Episode 1 "Request from Kikuoka"

 Phantom Bullet

Episode 1 "Request from Kikuoka"

December 5, Somewhere in Ginza

After school... I was called by a certain person and came to a high-end coffee shop in Ginza .

　

“Hey Otoya-kun!”

“…………Haa”

　

Kikuoka-san's voice calling out to me caught my attention, and I apologized to those around me as I headed to my seat.

　

"Sorry, at the end of school."

"... it's okay. I didn't have anything special to do."

"Thank you. This is my treat, so please order whatever you like."

I want to say it once, Mr. Kikuoka, who says cool lines, handed me a menu.

……So, without hesitation, I decided to ask.

For the time being, I ordered the first and second most expensive cakes and lemon tea.

　

"So? Why bother to call me directly... what the hell happened?"

"...It's really helpful that you talk so quickly. What do you think about VR-related crimes, Otoya-kun?"

　

When asked about it, lemon tea arrived.

I continued to listen while adding sugar to it.

　

“Recently, the number of VR-related crimes is increasing.

In November alone, there were more than 100 cases of theft or damage to virtual assets, 12 cases of real injuries caused by troubles in VR games, and 1 case of fatal injury... This was also reported in the news.

“Ah, he was a heavy player who used drugs, wasn't he…if I remember correctly, two unrelated ordinary people died.”

　

Worried about my surroundings, I whispered.

The waiter brought the cake at that timing.

　

"In some games, penalty kicks are commonplace... but, Otoya-kun, I think that penalty kicks are just pointless. It's better to get along and have fun with everyone than to kill each other. Don't you think so? "

"... Hmm... I don't think that's possible."

　

Taking a bite of the cake, I denied Kikuoka-san's words.

　

"May I ask why?"

“In the first place, this is not limited to MMORPGs, but online games have a definite ending…there is no end. I think it will be superior or inferior to other players.”

"HM…………"

"Of course, I think there are players who want to collect or create things, but... in that sense, the number of rare items is limited. That's what creates a competitive spirit, and jealousy develops into such incidents... In a sense, there's not much difference in the reasons why incidents occur, whether it's in a game or in reality... That's my opinion."

"...I see"

　

I was tired from talking too much, so I finished my lemon tea. Then she called out to the clerk and asked for milk tea this time.

　

"Then, the main subject... including psychological things like that, but is it possible that some kind of physical influence will have on the physical body of the real player...?"

“…Do you mean that the effects of the game will be fed back to the body?”

"Oh yeah... what do you think?"

　

I thought a little about the content of the main subject...

　

“…In my personal opinion…I can't say for certain. In the first place, the brain itself is still an unknown territory. Like the power of fire, the brain's limiter can be removed and it can produce tremendous power. So. .. I wonder if it's possible to say that a full dive that uses the brain doesn't affect the body..."

"Is that so...then I want you to see this."

　

Saying that, what was displayed on the terminal was something about a fatal accident.

　

"Who is this person?"

　

Kikuoka operated the terminal and changed the screen.

It looks like a profile... His name is Tamotsu Momura, 26 years old, with long hair, silver-rimmed glasses, and a picture of a plump man.

　

“On November 14th, he was found dead five days after his death in an apartment in Nakano Ward…Amusphere on his head, huh?”

“Ah, the cause of death is acute heart failure… but the cause is completely unknown.

"What about the autopsy?"

"Because there is little criminality, it is judged to be a natural death and is not done."

　

I don't know what it is... In my world, I've heard about the lonely death of an old man on the news... but I can't necessarily say that it won't happen to young people, and I thought it was less likely to be an incident.

　

……It must be a story brought by this black-hearted civil servant.

　

"So? If it's just a natural death, Kikuoka-san won't go out of his way to tell me, right?"

"You really have a good guess... A certain game was installed in his Amusphere... The title is 'Gungale Online', commonly known as 'GGO'. Do you know?"

"... It's at the level of what I heard briefly."

　

I saw it when it was talked about on MMO Today.

If I remember correctly, it was a game set in a devastated world with guns...

　

"That's right... Actually, Mr. Shigemura won a GGO tournament held in October under the name of 'Zexceed'. It seems that he entered with a recreated avatar, but... it seems that a strange incident happened at that time ."

"... (Zuzu)"

　

I took my eyes off the tablet, drank the milk tea that had arrived before I knew it, and urged her to talk with my eyes.

　

“In GGO, the MMO stream at that time was being relayed at a bar in the town of 'SBC Glocken', the capital of the GGO world…. While yelling out a few words, he fired a shot.... After a dozen seconds, Mr. Shigemura's avatar disappeared."

"(...I see, so that's what you mean)... so?"

　

I let go of the cup and urged him to continue the story.

　

"... and yet another case... On November 28th, a 31-year-old man was found dead three days after his death in a room in an apartment in Omiya Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. a heart attack... He also An influential GGO player whose character name is Tarako Uushio."

"...is that so?"

　

At the end of the character name descent, my shoulders relaxed a little. What about that naming sense...?

Well, no... that's not the point.

　

"It seems that something similar happened here... This is a Squadron... it's a so-called guild...During the rally, the player in question shouted and shot, and right after that, Mr. Tarako Usushio.. .

“…So that's what Kikuoka-san wants to say, isn't it?”

　

After taking a sip of cold milk tea, I interrupted Mr. Kikuoka.

　

“Both Zexceed and Tarako Usushio had heart attacks when their avatars disappeared…and the cause was probably the bullet fired by that player, right?”

"…………That's how it is"

　

………… Before I knew it, I could no longer hear the sounds around me. I see... I'm definitely called.

　

"...I wonder, is it possible to stop a person's heart with Amusphere?"

"... I'm sorry, I don't know... If that's the case, I think you should ask Kazuto."

"...I see. I understand."

　

Excuse me... Please ask Kirito-san who specializes in that kind of thing!

It's been a little over two years since I came to this world...! I told Mr. Kikuoka, thinking that I couldn't say anything even if my mouth was torn.

　

"That's the real subject....Otoya-kun....No, Fon-kun. I want you to log in to GGO and contact that player."

“…There are conditions.”

"...What?"

"One thing... I'm sure there are professionals in GGO. Even if I just converted, it will take time to compete with the frontline players. A complete set of equipment... and game software... that's it. Can you arrange it for me?"

"... Okay, let's prepare that one. If the software is early, I'll deliver it tomorrow after school."

“Second…if you succeed, you will receive a reward.

"Of course... not as a part-time job, but as a job, regardless of success or failure, I will pay you."

"Lastly... we'll invite Kirito anyway, right?... A place where we can ensure our safety... can you prepare it for us?"

"...I understand. Even so, it was surprising...that you would accept this request so easily."

　

It seems that all my requests are fine. Mr. Kikuoka had a surprised expression at my prompt decision.

　

"Anyway, if I refused, you were going to tell Kirito... Kazuto about this, right? Two people are safer than one... and..."

　

I cut off my words there and drank the remaining milk tea.

　

"... I don't want my VRMMO... Full Dive technology to decline because of that."

"...Thank you...that's right, I forgot."

　

Saying that, Kikuoka started operating the terminal again.

　

"This is the audio data that was recorded when Mr. Zexceed was shot... The player name was also shouting at this time... If I remember correctly, that's right..."

　

"This is true power, strength! You fools! Engrave my name with fear! The names of me and this gun are "Death Gun" and "Death Gun"! 』

　

I was listening to the audio data sent by Mr. Kikuoka at home, and I recognized that voice.

I still remember it well.

　

Nightmare of SAO, Murder Guild "Luffin Coffin"

　

“Even so… a death gun huh?”

　

If... this incident is an extension of SAO,

I can't turn a blind eye to this matter...

But, from here on out, it's really an unknown world for me... I don't know how far I can go, but I have to stop this kind of nonsense.

　

I made up my mind.

　

I didn't realize it at the time...

To think that the fact that a foreign object called me was mixed in had a huge impact on this incident as well...

---

For the time being, the owner will act separately from Kirito.

Although I will join you soon (lol)