Chapter 1087 - Interlude: The Electronic Crowd
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"Is it dawn yet?"
"I miss the blue sky."
"It's bright during the day, but it's night when you look up. It's so weird."
"I'm used to it by now."
"Doesn't matter to a shut-in."
"Well, the crafters must be screaming in a different way..."
"Everyone is screaming, not just the crafters."
"In a way, it's like every player is a beginner again."
"That's an exaggeration."
"Is it? No one knows anything, so we're all just looking for information. It's the dawn of a new era."
"Ko... Kokumyo."
"At least learn to read the word 'dawn.'"
"There's a solo traveler named Kokumyo in the north..."
"Who? Never heard of them. Where do they play?"
"End Circle."
"Then they're a freak."
"Lol."
"Excuse me. Is there anyone here who has progressed past the tenth branch of the STR tree? I'd like to hear your thoughts."
"Just search the archives."
"There aren't many people who have reached Lv.110 already. I'm looking for the most recent info."
"Well, that makes sense."
"That's Kokumyo for you."
"If anyone has info, please contact Kureha at wikitec through any channel. Personal messages are fine."
"Wait."
"Huh?"
"Whoa."
"Is that the real Kureha from wikitec?"
"Impersonation is a crime."
"It's really me. I'll post 'It's really me' on SNS with my ID now."
"Oh, it is her."
"Whoa..."
"'It's really me' is trending lol. Are you doing this everywhere?"
"It's impressive that everything you do goes viral."
"Ah, I'll send a message! Please interview me! I'm Lv.112 with STR focus! I'm a fan! I always use your site! Seriously!"
"Even in a place like this..."
"Don't call my home 'a place like this.'"
"She's dedicated."
"Fans of the elite are everywhere."
"I can't thank the info-sharing clans enough."
"I want to be interviewed too. I'm just a Lv.101 nobody, though."
"Don't make an enemy of everyone under Lv.101, okay?"
"Lv.110+ is basically proof that you're a veteran player."
"Plus, it's a proof of active and energetic play, right?"
"I read an article this morning saying that the content of your experience matters more than just the time played."
"In a summary article?"
"Yeah."
"I wonder what level the Sword Saint is..."
"Probably hit the cap already. Who knows."
"What is the cap now?"
"200 or something. Who knows."
"But the Sword Saint was away for a while."
"True. Once we get info on those special cases, maybe we'll see the whole picture..."
"Special cases, huh?"
"Hey, are you listening, Acrobat?"
"His name is Hoshikake now."
"Hey, are you listening, Hoshikake?"
"Add 'sama.'"
"Hey, are you listening, Hoshikake-sama..."
"Stans are scary."
"Is it Seika or Hoshikake?"
"The chant for the King's Sword was 'Hoshikake,' wasn't it?"
"I personally like 'Seika' because of the double meaning with 'Holy Fire.'"
"It's been three days since the clear and no word. Are they okay?"
"There was a notice on the official archives."
"But that was just from the management staff."
"No videos have been posted either."
"The Princess is resting, too."
"What on earth happened during that raid..."
"They told us to wait, so let's just wait like civilized people."
"Civilized people (Arcadians)."
"Civilized people (crazy festival-goers in the virtual world)."
"Well, in any case, they definitely succeeded in changing the world drastically. Congratulations."
"The Acrobat's follower party, right?"
"It's Hoshikake, I told you."
"Sorry."
"Sora-chan, Nia-chan, Iris-sama, Tora-san, and Kendy-dono."
"It's always funny how his parties are full of people who love Haru-san."
"Is Tora-san really in that group?"
"He's at the top of the list!"
"He always looks happy when they're together."
"I enjoy watching them, too."
"The scary part is that no matter who he's with, Clown ends up with a follower party. He's such a charmer."
"Ricky-san is probably the only elite player who hasn't been charmed."
"Excluding the southern players he doesn't interact with much."
"But he's close to half of them anyway, isn't he?"
"Enra-shi for sacrament making, Kagura-neesan, Kokoro-chan who apparently liked him at first sight, and Nonomin..."
"That really is half of them. Clown is incredible."
"And then there's Nia-chan, who doesn't even need to be mentioned."
"Wait, there are actually quite a few left. The East is a total loss, and the North is nearly there, but there are still people in the South who haven't fallen."
"True. So who is definitely a no-go in the South?"
"Natsume-chan."
"Natsume-chan."
"Probably Natsume-chan..."
"Uni-kun is also a bit suspicious."
"Natsume-chan..."
"Fuji-san and Orin-san feel like they're just friends, right?"
"Haru-Natsu..."
"Dammit, our Natsume-chan...!"
"Honestly, it feels more like Haru toward Natsu than Natsu toward Haru, doesn't it?"
"Ahhh, I get that!"
"Handshake."
"A perfect example of platonic friendship between a man and a woman."
"It's like Haru-san is the one who's attached to her. I think it's a wonderful relationship."
"The Hoshikake-as-a-junior concept is great..."
"It's not just a concept, it's a fact."
"The dream-girls of the world have their ideal man, but for me, he's the ideal little brother."
"Isn't that just a dream-girl's ideal as well?"
"I'm a guy, though."
"Oh."
"I get it. If he were my brother, it would be... well, I don't know."
"Is that okay? Won't you die from an inferiority complex?"
"Maybe because he's so far beyond me, I could just be friends with him."
"Charm really is everything. I'm going to roleplay as Clown starting today."
"Only if you're handsome."
"Only if you're an incredibly nice guy who is friendly without being annoying."
"Only if you're a protagonist-tier supernova who can create a legend upon your first encounter with the strongest in the virtual world."
"And you need a mental state strong enough to handle love from three top-tier beauties at once."
"I could handle the last one..."
"Try actually being in love. You'll realize that even a triangle, let alone a square, is hell."
"Sorry."
"For Haru-san, it's a triangular pyramid, not a square."
"Concentrated power, inevitable hole."
"Is his heart okay? Is his stomach okay?"
"I'm retiring from Clown roleplay."
"Lol."
"Let's just live happily without reaching for too much."
"I don't know what's going on, so this is irresponsible, but I wish he'd come back soon."
"Yeah, I just want a single word from him."
"I wish Haru-san would start an SNS account... even if it's just for casual posts. Seriously, please."
"His fans are worried!"
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