by Yuu Kamiya
“Nameless weak one—thou mayest hold thine head high, having truly proved thyself worthy to be mine enemy.”
The last words of the god of war, commending his foe before he fell, were as follows. It is said that only the mere twenty-eight Ex Machinas, marred and smashed and broken from head to toe, recorded them…
“…Challenge me again at any time, O weak one.”
It could scarcely be believed that he was on the verge of vanishing, gouged of his ether, so steadfast was the simmering of the god of war as he declared war once more. It was all the machines could do to reply.
“—You wish in vain, O fallen strong one.”
But the god of war laughed it off as if amused beyond knowledge.
“It could not be that I might fall, and yet, it is. Aught can be. Tell your lord, O blades.”
Yes—his words were not for Ex Machina, but for their lord. The weakest, whom the strongest had been forced to define as his natural enemy. The machines who had been able to gouge the strongest of his ether because they were the blades of the will of the weakest—now listened to his words for those who had forced him to no longer be the strongest.
“It was a fine match—and next time, I will win.”
…With all due condolences to this god of war, these words could never be said. For the lord of these blades, the natural enemy the strongest of gods had recognized…that is: the weakest of all…the Spieler and the Preier…were no longer with us. For they had been succeeded by a different weak one—the two of Immanity.
……
Far above Elkia, in Avant Heim, the city of the heavens, Azril sat on its edge, watching the machine man, Einzig, shift away. She remembered a story he had recently told her—one of her lord’s final moments.
“—Azril. Do you mean to let them go?”
Avant Heim’s question reverberated within her. She smirked.
“…What would be the point…? Lashing out at the blades that pierced my lord, after all this time…”
And rules were rules.
“I said I’d let them go if they gave an answer that tickled us. Aren’t you tickled, Av’n’?”
Azril smirked more deeply at the hushed Phantasma and recalled.
—That day her lord was slain, he was…smiling. A broad smile had spread across his face—the first and last time Azril had seen such a smile.
…He must have been so happy. After six thousand years, she finally realized. After an eternity of ennui, he had met an enemy he could challenge with all his spirit…and lost. Still. He intended to win: Next time, next time… For his disciples to complain before such sublimity was nothing short of blasphemy.
“…For me to let defeat make me despair…I truly am…a false disciple.”
All she had left to do was laugh. Azril just walked and thought:
“…The enemy of the strong…is the weak…? Hrmm… Hrm?”
…Sora and Shiro. Indeed, they were weak. The more strong allies came, the more strong allies fell before them. Their nature was pure—they devoured the strong. They were so weak… So weak you had to ask, You have to go that far to win? They were so foolish… So very foolish, and still they’d dared to challenge a god, and brought her down. Their weakness was beyond the ability of the strong to imagine, even to comprehend. Thus, they stood as the enemy of the strong, fulfilling their duty as the weak. Azril now believed she faintly understood them.
However—
“Hmmm? Then couldn’t you also say, the enemy of the weak is the strong?”
The weak devised tricks, tactics, and strategies to combat the strong. But they devised them—always—to defeat an enemy too strong to beat fairly. Then was not the enemy of the weak—the overpoweringly strong, strength beyond the ability of the weak to imagine? Losing was not an option—they devoured the weak.
“…Nyaahhh, I dunnoooooo… Who should I root for?!”
As she walked, a thought popped into her head that made her clutch her head and squirm. They weren’t the same individuals. They weren’t even the same in form. Yet they, the weak, had succeeded them. And if someone took the place of the strong, who were left with the will to take on challenge after challenge—if, having tasted defeat, having learned of the weak, the strong stepped forth for next time… If these strong and weak faced one another once more, for whom should she root…? Azril writhed under the serious weight of this concern, until—boom.
“…I know! I’ll just pick the side that’s more fun. Nya-ha-ha! ”
Her head nearly exploded from overheating. Her thoughts ceased, leaving only a carefree laugh, full of hope, to ring through the city of the heavens…
Three days later, at last, the sign that read CLOSED FOR BUSINESS finally disappeared from Elkia Castle. Shiro had mumbled, “End of turn,” as it went down, and immediately, all manner of national apparatus scrambled back into motion, breathing life back into the once-deserted castle.
“We’ll be so busy… I don’t even wanna think how much work’s piled up.”
Steph sighed in disgust, but the monarch rested on the throne with dignity.
“Hmmm! Bet you’ll have to work especially hard, Steph. Meanwhile, we’ll be doing the usual.”
“…We can, count on you, Steph… We’ll…do, our job…!”
“…Understood. Your Majesties intend to play as usual… Hff…”
They were playing games on their portable device even as they spoke, which made Steph heave an even deeper sigh. But—
“Well, yeah, you could say that…since that’s our field.”
With that, Sora and Shiro lifted their faces from their game console…at…
“It’s always best to leave things to the experts. So we leave politics to the politicians.”
There was a glint in their eyes as they looked over the people gathered in the throne room: the ministers and staff who had returned once the castle was reopened, along with some others as well.
“And so—leave gaming to the gamers. We’ll solve problems the way gamers do.”
Representatives of the commercial associations and guilds, even a number of lords, were in attendance.
“Hey, Steph. In strategy games, you only skip a turn…”
There was a distinct air of discontent, as the entire group appeared murderous while Sora and Shiro alone stayed jovial—as if mocking them.
“…when you’ve, got…tonnnns of free time…or if you’re, waiting for something…or both. ”
Sora and Shiro’s statement only made Steph blanch with the worst premonition she’d had yet. The two of them grinned at her and thought—
Expansion-oriented strategies were such a pain. Once your country got more powerful, you had to deal with all the new pressures from inside and outside, all the footwork. For instance…in this turn, they’d had nothing to do. They couldn’t attack, and they wouldn’t be attacked. But now with this next turn, that unbearably boring situation gave way to a whole spectrum of choices. That said, this new turn had a problem of its own.
—of the slight uncertainty as to whether they could survive. But that’s what makes it so thrilling. Sora and Shiro grinned.
“So, Steph! This is our last chance. While we still can, draw us up a national missive.”
“—Huh? Uh, y-yes…? T-to whom shall it…be addressed?”
Steph seemed confused by their disregard for the crowd’s agitation.
“Mm. To whom…? Hmm, we haven’t decided yet, but anyway, this is what should say.”
Sora went back and gave it some extra thought… To whom should it be addressed? The fairy-girls, or the dwarf-girls, or perhaps they could even go for the dark horse? He considered with amusement who should be first—for the loss. Meanwhile, he dictated the letter he would have Steph send to them.
“Hey, dumbasses, need some help? How ’bout you thank us by giving us your whole damn country?”
Now back to the beginning.
Remember the law of increasing entropy? The law that it’s easier to destroy
than to build, easier to lose than to keep. Right, so…what does it mean to recap? To recapitulate. To settle the capital one has built up to build further capital upon it. How does one go about this? Well, normally, one would check one’s foundations. This would involve a careful review of the status quo and a thorough survey for any existing problems. When problems are found, one must address them one by one in an assiduous process of correction. It’s a painstaking operation.
Unfortunately, our two gamers despised games where they had to grind. As such, they dismissed this custom out of hand and opted for a mode that was easier and much more badass. So with that, let’s get back to that spoiler.
On this day. At this hour. Sora and Shiro, king and queen of Elkia, lost everything, in a domestic insurgence: the throne of the monarch, the position of agent plenipotentiary, their home, their power. They lost most everything associated with their royal authority, and about one month later—
—the country known as the Kingdom of Elkia disappeared from the map. It was the easiest and most badass method of recapitulation… Indeed.
The means to an end known as destroying it all.
It was as if to say, I think this ought to be the fastest route.
AFTERWORD
It was about eight months ago…
The year 2015 was drawing to a close. The man had finished his manuscript and had only the illustrations left. He sat with his drawing tablet, furiously scribbling away with his stylus.
He was desperate. Doomed. Perhaps even moribund. He had a cold and was operating on no sleep or rest. His already sorry state of mind had become even sorrier. Specifically, he would go to get a drink of water, stylus in hand, and then, for some reason, leave the stylus in the sink. There he was in his room, trying to draw with a cup. This is what it means to be terminally not right in the head. The man was encouraged to go to the hospital, even have brain surgery, but still he scribbled on.
The man’s family was growing. His child’s due date agitated him more than his deadline. He knew that when his child was born, things would not be the way they had been. His time for writing would be limited, as he could not press the care of a newborn babe solely into the hands of his wife. And so the man spoke to his editor.
“I promise to make the December release happen even if it kills me. Please give me paternity leave afterward.”
The man was prepared for any unforeseen events— No. Under these circumstances, could any events be foreseen? He was ready to join arms with his wife, taking it one step at a time with their new child, searching for that new rhythm of life!!
…And the man made it through. He still had a mountain of work, some of which had to do with a separate anime project for another company. But for now, his most pressing task had ended… Now he had some space to face the unforeseen and rear his child while proceeding with further jobs. As the man reflected on this, full of emotion, there it was: a phone call from the anime producer.
“Heyyy, long time no see! I’ll get right to the point, Mr. Kamiya— What do you think of an anime movie?!”
Heh. Heh-heh-heh, eh-heh-heh…
Was that a question? Did this person think the man would refuse? —No! They knew the answer perfectly well! In which case, the man could only give them what they wanted!!
“You don’t even have to ask! Let’s do it! I’ll do anything you need!!”
The man answered immediately, and only after did he come to his senses.
“So…I have your word, yes? Now then…let’s die together!”
Hearing the producer’s voice echoing from the depths of hell itself, the man checked his scheduler and at last realized: Well now, what to do about…this schedule……?
…So!! I am that man: Yuu Kamiya!!
Having braved numbers of unforeseen events, and barely taking any time off during my paternity leave, I give you Volume 9! Things have been pretty heavy for a while since Volume 6, but I believe that now—yes, now!—this series is light once again! I hope you enjoy it!!
“But seriously, though! You sure had a weird way of writing this volume! (lol)”
……
…Uhhh, yeah… I’m not really sure it’s a matter of this volume. But I guess you wouldn’t know about the earlier volumes, being my new editor, “T”…
“I mean, you write the book and then you go back and shake the text up to make it ‘light’? That’s pretty weird to me! (lol)”
I—I guess you could…say that, too… Uh, well…mind if I add something, then? About the second unforeseen event…the change in editor.
Maybe my memories are getting mixed up… So let me check… There was previously a change in editor just before I gave you Volume 7, right?
“(earnestly) That’s right! Don’t worry, Mr. Kamiya! You’re absolutely correct!!”
…Okay. So that was Editor I, who worked so hard so we could be on the same page through Volumes 7 and 8. Now this time, just after I turned in the first draft of Volume 9, it switched again to you, Editor T…
“(firmly) That’s right. Relax, Mr. Kamiya. Your memory is fine.”
…I…see. It’s fine, is it…?
Then, this is a question I did my best not to think about until I got the manuscript in. But I guess it’s time—so I’m going to ask, okay…?
I’m…just asking, all right, but…
—Could it be that no one wants to work with me?
“Ah-ha-ha-ha! …Oh no. It’s really just internal circumstances… (apologetically) Sorry to put you through all the trouble.”
Oh, I seeee! What a relieeef.
—Also, could you tell me why you laughed?
“(questioningly) But, Mr. Kamiya, it seems to me that you handle switchovers like these just fine?”
You just blatantly changed the subject!! So people really don’t want to work with me, do they?!
…Okay, look, let’s see here.
I really depend on you guys a lot, getting your opinions and commercial perspective and all. So when the editor changes, it makes it really hard to build up that trust again, you know?
“…Right you are. I’ll have to give my all to earn your trust, then. (gulps)”
Uh, yeah… I mean, no, that’s not what I’m saying. See, it works both ways: You have to trust me—
“Oh, no problem there. My trust for you is maxed out at all times. (smiles)”
O-oh… Is that so? It’s kind of freaky when you say that with your eyes wide open like that. Just what is the meaning of all…?
“(histrionically) Oh, Mr. Kamiya!! I never wanted to hear these words from you!!!”
Yikes! I don’t know what I did, but sor—
“Do we need a reason to believe?! Mr. Kamiya, please don’t say something so sad! I believe in you—(firmly) why should I need to justify it?!”
…
……
……Uh, yeah. Sorry about that. I guess you’re right; we need to believe in each other if we want to get anywhere…
“(straight-faced) Yes, and now my trust is always past the maximum! My trust that you’ll deliver the next manuscript immediately!”
…Sigh. Well then…now that I’ve resigned myself.
The next volume will be No Game No Life: Practical War Game—a spin-off, to be released in December…I guess? It’s a short story/side story book. I’m writing it in tandem with Volume 10, so I’ll try to get that out before too long, too! All the while, the No Game No Life anime film is coming along behind the scenes! I’ll do my very best to make sure you enjoy it all, so please stay tuned!! All right, see you—
“(serious) Oh, one last thing, if I may?”
Wha—? Uh, yes…? What is it? I was just about to wrap things up all nicely…
“Well, it’s just, I respect your taste and all, but as a former porno manga magazine editor, I have to say, that scene with the elementary school kids, you really should have made them the same age as the other characters. After all, at the end of the day, it’s boobs that sell books. Oh, but I do have
to give you props for the micro bikini—”
All right, see you later!!
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