3 bar menu

ShangriLa Frontier Chapter 308 Part 1

ShangriLa Frontier Chapter 308: However Shitty Games Addict Part 1

As far as I am able to tell, this here Saiga Onee-san (Name Temporary) is not a huge fan of video games and VR technology in general. Judging by her expression and reaction to my words, I could predict that her attitude must be roughly the same about both cigarettes and alcohol as well.

However, at the same time she does not seem to be one of those “Realists”, who happen to get a spasm of rage whenever they hear about something remotely VR-like, and advocating for its immediate eradication. So, depending on just how well I manage to explain this, I can dispel her distrust and ignorance towards VR. Maybe not once and for all, but at least for now.

Even though I keep on meeting many people inside of VR games all the time, when I try to explain my hobbies to my relatives, the most common reaction on their end is that they do not seem to understand what I am talking about.

In my case, I can tolerate the fact that to each his or her own hobby, or in worst case I can be totally indifferent towards it. But then, our family is a rather special exception, so I understand that now everyone out there can be as open-minded as our family is.

「Let’s see, what else is here to tell you…… Ah, yes. It is said that continuous use of the Full Dive VR may lead to the deterioration of your body and muscles, but it is actually a very common misconception.」

「…… Is that right? How come?」

My lips were starting to feel rather dry here, so I moisten them with my tongue a little bit. I was yet to realize this, but this here was actually the most I have ever talked to strangers. It was really starting to take its toll on me.

「You see, it’s just like with sleeping in real life. During sleep, your muscles tend to deteriorate at some rate, but if there is one thing when it comes to safety that the Full Dive VR technology tends to emphasize, that’s the health department. So if you also combine Full Dive VR with physical exercise, you can enjoy it to the fullest without having to worry about anything bad happening to you. Thinking about it logically, even astronauts suffer from muscle deterioration after a long period of being stranded in space, right? That is also the reason why they train their bodies before going into space and after coming back home.」

The very same rule can be applied to E-Sports as well. This is a principle that people who are not familiar with the Full Dive VR technology tend to misunderstand, that when it comes to VR technology, if you want to produce good results, your body must always be in top condition. If you were to participate in the VR world while ill or injured, you would only worsen your own condition.

「Training your body…… Could it be that you are playing some sport or training in some martial arts, Hizutome-san?」

「Training, huh……? I guess it is all basic stuff, like jogging, push-ups, sit-ups and stuff like that?」

As long as you eat in moderation and avoid becoming obese, you are fine. And you are fine as long as you can make a short run to the convenience store and back home without actually getting short on breath. Very basic and minimalistic conditions, if you were to ask me.

But still, talking about VR here is actually working in my favor. The situation would have been a whole lot worse if this woman was to suddenly ask me a question alongside the lines of: so how is Rei at school?” At least when it comes to VR, I can answer pretty much any kind of question that someone might throw at me.

「Incidentally, Hizutome-san…… Do you happen to be playing the same game as my dear little sisters?」

「Dear little sisters…… Umm, yes, that’s correct.」

When we talk about little sisters, we have Rei and Saiga-100, right? Although I have only met Saiga-100 in the world of ShanFro so far. So I had no real reason to not nod my head in the affirmative way.

「Shan…… A bath? I heard that it is a game in which you can experience various kinds of play styles: a knight, a ninja, a priest, mercenary…… I wonder what kind of character my dear sisters are playing as?」

「Huh? Umm, you see, about that……」

Would it really be okay for me to just talk about Saiga-0 and Saiga-100 with someone else than their respective counterparts in real life? I mean, the one who asked me about them was their close relative, but…… No, I’m in no position to do that, especially since we are not all that close to begin with, even in the world of VR gaming. I cannot take responsibility for any sort of family drama or falling outs that would happen if someone else was to misinterpret having fun inside of a video game as simply escaping reality and losing yourselves in the game world……

However, if I just try to sell her a blatant lie here, the temperature is likely to fall way below zero, maybe even near absolute zero. I must really choose my word carefully here.

「Umm, I actually happen to belong to the same guild…… I mean, group as Rei-san. However, since she is a powerful knight, I always happen to depend on her help with various tasks and missions. As for Momo…… -san? I do not happen to interact with her all that often, but I am sure that she is a skilled swordfighter and mage, the one that uses many swords in battle and manipulates them using her own will. I also know that she is leading the organization that amasses a whole lot of people under its banner and that it helps even greater amount of people. That is the extent of my knowledge.」

「?????????」

To begin with, I do not know all that much about Saiga-100, since it was always Pencilgton who used to deal with and communicate with her. Then again, trying to explain the play style of Sword Saint was hard to begin with, even for people who are well acquainted with the world of fantasy in general.

「This is……」

「I’m sorry that you had to wait…… Huh!? S-Sen-nee-san!?」

Saiga-san! Finally (Visible rejoice)

「Rei, I hope that you do realize that keeping the guests waiting is a sign of bad manners, right?」

「Eh…… Huh? Ah, umm, I am so terribly sorry that you had to wait……」

Casting a quick glance at the VR device that Rei-san had in her hands, it did not seem to be broken in any sort of way. But that being said, this device was somewhat different from the one I have bought, so the differences may be in the wiring and the parts inside of it as well. At the same time Rei bowed her head to her older sister in apology. I do believe that…… Sen-san? Was that her name?

Then, Sen-san stood up, turned towards me and bowed her head politely.