Another Frontier Online

"Hayato doesn't have any luck either." Is that usually the case? It's so funny. "

Amanda seems to be in a good mood.

Although it was confusing at first, Amanda was interested by Hayato talking about her failures, and now she was listening to Hayato's story happily laying on the sofa.

Hayato and Amanda have little in common. But we have a mutual acquaintance. On top of that, I started talking about Nanagi, saying that Amanda's opponent was not in a bad mood.

It was when Hayato first went to the Eastern kingdom. The good news for Amanda was that Ninja took the "Adamantite Knife Extreme", a knife that Ninja loved to use.

"You were unlucky indeed." I had a lot of other items because I was a production job. And yet, the most important knife was stolen. "

"I have Hayato." And this time, I'll be taken hostage. Didn't you do something in your previous life? "

I can't deny that possibility.

"Hayato is loved by God."

Hypnos said that while eating strawberry-flavored puff pastry cream.

Amanda nodded with a smile.

"Sure is." Aside from many good things and many bad things, I think some people are born from such stars. It's going to be tough from now on.

"It's not from now on, but it's in progress and I'm not good at it." I can't log out, and I think I'm dead. "

"Really. I feel sorry for you."

You did it, didn't you?

"That's why I'm sympathetic. I don't care if other people do it."

Amanda said that, and for a moment she looked serious, then leaned back on the sofa and laughed with her legs crushed.

Hayato didn't know what was wrong, but he laughed bitterly, wondering if he had gotten stuck in something. But now that I know I'm in a good mood, it's time to cut out the conversation.

I've told you some stories of my unhappiness, but could you tell me about you next?

Amanda, who was laughing with her belly, was laughing too much and had tears in her eyes, but while lying down, she turned her face to the side and looked towards Hayato.

"Me? You want to hear about me?"

That's right.

Why?

"I don't want you to be offended..."

"You can say whatever you want, or you can ask whatever you want." It's a thank you for making me laugh, so don't be angry, I'll listen to it. "

"Thank you for that. You--"

Say "Amanda," not you.

"Then Amanda-san..."

"Amanda-san, that's pretty fresh." Oh, I'm sorry, go on. "

"Well, Amanda has a bad reputation for Lunaria-san."

I think so.

Can't get along even now?

Both Amanda and Hypnos were surprised by Hayato's remarks, staring at Hayato with a face that made her feel real.

Hayato continues to speak to both of them as they are.

"Now, I think it's better for everyone to live happily than to conquer the world." I heard about it, so if you have any objections, I hope you can tell me, but Lunaria doesn't like Amanda's scolding of her companions, and I think she'll forgive me if I apologize. "

This made Amanda feel completely frozen, and she stared at Hayato without moving.

And now Hypnos laughed.

"Hayato is amazing. Are you going to put a scalpel in the root of things? Indeed, if Amanda gave up conquering the world, it would be solved. Amanda, what are you going to do?"

"... you surprised me." It's unexpected, unexpected, unexpected. After all, Hayato is good, but you must survive and become my subordinate. "

"Shall we talk about that later?" So why don't you give up conquering the world? "

Why?

"No, that's why we should all have fun and live--"

"It doesn't make sense to live with everyone." From my point of view, it's only because you can't live alone with everyone, right? "

"Maybe, but that's not all. Didn't you enjoy talking to me? I think it would be more fun to talk to people than just one person."

"It was fun." But that's enough virtual reality, isn't it? We don't need to meet in real life, so there's no reason to stop conquering the world. Besides, I don't want to kill everyone, I just want to live happily in virtual reality? "

"But I think some people want to stay real?"

"As long as you remember reality." If you force yourself into virtual reality and forget about reality, that's fine. Most of the NPCs in this world are, so there's enough testing. ”

Hayato gets stuck in words.

If we can change Amanda's mind, a lot of things will be solved. Having been taken hostage, Hayato told us that there was only so much he could do, but it was quite difficult.

Hayato decided to ask a fundamental question to get to know Amanda better.

"I want you to tell me why Amanda wants to conquer the world." It seems that we can put everyone into virtual reality, but I think it's okay to live in reality. "

Nanagi aspires to a free and equal world. The real people said that they would perish someday, but I don't think Amanda has that idea. I don't think I'm doing it for the right reasons.

Hayato questioned whether there might be a trigger for Amanda to change her mind.

Amanda looked at Hayato boringly.

"What are you going to do when you hear that?"

I wonder if you want me to give up so softly knowing why.

"It's Hayato who says that." I'll ask you the other way around, but why is Hayato running a coffee shop? You started with a bounty from the Clan War, didn't you? "

Sometimes I like coffee, but I like to entertain people.

"Why do you give up when others say something like that?"

Again Hayat is stuck in words.

I thought I wouldn't give up for any good reason.

Hypnos opened his mouth wondering what to answer.

"Amanda, I should know if you want me to give up or not."

"Huh? It's unusual that you want to know about me." Will it rain tomorrow with a spear? "

"Once you have a full grasp of this virtual reality, can you do that?"

"If Hayato is nearby to tell such a joke, you will change." Isn't that the nicer way to go? "

"Thank you. So, can I ask you why you conquered the world?"

Amanda was lying on the sofa, but she got up and sat down again.

It's okay to say otherwise, but it's been a long time, isn't it?

“There's as much time as there is. I'd love to hear it. Isn't Hayato the same?"

I see. Hostage living is free, so if you can tell me, I'd love to hear it.

“It's amazing how many people are interested in me today. Fine, I'll have fun today, and I'll answer whatever you want."

Amanda asked Hayato for a new matcha ice cream. And when Hayat had prepared it, Amanda took a bite of it. Then he took a breath and opened his mouth.

I want to become a demon king in this virtual reality.

”... hah?”

The faces of Hayato and Hypnos are too interesting.

Um, are you kidding me?

"No way, I'm serious, but I know it won't tell you anything, so I'll explain it to you from the beginning."

Amanda exhaled lightly before moving her gaze in turn with Hayato and Hypnos.

"I know Hayato, but I was raised as a fortified person in the real world."

Hayato nods.

I've heard about it from Diete and Hypnos. It's unbelievable, but I'm pretty sure it's the first thing because Dat doesn't lie about it.

"When I got to the heart of things, I never went outside the lab to study, inspect, or experiment, and that's the only world I've ever been in." So I didn't have any doubts, and I did exactly what the researchers said. "

Amanda ate another sip of matcha ice cream.

"I've never eaten anything like this, and I've been doing what I'm told. What I do almost every day is the same, but I did a good job there that no one else could beat. It was all about being praised by the researchers in charge and getting good grades. And I was proud of strengthening people. One day, I'm going to fly out into space to save humanity."

Strengthening humans was also an important plan in space development at that time.

The universe is too vast for human beings. Even if you enter the universe with longing, you may feel loneliness and fear due to its breadth, and you may not be able to endure it in the same spirit.

At a time when the Earth's resources could not afford it, it was urgent to build a human capable of withstanding the universe in search of a new heaven and earth.

“My first trigger was an old movie I saw in recreation when I was a kid. A person who could be called a meta-human--no, it's not a person, it's something human. That person knocks down many people with guns. Even when she gets a bullet, she doesn't die, and she defeats the opponent in a motion that doesn't stop her eyes. Kill hundreds of people on your own. I thought I'd grow up to be that kind of person who could save the world. And that was my motivation."

Hayato also likes to watch old movies and has seen some of those action movies. Naturally, as an adult, it is entertainment. Impossible in reality.

"But the reality is sad." As I got older, my pride in being a reinforcing person disappeared. They say they're fortified, but they're just a little better than normal people. In reality, I can't defeat ten adults by myself, and if I can't fly, I can't break the building with a punch. "

Amanda says that and then eats all the matcha ice cream. Then I lightly threw the spoon into the glass vessel containing the ice.

"Still, my mission was to go to space and search for resources and planets that could be inhabited." I had a sense of purpose that I was born for it. But that's gone too. "

"May I ask why?"

Amanda smiles molested.

“Think about why I'm here. My first job, is to steal the technology used in this virtual reality? And the reason is that it was the best grade. I passed my anger, and my intent to kill was boiling."

"That's not true..."

"No need for sympathy." Anyway, I decided to break up with the lab. And while I was obedient, I didn't provide the technology, and most of it was my knowledge. The question is, what do we do after that? "

Is that how you conquer the world?

“I was hoping to take over the spaceship from then on, but I didn't think it was a spaceship that could conquer the world. And I decided to think a lot more because I wanted to talk about leaving the planet because I was going to lose the Other Frontier."

So what did you think?

"I thought I'd leave Earth in a spaceship and become a meta-human in this virtual reality. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a movie character, and I wanted to be an overwhelmingly strong movie character. It's a virtual reality dream that doesn't happen in real life.”

Hayato looked at Amanda with pride and was stunned.

"Hey, don't look like that when you hear people's dreams."

"But that dream is a bit..."

"I know how you feel. It's like dreaming about someone else who doesn't care about you. I'll either deny or laugh at you for saying something stupid. I also laughed when I learned that Hayato's dream was to run a coffee shop. But it doesn't matter what other people think, does it?"

Hayato understood a little too. When I left the company, I didn't say I was leaving because of a dream. Because it's madness to open a coffee shop in a colony in order to win money for the game.

Even though I think my dreams are the best, I can't help but think that it is stupid from the point of view of others. The scale of the dream may be different, but I don't deserve to deny the other person's dream.

Thinking so, Hayato lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I don't know if that's a good dream, but I shouldn't have denied it."

With that, Amanda looked quite surprised and wandered her gaze.

What's wrong?

"I understand a little bit of what Hayato means by danger." I didn't think I'd let this dream go to ridicule. Nanagi felt similar, but it was just like my dream. "

"Um...?"

"I don't care about that. Anyway, I left Earth with the spaceship. I took care not to erase your memories. You can use the technology you've stolen here to program the machines in your body."

Amazing thing to do.

"There's plenty of room for that." That's what I was training for in the lab. But I didn't expect you to sleep for a hundred years. It was too sudden for the program. I wonder if the only failure - oh, no, the failure to get Lunaria's help. "

Lunaria-san's cooperation?

"You know, Lunaria was built as a fortified human just like me." It's a failure, but it's a terrific failure. I tried to be my assistant, but I didn't know what I was bleeding out of. ”

"I don't think I'm going to help someone who scolds my people...?"

"I didn't take that into account because of my failure. But you're a friend. You don't remember, but you still think that ordinary people are just like you? I was supposed to wear the spirit of being able to stand the lonely space of the universe, but she said she didn't like one of them."

"Is it bad to want to be with people?"

"It's not that bad." But me and Lunaria are fortified people, right? I've been educated not to have that sweetness. In the case of Lunaria, I may be halfway out of the way.

You quit?

"Unlike me, she's a fool - no, she was just playing a useless role in showing the researchers that way. From my current situation, I'm sorry it seemed right."

Amanda said that Lunaria was also excellent, but she took bad points in her studies, inspections, and experiments, making her appear to be a failure as a fortified human being.

I don't know if the researcher in charge and the sled were compatible or not thinking about anything, but I know that Lunaria didn't really do it anyway.

Hayato was surprised to hear that.

Amanda called Lunaria a failure, so she thought she was looking down on it.

"Maybe you admit to Lunaria-san...?"

"I think you're an admirer or an excellent pawn." I set up a clan with her as my leader to make time for me to steal the technology from the spaceship, but it was easy for me to do my job thanks to the many things that made me stand out. I told you to stop in the last clan war, but I was annoyed to lose the fight with Ivan. "

The clan said they found out that Lunaria had it all by herself. Lunaria lost and the clan collapsed. I was ravaged by Blackjack and lost.

"I was sticky to the end, but I couldn't." Even if the equipment was different, the stats were the same, and the skill configuration was almost the same, so I couldn't roll it back. But you can't use it, can you? I can't believe that Lunaria will collapse even if she loses. Humans are humans after all... oh? I wonder what they were talking about? "

At some point, it seemed that the conversation had deviated a lot, and Amanda tilted her neck.

"Oh, yes. I want to become a demon king in virtual reality." Like I said, I want to be a superman like the movies I saw when I was a kid. In terms of the world view of virtual reality, demon kings and brave people. But I'm not going to do a good thing with that power, so I'm going to give it to the Demon King. "

"I get it." But you don't have to conquer the world, do you? "

"It's a dream that doesn't come true in reality, so just make it real." And if this virtual reality were to be physically destroyed, we would be in trouble. And my body lying inside the pod. Do you think the spaceship is invincible? It wasn't perfect if I had my energy shield on while I was stealthy. If we find out where it is, and we hit it with a bunch of missiles, we'll break it. You need to be sure to keep that place that way. "

Amanda said that and laughed.

Hayato didn't know where the point of laughter was, but at least now that Amanda's situation is known, I think it's good.

That said, I can't think of a reason why I should give it up.

It's like Amanda wants to do it because she wants to. That's no good, but there's no reason for it in theory.

In the first place, I think of myself and humans as different races, and there are verses where I wonder if I know what will happen to others.

The door of the room opened vigorously when I wanted to argue about anything.

There stood a pineapple.

"You came after Hayato..."

Nanagi looks abhorrently at Hayato.

When I talked in the underground arena of the Guardian Guild, I had a more spare look, but for some reason I was now staring at Hayato with my eyes open.

"Oh, Nanagi, have you picked up any good items?" It doesn't look like it, though. "

Amanda asked happily, and Nanagi sighed.

You look like you're having fun, don't you?

"Well, I enjoyed talking to Hayato." You and Hypnos have thin faces and I look like an idiot, but Hayato is worth talking about because the facial expressions change. "

"I see. Then that's enough." Hayato will be thrown in jail. "

"It's fine as it is." I won't be able to escape from Demon King Castle anyway, so I'll treat it as my cook's turn. "

"We don't have to eat to die, do we?"

"That's good. Eating delicious food will motivate you." Or are you afraid of Hayato? Even though the production skill configuration always has an HP of 1 or something? "

Amanda turns her provocative face toward Nanagi.

Nanagi opened his mouth for a moment with a sharp gaze toward Hayato.

"I'm scared. This one affects people for better or worse." It looks like you haven't noticed, but you're already under the influence of Hayato? "

"... what is it?"

"This is Hayato's fear." It's not like you to be obsessed with Hayato. If you can say it's okay, keep it close. If you see Hayato alone, I'll throw him off the balcony and make him come back to his death. "

Amanda looks at Hayato with a surprised face. And now I scowled at the snapper.

"Fine. I'll always keep Hayato by my side." Even if you're affected, I'll prove you can win the event. "

I hope so.

Having said that, Nanagi turned his gaze to Hypnos.

The Hypnos was only smiling slightly.

"I need to talk to you. Stay with me for a while."

"Oh, I'm glad you invited me."

Hypnos stood up and walked out of the room with Nanagi.

The remaining Hayato and Amanda are somewhat subtle. Rather, Amanda stares at Hayato.

Um, what?

"Obsessed...? Me...?"

"I think Nanagi is just saying it appropriately." There's no way I'm influencing people. "

"... well, that's fine. Take your time at the Demon King Castle until the event is over." But don't leave me or Hypnos alone. If Nanagi finds you alone, you'll really be thrown off the balcony. "

For my part, that's the best way to get back to death.

"... that was a blind spot." what should I do...? "

Amanda was troubled to hold her head, and Hayato started making coffee and drinking it, which seemed like it would take time.

In the corridor of the Demon King's Castle, Nanagi and Hypnos faced each other.

What are you thinking about, coming after Hayato?

"I just listened to Amanda's orders." If you want to complain, why don't you tell Amanda? "

"You knew that if you took Hayato with you, there was a good chance." Amanda is good, but she has too little interpersonal experience. If you don't do well, you'll be the voice of Hayato. "

"Just like you did to Benitru?"

"... yes."

"Then why don't Hayato do that to Amanda?" Where are the rules? "

"Foolish. If Amanda gives up world domination, you can't be the keeper of this virtual reality?" Even if our goals were slightly different, we would be aiming for the same thing, right? "

"Isn't that just what you think?"

"You can't be...."

"Well, I don't think you're out of line. I'm not your enemy, and you can't disobey Amanda's orders. But it's too early to think of me as a perfect ally. I have what I aim for. It doesn't necessarily align with your interests."

"... I shouldn't have trusted you."

"Did you really trust me?" Hayato told me he trusted me, but I couldn't believe it. I betrayed that trust and brought you here. "

"I wonder if you really betrayed Hayato." Didn't you do it to make Hayato win? "

“No matter what you think, you're free. Now, that's all we need to talk about?"

"... ahh, you can go now"

"Then I'll go back to my room, because the conversation between Amanda and Hayato is interesting." How would you like to join us? "

"I don't want to be influenced by Hayato."

"That's a shame." Good luck with tomorrow's event. "

Hypnos said that and went back to the room where the Hayatoes were.

After seeing Hypnos entering the room, Nanagi stroked his tongue and headed toward his room.