Chapter 567 - IRO Operations (9): Fun is Justice
A certain location in Tokyo. Deep beneath the Rokujo Memorial Museum.
It was almost midnight, but SES, which operates IRO, was conducting the final checks for the next World Event, "When the Devils Come."
"Mion-san and Shou-kun. They were exactly the same as in-game."
"Right~. How many times did I almost puke sugar..."
Misha P shrugged, and GM Choco nodded in strong agreement.
Originally, they were only supposed to briefly attend the album recording, but due to various circumstances, the two of them ended up being in charge.
Given the reasons, both had accepted without any problem, but...
"So, what happened to the paparazzi who were staking out the headquarters?"
"Security treated them as suspicious individuals and hauled them off."
"Huh~, I thought they wouldn't do anything."
"Chieri-chan, you see~."
The recording location changed to the Chairman's Residence because the Chairman herself was enraged by those trying to scoop the real face of the highly anticipated new virtual idol, "Mion."
"It wasn't a major media outlet, was it?"
"An individual. A self-proclaimed journalist, that is."
"Then, my condolences to them."
Even if they were handed over to the police and not prosecuted, no jobs would come to an individual who had conflicted with the Rokujo Group.
The companies that had dealings with that person were probably in a huge panic right about now...
"Oh, right. The new main theme, the musical recording just finished a moment ago, and we have a temporary mix with Mion-san's vocals. Want to listen?"
"Absolutely!"
Misha P changed the room's sound system to surround mode and played the temporary data.
Filling the entire room was a magnificent orchestra. Overlaid on it was Mion's breathy voice...
"That's amazing..."
"The Rokukyo concertmaster was apparently very surprised. He said if she wanted to become an opera singer, he had contacts he could introduce her to."
The performance was by the Rokujo Symphony Orchestra Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, an orchestra known as Rokukyo.
The concertmaster, who initially took the performance lightly, thinking it was just for a game and a virtual idol's song, ended up delivering a passionate performance that required numerous retakes.
"Did you tell the Chairman about that?"
"I did, but she firmly said we absolutely shouldn't say anything more. Mion's still only a first-year high school student, after all."
"You'd think someone who hasn't specialized in music since childhood wouldn't be this good, but since she is, he must regret it even more."
"Mm-hmm."
Such conversation suddenly ceased,
"Now, to the main topic."
GM Choco cut in and continued.
"The Emerald Dragon Emeraldia woke up earlier than expected. You understand why, right?"
"Because the setting was that she would awaken when the White Dragon Princess's health recovered and medicinal cuisine effects became widespread, which was necessary for her recovery..."
"What should we do? The flags for the World Quest that was supposed to follow are being moved up earlier and earlier."
Misha P held his head at that.
The original development, where the White Dragon Princess appeared in the Dragon Capital update and Medicinal Cuisine and the Emerald Dragon Emeraldia were necessary for her recovery, had been completely messed up by Shou's reverse course(?).
"Not only that, but preliminary information for the next 'When the Devils Come' is also likely to spread to the mainland via Shou-kun."
"About that... can't we just start it already?"
Misha P asked if they could move up the event, which was originally scheduled to start during the long weekend in late September, to early September, and now even earlier.
He must have been aware that what he was saying was ludicrous, as his expression was bleak.
"Debugging is going smoothly, and we could start from Tuesday next week, but do you really want to start with only a week left until September?"
"Then let's just start it. The Demon Kingdom will be the main focus for the first week anyway, so I think new players who started in the Demon Kingdom will be happy."
The Demon Kingdom territory was where the demons would invade.
Since the information that would trigger the story had already spread, they couldn't prolong a situation where nothing was happening...
"However, we don't have time to put out a notice."
"No notice! The World Quest explanation page will remain a mystery for a week!"
GM Choco gave a wry smile at this underhanded approach of holding out for a week with just suggestive responses. However, for this particular World Quest, it was also true that it would be effective.
"Alright, then. What about the Emerald Dragon?"
"What about it? Since Shou-kun is involved, no-touch is the only option!"
Misha P crossed his arms in front of him, emphatically indicating a firm 'no.'
The painful experience of intentionally excluding Shou from the previous World Quest was still fresh in his mind.
"Understood. Either way, it's getting difficult to exclude the Uninhabited Island, isn't it?"
"True. Other islands are starting to connect, and the Southern Island is probably next, right?"
He looked towards the display, which showed members of the Silver Manor active on the Southern Island.
"That connection there, well, it was unexpected, but I guess it's better than nothing."
"Yeah. Seeing Shou-kun's equipment, people will think 'I want that too!', and if they can catch up, their motivation will rise, right?"
"There's also a mining site underground, so I think the price of Mithril will drop now."
It was about time for 'equipment with bonuses for those beyond beginners' to become common.
Of course, the accelerated World Quest also meant they had to expedite updates,
"It looks like a lot of fun, doesn't it?"
"It does."
The sight of them communicating, however clumsily, with the Kijimunaa, truly seemed like they were enjoying the game, and a feeling of joy welled up inside me.
Their after-work beer today would taste exceptional. Once work was over, that is...
[Update History]
6/14 Chapter 499: Everyday Surprises ~ up to this chapter
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