Chapter 494: Forbidden Release

 Author's Preface

The Habakiri Godspeed Variant is being implemented, seriously? Or rather, um, the Biting Edge... no buffs...? You're joking, right? At least a stamina consumption reduction for Naginata mode... ah, nothing? [*1]

An update of sorrow.

X-Day itself. The sky was completely clear, and a chilling wind blew.

"Guess it's about time to seriously prep for the cold..."

If I went without permission, I might end up finding my VR system listed on an online auction by the time I got home. But since it's a bit hard to casually say, "I'm gonna go be on TV!", I decided to use the excuse that I was going out to meet a friend I met online.
Riding a maglev train that felt somewhat familiar, I used my mobile device to look up information on Amelia Sullivan, who would likely be my opponent... Not! Actually, I was browsing a video site I'd bookmarked a while ago.

"Ah, so that's how it moves..."

While keeping my eyes and ears focused on the video, a certain percentage of my thoughts was still dedicated to Amelia Sullivan.

Amelia Sullivan.
The US #2 Pro Gamer known by the dangerous moniker "Raptor of Dinoscull." Word on the street is that before even considering her as a woman, she's a fairly "big scale" person overall, but that doesn't matter. As a gamer, despite her preference for heavyweight characters, she's surprisingly technical.

Thanks to preconceptions and tropes in fiction, heavyweight characters are generally considered "slow but high-damage." And characters with those specs often have a rough personality or battle style to match. But when it comes to fighting games, because you frequently face opponents with superior speed, using them actually demands a much cooler head.

Amelia Sullivan is someone who has pushed that kind of technical player skill to the absolute limit. At the very least, judging from the reference video of her match against Sylvia, I definitely couldn't stall out an even-faster Round 3 Sylvia Goldberg for a significant amount of time using a heavyweight character.

Some time ago, I categorized myself and Katzo by whether we create the rhythm or possess the rhythm... but Amelia Sullivan doesn't fall into either category. She's the type who adapts to the enemy's rhythm and then breaks it. No, to be more precise—

"Either way, it feels pretty presumptuous for an amateur to even be thinking about winning or losing."

What's driving me right now isn't winning or losing, you see.
That's exactly why I made that "proposal" to Katzo, and why I've been doing some crammed, half-baked practice for this "little game," even if I did start a few days ago.

I'm currently maintaining a pretty good level of tension—like I'm just slightly warming up the engine.
Since I've also got a hidden trump card, the only things left for me to do right now are... maybe read some American comics, or watch videos to kill time.

◆ 

I got in about eight times smoother than I thought I would.
I was a bit worried I'd get stopped by a security guard or something... but it seems human manpower has been entirely replaced by machines, so all the various procedures to get inside the TV station were processed completely mechanically.
The loss of human warmth and the widespread adoption of cold machines really leaves you feeling a tinge of loneliness... Ahhh, the heating is so nice and warm. Map apps that navigate you through unfamiliar places are super handy〜...

Now then, this is no time to be dawdling. The restroom is... this way, huh. Better get this over with quickly.

...

…………

………………

Clack, the door to the bathroom stall opened.
A man who had just walked into the men's room looked at my face and widened his eyes in shock, but you're only second-rate if you make a clumsy reaction here.

"Ah, hello."

"Eh? Huh? Ah, yeah... hello?"

Exactly, panicking is what increases the suspicious person vibe. Since my entry was authorized by a machine, I just need to act completely dignified.
Assuming my memory wasn't completely out of focus, I casually greeted a fairly famous actor whose exposure on variety shows had been increasing recently as if it were the most normal thing in the world, and stepped out of the restroom...

"The waiting room is... this way, huh."

What is this? Why am I walking through such an out-of-place location with a map in one hand? Humans tend to have their thoughts drift into a philosophical realm the moment they start viewing themselves objectively, and it seems I'm no exception to that rule.
Normally, I wouldn't have bothered forcing myself to wake up early; I would've just woken up whenever I felt like it, enjoyed a fancy late brunch, played games, eaten dinner, and played more games... That was supposed to be my peaceful life... So why am I walking through a TV broadcasting station—the very source of public airwaves—dressed like a cosplayer right now...? The stares from what appears to be a comedy duo who placed well in some tournament are really starting to physically hurt.

"...Here it is."

I hate this... "No Face-sama's Waiting Room"... I don't want to go in... I don't want to leave behind the fact that I entered this room in this world's history... Screw it, Namu-san!!

"...Well, it's not like I'm actually gonna get swarmed by paparazzi the second I open the door or anything, but still."

It wasn't as luxurious as the hotel I stayed at during the GGC, of course, but it looked exactly like the TV station waiting rooms you sometimes see on variety shows.
If there was one abnormality, it would be the mini-fridge sitting smack dab in the middle of the room.

"..."

Clack.

O-Ooh... They've got every flavor of Riot Blood in here... Man, in that case, I didn't even need to bring any with me.

"Hm?"

Is there a card stuck between the cans?

"To No Face-sama, from the Gatling Drum Japan Branch.......N-No, well, it is TV, after all. Yeah."

Something in the back of my mind was screaming, but close your eyes and shut your mouth, my common sense! I don't want to fall so far down the rabbit hole that I become the kind of heavy user who makes instant miso soup using Riot Blood!! This is just a sponsor thing! It has to be!! My belief will become my strength!

"Besides, I wouldn't even drink all this..."

It's common knowledge among Riot Blood users that consuming three or more cans a day leads to "Legal Degeneration." Of course, it's completely legal, so it's not like you're breaking the law or anything... but, no, wait, hmm, the US #2... Should I do it? The dark consumption method that grants immense power by consuming a legal beverage in a legal—yet highly exploitative—manner.

"Accel"—A method where, for some reason, mixing Riot Blood with a sports drink instantly jumpstarts the caffeine circulation.

"Resist"—A method where, for some reason, mixing Riot Blood with alcohol nullifies the "Dead Drunk" status condition.

"Taboo"—A method where, for some reason, drinking exactly one can's worth of a mixture of three different Riot Blood flavors strips away all your vocabulary except for the word "crazy," but in exchange, it gets you high on a truly abnormal level.

And the fourth drinking method standing alongside those three... "Joint." Known as the Four Heavenly Kings of Dark Consumption, these methods are considered incredibly dangerous, yet no matter how you spin it, they're perfectly legal... which is exactly why it truly tests a user's morals.

"Oh, great pioneers of Riot Blood users... You heroic spirits who have plunged into the sea of legality... Grant me the blessing of caffeine...!"

Here goes... Namu-san!!

...

…………

………………

"Ah, No Face-san, it's time for... Whoa!?"

"Ah... Yeah, I know, I know. We're pressed for time, so let's get moving."

Energy drinks are like RTA speedruns... Meticulous time management is absolutely essential for an ideal route chart...

Author's Afterword
・Legal Degeneration
Riot Blood is, naturally, a legal beverage, so strictly speaking, no matter how many cans you drink, you won't be subject to legal restrictions. However, if one dares to consume three or more cans in a single day, there is a high probability they will turn into a hyper-dedicated Riot Blood user.
Or rather, they become so dedicated that they try to substitute their daily drinking water with Riot Blood, or start frantically uploading recipes using Riot Blood to the internet, or even go as far as using mysterious technology to convert Riot Blood into fuel, burning it and vaporizing it to inhale it throughout their entire room...

Such eccentricities deviate far too wildly from common sense, but because they still technically abide by legal boundaries, the saying was born: "The details and facts are kept secret, but if you slam three or more cans of Riot Blood in a day, you suffer Legal Degeneration."

However, it's also a fact that there are those who brace themselves right on the brink of falling into the sea (or swamp) of legality, attempting to draw up the frenzied madness of Riot Blood from its abyss.
Thus, what was born were the so-called "Dark Consumption Methods" of Riot Blood. Among them, the four known as "Accel," "Resist," "Taboo," and "Joint" are considered to be at the level of taking a half-body bath in the sea of legality. Specifically, the techniques "Joint" and "Taboo" come with a troubled history, as their original developers ultimately suffered Legal Degeneration.

• [1] God Eater 3 again