No Game No Life Vol.7

by Unknown

  No Game No Life Volume 7

  It Seems the Gamer Siblings Will Overturn Common Sense(the World)

  Theoretical Start

  ——Let’s try to imagine.

  Right now, you are playing an online match of a certain First Person Shooter (FPS) game.

  You are standing on a place where you can overlook pretty far over the carefully built-up stage.

  It’s atop a small hill where you can have a panoramic view of an elegant scenery, such as the group of small fries firing at each other with guns.

  You can’t help but say, “People are looking like trash,” with a [sniper rifle] in your hands.

  I want to reassure those who don’t know how to handle a firearm nor the way to use it.

  Just like how it’s written, it’s a [gun(rifle)] made for the sake of ‘sniping’.

  If you take [sniping] from the dictionary, it’ll be expressed as “targeting and shooting from a long distance.”

  If it’s about a gun made to fire randomly while [charging] in, then it’ll be expressed as an [assault gun(rifle)].

  As such, no matter how you think about it, it’s a gun made to target and shoot from a long distance.

  That’s right, it’s a gun so you can unilaterally shoot those small fries you see below you——

  Come on! Since you’ve already finished confirming that, slowly lower your body and prepare the rifle!

  Now! Let’s try to lightly shoot away, like, about twenty or thirty of those heads reflected in the scope!

  If you do that, then, certainly soon, the thunderous applause will reach you!!

  ——Saying things like [Bite the dust and drop dead!] or [Read the mood, you beginner(Noob)!], and a lot of the likes……

  A surreal amount of widely varied, rage-filled verbal insults will reach you, that is.

  ——What happened? When you sniped with the sniper rifle, you got scolded——that was all.

  So, you don’t get it, do you? Are you thinking that it’s unreasonable?

  Coincidentally, a young boy, who was pure and innocent at the time, though of the exact same thing:

  [What the hell……] he returned while tapping dismayed on the keyboard.

  ——But, unfortunately, there was nothing unreasonable about this story.

  There was someone who opposed the [standard], and he was simply criticized like it was natural, that was all.

  ——In all games, there was an [established tactic].

  That was something existing above specifications and rules; it was the [best move] that was logically optimized.

  In games, it was the equivalence to an absolute and inviolable common knowledge(manner)——and besides.

  ——What would happen if you openly oppose it and thoughtlessly challenge it? The answer was…… this.

  The young boy who had once received the abusive language——who was now a young man.

  Today, once again, while running around inside the game, holding a rifle…… he thought.

  Indeed. Certainly, confining yourself and waiting while only sniping is an effective tactic.

  But, if everyone thinks that, confine themselves and keep to sniping——the game won’t be established.

  Just like how passing the ball endlessly to allies in soccer isn’t a violation of the rules.

  Just like how moving a piece randomly and endlessly in chess isn’t a violation of the rules.

  But, since it’s a player versus player battle, you’ll be frowned upon if they do that——such an implicit understanding exists.

  ——If everyone wants to gain something(have fun), they’ll refrain from doing it as much as they can…… Such [common sense] exists.

  If one openly opposes it, it’s only natural for them to get hit, so it’ll also be natural if they get insulted, right——!?

  Courtesy, etiquette, those are important for a person. Shooting a dead body? That’s no good, absolutely.

  …… Or something like that. It’s a “do it that way” or “be like this.”

  It was something that would make sense if you were raised decently——that kind of [common sense(sophism)].

  But, for the young man who grew up useless, he was a textbook example of(hikikomori) a no good(NEET) human(gamer) that will make one feel ashamed of him no matter where one takes him to.

  ——Then, why is it that sniper rifles are implemented?

  Sticking his tongue out mockingly, he once again, grabbed the sniper rifle and scattered claymores and sentry guns.

  Smiling amid the defamation, he ran around vigorously and, after changing positions, he resumed his confining.

  I don’t want to know about the intermediate players those [common sense(brats)] are, thinking a game won’t be established with something of this level.

  ——In the first place, that [standard] was.

  It was a move that the weak had knitted to win against the strong——it’s a [strategy] and——!

  ——Then, the expert player(strong)’s knife, who followed him after breaking through the traps the young man had laid down and even evaded his sniping……

  …………Eh~ what was it? Right, then! That [common sense] is!

  Until the very end, it’s just something that’s destined to be broken!

  Just like this——gazing at the opponent who took one kill from him, the young man laughed with blank eyes.

  [Not half bad, huh, damn you’re so cool], he sent out such a message.

  ■　■　■　■　■

  ——In all games, there was an [established tactic].

  That was something existing above specification and rules; it was the [best move] that was logically optimized.

  In a world where everything was decided by games, it’s the equivalence to an absolute and inviolable common knowledge(theory)——and besides.

  ——What will happen if you openly oppose it and thoughtlessly challenge it? The answer was…… this.

  Over sixty years ago——on the frontier of a hill, which would eventually be called the [Eastern Union].

  A small, golden fox girl looked up to the sky with limp eyes and thought.

  In the sky painted with shades of night——at its end, something reflected as if trying to interrupt the red moon’s writing.

  It was giant chess piece that could be seen from anywhere on the planet, extending as if to pierce the sky, while dropping its form to the earth.

  Over six thousand years ago, the god on its summit was said to have listed the [Ten Oaths] ——exalted and said.

  ——That the world has changed.

  But, the girl, with her clouded golden eyes, thought.

  ——You big liar.

  The Great War had met its end, the wars disappeared, and rights were guaranteed.

  There was no need to suffer and fear violence anymore.

  ——It was a lie.

  It was a lie, everything, all of it was a big lie——!

  If wars disappeared, then why are we(the Werebeasts) are continuing this civil war(game)!?

  If rights were guaranteed, then why are we are(I am) having everything being stolen from us!?

  If the need to fear violence and suffering disappeared, then——why——

  ——Why am I bearing wounds, fearing violence, and suffering in pain?

  Tears fell from the girl clad in bloodstained, tattered clothes, as if she begged for an answer.

  The shape of the tail and the ears, the presence or absence of angles, the color of the fur: their differences formed the herds, who then mocked each other.

  If another race was to exploit the Werebeasts, then the other part of the race would say “Serves you right” and be pleased by it.

  Holding onto such [common sense(theories)],
the Werebeasts continued the [Civil War(game)] for over six thousand years.

  ——This is wrong. Let’s stop this cat fight between fellow Werebeasts and help each other out.

  But, if the young——and therefore, wise girl, were to disagree with the common knowledge(theory) using such sensibilities.

  “Weaklings(A piece) shouldn’t run their mouths off.”——She would be crushed with measly malice, just like that.

  And above the nameless hill, the collapsed girl while covered in blood, with her right to die or kill stolen from her.

  She glared at the giant chess piece with her faint consciousness——she finally understood.

  ——The [Ten Oaths] says, don’t steal without permission, don’t violate, don’t kill.

  But, that wasn’t something to protect the weak, much less something that allowed weakness.

  Deceive, measure, threaten——no matter what methods you have to use——

  After making them consent, beat, steal, violate and kill——That was what it was all about.

  You live if you are strong, you die if you are weak.

  If you win, you get everything, if you lose, you lose everything.

  Being correct or not didn’t matter, the loser wasn’t allowed even the right to complain.

  If you don’t like it, then, become the strong(player), not the weakling(piece), they say.

  If you conspire unscrupulously with everything you have, you will be able to do whatever you want with the rights of others——become the Sole Representative(Ruler).

  ——Yes, what the [Ten Oaths(Rules)] the one called the Sole God had listed on the continent, was that.

  With your hand, instead of taking someone else’s hands——it’s better to punch them.

  With your power, instead of becoming a shield for the weak——it’s better to dominate them.

  I see, the [standard(theory)]——If you’re seeking your own interest(the optimal), then it’s better to rule over others as much as you can.

  By bringing up such a rule, that’s so lacking in communication——did the world change?

  Nothing had changed…… What happened was simply that the procedure required to kill and steal merely increased by one.

  The girl finally understood that despair(reality), but——she laughed.

  ——That [standard] was a move that the weak had knitted to win against the strong——it’s a [strategy].

  And, those things are, until the very end——nothing but things destined to be broken!

  Even the inevitable thing called [common sense(theory)] isn’t an exception, she thought while holding back the nausea caused by that unscrupulous thing.

  Then, the girl said while silencing her body which screamed in pain——that [common sense(theory)].

  ————I’ll definitely break it, and stood up.

  I’ll overturn this vicious common sense——I’ll definitely knit the [standard breaker].

  That [standard breaker], too, will be something destined to be broken——but, that’s fine.

  No matter how many times, no matter how many infinite times I have to do it, somewhere at the end of that broken [standard], which would continue getting broken.

  ——It should exist.

  With your hand, instead of punching someone——it’ll be better to take their hands, such a [standard].

  With your power, instead of dominating the weak——it’ll be better to become their shield, such a [standard].

  It doesn’t matter what they are, they aren’t a mere weakling(piece) that exists just to be dominated by someone.

  It will be better for everyone if they are their own Sole Representatives(Players), such a [standard].

  I’ll probably find it——No, I’ll definitely find it——

  ——And so, on that day, at that moment.

  Looking down on the [standard]——Glaring at the one who enacted and forced upon her that inevitability, the girl made her decision.

  If openly opposing it and, in turn, being defeated is the [standard], then let’s cunningly oppose it.

  Let’s deceive, measure, and threaten even more insidiously, even more despicably, thoroughly unscrupulously, and without end!

  ——No matter what methods I have to use; I’ll definitely manage to do it.

  Something even the One Sole God who arrogantly exaggerated he had changed the world, couldn’t do.

  We’ll definitely, by ourselves, and with these hands——change the world.

  Yes——an extraordinary dream which only a preposterous child is allowed to see held in her chest.

  Once in the past, above the nameless hill, below the nameless shrine, the nameless golden fox girl thought.

  Just like the one at the top of that piece wishes, I’ll use everything that is allowed by the rules.

  Laughing at that, she made a move that would overturn every [common sense] ——In other words.

  ————She executed an unprecedented and unrivaled [Great Cheat].

  Then, a [storm] was born——one overturning and eradicated the approximately 6,200-year-old Civil War.

  Anger and hatred, ill feelings and ties, the unquestionable and irrefutable storm gathered and stole everything, then left.

  The storm even stole the room for conflict rooted in the ones who never got tired of stealing from others before leaving——In its place.

  ——A single [country] was born.

  A country embodying one end of that dream——of the absurd ideal that the girl once had in the past.

  The name, in a mere half a century reached and became known through many of the big countries of the world, was——the Eastern Union.

  ……The young golden fox was no longer there.

  She became known as [Miko], an existence that was feared by all Werebeasts.

  And so, the [Cheat] she had devised since her younger days was, right now——

  “Well, now~ then, how about we start this game already, o bothersome god?”

  Once where nameless golden fox had collapsed, on the nameless hill, at the nameless shrine.

  Now, Eastern Union, in the capital, Kannagari——on the land called [the Temple of the Priestess(Miyashiro)].

  Before the eyes of everyone gathered at that place.

  The [cheat] called god——swirled its pure and enormous “power” …………

  ■　■　■　■　■

  [Your words(nonsense), certainly I have heard them. As such, you may prove yourselves——but]

  ——That which moved Miko’s lips and spun words out wasn’t Miko said so.

  That overcame the temple, no the capital, Kannagari——even the ocean.

  Let alone the Eastern Union, it seemed to engulf even Elkia, this storm of power’s source.

  It was the cheat that Miko harbored within her in her younger days——[Quintessence].

  The one who held that will(power) spoke through Miko’s body, which now became a puppet.

  [I cannot understand the folly wishes of wanting to rush to your deaths, mortals who await an unavoidable death.]

  Miko, who was harboring the Old Deus, looked at the ones who stood lined up in her hazy consciousness.

  Rushing to death——she looked at the ones who challenged a [god] speaking like so to a match(game)——the seven faces.

  “Roll call! First, Sora, 18 years old, virgin! Let’s coolly answer that I’m hastening my life!”

  The young black-haired Imanity(man)——Sora yelled while distorting one end of his mouth and seemed aloof.

  He kept laughing at the swirling divine pressure, while holding up his hand as if the wind was only annoying.

  “I can play with an Old Deus(god), you know? If I were to let this chance go, I’d definitely fail as a gamer.”

  “……Second, Shiro, 11 years old…… Next, we don’t have…… too much time…… to keep waiting……”

  His little sister, Shiro——perhaps she gave up as her long, white hair was left disheveled whil
e she continued with her eyes half closed.

  “Eh, eeeeeeh!? T-Third, Stephanie Dola don’t want to die I decisively refuse it so——”

  “Fourth, Sora-sama and Shiro-sama’s unworthy slave, Jibril. More importantly, I was about to let a [Heavenly Strike(tear)] fall for being ignored as the only one who’s not a [mortal]——I order you to correct yourself❤”

  The precious source of common sense——the Imanity girl, Steph, was screaming in grief with teary eyes.

  The Flügel girl, Jibril, interrupted with a dangerous smile and was giving orders to a god.

  “Fifth~ Plum, also renowned as part of air, will act accordingly by reading the mood and going with the flow……”

  The one who raised her own name to follow was a Dhampir girl——correction, a boy called Plum.

  On the face showed signs of a beautiful girl suffering from misfortune, a dry smile of resignation can be seen as he answered. And——

  “……? S-Sixth, desu? Izuna——heeeh”

  The Werebeast girl, Izuna Hatsuse, trying to follow the flow, continued while feeling puzzled——

  She knelt down together with Ino Hatsuse, the elder Werebeast man who had pressed down on her head.

  “Please be at ease, Miko-sama.”

  He lowered his head and said so but, it wasn’t directed at the Old Deus, it was towards the sealed Miko.

  “They’re a bunch hardly worthy of trust——but, that’s exactly why, please leave it to us.”

  “Ah, we will d-definitely beat up——win against that arrogant god, desu.”

  While Izuna tried to imitate her grandfather’s gestures to smooth things over, her fighting spirit still leaked out as she spoke.

  ——Those were the seven people.

  Each of them seemed to be unrelated to their sense of tension and lacked any element of reliability.

  Each one carried a huge baggage on their backs; their age, race, and even gender were all unrelated.

  They were a lovely bunch of fools who came out to do something as reckless as challenging a “god”.