Estimated reading time: 8–10 minutes
Chapter 14: Shelter
Well now, two days have passed since then, the day AP repairs were completed. Aside from logging into HAO just to kill time, I spent those two days playing completely different games. Despite its stupid name, the FPS Sniper VR is oddly practical. All the guns actually exist and even reproduce recoil and bullet trajectories. You have to measure and adjust for the distance to your opponent yourself. Also, each player is assigned their own terrain that they can’t leave, so you really have to snipe from at least 100 meters away.
But since I somehow felt like I lost by not mastering it, I ended up becoming pretty good at what turned out to be an incredible game. The top players are all so skilled they seem like real snipers, so the exhilaration I feel when I can beat them is extreme.
But enough about that, I’ve logged back in and I’m stealthily making my way to Kōmitsu Solutions. Today’s finally the big reveal for the AP! It’ll probably be the first of its kind across all servers.
As usual, old Osaka City is deserted. While walking through the residential district, I happen to glance up and spot a man’s corpse hanging from his neck. Since he’s still there, he’s probably an NPC, but a suicidal NPC is refreshingly unexpected. I guess in most games they get rescued by the hero before being pushed that far.
「Speaking of which, who is the main character in this game anyway?」
In most MMOs, the story progresses with the players themselves as the main characters. That’s because of the lack of relationship between NPCs and other players from my perspective. For example, even if I lift a curse placed on an NPC, players who haven’t completed that event quest still see the curse as unbroken. Naturally—sharing that much would be chaos.
So how about this game? All the NPCs are shared – if someone kills one, other players can no longer interact with them. With that being the case, if the players are the main characters, the story would stop progressing once key NPCs are gone. It would be like if Tanuki-san got killed and the quests involving owing him money disappeared, making it impossible to start the game. Well I’m talking about console games here, but still.
While walking through the back alleys, I arrive at my destination, Kōmitsu Solutions. When I enter, Momiji and Reina are already looking over the AP. Repairs are complete, and while it doesn’t shine, all parts of the AP are in perfect condition. The melted armor has been replaced, and nothing is sticking out of the joints. For the first time, a rugged mass-produced AP covered head to toe in armor stood before me in working order.
「Oh, repairs are finished.」
「Thank you very much. Oh, it has a blade on its back.」
「Installing heavy weapons wasn’t possible, but this much is fine. I added attachments to the arms so you won’t have issues with your grip and drop your weapons anymore. Other than that, I just replaced broken parts and filled it with fuel. Well, this should at least let you fight Machine Beasts now.」
The old man who sobbed before tells me with a satisfied look. Momiji and Reina seem to be discussing something, so leaving them be for now, I climb into the cockpit. All dirt and grime has been wiped away, leaving it sparkling clean, and the generator has been replaced with a more compact model as well.
As the old man said, I press a switch and put on the helmet, instantly clearing my view as it changes to the AP perspective.
「Is this applying VR technology? So I’m playing a VR game inside another VR game?」
「Yeah, it directly applies VR technology. Cyborgs and the like use this too. Anyway, the AP can basically be operated just by thinking. However, actions like drawing your sword or swinging a blade require dedicated controls.」
「What’s the criteria?」
「How dangerous it is. Accidentally killing someone would cause problems, right? So to swing a weapon or run with civilians around, you need to press a switch and use levers to control it. For example, the top right switch is to equip weapons. And the other one on the right is to use that armament.」
「What are these control sticks for?」
「Adjusting output power. If you push it all the way, you get 120% power, and just a bit gets you around 50%.」
「I see, so think to control it, flip switches to unlock restrictions, and use levers to increase power.」
「Try operating it once」
The old man says, then steps away from the cockpit. When I close the canopy, it hisses as the gap seals shut. Filling the interior with an oxygen mixture to breathe.
The reason for this is that the oxygen in this world is produced by using electricity to decompose water. You probably remember learning about this in school – 2H₂O (water) becomes 2H₂ (hydrogen) and O₂ (oxygen). Something famous that gets taught in middle school. So in this world with low oxygen concentrations, electricity is essential for reliably obtaining oxygen.
And personal oxygen generators aren’t very high performance. They have to be portable, with a battery that lasts and a steady oxygen supply. But by harnessing the AP’s power, oxygen can be supplied steadily.
Additionally, constantly wearing a mask outside is mentally taxing, so the AP is shielded from the outside air, allowing you to breathe without a mask. Well, there’s oxygen available inside this dome, but not being able to remove your oxygen mask for weeks on end out there would definitely be rough.
So, with the sealed cockpit confirmed, I try standing up. My vision feels oddly wide thanks to the helmet allowing me to share senses with the AP, which is disorienting. As I will it, the AP slowly stands up.
Next, I flip the two top right switches to unlock and slowly draw the massive blade from my back. Then, without a weapon in my other arm, I throw a straight punch. The first gently, then the second with the lever pushed all the way. Though I’m just punching with my arm, the tremendous force traveling to my feet shows me the power behind it. From the outside, my movement only looks slightly faster, but what strength…!
「Oii, you satisfied?」
「Satisfied? Way more than satisfied, totally blown away! This thing is nuts!」
I wave my AP’s arm at Reina below to show my elation, then try to get out of the machine’s body, only to freeze up. Strange noises are coming from the entrance. Multiple powered suits…no, more like the sound of machine guns loading ammo. Barely audible even with the AP’s enhanced hearing.
Reina gives me a cheerful smile, seeming to understand I’ve noticed the intruders, and pulls out a knife. Meanwhile, Momiji sighs and starts equipping submachine guns in both hands with some kind of rocket launcher on her back. Reina looks the same as always, but Momiji’s clothes are bulging, clearly concealing more than just those visible weapons. Still smiling, Reina shows me a map of the whole city.
「First, start a stream so they head this way」
「…..That’s definitely where Hiniru is, right?」
「Geez, even when it’s just the two of us playing, that creep still harasses us. Saying stuff like me and Orange were together, then all his lackeys spammed sexual harassment. Was so gross I’m real sick of him, so figured it’s ’bout time we crush the bugger.」
「Can’t argue with exterminating the pest, but do we really need a stream?」
「That’s the thing – it’s not about getting views for Hiniru the villain, it’s showing Orange defeating Hiniru the nuisance player.」
「…..Honestly I don’t care, but if you insist, I guess I’ll go along with it.」
Sensing Reina’s eyes aren’t smiling, I ready myself for combat. Above all, we can’t let them damage the weapon shop or hurt the old man. Now that I’ve finally gotten this job and AP, I don’t intend to lose them and become jobless again. With that resolve, I take the vanguard position.
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