Onward to Coastal Cave!

We stayed in Groveside Cave until evening. Fortunately, none of Godrick's soldiers came to attack.

A few of the wolves and I hunted more deer and rabbits in the woods so everyone could eat their fill. I also took the opportunity to conduct a little experiment on the injured wolves.

-I diluted some of my Flask of Crimson Tears with water and fed it to them.

Sure enough, their injuries improved, though the effect wasn't as pronounced as it was on me. It seemed I could share my Flask of Crimson Tears with others, too.

That evening, the White Wolf King followed me as we set out with the pack!

Of course, I brought the injured wolves along, too, but left them at the Church of Elleh for the time being.

As long as the Tree Sentinel didn't spot them, it was relatively safe there.

After all, I couldn't guarantee that Godrick's soldiers wouldn't raid Groveside Cave while our main force was out.

Everything was ready.

Five or six wolves, Kale, and me. As for Boc, he probably didn't count as fighting strength... If we could find Ishutobon when we got there, victory would be all but assured.

So it was time to advance on Coastal Cave!

Awooo~

We skirted the Church of Elleh and followed the mountain path downhill.

A Troll we passed got quite a fright when several dark shapes shot between his feet. He stamped around, then roared angrily at our retreating backs.

"The Demi-Humans should be getting ready for bed around now, right? It's not like the world of Elden Ring has much of a nightlife." Looking toward the coast, I reminded everyone, "Make sure you steer clear of those big fellows. Land Octopuses are still tough to deal with, so let's leave them alone."

We headed south along the coast.

Kale suddenly asked me, "My customer, have you ever been to Mistwood in eastern Limgrave?"

"No. Why?" I asked curiously.

"If you go there and hear a wolf howling, try snapping your fingers directly beneath where the sound is coming from."

Snap my fingers?

Oh, I remembered this. It was the quest line for Blaidd, who served Ranni, the Lunar Princess-the wolf guy in Elden Ring who sent furry fans into raptures.

But that was strange. Why was it triggering now? Unlike in the game, I hadn't even been to Mistwood yet.

Had the story line changed again, just like Boc's?

Perhaps noticing my puzzled expression, old Kale glanced down at the wolves running beside us and smiled. "It's nothing. I just thought you'd get along with him. Consider it a little favor for an old friend."

Well, since I planned to meet Ranni, getting acquainted with Blaidd was naturally essential.

Besides, compared with the game, I had another side quest I wanted to try asking the wolf guy to help with.

I would accept Kale's kindness for now.

At the moment, though, Boc's quest was still the priority. We had to take care of things at Coastal Cave.

There was just one thing along the way that bothered me-in the game, a small squad of Demi-Humans should have been lying in ambush near Coastal Cave. Yet we were almost at the entrance, and they still hadn't appeared.

Had they gone back to sleep, too?

With Boc guiding us, we soon found Coastal Cave.

The cave was pitch-black. All we could smell was the damp, salty sea breeze mingled with a rotten stench like a garbage heap.

Boc swallowed, still trembling a little.

I patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. We've prepared more than enough. Two measly Demi-Human chiefs won't be a problem."

"My customer, please come over here." Kale had suddenly noticed something.

I went over to look. Oh, it was a small white statue modeled after Queen Marika, fashioned in the shape of a cross. In the Elden Ring game, this was a key item for multiplayer.

-Using a Furlcalling Finger Remedy in front of this statue would reveal the signs left by plenty of helpful fellows, allowing you to summon them for assistance. Of course, that didn't rule out the red finger signs left by nasty fellows.

"But how do you use this?" I asked curiously.

After all, the real world of Elden Ring presumably had no multiplayer players, and I hadn't actually explored how it worked.

Once again, Kale looked incredulous and sighed. "Honestly, I'm starting to wonder. Are you really a Tarnished?"

"Genuine through and through. Satisfaction guaranteed." I stubbornly stood my ground.

"Fine, fine. Consider this a reward for a valued customer." Kale took a small round box from his pocket and lightly sprinkled its contents toward the statue.

The powder inside actually turned into a golden glow, like the guidance of a Site of Grace, pointing out of the cave.

"This statue serves as a rallying signal for you Tarnished. Use a Furlcalling Finger Remedy, and you can locate its owner," Kale explained. "A thousand runes may be expensive, but an item that finds you a good helper is worth every penny!"

"All right, all right. Once we're done, I'll give you half the runes I earn." I sighed. What a sly old profiteer.

"Thank you for your patronage~"

Still, the Furlcalling Finger Remedy's guidance pointed more toward the left outside the cave.

I remembered there was another Wandering Merchant over there. I wondered whether Kale knew him.

And if we could find the Ancient Knight, Ishutobon, that would be even better... Oh, there he was!

Beside a flickering campfire, a skinny horse neighed. Two figures were trapped amid flashing blades, surrounded on all sides.

No wonder that Demi-Human squad by the road had vanished. These two had drawn them over here!

I hurriedly gave the order. "Everyone, go help them!"

"Awooo-" The wolf king was the first to answer my call, charging ahead.

The rest of us followed close behind with the pack.

"We're screwed. There are wolves around here, too?" The knight in silver-white armor, wielding a large cavalry saber, frowned. "No choice, then. Watch yourself, old merchant!"

An eerie purple light rose from the blade in his hands, and he plunged it into the ground.

At the sight, I quickly shouted, "Wolf king, get out of the way!"

The White Wolf King slammed to a halt.

The surrounding Demi-Humans didn't have time to react. Two or three were dragged toward the saber by the purple light that burst from it.

Then the knight swung his great saber in a wide, sweeping slash.

Crimson bloomed outward like huge, magnificent flowers.

Skill-Gravity, followed by skill-Spinning Slash!

Damn it! Why could everyone else, NPCs and enemies alike, use multiple skills on a single weapon to pull off deadly combos, while the Tarnished was stuck with just one skill per weapon?!

I was endlessly envious. Maybe this was the difference between the product in the customer's photo and the seller's promotional shot.

"Gah!"

Just as the knight finished his combo and was locked in recovery, a Demi-Human he had missed sprang from the shadows behind him, chopping straight at his head with a large cleaver.

"Watch out!" The words had barely reached my throat when the White Wolf King pounced and sank his teeth into the attacker's neck. After landing, he flung the scrawny Demi-Human away.

The knight looked rather surprised. "Hmm? A white wolf came to help me? Or is this just a fight between Demi-Humans and wolves?"

"That white wolf is my friend, Knight Ishutobon." I stepped forward and greeted him politely. "A pleasure to meet you. My name is Zero. I'm a Tarnished. I saw the statue marker you set up in that cave and followed it here."

"Oh, so you're a comrade! Wonderful!" Ishutobon put away his weapon and enthusiastically slung an arm around my shoulders. "These Demi-Humans must have taken us for prey. Thank goodness you got here first, brother. If their reinforcements had beaten you here, we'd have been in serious trouble!"

"Hahaha." I laughed awkwardly. This guy was awfully quick to get chummy!

Kale also recognized the other Wandering Merchant and exclaimed in surprise, "Huf, you old rascal! What are you doing here?"

"Kale!" The Wandering Merchant Huf had quite a sharp tongue himself. "Those old bones of yours haven't rotted away yet?"

"Hmph. If we hadn't come along just now, you'd probably have turned into rotten meat before I did."

Though neither merchant held back with his words, they smiled at each other.

"Let's save the touching reunion for later." I cut into the merchants' bickering. "Kale, Sir Ishutobon just said some Demi-Humans went back to raise the alarm. I think we need to move quickly, too. If we let the ones in the cave get fully prepared, they'll be much harder to deal with."