Volume 1 Chapter 18
Afterward, I continued to ask many questions about the real world according to the rules of the game.
I really wanted to know more about the young lady, but that would be asking too much. Compared to information like “Hunter x Hunter and Detective Conan still haven’t ended this year,” I am more concerned about the current state of the game’s officials.
I don’t know what will happen to me after the game servers shut down, nor do I look forward to that day. At least for now, while I am still alive, I certainly don’t hope for death to come actively. Fortunately, my concerns haven’t happened; the game officials are very stable, and there are not a few players guarding the continent of Limoria.
They say that half of the in-game spending in “The Eternal Pacificus” comes from the middle-aged and elderly. Initially, the game was promoted as “offering high degrees of freedom comparable to a second life,” and this high degree of freedom surprisingly attracted a group of older players. It was like an unintended outcome.
In an era when virtual games are prevalent, in-game spending is not new, and games are no longer seen as dangerous beasts that need to be guarded against. Players who have experienced scammy mobile games have aged, making them highly accepting of in-game spending. Another important reason is that the officials made a bold decision: they canceled job settings. In the popular virtual games, “The Eternal Pacificus” is the only one without job settings, focusing on role-playing.
No jobs mean the possibility of role-playing as ordinary people. For mainstream players, being an ordinary citizen isn’t interesting, but role-playing as such and the game’s realistic virtuality have attracted some middle-aged and elderly players. They treat the game as a casual game; elderly people who stay at home all day love to log into “The Eternal Pacificus” to climb mountains, fish, chat with NPCs, and so on, living a happy and not at all boring life.
Because “The Eternal Pacificus” effectively solves the problem of loneliness for older people, their children are also willing to financially support the game, ultimately forming a very strange in-game spending crowd.
Okay, it seems that I don’t have to worry about the game officials going bankrupt.
“Anna-chan, you’re so diligent and curious.”
The bespectacled male player pushed his glasses up with his trembling right hand, glanced at the lying corpses of Misaka 10086 and a dozen others around him, all of whom were intoxicated by me.
Me? I’m in excellent condition; it’s just that the opponents in the recent rounds have been too weak, getting drunk easily.
“Why do they all call you a strategist?”
Let’s ask them. As soon as I mentioned it, the bespectacled male player immediately perked up.
“That’s because I am a core member of Anna’s support team. Including the team leader, there are few normal people in the entire support team. So, it falls on me to be the strategist. Coincidentally, my idol is Zhuge Kongming, the strategist of the Three Kingdoms period. The role of the advisor couldn’t be more suitable.”
“Anna-chan, let me report: the strategist loves the girly, loli version of Zhuge Kongming! He’s a loli pervert!”
“Yes, yes, and his game ID is Hoenheim!”
“Stop! It’s not that I like lolis, but my idol happens to be a loli after being turned into a girl. Don’t get the cause and effect wrong. And I didn’t want to change my name.”
“See, Anna-chan, he doesn’t even deny that he’s a loli pervert.”
The bespectacled male player—ID Hoenheim, seems to have the habitual action of pushing up his glasses. He was mercilessly exposed by his companions as soon as he finished speaking.
It was evident yesterday that he was one of the leaders among the players. Although he is not the team leader, since the officials require the use of names that can be recorded in the annals, he must have accomplished some significant feats.
“So, Mr. Hoenheim, please guide us more in the future.”
“……….Hmm.”
Rather than pushing up his glasses, Hoenheim seems to be blocking his face with his hand.
“Strategist! Weren’t you boasting about your extensive experience in conquering thousands of beautiful girls? Why are you suddenly shy now?”
Wow… thousands? Such an exaggerated number, is Hoenheim a hidden Casanova?
“I see the strategist is wavering in his belief in the flat-chest faction.”
“Give it up, strategist. More and more artists are choosing to abandon the dark and join the light when drawing loli Anna-chan. Don’t struggle in vain!”
“To be honest, I quite like that ‘Raise a Maid from Scratch’ doujinshi.”
“That one only has good art.”
Huh? This naming format… doujinshi? Is that what they were discussing?
“—What is a doujinshi?”
I asked with great interest.
“………………?!?”
“Everyone?”
Why does everyone look like they’ve had a cardiac arrest? Did I ask something taboo?
“An… Anna-chan is here… ah…”
“Of course, I’m here. What’s a doujinshi?”
I’ve noticed that you all seem to enjoy talking about doujinshi.
Why is everyone avoiding eye contact with me all of a sudden? Do I have something weird on my face?
I became even more curious about what doujinshi is.
“If it’s inconvenient to say, can you show me?”
“Absolutely not!!!”
Suddenly, everyone unanimously denied me.
“Anna-chan… a doujinshi is that kind of… book that the master would secretly hide under the bed… that kind of thing…”
Shiki Ryogi’s husband timidly explained to me in a euphemistic tone, but I became more confused. The young lady never hides books under her bed.
“Books should not be stored in dark, damp places as it’s not good for their preservation. I’ll put them where the master can easily reach.”
“That would be social suicide…”
I jumped down from the log and stood in front of Shiki Ryogi’s husband, staring directly into his evasive eyes.
“I also want to discuss doujinshi with everyone, so please, tell me what doujinshi is.”
“……………..”
“Everyone?”
Why does everyone look like they’ve had a cardiac arrest again? Did I ask something taboo again?