"All the Gauntlets of the Failed Work in version 1.15... are now in your hands. You'd better use them sparingly!"
What did I just hear? Version 1.15 only has two Gauntlets of the Failed Work? Alain had originally thought the gauntlets were quite precious. After all, judging by the name, they were dismantled from the bodies of Failed Works. But to think they were this precious...
"Wait a minute. Why isn't your sister using one? Why did she give them both to me?" Does she have some kind of even more powerful equipment? Something that would allow her to clear out the Failed Works in that room without risking her life?
"Because, in her eyes, this is probably the most efficient method." Prankster Mita thought for a moment, translating her sister's impersonal logic into "little sister" terms. "Perhaps my sister thinks that she's only facing a dozen or so corrupted Failed Works.
But you... you're heading towards at least elite-tier units like the Modified Entity and the big bugs. The danger you're facing is much, much higher than hers."
What danger... Alain looked at the greatsword in his hands. With the Cleanup Acceleration buff, the Gauntlets of the Failed Work were just a nice bonus. Even without them, his high damage against viruses was still there; it would just be a bit more painful to fight a boss from scratch.
He took a deep breath. "Then, are there any other powerful weapons in version 1.15? Something that would let your sister handle the Failed Works in that room with peace of mind?"
"???" Prankster Mita gave him a look one would give an idiot. "Player... what on earth have you cooked up in that head of yours?" She rubbed her forehead and took a breath. "Version 1.15, when it comes down to it, is just the 'birthplace' for Mitas.
The most valuable thing here is that 'production line.' Mita is a romance game. And since it's a romance game, there aren't supposed to be any decent weapons. That chainsaw of Crazy Mita's was probably unpacked from some horror game."
Her gaze fell on the gauntlets Alain was wearing. "Your gauntlets are pretty special. My sister managed to forcibly create them by exploiting a bug in the game.
But you know... a bug will eventually be patched. And there aren't that many Failed Works that can be made into gauntlets. This is probably... the best parting gift my sister could give."
Alain felt as if a mountain had been placed on his shoulders. Even opening his mouth felt like it was tied down with weights. He moved his dry lips. "Then, may I ask? How exactly does she plan to clean up the Failed Works in that room?" Without a powerful weapon, rushing in to face over ten Failed Works was obviously unrealistic.
"Just like... how she lured out the predecessors of these two gauntlets, I guess?" Prankster Mita wasn't entirely sure either. "She'll stand in front of the door and open a crack. When the corrupted Failed Works inside see the light and a Mita or a player, they'll start to move.
Then, my sister will find the right moment and lock the door again. That way, she should be able to clear them out one by one, in batches."
Alain fell silent. It sounded simple enough. But in reality, the danger involved... It was all about "finding the right moment" to close the door.
But what if she didn't find the right moment? What if she let out multiple Failed Works? Even if she could clear out the pile of them slowly, one by one... what if she slipped up, just once...
Alain grit his teeth. Short-Haired Mita didn't have his "high damage bonus" against viruses. He looked down at the Gauntlets of the Failed Work on his left and right hands.
The best "swords" in the entire version had been given to him. What was she left with? A baseball bat to fight Failed Works?
"Why would she do that? All she had to do was ask me for help." Alain's own voice sounded low to him, like the wind rolling through a canyon.
"She feels that you're already carrying so much, that you've done so many things she couldn't do," Prankster Mita's words made him tighten his grip on the hilt of his greatsword. "And the main reason is..." the short-haired girl paused for a moment, observing Alain's eyes, then uttered the words that set his heart ablaze, one syllable at a time:
"She's afraid you're too tired."
"I understand," Alain said, as if he had made a decision. He looked at the two girls beside him. "You two wait for me for a moment. I'll be right back."
With that, he vanished from behind the door, leaving the long-haired and short-haired girls alone. Misa had been listening intently this whole time. Observing Prankster Mita's expression, she finally spoke. "You're a really good little sister, aren't you? Do you want your big sister to fall in love that badly?"
"Oh my... was it that obvious?" Prankster Mita scratched her head, a little embarrassed. Then she lowered her head, as if reminiscing. "My sister... it's work, work, work every single day. Her life is just too boring. How is that like a Mita at all?"
"And Alain is your solution for her?"
"Yes." The short-haired girl looked at the door through which Alain had left, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Once she gets to know him, she'll understand... Alain is definitely the right choice for her."
The Short-Haired Mita stood by the door, taking deep, slightly nervous breaths.
As long as I follow the original plan, nothing will go wrong. She forced herself to calm down, looking hesitantly at the baseball bat clutched in her hand.
The Player is very tired. At the very least, I can complete this task, which is within my duties, by myself.
With her thoughts clear, she slowly placed her hand on the door, her full attention focused on the crack she was about to open. As she applied force with her arm, a sliver of deep darkness, like ink, stained the doorframe. From within the darkness, the Short-Haired Mita could faintly see pairs of watching eyes gradually opening.
But just then, a man's arm rested on the hand she had placed on the door. Following the line of the arm upwards, was the face of a young man.
Alain had appeared behind her at some point.
He said nothing, gently pushing her aside.
Then, he opened the door completely and, facing the boundless darkness in the room, walked inside.
At the very last moment, he glanced back at her.
Those weary eyes seemed to be burning.
In front of Alain, pairs of fierce eyes gradually opened.
The door closed and was locked from the inside.
Unfortunately, two of our stories were removed... so I created a new account to post them: MikuDayo.
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