Supporting Characters in the Game are Obsessed

Most people in this world are very interested in the gossip of celebrities.

This is partly due to the capitalism mindset that permeates the Cyberpunk world.

News about the homeless living in the lower-class areas doesn’t make money, but trivial news about influencers from upper-class areas does.

And this aspect also applies to the citizens of Neon City, who are used to all sorts of stimulating content.

Celebrities.

Or, as they say, celebs.

Honestly, it’s a story from a distant land for me.

My fame exists only slightly among mercenaries. So, not many people know my face.

For one, I always wore a mask when going out to avoid fine dust, and I generally didn’t go around making my presence known to the majority.

Of course, the companions I walk with are figures like ‘Meteor’, ‘Red Horn’, and ‘Tech Master’.

It’s quite hard for me to hold my head high among them.

Therefore, when I appeared on a broadcast following Andrea last time, the number of people who recognized my identity or face couldn’t have been that many.

Drake’s girlfriend… no, wife, Lorenda, is a close acquaintance, so I’ll exclude her.

…

But.

“What are your honest feelings right now?”

“Please take off your mask just once!!”

“I heard you’ve become the protagonist of a Cinderella story! What on earth happened!?”

Isn’t this where it all ends today?

I thought, closing my eyes against the flash of cameras.

*

The noisy voices of reporters assaulted my ears, like I was under a sonic attack.

I just stared blankly into the air, losing my wits.

At least I was grateful to be wearing a mask; otherwise, shocking embarrassing snapshots would probably be circulating in Net Space.

The silver lining was that the security staff was preventing the rampaging reporters from jumping at me.

In fact, I should have been over there right now, following the original course.

What am I even doing here?

I could somewhat understand the reporters’ chaotic reactions.

After all, you could create news by simply tripping while walking, if you were an influencer.

For reference, the famous influencer Andrea generates news with just a “sneeze.”

So, it’s natural for people to be so excited about the engagement news of Monolith’s Chairman, a ‘national power-level SSS-rank influencer.’

How on earth did it come to this?

…I don’t even know.

I just followed because they said there were security operations.

I briefly recalled that moment.

*

– “Chairman, um, I checked the schedule data you sent, and the title says ‘Engagement Ceremony’…”

– “That’s right.”

– “…May I ask who with?”

– “Who else would it be? Of course, it’s you.”

– “…Me? It’s me?”

– “Yeah.”

*

Ugh, my head…!

This was a development I never expected at all.

In that situation, who could say, “What strange thing are you saying?” in front of the Megacorp Chairman?

Naturally, I didn’t have the nerve to say that either.

I took a deep breath for a moment.

Trying not to show it, I quietly surveyed my surroundings.

Countless filming drones were flying in the sky, and right next to me, reporters stood with questions ready to go.

I felt a wave of anxiety, as if I were about to develop agoraphobia or panic disorder.

…

Isn’t this the convention center operated by a Monolith affiliate?

Even with these reporters aside, there were all sorts of people inside the hotel.

As there were no entry restrictions, many passersby dropped by.

I cautiously turned my head sideways.

There was the Chairman, waiting for the scheduled event, with a very relaxed expression.

I slowly lowered my upper body and leaned close to his ear.

– Click click!

Even at this moment, camera flashes were going off constantly. I didn’t have the luxury to pay attention to my surroundings.

In a very small voice, I called out to the Chairman.

“…Um, Chairman.”

“What?”

Please let me go home.

I suppressed the wish that had risen to the tip of my tongue.

I forced myself to ask a curious question.

“…I’m not complaining or anything, but usually, aren’t these kinds of events done secretly?”

“That’s true.”

The Chairman replied with a small smile.

I gulped and continued speaking.

“…But I’m curious why you allowed reporters and the general public to enter today.”

This question was definitely not out of discomfort in this situation. It really wasn’t.

The Chairman, who had been looking straight ahead, turned his gaze toward me.

His golden eye color was different from Catherine’s and held a somewhat darker vibe.

This time, the Chairman leaned slightly towards me.

An elegant but not overpowering scent brushed against my nose. His long hair grazed my shoulder.

The Chairman whispered softly to me.

“Secret.”

He then straightened his back and returned to his seat.

The Chairman chuckled softly.

What on earth is he thinking?

I wanted to ask Eve or someone else for help, but, in reality, that was just as unlikely.

If that happened, it would probably lead to…

【 Breaking News: Monolith’s Chairman Rejected!】

A headline like this would surely follow.

Moreover, the falling Monolith stocks would make the citizens sad, and out of loyalty, Justin Borg would be saddened and send an assassin after me.

In the end, I’m like a fish caught in a net. The fish’s fate relies on the fisherman who cast the net.

Well, somehow it’ll work out, right?
There was nothing I could do here.

I tried to maintain my composure.

…Hmm.

Should I check the sentiment on Net Space?

After all, it’d be a shame to just sit around with time until the engagement ceremony begins.

I cautiously manipulated the visual interface to launch Net Space.

…

The whole world is just filled with this news.

I felt like I found another reason not to go outside.

I began reading the title of one news article.

【 Exclusive News: The Daring and Bold Appearance of the Two at the Press Conference! Shocking Photos from the Black Monolith Engagement Ceremony Released! 】

“…Huh?”

What nonsense is this again?

I checked the details.

There was a photo of the Chairman and me whispering to each other at the press conference.

『A glimpse of love whispered at the press conference.』

Hmm…

It wasn’t the first time Neon City reporters posted strange articles, so I tried not to pay too much attention.

Next, I checked the sentiment on the bulletin board.

《Neon City Bulletin Board》
[Wow; The Monolith Chairman is getting married]

I never thought a day like this would come in my life.

— It’s not a wedding, it’s an engagement.

ㄴ Either way, it’s the same (Author)

— Lol, the stock market is going crazy ㅋㅋ Rollercoaster ride is insane ㅋㅋ Day trading is sweet!

[But how old is the Chairman?]

Why is he getting married now?

— Already reported to the corporate.

ㄴ Can’t ask stuff like this? (Author)

ㄴ ㅇㅇ I would have deleted it.

[Damn, how can this happen]

(Pictures of the Chairman with various cybernetic bodies.)

My eternal flower, eternal hope, eternal light.

The Chairman, who is like an idol, can’t be getting married.

It must be a dream, it’s got to be a dream, it’s definitely a dream.

Dreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdreamdream (omitted)

— What’s this weird template?

— Please share the original address.

— Why is there a guy’s photo mixed in?

ㄴ That’s… (Author)

It’s a complete mess.

Moreover, there were some posts with information related to me that I couldn’t just laugh off.

[Is this person the current bait?]

(A photo from Rex Nova’s live show.)

It’s a picture from when Andrea’s polyamory bait was in the air.

I’m not sure since I wore a mask, but don’t we look quite alike?

— Come to think of it, the Chairman did call back then;

— Wow;; sharp eyes, what’s happening?

ㄴ Net Space Guardian (Author)

ㄴ Damn, I’m just a home security guard.

The end of my peaceful everyday life is drawing near.

As I thought this, I heard the Chairman mumbling next to me.

“Hmm… it’s about time they arrived.”

“……Who’s arriving?”

That’s when the press conference room door opened.

People passing through was common, so the door opening and closing happened all the time.

But somehow, that ordinary scene looked like slow motion to me.

From afar, shining blonde hair flared.

And behind them, five women followed.

“Ah.”

I suppressed a scream inside me.

Right. It had to be.

With the world in such chaos, there was no way they hadn’t heard the news.

The engagement ceremony would turn into a funeral.

It was audacious, but I poked the Chairman’s side with my finger.

That was how urgent the situation was.

“…Chairman? Is this really okay?”

“Hmm, they’re here.”

“Right, they all just arrived─.”

“No, not them.”

– Boom!

A loud explosion roared through the convention center.

Dozens of vehicles burst through the walls and into the room.

Oh…

This situation.

It was very similar to the incident I went through last time. Especially the look of confusion on the faces of those in the vehicles.

“…What is this?”

“If it’s a real corporate terrorist incident, they wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. With so many watchers and experts around, it’s probably easy to confirm the bizarre situation without traces left.”

Ah…!

…Chairman, I trusted you!

So it was all part of a plan!

I quickly asked the Chairman.

“So this engagement ceremony was all part of that incident and was purposely made up as a decoy─.”

“That part is not true.”

“……What?”

…Excuse me?

“We obviously need to continue with the engagement ceremony.”

Because the show must go on.

The Chairman answered confidently.

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