Estimated reading time: ~6 minutes
Chapter 37
A few days later, at night.
「Well then, bye! Thanks for today!」
「Bye-bye!」
「Please take care of me again!」
「Yeah, thank you for inviting me too! See you again!」
After saying goodbye to the guild members he had temporarily joined, Isamu returns to Starting Town.
Immediately after, he opens his chat screen to contact the person he had made plans to meet with, and notices one unread message.
(Huh, when did that come in? I didn’t notice at all.)
Looking at the send time, it had arrived about an hour ago.
It seems he had unconsciously closed the received notification, too engrossed in battling monsters.
Hurriedly opening the chat, he sees—
『Tutorial Guy, I’m so sorry! It looks like there was some trouble at work, so we unexpectedly have to go in on our day off… I’m really sorry, but can we please cancel our plans for today? I feel terrible for inviting you and then bailing!』
The message was from the person he had made plans to temporarily join a guild with, informing him of the cancellation.
(I see. It can’t be helped if that’s the situation. Well then…)
Isamu replies that there’s no need to worry and to feel free to invite him again another time, then closes the menu window.
(Now, what should I do? Those kids from earlier said they were logging out already… I guess I’ll head to the plaza for now.)
Perhaps he’ll run into someone he knows, or a beginner in need of instruction.
With that thought, Isamu heads toward the plaza.
☆
After walking for a while, a man with his face covered by a mask approaches from ahead.
(Oh, that mask is called the 「Mask of Anonymity」, right? This is the first time I’ve seen someone wearing it.)
The Mask of Anonymity is an item provided out of consideration for users who don’t want to show their face.
Everyone owns one from the start, and it can be freely equipped and removed from the equipment screen.
However, the game’s role as a communication tool is significant, and everyone seems to want to play with friends and lovers as an extension of reality.
Isamu had never seen a player wearing the Mask of Anonymity before.
Therefore, feeling a sense of wonder at seeing something rare, the moment they were about to pass each other—
「…Hm? Oh! Ta—no, Sieg, is that you?!」
The masked man calls out to him.
(Wh-Who…?)
It seems he knows who Isamu is, but Isamu doesn’t have any acquaintances who wear masks.
Even if an acquaintance was wearing a mask, there’s no way to tell who they are with their face hidden.
「Um, excuse me… Who might you be?」
So Isamu asks the man his name, willing to be rude.
「Oops, my apologies! Alright, I’ll take the mask off for just a moment.」
Saying that, the man opens the menu window, looks around to check the area, then touches a panel.
In that instant, the mask vanishes, revealing his true face.
「T-Teshigawara?!」
Isamu raises his voice in utter surprise at the unexpected person’s appearance.
Then that famous announcer—Teshigawara Shinji—puts the mask back on and continues.
「It’s been a while, Sieg!」
「Y-Yes! Long time no see! I can’t believe I’m running into you here, Mr. Teshigawara!」
「Indeed, I’m surprised too… But Sieg. Sorry, but could you call me Tesshin instead of Teshigawara when we’re in the game?」
「Oh, sorry, force of habit… Tesshin, got it!」
「Yeah, I appreciate it. It’s odd for me to say this myself, but my face is quite well-known. I’m hiding my face and name to fully enjoy my private time.」
「I see! Well, that certainly makes sense!」
For a celebrity as famous as Teshigawara, revealing his face while playing would instantly cause a commotion.
He’d be surrounded by players in no time and unable to play the game.
So while agreeing with the wisdom of that decision, Isamu also deeply felt that celebrities have it rough.
「Yeah. Oh, more importantly, I heard about you, Sieg! Apparently you’re joining various guilds as a helper these days?」
「Oh, yes, that’s right. I’ve been fortunate enough to receive invitations from multiple guilds. It felt bad to choose just one, so I decided to do it this way.」
「I see. As expected of Tutorial Guy, quite popular, aren’t you?」
「Ahaha, well, thanks to all of you.」
Feeling a bit embarrassed to be called popular again, Isamu answers while scratching his head.
Then, the mention of guilds makes him curious, so Isamu decides to ask Teshigawara directly.
「Oh, speaking of which Teshi—Tesshin, do you belong to any guilds?」
「Yeah. I made my own guild too. Though, including myself, hardly anyone logs in, so it’s really just for show.」
「Oh, is that so? Sounds like you’re all busy.」
「Well, we’re all in the industry after all. We’d like to get together more, but it’s not so easy.」
「I-I see. That can’t be helped…」
(Everyone’s ‘in the industry’, huh… They really are on a whole different level.)
Isamu re-acknowledges Teshigawara’s impressiveness in an unexpected place.
「Yeah. I myself just managed to log in a moment ago for the first time in several days. To think I’d run into you again, Sieg.」
「Truly a coincidence! …Oh, I’m so sorry! To intrude on your precious time like this!」
「Hm? No, no, you’re not intruding at all! If anything, I’m the one who should apologize for stopping you. You must be busy being in high demand, Sieg.」
「Oh, no. I happened to be free at the moment, so it’s not a problem at all!」
「Is that so? I’m glad to hear that… Say, I don’t suppose you’re free after this too, Sieg?」
「Huh? Oh, yes. My plans got cancelled, so I am.」
「Great! Then how about it, Sieg? If you’re up for it, want to play together?」
「…Huh?」
Isamu makes a dumbfounded face at the unexpected invitation.
It’s no wonder. A private invitation from an extremely famous person.
It would be strange not to be surprised.
Seeing Isamu’s reaction, Teshigawara hurriedly starts talking.
「Oh, no, I just thought I’d ask. Of course, if there’s something else you want to do or you’re not in the mood, feel free to decline!」
It seems Teshigawara took it as Isamu being reluctant.
Isamu quickly opens his mouth to clear up that misunderstanding.
「No, sorry, I was just surprised! I mean, I’d love to if you’re okay with someone like me!」
Hearing that, Teshigawara lets out a short sigh of relief.
「I see, thank you! Well then, what should we do now?」
「I’m up for anything! Is there anything you want to do, Tesshin?」
「I haven’t been to Red Jungle yet. I was thinking of going there, if that’s alright with you?」
「Of course! Oh, there are monsters in Red Jungle that give good experience, so how about we explore the field and level up while we’re at it?」
「Ooh, that’s a great idea! Alright, let’s head out right away then!」
「Yes! I’ll show you the way!」
After that, the two walk off side by side.
And so, while chatting about the inaugural event recap and recent in-game happenings, they play and enjoy Dream Fantasy together.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link