——Hack and Slash.
That was an action-heavy game where the player conquered randomly generated dungeons while progressively strengthening themselves.
A game boasting enduring popularity for its repetitive elements and deep engagement, offering infinite playstyles depending on character development.
The cornerstone system supporting this Hack and Slash genre was Random Equipment.
Players sought powerful items with varying abilities that changed with each acquisition, repeatedly challenging dungeons.
In other words, players of Hack and Slash possessed vast quantities of equipment with diverse capabilities.
This was the true nature of Mr. H's ability, and the reason Vagia could deal significant damage to a hero clad in high-rarity gear.
"Impressive. I can only say I've truly been outdone. Mr. H will require discipline later♥ A flustered man makes girls anxious. Remember this—both negotiations and intimacy follow the same principle♥"
A bewitching sigh escaped the Succubus Queen's lips.
She likely realized the situation had shifted now that Takuto had perfectly deduced Mr. H's game.
This meant her previous attempts at some form of peace on her own terms had now clearly tilted toward eliminating Takuto's group.
"But even knowing Mr. H's game is Hack and Slash, what changes? Intelligence alone cannot overturn a disparity in military strength♥ And...besides..."
"Tch, the Succubus main force is gathering en masse..."
Yu let out an anxious voice.
Ordinary Succubi wouldn't be a problem. But the ones assembling now—though not quite at the escort duo's level—exuded an aura of high rank, not to be underestimated.
More than that, every single one wore Mr. H's equipment.
Hack and Slash armaments capable of wounding even Yu.
Powerful items typically came with level restrictions or stat requirements. The game Takuto predicted Mr. H played would have the same limitations.
On one hand, it was a relief that combat power wouldn't inflate uncontrollably. Yet even so, it was far from optimistic.
Indeed, even with equipment restrictions, this was undoubtedly a force capable of rejecting any foe.
"A mixed army of elves and Succubus equipped with extraordinarily powerful high-rarity gear provided by Mr. H. I have them stationed along the border with Mynoghra. The moment I give the word, they will pour onto the Dark Continent en masse."
The operation Vagia had prepared went beyond even that.
Takuto arrived at the same realization, and a slight crease formed between his brows. This was an overwhelmingly powerful combined force of Succubus and elves. Even Mynoghra's armies, formidable as they were, had no prospect of victory.
Had Mynoghra's research and unit production reached their final stages, the calculus would have been different—but Takuto knew well that indulging in "what ifs" was among the most foolish things one could do in this world.
With their current military strength, neither individuals nor armies could hope to contend. That much was painfully obvious.
(I found it strange that Quolia joined this alliance, but I suppose being threatened with this level of military power might explain it.)
He recalled the agonized expression on Quolia's face—the Pope who had already fallen to the ground, no doubt having been "rescued" by some Succubus along the way.
"Surely the nation of Mynoghra commands a formidable army of darkness,♥ and the neutral nations of the Dark Continent are far from lacking in military capability.♥ But how does that compare to Succubus, beings of a higher order than humans by nature of their very existence, supported by top-tier, legendary-grade equipment? How long do you think you can hold out against that?"
Her words were nothing if not sound logic.
And at the same time, in accordance with exactly what she had said, Takuto currently possessed no means of pushing the Succubus back.
If it were one or the other, they might have managed. But to have the Succubus army and powergamer equipment deployed simultaneously—Takuto had no choice but to acknowledge the reality that he had been cornered.
"Takuto Ira, you've made us suffer all sorts of hardship, but this is where it ends.♥ Fufufu, give up and let yourself relax! A harem service course with your big sisterly, naughty Succubus is waiting for you all!♥"
They were surrounded. The perimeter had already been completely filled by Succubus; there was no gap through which to escape.
The barrier created by the Seven Gods-Kings' magic cards showed no signs of dissipating anytime soon, so there was no hope of relying on Ai's teleportation magic.
Yuu still appeared to have the stamina to keep fighting, but before this critical situation, her mind seemed to be wearing out first.
Vittorio was completely sealed and of no use, and while the "Failure" unit under Takuto's command possessed combat ability approaching that of a hero, it was nowhere near enough to overturn this situation.
(Now then, this is practically a dead end.)
Takuto calmly analyzed the situation.
Takuto himself wasn't present here, so he would be safe. Vittorio could also escape if he chose to end his own life.
But Yuuta and the others were different. They likely held no trump card to escape this place like Takuto’s group, nor any means to defeat the Succubi.
Moreover, the opposing side was not foolish.
If they refused to cooperate with the peace they spoke of, the enemy would use any method necessary to bring them in. The cards of the Seven Demon Kings, possessing various effects, might even allow for things like brainwashing or altering relationships, depending on the situation.
Naturally, in that regard, the envoy from Fonkavun could not be underestimated either.
Someone holding a position important enough to be chosen as the leader’s proxy would naturally know the details of the trade being conducted between Mynoghra and Fonkavun. They would also possess much information unsuitable for leaking externally.
For everyone present to return safely.
At a minimum, that was the necessary objective, keeping the future in mind.
“W-We’re screwed…”
“Master…”
The encirclement tightened with a grinding sound.
The reason the other side didn’t lunge all at once was probably because they still wary of Takuto’s group’s actions.
They were proceeding with remarkable caution.
For Takuto, who knew that sometimes acting on impulse leads to better results, the other side’s—especially Vagia’s—paranoid timidity was a point of concern.
“Hmm-hmm. This is a dire straits! And now, what will you dooo?” Vittorio asked. It seemed the time limit had arrived.
He couldn’t stall for time any longer.
Takuto slowly looked around, then raised both hands lightly in a gesture of resignation.
"The game system is truly unreasonable, I think. No matter how much you strategize, how much power you gather, no matter how cautiously you act, it overturns all of that so easily. There's no balance to speak of."
"I agree ♥ Or rather, mixing eroge, SLG, RPG, and all those other genres together like that—was there ever any doubt it would turn out this way? ♥ Well, it's none of my business anyway. And besides, it's no longer any of your concern either ♥"
If he accepted Vagia's proposal, his life would likely be spared.
But what awaited him beyond that was a life as livestock on a ranch in a sweet, decadent world.
Naturally, he could not accept such a fate, and Takuto's pride as a player would not permit it.
"Now then, take my hand, King of Mynoghra, Takuto Ira. This special big sister will play with you, just for now."
And above all...
"Unfortunately, I must decline. There is only one person in my heart."
Takuto had made his decision.
He would reclaim everything. He would take back everything he had lost with his own hands, and then lead his people to the celestial world.
His resolve would not waver.
That was why he was a top player—he could not be stopped, and would not stop.
"So then, Witch Vagia. It's time for the inexplicable—"
"...Eh?"
""Grand Ritual: Dimly Lit Kingdom""
The moment those words were spoken, an invisible power field spread across the entire continent.
Yes... the entire continent.
So powerful was the great magic now activating that it paid no heed to the barrier surrounding the World Tree.
A torrent of mana swept through the world.
It harmed no one, and destroyed nothing...
Yet it was clearly attempting to rewrite the laws of the world.
"Miss Vagia! We can escape!"
"K-keep them from escaping! You absolutely must not let them get away!"
Vagia the witch, her Noble Succubus escort, and the elite succubus soldiers gathered here.
All of them charged at Takuto and his group, armed with the myths, legends, and masterpiece-grade weapons prepared by H.
It was an attack meant to be a one-hit kill.
Powerful blows descended like a rain, potent enough to pierce the defenses of a hero clad in high-rarity armor, and every single one struck Takuto and his allies with pinpoint accuracy.
But...
"Wha! Why... it's not working!?"
The unreasonable storm of attacks, however, did nothing to stop them—not a single wound was inflicted.
As if such a thing had never been permitted from the very beginning...
Vagia's face widened in shock.
She had shown emotion before, this succubus queen, but her current expression was particularly volatile—a chaotic mix of fury, astonishment, anguish, regret, and terror.
Takuto brought his face close, intimate as if for a lover's kiss, and stared deeply, deeply at Vagia, a genuinely delighted smirk spreading across his face.
"Yeah, I wanted to see that expression. I wanted you to feel the same injustice I did. It really makes you sick, doesn't it?"
Vagia flinched and jerked back in fear, the succubus guards moving to shield her.
Even as they maintained their distance, attacks continued relentlessly, yet not a single one could breach Takuto's defenses.
A deep darkness slowly began to envelop Takuto and his group.
The succubus pulled back, their sharp gazes locked on, ready to respond to anything.
Their reaction was slightly off, prompting Takuto to offer a wry smile and a casual wave.
"Rest assured, this is where we part ways. However, I must admit that you were one step ahead of us this time. I'll leave the outcome undecided for now. Well, it will be quite some time before we meet again..."
The glob-like black mana continued to envelop Takuto and the others. Eventually, their entire forms were consumed by darkness. At the moment his vision was obscured, Takuto looked steadily at Vagia...
"I won't lose next time."
Having left those words behind, they were swallowed by the dark. Immediately after, the torrent of mana subsided and the mass of shadow dissipated. Of course, nothing remained behind. Takuto and his companions had vanished from this place, deemed impossible to escape, as if they had never been there from the start.
===Message===
A Great Rite has been activated.
The Gloom-Shrouded Nation: Mynoghra
---