Chapter 51 - Update Explanation Live Stream
“Mornin’!”
It was exactly 8 PM when I entered the Virtual Club Room.
After a few things, the live stream was just about to start.
Shou-kun.
“Welcome back.”
“You made it, didn’t you?”
Mion wasn’t the only one; Bell-buchou and Yata-sensei were also there.
“Has it started yet?”
Not yet. It’s scheduled for 8:15.
“It’s a common occurrence. Things like ‘fixed it’ but it’s not actually fixed.”
“The management for these types of games tends to be a bit loose with time, don’t they?”
Putting Mion aside, Bell-buchou and Yata-sensei were quite critical.
Anyway, that aside,
“I need to ask a favor. Can I invite my sister here?”
Eh?
Mion reacted first to my words, fidgeting nervously.
“...May I ask why?”
I remember a similar awkward pause before, but I’m not a sis-con, so please don’t misunderstand. More like,
“She’s sulking, saying, ‘I was supposed to watch the producer’s live stream with my brother’...”
She’s really a third-year junior high student? It makes me wonder, but it’s also my fault for spacing out during dinner, thinking about what to craft with Blacksmithing.
“Miki-chan, right? Mashiro-san’s told me about her, and since this isn’t school property, if Bell-buchou’s okay with it, I don’t mind.”
Mashiro-nee is also soft on Miki. I can almost picture her passionately proclaiming, ‘My sister is so cute’ during parent-teacher conferences.
Sensei knows too?
“Hm, ah, Kumano-sensei was Mashiro-nee’s homeroom teacher; she’s three years older than me.”
Oh, I see.
I hadn’t mentioned that yet, had I?
Meanwhile, the crucial Bell-buchou was still deep in thought. It wasn't certain, but I might as well tell her.
“She’s in her third year of junior high now, so she’ll be coming to Mitsumori next year, and she says she’ll join this club.”
“Alright, if that’s the case, I’ll allow it. But you’ll have to keep quiet about ‘Majo Bell’.”
“Got it.”
Mion already knows I stream and keeps quiet about it, so I think that’ll be fine.
“Well then, please call her.”
So, I sent Miki a message, and she appeared as if she’d been waiting right there.
“I am Miki, Ise Shou’s younger sister. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Miki bowed politely to those who greeted her. It was her external, put-on persona.
“Miki, you can use your normal speech. You’re joining this club next year, right?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. Well then, please take care of me.”
The women were surprised by her sudden change. My apologies, she’s a strange little sister.
As expected, Yata-sensei was the first to recover.
“I’m Kumano, the advisor and Shou-kun’s homeroom teacher. But here, you can call me Yata. Mashiro-san’s told me about you.”
“I, too, have heard much about you from my elder sister.”
I know she and my sister keep in touch, but what on earth do they talk about...?
“I’m Katori, the club president. Um...”
“I see. So that was the meaning of the recent collaboration stream.”
“Uh, yes. That’s how it is...”
Bell-buchou looked at me with an unreadable expression.
I’m sorry, she’s one of those ‘genius is akin to madness’ types.
I’m Izumo, in the same class as Shou-kun. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
“The pleasure’s all mine. By the way, Mion-dono. You should be careful around my brother.”
“You, really...”
I lightly poked her head, and Miki cackled with amusement, while Mion looked bewildered. I’m really sorry...
“Alright, alright. It looks like it’s about to start, so please take a seat.”
Miki naturally sat in the empty seat next to Bell-buchou, and a large screen was set up where everyone could see it.
I wonder what they’ll actually talk about in this update explanation. Most of it probably won’t concern me, though...
*Ah, ah, is this on? Ah, seems fine.
Alright, everyone, thank you for waiting.
We’d like to begin the Iris Revolution Online update explanation live stream.
I’m Saika Chiyoko, the Game Master Supervisor—GM Choco—and I’ll be your host.
And for the explanation, we have Yamasaki Misa, the General Producer—Misha P.
The two of us will be bringing this to you. Thank you for staying with us until the end.*
Thank you.
The broadcast that began wasn’t a real-life video, but rather, featured their personal avatars in a virtual space.
Wait, there was a Game Master? And it’s rare for a producer to be a young woman, too.
Well then, let’s immediately begin explaining the IRO update that was applied at noon today, from top to bottom. First up...
The main scenario-related update, as expected, was about the Emperor’s demise and the subsequent succession struggle. This was something Nat had told me about.
Questions and comments scrolled by rapidly below, honestly too fast to read.
Let’s pick up a few questions. Um, what about “Can player characters participate in this civil war?”
Yes, you can participate. However, please understand that being formally inducted into the regular army is quite difficult. At current player levels, you’d be wiped out in an instant. There are ways for players to participate as mercenary units, but please search for those on your own.
I see. So, there are ways if you want to, but it’s tough.
“Realistically, there’s no way some upstart adventurer could join a regular army, is there?”
“Disposable mercenary units would be the best they could hope for. I don’t know what kind of rewards there are, but it probably wouldn’t be worth the death penalty.”
Miki and Bell-buchou’s conversation strangely aligned.
Next question...
And so, GM Choco picked up questions that seemed to be in high demand, while Misha P carefully answered them without giving away spoilers.
There was also a Q&A time for character resets and new races, and before I knew it, almost an hour had passed.
However, there was no mention of the Uninhabited Island where I lived...
Let’s make this the last question. This one is: “What are Ancient Ruins? Are they related to the update?”
*Ah, that was announced in the world today, wasn’t it? It’s not directly related to the update, but with the new player restrictions lifted, we anticipated this would happen eventually.
It was a bit sooner than expected, but I’ll just say that there are such ruins in various places.*
The comments section became even more active after that answer.
If there were some even on this Uninhabited Island, there must be a lot more on the continent.
Perhaps, as the new players who joined today grow, their range of activity would expand, and then eventually...?
“So, today’s World Announcement was about big brother, wasn’t it?”
“Ah… yeah.”