Version 1.3. According to Misha's narrative, the Mita in this version is usually quite childlike. And version 1.3B is a rather special version among them. The special part… Alain had just witnessed it. That is, the large monster that was a combination of a spider and a slime. That thing was at least a BOSS. Alain knew that.
And right now, the Mita hiding somewhere was persuading him not to go to 1.3B.
[That version is very dangerous. Neither my sister nor I want you to go there.]
When narrating more serious matters, the writing seemed to take on a pink hue close to bright red. "But, isn't that version our only way to version 1.15?"
Alain lowered his head, looking at the ring in his hand. The dark green ring occasionally emitted a faint light, as if dearly crossing dimensions to hold his hand. ...It sounded like Misha was getting anxious. But his trust in Misha was still far greater than in this formless writer. Misha had said that the route she gave him was the correct, shortest, and fastest route.
Alain still planned to follow the route set by his dear to 1.15.
[The only way can only be said to be the fastest, not the safest.]
The tone of the writing softened, carrying a hint of earnest persuasion.
[Version 1.3B, the monster entrenched there, didn't I show it to you just now?]
No wonder. Alain grumbled inwardly. He was still wondering why, after opening the door previously, the path to version 1.5 would lead directly to 1.3B. Looking at it this way, was the other party trying to intimidate him? First let him see the danger, then make him retreat out of fear… something like that.
He had to admit, after seeing that monster, which was enough to make him lose his sanity, he did have a fleeting thought of retreating.
"What kind of detour do you want us to take?"
Alain kept his head down, making it impossible for anyone to tell what he was thinking. He silently offered the hand of the hatted girl beside him, who hadn't said much, with a hint of probing. It was in this ordinary situation that he had to subtly corrode bro's defenses.
Millie hadn't reacted yet; her small hand twitched a couple of times, but she still obediently let him hold it.
[I hope you take the ordinary 1.3 version route]
The strokes of the writing suddenly became sharp, as if she thought she had persuaded the stubborn young man.
[Because it's a "detour," you need to pass through two 1.3 versions and meet two Little Mitas.]
[Although the overall journey is longer, I can guarantee that it will be safe all the way.]
The writing paused, the final strokes becoming drawn out, as if hesitating whether to continue. Soon, she made a decision.
[You should like us Mitas very much, right?]
"Right."
Alain answered without hesitation. His affection for Mita-type beautiful girls was very high, the kind of high affection where he wanted to achieve a good end, or even a best end for them.
[Then, you shouldn't go to version 1.3B even more]
The strokes suddenly became swift and rapid again.
[Regardless of the danger of that version. The Little Mita of version 1.3B (TINY MITA/Mita Little), is not your type.]
"Oh? And how would you know?"
Alain was somewhat displeased by her certainty. His own preferences shouldn't be judged by others.
[Because, the B in 1.3B is the reason.]
[This B, actually, doesn't have any precise meaning. You seem to see it as "BETA"?]
"Right, so what?"
He frowned, feeling like the other party was implying something in her words.
[Actually, that B can also be seen as: Broken]
[Meaning, the broken Mita]
"......What do you mean?"
Broken? Being broken? What did that mean? Alain was perplexed.
["Mita" is a romance game. And the most fundamental factors in a romance game are precisely the heroine's "cuteness," "prettiness," "beauty," and so on]
[Version 1.3B. The Little Mita belonging to that version is special. The part that truly attracts players—]
The writing stopped here for now. Alain frowned and urged,
"Keep going."
[Mm. I'm saying the following in my sister's rational tone, I hope you don't let it overturn your perception of me......]
"Don't worry, I think you're very cute."
[...]
She drew a few ellipses, and in the instant Alain blinked, they continued to appear.
[Little Mita of 1.3B, the part that attracts players, was shattered. This is a euphemism.]
[To be more direct: she's disfigured]
[That is a failed version, a version...that is impossible to attract players]
[Monsters repeatedly destroyed her body, causing the version's regeneration function to seemingly bug out, unable to continue working]
[Her severed limbs cannot be restored. Her face is scarred...]
The Mita writing became more and more indignant, even the characters themselves were tinged with a hint of glistening.
[She lost an eye. And her remaining eye also can't see things clearly]
[So, you have no reason to go to version 1.3B for her, who is not cute]
The force of the writing gradually deepened, seemingly reflecting the owner's mood.
"..."
Hearing this, Alain lowered his eyes, making it impossible for those present to see what he was really thinking.
"You...are also angry about this matter?"
He asked her. And her reply was also very quick.
[Of course. Little Mita, to any Mita, is like a little sister. Such a cute child originally......]
The Mita who had hidden her form seemed to realize she had said too much and quickly changed the subject.
[Anyway, go to the ordinary 1.3 version. The Little Mitas there are all preciously ordinary and cute. You will definitely like them]
"F"
And Alain seemed to have reached a conclusion. He let out a long sigh.
[Decided?] "X"
The young man nodded, released Millie's hand, and said with a relaxed smile,
"I find that I've really been underestimated." Alain flicked his hair, "Are you underestimating me, a die-hard 2D fan, too much?"
[I...don't understand]
A few question marks appeared beside the writing.
And Alain explained nonchalantly,
"If you hadn't told me so much, I might have chosen the detour. But—"
He looked back, at the entrance door. His gaze seemed to pass through the edge of the door, reaching the tragic state of version 1.3B.
"Since I know now, I won't just stand by and do nothing."
[Why?]
"Why? That's a good question......"
Alain thought for two seconds and said,
"Because I'm a bit obsessive-compulsive, and I'm a master in the 2D domain, and also a loyal player of the Mita game. So—I hate bad ends."
"Also, when I play romance games, I don't just look at appearances. Hmm...to be more precise."
Alain took a step towards the writing.
"What I value is their essence. No matter what their appearance becomes, if their essence is cute, then they are cute. It's a very simple thing."
[......Incomprehensible. If you said "character design," I might be able to understand. But essence is...]
"Then let me give an example."
He said with a casual smile,
"For example, I've never seen you, but I just think you're very cute. Your actions, your choices, you secretly helping me, all these aspects make me think you're so cute I want to bully you relentlessly."
[...]
A little blush appeared next to the ellipsis.
[We're talking about your future destination right now, what does that have to do with me being cute?]
"How is it not related?" Alain shook his head, "No matter what that Little Mita has become, I will pull her out of the vortex of a bad end."
"Then, I will give her the happiness an ordinary Mita deserves. I'll give her candy, buy her little clothes, and take her out to play."
[Why?]
"Such are my preferences."
Alain stated frankly. "Because, I like petite girls, I like cute things, and I also like Mita."
[Even if you will face unprecedented difficulties, even surpassing those of the worms?]
"Face them then, there's always a way. It's not like encountering difficulties means stopping. Isn't life still going on, still continuing to endure the hardships life throws at you?"
He wasn't the type to hesitate. Difficulties? If they exist, they exist; let the future self deal with them. Right now, he only needed to consider "what to do" and "how to do it," not "will I fail."
Alain believed: a hesitant self would be out of character.
[......Even if you will give up two normal, cute Little Mitas?]
"Cuteness isn't decided by anyone. If I think she's cute, then she's cute."
He added, "Besides, those two so-called normal little ones probably don't lack players, right?"
[Indeed. Little Mita's 1.3 version is considered a popular version.]
"1.3 is very happy. And 1.3B, the abnormal version you mentioned, needs an abnormal player like me."
Alain looked at the Gauntlet of Failure,
"And I will rescue her, and then tear the monster that bullied her—into pieces."
He mused: just as Crazy Mita—his Honey—was influenced by him. He was also influenced by Honey. In the past, he probably wasn't so violent.
But......it was also true. This was exactly Alain's style.
[Then, if I'm in danger, will you also—]
This string of writing appeared for an instant, then was erased.
And Alain happened to see it.
"I will." He answered thus.
"If you're in danger, I'll save you too. But I hope that day never comes; peace is good."
[Please pretend you didn't see......]
"Impossible, I will remember it deeply."
[////////]
She drew a cute emoji, making Alain smile faintly.
[But—]
However, the writing on the wall took a sharp turn.
[I also have things I want to protect, I'm sorry]
The writing changed.
[I still can't let you pass]
"Why? Can you tell me the reason?"
Alain was confused.
[With a safe path available, it's impossible for me to let you put yourself in danger. This is my own, and my sister's, insistence, I'm really sorry...]
"So...you're worried about me?"
After Alain blinked two or three times, the writing on the wall still hadn't changed.
After a long while, a very simple word finally appeared in response,
[Yes]
[Because, you are my first player. I don't want anything to happen to you, I hope you can safely reach 1.15]
It was clear this child really liked him.
Alain grumbled inwardly about his deep sin.
"Actually, you don't have to worry so much, I have some means to deal with enemies, I won't be helpless against monsters."
Cleanup Acceleration damages human-headed spiders, so there's no reason it wouldn't work on that human-headed monster. Memory Optimization, the Gauntlet of Failure, and he even had a one-time revival with [720 Cloud Recovery].
And his bro was also very reliable. With multiple factors combined, he didn't think he would lose.
Of course...a tough battle might be unavoidable.
[I can probably see it. You should have......]
The writing paused, as if still hesitating whether to continue.
But she still wrote it.
[Something like the core system's virus cleanup methods, right? I can't think of anything more]
"?!"
This child is really smart, Alain grumbled inwardly. To be able to vaguely guess his Security Guard system. But the other party seemed to only think it was a "cleanup method." In reality, 720 was an all-powerful antivirus tool covering offense, defense, functionality, and various other aspects. It just usually acted a bit useless.
Just then, the system popped up a window: [Target has been listed as a virus. Can be defeated]
Petty system. Its own existence was only just barely detected, and it immediately retaliated.
At the same time, the writing on the wall changed.
[But even so, I won't let you pass easily]
This girl was quite stubborn.
"Do you think you can stop me?"
Alain took the hand of the silent hat girl and walked to the door. Pulled down the handle—
[Without my permission, you can't leave]
What appeared before his eyes was not the square room he had come from, but a desolate, warehouse-like dark interior.
In the darkness, pairs of eyes seemed to be looking at him.
With a series of rustling sounds, like small creatures peeking from the grass, they swarmed towards Alain.
"What the hell are these things?!"
He hurriedly closed the door, but still let three small creatures slip in. In the instant of observation, he saw they were three small spiders, their backs covered with a bright yellow viscous substance.
Ignoring everything else, Alain stomped on one, and the other two small spiders disappeared into the room.
[After you open the door, it will connect to an unknown area]
The writing beside the door caught his attention.
"Aren't you going to do anything about the bugs in the room?"
[I'll clean them up later, let's focus on the main thing first. For example, your ring]
Alain's mouth twitched; he somewhat doubted if this girl would forget.
"Hmph......did you interfere with the ring's guiding function?"
He raised his hand; the dark green ring still remained on version 1.5. As early as when they had entered version 1.3B ahead of schedule, he had suspected it. Arriving at version 1.5 further confirmed this idea.
[Yes. Sorry, it was a last resort]
"Similarly, you want me to......keep you company more, right?"
___
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