Chapter 277: Showdown Prelude
———Lynda———
<9: 17 AM>
“You’re just gonna ignore everyone else and play with the device?” I asked just so I know I’m hearing that clearly.
“Yeah. We should all relax and not be taking things too seriously. In case you forgot it’s not like we’re getting a tangible reward at the end of all this, or even any lasting damage to anyone.” She answered.
“…Can’t those points be traded in for similar items in the real world?” I gave my speculation. “And if that’s the case, those points are actually way more valuable than it seems.”
“So you figure that out.” She remarked. It seems like she has the same theory in mind as well. “I still would rather not make everyone stress out. It’s less fun that way.”
The cafe is crowded with more people coming in and joining the alliance. There are multiple floors to this place and a large area per floor, so at least it’s not an issue there. It’s also hard to get agitated due to how nice this place is. It’s well-ventilated, has a nice aesthetic, and certainly not lacking in certain supplies.
“…Do you think we’re going to find the others before the day is over?” I asked, since it doesn’t feel like the odds are all too high.
“Probably once we get to the middle of the metropolis. Even if we don’t we’ll probably be forced to be there by that person anyway,” She answered. Is that how she sees it? “Anyway, just leave me alone for a while while I search up stuff for my own amusement. Don’t go bitching now that I stopped trying to be a nuisance.”
She then turned her attention back to her device. I haven’t really been using it to watch or read anything myself, even though that is an actual thing it can do.
Since she doesn’t wanna say anything I guess I’ll leave her alone for now. What is Glery doing anyway?
She’s… drinking a lot of coffee. Since for whatever reasons the stuff this place provides is free for the day, everyone has been indulging in all the sweets and other drinks. Since it’s not the main world we can technically eat and drink as much as we want without consequence, but I’m not really interested in all that, just simple stuff will work for me.
Everyone else is also chatting and drinking some fancy drinks I never bother to memorize the names of. I’m not above ordering a trendy drink every now and then but I can’t even remember what each coffee drink is like, let alone any of that nonsense.
…I should at least get… There are sodas on the menu, right? Something fresh and fizzy would do. Let me take a… lemon soda. I guess.
…I really have no idea what to do for the rest of the day. I know training wouldn’t do anything, and it’d be best to not try anything and cause everyone to get agitated. Maybe just sitting down and see if Glery have anything to say will help calm the nerves a bit.
“Why do you have so many cups on the table?” I asked as I sat down. She looks rather nauseous.
“I’m trying out every flavor I can. It’s free, after all.” She answered. She doesn’t even look like she enjoyed it that much.
“Right…” I don’t really want to criticize her for making herself suffer like that, so let’s not press on the issue… “So what do you think of our chances right now?”
“Logically speaking, with all the information available from Kenni, our odds seem decent even as is.” She answered. “However, as she had told us before, she is a very unpredictable foe. Even she isn’t certain if she knew everything Emmie could do.”
“...If she was over twice Kenni’s strength, then logically she could be defeated with all of the Perfect Class working together.” That’s the optimistic approach. “But she might be three or four times stronger for all we know. If she had a breakthrough or something that we don’t know about, we’re probably screwed.”
“What even is the math on that anyway? How many people at which strength fighting someone a number of times stronger than their strongest would work out.” It seems like such a mess to calculate.
“Hard to say. For your sake I think it’s best to not focus so much on the numbers.” She replied. I don’t think we’re going to get anywhere with that equation anyway.
“...You think we’re going to have any trouble moving to the center of the map?” Since that topic is going nowhere, let’s talk about this instead.
“As long as we move in a group, no.” She answered, clearly disinterested and seemed very insistent on just letting time pass by. Really doesn’t look like there’s much for me to say or do, truly.
The others don’t seem to be stressed out, at least. The morale needs to be good if we want everyone to be cooperative and not break off on their own.
…Damn. This is so boring. We have to wait for how many hours before we can start coming up with a plan?
I turn my head to look at Kenni, who seems to be weirdly disinterested in the whole affair. Is this her own way of messing with people? Just acting so odd compared to her usual self?
I then look at the duo and they seem to be chatting with each other about random things. I suppose they are also running out of meaningful things to talk about as well.
Just waiting and not much else… Might be in the afternoon, might be tomorrow. By that time, would we even have any time for even a short conversation?
———Luik———
<11: 03 AM>
“Ugh… I’m stuffed…” Curin complained as she leaned on the sofa with a hand on her belly. At least the effect shouldn’t last very long due to the very weird mechanic of this place. At least it means that we don’t have to excuse ourselves.
“Talk about greed…” Evalyn remarked as she observed Curin with a smirk on her face. “Hard to blame ya, it’s free after all.”
“I’ll be good in… a few minutes.” Curin said before she closed her eyes, focusing on napping and letting time pass.
“Hard to think she’s gonna be one of the big players in this.” The foxgirl with a fake robe said. “Hey, Luik, did you get a big boost after fighting that Ahdeid? That power boost could come in handy.”
“It’s not a big boost.” I bluntly answered. It does feel like I am improving a lot from that stomp of a battle, but in the grand scheme of things it’s not as if I am even close to doubling the strength I had cultivated so far.
“...A shame. I guess you’re good for only one big hit then. I can throw you right into her if need be.” She made a mocking offer in response to my answer.
“Quite an offer, but I suggest you worry about yourself more. You are supposed to be a bigger player than me, after all.” I said in response. She’s the one who would keep up with the assaults of the Perfect Class and a few more.
“Aww… No need for flattery. It won’t get you anywhere.” She said with a little wave at me. She seems to be taking the situation with less pressure than I am. I suppose that is to be expected of someone stronger than me.
“No wonder Kenni gets along with you.” Wers remarked after watching the conversation in silence. “Is there anything I need to know in advance about your fighting technique?”
“Eh. Not really. I never fancied myself someone with exotic techniques or weird fighting style.” The fake shrine maiden casually answered. “Just swinging my sword and killing people is enough.”
“You call that thing a sword?” Her definition of a sword is much more broad than my own.
“It’s a short hilt with a long blade, a sword, right?” She said without a sense of shame.
“While I would admit that its form is closer to that of a sword than its more mundane counterpart, calling it seem rather inappropriate.” I gave her my honest opinion on the matter.
“Hey. Agree to disagree.” She said with a shrug of her shoulders. “What about you? You got any weird complex ability I need to know about?”
“No. I’m just a normal close-ranged fighter using nothing but my claws or gauntlets. No need to be mindful of anything except accidentally hitting me.” He answered.
“I see… Well hopefully I didn’t accidentally run into anything that could kill me, there is no such thing as a friendly fire being off, unfortunately.” Evalyn said, not sounding too pressed by the possibility.
*Ring* *Beep*
“Huh?” Many of us let out a stupefied voice after the speakers in the building suddenly began to activate.
“<This is a recorded message. Another message will be broadcasted later for late arrivals.>” A robotic voice rang out from them, letting everyone in this building hear it loud and clear.
“<Attention to participants.>” A familiar voice rang out through the speakers, causing a sense of dread that seemed to be shared with everyone who heard and recognized it. “<Congratulations for coming this far. I’m sure many of you who still persist have the goal of winning this little game that was entrusted upon us so suddenly with no warning.>”
Just what is Emmie planning with this announcement? What is she doing?
“<I also figured out from analyzing everyone’s movements that many of you saw me as the biggest obstacle for such a goal. You will team up in a massive group, all of which were formed independently of each other and yet share the same goal, taking me down.>” So she is in fact fully aware of such a move happening behind her back. It seems that nothing can really escape her intuition. “<I fully embrace such a challenge, and so I will give all of you a simple timeline. Tomorrow morning once everyone comes to the front of the center building where I am currently residing in, we can truly start the match and let everyone have their shot at me. That is all. Make sure to bring your best.>”
“...So. She managed to hijack the speakers here, and probably for other buildings with them as well.” Wers remarked, clearly a bit spooked out by how sudden the announcement was. “The fact that she boldly stated her location is certainly something. There’s technically nothing stopping anyone from gathering so much power to nuke the entirety of the center area.”
“But would anyone use such a cheap method though? Not to mention they’ll leave themselves wide open after the attack is done and over with. Even you guys will be left completely exhausted using such a method.” Evalyn pointed out. “I can’t imagine an attack that covers both that building and the surrounding areas to not completely tire someone out. This metropolis is like at least ten cities in one or something.”
“It’s simply a hypothetical, and that sort of area control ability is not my expertise. Perhaps that woman will know more, not that she would speak, most likely.” He must be talking about Kenni…
“Hey! Something weird is happening outside!” Someone yelled out. What’s going on now? I can’t feel anything happening in the surrounding area for such a reaction.
Still, it won’t hurt to go check it out. I doubt it’s a trap.
…I walked outside and looked around before seeing the center building… not gone, but seem to be completely covered by something. It’s blue and emitting light, acting like a barrier preventing anything from getting close to the center area.
“What the hell?” Evalyn said, also confused by what she’s seeing. “Must’ve been really adamant on the showdown being tomorrow. I doubt we can even use any surprise attack at this rate.”
“Indeed. It seems we are being put on her pace now, regardless of anyone’s say on that matter.” Tomorrow it is then. That’s when the finale will truly start.