Chapter 120: Holding the Lamp of Ambition, Part 6

Lycaon the Night Raider. Watching her, I understand again: defeating her is indeed impossible.

First, her basic power is simply on another level. I'm inferior in basic stats, and on top of that, there are those damn clones. I can hold out, but winning is a tough prospect.

Second, she is a Unique Monster. Even if we defeated her, in that case...

"...Is something, wrong?"

There is an extremely high possibility that the flag for the Unique Scenario EX will be raised for This Person (Rei-shi).

It's fine if it's just this person. But Clan "Black Wolf" will almost certainly butt in. Going out of their way to use Lycaon's name for their clan means they are hardcore wolf-lovers; they won't give a splinter clan like "Wolfgang" any room to intervene.

Seeing SF-Zoo's tanks convinced me: players who have reached the level cap are strong.

Not only do they excel in player skill like me, but they also know how to reinforce player skill with skills and equipment.

If it were a pure "Conquest Formation" instead of a specialized party composition like SF-Zoo, it might be persuasive enough to make one think "maybe."

(Black Wolf monopolizing Lycaon... that is the worst route I must avoid.)

Indeed, Wolfgang, and I personally, hold several trump cards. But even with one card, I'll only end up last in Old Maid. If Black Wolf, holding a Royal Straight Flush from Ace to King, gets serious, they can suppress a single Joker easily.

Then what should I do? How should I move from here to reach a better development?

(The easiest development is............ Me dragging them down and Dying together, but even I hesitate to do that.)

It would definitely create bad blood. It would be blatant slacking. If it were me, I'd smile and say, "My friend called me (Never partying with you again) so I'm leaving^^ (Like hell I'd do that)."

This is a characteristic of hated players different from Player Killers, but for example, suppose there is an objective to "Subjugate a Dragon," and two players challenge it as a pair.

One has defeated the dragon many times and frankly doesn't need to fight desperately.

The other has already failed to defeat the dragon many times and hasn't cleared it even once.

Even with the same objective, the motivation of these two is as different as heaven and earth, and that difference sometimes leads to terrible player troubles. And needless to say how rude it is to do that intentionally.

Honestly speaking, I want to challenge Lycaon. Not whether I can win or not, but at least I want to land one blow on that snobbish face.

But if by any chance the scenario flag for Unique Scenario EX is raised, defeating Lycaon ultimately will become extremely difficult.

Should I just let her kill us? If it's in the form of Letting Lycaon kill Rei-shi, I won't get penalized... What am I thinking?

As expected, things don't go as planned. I know full well that an MMO doesn't go according to my sole wishes, but that's precisely why I struggle to push my ego through.

(Lycaon... Unique Scenario EX... Defeat... Can't defeat...)

Not just the immediate situation; there's Rabituza, the schedule I have to meet by tomorrow morning... doing which leads to what and how... Nwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

"Sunraku, san."

Then, Rei-shi next to me speaks to me.

"──────."

The moment I heard those words... Putsu.

Inside my head, it felt like a tiny Me (Sunraku) laughed vulgarly and cut some important string.

Lycaon the Night Raider. Is this the fourth time fighting him? Psyger-0 looks at the black wolf standing there as a victor, having literally kicked SF-Zoo aside.

The first time was when she was a beginner, killed in one hit helplessly.

The second time was when her equipment was somewhat decent; she was turned into a bowling pin along with the random players she partied with.

And the third time was with the members of "Black Wolf." Even though everyone was in the level 80 range back then, they fell into a state of annihilation in one minute and were turned into stains on the ground. Her sister was chewed up just like Animalia earlier.

And the fourth time is right in front of her now. And at this timing, being with him.

(What should I do...)

To be frank, Psyger-0 is not as obsessed with the monster Lycaon as her sister and other members.

It's not that she doesn't want to defeat him with her own hands. But why now, of all times?

Let's confess honestly. Right now, Psyger-0 even thinks it's okay to lose to Lycaon.

If they lose to Lycaon here, Sunraku will have to conquer this area from the beginning again. And she can extend the time together under the pretext of helping him.

That is something to be welcomed from Psyger-0's perspective, but simultaneously, not something to be welcomed for Sunraku.

Should she dare to slack off? The opponent is a Unique Monster that kicked aside even SF-Zoo. It wouldn't be strange at all for just two people to challenge it and respawn easily.

(...How shallow.)

Thinking that far, Psyger-0 becomes aware of what she was about to do and scolds herself. Slacking off herself and accepting that result. Causing trouble for others for her own convenience.

Can't win against Lycaon, so might as well... Psyger-0 is ashamed of herself that such a heart created hesitation.

Glancing sideways, there is Sunraku wearing a bird mask. He also seems to be troubled about something, but his eyes alone are staring straight at Lycaon without wavering.

She cannot gauge what he is thinking, but there is one thing she understands.

(Surely, Hizutome-kun is not enjoying this moment right now.)

A jewel is in front of him, but he can't make up his mind to grab it. Unnecessary obligations won't let his hand move.

It was all Psyger-0's imagination and intuition, but coincidentally, they were frighteningly correct.

That is why Psyger-0 has only one message for Sunraku.

because she was attracted to the figure walking home happily holding a bag with a game software anytime.

"Sunraku, san............... Let's do it. Not whether we can beat Lycaon or not, but let's enjoy this moment's coincidence, this game, with all our might."

Ah, good, Psyger-0 thinks.

When asked by Sunraku to help with Barren Darkruin, Psyger-0, who soared high enough to almost start dancing, prepared excessively.

That is why, even as Psyger-0 alone, who practically cannot receive support, she can go "All Out."

She won't be a burden to Sunraku, who fought well enough to receive two "Curses (Markings)" against Lycaon.

Seeing the fire dwelling in Sunraku's eyes, the only visible part due to the mask, Psyger-0 also smiled under her helm.

"...............Let's do it. Not whether we can beat Lycaon or not, but let's enjoy this moment's coincidence, this game, with all our might."

Those words held enough impact to shut out all my worries and thoughts until now and crush them.

Did she see through me? Those words hold too much critical power against my conflict, and I stare at Rei-shi with eyes wide in shock.

Rei-shi just quietly stares back. I cannot see the expression under that helm, but it feels as if the real me is being seen through, not the game avatar.

"...F-Fufufufu... Kukuku, hahahahahaha...!"

A smile overflows naturally. Or rather, it overflows so much that laughter comes out on its own, which is a bit troubling.

Ah, that's right. That's right indeed. What was I thinking so complicatedly? Was I led astray by Pencilgon?

Hiding a Unique, keeping it... Truly trivial, truly trivial. I can't criticize Pencilgon's brother (forgot his name), can I?

"Ah, that's right. This moment right now! If now is fun, I don't give a damn about the future!"

Thinking about the future is good, but I won't tolerate the present becoming boring for that sake in a game.

Item gathering tasks are unavoidable asceticism, so I have to compromise... but this is different.

Rei-shi might raise Lycaon's flag? Who cares!

Black Wolf might monopolize Lycaon and fail to defeat it? Consult Pencilgon!

Good, somehow I blew off various things. It's night, but I feel very sunny right now. Rei-shi accompanying me doesn't matter; Akitsu Akane or future me will surely manage somehow. More than that, what I should do now is face the Lycaon in front of me!

"Rei-shi, let's do it. Win or lose, wasting this precious chance is foolish."

".........Yes!"

Prepare yourself, Lycaon. I'll show you the power of Level 99 Extend, which is a cut or two above back then.

Author's Afterword
Lycaon: "Ah, finished?"

Since they both evaluate each other too highly, neither would ever imagine that both were thinking "Maybe I should sandbag and lose on purpose."