Ch.157[Chapter 157] A New World

Himetotzsaigo Castle.

Hime and Tsuki were glaring at each other in the training grounds.

Why? They felt an inexplicable aversion toward each other.

In truth, this was a natural phenomenon.

Tsuki, who could be considered Hime’s parallel world counterpart, was a human created based on Hime’s soul.

In a way, she could be seen as a doppelganger, or from another perspective, it could be considered self-loathing or hatred toward one’s own kind.

However, this was limited to Hime and Tsuki.

The couple Unryu Musashi and Unryu Ichiko treated this newly created daughter without discrimination.

“It’s troubling that Tsuki doesn’t show any affection.”

Ichiko said, tilting her head slightly while caressing her cheek with her palm.

“Must be puberty.”

Musashi, his body covered in red armor, said lovingly to Ichiko.

Two daughters who felt like one.

That was the emotion Musashi and Ichiko felt when looking at Hime and Tsuki.

In fact, Musashi and Ichiko knew that Tsuki was both their daughter and not their daughter.

How could they not know?

They had lived in Gachaland long enough and had become accustomed to life there.

Yet why did they treat Tsuki as if she were truly their daughter?

Were they simply following the System’s orders?

To conclude, that wasn’t the case.

In truth, this was… almost like a wish of Unryu Musashi and Unryu Ichiko.

Unryu Musashi and Unryu Ichiko couldn’t have children.

More precisely, after giving birth to Hime, both became unable to have children due to a certain incident.

The great incident that occurred at Himesaigo Castle… no, now Himetotzsaigo Castle.

Unryu Musashi lost his “physical body” in that incident, and Unryu Ichiko…

No, don’t.

Think positive thoughts.

As the trauma of that day began to surface, Ichiko deliberately started thinking positive thoughts.

‘How many children should we have, my dear?’

‘Two. Two daughters would be nice. I hope they get along well and are full of affection.’

The conversation when she first met Musashi and exchanged words of love.

A smile formed on Ichiko’s lips.

But that smile soon faded.

Once again, that day, the events of that day came back to her.

‘Ichiko!’

‘Musashi!’

An explosion occurs.

Flames block every direction, leaving nowhere to move.

Himesaigo Castle… was burning.

Musashi approaching Ichiko amidst it all.

An explosion occurred near Ichiko.

Musashi threw himself forward and embraced Ichiko.

And then—

…Ichiko shook her head.

It was from the early days of Gachaland, when the System wasn’t properly established as it is now, but she still occasionally recalled that incident.

“Ichiko? Ichiko!”

“Ah.”

Musashi grabbed Ichiko’s shoulders and shook her.

Ichiko snapped out of her thoughts.

“Are you alright?”

Musashi asked with a voice full of concern and affection.

“Yes. I’m fine. I just remembered that time…”

“Ah.”

Musashi lowered his head at Ichiko’s words.

“…If only I had been a little faster then—”

“Don’t say such things.”

Ichiko interrupted as Musashi began to blame himself.

“Thanks to you, I was able to keep my body intact, right? With arms and legs perfectly fine.”

Ichiko rolled up her sleeves to show her arms and legs.

Still white and smooth skin.

But Musashi’s mood remained somber.

Ichiko looked at Musashi and blamed herself.

Why did she have to think about that time now—

She racked her brain to find a way out of the current situation.

“Tsuki.”

The topic of Tsuki flowed from Ichiko’s lips.

“Isn’t Tsuki quite adorable too?”

“…Hmm.”

Ichiko’s words seemed to be the right answer, as Musashi’s voice brightened a bit.

“Do you remember? The day we first met and made family plans?”

“You said you wanted to have two daughters.”

Musashi nodded.

“Indeed. Tsuki is… the fulfillment of our wish.”

Musashi’s gaze drifted somewhere far away.

That direction was toward System Industries.

In his heart, Musashi sent thanks to the Unborn President.

Thanks to the President who granted a wish that could have been ignored.

Musashi brought a cup of matcha tea brewed by Ichiko to his lips.

He couldn’t feel the temperature or taste, but he could fully sense Ichiko’s love in that cup.

Musashi looked lovingly at his two daughters.

“Not bad!”

“The way of the sand cannot defeat the way of righteousness!”

Hime’s kunai and Tsuki’s tachi clashed in midair, sending sparks flying.

…

“Um… what is this?”

-What do you mean what? Rules are being added at a cataclysmic level;;

-Looks like the President has made up his mind.

Star I’m Not Little stared at Sir Dominic’s card and Sir Dominica’s card, which suddenly began to glow.

The two cards connected into one, then flipped to their back side.

Then, they transformed into a large card that maintained the format of the original cards and slowly descended.

[[★★★]Sir Dominic & Sir Dominica[Tag Match]]

[While this card is face-up on the field, you gain the following effects.]

[When this card is summoned to the field by any means, flip a coin. If heads, summon in attack position; if tails, summon in defense position.]

[While this card is in attack position, treat this card as Sir Dominica.]

[While this card is in attack position, spend 2pt to inflict “minor” damage to one enemy and inflict stun status. (Can be used consecutively)]

[While this card is in defense position, treat this card as Sir Dominic.]

[While this card is in defense position, all characters receive 11.25% less damage. (Round up)]

A card twice as large as a normal card.

I’m Not Little carefully examined the card’s text and said to his viewers:

“This is… the new rule called Tag Match, right?”

-Yeah, that’s right.

-Actually, it existed during the second alpha test. They said it was too complicated and would be simplified before being added later.

Some of I’m Not Little’s viewers who had lived in Gachaland for a long time or were skilled at gathering information posted in the chat.

“Wow. So how many Tag Match cards are available now?”

-Officially, 7 have been released so far.

-The first one revealed was Park Chun-bae & Malay, right?

-Yeah, it was revealed first because everyone has that card.

-By the way, Sir Dominic & Sir Dominica must be extremely rare, right?

-It was probably the 5th or 6th to be revealed since it was just released.

As I’m Not Little asked his question, viewers began chatting among themselves.

“…Now it’s complete.”

-?

-Oh. Don’t tell me…

I’m Not Little, ignoring what his viewers were saying, immediately launched a game.

He went to the mod screen and installed the newly created Sir Dominic & Sir Dominica card.

Then, filling the screen appeared… cards of Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica.

Five cards of Sir Dominic and five cards of Sir Dominica.

Along with the Tag Match card just obtained, a selection screen with a total of 11 cards appeared.

-Oh.

-This isn’t right.

I’m Not Little’s viewers began to protest.

“I’ve always thought that 10 is one too few, and 12 is one too many…”

“Of course, that worry was pointless since there were only 10 cards until now.”

“But now that we have 1 card that counts as 2-“

I’m Not Little launched the game.

A wide stadium, green grass, white-painted goalposts.

After skipping the intro video, the menu screen appeared.

[Football Brawler 11]

Football Brawler 11, a notorious creation combining soccer and brawling.

“Finally… I can create a team composed entirely of Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica!”

-Host! Turn it off right now!

-Sigh. That’s not what you’re supposed to do.

Fierce resistance from the viewers.

But I’m Not Little ignored them and entered the team composition screen.

“Today’s meta will be 0-0-10. A strategy that creates an impenetrable wall!”

I’m Not Little filled the team screen with cards of Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica.

-I’m going to sleep, wake me up later;;

The viewers’ suffering was just beginning.

…

Bar Old World Blues.

“So…”

“Yeah. I lost my home.”

Dr. Banshee… no, Remy looked at the vacant-eyed boy smiling cheerfully in the seat right next to him.

This boy drinking chocolate milk while swinging his legs was none other than Remy’s parallel world counterpart, Dr. Phantom.

“If I’d only lost my home, I wouldn’t feel this empty. Zero, my workplace, the world I lived in—they’re all gone.”

“They’re probably in the trash bin somewhere,” Dr. Phantom said self-deprecatingly.

“I’m right here.”

“Not you. Our Zero.”

Zero tactlessly interrupted Dr. Phantom’s words.

But instead of getting annoyed, Dr. Phantom sighed.

“So—”

“In exchange for information about Zero, you want to live together, right?”

Remy cut off Dr. Phantom’s words.

Dr. Phantom smiled broadly at Remy’s words.

“As expected of me. You’re smart, so you understand right away.”

“So—”

Remy placed his strawberry milk on the table with a thud.

And looking at Dr. Phantom, he said:

“What’s in it for me?”

Remy’s eyes stared into Dr. Phantom’s pupils.

It was an attempt to verify Dr. Phantom’s sincerity.

Dr. Phantom didn’t avoid Remy’s gaze.

No, rather, he stared back at Remy’s eyes so intensely it was almost uncomfortable.

“I’ll do the dishes and clean the bathroom.”

“Okay. Deal.”

Remy immediately smiled brightly at Dr. Phantom’s words and extended his hand.

Dr. Phantom also smiled and took Remy’s hand, shaking it up and down.

Afterward, glasses containing strawberry milk and chocolate milk clinked together.

It was the birth of the genius doctor duo.