kscans

Chapter 23 - Shinonome Rena

The first time I saw his videos, I thought he was so cool.

He would mow down monsters with character control that seemed impossible for a human to perform. His movements were flashy, yet the transitions from one attack to the next were so fluid and smooth, completely without waste.

In FWO, where many people chose long-range attacks with magic or firearms, he was a streamer who fought with melee weapons, and with the unusual style of four-sword style, no less.

FWO had become popular among the maids, who said the character creation was fun, so I started playing about three years ago myself. Before I knew it, I was hooked on the game. As I played more and more, there was one quest I just couldn't clear. It was while I was looking up how to beat it that I found his stream.

'This monster goes berserk when its health drops to about 30 percent. So, when it gets to around 32 percent, use a major technique to finish it off in one shot. That way, even soloing it is a piece of cake.'

He was the kind of streamer who would say something so ridiculous. That man's name is Hayate. He was soloing a monster that was recommended for a party of four or more.

Isn't he crazy?

In FWO, with players all over the world, there are pro gamers who play solo. But most of them clear dungeons with NPCs. There are almost no streamers who challenge the latest content truly alone, without any NPCs. Hayate was one of those few.

Even without a tank to protect him or an attacker to deal heavy damage, Hayate defeated monsters without a hint of danger. It was exhilarating to watch him single-handedly crush enemies that took teams of pro gamers to barely defeat.

I tried to imitate him and start using the four-sword style, but the manipulators wouldn't listen to me at all, so I gave up right away. Apparently, Hayate was the same at first. But now, he's one of the top dungeon explorers in the world. He said he went through all sorts of training to be able to wield four swords freely. I thought his effort was incredible.

Before I knew it, I had subscribed to his stream and had been watching it for so long that I was now considered an old-timer.

I was his fan. I even sent him Super Tips.

I knew he'd worry if the amounts were too big, so I just sent small, celebratory gifts of five or ten thousand yen whenever he defeated a boss or got a rare item.

'Tamanyan-san, Hajime-san, Lena-san, Haruka-san, The Customer Next Door Eats Customers Well-san, Karl Kleiber-san, good evening!'

That third name, Lena, was my account name on the streaming site.

I was so happy every time Hayate called my name that I started making sure to leave a greeting in the comments every time. It was frustrating that I could never manage to be the first one to comment, even though I was always waiting more than thirty minutes before the stream started.

Even when I was late to comment, Hayate would always read it when I posted. Realizing that he recognized me made me so happy back then.

But gradually, that alone wasn't enough to satisfy me.

I am the daughter of the president of the Shinonome Group. I could have anything I wanted.

For someone like me, I couldn't stand having a connection with my favorite streamer only through the comment section of his streams.

So, I decided I would become Hayate's partner.

It wasn't a vague, fluffy feeling like, 'I want to be' or 'It would be nice if I could be'. No, I swore in my heart that I, Shinonome Rena, absolutely would be.

First, to increase my points of contact with him, I started streaming my own dungeon runs. For this, I chose the bow as my weapon. This was partly because I had learned a little archery, but also because if I was going to be Hayate's partner, I needed to supplement what he lacked.

If I was going to team up with Hayate, who fought mainly at close range, I needed the power to eliminate troublesome and powerful enemies that approached him from a distance. While not as unpopular as the four-sword style, the bow wasn't a very popular weapon in FWO either. It could deliver powerful single shots from a distance but couldn't fire rapidly, leaving large openings. It wasn't a weapon for beginners.

But I had decided I would stand by his side.

I holed myself up in FWO's shooting range, forgoing sleep, and kept firing arrows.

My efforts paid off, and I was able to steadily improve my PVP record. The number of subscribers to my stream also grew. I was just being my natural self in the game, and it seemed to resonate with people. Before I knew it, my subscriber count had surpassed Hayate's. I'm sorry about that.

But it seems he was checking out my channel too. When I heard him mention on his stream that he saw me as a rival, I was so happy. You know, if you want, I wouldn't mind merging my channel with yours. In exchange, you have to be my partner! ...I wanted to suggest that, but I was too embarrassed to do it.

I was always watching Hayate's streams. I'd listen with a grin on my face as he read my comments. And when I was streaming, my heart would pound with the thought that maybe he was watching me.

One day, I ran into Hayate in a dungeon.

"You're Hayate, aren't you? Y, you will have a PVP match with me!"

That wasn't what I meant to say at all. I was going to say, I've been a fan for a long time. Would you please form a party with me? But what came out of my mouth was a declaration of war.

Challenging someone to a fight the first time you meet them, what kind of battle-crazed character am I? I get a little embarrassed just thinking about it.

But he fought me. He's so kind, I love him.

What's more, Hayate never even landed a hit on my character. We were in a game, so it's not like I would get hurt. Maybe he knew I was a girl in real life and it was a tactic to not lose his female viewers.

After that, I kept challenging him to PVP matches, trying to invite him to my party. Of course, I lost every single time. And every time, he'd only destroy my equipment, never dealing any damage to my body. He would mercilessly slice male player characters in half, so it didn't seem like he had taken a vow against killing.

I was finally able to talk to him properly at an official FWO offline event. That's when I was first able to ask him to form a party. I did my best to sell him on all the merits of teaming up with me.

But, it was no good...

He didn't give me the details, but it seems he's not good at working in a group.

When they announced that the four-sword style would be abolished, I did everything I could to get them to reverse the decision. I thought Hayate would be sad.

But even with Father's help, it was no use. The number of his streams started to decrease. Thinking he must be depressed, I went after him alone. I made up an excuse, saying it was the last time and I wouldn't let him get away with a winning streak, and had him PVP with me.

After that, one thing led to another, and Hayate and I formed a party and managed to conquer a dungeon together. Those few hours were the happiest of my life. I got to play with my idol. He praised me when I did well. He gently patted my head. Everything was so perfect, I wished that time would never end.

As proof of our dungeon conquest, my name and Hayate's were carved side by side on a stone monument. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this means we're bound together, right? I still use that image as my phone's wallpaper.

I was in such a happy mood that day...

How did it end up like this?

[Shinonome Rena has been selected as the conquest memorial trophy for the Kanto area.]

It's all the fault of the one with that voice, the Goddess.

Kidnapped by the Goddess, I am left unable to even move a fingertip of my own will.

I can't see. I don't know where I am.

I have no sensation in my body. I can't even tell if I'm standing or lying down.

But my consciousness is perfectly clear.

[As a trophy, you will become the property of the one who first conquers the Spring Dungeon. If the owner wishes, your personality will be erased. Then, a personality of the owner's choosing will be implanted. I hope someone nice comes to get you.]

That's what the Goddess told me.

I think this means this is the last time I have left.

I have so many regrets.

I wish I had told Father I loved him more. I wish I had been more affectionate with Mother. I promised the maids we'd have a girls' party at a luxury hotel in Dubai... I'm so sorry, everyone. And I can no longer tell Todo, the head butler, about what happened in FWO that day. I loved how he always listened to my stories with a smile.

Memories and regrets are flooding my mind.

But in the end, the face I remember is his.

Hayate, I want to see you one more time.

If I'm going to belong to the conqueror anyway, I want my owner to be Hayate. I feel like I could accept being used by him. I'm sure Hayate would take good care of me.

I wish for that, but I understand it's absolutely impossible. The real Hayate is a high school student, the same age as me. No matter how strong he is in the game, he can't fight in the real world, right? Besides, I don't want him to risk his life to save me.

Ah, I can feel my body a little now.

It feels like I'm floating in mid-air.

[Congratulations on conquering the Spring Dungeon.]

I heard a voice like that. It's the same voice as the Goddess, but this one is a cold, mechanical sound.

Someone cleared the dungeon.

[As a conquest memorial trophy, we present Shinonome Rena. It is possible to erase her personality and give her a new one of your choosing. Now, what kind of personality do you desire?]

It seems this is the end.

I just wanted to see the face of the person who will use me. I assume they must be specifying what to do with my personality, but to not even let me hear the conqueror's voice, that Goddess is really stingy.

[...Understood. Please accept your trophy.]

My body is slowly falling.

After a moment, I felt like I was being held by something.

Is this it? Am I going to disappear now?

I'm scared...

I don't want to belong to anyone but you.

Please.

"Help me, Hayate."

"Yeah. I came to help you, Rena."