ShangriLa Frontier ~ Shitty Games Hunter Challenges Godly Game ~ Chapter 288

Published at 23rd of February 2023 11:13:01 AM

Chapter 288
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This Is Nothing But a Cursed Wound

「…………」

「Aburamushi, you do realize that this is actually quite the opposite of your claim?」

「…… Shut up.」

A certain company. A certain hierarchy. And a certain device.

The heart, the brain and the soul of the game ShangriLa Frontier…… In other words, a woman in a jersey was taking to a woman wearing a white lab coat while standing in front of a computer in the main server room of the game.

「Even though I have asked you time and time again not to lay your hands on my precious world with such selfish ideas?」

「Shut up! And what is wrong with that, huh!?」

「That is why you yourself should be able to understand that trying to erase the player’s data from the server simply because of a childish grudge is nothing short of irresponsible and insane.」

The woman in white lab coat was Amachi Ritsu. The jersey-wearing woman was Tsukuri Tsukuyo. Both women were indispensable parts of the organism known as ShangriLa Frontier. Depending on how one chose to view it, they could even be called “gods” of the world of ShangriLa Frontier.

However, even if the two women would usually have different opinions on different subjects, this time around there was a completely different kind of tension in between them.

「If you are so eager to do something that might potentially destroy your whole career, go right ahead –– I’m not going to stop you. Hell, I’ll even drink to that when the time comes. But would you kindly not drag other people down alongside you?」

「Guh……!」

BANG! Tsukuyo kicks the computer with all of her might in an act of frustration. However, since Tsukuyo was not all that physically fit to begin with, her little outburst did not managed to cause the machine any kind of damage at all.

Was it really anger? …… No, probably not. The feeling that was digging through her heart right now was much more toxic, much more harmful and much harder to get rid off for good. It was hatred.

「So? Following the “γ Gunman” and “φ Bumpkin”, what is the identity of the third person?」

「…… It’s “μ”.」

Those are words from a certain game from the past. A shadow of the project that once existed, and something that was clinging onto Tsukuyo like a mark of a curse.

If you are relatively new to the gaming world, it is a reference that is going to be easily lost to you. However, every single time those terms emerged in context of ShangriLa Frontier, Tsukuyo felt as though something inside of her heart was starting to hurt. She was usually serious about this whole management job when it comes to the game, but at those times she was acting like a spoiled child that would refuse to eat the food she did not like no matter what.

「It’s actually amazing that they could release a “completed” game in such a short amount of time, don’t you agree? So I did a little digging regarding the history of its development and what I managed to find out……」

「……Aren’t you acting in an awfully calm manner right now, huh? Even though that player managed to make contact with Goldunine?」

「When there is a crazed chimpanzee making all kinds of noise and commotion all around you, what other choice you have except for try to stay calm? But what can I say? Even if we subtract that, I am just way more tolerant than you are.」

Hearing that, Tsukuyo initially wanted to retort in some sort of way, but then she realized that no matter what she would say here, it would only make her sound stupid and it would make her look like an even bigger child. So instead she chose to remain quiet and at least try to somehow bare with the anger that was seething inside of her.

But there was also another reason why all of this simply could not be helped.

A player that happens to be involved with the majority of the Unique Monsters in the game. And they had a solid grounds to suspect that he was also in the middle of investigating the identities of the other ones as well. Seeing just how many potential “landmines” laid before her, Amachi could not help it but to break into goosebumps.

「As usual, whenever your Father gets involved, you start to act barbaric like an animal or a wild beast.」

「…… Don’t you dare mentioning my deadbeat dad here of all places.」

「Even though I have a whole lot of respect for him?」

A person who almost managed to singlehandedly break the concept of “VR” apart because of his fixation upon realism. Tsukuyo managed to maintain her calm, but even so, she would still look at the console’s screen with a grudge in her eye.

「I am not going to acknowledge that man…… And I am going to surpass him no matter the cost, even if it means self-destructing alongside the way.」

「And I guess THAT is the result of that resolve of yours?」

「When it comes to ShanFro, you yourself should know that I am not the one to cut corners. Even if this contradicts the game itself, I am still going to make it happen.」

Even though Amachi was looking at Tsukuyo coldly up until now, right about now a faint warm smile appeared on her lips.

「Sorry to break it to you, Aburamushi, but well, you see…… If you want to make my world a better place, I would much rather take advantage of that and set it in flames myself.」

「Tsk…… Suit yourself.」

Just then Amachi left the server room, leaving Tsukuyo alone. But when left alone, the usually sloppy “God” of ShangriLa Frontier started to grin widely, as if it was a gesture coming from the very bottom of her heart.

「Fufu, fufufufufu. I know that it is a shame that my dear Kutanid was done dirty like that, but thanks to that I am also able to witness the Third Stage of the World Quest way faster than initially expected.」

ShangriLa Frontier…… The Third Stage of the World Quest, “The War of the Golden Falls”. The battle between a certain “Dragon” and “Siegwurm”, involving all of the creatures present on the New Continent.

Just like Amachi’s Luukan or Siegwurm, it is a Unique Monster that you can only happen upon as a result of a Random Encounter, but its origin is slightly different.

「Dragons may not be the perfect of beings out there, but that does not change the fact that I love them all the same. After all, they are one of the elements that shape ShangriLa Frontier into the creation it is.」

Giggling, Tsukuyo stops in front of it, her heart filled with happiness and joy.

「Please, do your best out there, “Siegwurm”…… Go and slaughter a whole lot of those nasty players to quench your mommy’s boredom, would you?」

But there was no response to those words. Instead, “Siegwurm” only made a loud inorganic sound.

Additionally, even though Tsukuyogi’s stomach suffered some serious damage as a result of Tsukuyo’s shenanigans, it is worth noting that he was able to fix the damage completely thanks to his beloved wife’s bento.

Chapter end

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