The Strategist III
This world wasn't a ga. There were no friendly mid-bosses, final bosses, or hidden bosses appearing conveniently in sequence. Anomalies took great inspiration from the military genius of the Joseon Dynasty.
While the daimyos born in Japan, the land of classic RPGs, praised themselves for their boss stages, Seonjo[1] harshly reminded them that the world was not a JRPG. Retreat, hide, and wait. Why foolishly reveal yourself to the enemy? By staying hidden, you eliminate the possibility of defeat.
Anomalies didn't show off their strength unnecessarily. Especially the Outer Gods, who rarely showed their divine forms to re humans. Take Infinite Void as an example. Infinite Void was coiled in the fourth basent of Baekhwa High School, surrounded by an impenetrable barrier, and ruled the world by deploying only 'colonial soldiers,' known as the 'Fairies of the Tutorial.'
Infinite Void was the weakest of the Outer Gods. The [Admin of the Infinite taga] was even more extre.
“This guy is a master of hiding, even among stealth types.”
I explained to Oh Dok-seo.
“Only after spreading status windows, experience point systems, damage indicators, level-ups, and ga communities all over the Earth did he barely reveal himself at the mont of 'server shutdown' after hundreds of years.”
“It's really tough…”
In the middle of the night, we paused the speedrun broadcast for a brief rest.
[......]
By the way, while Oh Dok-seo and I were talking, the Saintess remained hidden nearby. An awkward atmosphere hung between us. Naturally, since we had both taken the 'Hate Pill,' I felt animosity towards Oh Dok-seo, and she towards . She probably felt only faint animosity since we hadn’t had many bonding events, but I was different.
‘I felt murderous.’
I wanted to kill her. I wanted to tear her apart. My hands twitched. Looking at Oh Dok-seo stretching her neck while yawning made want to draw my cane-sword and cut her down. Dozens of ways to cripple her flashed through my mind without prompting. All the goodwill I had felt for her had instantly turned into hostility.
‘Is this how Dang Seo-rin and Cheon Yo-hwa felt about in the 590th cycle?’
I felt guilty. But I could bear it. No matter how much the 'Hate Pill' manipulated my emotions, it couldn’t alter my mories. I rembered clearly what kind of person Oh Dok-seo was. Hundreds of years of mories fortified my resolve. Thus, I buried my intense hostility under layers of mory.
“…Undertaker?”
“Hmm.”
“Are you okay? You seem really strained.”
Despite my efforts to manage my emotions, a fragnt of my murderous intent must have slipped through. Oh Dok-seo, sensing it, shrank back, watching nervously.
“Don’t worry. If we don’t take any action, the status window anomaly will appear between the fifth and sixth years.”
“Wait, Mister. Isn't that too late for a speedrun?”
“Yes. We need to force the 'Logout Ga' to surface. That’s why I brought you to Japan.”
“...?”
The next day, after a good rest, we resud the speedrun broadcast.
[All the Outer Gods have their own domains.]
[The 'Admin of the Infinite taga' influences not only gas but all creative works.]
[This is evident from the anomalies under the 'Admin of the Infinite taga'—Hero Syndro, Savior's Narrative Syndro, Isekai Truck, Chekhov's Gun—all linked to creative works.]
“Ah.”
Oh Dok-seo muttered while tying her shoelaces.
“So, that’s why we’re using the speedrun broadcast format? Since broadcasting is a form of creation too.”
[Correct.]
As usual, the Saintess relayed my words to Oh Dok-seo.
[The deeper we imrse ourselves in creative works and the stronger we beco, the more likely the 'Admin of the Infinite taga' will appear before us.]
“Ah, I get it.”
[Good to hear. Now let’s proceed with your transformation into a magical girl.]
“...?”
I guided Oh Dok-seo towards Noto Peninsula in Japan, where the headquarters of the Magical Girl Association was located. As she followed the navigation, Oh Dok-seo suddenly slamd on the brakes.
“Wait! A magical girl? Why do I have to beco a magical girl? Aren’t they all crazy?”
[Because magical girls, or Japanese awakeners, draw power from creative works in a typical manner.]
Indeed.
Although it might have been half coincidence, Japanese awakeners were essentially devotees of the 'Admin of the Infinite taga.' Magical girls always fought for justice against evil. Except in a few malevolent works, magical girls always triumphed. Relying on such magical girl tropes, the Japanese awakeners opposed the world-consuming anomalies. I valued comrades like Manyo Neko and others.
But objectively, at this point in the 593rd cycle, they had beco anomalies known as 'magical girls' to fight anomalies. It was a typical corruption phenonon.
[But not all corruption is bad.]
In a speedrun, every resource must be utilized.
[The more powerful magical girls beco, the closer their connection to the Outer Gods. In so cases, they can significantly advance the appearance of the 'Admin of the Infinite taga.']
“Oh…”
[Oh Dok-seo, you’ve already used
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