Chapter 78: Chapter 78
Intermission, reaching for the Stars
In this world, some people shine brighter than others. Those blessed with exceptional looks, an innate beautiful voice, and other extraordinary talents capture the love of many.
Star. Isn't it a great expression? It suggests a sense of distance, don't you think? Stars are beautiful and untouchable. No matter how pure and passionate our admiration for stars is, it ultimately remains just that—admiration.
Despite this, some people occasionally reach for the stars. With warped affection and misaligned obsession, they do everything to grab hold of them. In most cases, their efforts end in crime. Secretly photographing their private lives or stealing from them might seem mild. Sometimes, unable to possess, they spread rumors, make threats, and even resort to murder.
Holding a star also presents problems. Their beauty is only one side of their strong professional dedication. It's a mistake to believe that their unadorned selves are as radiant as starlight. To put it bluntly, they go to the bathroom as well! If starlight is who they are, why do so many celebrity couples end up in gossip over frequent divorces? We know too many stars who have lost their fame over drugs, illegal gambling, military scandals, and sexual controversies. When you have plucked a star from the sky, will you truly be satisfied?
Stars are most beautiful when admired from afar.
Indeed, such is reality.
But at Paradise Group Virtual Reality Division, we say this:
In virtual reality, anything is possible! You can hold starlight just as it is. Of course, that is if you have enough money.
I'm telling you to purchase virtual reality character products of the celebrities contracted with our company.
Why would I bring this up if I wasn't trying to sell some DLC?
The method is simple. Search for your favorite celebrity's name in the AfterInsurance DLC Store. A list of various products will appear. Let me briefly introduce the types.
First, we have the skin package. This allows you to purchase the celebrity's appearance. You can use this appearance yourself or overlay it on a specific virtual persona in your virtual reality universe. Oh, the change only affects the appearance as seen by you, nothing else. It doesn't genuinely affect the charm level that impacts an in-world situation. It's purely for self-satisfaction. Because of this, it's the most affordable option.
The second is the standard virtual persona package. Yes, with this, you can bring the celebrity into your universe anytime! Depending on your universe, appropriate join missions are assigned! No need to worry about mission failure. That's because the control AI's situation calculations are inherently programmed to succeed. It will feel like the entire universe is helping when you fervently wish for it.
The first meeting's form is also set by the purchaser. You can dramatize an encounter where you're saved from a crisis, making love at first sight possible from the beginning. Haha, if you're a fan, haven't you imagined such a scenario at least once? Unlike ordinary virtual personas, the character you purchase is destined, no matter what, to fall in love with you.
The standard virtual persona package applies the celebrity's career, personality, specialties, and skills. If nothing else, the charm will be flawless. Personality is a changeable option, but an additional fee often applies for unlocking it. Feeling burdened? Overcome it with your fandom enthusiasm.
Lastly, there is the filmography virtual persona package. The most high-end product, it offers the best performance, comes with the highest cost, and is the most limited in use. This package implements a fictional character the celebrity performed in a specific film or drama. Personality, background, and abilities are all adjusted to fit that character.
Because the setting is detailed, it's hard to use if the time period differs. If your universe is set in the Wild West backdrop like 'Sunset Falls' and suddenly a sci-fi character pops out, it would be strange, right? No matter how good the AfterInsurance control AI's situation simulation ability is, it cannot add coherence to such scenarios. This caution also applies to the standard virtual persona package to some extent. Therefore, be sure to carefully check the compatible worldviews before purchasing. Refunding is a hassle.
Anyway, though, these products generally have high unit prices, you might find surprisingly affordable ones if you look closely.
It's just that, since customers lack interest, cheaper options outnumber expensive ones by far. They mainly include character packages of unpopular, obscure celebrities and washed-up stars.
In reality, being a celebrity is not a very high-earning job. Just the top 0.1% enjoy the glory of the times. The rest... struggle to find gigs, much like daily-wage workers. So, they're eager to sell whatever they can of their looks and character products.
Even stars at the top of the entertainment industry can only sell their images expensively for a moment. Their peak periods don't last long. Many stars fall after just one hit. Debuting newcomers constantly pose a threat. Thus, stars carry an obsession. They must sell while they can. They always feel such pressure. An old pop song comes to mind now.
"When I'm no longer young and beautiful, will you still love me?"
"When I have nothing but an aching soul, will you still love me?"
We know why the question-and-answer exchange of the song's narrator feels so pitiful. Even passionate and pure admiration for the stars is just a momentary passion.
There's no such thing as eternal love.
That's the reason celebrity character packages are unexpectedly often discounted compared to the stars' popularity. When their shelf-life as a celebrity nears its end, it sometimes leads to tearful, desperate sales.
So, don't get intimidated by high prices. Consumer spirit blesses you all.
As you've been guided through celebrity character products, what do you think? Do you feel a strong desire to purchase? For those chasing stars, empty your wallets to make your hands overflow with starlight!
For the happiness of our customers, and truly for the money, paradise Group Virtual Reality Division will continue to strive for utmost efforts. Thank you!
Unyielding Ground, Fort Roberts (1)
The reverence Americans have for war heroes is exceptionally special. As the youngest Medal of Honor recipient in the universe, Gyeo-ul had the right to receive a salute from seniors first. Even the president was no exception. Though not a written rule, it was a custom everyone respected.
Gyeo-ul didn't cling to that right. It was partly due to his character and partly to appear humble.
Every American loved Gyeo-ul. Many people wanted to get even slightly closer to the young officer. Among the police in Fort Roberts, there were plenty of enthusiastic supporters. Building rapport with them wasn't a challenge for Gyeo-ul.
The officers accompanying Gyeo-ul now, Sergeant Adair and Officer Dawson, were individuals he had recently gotten acquainted with. They were initially taken aback by Gyeo-ul's request to patrol with them, but they gladly accepted in the end.
"You've been patrolling more frequently compared to before."
When Gyeo-ul initiated the conversation, Sergeant Adair agreed.
"Thanks to you, Lieutenant, the perspective on refugees has changed a lot. We received directives from above to reinforce management of the refugee zones. Honestly, we had been somewhat indifferent up until now. As an excuse, everyone was mentally not in the right place."
"I think it was inevitable. You've lost a lot as well, haven't you?"
The comforting words brought a smile to the sergeant's face.
"Yes, indeed. Anyway, now that we've regained our composure, we should recover what can be recovered among what we've lost. For things that can't be retrieved, we let them remain as memories of the past."
The conversation took place in the heart of the Chinese settlement. Having left the Triad's boundary, they were crossing through territories belonging to other organizations. Gyeo-ul carefully observed the police patrol route. This had been his objective from the beginning. While the two officers were unaware, there were things visible only to Gyeo-ul.
「Survival Sense」 warned of red, translucent sightlines.
'They're wavering. Well, it's hardly a time when skill levels could be high.'
The invisible marksmen couldn't keep their aim steady. Quivering sightlines shook indiscriminately in all directions, spanning several meters.
Bows or slings are incredibly difficult weapons to master. Moreover, there wasn't any space suitable for practicing long-range throwing. At best, they might have practiced short-range throwing inside a tent.
The poor quality of the weapons also contributed to a decrease in accuracy. The level of a weapon, likely crafted by non-skilled workers with shoddy materials, couldn't be very high to begin with.
"Is this the usual patrol route? Or is it different only for today?"
Officer Dawson answered Gyeo-ul's question by pointing to the middle of a residential construction site.
"We used to pass around there originally. The route changed after construction started. This path will remain until the first phase of construction is complete."
It was a satisfactory answer.
The growing and thickening warnings from the sightlines when passing certain sections hinted at much. Something existed that needed to be guarded and observed but was challenging to move away from the altered patrol route.
"Once the construction is finished, it'll essentially form a city. Although the population had been at a city scale for quite some time... once that happens, night patrols (Graveyard watch) will return under the police's charge. I feel like it'll be tiring, but I somehow find myself looking forward to it. It seems like a small step towards resuming my previous life."
The sergeant's passing comment caught Gyeo-ul's attention. Regardless of his true intentions, since he was participating in a patrol, he needed to blend in and engage in conversation sufficiently to avoid awkwardness. He was genuinely curious as well. Gyeo-ul asked.
"Why is night patrol referred to like that?"
"Oh, that? I'm not sure if it's true, but in medieval England, they said there were people who kept watch over graves all night. That's the origin of the term."
"They guarded graves? Was it to prevent grave-robbing?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
"No, it wasn't. They had limited cemetery space back then, so when there wasn't enough room for new burials, they dug up old graves to create space. But when they uncovered some of those old coffins and opened them, they found scratch marks on the inside of the coffin's lid, made with human nails. It turns out one in every twenty-five coffins was . Meaning they buried people alive who weren't actually dead."
"From then on, when burying people, they'd tie a cord around the wrist and connect it to a bell outside the grave. They called it a wrist-bell. The gravekeeper's job was to unearth any living persons who rang the bell inside. I heard this tale from a senior when I was a rookie, and it sounded fairly plausible."
"That's interesting. Both amusing and intriguing. Thanks for explaining."
Following that, casual conversation continued. Since building personal connections is as good as assets, Gyeo-ul listened earnestly, even to trivial chatter.
"Like a city, I heard the refugee camps in Syria had barber shops, laundromats, and supermarkets; soon enough, this place could resemble those. I don't know about anything else, but I hope a doughnut shop opens. Night patrols without coffee and doughnuts somehow feel lacking."
Dawson's wish resulted in a laugh from Adair.
"The Chinese won't be able to make doughnuts as well as Bakers, I bet."
"You never know. They are good at cooking."
Gyeo-ul tilted his head.
"Do you both like doughnuts? I heard it's a stereotype that American police officers like doughnuts."
Dawson and Adair replied together.
"It is a stereotype. It wasn't out of preference that we ate them. During late-night patrols, the only resting places that were open were doughnut shops, so we went there habitually. It almost felt like part of our duty. Because of that, I think we grew fond of them."
"You could see it as a generational difference. Some friends eat bagels instead of doughnuts for health."
Gyeo-ul wondered. A bagel doesn't seem much healthier than a doughnut...
By the time the conversation reached this point, the patrol arrived at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the Chinese settlement. The soldiers, upon spotting Gyeo-ul, saluted with military precision. Gyeo-ul casually returned the gesture and turned back to take in the construction site. The first phase of construction was nearing completion.
If he were to execute his plan, it would be better before the patrol route changed again.
Though it would have been fine for him to stop patrolling at this point, to avoid raising any unnecessary suspicion later, Gyeo-ul decided to continue accompanying the two police officers a little longer.
---------------------------= Postscript =---------------------------
Q. NeoGGM: @I just took a short nap, and another 39,999 years and 364 days passed by. I overslept. Is my age now 82#? I spent over 99.9% of my life asleep. How meaningless.
A. Reading this novel backward reduces your age. It's a thousand years every time you read it. Make time for rejuvenation. Haha.
Q. 淸流蓮: @You posted early today! I'll be dreaming a dream full of innocence.
A. I stayed up all night today. I can hear my lifestyle shattering...
Q. Tigerfish: @The Little Prince... distorted innocence...
A. There's no distortion! You're just lacking faith.
Q. 어미라니: Is there any chance that in future developments, a storyline about body enhancement through viruses and human experimentation might occur?
A. I have something far more infused with innocence prepared.
Q. 건전한소환사: Are there any options where Gyeo-ul becomes infected with FEV and turns into a super mutant? And then he spreads spores while shouting Waaaaaaaagh!! If this seems mixed up, it's just my imagination!
A. For me to write such a storyline, probably another 40,000 years would have to pass in the novel. Haha.
Q. RGZ95: @Posting at this time means I will sleep early tonight @[email protected]
Q. 밥에는칫솔: @Author... could it be you possess a sadistic genius? I feel like I'm becoming someone else.
A. Definitely not. My vitality is at 1, so I would die instantly if tormented.
Q. 영광의 창: @The protagonist's warmth makes it good to read. After encountering bad things a few times like "the only good human is a dead one," seeing mass murderers but kind to their love, feels refreshing here...
A. I don't know what novel you mean, but I sense severe innocence deficiencies. It's unfortunate. Innocence is the ultimate answer to all problems...
Q. 최형우: @Ah, author, do you love me?
A. Yes, thanks. I love myself too.
Q. 마지카르: I understand まつみん's feelings through this work. I'm on vacation today! I'll put a reader quest on continuous updates! Of course, payment upfront!
A. I can't do continuous updates...ㅠㅠ...
Q. 오신4: @Kuaaaak Kaaargh
A. Yes, I get it. I don't resemble Won Bin.
I need to end mankind.
Q. 직업마스터: @Continuous updates raining from the sky... Aargh
A. Look at the upload time and blame the author's incompetence. Gyaaah Guaaaah...
Q. 도화원: @Don't you play LoL! Secret- let's be friends!
A. Unfortunately, I've never played LoL even once. I barely play games.
Occasionally, I play a bit of Steam games. Two days ago, I played Overwatch after a month.
A less capable person striving to be a full-time author ends up like me.
Good-natured readers, don't attempt to follow. :)
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I hate that intermission guy...
It breaks my fantasy about virtual reality...
That guy is too... honest...