Chapter 17 - Interlude
"—No way..."
A dimly lit space, illuminated only by the faint light from several large wall-mounted displays. Amidst the chorus of faint operating sounds leaking from the rows of equipment, a voice, filled less with surprise and more with exasperation, echoed.
The man who had been 'viewing' the video on the display sank into a state of fatigue, no different from someone who had just finished watching an incredibly long anime series or movie, and repeated the same words two, three times.
"Not a smurf account, not a skilled returning player, but a complete newbie...? That is a newbie?"
It was still unbelievable. It's rare for anyone to even stand up properly after their first dive, yet this person not only jumped up energetically but also walked around without a hint of awkwardness...
"The second perfect adapter... just like the Princess...? Ugh, why is the person in charge always away at times like this...?"
He had sent a message to his 'superior' a long time ago, but as always when it came to important matters, there was no reply.
As a mere observer, there was nothing he could do on his own authority... And since 'viewing' was all he could do anyway, he had been tracking the player in question's movements—
"It's like one irregularity attracts another..."
His gaze shifted to the small shadow that moved alongside the player featured in the logs. Watching the girl's dazzling blonde hair sway and her smile, the man let out a deep sigh at the premonition of trouble to come.