Chapter 678: Death Game Rebellion Online!
◇
You carelessly booted up the mysterious game "Curse of Eternity" installed on your Full-Dive VR system, and have now been trapped in a cursed cyber world.
Logging out is impossible. Death in the game means death in reality. The only condition for returning alive is clearing the game, and furthermore, only ten people will be allowed to return alive.
Now, even the players are your enemies. Take up your sword, to break free from this eternal curse───!!
◆
After that, I parted ways with Rei-san—whose physical movements were slightly bugging out, whether from trembling in anticipation of a new game or just standard operation—and headed home.
As I installed Death Game Rebellion Online on the commercial-use VR unit I had grown quite accustomed to, I continued gathering more detailed information via my mobile terminal.
"Hmm...... Oh ho, they've got quite the veteran lineup here."
An indie game produced by a decent-sized crew with core members including one of the developers who made a blockbuster RPG back when goggle VR games were still alive and kicking, before Full-Dive took over the market...... I see, it's one of *those*. The type where they gather funds through an indie release and then use that momentum to launch a massive company later.
If it fails, it's too painful to watch, but if it succeeds, it gives you a nitro-boosted starting dash. Though, well, if it fails... it just ends up looking kinda pathetic.
"No co-op...... Ah, but it does support voice chat."
I thought it was just going to be a standard progression-type game, but... an online premise, and above all, a design that intentionally permits external collusion...... Could this be.
"Well, I'll just Full-Dive for now."
The prologue isn't a cinematic; it's an action-type where the player actually moves around. It's telling me to Full-Dive inside a space that seems to be my own room. A Full-Dive within a Full-Dive...... what a bizarre feeling.
And wait, isn't this the old Full-Dive system? The early wired-connection type. I see, so they're using "you're using an old Full-Dive unit" as the in-game lore excuse for the clunky gameplay typical of indie games. That's a clever move, making excuses through the lore setting...... Whoever came up with the worldbuilding is, at the very least, competent.
"Hmm, from here on I guess I just follow the flow."
Can't log out, death game has been announced, surrounding players (NPCs) are murmuring, got warped to an individual safe area...... Okay. The pacing here is pretty fast, probably because it's a trial version.
Now then, having arrived at the safety area......... I launched the voice chat app from the connected mobile terminal, selected Rei-san as the target, and...... oh, it connected.
"Ah, aah. Hello?"
『Yes! Hello-hello-hello!』
A 1.5x hello. Somehow feels like a bargain?
Putting that aside, while you can use voice chat in this beta version, meeting up seems like it's going to be a bit of a hassle. Because apparently, the beginning is half-tutorial...... First, you have to clear an area where you don't encounter other players online, and then players are warped to the same location in the next stage.
"Thanks for going out of your way to join me, Rei-san...... Ah, err, is it okay if I call you Rei-shi in this game too?"
『Out of my...... N-No! I was also interested in it, and if we can play together, I'm extremely grateful for it, yes!!』
Oh wow, she's really enthusiastic. I can't help but evaluate games assuming they're trash games, so having an evaluation from a neutral perspective like hers is something Takeda-shi will probably welcome too. I couldn't be more thankful.
"Let's just progress while exchanging information for now."
『R-Right! Umm............』
Now then, I went with a speed build in ShanFro, so maybe I'll try a hardcore tank for once............ huh?
"What is this........."
『Umm, this is......... Don't tell me the players have no combat ability......?』
The parameters displayed when I opened my status. First, I understand "HP". Given that it's themed around a death game, it means the shadow of death constantly looms over the player. It's only natural that Hit Points are set.
Next is "CP"...... Wondering what it was, it turned out to be Curse Points, essentially a cursed version of MP. The naming is different, but it's basically the parameter consumed to use magic-like systems. I can still understand that.
The problem starts here. In the status column where you'd normally expect to see STR or AGI, those categories were nowhere to be found...... Instead, there were stats like "Leadership," "Nurturing Ability," "Management Skill," "Charm," "Intimidation," "Awe," "Terror," "Affection," "Devotion," etc., etc. No matter how you look at it, these are not the stats of someone who fights on the front lines. Leadership? Management? Don't tell me this game...............
"In other words, is this what it is? You hire forces, train them, and lead them...... Is that it?"
『Umm, Sunraku...... -kun. I think this is a tutorial. Someone is asking me to gather medicinal herbs......』
"Ah...... I'm starting to see the picture."
In short, it's about relying entirely on others. No one is going to actively bet their entire life in a death game, which is exactly why you have NPCs conquer it for you......... That's the setup, forcing the player to fight with absolutely zero combat ability.
"To think it's actually an army management game."
『Umm, I don't really have much experience with this type of game, but......』
"Ah............ Well, fundamentally, I think you start by gathering allies. It's not exactly trading up a straw for a mansion, but you hire NPCs, clear quests of higher difficulty using those NPCs...... something like that."
『I see...... So these parameters dictate what method you use to lead the NPCs...... is that it?』
Leadership, Nurturing Ability, Management Skill. These make sense. You lead NPCs, train them...... I'm not entirely sure what Management entails, though.
Next up: Charm, Intimidation, Awe, Terror, Affection, Devotion. These are...... probably what determines "how" the top three are established. Like charisma, or a reign of terror......
"Either way, it seems we're forced to play solo until the next floor. Want to try keeping what kind of army we build a secret from each other?"
『Eh, then... are we cutting the call too?』
"No, it's more like we just keep our formations a secret...... Or do you want to cut it?"
『No! No no no! Let's talk! Yes!!』
"O-Oh?"
Is she seeking real-time information exchange? I guess this means her uncompromising playstyle as a gamer remains exactly the same even outside of ShanFro...... I'm starting to feel bad for inviting her into a game that's basically the defendant in a trash game trial.
Alright then, first I need to find the tutorial NPC Rei-shi mentioned.........
One hour later.
『Umm, Sunraku-kun...... how did things turn out... on your end?』
"Umm........."
"LOYALTY TO OUR GOD!!!"
"""GOD! GOD! GOD!!!"""
"It got a bit passionate. How about you, Rei-shi?"
『Umm......... It's, well, a bit hard to explain with words, I guess.』
I'm starting to see the true nature of this game.
Looking at the Sunraku Army, which had transformed into a cult too embarrassing to show in public, a slight chill ran down my spine as I thought...... "I have to show this to Rei-shi?"
Author's Afterword
There used to be this social game called "Sign of Yuba"...... I won't specify what it was exactly, but... yeah, well, it's that kind of vibe...... [*1]
Translator's Notes
- [1]: "Sign of Yuba" (ユバの徽 - Yuba no Shirushi) was an infamous dark fantasy browser/mobile game published by DMM.com (2016-2018). In the game, players acted as the patriarch of a tribe. To build your army, you had to rescue "Praying Maidens" and essentially breed with them to produce stronger warriors. Furthermore, to appease the dark god of the world, you were required to frequently offer your own characters as human sacrifices. The gameplay forced the player to act like a twisted, fanatical cult leader using highly unethical methods to manage their army.
Comments
Post a Comment