Long time no see, Mr. Second.

　After lunch. Raz and I went to visit Chef Sobra.

　The place is a large log cabin in the forest to the north of the property. According to Yukari, he has been recuperating here for a long time.

'It's been a long time, hasn't it? How's it going?
'It's not bad. Not as bad as it used to be. ......
Okay.

　Her shaggy black hair and stubble are exactly the same as before. Her complexion and complexion are good. From the looks of it, she really isn't in bad shape. I heard that he was in a state where he couldn't even go outside for a while, but he must have recovered a lot.

I've brought an old friend of mine with me today. His name is Raz. He wants to talk to you about Calameria.
"......, please.
Heh, Mr. Second's!　All right, I'll talk to you, if that's okay with you.

　Sobra leads us to the back of the log cabin and begins to brew tea for a few people with his expert hands.
　As I watch with admiration, Sobra notices my gaze and opens her mouth with her back to us.

'There's not much to do here. So we have to practice independently every day that comes and goes. I think your cooking skills have improved.
I'm looking forward to it. To tell you the truth, I'm looking forward to seeing you back. And I have a promise of a cutlet bowl.
For me, I couldn't have said it better: ...... really.

　I haven't forgotten what I once promised him in the smoking room. I asked him to learn to cook for the nobility, but also to learn to cook for the common man. Yukari doesn't cook anything too grueling and greasy for our health. Secretly, I was looking forward to eating Sobra's food.


'Well. Where should I start?

　Sobra sat back in the chair with a goody-goody and turned to face Raz.
　Raz thought for a while, then slowly chose his words and asked, "What is an addiction?

'What is an addiction like?'

　An unexpectedly straightforward question. Sobra laughs lightly and replies, "Haha.

'The blasted beauty ran. What happens now?
Um, ......?
A beautiful girl with big tits, running. Itchy, itchy, itchy.
There ...... well, it's going to make your tits shake.
Yes. It doesn't sway and shake so much, doesn't it?
......?
What's the norm? That's what you thought.
"Sona.
'When a beautiful woman with blasted tits runs, her tits shake. When you suck on a calameria, it feels good. I would say this is equally commonplace.
Yeah.
Most men get really horny when they see their tits bouncing. You know what I mean?
Well, I don't know, but it makes sense.
'Anyone who's ever smoked Calameria, even once, if they remember Calameria for even a second, they want to smoke it. That's just the way it is.
............ I see.
'That urge is going to happen no matter what. Just as every man can't stop himself from getting horny from breast shaking, you can't stop yourself from wanting to suck on Calameria.

　This guy is awful ...... and it's more serious than I thought.

'Maybe for the rest of my life. The first time I see a cigarette or hear the word "caramel" I think of calamaria and can't stand still for that pleasure. It's a tattoo on my brain that won't go away again.


　Silence.
　Raz can't seem to find the words to call.

　It had to be. If Raz hadn't concocted Calameria only a few months ago, Sobra wouldn't have had to go through this.

'Well, things have gotten better lately, though. I know I can't smoke it no matter how hard I try, so I'm ready to give up. So I can say that the environment is important to get rid of Calameria. And above all, it's the cooperation of the people around you and your unbending faith.
Belief ......?
I guess you'd call it a purpose in life. I'm proud to be the head chef of First Test. Cooking for Lady Second, for all the First Testers. It's the only thing keeping me going right now. Really, that's all. So I'll never betray them. Smoking Calameria means the death of the person I am.

　That it's not worth dying to smoke.
　Being able to think that way is strong-willed. You always have to fight the temptation to say "if they don't find out, it's not a problem". Sobra must have overcome that wave.

How can I make it easier for you ......?

　Raz said with an apologetic look on his face. He seems to feel remorse.
　You don't have to blame yourself, I agree, but if I can help you, please do. Unfortunately, I don't have the slightest bit of knowledge about drugs.


...... I'd forget about it if I could.

　Sobra muttered.

　It's impossible. Even a layman like me can see that. I'm sure you can get rid of some of the physical pain with the medication, but all you can do is remember.
　I'm not sure if Sobra is aware of this or not, but there was a hint of resignation in her eyes as she stared off into the distance.

I'm going to have to go to ...... and say goodbye to you. You know, we're going to have to do this.
'Thank you, too. You're a great distraction. Thank you, Mr. Second. I'm so glad you took the time to visit us.
Yeah. Well, that's my house.
Haha, yes.

　Me and Sobra parted with a smile. Raz was the only one who wasn't smiling well.




　We leave the log cabin and walk in silence for a while.

　Well. What words will come out of my mouth?
　My relationship with this guy is not short. So I know. Now this guy is thinking about something extraordinary.

　This is a guy who has been in Mevion for less than eight years and has reached the highest ranking of 128 in the world, and he's not like most people. I'm thinking to myself, "I'm not like most people.


...... I thought I was still in the game somewhere.
I've been there myself. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea. That's how I came to realize that this is the real world.
We didn't have experience like Sempai, so I guess I was ...... naive.

　Raz muttered regretfully.

　He had been confined to the Church of Kamel for so long that he must not have had the slightest opportunity to learn about society firsthand.

　He was suddenly aware of the reality. It was a very raw reality, the reality of coming face to face with a drug addict.

　Well, I was baffled. Normally, I would have said.


I'm not sure if this is inappropriate, but I'm excited about ......
"Law.
This isn't Earth. It's not the same as Mevion. So what could be done here that couldn't be done on Earth or in Mevion, I thought, could be done on Mevion. In other words, wouldn't it be great if a world like Mevion, combined with the scientific power of Earth, could be a world like Mevion ......?
"...... nice... that's the idea.
What?

　Naturally, the corners of my mouth go up.
　So good. I feel like clapping my hands together and admiring them.

　I know my kind. This guy is also a game brain. One of those who was more into Mevion than three meals a day. And that's why I'm thinking. You think. "This is the best of both worlds" - and I'm thinking.

　That's what Sobra said about the brain tattoo. Well, that's a nice way of putting it, and it is. Maybe we have one of those freaky tattoos. We can't help but think that the unique tattoos of Mevion players.

　It's a world where games and reality are in harmony. It's the best of both worlds. There is no denying that the impossible has become possible.

　And, in fact, Raz is concocting Calameria. He created something that neither Earth nor Mevion had ever seen before. In other words: ......


It can be done. We have to give up, we have to try.


　We may even be able to create a cure for Calameria's addiction.

　It's a long shot. But if that's where Ra's is going to take his chances, I'm going to support him with everything I got.


Can I help you?　

　I know it's not particularly necessary, but I'll ask.

　Even though Raz is currently a helpless saint, she's former and 128th in the world on the inside. Even if you leave her alone, she'll get stronger on her own. She also makes a lot of money on her own. She should know exactly how to do that. He'll be able to efficiently gain experience and improve his skills, gaining experience and catching up in less than a few months, first by dyke warfare in the beginning and then by going around dungeons. I'm not worried about anything. But as for the ties of this world, it's a different story.

We don't need anything. I'd say, but we're saints. ......
Well, we'll make sure you're free to move about the Castal Kingdom.
......-sempai. I've been wondering this morning what you're doing now?
"Plenipotentiary.
Where?
"Zipangu nation.
It's a fictional country!
You can't laugh.

　I grinned and Raz laughed at me, "Really," he said with a dumbfounded smile.
　It was a pretty smile that made me cringe, even though I knew it was a man inside.

If you decide to do that, let's call that guy right away.
"That guy?
Minister of this country.





So I've been summoned.

　A few hours after sending out an errand, in the evening, Minister Hailai visited the First Test residence.
　He was a bar-code bald, managerial-looking man with round glasses as usual.

I'm glad to see you're busy. Have you lost a little hair?
It's good to see you enjoying yourself again, Second Lord.

　We say a quick hello and get right to the point. He's really busy, and he's unusually witty.

'How's the crackdown on Calameria?
We are having a difficult time. Smuggling from the Kamel God State is down 100 percent compared to what it was before the law was enacted, but domestic smuggling is up 70 percent. Every day we are at war with the drug cartels.

　There's a bad batch going around.

"Then you're just in time. This is a saintly girl, Raspberry Belle, who I'm protecting at the behest of Rock 'n' Chair. She has a background in drugs. She is interested in developing a drug for addiction treatment. I was wondering if you could help her out.
...... I didn't think it was possible, but I didn't really think it was a saint.
Good luck.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Kingdom of Castal. I'll be back later to formally greet you.
I don't care. That's not important. We need to develop a drug. Can you help me?
It's a pleasure. I would be happy to commission it myself.

　That's a good fit. This will make it easier for Raz to get around the country.

Good. Well, that's that.
"Hold on, sir.

　I was about to break up after a quick chat, when Hi-Rai pulled me aside.
　I have a feeling he's going to ask me to do something awkward. I made a crazy disgusted face and turned around.

'You're as honest as ever, aren't you? But His Majesty wants this, and I can't retreat either.''
Well, let's see.
"We need your help in cracking down on Caramelia in the country. Specifically, we need a light force to fight the cartels.
"A light force?

　I know what you mean. The bottom line is that the Third Order alone is out of control, so they want you to lend a hand, I guess. But I don't understand the word "light".

"I'm not asking you to cooperate with the Third Order. I am not asking you to cooperate with the Third Order, I am asking you to put pressure on the drug cartels, apart from the regular crackdowns. Hence, the light-armored force.
"Hey, wait a minute, that's .......
Yes. I'm sure you're right.

　Separate from the Third Order, the police, to put pressure on a bunch of hooligans.

　The only thing I can think of with this is one thing - the return of the "righteous bandits".

　It's a good idea to be able to move freely without being bound by the constraints of the Order. It's a good idea.

"You can't say that!
It's only because it's you that I'm telling you this. You may decline the offer, but in any case, please do not say a word.

　It's a seemingly innocuous request, but on the inside it's a pretty black thing to say.

　It's collusion. As a righteous bandit, he may break the laws of the kingdom in his activities. Hi-Lai is implying that he will let that go to some extent. He wants to go that far and strengthen the crackdown on the drug cartels, that's what he's saying. Now, it's pretty hard to get a handle on that, isn't it?　Then I know the answer.

Good.
Are you sure: ......?
Yeah. Lucky for us, we have the right person.

It's you, isn't it?


　As I spoke the answer, Renko appeared from behind the living room.
　She seemed to be secretly listening or understanding what we were talking about.

'Is she?'
Her name is Renko. I'm the only daughter of Reemsma, the master of the righteous R6. I was told she was called Katagi, but I think it's a good idea.
Are you on my left?

　Hailey nodded. Renko crossed his arms and sniffed with a huff. 'I guess I'll just leave it to you.

'If you want to do it, I'll leave it to you, but how about ......?'
Who the f*ck else is out there? I'm on it.

　I'm very much on board. Somehow I thought that she might want to do it, but my hunch was right.

　In the short time I've been in contact with her, I've noticed that she doesn't have much of an initiative. And yet, it doesn't work out because she's forcing her own color into it while looking to others to make it worthwhile. Then you should provide her with an environment in which she can move on her own. I felt that the environment in which she can move actively from the very beginning with the token of a request from others is what suits her.


　Then another unexpected man appeared from behind Renko. He looked like he just couldn't keep his mouth shut.

''-- I disagree, Second-sama,''

　Butler Cubero. Formerly the young head of R6.


'How so?　It's true that I'm a katagi. But the spirit of a righteous man.
You don't know anything, miss. A righteous man, nothing.
'...... what?'　Say it again.
'I'll say it again. The young lady knows nothing about righteousness.
I hope you're ready for this: ......
Hey, no fighting, I'm just depressed.

　There's not much blood in the air.

　But I agree with Cubero's words. Renko doesn't know anything about righteousness.

　But.


"Hey, Kyubero. You want Renko to get an honest life, don't you?
...... Yeah. That is my late master's wish, too. Never let your daughter get a tattoo.
That's sweet. That's a very nice thought. But you see, the only person who gets to decide what to do with his life is him.
But,
I think it would be harder for Renko to be a half-brother in limbo.
............
'I'd like to give them free rein. I don't care if you're a righteous bandit or not. I just want Renko to be the righteous man Renko envisioned.
...... I can't help but nod my head when you say that much, can I?
I'm sorry. You can complain to me all you want later.


　I mean, who gets to decide what's right for him?

　Who says bandits aren't righteous?
　Who says it's stupid to bet your life on a game?

　Don't let them tell you that. It's what you think at the end of the day.

　You'll think "Oh, it was stupid" after you've played it. That's what I thought. I was an idiot, and it was useless. But, you know, I don't think I was wasting my time, even if I think I was wasting my time as a result. I've had a lot of fun in the decade or so I've been doing Mevion. I've had so much fun that I can proudly say that this is my life.


'Go ahead, Renko, do it. Do what you want. If you think it's fun, you're right. You're good at it.
...... hmm. It's none of your business.
I know.

　I couldn't help but laugh at her unblinking response.

　She looks embarrassed, Hi-Lai laughing, Cuvelo smiling helplessly, and Raz smiling gently. The story is settled.


　The revival of the righteous R6. Will it turn out to be good luck or bad luck? Well, let's see what happens.


　Well, now that I've cleared up a lot of things.
　It's about time for me to go to ...... for dinner before I go to the strategy meeting.

　I'm going to have a strategy meeting.