Chapter 538: An Orchestra For You, Part 18
Author's Preface
Smoke coming out of a Mac charger is just way too funny (Panic) (Not a laughing matter) (No way to charge it!) (Is the data still there?)
It is human nature to want to use a newly acquired tool right away, and since it was also the fastest way to figure out the optimal solution for my current state, I changed my route yet again and returned to the Doll Base where Orchestra lurked, but...
"What the heck is this?"
A blackboard? Why is something like this...
"Hello there."
"The Fake Little Girl?"
"They say people reveal fragments of their true feelings in their split-second reactions... but that's just overly blunt."
Even if heaven and earth flipped upside down, there's no way a little girl with a voice that deep exists. In a corner of the Doll Base, the headquarters of the Conquista Dolls... Yes, a space that could only be described as a "classroom" had been completely set up.
There, players who possessed magnificent weapons yet somehow couldn't shake the impression of being totally out of place were... how should I put it, getting riled up in an intellectual sort of way.
"Six types of reproductions have been confirmed so far. Does that mean it's a random selection after all?"
"No, it's likely not completely random. If it were, it wouldn't be strange for more Area Bosses from the old continent to appear."
"It's weird that the Labyrithauros shows up but the Usurper Dragon doesn't, though. In terms of strength, the Usurper Dragon is definitely the tougher foe, right?"
"It doesn't seem to be purely based on strength order either... There must be some secret to Orchestra's 'Songs'."
"...They aren't chosen just for being strong. Hey, when Mirei defeated the Usurper Dragon for the first time, wasn't it after the testing phase was already over? I'm pretty sure she just beat it down with a full party because doing it properly was a hassle."
"I see, so it has to be a monster she struggled against! That explains it. A fierce battle worthy of Orchestra making it the subject of a song must be the condition!!"
"We need to verify that. How about having Mirei-chan fight 'Scar-red'?"
"Will a battle that ends in defeat also be reflected? Rather than wasting time on an opponent we understand how to beat even less than Lycaon—even if it's currently a non-Unique Monster—we should just increase our total number of attempts."
"For starters, if that thing gets added to the reproduction pool, Mirei-chan is going to cry."
"More importantly, increasing the number of 'Invitation' holders is an urgent priority. Now that the Leviathan has been unlocked, there have to be more players capable of challenging Orchestra, right?"
"Don't be stupid. The contract conditions for the Conquista Dolls are basically half-based on 'vibes', remember? Even the verification team from the gal game community is struggling. Mirei was the only one who managed to form a contract purely by coincidence."
"So, where is this Remy-san who contracted with Mirei-san?"
"She said she was going to destroy a beverage defined as a luxury good."
"............A tea break?"
"She just rephrased 'going to slack off' to sound cooler because of her character settings."
"English-speaking servers really are something else..."
I had faintly realized it from the presence of the Fake Little Girl, also known as The Professor, but the people gathered there, getting fired up over theories and discussions, were the members of 【Library】.
"You've already caught up?"
"Well, you see, one of our members actually managed to form a contract with a Conquista Doll as well."
......Tch. In other words, the moment I leaked the information to Library, it was already a done deal. But as expected, it was still impossible for them to arrive ahead of me with my acceleration from the Levin Trigger: Hazard.
"...And? Judging by the state of things here, the strategy is hitting a wall?"
"Goodness, no. It certainly makes sense why even you are struggling, but... well, our goal isn't simply to win, you see. Naturally, the discussions tend to get quite heated... We would absolutely love to hear your opinions on the matter as well, if you don't mind?"
.........What should I do? It's not like I want to monopolize Orchestra so badly that I'd annihilate 【Library】 right here and now to do it.
Besides, Orchestra's scenario structure is extremely simple. Given that, maybe collaborating with them wouldn't be a bad idea?
"Alright, got it. I'll cooperate with you guys a bit too."
"Splendid... Everyone! A highly valuable informant has arrived!"
Zowa. A shiver ran down my spine as their gazes snapped toward me all at once. It reminded me of Orchestra... I felt this exact same kind of intense staring midway through that fight too.
But I feel like if I let them take the initiative here, things will go horribly wrong. I need to assert dominance by disclosing information all at once!
"Ah......... I've confirmed the appearance of Ctarrnid, Siegwurm, and the Raid Monster, the Devouring Great Crimson Clad. Orchestra's Movements are reproductions of formidable foes the player has fought, and the strategy to beat them is reproducing the actions taken during those fights."
But I had miscalculated. What happens when you throw food into a pond swarming with carp...? I hear people who are bad with zombie movies are also bad with swarms of carp. Looks like I'm about to join their ranks.
"Unique Monsters are included too!?"
"Siegwurm... Seriously, Siegwurm!?"
"I knew it! You were the one who took down the Raid Monster, weren't you!"
"Details on that transformation item, please!"
"Right now it's about Orchestra! So, how many times have you tried it?"
"A reproduction of Siegwurm... Not a defeat?"
"That's exactly what I've been saying! Orchestra operates more on a bard-like logic than a pure game logic!"
"If that's true, does that mean even battles that ended in defeat have the potential to be reproduced?"
"Then what if you no longer possess the weapon you used to defeat Monster A? If a fierce battle is the only requirement, even early-game trash bosses might show up. There have to be cases where you don't have the same skills you did back then either!"
"No, wait, wait. Orchestra and the Raid Monsters are important, but he's the player who first emerged from the Leviathan at the frontline base, you know? No matter how you look at it, he has to be involved in its appearance too!"
"That's right! We interrogated that navigator named 'Isana' and she said a special beacon was required!!"
"I won't ask you to give it to us, but I absolutely want to know where you got it!"
"No, the Raid Monsters take priority! We are entirely too ignorant about the Raid Monsters on the New Continent!!"
"No, no, hold on. We should be asking about Unique Monsters. No matter how you look at it, he's grasped information on the Seventh!!"
"I don't really care either way, but that Medjed-sama rumor going around for a while was definitely you, right?"
"I'm mainly focused on the ocean branch of Library, but I reeeaaally want to know about the Emperor of the Deep Sea that Araba-sama mentioned!"
"Nooo! Tell us about that magic sword that looks like a spear of flames!!"
"I'm mainly investigating Legacy Weapons! Please, just one word!!"
"Ah, I'm curious about that too!!"
"You have a connection to the Ancient Craftsman, don't you!?"
"Raid───"
"Unique───"
"Weapons───"
Alright, let's run.
Following a conclusion that settled into my chest with surprising ease, my right thumb—which had become so trained I could subconsciously and accurately aim for the precise strike point needed to trigger the activation switch on my left chest—moved to...
Grab.
"Please wait a moment. The Professor's 'class' is about to begin."
"You're..."
However, a person grabbed my right arm as I moved to escape, pinning it down... I'm pretty sure it was a player named Seto, who told me this.
"To those outside the clan, it might look bizarre, but this is just normal operations for us."
"It's a literal Gu ritual pot..."
"Hehe, and precisely because of that, the only one capable of handling such heavily condensed theories is him."
Smack. A dry sound echoed with unnatural clarity. The little girl, who looked like she belonged on a Sunday morning cartoon, opened her mouth... displaying a smile brimming with years of experience and intellect, an expression no little girl should ever make.
"Quiet down, quiet down, students. Your words are essentially my words as well, but... seeing as we are right on Orchestra's doorstep, let us begin our strategy meeting... including the girl who just returned."
"Man, I lost, I completely lost. But making it to the Final Movement... Wait, Mr. Drag Car?"
"You're callin' me someone who can't stop or turn? You pickin' a fight... Wait, ah."
This person... I'm pretty sure she was in Thirdrema...!!
Author's Afterword
This is what people call "reaping what you sow."
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