Chapter 131: Epilogue - Once-in-a-Lifetime Encounters, Again and Again

"However, The Fool, this is a jackpot of jackpots... I can just recover in the safe zone anyway."

"It suits you perfectly, Sunraku-san desu wa!"

"Does that mean 'You are an Idiot (Fool)'? Hmm?"

"Honestly, you have to be an idiot to challenge Lycaon half-naked desu wa."

"Hey, stop spouting valid arguments; it makes me look like an idiot."

"............"

"Stop looking at me like 'Ah, his head really did go crazy...' too! It's Lycaon's fault in the first place!!"

Emul and Sunraku ran down the back alley making a racket. Having finished the "Arcanum" event that occurs upon reaching Level 99, Arcanum, who bestowed the Arcanum of The Fool, had already disappeared. According to Library's investigations, it is thought that this Old Man (NPC), who has existed since the dawn of this kingdom, determines the Arcanum based on the player's playstyle up to that point. And the Arcanum of The Fool is one where the conditions are somewhat known.

(If I recall, the shorter the time it took to reach Level 99, the easier it is to acquire The Fool...)

For example, it's said that "Wheel of Fortune" is related to how many rare drops were acquired before reaching Level 99, and "Emperor" or "Empress" tend to be acquired by players who have given instructions to many players as Clan Leaders.

There are many Arcanums whose acquisition conditions are not clear, like the "World" and "Judgment" possessed by Psyger-0 herself, but since one corresponding to the Major Arcana is guaranteed upon reaching Level 99, speculations are actively being made among players.

Returning to the topic, Sunraku hasn't even been playing Shangri-La Frontier for a month. And wondering where he power-leveled, when Psyger-0 reunited with him yesterday, he had already stepped into the "Extend" realm only reached by those who defeat monsters over Level 100. The fact that he reached a realm impossible without the support of multiple Level 99 players almost single-handedly brought Psyger-0 astonishment and understanding.

(Considering he cleared so many difficult games, it makes sense.)

The numerous games she bought in the past as conversation starters with Rakuro Hizutome (Sunraku) were all things that made even Psyger-0, who reached the top class in ShanFro, give up on clearing. In that case, it is not strange for him to reach that height faster in a game where even she could become Level 99.

Before she knew it, Sunraku and Emul had suddenly disappeared from the back alley, and Psyger-0 exhaled the tension that had been taut since last night along with a sigh. Although she had experienced all-nighters many times, this one was an incredibly dense night. The fact that they defeated Lycaon the Night Raider exists as solid proof in the form of the special state "Lamp of Guidance" displayed in Psyger-0's status column. It means they defeated the opponent her sister had chased for about a year in just one night, and on the first try at that. What should she tell her sister? Psyger-0... or rather, Rei, racked her brain. Honestly, when Lycaon is involved, her sister becomes troublesome.

(Sister forcefully stayed here saying, "Since it's related to a Unique, I want to investigate it myself"...)

Originally supposed to pioneer the New Continent led by Saiga-100, her sister forcefully stayed here due to the sudden appearance of the clan "Wolfgang" raising the banner of subjugating "Tombguard Wethermon." If she were to say "I defeated Lycaon with Sunraku-san" here, what would happen...? There's probably a 60% chance she would say "Then I ask you to do it again! Including me this time!" and start a journey to capture him and search for Lycaon.

Rei knows that despite being family, her sister is a forceful person in both good and bad ways. It's a charisma that leads many people, and she pushes people around enough that she has no right to complain about Arthur Pencilgon, the "incarnation of trouble" she always complains about.

(...Maybe I can tell her in about a week?)

Burnout syndrome from fatigue and fulfillment combined, Psyger-0 involuntarily thinks that. Sunraku said he would repair consumed items and weapons before the meeting, and she is the same. As a result of ending up fighting Lycaon, the excessive preparations were fully useful, but it's also a fact that it hit her wallet hard. Money isn't a problem, but the effort to acquire them is unavoidable.

(Shall I log out once and have them brew some Gyokuro tea...)

Sunraku, who continued to face Lycaon without taking damage, and Psyger-0, who continued to time attacks to ensure they hit. Beyond the avatar's exhaustion, her own fatigue cannot be overlooked. Stepping toward the base of Clan "Black Wolf," Psyger-0 smiles again, recalling the dream-like moments from last night until now.

When they first met, she was just one of the many. Before she knew it, she was attracted to the figure of him returning happily no matter the day. She had dabbled in what he was passionate about and faced setbacks not a few times; having crops just about to be harvested trampled by giant creatures repeatedly certainly breaks one's heart. Still, she wanted to know what he enjoyed, wanted to know him, and sometimes receiving advice from a collaborator, she is here now.

The fact that she is included in what he is enjoying with a smile. The fact that she could do something fun with him. All of these become shining memories carved into the data of Psyger-0, into the memories of the person Rei Saiga... and it makes her helplessly happy.

"Ehehehe..."

Like a knight of giant stature whose rusted armor from eternal time started moving, turning even a kind of incongruity into intimidation. The NPC sailor who heard the completely un-intimidating, fully relaxed smile leaking from the gaps of the helm stared at Psyger-0 with astonished eyes as if looking at a snake standing upright, but she didn't notice. Looking like she might skip and dance, Psyger-0 suddenly remembered the other person in this place. The person in question... Akitsu Akane, had been cheering while looking at the cityscape of Fifticia, only half-listening to Sunraku's farewell greeting, but her thoughts finally seemed to return to the current situation.

"Ah, Sunraku-san went to Rabituza, right... Then let's go to Rabituza too, Ceecrue-san!"

The cloak the fox-masked ninja girl wears on her back flutters as if wanting to say "That's why cloaks don't speak-de gozaruuuu!!", but the cause of the Danger Signal (Alert) Psyger-0's hearing sent to her brain wasn't that. What did she just say? Sunraku went to Rabituza—not that part. She's going back to Rabituza too............?

"W-What did you just... !?"

"Heh?"

Psyger-0 involuntarily stops Akitsu Akane. At the goofy voice that made it seem like she could see a blank expression even through the mask, Psyger-0 made up her mind and asked──────

"Daaah! Dammit!"

Bang! The desk, designed more for practicality than appearance, is struck with a clenched fist. Without trying to hide his irritation, He exhaled a very long breath, dropped his shoulders, and collapsed onto the bed.

"Julie has family matters, Ken is in mourning... Damn, we're short on members...!!"

Taking out his mobile terminal, entering the password, and opening his email, there are numerous emails with words of refusal for his invitation for various reasons.

"At this rate... Kuh, I can't rely on other teams either............"

Amidst the continuing refusal emails, one email from a past date is opened. It contained text clearly forcibly changed to Japanese by a translation tool.

[I am looking forward to our rematch. In the next GGC, my "Meteor" will overcome your "Lava" once again.]

".........At this rate, it'll end in a pathetic default loss... Somehow, somehow I need members..."

Then he remembers. The "Matching" he had thought about jokingly sometime in the past. The Strongest Hero he would fight in the upcoming festival, and the figures of friends who seemed able to cross swords with the strong enemies supporting her.

There are no options left. Originally, because it was a personal grudge between him and her, most of his teammates didn't have schedule openings on that day. The teammates he relied on canceled due to sudden errands, and what he, cornered, needed was to fill "Two Remaining Slots."

"Ah geez, I'm scared of the aftermath..."

Verbally, he laments how much he'll be extorted for the huge "Debt" created by this email, but around his mouth, thinking of the If that faint hope comes true, a smile formed unconsciously.

Subject: An earnest request
From: ModoruKatzo
To: Sunraku, Pencil Warrior
Body: I'll cover travel, participation fees, and everything, so won't you two come play at the Global Game Competition?

"The reality is amazing after all..."

"And there are robots. I acknowledge it as an unquestionable God Game."

At a certain inn in Fifticia, two Pioneers check out for the first time in half a year since checking in.

One is a petite girl with brown skin, silver hair, and a sleepy expression carrying a strange bow without a string on her back, showing irrepressible expectation. The other is a tall, sturdy man with numerous scars all over his body... yet clearly wearing a magic class robe with a book hanging from his waist by a leather strap. Discussing with voices retaining youthfulness, they watch the morning sun rise in the port town that has become noisy due to the increased logins of players in addition to NPCs.

"...Going to the meeting place."

"Yeah."

While NPCs and players alike run busily toward the port, the two head with leisurely steps toward a dense area of buildings clearly designed with bad public order, where the atmospheric darkness seems to physically block the sunlight. As if the dim parts of the lively port town had been swept into the corner along with the buildings, the wreckage of a giant ship sits covering the entire area; the corpse of the ship, leaving only half its body split in two, blocks the light of the sunrise.

Commonly known as "Ruffian Street," a literal dump for ruffians born in the port town the kingdom developed hastily. The Unique Scenario ordered by a certain pirate found at the end of a chain of events starting by winning a fight against a specific NPC there is what the two presented as negotiation material to a certain person.

"Even so, how do we recognize Sunraku-san?"

"...Said we'll know when we see him."

Visually distinct—does that mean joke equipment or something? While thinking that, the young man... "Mold" suddenly turned around and saw...

There, he saw a half-naked Bird Head walking toward them with staggering, ghost-like steps.

"GOOOOD MOOORNING......"

"Hiee."

Author's Afterword
I apologize for the schedule management falling apart near the end. For now, Chapter 2 concludes here, and I'll take a break for about a week.
Also, I've been thinking for a while about making a separate work to dump ShanFro's setting materials and spin-offs not told in the main story. In that case, there's a possibility I might move the character settings posted in the main story, so if the chapter count decreases, please guess that's what happened.

Gotta build up a stockpile...