The Protagonist’s Party is Too Diligent – 87
EP.87 Information (1)
Anyway, this game is a JRPG. Although I hadn’t played many JRPGs from the ’90s, I imagined the vibe back then must’ve been different. Most JRPGs released in the 2020s were filled with anime-style content that appealed to otaku tastes. No matter how realistic the graphics were or how much the presentation resembled a Hollywood movie, once you delved into the story, you’d find that both male and female leads were almost always ridiculously attractive.
The characters’ personalities didn’t feel like they were inspired by movie characters; they were more like anime characters. Often, they were clearly designed as Caucasians, yet somehow, the Japanese dub suited them better than the English one. Even their movements had a certain exaggerated feel.
This might’ve been my own stereotype from playing these types of games, but… that’s how it seemed to me, at least. So, if someone asked me where Chronicles of Aetherna ranked within the JRPG genre, I’d say without hesitation, “It’s the kind of game that only an otaku could truly enjoy.”
The character designs being based on 2D illustrations was a minor detail. Although the game consistently received “Mostly Positive” reviews on rating sites and digital stores, the characters’ personalities and actions had a distinctly Japanese anime vibe, even incorporating a visual novel-style system where you could “romance” them. While the main storyline followed a single overarching plot, there were plenty of mini-events that were obviously there to cater to specific tastes.
A beach episode featuring the characters in swimsuits was a must for this kind of story. And a school festival episode where you could dress the heroines in maid-like waitress outfits was essential for any school-based story; without it, you could say it lacked purpose.
However, beyond these seamlessly inserted episodes, the game also had scenes that seemed like they were just crammed in to appeal to certain audiences. One example was an episode set in a casino.
…Honestly, the fact that I immediately imagined what kind of outfits the female leads would wear the moment I heard “casino” made me realize just how much of an otaku I was at heart.
*
Although I’d dealt with the urgent issue, there were still several things left to address. Going tactical was fine and all. This kind of atmosphere didn’t exist much in this world, so it should make an impression. My style of combat, which looked futuristic to those around me, should fit well enough.
If I portrayed myself as a battle-hardened veteran who’d refined his techniques through years of experience on the front lines, people would surely acknowledge it. That was the image I was aiming for, anyway.
The problem was that the mysterious persona I’d been building up might falter as a result. It was possible for a character to embody multiple concepts, but if those concepts didn’t blend well, they’d end up as an incoherent mishmash. So, I needed to be more careful in crafting my character.
“Something on your mind?”
Alice, ever perceptive, picked up on my contemplative expression.
“Nothing major.”
“Come on, you can tell me.”
Though I brushed it off as if it were nothing, Alice persisted in her questioning.
“Well, it’s just that, um…”
Even as she spoke, Alice looked like she was struggling to say something difficult. Her eyes darted around, and then she finally managed.
“I’m like an older sister to you, right? So, if you ever have troubles you can’t share with anyone else, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to talk to me.”
“…”
Momentarily stunned, I turned to stare at her, and Alice’s cheeks took on a faint pink hue. She seemed to realize how forced her words sounded. It made sense; Alice was usually the one feeling inferior, and I’d been the one who often tried to boost her confidence.
“Ahem.”
Quickly clearing her throat and regaining composure, Alice straightened up.
Somehow, we’d stopped walking and were standing in place. There wasn’t anyone around; that’s probably why she’d felt comfortable bringing this up.
“Look, your birthday may come before mine, but…”
“…”
“Those birthdays aren’t exactly… reliable records, right…?”
“…”
“I mean, I was with Father longer, you know?”
“…”
“So, it wouldn’t be that strange if you were my little sister… would it?”
If she was so sure about this, why did the end sound like a question?
Hmm, well. I wasn’t about to argue over it. Technically, I wasn’t really someone who could even be considered Alice’s “older sister,” and, if I really thought about it, it was debatable whether I could even call myself a woman.
Sure, my body was female, and I’d been living in it for over ten years now… though if I counted from when I arrived at the orphanage, it was just barely a decade. But adding in the time before all this, I’d easily lived more than ten years in this body.
Still, I’d spent far more time living as a man than as a woman. But could I actually claim to be Alice’s “older brother”? That was doubtful too. Wasn’t I technically more like an uncle?
“If that’s how you’d like to think of it, then feel free to do so.”
“…Your reaction’s so boring, it’s almost disappointing.”
Was Alice half-joking? But she seemed pretty sincere about it. Perhaps she was feeling a bit jealous after watching Claire openly call me her older sister. After all, we’d grown up in something like a sibling relationship.
Maybe it was her pride that kept her from addressing me the same way as Claire?
“Well, fine. Reaction or not, you said it’s fine, so from now on, you’re officially my little sister.”
But no matter how I looked at it, this was absurd.
I didn’t even call Lucas or Jayden “older brother,” so naturally, I had no intention of calling Alice “older sister” either. And she probably knew that just as well.
We started walking again, passing through the empty academy grounds and out the main gate.
The weather was gradually heading toward summer here in Runedarium. It was still far better than the sweltering Korean summer; according to the lore, it was rare for temperatures to exceed 30 degrees here, even in summer.
But that didn’t mean it wasn’t hot. Temperature aside, the sun still beat down relentlessly. If summer wasn’t hot, after all, there wouldn’t be any point in seeking out the beach.
“Go on, take a seat and wait for a bit.”
The place we arrived at was a café. It was a place we often visited since the last time we had parfaits. Even though I maintained a neutral expression, Alice seemed to think I really liked this place.
And she was right. I did like it here. It was rare to find a café that served such delicious desserts and yet had so few customers.
“Hmm.”
As I sat down quietly, Alice let out a pleased hum.
“I figured you’d be craving something by now.”
Honestly, it wasn’t just “about time” I craved something sweet; it was more that I almost always wanted something like this. I mean… it’s sweet. And I liked sweet, delicious things. Ever since I ended up in this body, my liking for sweet foods seemed to have only grown.
Apparently pleased with herself for getting me to acknowledge her as an “older sister,” Alice didn’t even wait for the waitress and went straight to the counter.
“…”
Watching her small, excited figure made it challenging to think of her as any sort of “big sister.” But if it made her happy, I was willing to play along.
While I sat there quietly watching her enthusiastic retreat—
“So, is it settled now who’s the youngest?”
A voice spoke up from behind me.
“…”
I turned toward the mature, feminine voice and saw someone already seated at the table. She had long, silver hair tucked behind her ear, revealing a smooth forehead, and an air of decadence that surrounded her. Her skin was a dusky tone, and her hair, soft brows, and long lashes were all the same silver color, giving her an unmistakably unique appearance.
Her gray eyes, which usually seemed indifferent to everything around her, now held a rare spark of interest as they observed me. She’d claimed an empty seat at the table at some point and was now resting her chin on her hands, studying me. Her name was Bella and her last name was Fangriffon.
In the original storyline, she was the previous owner of the Black Sword who had died before the main story began.
“Oh, and Lucas took off on an impromptu holiday, saying he had something he wanted to do. I’ve taken over his duties for now. Father didn’t seem too upset, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
Without waiting for me to ask, she began sharing the news in her slow, relaxed tone—a character I found a bit uncomfortable to deal with.
Although, at this point, she wasn’t nearly as unpredictable as Lena had proven to be.