north, carrying the scent of damp soil and fallen leaves. The sky slowly began to change color, from bright blue to a golden orange as the sun started to sink below the horizon.

Lyra, who was walking ahead of me, casually kicked a small stone. "We've been walking for a while. Are you sure this place even exists?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"According to the map and the information from the library, the ruins should be in this area... but we'll have to look for signs more carefully," I replied, glancing around.

Celine, walking beside me, adjusted the position of her magic staff on her back. "If this is indeed part of the world's balance as mentioned in the book, there must be something protecting it," she murmured.

I nodded. "That's what we need to find out. Whether this place has some kind of defense mechanism, or maybe a creature guarding the ruins."

We continued our journey, deeper into the forest. The trees around us grew taller and denser, casting long shadows that blocked the sunlight. The air here felt cooler, almost chilly.

Suddenly, Lyra stopped and raised her hand. "Wait... I hear something."

Celine and I immediately went on alert. I sharpened my hearing, trying to catch the sound Lyra was referring to.

Rustle... rustle...

From the bushes on the right side of the path, something moved. I quickly drew my sword, ready to face a possible attack.

"A wild animal?" Celine whispered, gripping her staff tightly.

I shook my head. "Maybe. But we can't let our guard down."

The three of us took positions, slowly approaching the bushes. Tension filled the air as we prepared to face whatever emerged from behind them.

I saw Lyra and Celine take defensive stances, my eyes still fixed on the rustling bushes. The night wind added to the tension, creating the sound of rustling leaves that made the atmosphere even more eerie.

"It could just be the wind... or something lurking," I thought, tightening my grip on the sword at my waist.

Celine nodded slowly, her expression slightly tense. Lyra, on the other hand, looked calm, her hand still on her weapon, ready to react at any moment.

I signaled to the two of them. "Alright, let's approach carefully." Slowly, we moved closer to the source of the sound, each step sounding so clear in the silence of the night.

Celine gripped her magic staff tighter, while Lyra was already ready with her sword. The bushes shook more violently. I regulated my breathing, sharpening my vision in the darkness.

That's not the sound of the wind... and it's not an ordinary animal either.

I glanced at Lyra, who simply shrugged casually, though clearly alert. Celine swallowed hard, then whispered softly, "If this is something dangerous, we're running, right?"

Before I could answer, something jumped out of the bushes at high speed!

My reflexes kicked in immediately. I raised my hand slightly, ready to draw my sword if necessary. Lyra and Celine also quickly took defensive positions, though their expressions were still filled with uncertainty.

However, when the moonlight illuminated the figure that emerged, I immediately realized something—this wasn't a monster.

"A fox?" I thought to myself.

The furry white creature with a bushy tail stared at us for a moment with bright golden eyes. Its breathing was rapid, as if it had just run several kilometers without stopping.

"Uh... a fox?" Celine lowered her staff, still looking uncertain.

Lyra stared at the animal with a confused expression. "Why is there a wild fox here? Usually, animals like this wouldn't approach humans... especially not the three of us."

I frowned. This wasn't just an ordinary fox. Though small, its aura felt different. Even without using the Identify skill, I could sense something... strange.

Suddenly, the fox looked up and stared straight at me. As if it could read my mind, it stepped forward slowly, then stopped right in front of me.

"Rei... I think it's interested in you," Lyra whispered in a teasing tone.

I sighed and crouched down, trying to get closer without appearing threatening. "Are you lost?" I asked, though of course I didn't expect the creature to answer.

However, to my surprise, the fox raised one paw and... placed it on my knee.

For a moment, I felt something vibrating in the air. Like an almost invisible energy, flowing slowly from the fox's body into my hand. Then, suddenly—

[System Notification: An Unknown Entity has given you a mark.]

"...Huh?"

Celine and Lyra, standing behind me, were also startled when the notification window appeared in front of me. I looked at my left hand, and that's when I saw it—a strange rune on the back of my hand glowing faintly, reacting to something.

"Wait, what's happening?" Celine asked in a panicked tone.

I don't know. But one thing's for sure—this fox isn't an ordinary creature.

Lyra stared at the small fox with a curious expression before finally grinning mischievously at me. "Oi, Rei. Maybe you're a natural beast tamer without realizing it? Strange creatures always seem to be drawn to you."

I sighed. "Don't start with your weird theories again, Lyra."

Celine stared at the fox longer, her eyes slightly narrowed. "But... this is strange. Usually, wild animals wouldn't approach strangers, especially in a situation like this."

I crouched down, trying to get a closer look. The fox didn't seem aggressive, almost as if it was waiting for something. Its silver fur shimmered faintly in the moonlight, and there was something in its eyes—not just animal instinct, but something deeper, like awareness.

Is this... a special monster?

Before I could think further, the fox suddenly leaped toward me! I almost reflexively dodged, but before I could move, it landed lightly on my lap, curling its tail and looking at me with clear eyes.

"Hey, hey, Rei! Now I'm really convinced! You must have some secret charm that attracts cute creatures!" Lyra giggled.

Celine let out a slow breath, placing her hands on her hips. "Instead of joking, we should figure out what this fox wants."

I stared at the creature warily. There was something unusual about it, and I needed to find out more.

The fox suddenly leaped toward Lyra at an astonishing speed!

"A-AH?! Hey!!" Lyra almost lost her balance as the soft-furred creature suddenly wrapped itself around her neck like a living scarf. I could see Celine's surprised and confused expression, while Lyra herself tried to pull the fox off her body.

"O-Okay... what is this? Do I look like a comfortable perch or something?!" Lyra tried to free herself, but the fox only tightened its tail around her waist, as if it didn't want to leave.

I sighed softly, watching the situation with a bit of bewilderment. "Seems like it likes you, Lyra."

"That doesn't mean I'm enjoying this!" Lyra clicked her tongue in annoyance, but I could see a faint blush on her cheeks. "Why didn't it jump to the MC instead? Isn't he quieter and 'looks safer'?"

Celine chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "Maybe its animal instincts are working well. It knows who's the most lively among us."

Lyra pouted. "Oh, so now you two are ganging up on me?"

As I watched their interaction, I noticed something strange. The fox's eyes... there was a faint glimmer of light that didn't seem like a normal reflection. It looked like a flash of magic.

I narrowed my eyes. "Lyra, hold still for a moment."

"Huh? What now—"

I slowly reached out, trying to touch the fox. Just as my fingers were about to touch its fur, a small spark of energy, like a gentle electric wave, surged through the air.

"...This fox isn't just an ordinary fox."

Celine immediately sharpened her gaze. "You felt something too?"

I nodded. "Yes. This isn't just any wild monster. Maybe there's something binding it to this place, or... something else."

The fox finally loosened its grip on Lyra and jumped to the ground. It stared at the three of us, as if waiting for something.

Lyra let out a long sigh, placing her hands on her hips. "Alright, so what do we do with this creature?"

I looked at the small white fox still perched on my shoulder, its bushy tail twitching restlessly. Its golden eyes stared sharply at me, as if assessing something about me. There was something different about this creature. Not just an ordinary monster.

I took a deep breath, opening the status appraisal that should have given me some information. However, as soon as I tried to access it...

—Error: Unable to analyze target.

I frowned. "Huh...? That's weird."

Celine, who had been quietly observing, finally stepped closer and looked at the fox more closely. "You can't see its status either?"

I nodded. "Normally, I can analyze creatures or objects pretty easily. But this time..."

Lyra squinted at the fox before smirking. "Maybe you're a natural beast tamer, Rei~?" she teased, lightly elbowing my arm.

I just sighed. "Very funny."

Meanwhile, the fox continued to stare at me without blinking, its tail slowly moving. As if waiting for something from me.

"So, what do we do now?" asked Celine, crossing her arms. "If we can't analyze it, maybe we need to figure it out another way."

I looked at the small creature again. There were too many mysteries surrounding it.

The small silver-furred fox stared back at me with its faintly glowing eyes in the dark night.

"This creature is clearly not an ordinary fox," I thought. If it were just a wild animal, it would have run away when we approached. But this one remained still, only tilting its head as if trying to understand our presence.

Lyra crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "So... what are we going to do with this creature?"

Celine looked at the fox with a scrutinizing gaze. "I think there's a possibility it's not just a wild animal. Usually, creatures like this are connected to something bigger..."

I nodded, then slowly crouched, trying to extend my hand calmly. "Alright, let's try something. Let's see how this creature reacts."

The fox remained still for a moment, before finally walking slowly toward me. Its ears twitched slightly, its bushy tail swaying gently. I stayed in place, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might make it feel threatened.

"Hey, be careful," Lyra whispered. "Don't let it suddenly attack your face."

I ignored her teasing and stayed focused. Slowly, the fox came closer and closer... and finally, it pressed its head against my hand.

"Ding!"

A notification window appeared in front of my eyes.

[System Warning] A special creature has detected your presence. Evaluating connection...

Status: Synchronization incomplete. Further action required.

I frowned. Synchronization? What does that mean?

Celine also saw my notification, though she couldn't read the status. "Did you get something?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Just something vague... It seems like this creature is connected to something bigger."

The fox suddenly stared deeply at me, before jumping onto my shoulder and casually wrapping its tail around my neck like a living scarf.

"Uh..." I blinked, unsure how to respond. "Seems like it's decided to come with us."

Lyra laughed. "Haha! Congratulations, Rei! You've just gotten your first pet on our journey!"

Celine still looked doubtful, but finally nodded. "If it's not dangerous, maybe it's fine to let it come along. There might be something we can learn from it."

I sighed, letting the fox stay on my shoulder for now. Whatever this is, I'm sure it's going to lead to something bigger in the future.

I sighed, letting the fox stay on my shoulder for now. Whatever this is, I'm sure it's going to lead to something bigger in the future.

Lyra stared at the small fox with curiosity. "Hey, let me try."

Before I could say anything, she quickly reached out toward the creature. However, instead of letting itself be petted, the small fox leaped toward Lyra—right onto her chest.

"Whoa?!"

Reflexively, Lyra fell backward, almost crashing into Celine, who quickly dodged. I could only sigh at the sight. The fox was now comfortably curled up in Lyra's arms, its eyes closed as if enjoying the moment.

Celine raised an eyebrow. "Seems like it likes you more."

Lyra blinked a few times before grinning. "Of course! I do have an aura that attracts adorable creatures."

I gave Lyra a flat look. Or maybe it just thinks you're a soft pillow.

However, the moment didn't last long. Suddenly, the fox perked up its head, its ears twitching as if hearing something. Then, without warning, it jumped back onto my shoulder, its eyes staring into the distance.

I followed its gaze. There's something out there...

The three of us exchanged glances. Curiosity and a bit of caution began to rise among us.

I sighed, shifting my gaze from the small fox still perched on my shoulder. Somehow, my instincts told me that this creature was connected to something bigger. But for now, our main focus remains the journey to the ruins.

"We can't stop for too long," I said, looking at Lyra and Celine. "If we want to reach the ruins before midnight, we need to keep moving."

Lyra shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the situation. "Alright, alright~ But if something happens because we ignored this clue, don't blame me!"

Meanwhile, Celine still looked a bit hesitant, but finally nodded. "I agree. We've come too far to turn back now."

We continued our journey, leaving the dense trees behind and stepping onto the rocky path that led closer to the ruins. The wind blowing through the cracks in the rocks carried the scent of damp soil and something... unfamiliar.

I narrowed my eyes as I saw the shadow of the ruins in the distance. Partially collapsed structures, cracked pillars, and ancient symbols covered in moss. This wasn't an ordinary ruin. There was something hidden in this place.

At that moment, the fox on my shoulder squirmed restlessly. Its eyes stared straight ahead, its body slightly tense.