There is Something Wrong with This Game

Chapter E016 – Shadows of Rebellion

[Highway Road]

Ruri sat comfortably in the driver’s seat of her car, though she wasn’t actively driving. Kuu—her beloved plant pet—occupied the passenger seat beside her, its pot securely fixed with a seatbelt to prevent any movement. The sight of Kuu’s tiny leaves quivering with the car’s vibrations was endearing, and Ruri couldn’t help but smile.

She wore an extremely simple outfit: denim shorts which she didn’t bother to zip up.

She brought along a white jacket and a pair of comfortable shoes out of necessity, stowed beside her on the car’s backseat. She let herself go topless and barefoot, enjoying the soft, cool feel of the car’s seating and the interior flooring beneath her feet.

Turning to Kuu, she broke the silence.

“We’re moving to a new home, Kuu. It’s going to be so much better than our previous home.”

Kuu responded with its usual cheerful “Kweeh~” sound. It made Ruri chuckle.

The car was currently cruising along the specialized highway route designed for automatic driving. With no need to steer or control the vehicle for the time being, Ruri relaxed and stretched her arms. Looking at Kuu again, she tilted her head thoughtfully.

“Hey, Kuu, do you want to listen to some music?”

“You know, I have no idea what you’re saying, but I’ll take that as a yes.”

She activated the car’s hologram display and browsed through a music website. Selecting a cheerful playlist, she let the tunes fill the car. The rhythm provided a pleasant backdrop to their journey, and Ruri found herself lightly tapping her fingers to the beat.

Her thoughts drifted to earlier that evening when she’d completed her driving test.

As expected, it had been straightforward yet meticulous. The test was essentially a high-tech driving simulation game but with added layers of real-world procedures and strict regulations. Participants were assessed on their ability to comply with traffic rules, proper handling of the vehicle, and other critical aspects of safe driving. Naturally, Ruri passed with flying colors.

Even in this advanced era where automatic driving and specialized highways existed, a driving license was still a necessity. Not all roads were equipped for auto-driving, and the toll fees for these specialized routes were astoundingly expensive for frequent personal use. Besides, there were still countless traditional roads where manual driving was the norm.

With her driving license now digitally recorded in her citizen ID, the moving process proceeded smoothly, just as she had scheduled. She had brought only Kuu in the car with her, leaving all other belongings to the care of the courier service.

The car she was using had belonged to her father—a sturdy electric vehicle that had been sitting unused for a long time. Fortunately, its engine was still in good condition, and the battery was charged to 70%, enough for her journey.

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♠♠♠

Several hours passed as Ruri’s journey continued smoothly along the highway.

Without realizing it, the sky had darkened, and the lights of passing vehicles and distant cityscapes illuminated the night. Thanks to the car’s automatic driving feature, the trip wasn’t particularly exhausting.

Ruri had spent most of the journey relaxing, watching the scenery change outside the window, comforting herself by touching her flat chests, and occasionally chatting with Kuu, who responded with its usual cheerful “Kweeh~” sounds. She felt grateful for the advanced technology, as it allowed her to focus more on enjoying the trip rather than dealing with the stress of long-distance driving.

The only concern was that the car, an older model that ran solely on an electric battery and lacked a solar panel for on-road recharging. After several hours of nonstop travel, the battery level had dropped to about 10%, prompting the need for a stop to recharge.

"It looks like we had to stop for a little while."

With a quick tap on the car’s hologram interface, Ruri adjusted her destination to the nearest rest area that featured recharging stops. The car smoothly veered off the main highway lane, merging into a designated route leading to the facility.

The rest area came into view, a well-lit haven of modern convenience nestled along the highway. Rows of charging stations were lined up neatly. Each stop was shaped into a small, private garage, offering travelers a secluded space for their vehicles.

As her car entered the garage, the garage doors then closed automatically, sealing the area in privacy. One of the robots approached her car and greeted her with a polite, electrical tone.

"Welcome."

The recharging service was entirely automated, handled by robots that responded with simple, pre-programmed phrases. Thanks to this, she didn't have to worry about her attire.

Ruri leaned back in her seat, letting out a satisfied sigh. She reached for her white jacket and shoes, slipping them on as she spoke to Kuu.

“Wait here, okay? I’ll handle the recharging.”

“Kweeh~,”

Kuu responded, its leaves trembling slightly in the dim light of the car’s interior.

With that, Ruri exited the car and talked to the robot. She connected the payment code to her bank account via the hologram interface, and then addressed the robot attendant.

"Recharge the battery to 100%."

"Affirmative," 

After a brief interaction, the robots quickly began the recharging process, connecting the car to the station and initiating the energy transfer. The dashboard display indicated that the recharging would take approximately one to two hours. Ruri stretched her arms and glanced around, deciding to take a walk while waiting.

She opened her inventory window and retrieved a few bottles of Improved Invisibility Potion, downing them one by one. The effect settled over her like a warm blanket, and she commented,

“It’s a bit too stuffy,”

Without thinking much, she reached for the zipper of her jacket and pulling it open to let it hang loose. Feeling the familiar sensation of the cool air with her body, she stepped out of the garage, ready to explore the rest area undisturbed.

♦♦♦

[Ascension: Thornwall Fort]

The scene shifted to another place.

In the conference room of the Prominence Guild, a man who looked to be in his 30s, the guild leader and Lord Knight, Phobos, slammed his fist hard against the table in anger.

"Damn Genesis Guild, how dare you!"

He roared, his voice echoing through the room.

Eight other individuals sat around the table, silently watching their leader vent his fury. Their anger and frustration mirrored his, though they remained quiet, letting him represent their collective outrage.

Phobos spat curse after curse, venting his frustration over the Genesis Guild’s betrayal and their audacious control over the Rosenweil Kingdom. The consequences of the coup had rippled far and wide, striking the Prominence Guild where it hurt the most—their industries and trade.

The once-reliable nobles who had supported the Prominence Guild were now unreachable, their contacts severed. Suppliers in the capital had ceased their operations with the guild, causing industries to freeze. On top of that, the Genesis Guild’s propaganda was luring people to their side, including some members of the Prominence Guild. The power balance was tipping, and it was not in their favor.

Breaking the tense silence, a man clad in a Scholar’s robe spoke. Toushi, one of Phobos’ most trusted advisors, projected multiple holo-screens filled with charts and graphs summarizing the guild’s worsening financial situation.

"This cannot be allowed to continue any further. As we speak here, the losses suffered by our guild have reached hundreds of millions of yen."

The dire financial reality hung heavy in the air as everyone absorbed his words. Then, Rosetta, a Trickster with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue, spoke up.

"Easy for you to say, but how do we do that?"

She questioned, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"You know what kind of propaganda that guy is spreading. If we attack them, we’ll be the bad guys. And let’s not forget—he’s got the Church of Light’s backing. Do you want to make enemies of them too?"

“That guy” was none other than Leon, the leader of the Genesis Guild.

Despite her disdain for their enemy, Rosetta couldn’t help but feel a begrudging sense of admiration for his cunning. Becoming a Templar wasn’t easy. It required unwavering dedication to the Church of Light—countless thankless acts, impeccable morality, and abstaining from vices that others indulged in freely.

Gambling, drinking, and adult content, all of which were permissible in the game, were strictly off-limits for a Templar.

Had Leon planned this from the very beginning? If so, he was a formidable man, one Rosetta secretly wished her own guild leader could emulate. If Phobos had strived to become a Templar rather than settling for a Lord Knight, perhaps their guild wouldn’t be in this precarious position.

Toushi remained silent, digesting her words. But another voice broke the quiet—Ragon, a Warrior known for his brashness.

"Damn it, you’ve got a point...! But even so, can we really just do nothing?"

As his subordinates debated, Phobos silently observed them, his mind racing with thoughts.

What they didn’t know was that the situation was far graver than they imagined.

With the Genesis Guild now in control of the Rosenweil throne, they held the king’s rights, including the power to revoke vassal positions and territories. If that happened, the vassals would face a grim choice: submit or rebel. While the Genesis Guild hadn’t exercised that authority yet, Phobos knew it was only a matter of time.

He couldn’t afford to be careless and risk ending up like the Stellar Wing Guild, which had vanished from the top ranks after being sabotaged. It was said that Black Phantom was the culprit behind their demise, a figure who had also struck the Prominence Guild.

The only difference was that Stellar Wing Guild couldn't recover the losses and went bankrupt, while Prominence Guild barely managed to survive.

Phobos suspected that the Black Phantom might be a tool of the Genesis Guild. Although the Genesis Guild claimed to have suffered losses from the mysterious figure as well, but who knows, maybe it was just a propaganda to create an alibi.

Lost in thought, Phobos carefully weighed his options. However, it didn’t take him long to realize that his choices were limited. The Prominence Guild’s businesses were sabotaged, and their members were being poached little by little. If this continued, their survival was in jeopardy.

Finally, he made his decision. With a solemn expression, he addressed his subordinates.

"Toushi, Rosetta, Rennon, Wind-Blue, and Kraus, contact all nobles outside the capital city. I’m sure many are still unconvinced by the Genesis Guild’s rule. Ragon, Mystlud, Rotpear, prepare the troops."

His subordinates fell silent, their eyes fixed on their leader. They understood what he was about to say next.

“Once the exam period is over, we declare war,”

Phobos stated firmly.

As the weight of Phobos' declaration hung in the air, the room fell into a tense silence. Each member of the Prominence Guild understood the stakes—this was no longer just a battle for power or territory, but a fight for survival.

Double spoiler

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