"Natsuki-kun, something bad has happened."
The sender of the message was Haruno.
Natsuki: "Haruno-nee is haunted by an evil spirit?"
Haruno: "Not an evil spirit. Yukino just opened a quest from a Blind Box."
Natsuki became interested upon hearing this:
"A fun quest?"
Haruno: "Eh, how did Natsuki-kun know?"
Because Chika and Kaguya had both opened fun quests before, but he, despite opening daily blind boxes without fail, had yet to encounter a fun quest.
After a brief explanation, Natsuki asked curiously:
"What's the content of the quest?"
Haruno: "It's for Yukino to complete the Ozaki Eight."
Natsuki: "…The Ozaki Eight from extreme sports?"
Haruno: "That's right, that's it."
"…"
Ozaki Eight.
Many people may not have heard of it, but in the world of extreme sports, the Ozaki Eight is like Mount Everest in reality. Once someone conquers all of them, they can certainly go down in history.
There was an extreme sports expert in Japan named Ono Ozaki who proposed eight extreme sports challenges. Unfortunately, he only completed one of them before dying in an accident.
Since then, the concept of the Ozaki Eight has been widely circulated in the extreme sports community, becoming the ultimate goal for all extreme athletes.
There's a movie called "Point Break" where the main plot revolves around the Ozaki Eight, and it's quite exciting, I must say.
Haruno: "The quest rewards are very generous. We urgently need Natsuki-kun's help, please."
"Wait for me."
Natsuki naturally wouldn't refuse. Firstly, it was Yukino's quest, and secondly, he was very interested in the Ozaki Eight. After asking for Haruno's apartment address, he changed his clothes and went out.
The journey was uneventful.
Half an hour later.
Natsuki pressed the doorbell in front of an apartment door.
Click.
The door opened quickly, and a black-haired, expressionless girl opened it.
"Yukino, good morning."
Natsuki immediately smiled.
"…"
Yukino stood with her right arm crossed over her chest, her eyes cold, and turned to enter the room without a word.
It was clear that this Yukino was still angry about what happened in the tree hollow that day, holding a super grudge.
Natsuki didn't mind, stepping into the entryway and saying:
"Haruno-nee said you've been neglecting your meals, losing weight daily, and seem to have fallen ill with lovesickness. She called me over to help cure it."
"…"
Yukino paused, took a deep breath, and suppressed the urge to retort.
Endure.
Don't get angry.
Getting angry with this shameless guy is completely not worth it.
Natsuki continued:
"What can dispel sorrow? Only a date… May I ask if Yukino is free today to go on a date with me?"
Frivolous!
Shameless!
As soon as he entered, he invited her on a date with a frivolous tone, which was incredibly infuriating!
"I agree." Haruno walked out of the restroom, her face wreathed in smiles, her voice joyful, "Yukino has been cooped up at home these past few days, refusing to go shopping even when I ask her. If this continues, she'll become a recluse. Why don't you go on a date with Natsuki-kun today?"
Yukino said, crossing her arms over her chest:
"I'm completely uninterested in such things."
"Oh, really?" Haruno clasped her hands behind her back, her steps light as she approached Natsuki, then, in front of Yukino, she unreservedly hugged Natsuki's arm, smiling cheerfully, "Then if Natsuki and I go on a date, how will Yukino react?"
Yukino: "…"
Given Haruno's personality, if she continued to be stubborn, she would really go out on a date with Natsuki, and to satisfy her mischievous side, she would definitely send all sorts of photos back... In short, it would be quite malicious.
Seeing Yukino biting her lips, Natsuki cleared his throat twice and got to the point:
"Yukino, what exactly is the content of your fun quest?"
"It is indeed the Ozaki Eight…"
Yukino exhaled lightly and displayed the quest panel.
[Fun Quest: Extreme Sports Adventure]
[Quest Content: Complete the Ozaki Eight within the specified time. Each challenge has a week of preparation time. For each challenge completed, you will receive basic attribute points. Upon completing all Ozaki Eight, you will receive a limited skill.]
[Reminder: This fun quest can be shared with a maximum of one person. In shared status, all participants must complete all challenges to claim the reward.]
[Warning: If the quest fails, 50% of your all attributes will be sealed for fifteen days.]
[Note: Do you choose to be an unknown mortal, or a brave warrior who will go down in history? It's time to make your choice!]
Natsuki said in surprise:
"This fun quest looks unusual."
Although fun quests were rare, some lucky players, like Kaguya and Chika, and several players in the mutual aid group, managed to open them.
Generally speaking, fun quests were not too long, usually with a time limit of several days.
A quest spanning such a long period like the Ozaki Eight was a first, but in contrast, the quest rewards were also far more generous than other fun quests.
"What do you say, Natsuki-kun?"
Haruno rested her right hand on her chin, her voice sweet, asking softly.
Natsuki said softly:
"The Ozaki Eight is the limit for ordinary people, but not for players. We can definitely take it on, and it can even be shared by two people, so it's perfect for challenging with Haruno."
"I won't participate." Haruno shook her head, saying softly, "I just searched for the Ozaki Eight online, and it sounds quite terrifying. I haven't been a player for long, and my physical fitness is too poor. I definitely won't be able to complete the challenge."
"So…" Haruno clasped her hands together, closing one eye and saying, "I'll leave it to Natsuki and Yukino to team up, please."
That was the truth.
Haruno only became a player in the Summer Time Rendering instance. She currently only had one instance clear experience and was a complete newbie. For her to participate in the Ozaki Eight with her current strength would actually be extremely dangerous.
"I didn't intend to take this fun quest." Yukino, with her arms crossed over her chest, suddenly said softly.
Natsuki turned to look at Yukino, curious: "Why not take it?"
"The quest spans too long; completing all challenges will take two months." Yukino lightly furrowed her delicate brows, "Moreover, each challenge requires professional training, starting with months as the unit, and the challenge locations are distributed all over the world… In short, there's simply not enough time."
In short.
Yukino wasn't unwilling to accept the quest; rather, the quest's difficulty was too high, making it impossible to complete if accepted.
Natsuki pondered for a moment, then said: "The Ozaki Eight is the limit for ordinary people, but not for players. I don't think we need to worry about the difficulty."
This wasn't bragging, but rather confidence cultivated over a long time.
Natsuki was very confident that even without any protective measures, he could climb to the top of Mount Everest with his bare hands.
"As for the time and itinerary arrangements…" Natsuki took out his phone, "At times like these, of course, you call for backup."
Yukino: "Meow?"
The call connected quickly.
"Natsuki-kun, good morning. Is there anything you need?" Mitsui's voice came from the phone.
"Good morning." Natsuki exchanged a brief greeting, then quickly got to the point, "There's something I'd like to ask Mitsui…"
Natsuki didn't hide anything and fully explained the fun quest.
"Please hold." Mitsui said quickly, "I'll arrange for experts to evaluate the quest immediately."
"…"
A moment later.
The phone rang, and Mitsui called back.
Natsuki put it on speaker, listening with Yukino and Haruno.
"Natsuki-kun, the expert team has conducted a comprehensive evaluation based on your and Yukino's physical data. The probability of both of you completing the Ozaki Eight exceeds 70%."
Natsuki hesitated: "But the challenge locations are all over the world…"
Mitsui said quickly: "Please don't worry. Hotel accommodation, itinerary planning, professional coaches, and various procedures, you can leave all of that to us. You two only need to undergo adaptive training beforehand, and then complete the challenges."
"Thank you very much."
Natsuki hung up the phone, turned to look at Yukino, and smiled:
"Sorry, having privileges means you can do whatever you want."
Yukino: "..."
Everyone dislikes privilege, yet everyone enjoys it, because having privileges is indeed very pleasant.
Nowadays, there are more and more **Strange Tale** incidents, and with firearms being useless, players hold an irreplaceable and important position.
Especially a super player like Natsuki, one phone call and countless people will immediately do things for him.
Of course, this kind of treatment is not available to everyone; ordinary players don't have many privileges.
"Yukino, quickly accept the mission," Haruno said with a smile, "I heard that limited skills are all very powerful."
"Hoo…"
Yukino raised her right hand, her slender fingers pressing against her brow, letting out a helpless sigh, then accepted the interesting mission.
The mission could be shared with at most one person. Since Haruno's physical fitness did not meet the standards, the interesting mission was naturally shared with Natsuki.
Yukino pursed her lips and said softly:
"The Ozaki Eight challenges can be freely chosen… Which extreme challenge should we complete first?"
"Our understanding of Ozaki Eight all comes from the internet, so it's inevitably biased and not comprehensive enough, so…" Natsuki said, taking out his phone, "Keep calling people."
Yukino: "..."
Don't bother Mitsui with every little thing, she'll get annoyed!
Facing Natsuki's request, Mitsui naturally showed no impatience. As one of the persons in charge of the Strange Tales Management Bureau, she had many things to deal with daily and couldn't accompany them throughout. So, she specifically dispatched two female staff members to handle all daily matters along the way. Her attitude could be said to be excellent, without a single flaw.
"Done," Natsuki put away his phone, "Next is to wait for the Strange Tales Management Bureau to arrange the itinerary."
"Natsuki-kun is amazing," Haruno rested her chin on her hands, her bright eyes sparkling, filled with admiration, "He resolved all of Yukino's concerns with just a few words."
Clearly, this Haruno was deliberately acting cute, but it was impossible to dislike her.
Natsuki looked at Yukino and said:
"Considering how hard I've worked, shouldn't Yukino give me a reward?"
"No reward," Yukino said expressionlessly, her arms crossed over her chest, "You can go back."
According to the advice given by the Strange Tales Management Bureau experts, the first challenge to attempt was the Water Spirit, located in the waters of French Polynesia. A hurricane was currently raging there, and the waves it stirred up perfectly met the requirements for the extreme challenge. If they missed this opportunity, they might have to wait until next year.
According to the plan given by the experts, everyone would fly out tonight, arrive in Polynesia tomorrow morning, then receive guidance from the most professional coaches, and after mastering the techniques, proceed with extreme surfing.
For ordinary people, completing the challenge within a short week would be wishful thinking, but for players, anything is possible.
After talking for a while, Natsuki got up to leave, preparing to go home.
Since he was flying out tonight for the extreme challenge, there were naturally many things he needed to prepare.
"Natsuki-kun~ wait a moment." Haruno followed him to the entrance, leaning forward and saying, "The weather is so hot, and Natsuki-kun came all this way. It's too much not to give you a reward. How about I give you one on Yukino's behalf?"
Natsuki looked at Haruno and said in a low voice:
"What reward?"
"Of course, it's a reward that cannot be spoken of…"
Haruno's eyes curved into crescent moons. She stood on her tiptoes, leaned in, and lightly kissed Natsuki on the cheek, whispering with breath like orchids:
"Are you satisfied, Natsuki-kun?"
Natsuki touched his cheek, then said:
"Actually, I have symmetrical obsessive-compulsive disorder…"
"Hmm~"
Haruno stood on her tiptoes and kissed Natsuki on the other cheek, her eyes curving into a smile: "Is it okay now?"
"Not enough," Natsuki pointed to his lips again, "Haruno-nee forgot to kiss here."
Haruno looked troubled and said softly:
"But Yukino is still in the living room."
Natsuki said in a low voice:
"That's why it's even more exciting."
"Natsuki-kun is so naughty," Haruno's pretty face flushed slightly. She stood on her tiptoes again, leaned in, "But I like it."
"..."
After receiving the compensation from Haruno, Natsuki left contentedly.
Back home, Natsuki packed his luggage while taking out his phone to notify Chika and the others.
Since the extreme challenge couldn't be completed in a short time, he naturally had to inform everyone.
After explaining the entire situation, Natsuki asked:
"Does anyone want to come along?"
The mission could be shared by a maximum of two people, so others couldn't participate, but they could still come along, just like going on a trip.
Marin: "Ahhhhhh! I really want to go play! But my dad is home, and he only comes back twice a year, so I can only stay home with him!"
Chika: "Me, me, me! I want to go!"
Senpai: "I won't go, I'll stay home and take care of Aoi."
Juju: "It sounds so troublesome, I don't want to go."
Kaguya: "I have too many things to do, so I can't go with you."
Shoko: "Th-that…"
Natsuki: "Shoko, don't say it, I know you won't go."
"..."