WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: Ryuu

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◈ The Little Prince of the Ossuary

00002 <-- The Little Prince of the Ossuary -->

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#Journal, Page 21, Camp Roberts

Food supplies were dwindling, and the last relief helicopter sent by the government was already a week ago. There were many in need of aid, but aircraft were scarce. Supply by vehicle was deemed too risky and fraught with potential losses to consider. Communication was still possible, but the clear loss of control over California by the US government was evident. Sanitary supplies, never abundant, had run out long ago. People's attitudes had grown increasingly foul.

The season was turning into late fall. Camp Roberts was unprepared for winter. There was a need for heating and more supplies of food and materials.

The refugees in the camp decided to volunteer and go out to gather what was needed. The base commander called the representatives of the refugees to gather opinions. The living death roaming outside the fence spared no one, so it was widely agreed that volunteers should not be discriminated by age or gender. If they weren't too young or too old, they should strive to survive. The biggest motivation for those who argued this was obviously not fairness. They just wanted to reduce their own chances of facing death as much as possible, but the commander allowed it. For this reason, minors and the elderly were also given the opportunity to volunteer. The civilized barrier of caring for children and the elderly had vanished by consensus.

A police officer from San Francisco, who had joined the camp, was in charge of manpower management. Ration cards were prioritarily distributed to mission volunteers, so those who remained inactive ran a higher risk of starving to death. Nevertheless, many chose to huddle in a corner and die of starvation rather than venture out. They seemed to prefer dying of starvation in a safe place over being torn apart alive outside. There was also a chance that the food shortage wouldn't worsen that much. The military didn't urge participation, as those who didn't follow orders during operations could endanger their fellow soldiers.

「Player's Choice: Accept the supply gathering mission.」

I was different. If I became weakened due to malnutrition, I might die for reasons other than a lack of food. I wanted to struggle before that happened.

When I went to the recruitment office and volunteered, one of the officers there, Lieutenant Robert Capston, pulled me aside. Among the military officers, he was considered moderate. He mentioned that I seemed to be the only one without a specific affiliation among the middle managers. He asked if I was being overlooked because I was a minor. He also said he would make sure I got enough ration cards not to starve, advising me to reconsider.

「AI Advice (Insight Level 4): Accepting the proposal increases community stability. It's possible to gain favor from moderate military officers, enhancing the player's influence within the community and improving leadership skills. Rejecting the proposal would boost the player's willpower, charm, and leadership.」

「Player's Choice: Still volunteer for the supply gathering mission.」

I appreciated his kindness, but I still wanted to go out. I didn't want to stay passive and wished to be of help to others. Lieutenant Capston looked surprised but didn't force me to stay. He just patted me on the shoulder, wishing me to return alive.

Good people exist at all times. It was fortunate to have someone like the lieutenant during these times.

#Supply Gathering, Camp Roberts

This was the setup. The situation before the game started was provided through videos and journals, changing based on the player's chosen nationality, gender, age, occupation, characteristics, and starting point. Even if restarted under the same conditions, the content did not repeat exactly.

This was why, despite dying and restarting multiple times, I paid close attention to the journal. Except for special cases, the journal, provided in a monologue format, contained a lot of information about the player's situation. With each iteration, the virtual persona conducting the journal became more refined in understanding the player's tendencies.

Reading the journal was never boring for the boy. The monologue played as narration, but in reality, it was experienced as virtual reality. However, the player didn't decide the words and actions; they just unilaterally felt the predetermined outcomes. It was like the ultimate development of a 4D movie.

The boy looked around.

Under the dawn sky, yellowed white tents and gloomy military tents were lined up in a row. The size of the camp was close to that of a city. People avoided each other's gazes. Following the hologram visible only to the player, I searched for my mission, hearing a dull, low sound nearby. Initially, I didn't understand what it was. Now, just by hearing it, I knew. It was the sound of flesh being pierced. A middle-aged man clutched his stomach in front of a woman who had dropped her knife, looking around before spotting the boy. Startled for a moment, she quickly snatched the ration card from the dying man and fled. The boy frowned at the scene. He just watched. This game wasn't his first time. Having progressed through various events and died multiple times, he knew the woman was just a low-ranking member of an organization. If he chased after her intending to confront her, he'd have to face the entire gang.

The sound made when piercing a person varied depending on where it struck. The boy knew this from experience. It was inevitable. The enemies beyond the fence, the infected mutants, were originally human. The sensation of piercing them wasn't much different from that of a human. Moreover, in the virtual reality world of ‘Day After Apocalypse,’ humans with evil tendencies posed a greater threat than the infected mutants. Even those with good intentions would commit murder if pushed into a desperate situation. In the end, it was impossible to progress without killing people.

A hologram displayed the message 「You have 77 new viewer messages. Please check your log.」 It had been flashing for a while. Reluctantly, the boy opened the message log. Transparent windows divided into system logs, general message logs, and viewer message logs popped up. Viewer messages were only active in publicly broadcasted games. Adjusting the tab, strings of colorful text filled his vision.

「ProudPrincess♡: Why aren't you chasing that woman?」

「KILL: Go after her and kill! You KILL, therefore you exist! Women only need their lower half! Killing and violating is the way of a man! Who's the real man? You are the real man! How real? Fucking real! You're a true man worth 12 out of 10! Worrying is for women! Don't hesitate! Just do it!」

「LMAO: Fuck, the guy above is crazy LOL. Look at the age of the broadcaster before you speak」

「Cashmere: Isn't the subject of post-mortem insurance not limited by virtual reality age?」

「HalfHome: LMAO, stop being so self-righteous—Cashmere's pretending to know everything—If you're going to be a know-it-all, then be a know-it-all, okay?」

「LendMeYourStrength: Know-it-all? That's so outdated… HalfHome, are you a senior citizen… Grandpa, can you still get it up?」

「GoldenSpoon: Ugh, plebeians」

The shock woke me up completely. As a newcomer to public broadcasting, my face burned with embarrassment. I quickly closed the log window, but after hesitating several times, I cautiously opened it again and inserted a message. The virtual reality's ‘Teletype’ module instantly converted my thoughts into sentences, automatically translating any language differences. Thus, thoughts and input occurred simultaneously.

「Han Gyeoul: As announced previously, I won't be taking any unsolicited advice. And please, use polite language.」

After sending the message, I quickly closed the window again. The number of incoming messages exploded, but I had no desire to read their content.

Yet, why did I feel such strong aversion and discomfort? A chill ran through me. A stone in my heart that I had forgotten for a while began to roll around, hitting here and there, causing quite a bit of pain. I hastened my steps, trying to ignore it.

There were several missions to follow. The choice would change much going forward. But I had made up my mind, so I didn't hesitate. A convoy of vehicles was waiting at the destination. The American soldiers I saw were quite different from any I had seen before. Given the historical setting in the early 21st century, this was inevitable. Human extinction due to a biological disaster, set in the mid-century with rapidly advancing technology, would lack realism.

The control AI, actively responding to the user's subconscious, displayed the names of the vehicles. Armored Humvees with mounted machine guns were lined up front and back, with uniquely shaped military trucks in the middle. Two camouflaged military tanker trucks (M978A2) were stationed right in the center, apparently also for fuel procurement.

The area around the vehicles was strictly controlled. There was a palpable concern that the refugees might attempt to hijack the vehicles. I waited in line quietly for my turn. Volunteers were searched and then issued a bulletproof vest, a gas mask, and a duffel bag each. Weapons would be distributed upon arrival at the destination, the non-commissioned officer in charge repeated mechanically.

When it was my turn, the gum-chewing black sergeant looked displeased.

“Too small! Are we taking kids like this now?”

“It’s voluntary, not mandatory.”

A sergeant beside him retorted. The senior sergeant was unfamiliar, but I recognized the sergeant. He glanced at me and continued.

“Lieutenant Robocop thinks highly of this one. He volunteered, wanting to be helpful.”

“How can you trust that?”

“He’s not affiliated with any group. He speaks English well, and lately, it seems he’s picked up a few phrases in Japanese and Chinese too. He’ll be useful in controlling the volunteers.”

Robocop was Lieutenant Robert Capston’s nickname, derived by combining the initials of his first and last names due to their similar pronunciation.

The mention of Japanese and Chinese referred to skills I had acquired through investing experience points, akin to a system-assisted translator rather than knowledge I originally possessed. In the ‘Days after Apocalyse’ setting, social skills, including languages, were crucial for survival.

The senior sergeant asked,

“How old are you?”

As expected, the control AI's interface, which automatically responds to the subconscious and situation, provided assistance through a hologram. It displayed appropriate dialogue options, hints, and keywords based on the player's intellectual abilities (intelligence) and skills like ‘Insight,’ ‘Perception,’ ‘Deception,’ etc.

At that moment, it simply showed my character's age. Although there was an option to lie, I chose to answer truthfully.

“I'm seventeen.”

“Seventeen? Damn, not twelve? It's hard to tell with Asians.”

Grumbling, the senior sergeant gestured for a search. With a cursory touch that found nothing of concern, a private handed me the same bulletproof vest, gas mask, and duffel bag as those given to others before me. Although there was no evidence that the plague was airborne, there was also no evidence to the contrary. The senior sergeant warned that, unless otherwise instructed, the gas mask must not be removed during the mission.

After passing through, I was led into a temporary barracks under strict control. American soldiers seated the volunteers in order. Most of those nearby were from Korea, judging by the language of the murmurs. A few greeted me, and though reluctant, I responded in kind. There was nothing to gain from being rude.

As the seats filled up, Lieutenant Robert Capston, who had ascended the platform, signaled to a soldier. A projector beamed light onto a white screen, revealing a map. Capston surveyed the crowd below, then called forward a few refugees to serve as interpreters.

“Those called upon, please translate my words from now on.”

After the chosen individuals, including myself, nodded, he tapped the microphone to gather attention and began the briefing based on the displayed map.

“This map shows our destination, San Miguel County. As you can see, it’s not a large town. Originally home to about 3,300 people, it’s likely deserted now. Our primary target is the town’s only gas station.”

He pointed to the gas station located right at the junction where the highway, Route 101, branched off into the town.

“The convoy will stop here. We plan to wait for you while filling up the tankers. You’ll be split into two groups to secure supplies. The first target is a church two blocks south of the gas station. It was used as a temporary shelter when the evacuation order was issued, so there’s a good chance some supplies are left. The second destination is a bit further, but if you head four blocks north, you’ll find a restaurant and a mill on 14th Street. It’s the most reliable place to expect food supplies, so it’s worth the risk.”

After explaining this, he looked around at the volunteers.

“As you’ve heard, heading towards the mill is more dangerous. Although you’ve bravely volunteered for this mission, I’d like to ask once more. If anyone wishes to head towards the mill, please raise your hand.”

After translating his words, I immediately raised my hand. To the others, it appeared as if I had asked and answered my own question. Capston and others looked at me curiously. Several logs indicating increased favorability appeared, with the military side being more favorable, especially because one of the adjustments was immutable.

「Sergeant Elliot’s favorability towards you has increased. An unspecified amount of affectionate favorability boost. An unspecified amount of immutable affectionate favorability boost.」

Relationships are variable. Being friends once doesn’t mean staying friends forever. Thus, favorability can decrease over time or due to hostile events. However, immutable adjustments are different. They do not decrease regardless of circumstances.

The reason the amount was unspecified was due to a lack of ‘Insight.’

‘It won’t be much.’

I didn’t hold much expectation.

“Any more?”

When Capston asked, everyone else just looked around. Although he had praised their bravery, most people here were likely aiming to just get their ration cards without taking risks. Capston’s expression was a mix of disappointment and slight resignation.

There were two main reasons to use refugees for supply missions. First, the tense atmosphere in the camp made it difficult for the military to deploy many of its own. Second, the military likely preferred not to put their own in harm's way. It was unrealistic to expect the refugees to be more proactive.

“I have a question.”

When I raised my hand, Capston nodded for me to speak.

“There’s a limit to how much an individual can carry in a bag. Is there a reason we can’t take the truck all the way to the mill?”

It was a question I already knew the answer to, but asking directly would speed up the briefing. Capston nodded again and instructed the soldier operating the projector to switch to satellite imagery.

“Good question. I was about to explain that, so please pay attention. This is a satellite photo of San Miguel County before the disaster. Do you see the vehicles stopped at every intersection? These are cars that crashed when they ignored traffic signals during the evacuation. There are vehicles from other regions as well. You’ll be provided with walkie-talkies. If you can somehow clear these obstacles, let us know. The transport truck will move up to that position. However, if trying to remove the obstacles seems like it might attract the attention of the infected, it would be safer to secure food on an individual basis. We’ll make the calls, so please just follow orders.”

After this, a few more minor questions followed. The most useless was from a Chinese participant, asking how many ration cards would be distributed to those who took part. Capston’s expression faltered, but he responded with his usual diligence.

“You’ll receive a basic three-day supply, but please be aware that rewards may vary based on individual attitudes and results.”

This information was incorporated into the quest details. The reward could vary based on the evaluation of the accompanying military personnel. This was a rather ambiguous area. If the evaluating soldier or officer had biases, such as racism, it could affect the fairness of the assessment. This is typical of a virtual reality setting prioritizing realism.

“If there are no further questions, please participate in the map exercise under the guidance of your group leader. It’s a dangerous mission, so being thoroughly familiar with the map to avoid confusion on-site will help prevent accidents. Dismissed.”

After Capston stepped down from the platform, non-commissioned officers took the lead in organizing the volunteers. A map exercise is exactly what it sounds like: training using a map to familiarize oneself with the operation area and plan movements. For the player, this exercise was an opportunity to acquire a mini-map. Characters with high ‘Map Navigation’ skills or intelligence could obtain a complete mini-map, while those with lower skills would get an incomplete map with errors and blank spots.

Since I was the only volunteer for the mill, the rest were chosen by lottery. Those selected looked doomed without exception.

The safety briefing was crucial, but it didn’t take long due to San Miguel County’s small size. This was essentially the tutorial stage. Anything more difficult would have been problematic.

#Intermission, Character Setup Advice

Your character's setup significantly influences the game progression.

Depending on your starting country, racial and national discrimination can occur. Enduring such discrimination can result in an experience boost.

Minors receive a downward adjustment to their attributes but gain an experience boost.

Footnotes:

[1] Humvee, short for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has become a symbol of American military presence and has seen widespread use in various conflicts.

[2] M978A2: This is a specific model within the series of Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT), which serves as a tanker designed to transport fuel for support of forward-operating vehicles. The HEMTT series is known for its large payload capacity and off-road capabilities, essential for military logistics and support.

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