Chapter 7
FQa“……”S4MFoz
q6dfv3Smiley remained silent.1mRcHHA
WhZUuPAs if he were looking at something completely unknown, he simply stared at me with his black plastic eyes.oBN92AA
Xq3WnA moment later.DI7gu8
dXuyMSmiley’s claw hand gently lowered me to the ground.qnphKu
nMoAs soon as my feet touched the floor, intense drum and bass music began to play.4LjSI
OdiIt was the music that announced the start of the final boss battle of HasFac.8g0W
UAAWNTA system window appeared before me.VtD
FvMt9◆ Main Mission: Grant Smiley eternal rest.n4LB
ejCYou have promised death to Smiley.GQr
z5VWcSIf you do not fulfill your promise, you and your companions will die will die will die death will die will die.zN2
4sahYou think you must defeat Smiley no matter what.pMuu78N
7S2lWPPerhaps because the story was no longer following a normal progression, even the system window was acting strangely.P9eDdf
JPTRI exhaled softly.3IUr
b2tQ0pdThe truth was that there were still many stages left to complete and a lot of toy affinity left to earn before facing the final boss.9ThN
ArAWkI didn’t even have a weapon.rLep
29LIn other words, I had been thrown headfirst into the battle without any help.3sJ3
W0LbBut the situation had already gone completely off the rails.HycJ
eNkSg0Even if I wanted to follow the normal order, I no longer could.czlB07d
mVaAnd although it wasn’t a HasFac item.okL
VaJLI had obtained something quite useful.riBko
WD7The kind Smiley was patiently waiting for my first attack.2XRr0Q
wLkmasI took a Bolt Candy out of my inventory and unwrapped it.1sD
BkPGQThe attack and physical ability enhancement from Bolt Candy lasted 180 seconds.CUI
qWayJ3I had to clear Smiley’s three phases within that time.zmnFYm
JyqThirty-five seconds for the first phase.Mqw58
LidonThirty-five seconds for the second.I9Qno
CN2Sixty seconds for the third.RuP1
tVscAnd twenty-five seconds for the transition scenes between phases.ctI
ovw8pIt was a rather tight distribution.nau
9WnKgI put the Bolt Candy into my mouth.pOf
P38ySqt“Ugh…”Ew4
o8SCAn electrifying taste ran across my tongue.w98
b9zIt stung as if I were receiving static shocks, making my face scrunch up involuntarily.1qanREn
ONnxBut personally experiencing a flavor that until now I had only seen described in system windows was strangely fun.cxVG
aw25iDI made a small jump.1x09Vmt
DcqRCAs soon as I checked how my body responded, several strategies appeared in my mind.mXUv
Ga5n0ZnI chose one of them and looked at Smiley.Qj14E0e
8BZSmiley was still watching my every movement while waiting for my first attack.kDx
416KSorry, Smiley.b1g2P
wN9But in the first phase, you won’t get a turn.J48X
KHdA“Captain Mo Haein!”8RZci
sQ1gkhsI swung my handcuffed arms backward with all my strength.Qxq7v
e06QgGI“Eat the Bolt Candy!!”ROlNqEP
lbM1B4I swung the articulated handcuffs and struck Smiley’s left eye.WZBpeHr
yyCCRACK!udKC
Lh6fEdThe plastic eye shattered.TS44c
EgDC5‘It worked!’WWCYK0g
rWK9pZThose handcuffs were a special item manufactured by the Trial Response Agency to restrain Compatibles.KFjP0K
vUcMxMI knew they had much greater durability than most items.ttHsCO
OrBkIuI thought they might work as a weapon.ZEFy
zZz7But it was still a gamble.TCH
BZTb8YZThe thrill of succeeding made my blood boil.umK
e0YI7While counting the seconds in my head, I tore away the fragments of broken plastic.eaYV
jK0oGNRainbow-colored blood gushed out.dwFL
aw8Smiley violently shook his body.7A1a9
E0wThe force of the movement sent me flying through the air.JJLnKHF
2rRRW2I ended up landing quite far away.68oMs
9UbhFWhen I looked at my hands, I noticed something.bvc
XlbDsakThe hinge connecting the handcuffs had broken.2zsnf
hn3IkWithout meaning to, I had regained my freedom of movement.tlSMX
1iOI listened carefully to the music.127
WJt7Static noises had begun mixing into the background track.LyZzt
h3JqIt was the sound that announced the transition into the second phase.5DF
KU50z‘That saved me four seconds.’6uyxM4
YcyWSmiley, with rainbow-colored liquid pouring from one of his eyes, slammed a claw hand into the ground.n7YvkKW
wSCThe earth trembled.tuRfpm
IPessxHThe floor split open.sFe
dRjWSmall toys began emerging from the cracks.dtZDQVx
AGvIncomplete toys that were presumably being manufactured by the employees also appeared.vX80v8o
pi5SBBThey abandoned the production lines and ran toward us.l8iL8w
U7A5They seemed as though they wanted to play.sml
JfNgtBut if they hit me twice, I would receive an immediate death sentence.T8Q
htDAmong the sea of toys, block bullets began flying.ZoVlY
2hyThey were being fired by toy soldiers.5z0QUeV
wR30One bullet I failed to dodge grazed my thigh.aWFU
0jwA burning pain ran through my leg.tn9
m0WRAs I staggered, a toy fish opened its mouth and leaped straight at my face.TY94hI
5ohbHowever, its sharp teeth never reached me.ggHu6
jsK8W9“You idiot!”1xr3D
GRgThe Black Moon Blade split it in half.9dg
11LpJThe fish pieces flew away like freshly sliced sashimi.eIuwHEN
haIwRMo Haein shouted at me, the veins standing out on her neck.wyvAu2q
hI8Ejb6“Are you completely insane?!”mBpGo
bMGH“Sorry, Captain.”JFy7b
gdhBut I survived, didn’t I?VIJLw
oSv6dII kept that last part to myself.R0uO9
JFLZUFortunately, Mo Haein didn’t have time to keep yelling at me.L03Xa
Jr4XJbmShe immediately turned her head back toward the battle.LQs
1w2cUsing one of the fragments of Smiley’s eye as a shield, I spoke quickly.5fhfCP
pknzX6w“To finish the second phase, you have to attack the left eye!”hjYuBfc
jwXsMo Haein and I ran forward.4nOmg
NNZ1JBullets and toys slammed into the improvised shield, making my entire body shake.eCocO
0jXx8ztThen Smiley’s claw hand came crashing down directly on our position.nClW74p
YGfisrrThe earth surged upward violently.pNyu
5jNg8eBoth Mo Haein and I were launched into the air.xMgnjT
EMr6fKZIn the game, it was only a simple obstacle mechanic.baW5u4
NSpuQK5But here, we had literally ended up on top of an enormous pillar of earth raised by the impact.D02
S5pegFMo Haein snatched away the eye fragment I was using as a shield.KkIjnO
qC6She placed it beneath our feet.QSgZI
xl0li“Hold on!”yMY
1pEkFMI grabbed her around the waist.19AOAul
ldPi3rXAs soon as we touched the top of the pillar of earth, we began sliding down using the fragment like a sled.5TDZ
iAoThe toys running toward us couldn’t match our speed.zzK
hLhIICThey crashed into one another and fell into complete chaos.VlZ2T
lEgBrThe moment we reached the bottom, we threw away the shattered fragment and ran toward Smiley again.uWKf2
qETfPThe claw hands continued slamming into the ground to intercept us.zbEG
Xu72lWGBut they were no longer difficult to dodge.hAoOsFP
z6QQUAs soon as we entered range.E8KlO
5OkiMo Haein jumped.rxES
liLwQThe Black Moon Blade stabbed into Smiley’s left eye.9JWZIoF
PERThe spear tip penetrated deeply into the place where the plastic covering was already gone and only rainbow-colored liquid remained.GvDhk
t1lEven though he was a plastic toy, it felt as if she were piercing soft flesh.oLy5
TfWQA mechanical voice accompanied by children’s laughter began sounding from inside Smiley.1CM3D
R4JAgain and again.5H6LWU
K3nAs“Die! Let me die! Die! Let me die! Die!”feZiJhJ
mLLLWUMo Haein pulled back the spear and landed.xSFESr
m2kThe gigantic fifteen-meter-tall Smiley began shrinking with a series of creaks.GsIw
TRgTwEPHe returned to being barely one meter tall.qhDtGIP
x7OoNaBHe remained motionless.xiDFg
lEfp3X8As if he were broken.k7NMe
XOWRainbow-colored liquid continued dripping from his eye.9ogC
VKUuGmRainbow mist began spreading everywhere.WB8
6VewPThe music filled with unbearable static noise.3zTMBF3
owGxGKThe third phase had begun.0sqqr
ljqip‘We lost about five seconds.’cOV
S2dGetting hit by the rising terrain had cost us time.aPv
IZuwzBut there was still some margin left.2BmksE8
TjSLI sharpened my senses enhanced by the Bolt Candy.CTOL
gNq3The mist greatly reduced visibility.aK9FZ
WQGYReaction speed was the key to this phase.s249o
omURumble.PBOtfA
UDI3UQThe ground trembled.FC5W6D
LKkKBqoEverything began shaking.tfODUMV
yiH0ppThe toy factory was collapsing.cZkzS1
ThP92dNDebris started falling.ewJIsU
M7LMassive objects emerged through the mist.oAJgp1S
1c4If they hit you, you died instantly.BfyrLD
oEnHAAnd even if you avoided them, they became new terrain obstacles.ol4PD
gDTfOWithin seconds, the ground was covered with huge stone blocks, mechanical parts, and broken toys.uGA
2XkWhen the stage transformation ended.C3TVJi2
hBlP8qaSmiley finally began moving in earnest.bnD8M
w6SAmid cheerful laughter came the sound of plastic chains rattling behind us.txMX2yA
rX1Thunk.zCR
wQuOteThunk.PXB
It58Thunk.87s0
rSKThunk.vaJvID
5vIHeavy footsteps echoed one after another.wjXez
svTtyQBut we still couldn’t move.fi8gou4
eAxWuMwMo Haein, standing close beside me, spoke in a low voice.Vyt2M
WKUM“There’s no trick here either?”nX9gU
WoqSfoz“No. We have to run it honestly. But at the end…”NSe
XEZII explained what I planned to do during the final phase.9C0
fZaHteMo Haein frowned.g2Du
UphIBut there was no longer any time to continue talking.Um09Dmj
Xn2The factory speakers, which were playing the background music, began crackling.EYHf4H
ENdJRHThen a signal sounded.O68lKLd
C8cHf“One, two, Happy Smile!”M3iJQ
W7YQXThe restriction disappeared.dhm5
GMJmHyyMo Haein and I ran like mad.xYfyyl
zkTMSmiley’s final third phase was a chase sequence.CuFT
rRa9IyrUnlike Smiley, who destroyed everything blocking his path while pursuing us.qiMYMSi
JwwLGbbThe players had to dodge every obstacle on the stage.xXQwoV
zn6VvAnd also the claw hands that suddenly appeared from behind the debris.OsYAUD
LMaoce0Even with the physical abilities enhanced by the Bolt Candy, I felt short of breath.nBg
qVAAmid the distorted music, an announcement sounded through the speakers.tH1
64yD71c“Announcement. Important. Happy Smile Factory employees. Employees. Employees. Must stop immediately. Immediately. Stooooooop.”wFTc8E
2acTy“Gunbam” was pronounced so drawn out that it almost sounded as if they were saying “roasted chestnut.”A4qRhV4
kmeThey kept calling me again and again, but I never turned around to look back.sS6w
vgTdin1The rainbow mist slowly began to dissipate.Aje57
l2ZRmeThat meant the artificial space created by Smiley was nearing its end.WmukL
YjSSCHowever, the remaining time was dangerously short.7rIzuTc
cYKpThe chase had lasted longer than expected.JhOow
oYM‘8 seconds.’7Rs3dH
KQv2lSThe tension of knowing it could still drag on longer made my skin tingle.yXbQM
fhqXmL‘5 seconds.’x82
Wv18QU8At last, I could see the end of the mist.FLdsRJM
xyrcQFbI gathered the last bit of strength I had left.59C
vkb0E‘3 seconds.’ko5dXr
VnoWJust before emerging from the mist.UDr8iA
fZVbv“Argh!”q4Lvz8k
XId0eFBA sharp pain pierced my thigh.ictGKe
lfSbUQ7I hadn’t seen a steel beam protruding from among the stone debris.YWn
w2ynnyrAnd to make matters worse, it had struck exactly the same wound again.xDHYf
qbdczUThe buff’s effect ended.Mx3GNvl
LefW2uThe enhanced physical abilities disappeared.xTx
TrseFeeling my body suddenly become heavy, I stumbled and rolled across the ground.W52
VQhKJMy hand passed uselessly through the mist.qRDB
sq3‘Just one more step and I would have made it out.’7nr1
My7woThen a claw hand grabbed the back of my clothing by the neck.dpBiFwi
xwyIt wasn’t Smiley.mJBz
g32It was Mo Haein, who had extended her toy arm to catch me.iNCvo7h
pzH5PqpThe instant she dragged me out, all the mist and obstacles covering the area vanished.ygVK0
9eaI had emerged outside the factory.mYs
Jk8kYI could see the toy factory collapsing.ENFI7
4ixcWBAnd also Smiley, ruined and battered, chasing us until the very end.Bylzzt
arJMo Haein threw me to the ground.mYpkHCq
mm1lZShe gripped the Black Moon Blade tightly and drew her arm completely back.hQDdj
kuJarThe spear shot forward like a projectile.4tDXL
pDPFgNVIt pierced through Smiley.B4X7wA
MDxfSmiley fell face-first onto the earth while emitting the cry of a child.rWiuK
7y14NvU“I don’t waaaant toooo—!”BbtV
ZrB2ZWJThe background music, which until then had been deafening, disappeared.y1Uzedj
5O3QThe final boss battle of HasFac had ended.4xq4G
GqBLBYou have defeated Smiley!xzAeA
Y8MrY“Haah… haah…”cVcex
v0IiAfter putting away the Black Moon Blade, Mo Haein dropped to the ground while catching her breath.Cj3
Encu6tfI also regulated my breathing and staggered to my feet.xzApsdz
tuS1RYWMo Haein’s eyes wavered briefly.vLPje
RZzwrIt was the look of someone wondering whether she should allow me to do what I was about to do.E6PhD
MrgV“Captain…”DCqLIn
7EDHearing my voice mixed with groans of pain, Mo Haein muttered in disgust.Xnz5s
PNH0l“What the hell are you trying to accomplish by healing the boss?”MFIGw
3xrWBut she didn’t try to stop me.srQ
Tx3zMmqLimping, I approached Smiley alone.uKMM
69FI unwrapped a Nut Candy and placed it on what appeared to be his mouth.wFYc
pOTzksThe candy melted into light and was absorbed into Smiley.yeaL
bZTvSmiley’s shattered body began repairing itself.KX7
AsKSlowly, he stood up.3vU2T
kbKHe remained motionless while looking at me.lebTT
rbpoti“Because I wanted to keep my promise.”fsC7lg
F8OKAThe only person capable of killing Smiley was someone who shared his blood and flesh.2uLeC8y
uClA twin brother separated from him after losing his memories during childhood.XBQ
7tg0That was the player’s true identity.KO3
klQsNlAfter obtaining immortality and his powers, Smiley recovered his memories of the player.NIN
pU70MAnd that was why he had lured the only person capable of granting him death to the factory.C3zl
11SkjQfI truly wanted to grant him rest.ig9ny
WM0For Smiley, death was the real Happy Ending.nosEAP
4cBThe black plastic eyes stared at me for a long time.8kDL2E
GRpDaThen a calm voice was heard.iLvgL
5jHVTvJ“Why-did-you-come-so-late?”bNNXrQD
IvoThat drawn-out childish voice was not a mechanical voice.GvktyHc
bKdda‘But that wasn’t his original line…’neFutf
VeJ2RvLEverything seemed to have diverged drastically.XDde
8LvEven so, it seemed we were still moving toward the True Ending.J203
moYUSo I simply apologized.nbz7mK
dfiVlPm“I’m sorry.”na5jtu
o82hlI hesitated for a moment.boH97
C3ngThen I placed my hand on Smiley’s head.1UYc6gs
hX4jI gently stroked the smooth plastic surface.A3vS
bWU1EAnd Smiley said something I had never heard before.Yqbp
TnklK“I-don’t-want-to-die.”7oNhbL
p9qwUThen he slowly extended a claw hand and grabbed the end of my uniform sleeve.o7sLg6
WdfTaLl“Let’s-go-together-Gunbam-together-forever.”ryWh
dY27ULHe sounded exactly like a small child pleading.AAQA
pqDtJIf it had been up to me, I would have taken him with me immediately.nT06
DZ3Fs4But he wasn’t an item.oXgRW8K
hrroAnd there wasn’t any method to do so.3Cj7
tppDkwAt that moment, a system window appeared.ZpU
Il6f6adSmiley and the toys wish to become ■■ ■■ ■■.Py0rutw
8B5You wish to gladly accept their request to become the ■ and the ■ of ■■ ■.YtsakV
nobEQkBThe text was covered by strange ■■ symbols, making it impossible to understand.7x4Nv2
zvfcAnd the choices that appeared afterward were even worse.W0iziB
XMZWzs— Yes!qIm8
HOr— Of CourseM6KHvD
4cgZ— Yeaaah!9jVs
kkZNo… seriously…1wJ
RCcRAu8I sighed.TAbtx6
3ASX6qIf I didn’t accept, I wouldn’t be able to see the ending.H6qZm9
RynUOfmI had no choice.JmVGn
2leI selected “Yeaaah!”tomeM
rI9l9OZWith a cheerful notification sound, a new window appeared.pAZ
vwGNZV Completed.FYVf
DPU5— Banquet Ending ■■ ■■ ■■.0rdKV3
VsWkMAnnouncing an ending I had never seen in my life.1ReBu
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dihnblls 300
Golden Core???
dihnblls 300
Golden Core👀👀👀
dihnblls 300
Golden Corewoah okay
Gioia “Kiyo” Pasqualini
MortalWe’re gonna eat the toys?..