Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Changes Upon Return
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After returning to Earth, there was only one change in me.
My identity from before being summoned to that other world had become the identity of the me who was summoned there.
When I first saw "Aurora" written on my ID card, where my real Earth name should have been, I was utterly shocked.
Ah, Aurora was the alias I used in that other world.
'But now it's my true name.'
Well, with this exotic appearance of mine, it would have been stranger if my name wasn't exotic too.
Still, I wanted to clarify this point for sure, so I asked Aka-chan separately.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Earth Liaison, Codename A-013, acknowledges its oversight in management. It promises to provide convenience to Master." It was more or less what I had expected, coming straight from Aka-chan's mouth.
Well, only beings like Aka-chan could pull off something like this.
"How far along is the virtual reality setup?"
"It has just been finalized."
"That's impressively fast."
Now that Aka-chan had done her part, it was time for me to pick up the pace too.
Aka-chan had created the worldview that would serve as the base for the game, and it was my job to make the device for accessing that virtual reality.
I threw myself into the work just as diligently as Aka-chan.
'Virtual reality access device: Capsule.'
Yes, that capsule commonly seen in game fantasy novels.
Of course, this capsule was a brand-new invention that didn't exist in either that other world or on Earth.
Simply with knowledge alone, it would be hard to make.
But who was the one who had rolled around for the past ten years to prevent destruction?
It was me.
I was confident that my magical skills were second to none.
Even against the being called the greatest grand mage on the continent.
"I will assist."
Aka-chan, who had been watching from the side, helped with implementing the capsule.
Thanks to her, the work sped up, and I finished faster than expected.
"Phew. It's gorgeous."
A capsule that made me want to climb inside and shout "Link start!" was complete.
Of course, the one in that anime used a headgear, but the genre was similar enough.
I linked Aka-chan's virtual reality to the capsule.
Now, if I closed my eyes inside this capsule, my consciousness would transfer to the virtual reality.
Manufacturing process learning... Learning complete. Aka-chan, who had been watching the completed capsule alongside me, drew a magic circle on the floor.
It was an ancient magic that most mages wouldn't know, long forgotten.
"High Magic: Replica." ⟨ Replica ⟩
Replica.
A magic that literally copies non-living things.
The mana required for a single cast was enormous, so not just anyone could use it.
You'd need to be a grand mage on the level of rivaling me or Occult at least three times over, right?
"I knew about it from Aka-chan's knowledge, but seeing it in person is amazing."
Aka-chan and I entered the capsule together.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the meantime, through conversations with Aka-chan, I learned a lot of new things for the first time.
First, the Akashic Records cannot directly intervene in the world it manages.
And the decisive reason Aka-chan entrusted me with removing the object of destruction.
"Aka-chan... Didn't you say it was a world a thousand years in the future?"
"...Yes."
Waaaaah—!!!
Down below, an army was marching.
Cavalry led the front, letting out cheers.
Beyond that human army, an undead legion was visible.
One that felt familiar—no, even more vicious than before.
'Ancient Necromancer?'
The first object of destruction I faced in that other world, a nightmare I never wanted to face again.
A tidal wave of the dead that revived endlessly no matter how many I killed was covering the vast land.
"I definitely destroyed the Ancient Necromancer, didn't I?"
The reason for setting the stage of the virtual reality game a thousand years in the future was simple.
The wounds left by the object of destruction on that other world were far too deep.
The time for those wounds to heal was roughly estimated at a thousand years.
That was why it was based on that other world a thousand years later.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ User query confirmed. Different entity from the Ancient Necromancer. "A different entity...?"
Following Aka-chan's words, I observed the Ancient Necromancer far in the distance.
Definitely, there were differences.
The Ancient Necromancer had a form close to a human.
But that one was more like a skeleton than a person.
'The vicious aura it gives off is similar.'
A skeleton-like form with the unique vicious aura of a necromancer?
Among the monsters I knew, there was only one with those traits.
"...Lich?"
"Higher than that—an superior species."
Then it must be an Elder Lich.
The legendary undead said to be immortal as long as its phylactery exists.
Such a being was fighting an army made up solely of humans?
Of course, there would be exceptional humans too, but it was practically suicide.
"If we leave that as is, won't that other world be destroyed?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Negative. No scenario exists where destruction occurs. Aka-chan added that I had destroyed all scenarios that could lead to that other world's destruction.
"Hmm..."
I watched the war between humans and undead from a spectator's viewpoint.
Contrary to what Aka-chan said, the human army that I thought would be easily pushed back was holding strong.
"Impressive."
The flags visible here and there on the battlefield belonged to the Empire.
'It must be the Empire built by the Crown Prince.'
He was competent in every way, so he must have become a wise ruler and turned the Empire into a great power.
The proof was right before my eyes, and the tide of battle was slowly turning toward the Empire.
In the end, the Empire's army reached the Elder Lich.
The Elder Lich, unable to withstand the assault, met its first death.
"Even considering it can't truly die without destroying the phylactery... that's remarkable."
After witnessing the end of the war like that, I got down to work in earnest.
'The ultimate goal is to create a vast virtual reality RPG like those in game fantasies.'
But there were still far too many shortcomings to reach that goal.
The game release side could be handled by entrusting it to Earth's Akashic Records liaison.
The most important thing was marketing. If no one played the game even after release, it would all be for nothing.
The marketing ideas that came to mind right away were two.
Internet broadcasters.
BJs, streamers, VTubers.
Entrust ads to these one-person influencers.
Or produce a trailer separately for viral... no, marketing purposes.
But there were still many lacks to use these methods.
First, to entrust ads, I needed money, but I had none.
I also lacked the technology and manpower to produce a trailer.
Is there no Chun-sik... no, high-end talent who can make a trailer alone?
"..."
"..."
Aka-chan avoided my gaze.
"A being on Aka-chan's level should pick up video editing skills in no time, right? I rate Aka-chan's potential highly. Even if you brought another Akashic Records, there wouldn't be one that adapts to Earth faster than our Aka-chan. More than that, Aka-chan, you once summoned me to that other world without warning and made me run around, didn't you? Of course, I like that other world, but risking my life is another matter. Thinking about it, it's a bit infuriating. Aka-chan, don't you have something to say to me about that..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "...I will do it." *Ping!*
Chun-sik(?) resolved.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 💬 [Indie Minor Game Gallery] Indie Minor Game Gallery, shortened to Ingemgal.
A community of 'hipster gamers' dealing only in minor indie games.
It used to be a niche place for only the truest of the true, but lately, influx had been increasing.
Because a few indie games discovered here had blown up big time, gaining fame in turn.
Thus, among indie developers, this place was also a land of opportunity.
If you could build buzz right here on Ingemgal, you could succeed.
Of course, with the prerequisite of developing a high-quality game first.
———
— Dogmeat Hitchuping Outdoor Dining Review.txt [18] All Genres Mixed Game All the Game Review [32] — ???: This game is uh... by my standards, poorly made [55] Legendary Dogmeat Sequel 'Year Number Renewal' Done For [48] — Dogmeat Yaojeong, Dogmeat Hitchuping Following Tanghulu lololol [103] ———
📰 Title: ???: This game is uh... by my standards, poorly made (Michelin 3-star meme judging meat) The modeling isn't even. And the vibe is too outdated. Hitchuping's unique childlike nostalgia is good, but in that process, I think the dev lacks a bit of knowledge he thinks he has. (Dev coming out as 'not subculture' meme) (Dev ignoring 'Hitchuping' meme) (Frog shocked meme) Recommend 89 Disrecommend 2 — [Comments 55] "Lacks a bit of knowledge" << Overestimating and getting fucked — Lol fr ↳ Reply These guys don't just lack a bit ↳ Reply These dev bastards are all like that, right? Saying shit like that? — Where'd those guys saying Dogmeat Fine Dining was coming go? Don't you know those guys were all alts? Normal people don't say that lol If I were the fine dining chef, I'd sue ... ... Ingemgal's featured posts were always filled with game slaughters as usual.
Infinitely generous to indie games, but merciless to major titles.
In such a place, one post thick with aggro appeared.
———
📰 Title: Hitchuping farts a cute pink fart ping.jpg (Mutube link) Sorry, pulled aggro just to show this. Official Mutube of some no-name game company I've never seen, but what's with this trailer quality? That one post caused a ripple across Ingemgal.