c2 (1/2)

Dream Game -Crossover-

In the field of magic, there are objects known as Relics. They are OOPArts(1) that possess magical abilities and cannot be reproduced by current end-of-the-21st century technology.

Second-years of the National Magic University Affiliated First High School, siblings s.h.i.+ba Tatsuya and s.h.i.+ba Miyuki, along with their schoolmates, were involved in the rampage of such a 「Relic」 last September.(2) Named the 「Dream Caster」for the sake of convenience, the Relic was activated by absorbing a fixed amount of Thought ParticlesPsions emitted by unaware humans. It had the function of making a fictional world――in other words, a theatre experience-type amus.e.m.e.nt park――for entertainment purposes, that allowed communication among a group that used the machine to connect their dreams.

Due to having aged at least 10,000 years, the communication function had degraded, and for this reason, Tatsuya's group worked through their troublesome and embarra.s.sing feelings unnecessarily, and the doc.u.mentation of this event was stored in the video recording in between April to October of 2095, so it will be omitted. The important thing was――

“……We seem to have been dragged in again.”

“……You’re right, Onii-sama.”

The siblings were once again dragged into an unreal world created by the Dream Caster.

In the real world, the Nine-School Compet.i.tion of August, 2096 AD had just ended. For the first time in awhile, the two who returned home from Fuji fell asleep in their own beds. And, after they regained consciousness, the siblings found themselves standing in front of a brickwork-styled, detached house in a deep forest.

Both of them had changed to their sleepwear, although one was dressed in pyjamas and the other in negligee, and went to bed. However, Miyuki was now wearing a white, long dress covering the bottom of her neck and Tatsuya was wearing soldier-style, leather armour with a cloak on. A 「role」 was implied by the outfit, but luckily, they maintained their consciousness. After awakening, the siblings were relieved that they didn’t end up in an awkward situation where they would writhe in embarra.s.sment.

“Onii-sama, where on earth is the Relic installed? I have no memories of seeing a place like this……”

What concerned her was why they ended up in a situation like this.

“I don’t remember seeing it either. That Relic was considered to be dangerous, thus it was supposed to be put away for storage under strict supervision, so this could be another device operating…… really, how many Relics as unique as that one were discovered in succession?”

With this question provoking his mind, Tatsuya turned his 「eyes」toward the ground that he was standing on.

“What the………?”

“Onii-sama!?”

Tatsuya’s loud groan was so unusual that Miyuki let out her impatience.

“Sorry, I was just surprised. However, this is……”

The particles seen by Tatsuya’s information body perceiving 「eyes」 were not just Spirit ParticlesPus.h.i.+ons like the previous time.

“……Thought ParticlesPsions and electrons have become intertwined?”

Miyuki, who had been obediently waiting for her brother’s explanation, exclaimed ‘Wha?’ at his monologue and opened her eyes.

“Electrons? Then that means that this virtual world isn’t a world made using the power of a Relic, but made with the use of electronic technology?”

After finis.h.i.+ng her question, Miyuki realised she had jumped to a conclusion.

“Ah, but Thought ParticlesPsions and Spirit ParticlesPus.h.i.+ons are also used?”

Tatsuya nodded with a stern and serious look.

“Yeah. However, this information structure is not something made by signal conversion that uses Sensory Stones. To reproduce the five senses, it seems to be using technology that far surpa.s.ses ours.”

“Does an organisation that can conceal such a technology exist?”

Virtual reality technology was a field every country was competing to create . If it could not only reproduce sight and hearing, but also the sense of touch and motion, its demand would be immeasurable in the fields of education, communication and entertainment.

No, probably not.”

“Then who on earth……”

“I don’t know. For the time being, I came up with a hypothesis, but there’s no point in discussing it now. Before that, what should we do to return to reality?”

Tatsuya once again strained his 「eyes」.

“……A link with reality is maintained. Although it seems like this world is a result of an interference of an unknown technology on the Relic’s function.”

“Then, we can return if we wake up, right?”

Miyuki asked Tatsuya in a somewhat relieved voice.

“We can. However, I believe that it’s necessary to meet some conditions, like that time.”

“Conditions, you say…… I wonder what do we have to do this time.”

Miyuki complained with a dejected face.

Tatsuya gave a smile in response to his sister’s expression, but as a matter of fact, he didn’t declare ‘we can’ with complete self-confidence.

(……If needed, I could 「Decompose」 the electronic structure. With that, the interference should be dissolved, but……)

He was able to read the structure of electronic information. In other words, it means that he is able to 「Decompose」 it with his power.

However, what he read was just the information of the structure of this world. If he invoked 「Decomposition」, he predicted that this world would partially collapse. That’s like destroying a random pillar inside a building that one doesn’t understand the full structure of. He didn’t know what adverse reaction would occur and affect the players inside, in other words, themselves, if the world was broken beyond expectation as a consequence of the dissolution of the interference.

(……The use of「Decomposition」is a last resort.)

Tatsuya did not want to worry his sister, so he asked a completely different question.

“By the way, Miyuki, can you use magic?”

“Huh, magic you say?”

Miyuki made a blank expression for just a moment, then immediately closed her eyes, concentrated, and tried muttering in various languages, and then tried drawing figures in the air with her fingers, repeating it all through trial and error. Finally, she faced Tatsuya and shook her head apologetically.

“……There was a response for temperature interference magic. But rather than other types of magic being blocked, I get the feeling that we never had the authorisation for them in the first place.”

“What kind of response?”

“Practically, I don’t feel the sensation of a spell being invoked. I think that others in this virtual simulator are imitating the invocation of magic, so to say…… to allow them to get as close to experience magic as they possibly can.”

The virtual simulator in Tatsuya’s and his friends’ reality has only reached the stage of reproducing sight and hearing so far, but it was sufficient for magic learning. When learning new spells, the invocation and actual experience differed so the image of the activation had to be effective for comprehension.

However, this approach was not applied practically, as there was a side effect leading people think they could use magic they couldn't, and as a result, all National Magic University Affiliated High Schools were unwilling to use it. Instead, this form of training was used by the police and the army, where their magic users were completely established.

“Simulator, huh……Which response is stronger, incantations or magic circles?”

“Incantations. However, the only thing that I received a practical response from were spell names.”

“Hmm……”

Tatsuya folded his arms and got lost in his thoughts, then suddenly pointed at the closest fir tree (replica) with his left hand.

“Set, cartridge number five. Default, load.”

Immediately after he finished saying that line, a Thought ParticlePsion bullet――like thing―― that visualised from his left hand fired.

The Thought ParticlePsion bullet hit the trunk of the fir tree, cast a dazzling light and split open. On the surface, what remained was a deep hole approximately 10 centimetres deep. In reality, damaging an object with a Thought ParticlePsion bullet that did not have any physical effect would be a completely impossible phenomenon.

“Onii-sama!? What on earth did……”

Miyuki’s upset shout was only natural.

“……This phenomenon is unexpected, but the operating protocols are according to expectations.”

Tatsuya said without hiding his surprise, but with a sound of satisfaction mixed in, drawing Miyuki’s attention.

“Operating protocols, you say?”

“Yeah. You did say that among cla.s.sical incantations, only spell names had a response, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“So, I thought that tracing the usual CAD operating protocols by inputting voice commands in this virtual reality world would do the trick.”

“I see…… As expected from you, Onii-sama. I didn’t think of such a thing.”

“Thanks to your accurate senses.”

Tatsuya laughed and shook his head, then once again pointed his left hand towards the fir tree.

“Number two, load.”

A Thought ParticlePsion bullet once again flew from his left hand. However, this time, it did not injure the trunk. Instead, it blew away the smoke of the residual Thought ParticlesPsions in the bullet hole.

“Hmm. I reproduced non-systematic, huh.”

This time, he pointed at the tree close to his right hand.

“Select, the right.”

――The virtual CAD in his right hand was designated.

“Set, cartridge number one.”

――The cartridge-type storage number one was set in the CAD.

“Default.”

――Without operating the Activation Sequence selector, he declared the use of the first Activation Sequence.

“Load.”

――He began reading the Activation Sequence.

In theory, the next part would be constructing a magic sequence within his Magic Calculation Area, and then invoking the spell.

However, this time, nothing happened.

“『Decomposition』can’t be reproduced this way, huh. Just as you said, it seems that the variety of magic that can be reproduced is limited.”

“I’d also like to try it.”

Miyuki who said that extended her left in front of her chest and her right hand towards the fir tree.

“Activation Sequence number fourteen, execute.”

However, nothing happened.

“Miyuki, the CAD’s OS is based on English.”

“Ah, right.”

Miyuki blushed slightly, and repeated the same gesture.

“Starting Formula, number one four. Load.”

This time, ice formed on the surface of the tree just as she had designated.

“……That’s amazing. There are no actual magic invocations, yet a magic-like phenomenon occurs.”

”That’s because this place is a type of simulation s.p.a.ce. It’s not that a change in phenomena occurs, it just looks like it.”

“Right.”

Miyuki laughed with a bit of embarra.s.sment. Tatsuya also showed a smile, but then immediately stiffened his expression.

“Although it’s only partially, we can reproduce magic, so we should be able to avoid the worst case of being exposed to violence that we cannot oppose.”

Hearing her brother’s words, Miyuki s.h.i.+vered with a *brr* sound. In this situation――she didn’t think of the possibility of the worst case scenario of being dragged into a violent adult game world, as prey.

“However, I’m still worried. What on earth is the 『role』 a.s.signed to us?”

“……Onii-sama. I don’t think that we’ll get to a conclusion even if we think about it. I’m sure that there should be action from the other side, so why don’t we just rest here until then?”

After saying so, Miyuki turned her eyes towards the brickwork-styled mansion.

“You’re right. There might be clues inside.”

Tatsuya, protecting Miyuki from the back as usual, opened the door to the mansion.

Update 2

It was warm inside the mansion. To an extent where they finally noticed that the temperature outside was considerably low.

A fire was dancing in the fireplace. Empty tea utensils were lined up on the table. Upon touching the cup, a faint warmth could be felt. Just to be sure, they touched the side that wasn’t facing the fireplace and discovered that it wasn’t warm due to the radiant heat. It seemed that the cup had been emptied just a short while ago.

And yet, there was no one there. Tatsuya looked in all of the rooms in the mansion, but in the end, he couldn't find any inhabitants. As if this was the reproduction of the Mary Celeste(3) legend (not the incident). If there was a rational explanation anyway―― in a fictional world constructed inside a dream, there is neither rationality, nor irrationality――

“It seems we’re the inhabitants of this mansion.”

Miyuki nodded at Tatsuya’s opinion.

“It should be fine for us to wait here.”

“You’re right. If we move carelessly, it will only drag it on unnecessarily.”

In front of Miyuki who looked happy for some reason, Tatsuya gave a deep sigh.

The inside of the mansion, as could be seen from the outside, was a living s.p.a.ce inconveniently located in a place with absolutely no relation to civilization. However, Miyuki seemed to be enjoying the current state of affairs.

This was largely because they were able to use magic, although limited. They were able to use temperature interference magic, so lighting a fire and boiling water wasn’t an inconvenience. There was no water supply, but there was a well in the middle of the mansion. With this, just some physical labor was enough to prevent cold. Of course, it was Tatsuya’s duty to draw water from the well.

The mansion was also stocked with food. As the ground was very cold, the food cellar was a natural refrigerator full of fresh meat and vegetables. What made Miyuki especially happy was the abundantly stacked, huge variety of herb tea.

“With this, we don’t need to worry about your tea, Onii-sama.”, when Tatsuya saw his sister muttering that with a truly delightful smile, a “let’s worry about different things” line left his throat.

Last time――in other words, one year ago――this had also happened, but no physiological phenomena occurred in this world. And yet, it was irritating when one’s throat would feel thirsty and one’s stomach would feel empty, so they appreciated being able to eat and drink without worrying about other things…… Though, they did not appreciate the fact that they were dragged into this world in the first place .

Leaving behind Miyuki, who took out new tea utensils and was happily preparing tea, Tatsuya continued his investigation of the mansion. He had already figured out why there were no people, but he thought that there should at least be clues on what they were supposed to do.

The results of the search was that Tatsuya found something, or perhaps, a pattern that looked like a clue. The clue was that diamond-shaped markings were engraved on the furniture and accessories, as well as the decoration on the mansion's walls and on its ornaments. The pattern was very simple. Weren’t they runes that represented 「Yngvi」, one of the three chief G.o.ds in Norse mythology, also known as the harvest G.o.d Frey?

Speaking of Frey, the most well-known myth about him was probably「Skírnismál」, an episode where he proposed to the most beautiful female Gerðr, a giantess. Frey, who fell in love with Gerðr at first sight, sent his servant Skírnir to the realm of giants, Jötunheimr, as the messenger delivering his marriage proposal. Skírnir struggled to reach the home of Gerðr’s father, Gymir, and after struggling through the trouble ―― perhaps a battle with Gymir’s subordinates――that occurred in front of Gymir’s home, Skírnir safely reached Gerðr and pa.s.sed on the words of his lord. At first, Gerðr rejected the proposal, but thanks to Skírnir’s ingenious persuasion (threats?), she agreed to meet with Frey. After that, Gerðr became Frey’s wife.

……That was the episode, but is the scenario of this 「drama」 written using the motifs of this myth? It’s probably true that there weren’t many players that were suitably appropriate to play the part of Gerðr compared to Miyuki. After all it’s the role of 「the prettiest girl」.

However, if that’s the case, what could be his part? There is a theory that Gerðr’s brother was killed by Frey. At that time, Frey did not have his prized sword , the「Sword of Victory」, so this episode should take place before his wedding with Gerðr. If we a.s.sumed that, could his role be to challenge Frey who would come to take his sister?

Or, is his role to be Gymir, the father who opposed the marriage? Gymir seemed to be a hot-headed person, or should I say giant. Could the troubles that Skírnir faced, as he struggled to reach Gymir’s home, been a clash with Gymir, whom he defeated with the 「Sword of Victory」 that he borrowed from Frey? Or was Tatsuya himself a.s.signed the role of hindering that messenger?

There’s also a theory that Gymir left a ferocious watchdog to guard Gerðr’s room. Could Tatsuya be that watchdog?

(……At any rate, if Miyuki’s role is to be Gerðr, then it should be fine for me to hinder the marriage proposal.)

The role he was given in the dream world one year ago was nothing but trouble. At that time, Tatsuya’s motivation was at the lowest point. However, this time Tatsuya felt a simmering eagerness well up within.

Update 3

The investigation of the mansion was finished in a day.

As for the progress of the scenario――the first 「messengers」 arrived the next morning.

Just as they were in the midst of having their tea after breakfast, the roaring sound of an explosion could be heard outside the mansion. Tatsuya kept Miyuki from hastily running outside to check out the situation, and put on his leather armour. He then put on the cloak that Miyuki brought, picked up the spear leaning against a rack in the entranceway, and opened the door.

Outside, the forest was on fire. Right before him stood five men, wearing red armour and carrying long spears. Perhaps this world was configured to visualise spirit lights partially, as a fire-like, red, flickering spirit light could be seen engulfing their bodies. Their magical appearance gave the impression that they were fire-type ghosts or fire spirits. ――Even if their armour had soot and dirt here and there.

”……Were you the ones who started the fire?”

Tatsuya asked this question while amazed at their recklessness and admiring how a good fire was managed in this temperature. However, this question struck the men’s nerves.

“D-don’t screw around with us!”

“Isn't this your trap!?”

Hearing the men demand an explanation, the clueless Tatsuya tilted his head puzzledly for a moment. Then, he remembered a theory that Gymir’s spear was protected by fire.

Comprehension dawned on Tatsuya’s face, and this convinced, or rather, reinforced the men's inaccurate a.s.sumption that Tatsuya was unmistakably the person behind the fire-wall trap.

“Here we go!”

In response to the shout of the man――at a closer look, 「shounen」(4) would be more appropriate to represent his approximate age compared to「man」――in the centre of the party of five , the remaining four energetically answered with 「Yeah!」.

The five shounens came charging with spear tips in a row. Tatsuya questioned their unfathomable strategy.

Their armour seemed to be made of leather, similar to the one Tatsuya himself was wearing. However, unlike his protectors that only protected his vital points, what they were wearing seemed to cover almost every part of their body. Because of this, the armour seemed to have considerable weight. At the very least, it should be of an excessive weight in contrast to their physical ability――their physical strength.

Their charging pace was fairly slow.

In the first place, their a.s.sault by forming a line of spears was a tactic meant for anti-cavalry, or group versus group battles. There’s no trick regarding their individual walking pace. It was an effective strategy if they charged with the speed that came from riding a mount or a chariot, or mechanical power-type roller shoes, or making use of flight magic and other means, but if they were charging at the speed of just a half run……

“Gyaa!”

“Gue!”

……In that case, they would all just end up being crushed prey.

“This guy is tough!”

“Don’t charge! Surround him!”

“Keep him busy until we have him surrounded!”

From the posture of using weapons, Tatsuya judged them to be complete amateurs, but after listening to their conversation, he changed his perception.

Even though two of them were brought down and, moreover, one of the two was stabbed and suffered a deep injury, they did not start to panic.

――They’re unexpectedly accustomed to it.

(What a pity.)

They have experience, but not competency. It seems as though they are compelled to fight without sufficient experience.

Despite thinking this, Tatsuya didn’t plan on going easy on them at all. Tatsuya was wearing armour that he wasn’t accustomed to, and was provided with a spear like theirs. During last year’s experience, he did use part of his time tempering his skills at cla.s.sical weaponry, but Tatsuya certainly did not plan on specialising in spears and swords in the future.

Ignoring the shounen trying to circle around him, Tatsuya stepped forward. The idea to keep him busy from the front until the encirclement formation could be completed was smart. However, their aim since the beginning was to keep him occupied, and just close in behind him instead of a direct attack. If the opponents did not present a threat, they merely isolated their own forces.

Tatsuya restrained the head of the long spear that was thrusted in haste. He followed up with a downward spike forcing the enemy's spear to stab the ground, and the user's body moved forward in response.

Tatsuya a.s.sumed a hanmi(5) stance, pulled out the spear, and struck back with it, superficially striking the right shoulder of his opponent.

The shrieking shounen fell on his behind. While Tatsuya felt discomfort as he did not sense his attack reaching the bone, he judged that he had dealt the damage that he intended, and faced the opponent to his right.

As for the opponent to the right, in other words, the one who thrust at him from the back, he used the blunt end of the spear to parry. Then, he rotated the spear 180 degrees, attacking the shounen, whose face tightened in surprise, in a flowing motion. The shounen's thigh was not pierced, but completely cut through. He cried out in pain as his leg rolled on the ground, but somehow he wasn't bleeding.

(These guys look like humans on the outside, but they aren’t on the inside……?)

There were neither bones nor blood vessels, just particles carrying light scattering. And those particles disappeared into the sky. It was a beautiful battle without bloodshed.

Tatsuya then faced the last shounen, and the shounen stiffened. Or perhaps he stiffened after their eyes met.

He no longer had any fighting spirit. Nevertheless, he couldn’t abandon his friends either.

Tatsuya decided to relieve the shounen from this dilemma.

He sent the opponent’s spear flying with a horizontal sweep, and the spear stabbed into the ground from above.

“Onii-sama, is it over……?”

After confirming that no sounds could be heard, Miyuki gently opened the door. After seeing Miyuki, the shounen that suffered the least damage among the five and, in his final moments, was groaning about being struck in the shoulder, had his breath taken away, as if he had forgotten his pain.

“So that…… is Gerðr, huh. In that case, this isn’t Gymir, but Beli?”

Whether Miyuki's beautiful face paralysed his nerves, or his sense of pain was cut by the progress of the scenario, the boy stopped groaning and muttered.

After catching that, Tatsuya frowned.

Instead of calling her ‘she’, he called her 「that」. Instead of calling him ‘he’, he called him 「this」. This shounen naturally didn’t treat Tatsuya and Miyuki as humans.

“Oi.”

Tatsuya thrusted the tip of the spear in front of the shounen's eyes. 「Hii!」, the shounen gave a scream similar to an incomplete combustion and stopped moving.

“There’s something that I want to ask. If you obediently answer, I won’t make you feel even more pain.”

The shounen opened his eyes wide. The expression that appeared on his face said 「I can't believe it」.

“d.a.m.n it……The boss character is now threatening us or something?”

(A boss character…… I see, I probably seem like a monster in a game.)

In that case, Miyuki is probably perceived as a trophy. No wonder they’re treating us like 「objects」.

That’s one question cleared up, but to the misfortune of the shounen that he didn’t even know the name of, that was not what Tatsuya wanted to know.

“Why did you attack me?”

In response to Tatsuya’s question, the shounen gave a befuddled expression. If his expressions were to be put in words, it would most likely be 「What is this guy talking about?」.

“I’ll ask again. Why did you attack me all of a sudden?”

The shounen still showed no signs of answering.

Tatsuya’s motto is 「Act, not talk; if you do have something to say, all the more you should back it up with actions.」. Tatsuya put the blade beside the cheek of the shounen, then drew it in.

As the skin of the shounen was cut, he shrieked. Tatsuya harboured a worry that there was no point in cutting the shounen if the his sense of pain was cut, but it seems like he was worried over nothing.

“……s.h.i.+t, if only this wasn’t a no-flight area, you majin(6)-type.”

The shounen grumbled as he wept. A rather admirable willpower, in a sense. And so, it seems that he could not hope for communication via words.

If he could not provide clues on how to break out from this world, he no longer had any use. Tatsuya withdrew his spear and turned his back on the shounen.

“Stop s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around!”

“At this rate, can we really go back empty handed!”

While returning to the mansion, Tatsuya heard that as well as the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. Tatsuya couldn’t suppress his astonishment as he turned around.

The damage that Tatsuya dealt to the red-armoured shounens didn't place their lives in danger. However, the damage shouldn’t have been so light that they could already move either.

Is their level of resilience high, or did they prepare a means to recover from damage in a short amount of time?――

While Tatsuya thought about such things, his body moved partially on its own. He parried the shounen’s stab with his spear handle, and then stabbed the shounen’s chest with its tip as the shounen’s posture was broken.

The corpse of the shounen whose chest was pierced changed into a small flame and floated in midair.

(That probably isn't a disembodied soul…… a horror-like(7) production, huh……)

Nevertheless, Tatsuya didn’t feel any fear. Whether it was a disembodied soul or a will-o’-the-wisp, it didn’t show any liveliness like regrets or a grudge.