Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Modeling the Heroines
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Of course, if I really wanted to make it, I could probably figure out a way.
And honestly, I didn't want to see Rikal's true identity get exposed.
It's like a sympathy score or something. Basically, it'd be socially killing a person.
But just killing him here?
That wouldn't be right either.
Of course, listening to that disgusting pig... no, Popos Count... wasn't something I wanted to do either.
More importantly, though, making it wouldn't be easy.
For starters, I'd never made a dating sim before.
Turning a dating sim into virtual reality would require a massive amount of data in a whole different way from an online game.
For example, to create even one heroine, I'd essentially have to build a full personality.
Of course, since they'd follow a set story, I wouldn't need to detail it as much as making a real person.
Still, to make them act like real people, it'd take an enormous amount of modeling effort.
At the very least, I'd probably need to bring in a real woman, have her do various actions, and base the character on that.
And I'd have to create backstories for the heroines' lives off-screen too.
But I didn't have the confidence to ask someone to model for a dating sim.
No, I didn't even want to tell the world I was making one in the first place.
I'm an online game developer.
"I... could make it. But I'd probably need a female model. Since it's basically creating a full person as an illusion.
But if I find a model and have her say the lines or do the actions you wrote for her, Popos Count... do you think anyone would actually agree to that?
Sure, if I shoved a ton of money at them, maybe..."
"Mo-money's no object!"
Desperation seeped into Popos Count's voice.
He wanted a dating sim this badly, even in front of Rikal?
"Money aside, your scenario includes sex scenes, and..."
"Y-you perverted bastard!"
Thwack-
Rikal kicked Popos Count with a look of utter disgust.
Anyone in this world—not just Rikal—would react the same way.
"Hoo, huuuk..."
Popos Count muttered like he was the wronged one.
"Th-then... ca-can we skip those scenes? Just up to before that...?"
Popos Count was finally willing to give up the adult scenes.
That didn't solve everything, though.
"Still, I'd need a female model. I don't want to make a woman do stuff like that and get looked at with contempt."
"Th-then I'll reveal Your Highness's identity!"
"Maybe I should just kill you..."
"G-gueeek-!"
Rikal drew his sword again.
Popos Count, grabbed by the collar, let out a pig-like squeal.
A headache-inducing situation.
It didn't even really involve me.
Whether Rikal killed Popos Count or his identity got exposed...
"Die, you pig bastard!"
Even the prince trying to kill him indiscriminately was starting to seem ridiculous.
After all the help I'd given him so far.
I was getting fed up with both Rikal and Popos Count.
I was already busy and tired enough lately—anger was bubbling up.
"Ha..."
But I'm an intellectual. And moral.
Not like these two unreasonable idiots.
Revealing a user's personal info was unacceptable as a game operator.
And thinking 'just kill them if your identity's at risk?' wasn't normal either.
"...!"
That's when it hit me.
A way to teach these two morons a lesson while solving the situation.
"I'll make it for you."
"Wh-what?!"
"Whooooot! For real?!"
"Yes. But on one condition."
I glanced at Rikal's face and stated my idea.
"Include Jebit as one of the heroines."
"Whooooot?!"
"Wha... Huh? You bastard!!!!!!"
Rikal's face twisted in disbelief before he lunged at me.
With his hands around my collar, I said,
"If you kill me, Your Highness's identity goes up on the 'Maple Leaf Tale' notice board..."
"But why me as a heroine!!"
"Well... there's no better character than Jebit..."
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
"Or just let your identity get exposed..."
It was just to mess with Rikal a bit.
To tell him to get his act together.
And it was necessary for any future contingencies.
"Popos Count! Say something! You want to do that stuff with me?!"
"Hoo, huuuk... Jebit as a heroine... m-might be good..."
"You bastard!!!"
"J-Jebit and Your Highness are di-different...!"
"Just die!!!"
Apparently, it looked different to Popos Count.
I didn't bother trying to understand his mindset.
"No deal without that condition. And I'll charge a lot, obviously. Do what you want."
After that, Rikal rampaged for over 30 minutes.
Of course, I stopped him from killing the count. That just wouldn't be right.
A bit later, people started gathering after hearing the commotion.
As Popos Count tried to blab Rikal's identity to them, Rikal finally made his decision.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hoo, huuk... hook... Perfect!"
A while later, in my room at the Illusion Tower.
Rikal, Popos Count, and I were gathered, modeling the dating sim.
"...Shut up."
"Getting chewed out by Miko-chan... somehow doesn't feel bad...!"
"...Fuck."
Rikal spoke with a disgusted expression.
He was currently transformed into a different beauty—not Jebit—and performing various actions and lines.
I'd made several more artifacts like the Jebit transformation one.
All illusions of beautiful girls matching the characters Popos Count specified.
Instead of modeling every single action from scratch, it was easier to slap an illusion on someone, have them act, and just import the footage into the game.
So Rikal was transforming into each heroine and doing whatever Popos Count directed, one by one.
He was getting so used to it that sometimes I forgot he was Rikal.
He blew up a few times midway, but the modeling progressed smoothly.
Rikal seemed to have given up on himself already.
He'd done a lot of Jebit actions anyway, so it wasn't awkward.
"...Like this?"
"Go-good...!"
The heroines' action directing was pretty much up to Popos Count.
Since the content was Rikal, real feminine behavior was impossible anyway.
We'd given up on that part.
And it was a game for men's secret desires, so whatever.
I just wanted to finish this quickly.
...Though, if we're doing it this way, did we even need Rikal as the model?
I couldn't exactly rope in more acquaintances.
Like that, Rikal and Popos Count came and went from the Illusion Tower every day for about two weeks.
"...This should be enough."
"Fi-finally done?!"
"Not done—just the start. Actual game development begins now. No idea how long it'll take. I'll aim to finish within the year."
With that, the two headed back to the palace.
"So, why have those two been coming here so often lately, Rye?"
As Rikal and Popos Count left, Rain asked.
Hina peeked out from behind her, having hidden somewhere.
She was shy around strangers, so with unknowns visiting the tower constantly, she'd been hiding.
"They won't come anymore. Uh... let's just say it was a commission."
"A commission?"
"Commission...?"
"Yeah. Details are... a secret."
"Mmm..."
Hina's magic level was higher than mine.
Rain was a lower rank than me but still an excellent illusion mage.
They probably had a rough idea of what I'd been up to.
Plus, Hina—who'd cleared Zakum with Jebit—knew Jebit was an illusion.
If she was sharp, she might've pieced it together.
She hadn't said anything about Jebit yet, though.
"A-anyway, secret. Hurry up and prep the next champ balance patch."
"I don' wanna work—"
I quickly changed the subject.
Hina fled to her room.
"Th-then I'll go for the update."
Seizing the chance, I escaped Rain and returned to my room.
No matter what, I didn't want them finding out I was making a dating sim.
If asked if dating sims were embarrassing, I'd say yes.
As someone who'd never made one, it was pretty tough.
Anyway, I pulled myself together and started development.
For a solid 15+ game, I'd block most sexual acts.
Hand-holding or hugging would be fine.
Undressing or anything beyond was impossible.
No tactile feedback for... that stuff. Unnecessary touches would tank affection sharply.
Cross the line, and the game forces a quit.
Clothes would be part of the heroine's illusion body—uncertain to remove anyway.
Kissing scenes were in, though, so I'd need to implement kiss feel.
Problem: I'd never kissed anyone.
I'd have to think about that.
Kissing was endgame, so time left.
"Let's review the scenario first."
Before diving in, I skimmed Popos Count's script.
Surprisingly solid dating sim story.
I read on, stopping near the ending scenarios.
"All the heroines fall for the protagonist in the end... standard happy endings."
Every route ended in mutual love happy endings.
He'd added harem and hidden endings too.
Typical for a game about romancing beauties.
"Heh heh..."
I grinned wickedly and started editing the endings.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lately, Leo had been thinking about it now and then.
'What am I even devoting myself to like this?'
Truth be told, his life was far from happy.
Glamorous and shining didn't mean happy.
Before COL, he never doubted.
His world had only crown prince duties.
But discovering COL taught him to express himself.
Releasing long-suppressed urges, he realized how foolish his life had been.
A life not for himself.
Not bad, and happy for some.
But not for Leo.
[Team] Delinquent Empire Prince (Kaitri) LOL jungle diff In COL, Leo lived freely.
Spitting out pent-up bad words.
Venting stress from his restrained life violently.
His COL skill was poor, barely silver tier.
But COL meant more than a game to him.
"...so we need to adjust trade tariffs with the Franken Kingdom."
"Continuing exchanges with Trinity requires cutting the magic department budget. Honestly, the current magic dept..."
"So you're saying disband it?!"
Leo continued the council meeting blankly.
He wanted to wrap up and go home to COL and fangirl over Jebit.
He wished for another world beyond this stifling one, where he could express himself freely.
COL was great, but all the fighting wore him out sometimes.
Leo heard the rumor on his way back from the meeting.
In the corridor between the palace inner and outer walls, some imperial nobles whispering in a corner.
"...Something like that exists? Who..."
"The Illusion Tower, obviously. Rumor is Popos Count has it."
"Popos Count...? Yeah, sounds like something he'd do..."
"Right? A game where you date Jebit's illusion..."
"Did Jebit give permission?"
"...?!"
Leo couldn't just walk past that.