落とし穴外伝：ちゃんと把握してないといけないこと (Part1)
Pitfall Side Story: Things You Need to Properly Grasp
Things You Need to Properly Grasp
Side: Yuki
"I’m gonna chew you up, human."
A demon says such ridiculous things while attempting to join my party. Under normal circumstances, one would retort with a sharp, "What are you even talking about?" but...
"Oh, brings back memories. Did a new one come out?"
"Yeah. By the way, Taiki, aren't you playing it?"
"Come on, that series is a bit of a niche, isn't it?"
"I suppose. It’s the kind of thing that divides opinion."
The game I’m currently playing just released a new entry—the latest in the *Shin Megami Tensei* numbering series. The content is fairly deep, so it might be a bit much to recommend to someone with a fragile constitution. The protagonist’s choices heavily influence the ending, and there isn't even a "happy ending" where everyone is saved. It’s a game that forces you to accept the consequences of the path you’ve chosen for yourself—a philosophy of "the world continues on, regardless."
"So, why are you just staring at the screen without moving?"
"Ah, well, this line of dialogue is a staple of the series."
"I mean, this is basically the pioneer of monster capturing and fusion mechanics, right?"
"Exactly. You know quite a bit about this, don't you?"
"I played it a little bit when I was younger."
"Ah, that explains it."
Still, it’s quite idiosyncratic, so it’s a tough sell as a standard RPG. It’s prone to sudden game-overs, and the difficulty level is high. It carries the balance of a "good old-fashioned RPG."
"Right then, time to continue..."
Just as I reached for the button, the door opened and Labyris and the others filed in.
"Oh, were you in the middle of a game?"
"No, it’s fine. What’s up?"
"Nothing in particular. We didn't come for any specific reason. Just here to relax, as usual."
"I’m here too!"
"We’ve arrived."
"Pardon the intrusion."
"That’s right. Be healed by your husband, and be healed by us."
"Brother, Taiki-sama, would you like some tea?"
"Big Brother, what game are you playing?"
The room’s population density just spiked. It’s a spacious room, so we aren't exactly cramped, but the noise level certainly jumped. Labyris settled onto my lap as she always does, and Aslin and the others started up a game of *Mario Party* on the large-screen television.
"Oh, maybe I should join in."
"Yeah, Taiki-nii, let’s play together!"
"What about you, Brother?"
"I suppose. I’m not in any rush to finish this game, and I’ve grown quite used to this demon anyway."
"A demon? What are you doing?"
Labyris, perhaps intrigued by the word "demon," peered at the screen I was playing.
"Oh, is that just a normal dog? No, a wolf?"
"It’s Cerberus, technically."
In the *Megami Tensei* series, it’s a demon that could be called a partner.
"Wait, Cerberus is a demon?"
"Ah, well, in this game, all the monsters are classified as demons."
"I see, is that so?"
"Come to think of it, and it’s a bit late to ask, but Labyris, you’re a succubus, right?"
"That’s right. A unique race that absorbs magical power."
Yes, Labyris is a succubus—a demon famous on Earth for draining a man’s essence until he’s withered away. Here, she’s called a succubus because of her ability to absorb magical energy. In a sense, the nature of our existences is similar.
Wait. Something just clicked.
"Sorry, I need to talk to Labyris and Shera for a moment. You guys go ahead with the game."
"Okay!"
"What is it?"
"What’s the matter?"
Shera placed the tea in front of me and sat on the opposite sofa. Labyris, needless to say, remained on my lap.
"I was just talking to Labyris about monsters, and the word 'demon' came up."
"Yes, it did."
"What about it?"
"What exactly are the monsters classified as 'demons' in this world?"
"Eh?"
"Huh? 'Demons'?"
It was such a sudden question that they seemed a bit caught off guard. Let me try to organize my thoughts.
"Let’s see. How do we categorize them as 'demons'? For instance, slimes and ghosts are treated as magical creatures that possess magical power, right?"
"Ah, I see what you mean. They aren't exactly beast-type monsters, are they..."
"Wait a moment. But isn't a Minotaur considered a demon? Mino-chan is, too."
"That’s true."
The Minotaur race, including Mino-chan, is called a demon on Earth as well. So, what makes a demon a demon?
"Is it because they resemble humans?"
"That... might be it. I think so too. Oh, come to think of it, goblins are a type of demi-human, so would they be demons too?"
"Ah, I believe on Earth, goblins are sometimes called a subspecies of fairy. That’s another type of demon. And what further piqued my interest was you, Labyris."
"Me?"
"Yes. Your race, the succubus, is recognized as a demon on Earth."
"Oh, is that so? Now that you mention it, I’ve seen that in stories."
"We have, haven't we? What about it?"
"Well, there are demons that are monsters, and then there are demons like you, Labyris, who live hand-in-hand with humans. I was wondering if there are other races like that."
"Ah, I see... We did talk about 'races' before, didn't we?"
"Yes, we did."
Exactly. That was the topic I wanted to explore. This world isn't just about skin color or religion like on Earth; there are many "races" that are fundamentally different from one another. Moreover, cultures and rules naturally differ between these races. I don't want to accidentally step on a landmine and cause a problem because of my own ignorance.
"Recently, with the gates leading to further globalization, it feels like we’re going to start seeing more captures of rare races."