Chapter 79: New Features and the Start of the Simulation!
Take a deep breath.
Let the blood flow slow down.
Let the brain cool.
Haruka's breathing eventually steadied as he asked in a low voice, "What exactly do you mean by 'target-locking restrictions partially lifted'?"
[Individuals other than premium simulation targets can now be simulated. However, these will still consume a simulation charge and will not provide rewards. The timeframe of the simulation is limited and should be viewed as a short-term prediction of a major future event.]
'A prophecy?'
Haruka felt like this feature was a bit of a dud.
The simulation frequency had already dropped to once every three days, making his charges scarce as it was. Why would he waste them on someone else? Especially since these "side characters" didn't provide any rewards or count as legitimate targets.
After seeing this feature, Haruka essentially relegated it to the "cold storage" in his mind. Unless it didn't consume a charge, he didn't see much use for it.
Sure, he could use it to observe the futures of important people and see where the world was headed. Or, on a smaller scale, he could predict the stock market. But it cost a charge, the duration was short, and it only provided "major" future glimpses—the cost-performance ratio was abysmal.
"What about that last one? The Special Scenario Simulation?"
This was the question Haruka cared about most.
Why? Because it felt familiar.
He still remembered how the Simulator had scammed him by promising "richer rewards" for the Real Simulation, and look how that turned out.
Heh.
This "Special Scenario" sounded like it was actually something significant. He just hoped this one was the real deal and not another bait-and-switch.
[This is an 'Easter egg' style simulation. It draws from low-probability futures or past life experiences of a target to generate a scenario.]
[The rewards are extremely substantial and unique.]
[Note: These simulations are special. The ending will be presented to the Master and the simulation target through their subconscious as a dream, causing no other lasting effects.]
[Activating a Special Scenario requires the use of a Crystal of Dreams. This will not consume the crystal itself; it remains permanent.]
[Note: Each Crystal of Dreams can only be used on one specific person. It cannot be used on multiple targets.]
'An Easter egg?'
'A dream?'
'Requires the Crystal?'
Haruka fell into contemplation. This was a lot of information to process.
"What do you mean by 'low-probability' and 'past experiences'?"
[Using Shoko Nishimiya as an example: a low-probability future could be one where she is a healthy person, a future where her entire family has perished leaving her as the sole survivor, a future where her personality has drastically changed, or a future where the world itself has changed and everyone is deaf. These are all possibilities, but compared to her original fate, the probability tends toward zero.]
"Just say parallel worlds. It's shorter."
'It really does sound like an Easter egg feature. But what's the use of that? I'm not using this thing for fun,' Haruka thought.
Still, he had a nagging feeling the Simulator wouldn't have developed this without some deeper purpose. He just couldn't figure out what it was yet.
"Are there really no side effects?"
[None.]
"Does this scenario simulation use a charge?"
[Yes. It requires one simulation charge plus the Crystal of Dreams.]
"So, for every target, I only get one shot at a Special Scenario?"
[Yes.]
"..."
Haruka asked many questions, and the Simulator provided just as many answers. It felt like an eternity had passed.
But in this strange, ethereal space, Haruka couldn't perceive the passage of time at all.
"Last question. That Talent system—how are the odds for White, Blue, Purple, and Gold calculated? And can I have more than one talent?"
This was a vital question.
The power of Talents had already been proven during the last Perfect Simulation. The gap between having a talent and not having one was massive, and the difference between a good talent and a bad one was likely even wider.
Naturally, he had to be clear on the mechanics.
[It is a matter of fate.]
[Aside from a few rare special items, the probability and the number of talents cannot be influenced.]
"Rare special items?"
[There is a chance for them to appear in both Special Scenarios and Normal Simulations.]
With his questions answered, Haruka had a basic but deep understanding of the new update.
However, the more he understood, the more uncomfortable he felt. It was starting to feel exactly like a video game.
According to the Simulator, it was simply catering to his thought process to make the interface easier to use.
"Whatever. It's fine. What else can I do? No point in borrowing trouble," Haruka muttered.
But his eyes flickered. Clearly, his words didn't match his heart.
As someone who had already formed a strong sense of self, he wasn't about to just hand his destiny over to something else without a fight. Even if there was only a slim chance, he would try to seize control.
"Alright, Simulator. Show me the current available targets."
[Available Targets: Hitori Gotoh, Sora Kasugano, Yukino Yukinoshita.]
Sure enough, Shoko Nishimiya had been removed.
This meant that once a Perfect Simulation was achieved, that person could no longer be simulated.
Furthermore, the addition of Yukino Yukinoshita and Hitori Gotoh gave him a lot more room to maneuver.
Haruka's gaze drifted between the three names—well, realistically, two.
Hitori Gotoh. Bocchi. Extreme social anxiety. Guitar Hero. She had her little secrets, and she was a total pushover. If you said one word to her, she'd probably fold. She craved attention, wanted to be popular, and had already joined the Service Club's Alliance of Outcasts. Their relationship was decent. Simulating her shouldn't be too hard... right?
Yukino Yukinoshita. The "Ice Queen." A naive idealist and a brilliant genius. President of the Service Club. Daughter of a prominent political family in Chiba. She was sharp-tongued and cold, but kind at heart. Terrible at expressing her feelings and had no friends. Basically a high-IQ, low-EQ teenager going through an awkward phase. Their relationship was average. Simulating her would likely be... difficult. Very difficult.
So.
Who to choose?
Following the logic of "easy mode first," Haruka decided to go with Bocchi.
No matter how you looked at it, dealing with Hitori Gotoh had to be infinitely easier than dealing with a prickly person like Yukino Yukinoshita.
What?
Sora?
The easiest choice?
Yeah, sure, it might look like that on paper.
But sorry—in Haruka's mind, that option didn't even exist!
'Hitori Gotoh it is.'
Haruka made his decision.
The next second, he snapped back to reality.
His eyes flew open.
His vision was filled with his own perfectly ordinary bedroom.
Looking at the glowing text on the floating interface, Haruka's eyes shone with resolve.
Let the new simulation begin.
[Love Simulator]
[Target: Hitori Gotoh]
[Confirm Hitori Gotoh as the target?]
"Yes."
[Confirmation complete. Begin simulation?]
"Yes."
...
[Simulation Start]
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A/n: Hello, guys! I've just published a brand new multiverse and villain themed fanfic. I'm confident it is going to be a very interesting and entertaining read for you all.
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