MHGA Chapter 190: Let's All Play 2077 Together!
"It's okay, really. Look, Frieren's finally starting to understand you now, isn't she? She even got the flower language behind the ring you gave her…"
In the canteen, Kairo Retsu had his arm around Himmel's shoulders, comforting the tearfully envious hero, who was still reeling from the emotional blow of Laios's elven companion.
The scene left the Hunters who later entered the canteen utterly confused—but they did recognize the now-young-again Himmel.
One by one, the Hunters all joined in to console Himmel, who'd been emotionally devastated by Laios's elf partner.
In the end, it was Kairo who came up with a solution—he made a quick trip back to his own world…
When he returned, one hand held a stack of freshly printed A4 paper, the other carried a chibi Frieren body pillow.
"Here! Frieren pillow! Just went out and bought it! Go back to your room and get some rest!" Kairo shoved the goods into Himmel's hands, and the drunk, dazed hero slowly stood up.
Then, Kairo began laying the Frieren fanart prints on the ground one by one, guiding Himmel to pick them up sheet by sheet until they reached a first-class Hunter's cabin…
"Phew! Perfect! As expected of me!" Kairo dramatically wiped nonexistent sweat from his brow with a flourish.
"I didn't think that old man could actually become that young again…" Shirou Emiya stared at the meal Granny Felyne had prepared. "So food can do things like that… Looks like I still have a lot to learn."
"Whoa—! Even though I already finished the in-game mission, just coming here again… it's seriously awesome!" Rakuro Hizutome was pumped as he looked around the rugged Gathering Base. "So it really wasn't a dream after all!"
"Where's Joseph?" Naofumi Iwatani glanced toward the training grounds. "Didn't he always hang out there? He suddenly vanished…"
"Joseph went to help David," Kairo scratched his chin. "Speaking of which, I was just about to talk about the Cyberpunk world. New Hunters, you should listen in too—it's related to the next assignment."
"And honestly… the Cyberpunk world is a real pain." Kairo ruffled his own hair in frustration. "Not in terms of ability, but mentally!"
"That world's art style doesn't match ours at all!" he shouted. "Totally incompatible! I don't even want to send some of you there!"
"Why not?" Tanjiro asked, puzzled. "Guildmaster, who exactly do you mean shouldn't go?"
"You. Shirou. Rakuro… If you guys go, you'll turn bad! That world is chaotic to the extreme!" Kairo clenched his fist. "And the exploration mission there could take a while. You're bound to get involved in all that mess… it's bound to leave a psychological scar!"
"If it's Kazuma, it's fine—but I refuse to let that city corrupt good-hearted people like you!"
"HEY!! You sound like some doting grandpa!!!" Kazuma shouted. "And what do you mean 'Kazuma's fine'?! Kazuma-senpai gets hurt too, okay!? I'll cry, I swear!!!"
"Yeah… it is a problem," Naofumi nodded, glancing between Shirou and Rakuro.
Tanjiro was still okay. After all this time together, Naofumi knew he had strong willpower. He might struggle with Night City's darkness, but in the end, he'd sort it out.
The real concern was—Rakuro and Shirou.
Despite both having immense potential, they were just regular guys who'd suddenly been thrown into this world from their peaceful daily lives.
"That's why I have an idea… let's do something challenging."
Kairo grinned at the Hunters in front of him, his smile blazing with spirit. "Since Night City's such a twisted place, we're gonna do the exact opposite!"
"Huh?" Naofumi looked completely confused. "What do you mean?"
"Let's do good deeds in Night City!" Kairo thrust up a thumbs-up. "Why should we Hunters act according to Night City's rules?!"
"I do what I want! It's an open-world, open-choice game!" Kairo snorted. "No way I'm playing by Night City's rules."
"Those endings in 2077? I've had enough of those gut-punches… Now that I'm really in Night City, no way I'm letting it control my story!" Kairo clenched a fist. "Sure, it's a Hunter's job to maintain ecological balance—but we're not emotionless tools!"
"Rakuro, Shirou."
He looked at the two new Hunters. "Your lives from here on may be totally different from anything you've experienced—but the path forward is still yours to choose."
"Rakuro, your future's not in any immediate crisis. But Shirou—yours is."
Kairo turned toward Shirou Emiya. "When it comes to protecting your family… even if I didn't say it, you'd go anyway, wouldn't you?"
"…Yeah." Shirou's fists clenched tight.
He still didn't know exactly what crisis awaited him in the future, but from the few hints Kairo had dropped, he could tell—something terrible might happen to Illya.
And as her brother, he would never let that happen.
"I'll get stronger!" Shirou declared, eyes burning with resolve.
"Excellent!" Kairo beamed. "I've already asked Himmel to train us daily, and now the Gathering has a new function—the Arena Quests! Perfect for practice!"
"And! When you complete Arena Quests for specific monsters, you get Coins!"
Kairo enthusiastically explained the Gathering's new feature to the Hunters. "These Coins can be used to forge weapons and armor—or even traded with Felynes for special items…"
"If you want field combat experience—challenge the Arena Quests!" Kairo gave a big thumbs-up. "I believe all of you can become proper Hunters!"
"Then…"
Just as Kairo wrapped up, Kazuma's expression sharpened.
"There's something Kazuma-senpai's very curious about."
"That thing you just said, with multiple endings… What is this '2077'?"
At Kazuma's question, all the Hunters turned to look at Kairo.
"Oh?" Kairo raised an eyebrow and grinned mysteriously. "Looks like you really do need me to sell it to you!"
"Craftsman Squad!" Kairo clapped his hands. "It's your time to shine!"
"Already on it, nyah!" As soon as Kairo's voice rang out, a squad of Palicoes burst in and quickly set up several computers in the canteen. "These were paw-crafted by the Craftsman Squad, nyah!"
"Wait, why are there computers here?!" Rakuro looked utterly lost. "And they match the Gathering Base's rustic aesthetic?! Don't tell me the Felynes actually built these?! Is that even possible?!"
But Kazuma, wearing the serene expression of one who's seen it all, calmly patted Rakuro's shoulder.
"There's no need to be surprised. In the Gathering, you only need to believe in one thing. Repeat after me."
"Felynes can do anything!"
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