“Test play of a new game?”

An unexpected email made me speak out loud without thinking.

“Oh, what’s this? …A game notification? Tch, no romance or anything like that, huh.”

Ignoring Naoi, who peeked at my phone without permission and got disappointed on his own, I checked the contents again.

“Congratulations on fully clearing Death Parade TD! You’ve been granted the right to test play our new game! The ultimate tower defense experience for all tower defense lovers! Care to challenge it?”

This seemed to be a reward for the game I cleared just this morning.
Let’s see, the title of the new game is “Death Parade TD Online (Tentative).” I guess it’s positioned as either a sequel or an expansion?

“You really... like tower defense or whatever, right? You used to play that kind of game even on your commute or during breaks at school.”
“Tower defense is the ultimate game system.”

When I stated that with confidence, Naoi furrowed his brow and tilted his head.
What’s with that doubtful face?

“What is tower defense anyway? Why is it a ‘tower’ when you’re just defending a castle or whatever? And what’s the ‘TD’ in the title?”

This guy's been my friend for years and still doesn’t know that?

“TD is an abbreviation for tower defense. And tower defense refers to a genre of defense games where you protect your territory or castle from enemies. The name originated from an old popular game’s expansion pack called ‘TOWER DEFENSE,’ and the term stuck.”
“Whoa—”

Naoi responds absentmindedly with a vacant expression. You’re the one who asked, you know.

“You know that mobile game you play? The one where you place girls to repel enemies. That’s also a tower defense game.”
“Really? Ah, now that you mention it, I do place characters to protect the protagonist.”

It’s a popular genre overseas, but in Japan it doesn’t quite take off. It tends to be overshadowed by action and RPG games.
That’s why most of the games I play are foreign-made, and of course, Death Parade TD isn’t a domestic title either, but it had a perfect Japanese translation and was very user-friendly, so I had no problem enjoying it.

“But still, unlike when we were kids, you’re not exactly free. How do you even have time to play games?”
“I play while I sleep.”
“Oh yeah, what was it called? A sleeping gamer?”

This is truly a revolutionary technology.
By setting up VR equipment and going to sleep, you can enjoy games during sleep. It originally spread as a tool for sleep-learning, but the gaming industry didn’t overlook it.
They adapted the technology so games could be played while sleeping. I seriously think the person who invented this deserves a Nobel Prize.

“Wouldn’t it be more restful to just sleep normally?”
“You dream when you sleep, right? It’s like those realistic dreams are replaced by the game. I wake up feeling more refreshed than you'd think.”

Naoi is old-fashioned and not good with trends or machines.
He still lives in a one-story traditional Japanese house with tatami floors and collects paper books. At least he owns a smartphone.

“Oops, it’s time to start work. Let’s wrap up the idle chatter.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s do our best again today.”

I rushed home after work, and now it’s just past 9 PM.
Nothing out of the ordinary. I already had fast food for dinner, so all that’s left is a bath and then bed.

“I’m home—”

I opened the door leading to the living-dining room, but there was no response.

My mom is a long sleeper and always needs at least ten hours of sleep to feel okay, so she’s fast asleep by this hour.
My sister is hooked on gaming and plays all night. I told her she should become a sleeping gamer like me, but she said, “I want to sleep without thinking about anything.”

That’s why we cherish the time we see each other in the morning. At night, everyone does their own thing—that’s the unspoken rule in our house.

As I placed the carbonated water I bought at the convenience store on the table, I noticed two cups.

There are always two teacups on the table, still filled with tea.
Apparently, it’s meant to show a feeling of participation even if they’re not waiting for me to come home, maybe to ease any guilt—or to make sure I don’t feel lonely.

But honestly, I think they just forgot to clean up.

…Let’s not think so negatively. The truth is, seeing those cups does give me a little comfort.

I sat down, drank my soda, and cleared away the teacups.

“Alright, let’s take a bath and then log in feeling refreshed.”

Ever since I saw that email, I haven’t been able to stay calm.
To think I’d get to play the latest version of that game that had me so hooked!
Even if it’s just a test play, I can’t wait. It’s supposed to begin at 10 PM tonight, so I’ll get everything done and log in early.

I stood alone at the top of a barren mountain.

The summit was cut flat like a school field in size.
Looking around, I could see mountain ranges in the distance.
Apparently, the elevation was quite high—clouds spread beneath my feet, and with no obstacles, the wind breezed through comfortably.

Taking a deep breath, my lungs were filled with fresh air.

“Mmm, this feels great—”

The sun had just risen, bathing everything in dazzling morning light.
Even though I started the game in the middle of the night, it was early morning here—that contrast was amusing.

Games these days are seriously amazing. I’ve tried environment-focused VR games for relaxation before, and this one is just as high in quality.
It doesn’t feel any different from a hike I went on a few years ago.

Checking my clothes, I was dressed in plain white long sleeves and pants. There was no mirror, so I couldn’t check my face, but I should look exactly like I do in real life.

“One, two, three, four—”

I did some light stretching.
My body moved smoothly.
No one else was here yet since it was before the start time, but soon enough... ah, here they come.

Several lights burst into form around me. The glowing figures took human shape and popped into existence.

The group was diverse in gender and age, and everyone appeared in the same outfit as me.

In some games, you can customize your character freely, but many gamers pre-register 3D data scanned from their own bodies.
That’s because if the in-game body feels too different, the immersion breaks.

Especially for adult VR... that’s apparently essential. Or so I’ve heard. Just rumors. Yep.

By the way, this game recommends using 3D data.

“Um, what kind of game is this?”

The person who appeared next to me spoke timidly.

She looked about twenty, with long straight black hair reaching past her shoulders and bangs that covered her eyes.
Possibly shy, her gaze stayed on the ground and her fingers fidgeted nervously in front of her chest.

She’s got quite a figure. So much so that my eyes instinctively went there.

...No, that’s rude for a first meeting. I consciously raised my gaze.

“What kind of game...? Didn’t you enter because you received the invitation?”

“Um, well, actually... my brother was supposed to play. But he got into an accident and had to be hospitalized. And the hospital doesn’t allow games, so... he told me to take his place since it’d be a waste of the slot…”

I see. So this girl was forced into a game she didn’t even want to play.

“I didn’t want to do it… But he ordered me to, said it would be a waste. Don’t you think that’s horrible?”
“Couldn’t you have just said no?”

When I offered the obvious suggestion, she turned her face away.
What’s with that reaction?

“Um, well, actually, I, um, don’t work… I got kicked out of my parents’ house and ended up crashing at my brother’s place, so… he’s supporting me, and I can’t really say no…”
“Oh, I… see.”

That was an unexpected response. I wasn’t sure how to react correctly.

Well, now I understand the situation. As a tower defense enthusiast, I know what I must do… convert her!

She may be playing reluctantly now, but if I can convey how fun this genre is, she might just enjoy it wholeheartedly.

Alright, I’ll passionately and kindly—sometimes forcefully—teach her all there is to know about tower defense—

“Everyone, thank you for your patience! Please look this way!”

Just as I was about to speak, a loud female voice echoed through the air.

I turned to look and saw a square stage had appeared out of nowhere.
On the gaudy, out-of-place platform stood a woman in a suit, holding a microphone, posing confidently.

Her flaming red hair reached her waist, and her face was that of a stunning beauty.
Her sharp eyes made her look strong-willed, but with that gorgeous face, it only added a smart, refined vibe.

Her figure was perfect—curves where needed and a tight waist. She’d be a hit if she debuted in gravure.

The girl next to me even stared at her in awe.

“Fufu, did I get your attention with my irresistible body? I used my developer privileges to craft the perfect figure, after all!”

She confessed with a wiggle and a carefree smile.
That smile only made her more charming.

So both her body and face are artificial… Well, of course. I figured as much. And that slightly awkward movement—she might even be a guy underneath. Totally possible.

“Anyway, back on track—welcome to Death Parade TD Online (Tentative)! I’m Helm, your host and MC. Please take care of me, okay?”

Her wink was flawless. Maybe the player inside really is a woman. I hope so.

“All of you here are the top one hundred elite tower defense players!”

So, everyone here cleared that difficult game. Except for the one next to me.
A hundred fellow tower defense fans gathered—just the thought makes my heart race.

“Now I’ll explain the game briefly.”

The once noisy crowd fell silent in unison.
As expected of seasoned players. They knew how important rules are and were laser-focused not to miss anything.

Except for the girl next to me, who looked around uneasily, not fitting in at all.

“This game was made for tower defense fans. Have you ever seen a game that says ‘Includes tower defense elements too’? What’s with that ‘too’!? As if tower defense is just a side feature! It’s maddening, right? You’ve all felt it at least once, haven’t you?”

At her passionate words emphasizing the “too,” the rest of us nodded emphatically. Again, except for the girl beside me.

“But don’t worry. Death Parade TD Online (Tentative) is a tower defense game first and foremost. The open world, RPG, and character growth elements are just decorations. This is a game by tower defense, for tower defense, and of tower defense!”

The rest of us players cheered in joy while the girl next to me stared in disbelief, her eyes cold.
The difference in enthusiasm was staggering.