kscans

Chapter 70 - Messenger of God

The day after the Clan War with the number one ranked clan, Hayato was at the base, calculating points over and over.

By defeating the number one clan, they had gained a large number of points and were now currently ranked first. However, there was still one Clan War left. For Hayato, being number one wasn't necessary. As long as they were within the top five, where they could receive prize money, it was fine.

Hayato calculated the points, considering their current score, the scores of the clans ranked second and below, and how much things were likely to change in the next Clan War.

And although it wasn't absolute, he had a good idea of the situation.

Even if they lost the next Clan War, they would not fall below fifth place. In other words, there was a high probability that they would receive the prize money at this point. The only way they wouldn't get it would be if they fought a low-ranking clan and had their points completely swapped due to the giant-killing rule.

At this fact, Hayato let out a long breath, then savored the joy.

At this point, there was no reason to fight a low-ranking clan. The random match only paired them with clans of the same rank, so there was no need to worry about that either.

(I wondered what would happen when I was kicked out of Kokuryu, but to think I'd actually get the prize money.)

Hayato had been aiming for the prize money for the sake of his dream. He had even quit his job for it. Normally, no one would do such a thing. But Hayato, who had doubts about his way of life, had bet on this game with just enough living expenses to get by.

Whether he could actually get the prize money was a matter of luck. But Hayato had magnificently grasped it. And it was undoubtedly thanks to the NPCs and the members of Kokuryu that he had been able to achieve it.

(I have to thank Esha and the others, and Ney and her group too.)

With that thought, Hayato began preparations for tonight's victory celebration.

That day, there was a rare announcement from the administration.

The next Clan War would be a random match where all clans would be paired with clans of the same rank, and the opponent would not be known until the match. Some players seemed to have objections, but for Hayato, it was not a problem.

In fact, since the number one ranked clan was likely to be asked by other clans to fight them, it was a welcome rule.

(Is this to prevent match-fixing through giant-killing? I don't think a clan in the top five would deliberately lose to a low-ranking clan, but with that prize money on the line. It's possible they could be threatened in the real world and have no choice.)

Having experienced threats like the one from the Blood Knights, Hayato judged it so.

(Still, this is a relief for me. To be ranked number one right before the final battle is too lucky. Or rather, isn't it too lucky?)

It was almost as if things were going too conveniently for Hayato. It was to the point where you could say the administration was intervening on his behalf. Especially the fact that they were matched with the number one and number three ranked clans in the previous two battles was too much of a coincidence.

However, aside from the matchmaking, there was no match-fixing in the battle. The NPCs were clan members, but the opposing team had also come to defeat them with all their might. Hayato believed there could have been no intervention there.

(Even if they did intervene, what would happen if it were exposed? Would the prize money be revoked... That would be a problem.)

The administration was favoring certain players. That would be a huge scandal. Not only that, but this game offered prize money. Hayato wasn't an expert, but if there was fraud, it was possible they were breaking some law.

(It's just a gut feeling, but maybe I'll try talking to Diite-chan today. If anyone has a connection to the admins, I think it's her.)

Hayato was certain of it. He finally understood the strange feeling he had when he first met her. He decided to talk to Diite alone after the victory celebration.

The victory celebration was in full swing. The fact that they had defeated the number one ranked clan was probably a factor. Everyone was enjoying the food and conversation.

"Ren-sama, putting the bucket pudding in your item bag is against the rules. Please put it back on the table. One per person."

"But Esha-san, you put a whole cake in your item bag!"

"Now, now, you two, please look at my Siegfried and his family and calm down. Um, Lunaria-san, are you trying to put my child in your item bag?"

"...It's your imagination. But it's standard for a Demon Lord to kidnap a princess. No matter what, it's the law of nature."

"You all are really interesting to watch. Quite fascinating."

"I've been hearing a lot of talk about the dragons' strange movements lately. Relic, Mist, do you know anything?"

"We have heard such talk at the Butler Guild and the Thieves' Guild, but it seems nothing specific is known."

"We have not heard such talk in the Demon Country. The only dragon in the Demon Country is the Underworld Dragon, and he is a quiet one."

Aside from casual conversation, they seemed to be talking about various things, but for the most part, it seemed to be going well.

In the midst of it all, Diite approached Hayato.

"Hayato-kun, do you need something from me? I have been feeling your gaze for a while now."

"That was rude of me. Actually, there's something I'd like to talk to you about. Could you spare me a little time after the victory celebration?"

"Surely it is not a confession of love?"

"I'm not Esha, don't say things like that. Or maybe you already have an idea what this is about?"

A mischievous look appeared on Diite's face.

"Is that so? I look forward to it. Of course, I do not mind. For you, Hayato-kun, I will make as much time as you need."

"Please don't say things like that. See, Ren-chan is looking over here with the eyes of a hunter."

Esha, Ren, Maris, and Lunaria were watching Hayato and the others while eating cake.

"Those two are suspicious, don't you think, Esha-san!?"

"I think Ash-sama would be a good match for Master."

"I think a goat or a donkey would suit Hayato-san!"

"This cake is delicious."

(I can hear you, all of you.)

Hayato thought this as he prepared new dishes to replace the ones that were being devoured.

After the victory celebration ended, Hayato and Diite remained in the dining hall.

Hayato gestured for Diite to sit in a chair and placed a coffee in front of her.

"Thank you. Now, what did you want to talk about?"

He hesitated on how to begin, but Hayato decided to stop beating around the bush and ask directly.

"Diite-chan, are you connected to this game's administration?"

It was highly likely that the words "game's administration" would be inaudible to an NPC due to AI protection. Hayato watched Diite closely to see if she truly couldn't hear it, or if she was pretending not to.

But that wasn't necessary. Diite confessed with a smile.

"It seems I have been found out. That is correct. I am connected to this game's administration, or rather, God."

As if to say, what's wrong with that, Diite slowly drank her coffee with that attitude. Then, she looked at Hayato.

"By the way, how did you figure it out? You seemed quite certain when you asked."

"When we first met, Diite-chan, you said you wanted to aim for the top five. That's the ranking for the prize money you can get in the real world. A resident of the game wouldn't be able to say something like that. You might have said it casually, but it stuck with me. I only realized it recently, though."

"I see, I was careless. You are right. The top five was indeed about the ranking for the prize money in the real world. It was something I could not have said without knowing about reality."

"Are you an NPC, Diite-chan, an AI? Or is someone controlling you?"

"I am an AI. There is no mistake about that. Are those all of your questions?"

"There's something I'm concerned about. Is it okay for an NPC connected to the administration to favor a specific player? I think it would be a big problem if it got out."

"A big problem?"

"The worst-case scenario would be it being exposed online, causing a huge scandal, and the service being shut down, I suppose."

For Hayato, on top of not being able to get the prize money, which would be a big problem, he thought it would be an even bigger problem if the service ended and he could no longer see Esha and the others.

Not being able to see them again, that was the same as death.

Despite Hayato's worries, Diite wore a confident smile.

"Rest assured, the service will not end over something like that. And it will not be exposed. Even if you, Hayato-kun, were to post it online, would anyone believe you? Besides, any problematic information will be deleted immediately. In the first place, if they are going to criticize this world over something like that, they do not have to play. Frankly, we would rather not have such players."

"You're quite confident. But if the number of players decreases, won't it be difficult to maintain the game? I don't know how many people are involved, but I imagine you need to pay their salaries and the server maintenance costs."

A server, simply put, is the computer on the side of the game provider. Players connect to this server over the internet to play the game.

To realistically reproduce the five senses and handle many high-performance AIs, a server of considerable performance would be necessary. And with the performance of existing computers, one server would not be enough. It was highly likely that hundreds of servers were being used to achieve this. And in proportion to that, the cost of maintaining the servers would also be high.

If the players disappeared, they would not be able to make money, they would not be able to pay the salaries of the people involved in the operation or the server maintenance costs, and eventually, they would have to terminate the service.

"That will not happen. This game is not supported by player payments."

"...What?"

"Did you not hear me? This game is not supported by player payments. Even if all the players were to disappear, the service would not end."

"That's ridiculous."

Hayato blurted out what he was thinking. He tried to think about how it was supported, but he couldn't come up with anything. He thought it might have been created for some kind of research, or maybe it was some national project, supported by taxes.

"Now then, Hayato-kun, there is something I would like to say as well."

"Huh, ah, what is it?"

"There is someone I want you to meet. No, rather than a person, an AI. I intend to have you meet that AI in the next Clan War. It is not possible now as the preparations are not yet complete."

"...Meet them for what?"

"Just to talk. Hayato-kun, you will be in the top five in the ranking even if you lose the next Clan War. I will guarantee it. In other words, you have earned the qualification."

"Earned the qualification?"

"If you can give the correct answer, a wonderful world awaits you. You should look forward to it."

"What are you talking..."

"It seems I have stayed too long. I shall take my leave for today. The coffee was delicious."

With that, Diite left the base.

Perhaps he should have stopped her, but Hayato didn't. He thought she wouldn't answer even if he asked for details.

Hayato leaned back in his chair. Then he tried to have another cup of coffee.

"Have you finally seen her off?"

"Esha!?"

Suddenly, Esha entered the dining hall from outside. Hayato was surprised.

"Um, what's wrong?"

"Yes, I was waiting to have another four-star dish. Diite-sama was taking so long to leave that I was about to charge in with my Beelzebub. Diite-sama had a lucky escape."

"So that's why you have your gun? Wait, I'll bring you a four-star dish."

"A five-star dish would be fine too, you know?"

"You and the others ate all of those, didn't you? But if there are any left, I'll bring them too."

Hayato had felt a vague sense of unease at Diite's words, but he felt a little saved by Esha's usual behavior. Not as a thank you, but he thought he would try to give her as many five-star dishes as possible.