kscans

Chapter 17 - Interlude

“—No way…”

In a dimly lit space illuminated only by the faint light from several large wall-mounted displays, a voice filled with a mix of surprise and utter disbelief echoed amidst the chorus of low humming from the rows of equipment.

The man who had been ‘observing’ the video on the display sank into a state of fatigue similar to someone who had just finished a very long anime series or movie, repeating the same words over and over.

“Not a cheater with a sub-account, not a veteran returning player, but a complete newbie…? That… is a newbie?”

It was still impossible. It was rare for anyone to even be able to stand properly right after their first dive, yet this one had not only jumped up energetically but had also walked without any sense of unease…

“A second perfectly adapted individual, just like the Princess…? No, seriously, why is the person in charge always absent at times like these…?”

He had sent a message to his ‘superior’ a long time ago, but as usual, whenever it was a serious matter, there was no reply.

As a mere ‘observer,’ he had no authority to do anything on his own… and since he had nothing to do but ‘observe,’ he had been tracking the player in question—

“It’s like irregularities attract each other…”

His gaze shifted to the small figure accompanying the player who was the star of the logs. Watching the smiling girl with her dazzling blond hair, the man let out a deep sigh at the premonition of impending trouble.