Chapter 39: What the Creator Wants, What the Viewers Want
The game entered its fourth day.
They were still looking for the same two tools. On the third day, they hadn’t found a single thing.
"Ei."
Top Chat: From that half-hearted battle cry straight into hyper reflex shots
Top Chat: My brain feels like it’s glitching
Top Chat: That brave yell sent shivers down my spine
Top Chat: She bugged out
Top Chat: lol
"Elf, check that bookshelf too."
"Hmm. Just novels. A couple of follow-up volumes from what was in the servants’ quarters."
Top Chat: Another bookshelf you can’t interact with
Top Chat: That’s a dud
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan, maybe you’re being a little too cautious?
Top Chat: You had Elf check around a lot on day three too, but is there any point?
"There is. If you spend enough time, you’ll eventually hit the jackpot."
"Really?"
"Really."
Top Chat: She said it with certainty
Top Chat: Is there any basis for that?
"This game is packed with things—cutscenes of the protagonist, cryptic objects, rooms with distinct features. The budget must’ve been limited, yet you can feel how carefully it was made. The developers put passion into creating this game."
"Passion, huh."
"Exactly. Don’t you think it’s a well-made game?"
"I do."
"But for how well-made it is, the story feels awfully neglected, doesn’t it? That has to mean somewhere in here there’s information that solves the mystery!"
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan going full speech mode
Top Chat: Never thought of it like that
Top Chat: Isn’t it just the usual kind of evil spirit attacking for no reason?
Top Chat: Someone who’s already cleared the game?
Top Chat: No spoilers, but everyone’s been able to finish it without understanding the story
Top Chat: Maybe it’s like the prize exchange counter?
Top Chat: And that’s the report from the scene
"……"
"Should we check this bookshelf too?"
"No need!"
Top Chat: lol
Top Chat: Sorry, turns out this is an indie game
Top Chat: Just misguided passion
Top Chat: Nope, it really is just an evil spirit attacking for no reason
Top Chat: No spoilers, but looks like everyone can leave through the front door as long as they’ve got the cross
Top Chat: Oh, so they were locked in
Top Chat: If you don’t check the front door before grabbing the cross, you’d literally never notice the difference lol
Top Chat: So the cross really was the key item after all
"Ugh… I wasted all that time… Damn, my subs aren’t going up…"
"Ei."
"Uuugh, if I’d known this would happen I should’ve asked for the exact numbers… I need to—need to do something…"
"Hey, Kirishi-tan."
"W-what?"
"Hasn’t the shadow been showing up more often?"
Top Chat: Huh?
Top Chat: Now that you mention it… maybe?
"Yeah… I feel like it has."
"But the time until the first encounter after waking up was about the same on day four too."
"…So the shadow spawns from fixed locations?"
Top Chat: Someone who’s cleared it?
Top Chat: Nah, no clue. Really.
Top Chat: I get that it spawns from somewhere in the darkness, but there’s no hint of exact points
Top Chat: Even the strategy wiki has nothing on that
Top Chat: Haven’t seen anything like that mentioned in the thread summaries either
"Kirishi-tan, want to test it out?"
"…You mean in the dark?"
"Yeah."
Top Chat: Ehhh…?
Top Chat: Even if it’s Elf, how’s she supposed to deal with an invisible enemy?
Top Chat: If you just want to clear the game, you don’t even need to search in the dark, you know?
"No, Elf. If there’s nothing there, it’s just a waste of time. That kind of thing… Elf… you’re… like a little lamb…"
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan?
Top Chat: What’s wrong?
Top Chat: You okay?
I glanced over, and on screen, Kirishi-tan was facing left. Facing left meant she was looking toward me, seated beside her.
"But still… don’t you kind of want to see for yourself?"
When I turned to her, not her avatar but the real Kirishi-tan had her brows knit in unease. Serious as she was, she was bottling something up again, burdened, shrinking into herself. Neither I nor the viewers wanted to see her like that.
"…What do you mean?"
So I laughed.
I bared my fangs and laughed.
"—The mystery the devs made with passion, the one they wanted the players to ‘enjoy.’"
Kirishi-tan said it herself, didn’t she? "Let’s play together again."
And the lamb said it too, right? "Let me cheer for Kirishi-tan."
If we’re going to play, then it’s gotta be in front of them, with excitement, with a smile.
"…!"
"Let’s be the first ones to see what no one else has. I bet it’ll be ‘fun.’"
Top Chat: What a killer line
Top Chat: I really don’t think there’s anything there… don’t think so, but… ahh, now I’m curious
Top Chat: Let’s go!
Top Chat: Let’s go, Kirishi-tan!
Top Chat: It’s definitely gonna be fun!
"…Elf."
"Yeah."
"I’m leaving the controls to you!"
"Yeah!"
Top Chat: Woooo! It’s heating up in hereee!
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan! Kirishi-tan!
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan! Kirishi-tan!
Top Chat: Elf-san! Elf-san!
Top Chat: Elf-san! Elf-san!
Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to post a comment.