Pointless Death Game 12

Yuuta: And get this—I took advantage of the fact that I was the only one Sakuma-senpai could talk to and used my position as his “spokesperson” to get you two to do whatever I wanted.

Even if you won’t listen to what I say, surely you’ll listen to what Sakuma-senpai says—right?

Rei: ......

Yuuta: So I’ve been controlling and manipulating everything just like that. It felt pretty good, to be honest. Is this what it feels like to be the big bad in an RPG or something?

While bossing all my strongest, evilest monsters around, I can move exactly as I wish. Without holding anything back.

Koga: If you’re the big bad, you’re gonna get taken down by some hero eventually though?

Yuuta: I suppose you’re right. But the allies of justice are fewer in number than the villains, and they’re a lot slower, too. They’ve got too many chains holding them down to reality, so they’re more restricted.

So. Until that angel of judgment comes for us, we can do whatever we like.

Problem kids run the world—trying to be good isn’t going to get us anywhere.

So I’m gonna take what I want, even if that makes me a bad kid. I’m not really thrilled to be sounding like Rinne-senpai with this, though.

Koga: Yuuta... why’d ya have to take after that guy? What, I wasn’t a good enough role model?

Yuuta: Senpai, you shine just a little too bright for me—for who I am right now.

Anyway, Hinata-kun should’ve stolen all of Hakaze-senpai’s Desert Coins right about now, as per my orders.

If he’d never lent his out in the first place and just let him be, this would have been a lot faster.

It took me a while to get my instructions through to him—that was some bad luck there, huh.

But that’s checkmate. The game is over.

As soon as the Administration pulls the plug, this little desert game we’re playing ends.

At that point, any unit that doesn’t have Desert Coins will be eliminated from SS.

Those were the rules. If you had even one single Desert Coin, you were safe, but if you’re out of Coins? Game over.

Beyond that, it didn’t matter how many you collected. Everyone who heard that must have clung to their safe zones right up to the very end.

There were probably a good chunk of idols who did just that. Who were too good to leave behind, but who weren’t good enough to make it to the actual stage.

The Administration probably told all those idols what was going on. But UNDEAD wasn’t informed at all, and I didn’t tell Hinata-kun, either.

If he’d known the truth, he’d have definitely tried to help UNDEAD survive—even if he had to be the one to pay for it.

I mean come on, he already helped Hakaze-senpai when he got swindled out of his own Desert Coins. I’m pretty sure I made the right choice here.

Anyway, there wasn’t any point in wandering around in the harsh desert sands to collect so many Desert Coins.

Once the game is over, those Coins will just be a little commemorative medal with no value to speak of.

We all already know the only thing that matters in SS is the SSL$. No matter how many Desert Coins you have, they’re completely worthless.

Which is why I didn’t convert all of the SSL$ we got from uploading videos. I did send some here and there—

But for the most part, I kept my wallet shut tight and saved up.

Sooner or later, once this desert game is done, we’ll have to fight center stage at the real Qualifiers.

The more money we have for that fight the better, right?

By the way, you know how we posted all the videos under the name 2wink? That means all the income we got belongs to us—2wink.

And UNDEAD—you guys are broke, senpais.

It would’ve been bad if you’d started suspecting us because of that. So it was pretty important that I ordered Sakuma-senpai to agree to it.

And then you guys just agreed to it too. You never thought for a second I had you under my thumb.

Koga: ......

Yuuta: Buuuut, without any Desert Coins, UNDEAD has been eliminated from the Qualifiers.

So there’s no point to any of your SSL$ you may have had left anyway, right?

You can’t take that money to the afterlife, so it’s better to let us use it for ourselves. That’s what you guys want, right?

You wanna help us poor, unfortunate souls, don’t you—senpais? I mean, that’s what you’re always saying, isn’t it?

Well congrats! Your wish was granted!

Koga: You bastard...

Yuuta: Oh, I’m sure you’re frustrated, but try not to get violent please.

Unlike you guys, we have a lot more work to do as idols from here out. On the stage.

I’d rather not get hurt.

If you want to hit something or get angry, you should do it to yourselves, since you’re the ones who got yourselves conned without ever suspecting we could be the conmen. Lookie here, this is what happens when you underestimate us!

Maybe next time you should know your place and change your stance. Ohhh, we wanna protect youuu, we wanna saaave youuu! That’s pretty arrogant of you guys, you know?

Ahh, I feel so much better now. I finally got all that off my chest.

I don’t know how many times I’ve said it, but I think I finally got it right this time.

Koga: ......

Yuuta: Ooh, the Administration sure is quick to reply... They probably have us bugged so they can hear what we say.

There was an announcement about the end of the desert game on OasisTube. I’m sure there was a similar announcement for everyone in the desert, too.

That means we should be getting picked up soon, so we should get ready to hit the road, right? Well, there’s not really any need for you guys to do that.

Since UNDEAD is finished here and you’re eliminated from SS.

What’s the point in preparing for the future... right?

jp proofing: Moricchiichan
eng proofing: Soph