Pick Me Up!

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

The document began with a date.

I continued to read the text below.

[I received a strange file from someone named Loki.]

[It’s filled with complicated words. I didn’t fully understand its meaning, but I read it through. It seems like the person who organized and analyzed the data must be remarkable.]

[Wouldn’t it be better to use such skills outside of gaming?]

[Anyway, I decided to keep a record of my own gameplay as well. It seems fun.]

“This is…”

[“It seems like he kept a diary of his gameplay.”]

Someone still writes these kinds of things in this day and age.

And on a phone, no less.

‘It’s said that he received a strange file.’

The ‘diary’ seems to have started from when I had sent the strategy document.

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

[Cleared level 15. Han almost died.]

[It was because of Aaron. It got messed up because Han tried to save that guy.]

[That guy tries hard, but his skills don’t improve.]

[Useless fellow.]

‘…This.’

I felt sorry for Aaron.

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

[Cleared level 20. Han took down a dragon by himself.]

[I heard that 1-star born heroes are weak? Maybe the strategy is weird.]

[Anyway, it seems like he did well, so I gave him a warrior statue. Han was also happy.]

‘…’

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

[Han was dispatched to Niflheimr.]

[I looked into Loki, and he seems to be a more incredible gamer than I thought.]

[But no matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand why he’s interested in me. Why? Although I’m grateful for the help, I think I’m starting to enjoy it, even though I thought about quitting.]

The diary was written in quite some detail.

Including the expansion of facilities and the history of hero summoning. Most of it matched my memories. It means that nothing was omitted. Surprisingly.

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

[My mom nagged me to stop playing games.]

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

[Cleared level 25.]

[Kishasha is also useful. It was good to invest in her. Though it looks like I’ll be eating ramen for a while.]

Most of the content could be skipped, but the impression of Pick Me Up! from Anytng seemed quite valuable.

It became easier to understand his playing style going forward.

While reading the diary, I stopped at one part.

Level 35. The tone changed from there.

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

[Level 35, a member of party 1, Eolka, died.]

[I thought Han was going to die in the last dungeon.]

[Glad he’s alive. But he seems sad that a colleague died. I gave him a warrior statue to comfort him.]

‘…’

[Even though it’s AI, it feels strange.]

[Could such sophisticated artificial intelligence exist?]

[It feels almost like it’s alive.]

[I told a coworker, and he mocked me a lot, asking if I was out of my mind. He also recommended quitting, calling me a game addict. I don’t really want to quit.]

[Have I gone crazy?]

[Someway, I feel close to the heroes.]

I looked over at Iselle.

She seemed to be reading the same part, sighing deeply with a complex expression.

‘Could it be, he’s suspecting?’

I hadn’t imagined it.

Just an ordinary gamer.

I shook my head absentmindedly.

You may be impressed by its realism, but you won’t believe it’s real.

I think it’s just a momentary feeling. After that, the usual content continued.

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

[This doesn’t seem right.]

[Date: XX Month XX Day]

[Han thrashed me in a mock battle.]

‘…’

[Review of the strategy video for the 5th floor]

[05:35 – Han gathers members for a meeting. Afterwards, the formation is set. Barricades are built, and they start defending against goblins from three directions.]

[06:43 – Battle starts.]

[08:29 – Why split the members into three directions? Jenna at the intersection in the middle…]

I narrowed my eyes.

It seemed to have been written relatively recently.

Anytng was reviewing the strategy video for the 5th floor, analyzing why I distributed the party like that, how the battle was conducted, and how it was cleared.

Not just the 5th floor.

The strategy review was thoroughly written up to level 35.

Of course, the analysis wasn’t perfect, just a rough guess…

[I don’t want to just wing it like I usually do.]

[This time, Han might die.]

This kind of determination is hard to find in just a normal gamer.

[Who is this user, Loki?]

[The more I see, the more remarkable he is. The answers to the doubts I had while operating the waiting room are detailed here. It’s admirable that someone can invest so much passion in a game.]

[If Loki had been the master here… Han wouldn’t have had to suffer alone.]

That’s funny.

To others, I’m just a gaming addict.

[Can I become like this too?]

‘A total addict.’

I couldn’t help but laugh.

The diary also recorded daily life incidents while being hooked on Pick Me Up!.

Getting caught using the phone during work hours or hitting a pole while walking. And being nagged daily by parents.

‘But still.’

[I don’t want to quit.]

I closed the folder.

———————————————–

The day after, early in the morning.

Members gathered at the training ground on the first floor of the mansion.

Me, Jenna, Velkist, Neryssa. The entire first party, except for Katiio, who was at the workshop.

And a girl crouching in one of the corners.

It was Kishasha.

“Um… So.”

After a round of explanations, Jenna opened her mouth with a bewildered expression.

Her gaze was partly on Kishasha.

“Did she really ask to join our party?”

I nodded.

“As you all know, Kishasha is the highest-ranked hero in the waiting room. I guarantee her abilities. She’s worth taking on. Wouldn’t it be a waste to let such talent go unused?”

“So, when you said I should prepare for the selection match, you meant this.”

Velkist smirked bitterly.

Already in a battle stance, Velkist’s hand rested on his sheath.

“So like last time, the winner takes the spot?”

“For now.”

“I’m ready. It will be different from before.”

Velkist glared at Kishasha.

This guy was thoroughly defeated by Kishasha last time when I was in Niflheimr. Since then, he has been grinding his teeth and training hard.

“It’s better this way. Saves the trouble of having to go find and stick to someone.”

Kishasha yawned with a lazy face.

“How interesting.”

Velkist’s mumbled.

“Then I’ll be…”

“Your turn comes much later.”

I shook my head.

Jenna stood next to me with a tense expression.

She didn’t look like she was backing out, nor did it seem like she had any intention to, but it looked like she was preparing for something.

“Jenna first.”

“So I’m to fight first, huh?”

“It will be a good experience for both of you.”

“Alright. I’ll give it a try.”

Jenna, with her quiver and bow strapped to her back and a dagger sheath at her waist, stepped into the arena.

As I gestured, Kishasha, who had been looking lazy, lit up her eyes and followed Jenna.

“So, I’m fighting that human girl?”

“Your first opponent.”

“There’s a second then. Well, it doesn’t matter.”

I glanced at Velkist and Neryssa.

The reason for having Jenna spar, firstly, is to gather a wide range of combat data, secondly, to increase Jenna’s experience, and lastly, to offer a small advantage to these two.

To give them a chance to observe the opponent.

‘This should be fine.’

At the very least, I’m offering a minimal merit.

What comes after, they’ll have to handle on their own.

Velkist, seated on a chair, watched Kishasha with blazing eyes.

Always full of fighting spirit. Even if he falls this time, he’ll rise again soon. So, I can also make decisions without hesitation.

‘She seems a bit cooler.’

Neryssa seemed to be thinking something else.

With a face showing no interest, she alternately looked at Kishasha and Velkist.

‘Something changed in her.’

Her attitude was different from before.

At first, I thought she was similar to Velkist.

‘…’

Neryssa suddenly looks a lot like me.

Our eyes met. She made an indescribable, peculiar expression, then turned her head away.

The duel began.

Jenna, as usual, retreated while unleashing a barrage of arrows.

Moving nimbly to maintain distance, she dragged the battle into a mid-to-long-range fight. If the enemy managed to break through, she would confront them with a dagger, looking for an opening. This was Jenna’s most common tactic. However.

“…Huh?”

The outcome was decided in the blink of an eye.

Having never fought anyone faster than herself, Jenna was caught by Kishasha’s dazzling speed. Kishasha easily deflected the arrows and dagger, then placed her claw at Jenna’s throat.

‘About 20 seconds.’

“I, I lost.”

Jenna raised her hands.

“For a human, you’re fast. And skilled too. But don’t rely too much on your legs.”

Jenna nodded her head to Kishasha’s advice with an awkward face.

Kishasha’s advice was simple: change the battle pattern according to the opponent’s characteristics. In a speed battle, Jenna couldn’t win against Kishasha. If she had fought differently, she could have lasted at least twice as long.

“Hey, Oppa!”

Jenna, who was deep in thought while descending from the arena, called out.

“What?”

“Can I try one more time?”

“Go ahead. I’ve cleared the schedule for today anyway. It doesn’t matter.”

“I’m always ready.”

Kishasha smirked.

Jenna bowed to me and Kishasha before stepping back into the arena. Her expression was filled with determination.

There’s plenty of time.

Since I cleared today’s schedule.

“Sis was incredibly fast.”

Referring to someone visibly younger as “sister” must be due to her understanding of the different races. Kishasha simply lifted her claw without a word.

30 minutes later.

“…I lost.”

Jenna shook her head.

Jenna’s final record was 6 losses out of 6 matches. In the last match, she managed to hold out for nearly 5 minutes, but still, she didn’t land a single effective hit.

“You’re strong. I see potential in you.”

“Thanks for the compliment. When my secret technique is complete, let’s match again.”

“Will do.”

Jenna descended the stairs with a look of regret.

Secret technique. That reminds me, she didn’t use the skill she acquired from skill synthesis last time.

It seems incomplete.

Next.

My gaze shifted to Velkist.

Naturally, his winning rate wasn’t high.

At best, it was less than 10%. But it didn’t seem like he had any intention of backing down. On the contrary, he was even smirking while handling his sheath.

“Am I next?”

“Yes.”

“If I can’t beat that archer, I’ll be the target for this selection. The same goes for other roles. If I lose, I’ll leave the first party. Isn’t that right?”

I didn’t lie.

I affirmed Velkist’s words.

“This brat is still monstrously strong. It’s like looking at the senior. But I haven’t been just playing around either. Let’s do this.”

Velkist chuckled, drawing his sword.

And just as he was about to step up the stairs.

“I’ll step down.”

A dispassionate voice shook the training ground.

I turned around. Neryssa had her hand raised.

“What did you say?”

Velkist muttered.

“I’ll step down from the first party.”

“You must be joking. Are you serious?”

“Serious.”

Neryssa answered without hesitation.

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