Fujimaru Ritsuka, but the main god space

Chapter 231 Rick: I don't trust anyone.

【plan】

In this world where even Sora could only get an [A] score for the first time, how should Ritsuka conquer it?
To be honest - if he started with no information at all, Ritsuka didn't think he could surpass Blank.

But now, Ritsuka is not fighting alone!

The blank information provided a lot of help and pointed out a path.

[During the game between me and Shiro, the first thing I noticed was——]

[This game cannot be conquered by sheer force]

[If you want to use pure brute force, you must at least be able to destroy a planet with a single attack, and destroy a continent with normal output - only such an existence can run rampant in this world - but the problem is that even with such strength, it may not be possible to "win" and get a higher score. ]

Even if he seizes the throne of the only god by brute force, he still needs to prove to the main god space that this world ruled by players is the "future" that surpasses the original world created by Riku.

[In the original script, 'Rick' would reach the ending of 'creating a new world' through unknown means. ]

New World Ending: The eternal war ends, the black ash covering the world is swept away, the world returns to its original appearance, the only God ascends the throne and establishes a new order for the world.

No one knows exactly how to do it.

Even if it is blank, there are only 'guesses' and 'conclusions', but the process is lost.

【Creating a perfect world at a low cost. 】

[It is precisely because this ending is so shocking that it is very difficult to surpass it. ]

It was just that the ending was similar to Rick's, but with more casualties along the way.

Rating: A
This is the evaluation that [Blank] received. In the first strategy, the two of them continued to explore the world without any information and lived very barely. If they were a little unlucky, they would even directly hit the death cg.

Without relying on Rick at all, he induced suspicion between the different races, which eventually led to their mutual destruction, and the fisherman benefited, reaching the "New World" ending, but it caused huge casualties, and the [final shot] also relied on the additional assist of Rick himself.

Blank guesses that in order to get an S-rank evaluation, he would need to achieve an ending that is 'almost the same' as Riku's, that is, to seize the throne of the only God and reach the New World without sacrificing almost any humanity, and even drastically reducing the death rate of other races.

To complete this evaluation, you need to play this world at least twice, or collect intelligence in advance.

Because this rating requires "being aware of the existence of a special person like Rick in the copy", and then either choosing to assist the other party or choosing to completely hide oneself, in this world where death can occur at any time, without inducing the slightest butterfly effect.

After all, although no one knows the specific process of Rick creating a new world, it is definitely a difficult road full of miracles. One wrong step or a little disturbance will lead to the failure of the plan.

Therefore, you cannot help too much - otherwise helping will become the cause of failure.

[Get strategies and information in advance]

[It doesn't affect Rick at all]

[Or, in the case of violating the above two points, he can reproduce the same miracle as Riku with his own strength.]

As difficult as ascending to heaven.

Rating S and above
Condition: [Unknown].

What Shiro hopes is for Ritsuka to take on the challenge.

Although it is a strange world with extremely high risks, the returns are either extremely low or extremely high.

But Kong Shao expected Ritsuka to give a special answer and gave a plan.

[First of all, Bai and I tend to "induce"]

[In this world, humans are not allowed to be exposed. This is a limited part, but it can also be turned into an advantage]

[Controlling the battlefield like a ghost, inducing different races to fight and become hostile through intelligence. 】

[With your ability, Ritsuka, it will be more successful than the original plan that Shiro and I had planned. ]

【And induction requires a result. 】

[It would be easy to just induce hostility between the races, but that would only result in the same "mutual destruction ending" as mine, so if it happened again, I would make two adjustments to the plan. ]

[1. While inducing, you must not let the forces disperse, but you must first create a 'common enemy' so that the forces are not only hostile to each other, but also united]

[2. Create strong binding conditions that prevent the coalition forces from betraying each other.]

【3. Under the premise of alliance, it is possible to attack the target who is regarded as a 'common enemy'. 】

In short, after Blank gave Ritsuka advice as a military advisor, the Master's on-the-spot judgment was -

Phase One: Using the ability of 'Jack the Ripper' to disguise himself as other species and replicate racial characteristics, he constantly provokes wars and collects intelligence on different races in the process.

The second stage: through the control ability of "Machima", every warrior who escaped was used as his own "chess piece" to be inserted into different races to achieve infiltration.

The third stage: Instead of changing their own species, they fix their racial identity and then induce all races to hate [a specific race].

Stage 4: Create a compulsory union mechanism that can bind all races and prevent them from betraying each other.

Phase 5: Unite all races to launch a war against [specific race].

Stage 6: Keep the war at a stalemate and win at the lowest cost

So far.

If Ritsuka were to do it on his own, the plan would end at the sixth stage.

The only 'enemy' that was framed by himself has been defeated, and the remaining races cannot attack each other because of the 'forced alliance', and the world is forced into a period of peace.

Obviously, this is not convincing enough.

Even if a 'forced alliance' is created through magic or some other means, as long as the throne of the [Sole God] has not been decided, someone will take advantage of the situation and create a war.

The plan is not complete enough.

But thanks to Blank's 'intelligence'.
Stage 7.

——Defeat the strongest and make the [Star Cup] appear.

"Star Cup, what is it?"

Inside the room, Ritsuka tells Riku all of his plans, even including some of the abilities he will need to use.

Ritsuka didn't feel the need to doubt the Imanity in front of him.

Because Rick is a certified savior of the world, and because he exudes a similar aura to Tony and Ritsuka, it is a familiar aura.
The taste of 'courage'.

Unfortunately, the Type-Moon world is an idealistic world, and Ritsuka is willing to act according to his own "intuition".

He has always adhered to the strategy of 'don't employ people if you doubt them, and don't doubt them'. It is precisely this seemingly naive behavior pattern that has attracted so many heroes to work for him.

This was the case even when he was the weak one, not to mention that at this moment he was the strong one and Rick was the 'weak' one.

The 'hero' of the original copy, Riku calmly accepted all of Ritsuka's statements, from 'I'm from another world' to 'I can disguise my appearance and control others', all the way to 'inducing an end to the war'.

Even the thought that 'my original self might be able to save the world' was heard.

Of course, during this process, he did not express even the slightest opinion, he just listened.

Then questions were raised.

[Star Cup, what is it? ]

It's a necessary question.

The truth that humans do not know can only be known by Blank who has played the dungeon once.

The Star Grail was the main reason why the Old Gods launched the war.

Essentially, it is another name for the Elven Corridor of all sentient life magic in this world called 'Disbod'.

The conditions for appearance are: the planet decides who can dominate the entire planet's Star Corridor.

And whoever holds the Star Cup will be granted supreme power.

The gods started killing in order to obtain the Supreme Being.

To put it bluntly, the so-called Star Grail is actually a higher-level version of the Holy Grail.

And the war on this planet is like a huge Holy Grail War.

And every time they kill, they are essentially screening and sorting, and what is finally born will be——

【UO (Ultimate One)】

Can be translated as 'extreme single species'.

——The strongest on a planet.

This is the essence of this planet.

【Just like that? 】

After learning the truth, Rick, who seemed expressionless, clenched his fists slightly.

[So many lives were killed just for this? ]

Rick's breathing was heavy for just a moment, and then the next second, it was back to normal.

A natural commander?
No, it should be a tough soul forged through countless trials and tribulations.

Rick twisted his fingers involuntarily and rubbed them against his thumb, the slightly warm temperature giving feedback to his brain.

"I think I understand."

“But there are a few problems.”

"First, even if we follow your plan, we cannot guarantee that the Star Grail will appear in the end. Without the Star Grail, we will not have absolute control over ending the war."

"Second, you need to find a common enemy in your battle - if I'm not mistaken, you chose the Flügel."

The Flügel, as mentioned before, are the vanguard of the [God of War Artosh].

As the most fanatical militants in this war, they accepted everyone.

Even if Ritsuka disguised himself as them to provoke a war, I guess these people wouldn't even think about "Huh? Someone is pretending to be us", but would just face the aggressive enemy with a smile and happy face and fight.

Plus, the God of War Artosh is indeed the 'strongest' on the planet right now.

The Flügel plus Artosh, if the Gods do not participate in the war, the combat power of this combination will be able to contend with all other forces.

It's perfect for them to be the villains.

but--

"The question is, how do you plan to defeat Artosh?"

"If the plan is just to 'unite all forces' and rely on 'suppression by numbers', wouldn't it be too reckless? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Rick frowned.

"No, I was just thinking. I thought you, Mr. Rick, would first ask me something like [Why should I believe you]?" Ritsuka said as a matter of course.

Naturally.

A person from another world who suddenly appeared.

The sudden truth of the world.

A plan suddenly appeared before me.

Faced with so much information overload, Rick did not collapse. Instead, he analyzed it calmly with his eyes that looked like those of a dead spirit.

If she didn't know that the world brought by the main god space is real, Ritsuka would even think that the man in front of her was an emotionless NPC in the game.

How many emotions has this man killed?

"trust?"

Rick raised his head, his empty eyes looking quietly at Ritsuka.

"I didn't trust you."

Said something surprising.

"I am very suspicious. Even now, I am still thinking about the possibility of your behavior, and even the possibility that I have entered the illusion of the vampire species. But I keep eliminating and eliminating. No matter how ridiculous the remaining answer is, I can only accept it."

In this barren world, Rick spoke a famous line from a certain detective on his own volition.

"I'm not trusting you. On the contrary, I'm provoked by you and have to listen to you. I'm - angry."

Yes.

It is impossible not to have anger.

When Rick heard about the so-called Star Cup, he was angry at first, then tried to analyze the possibilities objectively, and after getting a positive answer, he fell into anger again.

[For such a boring thing, I went to create killings]

[Destroy the world for such a boring desire]

For the weak, the willfulness of the strong makes him so angry that he wants to stab his fangs into the throats of those "gods" and tear their flesh and blood apart.

And——because I want [Humanity] to win this war.

Then, when I was so angry, I let myself hear such words.

It's simply a vicious conspiracy to play with Rick's psychology.

"Isn't this your purpose? Or did someone behind you teach you to talk to me like this?"

Rick looked at Ritsuka with empty eyes.

But vaguely, he seemed to be able to see a figure behind the boy.

The red-haired boy, a slender, thin boy, smiled arrogantly at himself.

Looking at each other from a distance, Rick did not accept the obvious provocation.

Player?
Once upon a time, Rick was able to 'see' the invisible player.

In that ancient past, he had had pure, simple, unadulterated memories.

【There is no game that cannot be won, hard work will be rewarded, and nothing is impossible. 】

Rick used to be just a boy with such thoughts.

but.
But, at some point, the player disappeared.

What is left is only the desperate reality.

The charred mother collapsed on top of him, limp and powerless.

The taste of blood in the mouth.

The nose smells the odor of burning human body.

The ears hear a silence as deep as the abyss.

The skin felt like it was burning.

Then what I saw was a devastated world.

There was no sign of life anywhere.

Looking around, the land within sight was filled with flying debris and dust. The boy looked up at the sky in the dust.

——The figure of 『Destruction』 danced back and forth.

They were gods who disdained humanity and fought endlessly only for their own reasons.

The world is broken, and Rick is killing himself.

He is already on the path of 'burning' and cannot turn back - a dead soul.

Even if it was an open conspiracy, Rick had to continue asking.

Humanity could not have been in a worse situation.

"Yes, that's the negotiation technique my companion taught me. Isn't it amazing?"

Facing Rick, Ritsuka did not lie, nor did he need to lie.

Even as the master, Ritsuka cannot figure out all of the other person's thoughts when thinking.

He can't manipulate people like Blank can.

But he also has things he can do.

That is--

Snapped.

"Wait for you!"

“But this is something I want to do myself.”

Under Rick's surprised gaze, Ritsuka reached out his hand.

Then, he grabbed Rick's wrist.

The powerful force makes Riku feel that he can't escape even if his arm is broken, but Riku feels more shocked and - "sad" than that.

So hot.

So hot.

so hard! !
Rick couldn't help but have some misleading feelings.

Ritsuka's hands, human warmth, human pulse.

All of that is delivered in the most direct and purest way.

Force Rick to look into his eyes, force him to transmit his heartbeat.

For the Master, the communication and speech skills have already reached the highest level - but they are all nagging!

No need!
When you reach the level of a Master, even speaking is useless!
He just bumps.

Use your own "truth" to force the "truth" of others!
That's just unreasonable.

That is no aesthetic sense at all.

but.
Rick's eyes couldn't help but waver.

The blood rushed through Ritsuka's body, and his powerful vitality was even more surging and fierce than that of the beastmen! It kept washing over Riku's soul, his soft flesh, and his internal organs.

You have to admit it and feel it.

Have to go and see.

"I hereby swear."

Look at the boy in front of you, those deep blue eyes that seem to be able to take away a person's soul.

"I will save this world."

"Believe me."

Poor words!
But! But damn!
dong dong dong.

Boom boom boom boom.

What's going on? What's going on?
Rick gritted his teeth.

My heart, my heart, you. What have you done!?!

Yes! Even the souls whose emotions were strangled were still shouting and burning at this moment!

Rick had no idea how good at psychological warfare the commander behind Fujimaru Ritsuka was.

But this time, was the development of all this also within his expectations?

Damn damn damn.
You don’t know when a blush appears on your face, that is a natural phenomenon after qi and blood are replenished!
"Whatever it is!——"

Rick shook off Ritsuka's hand, and the latter cooperated and let go.

"You can't gain any benefit from the human tribe."

“This is the Ghost that I spent more than ten years building.”

“We have no value.”

“We have no dignity.”

“We don’t have the ability.”

Rick tore open the wound that had scabbed over long ago, word by word.

Let the blood flow and let the pus slide down.

"You can't get anything from a ghost."

"I won't trust you—at least, not yet."

"But, if it's just to assist, I'm not opposed to doing it as long as it doesn't harm the interests of my tribe."

"So, tell me now."

"【How to defeat Artosh】and【Why are you telling me this, what do I need to do】"

Facing those eyes, Ritsuka couldn't help but smile.

to be frank.

Ever since he entered this tribe, no, ever since he entered this world, he felt as if he was being pushed by someone.

I was moved by Sora's strategy and Rick's spirit.

Ritsuka, as the master, moves like a king being controlled.

He understood that this was nothing to be ashamed of.

Because no matter Blank or Rick, they are not inferior to him - no, they are geniuses who are even superior to him in many fields. Rick in front of him is a senior on the road to salvation. Unlike a fairy queen, he is the one who truly saved the world and made it move forward.
A senior who has gone further than me on the "road to salvation" and is worthy of admiration.

Well, but——as a junior, you can’t embarrass yourself.

Just like he would use his own 'truth' to hit Rick.

"I want you, Mr. Rick, to help me complete the specific route, timing, and target of the induction operation, that is, the executor of the specific details. I can't do these."

“And Artosh——”

That can burn the surface of the planet, the planet's 'strongest'.
Let me come too and show off.

The Master clenched his fist and smiled.

"Please, leave it to me."
-
Ritsuka left.

But Rick is still in the long afterglow.

To be honest, he was already half-believing it.

Although it was embarrassing, Ritsuka's burning pulse simply broke through logic and common sense, and blasted a "feeling" into his body, a useless person who lived like a dead spirit.

After that person left, Rick finally unlocked the lock in his heart, then he sat down and smiled bitterly.

He showed an expression that was not seen just now, an expression that an eighteen-year-old boy should have.

Weakness, laxity, sadness, anger.

Now is the time to think about how to end the war?
What are the sacrifices of these years?
What is the meaning of mankind's hiding so far?
What am I?

Ordering his companions to die for him, choosing not to respect others or himself - wasn't it himself who chose this path?
If he were younger, Rick would definitely not be able to control himself, and even his mask would be torn to pieces by Ritsuka.

Because that would be too shiny.

It was like the human genes in my body were clamoring to believe him.

If it's him, you can trust him completely.

If it's him, I can trust him completely.

But no.

After wearing the mask for so long, the flesh and blood have become one with the mask and they are indistinguishable from each other.

Rick no longer had the ability to make himself act according to his 'feelings'.

He was moved by Ritsuka's words, but during the conversation, he only gave Ritsuka half of his trust, and the rest was the meanness and darkness of the man named Riku as a leader.

I'm already broken.
The man raised his head, looked at the gray-green sky, and smiled a smile that was uglier than crying.

I've become a dirty adult.
"Maybe, no one will believe me now."

The man who was thinking about this didn't know that at that moment, there was another "life" that was also looking up at the same sky.

Amidst the ruins, the girl raised her head.

She had pale skin, messy dark purple hair that reached her waist. Compared to her fair skin, her golden eyes were mixed with complex blood-colored lines. Her body was extremely thin, which made people feel lovable and protective, but the most prominent thing was the two tails extending from her back and the mechanical features around her body.

That is——Ex-Machina!?
Who is this girl?
Could it be that it was the other person besides Rick in the two-player game that Kong Bai mentioned? !

Well.

I don’t know, I’m not sure.

There are so many suspense (sigh)

Please see the next episode.

Rick's Trust

(End of this chapter)