Pandora of Fantasy And Reality Chapter 155
Added 2023-10-20 07:56:25 +0000 UTCEpilogue
――World of fantasy.
The box garden that originally should exist with the server completely reset.
But――.
「Oiiiiii! Stoooopp!」
Chasing after Ponsuke who was running with all his strength was a metallic earth dragon running on the ground.
It was targeting Ponsuke.
It was an area that was newly opened at the Capital of Hope.
Legend class monsters appeared there. Ponsuke took up the challenge to subjugate them, but launching a frontal attack was proving to be a mistake.
Because of that, the action that Ponsuke and His Happy-Go-Lucky Friends took was――.
「Now! Entrap it and beat it up!」
The earth dragon stepped into the trap and fell into the ground. Then Ponsuke’s comrades who were in hiding appeared all at once and threw down items.
The items that were thrown into the pitfall were all items that would cause vicious status debuff.
Lighter was laughing.
「Shiny earth dragon-kun! Bring out your rare item drop right away!」
After the craftsman players tossed down their items, the next attack started.
The magicians all fired down their magic into the hole. They kept attacking the earth dragon in succession and wouldn’t allow it any chance to counterattack.
Then the magicians ran out of MP and their skills also entered cooldown period. With that the earth dragon started crawling out of the pitfall.
It was extremely angry based on its bloodshot eyes.
It was the orcs who were there waiting when it came out.
They were in rampage state and carrying large hammers. They whacked the earth dragon with all they had.
「Fuhahaha! I’ll defeat you and get rewarded by her majesty’s whip!」
The ganged up earth dragon fell into the pitfall again. Then the magicians started bombarding it with magic again.
Alfie, Mariella, and the guild’s female priestess were watching that going on. They were also lashing the orcs with their whips.
「Ora, your reward!」
「Cry tears of joy!」
「Good child. I love a piggy who listen to me!」
Prey and others were writhing and blushing.
Ponsuke was breathing hard while watching that happening.
He wiped his sweat.
「The monsters are getting too realistic it’s scary instead. The sweats are also sticky all over me.」
Sitting down nearby was Pandora.
「Please enjoy the inconvenience. Even so this is horrible. To think this kind of tactic exist. I never expected you guys would go this far.」
Rook was standing near the exasperated Pandora.
「Yeah really. Ponsuke――guild master, just finish it off already.」
Pressed by Rook, Ponsuke seemed to be irritated and he yelled angrily.
「Why am I guild master! It should be you Rook!」
Originally the box garden should vanish.
But, it was still existing like this with Ponsuke and others living in it.
「That’s because we joined up and Ponsuke got chosen by majority vote. Haha~, I’m in your debt. Actually, I thought being guild master is troublesome. You’re really a reliable guy. Then, I’m going to fight too.」
Rook joyfully dashed away to join the fight. Ponsuke’s hand reached out toward his back.
「You guys all raised your hands for me! This is premeditated crime!」
The members of Rook’s guild also agreed with Ponsuke becoming the guild master, which brought things to this point.
Pandora was smiling.
「Rook-san too has returned to his original innocence. Haha~, I don’t know what to say, but it’s great.」
Ponsuke shook his head.
「……Information broker-san contacted him, then he heard about a lot of things, and so he resolved himself, was it?」
「Yes it was. From listening to everything, a part of him carried everything upon himself. It’s great that he now returned to how he was before.」
Ponsuke looked at the cats Pandora were holding.
Two cats were quarreling.
One was a fat cat and one was a strange cat with trump mark on his fur.
They were the information broker and the NPC who was the mastermind of the incident after getting reset. Apparently they were turned into cats to reflect on themselves.
『Damn nya. Damn nya!』
『That’s stuffy, you fatso!』
They were fighting from the resentment that they harbored toward each other. Pandora was smiling seeing the two of them like that.
Ponsuke watched Shela who was about to cast magic.
She was getting teary.
「I-I can’t anymore! It’s just too pitiful!」
The one who was instructing Shela who was like that was Sierra.
「What are you saying! You must not let your guard down until it’s finished off! Now, please pray for rare item to come out. If it doesn’t……this battle will repeat again!」
Shela was crying.
「Ponsuke-san, please help!」
Blaze was instructing the players who were doing the attacks. Lighter was laughing.
Prey and other orcs were lying on their back in a submission pose toward the players and NPCs――Pandora’s comrades who were whipping them.
Ponsuke thought.
「……What a horrible sight」
Until now a part of him was still in doubt, asking whether this was really alright.
But, he wasn’t regretting it.
And then he looked at Pandora.
「You’re also a schemer huh. You said to everyone about vanishing while preparing backup behind their back.」
The machine parts――server brought from the moon had a spare.
It was being managed under utmost secrecy. Even now it was being supplied with electricity.
The personnel managing it weren’t noticing that it was being used as server.
They were under the impression that it was a device that was managing the underground colony. In reality it also had such function, so they weren’t exactly wrong.
Pandora separated the two cats, and then sometimes she would stick them together and played with them.
「It’s basic to make backup. But, thanks to that everyone can play like this so it’s fine isn’t it?」
「That’s true but……if you’re going this far then something more different would be better.」
Today too Ponsuke and His Happy-Go-Lucky Friends were having fun in the world of fantasy――.
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The season was winter.
Akito was doing his part-time work in the real world.
「――Eh?」
But, the words from Yakumo made him turned around.
The flow of customers to the shop had ceased. There was nobody else other than them.
「I passed this university exam. This university is higher leveled than the first university I planned to enroll into, so I’ll go work part-time closer to there.」
Akito was slightly surprised by that confession from Yakumo.
「Is, that so」
He congratulated the third year Yakumo’s success in advancing to a better university. At the same time he also felt a bit lonely.
(Even though we finally got to talk with each other)
Yakumo had cold atmosphere, but she gradually loosened up and talked to him in these several months.
She was unexpectedly easy to talk to. Besides it wasn’t tiring even if he talked for long with her.
But, he felt slightly dejected hearing what Yakumo was saying.
(……I thought that we’d be able to get closer)
He wouldn’t dare to expect them to become lover, but they might be able to become at least friend.
He was harboring such faint hope.
「……Congratulations.」
Yakumo was blushing slightly.
「……I’m grateful to you Naruse. I, hated man. But, I can somehow talk with one now.」
The two’s conversation was awkward.
「But, it’s end today. Sorry that I couldn’t bring it up sooner. A lot of things got decided so suddenly so, it’ll be a bother for you but please take care of the rest.」
「L-leave it to me!」
Another customer immediately came so their conversation was cut off.
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The part-time work ended and Yakumo said his farewell to Akito――she was now sitting down in the station.
She paid no attention to the cold or anything else.
「……Stupid me」
Inside her bag was a Valentine chocolate even though it was still early.
She planned to give it but she couldn’t.
「In the end I couldn’t say it until the end.」
Various things like her pride and the like made her unable to convey her feeling.
She sighed in front of the handmade chocolate.
At first he was just her junior in her part-time workplace.
She didn’t even like him.
(When I realized it my eyes were following him, I was only able to talk to him since two months ago……it’ll only trouble him even if I give him this won’t it?)
She passed the exam to a university that was higher ranked than predicted, and her move to there was decided so she had thought many times to talk to him about it.
However, she was unable to say it till the end.
(……Eh?)
For some reason Yakumo felt extremely vexed. Her chest felt constricted tightly. She realized that tears were falling from her eyes.
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Spring.
Maya became third year student and kept her excellent grade even in the high leveled high school she was currently attending.
The students around her were also high leveled and also could keep up with her talk, so she wasn’t feeling lonely.
She also made some friends and enjoyed her school life with them.
Such Maya suddenly stopped walking while she was going through a corridor.
She was walking alone, but she looked to the side.
(……It feels lonely for some reason.)
Even though she should be having fun, she was feeling loneliness no matter what.
「Maya. What’s wrong?」
A friend who happened to see her called out to her. Maya smiled wryly.
「I-it’s nothing.」
(Lies. There’s something that just can’t stop bothering me)
What came to mind was her previous school before she transferred.
The memory of the time she spent there was really hazy, but there was just one memory remaining that left an intense impression in her.
He was a boy who didn’t really stand out but, she couldn’t forget his face even now.
It felt like something inside her was strongly yelling at her that she mustn’t forget, but Maya didn’t understand the reason for that.
Her friend pushed Maya’s back.
「More importantly, Saito-kun was looking for you Maya. Come on, you need to give him the answer already.」
Maya was troubled by her friend who had strong interest toward romance.
「We’re simply fellow committee member. It’s not like we’re in that kind of relationship.」
「That so? I think Saito-kun is being really obvious though~」
The boy was handsome. He was also tall and had nice physique.
Even his grade was excellent, and he came from a family with a not bad pedigree.
He was popular among girls. Maya too thought that he wasn’t bad.
(What is this? My heart feels stormy.)
「It’ll be great if you two go out. I think you two suits aech other.」
Maya pondered for a bit.
「H~mm, I wonder?」
What came to her mind was the boy whose face she saw before transferring.
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Akito advanced to his third year and change visited him.
He had good grades and was told that he would be able to aim for higher ranked university――and not only that, something happened in his part-time work.
「Eh? Me, looking after them?」
The company employee told him to look after two girls in their first year high school.
「Yes. Can I ask you to do that? Look, Naruse-kun is a diligent and reliable person after all.」
「Isn’t a part-timer usually paired with only one other?」
「One of them originally was really sickly. She’s recovering but, apparently she want to see how it goes. She seems like a real lady from good family.」
It seemed that the company also couldn’t afford to reject her application.
「I(Boku)……I(Ore), am a male you know?」
「That’s why I want to ask you to take care of the works that need strength.」
A job that originally should be done with two people was assigned three people.
It seemed there was also a reason for that, so Akito nodded. Then the employee introduced the two girls.
「Actually they’re already here. It’s Asano Yukine-chan, and Wakamiya Nanami-chan. It looks like Asano-chan had experienced working part-time with us before but……well, it happened at that time, so teach her from the beginning again.」
A black haired girl and a brown haired girl lowered their heads to Akito.
「Please take care of us.」
「P-please take care of us.」
The brisk Yukine.
The slightly timid Nanami.
「Please support Wakamiya-chan. You two, you can ask about anything from Naruse-kun.」
The employee then left. Akito then greeted the two of them with bewilderment.
「Ee~, I’m Naruse Akito. Please take care of me too. I think the work will be hard for you two but, I’ll teach you slowly.」
Akito was bewildered facing his two juniors, but he smiled at them.
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Some time passed after that.
Yukino had gotten used with the work and talked with Akito.
「Does senpai has girlfriend?」
「……Asano-san, you’re asking me that? Do I look like I have any?」
Nanami was looking at Akito. She seemed to be really curious.
Akito sighed.
「I don’t. I’m busy with getting my qualifications, and I also need to study so I don’t have time to have fun.」
Yukine looked slightly pleased hearing that.
「I-is that so? So you don’t have any!」
Nanami panicked seeing that.
「E-err, umm! T-then, what is your type――」
「I love girl with big breasts.」
Akito answered in a flash. The two looked at him coldly. They looked at their own breasts. Both of them had breasts that couldn’t be said as big or small.
Yukine’s voice was cold.
「Senpai……I think, that’s improper. I understand the reason why you don’t have girlfriend now.」
Nanami was also similar. She moved her hands to hide her breasts.
「W-won’t it be better if you sugarcoat it more, or change the way you said it?」
Akito pressed his hands on his face.
「T-that’s not it. Just now I reflexively――」
Nanami got curious and tried asking.
「Err, if it’s between Yukine-chan and me, which one do you think is bigger?」
「Nanami-chan!」
The surprised Yukine hid her chest, but Akito answered it with a laugh.
「Yukine-chan is barely D-cup, while Nanami-chan is a C-cup that is just barely short of D-cup.」
The two wordlessly hid their chest.
He was correct.
The two became scared of Akito.
「……Creepy」
「How did you check that? No, umm……I’d answer if only senpai asked.」
「Nanami-chan, you shouldn’t answer that kind of question!」
Yukine warned Nanami about her ignorance of the outside world. Then customer entered the store.
It was girls wearing high school uniform.
They must be returning home from club activity.
「Welcome」
When Akito said that, one of the girls――Kanaho waved her hand.
「Ah, senpai」
A friend talked to Kanaho.
「You know him?」
「Yep, he’s a third year senpai. He came to cheer in our previous match.」
The other girls also gave greetings. Akito became embarrassed.
「What do you want today?」
「We came to buy drink and snack. The convenience store is expensive.」
The girls started shopping after saying that. Kanaho talked with Akito.
「Senpai, please come to cheer at my next match okay?」
「Last time you finished second didn’t you? Ikari-san and the others are amazing. I was surprised when all of you won against that strong school.」
It was a big upset and even became news in this local area.
Although, the matching after that was bad and Kanaho and others lost in the final. Their performance of crushing strong schools one after another and racing to the top caused a great stir among the locals.
「We’re aiming for the championship this year!」
「I’m rooting for you.」
Both Yukine and Nanami didn’t look amused seeing the two’s atmosphere. Kanaho noticed that and whispered into Akito’s ear.
「Senpai too cannot be underestimated huh. Looks like you’re loved by your two juniors. Which one is your girlfriend?」
「……Too bad but I don’t have a single girlfriend in my whole life. The two of them are my work partners and juniors.」
「Are you perhaps a virgin?」
「What’s so bad about it. That’s right. ……I’m virgin.」
The club girls who were hearing the conversation of the two that was like that became exasperated with Kanaho.
「Kanaho, just what kind of talk you’re making?」
「Sorry. Senpai is easy to talk to that I unconsciously」
The lively group of girls finished their payment and left the store. Then Yukine and Nanami looked like they wanted to say something to Akito.
Though feeling troubled, Akito worked to restore their mood and got back to work.
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Night.
Akito finished his part-time and returned to his room. He was facing his desk and studying.
Reference books were lining up his desk.
He also opened his textbook and notes. His PC’s screen was playing a video that was giving an easy to understand explanation to solve a formula.
「E~rr, if I do this here……」
Even he himself was surprised with how diligent he was studying.
When he was tired he looked up for news video in his monitor. Recently all the news topics were related to VR.
『About the entrance examination result last year, there is a great difference compared to before.』
『A university’s rank was decided by emphasizing the talent score but, looking at it like this there are also a lot of children with low talent score.』
When the talent scores of the successful applicants were lined up, there were those passing into prestigious school even with lacking talent.
The specialist stated his opinion.
『In the first place turning talent into number is impossible. It’s also the same with sports. A pitcher can’t win just simply from being able to throw a fast ball. It’s important to evaluate an individual more comprehensively from multiple perspective――』
This specialist seemed like someone who put importance in talent until just a little while ago, but the flow of society’s opinion――and the result seemed to change his stance.
It was bit by bit but it looked like the society had been changing to him.
In the screen’s list, various names like the former defense minister was decided as the new prime minister, or famous foreign actress, and the likes were showing up.
Akito looked at those before he stretched his body. Then he faced his desk once more.
「Now then, let’s do my best a bit more.」
When he turned away from the monitor, the picture vanished and the screen turned black.
Faintly――the figure of Pandora was showing up. She smiled at Akito before vanishing.
The real world Akito was also doing his best.
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Whether it was in fantasy, and in reality――.
Akito who was existing in both was walking down their respective path.
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The End
Akito ヾ(´∀`*)ノ「I’m doing my best~」
Ponsuke ( ・ω・) 「Do your best~」
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( ゜言゜)
( ゜言゜)
( ゜言゜)
( ゜言゜)
( ゜言゜)
( ゜言゜)
( ゜言゜)
( ゜言゜)
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Ponsuke Σ(・ω・;) 「Fuah!?」
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Author’s note: Thank you very much for your support until now.
Pandora of Fantasy and Reality is complete with this.
With it over, it feels lonely, and I also can see various points to reflect on, like how several parts could be expanded more.
Pandora of Fantasy and Reality is a tale that has a lot of parts that can be improved.
But, I had a lot of fun writing it.
All the comments and reactions were encouraging me greatly.
Thank you very much!
I’ll write about Pandora of Fantasy and Reality in my activity report at 14.
Like about the title’s origin, or my original plan, and so on.
I hope those of you who are interested can go read it.
Hidoine? I wonder how they would end up. I’ll leave it to your own imagination.
Well then, thank you very much for reading this until the very end!