Urgent recruitment‼ How to Save the Ending World ▚ I’m a certain NPC girl from a discontinued VRMMO service, but somehow managing to survive again today - Chapter 23

Urgent recruitment‼ How to Save the Ending World ▚ I'm a certain NPC girl from a discontinued VRMMO service, but somehow managing to survive again today - Chapter 23

Episode 23: Gamers Gathering at Year-End, Ignoring Family Ties

— December 31, 2056 —

On what is commonly known as New Year’s Eve, while many people are at home or with their families watching year-end programs, numerous gamers, prioritizing their hobbies over family time, immerse themselves in the action-packed RPG with many unclear aspects, including the administration.

These over twenty individuals are a rare breed, not hesitating even in the face of near-death experiences from being devoured by monsters. Their destination is a few kilometers beyond the old town, near a forest that swallowed an abandoned outdoor substation.

“Now that everyone’s gathered, let’s start the briefing.”

“All personnel, listen up!!”

Responding to the declaration of the petite queen, Palm Regina, adorned in an elegant steel dress, the knight-cum-vice-commander, the mechanized Kaijin named “Halberd, the Severing Maiden,” prompts everyone’s attention. The diverse voices of comrades conversing fall silent for a moment.

Among those who are listening intently is Crim, whose avatar is the manifested form of a general-purpose AI, fused with a black dog, Black Dog, equipped with additional armor on its right arm featuring large claws.

“First, let’s express our gratitude to those who have joined us on the last day of this year! Our target is the ‘Bladed-winged humanoid behemoth,’ Valbado, who gave us a hard time during the third Ironwood Forest conquest!”

“Uoooohhh!!”

Given that this is already the fourth conquest, there are many seasoned players with deep connections and emotions. The black steel mechanized beings, enveloped in a rising cheer, stand perplexed, shoulder to shoulder with the silver mechanized beings.

Smiling beneath their masks, the two accept the inevitable temperature difference due to their first-time participation and return their attention to the queen’s words.

“Last time, the guilds that assisted us in turn, ‘Neko Nabe Shopping District’ and ‘Enka,’ are launching attacks from multiple directions. There are no detailed agreements, so it’s a race to see who gets there first. However…”

To avoid sequential deployment of forces, Noa, in her mechanized form, mentions that they should refrain from stepping on each other’s toes and had decided this beforehand. After conveying several other points of note, Halberd, the Severing Maiden, takes a half step forward and, with her own judgment and bias, organizes the teams. Six squads, seemingly balanced in terms of firepower, are created.

“Situation start! Squads three and four, advance to the primary side power line of the old substation. Squads five and six, move to the secondary side power line. Squads two and one will depart towards the central transformer ten minutes later!”

With the command issued, the mechanized being, wearing body armor with a ladylike form reminiscent of a knight, raises her voice. Veterans quickly rally their respective companions, and they begin to move to fulfill their assigned roles.

“As decoys for the young ladies… Squad three, move out!”

“We’ll take care of the pests here. You guys leave us in the dust.”

“Got it, we’ll be following the sixth squad then.”

“… Hurry up and go as planned.”

Exchanging light banter individually, the mechanized beings, totaling about a dozen, enter the forest in squad units.

Watching their figures through the mask of Black Dog, Shiro quietly admired the more organized and controlled appearance than he had imagined.

— Reference Information —

Alias: Palm Regina (Noa Hirose)

Classification: Aristocrat

Weapon: Rapid-fire Derringer

Skills: Situation awareness through reflexive positioning, high-speed thinking

Special Skill: Construction of an information network through self-mediation