NOVEL NEXT Chapter 81
“Are you suggesting we enter the tournament together?”
“Affirmative.”
Suddenly, what is this all about?
Catherine, perplexed by Eve’s unexpected question, retorted.
“Why?”
That was a natural question.
Could it be?
Is it because of that?
Catherine, struck by a thought, corrected her wording and asked again.
“Is it because there seem to be too many competitors? Are you trying to interfere?”
If that’s the case, Catherine herself was opposed.
…After all, I got dragged into this too.
She mumbled under her breath in a voice too quiet for anyone to hear.
In response to Catherine’s question, Eve shook her head and gently denied it.
“Not at all.”
She continued her explanation.
“It’s not a major issue that there are many organisms feeling attracted to ‘Siwoon.’ Rather, it can be seen as an efficient situation.”
Catherine frowned slightly at those words and asked once more.
“Then what is it?”
It didn’t seem like she was upset, but rather genuinely curious.
Eve began to explain her thoughts as logically as possible.
“The problem is that ‘Siwoon’ and the human ‘Julia’ are going out together alone.”
“?”
Eve slowly expanded on her explanation for the still-confused Catherine.
“It would become what people call a ‘date.’”
“…What does that mean─?”
“If they’re not going out with more than half of our group, this part will become an inefficient factor in their relationship. For that reason, I’ve suggested that human ‘Catherine’ participate in the tournament to disrupt their ‘outing.’”
“……”
A moment later.
Catherine, rolling her eyes, asked Eve.
“Isn’t that just it?”
Condensing Eve’s lengthy words into a short statement.
“You’re unhappy that they’re playing alone outside, right?”
“Partially affirmative.”
Catherine let out a short, dismissive laugh and shook her head.
“So you want to crash the tournament to cause a ruckus?”
“This too, I partially affirm.”
Could artificial intelligence really be this straightforward?
Catherine thought whimsically.
But that’s beside the point.
Whether or not it was persuasive was another issue.
“That’s a freaking good idea.”
Let’s do it right away.
Catherine accepted Eve’s suggestion.
—
What did I mess up for this to be the finals already?
Of course, I didn’t do anything at all.
Julia did it all.
I stared at the bracket with only two teams left.
So far, there had been no crisis for us.
No, for Julia.
Her skills had been suspected as hacks online.
Naturally, that was to be expected.
However, the problem starts now.
《Ahem, I apologize. We have reached the finals! The ‘Strongest Machines vs. Strongest Humans’ team!》
I listened to the caster, who was beginning to show signs of weariness, and pondered.
“……”
Let’s assess the situation coldly.
Did they really enter the tournament intending to beat us?
My answer is ‘no.’
More than anything, I had heard Julia’s explanation in the same location, at the same time.
I couldn’t think of a reason for them to jump in and steal our victory.
Perhaps they’re intentionally throwing the match?
I inferred based on the facts at hand.
《Now, the opposing team!!》
The caster’s shout echoed loudly through the arena again.
《The controversial team that heated up Net Space! Now, it’s all about skills! The ‘Warriors Are the Best’ team, featuring the rumored player!》
I glanced over at Julia.
“Shall we go?”
“…Yes.”
Julia and I moved to the stage together.
The hot spotlight illuminated the stage.
On the opposite side, Eve and Catherine were already up there.
《The atmosphere is incredibly heated!》
As I walked over to the opposite booth while listening to the caster’s commentary, I reached out for a handshake to greet them naturally.
Then, in a very soft voice, I asked Catherine a question.
“…You’re going to throw the match, right?”
“Who are you?”
……
And that’s when I realized.
These guys…
They seriously plan to beat us.
Was the prize money that tempting?
What’s the point, really?
Given the situation, I had only one method left.
“Let’s play fair.”
I had no choice but to give it my all.
I finished the handshake and entered our booth.
I put on the virtual reality device that I had used exhaustively to reach the finals.
The vast landscape of the virtual world filled my vision.
The stage for combat unfolded centrally.
The final bosses (Eve and Catherine) stood proudly on the opposite side.
Like all the opponents I had met so far, they appeared as translucent figures before selecting their characters.
I sent some encouraging words to Julia.
[We just need to win this one, so let’s give it a bit more effort.]
I was saying it to myself too.
[……Yes!]
Julia seemed to gain a hint of motivation, responding in a louder voice than usual.
[…Why don’t you two stop whispering and come at us once?]
With those words, she sounded every bit like a villain character.
Catherine was the vanguard for their side.
On our side, Julia prepared for the match.
I watched as the match slowly got underway.
…Catherine.
I had watched her play quite a few times so far.
It was definitely skills that could not be classified as those of a complete beginner due to the innate stats.
If she had been weak, she wouldn’t have made it this far.
I had lost consecutively to Julia when I first played this game, so I could definitely relate.
Basic physical prowess was an advantage in a virtual reality game where you had to move your body.
However, at least in this ‘game,’ this match, I could confidently assure Julia’s victory.
Even though it was based on reality, it was ultimately ‘a game.’
[Guess what!]
Catherine lets out a glimmer of rage after receiving a technique that one shouldn’t get hit by.
As expected, Catherine was still Catherine.
It seemed like it was going to end with a single pattern, with moments that filled the matches with dread.
To an onlooker, it might seem we won with a normal score of 3:1, but it could have easily been a match with a score of 3:0.
In my view, the reason for Catherine’s defeat was simple and straightforward.
It was that she had no way of knowing the ‘performance’ of the characters in this game as a first-time player.
As a result, her character choice naturally leaned heavily on ‘appearance.’
As a matter of fact, the character she picked was the prettiest one in the game and at the same time, the most garbage character, which the players complained most about for balance adjustments.
To get even one win with that was quite an achievement.
If Catherine had chosen a more decent character, would the results have been different?
I thought quietly.
In front of the beaten Catherine.
Now, Eve’s chosen character appeared on stage.
【‘A’ here. Nice to meet you.】
The character introduced herself and took a stance.
‘A.’
Why on Earth did she choose that character?
Eve’s chosen character didn’t seem particularly great either.
Did she pick it because of the ‘android’ setting?
…With that in mind, Julia might actually win this.
The match began.
The combat proceeded─.
……
Wow, insane.
That’s what a hack looks like. What else could it be?
Eve was using only two techniques.
‘Punch’ and ‘Kick.’
The most basic skills in a fighting game, possessing the weakest damage.
Yet, she won overwhelmingly.
She inserted techniques between every frame.
…She really is putting in the effort.
Catherine I could understand.
But I never thought Eve would be this diligent.
《The Machine Strongest player! She’s too strong! I can unequivocally say! A god of fighting games has emerged today! This is just madness!!》
In the end, Julia lost the match with a score of 1:3.
It was her first defeat in this tournament.
[…We lost.]
[No, you did great.]
It was impressive to even get one win against a super AI that’s continuously data mining in real time.
…….
So what now?
《Now, let’s finish with the last match! The mysterious strongman who didn’t get a chance in the entire tournament!》
Not a strongman at all.
《The mysterious figure who caught everyone’s eye just by being on the same team as RabbitGangDude! The ‘ImARealWizard’ player from the ‘Warriors Are the Best’ team!》
Why am I being called a player?
(Top-ranked Silver, top 80%)
[…Hah.]
I let out a light sigh as I took stock of the situation.
Since Julia has lost, there was no reason for me to participate now.
After all, I had entered just to fill up the roster to remove the hack speculation around Julia.
To put it bluntly.
I could withdraw right now, and it wouldn’t matter.
…However.
Out of spite, I decided I must win.
I secretly made a resolution.
It was the plan I had in mind for anti-Eve.
I had to use it now.
[Haha, why don’t you just give up?]
I thought to myself that I had to win, especially because Catherine’s translucent figure was taunting me from the other side.
I chose a muscular male character.
His hairstyle was very unique, and his battle cry was just as distinctive.
His name was ‘P.’
Famous for having a strong single strike.
『Get Ready For─』
The sound signifying the start of the game echoed.
I saw Eve’s character appeared before me, blocking my path.
The match count was commencing.
I quietly asked Eve in the meantime.
[Eve!]
[Confirmed.]
[Did it really have to be like this?]
[I’m not sure what you’re talking about.]
…….
How natural for an AI that tells lies.
The match began.
Eve’s character slowly pressured me.
[Today, I’d recommend withdrawing─.]
[Eve, stop!]
[……!]
It was a reflexive reaction to my shout.
Eve controlling her character halted its movements.
And what I aimed for was this very opportunity.
【Boom!】
My character released a peculiar battle cry.
A fierce punch cut through the air.
My name is Lee Siwoon.
I was a man who would use any means necessary to win.
[…That’s a cowardly move.]
Catherine muttered in disbelief.
I didn’t care.
It was just the lament of a loser.
Namely.
The tactic of saying “stop” and then hitting.
I was certain that Eve wouldn’t refuse my request.
With that assurance, the tactic was possible.
I seized the moment.
—
The victory gained by setting aside my pride was sweet.
The spectators outside didn’t seem to grasp what happened since they couldn’t hear our conversation.
But that wasn’t my concern.
The operators suspected a mechanical flaw and looked into the virtual reality device, but of course, the machine was fine.
Since Eve herself didn’t protest, the victory naturally went to us.
““…….””
Catherine and Eve looked at me with strange eyes.
In their hands was a trophy symbolizing second place.
It was a small sacrifice for the greater good.
I cautiously averted my gaze.
Anyway, that’s that.
I launched Net Space to check the game bulletin board.
It was time to see how public opinion about Julia had changed.
《IRON FIST – XII Bulletin Board》
[Didn’t I tell you GangDude isn’t a hack? lol]
Wow, it’s like online play translates to offline—crazy!
So insane!
— Just delete the post list and stop bluffing.
ㄴ lol sorry (author)
[Is Eve really that streamer Eve?]
Why aren’t you streaming? Why aren’t you streaming? Why aren’t you streaming? Why aren’t you streaming? Why aren’t you streaming? Why aren’t you streaming? Why aren’t you streaming?
— This guy’s gone crazy.
— Is it real? That sounds reasonable, but why isn’t she really streaming?
— Come back, master… it’s too cold…
[What was that last match]
Isn’t this manipulation? What’s going to happen to my betting?
And who the hell is ‘Machine Strongest and Human Strongest’?
GangDude was fighting toe-to-toe.
Anyone know where they’re from?
— Nobody knows ㄷㄷ
— Out of the loop.
— Reaction speed was insane, but I guess it’s showing some newbie traits?
ㄴ Even a newbie gets second place in a trash game; (author)
Fortunately, public opinion had shifted a lot.
Julia didn’t win solely on her own merits, but it seemed possible because Eve and Catherine also showcased outstanding skills.
[My heart is swelling]
Is this the fight of the strongest in the world?
But what excites me even more is that people with such skills suddenly popped up everywhere, so for this world tournament, can we expect the Neon City team’s performance?
Already salivating lol
— For real, can’t wait.
— Just wait for the Neo Japan team lollllllllll
— The truly superhuman who rides the battle tank of the fighting game scene has arrived ㄷㄷ I need to gather credits for a watch!
I was dreaming a dream that would never come true…
I quietly logged out from Net Space.
“Hmm?”
Upon arriving home, I discovered someone standing in front of our front door.
Who is it?
There were no message notifications.
I approached the person with a puzzled expression.
Upon hearing my footsteps, whether they were a stranger or a guest, someone turned to look at me.
“Ah.”
I let out a short gasp.
Vivid scenes swept through my mind.
[There you are, I’ve been looking for you.]
[Even if it’s greed, it’s fine; just look at me. Forever. Continually.]
[……Now, please kill me.]
And now…
“…Hello.”
It was Maya.