Infinite Checkpoint Project: No Game No Life

"Let's get one thing straight, no more strange antics. I still haven't settled the score with you for getting most of the embassy maids wet last time, you hairless monkey. And you even dragged my Izuna into your ridiculous games."

"Sorry, sorry, Ino-san. Now's not the time for that, is it?"

Haruya followed Ino and Izuna, feeling a bit guilty about the game he had proposed a few days ago. He had heard that after that game, several beast-eared maids had caught colds, and Haruya had even gone to visit them to apologize...

However, Izuna had enjoyed the game immensely, which was rare for her these days.

Sighing, Ino decided not to press the issue further and focused on the task at hand.

Today...

Now was the day to begin the game against the representatives of the Immanity race, Sora and Shiro.

The venue for the game was exactly as Haruya had imagined. Under Ino's guidance, the group arrived at the first floor of the embassy.

It was a vast square hall that seemed to encompass the entire first floor of the building.

Each of the four walls was embedded with a massive screen.

The room was filled with hundreds... no, it seemed like thousands of Immanity who had come to watch the game that would decide the fate of their race. They gazed at the stage with anxious eyes.

On the stage in front of the main screen was a black box, and six chairs.

Unlike the original storyline, there was an extra chair.

"By the way Haruya, what's that thing on your chest, desu?"

"This? It's a tool to turn the tables, but Izuna-chan is so strong that I probably won't need it."

"I don't understand, desu."

Izuna shifted her gaze from the box on Haruya's chest to the front.

Haruya, meanwhile, zipped up his jacket and tucked the box under his arm.

"You two go up first, and then..." Ino had Haruya and Izuna sit in the two leftmost seats.

As Haruya climbed the stairs, he nearly tripped and ended up flopping onto his seat.

On the other side, Ino addressed Sora and Shiro and their group, "Please take your seats here..."

Sora, Shiro, Stephanie Dola, and Jibril sat down one by one.

With the pre-game preparations complete, the next step was to confirm the terms of the pledge.

In other words, to confirm that both sides agreed on what was being wagered.

Thus, Ino declared:

"The Eastern Federation wagers everything it possesses on the Andalusia Continent. The Kingdom of Elkia wagers its Race Piece, namely, the Immanity race's rights, territory, and all other possessions. The Eastern Federation's continental representative and collaborator, along with Elkia's two kings and their two attendants, totaling six people, will compete in a game specified by the Eastern Federation in a two-versus-four format."

Next came the customary step: the erasure of all memories related to the game's content. This applied to all participants, including the spectators among the Immanity race.

Whether they agreed or not, there was no turning back now.

"We have no problems at all. Let's enjoy the game, Izuna and Haruya, though the ultimate victors will be us." Sora declared.

"We won't lose, desu." Izuna responded to Sora, who smiled gently in return.

Feeling as if she were being mocked, Izuna pouted in dissatisfaction. She really was still a child.

With the confirmation complete, Ino continued:

"Since everyone has agreed, please proceed with the pledge declaration."

Just as Ino said this, many of the Immanity spectators began to murmur.

Sora and Shiro had a high-ranking Flügel as their companion, which was understandable. But when they saw Haruya, an Immanity, joining the Werebeast side, they shot him disdainful looks.

"Why is there an Immanity over there?!"

"A traitor! A lapdog of the Werebeasts!"

"A traitor to the Immanity race! Have you no dignity as an Immanity?!"

The first-floor hall erupted into chaos. Before Ino could raise his hand to signal for silence, Haruya stood up:

"Shut up! What's wrong with being with beast-eared beauties?! Don't you people realize how adorable Werebeast girls are?! If you're truly Immanity, you should understand the meaning of life! Cuteness is justice! Beast ears are justice! Rather than staying in a place where it's hard to find beauties, isn't a country full of beast-eared elements everyone's dreamland?! This is the resolve and judgment of a true gentleman!"

The hall fell silent. Some of the more open-minded young men furrowed their brows.

"He's... not wrong."

"Look, those beast-eared girls were super cute when they came in."

"Hey! Don't be fooled! They're cute, sure, but look at that old guy next to them! Not cute at all!"

Ino's eyebrow twitched, "You damn hairless monkeys, I don't need you to find me cute, and also–"

"Grandpa, grandpa, calm down, desu." His granddaughter tried to soothe him.

"Ahem, ahem..." Ino cleared his throat and returned to the topic at hand, "My apologies."

"It's fine. We understand how Haruya feels." Sora nodded stroking his chin, and gave Haruya a thumbs-up, "Now, let's proceed to the final step."

After Sora said this;

The Eastern Federation's continental representative, Hatsuse Izuna along with her collaborator, Nangou Haruya...

And...

The representatives of the Immanity race, Sora and Shiro, along with Jibril who followed without hesitation, and Steph who hesitated nervously...

Raised their hands following the Ten Pledges, and they declared their vows:

""Aschente!!""

"Aschente, desu."

"Haruya, don't drag me down, desu."

"Don't worry, we can split up if needed."

"Leave it to me, desu." Izuna wore a determined expression.

On the other side, Ino began operating the black box, presumably powering it up, "...Then, let the game begin."

Sitting in his seat, Haruya prepared to dive into the world of the electronic game.

It was a virtual reality game, just like Sword Art Online.

Thinking this, Haruya turned to Izuna, "Izuna-chan, want some chocolate? I still have a piece."

"No, desu." Izuna declined the chocolate she had been chasing Haruya for earlier, "I'll eat it after we win, desu."

Putting the chocolate away, Haruya stared at Izuna's twitching beast ears, "Good."

Izuna was incredibly strong, so following her would undoubtedly be a mistake.

So, who should he target instead?

Steph? After all the Flügel, Jibril, was a formidable opponent.

He glanced at Izuna again thinking to himself, 'She's so adorable.'

Then, his consciousness plunged into darkness.

Without a doubt, the game had begun...

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Read ahead on my P@treon...

[email protected]/MayaMatengele01