Chapter 1

Welcome. Oogami-kun, Yuzuru, Chiaki, Narukami-kun. Thank you for coming.

Of course!

……

Sigh…

…?

I’ve gathered you all here today for one reason—Starting now, I’d like for you all to kill each other ♪

President-sama.¹

Based on your expression, can I assume you’re angry with me for calling you over, Yuzuru?

Rather than angry, I would say that I am astonished. The scion of the Tenshouin family you may be, I am still not your servant, President-sama.

So I would ask you not to call upon me just for the fun of it.

How cold. It’s not just for fun though, you know?

Is that so? So then, do you mean to say that this chalkboard eraser that was set on top of the door of the student council room is also not just for fun?

Wow~ You’re incredible, Yuzuru. I thought for sure it would fall on you, but you managed to catch it without wasting a single step.

It’s as though you have eyes on the top of your head.

I’d thought to simply set up a prank that was easy to pull off here, but perhaps I should have raised the difficulty for you?

So you were joking around, after all. I should ask you to stop acting on your whims. I do not have the same luxury of free time.

Oh? But Tori has left your care for the time being, correct? You should at least let me have you all to myself when your real master is away.

How did you know…? It is true that Bocchama is off on another matter.

However, my job is not limited to just being his retainer. As his butler, I must also care for him even when we’re apart.

I have always admired your dedication to your service ♪

By the way, I only learned about Tori’s schedule because I happened to pass by him in the hall as he was leaving. He said he’s coming back in two days?

But in any case, please don’t misunderstand me. I really didn’t ask you to come here on a whim. Even that eraser carries something of a significance.

Actually, Yuzuru, I’d like to ask something of you.

I’d like you to let me film a reference video for a game production.

A reference video for a game? I’m not sure what you mean…?

The Tenshouin family has recently bought out a company which holds the rights to the title of a certain popular game.

The consumer game division of the conglomerate’s entertainment branch has long been a weak link.

Is that what one would call an M&A?

Correct. Well, it was beneficial for both parties, so it went over smoothly.

Currently, we’re making plans to release a sequel to that game. And so I would like you to help me make a reference video for its production.

Umm… Would it not be better to hire a professional for such a thing? Why would you want me? I would think that there is no shortage of potential candidates.

It will be a survival game released for home consoles. The premise is such that the protagonist has no training in warfare.

Why would an untrained person venture onto the battlefield…? Would that not be like marching to one’s own death?

Don’t ask me. But it seems that this setup is meant to increase the level of immersion for the player.

In general, the player base won’t know much about actual warfare, so recreating this situation within the game can help them to sympathize with the protagonist.

I am having a difficult time understanding why someone would be this fascinated by the battlefield.

There’s no need to search for reality in entertainment—Rather, the point is to construct a dream for them. If you don’t, you won’t turn a profit.

I cannot imagine a dream within such a story…

Well, in any case. If I make use of a real soldier, their movements would be fully acclimated to the scenario, yes?

And that’s where you come in, Yuzuru. Your body is much more attuned to this than the average person. I was convinced by my prank earlier—You are the perfect man for the job.

…That was the intent of such a prank? If I had known, I would have just let it hit me.

It won’t take too much of your time. But that depends on how fast you work. The sooner you eliminate the enemy, the sooner it will be over.

…If I may be blunt, I would prefer to decline without hesitation.

But now that you’ve asked me specifically, I don’t suppose you would let me be until I’ve conceded, would you?

That’s not true. Just what image do you hold of me, Yuzuru? But I will likely keep asking persistently until you agree ♪

Sigh. Very well, then. Let’s finish this quickly so that we may return to our usual work.

Actually, what is it that you will have me do? You said it was a reference video, but…

I’d like to film you while you play an actual survival game.

There’s that one game, isn’t there? You know, where you can play with airsoft guns within a designated area—like in the mountains, for example—to simulate a real battle.

I can’t say I’ve played such a game before, but… Well, I have had similar experiences. Then I should just act along those lines?

But in order to do this, would you not need a few more people? Or… you’re not saying that you will be doing this, too?

…… (smiling)

I wish you would not just stand there smiling in an attempt to avoid explaining things, especially after making it this far.

Oh, you’ve caught me. Well, it’s true that there’s no point in hiding things.

Actually, I’d like for you to gather some people for this shoot. Let’s see… I need at least three more motion patterns, so maybe we should get three more people?

I’m asking you because I think you’re far more suitable than I am to search for candidates.

There’s that saying, after all: it takes one to know one. So I’m hoping you’ll find some people who can fight on equal footing with you and make this match an interesting one ♪

It appears more that you’re just pushing undesirable work onto me…

Gather up some people today, and tomorrow we’ll film everything. That way, it works out perfectly—You’ll be finished just in time for Tori’s return, Yuzuru ♪

Sigh… Very well, President-sama. I understand. I can’t say I’m very excited about this, but I’ll do as you wish.

This is the only time I’m willing to play along with this kind of nonsense—When I’m away from Bocchama.

Well, I suppose that’s precisely why you chose this timing to ask such things of me.

Is that so? I wouldn’t be too sure about that ♪

You truly are a bothersome person. Bocchama is already almost too much for me to handle, you know.