Tonkotsu Diplomacy

"Work or not, it doesn't change the fact that San-chan attacked you. Let me treat you all to a meal as compensation."

"Thanks a ton! Don't mind if I do, yo!"

"Never seen Alto-shi this peppy before."

"Same."

Whatever happened to treating each other as equal players… Well, can't blame her.

"A-amazing. Even other Spirit-samas are no match for Mahariku-sama."

"Our Mahariku-sama really is the best!"

"Uuu, I caused you so much trouble, I'm sorry…"

"Cheer up, San-chan. Mahariku-sama said so too, right? Not shaping up means disobeying orders."

Mahariku's four subordinates were, how to put it, not particularly distinctive but cute in a background-character kind of way. Their halos were simple single-line circles, too.

"By the way, Mahariku-s… Mahariku-shi. Are your girls' guns SP gear, yo?"

"Yes. SP handguns. It's easier to standardize equipment for operations, so I've made them standard issue."

"Too bad, yo. So no ancient ruins were found, yo?"

"Unfortunately, no. Nothing resembling ruins has turned up anywhere yet. You'd think excavated artifacts would start circulating at some point."

"I'm searching for cartridges to upgrade my gun, so if you find any, let me know, yo."

"Sure thing. I'll share the info when I do. You let me know too, alright?"

"It's a promise, yo!"

Alto and Mahariku chatted like that as we headed to Mahariku's recommended restaurant.

Alto being polite was obviously because she was talking to her boss. Though even while being polite, she still wouldn't drop the "yo"…

Just then, Miitei-chan came over. She must've checked the map and caught up to us.

"Found you, Spirit-sama! I'm baaack! … Huh, who's this person?"

"Oh my. Whose character is she? Ah, but she doesn't seem to have a halo."

"She's mine. Welcome back, Miitei-chan. Here, merge."

Lots of people around, so we merged with a boing.

Back in Miitei-chan, so back to a cat beastkin's eye level. Combined with the halo, I now properly looked like a player again.

"… I thought she was a beastkin, but she's a Slime's split body. Hmm, seems useful in all sorts of ways. What a strategically versatile character."

"Second characters tend to have special abilities like that, from what I've seen."

"Oh! Now I really want one of my own. Where are your first characters?"

"House-sitting at our Home in another town right now. On Auto Mode."

"My second character's over there too, yo."

"Nice, special abilities. Those would really expand what we could do… hmm."

Mahariku seemed to be agonizing over what kind of second character she wanted.

"If I'm adding to our current 'Odd Jobs' lineup, I'd want either a tough vanguard or a crafter to fill the brains role… Alto, why don't you join us?"

"I'm honored, but I'll have to pass, yo. Ah, though I could help out as a mercenary, yo."

Working under your real-life boss in a game too? No thanks. Can't blame her.

And with that, we arrived at Mahariku's recommended restaurant.

An eatery with a red noren hanging over the entrance. An indescribably beast-like smell wafted out, yet somehow it stirred the appetite.

Maybe it was tucked away in this back alley because of the strong smell. But that underground vibe actually made it better.

"Alright, here's my recommended spot… You're all in VR, right? Taste reproduction working?"

"Obviously, yo?"

"Ah, yeah."

"You bet!"

"Good. You really do invest in the right things. That makes treating you all the more worthwhile. Chef, eight tonkotsu ramens!"

… The tonkotsu ramen was absolutely exquisite! I'll definitely be coming back on my own.

Apparently, this restaurant had been set up by Mahariku's "Odd Jobs."

Being able to put together a restaurant this good, Mahariku-san had to be a good person.

After finishing the meal, Mahariku sent her four subordinates home.

We settled in and leisurely exchanged information… or rather, just chatted.

"Huh. Your game system is totally different from mine."

"Like choices popping up sometimes? We never get those at all, yo."

"Raising subordinates and having them work… It's similar to Auto Mode, but subtly different."

"They're adorable girls. Well, since the subordinates do all the work, I barely lift a finger myself."

Mahariku herself technically counted as a combat-capable unit, but apparently had zero fighting power.

She was a rear-support commander type, and when she joined in on a battle, her allied units would get stacked with buffs.

"Want to try PvP sometime?"

"… If it's a fight where Mahariku-shi is commanding those four, I don't think I can win, yo."

"Oh my, in that case you'd just take me out first since I'm the command tower, and that'd be that. I'm without a doubt the weakest one here."

"You'd definitely rig the approach route with traps, I just know it, yo! And the detour you take thinking there are traps? Also traps, yooo!"

Hmm, if even Alto was saying all that, she must be seriously strong…

Then again, being Alto's boss meant she was in sales, so being good at psychological warfare only made sense when you thought about it.

… If her four subordinates were all included as part of her "first character," then that might actually be a step above Miitei-chan's Fission.

I wonder what would've happened if Mahariku-san had played Miitei-chan's scenario…