Chapter 95: The Ambush This game is an Eroge.
Usually, when a game has a lot of heroines, the H-scenes or the story tend to suffer. But this one features countless, meticulously crafted H-scenes for every character, and each one has a solid storyline—aside from the parts where Akito blunders his way through solving everything.
Is that all? The sheer volume of H-scenes involving sub-characters and extras is so vast it makes you wonder if they used AI to generate them.
Plus, there's no recycling of H-scenes, making it nothing short of a treasure for gentlemen.
However, this isn't just classified as an adult game; it's treated as an adult game.
While it feels a bit overstuffed, it features a variety of content like life skills, fishing, and management. But the real highlight is the character growth and party composition.
The freedom allows for everything from insane experimental builds to invincible meta-builds, and the growth system provides a satisfying payoff for the effort you put in.
The difficulty is tuned perfectly, so there's a lot to consider every time you put a party together for a commission.
It's not so demanding that you have to pore over guides and compare every single stat, but you do have to use your head a bit. The process of analyzing maps and monster types to bring the right attributes and magic is genuinely fun.
You know those games? The ones where the actual combat isn't much, but the preparation process is a blast.
Thanks to that, despite the massive amount of H-scenes, it's classified as an adult game and is beloved by many gentlemen.
The fun of raising characters, the fun of building a party…
"… …"
"Why are you staring?"
"Sigh…"
"What?! Why are you sighing?!"
Rio snaps at me in annoyance, but how could you possibly understand the state of my heart?
Where did all the fun go? How did I end up with a party full of nothing but trash-tier characters?
Looking at this party composition makes me want to do nothing but sigh.
At least Yukina and Chika pull their weight—and then some—otherwise, I would have quit a long time ago.
"I know you're excited since it's your first time heading outside the Barrier, but stay sharp."
Even if I'm the party leader… or rather, the team leader, I'm still just a temporary license holder. I have no choice but to listen to the Black Agent leading us.
He's probably just low-ranked escort personnel for the transit to the city outside the Barrier, but he sure acts high and mighty.
We are currently in a vehicle, waiting for the Barrier gates to open.
There are three layers of gates leading outside. They don't open all at once; we have to wait for each one to open and close as we move through.
The wait is tedious, but riding in a transport vehicle like a SWAT team in a movie is actually pretty cool.
"The world outside the Barrier isn't soft. We don't have the luxury of babysitting greenhorns like you."
"Kids like you are the first to die. Be grateful we're leading the way."
At the agents' words, our "Mad Dog" Chika is the first to react with a glare, and Yukina's gaze turns cold as well.
Takeo, the former thug, doesn't even react to this kind of thing anymore.
I bet the car Akito is in is full of sunshine and rainbows, right? That bastard is the darling of the game, after all.
Stop daydreaming and mediate as the leader.
"Yes, please protect us well, Rank 9 Agents."
"… …"
When I smile brightly, Masayoshi, who hates conflict, pokes me in the ribs with his elbow to tell me to stop.
Why? I only stated a fact. They are Rank 9.
For the record, Yggdrasil students start at Rank 7 the moment they graduate.
If you want respect, you have to show it first.
"Tsk, kids these days have no manners."
"Is that so? But what does it feel like to be Rank 9? I don't think I'll ever get to experience that in my entire life."
Poke, poke, poke—
As I provoke them with a grin, Masayoshi's elbowing gets faster.
No matter what the agents say, I just keep hitting back with the "Rank 9" line until they finally shut up.
A moment later, the gates open, and I get my first look at the world outside the Barrier.
"Wow…"
Chika's eyes widen as she stares out the small window in the rear door.
It's a literal primeval forest.
It's as if the genre suddenly shifted to high fantasy; the area is filled with massive, strange plants and trees.
In a jungle like this, moving in large military units would definitely be inefficient.
There's a reason mages form small, elite teams.
Tangled, massive roots form natural walls, and the densely packed trees block all line of sight.
Moreover, not all the plants are harmless. If you step blindly into the brush, you'll get attacked or poisoned.
The others are seeing this for the first time too, so they're busy pressing their faces against the glass to look outside.
The Rank 9 Black Agents, who have been out here dozens of times, sneer at us.
I can't see the front, but Akito's group in the lead vehicle is probably doing the same thing.
In the original game, three vehicles go out.
The only difference is that one armored car was replaced by the transport vehicle I'm currently in.
Regardless, we're going to get attacked either way.
After a while, the team members, who were busy admiring nature, get bored of the endless green and sit back down one by one.
The atmosphere is finally right for a briefing.
"Everyone memorized the tactical manual I sent, right?"
"Yeah, I did."
"Yep. Got it."
Rio? Rio? Why aren't you answering?
How is it that only Yukina and Masayoshi are responding? Chika? Mr. Former Thug?
When I stare at them, Rio and Chika sheepishly turn their heads away, and Takeo scratches his cheek awkwardly.
"I'm not… confident, but I memorized as much as I could."
"C-4 formation. Your position."
"The… very front?"
The future looks bleak.
Combat formations need to be second nature. You have to react instantly to change formations during battle. Do you think the enemy is going to kindly wait for you?
In the game, I could control everyone individually, but this is reality. I have to wait for my teammates to move.
I wouldn't have been able to do this without Frey, either.
Frey is truly amazing; she didn't just increase my individual strength, she put me through grueling training for complex tactics and team maneuvers.
The tactical manual I gave the team is a high-level one I obtained from Greyhound.
"You're not wrong, but you know it has to come out instantly, right?"
"Yeah, I'll keep memorizing it."
"And you two with your heads turned. Yes, I'm talking to you."
Rio and Chika glance at me and then look away again.
"Chika. A-4. Your position."
"…The front?"
"It is the front. You're at the front for everything from A to B. In A-4, where is Masayoshi's position?"
"… …"
This is driving me crazy.
It doesn't even seem worth asking Rio.
I can hear the agents at the far end of the vehicle snickering, and I sigh as I move to the seat closest to the door.
"Rio, swap seats with me."
"Okay, I'll swap."
Feeling guilty about not memorizing the manual, Rio quickly moves to the middle seat where I was.
"Yukina, swap with Takeo. Takeo, swap with Chika."
After rearranging the seating, I look at my teammates and continue.
"This current arrangement is D-1. It's a formation to protect Masayoshi and Rio, who have lower combat power. Unless something happens, we'll stay in this formation, so remember it."
"You're really into this, aren't you? Why are you already setting up combat formations?"
"Leave him be. He's an 'elite.' He probably just wants to play commander."
Ignoring the agents' mockery, I keep talking.
"Confirm all rally points for emergency situations. While you're at it, check your equipment again."
The team members could have complained like the agents, but they all check their gear without a word.
Fine, at least they listen.
If this had turned into a typical group project nightmare, I would have flipped the table.
Finally, I give Chika a firm reminder.
"You are on my team right now. Remember that."
"Yeah, I know."
Abandoned by Akito, Chika nods with a serious look in her eyes.
"Unless I give the order, or unless I'm in a position where I can't give orders, you are not to leave your post."
"I said I get it. Do you really distrust me that much?"
"Do not leave, even if something happens to Akito."
"… …"
At the mention of Akito, Chika falls silent.
Even though she was cast aside, she still can't give up on him?
Well, she shouldn't. If he dies, the world ends.
As I stare at her, Chika answers in a small, uncertain voice.
"I'll do that."
"I trust you. You trust me, too."
"I will."
"Get a load of this drama. Anyone would think you're going off to slay a demon."
Since I keep ignoring him, the agent speaks up loudly, clearly wanting to be heard.
In an instant, Yukina stands up, transforming her stick into a sword. The agents react just as quickly, springing to their feet.
"D-1!! Protect the Comedy Duo!"
I shout as I stand up. Chika transforms her stick into gauntlets and watches the side of the vehicle, while Takeo and the Comedy Duo move half a beat late.
Kwang—!!
A massive impact shakes the vehicle. I immediately grab the Comedy Duo by their collars and kick the door open to escape.
Yukina, Chika, and Takeo follow in succession. The vehicle, with the agents still inside, spins out of control and slams into a massive tree.
I'm glad I told Yukina, with her superior detection abilities, to be on alert.
In the scenario, Akito is ambushed by monsters while heading toward the Adrian Factory District.
The commission was for an investigation, but the game content involves Akito breaking through the area outside the Barrier on his own to reach the factory district.
In that process, he discovers his hidden power and a loli, and his journey to save the world begins.
I'll support you as much as I can, so you just go and save the world.
"Ugh—!"
The moment my feet hit the ground, I drop the Comedy Duo and cast the Eye of Yullat and Tentacle Magic.
Damn, the forest is so dense I can't see a thing.
The Eye of Yullat is useless here, but the randomly generated tentacles begin to harass the gorilla-like monsters.
"Akito!!"
"Chika!!"
Seeing the transport vehicle Akito was in tumble down the mountain path, Chika moves reflexively.
At my shout, she skids to a halt and meets my eyes.
In her gaze, she can see us surrounded by monsters.
Not to mention Rio, even "God Sayoshi" turns back into regular Masayoshi during combat and can't even pull his own weight.
She sees Yukina and Takeo fighting desperately. After a brief glance at the vehicle still rolling down the slope, Chika joins us with a face that looks like she's about to cry.
In the scenario, everyone except Akito's group, who fell down the mountain, is wiped out here.
"Yukina! Check the vehicle and rescue any survivors! Chika, Takeo, clear a path! Rio, smoke screen!"
"W-Where?!"
"Anywhere except the vehicle and the path we're clearing!"
They were obnoxious agents, but I can't just let them die.
I fill the gap left by Yukina, and Rio's haphazardly fired magic fills the surroundings with white smoke.
"Takeo! Take my spot!"
Swapping positions with Takeo, I face off against a gorilla-like monster charging at me.
Kwang—!
"That hurts, you bastard!"
True to its massive frame, it delivers a crude overhead smash with interlaced fingers. I take the hit head-on, annoyed, and swing the Etiquette Infuser.
By nature, Counter Magic grows stronger the more damage you accumulate, but I don't have the luxury of building it up right now.
Instead, I focus on the knockback, sending the gorilla flying like a grand slam home run. I specifically target the larger monsters capable of breaking our formation.
"The driver is dead. Everyone in the rear armored car is dead, too."
So the only survivors are the two agents who were talking smack to me?
Yukina, carrying one unconscious agent over her shoulder, joins us along with the other agent who is still in decent shape.
"We're escaping now. Give the agent to… who is that? Give him to the Rank 9 survivor—"
"It's Den!"
"Give him to Den or whoever, and Yukina, use Ghost Fire to clear a path!"
After handing the unconscious agent to the one who introduced himself as Den, Yukina stands beside Chika and conjures blue flames.
Just then, I see a monster emerge from the smoke and head toward the path where Akito fell.
Just one… should be fine? No, I don't know. Minimize the variables as much as possible.
I hurl the Etiquette Infuser straight at the monster's head and roar.
"Hey, you piece of shit! Come at me!"
As if it understood me, the monster targeting Akito falls for the taunt and charges at me. I retreat from the battlefield with my team.
Positioned at the very rear, I silently absorb the monsters' attacks to help the team escape.
"Is he going to be okay?"
"He's fine. Focus on running."
The agent, who was so obnoxious until a moment ago, seems to feel sorry for me as I get pummeled at the rear.
Well, I am taking every hit without even attempting to block properly.
However, Yukina, who knows what I'm up to, doesn't even worry.
It's a bit disappointing, but it means she trusts me that much.
Shall I live up to that trust?
With enough damage accumulated, I step back and clench my fist.
They're all lined up nicely for a hit since they've been chasing me.
"Hryaaaaah—!"
Kwagagagagak—!
As I activate the Counter Magic and throw a punch with all my might, the monsters at the rear are swept away and sent flying.
The massive trees and the ground around us are caught in the magic, leaving the area in front of me looking like a disaster zone.
It's a satisfying result, but since I probably didn't land a critical hit, the monsters are likely still alive.
But blowing them away is enough.
Massaging my stiff shoulder from the magic use, I turn around to find the Rank 9 agent, Den, staring at me blankly.
"Be grateful we're leading the way."
Saving them is one thing, but I had to pay him back for his arrogance.
When I throw his own words back at him, Den scowls, and we vanish into the dense forest.
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