CH 231

Data.221 – Old Bowman, Finish the Fight

My equipment was in tatters to the point of being unrecognizable.

There was something else swirling violently around Dark Matter Bullet’s black energy, and it dealt damage just by grazing you.

My armor was shredded, and some of the metal parts of my bow were melted.

The hakama that protected my legs were in an especially bad condition.

They looked like shorts, since Necoco had cut them.

As if it was the middle of summer…

And so there was no longer anything to protect me from attacks.

That was why I could not allow him to get close to me…!

On the other hand, Nord would be desperate to get close no matter what.

See? He was moving already…!

Kiririri… Shu!

There was no need to use any fancy skills.

The strong ones just left you open if you missed, and he would be able to use Blast Shot to bridge the distance.

But it would be difficult for him to use Blast Shot if I continued to shoot arrows.

Because that was a skill where he could unleash a blast of wind from his pistols and accelerate his speed…!

Kiriri… Shu! Shu!

I used Quickdraw to shoot in rapid succession.

In short, this skill shortened the amount of time it took to nock an arrow, draw, and unleash. But it also shortened the time you had to target an enemy.

And so I didn’t use it if I wasn’t in a hurry.

As it would be pointless if I missed.

But now, I was hitting him.

The state of extreme concentration…what they called the ‘zone.’

Like drops falling into a smooth water surface…the arrows flew.

And landed.

Nord was doing his best to kill the arrows, but several of them got past his bullets.

And so the number of arrows that pierced his body increased.

However, the same could not be said for bullet wounds on me.

There was no risk for me if my attacks were canceled, but there was for Nord.

This was the damage born from the difference in range.

The essence of putting all your points into Range, which allowed you to attack from a position where the enemy couldn’t counter.

However, through my fighting, I had learned that this theory didn’t mean you were invincible.

Even as Nord was being hit, he continued to move forward.

And then, he moved out of the area that he had flattened, and reached the area where there were still trees and lakes left.

This was very bad.

I didn’t know how deep the lake was, but if he dove in and managed to heal himself, all of my attacks would have been for nothing.

“Stop…please…”

Even though I prayed in desperation, my body continued to move calmly.

I couldn’t allow him to enter the forest…

This was someone who had survived my arrows this long by using his guns. If he had obstacles to hide behind…!

“Stop…Nord…!”

Even though he was covered in arrows, Nord dragged his body and moved forward…!

He was swaying, ensuring that I could not hit his head…!

“Ensuring…? No, I will hit you…!”

I calmed myself again, and shot with a quieted heart.

Kiririri… Shu!

Nord suddenly stopped.

And without saying anything, or even falling to his knees, he disappeared.

And so the end of the vicious battle came without even the sound of an arrow landing. It was quiet.

“…”

While I understood the fact that we had won, my emotions had not caught up with it.

My heart felt like it was empty.

Suddenly, I remembered Vera Velvet’s words.

–But up until the fight, Macoco looked like she had left her heart somewhere far away.

Was this what that felt like…?

‘The battle is overrrr!!’

“Woah!?”

‘Since all VRHAR players have been annihilated, the winner of the 1st NSO Strongest Party Tournament is…Ghost Guild-nyon! Congradulations!!!’

Charin’s voice was so loud it seemed like she meant to destroy my eardrums. Still, it brought me back to the present.

And then, the joy began to well up from deep within me!

Still, I would celebrate once I reunited with the others.

We had all won this victory together!

That being said, it was a surprise that I didn’t even use Armageddon Arrow, Stardust Arrow, or Southern Cross Ballista in the very end.

The finishing blow was just normal arrows…

“No, perhaps that is a good thing. It’s very me…I guess.”

Before returning to the waiting area, I thought about all my adventures up until now.

◆　◆　◆

After that, what awaited me after Charin returned me to the waiting area was…intense cheering.

Necoco, Satomi, and Anne jumped on as if they meant to attack. And they rapidly unleashed words of praise.

I was happy, but it was also a little embarrassing…but I was still happy. That’s what it was like.

After things calmed down a little, we were called by someone from management, and we took a photo.

Of course, since this was in the game, it would be used in articles about the winning team, and advertisements for the game. And so the professional photographer told us to look our best. But we were all nervous.

It took a while to take the photo, but I got through it without anyone getting angry at me.

However, my party members had to do something nerve-racking after a nervous battle, and they were at their limits now.

Necoco burst into tears, and Satomi collapsed on the ground as if his soul had left his body.

Anne was speaking so quickly that it sounded like some kind of alien language.

Or maybe it actually was…

Leaving that aside, I wanted to take a group photo with all of the players we had fought up until now.

But it was likely to take a while for Necoco and the others to calm down, and the other parties that made it to the finals were busy talking to each other.

And so, I waited a while before suggesting that we all take a photo together.

Normally, I wouldn’t have been so aggressive about something like this, but I felt different today.

Now, I had to call these people, even though they looked like they would ignore me.

“Nord!”

It would not feel right if our last opponent in the tournament wasn’t in the photo.

I had to keep VRHAR here somehow!

“What is it, Mr. Kyuji? We’re only here because we had to take a photo as the runner-up party.”

“I..see… Uh, do you want to take a photo? We’re going to take a photo with all of the parties that made it to the final round…”

“That doesn’t really fit my character, so I decline.”

“Uh…! Well, if it doesn’t fit your character as a pro gamer, that certainly makes it harder for me to ask. I wouldn’t want one little screenshot to ruin your reputation or anything… Even if it’s just a game, it’s good to be consistent… For both players and creators.”

“Creators… Indeed. I did hear something about you working at a company before. Was it a game company?”

“Oh, you did all of that research? Well, I’m the one who revealed it when someone asked… Uh, yeah, I was. But we ignored trends and just made retro games.”

“I don’t mean to be rude…but that doesn’t sound profitable.”

“Yeah, and so I quit. But the company is still around, which is a relief.”

“So you quit making games and jumped into the world of a game.”

“Exactly! I did not think that once I was finished entertaining people by making games, that I would then entertain people by playing them. But the culture of gaming has been good to me.”

“…”

“Still, there is only so much you can do when playing by yourself. You have to have rivals and people to compete with, or events like these would be boring.”

“Well, there is little that is more exciting than a battle between people. In both fiction and sports.”

“That’s why I’m glad that it was you who was the last enemy to stand in our way. We know each other, and you’re someone I wouldn’t be embarrassed to be defeated by. Of course, I still didn’t want to lose! That’s why it was fun, scary, and I assume, very entertaining to watch.”

“…”

“…Well, I’m not sure why I’m saying something so obvious to someone who is a pro gamer! Of course it would be interesting for two strong parties to fight! And I probably sound very smug now… Sorry! I thought there would be some kind of winner interview, and so I thought of different things to say, but I was only asked to say a few words… I was going to say it to my comrades, but they were already so overwhelmed, and I felt bad for them. And so I told you, since you seemed to be the most calm person here.”

“I wouldn’t say that you are smug, and it doesn’t inconvenience me that much to listen.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that. I won’t force you to take the group photo. Besides, you listened to what I had to say. It’s best to stay in character…”

“I don’t mind.”

“What?”

“The group photo.”

“A-are you sure?”

“While my motto is to be the ‘child who is hated and feared by the world,’ I do think you have to respect your predecessors.”

“Uh, I haven’t been playing as long as you…”

“But you’ve been entertaining people with games for longer. And so this isn’t against VRHAR’s motto. One or two photos is nothing.”

“Thank you! We’ll take a photo once Necoco stops crying, Satomi gets his soul back, and when Anne becomes human again!”

Necoco and the others recovered quickly enough, and so we didn’t keep Nord and the others waiting long.

First, we took a group photo of all the parties we fought against, and then a photo with all the parties that reached the finals.

At that point, Nord and his party had already left, and so they did not interact with the others.

That was VRHAR’s style.

In a way, they were like me, and wanted to perfect their own unique style.

And then we would take photos with individual players who asked, and enjoyed talking with each other.

Even after we were warped out of the waiting area and returned to the first town, the spectators cheered for us and offered words of congratulations. So it wasn’t until late into the night that I logged out. But I was still so excited that I couldn’t sleep.

Still, eventually, that excitement faded away, and things returned to normal.

So, what should I do next?

Yes, I should do something new.