Pandora of Fantasy And Reality Chapter 130

Kind Heart

The stairs continued until the highest floor of the fortress.

Few monsters were stationed there. They were also weaker than the monsters outside.

Dandy defeated those monsters with his fist. Then he talked with the gathered guild masters.

Pinky who had a childish appearance looked at the plate that was placed beside the stairs that connected to the highest floor.

「The participant number is eight people……just two parties.」

Rook looked around him.

「It’s a problem how to decide the eight who will go.」

Should they make the simple decision of sending the six guild masters  plus two, or should they sent the players with the highest level and  player skill among all the guilds?

Or perhaps they should choose two parties that were used to fighting.

Perhaps many guilds would get into quarrel at this juncture.

But, the players gathered here were from clearing guilds.

They hadn’t forgotten their objective.

Pinky rested his staff on his shoulder.

「I think it’ll be better to have Ponsuke-san’s guild send four  people. The remaining four slot can go to us. Ah, but the Exploration  Party that made this suggestion won’t take any of the slot. We’re  alright as long as we can clear this quest..」

Their objective was the right to participate in the raid to the capital.

Platina also shrugged.

「I’m also alright with that.」

Isami and Dandy also conceded.

「A mishmash party won’t be able to work together. The slots should be given to players who have great teamwork with each other.」

「It should be fine to give the slots to Rook’s guild. After all it was Rook who called out to us.」

Rook snapped his fingers.

「Leave it to me. Well, send the guys from your place next if we failed.」

Rook turned toward Ponsuke.

「Then your guild and mine will send the parties.」

Ponsuke nodded.

「Right. Now then, who are to send there?」

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Rook’s guild Silver Wings sent a party that was centered around Rook and Mira.

They were using equipments with style and color that were somewhat similar with each other. They really looked like a group.

In contrast, Ponsuke’s party wasn’t uniform.

Ponsuke.

Mariela.

Alfie.

Nanako.

The color, or rather the individuality of each of them was too strong.

Ponsuke with his barbarian style.

Mariela with her light weight equipment as a speedy fighter.

Alfie who was fully equipped with paid items.

The adorable Nanako.

Nanako had the role as support. She was a precious personnel who  would fight and heal. These members also had the role to suppress  Ponsuke if he rampaged.

The three girls had tamer job.

「The stairs are long.」

Ponsuke muttered. Rook who was walking beside him also agreed.

「Yeah. I wish we can arrive right away. If it’s a normal game this kind of long stairs will be irritating.」

「I’m feeling nervous.」

The boss would be an enemy that was never seen before.

If they were unlucky then they would lose because of lack of countermeasure, which was normal.

If they realized that defeat was inevitable, they would need to immediately switch to focus on gathering information.

The two men were talking about such thing.

「As expected clearing is thrilling!」

「I wonder. I want to scream because of my guild’s expenses. After all  the amount of money and items spent for moving the island to invade  here is not a laughing matter.」

「……Invading the enemy castle with your guild base is romance. Well, it’s hard to do for real though.」

「Depending on the reward you might not be able to do it if you want. It’s a tough world.」

The two’s comrades were following behind while the two were talking.

Mira talked to Mariela.

「The men are getting along.」

「Well, they’re friends IRL too after all.」

「It makes me jealous.」

「Is that so? They look like they’re having fun. It makes me smile watching them.」

Mira smiled slightly.

「It’s not a matter about being male or female. I’m jealous with that relationship between them.」

Mariela didn’t understand what she meant.

(……It doesn’t really matter because he isn’t a woman.)

If Rook was female, she would think up all kind of plan to crush  their relationship, but there was no problem because he was a male and  just a friend. But if the relationship became more than that…….

(I can just crush it at that time.)

Mariela’s thinking was gradually becoming insensible.

Ponsuke pointed at the front.

「I see it. That’s the entrance.」

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While Ponsuke and others were fighting.

The orc party was outside the castle.

The outside became quiet after the players entered the castle. No  monster came out anymore. There――the orcs were doing something in an  area that had problem.

Prey focused his hearing toward the sound from inside the castle.

「――It started.」

Ponsuke and others must have started fighting.

An orc that was acting as lookout gave a signal with his hand.

He said with a small voice.

「It’s Shinsengumi.」

One orc erased the screens that were projected on the surrounding. The group paused their work.

A group of Shinsengumi who was patrolling the area approached.

「What are you guys doing there!」

Prey smiled at the players.

「Thank you for your  hard work!」

Shinsengumi’s eyes turned scornful when they saw it was the orcs. The  orcs had bothered them a lot in the Capital of Discernment and even at  other worlds. The police roleplayer Shinsengumi considered them as their  nemesis.

They were already reaching toward their weapon with a disgusted look in their faces.

Shinsengumi’s favored weapons were katana or spear. Many of them also  liked firearm that looked like matchlock or antiqued shape.

「It’s you guys again. What are you doing here?」

A beautiful female swordsman asked that question in irritation. Prey answered her like a gentleman.

「We too are always striving to improve everyday. In order to find out  more ways to enjoy Pandora from here on――it’s pleasurable to be seen  with a cold gaze just from talking to someone, so we are having a  passionate discussion with each other in secluded place like this.」

They would get excited and lost sight of the surrounding when getting glared at with cold eyes.

The gazes from Shinsegumi became even more chilling when hearing that.

「Kyah, I’m getting shivers.」

「Look at this lowly one too degozaru.」

「Shinsengumi is really merciless, I love it!」

The beautiful swordswoman scoffed and left. Her comrades also followed behind her.

Prey sighed in relieve seeing that there were no more players other than them here.

He turned around and looked at one of the orcs.

「How’s it going?」

「……There’s no doubt. Pandora created this fortress for guild master’s sake.」

「For Ponsuke-kun’s sake?」

「For Ponsuke-kun’s sake. To be more accurate, for the sake of the orc  player who is a Selector, an event is created for him individually.」

An automatic event creation by AI.

There were a lot of players in Pandora, but it couldn’t be said that all of the hidden events were discovered.

That was just how many events that were hidden.

「What is the purpose of preparing event for Selector?」

「Selectors are the last chooser. The AI is trying to learn about them because of that.」

The AI apparently prepared this fortress for that.

Prey stroked his chin.

「There are also other Selectors right? You’re saying that events like this are also popping out for them?」

「Yeah, but I think Ponsuke-kun is special. The AI is constantly monitoring him.」

The orc became on their guard hearing those words――but the orc who was the former executive of Pandora shook his head.

「No need to be wary. The AI is neutral for good and bad.」

「Neutral?」

「The AI will accept it no matter what kind of choice the Selectors made.」

The former executive sat down on the spot and looked up to the sky.

The part of the cloud that the floating island broke through was still visible. Sunlight shined down from there.

「In the past, there was fear that highly advanced AI would take  control of mankind. Humans predicted a future where perhaps AI would  decide that humans are unneeded.」

Prey also sat down and talked with the executive.

「Such possibility cannot be denied isn’t it?」

「Yeah, that’s true. It can’t be denied, but it also might not come  true. That was why our ancestors put limitation in the development of  AI. But you know……it’s impossible for human to manage something like a  virtual world.」

The former executive confessed something about the development of Pandora.

「……Before Pandora was created, and even after it was created, VR game  industry was in a fierce competition. Fund, manpower, time. Everything  was lacking.」

One of the orcs who were on the lookout toward the surrounding guessed what the former executive wanted to say.

「And so you guys turned toward AI? But, any kind of game is making AI controlling the system to some degree these days.」

The former executive hung his head down.

「……AI……Pandora isn’t chained with any taboo or limitation. The AI [Pandora] is really a god of this miniature garden.」

Prey was staying quiet. The former executive continued.

「Of course, we constantly talked to it so that it won’t hold any  dangerous thinking. We wanted to raise it to be a kind child. In fact,  Pandora was kind. But you see, it ended up seeing the disgusting parts  of human too when the game started.」

「And it became astray because of that?」

「No! Pandora is……thinking what to do so humans can become kind.」

The world was a place where human’s future was decided by their talent that was expressed in numerical form.

Pandora was harboring doubt about that state of the world.

「When we noticed, the existence of Selector was born. Pandora  discovered a way to give them talent through game. But, we couldn’t  understand how that happened. Pandora was keeping secret from us.」

It was possible somehow.

They didn’t understand the how at all.

But, Pandora was able to do it.

Prey sighed.

「I wish you would tell us that sooner.」

「We didn’t think that Pandora would grow to this degree. We thought  that the trigger was the plan that is spearheaded by those guys.」

The former executive looked bitter.

Prey noticed that sounds stopped coming from inside the castle.

「It’ll be time soon. Even so, to think that Ponsuke-kun is special even among the Selectors.」

「I don’t know why. Pandora is considering him as something special.」

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At the highest floor.

Ponsuke and others were beaten up.

There was a skeleton knight that stepped forward and fought in order  to protect something. The boss that was armored all over its body was  fading while standing before the players and spreading open its arms.

Ponsuke’s hand wiped under his chin.

「Even though its HP is already zero」

He only felt confusion seeing the boss that wasn’t vanishing normally.

Was it impossible to defeat it unless they used a particular method?

While he was thinking that, Nanako pointed.

「Everyone, there!」

At the back of the room was the boss’s chair――but, there was an altar  behind it. They thought that it was just a part of the background, but  Nanako seemed to realize something.

Alfie peered into the scope of her rifle.

「Coffin? No, inside it something is――」

Mariela checked the enemy’s status.

「Is it the boss? But its HP is small. Isn’t it just a small fry? E-eh?」

But the notes of the enemy’s status screen listed――.

「The reward from defeating it s huge.」

There were money and rare drops. And then numerous weapons and armors……they were clearly not rewards from weak enemy.

Rook raised his great sword.

「Is it protecting the coffin? Then should we attack the coffin?」

Rook and others readied their weapons, but the fading boss stood on their way so they couldn’t pass.

Mira said.

「It can’t fight anymore. Let’s walk around it.」

Rook’s party started to move, but Ponsuke held them back with his hand.

「Ponsuke?」

Rook stopped walking. Ponsuke put away his weapon.

(……It’s just a game. Defeating enemy and taking the reward is normal.)

It was normal but, something touched Ponsuke’s heart seeing the boss protecting the coffin so desperately.

The rewards right before his eyes were extremely huge but…….

Ponsuke put away his weapon. Mariela and others followed him suit.

「Wait, you guys!」

Mira questioned Mariela and others who were dousing their will to fight, but Alfie shook her head.

「For us Ponsuke is our rule. If he decide not to fight, then that will be our policy.」

Such decision was unthinkable for clearer, but Ponsuke and co were casual gamer from the start.

Mira looked troubled, but Rook put away his weapon.

His comrades also followed suit reluctantly. Then the entrance to the  highest floor――the door that was closed when the two parties entered  was opened. They could go back now.

Ponsuke apologized to Rook.

「Sorry. I can’t just kill it.」

「It’s fine. It’s the fortress that you found. Treat me something later in exchange.」

Like that Ponsuke and co went down the stairs.

Ponsuke looked back at the end. There he saw an image of a knight and a woman when they were still alive leaning on each other.

(Is there some kind of history to this fortress?)

The door closed and the letters that announced that the fortress was conquered floated up.

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「Look, over there!」

When Ponsuke and co returned, Lighter dragged him away to a town that appeared near the fortress.

The small town was a place where it was possible to rest and buy item  even though this world should still be in the middle of clearing.

Even the clearers were surprised because usually this kind of place didn’t exist at all.

Lighter explained.

「It appeared at the same time when the quest was cleared. It was  shocking when we went into it. NPCs are living normally there, and they  are selling tons of items that you can’t find in other worlds!」

Lighter and others were excited.

The guild members of the other guilds were also excited seeing the lined up items in the shops.

Ponsuke scratched his head.

「……Is this related to the clearing of the fortress?」

Lighter pushed Ponsuke’s legs.

「Also this way! There’s an event character!」

Lighter directed Ponsuke to an old woman who displayed the symbol of event character.

Ponsuke and others went there.

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The old woman’s event was a story about the fortress.

In the past, the knight and soldiers of the fortress often fought at  the frontline to protect the people. But, they were annihilated and  became cursed. The knight and soldiers who were unable to go to heaven  became bound to the fortress.

The old woman said.

「The fortress’s head knight had just married a young woman. What a  tragic fate they had. They treated me really well when I was still a  child.」

Ponsuke gave a vague reply back.

「I-I see.」

「It makes me so happy to hear that they are freed from the curse.  They said that it was thanks to all of you. Please accept this old  woman’s gratitude.」

The old woman took out a necklace.

It could be filled with seven red stones, but six of the slots were empty.

「This is?」

「It’s something that you need. This stone is called “Kind Heart”. The  necklace will show its true worth when you gathered all the stones.  This is my thanks for not finishing off those two. Thank you very much.」

He wondered why the old woman knew about that but, Ponsuke simply  accepted the item thinking that it must be because this was a game.

A screen display that notified him how all the Kind Hearts he had  gathered until now were merging appeared, so he confirmed it and the  necklace was completed.

[Necklace of Kind Heart]

[Effect = The proof of showing kindness in the seven worlds]

The old woman said thanks to Ponsuke and left.

Lighter checked the necklace’s status and became disappointed.

「Wait a second. This is just an event item.」

Unlike the disappointed Lighter, Ponsuke recalled the times when he  got helped by Kind Heart. Like when he went out of control, or where he  almost went into rampage……Ponsuke thought that he should treasure this  item.

Then SOLOLY approached.

「You might have a hidden status attached on you with that. More  importantly, what do you think Ponsuke-kun after coming this far in the  event?」

Ponsuke didn’t know how to answer.

「It’s confusing because this event isn’t listed in the walkthrough.  And nobody will believe me even if I write about it. But, well……」

He thought that it wasn’t bad.

Next the orcs gathered around Ponsuke.

「Ponsuke-kun, it seems there’s an orc village near here.」

「Really!?」

「Yeah, an NPC showed us there. Want to take a look?」

Perhaps there would be some kind of event there, but it was possible  to replenish item or repair weapon in this town, so Ponsuke and co  decided to go to the orc village.

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The World of Rage.

The last orc village was like a castle. It was big because it was  used by orcs, but the size of the castle itself was not that big.

There was the audience hall right after they entered. A conspicuously large orc was waiting for Ponsuke and co there.

「Good job making your way here, warriors from the outside world.」

Ponsuke was slightly excited that events were happening in succession like this.

「Feels like there is gravitas here.」

「It seems the background story is that this place is our birthplace.」

Prey was referring to the background story about the birthplace of the orc players.

It was said that the orcs went to the Capital of Hope as training in order to learn about human world.

The orc king continued.

「Fumu, as for the trial for all of you……umu! It seems that you have  passed all the trials! Then I’ll have all of you go through the final  trial.」

Ponsuke and others readied themselves when they heard the words final trial.

「The final trial……it’s to fight me the king!」

The orc king stood up and grabbed a nearby staff――or rather a hammer  while taking off his mantle. His muscular body was covered by only a  single pants.

Ponsuke wondered if it was alright for a king to dress like that, but the orc king said.

「Now, warriors who have passed the multitude of trials――show your strength in my presence!」

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