Chapter 104

By the time it’s the finals of an esports tournament, it’s not just about the game itself.

The tournament starts at 5 PM, but before that, various events are held to hype up the crowd.

“Bunny Run, look at this.”

I handed Bunny Run some food I bought from the food zone.

Bunny Run was shocked.

“What is this?”

“Looks well-made, right?”

“It’s so well-made that it makes me feel bad.”

What I bought was food modeled after a “Mutant,” one of the objects from <Eternal World>.

In other words, it looked like a bug.

It wasn’t actually made with bugs, but just the appearance alone was enough to be quite disturbing.

“If you try it, it’s just regular meat dumplings. They’re even well-made. The trapped juices inside remind me of dim sum.”

“…Fine, I’ll have one.”

And just like that, we finished the “Mutant Meal” and looked around the food zone.

“The cake looks delicious too.”

“But what does chocolate cake have to do with <Eternal World>?”

“Bunny Run, don’t dig too deep into the truth of collaborations.”

If you dig too deep, the FBI might show up. Be careful.

I took a bite of the cake and asked,

“Aren’t you going to eat more, Bunny Run?”

“If I eat like you, I’ll explode and die. Don’t worry about me, just eat.”

“Then I won’t hold back.”

I left Bunny Run behind and bought various foods to stuff my face with.

Then I checked the time.

12 PM…

Hmm.

“Bunny Run.”

“Yeah?”

“Is Chaenarin not coming?”

“The turtle? She never said anything about not coming.”

If that’s the case, then Chaenarin is supposed to come here as planned, but what could she be doing to be an hour late?

I think I know the reason.

I called Chaenarin first.

Luckily, Chaenarin answered the phone quickly.

“Chaenarin?”

[…….]

“Confirmed.”

*Beep.* The call ended.

“What did the turtle say?”

“She didn’t say anything.”

“Huh? You said you confirmed it.”

“Oh. That just meant I confirmed that Chaenarin was sleeping until now and just woke up because of the call.”

Since there’s still plenty of time before the tournament, I figured she’d show up eventually.

Bunny Run shook her head at my words and said,

“How does that turtle even function in daily life?”

“She probably runs to her lectures to avoid being late. Takes taxis often too.”

“Living a tough life.”

The members of the ‘Asegu’ team all came to watch Bbangbbang’s match.

However, since a group of six people would attract too much attention, we split into two groups.

Girls’ team and boys’ team. Two groups like that.

So we waited for Chaenarin, but judging by how locked down her voice sounded, it seemed like Bunny Run and I would be wandering around alone for a while.

“Unnie, wear your hat and sunglasses properly.”

“Both you and I are wearing hats and sunglasses, making us look like stalkers. Wouldn’t it be less suspicious if we just took them off?”

“No way.”

Bunny Run is a well-known broadcaster, and if I were to walk around with her, someone might piece together my identity in a flash. So we both had to cover our faces… that was Bunny Run’s argument.

It made sense, but there were parts I didn’t quite understand.

“Just yesterday, you were crying and making a fuss about turning on the camera and broadcasting.”

“I wasn’t crying. And that was because you said something weird.”

“How is saying I’ll reveal my face when I evolve into a Super Developer weird?”

“It is weird.”

Anyway.

That’s not what’s important right now.

“Why did your thoughts change from yesterday? If you get caught walking around with your face uncovered, wouldn’t that fulfill Bunny Run’s wish?”

“What I said was to turn on the broadcast at home. It’s dangerous to do that in a crowded place like this.”

“It doesn’t seem particularly dangerous.”

What could be so dangerous about revealing my identity?

Listening to Bunny Run, it feels like revealing my identity would start a witch hunt, but of course, that wouldn’t happen.

At most, someone would shout, “It’s Han Yoorim!” and that would be it. That’s something any celebrity would experience.

“You never know.”

“Bunny Run, are you the type who thinks a meteor might hit Earth tomorrow?”

Still, there’s no harm in being careful, so I obediently followed Bunny Run’s advice.

I took Bunny Run around the various booths set up near the Olympic gymnastics stadium.

“Unnie, that’s your game.”

Bunny Run whispered in my ear.

In the direction Bunny Run pointed, there was a 1M tall tower structure at the entrance.

It was the booth for <Eternal World: Tower of Transcendence>.

Well, it’s the same IP, after all.

Even a regular cheesecake is sold as “Eternal World Cheesecake” at double the price, so this collaboration was quite reasonable.

I entered the <Eternal World: Tower of Transcendence> booth.

“Welcome!”

“What is this place for?”

“It’s an experience booth!”

An experience booth?

I didn’t understand what that meant, so I tilted my head in confusion.

<Eternal World: Tower of Transcendence> had already been released. So anyone could play it immediately if they wanted to, but an experience booth?

I wondered if it was really that popular.

“Want to give it a try?”

“Unnie, want to try it?”

“How does it work?”

“Follow me.”

I followed the staff’s guidance and headed inside the booth.

The booth was incredibly spacious. It was almost big enough to play soccer in.

The staff handed me a pair of glasses.

“What’s this?”

“It’s an AR device.”

An AR device? This?

VR devices and AR devices. At first glance, the two devices seem similar, but the technologies they use are completely different.

A device that completely blocks out the external world and immerses you in a virtual environment through a display, and a device that overlays digital information on the real world through a transparent display—if they were the same, that would be even stranger.

That’s why, while VR devices have been evolving innovatively, AR devices have only been evolving at a normal pace. But the AR device I received was very different.

It looked like a version that had improved many of the existing AR device’s issues, much like the current VR devices.

I put on the AR device first.

And then, as if…

It felt like wearing glasses, the surroundings became clear in my vision.

Wearing glasses. That was important.

It actually felt like I was just wearing glasses.

What is this comfort level? What did you do?

“Where was this made?”

“Made by ‘Messiah’.”

“Is it a released product?”

“It will be commercialized soon.”

“Wow.”

‘Messiah’ was the company that made the current VR device, ‘Prometheus’.

Originally, VR devices also double as AR devices.

But even ‘Messiah’, suspected of torturing aliens, found it difficult to incorporate lightweight design, perfect vision-blocking technology, and AR technology into one device.

So they didn’t even touch AR devices, but who knew they had this up their sleeve.

I suddenly got curious and opened a stock site. But Messiah’s stock was quiet.

AR devices have much more market potential than VR devices, applicable in numerous fields beyond gaming.

But even after making an AR device of this level, the stock is quiet?

There’s only one reason.

“Is this the first time you’re unveiling this AR device?”

“Yes.”

This company is really strange. Making such an important thing quietly without any buzz, and instead of gathering journalists for a big promotion, they casually show it at some esports finals event booth.

From what I remember, the place where they first unveiled the VR device to the world was also some strange volunteer meeting.

Typical Messiah.

Romantic in a good way, but in a bad way, they’re a bit loose.

It means I like them.

I invested all my spare funds into Messiah.

If I like it, I like it, and I do what I need to do.

I have plenty of money, but more money is always right.

Well, not that I plan to sell Messiah’s stock if it goes up. I bought it with the intention of holding it for 10 years.

“How is it?”

“Hmm.”

I wore the AR device and moved my body vigorously to the downed game, but honestly, it was subtle.

The AR device itself was innovative, but the game inside was not great.

“If it’s like this, you could have just made an obstacle course game instead of <Eternal World: Tower of Transcendence>.”

“Maybe it’s because we’re not experts in game production.”

“With this performance, even without content, it would be widely used for various conveniences.”

“Even so, we can’t ignore the game. We’re also worried about that issue.”

Worried, huh.

I slightly opened my mouth.

“Yuseong?”

“Did you call, sis?”

“Give this person my business card.”

At my words, Yuseong took out a business card holder from his pocket and gave it to the other person.

“Yoorim Company… Han Yoorim? No way?”

“If it’s a game request, we’re always welcome.”

I coolly left the booth.

Beside me, Bunny Run muttered.

“Sis? When did your cousin come?”

“He’s been following me around.”

“Why?”

“He’s playing.”

“That?”

“That.”

It’s hard to believe, but Yuseong was currently playing.

If you ask why following me around and acting as a secretary is playing, I don’t know either. Don’t ask.

But Yuseong, do you have time for this? Aren’t you super busy expanding the <Cosmic Osuary> IP business?

“Me? I do it in my spare time.”

“You have spare time doing that. Honestly, wouldn’t it be more helpful for your life to go abroad?”

“What are you talking about. Where’s a job with higher potential than working with sis?”

“Including that point.”

At my words, Yuseong laughed and quietly disappeared.

Even an assassin was less swift than that.

“I think I know why sis is special.”

“I’m extremely ordinary though?”

“Including that point. …Wait a sec.”

Mid-conversation, Bunny Run took out her smartphone from her pocket and put it to her ear.

“Where are we now? Olympic gymnastics stadium. You don’t know the way? Turtle, you don’t even know the way now? Exactly where are you now. …Nearby, huh. Got it. I’ll come now, stay there.”

Ding. Bunny Run, who ended the call, said to me.

“Sis. I’ll go get Turtle, stay here.”

“Shall I come with you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll be back.”

Bunny Run quickly left her seat.

I admired her swift movements and sat down on a chair for a while.

It’s hot.

Is it because it’s early September? The world was still very hot.

Hmm. Now that Bunny Run isn’t here, can’t I just remove the disguise?

Isn’t the disguise only necessary when she’s around?

I took off my hat and ruffled my hair. It was cool.

I also took off my sunglasses.

The world became clear.

I looked around.

People looked at me admiringly, but no one recognized me.

It’s natural since my face has never been revealed.

See, I told you. No need to disguise—.

“Found you!”

Suddenly. Someone grabbed my shoulder and shouted.

I blinked and turned my head.

A person I’ve never seen before was standing next to me.

Who are you?

“What are you doing here? The event is starting soon.”

“Huh?”

“Come with me quickly.”

“Huh?”

I was dragged somewhere by the man without knowing why.

And then, an announcement brushed past my ears.

[The cosplay event will start soon. Those interested, please gather at the outdoor stage.]

……Cosplay?