Chapter 263 - Endless Questions
"Clear... the game...?"
My question, born from my previous confusion, was now doubled.
In an online game—especially in a genre like MMOs—does the concept of clearing it in the sense of completion even exist?
Generally speaking, the 'end' of an MMO is either the termination of the service by the developers, or a player's personal decision to quit. At least, I've never heard of any other instances.
—But, thinking about it again, while there is a monthly subscription fee, [Arcadia] is technically a 'buy-to-play' game. Considering that, it's fundamentally different from what are called MMOs, which are 'endlessly updated games'... If so, then.
Since the head of development and management, Yotsuya-shi, says it exists, then [Arcadia] must indeed have a clear condition—an ending.
"To see you react with such a look of sadness is, from my perspective, quite delightful."
My expression must have given me away, or perhaps he'd seen right through me. As Yotsuya-shi smiled, looking somewhat pleased, I, the one who had been figured out, could only return an ambiguous smile.
"Kasuga-kun, how do you perceive that world—[Arcadia] as a game?"
"...? As a game, what do you mean... are you talking about the genre?"
In response, a single nod.
What genre...? There was, of course, only one thing that came to mind.
"Well, an MMO... an MMORPG, I suppose?"
I tacked on a question mark just in case, but this wasn't so much my answer as it was the globally accepted consensus.
VRMMO—something that had been the subject of numerous works of fiction as a 'fictional entity' until [Arcadia] came into the world.
"Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game... In terms of the literal meaning of the words, there is surely no more accurate description."
More than accurate, I wondered if any other word even existed to describe it. For some reason, I couldn't grasp where this conversation was headed.
"Have you played any other online games, or MMOs, besides [Arcadia]?"
"Yes, a few."
"Then how do you think it compares to them?"
"It's a god-tier game."
I blurted it out on impulse, then hit the brakes and rephrased my words.
"In terms of comparison... I mean, it's not even comparable. The vastness of the world, the complexity and precision of the systems, the NPCs that are indistinguishable from people, even the monsters behave as naturally as real creatures—honestly, everything about it is on a level beyond any existing game."
And that's even without considering the fundamental difference of VR. The overall quality of the game, crafted with otherworldly technology, was nothing short of breathtaking—
"Then, let me change the question. In the MMORPG genre, it's common for players to seek fairness above all else, wouldn't you agree?"
He was likely referring not to the 'literal meaning' he mentioned, but...
"In an MMO, there fundamentally shouldn't be any one 'special' individual among the players."
...to the general image associated with the concept of a VRMMO.
"Of course, powerful players emerge in any game. But they are, at the end of the day, merely 'outstanding,' and should not be 'special.'"
"..."
Ah, I see—I had a feeling I knew where this was going.
"The [Sword Queen] and the [Sword Saint] you know well, and the other players who line the ranks of each faction. I won't say all of them, but many are undeniably 'special' individuals."
In other words, they were individuals who should not exist.
"And—you, the [Acrobat], are one of them."
It was, so to speak, a shift in perspective.
A detail I had never even considered, so engrossed was I in that virtual world.
"Now... if you call a world that tolerates such an existence a VRMMO, can it truly be called the 'god-tier game' you claim it is?"
What he was alluding to was, in essence, the matter of game balance.
The fundamental premise of an online game. In a good way, it's equality; in a bad way, it's the exclusion of individuality.
If one considers it from that perspective, [Arcadia], which allows for not only the prominent individual talents of rankers but also numerous 'special existences' starting with `Anima` and `Terror Armaments`—
—when viewed as an MMORPG, perhaps it couldn't be called a 'god-tier game' after all.
Or, tilting the perspective even further—
"Maybe it wasn't developed as an MMO in the first place... or something..."
............Well now, how am I supposed to interpret that smile???
"That's the second thing I can't tell you yet—now, let's get back on topic."
"Right..."
Every time we talk, the number of mysteries just keeps increasing...
"I can't give you the exact details, but in any case, [Arcadia] does have a concept of game clear—you know about the 'Colored Monsters,' right?"
"To some extent."
By some twist of fate, I've already had dealings with two of them.
"This is already known information on the player side, and you'll find out soon enough anyway. With that in mind, let me be the one to tell you that the extermination of those 'Colored Monsters' is the grand quest of [Arcadia]—in other words, the path that leads to the game clear I'm asking of you."
"..."
"I apologize that this has become something of a spoiler. But as I said, it's already known information, and you were scheduled to be informed tonight anyway. The fact that it's related to clearing the game was... a minimally necessary disclosure. I can only ask you to turn a blind eye."
"No, well... it's not like you've spoiled the story for me, so..."
I wasn't so much shocked as I was genuinely surprised.
With things like the infamous `White Throne`, the flavor text on armaments, incantations, and the `Red Circle` that kept popping up, it's something anyone could have guessed was important to the world of Arcadia.
The problem was, more than anything else—
"...Are those things beatable at this point?"
"On that, I will have to say no comment."
Ah... thank you for your consideration of spoilers.
But if my memory serves me right, didn't Iris and an over-raid of more than a hundred people get instantly wiped out by the `White Throne`?
I can't imagine a situation where my involvement alone would change anything, and before that, I mustn't forget that not a single one of my questions has been answered.
Why on earth would the game's management and developers entrust clearing the game to a single player—but that must be precisely the core of it all.
I had a feeling that whether I asked with my eyes or with words, I wouldn't be able to draw out the answer.
So, well... I suppose—
"Is that, perhaps, all?"
"Ah, that is all."
And with that... it seems that was all the information he could disclose to me.
Hah, I see. This is a problem—I have almost no material to use as a reference.
Yotsuya Development has two reasons for wanting to sign a contract with me. The priority is apparently reversed, but to summarize, it would be something like, 'We want you to aim to clear the game without being disturbed, so let us protect you directly.'
However, the intent and reasons for reaching that conclusion cannot be discussed... is that it?
With this, on what basis am I supposed to judge the merits of this contract?
"Uh... in that case............ just for reference, could you tell me what would happen to me if I 'accepted' versus if I 'declined'? As much as you're able to say, of course."
Picking up my cooling coffee, I tried to soothe my head, which had been bombarded with nothing but mysteries and confusion. As I requested the next explanation with what I'm sure was a tired voice—
Yotsuya-shi nodded, saying, "Of course," while looking at me with somewhat pitying eyes.
...I'm well aware you mean no harm, but let me just say this.
This is, for the record, also your fault.
The problem of too many classified items.
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