Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: GM Disqualified
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I'm a disqualified GM.
A disqualified GM like me had even my right to walk on two legs revoked. Crawling on all fours was too extravagant for me. I used the muscles in my back and stomach to diligently slither across the floor.
No, because I was slithering around, the dust bunnies got wiped clean...
It would be better if I just turned into a rock right here and lived out eternity like this. Someone who broke a taboo deserved no less a punishment!
A passing Magic Tower Master saw me turned to stone and asked worriedly.
"What on earth is wrong...? Didn't it end well? Is it because the fireworks event we prepared all night got skipped?"
That was definitely a bit regrettable. According to plan, as soon as the "Beer and Song" operation kicked off, fireworks hidden all over the city would start bursting. The festive mood would ripen, and lively songs would spread stealthily through the cheerleaders we'd planted in advance.
But oh no, there was a problem with the fireworks on the church steeple, and they wouldn't detonate! Irid and Centra head to the steeple once more using their grappling hook guns. Against the backdrop of fireworks exploding under the moonlight.
The two sit side by side on the steeple's watchtower, setting off their final farewell fireworks. Brilliant multicolored bursts light up the sky, and the banging noises drown out each other's voices. Centra says something to Irid.
Irid looks puzzled because he can't hear her over the fireworks. What on earth is Centra trying to say? Since Irid can't make it out, Centra decides to show him with actions. A deep kiss to cap off the fireworks finale!
That was Ending Plan A.
"Or... is it because you couldn't deliver Ronya's final line?"
That was regrettable too. According to plan, after the Second Prince blocks a couple more attacks, the doping drug's backlash hits. Ronya spits blood and collapses to her knees. Then she screams in desperation.
"Don't you resent those Kingdom Alliance dogs at all, Irid?! You too, just because of your blond hair, because imperial blood runs through your veins, you've been through all sorts of torment! You want revenge, you want to kill them all-!!"
"Because of that wench Centra, I had to give up my revenge?! I staked my life on revenge, and now you're saying I should've followed that idiot's orders for peace and songs just because her dad was the former leader-!!"
We set up this perfect stage dripping with coolness, and the Second Prince could've dropped any badass line right on cue! Just in case his brain froze and he needed time to think, we'd even prepared to slow time.
Plenty of time to craft a line loaded with his goals and identity. Anything goes. Something kingly like "Because I love Centra." Or even "You've made me angry!"... If he went with that, I was ready to blast electric guitar BGM afterward.
This wasn't something we'd only show if the Second Prince parried twice successfully!
Even if he just pretended to block, Ronya's attack would've stopped. The player deserves a happy ending. It's too cruel to slap on a bad end just because the dice sucked or they missed a deduction!
The player always has to look cool!
What can I say, at that moment, I was the one possessing and controlling Ronya. Making her screech with a metallic rasp was no easy feat... I was prepped for the doping backlash to suddenly sap her strength, ready to give her a breather with "Ugh, my head...!"
I had everything set up perfectly, and then this madman... no, the Second Prince pulls off a sudden Hug-me-now out of nowhere? Who could've predicted that? Not in any of my seventeen simulations.
Maybe I underestimated the Second Prince's madness. No matter how safe I thought it was, what was he planning, just straight-up declaring he'd die?
...Of course, the tragic reverse harem vibe of dying Irid and sobbing Centra was pretty delicious. I clapped inwardly and enjoyed the show. Didn't expect Centra to nail her lines so well. Was ready for manual input if needed, but AI training pays off.
Anyway, that was the final battle Plan B.
"Or maybe... because you couldn't use the three-day panty modeling?"
"That one's a real shame."
"I-I was just joking, why are you seriously bummed out...?!"
Panties, with three heaping spoonfuls of exaggeration, are the soul of a character. Even the same noble lady character changes completely depending on what's underneath. They're a crystallization of fantasies too.
I could rant five and a half A4 pages on this topic.
Just look under the Violet Magic Tower Master's skirt for proof...
No, no.
Thinking about it, the root of all my pain and anguish was the Magic Tower Master right in front of me.
As I glared at her with resentment, she looked utterly baffled, unable to follow. Question mark illusions spun around her head.
The reason I'm a disqualified GM, the reason I'm drowning in agony... it's because...
At the very last moment, I blocked Centra from kissing him...
That scene was the finale. A tribute and bare minimum reward for the Second Prince Irid, who'd just rolled around like an idiot. I would've allowed tongue action. No data for that. Probably would've tasted like the curry udon dummy data I prepped.
But at least the kiss. The soft sensation of lips had to remain.
And I ruined it.
If only there'd been a rational reason for that call... no, it doesn't even have to be rational. If there'd been some aesthetic justification, I wouldn't be this tormented. Like if I hated Yuyeol and wanted to screw over the Second Prince to the end...
That wasn't it.
The lip sensation data input into virtual reality came from the "Magic Tower Master Kiss Barrage Incident" after the 30x funding declaration. Under the strict control of the Violet Magic Tower's discipline officer (female / 4th in tower hierarchy / Magic Tower Master's favorite), all the men were locked in labs.
But I was right there when it happened, so I couldn't escape the kiss shower.
Daring to receive the Magic Tower Master's kisses as a mere man! They chased me around for days.
Back then, I was thrilled—collecting kiss data for profit, getting something my ex never gave me in this otherworld. But the moment Centra went to kiss Irid's lips. Something...
Wouldn't that mean the Magic Tower Master is indirectly kissing the Second Prince?
That thought hit me, and I reflexively hit shutdown.
...I still don't get it. Why did I hit shutdown? Was the Second Prince's move so ruthless that I wanted to troll him even if it shattered my principles? Or was it the Magic Tower Master's stew from that day?
Maybe it was wrong from the start. Maybe I'm just a selfish GM who values my own happiness over the player's.
"Gaaah, no!!"
I clutched my head and screamed. It felt like my soul was splitting in two!
"Um... if something's bothering you, tell me. We promised to help each other, right?"
Tap tap. The Violet Magic Tower Master timidly tugged at the hem of my robe. From under her hat brim, one eye peeked out slightly obscured, along with her perky nose and small lips flushed with color—
I smacked my own forehead. And laughed.
"Heh, heh heh, heh heh heh..."
"...?!?"
I was certain. I had fallen into qi deviation. To resolve qi deviation, eliminate the root cause. The current root cause is "insufficient data."
What if the database had around thirty types of lip sensations? I wouldn't have hesitated. Irid could've shared a deep kiss.
If I'd... stored tongue sensations in the database too! Irid could've gone for a real deep kiss! It was my failing. Heartbreaking.
I couldn't wallow in despair forever. People must stride toward a bright, shining future. Only those who act avoid regret. I declared.
"Magic Tower Master. I'm taking a week off."
"S-Suddenly? Wh-What...? Sure, but. If it's for a change of pace and fun, maybe I could come with—"
"Planning to tour every red-light district in the capital."
"...???"
"I'll gather everything on female body data. Don't look for me. Adios."
"Wh-What, w-wait! Hold on...!! Don't run, talk to me! Hey!!"
Thud crash bang boom.
My attempt to flee the Magic Tower for the Database Eighty Thousand Scrolls was subdued by the Magic Tower Master after about 30 minutes of chaos.
"...What are you doing?"
Ever since my Magic Tower escape attempt, the Magic Tower Master's gaze has been weird. Like, that 'our boy's at that age now' look. It was a patriotic resolve for future TRPG sessions and the greater good!
...Of course, I can't deny curiosity about the unknown world.
I fiddled with the simulation magic circle here and there as I answered.
"Session's over, so I'm pulling the logs."
"Logs?"
"Second Prince Irid's Heart-Pounding Dizzying Empire Tour 100 Years Later. Recording it all. So we can pull it up later."
"...Your naming sense sucks."
"What sucks is the Magic Tower Master's fan... "
"Ev-Every! Morning! Evening! I cast Clean! Magic!!"
Every time the Magic Tower Master emphasized, a dizzying shock like stepping on Lego swept through my body. I had to roll around on the floor from that inhuman Pain Infliction.
The Magic Tower Master ignored my writhing in agony, glanced over the simulation magic circle, and said.
"For an 'Image Record' spell, the capacity seems kinda big...?"
"Gonna save the whole world slice. Capacity? Whatever, if I sweet-talk the Second Prince right, maybe he'll give a Dragon Heart? He already gave top-grade magic stone last time."
"Dragon Heart's a national treasure. Might even need First Princess to petition."
"Just seduce the First Princess then."
"Yeah, hmm... Might not be easy. First Princess is unique. Her sensibilities are a bit different from others...?"
"Logs pulled. Watch it together when you're bored."
"When we watch, that, popcorn? Was pretty good... The caramel sprinkled one."
"Sounds good. Hang on, just need to name it? 'Second Prince Irid's Heart-Pounding Dizzying...'"
"That name sucks!"
"Fine, you name it then, Magic Tower Master?"
"Prince, Flower, and Resistance!"
"Boring..."
"Way better than Heart-Pounding Whatever! Get lost, shoo...!"
"Ow, ouch. Ah."
In the end, through coercion and tyranny, the log was named Prince, Flower, and Resistance. Once saved, I turned off the simulation room lights and headed out with the Magic Tower Master.
Need to contact the First Princess, and repay the Second Prince's emotional debt. He's apparently touring Crown Hall in the capital diligently, so meeting should be easy.
The road to completing the world is long. Fighting!
The room after everyone left.
The simulation room's magic circle began to faintly glow.