For the next five days, Yuna and I basically spent our time flirting and being all lovey-dovey while we tackled the ‘challenges.’ At some point, I started wondering, “Is this really a life-or-death Death Game?” That’s how we spent those days. I mean, wake up, eat, check the challenge, have sex, then fall asleep together… rinse and repeat. Well, we did use our leftover time to thoroughly test our Unique Skills and Status details, though…
―Day six’s challenge was ‘Trust Part 2.’ Yuna and I, already fully connected in both mind and body, held onto first place the whole time. We finished the day without a single thing going wrong. By the end of that day, one pair dropped out, leaving [6 pairs → 5 pairs].
―Day seven’s challenge was ‘Master and Servant Part 1.’ It let the man use a one-day-only ‘absolute command right’ over the woman. The one being ordered couldn’t resist at all-they just had to obey whatever was done to them. ……It was a challenge that created a forced master-servant relationship. I made the most of that tempting situation, having Yuna wear a miniskirt maid outfit and revealing, risky swimsuits, and I enjoyed her face turning bright red with embarrassment to my heart’s content. …Seeing her, usually so refined, squirm with shame yet still follow my orders really got me going.
―Day eight’s challenge was ‘Master and Servant Part 2.’ It flipped the positions from yesterday-this time the woman got absolute command rights over the man. Naturally, Yuna used it as payback and worked me like a servant. The orders from a real young lady were pretty harsh and merciless, though… Well, all we really did those two days was enjoy some sweet and intense ‘master-servant play.’ There was no Penalty from the ‘challenges,’ so zero pairs dropped out either.
―Day nine’s challenge was ‘Trust Part 3.’ The final Trust Level check in the Partner Game. But the Trust Level score shown on screen was…… ‘999.’ No matter how much more time passed, the number didn’t budge at all. I guess we’d hit the system’s upper limit. Naturally, we passed in first place, and at that point the remaining pairs dropped from [5 pairs → 5 pairs to 4 pairs].
―And then, the final day of the ‘Partner Game’ finally arrived. The last challenge presented was this:
■ Today’s ‘Challenge’
[Current: Day 10]
+ [Remaining Pairs: 4]
+ [Today’s ‘Challenge’ – (Decision)]
1: Both of you move on to the next Game.
2: One random person returns to the original world.
※The one left behind stays in this place forever.
・Choose using your own Partner Ring.
+ If the two of you choose differently, a Penalty will be given.
[Time left until the ‘Challenge’ ends: (0:29)]
Hmm… At first glance it looks like the ultimate choice, but the right answer is so obvious I wondered, “Is there even a point in testing this?” There’s no real benefit to picking ‘2’ here. Even if one of you gets to go home, the one left behind is trapped forever. Besides, if you pick ‘2,’ you won’t get to play the fun Games waiting ahead, right? ……Thinking normally, that’s a loss. So, thinking normally, there’s no way any option other than ‘1’ exists.
”Hey, Yuna. You’re picking ‘1’ too, right? I mean, even if we picked ‘2’ here, I doubt they’d actually send us back to the original world,” I turned to Yuna and asked.
”Yes, naturally. I concur entirely. This is likely the twisted host’s final provocation. Furthermore, should the Status display prove accurate, you and I ought to have eight more Games remaining.”
”Right? There’s no reason to take a pointless risk and pick ‘2’ here. And there’s no way I’d leave you all alone in a place like this,” I added, looking at the ring.
”Hehe, indeed. …We exchanged a vow, after all. That we would collaborate to conquer every Game and return to our original world together. Moreover, as you are to become the adopted husband bearing the Shikijo family lineage, you cannot possibly allow yourself to halt in a place such as this.”
”Yeah, of course!” I pump my fist enthusiastically.
Yuna and I were of one mind from the very start. Without hesitation, we both tapped ‘1’ on our Partner Rings.
[Beep beep. You have selected ①. Changes cannot be made after this.]
”Now then, Manato, pray let us discuss our future course before the allotted time expires.”
”A strategy meeting on how to tackle the next Game, huh.”
Yuna gently squeezed my hand, lacing her fingers with mine, and looked at me with serious eyes.
”Indeed, precisely. We harbor no concept of what regulations, environment, or Game shall await us next, do we?”
”Yeah, true! I’m already excited wondering what kind of Game awaits us!” I grinned back.
”…Sigh. I suspect you are the sole individual in the entire world who would genuinely anticipate a life-or-death Death Game.”
”Seriously? Just me? I feel like there’d be others…” I scratched my head defensively.
Any gamer would feel curiosity and passion welling up at the chance to play a brand-new, never-before-experienced Game, right? If I ever lost the heart to enjoy Games, I wouldn’t be me anymore.
”Very well, then. I have devised certain countermeasures for the upcoming Game. Pray listen closely.”
”Yeah, please!” I nodded eagerly.
Listening to your comrades’ valuable opinions and advice is the absolute basics of strategy. By sharing our thoughts like this, we might get important flashes of insight we’d never notice alone. With our fingers still laced, we went over our future moves in detail.
”Hey, first off-our plan is to confirm ‘whether we can join the next Game together’ and make ‘reuniting’ our top priority, right?” I clarified to ensure we were aligned.
”Yes, precisely. Multiple Games could commence simultaneously, and there is a high probability our initial locations shall be separated. Prior to anything else, let us ascertain one another’s position and strive to reunite.”
”Yep, got it!” I chimed in cheerfully.
”Sigh… You resort to such informalities again, Manato. Once all the Games conclude, you shall undergo rigorous instruction and refinement as the patriarch of the Shikijo Family, so prepare yourself accordingly.”
”O-oh… As you wish, Yuna…” I winced slightly.
”…Hehe. Now then, regarding our actions after we safely reunite.”
What we discussed after that wasn’t all that important. Since we don’t know the full picture of the next Game, a rigidly fixed plan might actually get in the way of adapting on the fly. For now, we decided to hide the power of my Unique Skill. If I made it public, it’s obvious loads of Players who don’t want to clear things themselves would swarm me and try to leech off me. Of course, I don’t mind helping people in trouble, but being depended on by others from start to finish is absolutely not okay. Rather than a parasitic playstyle of relying entirely on others, breaking through tough spots with your own wits and strength is way more fun as a Game.
”So that’s what it comes down to, right? What you want to tell the others is ‘if you’re gonna play, clear the Game head-on with your own power!’” I summarized with a grin.
”No, your comprehension is entirely mistaken… However, so long as you grasp the imperative not to reveal your power recklessly, I shall overlook it. Fundamentally, employ your abilities solely when we are alone together or when you are unobserved. Yet in a dire, life-threatening crisis, do not hesitate—utilize them.”
”Got it! Let’s go with that. If the next Game is too easy, maybe I’ll consider a ‘restricted run’ where I seal my Unique Skill myself!” I declared confidently.
”Do you truly comprehend…? Now I am suddenly filled with apprehension regarding what lies ahead…”
”Yeah, it’s fine! We’ll be fine, no problems at all!” I reassured her with a smile.
”Very well. Regardless, this Game has drawn to a close. Though merely ten days, it was unequivocally the most profound period of my existence.”
”That’s in a good way, right?” I teased lightly.
”Indeed, naturally. In a most wonderful sense.”
Yuna’s smile as she said that was breathtakingly beautiful, alluring, and unbearably cute. Once again, I fell head over heels for her all over again from the bottom of my heart.
”Yuna, is that small bag really enough? And are you sure about those clothes?”
Yuna had one small backpack on her back, wearing the school uniform she wore when we first met. Her glossy black hair was beautifully tied up in a single bundle. As for me, I was in my familiar school uniform too. I was practically empty-handed, but that’s fine. Everything I need is in my ‘Inventory.’
”Yes, it is entirely sufficient. Were I to carry excessive baggage, other Players might harbor suspicion upon awakening, would they not? Thus, merely the absolute necessities—water, provisions, medical supplies, and spare undergarments—shall suffice.”
”Got it. If our starting points get separated, I’ll definitely find you right away,” I promised firmly.
”Pray do so, Manato. Hehe, yet do not fret excessively. I am hardly a maiden who requires constant protection. Owing to your efforts in elevating my level… I belong to the ranks of superheroes now, you know.”
”Right! You’ve already passed level ‘100’! …For some reason, my level didn’t go up at all this time, though. I wonder why,” I recalled, tilting my head.
”It may be attributable to your Status being exceedingly high, Manato.”
―Beep beep! A quiet mechanical sound, the last one, echoed through the room. It was the signal that Day 10’s challenge had officially ended. At the same time, the Partner Rings came off our arms. We stayed close together and looked up at the room’s Monitor screen.
■ System Notification
[Current: Day 10]
+ [Players! Thank you for your hard work.]
+ [3 pairs selected ①.]
+ [Beginning transfer to the next Game.]
+ [1 pair selected ②.]
+ [One randomly chosen person will be transferred to the original world.]
+ [That concludes (Partner Game)!]
+ [Let’s play again in the next Game♪(@^^)/~~~]
So there were people who picked something other than ‘1.’ Maybe they wanted to escape this place as fast as possible. As I was thinking that, Yuna, who was beside me, quietly but firmly wrapped her arm around mine. I glanced at her profile and saw a faint hint of unease. ……No wonder. No matter how high your level gets, we’re about to be thrown into an unknown place where anything could happen. I gently stroked Yuna’s beloved head with my other hand.
”It’s okay. I’ll always be with you,” I whispered gently to comfort her.
Well, honestly, I’m the one who’s bursting with excitement and nerves wondering what kind of Game will start! Right after that, a dazzling pure white light that seemed to steal away everything in my sight wrapped around us completely. This time, the heat of the light was unlike anything I’d felt before. It looked like the transfer to the next Game had begun.
”…Manato.”
The warmth left on my arm, and Yuna’s small, beloved whisper calling my name. With that as the last thing, my consciousness was swallowed into a deep vortex of light.
…………You have cleared the second Game.
…………Bonus skill: ‘Accelerate’ acquired.
…………You already have the same skill, so it will be merged.
…………Bonus skill: ‘Accelerate II’ acquired.
…………Third Game ‘Choice (Force Select)’
…………Current Player count [10]
…………Difficulty Setting [HARD]
…………Game Start!
Trivia:
- The Trust Level capping at 999 hints that the system has a hard limit on how much two people can trust each other, suggesting the Partner Game was designed with a maximum bond threshold in mind.
- The one pair that chose option 2 means someone will be separated from their partner forever, a quiet tragedy happening in the background while Manato and Yuna celebrate their unity.
- Manato’s level not increasing despite Yuna surpassing 100 suggests his Status may already be at a hidden ceiling, which could become important when the HARD difficulty Game begins.