Opening
When one comes across a yet unopenable door in an RPG.
'If I could use magic, I should easily be able to blast through', or the like.
It's because of the 'rules'.
There are those who claim that they cannot make the distinction.
What separates reality from that which isn't reality- is probably this.
that's besides this topic.
fundamental than that.
Taking the example from earlier, if you went with the realistic line of thought
You could blow past all doors and the like without hesitation.
a missing key to open?
there's no reason why you can't do the same without it, even if you do wind
How about when faced with a door that not even magic capable of defeating
If you bypass the super tough 'door' like this, you could go and challenge the
Even if you just whack away at the rock with the legendary sword, surely it
However, that's never the case. Why is that?
Yes, the rules are set so that a fun journey can be created culminating in a
In chess it'd be checkmating the king, in soccer it'd be scoring more goals,
That being said, if you circumvent the rules to arrive at the 'final objective'
Therefore, the rules in games have a 'shared absoluteness',
Reality-- doesn't have a 'winning condition'.
brought about by defeating certain enemies.
Whether blessed or unfortunate, rich or poor, all end up meeting the same
Therefore, people have always made their own 'win conditions', and made
Whether it's by amassing wealth, or leading a comfortable life, by making
Now, let's imagine.
convenience made a ridiculous move.
......How about it. Wouldn't you want to punch him?
Yes-- that would be, 'reality'.
That's the case, without a doubt.
I want nothing to do with you, ugh----
Eight 23 inch computer screens.
A small world, with an equatorial diameter of 13000 km.
The concept of 'distance' had been lost in this world.
globe seven and a half times per second.
--People now say that the world is infinite.
With a single click of the mouse, one has everything one needs in life.
The displays emitted an artificial light.
The hexadecimal world constructed therein had been 'their' world-- their
Further crowding the room were countless PCs and game consoles.
made walking a major hazard.
The two were waging fierce battles against strangers from every corner of the
One was a black haired, black eyed young man.
Utterly absorbed in their screens, the room was silent.
All that could be heard was the inorganic whirring of machines, and endless
--They thought the world had narrowed.
to take a single step.
individuals.
contrary.
retreat to their own narrow worlds of desired data.
Isolated, smaller than ever, sparsely populated realities.
Reflected in the pupils of the two was a 'different world' existing in the
Worlds which, with enough concentration, offered the illusion that they had
They were not social outcasts, chained within a 16 tatamiroom.
Sometimes the leaders of the world's largest guild.
Typically, the world would revolve around them.
The young man heaved a sigh.
That had been their whole world, for an endless amount of time.
Within the small world of those monitors, were almost an urban legend.
heroes which they played in games.
Artificial, cramped, quiet. Fitting for social outcasts......an isolated, small
And the young man submitted to the unease which would always well up.
[1]
Then, he would think further.
"Is this really...where we belong."
However a voice had responded to those questions in his mind.
The only thing out of place was a smiling, innocent, unfamiliar boy.
As memories began to unravel, the boy continued before he could make a
"This isn't the place where you belong. Which is why......"
"Which is why, I will[Let you be reborn]."
All of his recollections were still hazy.
What brought him back all of a sudden, was the same as always.
And then things would end like all other 'dreams' did.
awake......
Kingdom of Elchea, Capital of Elchea.
this lone city was now the final bastion of humanity.
unsteady gait, was a single girl.
Granddaughter of the late king, with red hair and blue eyes, she was royalty
--and yet.
dignity.
playing cards in hand, she resembled nothing less than......a ghost.
The day had just dawned, but it seemed she had been up all night.
"Sora, you're awake aren't you! It's already morning!"
With her free hand, Steph noisily knocked at the doors of the 'King'.
"Bee~~p. The person you are after is pretending to be out."
The voice coming out from the room wasn't the voice of the 'King'.
woman.
without permission."
"No, I'm seriously serious."
He was probably just playing games in there anyway-- no, there was no way
She fought back her drowsiness.
She forcefully kicked the doors open, and entering into the bedroom of the
"Sorry I'm sorry I wasn't doing it on purpose I really was in a bit of a tight
sorry I'm so sorry!"
Wretched, with tears in his eyes, shivering.
The room was already flooded with countless games, such that it was
Seeing something which should be present missing, Steph muttered.
"Yes I'm alone I'm lonely I have no reason to live surely my being born was a
"......Nii......? You're...noisy......"
tired voice.
"Come on, Shiro's right here isn't she. What are you doing?"
At that point, Sora looked over startled at 'Shiro'.
Arching up from the bedside was a girl white as snow.
the way to the ground.
"Aa~~~~~~hhh, thank goodness! Sheesh, what a troublesome sister!
know, what would you have done then!"
Not being good with mornings......being the only reason that could be thought
"......Nii......this is, overkill......"
"Wha!? Do you not understand how your brother feels!?"
"Then tonight! After Shiro's gone to sleep, I'll go hide in the closet! When you
"............H......hic......uuu......"
"You see!? You understand how your brother feels, right!"
Seeing his sister apologizing so sincerely while sobbing, he stroked her head.
brother."
With that, the man who had just earlier been shaking and apologizing like a
Now haughtily and forcefully turned around to Steph, and began throwing out
"So, the one at fault is ultimately this bed! Steph, dispose of this at once and
"Wh, whaaaat!?"
Having such an outrageous demand placed on her, she responded in a strange
"I-it, it's the royal bed! Do you know just how long it's history go--"
unsuitable. It's tilted, isn't it?"
Shiro unhesitatingly showed her consent.
"Th, that one bed is enough to buy a whole house you know!?"
wonderful?"
Faced with a tyrant, Steph was trembling at a loss for words, when suddenly
"Ah, that's right. The things in this room belonged to the previous king-- in
As if testing what her reaction would be.
"Then let's do this. From today onwards, this will be your room."
"I am the king. Wherever I sleep will be the 'King's bedroom'."
"Just empty a room used by the maids. Well, leave the bedding and mattress
As Sora continued saying that a futon, if available, would be more preferable,
Her reaction was severalseconds late.
of wood you know!?"
Sora cleared his throat with a cough.
surpassing all other materials, a fortress for hikikomoris! As long as you're
At that point, it seemed he thought ofsomething.
window.
"......Huh?"
"Eh......?"
"What do you think Shiro, our dream home! Wouldn't that be a great idea!?"
"Fufu, I already know everything you have in mind, my little sister!!"
too.
"Right there is closer to the castle than the maids' place, and it won't cause a
continue being hikikomoris as usual! The greenery means the air is fresh, and
disturb us! Is there any more divinely situated place than this!!"
"......No....objections......"
"Eh, ah, y-yes?"
"Find some craftsmen of wooden buildings. Hm, I don't know what the
best? Just tell them to make it out of wood and leave the rest to them."
This is the King and Queen of the final kingdom of 'Imanity', Elchea-- Sora
They don't set a foot outside the room all day. All they do is play games,
--Very much like 'tyrants'.
Dealing with these despots, Steph finally lost all patience.
For those tyrants-- yes, today was the 'day of judgment'.
"--......Ohh?"
At that instantaneous change, which Steph had already seen countless times,
The crying, shaking man from earlier had become a bumbling brother.
As ifseeing straight through one's heart, one's intentions, and holding all in the
Enough to give offsuch an illusion, a machine-like calmness.
--But before that.
She had challenged him to a game in this very same matter once before.
firmly engraved on her mind.
Seeing Steph avert her gaze, reddened from ear to ear, Sora confirmed.
"Y, yes, t-that's exactly right!"
right......to decide...the contents of the game....."
--They were the absolute rules that God had decreed for this world.
"Heh~~on top of that, me? You challenge me to a game?"
As Sora seized the psychological advantage, Steph was unable to get out the
"A, a~ra, surely humanity's strongest gamer-sama would not be afraid to
Thinking desperately, Steph blurted out the countermeasure she had been
But she couldn't keep a quaver out of her voice.
"I see, so you came at least a bit prepared this time-- so, what is it you 'wish
Games played according to the [Ten Oaths] demanded absolute compliance.
"Fufufu......if I win--"
"Sora will [become a citizen and stop meddling in my
Ba---------m!
But the only response was silence.
A deathly quiet reigned over the king's bedroom.
Steph had been expecting such replies.
"I, I see--since the [Ten Oaths] are absolute, you can do that kind of thing as
"Heh!?"
away red-faced.
Indeed that time when Steph had faced Sora in a game, through a series of
As you can see, regardless of her own willshe had been forced to 'be in
"I, I see,"
Moved to look up at the sky, Sora gave a cry.
[2]
"Ria, juu? What the heck's that."
"Eh, well, um......"
Succor came from an unexpected source.
"Wha--! S-sister, do you intend to stand in the way of your brother's path
"......『 』 cannot...accept......de...feat......"
Yes, Sora and Shiro-- the combo of 『 』 can never accept any losses.
In a world without rules, it was an absolute, unshakable rule the two had
As if he had fallen from heaven to hell, Sora's face displayed unmitigated
"No way......come on! I mean, there's no way I could lose to Steph in
"You----!?"
their argument.
"This, this can't be, my rosy riajuu life was right before my eyes! H-hey,
out and lose, let's say, in chess or something!"
"Arrrghhhh, goddammit! Steph!!"
Clasping his hands together as if in prayer, Sora turned to Steph and cried out
"I realize that there is one in a million-- no, it'd be more approaching an
somehow be able to beat me at! I'm begging you! Answer this infinitesimally
"Fu, fufu......fufufu......fufufufufufufu, you yourselfsaid it!"
laughing maniacally.
"--......Haaaahhh......"
As the siblings both sighed for different reasons, Steph, not understanding
"Eh, huh? What is it!? It's a game with a chance ofsuccess!!"
Turning to Shiro who seemed to have lost all interest, Steph shouted.
and even if he does I'll know and it'd be my win! In a game of pure chance,
Sora looked out the window. A single twinkling glimmer slowly rolled down
"Writing together the characters for 'human' and 'dreams' results in 'vanity',
Hearing Sora's line normally reserved for after winning a match, Steph
"Ma, making fun of me......j-just you watch! 'Acciente'!"
absolute compliance had been made.
"Oh, right, I forgot to add what I'll be gambling--"
"Y, you----!!"
inwardly told herself to calm down.
In her mind, Steph was grinning horribly.
Steph had been busy practicing all night, of course she intended to cheat to
It was the dealer who shuffled.
she could win.
Number eight of the [Ten Oaths], 'If cheating is detected during a game, it will
If it's not detected, you can do it!
meeeeeeeee!)
More so since she had come this far.
impossible......
--Beyond the horizon.
giant chess piece.
Whistling as if enjoying himself, in his hands were a 'blank book' and a quill
"Nn......what to write~"
Over time, as he thought ofsomething, his pen would move.
prohibiting allforce and calling for every dispute to be solved by
Nodding from his seat higher than the heavens, the boy looked out into the
"......I wonder if they'll move soon......the 'latest piece'."
The creator of this world where everything is decided by games, 'Disboard."
sole god remaining, the 'God of Games'.
into the distance.
From thin air, an arrogant voice resounded.
Tet certainly took a little offense at that voice, yet he remained allsmiles.
Spying on the lone god Tet, the imperfect presence spoke.
possessing a limited amount of power at that.
had no interest whatsoever.
an event modification was observed. Art thou taking sides?"
"......Really, you guys are dull as ever."
With a yearning smile, Tet spoke.
stale game forever."
Then he laughed.
A laugh, which amidst the vast disappointment, contained great hope.
His eyes were far away, looking over the last city of Imanity-- over Elchea.
His eyes were like--
for his parents to get ready.
had faded.
He knocked his heels against the piece he sat atop of.
to come out and play?"
"Ah, that's right. The continuation--"
"One day two gamers from another world were invited to the country of
been backed into a corner to their final land-- Elchea, by the other races, then
--the story continued to spin out.
What God wove was the story of future gods.
Writing out the prologue to the next legend----