Chapter 9

〈 Chapter 9 〉 I Decide My 3-Star (4)

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Occasionally.

When playing gacha games, there are times when popular characters are released in limited pick-up events.

For example, in swimsuits.

Or wedding dresses.

Or bunny girl outfits.

Or traditional costumes of that country.

Sometimes, these are sold as skins for existing characters, or as entirely new characters.

In P.A.O., they sold both.

Character skins change the sprite or cutscenes of existing characters.

Limited characters, on the other hand, come with completely different skill sets and performance, making them new characters.

—You crazy bastards! It costs double!

—So you didn't buy it?

—Keep releasing them like that! I'll keep pulling gacha until my wallet is empty!

In the end, I bought both.

The former is just a costume, and the latter is about performance, but I ended up paying for both.

—It doesn't affect performance at all, so why did you buy it?

—Do you not use skins? I've never heard of buying skins in a cute girl game. Then why do you dress your characters in rags and bikinis in high-end restaurant games?

—Those are the default skins!!

No matter what people say, I bought both.

Beauty is performance, and the latter even has better performance. What's wrong with spending on that?

Beauty is performance.

Good performance is beautiful.

That's how it was.

Only.

Now that it has become reality, things are different.

—Wow, you're going to wear that and tackle the dungeon? You must be either a pervert or a slut.

—Wearing a swimsuit and diving into the dungeon... Is that woman serious?

—Stop raiding the dungeon with a bunny girl party!

Skins were the most beautiful and elegant when the game was just a game.

But now that it's reality, anyone who wears them or enters the dungeon in them must have their brains smashed.

But I'm different.

Bunny Girl’s Knights.

A knightly order that actually existed in the game, where a party would wear bunny girl outfits and tackle the dungeon.

I just want to emulate that.

And I want to use Luji's notoriety to hide the power of the bunny girl knights.

"How about it?"

"Hmm…."

Laura frowned seriously, then smiled broadly at me.

"I'll decline!"

"……"

I was rejected.

Why?

Could it be that she doesn't like Luji?

No way.

Even if his face is a bit intimidating, he's still quite handsome—better than my real face. Could she be looking for someone even more handsome than me?

"I appreciate your offer, my lord, but I don't think I'm worthy of your call yet."

"What?"

"I'm just an ordinary adventurer. If I were to speak in terms of the ranks given to adventurers... I'm just a chick. I don't think I'm good enough to join your knightly order."

"……"

"If I become stronger in the future and become a renowned adventurer, would you call me then?"

"Hmm."

This won't do.

"You don't understand what I'm saying."

"…Yes?"

In this situation, I need to show the power of authority.

"I'm not recruiting you. I'm giving you an order."

Laura's expression stiffened.

Bernhard's face also hardened.

"There's no such thing...!"

"It exists in Fermauton, and I am Fermauton."

The young lord has gone mad.

Yes, I'm mad right now.

'Am I going to raise my death flag here?'

The protagonist will form a party, and among those who join, there will be another Fermauton, and eventually, they will kill me.

So even if Laura shows signs of dislike, I need to make her my own, even by force.

"Lord, even if you say that, it's not something a guild master can overlook."

"Why not?"

"Adventurers are free spirits. Even if you are a duke... "

If you cross the line, I won't stand idly by.

But this is a matter of life and death for me.

"Do you not understand? I'm telling you to quit being an adventurer and become one of my people. Then the logic of adventurers won't apply to you anymore."

"But Lady Laura hasn't decided yet. She's still an adventurer."

"But she's a woman I like."

Here, I go all in without backing down.

"I want to keep her close and see if she fits in with Fermauton."

"…What do you mean?"

Bernhard's expression began to change.

He seems to be catching on to the hidden meaning in my words and the reason why the reckless Luji is so fixated on this woman.

"What's the point of saying more? It's not something to be said casually in front of many people. Do you need to talk about it separately?"

"No, no. If that's the case, I can understand."

"Guild Master?!"

Laura was shocked.

The guild master, who had been on her side until just now, suddenly started to support me, which must be very confusing for her.

"Lady Laura, this might be a good opportunity. Right now, all you can do is mine mithril in the mines. Perhaps starting with the duke's family would be better."

"But... "

"Fine. I'll make a hundred concessions and give up the bunny girl."

It's a lie.

"But you can't give up. Lady Laura, I will formally invite you to the duke's family."

"But I'm just a new adventurer... "

"Being a new adventurer doesn't matter. What matters is whether I like you or not."

You're a newbie I've picked.

"Trust me and follow me. I'll make you the strongest in Fermauton."

"Um... "

Laura still couldn't answer, still looking at me.

"...I know I'm not in a position to do so, but... can I ask for one condition...?"

"Fine."

Laura.

The condition the player can ask for.

This is related to her 'dream'.

"...I want to see the end of the Infinite Dungeon."

"The end?"

"Yes. I'm curious about what's at the end. Is it really infinite? And... what's at the end of the Infinite Dungeon?"

Some think it's a treasure.

Some think it's a magic lamp that grants all wishes.

'The end is just a temporary boss.'

I've seen the system's end in the game, but it's different for the people here.

Infinite Dungeon.

It's called 'infinite' because it goes down endlessly, but the exploration of the Infinite Dungeon has only reached about 50 floors.

Why only 50 floors after hundreds of years?

Because the seal to go below 50 floors hasn't been broken, and the portal to go below 50 floors just leads to another 50 floors.

You can go up normally, but you can't go down.

It's a continuous loop of 50 floors, but once someone clears 50 floors, the floors below 50 start to open.

That person is the protagonist, Laura.

She has a public goal to conquer the Infinite Dungeon, and as the story progresses, her determination to conquer it gradually becomes a plot point.

To cut to the chase.

—Is this the other gender character of the player character as the final boss?

Even I know the plot points.

And as a seasoned player, I've figured out some of the plot points related to the Infinite Dungeon.

If you play as a male character, your sister is the final boss.

If you play as a female character, your brother is the final boss.

There are various opinions about their true identities, but Laura is a key figure in conquering the Infinite Dungeon in Fermauton.

"Others might say your goal is unrealistic, but dreams are something anyone can have. So... I want to see the end of the Infinite Dungeon."

"Just seeing the end?"

To others, it might seem incredibly presumptuous.

But if you understand her background, it's a different story.

"No. It's not just that. I've heard rumors that there's a 'Gem of the Gods' at the end of the Infinite Dungeon that can grant any wish."

"That's just a rumor."

It is.

"But if it really exists, wouldn't the rumors be true? So... "

"What if it does exist?"

"...If I get even one chance to make a wish, would you give me that chance?"

"What's your wish?"

"That's... "

She can't say it.

I can only guess at her specific wish, but I don't know what she truly desires.

"Well, fine. I can grant one wish. Even if the Gem of the Gods can't grant it, if I can, I will."

It could be the end of the Infinite Dungeon.

Or it could be an attempt to eliminate the creator of the Infinite Dungeon.

"Be happy, Laura. I will grant your wish."

But one thing is clear...

"Your current strength is far from enough. Fine. Fermauton will help you. In return, you will help Fermauton."

"...Yes, I understand, Young Lord."

Laura stood up from her seat and bowed to me, as if she were a knight.

"...But, Young Lord."

"What?"

"The bunny girl... was that a joke?"

"…Don't worry, Lady Laura."

I took a light sip of tea.

"I'll make it so you can tackle the Infinite Dungeon even in a bunny girl outfit."

I can't give up the bunny girl.

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