落とし穴外伝：新しい世界へ
Dungeon Pit Side Story: To a New World
To a New World
The world stretches out infinitely.
I knew that.
I was certain it existed beyond this hill, beyond the forest, beyond the sea, and beyond the sky.
But knowing it was one thing; my imagination and knowledge were still woefully insufficient.
Since meeting them, I have learned of the ocean floor, the vast reaches of space beyond the sky, and the microscopic world.
Spirits, other worlds, distant stars, and stories I had never dreamed of.
Ah, I am truly happy.
I found supreme joy in the things I did not yet know.
It’s not just that there are still places in the world to explore; it’s that there is a world so vast that even a lifetime wouldn't be enough to see it all.
Yet, I still didn't know the world well enough.
In their world, there existed tools that allowed one to freely play within an imagined reality.
Side: Comet
The view before my eyes—the world as seen from the sky.
Ah, it’s incredible.
Only such childish words could escape my lips.
Pokémon exist in the grasslands, in the sky, in the seas, and in the rivers.
As if they were truly alive...!
"This is... an open world. I’ve done it. I’ve really done it now."
Faced with such a situation, that was all I could say.
Pokémon.
It is a legendary game played by so many people on their home planet.
Open-world games themselves are no longer such a novelty.
I’ve looked into their gaming scene and played things like *Skyrim* and *Fallout*.
Personally, I enjoyed the alternate future of *Fallout* more, but I was astonished that they managed to bring that same sense of immersion—the feeling of truly adventuring through that world—into Pokémon.
I have played this series properly since the very first generation.
That is precisely why I cannot help but be amazed by this evolution.
After all, it started as dot art. And in black and white, at that.
Even so, the gameplay was so fun that you could say it was perfected from the very beginning.
The only regret was that the distinction between "strong" and "weak" Pokémon was so rigid.
Well, you stopped caring once you leveled up, but even that was corrected as the series progressed.
The competitive scene also evolved; instead of being locked into a handful of strong Pokémon, various types of restricted matches allowed Pokémon that had never seen the light of day to finally shine.
And the crowning achievement was the Wild Area in the previous installment.
I thought that was revolutionary at the time.
After all, powerful Pokémon were roaming around from the start, making it feel so much more real.
But this new installment has surpassed even that.
Ah, so this is what it means to go beyond.
My imagination hadn't been able to keep up.
I am certain that the game developers are far, far ahead of me.
Ah, it’s so fun.
Come on, let the adventure begin!
"You’ve been muttering to yourself for a while now, you know."
Called out like that, I am pulled back to reality.
I lift my head to see the owner of the voice: Firia, holding a game console just like me.
"Oh? Was I saying something out loud?"
"You were. Praising Pokémon and going on about the developers..."
"Ahaha, my apologies."
I have enough common sense to apologize if I’ve been a nuisance.
"But it’s just that I’m so happy. It started as dot art, after all."
"Dot art?"
"Ah, right. Firia, you started with *Sword and Shield*, didn't you?"
"No. I believe I played a bit of *Sun and Moon* under your instructions, Comet?"
"That was 3D, too. Back in the day..."
I say this while pulling an old game out of my item box.
"Um... what is that?"
"A Game Bo*. This is the console where Pokémon first appeared."
Well, I actually played the version revived for consoles, but I ordered this one as a treasure.
Ah, no, that’s not right.
I ordered it as reference material to study the process of technological evolution.
Of course, I have things like Ninten*o’s Game & Watc*, but to Firia, they are nothing more than toys.
It is truly terrifying to not understand the value of things.
"Huh. So this is the first generation."
Firia picks up the Game Bo* cartridge with curiosity.
"It’s big."
"Well, compared to the Switc*, yes. That’s what we call technological evolution. In terms of data capacity, there’s a difference of over a hundred times."
"That much?"
"Indeed."
I say this and place the new software in front of Firia.
"But whether now or back then, the fact that it brings us joy hasn't changed. This world of Pokémon exists within the game. That is because the people who made it poured that much effort into it."
How can we entertain them? What makes it fun? How can we keep them smiling?
In a sense, it is the ultimate form of what we ourselves have aimed for.
Because the people who buy this game receive happiness.
Of course, there will be those who find it boring, but the overwhelming majority find it enjoyable.
There is no such thing as something that pleases everyone.
No, in reality, it is enjoyed by millions—a number far greater than us or the entire population of Weed—so it transcends the meaning of the word.
In that sense, we are losing to this game.
It unites human hearts across national borders.
If this company were ever to go bankrupt, I would absolutely be the first to extend a helping hand.
If even I, from another world, think that way, then surely there are many more on Earth who feel the same.
"Um, I understand your passion, but please stop shaking like that."
"Eh? Was I shaking?"
"Yes, you were trembling. Is it really that moving?"
"Ah... it’s far more moving than praying to a god. It is the fruition of tireless effort. This is evolution for the sake of play—what some might call 'useless.' That is exactly why everyone is so obsessed with it. I wish to have that kind of luxury. And I think a world where people can make things like this to earn their livelihood is a wonderful place."
"When you put it that way, I suppose you're right."
Without war, making things that people can enjoy, earning a living, and letting the days pass by.
In reality, there must be plenty of agony in the creation process.
But beyond that lies the smiles of the people.
As I was thinking about such things:
"That is true. Life is fun precisely because of the 'extra' things. My research, too, was not something strictly necessary for mere survival. But it is convenient to have. And this game is the same."
Taizo-san says this while playing Pokémon.
That’s exactly it.
In a way, researchers and game developers might be the same.
"Now, you two. I don't mind the conversation, but the first match is in a little while. Are you sure about this?"
"Ah!"
"Oh my."
We look at the clock and realize that the scheduled three hours are only twenty minutes away.
What are we doing, you ask?
"I agree with adjusting before the battle against Yuki-kun and Taiki-kun. Those two are strong. But defeating the two of you while you're dazed won't be much of a practice session."
"Taizo-san, you’ve got a sharp tongue. I’ll have you know I pride myself on being the next strongest after them."
Yes, now that a new Pokémon game is out, a new battle begins.
We call it the Weed Cup.
It is the ultimate showdown for Pokémon trainers in Weed.
We hold it every year, but in years when a new game comes out, it gets even more heated.
Since it’s a battle of win rates throughout the year, it’s like a pennant race in baseball or soccer.
There is a great deal of experimentation as people discover and test new strategies.
The first match is coming up soon.
That’s why we’re having practice matches at my place to cultivate our intuition for the new game.
Since there are new abilities and items, the strategies will only expand further.
At times like this, repeated player-versus-player battles are best.
Well, three hours since starting the game is still just the beginning.
They say the real game starts only after you’ve maxed out your play time, after all.
"Ahaha, I’ll be sure to crush that confidence in this battle. I, too, pride myself on being next in line after them."
"Hmph. I thought you were mostly into strategy games, Taizo-san~"
Taizo-san mainly likes ambition-based games, and he tackles them every time a new one comes out.
I don't dislike those, either.
The systems change every time, so the strategies change, and the trial-and-error is fun.
Just as I was sparking with Taizo-san:
"Um, you two. Have you forgotten that you lost to me last time?"
Firia just had to drop that in.
"No, no, that was, what, two tournaments ago? And besides, you only won because of those one-hit-KO moves."
"Indeed. It must have been pure luck."
Yes, this Firia.
She has a miracle record of hitting one-hit-KO moves to take out both me and Taizo-san.
Yuki and Taiki looked at that as if they had seen something truly terrifying.
"But, you did lose, didn't you?"
"Let's do this!"
Right, first I’m going to beat Firia into the ground.
There are no one-hit-KO moves in the early stages.
No luck-based gaming!
Is it even allowed to be unable to move for five turns in a row due to paralysis?
Are you enjoying Pokémon?
Those who have been playing since the first generation likely have many sentimental thoughts.
And to those starting with this installment, welcome to the world of Pokémon.
I hope you experience the thrill of bringing your partner from this game into the next one.