Chapter 58
Four days after the second event.
With his convenience store job off today, Isamu is busy with his lecture part-time work.
(Phew. Today was fun too.)
After finishing his work for the day without incident, Isamu opens the menu window to log out and give feedback to Kimura.
「Hey! My comrade!」
At that moment, a familiar voice reaches his ears from behind.
As he turns around, Lucifer is running towards him.
「Oh, Lucifer! Long time no see!」
「Indeed, it’s been a while! Do you have a moment?」
「Sure, as long as it doesn’t take too long!」
「Then I’ll keep it brief. Actually, I have a favor to ask of you.」
「Oh, what is it? If it’s something I can do, I’ll help with anything!」
「Is that so! As expected of my comrade, I’m grateful! Now, before we get to the main point, do you know about Dullahan?」
「Ah, yeah. That super strong raid boss, right?」
When the guild system was implemented in Dream Fantasy, raid bosses were newly added as guild-oriented content.
That’s the headless knight riding a black horse – Dullahan.
When Isamu first joined Kaito’s guild [Agreable] as a spot member, he challenged Dullahan with them and got utterly demolished.
「So you know. Then this will be quick. We’ve been wanting to defeat that guy by any means necessary, and we’ve been challenging it before. We just tried again a little while ago, but…」
「…It didn’t work out?」
When Isamu asks, Lucifer sighs and nods.
「Despite being at a higher level than before, we still couldn’t even touch it. I hate to admit it, but I realized it’s impossible for us to clear it alone.」
「I see. Well, given how strong it is, it would be tough with just three people.」
「Indeed. So we came up with an idea. We thought we could team up temporarily with strong players from other guilds and challenge it with a large group.」
「Oh! That’s a good idea!」
「…However, there’s a problem. I don’t have any acquaintances to whom I can propose such cooperation. So I wanted to ask you, who has many connections! Could you gather some comrades who would challenge Dullahan with us?」
(I see, so he wants me to call out to everyone for cooperation. That’s no problem at all!)
「Got it! I’ll reach out to my acquaintances!」
「R-Really?!」
「Yeah. But they might refuse, so don’t get your hopes up too much, okay?」
「Understood! I’m grateful, Tutorial Guy!」
Lucifer breaks into a wide smile.
Seeing him like this, Isamu’s face also softens.
「No problem. So, what about the date and time?」
「Hm? We log in every day, so anytime is fine with us?」
「Hmm, that might make it difficult to coordinate everyone’s schedules. It would be easier for everyone to answer if we decide on a specific date and time in advance, so it would be helpful if you could decide beforehand.」
「I see. In that case, whatever works best for you is fine.」
「…Huh? Um, am I included in the headcount?」
「Hm? Ah, of course, that was the plan, but… perhaps you don’t want to? If so, then–」
「Ah, no, it’s just that I’m low level and weak. I thought I might not be of much help.」
As Isamu says this with a wry smile, Lucifer laughs, 「Heh.」
「What are you saying? You may not be as strong as me, but you’re plenty strong yourself. Plus, you have knowledge too. More than anything, I want to fight alongside you! So I ask you again. Please lend us your strength!」
「…If you put it that way, I’d be happy to! Looking forward to it!」
「Indeed! I’m looking forward to it too! …Now, back to the matter of timing.」
「Ah, right. Let’s see… how about 8 PM ? That should work for me, and it’s probably easier for everyone else to make time too.」
「8 PM, huh. Yes, that’s no problem!」
「Great! Then let’s meet at this fountain at 8 PM the day after tomorrow! I’ll let you know via chat if anyone else agrees to help.」
「No need for that. After all, even if you tell me their names, I won’t know who they are. I’ll leave it as a surprise to see what kind of strong players gather on the day.」
「I see, understood!」
「Indeed! Then I look forward to it! I’ve kept Destroy and Rayleigh waiting, so I’ll take my leave now. Sorry for taking up your time.」
「No, no! See you the day after tomorrow then!」
As Isamu says this, Lucifer nods deeply and runs off.
(Alright. I’ll finish the feedback quickly and start reaching out to everyone right away.)
☆
Three days later.
Just past 7:30 PM, Isamu logs into Dream Fantasy.
Heading towards the meeting place at the fountain, he already sees Lucifer, Destroy, and Rayleigh.
Isamu rushes over to them, and noticing him, they also run towards him.
「You’ve come, my comrade!」
「Good evening!」
「Yo, Tu-Guy!」
「Good evening! Looking forward to working with you today! You’re all early, aren’t you?」
「Of course! We who asked for help can’t be late!」 「So, how did it go? Did anyone agree to come?」
「Ah, yes! I reached out to various people, and everyone was happy to help!」
After that, Isamu sent chats to several close friends saying, 「A friend is looking for people to fight Dullahan together. If you’re up for it, could you lend a hand?」
As a result, he received OK replies from everyone he asked, and many players agreed to come.
「For real? That’s awesome!」
「Indeed! We are grateful, Tutorial Guy!」
「Thanks!」
「Ah, no, no. I just reached out, so if you want to thank anyone, thank everyone who’s gathering! Now, about what happens after everyone arrives–」
Isamu explained to Lucifer and the others about the plan from here on.
After that, while chatting and waiting for his friends to arrive,
「–Uncle!」
A familiar voice is heard from the side.
Looking over, Shuka and Nana are approaching, waving their hands.
「Ah, Shuka! Nana!」
As Isamu waves back at the two,
「Hm!」
「Ah!」
「Those two are!」
Surprised voices rise from the three [Dark Faith] members standing next to him.
「Ah!」
「From that time!」
A moment later, Shuka and Nana, who have arrived at Isamu’s side, show the same reaction.
「Both of you, good evening! Thank you for coming!」
「Ah, yes, good evening!」
「G-Good evening! …Hey, Uncle. Are those brothers the friends you were talking about?」
「That’s right! They’re all very nice, so Shuka, if you get along with everyone, Uncle would be happy!」
「…Okay, I got it! If they’re Uncle’s friends, Shuka will get along with them too!」
(Phew, that’s a relief)
During the second event, Shuka’s guild [Happinesstrong] clashed with Lucifer’s [Dark Faith].
After the battle, [Happinesstrong] lost about half of their members and had to retreat.
So Isamu was a little worried that Shuka might take an antagonistic attitude towards them.
If that happened, Isamu was prepared to mediate, but it seems that won’t be necessary.
Apparently, Shuka isn’t as childish as she looks.
「I’m glad! Then, let’s introduce ourselves to each other again!」
「Indeed. My name is Lucifer. I’m surprised that you are also close friends with Tutorial Guy. We’re grateful you came.」
「Thanks! I’m Destroy!」
「I’m Rayleigh! Nice to meet you!」
「Yeah! Shuka is Shuka!」
「I’m Nana! Nice to meet you!」
The five of them introduced themselves in order.
After talking for a while about their relationship with Sieg and the second event,
「–Yo, old man!」
A voice calls out from behind.
Turning around, there stand Kaito, Emi, and Leon.
They also wanted to defeat Dullahan, so they readily agreed to this invitation.
「Oh, Kaito! And Emi and Leon too! Good evening!」
「Ah! It’s Ka-kun big brother!」
Right after Isamu greets them, Shuka, who also turned around, exclaims happily.
「It’s Shuka! Long time no see!」
「You’re on!」
「…Huh? When did you two become so close?」
Isamu’s eyes widen at the sight of the two calling each other by name.
「Hm? Old man, didn’t you see us fighting the kangaroo during the event?」
「Kangaroo? …Sorry, I didn’t. I think I was watching other guilds’ battles at the time.」
Although Isamu had seen the moment Shuka’s group and Kaito’s group started fighting, soon after, Kaiser and [Numbers] started battling elsewhere, so the spotlight shifted there.
From then on, Isamu was focused on Kaiser’s movements, so he doesn’t know about the two’s joint fight.
That’s why he was surprised to see them getting along so well, as he couldn’t have imagined it.
「I see. Actually, Shuka and I ended up fighting together by chance. Right, Shuka?」
「Yep!」
「Oh, so that’s what happened!」
「Yeah! By the way, old man, you were acquainted with Shuka too, huh!」
「Ah, yes! Shuka and I–」
Isamu briefly explained to Kaito and Shuka about his relationship with each of them.
「I see! Man, the world really is small!」
「Shuka was surprised too!」
「Right! I mean, if that’s the case, Shuka, you should have said something earlier… Ah, sorry! We got carried away just among ourselves!」
Saying that, Kaito lightly bowed his head towards Lucifer and the others.
「Heh, no need to worry. Reunion with friends is a joyous occasion. More importantly, we’re grateful you came tonight. My name is–」
After that, as Lucifer and the others were introducing themselves to Kaito’s group in order,
(Ah!)
Isamu caught sight of a handsome older gentleman walking towards them at the edge of his vision.
It’s the cool older guy – Mr. Takashi – who had replied, 「I’d be delighted to accept Sieg’s invitation!」
「Mr. Takashi! Good evening!」
「Hey, Sieg! It’s been a while.」
「Indeed! I’m glad to see you’re doing well.」
「You too, Sieg. Are those people over there the friends you mentioned?」
「Ah, yes! Let me introduce you!」
Isamu introduced the eight people to Mr. Takashi one by one.
And after Mr. Takashi finished his self-introduction, while everyone was getting excited about the winner of the inaugural event arriving,
「Siiieg!」
A girl’s voice is heard from behind.
Responding to the call and turning around, Elena, Cocono, and Mew were rushing over.
「Ah, Elena! Cocono! Mew! Good evening!」
「Sieg, good evening! And everyone, nice to meet you! I’m Elena, a streamer belonging to Girly Live! Looking forward to working with you today!」
「Also from Girly Live, I’m Cocono! Nice to meet you!」
「I’m Mew from Girly Live! Nice to meet you all!」
As soon as they arrived, the three of them cheerfully greeted and introduced themselves to everyone present.
Everyone warmly welcomed them, and after they all finished their self-introductions,
「Um! When we fight the raid boss, if it’s okay with everyone, could we stream it?」
Elena excitedly asked everyone.
In response, everyone gladly agreed, and Elena, Cocono, and Mew looked at each other with great joy.
After the three of them thanked everyone, and once that settled down, this time Isamu spoke up.
「–Okay, everyone’s here! Now, Lucifer, can you invite everyone to the guild as we discussed earlier?」
To challenge a raid boss, only one guild can do so at a time.
So, for everyone here to challenge the raid boss together, they need to leave their current guilds and join the same new guild.
As for which guild to join, it’s naturally [Dark Faith], the guild of Lucifer who proposed this idea.
For this reason, after getting affirmative responses to the invitation, Isamu had asked everyone to leave their guilds before coming.
If there are other remaining guild members, the guild will continue to exist, and they can rejoin later.
Since there are no particular disadvantages, everyone readily agreed to leave their guilds.
As for Elena’s group [Strawberry Montblanc], they apparently asked their office manager to temporarily join the guild.
This way, even if the three of them leave, the guild won’t disappear, so there’s no disadvantage for them either.
「Indeed. Everyone, I’m truly grateful that you’ve gathered here tonight. Now, let us welcome you into our dark alliance.」
Lucifer opens the menu window and moves his fingers a few times.
<Lucifer has invited you to join the guild ‘Dark Faith’. Accept?>
By answering 「Yes」 to the system message that appeared, Isamu became a member of [Dark Faith].
While looking at the [Guild Member List] section in the menu window, names are added one after another.
「Indeed. Everyone has joined. Now, we shall conduct a strategy meeting for the Dullahan battle at our Dark Demon Cas… I mean, our guild home.」
「Yeah. Shall we move then?」
Everyone agreed with Isamu’s words, and the group started walking towards the magic circle for teleportation that connects to the guild home.
☆
A few minutes later.
Just as Isamu and the others reached the magic circle, a young man appeared on top of the magic circle.
It’s Kaiser, the pro gamer and streamer.
「Ah!」
「Y-You!」
「Hmm!」
「Ah!」
At that moment, everyone, including Isamu, let out surprised voices.
「Isn’t that Mr. Takashi! And Sieg too!」
「Kaiser! Thanks for the other day!」
「Ah, Kaiser, long time no see!」
「Yes, it’s been a while! What a coincidence to meet here… Oh! Rayleigh and Elena!」
Kaiser’s eyes widened with excitement.
Rayleigh and Elena rush over to him, and Rayleigh speaks first.
「Hey, it’s been since the inaugural event!」
「Indeed! Thank you for that time!」
「Yeah! Ah, congratulations on the second event! As expected of you!」
「Haha, thank you! I managed to win somehow!」
Kaiser says this to Rayleigh, then shifts his gaze to Elena.
「Elena! Thank you for the sponsored broadcast the other day!」
「Thank you too! It was really helpful that you kept the conversation going!」
「Not at all. If we happen to work together again, I look forward to it!」
「Yes!」
(Oh, so Kaiser and Elena worked together.)
From the conversation, it seems they collaborated on some kind of sponsored content.
That’s why they reacted like that, Isamu nods inwardly in understanding. Meanwhile, Kaiser looks around curiously.
「But wow, what an amazing group of people. Are you all about to do something together?」
「Yeah. We’re going to challenge Dullahan with this group.」
「Oh, the raid boss! That sounds great! Um, if it’s not a bother, could I join you?」
「What?!」
Everyone is shocked by this unexpected offer.
After a moment of silence, Isamu nervously confirms.
「…Well, that’s a very welcome offer, but are you sure it’s okay?」
「Yes! It sounds fun to fight alongside all of you!」
「W-We’re happy to hear that, but wasn’t Kaiser already cleared it…?」
「No, actually I haven’t yet. I tried challenging it with my viewers quite a while ago, but we lost.」
「So that’s how it was. I’d love to have Kaiser join us, but what does everyone else think?」
Rayleigh asks everyone.
In response, everyone agrees without hesitation to Kaiser’s participation.
After that, Kaiser leaves his own guild, entrusting it to his manager, and joins [Dark Faith].
And so, it was decided that 14 people would challenge Dullahan, and the group went to Lucifer and the others’ guild home to strategize.
Sub29: My Thoughts on ‘Tutorial Guy’ as the Series Nears Its End
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