In the world where the video games had evolved endlessly, there was always a small spark of the

forgotten venture that small amount of people enjoy. Among the countless entertainment that many
youngster had thought as obsolete, troublesome, or boring, the Tabletop Role Play Game a.k.a. TRPG
was one of the prominent games with a certain amount of players.

TRPG was a game of storytelling where the realm of imagination takes flight and the boundaries of
reality are reshaped at the hands of daring adventurers welcome to the world where epic tales
unfold and destinies are forged with the flick of a dice in this realm creative minds gather around a
table armed not with swords and shields but with character sheets rulebooks and a shared desire to
embark on extraordinary journeys. TRPGs are a unique blend of collaborative storytelling and
strategic gameplay where players assume the roles of heroes mages rogues and countless other
archetypes bringing them to life through vivid descriptions and choices that shape their fates guided
by a master storyteller known as the game master.

The players immerse themselves in a world crafted from their collective imaginations these worlds
can span from ancient realms of magic and dragons to dystopian futures from enchanted forests to
the far reaches of outer space. The GM sets the stage weaving a tapestry of intricate plots
treacherous challenges and awe-inspiring wonders all of which respond dynamically to the actions
and decisions of the players the core mechanics of a TRPG rely on a system of rules usually governed
by a rulebook which provides a framework for resolving actions and determining outcomes. Players
choices are often determined by the roll of dice imbued with the suspense and unpredictability that
can turn the tide of any encounter a well-timed critical success may result in a miraculous victory
while a fumbled roll can lead to unexpected consequences lending an exhilarating sense of risk and
reward to each twist and turn.

Many people thought that this meticulous preparation and the complex game mechanic as
troublesome. For those who couldn’t immerse themselves into the story might have thought that
this type of game was boring. But even so, the game itself still had some players throughout the
globe. They gather around through the forum to hold an offline meeting or even played live through
online video chat platform in order to play it.

Among all platform played by the TRPG players in the world, there was a mysterious online platform
that was supporting a unique TRPG with the title of New Frontier Saga called Neoverse. Neoverse
gave out the full experience for the players to immerse into their role inside the game with the
detailed map, character creation, monster appearance, and other game mechanics. Although the
game was stereotypical, it made the players kept playing it due to the extra features like random
quest generation, automatic NPC action and reaction, as well as the AI supported GM.

Although, they never knew that the secret behind the advanced features, there was a danger linger
around their daily life. This continued to persist until the time when Neoverse had its 10.000 th player
who had been using it for 100 days.
Tokyo, Year 20XX Month XX Day XX

In the unused classroom of the XXXXX High School a group of three high school students were busily
glaring into the spreadsheet placed on the table. Each of them was checking a piece of paper in their
hand and looked at the picture on the paper with small toy being placed on it.

“So, what are you going to do?”

The high school girl, Takahashi Mina, asked the three while covering her face with a folding fan.

The four of them were playing a classic TRPG after the lesson was over with the girl as the Game
Master. Each of them was racking their brain about how to save their characters from the current
pinch caused by the whim of the game master.

“I’ll use my last mana to cast [Fireball] at the Boss Monster.”

The boy on the left, Motoharu Haruyoshi, said with confidence.

“Idiot, that’s suicide! The tank was in critical condition, the healer was running out of MP and if you
do that, the hate will be attracted to you!”

The guy on the right, Mikihiko Akira, warned.

“Then, what should we do? Either way, unless I did this, the tank will die and we’ll get wiped out.”

Haruyoshi argued.

“I’m going to use my MP potion in my bag.”

The third player, Takahashi Maya said with determination.

“Are you crazy? That potion hasn’t been appraised yet! We don’t know the side effect of that potion.”

Akira looked at the sole girl in the player side. Haruyoshi didn’t say it but his expression was enough
to show her his disbelieve.

“Are you sure about that?”

Mina the GM asked mischievously.

“Yes”

Maya said while still looking at the figures on the desk. Mina smirked hearing this. Haruyoshi and
Akira went pale. They had stepped on the dragon’s tail this time. Mina took the card she had placed
faced down earlier and revealed the picture of a potion with the detail written underneath.

“It turn out the potion you just taken wasn’t a normal MP potion. It was a dangerous experimental
drug that would fully recover the MP of the user…”

The news about the full recovery gave hope to Maya’s face.

“…but the side effect would make the user explode and deal damage equal to 3 times the user’s MP
to the user as well as the surrounding players in the room.”

Mina added to finish her job. Maya’s face turned white as sheet.

“I died.”
Akira said weakly. His knight character was already in critical state and the vast amount of damage
caused by the outburst was more than enough to kill him. Or rather his HP remained in his character
was already 1 point earlier so even if it was just a goblin’s attack he would die.

“Me too. I’m too close from her position so no matter what I do I would die due to my low HP.”

Haruyoshi added.

“Ah, it seems like everyone had died. It was a shame that the heroes had failed their job in saving the
world.”

Mina cheerfully said closing her folding fan in satisfaction.

“I don’t think so, Onee-chan.”

Maya interjected.

“What do you mean, Maya? As the first victim of the explosion, you also died right?”

Mina asked.

“Please calculate the damage dealt on the final boss too.”

Maya said.

“The Boss? Hmm? Let’s see… Eh? Are? It died.”

Mina was confused by the result of her calculation. She tried to recalculate it several times over but
no matter how she looked at it her strongest pawn had perished.

“Ehem, let me change the epilogue. By the Braves noble sacrifice the Demon Lord had been slain.
The peace had returned to the land but at the same time the world had grieved over the loss of the
brave heroes. The end.”

Mina declared.

“Whoa, that’s a bit unexpected.”

Akira said.

“If only I bought that sacrificial missanga before, we might have a survivor and win the game
completely.”

Haruyoshi added.

“Ah, that might be true.”

Maya joined in.

“Maa… so we can say that the outcome is a draw, right?”

Mina the Game Master asked.

“Right, so, what are we going to play tomorrow for club activity?”

Akira asked.

“Ah, why don’t we use the Neoverse for tomorrow. I’ll ask the teacher if we can use the computer
room for it.”
Mina suggested.

“Hmm… But, if we use it, we might have an unexpected guest from the foreign country like last time
right? My English is suck to compete with that.”

Haruyoshi added.

“Well, we can use it as a reason to get permission though? To get a native speaker for improving our
English, like that?”

Maya chided in.

“Ah, sorry everyone. It seems like I’m going to be absent tomorrow. I need to go to my relative’s
place.”

Haruyoshi said while checking on his smartphone.

“At this time of the year? It isn’t Obon yet right?”

Akira asked curiously.

“No, I’m going there to attend my uncle’s funeral. His body was found back in the mountain.”

Haruyoshi said.

“Ah, your TRPG-loving uncle who was missing 2 years ago is it? So he died in the mountain huh? But,
what is he doing there?”

Akira commented.

“Well, I don’t know. Many people deduced that it was a mass suicide as he wasn’t alone there. There
were 4 human bodies with my uncle’s included found at where the police found them.”

Motoharu shared an suspicious information.

“Well, that aside, we’ll lose a player. What should we do? Invite a guest from the server?”

Maya asked.

“I’ll call Maruyama-sensei to join us. That woman is a retro game lover so she might be interested in
our game if we use Neoverse.”

Akira added.

“Ah, she might be interested in that.”

Mina said excitedly.

“Let me check the site for an exclusive server room for tomorrow. I hope there’s still an opening.
Huh?”

When Akira opened the apps installed in his smartphone, he was surprised by the notification that
appeared as soon as the apps started.

‘Special Exclusive Event Invitation Ticket’

‘You are invited to play a unique scenario generated by the Neoverse AI.’

‘Ticket can be used in 4 – 10 account server room.’

“Say, it seems like I won a special event scenario. Should we play it tomorrow?”

Akira asked the rest of the group.

“Seriously?! Man, talk about a bad time… It’s frustrating for me but please let me ask this. Just record
everything later, I want to see how difficult is the special scenario.”

Haruyoshi pleaded.

“Alright, just be careful on your way.”

Akira said.

“Special scenario huh? I wonder what kind of role should I play.”

Mina said with anticipation.

“Onee-chan, more importantly, we need to persuade Maruyama-sensei for the permission first.”

Maya chided in.

“Ah, that’s right. Let’s pack up and get ready for tomorrow. I hope we will get an OK tomorrow.”

Mina said while tidying the remnants of their game. Haruyoshi left early in the mid-way due to his
parent calling him. As for the trio, they finished the cleaning soon and headed to the faculty office.
Mina went to return the clubroom key as for Akira and Maya went to Maruyama-sensei’s desk.

Maruyama Hikari was an English teacher as well as the homeroom teacher for class 2-2 where
Haruyoshi was. She was a 25 years old young teacher who had quite petite stature and childish
nature. She had approachable character thanks to her hobby of playing old games. She was also the
club advisor for the Board Game Research Club.

“Maruyama-sensei, can I have a bit of your time.”

Akira called out.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Mikihiko? You got some trouble in the class?”

Maruyama-sensei asked.

“No, actually, Sensei. We need your help for getting permission for the usage of the computer room
for our club activity tomorrow.”

Akira explained.

“Computer room? Why would the Board Game club need a computer?”

Maruyama-sensei asked in doubt. Akira looked around for nearby teacher and took out his
smartphone. He opened his mobile Neoverse app and showed her the ticket he got earlier.

“You got the ticket?! I’m impressed. My friend just boasted it in the forum that he got that to annoy
me. To think there’s a ticket winner near me. Say, Mikihiko, do you still have a slot available?”

Maruyama sensei asked excitedly. She was gripping the hand holding the smartphone tightly with
her eyes locked on the screen.

“Sensei, you played Neoverse too?”

Maya asked.

“Don’t underestimate me. I played this game once in a while. Even my main avatar had reached level
30 on the other day in the global scenario server.”

Maruyama-sensei boasted.

“That’s awesome. But, this event will use sub server so our stats will be reset as per the scenario.”

Maya explained.

“I know that. Since it would use small server, it shouldn’t be a long play either. I’ll get that permission
for sure. Just wait for the news.”

Maruyama-sensei said confidently. Seeing the confidence of their club advisor, Akira and the sisters
left the faculty room in a good mood. They now need to plan which path they would play in any
scenario that the AI would generate for them.

The next morning, Akira, Mina and Maya left their class together and headed to the computer room.
They talked about how excited they were when the time for their fun was approaching. Their
excitement however, got diminished when they saw Maruyama-sensei was confronted by a trio
consisting of the Student Council President, Akabane Shiina, the Vice President, Murasaki Akari and
the Disciplinary committee President, Fukuyama Shimizu.

Sensei was desperately explaining about the purpose of the use of the computer to the trio but alas
they weren’t convinced. Akira, Mina and Maya approached them and asked calmly.

“Sensei, what is going on here?”

“Mikihiko-kun, please save me…”

The childish adult pleaded. No matter how he tried to get information from the club advisor of his he
wouldn’t be able to get a proper explanation in her current state.

“Umm… Kaichou, what is going on here?”