Maids VS Apocalypse

"My contribution is..."

Kanna’s eyes remained on Mark for a few seconds. Her eyelids then came down halfway as a look of displeasure took over hr face.

"Sure, my contributions were so so important. If I remember right, a few reviews even said that the art is the only thing decent about the game."

"Now you’re exaggerating." Mark grimaced.

"I guess you hav a point." She sighed. "After all, if my contribution were that important, I would have been asked to be a partner in the development."

"I already explained why I couldn’t do that."

"Yeah yeah, you wanted that fancy Solo Dev title, I get it."

Silence lingered for a moment as the two stared at each other. Glared, to be more specific. The hatred directed at him wasn’t entirely uncalled for and Mark had been expecting it. It still felt a bit too much and came much earlier than anticipated.

"You really wanted to be a co-dev, huh?" He asked.

"Of course I did. It’s a game about maids." Kanna pursed her lips.

Now where should they progress from there? The road seemed blocked and Mark felt stuck.

"Listen, Kobayashi," Pausing, he glanced at the silver haired maid sitting opposite from him. "Maids VS Apocalypse is no longer just a game. My System is based on it so the importance it holds if far greater than you think."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"First of all, it’s no longer published, and we will try to keep its existence a secret." He said. "It sold quite a few copies, but I highly doubt anyone who played it will be able to remember after the move to the Overworld."

The Peace Keepers have already explained the situation of the world and everyone were aware of the upcoming migration. It would be a new start, cutting all links people have to their old lives and forcing them to adapt to a new one.

"I get it. You don’t want anyone to know what powers you have." Kanna frowned slightly. "Is that why you came here? To silence me?"

Mark’s face turned blank. He understood why she would arrive at that conclusion, but still.

"You... aren’t exactly wrong." Mark heaved a long sigh. "I will just say it: Since my System is based on Maids VS Apocalypse, I can improve it by updating the game."

Kanna kept her silence and picked up her pen. She sat back down in her chair and stared down at her tablet.

"... you can update your System by..." A few aimless strokes left dark gray lines on the screen. "Updating the game..."

Light flashed in the illustrator’s eyes as she finally seemed to understand what is happening.

"You technically can add whatever you want!"

Mark heaved a sigh and slightly relaxed.

"I doubt it’s everything, but... well, you get the idea."

The save and load options have been removed which told him he couldn’t add things that are too broken. Figuring the limits of what he can do was one of first things he planned to figure out, but same as with everything else, he would have to wait until he settled in the Overworld to get the experiments going.

"So you’ll still be working on updates for the game?" Kanna smiled slightly. "I thought you would through it away for sure, seeing that you have more important things to take care of."

"I thought so as well."

With a powerful System that grants one super powers and a world where monsters from hell roamed the earth, it’s clear that creating games would be the last thing he would be doing. Mark didn’t expect that he would return to working on his game after the apocalypse started, not until he got the System upgrade quest.

"I see... I see now..." Kanna nodded. "You want my help with future updates."

"To put it simply, yes." Mark nodded.

Kanna’s smile widened as she looked him in the eyes.

"I refuse."

Though the quick reply was a little shocking, everyone just stared at the illustrator as if they had expected it the whole time. Kanna shifted her sight back to Lara and went back to sketching. She was acting as if the conversation was already over.

"I already have an idea but... mind telling us why?"

The tired sigh that slowly seeped out of Mark’s mouth spoke of his reluctance to deal with such trouble.

"If you already have an idea then don’t ask."

"... C’mon, Kobayashi. This isn’t the time for-"

"I can already see where this is going, White." She cut him off. "This System of yours is powerful so you’re going to use it to get ahead, and just by helping like I always do my future would be guaranteed."

"Well..."

That was about it. Life in the Overworld wasn’t going to be so forgiving so the more support one has the better. With his Level 5 LRGS Mark had what it takes to climb the ranks and gain enough power to support himself and other people, and being among those who stood by his side from the start would without a doubt lead to great benefits.

"I think what you have in mind is a little insignificant when taking my contributions into account, don’t you think?"

"Is having all your needs taken care of not enough?" Mark said. "Want me to throw in a good salary?"

Lowering her pen and tablet, Kanna sighed.

"Do you really not get it or are you pretending to?"

"..."

"Alright, I will just say it, then. I want access to your System."

Mark’s eyes narrowed.

"Now you’re reaching."

"Am I? You’re the one asking for my help here. All I did was set the price."

With a shrug, the illustrator turned to her tablet and sketch. "If I had the chance to gain a System like yours then I wouldn’t be bothering you. But apparently you are the only one who’ll ever get to summon the maids you dream of."

"So you want a maid?" Mark asked.

"One wouldn’t be near enough." The illustrator replied.

"Tsk..."

The worst came to be and Mark wanted to punch himself for mistakenly thinking it won’t just because his friend turned out to be a woman.

"I already explained that they aren’t the characters from the game."

"So? They’re still cute maids."

"You can’t force them to do anything illicit, you know?"

A subtle, barely noticeable twitch preceded the illustrator going static. She Kept staring at Lara, and with the maid’s eyes growing slightly judgemental, Kanna had to quickly avert her gaze less the shame ate her whole.

"W-why would you think that would be a problem?" Her voice crackled as the excuses flowed. "I-it’s not like I planned to do anything inappropriate to them. I’m not a perverted loser like you."

"Says the woman who made a living drawing-"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!"

The scream startled everyone in the room and if the source wasn’t right in front of their eyes they would’ve thought they were under attack. Kanna shot up from her seat and ran over to Mark. The look in her eyes and the red painting her face spoke of her panicked state.

"Don’t you dare talk about that stuff offline, okay?" She whispered between gritted teeth.

Leaning away from her, Mark knew that the only acceptable answer would be yes. He nodded his had repeatedly and yet the illustrator kept glaring at him, not backing away for a while.

"This is why I don’t like IRL people to know about what I do..."

The illustrator simmered down and went back to her seat, which prompted Lara to return to hers. She was about to rush to her master’s aid just now and only stopped when he gave her the signal.

Glancing in Ramsay’s direction, Mark added.

"The Peace Keepers probably know everything, you know?"

Though a lot of artists sought fame, some preferred to remain anonymous even if they managed to get it. Considering some of the unsavory stuff the illustrator known as Kobayashi drew, it was only natural that she wouldn’t want anyone to link it to her real life. Alas, she was no longer just some artist who drew questionable things from time to time.

Mark wasn’t sure about the extent they went through when spying on him, but after it became clear that the illustrator was essential to his System, there is no way they didn’t do a thorough investigation on her.

With her right hand on the back of the chair, Kanna froze again. A creaking sound came from her neck as she turned in the Sergeant’s direction, and seeing him avert his gaze gave her the answer she was looking for. At that moment, unbeknownst to everyone but her, Kobayashi Kanna was contemplating ending herself.

"W-well, you don’t have to worry about it too much. I’m sure only a few people know, and it’ll b a tightly guarded secret just like my system, right?"

Mark looked to Ramsay for confirmation and the Sergeant nodded.

"Reports about such stuff don’t usually go into detail so you don’t have to worry."