I Am a Reincarnation-Stream Player

Hayasaka Ai quietly watched the burning alley, unable to speak for a long time. Yuki Sorajima was an expert whose skills showed outside the game as well.

Using her hacking skills, she had secretly set up a fake address. Then the three of them disguised their information. Beneath that telephone pole was a spare phone Yuki had hidden there, while she watched from a vantage point she'd prepared in advance.

Sure enough, someone had followed the trail. The moment the two of them vanished into thin air, the answer was right in front of them.

"Ordinary people's perception of information about the Reincarnation Game gets distorted, but players are unaffected. In other words, a player must have hacked into LINE's servers and been monitoring them for a while."

She didn't know how the other side had managed to pick out clues from tens of millions of messages, but she understood that this had nothing to do with carelessness.

The way they moved so smoothly made it clear they'd done this before. Yet this was the first time they'd been outmaneuvered by a newcomer.

Just as Li Dan had said, Yuki Sorajima was an outrageously gifted newcomer. Apart from lone wolves who preferred to work alone, most players would be thrilled to return and get in touch with one another. Then they'd be found.

What did the person who'd come here want? Hayasaka Ai could guess a little. But Yuki had led Mai Sakurajima through one detour after another, and he wasn't just trying to fish for information.

"He's estimating how long it'll take, hoping to get more information. Well, look at that—a single bait, and we've caught two fish."

Hayasaka Ai saw it clearly. The moment the two players ran into each other, they started fighting. It was hard not to let one's imagination run wild.

"There's no doubt this is an organizational effort. Monitoring and tracking people both require separate teams." Yuki held his phone, watching the fire like a bystander. "Unfortunately, I was right. A new order had already begun to take shape before we joined the game."

"Then why do you think these two groups are here?"

"Hard to say. Maybe they want to recruit us, or maybe they want to seize the Chaos Item. Fifty-fifty."

"But the Chaos Item can't be taken out."

"It's forbidden to take it out. We're still carrying it. Besides, what do you think it means when two players vanish without a sound?"

Hayasaka Ai thought it over, then blurted out, "They've entered a scenario to carry out a mission!"

The last time she vanished, she'd actually been at school. When she later checked the security footage, she found that the relevant frame had been removed. Her friends and teachers couldn't explain why she'd disappeared, but they hadn't questioned it either.

It was as if they'd come up with an explanation for themselves. Unless someone knew her very well, they wouldn't even think to ask.

But if there were players around her, they'd notice.

"That must be one kind of random mission, then. I was wondering—if two veteran players fought, the damage they caused would be all over the news tomorrow."

Yuki rubbed his chin. After fishing for information, he'd more or less figured out the Reincarnation Game's rules in the real world. When players displayed supernatural powers, mentioned the Reincarnation Game, or suddenly vanished, they became unobservable "ghosts."

In other words:

If players returned to society and didn't mention the Reincarnation Game or use any supernatural abilities, they were no different from ordinary people, and the game wouldn't correct anyone's perception of them.

On the other hand, those corrections could give other players clues to hunt them down.

He noticed Mai Sakurajima eyeing him suspiciously. The upperclassman wasn't stupid. She'd realized from the start that Yuki was acting shady, but she hadn't gotten angry or questioned him. Instead, she'd moved closer, her shoulder pressed against his.

Even though she didn't understand the situation, once she knew something was going on, she'd taken the initiative to cover the gap.

All around them, couples chattered away. A moment ago, she'd been half a meter away from Yuki, making them stand out. She understood that Yuki wanted to use the couples as cover.

She was considerate and clever. Those were Yuki's favorite things about his upperclassman. Smiling, he picked up his phone, as if he were about to tell his classmates some juicy gossip.

"Let's go. We'll meet at the place we arranged."

"Won't we wait for the outcome?"

"There's no point. After we pulled the rug out from under them, they're bound to react—and take us seriously." Yuki hung up and took Mai Sakurajima's hand. "Come on, senpai."

Her fair hand gave a slight tug, but she didn't ask a thing. She simply smiled and nodded.

"Sure."

By then, plenty of the couples had seen enough and were starting to leave. The two of them blended into the crowd without attracting the slightest attention. Leaning their heads together to whisper seemed perfectly natural.

"So you're saying we've stepped into a new order?"

"Birds of a feather flock together, and people with similar interests gather. It's the same for players. You can think of us as Espers. We've gained power, but we've also been restricted. Just as the three of us banded together for warmth, the pioneers will gather players too."

Every player was different, but the arrogance warped into them by the game was common. After slaughtering their way through a Corpse Mountain, Blood Sea, and wiping out someone's life with a wave of the hand, how could they return to the real world and still care about the laws and morals they'd once taken for granted?

Take Bloodthirsty Red Moon, for example. They'd been acting out a blockbuster in the city. What difference was there between the SWAT officers Yuki had executed and ordinary people in the real world?

"Li Dan is a perfect example. Ordinary people aren't even worth mentioning. Even new players are just tools for him to survive and climb to a higher level."

Mai Sakurajima furrowed her brow and nodded slightly. "Do they have items like the Soil-Offering Contract? Otherwise, it'd be easy for things to go wrong if they stayed together."

"They need them, but they aren't essential. You only need to pay the right price to control other people. The real world is different from a scenario, after all. People start out with huge differences from birth, and the resources they control are worlds apart." Yuki licked his lips, a mocking smile forming.

"Can you imagine a veteran player who slaughtered his way through a scenario having to go back to being a corporate drone, rushing out for an eight a.m. shift?"

The Reincarnation Game was the fairest of all: everyone started from the same point. The real world was different. That simple analysis suddenly made everything clear to Mai Sakurajima.

That was right. The Reincarnation Game did impose restrictions on players. Even if the cost of stealing or robbery wasn't especially high, it was still a hassle, and doing it too often could attract the attention of other players. If they could enjoy themselves to the fullest through their status as players, who'd want to do something so undignified?

Like that chubby guy who'd come back and started throwing money around like crazy. Surely plenty of people would be willing to help him get through a scenario.

Big corporations, politicians—they were players too. The resources they could mobilize couldn't compare to hers. Li Dan, after all, could only bring some medical supplies and food.

"Then aren't we in danger now that we're back?" Mai Sakurajima glanced around.

"Relax. Any new order takes time to build. We're lucky—we didn't become players too late. Even if the leader of the United States became a player, he still couldn't weave an airtight net." Yuki patted his senpai's hand, full of confidence.

He might be the only person in the world who kept looking for anomalies. That let him estimate when the game had begun.

"Besides, no matter what their status is in the real world, they're equal once they enter a scenario. Their organization might fall apart halfway through its plans because they die."

Mai Sakurajima's expression eased a little. She didn't ask where his confidence came from.

Scheming against each other was exhausting. Having coffee and strolling around like they had tonight, letting their minds and bodies return to normal—that was what made coming back meaningful.

This was only the most basic analysis. They'd have to wait until they'd gathered more information to work out the details.

"By the way, where are we meeting Hayasaka?"

Tap.

Yuki stopped walking, as if the darkness had tugged at his hem. His narrowed eyes made his senpai feel uneasy.

"Obviously, at your place."

Chapter 8: The Team Grows (Revised)

Pervert. Stalker. Boar's Head.

In her clean, spacious kitchen, Mai Sakurajima glared at the kettle and gnashed her teeth. She'd suddenly realized that Yuki's fishing plan was a case of one fish feeding many—and she'd become a fish herself without noticing.

And now I have no choice but to take the bait. I can't even argue back.

They'd come face-to-face with one of the players involved. They might already be under surveillance. Besides, no couple in the world would split up in the middle of the night, with one staying at a hotel and the other going home.

Is it because I'm too famous? It wouldn't take much to find out that I live alone.

Mai Sakurajima covered her face with one hand. Their meeting had lured out other players, those players had revealed the new order, and then Yuki had exploited her reluctance to get caught up in it.

That Boar's Head. He's playing at such a high level.

The kettle shrieked. She quickly turned off the heat, rose onto her tiptoes to take the tea leaves from the cupboard, then stole another glance toward the living room. Her expression grew even stranger.

On the spacious sofa, Yuki sat facing a beautiful blonde woman. Hayasaka Ai had gone to great lengths to disguise herself today. With her red, slightly curled bob, mature makeup, gray business suit, and black stockings and high heels, she looked as if she'd evolved from a student into a corporate drone.

"The fishing went very well. We found at least two organized groups of players, and they're enemies." A trace of worry crossed Hayasaka Ai's face. Yuki had already given her his initial analysis, and she knew better than anyone that players' resources varied enormously.

Once they made it through the beginner scenario, the gap would only grow.

"Yeah. They've divided up the work. Some people monitor information, others handle things on the ground. With the advantage of being first, it's easy for them to find ordinary players." Yuki looked around. No wonder Senpai's a famous actress. This apartment is luxurious. My room, with its twenty-thousand-yen rent, is more like a doghouse.

"Don't worry too much. Like I said, not much time has passed, and the Reincarnation Game has its own restrictions. Even the first players can't pull off anything too outrageous."

"As long as you don't operate on too high a level, there are loopholes everywhere. Take a few precautions, and you can avoid them."

Players came in all shapes and sizes. There were lone wolves, and there were small groups like theirs. Not everyone banded together for resources and a luxurious life.

"That may be true, but doesn't that make it easy for them to clear scenarios?" Hayasaka Ai counted on her fingers, frowning. "They have people and resources in abundance."

"Do you think the Reincarnation Game is stupid? Do you remember what Li Dan said back then?"

Hayasaka Ai lifted her chin a little and racked her brains for a moment before recalling what Li Dan had told them on the top floor of the Ancient Castle.

Yuki had asked him why, if players had storage space, they didn't bring a rocket launcher. Li Dan had replied that they shouldn't do anything extra. The Reincarnation Game was smart.

If a player dared to bring in heavy weapons, the game could make them explode on the spot. If they dared to form a player army, it would raise the difficulty and show them who was boss.

"I see. Every shortcut comes with a price, even if it's hidden. No wonder Li Dan only chose useful people." Hayasaka Ai nodded slightly. The gap between players in the real world would certainly affect how they performed in the game, but it wasn't as unfair as she'd imagined.

There was no absolute fairness, only relative fairness. Still, this meant that what I wanted to do would be extremely risky...

Bitterness and tension appeared on the girl's face. Yuki watched coolly, guessing more or less what she wanted to do. He crossed one leg over the other.

"So, working with me wasn't a bad deal, was it?"

Hayasaka Ai was stronger and more rational. Yuki's mysterious nature was a double-edged sword, but there was no denying that he was capable. He was useful both inside and outside the game.

He'd already figured out how the players affected the real world, stopping me from using my supernatural abilities out of arrogance. Did he just save me again?

Just then, Mai Sakurajima came out carrying several cups of hot tea.

She leaned over and set them on the table one by one. The tea's aroma and steam pulled Hayasaka Ai out of her reverie, and she unconsciously picked up a cup and took a sip.

"This tea's lovely, Mai-senpai."

"Thank you, Hayasaka."

Unlike when they were with Yuki, the two women were very polite, each displaying her good manners.

Hayasaka Ai set down her teacup and corrected her. "Just call me by my name. Now that we're connected in the real world, there's no need to hide it."

"Okay, Hayasaka."

"Hey, she called you 'senpai.' Why didn't you object?" Yuki protested.

"Heh. Hayasaka is younger than me, so of course she should call me 'senpai.' You're the one with no shame!"

"Men are forever fifteen-year-old chuunibyou."

Hayasaka Ai looked back and forth between them, then suddenly burped. The two of them were trading lines back and forth, forcing her to watch them feed each other dog food in the middle of the night. But the longer she watched, the more irritated she felt by the scene.

Whether in the game or in the real world, he was the only one who made me feel safe. Am I afraid Mai Sakurajima will have him all to herself?

Tap, tap.

The two of them stopped fooling around and turned toward the sound of her tapping on the table. Hayasaka Ai felt a little awkward. She'd acted on instinct, but fortunately, hiding her emotions had become second nature.

"Ahem. I sneaked out, and I still need to go back to Tokyo later. Should we make the most of our time?"

Mai Sakurajima glanced at her suspiciously. She felt that the other girl was hiding something. Slowly, she turned to look at Yuki, her cheeks reddening a little, then gave him a push.

"Go sit over there."

Huh? What did I do?

Yuki looked bewildered, then went to sit in the armchair. Now that they'd learned so much, it was time to discuss the third and most important matter.

"Since the real world and the game are connected, I think we should use our two specialization points and two enhancement points in these areas."

He took a thick stack of papers from his laptop bag, pulled out two sheets, and handed one to each of the women. Hayasaka Ai and Mai Sakurajima glanced at them, then exchanged surprised looks.

The recommended builds and the reasoning behind them were all laid out clearly. Judging by the numbering, this was the seventh proposal.

Professional.

That was the only word they could think of. After reading it carefully, they both nodded slowly.

It made sense. Since the game affected the real world too, the precious specialization points were split up and put into physical strength and Ego Traits.

"Senpai, in theory, you should put all your specialization points into Ego Traits. But you're too weak physically. You need to reach at least Excellent, or you'll hold us back." Yuki cradled his teacup and spoke in a leisurely tone.

What did he mean, hold them back...

Mai Sakurajima took a deep breath. She couldn't deny it, though. In Bloodthirsty Red Moon, she'd nearly been exhausted just from running.

Ignoring his senpai, who was fuming silently, Yuki turned to Hayasaka Ai. "Hayasaka, because of physical strength, the specialization and enhancement points required for your main skills will double once they reach a certain level. So I suggest you split your points too."

Hayasaka Ai nodded in agreement. For physical strength, going from Excellent to Limit took only one specialization point, but going from Limit to Transcendental Grade took two. There was no way she could raise it by skipping a level.

"Besides, my trait will be useful for concealing my identity."

"Right. We can't expect just the three of us to survive every scenario, especially since Mai-senpai is so famous. I don't want us to return to the real world and get ambushed." Yuki was being practical. In a way, he was asking Hayasaka Ai to make a sacrifice for the team.

Since they'd banded together for warmth, serving the team was only fair. Hayasaka Ai didn't say much.

They were more flexible about the enhancement points. Mai Sakurajima raised Good and Evil Perception to Proficient, while Hayasaka Ai, because of the Death Knell Revolver, raised her firearm proficiency to Proficient.