ShangriLa Frontier ~ Shitty Games Hunter Challenges Godly Game ~

ShangriLa Frontier Chapter 253: People, Depending on a Person It is Either Progress or a Challenge Part 1

Suddenly, a plot twist! Who would have thought that I would be able to meet Saiga-0 in real life like that? And in such a way? Unbelievable. Who would have thought that the owner of the maximum firepower in ShangriLa Frontier, one of the best players and the one who contributed so much to the battles against Luukan and Kutanid, would be someone that I actually know! 

「But more importantly, how did you know? About me being Sanraku, that is? What gave me out?」

「Hahaha, sorry about that! You see, when Rei-chan talked to me about a certain player called “Sanraku” and the things that player was doing, something in my mind just clicked and associated both of you together.」

Well, I mean sure, there may be some differences here and there, but most of the time when I play games my player name is more or less “Sanraku” every single time. Ah, but then again, that means that Saiga-san was using her real name inside of the game…… I wonder if it is actually a bad thing that I have found that out?

「Umm, ehmm…… I am so sorry for keeping my identity a secret……!」

「No, no, no, please! It’s not your fault or anything, Saiga-san! There was no real reason for you to actually reveal your identity inside of the game!」

No, wait just a minute! If so, then why would she reveal her identity to me right now? Why confirm what was only my own speculation? After all, for gamers, discussing real life matters inside of the game world is kind of a taboo. But we have developed a kind of a friendship inside of the game and we have been through a lot together. Not to mention that whole guild mess right about now…… So why? Why would she come out in the open like that right now?

「Fuh…… I see. So that’s how it is?」

I knew it, no matter if it was Saiga-san or Rei, her tactical sense was as sharp and as strongest as both her attack power and magical power. The reason why she decided to reveal herself to me like that was most probably so that she could form a unique sense of connection with Sanraku.

Why would she want a connection like that with someone like me? It’s simple, really. It was probably so that she could have the same kind of connection with me as Pencilgton has with Saiga-100, which allows them to perform backdoor deals and negotiations if needed.

Not to mention that the reason for her to join the “Wolfgang” is so that she can get closer to Pencilgton and Katsu, since those guys are the ones who know the most about me, so getting to know them would create even stronger of a connection between us.

However, it would all make perfect sense if Rei decided to keep her identity hidden. But her coming out with it like that actually changes everything.

Since Rei helped with the defeat of the Kutanid of the Abyss, she has formed a deep connection with more than the half of the “Wolfgang’s” current roster. However, apparently that is not enough. As long as Saiga-0 wants to belong to “Wolfgang”, she is not the only one who knows about the information obtained during the Kutanid quest. In other words, she is without what would otherwise be a tremendous advantage.

But what if she had a personal connection with me? After all, she must be aware that I might possibly possess more information than I let others know about, and that if she could get a hold on those information she would even possess the advantage over the guys in the Library.

Yes, that’s right. Rei’s…… Saiga Rei’s goal is to be ahead of all the other players, maybe excluding me. I have no idea if she wants to overtake me at some point in time, but for now it is safe to assume that she wants to get rid of the possible competition.

Yes, for example…… the information about Rabbitz! The place about which only Akitsu Akane and I know for the current moment!

However, I would tread carefully if I were you! After all, I am a double edged sword! I might be of use and help to you most of the times, but I might turn on you one of these days if you threaten me in any way!

So be revealing her identity to me like that, she surely expects to form a bond of solidarity with me. It certainly stimulates the psychological need for having someone you can confide in, and to have someone with whom you can share your interests without reservation……!

「What resourcefulness! How…… delightly devilish……!」

「D-Devilish……!?」

「Rei-chan, better not try too hard all at once. You know, setting up small flags with steady consequence yields better results than pushing yourself to do too much at one time.」

「Y-Yes……!」

That’s right. It is exactly as Iwamaki-san says.

But when did she realized that I was in fact Sanraku? Please don’t tell me that the cat was already out of the bag during my dramatic escape from Thirdrema? It is most certainly possible, but if it was true, it would be truly incredible of a coincidence.

For me, I had from all the way back in the middle of Summer to today, and if it was not for Iwamaki-san I would probably still be unable to piece together the pieces of the puzzle. I would still remain oblivious to the fact that Saiga-0 is in fact Saiga Rei. But then again, would that knowledge really change anything in our relationship? I don’t think so.

But still…… Fufufu, I have been had. Totally and utterly. I was fooled, and most probably bamboozled! But then again, should I not be angrier because of that fact? Maybe, but once the initial shock finally started to subside, I finally started to see the whoel picture clearly, like a detective in a mystery novel finally being able to see the solution.

「Umm, you see, it’s just that I……」

「Hm?」

「If possible, umm, but only if you would be okay with the idea, umm…… Tonight, I mean no! Tomorrow! Tomorrow! …… T-Together! Play ShanFro! Together… with… me…… by any chance……?」

Fufufu, did you really think that you could just corner me like that here all at once? …… Just kidding.

「Okay, I am basically free until the next week, so we can do that.」

Whatever, I am going to take it!

Some time later, after Hizutome Rakuro left the Rock Roll shop.

「Rei-chan, you can clock out for today. I do not think that you would be able to get any proper work done, not with those feelings of yours in disarray like that.」

「Uhh……」

「Told you that it was going to happen eventually? I told you it was going to happen eventually. I told you that going through with that on the same day might be a bad idea, or that it may be too much for you at the current moment. But it happened already, so no use thinking too much about it now.」

「Uhhhhh……」

「Are we clear on that? There is an old saying that says that you need to strike the iron while it is still hot, right? And since the iron that you are trying to strike is especially hard and resistant to shaping, you need to make haste. Otherwise it might slip away from your grasp before you even know it.」

「I, I shall do my very best……!」

「Well, that being said, you have made a hell of a progress today. Just in this one day you have managed to accomplish something that would probably take you a good few months or even years! We need to celebrate that! I might even crack open my treasured alcohol that I have been keeping for special occasions!」