Chapter 83

(￣(エ)￣)＜It's been two months, time for a new post!

(=ↀωↀ=)＜Thank you all for your support!

□Past Lucius Holmes

I logged into <Infinite Dendrogram> from my father's study and found myself back in a study. This study was a bit more old-fashioned than my father's. It resembled the study of the old mansion where my great-grandfather used to live.

"Welcome, welcome!"

In the study, there was a talking cat.

"I'm Cheshire, the management AI... What's the matter?"

I stared at the cat—Cheshire—and felt an obvious sense of unnaturalness.

Due to my parents' upbringing, my world looked different from that of ordinary people and even from my parents. By observing people, I could see the truths they kept hidden in their hearts and the secrets they concealed behind their words. I could tell what a person was thinking behind the words they expressed. While I needed to meet someone face-to-face to read them accurately, I had confidence in my precision. With someone I knew well, I could read their thoughts 99 times out of 100. Even with strangers or animals, I could sense their feelings to some extent.

However, I couldn't read Cheshire at all. It wasn't just a matter of being a person or a cat. It felt more like something that wasn't even a living being—something beyond human comprehension, pretending to be a cat.

"...But, if you're a management AI, is this normal?"

"What's the matter?"

"I'm fine. I'm Lucius Holmes. Nice to meet you."

I received a tutorial from Cheshire. Then, as we moved on to character creation...

"Will your name be Lucius Holmes?"

"Is that not allowed?"

"It's possible, but not recommended."

Thinking about using another name, I noticed something in the study. It was a chessboard. The board looked as if the players had disappeared mid-game, with one piece checked. It was a rook.

"Then, Luke Holmes."

Chess was a memory with my father. Getting a name from that didn't seem bad.

"Okay, then next is appearance."

I kept my appearance the same. I had been trained to move with this appearance for years, so changing it felt unnatural. However, I changed my hair color from my father's blonde to my mother's silver.

And so, I started the game. Cheshire said that in this world, I was free to do anything. Whether to uncover the truth of the game, steal secrets, just play, or live—this was good practice for choosing a life.

◇

On the first day I entered <Infinite Dendrogram>, the <Embryo> implanted in my left arm hatched, and Babii was born.

"Hi there! Nice to meet you, Luke!"

Babii was the same from the very beginning. However, one thing I found strange was that Babii was born as my <Embryo>. I had heard that <Embryos> are born and change based on a person's personality and experiences. Why Babii was the result of this process was a question that remained unanswered from the start.

◇

On the second day I entered <Infinite Dendrogram>, I noticed something about skills. In this world, I didn't have any skills yet. However, the techniques I possessed and used in reality could be used in <Infinite Dendrogram> without skills.

I later learned that my techniques were considered "sense skills" like <Psychological Analysis>. However, these sense skills seemed inferior to those of people who truly possessed the skills in reality. Regardless, I could still use them in <Infinite Dendrogram>. Since this was not a game viewed through a screen but an avatar that moved like a real body, my techniques were applicable. Therefore, I could judge people just as I did in reality.

I decided whether to trust someone by observing their true and false sides using these techniques. The surface and the heart. Many people appear bright on the surface but are dark inside. That's fine to some extent. It's natural for there to be differences between the surface and the heart. However, those who show kindness on the surface while harboring malice inside are different. Occasionally, there were people trying to trap me. To avoid trusting such people, I first judged them using my techniques. That's why when I first met Ray, I was honestly surprised.

It started with Ray's heel turn. At the time, I entered <Infinite Dendrogram> without knowing the rules and had not taken a job, so I was struggling. However, thanks to Ray, I was saved. After the battle, while talking to Ray, I was actually very surprised, though I didn't show it.

Ray had no difference between the surface and the heart.

That was strange.

In <Infinite Dendrogram>, there should be a difference between the surface and the heart. After all, it's a game. There should be a difference between the avatar and the player. Yet, Ray didn't try to look good, didn't act out a character, and didn't hide real-life insecurities. At first, I even thought my techniques had been affected by being in <Infinite Dendrogram>. So, I wanted to solve the mystery of Ray.

But the mystery was solved sooner than expected. Through conversations, reunions, and battles with Ray. By the time we fought the [Goblin] group and [Galdoranda], I understood.

Ray was Ray.

Straightforward, with no hidden motives. Not distinguishing between here and there, between two worlds. The determination shown when fighting the [Goblin] group and [Galdoranda] was genuine. The worry and sadness when talking about the children who had been sacrificed in the battle with the Goosmaze bandits were genuine. The anger towards Franklin now... is genuine. Ray isn't role-playing as "Ray Sterling" in the game. Ray is here as Ray... facing everything with full commitment. Choosing and confronting what needs to be done, regardless of the difficulties and the slim chances. More straightforward and serious than anyone... that's how Ray lives. Unlike me, who often hesitates, Ray always faces the answers in her heart directly.

--Because, it leaves a bad taste.

I have always chosen and moved to avoid regret. I want to support such a Ray. Even though I can't choose my own future, I want to support someone who faces difficulties with all their heart... I want to support Ray. Yes, now... I want to fight in <Infinite Dendrogram> for Ray, with Ray. So...

◇◇◇

□【Pimp】Luke Holmes

"You will be defeated by me here."

The memories that flashed through my mind in the blink of an eye ended. Now, I stood up from the collapsed outer wall and declared to the <Majingear>—Yugo Ressups and his <Embryo> Cocytus—before me.

"...For a pimp, you're surprisingly durable. I didn't expect you to still be standing after that hit."

That's right.

I calculated my chances of survival at 30%, but the damage being so minimal was unexpected. The cause was likely... the right arm of that <Majingear>. You can see it. The frame inside the ice armor is distorted. That's the damage from Ray's <Vengeance is Mine>. As a result, the attack's power was reduced, and the damage I received was less.

"...I can't afford to lose."

"Hmm, you might have survived this time by luck, but there won't be a next time. Besides..."

Yes, I understand.

The [Freezing] has already reached my shoulder. It was fortunate that it didn't shatter with the last hit.

"<Gates of Hell> is surely eroding your body."

"That's right. I could say that I'm in a 'check' position due to your skill."

With that, I caught my breath and continued.

"I have also defeated some humans in the central square to repel PKs."

I revealed part of the answer.

"...What are you talking about?"

There was a slight pause in Yugo's response... and my deduction became a mere confirmation of facts.

"Is this the kind of skill?"

Yes, a fact confirmation.

I opened the menu and showed it to Yugo while confirming. The core of this <Gates of Hell> skill... the screen that forms its basis.

"Battle history screen, racial kill count. <Gates of Hell>... is a skill that changes its effect based on the 'count of the same race' you have killed, right?"

Racial kill count.

There are names of races such as "Undead," "Beast," "Bird," "Dragon," "Demon," "Elemental," "Oni," and "Human," along with the number of each that you have defeated.

"The number of the same race you have killed... that is the 'betrayal' shown by your ice hell and the true nature of the power of your <Gates of Hell>."

"..."

"The number of 'Humans' I have defeated is '7.' I see, '7.' Ah, my body freezes at about '7' percent at once."

I can also see Audrey's racial kill count from my battle history. Audrey is a "Bird," but she has defeated a considerable number of "Birds" in yesterday's hunt. The number is '58,' which explains why more than half of her body froze at once. We haven't fought "Demons" or "Dragons" before, so Babi and Marilyn are '0'... and the freezing range is '0%' as expected. And...

--The kills inside the arena of this dueling city also count.

--Regulars here have probably killed hundreds of people.

Considering the experienced <Masters> who gather in this dueling city Gideon and have been killing "Humans" in the arena's barrier every day, their count is likely over '100.'

"Additionally, the judgment that occurs every 13 seconds is the same, right?"

I have times when I freeze and times when I don't. Other <Masters> are completely frozen on the first try.

"The skill description for <Gates of Hell> is

'Every 13 seconds, there is an X% chance to freeze X% of the selected target's body.

X is the value of the same race in the target's racial kill count.'

Is that about right?"

In my case, there is a 7% chance every 13 seconds that 7% of my body will freeze. If the count of the same race is over '100'... there is a 100% chance that the entire body will freeze. Moreover... it seems to ignore certain resistances to some extent. No one would have been unprepared for the [Freezing] status effect. Perhaps, even if the body is enveloped in flames, it could still freeze.

"Because it's this kind of skill... you were assigned as the gatekeeper here. Most of the kingdom's <Masters> in this dueling city Gideon are here for the arena. Your skill is their worst enemy. It makes sense that you are placed at the escape routes."

No matter how strong or experienced they are... they will end up frozen in ice. The ice hell that freezes "traitors."

"...It's a great deduction, but it's only circumstantial evidence. It could just be a coincidence that the conditions align, right?"

"Ha ha ha, your voice confirms it. You're bad at lying and covering up."

Even without seeing your face, I can tell.

"That's why I dislike you."

I truly feel that way.

"...You said that before. But, 'because of that,' what does that mean? How does my being bad at lying and covering up become a reason? Do you like people who are good at lying?"

"...Fuu"

I can't help but sigh.

You still don't get it.

No, you do understand, but...

"I don't like people who are good at lying, but... I dislike people whose inner doubts and cover-ups show on the surface."

"...What?"

What should I do? Should I say it?

If I provoke too much, it will take time... but it might be better to say it in a somewhat harsh and lengthy manner. You're probably the type who gets angry after hearing it all.

"You, like Ray, see this world not as a game but as 'this world.' Yet, your actions... ah, they're so annoying."

"...Annoying?"

With a slight sense of frustration towards you, I spoke.

"