Chapter 44

Chapter 44
Variables

You… how do you understand that?

RoomCorner Honey possessing awareness regarding the Middle-Aged Romance Simulation Game.

I gazed at him with open doubt, but a breezy reply bounced right back.

Nah, I experienced that game previously.

You experienced it?!

Not just being aware of it—he had genuinely played it?

…That middle-aged romance sim?

When I fixed my gaze on him with a thoroughly complicated expression, RoomCorner Honey frowned and responded.

My elder sister is a classic-game otaku, so she compelled me to try it too. That is how I discovered Safety Zone initially because of that otome game.

He possessed an elder sister too?

It came as an unexpected realization that even among the Safety Zone possessors someone existed who recognized that otome game.

Yet evaluating by the reality that neither RoomCorner Honey’s sister nor RoomCorner Honey himself had experienced possession into the otome game, it appeared that—unlike Safety Zone, where random individuals were dropped in—the otome game side did not possess just anyone.

I remained unaware that the Safety Zone series even featured an otome game.

At my mumbling, RoomCorner Honey shook his head.

That is incorrect.

It is incorrect?

They were built by a different corporation.

Not the same corporation?

The otome game was produced by a business titled Cthulhu Games. They released that single software and then failed, I believe.

Oh. That sounds like a rather questionable-sounding gaming company title.

Cthulhu was a famous mythological entity, certainly… but being informed someone had been possessed into an otome game manufactured by a studio carrying that designation only made it appear more suspicious.

Therefore Square Soft must have established Safety Zone as a tribute to that otome game.

The American gaming corporation Square Soft whose emblem towered large each time you initiated Online Safety Zone.

Square Soft was not some dubious enterprise no one had ever encountered like Cthulhu Games; it represented a robust business that had maintained its doors functioning for decades.

A game company, huh…

That individual had launched a gaming company as well.

My mother—someone I occasionally forgot even existed following contact being severed. The final company designation I had captured prior to the connection dropping resembled Salvation Project.

I had dodged video games because of her, only to finish pursuing dopamine into Safety Zone at the absolute conclusion… and of all occurrences, to end up possessed inside that video game.

Well, Mother does not truly matter anymore.

…But why do you appear so bitter?

It is nothing.

Contemplating useless reflections had apparently manifested straight upon my countenance. There remained no objective in dredging up a connection that was already finished and getting all messy about it.

So what on earth kind of game is that middle-aged whatever game, anyway?

What sort of game? You do not comprehend what an otome game is?

No.

What have you been executing all this time without even attempting an otome game at your age?

I entered the military, you jerk.

An otome game is, simply stated, a software whose objective is romancing attractive game characters. The justification apocalypse games like Safety Zone incorporate affection meters in the initial place is because the prototype was an otome game.

Having articulated that much, RoomCorner Honey abruptly assumed an arrogant expression.

You do not even understand otome games… You might have become the All-Zone Conqueror first, but I assume I became the All-NPC Conqueror first. I possess conquering abilities honed by every otome game my sister ever suggested.

All-NPC Conqueror?

I cannot determine if that is impressive or not…

Even though I uploaded every walkthrough guide, he had simply been grinding NPC affection instead of completing zones. The reality that this individual was roaming around with an unnecessarily handsome customized avatar likely possessed a connection to affection farming too.

Luna Moon and Daphne… the concept that those two NPCs represent players who possessed through another game is stunning.

Taejeong naturally disregarded everything RoomCorner Honey was communicating and proceeded.

If possessors of that nature exist in alternative zones as well, the quantity of players possessed into this universe could be far greater than we anticipated.

I perceived Taejeong’s logic as sound, but RoomCorner Honey shook his head.

Probably not.

Not?

The otome game’s setting is just this single zone. No—even labeling it ‘this single zone’ is generous. Classic games share that characteristic. The realm is not massive. Commander’s residence, training grounds, church, backyard… you simply travel back and forth between locations of that sort and elevate affection with the characters you encounter. Even if additional possessors exist, they would solely reside inside this zone.

Thus the otome game’s complete background represented merely the Cola Area?

If that assertion proved accurate, the players who possessed via the otome game were almost certainly exclusively Daphne and Luna Moon—those pair.

I intended to query how differently the otome game’s status window functioned from Safety Zone’s, but RoomCorner Honey maintained no status window, so comparison remained unachievable.

Did that otome game feature any special features or anything?

I experienced it far too long previously. I do not recall. Did you not question Daphne?

Daphne?

If she communicated to you that she was a player, she appears quite favorably disposed toward you.

Having expressed that, RoomCorner Honey abruptly observed me with startled eyes, as if an idea had just struck him.

Now that I reflect upon it—thus you informed Daphne that you represent a player too?

No.

You did not even disclose you are a player, so how did you ascertain she was an otome-game possessor? You are skilled.

If I reveal I am a player, I cannot continue acting as the illegitimate son anymore.

Whoa. Accurate.

Whoa, accurate?

Perhaps it would have been superior to simply let this jerk perish at the hands of that Unicorn Area player…

While we are addressing the subject, you fellows be cautious not to get discovered as players either. If you have jotted down anything in Hangul, discard it the moment you return. Daphne will recognize it.

Makes sense.

Yes. I will discard it immediately.

Daphne remained favorable toward me, but strictly because she believed I represented Luna Moon’s actual son. There existed no anticipating how she would respond if she discovered I represented another player. Daphne proved more hazardous than the Commander. The Commander functioned merely as an NPC; Daphne represented a genuine veteran player who had persisted ten years inside an apocalypse game while continuing to operate on an otome-game system.

Let us remain cautious not to generate any variables. The subjugation battle is not distant. Assa, practice your healing intensely. Taejeong, you are not deploying this time, but if anything occurs to us, I leave the aftermath to you.

Yes. Although I am certain you will return safely.

As Taejeong mentioned, nothing major would transpire during the initial subjugation battle.

If events progressed the manner they unfolded within the video game, that is.

Unlike the video game, there existed no barrier between zones, and that Unicorn Area player was still wandering about.

…Hopefully nothing would happen.

Following Haydam climbing over the barrier into Daphne’s residence, Daphne appeared somehow rejuvenated. She concluded her seclusion and restarted external activities.

She did not reject Anton’s invitation to share a cup of tea either. While they sat consuming tea within the inner courtyard of Daphne’s residence, Anton watched for an opportunity and carefully communicated.

Lady Daphne, how have things transpired with His Excellency recently?

A casual response bounced back.

Same as always, I suppose.

Hearing Daphne communicate as if it represented someone else’s affair, Anton could not restrain himself.

Lady Daphne, do you truly intend to divorce as that child desires?

The teacup that had been ascending toward Daphne’s lips halted. She positioned it back down and gazed directly at Anton.

Does it appear to you that I am divorcing because that child desires it?

In reality, Anton already comprehended.

That Daphne herself desired the divorce. One glance at the cleared expression she had worn ever since Haydam burst into the residence and declared he would force the divorce proved adequate to understand it. However, knowing and comprehending represented two distinct concepts.

In the past, had Daphne not been the individual who desired marriage to Commander Hayden more than anyone else? Why had he accepted, as her spouse, a man who had even fathered a child with another woman?

Lady Daphne. I have supervised you since you were very young. I recognize you are not someone who would soften over a mere child of that nature.

Supervised since childhood…!

For some reason Daphne’s tone elevated sharply.

Anton, you do not comprehend anything regarding me. You do not recognize who I am or what I desire at all!

What is it that you desire, Lady Daphne?

I do not know either!

Following the irritable retort, Daphne’s tone reverted to its usual inflection.

…But at least, giving birth to Hayden’s successor is not what I desire. That is what you desire, is it not, Anton.

Lady Daphne.

Anton grasped one of her hands and spoke in a low murmur.

What I desire is your happiness. From the day you were born until the present, I have spent more time with you than with my own son Platon. I regarded you as identical to my own daughter, and even when you stated you wished to marry an unidentified man who had arrived from another zone, I assisted you in marrying without a single word of complaint. Yet now you berate me, claiming that bearing his child represents what I crave.

As Anton communicated gently, Daphne assumed a slightly sheepish expression.

…Apologies for yelling. Yes. Selecting Hayden represented my decision. Therefore I wish to select parting with him as well.

I simply grow impatient because once everything passes into that child Haydam’s hands, I can no longer guarantee your happiness.

Why would handing everything over to that child imply my happiness can no longer be guaranteed?

He is a child who returned following the loss of his mother. You recognize he differs from ordinary children. Who can state whether he is contemplating vengeance deep within?

Anton communicated from genuine anxiety, but Daphne shook her head with relaxed assurance, as if such a circumstance proved impossible.

I comprehend regarding that. Haydam will not harm me.

Anton immediately furrowed his brow.

Why do you place so great a trust in that child? He is Luna Moon’s son. He is a child who casually climbs over the barriers of your residence.

It is not that I trust the child.

Then?

Haydam comprehends me better than you do, Anton—perhaps better than anyone else within this universe. What I trust is the version of me that child recognizes. As long as he comprehends I am myself, there exists no pathway he would turn hostile toward me.

…I possess no concept what you imply.

Sensing that additional conversation would yield them nowhere. Anton communicated in a resigned tone.

In any event, I understand that you wish to get along well with that child. If that represents what you desire, then—just as when you selected the current Excellency—it is solely proper that I support you.

I am pleased to hear you state that.

It is not that I detest the child either. Existing as a bastard among strangers after losing his mother so young cannot be effortless. I frequently experience pity when I observe him as well. He possesses not even a single photograph of his mother remaining to remember her by…

Trailing off, Anton gauged Daphne’s reaction and discovered her gazing at him with startled eyes, as if this constituted news to her.

What? He possesses not a single photo of Luna Moon?

You were unaware. Upon inquiry, when Luna Moon deserted ten years previously she wiped every scrap of her personal data. Not a photograph, not even a single portrait persisted, so His Excellency experienced deep disappointment. Yet he considered that redrawing Luna Moon’s portrait would prove disrespectful toward his marriage partner, Lady Daphne, and therefore he never commissioned one. In my perspective he simply believed he would encounter that woman once more someday and observed no necessity to recreate the portrait… but she perished in that manner, leaving solely the child to be pitied.

As Daphne’s face clouded with contemplation, Anton quietly added,

Now that I reflect upon it… do you not recall, Lady Daphne? That woman’s face.