It was an almost surreal experience overall.
It started with a simply stupid plan. Break into Arasaka Tower through the front doors. Go guns blazing against any security that gets in the way. Fight down layer after layer into Mikoshi. Open the metaphorical doors for a scary powerful digital ghost lady. Destroy a man-made well of souls and get the digital ghost of a jackass rockerboy pulled out of his gray matter.
Simple, stupid, and suicidal. But it worked for him.
The waves of guards went down in a hail of tech charged bullets and chemically coated fists. The network security was easier to breach in comparison. It was at the bottom of the bullshit where things got rough. Because of-fucking-course Night City's legendary monster Adam 'more machine than man' Smasher decides to show up like a final boss and spam rockets and tries replacing internal organs with bullet holes. That had been a flaming bio-waste filled trash heap to push through.
The last thing he could remember was plugging a wire into his neck at Alt Cunningham's command and taking a bath in coolant so his frying cyberware would stop cooking him from the inside out.
The last words Naofumi heard during his second run in life just had to come from the smart ass ghost in his head.
"See you on the other side..."
...-ooo000ooo-...
When one wakes up from dreams of drowning in coolant and dying from a glorified migraine there are very few things they want to wake them. Excited yelling was not one of them.
"We did it!" Someone yelled, loud and jubilant.
"It was a success!" cheered another.
Naofumi wanted to put a bullet in the sources of both voices. His head was pounding, his body was aching, and his vision was swarmed with a massive number of error messages and alerts. A dozen from his cyberware; familiar red tinted overlays hovering in his eyes. However there were a dozen from an unfamiliar set of blue screens, with an unfamiliar format and a foreboding feeling to them.
[ERROR: Signal Lost: Night City Network]
[ERROR: Signal Lost: NUSA Geometric Positioning System]
[ERROR: Signal Lost: NCPD SubCon Network]
[ERROR: Signal Lost: NC Communication SubNet]
[WARNING: Corrupted Data Detected]
[WARNING: External Drive (?:) connected to Arm Cyberware: {Gorilla Arms, Left}]
[WARNING: Unknown Malware Detected!]
[ALERT: Unknown Software Detected on External Drive (?:)]
[ALERT: Unknown Operating System running on External Drive (?:)]
[ALERT: Unknown Operating System is attempting to access Neural Net]
[DANGER: Unknown Software has been installed onto Neural Network]
[DANGER: Unknown Software has been denied access by SYSADMIN/User]
[DANGER: Unknown Software has started]
[!Searching for Target, "Iwatani Naofumi"!]
[!Target Not Found, Correcting!]
[!Success, "Naofumi V. Iwatani" Located!]
[!Startup Failed, Installation Error!]
[!Improper Installation Detected, Hero Not Found!]
[!Prosthetic Detected, Attempting Bypass!]
[!Operation Failure, Permissions Denied!]
[!Attempting to Find Solution, Searching!]
[!Local System Discovered, Integrating!]
[!Compatibility Error, Attempting Patch!]
[!Update Error, Permissions Denied!]
[!Attempting Setting Adjustment!]
[!Success, Access Granted With Limited Permissions!]
[!Activating "Hero Converter V.04c"!]
[!Success, Values Converted!]
[!Transmitting New Data To Local System!]
[!Success, Elements Accepted!]
[!Activating 'Hero OS'!]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: New Index Available]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Party System Added]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Crafting System Added]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Inventory System Added]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Map System Added]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Stats System Added]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Journal System Added]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Inventory Conversion Complete]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Database Updated]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Kiroshi Optical Scanner Updated]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Microtech Language Processors Updated]
[UPDATE COMPLETE: Compatibility Patch Complete]
"The gonked out kinda soft is Arasaka running here?" Naofumi lifted himself up with unsteady hands, the synthetic muscles steady as they pressed on carpet covered stone. Naofumi's artificial eyes swept the room with practiced ease. The room and its simple stone-brick walls illuminated by candles set in various holders along its path. Here and there, a decorative pattern had been carved into the wall, or etched onto a supporting pillar. A decorative alter stood in the room. Its surface marked with various patterns that would have gone unseen if not for the fluorescent paint that lined them. All said, the whole of the decorations and the atmosphere of the room gave Naofumi the feeling of being in a very low budget themed club.
He turned his attention then to the men standing around him. Their eyes focused on him and the three younger men who were in similar collapsed poses on the ground beside him. Most everyone around him was wearing simple clothing made of leather and cloth. Several of the men sported long, flowing robes that were decorated with what may have been Religious icons. However their overall appearance reminded Naofumi more of the magic men from old children's flicks, and less of the priests of even older Religions.
Next, his eyes fell onto the three others beside him. All of them were wearing what Naofumi could only classify as 'school clothes'. This first impression also wasn't helped by the fact that their faces lacked any of the signs of cyberware under the skin. Their whole look could have been part of a conservative adulthood before the twenty-twenties. But the way they looked would never belong in modern day Night City or any other Corpo-dominated city for that matter. All of them had a weapon in their hand – a spear, a sword, and a bow. None of them seemed to notice its presence.
The final ones to receive his appraisal were the armored ones. Two of them blocked the doors, though whether to keep them in or someone else out was impossible to say. The rest were all stationed, by their standards, strategically in the corners of the room. Each one had been equipped with either a sword or a spear, a further sign of being a potential threat. There was no way to tell how sharp or strong the blades were. And while the plates of their armor appeared to be made of basic metal, it was impossible to know just how strong it was. Or how thick any armor underneath the plates might have been. The one bonus Naofumi felt upon seeing them was the fact they had places where skin or simple cloth was showing. Perfect places to target as potential weak spots.
Though he was less than stable as he lept to his feet, the movement of pulling his favorite iron from the strap on his back was fluid as ever. The fact that there was still a weight remaining afterwards silently telling him that his rifle was also still with him.
"Who the fuck are you people? Where the fuck am I?" Naofumi yelled, finally noticing the plate of metal now strapped to his left arm, "And who the fuck strapped this hunk of scrap metal to my arm!?"
Cue the shocked gasps, the startled looks, and the steps back. What didn't happen was anyone running in terror. Nor any guard moving towards him aggressively. Naofumi glanced down to the three boys at his feet. All three of them were fixated on his sub-machine gun, various levels of horror on their faces as they realized the situation.
The tallest of the three couldn't keep silent. "Oh shit, he's got a gun!" He scooted away ever so slightly, still seeming oblivious to the spear in his hand.
"Stay still!" The one with the sword cautioned as the one holding the bow remained silent and nodded his agreement.
Several of those closest also seemed to agree with the command, though one decided to ignore the sword-wielder's instructions. One of the robed men took a hesitant step towards Naofumi. His hands up and palms open as if to relax a scared child or a stray dog. "Be at ease-"
The fool's words were cut off with a single warning shot that hit just shy of the robed idiot's feet. The bang of gunfire was a roar of sound in the confined space, and the smoking hole in the floor a clear indicator of the best course of action; Shut up.
"Don't fuck with me. What the fuck did you Arasaka bastards do with me?" His gaze bore into the now still robed man. "What kind of fucked up Braindance did you Corpo dickheads try and lock me in!?"
"Please listen to me O' Hero!" One of the other robed mooks to the side begged, "There is no need for violence!"
"Bullshit!" Naofumi spat, "Your runner forgot to wipe my logs! I can see you fuckers' soft trying to get in." He shifted the rifle so that it was now pointed at the talker's face. "What. Did. You. Do?"
To Naofumi's non-existent surprise, the other robed idiot finally decided to not answer. Though unlike the first who remained frozen where he stood, this one could only drop to the floor with the wet splash of a man who pissed themselves.
"Alright. Fuck this, and fuck all of you. I've spent the last few days dying, the last few hours killing, and just when it looked like a load of bullshit was being lifted from shoulders..." He took a breath, "I find myself in some shoddy museum display with cosplay dress-up dolls, and no answers." He paused and leaned his neck side to side, each bend letting out a morbid crack. "Either one of you starts telling me what I want to know, or I put a bullet in your heads and start moving down the line until someone will."
There was a tense silence that covered the room, broken for a moment as one of the door guards was brave enough to step forward. Despite trying his damnedest to maintain an air of power, the man was shaking hard enough to rattle his armor. Though his hands were covered by gloves, Naofumi could tell they were maintaining a death grip on his spear. "Please Shield Hero, we summoned you to help us!" He begged.
The fed-up-with-all-things mercenary paused. Blinked slowly. "Summoned?"
"It's true. I swear! The mages summoned you forth on the king's command!" The guard tossed his head towards the robed men. "We need you to help save us from The Waves!"
Naofumi's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed. Though he continued to blink slowly, the barrel of the gun had lowered just a bit.
"The hell kinda gonked out idea is that?" The gun bearing hand jerked up for just a second. "This some kinda final defense for Mikoshi? Or some Matrix bullshit where you keep the engrams pacified by letting them run wild over some virtus?"
The guard carefully laid down his spear and approached before getting on both knees before the shield bearer. "Please believe me when I say we called you here… From another world. I know it sounds fantastical-"
"More like impossible." Naofumi's blinking eyes remained closed for a moment as the man's words met his ears.
"-But it's all true. The Waves of Catastrophe are here, and each time they come more monsters are called from another world to kill us." The guard's gaze met Naofumi's as he reopened his eyes. "Legends say that only the four heroes called from another world can help us."
The barrel of the gun was now pointed at the floor, the weapon held aloft by one weary hand. The other threesummons now seeming to notice their own weapons. Despite the development, they remained where they sat. Watching the actions of their fellow hero.
A very loud exhale echoing as Naofumi pinched the bridge of his nose with a freed hand. "So you're telling me that I'm in another world?"
"Yes?" The guard answered, feeling it the safest answer.
The shield bearer rubbed the bridge of his nose, "and you haven't heard of Arasaka?"
"I've never heard of anything by that name." The guard placed a hand over his heart, his other held up as if in pledge of the truth.
Naofumi released his nose in favor of holstering his piece, hands skillfully adjusting the straps to where the gun once again rested securely besides its companion. "Fine. Lets go along with this for now." He offered a hand to the guard to help him back on his feet.
That one gesture seemed to be a signal for everything to start moving again. The other three boys rose to their feet and looked over their own weapons briefly before joining the rest of the room in studying the one the guard had called the Shield Hero.
Eyes that once focused on the weapon now turned upon other parts of the man. Those looking at his hands now saw the blackness of his fingers. A sharp contrast to the pale skin of the back of his hand and wrist further pronounced by the metal plates and strips that ran between them. Those closest to him with a clear view swearing to see faint, indecipherable markings upon the black surface. Murmurs went back and forth between those studying his face. Lines of metal had been laid into his cheekbones with all the art of a master smith, and evenly spaced bumps beneath the skin running a similar course. Some thought of them as scars from past battles, while others felt they were just a small hint towards what might lay underneath their summons' skin.
The kneeling guard had the best view of all at the strange face. Though he saw the lines of ink on Naofumi's forehead, he could only focus on the eyes. Soft glowing green orbs set against a black as night backdrop that seemed to contain strange symbols which would only hold meaning in another world. Taking the proffered hand, the guard could only consider himself lucky that his own wasn't crushed by the grip of that otherworldly limb, and then blessed as his arm wasn't torn from his socket as he was helped up with a strong, yet soft tug as his own legs took his weight.
Giving Naofumi a nod of thanks, the guard found himself counted among those who couldn't help but wonder if the king had made a mistake and called for the summoning too quickly. Though tensions may have been leaving the room, uncertainty lingered in its place.
"If...If there are no more questions..." The original robed man to address Naofumi tried speaking again. "I ha-had been instructed to take you t-to see our king once you were summoned." The air of calm the man originally had was gone. Replaced with an overly polite efficiency of a secretary Naofumi had not seen since his corpo days.
Looking to the other three, Naofumi had to resist the urge to sigh again as none of them seemed keen to answer the question so long as he had the floor. "Then let's get this over with." He gave in with much less resistance than anyone expected. "Lead the way."
...-ooo000ooo-...
Aultcray Melromarc XXII was nervous.
The summoning had supposedly gone flawlessly, and four forms had come forth from the spell, each armed with a weapon of legend...Or at least according to the messenger who had run from the hidden room had said. Following the summoning, it should have been a simple matter for the mages to belay any concerns the summoned heroes may have had. The matter getting even simpler from there as the guards, accompanied by the mages, would lead the summoned to the throne room. Instead, there had been a loud noise akin to a monstrous thunderclap from the chamber. This being shortly followed by a couple of guards reporting that a shard of metal had pierced a hole in the floor of the room in question and those below it.
Though it had come to Aultcray's attention that the party was now making their way towards the throne room. The news had come along with rumors faster than any runner could have hoped to achieve. The most common one being that those who had seen the new heroes were frightened. And the biggest being that something was...wrong...with the Shield Hero.
A passing maid had commented on his metal fingers. Swearing to all things holy that the ground trembled when he stepped, almost as if he was made of iron instead of flesh. Her companion didn't doubt it, for she had seen the lines of metal etched into his face.
A wine bearer expressed confusion over the ink to stain his forehead. Though some might have considered these stains a cause for concern, the boy believed them to be tribal markings.
A noblewoman passing the area made the first comment the king heard of the Shield Hero's garb. Mentioning only the metal that was lining his overcoat. It was a metallic shade seen only in the purest of silver, steel, or platinum.
It was the guards who spoke in more hushed tones. Apparently it had been the Shield Hero's weapon that had made the breaching hole. Nevertheless it wasn't the weapon that scared them but his eyes. Black eyes with green, soft glowing pupils.
Aultcray Melromarc had seen many things in his time as king, and even more as the Vassal Staff Hero. Yet somehow, all these twittering birds going about his court, murmuring and chirping these rumors as they pleased did more to unnerve the king than a dozen court meetings all at once could have ever hoped to achieved.
These rumors had him worried that one of his greatest fears had come true; that Siltvelt's God had been called forth. The King could only wonder if, when those doors opened and the Heroes arrived, if they would be in the presence of a wild beast. One that had coated its flesh in metal rather than fur. He imagined a sort of scalemail chimera. Thousands of needles on its back like a porcupine. Claws of a tiger more akin to scythes. And the teeth of a wolf which might as well have been daggers. All covered by a coat meant not to conceal these weapons, but to protect them from tarnish. Though he chided himself for these child-like thoughts, the smallest part of him couldn't help but believe them. King Aultcray had been warned time and again that this time the bearer of the Shield would be a monster by his closest holy confidants.
When the doors to the main court did finally open, The King had let out an involuntary sigh of relief. There was no beast among the robed and armored figures. Instead, he was greeted to the sight of a man in fine clothes, covered by an even finer coat. Though an odd hat rested upon his head, and there were odd bits of metal stuck to his oddly lumpy skin. Though there was the odd patterns of ink on his face, and those glowing eyes...Aultcray Melromarc had to admit that he was looking at just looking at a man from another world...Even if he did have that damned shield attached to his arm.
...-ooo000ooo-...
Naofumi was no stranger to hearing murmurs when he entered a room. Maelstrom borgs would egg each other on to try and take a piece of him. Corpo-rats would look at him with dollar signs in their eyes. Tiger claws would whisper escape plans to each other and move for the exit. Cops would place a hand on their guns while the rookie stood by the radio, ready to call in if he so much as sneezed.
This muttering was closest to Corpo-rat chatter. It reminded him of the old days in the Arasaka Counter-ops pen. Whispers and rumors would be traded between operatives. The chatter at its loudest when someone had fucked up and was about to get the 'severance package'. It didn't help that with the embroidered banners, ornate windows, and other royal decorations – Naofumi felt he was in an eccentric CEO's office. The otherworldly mercenary's Kiroshi eyes went from person to person in the room, scanning them for a few seconds then moving to the next in line. Nobles, guards, servants, each had a data entry and was only adding to Naofumi's belief this was some weird idea of a virtu.
Naofumi Iwatani was accepting of Zen Masters teleporting away. Of bullshit tarot card symbols only he could see, along with other mystic bullshit. However, the idea that just as he gets Silverhand uploaded, he is zapped and sent off to some ass backwards castle town with three others to be a hero ? Not a fucking chance. Naofumi could hear Johnny screaming at him for allowing himself to get mind-fucked by Arasaka techies. If he was trapped in some sort of digital soul hell, he could only hope that the rapid changes in temperature caused him to piss in their coolant. He would have loved to see the result of the servers trying to handle the aftermath of twelve spunky monkeys, a synthsnack, and two burrito XXL Rosados… Scratch that, he genuinely hoped his failing body had shit in the coolant. If his apartment was any indication, he would have dropped a bigger bomb in Arasaka's Tower than Silverhand did in the 20's.
Living in memories was more pleasant to Naofumi than listening to somebodies idea of a BD Isekai Game. So it was to no small annoyance when the representative of the party escorting them finally shut up in favor of letting the royalty open his mouth. The King sat upon his golden throne, which was perched a few steps above the floor, allowing him the power to literally look down on his subjects. To Naofumi, he was the stereotypical king of old children's stories. An elegant deep purple cloak trimmed with white fur draped over his shoulders. The golden crown upon his head was demarcated by a single large amethyst in the center and gleamed as if freshly polished. His white hair and beard were well trimmed, granting a clear view of his lined face. Currently, his eyes were focused on the heroes, appraising them with all the condescendence of a man of his stature.
"I am this country's king, Aultcray, the Thirty-Second Ruler of Melromarc." He proclaimed in a way clearly meant to impress. The words seemed to capture the attention of Naofumi's allies, but he knew it was all a rehearsed performance. "Should you save this glorious country, you will be duly compensated in return. Aside from that, I have funds prepared for you so that you may prepare. I ask that you work to your fullest potential." Finished, the King leaned back in his seat and made a small gesture of invitation with his right hand. "Now then Heroes, I will hear of your names."
Like any Corpo-raised brat, Naofumi was mentally vivisecting every word the man had said. He stood behind the others, arms crossed in 'attentive' boredom. The rim of his cap keeping his eyes mostly concealed as they again appraised the room. The fancy-dressed nobility around were watching closely, more than a few casting looks his way when they thought he wasn't looking. The guards in particular were on edge, the closest pair to the group having their attention fully trained on him. There was no doubt in Naofumi's mind that word had spread about the equipment he was carrying. Though something about the whole scenario was bugging him, and it wasn't the otherworldly gonk.
The black-haired shorty with the sword was the first to step up, and Naofumi finally decided to scan his fellows like the rest.
"My name is Amaki Ren, age sixteen. I'm a high schooler." The scan confirmed Ren's words, and also revealed a weakness to electrical damage, and no resistances. This knowledge of a revealed weakness in a hero only added another point to Naofumi's 'Braindance-Bullshit' theory, and even suggested the possibility of upcoming PVP in this game.
The blond brat of a bow wielder stepped up next. "I am Kawasumi Itsuki, seventeen years old. I am in high school as well." This scan said Itsuki was weak to wind, but also showed that he had a title; ESPer. This was not the first time Naofumi had heard the term. Some of the Asian kids around Japantown, most of those too young to join up with Tiger Claws, would talk of it. Supposedly, it was some sort of 'brain magic', and he made a note to remember that later.
The final member of the three moved up with a dumbass' smile on his face as he twirled the spear in his hands. "My name's Kitamura Motoyasu. I'm twenty-one, and a university student." The brat used his free hand to move a stray strand of blond hair from his face and shot a glance towards several of the noblewomen in the gathered audience.
Naofumi couldn't help but wonder if Motoyasu thought his education meant anything to anyone here. And while he'd be the first to admit that a weakness to fire was unexpected for the spear holder, there was nothing else about the guy that stood out. Indeed, as a whole, all three brats were nothing remarkable, and Naofumi couldn't help but scoff as he realized the three of them actually seemed to be getting into the situation at hand.
With the other three having named themselves with basic information, Naofumi considered using an old power play from his Arasaka days. Wait until the person asks you for you name directly, a tactic that makes them acknowledge their need for something you possess. With this in mind, it was no surprise to him when the King opened his mouth to comment on the other three.
"So Ren, Motoyasu, and Itsuki, hmmm?"
The King may have been slightly smarter than Naofumi originally gave him credit for, recognizing the man's play as the same one he had had intended to made. The King was apparently expecting him to cut in, raise a hand, or do some other submissive gesture in a show of wanting attention from him.
"Not Happening." The mercenary thought. Naofumi didn't react to the snub, didn't even give a tilt of his head to look up at the King. If Aultcray was expecting Night City's best edgerunner to submit, BD program or not, he had another thing coming. Naofumi decided to play his next card, and in his opinion, the best card one could play in any negotiation.
He turned from the King, the Heroes, the court, and began to walk towards the door.
First Ironclad Rule of Hostile Negotiations: 'The one who will walk away when they choose wins'.
Nobles started muttering before he was even a quarter of the way done with his turn. The chatter began when the first step was taken, and the previously relaxed guards were now on alert. Outright gossip started before he had even taken his fourth step. Naofumi didn't fail to notice when the King went silent, but still didn't even give the man a tiniest glance over the shoulder. Any sign of regret, of hesitation, would give the game way. His back was straight, his steps confident yet casual. And there was no looking back, even as he heard a nobody in the crowd call him out directly. One of the two men would break, and it wasn't about to be the one who was already done with this shit.
Halfway to the doors, which two guards still stood before, Naofumi got an answer to his unasked question. "Shield Hero!" The King's voice called out. Though he had tried to make it sound authoritative, Naofumi could hear the reluctance in the words. The faint change in the air told him the court heard it too...And that's what Naofumi wanted.
He turned around then, though there was no hurry, no haste in the action. He crossed his arms in an almost disapproving way, seeming as if the King had wasted his time. "Yes?" He asked, no honorifics, titles, or respect in the tone. He knew the king had played his hand, and that he had done it childishly. While Naofumi hoped that snubbing the King would have lead to a sequence break, allowing him to leave this illusionary world. That didn't seem to be the case. The other three 'Heroes' still remained in their same spots, looking between each other, the court, and the King with confusion. Aultcray himself had leaned forward in his seat again, though both hands were now gripping the arm rests hard enough to make them tremble.
The court could see the challenge as the majority of them fell silent. And that's what Naofumi wanted. "Explain why you are leaving?" The King commanded.
Naofumi refused to step closer. "You asked for my name. Then cut me off." He pointed out. A few observers gasped at his bold observation, and some started muttering again. "That shows pointedly that you either don't need me here. Don't want me here. Or, that you have lost your sight or senses. So if you didn't want or need me here, I'm going to look for a way home." He began to turn around again, first blood already drawn in the unsaid battle. The King expected to have another pawn to play with, but instead found an emperor already going for his throat. The not so subtle snub obvious to even the dumbest of the lot.
A stranger to their lands called the King blind, or an idiot in from of the court and directly to his face. He showed the lot that he knew their game, and wasn't stupid. Most of all, Naofumi showed that he was willing to walk away from it all. Arasaka would have called this 'playing coy' - Naofumi called it being an unreasonable dick, but it worked. Putting on an act for business was one thing, a performance done for pleasure another, but he knew the old saying about not mixing business with pleasure. Naofumi needed to show whomever was behind him being there that he wasn't willing to play pretend without reason.
"Shield Hero, wait! Perhaps..." The King seemed to get caught on his own words.
Naofumi smiled like an executive who spotted a loophole in a client's contract, but still didn't turn back. Instead, he cocked his head to the side, enough to show his ear. "Hmm?"
The growling in his voice was unmistakable, hard to hear, but once noticed was an undeniable accent. "...I may have been...disagreeable." Aultcray acquiesced, "I will take note for the future." As elegant as the words might have sounded, Naofumi knew it was political doublespeak for 'I apologize, but can't say it openly'. More importantly, it was the King verbally submitting.
Naofumi turned back around, arms still crossed and still rooted to the spot he had stopped. "Alright then, you can call me V." He told them in an almost friendly tone, "I'm a mercenary from Night City." There was no missing the faint discomfort on the other Heroes faces, and the nervous shifting of the court. "Now...Explain to me why we should save your world?"
...-ooo000ooo-...
From an unseen spot in the throne room, the Queen's Shadow had seen many speak in court during her service. Flowery speeches from those seeking an alliance. Lengthy speeches from those wanting power. Impotent requests. Verbose nothingness. Self important rambling. She had heard them all. But the Shield Hero's performance was the first time she had ever seen someone say so much without speaking. It didn't take a trained eye, or years of listening to political friends and foes trade wits to notice what she saw. The Shield Hero's will was unyielding. He stood above a king, and found him lacking of such a title. Taken one who had spent years on the throne, seen all sorts of conflicts, and forced him to submission without violence. All an act of skill, cunning, and perhaps most unnervingly...experience.
The fact that he carried a weapon that could pierce stone after stone without the use of magic paled in comparison to his display in the courtroom. But together, those facts all pointed to a frightening conclusion.
The Queen needed to be notified at once. This development meaning that her husband's games could result in far greater consequences than was predicted.
...-ooo000ooo-...
Watching the spectacle unfold from her place in the throne room, Princess Malty was intrigued. Excited even by what she witnessed.
She had expected a set of pawns to be added to her playground. But lo' and behold, had found a dark knight of her own. The original plan she made had been to aid the church in their own plots. To go out and woo the dumbest of the three weapon-bearing heroes as a way to elevate her status to where she felt she belonged. However, the Shield's performance had entertained her beyond anything she could have hoped for from these outsiders. Malty could make her father bend over at the slightest breeze from her. But here and now, she witnessed a wall once thought to be invincible to all others almost crumble and collapse under the presence from an impregnable mountain. She saw a King forced to kneel to a nobody in a showing of words – not force.
The thought of her being able to break a man like that...Thrilled her. An almost wicked grin snaked its way onto her face as she began plotting and planning. Calculating how best to poke and prod the newest toy offered to her.
...-ooo000ooo-...
Naofumi genuinely believed that Jackie Wells, Johnny Silverhand, and even Saburo Arasaka were all laughing at him from their versions of the afterlife.
The man who rampaged around Night City under the mercantile alias of 'V' was still ninety percent certain that he was trapped in some fake world inside the server space of Mikoshi. A potential fantasy of Saburo's for engrams to continue 'living' as they await their awakening in the land of the living. He genuinely prayed for that to be the case. If not, then that small ten percent of him was right. That small percent telling him he really was trapped in the fucking shitty and overused plot of a 2020's Isakai Adventure Story. Being trapped as a digital construct in a server prison, one meant for global control by using the immortals within for a good fifty years or more, seemed a more peaceful option. Hell, being put on ice by any meaning of the phrase would be better than having to play the reluctant protagonist.
There was nobody in the throne room who missed the look of blatant, exasperated loathing that the madman in their midst gave the shield. "So to clarify your story in short: This world is coming to an end because portals are puking out monsters. You guys called the four of us here, and got us stuck to these...weapons." Naofumi's face contorted in annoyance as he held up his shield arm. "Now, we are being forced to fight the monster hoards OR we're gonna die?" Cue the nods and hesitant affirmations from all sides. "Alright then. How the fuck do I get this piece of soon to be scrap off my arm?"
"Pardon?" The representative of the mages spoke up again. "Nobody has ever turned down the honor of being one of the Cardinal Heroes!"
"Now somebody has." Naofumi gave the shield a strong tug at the connecting bracer on his arm. "I want this glorified slave collar off me." He continued pulling on the shield as the room came to life again.
"S-Slave collar?!" The mage seemed taken aback by the assessment. He looked at the other three heroes, wondering if they shared the same opinion. The smallest amount of relief flowed into the mage as he noticed they seemed as put off by the Shield's attitude as the rest of the court.
"Yeah, a slave collar." Naofumi held his shield arm up, connecting bracer facing the King and mage. "Nobody asked me to be a hero. To fight a battle that is only my concern because this lump of shitty metal pulled me out of a pool of coolant on another world." Naofumi gave the shield a shake as he clarified his thoughts. "I don't care what you're offering me as rewards, seeing as I apparently have no choice in the matter. The fact that I'm collared means that, at any time, you could pull the rug out from under my feet. And that I wouldn't be able to do shit but suffer." He gave the Legendary Shield another tug, this one hard enough that the shield reacted. A small jolt of electricity was discharged, an effort on the shield's part to get him to stop.
[!User – Breach of Terms!]
[Once granted a Hero may not revoke the title of Hero!]
"What the hell is wrong with the soft you installed into my neural net?" Naofumi questioned, "Why won't this stupid shield come off?"
"The Legendary Weapons are not just linked to their bearer physically," The mage touched his own wrist, before placing a hand on his heart, "but spiritually as well."
"Well ain't that just a mile high pile of suck." The unrepentant and unwilling hero quipped. "I have a slave collar on my soul. Neat. Get. It. Off. Me." Every word was punctuated by another tug on the shield, another jolt of electricity, and another warning about a breach of terms. "Jesus, even Silverhand was willing to bend a little when he was stuck with me."
"We c-can't!" The mage suddenly seemed to lose the calm he had. "The Legends don't tell of a way to unmake one of the heroes!"
Naofumi gave a snort and drew another weapon, this time from the holster tucked beneath his coat. The bright pink pistol with a large purple scope atop it was a sharp contrast to the rest of his looks. "Then let's see what lil' Lizzie has to say about that!" The weapon was violently vibrating as Naofumi held a finger on the trigger, barrel pressed to the shackle on his wrist.
[!Searching for Solution, Please Wait!]
A flash of light that made those at the front of the crowd wince.
The purr of a cat made of out of thunder and lightning, accompanied by the surprised screams of a few watching nobles.
A Quintet of cracks as the weapon discharged, releasing a spray of gunfire potent enough to sunder a MaxTac Mech on impact.
At Naofumi's feet, thirty intertwined overlapping holes opened in the floor like a spray of buckshot made of acid had been splattered on the ground. The crowd was once again abuzz at the knowledge of a weapon that pierced stone with ease.
And on his arm, the shield was gone. A few startled gasps came from the ones who noticed this fact as well. Naofumi grinned at the sight, but it quickly faded when he noticed a green gem ball stuck in the palm of his left hand. The same one that had sat so innocently in the center of the disguised slave collar called a shield. "Of fucking course it wouldn't be that easy."
[!Solution found, New Mode Unlocked!]
[Prosthetic Arm Shield – Withdrawn Mode, Unlocked]
[Abilities: Deployment Mode Switch, Passive Skills Activation.]
[Equipment Bonus: Unarmed Defense Bonus (Large)]
"You are just as spitefully annoying as an Ad-Block blocker aren't ya?" Naofumi briefly thought of trying to break the gem, but decided against it. Turning to the now horrified crowd of watchers, he once again addressed the room. "I don't suppose this fantasy punk palace has a Ripperdoc on hand?"
"A-A what?" The mage seemed confused by the terms.
"A Ripperdoc. I wanna see if getting this arm cut off and replaced is enough to keep your 'Legendary Shield' away from me." He said it matter-of-factually. Calm and assured of his thoughts, as if it was an everyday idea of treatment that should calm them down.
His words had the opposite effect, and the horrified looks he was receiving only intensified. Glances, looks, and mutterings were exchanged between parties, before the King seemed to regain his voice.
"Y-You can't be serious!" Aultcray's voice silenced the court. "Is the idea of being a Hero so abhorrent to you that you would cut off your own limbs to escape it!?"
"Both of my arms are fakes." He rolled back a sleeve, the golden band just above his elbow showing clearly where organic met artificial. "A good ripper can switch them for me in an hour. But yeah, let me make it clear. I don't know if this is some kind of fucked up game, or if this is real." He had lost Jackie. Faced his own death in a trash heap. Was told that the Relic was killing him. Rampaged across Night City, then plowed his way into Mikoshi. Adding the glorified slavery on top of everything meant that the stress was catching up to him, the ever-building strain at his limits. All of this shown clearly as he clenched his fist, a yellowish-green gas suddenly emitting from his around his knuckles. "Either way, I'm not playing. I still want answers." He relaxed his fists, the gas fading like a snuffed out candle's smoke.
"We can provide you answers." The mage cut in, but his words seemed to be ignored as Naofumi continued his rant.
"I want to go back to my apartment, feed my cat, and sleep until the landlord kicks me out for unpaid rent. Or Arasaka's ninjas come in and gut me beyond repair." He sighed, eyes looking directly at the King. "What I don't want is to deal with anymore of this shit. I'm no slave." Naofumi fixed his sleeve then, eyes falling on the pistol still in his hand. "And fuck me, 'cause that means I just wasted five bullets just to be outsmarted by a lump of metal."
"We..." The King began, eyes meeting Naofumi's before they looked to the other heroes, "shall do what we can for you." His eyes drifted towards one of the windows, noticing the way shadows were starting to fall. "That being said, it has been a long day for all of you. A feast has been prepared in your honor, and my servants have prepared your quarters."
"Will there be booze?" Naofumi asked, a few of the nobility exchanging confused looks. "Ugh. Beer, wine, spirits, alcohol?" The eyes of many lit up in understanding, and the King gave a reluctant smile and nod. "Good, because I need a cold one after all this bullshit."
So far the Shield Hero had shown himself to be unlike anything anyone could have expected. The awkwardness of that fact followed them all into the dining hall and even far into the night.
...-ooo000ooo-…
King Aultcray had spared no expense in decorating the dining hall for the Heroes Welcome feast. The walls had been decorated with banners, various weapons, and even several tapestries that depicted past heroes valiantly charging into battle. All of the tables had been draped with fine cloths, and arranged in such a way to seat many, without obstructing anyone's path. The longest and grandest table had been reserved for the royalty, highest nobility, and the Heroes. From his place at the head of the central table, the King observed the scene before him. His original plan had been to have the four heroes to his right. Of course, the shield would be in the fourth place, as far from him as possible without appearing to be a further snub. That plan was thrown out the window following V's display and many felt it best to keep the King separated from the others. Thus, the Heroes had been moved to the other end of the table, and it was them he was currently observing.
The Spear Hero, Motoyasu, didn't waste any time and took to talking with some of the nobles seated nearest to him. Though he always seemed to be listening politely when a man was talking to him. Aultcray couldn't help but notice the man became more attentive whenever it was a woman catching his ear.
The Bow Hero, Itsuki, seemed to be reveling in the attention he was receiving. Any time someone stopped by to offer a wish of luck, or praise for deeds not yet done, the youth's face glowed.
The Sword Hero, Ren, seemed to be keeping to himself. Though he would take the time to talk with anyone who addressed him, Aultcray noticed he wasn't going out of his way to for, lack of a better term, make friends.
Despite the differences in personality, the King could tell they all had at least one thing in common; the desire to be the Hero of their respective weapon.
"Those three should do well..." Aultcray gave a nod to himself, before his eyes fell upon the Shield hero. The metal adorned man was currently looking around the banquet hall, those glowing eyes seeming to be observing a person right down to their soul. Few dared to approach him, but those that did were treated with a casual respect by the Shield. A small surprise to the King, given the man's 'speech' back in the throne room. "Though V, just what do you hope to accomplish by denying the Shield?" He searched his memories, trying to recall stories of the past heroes. Of what happened to them, or what happened during times when they were not taking up arms. His thoughts drifted to the demi-humans and their worship of the Shield Heroes of the past. He recalled them treating those Shield Heroes with respect, nearly worshiping them as a God.
Almost anyone would enjoy being treated like that, yet Aultcray had a feeling that this iteration of Shield Hero wouldn't even bat an eye at their adoration of him. He idly wondered if sending the Shield hero off to Siltvelt would be seen as an act of peace, or as an act of war. "While it would get rid of him for us...Would he not assemble the armies of Siltvelt and return here in revenge for summoning him? Or would he be content to live among those who would, more than likely, bend to every wish of his. Even if that meant leaving him to live the life of a king."
The King looked to his side, noticing one of the High Priests of the Three Heroes Church seated close to him. "Ah pontiff. May I have a word with you?" He made a small gesture of summons that the priest was quick to respond to.
"Of course. What do you need of me my king?" The priest wasted little time in shuffling his seat over to the King's side, understanding the man's words were probably only for him.
"Tell me. What do you think of the idea of sending the Shield Hero off to Siltvelt, or one of the other countries who favor the Shield?" Aultcray kept his voice low enough so that only the priest could hear. However a small part of him briefly wondered if V had enhanced ears, for the Shield's eyes briefly fell upon him again before looking back around the room.
"At present time?" The priest's eyes narrowed as they looked to where V was currently conversing with a passing wine bearer. "I feel it would do more harm than good if we were to send the Shield out of Melromarc. There is little doubt in my mind that word has probably begun to spread through the town about what has transpired here." He gave a tiny shake of his head. "To move so, boldly after shunning the man once might be seen a further snub to the Shield. And potentially seen as heresy by allied nations who still follow the Four Heroes."
The King shifted in his chair, himself having had much the same thoughts. "Heresy, you say?"
"Forgive me my liege, but perhaps that was not the right word." The priest gave a small submissive bow, "I simply mean it as those nations may become concerned at your actions, given that they have not yet accepted our faithful teachings."
Though Aultcray had already made up his mind, he still had to ask. "So you think it is better to let him stay?"
"For the moment. It gives us time to observe him, and gives us time to see if he will act the devil with his actions again." There was no stutter or hesitation in the priest's words, something that confirmed Aultcray's suspicions on the church's opinion of the matter.
"Thank you pontiff. Your council is much appreciated." The King gave a nod of dismissal as the priest gave his own bow before returning to his chair. "He's right. Let the man stay and see what he does. If he causes too many problems..." Aultcray looked back at V, now noticing the empty plate to sit before the shield. The surface was clean, and the cutlery beside it showing no signs of having been used. The other heroes, after observing the situation in a vague attempt to not commit a faux pas as the Shield had done, wasted no time in helping themselves to the many foods laid out on the table before them. Even now, the three of them were drinking, eating, and seeming to enjoy themselves. "Does a man of metal not eat?"
"V was it?" Aultcray addressed the Shield, wondering not for the first time what kind of a name was V. "Is the food we've prepared not to your liking?" The King tried to keep his voice level, but couldn't help but feel a small air of mockery might have been upon his words.
"Well, it looks good, but I'm just waiting to make sure none of my fellow Heroes die." The humorless smile of V's was revealing a set of silver teeth. The King sat back in his chair slightly, even as people began to mutter and debate if the outworlder's teeth were of painted bone, or forged of metal like so much else.
"I can assure you," He placed a hand over his heart, "my finest chefs have spared no expense. And that everything here is of a quality fit for a king." Polite laughs came from around the room at Aultcray's unintentional joke, and even V had to give a little snort of appreciation.
"If you say so."
The King watched as V lifted a wine cup and gave it a practiced sniff one would expect more from a connoisseur rather than a self-proclaimed mercenary. Aultcray had long learned to read expressions on another face, and even with the metal inlaid within the skin of his flesh there was no mistaking the fluttering of eyes that only came from a pleasurable sensation. The King watched as his guest took another gulp of the wine before looking at the food as if he was just seeing it for the first time. It was a curious thing to watch V eat. The man took little samples of each dish, and without fail would looked shocked as he tasted it. Soon enough he was enthusiastically pulling servings from all the platters in reach, even going so far as to request those seated or servants to bring him other foods that caught his eyes.
Aultcray was taken aback as he watched V devour everything. Despite the formal appearance of his clothing, Aultcray couldn't help but question if V was actually a homeless beggar, given how much he was eating compared to the others. Shaking his head, the King now turned to his eldest daughter. She had the place of honor directly to his right, which also gave her a clear line of sight at the heroes. He recalled her reactions when the Heroes first arrived. Indifferent towards the Bow and Sword, and some level of interest towards the Spear. She barely spared a passing glance at the Shield, until he had opened his mouth. Now, Aultcray could tell that his daughter's attention was fully on the Shield hero. She was sitting on the edge of her chair, fidgeting slightly while idly picking at her food.
"Glad to see the Shield Hero likes the taste of seafood..." Malty's words were only audible to those closest to her, but Aultcray heard them clearly. His eyes briefly went wide and face switched to that of a concerned father, as his eyes darted back to V just in time to see him make short work of a grilled trout someone offered him. Deciding to leave his daughter to her musings, the King turned his ears to the conversations happening around the room. He could hear people talking of the vulgar language V had used. Heard others still commenting on how the Shield was able to use a weapon able to pierce stone. Two nobles at the table with him were making comments about his overall attire, comparing it to the clothes of the other three.
He looked back to V, wondering again if the man was hearing any of this himself. He half expected to see the Shield Hero holding one of those...what did Motoyasu call it, a gun? Ready to fire it at the next person to make some comment close enough for him to hear clearly. Instead, he was surprised to see V still helping himself to the feast, the man seeming deaf to the chatter around him. For the first time since arriving, Aultcray felt that V looked relaxed, and seemed more like any one of his fellow heroes. Or at least, that might have been the case if the man didn't have a large chunk of beef roast and other assorted meat cuts upon his plate.
Taking a good long look, Aultcray once again found himself thinking that the Shield hero was walking a fine line between man and beast.
...-ooo000ooo-…
Following the feast, the King had made another short speech and bade his guests good night before summoning several of his servants and guards to escort the four heroes to their quarters.
"I do hope you will forgive us," the head servant was saying as he lead the heroes down the halls, "but with all the guests at present time, we have the four of you staying in one room. You each have your own bed however, and each has a small chest in which you can store any items with you for the evening."
The three other heroes expected V to make a comment about the situation, but the man simply shrugged and made some comment about it probably being better than some motel he stayed at a few times. They themselves had nodded, and expressed thanks to the servant and the King. Thanks were once again offered as they had arrived at the appointed room. There was a simple elegance in the décor, and each of the beds had been made up with clean sheets. All four of them an equal distance apart, but arranged in such a way that the four could still easily talk with each other.
"Yeah, better than the No Tell, but not as good as Konpeki..." V muttered, his eyes looking to the younger men. "Well, pick your beds."
Partially out of respect for the work of the servants, and a little out of fear of V's request, the three boys moved into the room and began to settle in. Itsuki claimed the bed closest to the door, with Motoyasu taking the one to his left, and Ren the one to the right. This left the fourth bed, and the one furthest away from the door for V.
"Alright, if you boys will excuse me." V looked to the one remaining servant, "where's the nearest toilet?"
"Just down the hall, fifth door on the left." The servant looked to the other heroes as V departed. "Do you heroes need anything else?"
"Not at the moment." Motoyasu answered, removing the university jacket he was wearing in favor of storing it in the provided chest.
"I'm good, thank you for asking." Ren gave a thumb's up as he sat down on his bed, "oh wow. This is soft." Fitting of being the youngest, he bounced up and down a few times on the down stuffed mattress.
"Same here." Itsuki gave a nod as he removed his shoes. Satisfied with their answers, the servant departed, leaving the three alone. For a few moments, each was content to settle in and store their belongings before looking into their own weapons. V's displays had left the three of them feeling a little intimidated on asking any questions of their own, and they were now compensating for that fact.
"Hey are any of you seeing a little icon out of the corner of your eye?" Ren squinted at a point only in his line of sight. "Focus...There! Hey, it's like a status screen."
The other two heroes copied his actions, each letting out their own sound of understanding as they found the icon for themselves.
"And I think this one is a help system." Itsuki played around with the icons, smiling as a wealth of information came up before him.
"The book icon, right?" Motoyasu answered, "just found it. Along with a 'skill tree' display."
"I see it," Ren smiled, "there's quiet a lot to unlock it seems."
"Heh, classic game mechanic in a classic game world." The blond looked around the room, seeming to appraise the décor. "Yeah, with these heads-up displays, and everything we've seen...I'm getting a massive Emerald Online vibe."
"Never heard of that one, Motoyasu." Ren seemed intrigued, "is that a new VRMMO?"
"No, it's been out for awhile...But what do you mean VRMMO?" Motoyasu blinked, "like virtual reality?"
"Virtual Reality? That's the stuff of science fiction." Itsuki coughed, his eyes looking between the two. "Or is that what you call game consoles?"
"Consoles? Like the super retro plug-and-play systems? Or a computer?" It was Ren's turn to blink in confusion.
"Hang on," Motoyasu raised a hand, asking for silence. "Itsuki, what's one of the most popular games for you and your classmates that you can compare all this to?"
"Dimension Wave. Though there are quiet a few differences."
"Ren, same question."
"Brave Star Online."
"I've never heard of either of those, and neither of you have heard of Emerald Online, right?" The younger heroes shook their heads as they agreed, both mentioning having not heard of the other's game as well. "And what about the things V said? What did he mention a few times, Arasaka? Does that sound familiar to any of you?"
Again, heads were shook at a lack of knowledge. "Say, remember what the priests said when we first arrived? He said we were summoned." Ren crossed his arms, thinking. "Strange as this might sound, do you think we've all been pulled from alternate realities? Or different timelines?"
"I mean, it's possible but...You're talking sci-fi nonsense." Itsuki shook his head.
"But it would make sense, given the circumstances we've seen so far. Tell me..." The brown-haired youth threw out a few more questions, in which the other two were quick to answer. With the exception of Japan being the answer to 'Where are you from?' - none of their answers lined up. The topic shifted back to the displays before them, and the weapons they carried.
"All of this." Ren made a sweeping gesture that encompassed the whole room, "I'm willing to say we've been pulled into a video game world."
"At the very least, a world with game like elements." Motoyasu smiled, "think there's any dating sim elements?"
"Maybe, but I'm more interested in going out and being the hero." Itsuki struck what he believed to be a heroic pose, an action that brought a laugh from the other two.
"You know, this might actually be fun." Ren tapped his sword against his leg, his eyes noticing then that V's bed was still undisturbed. "Say, have either of you two seen V?"
The other two started, realizing that they had been so focused on everything else to where they forgot the fourth member of their party. Motoyasu shook his head, while Itsuki glanced at the door which had remained closed since the servant's departure.
"Not since we picked beds." The younger of the two answered, "Do you think he got lost coming back from the toilet?"
"Doubt it. With all those robotic parts and prosthesis, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a GPS system of sorts installed in him." Motoyasu tapped his own arm as he spoke, almost as if to check he was still made of flesh and bone. "And honestly, I think V is the perfect proof that we're in a game, another world, or whatever you want to call it. I just can't imagine augments of that level working anywhere outside of a game or sci-fi setting."
"You might be right. Which if that's the case..." Ren's eyes closed slightly as he considered his next words. "I can't help but wonder if V is playing the evil route..."
"We don't know that." Motoyasu defended, before remembering V's words. "Though he did mention spending time killing before being summoned."
"Do you think he meant actually killing people?" Itsuki gave a small shudder, "or just playing around in a video game? I mean, he did handle those weapons of his with the skill and icy calmness of a man not afraid to use them."
"Ren, you mentioned VRMMOs. Are VRFPS' also a thing?"
Ren took a deep breath as he answered Motoyasu's question, seeming to realize something. "I mean, most of the MMOs have FPS elements, but I can't think of any dedicated ones." His eyes quickly scanned through the help system, "though he did mention 'engrams' - a term I've heard developers use to refer to digital entities. Which could explain how he has additional gear with him while we've only got the clothes on our backs." Ren's eyes went back to the sword he was currently holding. "Though he also called his shield a 'slave collar', and implied that our 'hero quest' is basically slave labor..."
"I wouldn't call a hero's quest slave labor," Itsuki answered, a small laugh escaping him.
"Maybe not, but he did make a good point. We were summoned without our permission to a world we know nothing about. And now we've really no choice but to play along?" Ren took another deep breath, "I hate to say it, but what if V's right, and we're just prisoners being forced into labor?"
"Then what crimes did we commit to end up here?" Motoyasu's eyes went wide. "I don't know about you two or V, but I was..." He paused, seeming to try and find the best words to explain his situation. "Before arriving, I was dealing with a situation involving two of my girl friends that got a little out of hand."
"I got involved in something I aught not to have helping a friend...And then I ended up here." Ren gently rubbed at his side, seeming unwilling to say more. "Itsuki?"
The brown-haired boy was suddenly rubbing the back of his head, a faint flush on his face. "Maybe a traffic violation for me? I...I got hit by a truck before ending up here."
Some of the seriousness of the situation seemed to evaporate at his words, and both Ren and Motoyasu had to hide their grins. Truck-kun claimed another.
"That sucks man," Motoyasu said after a moment, "and sorry to hear of your troubles too Ren."
"Eh, it's all over and done now." Ren shrugged as Itsuki nodded in agreement. "Though I wonder what brought V here? Think we should ask him when he gets back?"
"If he comes back." Motoyasu looked towards the door, before a yawn escaped him. "Perhaps, but for now...I'm thinking we should get some rest. I know we've not done much today, but I'm feeling worn out by everything."
Itsuki nodded in agreement as Motoyasu's yawn proved contagious. "Agreed, we can always talk more in the morning."
"And-and maybe all of this will make more sense then..." Ren said through a yawn of his own as he turned back the covers of his bed and settled down. "Good night guys."
The other two returned the greeting and settled in for the night. Each one hoping some sleep would help get their thoughts in order.
...-ooo000ooo-…
There were loads of different mercenary jobs in Night City. A Gun-for-Hire gig was where those with a lacking moral compass would find the target and ensure they didn't see another day. Netrunner jobs required technical know-how and the quality cyberware to match. Naofumi's favorite type of job was much simpler, easier, and as old as mankind itself: 'Recovery work', also known as stealing. A fact that was liberally demonstrated by Naofumi wandering from room to room in the capital's castle, filching anything shiny or valuable looking if the room in question was empty.
His desire to recover goods came after a simple discovery; a lack of access to his stash of Eurodollars. Most games gave one access to their funds, on the off chance they wanted to gain some 'premium content'. "Either this one is a rare 'free-to-play, free-to-win' game or it has its own 'premium currency' that I've not yet discovered." He thought to himself, "Another point to the Mikoshi playground theory." He was still resisting the theory that the world was real.
Naofumi sighed with a mix of boredom and budding depression as he made his way around the castle, most of which seemed virtually abandoned, save for the occasional patrolling guard that he could easily hide from. For the moment, he had found an out of the way corner in the hall and was looking at the goods he had grabbed so far. A necklace left laying in a noblewoman's quarters, a silver knife from a study, a loose ruby pried from a statuette in a hallway. Mostly small and easily forgotten baubles people wouldn't really notice missing, yet still useful if offered as a bribe or to sell off for whatever currency this world used. With no eye for jewelry, he studied the necklace. "For all I know, you might be enough potential money to buy my own mansion...or at least enough to buy another steak."
Another genuine smile crossed his face as he again recalled the King's feast. Organic food was a rare treat in Night City, reserved mostly for those with more money than brain cells. The thought of another organic meal competed with thoughts of stealing more valuables. However, the thoughts of theft weren't all about the money. Most of it a compulsive bad habit started in an unfortunate youth. It was also serving as a way to pass the time and distract himself from his ever circling thoughts.
"Alright, let's see what else we can find…" After using his Kiroshi optics to confirm the coast was clear, Naofumi continued with his explorations. Within what he estimated to be an hour, he had found an infirmary, or at least this world's equivalent of one. Passed by two different armories. Located several storage rooms, a dozen servant's quarters, the lavish guest rooms meant for visiting nobility, literally tripped into a wash closet, avoided getting closer to the smell of more than one off-path privy, found a room loaded with statues, a room stuffed with framed paintings, and a room filled to the ceiling with stacked blankets of various sizes and materials. The last one made Naofumi wonder if the Castle was filled with assorted junk just because someone in charge couldn't be bothered properly organizing and storing goods.
More walking lead to more doors, more halls, and more disproportionate loads of nothing. Starting to find signs of life within the castle again, he decided to see if eavesdropping on people would provide some entertainment. However, all the conversations were variants of the chatter surrounding the new 'Heroes'. What they were wearing, what they looked liked, and how they behaved. Most of that last topic was dedicated to him, and Naofumi felt no remorse over his remarks. Bored with that, he tried to make a game of hiding and evading the guards, but the abuse of the reinforced tendons in his legs or the optical camo in his skin made sneaking around the guards barely worth the effort. He had hoped the few locked doors he found would have posed a better challenge, but even they needed little more than a milder than usual push to 'break' open. "Are there really catastrophic waves coming if they can't even be bothered with basic security?"
The latest lock he had 'picked' revealed a small hallway, roughly the size of the bathroom of his apartment back in Night City. A few bows and some bundles of arrows rested in the small weapon racks to the side, while the hallway ended at a spiral staircase. Naofumi made it to the stairs in a few short strides, his optics trying to see as far up the stairs as they could. "Access to the rooftop? Or maybe the walls?" He looked back to the bows, "either seems likely. A good spot to provide some cover from on high."
Calm as the castle seemed to be, Naofumi couldn't help but find himself thinking of various counters and strategies as he moved up the stairs. By his own estimate, he had probably climbed up two or three stories before coming even with a small landing. A ladder rested at the end, with a trapdoor above it. The slight drop in temperature near the ladder told him he was close to the outside, and the faint moonlight shining through the cracks around the door confirmed his assumption. "Might as well get some air…" He climbed the ladder and gave the door a gentle push. It opened easily and allowed him access to the roof of one of the castle's higher walkways. The trapdoor closed with a low thump behind him as he stood and made his way over to the side. Leaning on the chest-high wall of the battlements, Naofumi looked out at his surroundings.
The night sky above was clear, save for the occasional cloud drifting along on a night breeze. He took a deep breath, finding the air cool and clean, no hint of pollution or desert dust. He looked to the town that rested before the castle. The streets were majority paved with cobblestone, though he did notice several dirt paths closer to the outskirts of town. What really got him was the lack of visible trash along the sides. In Night City, there was barely a street corner, or an alleyway that wasn't littered with trash or other discarded goods. It was refreshing in a way, and he idly wondered just what the residents of the town did with any trash.
There was an odd cleanliness to the buildings as well. Though made of brick, stone, and wood, many had been given a coat of paint and seemed well maintained. While most of the town was dark, Naofumi could see a few places still illuminated by flickering candles, or the light from a fireplace. His eyes looked beyond the walls of the castle town, seeing for the first time the sprawling fields of growing crops, the verdant forests, and the clear water of the river that ran past the town.
"Heh, Misty would've loved to see this place. Hell, Panam and Jackie would have probably liked it too." He spoke to the night air as he zoomed back his optics in favor of looking at the stars. "Bet even Johnny would agr-" Naofumi blinked, one hand coming to rest on his neural port as a revelation came to his mind. Ever since Jackie had given him the Relic, he had received a message about a malfunction almost on the daily, followed by a blinding pain. These notifications and pains becoming more and more frequent as time went on. By the time he stormed Arasaka, he was having one almost every hour – with the worst one hitting just before jacking in to Mikoshi.
Now? Other than when he first arrived, and following the incident with Lizzie and the Shield, his neural displays had shown no warnings, no notifications. He had barely felt any pain when whatever software the Shield had loaded him with went in. Calling up his vitals, he confirmed the suspicion he felt growing.
[Status:]
Name: Naofumi Vincent Iwatani (Male, 28)
Class: Edgerunner (50) / Shield Hero (1)
Health: 924/924
MP: ?/?
SP: 353/353
RAM: 25/25
Defense: 6906
Body: 20/20
Reflexes: 20/20
Inteligence: 20/20
Technical Ability: 20/20
Cool: 20/20
[Possessions:]
Customized Militech M-76E Omaha Semi-auto Tech Pistol - "Lizzie"
Customized Darra-Polytechnic DS1 Pulsar Submachine Gun - "Buzzsaw"
Customized Tsunami Defense Systems Nekomata Tech Sniper Rifle - "Breakthrough"
Kang Tao Field Cap with Holodisplay
Armored Media Ocuset with Camera
Rosa Platino Reinforced Rockerjack
Heat-Resistant Hybridweave Netrunner Suit
Anti-Piercing Tactical Media Cargo Pants
Lightweight Hardened-Rubber Media Steel-toes
[Skills:]
Breach Protocol (20)
Quickhacking (20)
Athletics (20)
Annihilation (20)
Street Brawler (20)
Handguns (20)
Blades (20)
Assault (20)
Crafting (20)
Engineering (20)
Stealth (20)
Cold Blood (20)
[Spells & Techniques:]
Sonic Shock [LG]
Ping [LG]
Short Circuit [LG]
Contagion [LG]
Cripple Movement [LG]
System Reset [LG]
"The fuck is this?" Naofumi gently tapped the side of his head, as if trying to alter the display by physical force. "This isn't my usual display! Fuck!" He gave himself a harder slap, but the altered display still persisted. "The fuck is this outdated software?" He glared at the green orb still resting in the palm of his left hand. As expected, he received no response. "Okay, let's take a moment and make sure everything is still in order..."
With careful eyes, Naofumi began to review his 'status'. The sight of an 'MP' status lead him to pray to whatever god might be willing to listen that it didn't mean 'Magic Points'. He checked his inventory, finding it listing everything he had on him at the time he stormed Arasaka. He looked to his skills, seeing all of them present and at their maximum level. He looked at his 'Techniques' and felt an additional comfort that most of them were there, and of Legendary Grade. This comfort evaporated a little however, as he realized they were in a similar menu display as his Status...and that they were being called 'Spells & Techniques'.
"This a goddamn fairy tale? The fuck is everyone playing at!?" Again, he addressed the night air as he continued to look through his status, searching for one thing in particular. After a few more minutes, Naofumi had to concede defeat and admit that he was missing a few features. Key among them? The monitoring system that kept track of the Relic's corruption.
"Does that mean...Alt succeeded? Or can it not function on this primitive soft?" He mastered to keep his thoughts internalized as he began to pace back and forth. "I've not seen or felt anything to indicate a problem with it." He touched the port that the chip should have been slotted in, feeling the faintest bump to indicate it was still there. He briefly debated trying to eject it, but decided against that course of action. Still unsure of what may or may not be real, Naofumi considered all that he learned, all that he had seen and took a seat between the battlements, his legs dangling into the open air below.
"If the relic isn't working in these conditions...Does that mean I'm cured?" Once again, he tapped at the port again, the panicked action receiving no positive or negative reaction. A tightness was starting to pull at his chest. "And if I am, does that mean I don't have to fight anymore? The lone merc who succeeded where Silverhand failed before?" He looked over the stone railing of the tower-top, seeing the darkness below him. "If so, then what is left for me in Night City? Become like Rogue and be a fixer? Offer jobs to some other choomba hoping to make a name for themselves? Or be like Johnny and continue to fight to my last breath? But what would I have to fight for?"
He scooted forward slightly and leaned back, letting his arms support him as he looked out at the horizon. His mind idly drifted to a rooftop in Night City, where he had sat with Misty. Talked with Johnny about the plan that lead him to his current state. He looked back up at the sky, seeing again the unpolluted beauty above him, and his mind drifted to being around a campfire with the Aldecados. Recalled clearly the warmth he felt from Panam as she snuggled into his side. "Could I even leave Night City? And go with Panam and the others?"
Naofumi adjusted his posture, his eyes once again looking down into the darkness. "Or am I stuck here in this fantasy prison in Mikoshi until Arasaka decides they need me?" He spat over the side and leaned forward, the tension in his arms the only thing holding him back from going over the edge. "Can't decide if that's better or worse than being a slave to this useless hunk of metal, and the equally useless lumps of flesh who brought me here. Fuck!" He slammed his left palm down hard on the stone, and was only greeted with the sound of stone striking stone. Looking at his palm, the green ball within remained unscathed.
A long sigh escaped him as his eyes looked back over the horizon, and he found his thoughts back on the rooftop in Night City, Johnny seated before him as he had considered the best course of action. He had chosen to go in solo, justifying it as the option that would keep his friends safe, and prevent any loss of life on their side. However, he knew at the time there was another option that only he, and arguably Johnny, could have taken. The option that would have been the cleanest, and the one that would have caused the least amount of bloodshed on both sides. Naofumi couldn't help but wonder what Johnny would have had to say about the situation and circumstances.
"Not how I would go about it, but that's all right." He imagined Johnny agreeing, without actually agreeing. Classic Silverhand.
The option was back on the table as he again leaned over the edge and looked down, arms resting comfortably on his legs, contact with the stone ledge only maintained by his improved sense of balance. "No pushback?" He asked, knowing that he'd get no response as he sighed and moved just a fraction closer to the edge. Still no reaction.
"Guess I should show I'm serious..." He drew Lizzie from her holster.
She fit perfectly into his hand, finger resting on the trigger.
Most placed the barrel on the temple when they felt like he did. He'd seen the results enough times.
A few liked to bite the barrel, leave an artsy spray of brains and bloods behind them when they went.
Naofumi placed the barrel against the neural port. A shot from Lizzie at that range would pierce his spine, and shatter whatever was left of the relic in his neck.
No fourth life. No coming back.
Naofumi looked at the moon overhead, speaking to those he wasn't sure were there. "I don't… I don't know if you guys can hear me. If this is a dream or something… It's like Johnny told me: 'at the end, it's the code you lived by that defines you.' … I… I just really hope that my code was worth something."
He pulled the trigger.