This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

The instant the countdown hit zero, Rita appeared just outside an oasis town with Nivalis perched on her left shoulder and B8017913 on her right.

It was a completely open settlement. There were no walls or gates, only a stone stele beneath a tree with the town's serial number carved into it. Beneath every tree a cube headed robot had set up a stall. Each metal cube was silver all over, with faint colored light glowing in the seams. Every face of each little cube was engraved with a different pattern. From time to time the silver cube head rotated on its own so that identical motifs lined up on one face, only to shuffle again a moment later.

Unlike the look they wore in the Diamond Miner game, this was the mechanical race's real day to day form rather than a worker skin. Whenever B8017913 used Plush Collar to turn into a plush doll, this was what it truly was beneath the surface.

Since players could not use skills on one another, Rita took a moment to study the oasis town, then turned her attention to the other competitors dropped here with her.

Through the veil of golden rain she met Dawn Cicada's eyes.

The last time they had crossed paths was in the GodDraw77 game, when Dawn Cicada had not spared her a single look. Unlike the Vineborne she had seen in the Dawn dungeon, Dawn Cicada's hair fell to her waist in a blaze of gold. Paired with a serene and saintly aura, eyes that seemed to gaze on all things with compassion, and a presence that invited trust and confession, her face could have belonged to a priest. Yet she wore a black mage robe embroidered with gold sigils, wrapped from neck to wrist in severe fabric, gloves and all, with a neckline that dipped a bit low. Holiness touched with darkness. A vow of abstinence that still hinted at desire. A contradiction in human shape.

Her vine was longer than most Vineborne vines, looping almost twice around her waist and making her look even more slender.

Rita had no wish to chat. She would not admit it out loud, but the danger Dawn Cicada radiated eclipsed every other player here. Not even Nuclear Flash NightFury had ever pressed on her nerves like this.

She headed for the town. She still did not know how material collection was supposed to work.

Dawn Cicada began to move as well. The two of them walked forward in parallel, less than two meters apart, like twin lines that would not cross.

A soft voice came from beside her, spoken in BlueStar speech. "Is Wrathful Moon with you?"

Rita nodded. Everyone knew that much by now.

Dawn Cicada's tone remained even. "Return it to me. When Lania Kaia breaks, I can halt the invasion of BlueStar."

Rita was silent.

Heaven help her. On what grounds had Foolishness ever called Rita arrogant when the most arrogant one was clearly right here?

She stopped and turned. Dawn Cicada turned with her.

Rita raised both hands, fists up before her chest, one with the back outward and one with the palm outward.

Dawn Cicada blinked.

Rita rotated the fist with the palm outward as if there were an invisible axle running through it. As that fist slowly turned, the little finger of her other fist lifted bit by bit.

Rita had taken Rule 27 to heart. Do not speak to any creature with golden hair. She also did not speak Vineborne language. Yet Dawn Cicada's words were so galling that she had to respond somehow. You, trash.

Gestures were universal, or so Rita thought.

[You Are Being Watched] [You Are Being Watched] [You Are Being Watched] The alerts cascaded, dozens in a row, with B8017913 drawing in a sharp breath among them.

Then she saw Dawn Cicada's stunned expression. She saw the vine at that waist stir as if awakened.

Rita no longer felt so confident.

Keeping her face blank, she slid her eyes toward B8017913 and asked under her breath, "What does that hand sign mean to the Vineborne?"

B8017913 replied softly, "Raising the little finger at a Vineborne expresses your willingness to become her vine. A vine stands a little lower than a lover, a little higher than a consort. You obey her every command. Even if she hits you or scolds you, you will not leave. In return, she will promise exclusivity."

Ah. A full M.

Rita pressed the little finger she had worked so hard to raise back down, gave Dawn Cicada a brief, polite smile, then sprinted into town without a backward glance.

She moved so fast that the two pets on her shoulders almost went flying.

…

In the demons' private chat:

"Been a long time since I saw anyone raise a little finger at a Vineborne."

"Mostly because the Vineborne play the early game well. By the time players grow up enough to meet them, they have learned a few customs. Who else but BS Rita would run into Dawn Cicada after only a handful of matches."

"Which side is Deceitful Bloom on?"

"Hard to say."

"Very hard to say. If she could, Dawn Cicada would hack off that little finger and mount it upright on Deceitful Bloom's bedside."

"But Deceitful Bloom wants BS Rita's little finger."

"That was a long time ago. After Deceitful Bloom worked herself to the bone while BS Rita was busy sweet talking that undead teacher, Deceitful Bloom only wants one thing now. BS Rita's head."

"So in love?"

"So in love?"

"So in love?"

Deceitful Bloom: "…"

…

The battlefield chat was no quieter.

[Winter Sea · Frenzied Shark]: Shame you missed it. BS Rita just raised a little finger at Dawn Cicada.

[Lania Kaia Syntax]: No way.

[Marmang Crab]: You can question Frenzied Shark's brains and shark morals, but you cannot question his gossip.

[Winter Sea · Frenzied Shark]: … Thanks for nothing.

[Marmang Crab]: You are welcome.

[Lania Kaia Mistblade]: Maybe she did not know what it meant.

[BS Rita]: I truly did not know.

[Lania Kaia Fat Goose]: I think she knew. She is not the type to come unprepared.

[Fury Motor]: So did Dawn Cicada accept?

[Winter Sea · Frenzied Shark]: She went quiet. What do you think that means? You tell me.

[Dawn Cicada]: …

[Lania Kaia Pine Bloom]: Support.

[Tingo JE]: Blessings.

[Lania Kaia Fat Goose]: Beautiful.

[Lania Kaia Wither Monarch]: Hahaha.

[BS Rita]: I do not know.

[Lania Kaia Maple Syrup]: BS Rita is happy again.

[Lania Kaia Fat Goose]: Dawn Cicada is happy too.

[Marmang Crab]: Wishing you both forever.

[Tingo JE]: Wishing you both forever.

[Winter Sea · Frenzied Shark]: Wishing you both forever.

[Dawn Cicada]: …

Rita could only stare.

She had figured it out. Ever since the invasion rules were updated, everyone's mental state had blossomed into something unhinged and bright.