Chapter 793 - Interlude
“—…Well, I’m in moderately good shape, I guess.”
Nine in the morning. I woke up slowly, at a leisurely pace.
I would never do something as complacent as staying up late to gaze at the moon with my master the night before a major raid. As a result of properly resting my body like a good boy, my condition upon waking was decent enough.
In other words, it was pretty much business as usual. I wasn't feeling particularly nervous despite the major event literally right in front of me, so I’d say my condition was fairly good.
It makes sense. Even back with the [White Throne], I was excited for the [Colored Monster] raid, but I don't recall being very nervous. Even though the footage will eventually be broadcast to the world, that’s all after the fact, so I don’t have to be directly conscious of being watched.
If that's the case, then it's just another game objective.
“…Alright. Time to get fired up!”
With my spirits and expectations in order, all I have to do is give it my all and have fun.
◇◆◇◆◇
A short while after bidding my bed farewell, I was enjoying a light, late breakfast when the doorbell rang, summoning me.
Wondering who it could be, I opened the front door to find—
“Good morning.”
“Morning. What’s up?”
—standing there was our chef, dressed in a suit… or rather, the impeccably dressed working man, none other than Kazuharu Chitose, aide to the head of Yotsuya Development, all by himself.
“What’s up? It’s encouragement from the client side to our esteemed conductor.”
“Ah, well, thank you…”
He looked at me, probably seeing my relaxed state, and then…
“Honestly, Kasuga-kun, when you’re up against a ‘game,’ you’re as dependable as they come.”
…he said, with a genuinely amused smile. Is he implying I’m not dependable in real life? Yes sir, you are correct. I will strive to improve.
“Well, you know how it is. This time, it’s less ‘We’re absolutely going to beat it’ and more ‘We’re absolutely going to find a thread to unravel its strategy.’ So there’s that, too.”
“Even so, I’m allowed to hope for a pleasant surprise, aren’t I?”
“Of course. We’re hoping for a ‘pleasant surprise’ ourselves.”
“Excellent. Then I will be sure to watch.”
He must have meant that literally. Dressed sharply in a suit… which meant he was on his way out, heading to his actual workplace, the Yotsuya headquarters.
As an Observer, he would be watching us (the players) from the outside.
“…Uh, well. If I mess up and die an embarrassing death, please have a good laugh.”
“I couldn’t laugh if that actually happened, but I can laugh at that kind of insurance policy.”
And so, when I made a half-joking remark…
“You’ve never once betrayed anyone’s expectations when the curtains went up, have you?”
…he said, prodding me with that exquisitely heavy praise of his, before Kazu-san briskly departed.
“…Seriously, everyone just keeps piling on the expectations.”
It gets me motivated, it really does, but in more ways than one, it’s a lot to handle.
See? My heart was so nicely relaxed, and now a bit of unwanted tension has crept in. What am I supposed to do now? Well, putting that aside…
“…What should I do for lunch?”
With our chef absent, that was now the most pressing issue on my mind.
—And so, another person departed from the carefree young man’s side.
“…If this succeeds, that’ll be the majority.”
His smile from moments before vanished, replaced by a serious expression as he contemplated complex matters. Because he, one of the few in the world who knew what he knew, was burdened by the weight of that knowledge.
“Now then… I wonder how much longer this ‘game’ will last.”
His murmur, released to the world outside, was not yet heard by anyone.