Chapter 256: Gather, Defenders. From Beyond Approaches the Serpent of Vengeance

Psyger-0: Um, good evening.

Psyger-0: The other day was very fun.

Psyger-0: Um.

Psyger-0: Well.

Sunraku: Ah, sorry, I looked away for a second.

Psyger-0: Fyaaha.

Sunraku: Fyaaha?

Psyger-0: No, it's nothing!

Psyger-0: I'm super cash Death!

Sunraku: ...Super energetic? [*1]

Psyger-0: Yyes...

Sunraku: Well whatever. Thanks for yesterday.

Psyger-0: N-No, not at all!

Psyger-0: Um, well, I should be the one saying thank you for taking care of me.

Psyger-0: To think you'd buy out my contract... Buy out my contract?

Psyger-0: Miua!?

Sunraku: Stay, stay. Calm down.

Sunraku: Deep breaths for now. Deep breaths.

Sunraku: I managed to gather quite a few items myself, so I appreciate it.

Psyger-0: Regarding that... the talk about the representative battle with Black Wolf.

Psyger-0: I have graciously received the matter in question.

Sunraku: Okay, I'll be counting on you on the day of the battle then.

Psyger-0: Hyai!

"Is she using voice recognition or something?"

After confirming that her bizarre shrieks were being directly transcribed into text, I tossed my mobile device onto the bed. Or rather, that was the first time someone had ever used the word "graciously received" toward me in everyday life...

".........Kukuku."

Glancing at the VR Kendo Classroom: Extreme package displayed on my shelf, a completely disgusting smile leaked onto my face.
Ah, that's right. That shelf is strictly reserved for cleared games. I finally managed to defeat that demonic AI!!

"...Well, it didn't really feel like I won fair and square, though."

It was a cheap trick utilizing the game system's mechanics, so it's hard to say I won through sheer skill... But in the end, it's all about the score. The trophy recorded in the VR system for defeating the AI Hanshi: Extreme serves as undeniable proof of my monumental achievement.

"Now then... Let's do this!"

When I ran into a ranker from the Restoration faction in Bakumatsu, I was genuinely prepared to lose all my items, but the Roleplay is going swimmingly. I managed to hear some very useful stories from the ranker I befriended after we fought to the death, and I replenished my supply of high-quality Kusogenium...

"Hydration starts now, bathroom check is clear, real-life chores are finished!"

Several days have passed since then, and today is the day of the Rabituza Defense Battle. There's nothing left unfinished in my backlog of games, so now I can go beat the crap out of Goldunine's clone without any reservations.

"Now then..."

I've deemed this a Class 2 All-Nighter Incident. Permission to use Riot Blood is granted...! The one I'm using this time is Tonight, a legal liquid that completely sets itself apart when it comes to long-lasting highs.

"Aaaaaah... It's kicking in..."

Alright, preparations complete! I don't care if it's a snake's shed skin or whatever, I'm gonna stuff it in a bottle and make some Mamushi liquor out of it!

............

.........

......

"Uoh."

Before heading to the meeting spot, I stopped by Bilac's workshop, where I inadvertently let out a voice upon spotting a squirming black furball. Then, rabbit ears sprouted from the furball... Yeah, it was just Bilac curled up into a ball.

"Oooh... It's just ya..."

"What's wrong? Stomachache? Did your tummy get the pain-pains?"

"What an infuriating way to put it... I'm just simply exhausted... yer participating too, ain't ya...? I was finishin' up a weapon just fer that..."

"I see."

This defense battle isn't called a defense battle for nothing; I won't be fighting alone. I'll be cooperating with the NPCs of Rabituza... the Defenders among the Vorpal Bunnies, to push the frontline forward.
My role is a single arrow aiming straight for the heart of the enemy stronghold, a decapitating blade closing in on the enemy general's head. Or, to put it bluntly, a suicide bullet.

"Here, I fixed up the thing ya busted."

"Oh, as expected of a master craftsman."

As I stored the Gilta Brille—which had regained its power to fight—into my inventory, Bilac curled back up into a stiff, bristly black furball.

"I'm sleepin'... Better win, alright..."

"Leave it to me. I'm a great master swordsman right now."

"Talk in yer sleep after ya fall asleep... Guu."

You're the one sleeping... Well, whatever. But it's not sleep-talking, you know? Just like an enhancement event in a game, my Pseudo-Imitation has advanced to the next stage.
Hah, let's see if the Ryuguin Style is effective against monsters too.

"Now then... Once again, time to go."

Leaving Bilac's workshop, my destination was Aydward's office... Wait, no, it was the Underground of Rabituza. The tunnel that Goldunine supposedly tore open.
While sprinting at full speed to escape from Emul, who had noticed me and was rushing over, I headed toward the meeting spot.

......

...

"It's huge..."

What the hell is this? When they said "tunnel," I imagined something like a mountain tunnel meant for cars, but this is wide enough for ten cars to drive side-by-side with room to spare!
This massive width and height... And this leads straight to Goldunine? With this much space, is a horde massive enough to keep the Vorpal Bunnies' hands completely tied with defense really going to come pouring through?

"This is... going to get really bad if I don't get a little serious."

"I'd appreciate it if you refrained from cutting corners."

It's an event tied directly to my playstyle, after all. I won't cut corners.
But right now, the biggest problem is...

"Zeh... Why... zeh... are you running away desu wa... zehh."

"Why, you ask... well..."

"Emul, you shouldn't have been granted permission to participate, right?"

The one who answered Emul's question of why I didn't take her with me wasn't me, but Aydward. Struck by his sharp words, Emul's body trembled.

"Emul, I believe I explained this to you. In a battle against Goldunine, even if it's only a clone, even survival itself must be considered secondary... Putting aside myself, Bi, and the older siblings up to Ee who can barely manage it, you cannot withstand Goldunine's poison."

"But, but...!"

"There are no buts. The soldiers fighting here are holding their ground as a suicide squad purely to protect you all... As the one entrusted with this country, I cannot permit anything that would trample upon their resolve."

An absolute declaration. Were those the words of an older brother born of the same father, or the words of a King entrusted with the country by his great father?
Unable to argue against those uncompromising words, Emul turned her gaze toward me instead of Aydward.

"Sunraku-san!"

"Nn~... For this at least, you really should listen to Aydward, Emul."

"Eu..."

"That being said, Aydward, there are two mistakes in what you just said."

At those words, not only Emul but Aydward as well looked at me suspiciously. Fufu, if I wasn't wearing the Gazing Bird Mask, I might have averted my eyes out of sheer embarrassment. But right now, my eye power is boosted by 20%. The glare of an intellectual Yakuza rabbit means nothing to me!

"You said survival is secondary, right? Correct that. Today, right now, I'll clear away the Poison binding those guys. Give them some paid time off, will ya?"

"And the other mistake?"

Hmph... Caring for your sister is all well and good, but you're severely underestimating Emul. She's stuck with me through my reckless bullshit, fought Lycaon, and fought Ctarrnid.

"Emul isn't so weak that she'd render the dedication of the Defenders meaningless. At least let her provide rear support."

Our gazes crossed in silence. As expected of an intellectual Yakuza, his narrowed, increasingly sharp eyes harbored a dangerous light reminiscent of his father.
But right now, fueled by the glory of victory, caffeine, and the salmon meunière I had for dinner, I possess more than enough vitality to boldly receive his threatening glare.
Oh? You wanna go, punk? If you make me serious, I'll... um, I'll do that.

"...Haa, very well. However, following him is forbidden. Rear support only... Understood?"

"Y-Yes sir..."

"Make sure you secure our escape route just in case, alright Emul?"

"Y-Yes sir! I'll go prepare desu wa!"

As we watched Emul run off, Aydward looked up at me with a half-lidded stare entirely different from his earlier glare.

"You seem quite adept at handling younger sisters."

"Same as you. I'm an Older Brother too."

Well, my younger sister gives off the gutsy vibe that she could perfectly survive on her own even if I completely ignored her, though.

"I see... Then right this way. We shall begin the strategy meeting."

"Nice. I don't dislike briefings."

Entering a fairly sturdy hut built in a corner of the massive tunnel, I found several Vorpal Bunnies gathered around a desk.
There was one common trait shared among all the rabbits staring intently at Aydward and me as we entered.

"Is this that Goldunine's poison you mentioned?"

"Yes. A serpent's venom that infects others and erodes the body... It's a poison so potent that even Vysache's Direct Line cannot emerge unscathed if they take a direct hit."

And then, Aydward looked me straight in the eye.

"This is the final confirmation. As the commander, I cannot permit you to back down once you proceed past this point... Are you prepared?"

".........Hah. The adventures I've been on aren't so lukewarm that I'd cower in fear over a mere reptile."

A window appeared. It wasn't the prerequisite for a Unique Scenario EX, but a Unique Scenario branching off directly from another Unique Scenario.

『Do you wish to begin the Unique Scenario "Rabituza Defensive"?』
『Yes / No』

Without a shred of hesitation, my hand moved.

Author's Afterword
Calm down, Usurper Dragon. I merely postponed the heroine-chan's screen time, so you don't need to Usurp anything.
But to be perfectly honest, I felt like I wouldn't be able to fully depict Kendo properly for the decisive battle against the AI Hanshi: Extreme, so I guess you can Usurp that.

Although their processes differed, there were three people who received the invitation to the Defense Battle.

Translator's Notes

• *[1] Cash/Energetic: Saiga-0 makes a typo, typing "I'm super cash" (Genkin/現金) instead of "I'm super energetic" (Genki/元気).