Episode 158 NTR

Even when you feel like giving up, the game mercilessly goes on.

"Too bad! The green-haired girl has a boyfriend now! You can no longer pursue her!" (A single illustration showing the green-haired girl being taken to a love hotel by a mysterious man)

"Too bad! The red-haired girl has a boyfriend now! You can no longer pursue her!" (A single illustration showing the red-haired girl being taken to a love hotel by a mysterious man)

"Too bad! All your potential heroines have been taken! From now on, you can never have hope for your student life!

You're dead!"

What even is this game?

Seriously, what the hell...

In the end, less than five minutes passed before the game over.

"Ah well..."

The "Gambler" lets out a sigh, clearly bewildered.

But what can you do? It's unavoidable.

After all, I barely managed to play the game properly in the first place.

Perhaps I'm missing some essential element needed to progress through this game.

Just to summarize the information I gathered during my first playthrough:

Red-haired... a well-rounded, perfect superhuman. Also the daughter of a major corporation's CEO. Likes the protagonist, who is her childhood friend (at the prologue stage).

Blonde... tsundere and cute, with a youthful appearance. Enjoys adorable things. Not good at academics or sports. Likes the protagonist because he once rescued her from a barking dog (at the prologue stage).

Blonde hair... cool and quiet. Athletic. Captain of the kendo club, dislikes men weaker than herself. Yet she's unconditionally intrigued by the protagonist (at the prologue stage).

Green hair... serious class president type. Excellent at studies. Seems to spend a lot of time in the library. Has developed a fondness for the protagonist, who shares her love of books (at the prologue stage).

That's about it.

"Looking at it this way... it's clear, isn't it? This protagonist is getting romantically involved with every heroine one after another....Even at the prologue stage."

"True, that's undeniable."

The story takes a sudden, drastic turn into an NTR arc from here. What on earth is going on?

"Maybe you should try talking to her more? Perhaps you've spent too much time focusing on self-improvement."

Hmm. Maybe you're right.

Entering my second playthrough, I selected the 'Ask her out → Blonde' command from among the many choices.

Then,

『Eh? That's gross. I'm honestly just annoyed...』 (Blonde)

Seriously.

My hand gripping the mouse freezes up.

You weren't supposed to like me, were you?

『I... I got rejected...』

『Looks like it.』

Immediately after,

『Too bad! The blonde girl has a boyfriend now! You can no longer pursue her!』 (Mysterious man, rest omitted)

I can't take it anymore... this game.

Why do I have to feel such defeat within this game's world?

"Are there no other options I could try?"

"Seems like it."

"Then I guess... maybe trying to win over this blonde girl was the wrong choice all along. I should probably go for a different heroine next time."

Yeah, that's true... but...

My (rather unreliable) gamer instinct is telling me this.

Even if I tried the same thing with a different heroine, the outcome would be the same.

▼

'Oh no! All the heroines you were aiming for have been taken! From now on, you'll never be able to look forward to your student life!

You're dead!'

Too bad! All the heroines you were aiming to win have been taken! From now on, you'll never be able to look forward to your student life!

You're dead!

Oh no! All the heroines you were aiming to win over have been taken! From now on, you won't be able to find hope in your student life!

You're dead!

"Too bad! All the heroines you were aiming to win over have been taken! From now on, you won't be able to find hope in your student life!

You're dead!"

Saying this five times over.

"Hey, En-san."

"What is it?"

"I'm starting to get really angry, so is it okay if I hit you once?"

Then, Nakamichi En smiled weakly,

"That... would be a little too much, please."

He sits down on the spot.

"Since you're having a tough time, I suppose it's about time I sent the second hint."

Huh?

There's a second hint?

Then just spit it out already.

"Have you noticed that two important male characters appear in this game?"

"Two...?"

"One of course is the character you're controlling."

Then who's the other one?

"In the game—there's this mysterious man who keeps one heroine after another."

"That's right. What's the point of this game, if not to steal heroines from this 'mysterious man'?"

At that moment, I realize the source of my unease.

"I see..."

The heroines, who should be smitten with the protagonist at the start of the prologue, suddenly turn cold the moment the game begins.

I initially thought it was just a common flaw unique to self-made games...

"Could it be that the mysterious man who steals the heroine from the protagonist—that character who appeared right at the prologue... was it, um, this guy, Sanada Yoshio?"

The game developer chuckled, as if delighted by my understanding.

You've got it. That's exactly right.

In general, in this type of visual novel featuring young girls, the protagonist's physical description is kept to a minimum, so as not to hinder emotional immersion.

This game likely employs a narrative (storytelling) trick based on that.

"This game is set from the perspective of what are commonly called 'background characters.' This world isn't yours. It belongs to Shinada Yoshio. He'll meet the heroine without making any particular effort, and without any clear reason, he'll keep triggering heroine-related plot points one after another."

In a situation like this, I'm supposed to end up with the heroine, huh?

What a twisted game this is.

"So, in other words... the opponent we're fighting isn't the heroine at all."

"Indeed."

"It's not about beating the heroine. It's about figuring out how to deal with Shinada Yoshio."

"Hahaha. You're the ideal kind of player."

Ena was in high spirits, as if completely oblivious to the fact that, right now, one of their comrades might be in grave danger—despite the urgent situation demanding immediate action.

"…………………"

The "Gambler" had been acting strangely solemn since a moment ago, so I didn't say a word.

If this is just about enjoying himself, I'll deal with you later—hard.