Chapter 302
Chapter 302
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 302
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Session Alumni Gathering
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Woo Chae-rin decided to unravel the mystery of this Kiss Disappearance Incident step by step.
She had heard explanations pouring in from all sides, but everyone giving their accounts separately only made things more complicated. First, she needed to designate one person to speak on behalf of the group.
Who here seemed like they could explain things the best?
A beautiful girl dressed like a medieval inn waitress, a boy in worn clothes as if about to embark on a long journey, an intellectual old man, a lively high school girl...
"...Elder? Could I hear a clear explanation from you?"
Woo Chae-rin chose the intellectual old man. She could sense the aura of someone with a PhD from his movements and speech.
"A sharp one, aren't you. A wise choice."
"Abraham, that's quite meaningful. Sure, since I'm just a high schooler, I'm less wise than you, an astronomy PhD, but in this mysterious and convoluted situation, as a fellow Korean—"
"In that case, Hye-in, I'll ask you to provide analogies from the side. I trust a compatriot can offer intuitive and brilliant metaphors. Think you can manage?"
"Of course!"
The super excited high school girl tagged along as an auxiliary module.
Abraham told the story of the world to the young female PhD who had just awakened to self-consciousness. Gods exist, this world was created by two young gods, and we were originally just lumps of data.
"Like Re:Zero AI with a dash of The Matrix."
The reason we gained consciousness was that someone from the outside world held a strong 'belief' in us. It seems someone out there is desperately missing you.
'Players'—they generally don't realize we're AI and understand us as humans living in another world.
"In my case, it's my friends, and over there, it's the prince."
Both gods are generous to us, preparing vessels for us to go 'outside,' and in fact, Centra over there has even gone out once.
"She even got a kiss. That means there's hope for us to go out too!"
"...Hye-in? Do we really need to add that part?"
Having heard this much, Woo Chae-rin fell into deep contemplation. The idea that she was actually a personality created in a common brain. This was a question that could fuel years of profound philosophical reflection.
The more she thought, the more mine-like thoughts bubbled up. Does my life up to now have meaning? If all my misfortunes were fabricated, is God to blame? Wait, if I'm data, doesn't that mean I can binge without worrying about dieting...?
Abraham smiled kindly and wrapped up his words.
"You must ponder it properly and find your answer. But let me add this: what makes a human human is the star in their heart, so don't forget that you began to live and breathe because someone outside deeply loves you."
"...Thank you for the advice."
Right. Focusing on being a created life makes it SF horror genre.
But thinking of her motionless doll-like body coming alive through Gordius's love turned it into a touching love story.
And considering the kiss that had been interrupted just before... AI or whatever, she had to survive until she got it. Regardless of her true nature, that kiss had to happen.
Even if it felt too forward or obsessive, making her embarrassed just thinking about it alone.
Riding a robot to defeat a giant monster, saving the world, recovering lost memories—and then not kissing? That defied logic. This was... scientific. An act necessary to uphold the order of the universe.
As Woo Chae-rin's inner turmoil swirled moment by moment, whispers came from the outfield.
"Ooh... her expression is exactly like Centra unnie's before she headed out to kiss the prince. She was all hyped up back then."
"That's just a side note!"
"Ah, young love. Hey, isn't there anyone good for me~? If we say that here, it's just us two without partners. Right, Fero?"
"...I-I, I have...!!"
Fero couldn't bring himself to say he had a promising future with Elaine. The boy's face suddenly turned melancholic.
Afterward, Woo Chae-rin gradually adapted to this Session Alumni Gathering.
All these stories were made for the 'players.' Accordingly, the people gathered here had experienced all sorts of incidents and accidents.
"I'm a magical girl, and that one's a phantom thief."
"...Hye-in, it's Resistance. Not phantom thief."
"Everyone will tell their stories if you ask, but don't ask Grandpa Abraham. When you hear it, your head starts itching, your heart aches and wants to cry. Big trouble."
They had come from different 'worldviews' each.
Once most questions were resolved, only one remained in Woo Chae-rin's mind. Perhaps this was the most important one.
"So... what are we supposed to do from now on?"
"Well, that's—"
In the past, upon realizing the existence of the Session Alumni Gathering, Mima pondered how to make effective use of them. They were characters she was attached to, so she'd eventually let them out, but it felt wasteful not to utilize them.
After much thought, Mima came up with a use.
The mission bestowed upon them by the Creator was none other than.
"Protecting the Goddess...!"
"...Goddess?"
"Yuna Yurensuto Violetiris. Alias 'Yunaris, Existence of Infinite Void'... She's cute. Kinda like a rabbit plush toy."
The crazy mage's mental barrier was already rock-solid. Modules maintained cosmic defense 24/7, and at the center coiled the ultra-high-performance firewall called 'Promise.'
On the other hand, Violet Magic Tower Master Yuna was different. By Mima's judgment, she needed to pay attention to her mental barrier. Because Yuna herself said:
"I don't worry about the mental barrier; it blocks on its own... Can't see inside either."
Yuna didn't even know her own mental interior. Not knowing meant she couldn't erect a barrier. Yet her resistance to illusion magic was extraordinarily high.
It was strange for the great archmage of the Violet Tower to not know her own mental structure. Thus, Mima speculated this was a side effect of imperfect ascension ability.
If she didn't know the operating principle, there was no guarantee it would stay sturdy forever. So Mima entrusted the Alumni Gathering with her mental security.
Of course, she got consent from Yuna herself. And what was created was:
"This door leads straight to the Goddess's mind!"
A mental passage utilizing succubus queen technology to the fullest.
On the wall Fero pointed to was a massive iron door like one from a bank vault. A boldly eerie "Strictly No Entry" sign hung there. The lock was thick.
"Don't even think of entering without sufficient preparation and personnel. Beyond lies something utterly arduous, perilous... complex and chaotic."
"Yeah. Whew, I almost got eaten in there."
The Session Alumni Gathering had explored Yuna's mental interior several times. Without the crazy mage's assistance, accidents would have occurred in that treacherous place.
During those explorations, they discovered two unusual things.
"There's something like 'Promise' inside... Oh, Dr. Chae-rin doesn't know who 'Promise' is!"
"And, besides the door connected to us, there were other 'doors.' We've found ten so far, all sealed... meaning her mind was once linked to somewhere else."
Unraveling this mystery, stabilizing and strengthening Yuna's mental world—that was their long-term goal.
The Creator promised physical bodies in the present world as compensation.
Once Yuna's mental world stabilized, her ascension ability would refine, making extraction from inside to outside much easier... or so Mima said.
"Besides that... we get occasional outside jobs."
"Outside... jobs?"
"Yeah. A few people know we're AI, not isekai folks. The pink-haired one who loves naughty magazines with her killer figure, someone like the Creator's daughter, and my friends!"
"Such 'outsiders' sometimes ask us for guidance. Last time, they requested moral education for a child. A peculiar kid."
Woo Chae-rin nodded. She now had a rough sense of the ecosystem here.
It wouldn't be true if she wasn't bewildered. Who wouldn't be shocked to learn the world was suddenly The Truman Show? Naturally anxious and confused.
But old man Abraham's words became her support. Per his explanation, her self-awareness and independence stemmed from Gordius's belief fueling her.
He was thinking of her even now. Focusing on that joy seemed enough to overcome the chaos.
Alright. Start by adapting slowly.
Woo Chae-rin clenched her fist and resolved.
A few days later, Woo Chae-rin had fully adapted.
Looking back, she didn't have any human relationships worth regretting. Her lab was full of people who just pointed fingers at her, and since there was no data on parents who never appeared in the session, she didn't miss them either.
(That fact was a bit creepy.)
She even asked if vanishing belief meant death, but they said even if belief cut off, steady mana supply would prevent existing consciousness from vanishing.
To the question of mass death if the entire simulation shut down:
"Grandpa Abraham will handle it."
"...Is he something special?"
"Unlike us, he's directly under the Goddess. Gets mana from her side. So even if we lose ours, Abraham can move and cope."
"But belief awakens consciousness, right? Then how does Abraham...?"
"Ahem..."
From Oh Hye-in's trailing off, Woo Chae-rin realized the answer. He remained AI without awakened consciousness. The Bennett Party believed him dead, so they mourned but didn't believe in his existence.
His unique birth—shot with personality-granting magic on a golem by Mima, then adopted by Yuna—made him an Alumni member.
Abraham himself didn't care about such things, apparently.
Anyway.
Joseph and Kim Yun-seo, whom she was close to, had high chances of awakening. If Gordi trained hard or thought of them more, they could wake.
If society hungered, weekly mana rations could run simulations—from coffee shops to all-you-can-eat galbi full courses.
...This life was more affluent than expected?
Being loved by the Creator was definitely good. Though thinking the giant monsters, tragedies, and pains came from him stirred her heart.
As she fiddled with a pen pondering mana engine improvements, Abraham rang the announcement bell audible to all.
"The Creator says this week's dream bus is ready. Shall we settle it with Jenga again?"
"Sounds good. No cheating with superpowers!"
"Hasn't only you gotten caught using magical girl powers, sis Hye-in...?"
And outings were more frequent than expected.
She thought it'd be 'Don't even dream of seeing your beloveds until you achieve what I want, you pathetic creations!'
But it was: 'Physical body production is slightly delayed. Apologies for the inconvenience. As compensation, we're running a shuttle bus to enter your beloveds' dreams periodically for chats. Please note.'
Last week's lucky winner was Fero, but it invalidated sadly since First Princess Elaine pulled an all-nighter slaying demons and didn't sleep.
Abraham cleared his throat and announced one more thing.
"Oh, and another notice. A request came in... Send one girl to guide the way. Romance manga or rom-com style. Not my field, so I leave it to you."
"Romance... I'll take it, Abraham! So, who's the one?"
As Oh Hye-in shot her hand up and volunteered, asking:
Knock knock knock.
The door slid open with the knock. Red hair peeked through the gap. A slightly high-pitched voice followed.
"Um, is this... the simulation? The one full of romance knowledge."
It was the Creator's childhood friend, Selbia.
The sense of crisis had been building for a while.
He already had two lovers. Both pretty and capable. Squeezing into that gap was a mission... way too high a wall for Selbia challenging first love.
And heavens, after the 'kiss achieved' declaration:
"Mwah mwah mwah mwah."
"C-Can't... breathe, Tower Master...!"
Was that a woodpecker or a person? Seeing lips smash first thing no matter what she was doing irked, saddened, angered, and stressed her.
The dress change tactic taught to Nioire would be overwhelmed by Agent Yuri Lanster's maxed allure stats.
Then came the devil's whisper to her.
"Hey, girl. Want power—?"
Mima's pseudo-daughter, former evil god-chan, Aisha.
"...Name's Aisha, right? What power do you mean?"
"Heh heh, obviously... the power to win on the romance front."
"......"
"Just nod. No compensation needed. If you agree—just that—I'll give you the strategy. I understand Mima deepest."
Tee hee hee. Aisha laughed slyly.
Such a suspicious offer, unknown motives... Normally, pride would make her refuse. But Selbia was cornered now.
"...Let's hear it. What power exactly...?"
"Violet Tower Master is reckless. Knows how to express affection but not refined. Yuri Lanster too. Natural powerhouses who win without training. Got it? Among heroines—no technicians."
No technical class.
"That's the gap. Claim the romance technician spot to boost competitiveness."
"I'd have done it if I could!!"
"Listen. What if there's a library compiling all romance techniques? Devour clichés, study—refine skills?"
"......"
Aisha's proposal sounded plausible. Selbia wavered then took the devil's hand.
"...Academy Team Tournament soon, so I'm busy, no time. Just a little. Very briefly."
"Sure thing. I'll smooth it inside."
With Aisha's help, Selbia entered the simulation and began learning modern civilization's myriad romance clichés.
Aisha smiled contentedly. Her reason for this was simple.
"The debt for that dress-change punishment... Pay it back like this, Mima!"
A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years.
Stuff Selbia into the near-saturated romance front, make it three wives' nagging long-term instead of two!
Late at night, Aisha's wicked laughter echoed through the research building.
The crazy mage looked up at the building satisfied and clapped.
"Whew, great job, Professor Al whatever. The mansion's defense magic turned out perfect! As expected of a veteran Golden Tower mage!"
Shoulders swelling like a mountain at the praise, Professor Alejandro began explaining his great feat fluidly.
"Hmph, natural for me. This 'Glorious Mansion' with five-layered magic circles enchant-composed—may scratch but won't crumble. Wanna celebrate with drinks...? Won't refuse."
"Maybe not. My liver's been acting up lately."
Having endured his endless drunken rants before, Mima politely declined.
Set complete, items installed. With setup done, only the event remained. Mima toyed with a switch in her pocket.
"Shall we begin, 'Academy Team Tournament'...!"