Today's schale duty at Schale came from Millennium's Engineering Department.
It was scheduled, but the actual turnout was a little more than I expected.
"Sensei, are you hurt?"
Ever since I started wearing the neck brace, it seemed every student greeted me with that line.
"Just a minor injury, almost healed. Also, why are all of you here," I asked, "I thought today's duty was only Hibiki?"
Three of the people from Engineering I had interacted with showed up. Besides the originally scheduled Nekozuka Hibiki, even head Shiraishi Utaha and member Toyomi Kotori had come along.
Utaha greeted me politely. "Sensei, hello. The Engineering Department didn't have any urgent tasks today, and I happened to have time to finish the final part of a key task, so I decided to come by."
Then Kotori, bubbling with enthusiasm, chimed in. "Good morning, Sensei! After the completion is fully finished, you might have questions about the newly added features. I thought someone familiar should explain them to you, so I came without asking!"
From Kotori's exuberant smile, for some reason a bad feeling rose in my chest.
Finally, Hibiki, looking a little embarrassed, poked her finger and mumbled, "Sorry, Sensei… they said they wanted to surprise you, so I didn't tell you beforehand…"
However, after greeting me, Utaha pulled Kotori off to do the construction work together, leaving Hibiki alone in the office, which felt more or less like the original plan.
"So Sensei, what exactly does Schale duty involve? This is my first time here. I read the instructions, but I'm still not sure what to do."
"Don't worry, Hibiki, today's work is super simple."
I guided the girl with dog ears and a tail, her hair curling as if permed, faint smoky eye makeup, wearing fishnet stockings and a punk-ish outfit yet moving and speaking with a stolid demeanor, to sit at the desk. I pointed to the monitor.
"Hibiki, do you see this icon on the desktop?"
"Yes."
"Your job today is to play this game and give your evaluation."
Hibiki looked puzzled. "Ah… a game? Myth·Legend·Chronicle? I think I heard of it somewhere… is that all?"
Clearly, Hibiki did not have much memory of the game's infamous reputation.
"That's right. Good luck."
I patted her exposed shoulder and offered sincere encouragement, then helpfully supplied the notes I had made after yesterday's pitfalls.
For the record, I did not intend to get Hibiki arrested.
Out of a serious, meticulous attitude toward the commission, wanting to fulfill the client's needs from multiple angles and produce the most comprehensive report possible, I had no choice but to have Hibiki, who was on Schale duty, assist. It was absolutely not meant to be a deliberate attempt to get her in trouble.
Also, I thought it would be unfair for me to be the only one punished. As a member of Schale, if Sensei gets into trouble, students share in that fate.
Hibiki opened the game with somewhat clumsy movements and immediately failed at the initial choice, looking at me silently with a questioning gaze as if asking whether I was serious.
I smiled benevolently in satisfaction, patted her shoulder again, returned to my station, picked up the keyboard and mouse, and resumed the torture.
Half an hour later.
I stared at the "GAME OVER" text on the screen, hands under my nose, lost in thought.
I was sure it wasn't my fault.
After sending the encountered problem to Momoi, she quickly provided an explanation. From that, it was clear she had actually put effort into making the game and knew every detail inside out.
Momoi: Ah!
Momoi: As expected of Sensei, you triggered a hidden route!
Momoi: If you reach this point within the thirty-minute limit…
Momoi: Because the sword in the chest has not yet been stolen by the thief…
Momoi: The enemy's stats… will be greatly strengthened!
Momoi: And if you manage to win, you'll get a super-powerful hidden weapon too!
Me: …Momoi, I have a small question for you.
Momoi: Eh? What is it?
Me: If a player can reach this point in the story within that time limit, that basically means they didn't grind levels properly or gather enough supplies beforehand, right?
Momoi: Hmm… I guess that's true?
Me: And once you enter the boss room, aside from loading a previous save, there's no way to leave freely, correct?
Momoi: Of course! I even added a warning message before entering the boss room!
Me: …Then, Momoi. Let's say I went in under-leveled, with no items, and only after entering the boss room did I realize I couldn't beat your overpowered boss. What happens then?
Momoi: …Eh?
Momoi: Uh… you should have a save file before the boss, right?
I took a deep breath.
Saiba Momoi, what kind of game did you even make?! Did you ever actually test it from the perspective of a normal player who doesn't know all your hidden mechanics before release?!
And once again, I fell into the depths of despair.
Beside me, Hibiki was still fumbling through her playthrough, occasionally failing due to missteps, but overall progressing decently. Seeing me slumped in my chair, lifeless and hollow-eyed, actually seemed to soothe her irritation somewhat.
Just then, Utaha and Kotori came into the office. Both of them were covered in dust, but their expressions were relaxed.
I snapped out of it and asked in surprise, "You're done already?"
Utaha nodded. "Yep! The bombs and sensors were mostly installed beforehand. We just came today to load the main control program custom-made by the Veritas club and officially activate the self-destruct system."
"Oh… Wait, what?! Bombs?! Self-destruct?!"
I slammed my hands on the desk, shouting in disbelief. "What the hell?!"
Utaha flinched at my outburst. "E-Eh? W-What's wrong? Don't worry, it's only a defense measure! It'll automatically detonate if intruders attack, and only once it confirms you're safely out of range…"
"Why didn't anyone tell me this first?"
Utaha tilted her head. "Huh? When you asked the Gehenna students to borrow Potato Mine Seeder Mk.II from us, one of them said you'd already approved our plan…"
"…What did that student look like?"
"Hmm… short, with a side ponytail, wearing a gothic-style dress."
Ah. I know who that was.
The image of little devil Mutsuki's mischievous grin immediately flashed through my mind.
To be fair, with a safety-detection program that checks whether I'm in range before activating, this was technically just a harmless prank.
At worst, it'd just make a loud boom that scares me, or maybe waste a bit of Schale's energy supply.
Still... who wants to live in a building full of explosives?! Terrifying! I absolutely could not accept this.
Taking a deep breath, I said, "Sorry, but could you please remove the bombs?"
Utaha nodded. "Understood. Since this is the sponsor's request, of course. Let's go, Kotori."
"Wait. Hibiki, could you go along and help them?" I stopped Utaha and Kotori before they left, then turned to Hibiki. "I just happen to have an external task to take care of."
Hibiki, realizing she didn't have to keep playing that torturous game, immediately relaxed and nodded quickly, as if afraid I'd change my mind.
"And then…"
I smiled kindly. "Do you all happen to know where the Game Development Department is located?"
Momoi, it's time for me to pay you a personal visit.
After confirming the exact location, I left Schale, whose walls may or may not still be wired with explosives, as fast as I could, heading straight for Millennium's Game Development Department. I arrived and knocked on the door.
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OST: [Theme 64 | Pixel Time] Blue Archive
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"Who's there?"
A girl's voice came from inside the room.
Through the door, I said, "Hello, is Saiba Momoi here?"
"Ah, one moment please."
I stepped back, and a few seconds later, the door opened. A petite blonde girl stood there, wearing oversized headphones shaped like cat ears and a jacket far too big for her frame. Her curious green eyes studied me.
"Um, who are you? What do you need from me or are you…?"
"So you're Momoi, huh? Prepare to die!"
In a flash, my hand shot out, mercilessly grabbing and squishing the cute blonde girl's soft cheeks.
The girl froze, eyes wide in shock, letting out muffled, panicked noises, as if trying to say something.
Calling for help, maybe? Too bad! For I wouldn't stop until my wrath was satisfied!
Then, from behind the struggling girl, another identical head popped out, same face except for the eye color. "Midori? Who is it... Eh?!
W-Who are you?! What are you doing to my sister?!"
My hands froze mid-motion.
I hesitantly let go. The girl called Midori had tears in her eyes, rubbing her red cheeks, glaring at me in outrage while I stood there speechless.
Midori ran back to her sister's side, grumbling, "Geez! Why don't you listen to me! I'm not Onee-chan!"
"I… I'm so sorry…"
I hadn't realized Momoi Tsubaki had a twin sister.
After apologizing to Midori, I forced an awkward smile and waved at the wary, on-edge Momoi.
"Momoi, could you come here for a moment?"
"Who even are you?! You can't just show up and start doing weird stuff! I'll call security, you know?!"
"Momoi. You really don't recognize me?"
I narrowed my eyes at her. "I'm Schale's Sensei."
Momoi blinked. "…Eh?"
"Well then, can you come over here now?"
She stiffened, and let out a shriek. "Eh?! KYAAAHHH!!! KUSO YABAI!!!"