At the beginning of the session, I blurred the participant’s consciousness deliberately, keeping it ambiguous.When a session starts, there’s a process where the participant’s consciousness detaches and synchronizes with the avatar in the session, but if the consciousness is too clear at that moment, it could cause issues.
It’s like when you visit an escape room café—don’t they cover your eyes when you first step in? Now imagine entering with the blindfold slightly loosened.
I’d guess the player would feel like they were floating, observing the world like a ghost or experiencing an out-of-body sensation before they came back in.
During this phase, the player might unintentionally stumble upon details that could break their immersion in the game.
For instance, if they accidentally caught a glimpse of foreshadowing I had carefully hidden away, or stumbled on secret event triggers⋯⋯ I would have to quickly change the genre to a regression or a time-loop story.
Conversely speaking.
From my current perspective—where I needed to do whatever it took to save Yuri Lanster—it was crucial that I maintained as much control over my consciousness as possible to resist the Queen’s interference and gain an advantage.
Infiltrating Yuri Lanster’s mental barrier, I had no physical body. I hadn’t even been assigned an avatar yet. So, I quickly enveloped my consciousness in a protective shield and began gathering information about this world.
The setting was the year 440, around the time when Yuna had become the Purple Magic Tower Master, and I was just a nine-year-old kid in my hometown village.
The past, huh⋯⋯?I probed deeper into the data. The information was encrypted to prevent spoilers, but I effortlessly broke through. The scene was set a few years after Yuri Lanster had joined the Extermination Squad.
Click, click, click.
The sound of something meshing and turning echoed loudly, followed by a mounting pressure from all directions. A voice seemed to say, “Close your eyes right now. Stop peeking.”
I quickly tried to see which one of us was stronger.
Creeeeak. I was pushed back.
As expected, there was a significant difference in strength when it was the opponent’s homeground. My eyes were being forced shut under immense pressure. Unable to resist, I gave in and closed them.
But instead of surrendering, I opened a third eye on my forehead .
Click, click⋯⋯?
There was a brief hesitation in the sound of the gears turning. Surprise maybe? The pressure then further intensified, trying to shut my third eye.
So, I opened an eye on the sole of my foot. Then one on the back of my hand. It became a game of improvised whack-a-mole.
Consciousness is a strange, ambiguous concept. It’s neither a soul nor a tangible entity. Many aspects of it remain unexplained. However, one principle was accepted as the truth: ‘the form of consciousness mirrors the self.’
Meaning, a fish’s consciousness would take the shape of a fish, and Pink-Haired Lesbian’s consciousness was likely shaped like Pink-Haired Lesbian.
That’s why it was caught off guard. It was probably wondering if I was secretly a Cyclops. Or maybe it suspected that my self-image just had a few extra eyes.
The trick was simple. The version of me that had infiltrated wasn’t pure consciousness.
I had borrowed the characteristics of the lovely 7%, giving me a magically enhanced autonomy⋯⋯ in other words, I was closer to a half-spirit, or an avatar. It had a bit more fluidity.
Time to delve deeper.
I scanned the distribution of information in this world. Overall, the structure was sloppy. The highest concentration of information was centered around Yuri Lanster herself.
Additionally, the key to descending to the next level also seemed to be linked to Yuri Lanster. This confirmed what I needed to do—reach her. Understood.
Along the way, I also picked up some miscellaneous information. Things like how this city was famous for its wine, or that the local lord was bald.
As I kept pulling tricks with my eyes and stealing information, the Queen finally gave up on cost-effectiveness. Instead, she applied brute force, as if she was going to bind the entire world and forcibly grant me a physical form within it.
I could have fought back, but I didn’t.
This was a delicate game of tug-of-war. I had to preserve my strength, using only what was necessary, while forcing the Queen to expend her power. This tactic would open up a critical opportunity later on.
My viewpoint rapidly plummeted.
It seemed the Queen had prepared a character for me. I saw the figure of a man standing in a corner of some attic. It looked like she was trying to put me into that body.
I pretended to enter obediently, then veered off course at the last second. I needed to disable any potential traps embedded in that form.
And sure enough, it was riddled with them.
I purged something that looked like a spiritual wiretap, dismantled thought inducers and motion inhibitors. With a moment to spare, I realized I could fix one more thing.
The physical attributes of this body were abysmal—snail-like agility, sluggish and bloated with fat, and above all⋯⋯ ugly. I couldn’t even tell if this body was human or orc.
It was a character dripping with malice.
You’re telling me to meet Pink-Haired Lesbian looking like this⋯⋯?
Upgrade physical stats to human-like levels VS Increase appearance stat.
After a fierce match, I opted for the latter. I deleted the excess fat data and refined the appearance. Black hair, red eyes… in other words⋯⋯ to my appearance.
⋯⋯Maybe I should adjust the nose bridge a little higher?
No. This was fine. My original appearance would be enough. With those resources, I could increase my strength a little instead. But if the nose bridge was just a little higher, it would⋯⋯.
Click, click, click!
Fine, I get it. I’m going in now, okay?
And that’s how I completed my character creation.
===============================================================
I opened my eyes.
My body groaned in protest. While my original body wasn’t particularly good to begin with, this one felt so frail it seemed more like a glass sculpture than a human. Maybe I should have increased my strength instead of my nose bridge after all⋯⋯?
No.
Just like how you can’t beat a Tyrannosaurus no matter how high your strength stat was, it wouldn’t mean much in a situation where the game master was hell-bent on crushing me.
If 300 sword masters were summoned, could I resist just because my strength was slightly higher?
Moreover in worlds like this, the power balance was determined by the amount of information and skills. I was an outstanding illusion wizard, and the Queen was also the same.
Even if she conjured up an armored dinosaur, if its data was flawed, I could easily dismantle it, reducing it to nothing in an instant. This was the kind of battle we were fighting.
Surprisingly, plausibility also played a significant role here.
Despite the Queen’s interference, this world ultimately existed inside Yuri Lanster’s mind. There was a huge difference between what she believed in and what she didn’t. This difference acted as a correction.
Even if an army of sword masters was sent after me, if it felt too ridiculous or dreamlike, Yuri Lannister would become suspicious of this world.
The power the Queen would then need to suppress that doubt would skyrocket.
This meant the battle wasn’t as impossible as you’d expect.
Moreover, since the key information to break through to the next level was confirmed to be in Yuri Lanster’s consciousness, this meeting would likely involve communication rather than extracting information through force.
So it was right to take care of my appearance rather than physical strength.
Earlier, when I scanned the area, I had already pinpointed Pink-Haired Lesbian’s location. Based on the proximity of this physical form, she was practically next door—a neighbor, so to speak.
Let’s cut to the chase and make contact. I opened the attic’s trapdoor and went down.
I descended the stairs, opened the door, and walked into a city built from past memories. The year was 440. This wasn’t Crownhall, though. It was a city I didn’t recognize.
I took a breath.
Despite being in an enemy’s lair, riddled with traps, I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of meeting Pink-Haired Lesbian soon. It had only been a few days since I last saw her, hadn’t it?
My heart quickened with undisguisable delight.
Yes, let me see you again⋯⋯ not as a lifeless, sleeping figure, but alive and moving. I stood in front of the neighboring house’s door, took a moment to catch my breath, and knocked gently with the back of my hand.
Knock, knock, knock.
After I waited for a moment, the door opened slightly.
I opened my eyes wide in surprise. Standing before me was a⋯⋯ much younger version of Pink-Haired Lesbian than I had anticipated. Judging by her looks, she might have been around the age of a high school student, perhaps?
She was short, her development far different from the version I knew. No glasses, no ponytail. Petite overall, but the potential for that destructive figure was still present.
Her bright yellow eyes stared up at me, filled with unmistakable caution.
“⋯⋯Who are you?”
I had to choose my next words carefully.
“Who are you?” meant she had no memory of me. It implied her memories only stretched back to the distant past, maybe up to the year 440⋯⋯ or so I assumed.
The younger version of her hadn’t yet transferred from the Extermination Squad to the Defense Bureau. She didn’t wear glasses and hadn’t met me. To her, this was our first meeting.
Talking to her as a stranger hurt my heart a little, but at the same time, it was thrilling. I had the chance to see what Pink-Haired Lesbian was like in her younger days.
Alright then, let’s choose our words carefully. I needed to frame the conversation in a way that could help us become friends with this younger version of her. Maybe⋯⋯ I could imitate Selvier’s childhood friend?
Yes, that seemed like a good idea. Let’s greet her with kindness, gently. Let’s build a rapport with this young Pink-Haired Lesbian and eventually coax that adorable smile from her. Ready, set… go.
‘Hello, nice to meet you. I’m the person that just moved in next door⋯⋯.’
Click, click, click.
“Young Pink-Haired Lesbian, you’re so cute.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
The speech bubble changed. Queen, you bitch⋯⋯!!
Slam!
The door closed.
===============================================================
Knock, knock, knock.
After strengthening my control over the language, I knocked again.
“No, wait! I misspoke earlier⋯⋯ Just hear me out for a second. I can explain everything. I’m the person who moved in next door.”
“I’m warning you. If you don’t want to see blood, get lost.”
“I don’t mind seeing blood, just give me five minutes. Please.”
“You think I haven’t seen men like you before?”
Hmph. A scornful huff could be heard through the door. Sounding utterly exhausted by the conversation, the younger Pink-Haired Lesbian spat her words like venom.
“I bet you’ve heard the rumors—that I’m a succubus. And now you think we can do each other a favor, right? Cut the crap and get lost. That was your second warning, and I won’t give a third.”
“What kind of bastard would spread that nonsense⋯⋯.”
“You were probably planning to spout that nonsense yourself. Or were you planning to tell me you’re different from other men⋯⋯ Was that what you were thinking? Even the ones who said that always turned out the same.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Her distrust of men was extremely high, as was her suspicion toward outsiders.
I was confident I could become friends with her if we could just keep the conversation going. I roughly knew what she liked and what kind of person she was. I just needed to find a way to make the first connection.
Time to change tactics. If I didn’t, no matter what I said, I wouldn’t be able to shake off the image of ‘a horny man who came to try and seduce her somehow’.
Start by throwing her off balance.
“I’m impotent.”
“⋯⋯Pardon me?”
“And I’m really good at crossdressing.”
“⋯⋯I’m sorry?”
I could practically picture Pink-Haired Lesbian’s face behind the door, with a question mark floating above her head. That confusion would soon shift to ‘So what do you want me to do about it?’ soon.
I needed to explain myself before she reached that point—give her a reason to talk.
“I revealed my secret so suddenly because it would be uncomfortable if there were misunderstandings between us. You see, I’m not here to get friendly with my neighbor⋯⋯I’m here on business.”
“Business, you say.”
“You’re Yuri Lanster from the Extermination Squad, right? I’m an agent dispatched from the Defense Bureau. Can you guess why someone from the higher-ups would be dispatched at a time like this?”
This implied that I didn’t know the exact reason myself, so it was on her to understand it and tell me. Pink-Haired Lesbian was silent for a moment, then murmured quietly through the door.
“⋯⋯It must be for an inspection.”
“That’s right. My, aren’t you a perceptive one?”
I immediately agreed. I was, after all, an inspector, and my mission from this point on was to was, after all, an inspector, and my mission from this point on was to inspect the Extermination Squad.
“Ah, no need to be too on edge. I’m fully aware of how the Extermination Squad operates⋯⋯ and I know that a bit of ‘flexibility’ tends to boost performance in any organization.”
While it was true I was here to evaluate the squad, I had no intention of nitpicking every little detail. After all, wasn’t that how her organization usually functioned?
“To be honest, I’m just here on vacation. This place is famous for its wine, isn’t it?”
I added this detail, utilizing the random bits of information I had picked up earlier.
“And, coincidentally, my accommodation was set here as well⋯⋯ because there’s an Extermination Squad member next door. I figured I might as well pretend to do some inspecting, so I knocked on your door.”
“⋯⋯I understand, but I have no reason to go along with your laziness.”
“Aha. But I don’t think that’s entirely true⋯⋯?”
A reason. I needed to come up with one—and fast.
Something connected to Pink-Haired Lesbian, something she might desire around this time⋯⋯ If this was during her childhood, it likely hadn’t been long since her hometown was wiped out.
Even as an adult, her thirst for revenge had been intense, so back in her younger days, it must’ve been burning like molten lava. If that were the case, I could leverage information about the Succubus Queen to strike a deal.
“I’ve been assigned the case. The investigation about the『Queen』.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Hut , heard a sharp intake of breath.
That slight gasp alone hinted at how deeply this past event had scarred her. I felt a twinge of guilt for exploiting that, but I couldn’t think of any other excuse.
And really, there was no better justification than this either. I infused my voice with genuine apology and extended my final words to her.
“I’m sorry for dragging up painful memories⋯⋯ but I need your help to catch the『Queen』 Is it alright if I stop by from time to time to hear your story?”
“⋯⋯Yes. If it’s to catch that bitch who deserves to be ripped apart, then yes. But don’t come to me for anything personal, outside of the case. Unless you want to see blood.”
“Scary⋯⋯ I’ll keep that in mind. Until next time, then.”
There was no response.
Sighing deeply, I retreated. At least I’d managed to establish a connection for nwo.
My impression of the young Yuri Lanster was that she was like a hedgehog with all its quills raised. My task now was to gently lower those spikes, get close, and gather the information I needed to reach the ‘underground second floor.’
It wouldn’t be too difficult. Just watch me.
===============================================================
Bang bang bang.
“Yuri, I can’t open my eyes! I got shampoo in them!”
Sometimes, you just have to push through with humor.