After obtaining the divine blood, Shaka returned to his room. Now that he'd decided to invite members using the stealth game "Family Myth," he needed to prepare for the "launch."
"Since it's being treated as a game, a proper tutorial is essential, plus a player agreement they must follow."
"Also, how do I get them to complete the initiation ritual?"
"Ugh, this is so annoying. Why don't they believe me when I tell the truth?"
Shaka gave up struggling and began to think seriously:
To complete a descent spell, a specific anchor point is required similar to a contract. His plan utilized the Falna system of the Astraea Familia. That is: first, through the spatial hole, he would give divine blood to the [Group] members, putting them in a state where the Falna was not yet activated, so they could become reserve members of the Astraea Familia.
But here's the problem: since it's a game, he needed a login device similar to SAO's NerveGear. And this kind of thing had to be purchased through online shopping in the other world.
"That's not difficult. There are plenty of copycat figurines available, or I can find someone to customize them."
Shaka opened the portal, went online, and found a store called "Agasa General Store." He specially ordered two high-quality replica SAO-style helmets and sent one to Dekomori first.
The other spot he offered proactively.
[Shaka: "Black Cat, Black Cat are you there? Are you there?"]
[Chiba's Fallen Saint Black Cat: "The Night Demon Queen is here. Offer your prayers!"]
[Shaka: "Serious business."]
[Shaka: "Regarding the closed beta test they need testers to run internal testson the game. Are you interested?"]
[Chiba's Fallen Saint Black Cat: "Game tester? With full-dive games so popular now, they shouldn't struggle to find people. Do you want the Night Demon Queen's help? Hehehe, I'm swamped with trivial matters lately,troubled by the 'Abyss Fire' so I have no time for anything else."]
[Shaka: "Is that about cooking for your sisters? It's okay it's evening there, and the initial test period isn't long. It won't affect anything."]
[Shaka: "All you have to do is cooperate with the planners, fix early-game bugs, and give feedback on the experience. It's very easy."]
[Shaka: "The key is to pay!"]
[Shaka: "I'm telling you this in secret theypay way more than bookstores. Plus, there are only two spots: the other one's for a regular player as an experience, no compensation."]
Shaka decided to use his own royalties to hire her.
[Chiba's Fallen Saint Black Cat: "If the Gate Master sincerely invites me, it's not impossible, but..."]
[Chiba's Fallen Saint Black Cat: "Surrounded by dark flames are my siblings, my beloved family and friends."]
[Shaka: "Got it—make them pay more!"]
[Chiba's Fallen Saint Black Cat: "As expected of my familiar—you truly understand my heart!"]
Shaka smiled faintly. Sure enough, the money-for-service tactic never fails.
After his first plan fell through, Shaka had switched approaches. Having a troublemaker like Sanae as a tester was clearly unrealistic it was just a favor. Hiring a willing "staff member" to cooperate with the test was crucial. He could use the guise of testing to have Black Cat do this and that... Ahem meaning sit in the library reading books, play games, and test for vulnerabilities.
As for Sanae, She'd be used to test potential problems from recruiting "transmigrators" as players like jumping up and down, scaling walls to break into houses to "open treasure chests." Shaka dared not underestimate the antics of silly players. He believed Dekomori's mischievous nature would lead her to do things even he couldn't imagine.
"It's a precaution."
After filling in the addresses, he sent the custom helmets to Black Cat and Sanae. The three agreed on a test date. Then Shaka posted in the group: "All spots are gone" and logged off.
One group member commented: "There really are fools who fall for it."
Black Cat offered to post gameplay videos in the group, but Shaka refused outright since the recording function hadn't been developed yet.
Everyone: "So how did you film those earlier videos?"
Shaka snorted coldly: "So you didn't believe me before. If you're going to put on an act, do it perfectly. Let's hurt each other." Then he readily added: "It's an internal access restriction."
At the Goto residence.
Bocchi looked at the chat group with teary eyes, she'd been eliminated because she was too worried about being impolite to ask for a spot.
"Hmm... I should have asked sooner..."
"No, no if some strange woman who joined three years ago suddenly showed up at my door, she'd give me a sour look and humiliate me."
"They flooded my videos with comments three years ago have they already forgotten me?"
"How about we play 'The Changing Hearts of the Past Three Years' now?"
Bocchi strummed her guitar and hummed a song. Damn it,I'm not envious at all...
Blank's house.
"Ni... News."
Shiro, lying sprawled on the ground, reminded Sora who was controlling four characters at once with hands and feet.
"Huh? Who from?"
"Friend?"
"Whose friend?"
"Nini's?"
"Oh dear did I hear hurtful sarcasm from my cute little sister?" Sora picked at his ear, his face lit up like a field of flowers.
Seeing Sora was losing focus, Shiro got up and picked up the tablet. Kong leaned closer: "Who is it, exactly?"
"That strange group..."
"That guy... I forgot we have online friends here too." Sora laughed awkwardly.
Shaka hadn't met all group members in person,many were only connected online. When Sora saw the message content, his pupils contracted slightly:
"He actually knew we're siblings. He's been in the group for three years,this guy's really good at hiding things."
Shrio added: "It seems all test slots are taken..."
Sora curled his lip: "Heh this is a provocation, isn't it? A provocation against Blank. They know us so well they must have investigated us specially. Looks like they already picked their fraud targets."
Shiro tilted her head, her fluffy white hair falling loosely: "What should we do?"
"Heh let me test their mettle! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It's just a game, right? As long as I don't leave the room, how can they fool me? Next time they release spots, we'll go for it!" Sora stood up, full of confidence.
Upon hearing "next time," Shiro lay back down peacefully.
"Good night."
The next day. Early morning.
Shaka stood in front of the mirror, trimmed his slightly long bangs, put on a suit of armor "borrowed" from Cecil, and grinned at his reflection.
"Yoshi!"
"The look is passable."
After admiring himself for a while, he practiced smiling in the mirror. He needed to portray a somewhat upright image as the familia's reserve leader, aka the "guide NPC." Even though everyone coming was an acquaintance, it didn't stop him from gaining experience.
In that moment, Shaka stood before the massive magic circle he'd drawn earlier, a smartphone with a flashing screen clutched in his hand. With his eyes closed, he sensed his skill [Wings of Justice] trigger his magic power surging explosively: 100 points... 200... 500... 700... 800...
"The time has come!"
Shaka opened his eyes, stretched out his palms, and chanted:
"Fill yourself! Fill yourself! Fill yourself!"
"I am the one who brings about all good deeds in the world, and I am the one who punishes all evil. You are bound by the three great incantations for seven days, you come from the Wheel of Restraint—guardian of the scales—!"
As the chant echoed, the magic circle emitted a blinding red light. The spatial hole opened, and scattered divine blood drifted through, entering the bodies of the girls on the other side.
A moment later, the light faded, and a plume of white smoke dissipated. Two petite girls stood in the center of the magic circle.
"Sanae Dekomori,the first Servant of the Evil King's True Eye! Summoned in accordance with the contract,are you my new Master?"
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