Encounter
Simply put—a choice.
When an event occurs, these choices appear. Depending on the choice, the ending can be determined.
But setting aside such complex backstory…
My gaze locks onto the arrangement of sentences.
[ (Help) Condition: Strength LV3 ]
[ (Do Not Help) ]
‘Already? This is showing up now?’
This isn’t a main encounter. Just a sub-encounter. It won’t drastically alter the flow of events.
‘Thanks to the “Humanity’s Strongest Weapon” trait, my Strength stat isn’t an issue…’
‘Even if I fail, the stress increase won’t be too severe.’
This system is full of traps—traps designed to prevent reckless decision-making.
-Stress Level: 0-
One such trap is the Stress Level.
You see a choice, act on it, and if you fail or choose an inhumane option, your stress increases.
If stress hits 100?
Negative traits are added or reinforced. Negative traits are essentially debuffs. The more unintelligent choices you make, the harder the game becomes.
Conversely, if you successfully execute a choice, you’re rewarded.
With that in mind, I assess the current encounter.
What happens if I choose to help?
‘No way to know. The outcome is purely speculative.’
Instinctively, I examine the person making the request.
A man shrouded in a gloomy aura. Not a named survivor worth remembering.
No—in fact, he might just be someone who should be killed.
The man is sweating profusely. His eyes are bloodshot. Drool drips from his mouth, but he doesn’t even think to wipe it.
Most of the crowd is in a similar state.
Their gazes are ambiguous, a mix of wariness and desperation, but their bloodshot eyes are all the same.
Early symptoms of mutation.
Help them force open the entrance to the Wayris headquarters?
I need to be cautious.
Wayris is one of the largest corporations in this city—effectively its ruler.
Their headquarters is like an oasis in a desert, a place where vital resources can be obtained.
There’s no need to help them bring people showing early mutation signs inside.
It’ll only cause trouble later.
In fact, the smarter move would be to kill every person here showing signs of mutation.
But the fact that I can think so coldly…
It stirs a complicated feeling inside me.
‘If it’s necessary—truly necessary—I’ll do it.’
I compromise with myself.
And with that compromise, my perspective shifts.
Killing them now would be like squeezing blood from a stone.
Given the number of mutants that will emerge, it wouldn’t even make a dent.
Factoring in the time it’d take to kill them, it’s better not to bother.
“……Excuse me? Are you listening?”
But I’ve overlooked something.
“Who’s trapped inside that you’d go so far as to break down the headquarters’ door to save them?”
The person they’re trying to save.
“Th-That’s……”
Just who are they trying to rescue?
Pushing past the hesitating man, I move through the crowd.
The unpleasant body odor wrinkles my brow—likely from their struggle with the door.
“Here to help? Grab this side with me.”
“……Wait.”
Whoosh—
“H-Hey! Don’t push!”
“If you’re not here to help, don’t get in the way……”
I squeeze through, ignoring the grumbling crowd, and peer through the narrow gap.
A double-door structure.
Two doors, one behind the other.
Between them, a few people are trapped, crying out in pain.
The moment I confirm this—
A voice, laced with resignation, reaches my ears.
“Please… just open it… already.”
At the same time, my pupils tremble slightly.
‘This woman—’
“I’ll reward you handsomely.”
Long, flowing platinum blonde hair visible through the crowd.
Striking red eyes.
One of the named survivors I’ve seen countless times.
And someone who bears the Wayris name.
“……Ellie Wayris?”
“You know me…? That makes this easier. Just smash this damn door open and get me out.”
Facing her was unexpected.
Was she really trapped here at this point in the timeline?
Her exhausted, resigned expression speaks volumes.
‘…She doesn’t seem in immediate danger.’
Game-wise, she escapes this place one way or another.
The only difference is when.
Plus, she hasn’t been injected with NH-03.
She’s just worn out from the situation.
‘Ellie’s setting is that she doesn’t need anti-aging treatments yet.’
Now the disjointed pieces click into place.
Cyberpunk.
This is a society where extreme individualism runs rampant.
Sure, the apocalyptic setting plays a part, but in-game survivors are, to put it nicely, indifferent to others.
To put it bluntly—they’re rude.
For these people to go out of their way to break into Wayris HQ and save someone…
The reason would have to be someone like Ellie Wayris.
These soon-to-be mutants wanted to save her for a hefty reward.
This changes things.
Opening the door to build rapport with a named survivor isn’t the most efficient move—but efficiency can be improved.
“Do you have anything to use as a lever?”
“……A lever?”
“A club or blunt weapon would work too.”
‘…Encounters are also a way to potentially earn bonus traits.’
Hidden rewards exist in encounters.
It depends on how you resolve them.
If you choose a hidden option instead of the given ones…
Your chances of earning a bonus trait increase.
‘I can make this work.’
Just then—
Someone shuffles forward hesitantly.
In their hand—a riot baton.
Judging by their uniform, a Wayris security guard.
“Mind lending me that?”
“This…?”
“Yes.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Break it.”
“…….”
A beat of silence.
The crowd’s reactions are mixed.
“Is this guy serious…?”
“Stop wasting time and just help open the door.”
“Sorry, but you can’t break alloy-reinforced glass with this.”
Only the guard tries to dissuade me with a troubled expression.
He’s right.
The black glass at the entrance is reinforced alloy glass.
A flimsy-looking riot baton shouldn’t be able to shatter it.
But that’s just conventional thinking.
Theoretically, it’s possible—
If you have Strength LV7 and a weapon proficiency trait.
“There’s a way.”
“Huh?”
“I’m in a hurry. No time to explain. Please.”
“Damn it……”
No persuasion was needed.
The crowd, already suffering from mutation symptoms, was too exhausted to argue.
“Ha… Is this really the time to be stubborn?”
“Just give it to him. Let’s see what happens.”
Their reactions were more irritable mockery than curiosity.
“……Here.”
The guard hands over the baton.
The grip feels familiar.
Honestly—
I’m not entirely confident.
I still lack full certainty about my traits.
But if this world is the one I know…
It’s possible.
Which makes this situation a test—a way to confirm my doubts.
Though it’s late to admit it now…
The biggest reason I chose this troublesome option was verification.
‘Overthinking will paralyze me. Just treat it like a game. That’s the only way.’
In thousands of playthroughs, I never once chose to wield a weapon in reality.
I never learned kendo.
Never played baseball.
Never even swung a club in my life.
With no real experience, the best I can do is mimic in-game movements.
So, gripping the baton lightly with both hands, I pour strength into my grip.
I raise it like a blunt weapon and take aim at the alloy glass.
“Hah, he’s really gonna try to break it?”
“What a waste of time.”
Confused murmurs erupt around me.
But it doesn’t matter.
Even I wouldn’t have believed it easily.
“You might want to step back.”
And in that instant—
My entire body feels like it’s about to explode.
Like a coiled spring ready to unleash.
Maybe it’s nerves.
My stance might look awkward.
But I don’t care.
I twist my waist, my arm follows—
The baton in my hand cuts through the air in a clean arc.
No time to admire it.
The moment is too brief.
Only a short, intense feedback travels through my palms—
CRACK!
“Huh?”
A deafening roar pierces my eardrums, reverberating through my skull.
What just happened?
No matter how I think about it, the explosive force was beyond belief.
“……!?!?”
So this is what it feels like.
And I can’t help but be stunned by the result.
CREAK…!
Contrary to everyone’s expectations—the alloy glass cracks.
“…….”
“……Huh.”
“No way……”
The crowd’s reaction is drier than the situation warrants.
They’re dumbfounded.
Finally, someone mutters what everyone’s thinking:
“What the hell did I just witness?”
I feel the same.
‘Holy shit.’
Internal shock erupts.
But I don’t show it.
I forcibly suppress the excitement.
My mind quickly settles back into calm.
“Hah……”
A successful verification.
……But.
Something feels complicated.
Negative thoughts surface before positive ones.
Still.
‘Maybe… five more swings will do it.’
It wasn’t meaningless.
At least now I know I can contribute.
The cracked alloy glass.
Multiple layers mean it won’t break in one hit.
So I swing without hesitation.
CRASH—!
“Uh… uh… Shouldn’t we move?”
The second strike is quieter than the first.
But the spiderweb cracks spread even more chaotically.
CRUNCH—!
“G-Get back!”
The black glass is now veined with thick fractures.
SHATTER—!
“It’s breaking! Move!”
If there’s such a thing as getting used to destruction, this must be it.
Finally, I raise the baton high—
And with one last swing—
“H-Holy—!”
“It’s—It’s actually breaking!”
KABOOM—!
The glass explodes outward.
A belated worry surfaces.
‘Wait, if Ellie got hit by glass shards… That’d be a disaster.’
Too caught up in verifying my traits, I hadn’t considered collateral damage.
But my fears are unfounded.
“You… Are you some kind of monster?”
Ellie and the others step out unharmed, staring at me in disbelief.
A flawless success.
Ding—!
[Trapped in Wayris (1)]
[(Unexpected Choice: Break the door without help)]
[+Support Skill: Focused Strike (LV.1)]
“……There we go.”
A hidden choice.
And an [Unexpected] one at that.
The bonus reward is satisfying.
‘Already got a skill this early.’
Not a trait, but a skill is still valuable.
But then—
Ding!
[Canceled: Focused Strike (LV.1)]
[-Support Skill: Focused Strike (LV.1)]
A baffling system message follows.
Ding!
[‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ effect activated]
[+Support Skill: Single Strike (LV.1)]
Ding!
[‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ effect activated]
[Changed: Single Strike (LV.1) >> Heavy Strike (LV.1)]
Ding!
[‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ effect activated]
[Changed: Heavy Strike (LV.1) >> Sharp Strike (LV.1)]
Ding!
[‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ effect activated]
[Changed: Sharp Strike (LV.1) >> Slash (LV.1)]
[+Support Skill: Slash (LV.1)]
“Hah… Haha.”
At the same time as my confidence in my traits…
I finally understand what the “overwhelming talent” in the Legendary Swordsmanship description truly means.
