Chapter 9: I Decide My 3-Star (4)
Chapter 9: I Decide My 3-Star (4)
Sometimes.
When you play gacha games, they have these things called "Limited Pickups" where they strip popular characters down into special outfits.
Like swimsuits.
Like wedding dresses.
Like bunny girl suits.
Or even traditional ethnic clothing.
Sometimes they sell these as skins for existing characters, and other times they release them as entirely separate units.
In F.A.O., they sold both.
Character skins would change the existing character's sprites and cutscenes.
Limited characters were released as brand-new units with completely different skill sets and performance levels.
—You crazy bastards! That’s twice the money!
—So, are you not going to buy it?
—Keep 'em coming! I’ll just keep pulling until my wallet is bone dry!
In the end, I bought both.
The former was just a cosmetic upgrade, and the latter was for the meta, but I whaled for both regardless.
—It doesn't even affect the stats, why buy it?
—You don't use skins? Good lord, I never thought I'd hear someone ask why you'd buy a skin in a waifu game. Then why did you put a bikini on that ragdoll in that high-end restaurant game?
—That’s the default skin!!
No matter what people said, I bought both.
Beauty is a stat in itself, and since the latter usually came with better performance anyway, what was the harm in spending?
If it’s pretty, it’s high-performance.
If it’s high-performance, it’s pretty.
That was the reality.
Except.
Now that this has become my actual reality, the story is a bit different.
—Whoa, she’s going into the labyrinth dressed like that? She’s either an elite pro or a total exhibitionist.
—Clearing a labyrinth in a swimsuit and a life tube... is that woman for real?
—Stop raiding the labyrinth with a Bunny Boy party...!
Skins are at their most beautiful and aesthetic when they remain inside a game.
The moment it becomes reality, both the person who ordered the outfit and the person wearing it into a labyrinth must have had their brains turned to mush.
But I am different.
The Bunny Girl's Knights.
They were an actual knight order that existed in the game's lore—a party that cleared the labyrinth while dressed in bunny girl outfits.
I was merely trying to emulate them.
And by utilizing Ruji’s infamy, I intended to hide the true strength of the Bunny Girl's Knights.
"Well? What do you think?"
"Hmm..."
Laura’s face contorted into a serious grimace before she suddenly looked at me with a bright smile.
"I’ll pass!"
"......."
I got rejected.
But why?
Is it because she doesn't like Ruji?
That can't be it.
Even if he has a punchable face, he’s still quite handsome—better looking than I was in my past life, at least. Is she looking for someone even more handsome?
"I appreciate your kindness, Count, but I don't think I'm worthy of your summons yet."
"What?"
"I’m just an ordinary adventurer. In terms of the ranks we use... I’m nothing more than a fledgling. To join the Count’s knight order... I suppose you could say I’m nowhere near that level...."
"......."
"So, if I ever become stronger in the future—if I become a somewhat famous adventurer—would you call for me then?"
"Sigh."
This isn't working.
"You don't seem to understand."
"...Pardon?"
Since it’s come to this, I’ll have to show her the weight of authority.
"I am not recruiting you. I am giving you an 'order'."
Laura’s expression began to stiffen.
At the same time, Guild Leader Bernhard’s face turned pale.
"There are two paths before you. One is to quietly join my knight order. The other is to leave this city."
"H-how can you say that...?!"
"In Fermaton, that is how it works. And I am Fermaton."
The Young Lord has gone mad.
Yes, I’m acting crazy right now.
Do you think I’m going to let my death flag slip away here?
The protagonist will gather a party. Among those gathered will be another Fermaton, and eventually, they will kill me.
So, even if Laura shows signs of dislike, I need to make her mine—even if I have to use force.
"Young Lord. No matter the circumstances, as the Guild Leader, I cannot overlook such treatment of an adventurer."
"And why is that?"
"Adventurers are free spirits. Even if you are the Count...."
If you cross the line any further, I won't stand by.
He was sending me a warning, but my life was on the line here.
"Did you not understand me? I am telling her to quit being an adventurer and become a member of the Count’s House. Then, the logic of an adventurer will no longer apply."
"But Miss Laura hasn't decided for herself yet. She is still an adventurer."
"But she is a woman who has caught my eye."
I’m going full throttle here, no turning back.
"I want to keep her by my side and see for myself. To see if she is fit to be a person of Fermaton or not."
"...What do you mean by that?"
Bernhard’s expression began to shift.
He seemed to be catching onto the hidden meaning behind my words—the reason why the degenerate Ruji was showing such obsession toward a single woman.
"Why make me say it? It’s not something to be spoken of lightly in front of so many people. Or do the two of us need to have a private conversation?"
"A-ah, no. If that is the case, I can certainly understand."
"G-Guild Leader?!"
Laura gasped in shock.
The Guild Leader, who had been on her side until a moment ago, was suddenly supporting me. From her perspective, it must have been utterly bewildering.
"Miss Laura. This might be a good opportunity. Right now, all you can do is mine magic stones in the pits. It might be better to start your career within the Count’s House instead."
"B-but...."
"Fine. I’ll concede this much: I’ll give up on the bunny girl outfit."
That was a lie.
"However, I will not give up on you. Miss Laura, I am formally inviting you to the Count’s House."
"I-I’m just an ordinary rookie adventurer...."
"It doesn't matter if you're a rookie. What matters is whether you've caught my interest or not."
She’s a newbie I’ve personally picked.
"Trust me and follow me. I will make you the strongest existence in all of Fermaton."
"U-um...."
Laura still looked at me warily, unable to give an answer.
"...I-I know I’m not really in a position to say this, but... may I ask for one... condition...?"
"Speak."
Laura.
The condition the player would set.
This was related to her 'dream.'
"...I want to see the end of the Infinite Labyrinth."
"The end?"
"Yes. I’m curious about what lies at the very bottom. Whether it really is infinite. And... what exists at the end of the Infinite Labyrinth."
Some believe it’s treasure.
Others believe it’s an omnipotent lamp that grants any wish.
Even if you go to the end, there’s nothing but a placeholder boss mob.
I had seen the systemic end in the game, but the people here were different.
The Infinite Labyrinth.
Despite being named 'Infinite' because it descends forever, the exploration of the Infinite Labyrinth had only reached about the 50th floor.
Why only the 50th floor after hundreds of years?
It was because the seal to go below the 50th floor hadn't been broken, and any transfer gate intended to go deeper would simply loop back to another part of the 50th floor.
You could go up normally, but you couldn't keep going down.
It was an infinite loop of the 50th floor, but once someone cleared it, the floors below would begin to open.
That person is the protagonist, Laura.
Publicly, she has a sense of purpose to conquer the Infinite Labyrinth, and her specific reasons for doing so would gradually be revealed as lore crumbs as the story progressed.
To get straight to the point.
—Wait, is the final boss the opposite-gender version of the player character?
Even I knew that much of the lore.
And as a hardcore veteran, I had figured out some of the more plausible theories surrounding the Infinite Labyrinth.
If you play as a male character, the younger sister is the final boss.
If you play as a female character, the older brother is the final boss.
While opinions varied on their true identity, Laura was nonetheless the key figure in conquering Fermaton’s Infinite Labyrinth.
"Others might say it’s an impossible dream for someone of my skill, but anyone is allowed to dream, right? So... I want to see the end of the Infinite Labyrinth."
"You simply want to see the end?"
To an outsider, it sounded incredibly arrogant.
But if you understood her background, the story changed.
"No. It’s not just that. It’s just... there’s a rumor. A rumor that if you reach the end of the Infinite Labyrinth, there is a 'God's Gem' that can grant any wish."
"That is merely a rumor."
It was true, though.
"But rumors like that don't start for no reason, do they? So...."
"And if such a thing exists?"
"...If I ever get the chance to make a wish, would you give me that one opportunity?"
"What is your wish?"
"That is...."
She couldn't say.
I could only guess at the specific wish; I didn't know exactly what she wanted either.
"Well, fine. I can grant a single wish easily enough. Even if it’s a wish the God's Gem of the Infinite Labyrinth cannot fulfill, I will grant it myself if it is within my power."
It could be the end of the Infinite Labyrinth.
Or it could be the destruction of the one who created the Infinite Labyrinth.
"Be glad, Laura. I will be the one to fulfill your wish."
But one thing was certain....
"With your current strength, you seem severely lacking. Fine. Fermaton will help you. In exchange, you shall work for Fermaton."
"...Yes, I understand. Young Lord."
Laura stood up and bowed to me with the etiquette of a knight.
"...But, Young Lord."
"What is it?"
"The bunny girl thing... was a joke, right?"
"......Do not worry, Miss Laura."
I took a light sip of my tea.
"I will make sure you can conquer the Infinite Labyrinth even while wearing a bunny girl suit."
I’m not giving up on the bunny girl.