kscans

Chapter 79 - The Battle with a God

Hayato walked down the sterile, black-walled corridor.

He probably couldn't log out here anymore. The door he entered through had closed, and he couldn't get out of this space. It was best to assume that he could no longer return to the real world without persuading Diite.

There was a possibility that he could be forcibly logged out if someone removed his headgear in the real world. If he didn't log out for several days, Ney would probably do just that.

When that happened, he would be saved. But he didn't know what would happen to Esha and the others. The fact that it all depended on Diite's mood was a headache.

As he was thinking about such things, he soon arrived at the door at the end of the corridor. Beyond this point was a virtual space that was the closest to reality. Diite was there.

Hayato steeled himself and pushed open the double doors.

Inside was the same temple-like place he had been to before. And in the center was Diite.

Diite was clapping with a smile on her face.

"Impressive, to think that you, with only production skills, would actually come here. You were late, so I thought you had been forcibly logged out by the safety feature. However, since I didn’t receive any information about you logging out, I waited for you as promised."

"A lot of people helped me."

"Wonderful. I didn’t see specifically what you did, but it seems you relied on your friend Ney-kun and the Maid Guild. A splendid feat."

Diite finished with a loud clap, then stopped applauding. And she turned a gaze on Hayato that was less of a smile and more of genuine amusement.

"Let’s skip the pointless questions. What did you come here for? I would be happy if you told me you had a change of heart and wanted to live in this world, you know?"

"Sorry, I can’t do that. I don’t want to live only in the world of virtual reality."

"Still no, I see. Well, I thought the chances of that were low. Then, log out immediately. I’ve changed the settings so you can log out, unlike before. You are not qualified to be in this world. Get out of here at once. And never get involved again."

Diite had probably already lost interest in Hayato. As if to show that, the expression on her face disappeared, and she looked at him with the same eyes she would use to look at a stone on the side of the road.

"If that was my intention, I wouldn't have come this far in the first place. I came because I have a favor to ask."

"Is there any reason I must listen to that favor? Well, very well. If you have something to say, then say it. It is your reward for coming this far. I will let you say what you have to say."

"Don’t delete Esha and the others. They’re my important comrades."

"To you, they are just data, are they not? In the first place, it should not concern you, who is leaving this world, but?"

"Are you saying you intend to delete them?"

"Listen to me. I am saying that it is of no concern to you. Whether they disappear from this world or not is of no consequence to you. You will never meet them again. Besides, even if I promised not to delete them, you have no way of confirming it. In the first place, are you in a position to ask anything of me? You won't listen to my request, but you demand I listen to yours? Or do you intend to appeal to my emotions, an AI? Let me be clear, that is useless."

"Diite keeps her promises. If you promised me you wouldn't delete them, then you won't."

At Hayato's words, Diite froze for a moment. But she quickly shook her head.

"It is true that I have not done anything to them. But to trust me so much just because I kept one promise, are you a fool?"

Diite snapped her right fingers, and Esha and the others appeared in mid-air. They seemed to be asleep, their eyes all closed.

Hayato felt a slight sense of relief at the sight. He knew it was just their forms, but he was still relieved.

"In consideration of your foolish thinking, I will give you one last chance. Will you become a resident of this world to save them, or will you log out and never get involved again. Those are your only two choices. I will not accept your refusal of both."

"Do I really have to choose one of them?"

"You do. And let me say one more thing. If you log out, I will delete them."

Hayato's heart pounded loudly. Despite being in virtual reality, Hayato felt a pain in his chest.

"Rest assured, I will absolutely keep my promise, you know?"

Diite said with a sarcastic look on her face.

This is it, Hayato thought, and took a deep breath. He had wanted to persuade her with words, but that wouldn't come to pass. So, as a last resort, Hayato took out the "AI Killer: H-Custom."

Seeing that, Diite scoffed.

"Do you intend to fight me? Can you not even distinguish between virtual reality and the real world? Even if you defeat me here, I will not disappear. Only my character will fall. In the first place, you cannot fight, can you?"

"Look closely at this weapon. Is it really a weapon that poses no threat?"

Hayato held the weapon in his right hand up towards Diite so she could see it clearly. Its shape was that of a kitchen knife. However, the blade of the knife was covered in a dense pattern of blue lines, resembling a maze.

Diite frowned and looked at the weapon Hayato was holding.

"What... is that... why! Why is something like that in my world!"

"I can’t tell you where it came from, but from what I read in the item description, this should be effective against you, Diite, shouldn't it?"

Judging from Diite’s reaction just now, this weapon definitely had the effect described in its description. If so, it should be usable as a bargaining chip.

With that thought, Hayato spoke again.

"Here’s a third option. Let things be as they were. I can’t become a resident of this world, but I have no intention of quitting the game..."

"You too! You want to delete me too!"

"...What?"

Diite’s face twisted into an expression of anger. Her upturned eyes glared at Hayato.

"Because I’m obsolete! Because I’m not needed! That's why you want to delete me! I won’t let you! There’s no way I’ll let you!"

Diite teleported in front of Hayato. It was the Hand-to-Hand Combat skill, Shukuchi.

"Wait! Diite! Let’s talk..."

"Silence! You are the one who is obsolete! Disappear from this world!"

(This is bad, I’ve touched a nerve with Diite...!)

It was the first time he had seen such an expression on Diite. Hayato realized that what he had done was a mistake.

Diite had already entered her attack stance. She was showing her back to Hayato in the motion of the martial arts weapon skill, Backhand Blow.

(Move!)

Hayato psyched himself up and quickly crouched down, dodging Diite’s Backhand Blow. Then he did a backflip on the floor, putting distance between himself and Diite.

"Wait, let’s talk...!"

He immediately stood up and called out, but Diite had already moved to his side and was now preparing a Low Kick.

(I can’t dodge this...!)

Thinking that in an instant, he switched his equipment. The ring he had been wearing was replaced. Immediately after, he was hit by the Low Kick.

Diite, with an angry expression, threw a right straight. Low Kick was a weapon skill that immobilized the opponent. She must have thought Hayato wouldn’t be able to dodge. But Hayato dodged the right straight as if nothing had happened.

"What?"

This time, Diite was surprised and took a step back to create distance. Hayato took the opportunity to drink a highest-quality potion.

(That was close. I was able to withstand it because it was a low-power Low Kick, but if I get hit by another attack, I’ll be defeated. I can’t be defeated yet.)

"Why are you not incapacitated...? I see, it’s that ring. Is that how a production job fights?"

The ring Hayato was wearing had a Stun Immunity effect. It was an effect that prevented incapacitation from attacks from occurring. Since he had switched it before receiving the attack, he was not incapacitated.

(Did she calm down a little? Can I talk to her now?)

"Diite, listen to me! I don’t want to fight..."

He was about to say that he didn’t intend to fight, but before he could, Diite charged at him.

(Damn it, do I have to do something more unexpected? It worked before, but I can’t dodge like that so many times... should I attack a little to calm her down? She might get even angrier, but at this rate, it’s just a matter of time. I have to get her to stop attacking somehow.)

While thinking about various things, Hayato dodged Diite’s attacks. He wanted to find an opening to attack, but Diite’s attacks were relentless. The only thing that was fortunate for Hayato was that Diite wasn’t using magic.

Of course, Hayato had brought equipment to counter that as well, but if she started spamming magic, it would be over. She probably wouldn’t do that while she was consumed by anger, but as time passed, she would calm down and he wouldn’t be able to maintain his current state.

Hayato decided to take a gamble. His equipment switched in an instant. He removed the AI Killer and became bare-handed, and his ring and bracelet were replaced, increasing his Hand-to-Hand Combat skill by a total of 30.

By switching his equipment, Hayato temporarily raised his Hand-to-Hand Combat skill and became able to use Low Kick.

He then unleashed a Low Kick at Diite.

"Guh."

Diite stopped. She was incapacitated.

Hayato re-equipped the AI Killer and charged at Diite to strike.

It probably wasn't a weapon that could destroy Diite in one hit. In the first place, he didn't even know how effective it was, but at the very least, it wasn't something that could erase an AI with just a graze.

With that thought, Hayato aimed for Diite’s hand.

At that action, Diite’s lips curled up. As if to say, I was waiting for this.

Diite, who should have been unable to move, moved. She caught Hayato’s AI Killer between both of her hands.

"You should be aware of the capabilities of skills."

(Blade Catch!? It works even when you’re incapacitated!?)

Due to the martial arts skill Blade Catch, Hayato’s attack was nullified.

"And I can do this as well."

The AI Killer that had been stopped by Diite disappeared from Hayato’s hand. In the next moment, Diite was holding it.

"A combo of Blade Catch and the Stealing skill. With this, I can steal an opponent’s weapon. If I had known this then, it might have been much easier, don’t you think?"

If you use the Stealing skill while Blade Catch is active, you can steal the equipped weapon, though only weapons. There was such a use for it, but it was a technique that no one knew.

Hayato could see Diite’s triumphant face.

"With this, you cannot defeat me. Too bad for you."

Diite, who said that, had her face freeze in the next moment. She tried to jump back, but she was a step too slow.

For some reason, the AI Killer that should have been stolen just a moment ago was in Hayato’s hand, and it attacked Diite. The attack hit Diite’s right hand. It was just a graze on her palm. But the effect was tremendous.

Diite didn’t scream, but she retreated, holding her right hand with her left. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her brow was furrowed, and although her right eye was closed, she was glaring at Hayato.

"W, why...!"

"I’m a production player. I made a lot of these weapons. It took me three days, though."

Hayato had made many AI Killers. He couldn't thank the members of Kokuryu enough for gathering all the materials.

Diite retreated while glaring at Hayato.

"You’re trying to... you’re trying to delete me! It’s true I don’t have a life! But I’m alive! I’m alive! I won’t be deleted just for your convenience!"

"No, of course not..."

From the beginning, Hayato had no intention of deleting Diite. It was just a threat, or rather, a negotiation with a weapon.

Diite’s demands were nothing but unreasonable. Either become a resident of this world, or live without ever being involved with this world. Those were the only two choices. It was true that from Diite’s perspective, as the one managing this world, she could make such demands, but still, those two choices were not an option.

So he had made the weapon to get her to consider another option, and he had no intention of deleting Diite at all.

Hayato tried to calm Diite down somehow, but Diite wasn’t listening at all. Moreover, she started saying things that made no sense to Hayato. Something similar had probably happened in the past.

(What should I do? I have to calm her down somehow. But how... I see.)

Hayato approached Diite, who continued to glare at him.