Chapter 7

Regarding the price, I hadn't really thought about it that seriously, but since it was pointed out in the review section, I've reduced it by 100 yen.

The biggest reason why the game that was supposed to be launched as a big title, "Burebure," didn't become a hit was that it adopted the notorious stick-type controller called "Dynamic Motion Z" as the recommended controller.

The Dynamic Motion Z is a motion-sensing game controller that uses a high-performance gyroscope and a dedicated device placed in front of the display to accurately reproduce the player's movements in the game. In short, when you swing this stick in real life, the game character will also swing a stick in the same way.

Although it was a late entry, or perhaps because it was a late entry, its completion was remarkable, and it was supposed to create a sensation in the motion-sensing game market... but it didn't sell at all. The boom for motion-sensing games had already passed, and there were almost no games available for it. As a result, it was completely ignored by everyone except a few game enthusiasts, and the Dynamic Motion Z, along with the game "Ultra Super Real Chanbara" that was released simultaneously, was buried in the darkness of game history.

In the midst of this, "Burebure" was released four months late, as if to say, "Don't miss the Dynamic Motion Z boom." In reality, there was no such boom, and if it had been released at the same time as the Dynamic Motion Z, it might have sparked the trend. However, the four months were too cruel.

The sword action, which was the selling point, was completely based on the use of the Dynamic Motion Z, and without it, the fun was halved. On the other hand, there were almost no users who would buy the Dynamic Motion Z just for "Burebure."

There was also the reason that the product was no longer available, but the biggest problem was the price. The suggested retail price of the Dynamic Motion Z was 7,980 yen. Moreover, since both hands were needed to operate the left-hand shield or draw a bow, the total cost was about 16,000 yen. Adding the price of the game, it exceeded 20,000 yen. "20,000 yen? That's ridiculous, you could buy a whole game console with that."

But, I bought it.

...Let me say it again.

--I bought it!

I spent 23,760 yen, including tax, from my meager part-time earnings, which were earned while suffering from stomachaches due to workplace relationships, and bought the "Burebure Greedy Set" with all the necessary accessories like cables and protective sheets!

The result is here now!

"Lightning, V-Slash!"

Dodge the enemy's attack and cut in a zigzag pattern, then slash upward like a flash of lightning.

"Cross Raid, Bamboo Split!"

Slash horizontally to dodge the demon's spear and jump up to strike from above.

"Medaka Ichi, Stinger Thrust!"

From a distance, close the gap in one breath and deliver a powerful thrust.

Before I knew it, the demon, who was supposed to be cornering me with ease, was already battered and bruised. It glared at me with bloodshot eyes, as if the roles had been reversed.

...Of course, there was a trick behind this rapid advance.

One is that with the manual activation of arts, "even unlearned arts can be activated if the movements are accurately traced." If you have enough MP, you can even activate sword arts that you were supposed to learn later, and even arts of different weapon types.

While not all arts can be used because many have the condition of "equipped with a specific weapon type," this greatly expands your options.

The other important element created by manual arts is the "double arts" achieved by "stacking arts" using the "Over Arts" skill.

The thief's skill "Over Arts" increases the power of arts by doubling the magic power used. However, if you perform Over Arts during the manual activation of an art, the art's judgment is triggered again.

The easiest to understand is the combination of the "Vertical Slash → Horizontal Slash" set art "Cross Slash" and the standalone "Horizontal Slash" art "One-Word Slash." Normally, you can't activate another art during an art, but if you perform Over Arts just before the horizontal slash starts after the vertical slash, the art's start judgment is reset. By then performing the horizontal slash, it is judged as both the second hit of "Cross Slash" and the first hit of "One-Word Slash," and the power corrections of both arts are combined.

This is the mechanism that allows me to deal significant damage to the demon, which should be invulnerable to my attacks.

(Still, it's probably reckless.)

Double arts consume a lot of MP. Over Arts itself doubles the MP cost of arts, and since you are using two arts simultaneously, it uses nearly four times the usual MP.

Moreover, arts have cooldown times, and once used, they cannot be activated again for several seconds to minutes. If you miss this timing, the art will fail, creating a significant opening, and you might be killed.

(If I hadn't used recovery items, I would have run out of MP and died long ago.)

I'm barely managing to fight, but my MP is almost depleted. More importantly, this is my first life-or-death battle, and my concentration is reaching its limit.

Each time the enemy's attack grazes my nose or I parry a lethal blow, I can feel my nerves being worn down. The omnipotence I once felt is now overshadowed by fatigue.

Sweat flows into my eyes, obstructing my vision. My head feels strangely light, yet heavy.

Despite the pressure that feels like a grip on my stomach, I have a strange lack of reality, and there's a risk of making a fatal mistake.

(I'm almost at my limit, huh.)

With a dazed mind, I look at the Doom Demon, who, after taking several harsh counterattacks, doesn't seem to be attacking immediately. For the first time since the battle began, a stalemate has formed.

(But, he must be damaged too.)

Just as I am fatigued, if not more so, he is injured. His proud wings are tattered, and wounds are visible all over his body. If I can land a few more effective blows, I might be able to defeat him.

However, the difference in strength is still clear, and one mistake could mean my death. Unlike the initial phase where I was repeating simple attacks, he is now on guard.

(Should I wait for help instead of attacking and failing?)

As this thought of weakness crossed my mind, I saw Rad and the others over the demon's shoulder. They were no longer shouting or surprised, but were watching me and the battle with a prayer-like expression.

(Don't look at me like that.)

It's okay.

I won't let this thing get to you, and I'll come back alive.

...That's right.

After this, I might teach Rad and the others how to use arts. There don't seem to be practice modes or assist functions in this world, so it will be difficult, but they should be able to learn simple arts.

There doesn't seem to be a culture of manual art activation in this world, but if I teach them, or even if I don't, once it's known that "such a thing is possible," someone will eventually develop it. Perhaps I have already left a much bigger mark on this world than I imagined.

(...A mark on the world, huh.)

I know my head is fuzzy and I'm thinking silly things. But even if it's just a fantasy, the idea that "I can influence the world" is something I never even imagined in my original world.

(From here. It starts here!)

My consciousness is hazy, my mind is a mess, but I feel that something will begin if I get through this.

I discard my weakness.

The effect of the recovery item I used before the battle lasts five minutes. I need to end this before then, or it will be dangerous.

I won't say anything grandiose about winning.

But to survive!

(I'm attacking!!)

I swing my sword and activate a powerful technique I've never used before.

The more advanced the art, the more MP it consumes, and the more complex and lengthy the required movements. Therefore, in a situation where I have just enough MP and one mistake could mean death, a powerful technique could be a hindrance. But now that the enemy is being passive, it's a different story.

(---"Flying Claw Seven-Strike"!!)

As the name suggests, a sword art that delivers seven slashes. Like other arts, the power correction of the slashes increases with each subsequent attack. Therefore, I deliberately miss the attacks to increase the power.

The first three slashes are missed, and when I see the enemy hesitate and raise his weapon on the fourth slash, I close the distance in one swift motion.

(Over Arts "Square Cross"!)

The sword, enhanced by the stacked arts, emits a strong light and roars as it advances.

The approaching weapons.

I hit the demon's spear, which was halfway to a defensive stance, with my stacked art sword---no!

(One more time!)

I make an emergency stop and a backstep while swinging my sword. My sword and his spear do not touch, and both miss.

This is good.

Even if I had overpowered him, the art would have stopped, and it would have been meaningless. The aggressive move was a feint to buy time for this one swing.

Using the time I gained, I will...

(Over Arts!)

Stacking Over Arts.

With double Over Arts, the MP consumption quadruples, but the power increases by 2.25 times. Furthermore!

(---"Triple Edge"!!)

Activating arts three times!

This is my trump card and my main move!

I can feel my remaining magic power rapidly depleting.

But it doesn't matter.

(I'll decide it here!)

My enhanced slash, powered by the triple arts, deflects the demon's weapon.

And then,

"Oooooooh!!"

With a roar, the slash deeply cuts into the demon's chest.

(I won!!)

My art is not yet finished.

The demon, off-balance, should have no way to defend against the next attack. All I need to do is deliver the final blow to end it.

I smile, sensing victory, and turn my blade...

---At that moment, I see the Doom Demon's body enveloped in a sinister red aura.

"Huh?"

I didn't understand what was happening.

It wasn't until I saw the demon pull his arm out of my body, which was nearby, that I realized I had been impaled through the chest.

"Ugh..."

My sword falls from my hand.

The victory that was within reach slips away, and I collapse to the ground.

(Why...?)

I was winning.

I was just one step away from defeating him.

(Why...!)

Blood flows from my chest, and my strength drains from my body. Still, as a last act of resistance, I desperately lift my gaze.

There, I see the demon, enveloped in a red aura, looking down at the miserable loser.

(Ah, I see. This... setup...)

The demon, surrounded by a red aura, and Rex, impaled and falling.

It's nothing out of the ordinary.

It's the exact scene of Rex's defeat in the game.

(Damn. A losing event, huh.)

I've seen countless events in games where the outcome is the same whether you win or lose. If Rex had won here, it would have created a contradiction in the story progression.

So, if by some miracle the random number gods had made Rex bring the Doom Demon to the brink of death, the demon was set to power up and kill Rex.

"Damn..."

I curse with a hoarse voice, watching the red aura disappear from the demon's body as if its purpose had been fulfilled. The last of my strength leaves my neck, and my face hits the ground.

(...Is this... the end?)

I feel regret.

But at the same time, I feel acceptance.

(I guess I wasn't... cut out to be the main character.)

Even if I was reborn, I was still just an ordinary person.

No matter how elated I was by the sudden power, it didn't change anything.

--I'm not the protagonist.

Trying to change my fate and use my game knowledge to fight back ultimately failed.

...But.

(That's why... it's not over!)

If the protagonist dies, it's game over.

And that's the end of the game.

But if I die, the world continues.

Because I'm just an ordinary person, I can "pass on hope."

Indeed, I will die here.

But I've laid the groundwork.

(Be prepared, Doom Demon. You will...)

That was as far as my coherent thoughts went.

Eventually, my second death came.

The last thing I saw was the faces of Rad, Mana, and the people I met in this world...

(---I'm counting on you.)

With that, my consciousness sank into darkness.

---This time, I didn't hear any voice.

To be continued tomorrow.