Chapter 269

“Oh dear~ I apologize. Our inconsiderate staff has caused a tremendous offense…! Moreover, you even went out of your way to care… You could have just laid down without needing to leave a caretaker on purpose. Douglas, what the hell! Because you didn’t promptly approve the request, this kind of traffic accident happens!”

“The reason I said to delay as much as possible was because this could turn into a mess at the last minute… “Creak.” …Of course, that’s me! Yes!! I’m sorry, model Anastasia!! Ahahaha—!!”

“No, no, I actually thought you were a kind and fun person. Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot.”

Changing locations, we headed down the corridor towards the holographic filming studio.

In reality, considering their physique and stride, I should be falling behind him, but even amidst our mindless chatter, I responded with an awkward smile to Director Morgan, who effortlessly demonstrated a high-level hospitality skill by adjusting to my pace.

Ah, I thought I would spend my time in the waiting room bored and unable to move. But, thanks to Erin and the manager sister, it was unexpectedly quite fun.

It felt like watching the behind-the-scenes of both the broadcasting station and the game Neo Haven at the same time. Who would have thought that the announcer agitator, who daily exclaimed ‘Hey! Corporate bastards, awaken!!’ at the news desk, would be a cheerful and thoughtful senior taking care of her juniors in private?

On top of that, I unexpectedly gained a little more mental maturity and stability.

In this world, it’s a neighborhood where you have to consider numerous things, starting from the origin to the ingredients, even when you buy a single lunch box on the street. Yet, maintaining an audacious attitude like ‘So what? Have you contributed anything to my life!’ is truly impressive.

…Indeed, it’s no joke. Being a top-tier professional in the industry is something else.

It made me reflect on the preconception I had that political propaganda tools or media hornblowers working in the sunlight couldn’t be proper individuals.

You might think I met someone with a terribly wicked bias, but don’t you think I’d want to wait outside the waiting room right away after meeting such a person? That figure, who I simply couldn’t imagine being positively involved.

Throughout the gameplay, Erin Skully’s hysterical voice, which filled the places where the news was playing in the background like music, made me lower the CV (Character Dialogue) volume by at least 15 compared to other items; does that provide some clarification?

“Oh…? If that’s the case, could it be that most of the user base she was chewing out was actually part of her crazy fanbase?”

After a brief pondering… Whoosh!

Regardless of whether Director Morgan and MD Douglas looked at me strangely due to my sudden behavior, I shook my head vigorously to bring my consciousness back to reality, trying to reach an uncomfortable truth.

Anyway, Erin seemed to have many questions as she was pressed for time but was pushed towards the news recording studio to boost viewership.

With white foam bubbling out like a seasonal flower crab – honestly, this looked like a serious situation that made me gasp – manager Bethany, who rolled her eyes back and fainted, was left on the sofa in the 1-A waiting room along with Zero Model 1.

Right now, I was crossing the broadcasting station’s internal corridor with these two men who came to escort us to get started on the filming.

…Hmm, stepping into a bright flower garden only to be surrounded by dark gentlemen feels overwhelmingly disjointed, so is it too much to express that I’m not really enjoying this?

No, excessive physical contact and needlessly loud reactions are definitely not my style. However, with the environment changing so drastically, it feels as if the air has truly become a bit stuffy.

“Is your stomach feeling unwell? Though it can’t compare to the Enema’s exclusivity, should we call our medical team?”

“I’m completely fine, so you don’t have to worry about me… Oh.”

Oops, I interrupted the sentence I was about to decline Morgan’s excessive concern.

Again, again, again…! Did this guy just witness one of his subordinates fainting and is still doing this?

A playful joke may be brushed off at first, but if it crosses the line and becomes bothersome and unpleasant… Unless he’s attempting some new form of harassment, he should be more considerate.

“Could you please stop attaching ‘Enema’ to the end of every sentence? At first, when you talked about the model situation, you treated me properly like a resigned employee, but why today, of all days, is a high-ranking official like you so actively spreading rumors? It doesn’t seem appropriate.”

“……….”

I expressed my dislike cautiously, making sure not to give off a feel of nagging too much, trying to maintain a lighthearted tone like casual banter.

Noticing that the top-class announcer’s eloquence had transitioned, I praised myself for expressing it quite elegantly and promptly.

As my request infused with playful teasing transitioned into small talk, a strange look was quickly directed back at me.

They might just feel that I’m being rude for not knowing how to keep my distance when a seasonal model is being friendly, or perhaps they could think I’m an uninteresting type by scoffing. Well, that’s understandable.

However, the reaction seemed to be probing for my intentions, as if examining the truthfulness of the given information. I have no idea what logic or reasoning produced that conclusion.

Honestly, it’s terribly embarrassing that the flow of conversation, which seemed to be going quite smoothly, abruptly got cut off just because I jumped in.

Suddenly, I recalled some sad humor I had read online before.

“When my friends are chatting, if I open my mouth, an awkward silence tends to linger,” “Hey, hey, it’s a joke, don’t you know that?” “Why are you suddenly serious? What am I supposed to do? Just laugh, you jerk.” and so on.

Ugh, my head…. Why are there tears…!

“Alright, we need to start filming now, and frowning over such minor issues won’t help the atmosphere, no matter how beautiful the model is. Our Morgan broadcast director is known for his harsh tone, so don’t take the small stuff too seriously!”

“……Was that being said behind my back? I’d like to hear that in detail.”

“Eek….”

Though awkwardly trying to smooth things over, MD Doug’s grumbling remark served as a direct transition for Morgan’s conclusion.

That was obviously an attempt to dodge the topic of conversation, wasn’t it?

Ducking for cover as soon as the conversation becomes uncomfortable is not mature behavior… But it’s not like I have anything more to press on either. Sigh.

While I suspect there’s something concealed behind their excessive playful nature, perhaps it’s best for both sides to let this slide amicably.

“Well, in any case. It’s not a bad thing that you, usually in the control room, continue to show your face on your way to shoot the recording data.”

“Uh… Is it okay to leap to that conclusion so quickly?”

“It’s not a leap, it’s the reality.”

During this, it seemed Doug caught on to their surroundings, so I pretended to understand what he was saying with a nod.

What I truly wanted to know was the reason behind it! But that information provided was completely unhelpful! There’s no point in pestering someone who interjected unnecessarily. Ugh.

Anyway, I’ve completely lost track of how far down the elevator we’ve gone while being preoccupied with the suspicious human’s movements.

How many floors does this building have, anyway? 50, 60? Moreover, since Neo Haven’s corporate buildings also serve as territory in a way, they are usually constructed broadly horizontally like castles, creating a labyrinthine structure.

As for the path… If it comes to that, I could just unfold the building’s directory map and roam around like an adventure, and Zero would likely remember the passageways.

…This isn’t exactly behavior to be condemned, but rather I’d claim it’s all about efficient distribution of work.

– The current location is the 27th floor of Memorial Times, commonly referred to as the studio floor. Furthermore, regarding the separated droid, should Miss Bethany join us once she regains consciousness, or is it acceptable for it to act independently while continuing hacking work? –

“I have no one but you. Really!”

First, I happily patted the back of Unit Zero’s response gloves.

See, it interjects exactly when it’s needed, looking into my heart, relieving my guilty conscience as the perfect companion!

This guy seems to believe that all he needs to live is my recognition and power source, spouting the embarrassingly cheesy lines without a care. I believe this will give me enough strength today.

Now, the problem lies with me… This damned broadcasting station is incredibly wide horizontally. No wonder everyone seems pressed for time. My legs genuinely feel tired now.

How much longer do we have to walk? At this rate, they should really install horizontal escalators or indoor trams, just please!

Staring blankly at the sturdy Director’s beard swaying with each step feels like a job in itself.

Beard, beard… Why do Western men love to grow beards so much?

Sometimes it almost feels like an unhealthy obsession.

Morgan has a bushy tuft of hair that’s the size of his head under his chin, and Doug here seems to be managing a stylish sideburn extending from his earlobes to his chin, while Hemet, who’s likely out there having a blast, simply embodies a wild beast style that doesn’t know the first thing about grooming.

Hmm, of course, my grandfather’s white beard is the absolute coolest!

It suits him perfectly, and he gives off an experienced mechanic vibe. Speaking of which, I should give him a heads-up in advance not to be shocked if today’s advertisement turns out well.

To be honest, even if it spreads to all regional broadcasting stations, I’m skeptical about whether a surgery-related advertisement will reach far-off wasteland development areas…

“…Oh?”

“Ahaha! Seeing you surprised, I guess such things rarely come into established companies?”

Having solved my worries and released my tension, there seems to be no more room for interruptions.

Thus, following the flow of consciousness, my mind, which had nearly gone completely off-track, fortunately returned to its original place thanks to the fascinating scenery of the studio we arrived at in time.