Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: As I Please
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I watched Team Leader Han Yeo-reum with a nervous gaze.
Han Yeo-reum, who had bowed to us before sitting down opposite, slowly lifted her gaze. Her long eyelashes fluttered up, revealing her eyes.
And her eyes met mine.
Han Yeo-reum's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands.
"Gasp!"
Han Yeo-reum let out a sharp, stifled scream.
"Oh my, oh my. You look exactly like you do in-game...! So... so cute!"
She began to squeal, her eyes glazing over.
Her breath came in excited puffs.
It looked like steam was about to come out of her nose.
I could only stare at her, dumbfounded.
That reaction... it's similar to how Chris acts sometimes, isn't it?
Chris pulled me close to her side. She began to glare at Team Leader Han Yeo-reum with wary eyes.
Han Yeo-reum met Chris's gaze.
"You must be Chris? Iseulbi's guardian, a senior researcher at Klaus Capsule Corporation."
"Yes, what about it?"
Chris pulled me protectively into her arms and replied to Han Yeo-reum in a sharp tone.
"My youngest is absolutely adorable, you know. My second child and I are always bickering over who gets to spoil her. Want to see a picture?"
"...Really?"
Chris started squealing along with Han Yeo-reum as she looked at the photo on her smartphone.
"Oh my, oh my. Team Leader Han, your youngest is so cute!"
"Isn't she!? Ehehe, Iseulbi is really pretty too!"
"Right? Right? Ihihit!"
Chris and Han Yeo-reum hit it off immediately and started giggling together.
"......?"
Watching Chris like that, a strange feeling welled up inside my chest.
It wasn't a pleasant feeling.
Why am I feeling this way?
I acted on my feelings.
*Tug.*
I gave a sharp tug on the collar of Chris's clothes as she squealed over the smartphone with Han Yeo-reum.
"Oh!"
*Thump.*
Pulled back by my hand, Chris plopped down onto the sofa.
Feeling inexplicably grumpy, I grumbled a little.
"We came here to talk about the commercial, didn't we?"
"R-Right, of course."
Chris looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression, then suddenly started to grin.
"Rain... could it be that you don't like it when I call someone else pretty?"
"I-I don't know."
"Ehehit! Don't worry! For me, you're the only one, Rain."
"......."
I hung my head low.
For some reason, Chris looked incredibly happy.
It seems I really don't like it when Chris calls someone other than me cute or pretty.
Why don't I like it?
Chris and I carefully reviewed the proposal and draft contract that Team Leader Han Yeo-reum presented.
"Purpose... scope of contract... contract period..."
My head was spinning.
It's so complicated.
I never thought I'd be shooting a commercial.
"The shooting schedule is important too. The shoot itself will be at a designated location in-game, with a designated composition... So they'll just be filming the footage in Astria Online."
"Is that right? So I don't have to go somewhere else and get into a capsule there to film?"
"It's a commercial being filmed in the metaverse. The conditions are very convenient."
These terms are very favorable for me.
I don't have to drag my uncomfortable body to a shoot. I can just film from inside my own capsule.
There are some parts that need to be filmed anew in the Astria Continent, but the Green Dragon raid will be a reuse of footage focused on me.
"And, Article 4. Performance fee and payment terms."
This is a very important clause.
How much money they're offering is crucial.
If it's a lot, I have to take the offer. To pay back my debt to Chris.
The amount was fifty million.
There was even an additional incentive based on achieving the commercial's target metrics.
Is that a lot?
Chris looked surprised.
"You could say our Rain is a celebrity under Klaus Capsule Corporation, but... for a regular person's first commercial shoot, these terms are amazing, aren't they?"
"I told you, I'm not a celebrity..."
And since when did I become affiliated with Klaus Capsule Corporation?
"Huhu, Rain is destined to become a famous metaverse influencer, so Hana Games is lucky."
Judging by Chris's reaction, the terms must be quite good.
I glanced over at Team Leader Han Yeo-reum.
I couldn't read any particular expression from her, as she was just smiling brightly.
I don't know how much authority she has, but as just a team leader in the marketing department, she's probably just doing what her superiors told her.
Why are they offering me such good terms?
Is there some other motive?
After thinking for a long while, I nodded.
"I'll take the contract."
There's an incentive, and I can probably expect more commercial shoots in the future.
In any case, there's a lot I can do in Rain's body.
To earn money, I'll use everything I can, whether it's my face or something else.
"If Rain is okay with it, then so am I."
"I need to earn money."
"My money is your money, you know... Ahem, alright. I'll be right back. I'm just stepping out for a moment."
Chris licked her lips, took a copy of the contract, and headed off somewhere.
Han Yeo-reum was also attending to some business, a hologram projected into the air from her smartphone.
I stared at Han Yeo-reum and asked.
"What are you doing?"
"Huhu, even after drafting the contract, there are still procedures to go through, like a legal review. For now, there's nothing more for you to do today, Iseulbi."
"I see."
So you don't just look at a contract and sign it right away if you like it.
Still, I've learned a lot this time, so maybe I'll be able to handle a contract like this on my own later.
Han Yeo-reum and I were left in the meeting room.
I watched her, lost in thought.
Today, Team Leader Han Yeo-reum had stuck strictly to her job.
It seemed she had really come only for the commercial contract.
Doesn't she have anything to say to me?
If she's not going to bring up the synchronization rate, then this is it. I can just keep enjoying the Astria Continent as I have been.
But I have questions of my own.
Team Leader Han Yeo-reum.
Whether she's just in charge of marketing, how much authority she has.
How much she knows about 'Astria Online'.
I don't know anything.
Do I have to be the one to bring it up?
I swallowed hard and asked her a question.
"Team Leader Han Yeo-reum. Um, I have a question. Would you be able to answer it?"
"Yes? Huhu, what might you be curious about, Miss Iseulbi?"
She showered me with a benevolent gaze.
Should I ask if she knows about my abnormal synchronization rate? No. There's no need to poke the hornet's nest.
I need to ask a fundamental question.
The chances of her knowing are low, but...
Everything I was curious about.
I condensed it all into a single sentence.
"...Is 'Astria Online' a game?"
For a moment, silence fell over the meeting room.
Team Leader Han Yeo-reum was still just smiling with her kind, friendly eyes.
Then, she opened her mouth.
"It's a game."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's a game, and nothing more."
Of course, it's a game. I know that.
There's a status window, and there are stats.
The demons have set patterns, and they greet users in their respective instance dungeons.
And the many deaths I've experienced. And the resurrections.
Death there isn't the absolute end.
But I couldn't see Astria Online as just a simple game.
Just then, Team Leader Han Yeo-reum added something more.
"...For now."
"......!"
My eyes must have widened.
She knows something.
"Adventurers from the stars are active in overcoming the crisis that has befallen the Astria Continent. Through their actions, the history of the Astria Continent will be rewritten. It's a continent of heart-pounding adventure and magic."
Spreading her hands to either side, as if giving a speech.
"There, everyone is the protagonist. Regardless of who saved it in the past, who disappeared, or who found their way there again, no one bears the mission alone. The mission to save the world is shared by all."
"......."
"Isn't it enough to just enjoy it without thinking too much? Is there something else you're curious about, Iseulbi?"
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
Behind her friendly smile, I got the strong impression that she wouldn't answer any more questions.
Just then, Chris returned.
"Rain?"
Chris looked puzzled, her gaze shifting between me glaring at Han Yeo-reum and Han Yeo-reum smiling brightly.
"Well then, I'll be counting on you, Iseulbi."
Han Yeo-reum gathered her documents, rose from her seat, and bowed to Chris and me.
She was about to leave the meeting room when she paused and spoke to me.
"By the way, Iseulbi, you're always taking care of your health, right?"
"...Yes."
"Huhu, don't overdo it."
On the way home with Chris, we had a brief conversation.
"Hah, I prepared so many responses. In the end, my worries about your synchronization rate were for nothing."
"Yes. She didn't show any signs of taking action."
"She couldn't have known and just let it slide, right? Well, how much would someone from marketing know about the technical side anyway. Ugh, I feel relieved, but also uneasy."
"......."
I felt uneasy too.
My questions weren't fully resolved. Today's meeting with Team Leader Han Yeo-reum left me with several new ones.
But one thing became clear.
I don't know about anyone else, but at the very least, Team Leader Han Yeo-reum herself knows a lot about me.
She knows about my synchronization rate.
She also left the impression that she doesn't care what I do.
This game company, who's pulling the strings? Some divine being from this world?
"Hah."
My head hurts.
I let out a deep sigh and decided to think simply.
They won't impose any sanctions, nor will they take any measures.
For now, that's enough.
There will be things I have to find out through 'Rain' from now on.
Anyway, I've basically received tacit permission to do as I please.
At the same time, I was a little annoyed.
A world saved by many users together.
So, a hero who bears the mission alone is no longer needed.
I'm fine. But.
Suddenly, an interesting idea came to mind.
If I can do as I please, then I'll do as I please.
Should I show them what only 'I' can do?
First, the next dungeon has to open, though.
"Chris."
"Hmm?"
"For the next elite dungeon, I'm going to do it the same way as before."
"I knew it, you're planning to keep going solo. Just don't overdo it."
"Don't you think it would be fun to broadcast my solo attempt for the first clear?"
Chris's eyes widened.
For the first time since coming to this world, Iseulbi smiled, full of confidence.