Infinite Checkpoint Project: No Game No Life

After Loading the Checkpoint from the moment when Izuna visited him, Haruya naturally invited her into his room.

"Good evening, Izuna-chan. I didn't expect you to come here. Please, have a seat," he gestured.

"I won't thank you, lowly Immanity, desu," Izuna nodded, and continued, "This fruit is from my hometown. I originally wanted to grow it here, but due to geographical issues, I gave up, desu. It tastes really good, desu. It's a bit of a waste to give it to you, but here, eat it... desu."

While saying harsh words, Izuna handed Haruya a fruit that looked no different from an ordinary apple.

The apple in his hand was redder than usual.

Taking a bite, Haruya found it to be very sweet... 'Is it because of this world's sunlight and magical atmosphere?'

Without further pondering how crops were grown in this world, Haruya set the fruit aside.

"So, Izuna-chan, what brings you here? Although I'm very happy to have you."

Izuna sat across from Haruya and remained silent for a while. Since she had the ability to detect lies through scent, she knew Haruya was genuinely happy.

'Compared to lolis from Earth, beast-eared lolis from an isekai world are the true way...' mused Haruya.

"What are you thinking about, you pervert? Desu."

"Please don't misunderstand, Izuna-chan. I'm just thinking about simple questions that any gentleman would ponder. But this is more enjoyable than the screams caused by the Doppler Effect."

"Doppler Effect? What's that, desu?"

"Actually, I'm not too sure myself. But is the reason you came here just to chat with me?"

"I came without telling Grandpa. Grandpa said you're a liar, a cunning pervert, and a masochist, desu."

Hatsuse Ino's prejudice against Immanity was way too extreme, especially toward someone as 'upright' as Haruya.

"I'm not a masochist!" Haruya waved his hands in denial.

Hearing Haruya's immediate denial, Izuna covered her mouth with her kimono sleeve, "You're not denying the other accusations, desu?"

"I'm denying those too! But being a masochist is absolutely impossible. Also, Izuna-chan, do you know what a masochist is?"

"No idea, desu."

"It refers to someone who enjoys being bullied and can even derive pleasure from it. Of course, different races might have such people too..." explained Haruya.

Not quite understanding what Haruya was talking about, Izuna simply nodded and then picked up the apple with both hands, nibbling on it like a little squirrel.

Watching Izuna eat like this, Haruya couldn't help but pat her head.

"Don't touch me, you filthy Immanity... What's this, desu?"

"That's called a figurine. It's the protagonist of The Great Beauty Warrior. Look here, the staff in her hand can light up." {T/N: No idea what series or movie that is, and I probably got it wrong...}

"Wow! Amazing, desu."

Pressing a button on the figurine to make the staff light up, Izuna's eyes sparkled with excitement.

This figurine was something Haruya had gotten at the original author's signing event, and only the top ten attendees received it for free.

Just lining up had taken Haruya a day and a half.

The figurine was exquisitely crafted, with great attention to detail, smooth polishing, and excellent coloring, making it a great collectible.

Although there were second-hand figurines on the market, no one knew if the previous owner had... well, you know...

But the real surprise was that despite the Werebeasts having high-tech machines akin to VR games, they didn't have figurines. Haruya was not sure if this was normal.

"Also, her clothes can be taken off."

"...."

The light in Izuna's eyes dimmed instantly upon hearing this.

"J-just kidding! How about we play something? I've got games here too. Want to have a match?"

"Games... desu?"

"Yeah, if we connect this PSP and handheld console, we can play a fighting game. How about it? Want to give it a try?"

"It's the kind of fighting game where you beat the opponent's character into a pulp, desu?"

"Uh... not that extreme. You can blow off their clothes, though..."

Haruya began explaining the clothing-destruction fighting game to the beast-eared loli in front of him. The characters were all beautiful girls.

Although it involved clothing destruction, it wasn't an 18+ game. It was more like the 'heavily damaged' state in Kantai Collection, without any particularly thrilling elements.

"It's 18+, desu?"

"Oh? So Izuna-chan likes 18+ games? That's a no-no. I'm not ready to play 18+ games with a beast-eared loli yet. M-maybe tomorrow?"

"Drop dead, desu." Izuna slapped Haruya's left cheek with her kimono sleeve.

Rubbing his left cheek, Haruya took out the remaining chocolate.

"This is chocolate. Please have some. I gave you some before."

"Thank you very much, you jerk, desu!"

'I told you, adding desu at the end doesn't make it polite...'

But pointing that out here wouldn't do any good. Haruya silently started playing his fighting game.

Halfway through, just as he was about to defeat the second-to-last boss, Izuna, who had been eating Haruya's chocolate, leaned in closer.

She got very close, close enough for Haruya to smell her scent. She must have just taken a bath...

"So boring, desu."

"Huh?"

Hearing Izuna's voice, 'was she talking about the game?'

"Games are so boring, desu. Even though the One True Deus decreed that everything is decided by games, they're so boring. There aren't any fun games, desu."

"Is that so?"

"Yes... desu. The Eastern Federation's territory keeps expanding. I don't really understand these things, but there are fewer and fewer people challenging us. I thought the Flügel and Elves would come to challenge us, desu. They're strong, so their games must be fun, right? But it's completely different from what I imagined, desu. No one comes to challenge us, and we keep winning, desu... This kind of life..." ranted the young Kemonomimi.

"Don't worry, Izuna-chan. Things are about to get interesting."

"Why are you so sure, desu?"

"Don't worry, it won't be long before you stop being disappointed, because the strongest gamer(s) from Immanity is coming to challenge you. I promise you."

Izuna looked puzzled but ultimately said nothing.

In truth, the 'boredom' Izuna spoke of wasn't about just being bored. It was that she didn't feel joy from games.

Games here were about plundering each other, an indirect means of slaughter.

...If you lost, it would bring misfortune to many people.

Therefore, you had to win no matter what.

But if you won, it could cause your opponent to decline, or even take their lives.

How could that be fun?

All she felt was guilt toward those who were plundered.

It was boring, disgusting.

But...

"I also look forward to playing a game with you, desu."

"Why me?"

"Because Haruya, you're strong, right? Desu..."

"Who knows? My dream is to become a wealthy otaku."

"Through games, that's possible in this world, desu."

"Thank you."

Haruya controlled his character to defeat the final boss. Would he and the beast-eared loli beside him become enemies?

It all depended on how the siblings, Sora and Shiro would act...