Lost Gold Story 01-07
Overview
- "I'll watch Joshua. However, I can't track him too closely. If you run into him, don't make any rash moves."
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition:
Emergency Medicine x110, 
Lumber x190, 
MRE x110, 
Drinking Water x110 - Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's first clear reward was:
Hunter's Badge x50
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Beach
You: Are you feeling better? What's your name?
The person who called for help was a participant who accidentally got caught in quicksand.
Fortunately, you all came over in time. Otherwise, he'd be in real trouble.
???: My name is Zangr. Thank you for saving me.
Zangr nods his head in thanks. He then takes out a foldable stool from his backpack and sits on it.
You: You...
Before you can finish your sentence, Zangr hangs his head and starts lamenting.
Zangr Stewart: I'm an idiot, for real. I shouldn't have come here.
Zangr Stewart: I've been unlucky for 30 years. Shouldn't I be used to this by now?
Zangr Stewart: Why did I believe in a magic that can change fate? I should've just stayed as a well-behaving NPC!
You: ???
Zangr's irrational words confuse you.
You: Do any of you understand what he's talking about?
Marius: Nope, but his name's really weird...
Vyn: Magic? Perhaps he was deceived into coming here?
Artem: Perhaps he's suffering from PTSD?
Luke: NPC? Is there a main character?
Zangr Stewart: Of course there are. Main characters are the people who get saved by deus ex machinas and win against all odds.
Zangr Stewart: NPCs like me are just background nobodies.
Zangr Stewart: Who knows, I might turn into EXP fodder for the main characters.
This seems to be Zangr's response to Luke, but Zangr keeps his head down and never looks at Luke.
You: Marius, didn't you say that all the participants were examined, and those who didn't pass weren't allowed to join?
You: Did you...
You point to your head.
You: Did you not check up here?
Marius: How would I know there'd be someone like this...
Marius: Does he think he was transported to a world inside a novel or TV show?
After Marius speaks, Zangr lifts up his head and stares at you all with blazing eyes.
His expression is... fanatical?
Zangr Stewart: Did you all know that we're actually living inside a book!?
You: ???
Zangr Stewart: Or maybe we're not even in a book! Maybe we're all part of a video game plot!
You: ...
Zangr Stewart: No one knows who the protagonist is in this world. It might be you or me, or maybe we're all only NPCs!
Zangr Stewart: If I can find this world's golden finger, then I control the Universal Law! I can do as I please with that arcane power at my disposal!
Vyn: Dissociative identity disorder? Hm, it is difficult to form a diagnosis after only a brief time.
Zangr's excitement doesn't last long. In the blink of an eye, he's back to his hair-clutching despondency.
Zangr Stewart: No... I'm so unlucky that I got caught in quicksand after taking two steps on the beach. How could I be the protagonist?
Zangr Stewart: I'm probably just a cannon fodder NPC...
Zangr Stewart: No one can overturn the laws of this world. No one, no one...
You: (It's a pity that you aren't the protagonist...)
Artem: The campsite is safe. Marius, contact your staff and have them retrieve him.
Artem: We don't have much time. We need to start our next step at once.
Marius: Already told them. Someone will pick him up later.
Everyone's terminals all happen to start chiming at this moment.
You tap your watch's terminal. A virtual screen pops up and begins to broadcast a video announcement.
"Greetings, participants. We have detected that some smartwatch terminals are experiencing signal failure."
"Please remain calm. Our staff will immediately land on the island and replace any defective terminals."
"If you meet any participants with a damaged terminal, please send a rescue signal so we can swiftly locate them."
While this false information is being broadcasted, you all take out your mobile phones.
A piece of software on everyone's phones is synchronized with reception's monitoring system.
You: Right now, GPS signals for Zachary, Joshua, Jack, and Bryce haven't disappeared.
Vyn: The announcement was just issued. Upon meeting, participants will inevitably ask each other about their terminals.
Vyn: Perhaps our suspects plan to resume their activities after the current situation has quieted.
Luke: This morning, I disguised myself as a staff member. Not only did I nab Joshua's fingerprints, but I planted trackers on all four of them.
Luke: We can use the NXX software to track their positions. Everyone, make good use of your phone.
You open the app which Luke had told you to update. A map of Nosta is displayed clearly.
There are four differently colored marks on the map, representing Zachary, Joshua, Jack, and Bryce.
Luke: I'll watch Joshua.
Luke: However, I can't track him too closely. If you run into him, don't make any rash moves.
Marius: You're finally starting to sound like a special agent.
Vyn: There's a time and place for everything.
Artem: Everyone, keep in touch.
You: Don't forget to check in at the hour in the encrypted channel.
You: I've decided on my plan of action. Let's move out!
