"Even if it was for work, the fact remains that San-chan attacked you. Consider this meal your compensation—it’s my treat."
"Thank you so much-uo! I'll gratefully accept the feast-uo!"
"I've never seen Alto-shi act this brisk before," Penpen remarked.
"Me neither," I added.
So much for her intention to treat her as an equal player... well, I suppose it couldn't be helped.
"W-Wow. Even other Spirits are no match for Mahariku-sama."
"Our Mahariku-sama really is the best!"
"Ugh, I'm so sorry for the trouble I caused," San-chan whimpered.
"Pull yourself together, San-chan. Mahariku-sama already told you, right? Staying depressed is a violation of orders."
Mahariku's four subordinates were, for lack of a better term, background-character cute. They didn't have many defining features. Even the Halos over their heads were just simple, single-line circles.
"By the way, Mahariku-sa—Mahariku-shi. Is the weaponry your subordinates carry SP Equipment-uo?"
"Yes. They’re SP Equipment handguns. It’s easier to manage operations if everyone’s gear is uniform, so I made them standard issue."
"That’s a shame-uo. I thought maybe you’d discovered some Ancient Ruins-uo."
"Unfortunately, no. I haven't found anything like a ruin yet, though I expect excavated items will eventually start circulating in the market."
"I’m looking for a cartridge to upgrade my gun, so please let me know if you find any-uo."
"Of course. I’ll share any information I find. Do the same for me, okay?"
"It's a promise-uo!"
Alto and Mahariku continued their conversation as we walked toward the restaurant Mahariku recommended. The reason Alto was using such formal language was definitely because she was talking to her boss. Still, I noticed she didn't drop the "uo" even when speaking politely.
Just then, Miti-chan appeared. It looked like she’d used the map to regroup with us.
"Found Lord Spirit! I'm back! ...Huh? Who's this?"
"Oh? Whose character is she? Wait, she doesn't seem to have a Halo."
"She's mine. Welcome back, Miti-chan. Come here—merge."
Since there were so many people around, we merged with a soft squish. Once I was back in Miti-chan, my perspective dropped to the height of a Cat Beastman. Combined with the Halo, I looked like a proper player again.
"...I thought she was a beastman, but she’s a Slime's Split Body. Hmm, that seems incredibly versatile. She's a high-value character from a strategic standpoint."
"I get the impression that Second Characters often have these kinds of specialized skills," I noted.
"Heh! Now I’m starting to really want a Second Character for myself. Where’s your First Character?"
"She’s currently watching the house at our Home in another town. She’s in Auto Mode."
"My Second Character is there too-uo."
"Special skills, huh? How nice. It sounds like it would really expand the scope of my business... Hmm."
Mahariku looked like she was agonizing over what kind of Second Character she wanted.
"If I were to add one to the Jack-of-all-trades now, I’d want a resilient girl who could serve as a Vanguard, or maybe a Professor-type Crafter... Alto, why don't you join my guild?"
"I'm honored, but I'll have to decline-uo. Oh, but I can certainly help out as a Mercenary-uo."
Working under your real-life boss in a video game would be a nightmare. I couldn't blame her.
Eventually, we arrived at the restaurant Mahariku had recommended. It was an eatery with a red curtain hanging over the door. A heavy, gamey aroma wafted out—one that was surprisingly appetite-whetting. It was tucked away in a back alley, likely because the smell was so potent, but the underground vibe actually made it better.
"Well then, this is the place. ...You're all using VR, right? Can your setups handle Taste Reproduction?"
"Of course-uo!"
"Ah, yeah."
"You bet!"
"Good. You really have to invest in the hardware; it makes treating you all the more worthwhile. Boss! Eight bowls of Tonkotsu Ramen!"
...The Tonkotsu Ramen was absolutely divine. Personally, I was definitely coming back here. Apparently, this shop was actually produced by Mahariku’s Jack-of-all-trades guild. Anyone who could bring a shop this delicious into existence had to be a good person in my book.
After we finished eating, Mahariku sent her four subordinates home. We settled in for a more relaxed exchange of information—or rather, just idle chatter.
"I see. Your game system is completely different from ours."
"The fact that dialogue options pop up for you sometimes... that never happens to us-uo."
"Raising subordinates and giving them tasks... it's similar to Auto Mode, but not quite the same."
"They're sweet girls. Though, since I have them do all the work, I hardly do anything myself."
Technically, Mahariku was a unit capable of combat, but her personal strength was apparently nonexistent. She was a backline Commander Type; if she entered the fray, her Ally Units would receive massive buffs.
"Want to try some PvP sometime?" she asked.
"...If it's a battle where Mahariku-shi is directing those four, I don't feel like I could win at all-uo."
"Oh my. If that happened, I’m the commander—you’d just have to take me down first and it’d be over. I'm easily the weakest person here."
"I know you’d definitely set Traps along the invasion route-uo! And even if I avoided them, the place I'd dodge to would have more traps waiting-uo-uo-uo!"
Was she really as formidable as Alto claimed?
Then again, if she was Alto's boss, she was likely in Sales. It stood to reason she’d be an expert at psychological warfare and reading people. If those four subordinates were considered part of her First Character’s kit, her ability might actually be a superior version of Miti-chan's splitting.
I wondered what would have happened if Mahariku had been the one to play through Miti-chan's Scenario...