Summary:

One-shot, one kill. These words are associated with trained snipers all over the world.

In reality, I am one of them and the training I had since childhood made me who I am as a sniper when I first tried to shoot a safe gun designed for target shooting for people all ages at the age of 6.

The interesting game, Infinite Dendrogram? I am one too there, they don't even know my face because of that mask I wore.

Unlike the 'inferior' quality snipers in that game who failed to take down a moving target when I observed them with my scope at that time, I showed them, including the Infinite Dendrogram community, what a real one with real-life training, in the words of gamers, a pro, can do.

Seriously though, at one time in my Infinite Dendrogram life around the time I started playing, there's this group who asked me such a question of why I am able to grasp it and what's the secret.

I teasingly gave them a reply: "Family tradition dating back to the American Revolutionary War, all thanks to my ancestor who recreated and kept the written accounts that'll later become known as sniping today. Now, now, everything's classified if you ask what kind of training I've been through including real life."

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy,?, Romance, Slice of life

Tags: Alternate World / Alternate Universe, Childhood Friends, Childhood Love, Original Character MC, Original Character Heroine(s), ?, ?, Protagonist Strong from the Start, R-15, ?

Current Year As Of The Story Progression (Please keep an eye on this): 2032

Word Count Before 'Insertion': 3251 words

Answers:

To the anonymous guest, this fanfic is indeed a Infinite Dendrogram fanfic, an Original Character-centric kind. I put the current year indicator for reason since I always see Original Centric stories having events, happenings, and growth revolving around them outside the main cast. I merely thought putting the mark will remind peeps that the Infinite Dendrogram action and events will come once we get to those precise days of early release of that interesting game.

The VRMMO game will come in future chapters, I promise that. I only ask for patience. I will not go that far to say this 'fanfic' is an original all along. Patience is the key. I hope you understand.

Note to remember: Besides this site, this anime fanfic is also available in Web Novel, Wattpad, Scribblehub, Ao3, and Foxteller.

Volume 1 - Childhood

Family Reunion

BARMM, simply known as Bangsamoro, before the Global Pandemic, the Philippines itself wasn't secured as a whole from its lost-cause insurgency at the South including the mainland and corruption from the government, local business circles, crooked clergies, and irresponsible journalism.

During the previous era before the Rizal-Defensor Administration Era, our clan had no interest in setting foot in the Philippines because of factors there which included the infiltration of terror cell members in public offices, education, and entertainment sectors, irresponsible journalism, and unwanted restrictions of the constitution that held back our clan's businesses and operations from its full potential.

It may had been a different story if there were no restrictions and a transparent environment. But some of my kin who stayed there such as Lolo Ferdi, served in the military and fought in numerous campaigns that included the Battle of Marawi and other operations while giving out a heads up to our clan patriarch and council about the Philippine situation.

When the Global Pandemic happened months later during the Rizal-Defensor Administration Era, everything there...could be counted as a sign of opportunity and a terrifying with because of the death toll bigger than the previous wars and others combined that the whole global population, if I remember it right from the data, became a horrifying 35% that when my parents told me about my situation followed by 'the talk' at Japan in a private room of Sato residence, my mind went haywire about me and my friends, and my newly revealed 'situation' when I asked Mom about the harem one and the SFW manga and light novel she made me to read which sort of left me embarrassed that I was almost unable to look at Arisa and her cousins properly before we left the airport.

But at those times before we came into picture, based on the reports, the Global Pandemic fatalities claimed the majority of crooked traditional politicians and clergies, yellow journalists, terror cell infiltrators, and corrupt tycoons which gave our clan who suffered minimally from the crisis, an opportunity to open up the Philippine Branch and clan operations in the country itself when Grandfather Feli, who was in Britain at that time, was nominated by signature campaign to lead the transitional government as per his late friend, mentor and upperclassman, Miriam Rizal-Defensor who wrote her will that he must finish what she started by leading the country and make it great again, and to look after her family who I heard it from Grandfather Felipe himself after things in the Philippines rebirth like a phoenix, included a pair of twin sisters younger than me when they were born and he looked after them and educated them to make them witty, charismatic, and humble as their late great grandmother, his predecessor.

The late Miriam Rizal-Defensor when she was alive, she was someone I should look up to for a good example of speaker and leader according to Mom and Grandfather Feli.

When I watched videos of her when she was in living at those times before she became the president, I was enlightened and entertained while at the same time being disgusted at the inferior quality of politicians, lawyers, and public officials during that era. Why? Her way of speaking and answer, it's like a sharpened charismatic blade loaded with wits that she would give you humor should you answer stupid like the time when she asked the lawyer and other politicians about issues, them being elected poor excuses of politicians not crafting laws that spoke common sense. long-term, practical, etc. She made them appear like clowns and that her death from the Global Pandemic infection brought this country mourning her passing.

In this current time after we left Japan hours ago with my role to play and my mind going to goodbye I gave to Arisa and her cousins, I wasn't sure what to do here in Granduncle Ferdi's house because it's my first time coming to the Philippines. I may be able to speak Filipino and other dialects but the thing was my mind was distracted because of Mom's wrong timing when we were in Japan.

'If I haven't brought the light novel with me, I would have been left with boredom and thinking my friends there...' I thought while trying not to blush and turning over the page of the fictional book, sited on the chair with my cousins chatting.

Currently inside one of the rooms of the Philippine Branch Headquarters of our clan located at the island faraway from BARMM, rather than the supposed information of venue I gave to Alice and my friends because it's an SSS-rank of confidentiality and one of the unmentionables, I'm with my cousins, distracting myself with the same fictional book, a light novel work by Lonely Sky Crown, I brought for this trip.

This whole building we're in, constructed by one of our clan's Sections, the Construction Section wholesomely commanded by Tito Hannibal who graduated from one of the world's prestigious architecture universities, prided itself for having state of the art technology and unknown tech, design and being well-camouflaged with its yearly continuous upgrades and renovations.

For having heritage from revolutionary and reformist groups during the Spanish Era, with our clan today secretly looking out after the world from terrorism and other forms of criminality that ruined the youth and nature including the current state of peace, this infra which was built during the first years of Grandfather Feli's leadership as a leader of revolutionary government before the transition, I was impressed and sort of excited at having facilities that'll help my training in the long run.

While it's sad and obviously forbidden not to tell the other side of our clan, being in the 'dark', there'll be a time for that should becoming a family, being married to one of us, happened without divorce or any occur. My father, Neil MacMillan, an ex-RM, was an example of that including one of my grandfathers, Grandfather Noah, a former SAS.

I haven't talked much due to myself not recovering from what Mom said about in Sato Residence. It made me unable to look Alice and my other friends the same way. But a role in our clan, I haven't figured it but using the facilities and training to help my dream will be first with the girls second should I'll be having a relationship with them in the future.

Relationship with Alice or anyone? It might be something I look forward to since things after the Post-Global Pandemic changed things to a point for the folks who lived before Global Pandemic, awkward for them and those who seek a harem ending and marrying them all, a reality and "dream come true at last".

"The internet opinion say the Russian AK was influenced by a German StG... the British Perseus? It's the same to it to Lee-Enfield and Kar98k. It happened because of a captured Kar98k sent to our clan that day." said Tito Chad who was retelling the story of how Perseus, a bolt-action sniper rifle.

Tito Chad was in charge of looking after us, the gathered young cousins for this Family Reunion. He was that brown-haired Filipino telling us the origin of Perseus, a rifle that killed Adolf Hitler during Operation Foxley, a plot to assassinate the Führer through sniping during World War 2.

Listening to the conversation while reading the light novel at the same time, I thought to myself of getting a small snack but it would best not to since I might not be able to enjoy food that'll come later.

"Perseus... a rifle used by Caesar's great grandfather to assassinate the fascist Mad Man, Adolf Hitler, during World War 2...it's a such a fine rifle." said one of my cousins who sat on the left couch, a black-haired glasses-wearing 12-year-old Filipino-German, Kuya JC, as he looked at me for being related to one of the late commandos who stopped the dangerous nonsense called Nazism, a variant of fascism.

"Yeah, having fired it during the demonstration to our cousin earlier here at the practice range, I agree with you, JC, or should I say Young Gunsmith Prodigy?" cheekily commented Kuya Ryan, one of my cousins who sat on the right couch with Daisuke, drinking tea.

"Oh come on! I don't like that click-bait nickname!" pouted Kuya JC as he went calling me and Daisuke. "Hey Caesar, Daisuke, help your big bro here, will ya? I will give you freebies!"

"I am sorry JC-nii, I am not cut off for guns." replied Daisuke with an apologetic smile. "I'm fine with katanas by the way as long as they are a straight-edged hybrid."

"Drat! How can I forget that!" exclaimed Kuya JC with his dismay which caused my older black-haired Filipino-Fin cousin, Kuya JP who sat beside me on my right, to chuckle, and my cousin, a brown-haired Filipino, Kuya Ryan grin.

'After the 'talk' at Sato Residence earlier, what came was a harem-seeking man's dream coming true...talk about wrong timing to your son, Mom...you made me nervous...thankfully I have that light novel with me.' Shyly looking up from the light novel I read, I commented. "I am aware Kuya Ryan is joking about that, Kuya JC. But I still see Kuya JC as Kuya JC first, our family and blood who brought inspiration to me to strive more in what I am doing. A 12-year-old Prodigy Gunsmith? Not the kind I see right here but a person."

After I said my piece, Kuya JC looked like he was about to manly hug me from joy as he was about to move from his seat and rushed towards my direction.

"Caesar!"

True to my observations, I waited for the proper timing and dodged the incoming 'projectile.'

"Oof!" The Fil-German fell down to the floor comically to the position where I used to sit.

My cousins including Tito Chad laughed.

"Kuya JC," I said to him, closing the fictional book I had in my hand."While I do not mind your enthusiasm, there is something I need to ask about from you."

"What it it, Caesar?" asked Kuya JC.

'He's still in one piece...including his clothes.' Sweatdropping at that thought of my older cousin untouched, I continued my question. "The Perseus..can it run the "Lee-Enfield Mad Minute Technique"?"

"Mad Minute Technique?" asked Kuya JC. "Isn't that the British speed shooting exercise used by the British during the World War 1?"

"It is." I replied.

"Ah, your father did it when he showed us that two years ago, Caesar. It can be done." confidently answered Tito Chad.

Kuya JP nodded his head in agreement as he looked at me. "While I am not nowhere near as your father's level in doing the Mad Minute, why though?"

I let out a smile. "Besides the Brit in me saying I need to learn it, it's for airsoft."

""""AIRSOFT!?" shouted my cousins except Daisuke Sato and Uncle Chad, in unison at the mention of airsoft.

It's true I wanted to play airsoft game, not the target shooting, once I reached of required age to play the combat game. Not only for the British I heritage I had, but it's to make sure the knowledge of it not be buried in time similar to what happened to archery when bows became obsolete in warfare due to rifles getting better.

"Caesar," the first to recover was my older cousin, Kuya JP, as his ruby red eyes showed mischief and playfulness. "What will you do with it once you get into airsoft game?"

"Barrages at the airsoft cheater's balls, I guess? It's not like I'll blow my cover to do such a move in some areas that do not have concealment." I replied, imagining myself giving a surprise to the saps who ruin everyone's enjoyment.

"Right..." commented Kuya JC with a sweatdrop. "Caesar about our clan's plans for you, I'll be giving you a modernized Lee-Enfield No. 8 for your 'real steel' marksmanship training and that Mad Minute practice until you meet our clan's standard of marksmanship...should you pass it, you'll get a custom precision rifle for your target shooting hobby and to take pics."

"Eh, a Lee-Enfield and a custom precision rifle? Isn't that too much?" I asked, surprised at the reward of passing the marksmanship standard and the cost of it.

"No." replied Tito Chad with a smile. "It's worth it since the council checked your progress after reports showed signs of natural talent. Our clan does not waste those traits and talents, we make every single thing count."

"Pardon me, Tito and Kuya JC." I said to him and my cousin, Kuya JC. "Will that make some..'undesirable' catch something in the pic should I do something like that someday? I worry of our clan getting compromised."

"No, not at all." confidently replied Tito Chad. "Your personal one will be registered. We don't do things beyond the line that'll bite back to us in the future."

"Hmmm..."

"And best of all," added Tito Chad. "we are not like those guys who do government change clause and such things that cause destablization."

"Okay, I understand. I will do my best." I replied.

BZZZ! BZZZ!

Hearing the vibration of my cellphone, I looked at my companions who were chatting various things.

"..if it's not rude, let me check first my cellphone." I asked my companions for permission.

"Sure."

Opening the app, the message came from Alice.

Reading it, it brought me a smile. I didn't expect that. I feel happy for Alice.

"Some good news, Caesar?" asked Tito Chad.

Based on her message, her mom, whom I knew as Aunt Natasha, got pregnant and that she'll be a big sister. Alice as an elder sister? I would do my part as her friend as well to help look after her sibling and make sure everything will go fine for her and her parents because if not it'll be like what Lonely Sky Crown said in his interview about his disgraced elder brother being a rotten liar who does not admit his faults especially when caught in an act.

A voice of Lonely Sky Crown during his interview echoed suddenly. "You can't give everything to your child. Give them discipline and motivation to make them responsible individuals so that they won't be similar to spoiled idiots similar to one of my villains in my light novel...It's bad parenting you know."

Snapping out of it and motivated, I began typing my congratulatory message to Alice in our group chat while at the same time replied to my uncle with fondness present. "It appears that I'll be a kuya soon...my friend will have a new sibling."

"Big brother figure, eh? I can give you tips on that." commented Tito Chad with his confident smile.

With Kuya JC telling us that the food arrived, escorted by Tito Chad, we made our way to the estate's main venue - the Katipunan Garden Hall.

The Katipunan Garden Hall was the main venue for our Family Reunion.

While the 'unknown' whole island was faraway from the BARMM, I felt bad for following the instructions given to me about that to my friends because the location and what we do was considered more than enough to be an SSS-rank secret.

To have access to the 'estate' and knowledge of our history long before the Modern Era, he/she must be a relative or married to one of us and after that must be sworn to secrecy not to tell an outsider about the existence of 'it' and be screened before being accepted to our family. Should they have a business they owned/founded, they'll be given help and be part of BCG.

"That photo of Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio together with our ancestor, it looks great without Emilio Aguinaldo around." commented Kuya JC.

"I agree. That backstabbing traitor was a disgrace to the revolutionaries and cause." said Kuya Ryan.

While the Katipunan Garden Hall had historic paintings and photos turned from black and white to colored, the whole layout was like an eco-friendly version of Venice with numerous pieces of technology gathered together for this occasion, relaxing avenue and family bonding in mind.

With bridges and canals over the running artificial river made up of flowing artificial water combined with lighting set to "Night Mode", because of the boats, it felt like living in a mini version of Venice here.

Currently at the table that allowed a view of floating clouds in the skies, I stared down at the food served in the table while my cousins chowed their food on the plate.

"Lechon? I better hope it's not a cheat like those times when Grandfather Feli hadn't fixed things up here in this country."

"Caesar," said Kuya JP. "The one who sold and prepared this came from a well-reputed seller originally from Baclaran. There was no way it'll change badly since Lolo Ferdi and Lolo Feli used to order from them when they were young. We ordered that too besides the ones from Happy Musang."

"Okay." I replied, interested with a thinking look as I let out a smile at the remembrance of what my older cousin, Kuya JP said earlier. "But if the quality remained the same or higher like what you said, Kuya JP, you owe me a custom precision rifle once I reach 16 years old, 10 years from now."

Kuya JP grinned as his glasses glinted. "You're on, I will make it the finest rifle fitted for upcoming skilled marksman like you."

"I will make sure of it, believe it." I said, determined to reach the skill level as I turned my head to my one of cousins, Kuya JC. "Say, Kuya JC, what is this?"

"Leche flan."

"Leche flan, eh? I am not fond of sweets, but it does not mean I hate them." I commented at this dessert that looked like those slimes-whatevs monsters from fantasy stories and games.

"Try it then." suggested Kuya Ryan to me.

"I will after I finish eating lechon and crispy beef ribs." I replied as I turned my head to Daisuke who was having a bite of leche flan. "Hey Daisuke..."

"What?"

"About the leche flan, what do you think of it?"

"It's somewhat sweet." replied Daisuke. "If I remember it right, we should drink water after consuming sweets."

I nodded in agreement.

With us eating together at the table, enjoying the food, my cellphone in my bag vibrated as it fired me a bullet of returning to reality from the enjoyment of food, chatters, and music played in the background.

Opening my bag, I grabbed my phone and looked at the screen.

The notification showed a text message from Mom written in English.

'I better hope it's not bad news.' Unlocking the screen, I opened up the app and clicked the message.

The message from her, I understood what it meant - it's time for us to go back.

Sending a reply to Mom, I called out my cousins. "Guys, I have to go now...but let me say something first before Tito Louise here escort me...well thanking our cousins, uncles, aunts...you get the idea."

The person in question, a muscular blonde Fil-Canadian, near our table, Tito Louise, grinned and gave me a thumbs-up as I noticed what appeared to be a manly diamond sparkle on his person.

Chuckling a bit at our uncle's enthusiasm and antics, I began to speak. "About the Family Reunion and the Philippines, I really -"