Chapter 345: Dragons, O Dragons! Part Ten
Sunraku: "So, here's the deal. The monsters that come out of the crystals — some are trash mobs, some are tough. The elves will handle the search, but the rule is: when it's time to break one, Tottori or Deep Throater has to be nearby. I'll be there only if my hands are free."
I finish off the monster — a gorilla with a lion's mane and bull's horns, the kind of thing that could've been the deadliest low-kick cat-puncher in a different setting — with a savanna-style low kick, then explain the situation to the elves who've gathered one after another.
Sunraku: "Emul, take the... princess over there to the designated point. After that, run support as a roamer — jump in wherever the fight's going bad."
Emul: "Hai na!"
Sunraku: "Everyone, I plan to give everything I've got to support your resolve. I'm not letting a single one of you die from here on out. We're taking this place back together... Well, at this rate we're short on pretty much everything, so we'll head back to the frontline base first, but after that — let's rebuild the elf village!"
The elves' voices ring out in agreement.
...From far away, an enraged roar from "Scarred" echoes, and everyone flinches in unison — but I'll let that cowardice slide.
Sunraku: "Alright, sounds like someone's calling for my help... I'm counting on you, Tottori."
Tottori: "I'll do my best, but... you sure you're the one who's gonna be okay?"
Sunraku: "Leave it to me. I've got a knack for triggering monster-on-monster fights."
If anything, Tottori and the others are carrying the more critical part of this operation. Buying time with a little babysitting play is nothing.
Deep Throater: "Hey, what about me? Got any rousing words to get me all fired up?"
Sunraku: "Drag in as many enemies as you can and blow yourself up."
Deep Throater: "Oi oi, even I might cry at that one... Ah, whatever. If this fight goes well, how 'bout a date, Sunraku-kuuun...?"
Sunraku: "I'll date you to death."
Deep Throater: "Love murder...!"
Setting aside Deep Throater, now writhing in creepiness, I turn — with extreme reluctance — toward FariAria.
Sunraku: "Your Highness. When I heard you had volunteered yourself as bait, I could scarcely believe my ears... Please, take care of yourself. The fighting ahead will be fierce, so I beg you — stay hidden with His Majesty."
Aria: "Yes... But, Sir Sunraku, one last thing."
Sunraku: "Hm?... No, I mean — yes, what is it?"
Aria: "May fortune favor you. You are my hero!"
Sharahaar: "May... fortune favor you. You are my hero!"
Sunraku: "Nnghk."
That — that is literally the final line of the sub-heroine who escaped your clutches to the very end but got written out partway through the storyyyyyyyyyy!!
You!! You of all people!! Saying that is taboo, goddammit!! Fuckaria was such utter garbage that the sub-heroine-chan absolutely crushed the popularity poll — and you!! You!! After she shielded you, took the curse from the final boss meant for you, you abandoned her on a deserted island!! You're the one saying ittttt!!!!
I pour every ounce of my strength into keeping the typhoon of the century — now raging through my heart — from showing on my face. Barely maintaining my role-play voice, I bow my head.
Sunraku: "M... mny... my honor, is... beyond words..."
This is unforgivable. This is absolutely unforgivable, Ritsu Amachi... You, this is... Sharahaar sub-heroine-chan's three thousand five hundred heroic spirits who voted for her are gonna riot...! For the record, I also voted for Sharahaar-chan.
Alright, you bastard! Now I'm seriously fired up to kill! If I can't punch Ritsu Amachi or Aria, then beating the shit out of you is the only option left, yeah!?
Sunraku: "Alright, everyone move out! We're gonna smash that red monochrome bastard to pieces!!"
Game motivation can be substituted with rage. Fully convinced of that now, I arrive at the vast grassland field on the outskirts of the village — arguably the most dangerous place in the entire elf settlement right now.
Tottori and the elves have rejoined us, and Emul too, but the fact is we still have fewer than five players. We'll have to push the three of us players to the absolute limit to win this fight. But even so, there's a top-priority task that requires me to commit a third of our fighting strength.
Monster: "PiKyakyakyakyakya!!"
Sunraku: "Crashing the party!!"
First strike — I slam Agatram's silver fist into the eyeball of the dragon biting down on one of the three heads. Then, while swapping gear, I pull HP recovery potions from Inventoria and hurl them at the spots where the three-headed T-Rex — "Scarred" — has damage effects bursting out.
Sunraku: "On me. No thanks needed."
Scarred: "Grrrrrrrr..."
At the sudden intruder, "Scarred" glares my way. But come on — you've got a bigger threat right in front of you than some tiny insect like a human. Might as well use a helping hand, even if it's not a cat's paw, yeah?
Sunraku: "It's babysitting duty. I'll let you have the MVP spotlight, so go ahead and put all that firepower to good use."
Now, let me show you, Great Red Devourer—the monster-assist technique of a Lv.99 Extend tagalong!!
Scarred: "GRRROOOOAAAAAHHHH!!"
With a roar that fuses all three throats into one, "Scarred" charges the Great Red Devourer. Simple, and because it's simple, the raw physical damage drives the Great Red Devourer's body backward. But when it comes to sheer number of moves and mouths, the Great Red Devourer has the upper hand. Close-quarters range means it's also the Great Red Devourer's ideal range — where its devouring motions carry real weight.
Great Red Devourer: "QoaaaaaAAA...!"
The vertically split maw on the Great Red Devourer's torso opens wide. Its target is probably "Scarred's" middle neck. Several of the Great Red Devourer's necks coil around "Scarred" as if grappling it, dragging the middle neck into range of that grotesque mouth.
Sunraku: "Which is where I come in... now!!"
Moonlight. The lunar wolf's pride, Mánagarmr Pride. Gilta Brille. You could say nighttime is my main element.
The crystal bullets, fired with magic power accumulated from bathing in the moonlight, form into a pillar at my command. No matter how monstrous the shape, as long as it's standing on legs, there's room to throw it off-balance with that mass. And if I follow up with a skill-enhanced fist to the hind leg — already wobbling from the giant crystal pillar's interference — the bastard has no choice but to stagger and cancel its attack.
Sunraku: "How's that, 'Scarred'-san?! My world-class assist!!"
Seems like both the crystal pillar and I are unbearably irritating, because a tail comes howling past, slicing the air right above my head. The whip-like blow, a solid mass of destructive force, shatters the crystal pillar and slams the Great Red Devourer. If I'd stretched a little taller, that would've been a reverse Daruma drop... actually, that's just decapitation, isn't it?
Sunraku: "Gh... so this much still isn't enough to deepen our bond...!"
I'm proud of the unparalleled bond I've built with the Crystal Scorpions, but that took countless visits and dodgeball tournaments to get where we are now. At this point, they've basically developed an anti-me meta — they've started using actual tactics, like driving prey into a corner, and it's getting more refined. Sorry to the other players.
Not that it matters right now. What matters is farming reputation with "Scarred." The last thing I need is for it to decide to take me out first. I need it to see value in my existence.
In other games, the key is how to shove aggro onto the target. But in SLF, depending on the monster, some have high-quality AI. Those ones — whether or not they can speak — are basically NPCs.
Sunraku: "In that case, there's room for primitive communication: 'show through actions.'"
In a game you know inside and out, you can play multiplayer without saying a word. That means abandoning language. Man and monster can understand each other through actions...! Whoa, there, "Scarred"-kun — you're spitting up something sticky from your mouth... phlegm? What's up? It's this gross marbled mix of yellow, white, and black, so honestly it just looks more and more like vo—... phlegm.
Sunraku: "Uh-huh, so you're splattering puke all over the area around the Great Red Devourer?"
The three heads tilt upward, jaws snapping open and shut, open and shut... Oh? I thought it was puke, but maybe it's fat? And something else mixed in... And now, black-smoke-like breath is coming out of its mouth in real time... Oi, wait, hold on.
CLACK!!
Sunraku: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!?"
Wahahahahahaha! What a goddamn lunatic!! Absolute lunatic!! That dinosaur just recreated napalm with puke!! This has gotta be the number one attack a jungle-dwelling monster should never, ever use!
Beasts fear fire. Man was drawn to fire. And the emotion too vast to be contained by mere fear — man defined it as "awe." Seeing such a funky move right in front of me, there's no way my own hype isn't gonna skyrocket. Unwilling to be drowned out by the volume of the Great Red Devourer — now a human torch, screaming — I raise a cheer of my own.
Sunraku: "Nice, nice, you really put on a show! With a hidden trump card like that, no wonder you could wipe out a whole alliance of hardcore junkies!!"
Looks like it's not just the Great Red Devourer's whole body that caught fire — something ignited in my heart too. This is one of those classic "buy time until our side's ultimate weapon is ready to fire!" developments. Seeing the trump card from a front-row seat is just as important as winning the fight. A big move that makes your heart dance like this — if I don't support it now, when will I?
Sunraku: "Alright, keep firing away, 'Scarred.' I've got your back on support!"
Scarred-kun's Trump Card