Episode 156: Let's Battle the Final Boss

So, here we go—let's battle the final boss.

After thanking Mr. Voltack and leaving the shop, we marched forward with high spirits, passing through the town below and heading toward our destination—the castle.

"...Ah, I see. That won't be so easy after all."

In front of us stood a row of soldiers, blocking our path.

They all wore identical, mask-like expressions, glaring at us in unison.

There's a strange illusion of facing a vast swarm of insects.

"What should we do? It's troublesome, and they don't seem human... maybe we should just kill them?"

"Hmm. Even if they're not alive, killing something that looks human... it just feels off."

Before even getting into ethics, it just seems bad for one's mental health.

Even though I've cut down countless "zombies" before, I still say killing isn't right. It weighs heavily on the mind. Lately, my dreams have been peaceful—probably because I haven't seen living creatures' blood and organs up close.

"Then just kick them all aside and handle it."

"What about the 'Gambler'?"

"Stay behind me."

"You're saying that just so you can take it easy, aren't you?"

"Idiot, it's about using the right person for the right job. If I do it, I'll just end up killing them all."

Mmm.

There's nothing I can do about it.

Then, shall we... go?

Yeah. Go ahead.

At those words, we took off running.

The soldiers formed a perfectly orderly formation, like the playing card soldiers from Alice in Wonderland.

「う、……お、お、お、お、お、お、お、お、お、お、お、お、おッ！」

I've been shouting while raising my spear.

First of all,

"――"Stan Mode""

《必殺剣Ⅵ》を起動。すると、”むらさめ”が桃色のオーラに包まれます。

そして、

「うわああああああああああああああああああああああああああああ！」

悲鳴のような、やけくそで喧嘩をする子供のような声を上げながら襲いかかる兵士さんたちを、先頭から順番に斬り伏せていきました。

斬った相手は皆、電池が切れたように意識を失っていきます。

Yeah, this way I don’t have to feel guilty. Glad I remembered this, "Ultimate Sword VI."

"Alright, keep it up! Go, go, go!"

I’m taking down only the bare minimum of enemies with my "Stun Knife," while the "Gambling Master" cheerfully offers encouragement in a carefree manner.

As for me, I’m right on the front lines of the battlefield, luxuriating in a pleasantly lazy mood.

"Hah……………"

I’m becoming more and more detached from humanity each day, I suppose.

Even now, look—I just knocked down four or five grown men in the blink of an eye.

I’m definitely never going back to being an ordinary girl again.

Why did this happen to me?

All I wanted was to stay home and zone out playing games.

Yet even as I think these thoughts, my body moves automatically.

I’m already in the mindset of a part-time worker doing line duty.

I knock down the soldier in front of me and keep moving forward, forward, forward.

Before I even realized it, I had stepped into the grounds of that love hotel-like castle.

After kicking open the iron gate and breaking into the interior, I found myself in a vast hall with such minimal decoration it made me think of "insufficient documentation."

At the far end of the hall stood a single, grand chair, seemingly a throne.

"Don't let them pass through the throne! Hold them back!"

"Shut up, that's impossible—do it yourself!"

"What? You do it yourself!"

"You do it!"

Hearing the soldier's voices quarreling among themselves,

"Then, let's wrap this up quickly—"

The gambler, watching the match like a baseball fan at a blowout game, completely unfazed.

And no wonder.

Just as humans, no matter how many gather, can't stop a tornado— we had already realized they were no longer our enemies.

When we finally reached the throne, we discovered a keyhole in the backrest that looked just right for inserting the "Gate Key."

"Thinking about it, it's been a long journey..."

I suppose it's been about two months and a bit.

It's probably already August out in the outside world.

……………….

……………………………….

……………………………… (Memory scene ongoing).

"Hey! It's too early for sentimental thoughts—get that 'Gate Key' in already!"

Behind the shouting "Gambler," soldiers were advancing like cockroaches suddenly swarming from nowhere.

Ah, this is it, isn't it?

The infinite spawn. Just like in a game.

Staying here any longer would be pointless.

"Then..."

Clank.

Turning the key, a blinding light burst forth, filling the entire area.

"Wha—!""Whoa!?"

For an instant, my vision was completely blocked, and I couldn't help letting out a startled gasp.

Mentally, I was thinking, 'Enough with this kind of dramatic flair already—just get on with what needs to be done.'

Of course, things didn't progress quite so smoothly.

▼

"……………mhh"

After confirming the light filling the surroundings had vanished, I slowly opened my eyes.

Pachipachi pachipachi, it flickered.

Right in front of me, I could see a man clapping his hands.

"Hey, you made it. Adventurers from the other world."

It was Mr. Nakamichi En.

...Well, it's not like I'm seeing something completely new—he's the second time I've met him, after all.

"For a long time, I've been managing this world—yet none have reached this far until now. I am Nakamichi En, the master of this 'Master Dungeon.'"

Wow.

He's really gone all out with the character development.

I couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark—where'd that "～っす" tone go from earlier?

"But alas, I'm sorry. I heard from my father. You've made it this far without even trying, haven't you?"

I deciphered the underlying meaning behind his overly formal tone.

He hasn't been discovered yet... by the "King."

That must be it.

Then, it'd be wise to take advantage of that very advantage to move things in my favor.

"Who the traitor is still remains unclear. But you won't confess so easily, will you?"

"Of course not."

"Of course, I have my suspicions about the culprit... but I'm not certain. Therefore, my father—the 'King'—wishes to keep you all detained for as long as possible."

Enya's lips twisted into a mocking smirk.

"Then, what are you planning to do? You damn pig."

H-hey, "Gambler" guy.

You're supposed to be an ally, so you shouldn't be calling someone a pig like that.

"Fufu. I'm glad you said it."

Come on, really.

You're acting so calm, but your expression is clearly a little hurt.

"Unfortunately, I'm not good at fighting. So, my way of settling things with you... is this."

With that, Enji pulled out a case containing a single disc.

Inside, the label read 'Game #4,' scribbled in messy marker ink.

"Wait... no way..."

"Exactly as you imagine. You'll be playing a game I made myself, starting now."

"A, a game...?"

"Nothing's changed from the previous 'floor boss' rules. The condition for clearing remains the same: make me admit defeat."

"W—what...?"

Why go through all that trouble? Just get out of the way already.

Interrupting the "Gambling Master" who was about to speak,

"Personally, I'd have preferred to choose a fighting game match, but I was ordered by my father. I'm being suspected of deliberately losing. That's why this particular topic was chosen—no room for cutting corners."

"Just to confirm, this is actually clearable, right?"

"Regardless, that part's been made fair. You can rest easy about that."

"I suppose... "

I grumble just a bit, but I can tell I can trust her when it comes to clearing it.

After all, Enna is one of us, after all.

"So? What genre is it?"

"It won't take long. As long as we can clear it smoothly..."

Enna smiles warmly, opens her notebook PC, and turns the monitor toward us.

"The game is already installed. This one."

——Tirorirōrīn♪ "Heart-Pounding Love Story ☆ Innocent Academy ~Everywhere You Look, It's All Beautiful Girls~," here we go ☆

A high-pitched girl's voice echoes, and images of girls with red, blue, green, yellow, black, and pink hair flood the PC monitor, crammed tightly together.

"……huh?""Hey, this……"

It was undeniably—some kind of harem-style game.

And yet, the artwork was oddly dated.

"Wait... Even now, are you making me play something like this...?"

"Displeased?"

"N-no, not at all..."

Even as I answered, I couldn't help but think this choice wasn't so bad after all. Much better than being forced to play some slow-paced role-playing game or action title that drags on endlessly.

With this type of game, you can usually get through it by skipping the text and just choosing options that sound plausible.

"‘Thrilling Love Story☆Pure Academy’ is a fairly standard romance simulation game. There are four heroines to pursue. As long as you reach the good ending with any one of them, both of you will be considered to have cleared this 'Master Dungeon'."

"What's the risk if we fail to clear it?"

"There's none really. Just restart from the beginning....But of course, the more time we spend, the more opportunities we give them to find traitors."

"I see."

It was the instinct of a gamer speaking.

This challenge wasn't that difficult, after all.

"Feels a bit silly, but I'll take it on."

"That's perfect."

This is probably a good spot to jump in.

"Hey, 'Warrior,' you sure about this?"

I gave a thumbs-up to the anxious-looking "Gambler."

"Please, don't worry. Back in middle school, I briefly dreamed of becoming a voice actress. I'm no stranger to this kind of game."

"...Ah, right. Well, if you're confident, then it's fine."

Ignoring the Gambler's exasperated expression, I gripped the mouse.

Then... I'm going.

—— Game start.