Blue Archive story · Volume 2: Game Development Department, Chapter 2, Episode 5
Vol. 2 Ch. 2 Ep. 5: Guided by Aris 2
1 scenes, 206 lines
1. Millennium Plaza No. 19 / Millennium Lecture Hall No. 11
206 linesMy adventure with Aris continued.
This is the location of our next event!
I can sense the presence of new items here!
Let us explore, Sensei.
Oh, it's Aris.
What's up? How are you doing today?
I am doing hero training! Today is a special apprentice hero edition.
I don't know what the difference is...but that's cool.
Who's that adult with you, though?
That is Sensei, mascot of the hero party.
"Hello, I'm Sensei, from Schale."
"Hello, I'm the mascot of the hero party."
You're that Schale Sensei?
It's my first time seeing you in person. I can understand why you're the mascot...
...You can?
Anyway, Aris, good luck on your adventure!
Thank you! My energy has been refilled thanks to your support.
Aris received support from many different students as we walked around the Millennium campus.
Huh? Is that Aris over there?
Aris, hi! Are you working on a quest or something?
Yes, today I am on an adventure for a quest I received from Yuzu.
That's cool!
Then while you're at it, can you take this to the lecture hall in the next building?
*gasp* Is this a side quest?
Yes. If you take it there, I'll give you this Mont Blanc from a famous dessert shop in Trinity as a reward!
Seriously?! That's all you're gonna give her?
I'll give you these chocolate balls I bought from the convenience store too!
Okay! Quests are my specialty! Let me take care of it!
She received many sweets as rewards for completing side quests.
Oh? Is that who I think it is?
It is. Hello, Sensei. Hi, Aris.
Hey there.
Hello everyone!
"Hi you all. What's the Engineering Department doing here?"
Oh! Are you interested in our schedule, Sensei?
Okay! I'll explain! The Engineering Department woke up at seven AM this morning...
Kotori related the events of the day at length and in great detail.
...And, that's how we ended up here! A series of extraordinary events. Right, Hibiki? Utaha?
In short, we came out to get more equipment for the Engineering Department.
Wow. You are crafting new armaments every day.
That makes sense! You are the great blacksmith of steel who forged the Sword of Light! I admire you so much!
Armaments...?
I don't quite understand, but thank you.
A blacksmith... That's such an antiquated term that only Aris can pull off!
Well, in a way, it's not the wrong idea.
Aris' weapon is an ambitious project created by the Engineering Department...
"It's one of her most prized possessions now."
"The problem is that she sometimes destroys ceilings with it."
Huh? Is that a problem?
It happens all the time at Millennium.
Advancement in technology comes at a cost.
"...Right. That's nothing out of the ordinary at the Engineering Department."
Ahem. Anyway.
We're glad you're making good use of it.
Please continue to take good care of the Sword of Light.
Yes, ma'am!
Aris received heaps of encouragement all throughout our adventure.
We continued to forge a path forward together, not hesitating for even one moment.
And the random encounters happened again and again.
I finally found you, kid.
Th-The wild little maid showed up! Eek!
Huh? How dare you call me a wild little maid!
"Oh? Neru?"
What are you doing here, Sensei?
It doesn't matter. Since you're both here, come hang out with me.
R-Right now? But I am currently on an adventure...
I don't care. Off we go.
Wha...?
I have been captured by the little maid! Is this the end of my adventure?!
I would at least like to have a cutscene if it is game over!
There you go, talking nonsense again.
And how many times do I have to tell you?! Don't call me the little maid!
...Then what shall I call you instead?
Lose the "little"!
"Wait, Neru. We're on a hero's adventure, so we're busy..."
"Something more important...?"
Ugh. You're hopeless!
Millennium Arcade
Yuzu says tricks are part of the gameplay!
What?! That's so irritating!
Wh-What the...?!
"This is what's important...? Playing games at the arcade?"
Huh?
Of course! I'm going to take revenge on this kid today!
Last time she might have kicked my butt because she caught me off guard...
But it's gonna be different this time! I've been studying combos! I promise I will avenge myself!
I remember you also saying that last Sunday, Neru.
What did you say?!
The two bickered for a while as they were immersed in the game.
"Umm... Do you guys play this often?"
Yes... Neru challenges me like this all the time, so I have no choice but to go along with it.
Wh-What are you saying? You make it sound like I beg you to play!
"Is that not true?"
No!
I just wanted to know what these games the kid and the Game Development Department play all the time were about.
I play a few rounds here and there, that's all!
According to my memory, this is the fiftieth fight with Neru.
...They've simply accumulated over time, that's all!
"Neru... I didn't know you liked games so much."
Yes, based on my experience, Neru loves games very much.
She often visits the Game Development Department to play games on Midori's FlyStation.
For reference, my record so far is fifty wins out of fifty games. I am on a winning streak.
Neru still has a long way to go as a gamer! She should be using combos like this...
"...I think you really like games."
H-Huh...? Again...?
Yeah! Until I win! So, you might as well teach me that combo you mentioned earlier.
No way... Until you win...? That means I will not be able to go back to the club room until the evening...
Teach me so I can win!
They caused quite a scene as they played together.
Ugh! Wh-What was that?!
Neru! You cannot just mash the buttons. You must carefully time each one!
I-I know!
At first they were full of energy, fighting and having fun, but as time dragged on...
Argh! Neru, you are still not linking your combo correctly!
At this rate, the hunger gauge of Sensei and I will be completely drained...
Hmph! Again! From the beginning!
They argued, complained, and yelled at each other, but...
...Ugh, that was close. Just a little more and I would have pulled off an incredible combo.
...
Argh! Okay! One more round, okay?
Y-Yes!
The more they played the game, the more they seemed to come to understand each other.
"Wow..."
...
Hey! How about this?! I'll show you my secret combo!
Ah! Um...!
Hey, pay attention! Don't wander away from the screen!
If you let your guard down, my flashy combo will annihilate your character...
Oh dear. I was wondering where Neru could have wandered off to after abandoning our mission.
And here she is.
A-Akane?! What're you doing here?
I told you.
We are receiving a mission directly from the president later today, so we need to prepare.
Ah.
"You forgot..."
Perfect victory!
W-Wait! That wasn't fair!
The world of competition is cold. You must always focus while competing in a game.
If you lost because you got distracted in the middle of battle, do you expect your opponent to consider it invalid?
Ahem. You promised to only play one hour a day.
It's time to take care of our mission. You have been slacking around all day.
C'mon, Akane! Just a little more!
"(It's like a mother coming to admonish a lazy child.)"
Sensei? What was that expression that just crossed your face?
"Nothing..."
Argh! You're gonna pay for this next time! I swear I'm gonna beat you!
By the time I left the arcade with Aris, it was already evening.
"By the way, Aris."
Yes?
"Weren't you afraid of Neru?"
"I thought you avoided Neru because you were scared of her..."
It seemed like Aris and Neru got along well when playing games together.
I was curious if I had misunderstood their relationship.
Oh... You see...
Neru used to be my enemy in the past...but now she is an ally...
Momoi says there is a chance Neru has become weak.
Therefore, I am no longer afraid of Neru.
"Neru would be mad if she knew Momoi was talking like that again..."
Eek! I still find maid costumes to be very scary. I do not want Neru to be mad.
But now...
Neru is my friend!
She is a friend who plays games with me...
But I also cannot go on adventures and play games with Neru at the same time. It is not optimal.
I wanted to continue my adventure with Sensei today...
"(Oh, that's why she was trying to avoid Neru...)"
"Well, today's adventure was really fun."
"Did you have fun too?"
I was able to get a peek into Aris' daily life as we traversed the Millennium campus.
She encountered and was known by so many students.
And all of them seemed to adore her.
Aris was so passionate about her adventures here, as well as sharing them with the friends she had made.
I...
I really enjoyed the adventure with you today, Sensei!
Although I was not able to complete Yuzu's quest today...
I am a hero! And heroes do not give up!
I am just an apprentice now, but if I keep working on quests and adventures to level up...
One day, I will defeat the evil lord that is threatening the world with my Sword of Light!
...Will you continue going on adventures with me until then, Sensei?
"Yes, of course."
Today, tomorrow, and far into the future...
These happy days with Aris and Millennium would continue forever.
...At least, that's what I thought.