The game Crystal Ball has now been sold in the Kingdom of Ra and the Yura Republic as well.
It hasn’t been officially exported; instead, traders carry it off to sell at a high price, so it hasn’t become popular enough to have game centers like in the Empire yet.
The place for playing games only exists in the Empire’s game venue.
Prince Lethers told me he really wanted to visit that game center once before returning home.
“Isn’t it easy to visit if you formally request it from the Minister’s Office?”
“That would be boring! They would definitely chase everyone away and just let me have a quick look.”
I imagined Prince Lethers playing games alone in a game center with no one around due to the agents controlling the place.
It was indeed a gloomy scene.
“What I want to see is not such a game center! I want to see a real game center where people who love games gather and enjoy themselves!!”
In Zephia, there was the Empire’s largest game center, created directly by the Edward Consortium.
I had been there a few times for work, and it seemed that Prince Lethers wanted to go there.
“But if we go just the two of us, it’d be a big problem.”
“It’s fine! I’ve already ordered my subordinates not to look for me for the next two hours. We can quietly go and come back.”
Prince Lethers boldly spoke as if it was no big deal.
From his tone, it sounded like he had done this several times before.
His subordinates must be really struggling.
“Still…”
“I’ll take full responsibility. Or are you saying you can’t even help a friend with such a small request, Yuren?”
Prince Lethers was begging me like a child.
However, I couldn’t refuse that request.
Because I, too, had wanted to go to a game center or arcade.
“Ha… Alright. But it’s strictly two hours, and you must follow my instructions.”
“Haha! Thank you, Yuren! I will never forget this favor!”
So, after making the arrangements, I snuck out of the palace with Prince Lethers.
It seemed as if Prince Lethers had done this many times, leading the way, climbing walls, and finding back paths to escape the palace.
*
The organization’s origin is something even they do not know.
It just emerged naturally amidst a millennium of war.
Initially, it was a means of communication to disrupt the enemy’s information for victory in war.
But gradually, it became a means of communication for self-interest in war, and ultimately, they began communicating to continue the war for their gains.
Now, this organization was communicating to ignite war once more.
『Connected Ones』
They called their organization like this.
“The mad dragon has emerged from the cave.”
In the office of the Grey Corporation, Grey received a report from her observing subordinate.
She replied to the subordinate.
“Good, inform them as planned.”
“Yes, Mistress Grey.”
This visit to the Kingdom of Ra was an event for trade exchange between the two countries.
The Kingdom of Ra sent a mad dragon to apologize, and the Zers Empire accepted it, marking the start of formal trade exchanges, according to the plans of the leaders.
This plan gained more momentum thanks to the “Battle of the Dragon and the Hero.”
The Empire won fairly and restored its pride, while the Kingdom of Ra had become too heroic, causing troubles with the second Prince Lethers’ fame naturally dwindling, allowing both sides to get what they wished for.
If it ended this way, that is.
Of course, this news wasn’t good for the “Connected Ones.”
The closer the two nations were, the smaller their power to gain from war would become.
Thus, they prepared a plan to sabotage the relationship between the two nations.
Prince Lethers had a habit of slipping out to enjoy the streets even during visits to other countries.
This habit would not change in Zers Empire either, and at that time, they planned to leak information to the extremists who hated the Kingdom of Ra within the Empire, causing an unforeseen incident.
If Prince Lethers were to die, that would be the best outcome.
But even if they couldn’t kill him, just causing an injury would certainly escalate into diplomatic issues, deteriorating relations between the two countries.
The one responsible for the plan, Grey, felt fate was upon her.
Prince Lethers’ strong physique was a hindrance to their plan.
However, there was insider information that Prince Lethers was injured after sparring with Yuren.
From her perspective, it almost felt like she was being favored by the goddess of fate.
“So much help for our plan; surely, it must be destiny, don’t you think, Yuren?”
Awaiting the exhilarating day she would meet Yuren, Grey waited for news of their plan’s success.
It was the moment of Prince Lethers’ fateful night.
*
We quickly moved after sneaking Prince Lethers out of the palace.
He ran at a speed that didn’t seem to match someone with an injury.
It was like seeing my past self, recovering health to play games after leaving school early.
In no time we arrived there.
『Dottiditiri♩ Dottiditidit♫ Dottiditidiri♫』
『Yahhoou! Hoo~ It Hoo~』
“Wow! This is it!”
Even at around 9 PM, the game center was still buzzing with vibrant lights and crowds.
Dozens of Crystal Balls had dozens of people gathered around, gaming away.
The cacophony of game graphics, ear-piercing BGM, and stimulating sounds created a unique atmosphere.
Prince Lethers stared at the scene with sparkling eyes like a child.
“Yes, this is Zephia’s largest game center, the ‘Zephia Game Center’.”
“Wooow!”
Prince Lethers looked around the game center with bright eyes, just like a child visiting a toy shop for the first time on Children’s Day.
The game center had many games including Super Thomas, Tetric, and Sky Dragon.
And the most crowded spot was, of course, the Crystal Ball for Legend Fighter.
Prince Lethers seated himself in front of the Legend Fighter Crystal Ball.
“You just need to put in Gold to play the game.”
“Like this.”
As he inserted the Gold into the slot, the Crystal Ball powered up.
The character selection screen appeared, and I asked Prince Lethers.
“By the way, which character is your main, Prince Lethers?”
“Do I even need to say? Obviously, Curie!!”
Without the slightest hesitation, he proclaimed Curie’s name.
I expected nothing less, considering how he showed his love for Curie since we first met.
“Is it because of her using Plema?”
“That’s part of it, but just look at those thighs! Aren’t they attractive!!”
He pointed out Curie’s thighs.
Curie’s thighs were a magnificent size, a result of my and Juren’s careful planning.
“Indeed, Prince Lethers, you have some taste. Hahaha.”
“Haha! Yuren, you too have some sense!”
Prince Lethers praised Curie.
It was very reasonable and relatable.
But then he said something he shouldn’t have.
“Compared to weak Ren, Curie is the true beauty!”
Snap!
Wait, are you insulting my Ren?
I challenged the prince.
“I cannot accept that. Why isn’t Ren a beauty?”
“That little girl a beauty? Yuren, is your eyesight faulty or something?”
Prince Lethers looked at me like he couldn’t comprehend.
I could say no more.
I inserted Gold from directly across from him.
“I’ll show you the true beauty of Ren. If I win, you retract that statement.”
“Go ahead and try, Yuren! Haha!!”
I inserted Gold and input the commands for Irene to choose Ren.
Prince Lethers confidently chose Curie, and the first game started.
“Whoa! Look at that guy!”
“With Ren, he’s pulling off an infinite combo!”
“I didn’t know such an infinite combo was possible; I should try that later.”
Prince Lethers’ Curie was strong.
But Ren had a dedicated infinite combo using Curie’s hitbox.
Weak hit → Strong hit → Jump hit → Grab → Sitting whip from Yudra → Weak hit again.
Grab, beat, grab, beat; with Ren’s combo, Prince Lethers’ Curie was taken down and game over.
“No! How could my Curie!”
“Hahaha! This is the true beauty of Ren.”
“I… cannot accept this! One more match! Yuren!”
“Anytime you want, haha!”
The prince couldn’t accept his defeat and asked to challenge me again.
I would gladly accept such a challenge a hundred times over.
I happily pondered what combo I would use next this time.
*
While Yuren was mercilessly beating Prince Lethers’ Curie with Ren’s infinite combo, suspicious figures appeared in the game center.
Dressed like assassins from an assassination game, cloaked and all, they spotted the prince and communicated to the Crystal Ball.
“This is ‘Dragon Hunter 3’. We found the dragon.”
[Where’s the location?]
“It’s in a place called the Zephia Game Center, first floor.”
[Got it. I’ll be there shortly.]
Uninvited guests were approaching the holy game center.
