IN Town Hall’s reception room, the very same room where the Brain Eaters had once carried out a horrific massacre, Takuto and Atou faced the boy and girl who’d requested an audience with them.
Tension thick enough to cut with a knife hung in the air.
Determined to slice his way through the oppressive atmosphere, the young man broke the ice first. “Ahem, sorry to bother you! Seriously didn’t think I’d get to meet the head honcho on my first go. Um, you’re Mynoghra’s king, right? Is that what I should call you? I know you’re a king and all that jazz, but I suck when it comes to formalities, so I hope you can bear with me being all casual like.”
“…I don’t mind,” Takuto said.
The young man speaking so flippantly looked to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. He was either the same age as Takuto or a year older. Being close in age, Takuto didn’t feel like they needed to stand on ceremony with each other. At first glance, he looked like a normal teenage boy, but his distinctive appearance betrayed his position as a fellow Player.
Now that I think about it, this is my first time seeing a Player in person. Well, as in person as viewing him through a Botchling can be. He doesn’t seem that different from me, so I gotta wonder if he’s also a top player for Brave Questers. Takuto quietly observed the young man.
The young man also had raven-black hair and obsidian eyes that were uncommon in this world. He wore a navy-blue school uniform with an unfamiliar but relatively common design in Japan. And then there was the sword hanging from his hip that looked like it was plucked straight from Brave Questers.
He flashed a charming smile that only those with excellent social skills can wield. And then there was his overly friendly personality that had him marching right into your bubble without a care for personal space. This young man, who called himself The Hero, seemed like the kind of person who would be the protagonist of a story or appear as a male lead in a shoujo manga.
He almost seemed like too much of a perfect character that Takuto considered the possibility it was a disguise or illusion, but the Botchling stealthed in the rafters could use the Detect skill and hadn’t alerted him to anything so far. Unless this Hero was using some sort of highly advanced and special ability, there was no question he was there in the flesh, unlike Takuto.
Ugh, a top player and extrovert at the same time…the worst kind of opponent for me, Takuto lamented, letting his thoughts wander.
“King Takuto, he’s definitely the same person as that time,” Atou telepathically relayed to Takuto from where she sat beside him on the sofa, bristling with open hostility.
When Takuto had received the report that someone calling himself the Hero had requested an audience, he could guess who it was. Yes, this was the same young man who’d burst onto the scene and gotten involved in the battle between the Demon Lord and the Elfuur Sisters.
Having watched him through his shared vision with Atou at the time, Takuto had no doubt he was Brave Questers’—the RPG faction’s—Player. That was why he had accepted this audience and attended it on high alert. He made every preparation to ensure no harm would come to his person should his opponent decide to get violent.
“Let’s watch and see how this plays out first,” Takuto responded telepathically. “I’ll give you orders telepathically if I need you to do anything, so can you remain vigilant and not say anything until then?”
“As you wish, my king. Please order me the second you need anything!”
After finishing his exchange with Atou quickly enough so it wouldn’t look suspicious to their guests, Takuto decided to approach his first real contact with another Player peacefully.
“First, let me start by expressing my gratitude for you coming all the way to my territory,” Takuto began. “I’m Mynoghra’s Commander, Takuto Ira. Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I introduced myself as an SLG Player?”
“Y-Yeah! That’s helpful!”
Takuto honestly had no confidence in roleplaying as king. Not to mention, he was becoming rusty at adhering to the stiff formalities since he had been acting as himself more and more in front of the Dark Elves. However, maintaining the tension would put pressure on his opponent and help keep him from slipping up by letting his guard down. With all of that in mind, Takuto spoke and carried himself as the King of Ruin, and it seemed to gain him the initiative against his opponent.
Takuto hated the idea of letting another Player anywhere near the Accursed Lands, where the heart of Mynoghra thrummed, so he was relieved he was able to distract from the oddity of a king holding an audience in a reception room within a town hall.
“Man, I feel kinda bad about this. You know, asking to suddenly meet like this and all. I just can’t seem to get used to this kinda atmosphere! I suppose I’d count as an RPG Player? The name’s Yu Kamimiyadera. My last name’s a mouthful, so just call me Yu. Nice to meetcha!”
“That’ll depend on where the conversation goes from here,” Takuto replied curtly. “All right, RPG Player Yu Kamimiyadera, given our opposing positions, we certainly aren’t on friendly terms yet. Would you care to tell me what led you to seek this meeting?”
His opponent might be The Hero, but he hailed from the RPG faction. In other words, the Demon Lord’s Army that Mynoghra defeated not too long ago would fall under his system’s jurisdiction. He was an enemy they were at war with—a war the RPG faction started.
Takuto couldn’t fathom how this Hero could come to his domain all chummy if he understood the situation. But Yu had also come to the Elfuur Sisters’ aid—however unwanted his help was—during the final stage of their battle with the Demon Lord.
The relationship between the Demon Lord’s Army and the Hero isn’t a friendly one in the games. The Hero wasn’t in a position to summon underlings and dominate them like the King of Ruin was. Takuto’s understanding of Yu’s game system was what eventually led him to speak with the Hero.
So, how will he explain himself? Takuto wondered. This was his first time experiencing such an exchange, even with the various situations he’d gone through with Eternal Nations and the other games. Whether they were fighting or joining hands, nothing would start until he gauged his opponent’s stance.
“Ack…er…well…you see…uh…” Yu fumbled for words, dashing Takuto’s expectations.
Apparently, Takuto’s intimidation tactics had worked a little too well.
Am I being too cautious of him? Or is this an act? If he’s from a similar background to me, maybe he’s not used to negotiations or tense situations? Several scenarios raced through Takuto’s mind. He was about to offer the Hero a lifeline when someone else beat him to the chase.
“Master’s nervous! Um, you can do this, Master!”
“Y-Yeah, I can! Thanks!”
The girl, who’d been sitting silently beside Yu, offered him words of encouragement. She sat directly across from where Atou sat beside Takuto.
Takuto discreetly observed the girl who’d had less presence than air until she’d spoken up.
…She’s got quite the look going for her.
The lone girl appeared to be slightly younger than the Hero. She was clad in a raggedy, tan dress and sported a collar, looking very much the part of a slave. However, she seemed close to Yu and sat right beside him on the couch as if that were her natural place. They seemed too friendly to have a master-slave relationship. It would be more accurate to describe her as being like what Atou was to Takuto—a highly trusted confidant.
But if they’re close, why is he making her dress like that? At least she seems to be decked out in some good accessories…
Whether they were some sort of magic item or equipment, the accessories she wore on both hands looked valuable. So why were her clothes rags? Takuto also questioned why she didn’t have any weapons.
A variety of doubts and suspicions crossed his mind, but it was too soon to jump to conclusions. The one thing he knew for certain was that as long as this girl served the Hero, he shouldn’t underestimate her. He’d have to withhold judgment until they learned more.
On the bright side, the slave girl’s words of encouragement seemed to have given Yu the courage he needed. He now faced Takuto with a determined expression belying his prior meekness. Seeing that, Takuto decided to wait for him to move things along instead of helping out.
“I have come here with one simple proposal for you, Your Majesty. I want us to join forces against that Succubus.” Yu finally broached the main topic.
Join forces against the Succubus, huh? I’d be happy to do that, but it brings up more questions than it answers, Takuto thought, keeping his face a perfect mask of calm despite his internal frowning. Even Yu must’ve thought his proposal was on the crazy side because his smile grew more awkward by the second.
“Master, Master! Now! Now’s the time for your catchphrase! Hurry up! This is your cue card!” The girl held up a memo pad for Yu to see. She seemed to be trying to do it discreetly, but it was easily visible to Takuto and Atou.
“Huh? Seriously…? All right… Ahem!”
Yu took much longer than Takuto felt necessary to review the contents of the cue card before quietly muttering, “Got it.” Then he took on a theatrical air and spread his arms out wide.
“Allow me to introduce myself officially. My name is Yu Kamimiyadera. My assigned god is the Jokester God, and my exclusive game is Brave Questers. I am but a pawn to a pathetic god that has come to this world.” Yu recited his lines as if he were acting out an epic scene from a story.
Faced with his assertive personality and confident expression, Takuto was left feeling like Yu really was the type of person he struggled to get along with.