Another Frontier Online

Camelot is a luxury hotel in the capital.

The banquet hall on the 10th floor is home to Ronios and Cremola of the Gemini Foundation, as well as Giorgio of the Leo Foundation and his assistant Viktor.

As for Jolt, I don't want to have as much contact with the people of the foundation as possible, but I can't say that this time. Ronios is messing with Hayato.

I owe Hayato.

I don't think so, but I owe you one. I took the Scorpion to Hayato for my own convenience. I don't know what the reason was, but I knew it would definitely be a hassle.

I just felt that it would be worse to refuse the Foundation's request by comparing the risks. And even if you don't, someone else will. In that case, I was thinking of doing what I could do to protect Hayato.

After all, Hayato didn't need Jolt's help, he only owed it. This time, I decided to talk to Ronios to try to solve Hayato's problem.

Jolt turned his gaze to Ronios.

“What are you doing starting this game?”

"I'm curious. I tried it because I'm interested in the technology here, but it's amazing. It really seems real."

That's what Ronios said, happily closing and opening his right hand.

Jolt turned his gaze to Cremola.

Is Master Cremola here too?

“I'm just dating. But this is good. I can do things that I can't do in real life."

Cremola took out a lot of sweets and started eating them.

"Even if I do this, I can't get angry."

Cremola continues to eat the sweets she took out without any expression.

Jolt turned his attention back to Ronios as long as he persuaded him to do the right thing.

“I understand why we started the game. But what are we doing now? Basically, aren't you the leader of the shooting star?"

"Didn't you just notice?" We allow our masters to move freely. The leader is a decoration, but I'll take care of all the troubles. Even if it's a decoration, it's not a mistake because I get other members to lead me. "

I thought Jolt might do that, but it doesn't matter. What I really want to know is the first question.

"I understand the situation." Then why are you doing this to Hayato? "

"Oh, my God, I'm scared of your face."

"I'm sorry, since I was born this face." So what's the reason? ”

I can only say that because it seems interesting.

"... is that the reason?"

"Do you need more than that?" Since my lover was taken hostage, can you convince me that I have no choice? "

“No, I just thought it was less boring than I thought.”

When Jolt said that, Ronios laughed.

"That's right, Jolt." What I said now worked. It's certainly a boring reason. I have to say something even more interesting. "

"That's right. So, what's the real reason?"

Ronios looked surprised at the words, but immediately laughed.

"I don't think it's more boring than the previous reason." I don't have to tell you, but let me tell you. But wait a minute. Cremola, tea for me, too. "

Clemola puts the tea in front of Ronios with an unpleasant look on her face.

Ronios took a sip of it and then looked towards Jolt.

"I wanted to test my strength."

"I'm going to test my strength...?"

"We learn knowledge and skills from childhood more than ordinary people. I don't mean to dislike it, but do you ever use the knowledge and technology you've gained?”

"Do you use knowledge or technology?"

Jolt is also a blood relative of the former foundation, so I was beaten up by various things. But if you're going to use it in real life, it's not.

The main reason for learning knowledge and technology is that they cannot be outperformed by interactions between foundations.

He cares for all but the blood of the foundation, and if he had no knowledge, he would not be laughed at. Because there is a fear that you will not know what to do if you do such a thing.

"Sometimes it's like starting a company to hide the fact that you're a member of a foundation, but you're stupid to think that you're not aware of that, right? And if you find out, you'll be disgusted. Whether you have knowledge or technology, you can do anything you want. And there was no failure. The people around me are dying, and they're trying their best."

Well, that's right.

"This virtual reality is just right to test your strength. In reality, it always bears the title of family member of the foundation. I mean, there's really only one thing left in this world that I can do.”

Jolt understood the feeling.

There's a reason I didn't want to fight my brother's inheritance, but I also wanted to survive on my own.

However, it is also the sweetness of the "bearer". Even if you live on your own, you already have enough money to spend your whole life playing. I'm just playing in a safe place.

In the first place, knowledge and technology were given as the bloodline of the foundation, and the power of one's own is a delusion.

It was something that Jolt realized after leaving the foundation, so he would not understand even if he pointed it out, and he decided not to say anything about it.

But I have something to say.

"I know how you feel. But this is no reason to trouble Hayato.”

"Let's talk slowly without rushing to a conclusion." I'm actually hungry for a conversation. I'm glad no one's dealing with me in real life. I'm in trouble. "

Jolt thought I didn't want to deal with him too much, but he wouldn't say that.

Ronios took a sip of black tea in an elegant motion and turned his gaze toward Jolt.

The first reason I tried to reach out to Hayato was because of Nae of Lebra.

Is that Ney-sama?

"You know that, don't you? The clan in which Hayato was enrolled, the Black Dragon. The leader there, Nay, is also the next head of the Lebra Foundation's blood family. And I'm an investor in this virtual reality."

Jolt affirms by nodding. I didn't take it from the back, but I thought it was true.

"Jolt probably doesn't know Nay well, but she's pretty stupid. You can call it a flower garden in your head."

"Please stop because it will shorten the life." I certainly don't know much about it, but don't you overstate it? ”

"There's not enough to say." I don't know what he's teaching right now. It's preferable to have a sense of justice as a blood relative of Reebra, but there's not a bad person in the world. Everyone at the foundation thinks the next Lebra is no good, but- ”

Ronios cut his words there. Then he closed his eyes and smiled at his mouth.

Jolt thought that there were unusual things, but he encouraged the words because it was not clear.

But what is it?

Ronios opened his eyes slowly.

"The ratings changed at the previous council."

"At the council...? I've heard some stories, but I don't know the details because I heard them again." What's going on? "

"Nay gave in to Scorpion." I still don't know what kind of hand I used, but I sold the foundation a fight to protect my precious things. And we won. I've never been so surprised since I was born. "

Remember that time, Ronios smiled all the time while he talked.

And Jolt is surprised.

I knew Lebra had succumbed to Scorpion, but I didn't know Nay had done it.

"Besides, the cold eyes that Nai showed for a moment." It seemed like you said you'd crush it if you didn't pull your hand back. Even a complete third-party I was able to hold my breath for a moment. That changed my rating of Nai by 180 degrees. I think you've been fooling us all this time. How can a person who is not the head of a foundation sell his quarrels instead of making trouble for other foundations? ”

"First of all, it's impossible." Doing that would upset the balance of the foundation. "

"Right? The first thing I did was scorpion, but I didn't know Ney was involved." But Ney did it knowing it was Scorpion. I would have done it more covertly, but as long as I saw the exchange, I would have done something that would not have been stylish there. Every foundation is looking into what happened at that time. The Scorpion is at an end, and I still don't know what he did. ”

Ronios drinks another cup of tea before putting his feet back together.

"I think the reason why Ney changed, or the reason he showed his true nature, is because of Hayato."

Hayato?

"It's just a guess." However, even in reality, Nay is making various conveniences for Hayato. Soon after the Clan Wars event, Hayato was transported to the Hospital Colony, and it seems like he's been walking by a coffee shop run by Hayato-? ”

Ronios thought about it that much.

As for Jolt, I think it will happen again. This may be one of the other's interesting tricks, but it's a hassle to be able to stop talking all the time.

What's the matter?

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just talking and I was worried. Scorpion didn't know that Ney was involved, but for some reason he came into contact with Hayato. I don't know about that. If you look at the scorpion that tried to put the shutdown agenda on the council table, you certainly don't know that Ney is involved... do you know what Jolt is?"

There is something to think about. It's a guess that Hayato has something to do with this virtual reality. However, it is the same as knowing nothing.

"No, I don't know." And I was wondering why the people at the foundation were going to see Hayato. "

"You don't know Jolt, do you?" Maybe he was trying to talk to some of the top performers in the Clan War. The bounty's been transferred, but I heard you met the god of this world before that. You met Jolt, didn't you? "

"Yeah, well, I didn't see her." Just my voice. I was asked a lot of questions, but I got my bounty without any problems. Rather than that, it's a virtual reality that tells the reality of others. "

There was a story about Hayato being in a coffee shop. Even if you're a Foundation man, you need manners and morals.

"There's no way you're abusing me." And Viktor, of course. Clemola and I are members of the foundation, and we can't blame them. "

"The investor in this virtual reality is Nay-sama, right? Isn't there a conversation log left?"

"I made a fool of Nay earlier, but there's nothing there, right?" Maybe I can't get any information about the conversation to Nay either. Whether it's true or not, the structure of this virtual reality is in a black box and is being analyzed. I think it's a lie because I have regular events, but if I find out, that's when it happens. "

Jolt is a little confused because a lot of information comes out.

I opened my mouth once I had sorted it out in my head.

"I understand the situation." Hayato was entangled in the fact that he showed the change of Nay-sama or his true nature. That's why you made such a big deal of trouble, right? "

"You're right. But that's not all."

Is it still there?

"Earlier, I told you it seemed interesting for a reason, but that's not a mistake." Overall, Hayato is quite interesting. And I'm good enough to scout for a foundation. ”

Jolt almost shouted several times in surprise today.

When it comes to scouting the foundation, the ranks change. I'm running a coffee shop, probably, but I'm talking about making the working class Hayato a higher class. Lower ranks are rarely raised. It's not that there are no examples in the past, but I can count with both hands.

But there was something strange about it. Being good in virtual reality and being good in real life are not equals.

Is Hayato good?

Isn't that funny?

“Yeah, sure. Hayato's a good producer, but I don't know if he wants to scout in real life.”

“Of course, there's no way we're scouting in real life just because we're good at production in virtual reality. Are you making fun of me?"

"I'm not imitating such a dead-end feed. However, I felt a little uncomfortable saying that Hayato is excellent."

Jolt likes Hayato. I want to get to know you in real life, but that's not because you're good. It's all about exchanges, Hayato's personality, the whole set of reasons.

I don't understand Ronios' intentions in calling the Hayato superior.

“I see. What does a good person mean?”

“You mean the definition of a good person?”

That's right.

"The image is that people who specialize in specialization are excellent. I feel that the faster I turn my head, the better I will be. And speaking of which, I wonder if Hayato is that far away."

"Well, that's what it is." But I'm not the best person I think I am. "

Well, what kind of person would be good at that?

"I think the best people are the good people Jolt is talking about, and the people who can handle them are the best. No matter how fast you turn your head, you know you can do it alone.”

"Is that Hayato?"

Ronios laughed and then nodded.

"I tried to make contact with him, but Hayato is not attractive or strong in appearance. Besides, I was trying to get the request of the first time we met, and I thought that the store would be annoyed. To be clear, it's a nasty thing to do."

It's a terrible evaluation, but it's a lot of fun to say, isn't it?

"I like unexpected things." Hayato is not such a big deal, but the NPCs he was with were desperate to protect him. Eventually, we fought four of them, two of them from the beginning as tamers and two of them as melee and ranged combat experts. NPCs, though, try to protect Hayato. It might not mean the same thing, but it's like helping Hayato out. That's my definition of excellence. "

But it's NPC, isn't it? If you meet some conditions, you will definitely help me? "

No matter where you go, NPC is only a program. It's Jolt's idea that even if there's a priority program built in, it's not strange.

"I don't know what kind of AI the NPC is equipped with, but it's close to human thinking, right? It is not surprising to say that there are people inside. And even if it's just programmatic behavior, does Jolt have an NPC that can help him when he's in a pinch?”

"There is no NPC." In reality, I think Viktor will help us. ”

Viktor said that he looked a little stinky, but in the sense that he had come to help Jolt who had left the foundation, he would definitely help him.

"Sounds like a good relationship with Viktor." But there's only one Jolt, right? And there is no NPC. I also have a friendly NPC, but it feels more like a business partner than a friend. You won't stand up and shelter me. Besides not knowing what to do, I think Hayato is quite interesting and brilliant. ”

That's what they say.

"Besides, in reality, Ney is helping out." I don't use the power of the foundation to make things convenient, but do the people of the foundation stumble on the small coffee shop in the colony many times? ”

Jolt roars.

Ronios says that Hayato is good at helping NPCs who are close to human thought. If the person in question asks, he/she will deny that it will happen, but there is no doubt that this is the case as a result.

Although it is a story in virtual reality, if in reality a person from the foundation called Nay is doing a lot for Hayato, Joelt decided that it is not a mistake to make a mistake.

I understand that Lord Ronios is a good man called Hayato.

"That's good."

"But I don't know if you want me to harass you and be one of you." You can't even think about it, can you? "

"You didn't say you wanted to be one of us, did you?"

"... what about you?"

"As I said at the beginning, I want to test my strength. I decided on the opponent for Hayato. I don't want good people to be friends, I want them to be enemies."

"That's the reason for the mess...?"

"That's why I told you it was a boring reason, right? But it's important to me."

"It would be too selfish."

"Is there someone else who can do it on their own?" Any person is more or less selfish. "

"The argument is out of place. I am saying that it is a problem of strength and weakness. No matter what I think, it's too self-righteous. If you're the only one, you're just getting involved anyway."

"No? Well, I won't tell you to understand." I was asked why, so I answered. Besides, I can live in such a selfish way. If you have any complaints, you can tell the gods who gave me that power. I don't think it's worth saying anything to God that humans are about to perish, but they didn't do anything. "

Jolt sighed in patience.

This is why I don't want to see the people of the foundation. Understanding power and position leads to selfishness.

I'm cautious about things that might affect the foundation, but I don't care about anything else. Only one life is equal, and the environment surrounding it is so different.

I can't say that it was unfair, but it's quite distorted by the difference.

That's what Jolt thought, but I can't be convinced that it is.

Well, I'd like to ask you a favor.

"Thank you for talking to me." Let's hear it. "

"This is too much for Hayato." I'm in a position where I can be guided by your one-sided play. "

"You will have taken Scorpion to Hayato." Wasn't that unexpected? "

"If you say that, I'll be in trouble." So right now, I'm asking you to pay me back a little bit. "

"It's more an apology than a friendship." Well, that's fine. What can I do for you? ”

"Why don't you do it to me?" I think I'm better than Hayato. "

I can't stop Ronios anymore. Then ask Hayato to change the tip of the spear so as not to cause trouble.

Thinking so, Jolt said so.

Cremola and Viktor, who were present at the scene, including Ronios, were dumbfounded for a moment, but only Ronios laughed with anger.

Even in such a situation, Jolt looked at Ronios with a serious look on his face.

Finally, when he was ready to breathe, Ronios turned his gaze to Jolt with a smile on his face.

"No, it's been a long time since I've laughed so hard to breathe. This is an attempted murder, isn't it? But I see. Jolt is better than Hayato, so he'll be my opponent.”

"Yes, I am."

I won't. There are many reasons, but we can't fight each other personally.

How about fighting other than interpersonal battles?

"I said I wanted to test my powers." I want to do some wasted body arts and rapier battles. Besides, I lost the last time I made a scene. Sometimes I want to be a revenge. "

"That's me, too. I want to go back to that maid."

Cremola, who was eating sweets in silence, said so.

Jolt is annoyed that more people have to be persuaded.

"Then you can tell Hayato the situation and have him play a mock game with the NPCs." You don't have to buy a neighbor's base or harass them. "

"I'm fighting serious Hayato people." It is highly likely that you will think you can lose even if you do such a request. I want you to come and win with all your might. "

“Then at least give Hayato a benefit. And Lord Ronios took the risk."

“Hayato understands the benefits, but what are the risks to me?”

"Whether you win or lose against Hayato, you can achieve your goal." It won't hurt or itch when I lose. Let the opponent be serious, and you can really fight without any risk to yourself? "

"I see, if you say so." So what are the risks? "

"If you lose, please leave the foundation."

Jolt told Ronios not to be the next president of the foundation, but to be a bloodless man. In other words, he wants you to be on the same footing as Jolt.

Everyone was stunned again. But Ronios immediately laughed.

"There's no point in such a worn-out negotiation. You're going to make an impossible request first, and you're going to make a lighter request than that, aren't you? What is the main order?"

"No, that's the main order." That's what I'm serious about. If you can't do that, you don't think you can win. If you really think you can lose, there's no point in fighting. You're losing from the beginning when you don't take the risk. "

"Very well. Is this a plan to piss me off and change my tip?" But that doesn't make any sense either. Both I and you are being educated in a similar way. [M] If it's about negotiations, we both know what we're dealing with, don't we? Besides, I said I'd listen to Jolt's wishes. I didn't say I'd make it happen, did I? "

Jolt twitches in his heart, wondering if it's no good.

Ronios laughed as he wondered what to do next.

It looks like there was no madness in my eyes after all.

What are you talking about?

"It's about Hayato. I can't believe Jolt's trying to cover this up. That's what makes Hayato so good. Everyone tries to help Hayato for a different reason. I really want my men - yes, it's good for Hayato, but how about raising the ranks?”

Are you serious?

"The procedure is cumbersome, but it's not impossible." However, my investigation suggests that Hayato may not want it. They seem to care about the coffee shop in the factory, and they don't seem to want to have a coffee shop on the planet. "

I'm a stalker, but I can't help it if I'm part of the foundation. Also, Jolt didn't do that much, but I couldn't say strongly because he often investigated a lot.

I decided that it was impossible to stop Ronios or change the tip of the spear. In that case, I think we should try to ensure that Hayato has advantages as much as possible.

"It's a benefit to Hayato, but how about I give you what he wants?" Of course you can, but you should be able to do most things. ”

"I see. Should I do that for you?" I'm going to ask you to hang out with me.

I'll give you a reward later, so I don't mind doing anything, but I can't apologize to Hayato if I don't do this at least.

"I just have a condition."

Is that a condition?

“It's not a condition for Hayato, it's a condition for Jolt, but what we're talking about here is not to tell Hayato or Ney until the battle is over. Of course, about who we are. Just imagine that when Hayato finds out before the end of the battle, there will be no promise to fulfill his wish."

"Okay, but do you want to play that much in the game? I heard why, but I don't understand it at all.”

“I told you, didn't I? I don't have to tell you to understand. I just don't have the courage to say it."

“What are you talking about? You don't have the courage?"

"You can't leave the foundation like Jolt, and you can't sell your quarrels to other foundations like Nay. But there's only one person who wants to test their strength. If I don't do anything like this, I think I'll do something terrible in the near future."

"This is ridiculous...?"

"I don't have a desire for ruin. I just don't feel like doing something I don't normally think about. That's what makes the Foundation all-out war. Well, maybe if I can't do that, I'll break it someday."

When Ronios said that, he chuckled.

She is a woman in her twenties. Jolt wondered if there were many things. I ran away because I didn't like it. I don't say I fully understand it, but I understand it somehow.

Quite odiously, I want to take a break from the game. Since the way it is done is by the people of the foundation themselves, it is not something that can be combined with it.

Jolt apologized to Hayato in his heart.

“Okay, I'll give up on persuasion. And if it's okay with me, I'll be the one to talk to. So if you think you will do something, please contact me. I'll stop it for you."

"Thank you for that. Please do that. Now..."

When Ronios said so, the system voice echoed around him.

"The seal has been lifted on Kigashima Island." We are launching an invasion of the eastern kingdom. Attempt to defeat us. It will take about a week to re-seal. Repeat - ”

It was a World Announcement like it was at the time of the Stampede event.

"Eastern Country...?"

It was Jolt's first announcement, but I had one thought.

And Ronios, who was smiling mockingly, smiled as if it were a lie.

"Probably Hayato did it." What a good timing. This is what God tells me to fight Hayato. "

"I don't know why that happened, but I didn't say that."

"I see? I was talking about Hayato, and Hayato unsealed something. I thought I said I could take it seriously by unsealing it, too?"

"You should see a doctor once." Why don't you go to the hospital for a while? I'm talking about two famous doctors. "

Ronios laughed as Jolt said that with a disgusted face.

"You're the only one who can say that to me. Well, it's been a fun day. It's been a long time since I felt so happy. Then I'll go to the East country too. If the timing is right, I'll be able to piss off the Hayatoes."

“What are you going to do? I can't believe the coffee shop that Hayato is doing--"

"I won't harass you in real life." It's only in the game. The details are secret, but Hayato and the NPCs will be angry no matter what they think. Yes, I've told you many times, but don't tell the Hayatoes what you said here. If you do that, it might upset the balance of the foundation. "

(... we're hit. That's what's holding me back.)

I put a nail in Jolt's shield because I don't know if it's true or not. That's enough to make Jolt immobile, trying to reduce the risk as much as possible.

Worst of all, I could have told you everything and done something about it, but now I can't use my hand.

Is it true or are you lying that you revealed your true feelings and laughed at me? If you don't think it's true and don't act, the risk is too great.

Even though you are already away from the foundation, many people are affected if the foundation becomes confused. If he thinks there's nothing he can do, but shows that he can't, Jolt has no choice but to follow Ronios' terms.

Seeing through that idea, Ronios stared at Jolt somewhat grumpy.

"Jolt, that's what you 're--no, this is something else." I can't talk about people either. "

What is it?

"It's nothing." Then you understood, didn't you? "

"I understand but I'm not convinced, but I won't tell you." However, the reward for Hayato was a testimony. "

"I know." I'll do whatever I can. Then let's go to the eastern country. Cremola, let's go. "

”Nnh”

And Clemola rose up to say that, and left the room with Ronios.

And when he stopped hearing the footsteps, Jolt weakened. I was so tired that I couldn't stand it for a while.

Looking at Jolt like that, Viktor looks sympathetic.

Are you okay?

Do you look okay?

"No, not at all. But we should hurry, right?"

Jolt snarls at Viktor's words.

You're my assistant, aren't you?

"I didn't promise to help Hayato." You were telling me not to do that, weren't you? If you don't tell me what you're talking about here, you can do whatever you want. "

"It was dangerous when I told you not to say it, but I'm glad you didn't tell me not to."

It might have been woven in there, though.

"That's right." Besides, maybe there was an idea that I wanted to put my hand on Hayato and compete with Nai-sama. Is she a masochist? "

"Don't shake me about that." Come on, let's go. You're going to help Hayato and the others, aren't you? "

"I don't know if I can." However, it looks like the battle has begun on a massive scale, and I don't care. Let's get in the way as much as we can. But I wonder what he's going to do. "

"Are you sure you want to offend Hayato and the others?" I don't seem to be doing anything in real life, and it seems impossible for the store in the game... to take someone hostage? "

Could Hayato take another member hostage anyway?

"It's impossible to say that... but I think it's faster to fight than to be harassed." That's what makes her happy, isn't it? "

"Sure. It's hard to help Hayato as far as I can." Well, let's go to the east country first. Even so, I'm not at all happy that Booze Kid is such a fun event. "

Jolt said that, then left the room with Viktor, telling the Bandits to get ready to go to the East Country.