Chapter 248: Wolf War Reinforcements — Submission or Expulsion?
A Record of a Certain Call, on a Certain Day.
Towa: “Ah, hellooo, Momo-chan? Sorry, sorry, the shoot ran long. What’s up? Stuff about our little arrangement?”
Momo: “You really haven’t changed since high school, have you… It’s about SLF.”
Towa: “Ohoho… To what does the reigning top clan of the moment owe the pleasure with a tiny little clan like ours?”
Momo: “That thing we talked about before… I’ve made up my mind.”
Towa: “…Huh. Honestly, I thought you’d turn me down.”
Momo: “I meant to. But… yeah, well… It’s just, things happened.”
Towa: “Hmm… I won’t pry, but you know if we do this, I’m going all the way, right?”
Momo: “Fully aware. A weakening of ‘Schwarz Vulf’ is probably unavoidable, but… Heh.”
Towa: “?”
Momo: “After all, you lot have proven twice over now that even a small group can take down a Unique Monster.”
Towa: “Ahh… yeah, I guess we have.”
Momo: “Schwarz Vulf is strong right now, sure. But… this isn’t something I want to say too openly…”
Towa: “Well, he’s a nuisance, isn’t he… Rebellius-kun.”
Momo: “I’ll acknowledge his charisma for rallying the younger members, but people with that kind of ambition are nothing but a cancer to running an organization.”
Towa: “Harsh words. Wait, are you actually pretty pissed off, Momo-chan?”
Momo: “Hm? Oh, that’s a separate matter. A little sisterly quarrel.”
Towa: “Ahh……… Don’t tell me… the younger sister?”
Momo: “Obviously. If I ever got into a fight with Sen-nee-san, I probably couldn’t set foot in my family’s home for three years.”
Towa: “Yeah, that tracks… Anyway, are you sure? If you want to join us, I don’t have a rule against it—we aren’t dead set on staying an inner circle only.”
Momo: “…About that, well…”
Towa: “Hmm?”
Momo: “You can take this as a formal overture from ‘Schwarz Vulf’ to ‘Wolfgang.’”
Rebellius: “Let me be direct. Unique Monsters are far too heavy a burden for a tiny clan of less than ten people.”
How should I put this situation? If ten goats were attacked by wolves, and one goat from the herd voluntarily offers itself to the wolves, that’s a scapegoat. But in this case, given the secret pact we’ve got with Psyger-100—who might as well be the “True Schwarz Vulf”—calling it a scapegoat feels a bit too staged.
Rebellius: “But with us, it’s a different story. Powerful gear, abundant items, connections to vital NPCs… Entrusting them to a weak little… ah, pardon me—a clan lacking in capability like yours is just…”
These talks are ninety percent farce. The other ten percent is the guy right in front of me, still blabbing with that smug look on his face. He keeps rattling off arrogant lines without a hint of shame, but for those of us in the know, well… yeah.
Psyger-100 remains silent, merely looking as if she’s listening to what’s-his-name—Re… Re… Rebellus, was it?—while actually keeping her gaze locked on us.
Rebellius: “If you would be willing to hand over your information to us ‘Schwarz Vulf,’ we wouldn’t be averse to absorbing ‘Wolfgang’…”
Sunraku: “Hmm, Rebellus, was it?”
Rebellius: “Re-bell-ius. Did you need something?”
For this farce of a negotiation, each of the four of us here has been given a different role. Pencilgon is the overall facilitator. Kyotimate is here as a witness for the PK issue and to provoke Schwarz Vulf’s clan members. Oikatzo is keeping his mouth firmly shut for a specific reason. And besides talking about Unique Monsters, my other role is…
Sunraku: “I get that you ‘Schwarz Vulf’ folks are a big clan, but if that’s the case—what the hell have you been doing all this time?”
Rebellius: “…What do you mean, ‘what have we been doing’?”
As one of the parties directly involved, I’m the perfect fit. Because I’m the one who’s taken down two—no, three Unique Monsters, I’ve got the track record to pull off this crappy role: “the one who trolls the Rebellius faction into a rage.”
Sunraku: “I’m asking why, with all that strength, you haven’t managed to take down a single Unique Monster, dumbass.”
Rebellius: “…Excuse me?”
The air freezes with an audible crack. That “always-smiling powerhouse” type is a certain kind of trope in fiction, sure. But no matter how much you grin on the surface, it’s all pointless if the words coming out of your mouth sound like a third-rate thug.
Sunraku: “You guys challenged Lycagon, what, three times? And got wiped every single time? I cleared it with no continues, by the way.”
Rebellius: “…That was nothing more than a fluke. This game is not that forgiving.”
Sunraku: “Funny joke. If I can fluke my way through not just Lycagon but Wethermon and Ctarnidd too, then at this point my real-life luck stat is the strongest weapon there is… So?”
Rocking my salmon head back and forth in an exaggerated, jerky motion, I needle Rebellus—no, every single player who follows him—with a tone so grating even I want to punch myself.
Sunraku: “You act all high and miiiighty, but how many Unique Monsters has the great Clan ‘Schwarz Vulf’ actually beaten, hmm? How many has it beaten, huhhh?”
Pencilgon: “Ugh, gross……… Wait, Sunraku-kun, I take it back—stop staring at me with those dead fish eyes, I’m gonna lose it.”
You’re the one who told me to be “so annoying you’d wanna hit me,” aren’t you?! Huh?!?! I get up from my seat and walk toward Rebellus, whose flimsy smiling mask has peeled away into a stone-faced glare. I pat his cheek lightly, over and over, and push the trolling even further.
Sunraku: “Hey, hey, pleeease tell me? What’s a top-tier clan that didn’t even know Bonus Unique Scenario existed until recently been doing all this time? I’d really, really love to know, y’know?”
Rebellius: “……!”
Sunraku: “C’mon, tell me. Powerful gear? Abundant items? Connections to vital NPCs… For a powerhouse clan like yours… oops, I mean a clan with so much ‘capability,’ right…”
I shove the salmon head closer, bringing its cloudy fish eyes right up to Rebellus’s face, and deliver what might be my finest piece of trolling this year.
Sunraku: “Oh, I know! If you’re willing to become Wolfgang’s errand boys, then we wouldn’t be averse to absorbing Schwarz Vulf, now would weeeee?!”
Snap.
Whether the cyberspace reacted to emotion with that sound effect, or it’s just my imagination… the sound of someone’s patience snapping was unmistakable.
Rebellius: “You insolent little… Don’t get cocky with me, you worthless trash!”
Sunraku: “Hahaha, your mask is paper-thin, dude.”
I dodge his grabbing hand with ease, putting distance between us with a backstep as I keep trolling, trolling, troll—
Rebellius: “We can cut ties with the likes of you anytime we want…!”
Ah. A landmine word.
Pencilgon: “I see. Then let’s just dissolve the alliance, shall we?”
Speaker switch—the trolling role passes from me to Pencilgon the moment that specific word leaves his mouth. At any rate, the fireworks the final boss loaded up to achieve the goal of “stripping the Rebellius faction of calm judgment” are about to ignite…!
Rebellius: “H-Hah! Are you sure? Breaking the alliance means breaking your alliances with ‘Library’ and ‘SF-Zoo’ as well! You’ll be throwing away all the benefits you’ve been enjoying!”
Rebellus… wait, was it Rebellias? Whatever, Rebby-boy… didn’t you ever wonder why your own leader hasn’t made any of those kinds of moves? Didn’t you find it strange that, for a meeting about the alliance, neither the Library nor SF-Zoo was even invited?
Pencilgon: “Ah, about that matter—we of ‘Wolfgang’ have a little notice to give ‘Schwarz Vulf’…”
With a snap of her fingers—a sound pressing Schwarz Vulf for a choice—several players enter the Black Wolf Hall.
For example, a magical girl in a frilly, adorable outfit, at first glance. For example, a knight clad in gold-adorned armor who nonetheless carries a strange air of disposable sorrow, like a soldier meant to be spent. For example, a curse user with an incredibly awkward expression, here as a substitute for the woman who was supposed to come. For example, a female holy knight radiating an aura of divinity, a distinctive platinum shield upon her back.
They differ in type and playstyle. The one thing they share is that all of them lead a clan, or hold a position close to it.
Pencilgon: “Allow me to formally notify ‘Schwarz Vulf’ on behalf of ‘Wolfgang.’ We intend to dissolve the previous ‘Four-Clan Alliance’ and form a new ‘Six-Clan Alliance,’ adding the ‘Shining Knights of the Holy Shield’ and ‘Team 10PM’… But, Rebellies-kun, I’ll do you the courtesy of asking you directly.”
The web was already spun long ago. Do you realize, Rebeltas? This new alliance is something completely different from the previous four-clan pact.
Pencilgon: “If you want in… there’s a right way to ask, isn’t there? Like groveling. Or groveling.”
Sunraku: “Are you a demon?”
Oikatzo: “Demon Lord, obviously.”
Kyo the Ultimate: “More like a fiendish devil, honestly.”
Pencilgon: “Why am I taking so much friendly fire from my own side here, I wonder?”
That’s just karma.