Vol. 2 Ch. 1 Ep. 17: Just Getting Warmed Up

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So let me get this straight...

All this was done by some club I've never heard of, "the Game Development Department."

And that bunch of shrimps pulled one over all of ya. That right?

I have no excuse.

It was I who accepted the request and made the preparations.

My failure has tarnished the Maid Club's reputation. I'm sorry.

None of that crap matters at all.

I beg your pardon?

When I got here, Rio called me.

You mean the president of Seminar, I mean, the Student Council?

The one and only.

She said the request is being withdrawn.

...?!

But why?

Hmm. All I can think of is that Rio or Himari wanted to test somethin'.

They were testing us?

Nah.

Bet they wanted to know what that Aris girl was capable of.

All right, then.

This has nothin' to do with the request, but, Akane...

...I want you to look into this.

Sorry? Look into what now?

The Game Development Department.

Hm? Why? Oh, for revenge?

I'm not usually interested in dirty work like this, but we might as well take care of it.

Once the investigation is wrapped here, I've got a house call in store for those twerps.

That sounds perfect. I imagine right now they're celebrating how they managed to pull one over on the Maid Club.

Heehee. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when we pay them a visit.

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I haven't been so sad since Tales Saga Chronicle's alpha update...

H-Hey...Momoi.

Haha. AHAHAHA! It's over! We're finished!

Midori, are you okay?

Sorry, Aris... I don't really feel like talking right now...

Hey, Yuz...

Rage. Destruction. Desolation. Despair. Emptiness. All the world hurtles toward inevitable ruination...

E-Everyone! I do not understand why...

Is this...

...is this because of the G.BIBLE?

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But...I do not think the G.BIBLE was lying.

That's ridiculous!

Huh?

I wish it had lied! I wouldn't be mad if it had!

Gaaah! We're totally screwed! The club's as good as gone!

???

Hello, hello, Game Development Department gals. Miss Maki here's got a special something for ya.

Oh! It's finally ready!

Ta-da!

It's really here...the G.BIBLE!

Sorry for the wait. We took the Mirror back to the Student Council after unlocking the G.BIBLE.

Huh? You returned the Mirror?

Himari already knew everything. She said it's not a big deal, and we won't be needing it from now on.

Oh, yeah, when I was decrypting the G.BIBLE, I found a folder called "Key."

Kei? But I thought you already unlocked it?

Kei?

She means they found it AFTER they unlocked it. Sis, how did you even pass the entrance exams...?

Hmm. This one's got me stumped. The file doesn't seem to be corrupted, but there's no way it was coded in a language from our era.

Anyway, I was able to open the G.BIBLE like you wanted, but I couldn't get that key folder open. Any idea what it is?

Unfortunately, we don't know either.

Hmm...

I wonder. Could the key be...?

Um. You were looking for Aris, right?

Was I? Whatever, the G.BIBLE is the important thing here.

Come by later when you've got some free time! We can analyze the key folder together.

All right! I've delivered it to you, so I'll see you later!

Good work, Maki!

You'll have to schedule an appointment through my secretary next time we get together! 'Cause we're gonna make it big with TSC 2!

Heh. I'm excited to pop 'er open.

Aris! Yuzu! Midori! Everyone, gather round!

It's time to look at the G.BIBLE.

No one knows what's in here. A famous developer believed to have read the G.BIBLE once said:

"The true secret of game development is a miracle everyone thought they knew, but, in fact, no one truly understood the meaning of."

I want to know the truth so we can...

...make the best game ever.

It's our only chance of being able to stay here together.

If we fail, Yuzu has to go back to the dorm with people she doesn't like, and Aris...

I don't even want to think about it. But at least Sensei said Schale will help us if it comes to that.

Schale? I like Sensei being with us.

But are you saying I cannot be with you anymore?

Ah!

That's not gonna happen! We're definitely gonna make the best game ever!

Aris, soon you'll be asking people, "Have you played TSC2? It's a masterpiece."

And so to get there...

All right, Aris. Hit it!

Understood.

G.BIBLE...

...activated!