Otherworld TRPG Game Master - Chapter 258



258 – Otherworldly TRPG -4

Former knight of the Eastern Front, current Rabbit Princess, Siscel Yurensto. In two syllables, she could be called my sister-in-law.

Though I knew her, I must not act as if I did.

Because the fact that the mysterious Rabbit Princess is Siscel Yurensto is a secret known only to Karen. The mad wizard is unaware.

“…”

“…”

So, it was Siscel who needed to resolve this strange standoff accompanied by silence. She had made the first move.

“…!”

Siscel, who had been wearing an expression of ‘Why aren’t you acknowledging me?’ seemed to realize the truth a moment too late. I could see her eyes flickering, and I could almost hear her mind racing.

After an additional three minutes of silence, she finally spoke.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Siscel Yurensto, mad wizard. I am, well… a rabbit. Were you also caught up in the sudden teleportation?”

I was about to talk about someone I knew, but it seemed she found it difficult to refer to herself as a princess, dropping the last two syllables of Rabbit Princess.

Knowing that the target of the teleportation was a candidate for the tournament, I had a lot to say.

“…Ah, yes. I was caught up in it. I had heard of your fame. The name of the singer Rabbit Princess is quite well-known in the Holy City.”

“It’s nice to reunite like this… um, to meet for the first time. I’m here as a bard. You know the story of Lukelern, right…?”

Yes. Her poor excuse isn’t what matters.

The important point is that a bard with considerable influence in this city is showing interest in my story.

If I could immerse her in TRPG, wouldn’t it naturally spread to the other bards around her? Then I wouldn’t need to lift a finger.

I rubbed my hands together eagerly.

“Are you interested?”

“Yes. If possible, I would like to hear it.”

“Then you must participate in our storytellers’ traditional ceremony. It’s called TRPG, and using this method allows for a deeper enjoyment of the story.”

“…The traditional ceremony, you say.”

Yes, indeed.

“Alright. I will participate.”

“That’s a wise decision. Now, then… please come inside. The warm dice are ready.”

“Wait, Master! Save us!”

“…Hmph, was alcohol the root of all evil…?”

As I coaxed Cissel into the inn, the warrior and the rogue looked at me, sending silent pleas for rescue. It dawned on me that these two were here.

In short, they wanted to escape from their delusions. It was burdensome to have others looking at them with expectant eyes, urging them to ‘deduce a bit.’ This problem could be resolved simply.

Those who believe will believe even if it’s revealed to be a lie, and those who don’t believe won’t need an explanation to remain skeptical.

And the folks gathered here needed a story that would fill their wallets nicely. Not to clarify the truth or falsehood of the tale.

If that’s the case, then I could only change the flow to make it acceptable for either side.

I raised my voice to the gathered bards.

“Everyone! We made a pact with the Goblin Emperor at the end of our journey! We decided to leave behind everything we gained in Lukelern and return!”

“………?”

“Among those things are memories and abilities! We remember that adventure as if it were a dream, but the important parts are hazy and vague like a mirage! The only clear fact is that, for some reason, tears flowed down our faces when it was over…”

The concept was that we erased our memories in exchange for saving the world and returning to our original realm.

The bards murmured, and it seemed they were coming to terms with it in their own way.

“Aha! The detective mercenary group didn’t notice that I bought bread at the bakery because of that reason, huh?”

“Then how do you remember the incident with the Goblin folk?”

“That was the last mercy of the Goblin Emperor. He allowed us to recall at least the first steps of our adventure! So, everyone, please help our memories remain as past memories! At least refrain from describing the details!”

It was true that we had gone on a grand adventure, but all the abilities we gained were reset. So please, don’t bother me with questions.

“I don’t know what events occurred in our forgotten memories. But I believe that the bards here might just have a flash of inspiration to ‘deduce’ it. Just make sure to attach the phrase ‘this is speculation’ at the end of the story!”

Feel free to use the detective mercenary group’s IP to create your own tales. I grant permission for derivative works. Go make some money. Just remember to add that it could be true or it might not be at the end.

Surely, this would work out somehow.

Having set the stage, I gave a thumbs up to the warrior and the rogue.

“Ah, no… not like that, clarify that it’s just a game.”

“…Hmph, perhaps we really did have such an adventure…?”

“?”

That should be enough. The blame for this strange rumor spreading lay with those two, didn’t it? I had upheld my end of the bargain.

More importantly, it was time for the session. I left the warrior and the rogue behind and disappeared into the inn. It was time to enter a new session.

Alright.

I set up the table, prepared paper and pen, and placed the dice on it. Then, I briefly explained TRPG to Cissel.

“Aha, so… it’s role-playing. Then, what about the story of Lukelern?”

—

“Yes, it’s fiction. Please tell the bards about it later.”

“Understood. So… should I start by creating a character?”

“Yes. I’ll slowly guide you through the tricky parts.”

The participants are Chisel and Selbier. As the number of players decreases, it becomes easier to unfold deeper stories, so the scenario was prepared with a slightly serious flavor.

What kind of player will she be? Being Yuna’s sister, she must have some similarities with her, but is she the more impulsive type?

Seeing her brazenly wearing a rabbit princess costume, she doesn’t seem like someone who would feel awkward. But it seems her brainpower is not quite the same.

My heart raced with excitement. I’m happy!

—-

It’s cold.

My heart feels frozen, as if it might shatter into pieces. If I were to look into a mirror right now, I would witness winter reflected in the glass.

Selbier was also trembling, her face pale. Because the story had gone completely off the rails.

The atmosphere had long since soured, yet Chisel was smiling brightly all alone.

“This hobby of TRPG is truly enjoyable!”

“……..”

“……..”

This is hell.

Yes, this is why I sometimes grew to dislike TRPGs. Forgotten nightmares claw their way out from the tightly sealed doors of memory. All the villains, human figures, and monsters I encounter along the way!

Who would have thought that Chisel Yurensto would be one of those villains?

In fact, she was among the most malicious of them all. A troll wrapped up in good intentions, completely unaware that she was committing wrongs.

If only she had some malice, flaunting her passive aggression at 120%, I could just smack her with the rulebook and send her off!

But she had no malice. She was simply enjoying TRPG in her own way.

There were signs, though…

#1: Early in the adventure / Goblins ambush the carriage.

Chisel Yurensto paused from rolling the dice and asked.

“According to my character’s backstory, she is a knight trained since childhood, so why can’t she kill a goblin in one blow?”

“Huh? Well, obviously because the dice rolled a 3…”

“But it’s strange that a trained knight fails to defeat a goblin with a 4 out of 20 chance. With this structure, shouldn’t I be rolling to see if I’m even breathing properly?”

She was bringing realism into the game.

The logic that it doesn’t make sense for her character to be like this and yet fail at such a task. If this were in modern times, I could have poked back with, “Have you ever actually learned knightly swordsmanship?”

But as she calmly persuaded me that she was a true veteran knight, and that this didn’t align with historical accuracy, and that if she couldn’t one-shot a goblin, she wouldn’t have been knighted, there was nothing I could do.

—

Of course, I tried to refute it. It was Selbier, not me, who was getting emotional.

“Wait a minute, Mr. Rabbit. Could it be that your character was just… a knight with insufficient abilities? And maybe the goblins in this game were stronger than usual, or you just had really bad luck?”

“But the descriptions up until now… I think we could gauge what a strength of 17 means from the part where I just lifted the iron gate. A person with this level of physique should be able to—without any variables—”

“What do you do for a living?!”

“I don’t understand why you’re angry, but if I’ve committed any offense, I apologize. However, according to what I heard from Sissel, I just can’t comprehend…”

The ace knight of the Eastern Front… was appealing to himself as if he had heard various things.

That logic wasn’t entirely unrefutable. In fact, I had seen incompetent knights pass by a few times, and even monkeys fall from trees; it was entirely possible for a goblin to not go down in one hit.

But the issue was Sissel Yurensto’s perception. She was a seasoned user of the Sublimation, knocking on the door of mastery. Without a doubt, she was an extraordinary talent.

However, having been compared and belittled by her parents her whole life, and with her sister already soaring after achieving Sublimation… this guy thought he was average.

He believed that if others just put in the effort, they could reach this level too!

So, seriously, I asked the pure question of why a knight who had worked hard couldn’t defeat a goblin.

“…Ah, yes. Then the goblin is dead.”

I patted Selbier’s shoulder and continued. This part could be adjusted slowly and carefully, and I thought I could convey that there was an implicit understanding in the game.

That’s what I thought.

#2: Mid-adventure / The lord, the mastermind behind the incident, showcases his villainous side for the final showdown.

“…Since there’s no way to deal with the lord here, let’s pretend to comply for now and look for an opportunity. I will bow my head with a frustrated expression…”

“Um. I will draw my sword. And I will shout while aiming at the lord.”

“Wait, wait a minute. You’re going to draw your sword? It was just described that there are dozens of soldiers around the lord. That means you’re not supposed to fight.”

“But if I tolerate injustice, I am not a knight. I will attack the lord. Of course, my clone will likely die here, but that sacrifice will have meaning.”

It was, in effect, a declaration of suicide.

Even in games, the final boss often reveals themselves midway, right? This scene was one of those. It was clearly not a timing meant for capturing!

I seriously pondered whether this was an expression of passive aggression, like “GM, I don’t like your story, so I’d rather die.”

But in Sissel’s eyes, there was only bright and clear determination. I asked again, filled with earnestness.

“…Are you really going to do that?”

If you open the GM dictionary, this sentence has two meanings. The first is a warning that you will die if you do that, and the second is a plea to please refrain from that action.

This time, it was used in the latter sense.

But Sissel did not waver. She was resolute.

“Throwing away one’s life without meaning… that’s the wrong answer. I know that. My friend told me so. But if there is a clear cause and goal, it is different.”

“……..”

“My clone in the story has made a resolution. I cannot stand by in the face of injustice, and even if it costs my life, I will achieve a great purpose. And who knows… perhaps a miracle will bloom in this unfavorable battle.”

“That great ambition, should we not step back a bit, prepare, and then achieve it?!”

Selvia twisted her body in frustration, but Siselle remained unmoved. She seemed to be thinking of Karen.

Did I do something wrong? Should I have prepared a different kind of buildup? Was it a mistake to change Siselle’s fable and instill a new resolve in her heart…?

I…

I couldn’t just let everything end in a complete massacre here…

“Y-yes. Let’s proceed. So, the lord was to become very angry and…”

With a reluctant acceptance, I brought forth the battle data that had been prepared for the final showdown, nerfing it repeatedly so that the players wouldn’t notice, allowing Siselle and Selvia to win.

“Evil shall perish!”

“Ugh, ughhh…”

With the lord’s head severed, the scenario I had prepared died.

There were only two NPCs left who hadn’t appeared, and the side story I had planned to insert during the scene investigating the lord’s weaknesses quietly faded away, along with the hints for the true final boss.

Selvia gently patted my back.

It’s okay. The ending came a bit earlier than expected, and there are still quite a few unresolved threads, but it’s not a bad thing to wrap things up here.

“Y-your adventure will thus…”

“Shall we go catch the one called ‘Shadow Hand’? I’m sure I heard something about that at the tavern.”

“Eh? O-oh?”

What does that mean?

“As long as there are villains left, our journey cannot end, can it?!”

“……..”

W-wait… are you suggesting we continue this session? After you’ve already split the main story in half, you want to go further…?

Please. Please let there be some malice.

In truth, I wish Siselle would realize that I am Karen and that she is doing this to plunge me into despair! My dear sister-in-law…!

But in her clear eyes, there was no trace of ill intent. She was kind and good-hearted. Simply, she lacked awareness, had a poor understanding of the game, and was terrible at TRPGs.

I shut my eyes tightly, overwhelmed with despair. Selvia also looked thoroughly exhausted.

Oh, goddess of dice, I won’t even glance at TRPGs for a while, so please forgive me…

Someone. Someone save me, save us.

Someone, please!

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked from beyond the door. A voice followed. It was the innkeeper.

“Guest, there’s someone named Bennett looking for you downstairs. Do you know them?”

“Benet?!”

“Oh my!”

The hero has come to save me!

Selvia and I jumped up from our seats in a rush.

“Unfortunately, we must end the session here. It seems something very urgent has come up. Right, Selvia?”

“Yes, yes. Benet wouldn’t have come all this way for nothing. Something serious and urgent must have happened. The game is great, but reality always comes first!”

Cicel spoke with a hint of disappointment.

“Oh, I see. That’s unfortunate… Can we continue after the matter is resolved?”

“………”

“………If the time and place are right, yes. Selvia, let’s go.”

“Yes, yes, brother. I’m coming down right away.”

We held hands and hurriedly fled back to reality.

—-

“To cut to the chase, I’m being pursued by an elf ranger.”

“………”

A hellish session just experienced versus a showdown with an elf ranger. Weighing it in my mind, I thought the latter might actually be more comforting.

I sat at the table, adjusted my posture, and looked at Benet, who had a crow perched on his shoulder.

“Could you elaborate a bit more?”