Chronica Chronicle—The Final Chapter: The Seeds of Explosions

After the screening was over, Kaiko left, citing work she needed to do.

“Must be tough to have an ongoing manga,” observed Nayuta. “So what do you guys want to play?”

Haruto snickered at Nayuta, always ready to start a game.

“Well, since we’re all here in the daytime, I actually prepped for an RPG session…but our players are pretty much locked in as Itsuki, Miyako, Nayu, and Chihiro, so…”

He glanced at Ashley and Toki.

Haruto, Itsuki, Nayuta, Miyako, and Chihiro had enjoyed a few sessions of the RPG Haruto created by now, but since the story had been developing over three separate play dates, it’d be hard to squeeze anybody new in there.

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Toki said. “I’ll just enjoy some beer and watch you guys. I sat in on one of my authors when he participated in an RPG replay book, so even watching is good enough for me.”

“Ahh, so you’re kicking me out of the friend group, Haruto?”

Haruto tensed up at Ashley’s teasing. “Well, would you like to join as a player, Ashley?”

“Huh? I was just trying to annoy you, but are you sure?”

“Actually, the party’s currently split up in the storyline, so I think it’ll be fine.”

“Really? Well, by all means, then.”

“Do you have any tabletop RPG experience, by the way?”

“No, but I know the basic idea. I’ve heard from other writers that it’s a lot of fun, so I was hoping to try it out sometime.” Ashley smiled, perhaps recalling fond memories.

“Okay, since we have a new player here, and we haven’t had a session in a while, let’s review what’s been happening.”

Haruto passed out his character sheets to the team, referring to his gamemaster documentation as he explained the plot.

“So the game takes place in Chronica, a land of swords and sorcery. It’s home to several countries, and there’s conflict smoldering across the land. Our original four players are princesses from the Kingdom of Midfield, fleeing from a power struggle there—Miyako Shirakawa plays Miyako Midfield, Itsuki Hashima plays Tsukiko Midfield, Chihiro Hashima plays Sen Midfield, and Nayuta Kani plays Deathmask Midfield. They’re now a band of adventurers away from their homeland, and in the rural western Kingdom of Gagagia, they’ve been caught up in a conspiracy that’s gripping the whole country. Along the way, they discover that the military empire of Horn River has its feelers across the entire continent. That’s chapter one.”

“…Wow,” snickered Toki as he looked at the map and listened to Haruto. “This is hilarious.”

“Oh?” Haruto replied, still breezily smiling. “What is? This game is a work of fiction and bears no resemblance to actual organizations or publishers.”

“Oh… It doesn’t?”

Sensing that he was prodding a darker part of Haruto’s psyche, Toki refrained from diving in any further. He glanced at Chihiro.

“…If it’s four sisters, then Chihiro’s playing a girl, too?”

“Um, yeah. I’m the second youngest of them, so I’m a little sister to Itsuki… I mean, Tsukiko.”

The odd way Chihiro’s voice cracked made Toki sweat a bit.

In the past, Setsuna had sketched the “girl with the ass of the millennium” for him, which had alerted him to the fact that Chihiro was a girl. Well, he wasn’t technically 100 percent sure of that yet, but if he imagined that Itsuki’s brother might in fact be his sister, he suddenly realized that Chihiro’s voice was just as high-pitched as when they first met, despite being in the last year of high school. Now Chihiro being a man was just weird.

“Thus,” Haruto continued, “hoping to gain the power to fight the empire of Horn River at some point, the four sisters run into a woman named Nina at a tavern, a powerful ex-knight who agrees to train them. They spend many grueling yet exciting days with her—but one day, Nina is attacked by Horn River assassins. It turns out Nina used to be a general in the empire, and while they successfully beat away the assailants, Tsukiko is killed trying to defend Nina. Shocked over the loss of her big sister, Deathmask wanders away to parts unknown, while Miyako and Sen set off on a journey to find a way to resurrect Tsukiko. That’s how chapter two ends.”

“…Why did you get yourself killed defending an NPC?” Toki asked Itsuki.

“Nina has a sister seven years younger than her who she’s been separated from. NPC or not, I can’t do anything that would devastate a little-sister character.”

“Yeah, so you devastated your own sisters instead,” Haruto rightly pointed out. “Anyway, in chapter three, Miyako and Sen learn of the Narow tribe, superpowered beings who possess secret necromancy spells. They navigate the Elcadia Mountains to reach them, populated with all kinds of powerful monsters, but soon make contact with an Overlord type of person who sends them to the land of the dead. After successfully rescuing Tsukiko, the three of them flee from the land, but during the few hours they were down there, three years have passed in the surface world. Great changes have occurred. The Principality of Lightning, once affiliated with Horn River, suddenly hoists the flag of rebellion against the empire, conquering their cities one by one and rapidly expanding their territory. In tandem with Lightning’s advance, the other nations under threat of imperial invasion begin waging wars of their own. It turns out Deathmask is behind all this, using her sexual techniques and charismatic wiles to infiltrate Lightning and make its government do her bidding…”

“Ohhh, right! Now I remember! What are you doing, Deathmask?” This was enough to jog Miyako’s memory.

Nayuta responded with an evil laugh. “Hee-hee-hee! The world took Tsukiko from me—I’m going to destroy it and start a new era of rule as its one and only demon king!”

“Right, so Deathmask has done a face-heel turn, and it’s our job to kill her?”

“Maybe it’ll turn out that way, and maybe it won’t,” Haruto said to Chihiro, trying to keep it vague.

“Like,” interjected Miyako, “is it even possible for players to fight one another? One of them might get killed or something.”

“Well, in a tabletop RPG, it’s up to the players to be the heroes and weave the story. Whether it ends in tragedy, or they fail to achieve whatever goal they had, if that’s what the players did their best to achieve, then it’s a brilliant story and a successful play session. Of course, most gamemasters will try to keep things from going too haywire, but here, I’m trying to respect your choices as much as possible.”

(In Volume 1, table RPGs were described as players assuming roles and trying to reach the end of a scenario alive, but that wasn’t technically correct. Apologies.)

In Japan, there’s a famous RPG-replay book called Grancrest Replay: Fantasia Factory, featuring popular writers as players. In it, Protea, one of the player characters, winds up completely siding with the main villain’s goals and double-crossing the other players, even focusing on skills to defeat the rest of the party during level-up time. It’s said that the writer playing Protea’s journey to the dark side still regrets going “all the way” with it.

“Sisters having to fight each other… It’s so tragic! But honestly, getting to duel one of my former companions gone evil is really exciting…!”

The stage was set between a rom-com writer and an author of battle-oriented fantasies. Itsuki was already shaking a fist.

“Okay, me and Nayu need to discuss a few things in private. While we’re doing that, Ashley, if you could use this sample sheet to create your own character, please…”

Handing the sheet to Ashley, Haruto left the living room with Nayuta.

The two of them came back after about fifteen minutes, just in time for Ashley to finish up her character. It was time for the session to begin.

GM (Haruto): All right, time to create a new story. At a village located near the base of the Elcadia Mountains, Tsukiko, Miyako, and Sen hear about what Deathmask has been up to. We’ll begin there.

Miyako (Miyako): Well, it’s pretty clear what we’re gonna do. We have to get Deathmask back!

Sen (Chihiro): But Deathmask is some kind of high official in the Principality of Lightning now, isn’t she? I dunno if we can meet with her that easily…

Tsukiko (Itsuki): Well, we won’t know unless we try! Let’s head for Lightning!

Sen: Geez, Big Sis, you always just forge ahead, huh. We still have a lot of info to gather before we can go.

The three of them decided to focus on data gathering at the nearest large town. Fortunately, they were able to meet with an info broker, and from him they hoped to learn Deathmask’s current location, how to get there, and what they needed to meet with her.

*     *     *

GM: “Hee-hee-hee! Oh, I can tell you, all right, but not for free! You three are quite the fetching ladies, I see, but if you let me spend the night with you all, I’ll be happy to spill the beans.”

Miyako: Ew! No way!

Sen: Can we maybe bargain with him a little?

GM: Okay, can all three of you roll for Charisma?

Tsukiko: I got three dice for that, so… Nine.

Miyako: Me too… Ten.

Sen: My Charisma’s pretty low, so just two dice… That’s an eight.

GM: Mmm, sorry. The three of you tried to convince the information broker, but you couldn’t change his mind. “Ee-hee-hee! Don’t worry. I’ll be so nice to the three of you…”

Miyako: …! What a freak!

Tsukiko: That’s it! Let’s beat the info out of him!

Sen: I don’t like violence, but if it’ll help us with our mission, so be it…

GM: “You, you wanna go?! Hey, you guys! Teach these ladies a lesson!”

“One moment.”

Just as battle was about to ensue with the seasoned bodyguards the broker hired, a mysterious, beautiful woman suddenly entered the business. She was tall and well-endowed with blond hair, and she had an overwhelming charm that could compel anyone, man or woman, to be attracted to her.

This was the player character created by Ashley Ono.

Shuri (Ashley): I am Shuri, a traveling priestess. I’m twenty-three years old, and I’m on a journey to defeat everyone with big breasts besides me. I heard recently that Deathmask, this girl causing trouble worldwide, has huge bazongas, so I’m thinking about taking her out.

“Twenty-three…?”

“Big-breasted and gorgeous…?”

Both Chihiro and Itsuki made an odd face, mentally comparing the real Ashley to the character Shuri made.

“S-stop comparing characters to their real players! Part of the fun of RPGs is getting to be someone you aren’t! Besides, you two are playing different genders, even!”

Haruto’s defense made Ashley blush in awkward embarrassment. “Good point,” Itsuki said as Chihiro’s face tensed up.

GM: Anyway, the merchants look pretty awed by this sudden visitor.

Shuri: Hee-hee-hee! If you’ll give me your information, you’ll get to have this sexy beauty all to yourself.

GM: “I—I will?! Okay! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you anything!” Shuri and the excited broker disappear into a room at the inn, leaving you behind. What now?

Miyako: What now? Uh…

Sen: Ash…um, Shuri’s pretty lewd…

Tsukiko: For now, I guess we’ll have to wait an evening…

GM: Okay, then I’ll switch the scene over to Shuri… Um, Ashley, you’re sure that you want to engage with this guy in exchange for the information?

Shuri: Of course not. Unlike the sex-starved, big-boobed freaks you see on the street, my behavior’s strictly on the up-and-up. First off, I’m going to cast Sleep on the broker.

GM: Got it. He has no resistance to status ailments, so I’ll count you as automatically succeeding. The broker instantly falls into a deep sleep.

Sen: But if he’s asleep, how are you gonna get the info from him…?

Shuri: Now I use my unique skill Gears of the Succubus on the sleeping broker.

Sen: What kind of skill is that?

Shuri: It allows me to command anyone who’s under the Sleep or Confusion ailments.

Tsukiko: Whoa, that’s pretty strong…!

Shuri: Ee-hee-hee… Now, tell me everything you know.

GM: The broker’s eyes remain closed as he begins to speak…

The night passed. When the trio went to meet with Shuri, she asked to join them, freely giving them the information she got from the broker.

“Why are you cooperating with us so much, Ashley? Are you scheming something?”

Ashley flashed the dubious Itsuki a crafty smile. “Hee-hee-hee! I’m not scheming anything. Any girl with small boobs is an ally to me.”

Her chiding eyes settled upon Chihiro, distressing her greatly.

“Whaa—?! H-hey, A-Ashley!”

“Aha! I see. Yeah, Sen does kind of a have a small-boob image in my mind,” said Itsuki.

“Yeah. She’s an archer and a dexterous thief, so I was kind of picturing Sen as the slender type, too,” Haruto added.

The two seemed convinced enough.

Chihiro, sitting up at attention, nodded a few times. “R-right! I’m Sen! I’m a girl with small breasts! Ha-ha-ha!”

She puffed out her chest as she made fun of herself, smiling not entirely convincingly. Ashley stifled a laugh while Toki began sweating profusely.

Regardless…

According to Shuri’s tale, Deathmask was currently at the front lines near the magical city of Spring Tree, a tactically vital point in Horn River, personally commanding her troops as she attempted to capture it. She was extremely well guarded, of course, but after this constant string of battles, the Principality of Lightning’s forces were yearning for any manpower they could find, and mercenaries were a common sight among them. Rumor had it that Deathmask herself gave “rewards” to the strongest of her warriors, earning their absolute loyalty in return. Anyone who exemplified themselves in combat at Spring Tree might be rewarded with a personal audience.

With Shuri joining the party, the four of them headed for Spring Tree.

GM: The magical city of Spring Tree is a large fortress town at the nexus of several highways connecting all the nations. It’s both a trade hub and an important military target. If this city falls, it’s likely that the empire’s neighbors will all descend upon its territory at once. The Lightning forces led by Deathmask have taken up positions surrounding the city, attempting multiple attacks, but the invasion is still held up for now. This is the situation when Tsukiko’s party reaches the Lightning force’s camp. As they approach along the highway, the military guards stop them. “Halt. This road’s closed for now.”

Sen: Um, we saw a help wanted ad for mercenaries?

GM: “Oh? Then come with me.” The soldier guides you to a corner of the camp that’s about as far you can get from the main force, where Deathmask is. Tents dot the landscape as far as the eye can see, with mercenaries clad in all kinds of uniforms drinking, partying, or engaging in a little weapon practice.

Tsukiko: Hmm. They must keep the people they trust the least off to the side.

GM: “That’s about the size of it. But Lady Deathmask is a generous leader. Make your name known in battle, and she won’t hesitate to reward you…and if you perform a particularly amazing feat, she’ll give you the kind of prize anyone would dream of. But you better be ready to risk your lives!” …After you’re guided to an empty tent, the soldier leaves. You’re free to rest in here for today, or you can go around and chat up the mercenaries. What’ll it be?

Miyako: We need to get more info, don’t we? If we want to excel in this fight, we better find out who we’re up against, or we could get in trouble.

Tsukiko: Wow, a lunkhead like Miyako’s making an intelligent decision?

Miyako: I’m a lunkhead?! That’s you, remember?! …But you know, I’ve gone through a lot, too. It’s been a hard job search…

Tsukiko: Uh, yeah… A job, huh? As someone who published his first novel in college—um, I mean, as an ex-princess adventurer, it’s not something I’m well versed in…

The party split up to gather intelligence from the other mercenaries. Based on what they found, the Spring Tree defense force was led by four powerful generals, collectively known as the Four Leaders. Each of them had monster-caliber strength, and they were all fighting on the front lines, dispatching principality soldiers with ease and even eliminating some well-known, hardened warriors. If you took down even one of them, your name would certainly enter Deathmask’s ear.

For now, the group decided to target the Four Leaders. In the meantime, they did some shopping with the merchant caravan, mixed up some new items, and prepared for the fight ahead before falling asleep. The mercenaries received their marching orders early the next morning.

GM: As you prepare to deploy, one of the principality’s soldiers strides up. “This is a magic drug that massively boosts the power of anyone who drinks it. Have a swig before you join the fight.” With that, he hands you a small bottle filled with a strange liquid. Looking around, you see your mercenary companions being given similar bottles.

Tsukiko: Oooh! They have those kinda drugs? That’s awesome!

Sen: Whoa, Big Sis! This is way too sketchy!

Miyako: She’s right. No way we can drink this.

GM: All right. Let’s have Miyako roll for Intuition and Sen roll for Wisdom.

Miyako: Oh? Okay… Um, .

Sen: I got .

GM: Oops! That’s a crit, Miyako! …Then, as someone who’s gone skin to skin with Deathmask many times in the past, Miyako can tell—this “drug” contains some of Deathmask’s own bodily fluids. Thanks to that, during the ensuing battle, the person who drinks it falls under the effects of Lilim’s Kiss. And with her medicinal knowledge, Sen can tell that it’s purely a power-up item that won’t impart any other status effects.

Miyako: Y-yes, Deathmask has powered me up a lot of times, but…

GM: All right. You’re free to drink it or not.

“A potion with Deathmask’s b-bodily fluids…? It’s amazing that it works like Lilim’s Kiss on me…”

“Weh-heh-heh! Aw, Tsukikoooo! Come on and drink it already! Just gulp it down!”

Nayuta smiled leeringly at the reluctant Itsuki.

Shuri: In that case, I’ll drink it.

Tsukiko: Mmm… All right! Let’s go with it!

Miyako: Well, okay… To be honest, it beats any of the other sexy stuff she’d do to me…

Sen: Hmm… I think I’ll pass. It’s probably a magic item, isn’t it, like a potion? It’s going to shatter if I touch it anyway.

GM: So Shuri, Tsukiko, and Miyako each have a drink. Miyako, you can feel the power coursing through your body. Thus, for all three of you, every stat except HP, MP, and Movement will be multiplied by 1.3. Your resistance will double, and you’ll automatically get one extra die for any damage roll you take.

“Whoa! The Four Leaders are gonna be a piece of cake now!”

“You said it!”

“Ee-hee-hee! I can’t wait to trample all over them.”

The trio were revved up after this extremely charitable boost, while Chihiro watched them celebrate and gave a slightly envious “ah-ha-ha.” Only Haruto noticed the “oh crap” expression of regret Nayuta had as she looked at Chihiro.

So the group set off for battle with the other mercenaries. The orders given to them from Lightning were pretty simple: “Just beat down the foes in front of you.” Given that military precision couldn’t be expected with a bunch of hirelings, they must’ve decided that letting them rampage freely was the best option.

The group proceeded to smash up several imperial soldiers before finally making it to one of the Four Leaders, the “Brimstone General” Phoenicus. After an extended battle, they successfully took him down.

Miyako: Phew! Finally beat him. That was probably the strongest enemy we’ve fought yet. Even with Deathmask’s power-up, that was such a slog! I wasn’t counting the number of turns, but it was at least thirty, right?

Shuri: Ee-hee-hee! Without Tsukiko’s Breath Shield, we’d all have been burned to a crisp by that guy’s Megido Flame attack.

Tsukiko: Megido Flame… That was one scary skill, yeah. But without your healing, Shuri, we probably would’ve died just through attrition. And without all those crazy attacks from the powered-up Miyako, we couldn’t have knocked down Phoenicus’s HP at all. We all earned this one, guys.

Sen: ………Ugh… I’m sorry I wasn’t much use…

Chihiro moped as the other three savored their victory. Unlike that powered-up trio, Sen’s attacks did almost nothing against the boss. She tried using her superior agility to serve as a decoy, but fate wasn’t smiling on her. Failing to dodge the enemy’s attacks, she nearly died several times—in effect, she was deadweight for the team.

Tsukiko: Don’t let it get to you, Sen. I’m just glad you’re safe. I’m happier about protecting you than winning that one.

Sen: M-my sister…

Miyako: …It’s only with little sisters, isn’t it? When you try to act all cool and manly. Or sisterly right now, I guess.

Tsukiko: Hah! Of course! My name is Tsukiko Midfield! A knight in shining armor, ready to protect my little sister from whatever may come!

Sen: Big Sis… I-I’m glad I’m your little sister.

Tsukiko: Fweh?! Uh, sure…heh-heh-heh…

Miyako: What’re you blushing for, Tsukiko?

Tsukiko: Sh-shut up, you stupid big sister…

GM: As you quibble with one another, a messenger from the Principality of Lightning shows up. “Thanks to you, we have finally toppled one of the Four Leaders. I am sure it will give us the upper hand in the battle to come. I have been informed by Lady Deathmask that she eagerly wishes to meet you.”

Miyako: Finally, we get to see her!

Tsukiko: Boy, talk about a handful of a little sister. Of course, that’s what makes her cute, but…

Sen: …………

GM: The four of you are taken by an ornate carriage, looking very out of place in a battlefield, to the main camp. In the center of it, you find a large manor, made from concrete using advanced Narow tribal techniques and guarded by a large team of soldiers. A barrier has been conjured over it to block any magical spells. This is where Deathmask apparently lives. When you go inside, your group is greeted by a long line of beautiful maids. As seasoned adventurers, one look is all you need to know that they’re a crack team of fighters.

“An army of maids… That’s just your fetish, isn’t it?” Itsuki complained.

“It… Hey, who asked you anyway? Maids are a romantic dream for any man!”

After chastising Itsuki somewhat severely, Haruto continued.

GM: “Our master is waiting for you. Right this way, please.” Guided by a maid, you are taken to the audience chamber. Inside, sitting atop what looks like a gaudy, jewel-encrusted throne, you see a single girl.

“Welcome to my chamber, everyone. I am Deathmask Midfield, field marshal of the Principality of Lightning’s armed forces…”

The girl’s solemn speech suddenly came to a halt. A look of astounded surprise came over her face.

“You… My sisters?! Tsukiko?! And Miyako and Sen?!”

“Hah! Long time no see, Deathmask.”

“Sis! Sis!!” Deathmask stood up, throwing herself into Tsukiko’s arms. “You were alive the whole time, Tsukiko?!”

“Well, no, not the whole time, but Miyako and Sen rescued me from the land of the dead.”

“Tsukikoooo…”

Over the past three years, she had gained a few inches in height, her chest more amply endowed than ever. Her eyes were shimmering with joy as she kissed her older sister on the lips.

“Mmph…smch… Nngh…haahh…”

Tsukiko put up no resistance against Deathmask’s tongue, breathing in a heavy, ecstatic trance. Miyako, Sen, and Shuri just stood by and watched for a while.

“G-girls! Get off each other already!”

Sen forcefully separated them. A single ribbon of saliva connected their lips.

Miyako: All right, Deathmask, let’s all go home together.

Deathmask: Home? Home where?

Miyako: Well, not anywhere in particular…but don’t you wanna keep adventuring with us?

Deathmask: Unfortunately, I can’t.

Tsukiko: What? What do you mean?

Deathmask: I’m using Lightning to destroy the empire of Horn River so I can get back at them for killing you, Tsukiko.

Miyako: Yeah, but what does that matter now? She’s alive!

Deathmask: Once Horn River is annihilated, I’ll kill off all the other nations and unite the land under my rule. Then I’ll marry Tsukiko, and I’ll rule over the world as its rightful leader!

Tsukiko: Snap out of it, Deathmask! That’s not what I want to see!

Deathmask: Hee-hee-hee… What you want doesn’t matter, my sister. I can’t stop myself any longer. Up to now, I’ve killed countless people and sucked the dicks of countless popular writers…um, I mean, countless powerful generals and ministers in Lightning. My soul is now marred by sin and a cloudy-white liquid… If Tsukiko finds out how I clawed my way up to this position, I’m sure she’ll scorn me for it. But no matter how much disdain she has for me, there will be no defying me once I rule the world. And then… Hee-hee-hee… Tsukiko will be mine forever…

“…Oh man. She’s just lapping up the tragedy.”

Itsuki stared at the spellbound Nayuta throughout her extended speech.

In the three years since she lost Tsukiko, Deathmask had used every trick in the book to climb to the top of Lightning, never trusting anyone as she fought her lonely battle. Her heart was already in pieces. The sex-starved girl of the past was gone—in its place was an evil sorceress deluded by a deep devotion to love.

Miyako: Well, we’re gonna beat you up until you come with us!

Shuri: Ee-hee-hee… Big boobs really are the seeds of evil. Let me take care of her.

Sen: Deathmask, prepare to face your punishment!

Deathmask: Heh-heh-heh… Miyako… Sen… That blond chick I’ve never met before… Are you saying you dare to defy me? Then I won’t bother going easy on you, you know that? All I want in my life is Tsukiko.

Tsukiko: Deathmask… I’m not your plaything!

GM: You all take out your weapons and enter battle formation. Deathmask remains a prudent distance from your team as she picks up a large, impressive-looking staff leaning against the throne. This weapon’s known as the Thunderbolt Staff; it’s one of the three greatest treasures of Lightning, alongside the Angelic Robe and Three-Pronged Tree Crest she’s wearing. Having all three of those equipped at once triggers Angelique Media Works, a ridiculously overpowered skill that lets her cast any existing spell in this world without consuming MP.

Miyako: That’s kind of unfair, isn’t it?!

GM: That’s what the lightning logo…er, coat of arms gets you.

Tsukiko: Ahh, yes, that’s what it gets you…

Miyako: That’s how it is?!

GM: Even worse, all the maids stationed in the room ready their weapons as well. There’s a total of five of them, each wielding something different—a sword, a dagger, an ax, a mop, and a staff.

Sen: Um, is a mop a weapon?

GM: Maids.

Sen: Uh…

GM: Okay, time for battle!

The turn order: Sen, maid (dagger); Tsukiko, maid (sword); Miyako, maid (staff); maid (mop); Shuri, maid (ax); and Deathmask.

Sen began by firing an arrow dipped in sleeping potion toward the staff maid, presumably a magic user. She landed a clean hit, scoring damage.

“Now roll to see if she’s asleep.”

Behind his screen, Haruto rolled two ten-sided dice, the sides labeled from zero to nine on each. The result: a five for the tens digit and a nine for the ones digit, for a total of fifty-nine. The staff maid’s sleep resistance was seventy, meaning that if Haruto rolled less than seventy, the maid was asleep.

GM: …Whump. The effects of the potion put the staff maid to sleep right on the spot.

Sen: Nice! Okay, Shuri!

Shuri: Roger that.

The maids, Tsukiko, and Miyako each attacked the enemy nearest to them. Now it was Shuri’s turn.

“Ee-hee-hee! Gears of the Succubus!”

Her eyes began to eerily glow, and then the sleeping maid (staff) lurched back to her feet. “I…am Lady Shuri’s servant,” she intoned, her face blank.

Shuri: And now that girl’s mine.

Tsukiko: Great job, Shuri! If we can keep taking over the maids like this…!

Deathmask: I cast the spell All Refresh on the staff maid.

GM: Got it. This spell cancels all status ailments. “Wha—? What happened to me?!” The staff maid regains consciousness.

Shuri: Wha…?!

Sen: Just take her over again!

This time, Sen fired a paralyzing arrow at the staff maid, freezing her to the spot. Shuri then cast Gears of the Succubus once more, putting the maid under her spell.

“Hmm… This skill’s a pain in the ass,” Deathmask said, pondering to herself. “Maybe I should do that to you instead. Paralyze!”

A beam of light shot out from the tip of her staff to Shuri. She attempted to dodge it but failed. The spell paralyzed her, knocking her out of the turn order.

“Nngh…! How could I have lost my freedom…? You’re going to take advantage of my paralysis to play with my assets, aren’t you?”

“Why do you seem like you’re looking forward to it?” Haruto said to the somewhat overly excited Ashley.

Miyako: I have a potion I can use in the next turn!

Tsukiko: All right. But having every magic in the book is a real terror… I’m sure she’s gonna cast something even worse later.

Sen: All right! I’ll use Taunt on Deathmask!

Deathmask: Taunt?

GM: If a Taunt succeeds, your attack will automatically be targeted at Sen. You’ll need to roll to see if it worked, but Sen, say something to rile up Deathmask for me.

Sen: Huh?!

Deathmask: Hee-hee-hee! I can’t wait to see what kind of trash talk good little Sen has for me…

Sen: Um… Okay, how about………fatty?

Deathmask: Whaaaaaaaaaa—?! I-I’m not fat! I just have big tits, okay?!!

GM: Wow! We haven’t rolled yet, but that was clearly effective!

Tsukiko: …You have been getting a little bit doughy around the stomach…

Miyako: Well, yeah. I mean, when I’m not around, they order pizza pretty much all the time, and at night, they’re always snacking and drinking root beer. Plus, their schedule’s all over the place, and they never work out.

Deathmask: Gnnnhh… I never expected you to so deftly break my heart… Sen’s a scarier girl than I thought… Now I know what Chihiro really thinks of me all the time.

Sen: W-wait, no! It just sprang into my mind, but I don’t think you’re fat or anything!

Deathmask: Arrgghh! You said it again!

Tsukiko: If you’re that sensitive to it, lose some weight, Fattymask.

Deathmask: Daahhh! Not you, too, Itsuki!

GM: Okay, so Sen’s rolling for Charisma plus ten against Deathmask’s Spirit.

Sen: plus ten for twenty.

Deathmask: … Seventeen.

GM: And the Taunt works. Now you can only pick Sen as your target, Deathmask.

Deathmask: Mnngghh…!

With Sen’s Taunt successful, Tsukiko and the others moved carefully to stay out of magical attack range as they faced off against Deathmask. To keep the maids from targeting Sen, Tsukiko placed a Taunt of her own on the dagger maid. Miyako used her potion to cure Shuri’s paralysis, and Shuri then commanded the staff maid to attack the other maids, healing Tsukiko’s HP as she did.

“You will be rendered to dust! Ultimate Flare!”

Deathmask, in Taunt mode, launched one of the most powerful attack magics in the game world at Sen. But:

“I will destroy that illusion!”

The magical flames, powerful enough to burn any enemy to ashes, vanished into thin air the moment it hit Sen’s hand. Once again, her unique skill Jaldabaoth saved the day by canceling all magic it touched.

“Mmm, no dice, huh…? Isn’t that skill way too OP?”

“It comes with a lot of disadvantages,” Haruto said with a laugh. “She can’t touch a potion, remember, and she can’t cancel anything except for magic. But come to think of it, maybe she’s the only natural enemy of Deathmask in the room.”

“I’m up next!”

Sen fired a paralysis potion–dipped arrow at Deathmask. It landed a hit on her but didn’t seem to paralyze much of anything.

“Hee-hee-hee… The Angelic Robe cancels all status ailments!”

“Ah…!”

Deathmask then cast a spell to boost her own stats before swiping at Sen with her Lightning Staff.

“If magic won’t work, maybe using this like a club will!”

“Not if I can help it!”

Sen had used a potion she mixed herself to boost her resistance and dexterity. It gave her a slight edge against Deathmask. But as they lobbed blows at each other, the other three kept up the good fight against the maids. It took a while, but in time, they defeated each one of them, save the staff maid under Shuri’s control.

Tsukiko: That just leaves you, Deathmask!

Miyako: You need to surrender already. If you do, I’ll let you go with a spanking, all right?

Deathmask: Awww… No, I can’t take four of you at the same time. I might be up the creek at this point…

Deathmask shrugged. But for some reason, her face belied no concern at all.

“Oh well. I guess I’ll have to use the ace up my sleeve.”

“Your what?” Sen asked.

Deathmask replied with a creepy laugh as she took up the Three-Pronged Tree Crest hanging from her neck, kissed the seal on it, and gently caressed it.

“…Lilim’s Kiss: Overdose!”

A pink light shot out from the trinket, and the next moment:

“Wh-what?! I—I can’t move…!”

Tsukiko, Miyako, and Shuri fell to their knees in agony.

“What’s wrong, guys?!”

Deathmask sweetly smiled at the agitated Sen.

Deathmask: This is the ace up my sleeve. The power of the Three-Pronged Tree Crest has given me a second unique skill, called Lilim’s Kiss: Overdose. This lets me freely control anyone who’s been subjected to Lilim’s Kiss…and by the way, their stats still have the Lilim’s Kiss upgrades applied.

Tsukiko: But I haven’t had Lilim’s Kiss applied to… No! Wait!

Deathmask: Before you went to battle this morning, did you drink an elixir with my bodily fluids in it?

Tsukiko: Ugh! I knew I shouldn’t have had that…!

Miyako: Is there an antidote or something?!

GM: You’ll roll to see whether it wears off every turn…but the odds aren’t great, I’ll admit.

Deathmask: Hee-hee-hee! It’s time to give it up, Sen… As a magician, Miyako’s no help against Sen, so I’ll just have her strip down and do a dance off to the side, please. Tsukiko and the big-boobed lady… You two attack Sen for me.

Following Deathmask’s order, Miyako began doing a nude interpretive dance as Tsukiko and Shuri launched attacks at Sen.

“Nngh… Dodge this, Sen!”

“Sorry, Sen! She’s controlling me! I can’t help myself!”

Trying her hardest to overcome the spell cast upon her, Tsukiko nonetheless slashed at Sen as Shuri punched away with the strangest happy expression. Sen used the last of her paralysis potions to freeze Shuri, but she knew Deathmask would cancel that soon enough—but to her surprise, when Deathmask’s turn came up, she did nothing.

“…To tell the truth, I can’t move at all when Lilim’s Kiss: Overdose is active. Protect me, Big Bro! ”

Nayuta shamelessly draped herself over Itsuki. That, plus the “big bro” bit, made Chihiro deeply uncomfortable.

“G-get off me, Kanikou! I’m supposed to be your big sis Tsukiko right now!”

“Ee-hee-hee… Brother or sister, you can be either one! What’s it really matter?”

“It matters a lot!”

Before he could think about it, Chihiro had raised his voice. It startled Nayuta, who gave him a puzzled look.

“Uh, Chihiro?”

“Oh, no, um… This is a tabletop RPG, y’know, so you gotta stick to your roles, okay?”

“Uh, yeah. True. I’ll be careful.”

She still seemed baffled as she nodded at Chihiro. Once the subject was successfully dropped, the battle continued—Miyako dancing in the buff, Shuri paralyzed and twitching on the ground, and Deathmask completely immobile.

“Hah!”

Sen shot an arrow at Deathmask. It bounced off Tsukiko’s shield; she had been forced to use her Protect skill to block it. As long as Tsukiko was around, Deathmask essentially couldn’t be attacked—but with Sen’s level of strength, it’d be impossible for her to defeat a buffed-out Tsukiko.

There was just one thing left for her to try…

“Please, Big Sis, snap out of it!”

She’d have to hold out until Tsukiko could shake off the spell.

“Sen, I’m sorry… Sen…!”

Looking incredibly pained, Tsukiko ran up to Sen and swung her sword. Being powered up, she packed a mean punch right now—whether that potion boosted Sen’s resistance or not, even the single hit she landed was potentially lethal.

“Nngh…! I—I believe in you, Big Sis…”

Using her penicillin (a medicine made by a doctor in the Narow tribe village. In this game, it’s a cheat item that instantly heals all damage, and Sen can use it since it’s not magic), Sen tried her hardest to resist the onslaught.

“ for eighteen; I dodged it!”

“ for a critical! I dodged it!”

“—that’s gonna hit. I have four HP left, so I use a dose of penicillin!”

“, I dodged it!”

“, I dodged it!”

“, critical!”

“, I dodged it!”

“, critical!”

“, dodge failed, three HP left, I use penicillin!”

“Tsukiko lands a critical! Four HP left, I use penicillin!”

“, I dodged it!”

“, critical!”

“, I dodged it!”

“, dodge failed, four HP left, I use penicillin…uh… I’m out of penicillin…!”

“Hee-hee-hee! Looks like you’re at the end of your rope, Sen. Let me compliment you for holding out this long.”

Deathmask gave her an evil smile. Sen’s penicillin supply was exhausted; she was wounded from head to toe. If another attack from Tsukiko hit her, she was dead.

“Sen, you gotta dodge this…!”

“I believe in you, Bro…!”

The two of them prayed as hard they could as they rolled. The prayers must’ve been answered, because Sen rolled two sixes for another crit and a successful dodge.

Next turn:

“Oh, that’s a ninety-seven! Congratulations! Tsukiko finally managed to break Deathmask’s curse.”

Tsukiko cheered at the gamemaster’s announcement.

“All riiiiiiiight! I’m finally sane again!”

“Big Sis… Thank you…”

“Argh! How could my love for you be broken?!”

Deathmask groaned in agony as Sen teared up with joy.

Twisting her body around, Tsukiko pointed her sword at Deathmask. “Now…give it up, Deathmask.”

Her enemy heaved a sigh and lifted her hands up. “Ugghh… I guess it’s over now. Awww! I really wanted to conquer the world, too…”

Unable to move and with no way to win, Deathmask readily surrendered. Miyako continued to dance naked, while Shuri twitched away on the floor.

GM: And the battle’s over! Your team has successfully defeated Field Marshal Deathmask.

“Ahh… We did it…”

Sen—or Chihiro, really—teared up as she smiled. Her breathing was ragged, beads of sweat prevalent on her forehead. She really did look like she just made it out of a heated battle to the death. Haruto, who had experienced the same rush in his own RPG sessions before, smiled.

“Good work, Chihiro.”

“Yeah, good work,” Itsuki added. “Sen was definitely the hero of that fight.”

“Right,” said Miyako. “All I did was dance to the very end, too… You did really great, Sen.”

“Hee-hee… Thank you very much,” Chihiro said bashfully, and Itsuki smiled.

“You’re the best little sister in the world.”

The praise made Chihiro’s cheeks burn red, almost lifting her heart out of her chest. All the irritation about Aoba’s and Nadeshiko’s presence, the vague concern about her future, and the complex emotions toward her mother’s pregnancy were cleansed. Her mind felt supremely clear again.

“Thanks…Big Bro.”

Nayuta pouted at him a bit. “Don’t you mean Big Sis right now? You told me you needed to stay in character… I’m letting Sen have the win this time, but I promise I’m going to keep Tsukiko all to myself someday.”

Chihiro, now more open to playing along, gave her a haughty laugh. “Hee-hee! There’s no way someone who’s only a sister in the game world could beat a real sister.”

The sweat began to pour from Toki’s face anew. Ashley began to quiver, trying her hardest not to burst out laughing.

“Nya-ha-ha! What’re you talking about, Chihiro?”

Nayuta smiled, assuming (as she’d be expected to) that it was a joke.

“You’re just a little sister in the game, aren’t you, Chihirooooo?”

“…!”

Chihiro, not realizing how carried away she had gotten, now felt like someone poured a bucket of cold water over her. There was nothing mean about what Nayuta said. It was a perfectly natural riposte—and that’s why it hurt so deeply. Her entire body began to burn. Her brain boiled, making it impossible to think.

She wasn’t just a sister in some game. She wasn’t a little brother at all.

“But…”

But,

“But I really am his little sister!!”

Silence fell over the room.

Nayuta stared at her, mouth agape, as did Haruto, Miyako—and Itsuki.

Toki’s face froze entirely, while Ashley continued to convulse. And as she gauged this reaction, Chihiro finally regained control of herself.

…Crap. I said it.

(The End)