Chapter 7: A Past Life Still Alive

"Megu has decided to return to Megumegu Planet. It was short, but I was happy to spend time with all of you… with all of my Megu fans."

Two years ago, a V-Liver known as Megumegu Seijin quietly ended her activities.

Her streaming career lasted only three months. Subscriber numbers hadn’t grown, and there was no hope of monetization.

"Thank you, everyone. Truly… truly… sniffle"

Even so, she was able to give a farewell message because both she and her agency valued their fans. And that feeling was conveyed to the viewers who watched her that day.

That was why these chats were written with genuine kindness.

Top Chat: Next time, try with a more unique character!
Top Chat: Make yourself stand out!
Top Chat: Go with a character no one can beat!

"I’m no good like this… I need to become someone more unique, more noticeable, someone no one can beat…!"

Through tears, she resolved to rise again.

Later, Kirishi-tan, who would become famous in Gunfield with her bow-only playstyle, was born from this vow.

"That’s why… I absolutely cannot lose when it comes to the bow… never!"

She swore it to the lone piece of fanart of Megumegu Seijin, displayed in a photo frame on her desk.

"…Elf, would you mind if I watch your stream while we fight?"

『I heard it’s within the rules to watch the opponent’s stream.』

"Then I won’t hold back. Elf! I’m ready!"

『Alright! Round two, let’s go!』

Unique, noticeable, unbeatable. Kirishi-tan sought to embody that ideal through being "the strongest bow-user." Even while understanding the difference in skill, she chose to challenge.

"Lambs! Sorry, but I’m going all-in to win, so I can’t back you up this time!"

Top Chat: Wait, she’s going for the win?
Top Chat: Yeah, no way
Top Chat: Honestly, not a fair fight against a cheater
Top Chat: Elf-san isn’t a cheater!
Top Chat: Right, right, he’s just bugged
Top Chat: Calling it a bug is hilarious

Ignoring the chat that assumed her loss was inevitable, Kirishi-tan gritted her teeth, dropped swiftly, and slipped along cover until she reached the island’s largest warehouse.

Top Chat: She went into the warehouse
Top Chat: Doesn’t feel like the best spot for an ambush though
Top Chat: Oh, Elf-san’s engaging now

『Take that』

With a lazy shout, one of Kirishi-tan’s teammates was taken out instantly. It hadn’t even become a firefight.

Top Chat: Well played
Top Chat: Damn, that hit?
Top Chat: If you hold the high ground, bows shouldn’t even be that big a threat!
Top Chat: If you can’t hold it, there’s nothing you can do
Top Chat: Elf-san will hit you whether you zigzag or hide behind cover, so how do you even lose to that?
Top Chat: The reason’s obvious enough

Afterward, Kirishi-tan’s last teammate managed to hang on for nearly five minutes while staying out of the line of fire, but in the end, they were chased down by Elf’s two allies.

『Hup!』

And finally, caught during the split-second dash from one building’s shadow to the next, they were finished off.

Top Chat: Couldn’t even make it through that gap, huh
Top Chat: Elf-san’s shots are practically future sight
Top Chat: Now it’s just Kirishi-tan, tough spot
Top Chat: What’s she doing anyway?
Top Chat: Huh, yeah, haven’t been watching her
Top Chat: Where is this?
Top Chat: Under the warehouse
Top Chat: She’s just been aiming her bow the whole time?
Top Chat: No, earlier she was moving kinda weird
Top Chat: Weird how?

Her in-game character was standing still in the dim warehouse basement, bow drawn and aimed at the ceiling corner.

Kirishi-tan closed her eyes and took two, three deep breaths. Deeply, deeply, as if to empty her lungs of everything.

Time’s up. No turning back. Resolve complete.

Her avatar mirrored her, opening its eyes as the player did.

"Come at me, Elf. This is my secret weapon."

『Hell yeah, that kind of thing gets me fired up!』

Without waiting for his two teammates, Elf headed alone toward the warehouse where Kirishi-tan waited.

Careless? Maybe. But even if he hadn’t been careless, there’s no way he could have dodged what came next.

『Charge, chargeee!』

Top Chat: …huh?
Top Chat: The Elf hasn’t even stepped into the warehouse yet, but Kirishi-tan’s already drawn her bow.
Top Chat: She’s even started holding her breath.
Top Chat: Why… at this timing?

Holding her breath until the gauge nearly emptied, she lined up the shot. The aim swayed. Swayed. Refused to line up. But Kirishi-tan forced it into place with nothing but her built-up experience and raw focus. She poured everything she had into this one arrow—

"Shh!"

Top Chat: Ah
Top Chat: Eh
Top Chat: She fired
Top Chat: What, huh?

Just as the Elf set foot on the warehouse grounds, Kirishi-tan’s arrow was loosed from the underground room. A trajectory that shouldn’t have connected. The arrow flew into the corner of the basement—

Top Chat: It phased through!?

—slipping straight through the seam between the wall and ceiling textures. The arrow kept flying, and once again slipped through the seam between the warehouse wall and the ground outside,

『Dead』

Player name "Branc Liereffi" has been killed.

Top Chat: OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Top Chat: EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Top Chat: No way!?
Top Chat: Hold on, what the hell did she just do!?
Top Chat: This game allows corner shots, but wall shots aren’t supposed to be possible!
Top Chat: She did a double-pass! It clipped through a corner after phasing, a full double-pass shot!
Top Chat: That’s insane!?

"How about that! The greatest archer is me—Kirishi-tan!"

Top Chat: So badass!
Top Chat: Uooooooohhh! Kirishi-tan!
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan! Kirishi-tan!
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan! Kirishi-tan!
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan! Kirishi-tan!

Once upon a time, the girl who had vanished in tears now stood tall, surrounded by countless fans, proudly fighting with her head held high.