Chapter 105

Cosplay is a combination of “Costume” and “Play,” referring to the activity of dressing up as characters from comics, animations, games, etc., and recreating those characters.

This cosplay industry has many unwritten rules and its own unique culture.

What does that mean?

If you jump in without a second thought, you might get some serious side-eye.

“Isn’t the cosplay team supposed to come this time?”

“Yes.”

“Then, that Thierry cosplay is…”

“It’s a hobby.”

I explained the situation to the man.

Cosplay is essentially becoming one with the character.

Even if I skip the makeup, just throwing on some clothes and casually standing on stage like this isn’t proper etiquette.

“Team leader. The invited cosplay team just called. They’re running super late because of a traffic accident.”

“The event’s about to start and they’re late? That’s a no-show. Ugh.”

The man clicked his tongue and ruffled his hair.

I could feel the struggles of a worker dealing with all sorts of variables.

“Since the misunderstanding is cleared up, I’ll be going.”

But struggles aside, my schedule is my schedule.

With many areas still unseen, I had to move quickly.

“Ah, sorry for the misunderstanding. But if you’re okay with it, would you like to join the competition? Our application rules aren’t strict, so you can sign up on the spot.”

The current cosplay event is divided into two parts.

One. The invited section. Professional cosplay teams are brought in to take the stage, used to hype up the atmosphere.

Two. The general section. This is actually the main event, where participants compete in cosplay to pick a winner.

I shook my head.

“I’m not prepared.”

“Huh? I thought you were already ready?”

“My clothes are just regular outfits.”

“Huh. You’re right. …Why did I think it was a perfect cosplay?”

The man muttered in confusion. I continued.

“Going on stage just because you look somewhat similar without any preparation isn’t cosplay. Cosplay requires thorough preparation beforehand—!”

“Unnie. If you want to go, should I bring you some clothes?”

“Yuseong. Make some noise when you come in. Clothes? What clothes?”

“Of course, Thierry cosplay clothes. I have all kinds in the car, so I’ll bring whatever you want. They’re all tailored to your size.”

“Why on earth do you carry that around?”

Yuseong. What are you?

Doraemon or something?

“I prepared because I heard there was a cosplay event at the competition hall. I knew you wouldn’t miss something like this.”

“I definitely know that Yuseong doesn’t know me well.”

“Wasn’t it? Then what about that time in middle school? That was cosplay too.”

“That was a different kind.”

“Anyway. So, you’re not going?”

Hmm.

“I’ll go.”

“I knew it.”

*

Cosplay requires acting.

Just wearing similar clothes and standing still isn’t cosplay.

You have to strike poses, make expressions, and act in ways the character would. That’s cosplay.

[Next participant, please come up!]

I stepped onto the stage at the host’s call.

Standing at the center of the stage, I struck a pose as if casting elemental magic.

The cheers of the crowd touched my skin.

They were clearly impressed by my high-quality outfit.

“……!”

In the distance, I caught someone pointing at me in shock.

It was the rabbit and the turtle.

They seem to get along well. Did they stop racing?

But rabbit, be careful. The turtle seems shady, like it’s planning to steal your liver.

“Is that really Thierry?”

“Did a dimensional gate open?”

“No. Huh? What?”

The people standing right in front of the stage muttered softly.

Normally, it would have been drowned out by the cheers, but a super developer’s ears catch even the smallest sounds. It’s a biological wiretap that would make the FBI cry.

My acting skills were indeed incredible.

How many times had I played Thierry? Every pose was filled with soul.

It wouldn’t be strange if people thought Thierry had jumped out into reality.

“Wow. The makeup is amazing.”

“Is that hair natural?”

“How can that color be natural? It’s dyed.”

“Even dye can’t achieve that.”

Huh. Why no compliments on my acting?

Reluctantly, I acted out Thierry using her ultimate skill.

I believed people would feel my sincerity towards cosplay this time.

“The skin is insane.”

“It’s not the skin, it’s the makeup. You think that skin is natural?”

“Wow. The makeup is cheating.”

“…But even with cheating makeup, can that really happen? Even with Photoshop editing, that kind of appearance wouldn’t come out.”

I stopped posing and made a V-sign, bringing it to my face.

The cheers grew even louder.

Since you like it, I like it too.

A super developer always has the duty to provide what users want.

I’m a popular culture creator. If something’s good, I’ll adopt it. I won’t oppose it just because it might ruin the artistic integrity—.

“Unnie, I really can’t tell where you’re going.”

“I’m not a bouncy ball. Please don’t poke my skin.”

After finishing the competition, I came down, and Bunny Run ran over to check my skin.

Seeing people as bouncy balls. Bunny Run, this kid. Getting weirder by the day.

[The judging is over! Let’s announce the winners!]

At those words, all eyes in the competition hall turned to the host.

[Starting with third place… Congratulations! To the person who played Ormal, the Ogre Half-blood, ‘Boiled Sweet and Sour Pork’!]

“Huh?”

Wahhhhh!

The crowd cheered.

Then the host continued.

[Second place… Congratulations. To the person who played Marvin Flail, the Knight of Death, ‘Shin Chang-hyun’!]

“Unnie. Wait.”

Bunny Run panicked beside me. Not knowing why, I looked at Bunny Run, and the host continued.

[The long-awaited first place… Congratulations! To the person who played Thierry, the Elemental Master—.]

“Unnie. Wait. Wait!”

[Kim In-ho!]

“Huh?”

“Wahhhhh!”

I went up on stage.

Holding up the <Eternal World> logo made of pure gold, the crowd went wild.

Satisfied, I enjoyed the stage and returned to Bunny Run.

“So, what did you want to say?”

“I thought you were using your real name for the cosplay competition…”

“I thought you were participating.”

“I told you. I’ll only use my ultimate move after becoming a super developer.”

“Unnie, you always end up doing something weird anyway.”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

It really is a misunderstanding.

I’ve always done normal things.

“…Yoorim unnie. Hello.”

After finishing the conversation with Bunny Run, Chaekkul greeted lightly.

I stared at Chadreong.

“…Yoorim unnie? What’s wrong?”

“I was checking if you had eye gunk.”

“…Do I?”

“Nope.”

Even though I said there wasn’t any, Chaenarin checked her face in selfie mode.

A society where you can’t trust people. Is this okay?

“You don’t trust unnie.”

“Even if I can’t trust the world, I should trust you.”

If you can’t trust the apostle of sincerity, who can you trust?

Bunny Run? Those devious apostles of purity who would lie for the sake of purity. They’re the number one group to be wary of if you meet them at the Tutorial Tower.

Just trust me and follow.

“But why Kim In-ho?”

“I have to mention him like this sometimes so he doesn’t feel left out.”

Our In-ho is such a good kid.

He’s good.

Thank you.

“Still, it was fun, right?”

“I was on edge.”

“Bunny Run-nim. I’ve said it many times, but you’re overreacting.”

It’s very hard to recognize me just by looking at my face.

When people see me, they think, ‘Where have I seen her before? Oh, right. Thierry. But that one is overwhelmingly superior.’ They don’t think, ‘Who is that? Oh, Han Yoorim. She made her avatar look exactly like her real self.’

Thinking like that would actually be abnormal.

And since the world runs on common sense, Bunny Run’s worries were excessive.

“I’ll go change my clothes and come back.”

“We’ll wait for you in front of the stadium.”

“…Please come back quickly.”

I left Chaenarin and Bunny Run behind and headed to where Yuseong’s limo van was parked.

Even though I wore a hat and sunglasses, my outfit being Thierry’s drew quite a bit of attention.

“Hello. Would you mind doing an interview?”

So it wasn’t that strange for someone to approach me like this.

I glanced at the camera. Is this an internet broadcast?

It didn’t matter much, so I answered readily.

Changing my voice slightly was a bonus.

“Of course.”

“Thank you. Are you here to watch the ECK finals today?”

“Of course.”

“Can I ask which team you’re rooting for?”

“Janus Dragon.”

Janus Dragon was Bbangbbang’s team.

Since their star player is Bbangbbang, they’re known as the strongest team without a championship yet.

“Which player do you like the most?”

“I like Prince. He’s really good at Noah Weber.”

Prince, who copied my Noah Weber and performed brilliantly, even giving shoutouts in interviews, is a very promising rookie.

We should cherish him.

The interviewer nodded at my words and asked another question.

“Last question. What do you think will be the key point of today’s match?”

*

The broadcaster, ‘Sunsal Godeung-eo,’ specialized in covering the <Eternal World> Pro League.

It was a rare choice for a non-professional. Pro League coverage was usually dominated by former pros or famous team members.

So, Sunsal Godeung-eo did things others didn’t to survive.

He went to the actual site to broadcast, something others avoided due to the hassle.

On Sunsal Godeung-eo’s broadcast, a woman appeared for an interview.

A man watching the broadcast tilted his head.

A golden wig and the same outfit as Thierry.

‘Did she participate in a cosplay event?’

That seemed to be the case.

It was just a bit disappointing that her face wasn’t visible due to the sunglasses and hat.

The woman continued the interview with a unique voice, like an anime character.

She cheered for Janus Dragon and particularly liked Prince.

Sunsal Godeung-eo asked her the final question.

“Last question. What do you think will be the key point of today’s match?”

“Key point?”

“Yes. What do you think will decide the outcome of the match?”

“The outcome…”

The woman pondered for a moment, then slowly moved her lips.

“Of course, it will depend on how well the City Core, the heart of the game, overcomes the pressure. As far as I know, Janus’s City Core player is from a support background. Since they’re not a pure damage dealer, they’ll need to overcome that aspect to secure victory. In the end, when pushed to the limit, people tend to choose what they’re familiar with. The weight of being a championless team—”

……

……?

Uh… Hmm.

Huh?

A huge discomfort. Just before something flashed in the man’s mind.

<ㅇㅇ님이 1000원 뿌렸습니다> (User ㅇㅇ donated 1000 won.)

“F***, it’s Han Yoorim.”

Someone sent a donation like a player.

The TTS voice echoed beyond the broadcast to the scene.

Sunsal Godeung-eo was flustered by the donation. The woman also stared at the camera without moving.

And then.

“Got caught, huh?”

The woman said softly. It wasn’t the anime character voice from before, but a very clear and beautiful voice.

The woman took off her sunglasses and hat.

The man was stunned.

Her hair, bathed in morning sunlight, fluttered. Her clear eyes, like the autumn sky, pierced through the camera lens, and her snow-white skin created an otherworldly atmosphere.

The woman.

Han Yoorim, opened her mouth.

“Hello?”