[In the Cosmic Century 2999, as the third millennium approaches, humanity, long accustomed to peace, is once again engulfed by the flames of calamity…]
I had only read the first sentence when I could not help speaking up. "Wait a second, this opening?"
Such a strong sense of deja vu, could it be…
"That's right! As expected of sensei! Our new game has already been decided to be Myth · Legend · Chronicle 2," Momoi said, scratching the back of her head, sounding both proud and embarrassed. "Paying homage to the previous work in various ways in a sequel is a very effective method to gather popularity in the industry."
Uh, uh, the popularity of Myth · Legend · Chronicle… is it really necessary to inherit that?
It felt like Momoi was not particularly motivated to protect the club.
I temporarily set aside my thoughts and continued reading patiently.
[The story begins in a poor yet harmonious small village, located within a nation famed across the continent for its strong academic atmosphere and powerful research capabilities.]
At a glance, I could tell it was modeled after Millennium and the Game Development Club, right?
I nodded inwardly. Although Momoi's original intention was probably to be lazy and convenient by using the environment she was most familiar with, this approach could indeed be called a clever move.
After all, they were participating in the Millennium Club Competition. This kind of setting should give players a strong sense of immersion.
[There are four initial protagonists. The Momoi clan, Midori clan, and Yuzu clan are childhood friends, while the remaining member is an adult S clan member who recently moved in and hides many mysteries. Despite the large age gap, due to compatible personalities and stepping forward to help when others were bullied, this person quickly became an indispensable member of the team, taking on a mentor like role.]
"Compatible personalities…" I smacked my lips and offered a suggestion. "Should we be more specific, like directly highlighting advantages such as being handsome and having a gentle personality?"
Momoi tilted her head and looked at me in confusion. "Is that how it should be?"
…What do I do, it feels like something bright and colorful is missing from Momoi's forehead.
[It was originally thought that such peaceful days would continue forever.]
[Until that day! One of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's Army, the cold and cruel demonic spellcaster, the drought bringing Demon Otter, abruptly descended upon this remote village!]
"Change the name and title. Do not indirectly name call the upper management of the Seminar."
"Oh."
Momoi took back the laptop, searched for keywords and replaced them all, then handed it back to me.
[Hayase Yuuka laughed wildly and slaughtered the entire village…]
"I did not tell you to directly replace it with the original model's real name!"
The corner of my eye twitched unconsciously. "And besides, your script is supposed to be light comedy oriented, right? Do you really want to use this kind of plot?"
Momoi thought for a moment. "That's true."
So the keyboard clacked rapidly, and the revisions were completed in no time.
[The blue haired twin tailed demon demanded that the poor village hand over sufficient tribute, otherwise they must offer up the most beautiful adult S clan member in the village for her enjoyment.]
Suddenly I realized that Momoi's understanding was actually quite fair and objective, she was not just writing nonsense after all.
[In order to protect the peace of the village, the protagonists became righteous thieves.]
"Righteous thieves?!"
"Right… sensei also thinks that choosing to become righteous thieves in this situation would feel very abrupt, right…"
"If you keep the stolen money for yourselves, that already does not count as 'righteous,' does it?"
Momoi frowned and corrected seriously. "Wrong! The core spirit of a righteous thief is robbing the rich to help the poor. Is not our club poor?"
So she was admitting it was based on personal experience. Then what event was this corresponding to? It would not be that incident where the Game Development Club privately set up a casino on campus, right?
"Change this entire section."
"OK."
[The protagonists decide to become mercenaries. This marks the start of the early beginner tutorial, prompting players to press buttons to equip weapons. However, if they follow the prompt, they will die on the spot.]
"I am begging you, please stop playing this trick again."
"Eh? What a pity… I thought this idea was pretty good, and it is also a recreation of a famous scene from the previous work…"
Recreating the previous work's catastrophic failure as well, huh?
[After the beginner tutorial, the blue haired twin tailed demon suddenly appears again and uses a special move called One Hundred Kilogram Impact, easily defeating everyone.]
"I am serious, Yuuka will definitely kill you. Stop starting death flags in places like this."
"Guh, w-we will not submit."
Midori, who had been quietly studying, said faintly, "Please do not include me and Yuzu."
Despite Momoi's great reluctance, for the sake of her own life, she still made a revision.
She changed the unit from kilograms to tons.
"If Yuuka still gets angry over this, it just proves she really weighs one hundred tons," Momoi declared confidently.
When it came to cutting off her own escape routes, Momoi was unexpectedly stubborn.
But… if one considered Yuuka's reputation at Millennium as the Seminar's accountant…
Why did it feel like smearing Yuuka this way might actually gain a large following at Millennium?
[It turns out that the blue haired twin tailed demon knocking S clan member to the ground was to force S clan member to return and serve as an advisor to the Demon King's Army… advisor in name, but in reality nothing more than a slave toyed with by the Demon King Army's upper echelons.]
Really? There is such a good thing?
I cleared my throat theatrically and said kindly, "Momoi, about the part where S clan member is toyed with as a slave, could you go into more detail?"
"Huh?" Momoi thought for a bit. "Probably doing the Demon King's laundry and cooking every day, taking care of the Demon King's daily life, carrying out the Demon King's orders, and not even having days off?"
"Oh."
I instantly lost interest.
[After Momoi clan member reasoned forcefully, the blue haired twin tailed demon, moved by this, decided to temporarily spare the protagonists. But at that very moment, the agent chosen by the flames of calamity, the Living Wastewater Demon King who lurked in the sewers, appeared!]
"…This line was taught to you by Himari, right?"
"Ah, Himari senpai did indeed provide some inspiration for my script creation."
There were far too many points to complain about in this section, whether it was Momoi's self beautification, the illogical development, or the prefixes slapped onto the Demon King.
I did not have the energy to nitpick them one by one, so I continued reading.
[Out of consideration for S clan member, even the cold blooded and merciless Wastewater Demon King did not preemptively eliminate the children of prophecy who might defeat him in the future. But as the price, the Wastewater Demon King demanded that the protagonists become his lackeys and destroy the kingdom they resided in within a limited time.]
Huh?
[The protagonists pretend to agree, but in truth only seek to buy enough time to search for the legendary Holy Sword capable of defeating the Demon King!]
Oh.
That was quite cliche.
[Under the guidance of an elderly and frail white haired Great Sage living in the snowy mountains, the protagonists began exploring ultra ancient ruins where the Holy Sword might exist.]
Ahahaha, elderly and frail, huh.
To offend the three people one absolutely must not offend at Millennium within such a short script outline, in a sense, Momoi was truly impressive.
[Within the ultra ancient ruins, aside from the possible existence of the Holy Sword, it also serves as a base for a fringe cult that worships an Absolute God. After defeating the fanatical believers, the Holy Sword is finally found. However, to draw the Holy Sword, one must find ancient bloodlines to break the seal.]
Clearly, this was adapted from our experience exploring the ruins near Millennium.
[Just as everyone else was at a loss, S clan member displayed miraculous precognitive abilities.]
[It turns out that S clan member is the chosen prophet destined to lead everyone to save the world, which is why the Demon King's Army wanted to turn him into a slave. S clan member led the protagonists to find a mysterious girl sealed within a cryogenic pod in the ruins, who was also a possessor of ancient bloodlines.]
[Due to disturbing the cult, the security forces within the ruins were greatly increased, leaving the protagonists no choice but to return from the ruins. Unexpectedly, after joining the Demon King's Army, there were still harsh assessments to face.]
Monthly exams, right?
[Because she covets S clan member's beauty, the blue haired twin tailed demon is willing to provide assistance and temporarily serve as the protagonists' instructor, helping them rapidly increase their combat strength.]
"Change the reason… if you write it like this, it will definitely get blasted…"
Although Yuuka really did seem to covet me a bit.
Momoi pondered thoughtfully. "That's true… after all, Yuuka might still join the team later on…"
[Finally, the fate deciding assessment is about to arrive.]
[To be continued.]
"What about the rest?" I asked in confusion.
"It's not written yet?" Momoi also asked in confusion.
Staring at each other, a faint killing intent rose in my heart. "You spent all this time and only wrote this much?"
"Heh heh, even sensei has things he does not understand," Momoi said smugly, pointing at her own head. "What's in the document is just a rough outline. The essence, the detailed parts, are all hidden in here."
"…Your hair?"
"It's my brain!"
If only that were the case.
I read through it again from start to finish. "In short, first remove the parts that allude to reality, whether for the protagonists or antagonists… Yuuka's can keep a little, but not too much. Just enough for players familiar with Millennium to smile knowingly after playing."
Momoi's eyes lit up. "I understand."
Sorry, Yuuka. For the survival of the Game Development Club, I believe you can accept being teased a little in a game.
"Then regarding the story itself, since there are still large blank areas, it is hard for me to evaluate it for now. Let's talk after you fix the logic, fill in the details, and complete the follow up."
I paused. "As it stands, it might have the potential to become a good work?"
"Is that so… just a good work…" Momoi closed her eyes and murmured. "As expected, it is still necessary."
"What?"
"Sensei, after we finish our exams tomorrow, do you have time?"
Momoi opened her determined eyes. "I want to go to the ruins again, together with Aris."
Aris paused her game, and Midori and Yuzu lifted their heads, all looking over in unison.