Chapter 78

Today is March 17th, so it's a special episode of Saina.

"What? A photo book of Saina?"

Pencilgon, with a grin that clearly said he was up to no good, suggested it, and I frowned deeply.

"Why all of a sudden... and what are you planning? Propaganda?"

"You know, Sunraku-kun, you might not be aware as a social misfit and minimalist in clothing..."

I threw a right hook, but he dodged it, probably because he was on guard. After a few seconds of silence, we smiled and laughed, then returned to our conversation.

"Saina is, you know, a super popular idol. Understand?"

"Well, she is a robot that perfectly copies an idol group."

"That's not the point... Ah, forget it. Let me put it simply. If we exclusively sell Saina's photo book, it will eventually lead to..."

Like a bucket shop making a profit?

"I will stand at the top of this world."

"If I kill you here, will I become a hero who saved the world?"

"Only a first-time offender."

Sorry, world, I'm a clean man, so I'll leave the disaster Pencilgon to you.

"Hey, when you made a huge mistake and the orchestra battle was publicly broadcast, it went viral, you know?"

Pencilgon, pointing at my face, continued.

"But half of the buzz was about Saina. She's in the middle of a huge boom. The queue for proposing to Elma-type dolls is long, and even if they're rejected, they try again the next day. As for uncontracted conquering dolls, people fight and bleed to approach them first..."

Ah, that's all I can say. I don't know how many conquering dolls there are, but if there are 50 types with 100 units each, that's 5000 units... The demand and supply are completely out of balance.

"I was lucky to contract with Nina early on. We can go shopping together and show off to others."

"Ugh, bad taste."

"No, really, everything fades in comparison to my beauty."

He's invincible.

"Anyway, there are countless players who can only watch the conquering dolls from a distance in this game."

"More than the world's population... I get what you mean, it's about demand, right?"

If Pencilgon's claim is true, Saina has become the most famous conquering doll in the world due to the live broadcast (which was my fault).

That's why, if we release a photo book, it will be a huge hit no matter how high we set the price.

"So, what about the fee?"

"Volunteer."

Left straight, dodged.

"50-50"

"Do you have bookbinding skills? 10-90"

"Are you going to release a landscape photo book without Saina? 40-60"

"30-70, I can't give in any further."

Alright, fine. Even though I felt like my face was being pushed through a door, since it's just a little extra income, I'll settle for a decent profit. If I really wanted to make money, I'd just go to Mabu.

◆

So, the project "Elma=317 Photo Book ~The Songstress of Spherical Joints~" was launched.

"Die, you bastard!!"

"Shut up, you fool!!"

Oh, a beautiful cross counter. The idiots collapsed and died, and I yawned as I watched them.

Well, what happened was, the costume team, who volunteered to get priority purchase rights, came forward, saying they could be used and discarded as volunteers.

Since it's a photo book, it naturally required multiple costumes.

"Scum! I am the will of the masses! Take that!!"

And now, Survivor, who had knocked out everyone in swimsuits, bikinis, and smocks, proudly recommended a Chinese dress...

"Saina, what do you think according to Andrew's evaluation?"

"Answer: That type is out of the question."

"Damn it!!"

And everyone was gone... I left Survivor, who had fallen to his knees and stopped moving, and asked Pencilgon, who was happily watching the fighting costume team.

"So, what now? I hear there are three types of idol costumes."

"Affirmative: I have three types of initial outfits: the common Sternbloom outfit, a personal outfit, and a unit outfit within the group."

"Nice, nice, but three types are too few. We need more costumes."

"Specifically?"

"Minimum 30, and to completely dominate the competition, 50."

"Are you serious?"

"What? Isn't that about right for a month's worth of outfits?"

Ah, not a challenge but a matter of course... The way he casually brushed it off suggests it's the real deal.

"So, what about those costumes?"

"Hmm, since the best doll will be wearing them, I called a few stubborn ones, and they said they'd do it even if they had to pay... I got paid, you know, money."

Is this a new scam... I feel like if I run away now, I'll be letting down the players who are making the costumes.

Anyway, the fact that Saina is on board with this photo book project is what's keeping me from running away.

"This unit has a contract, but in the enlightenment activities, which are the basic protocols of conquering dolls, a 'recommendation' for execution is generated."

"So?"

"Conclusion: Bring it on."

Saina, if the problem is her smug face and thumbs up, I have nothing to say. Besides, if I declare 'no' here, I have a feeling the idiots will cling to me...

"Alright! Now that you've had a good fight, it's time for the behind-the-scenes work, costume team! Designating shooting spots, clearing the area, and more! You'll be working hard, okay?!"

Except for Survivor, the rest were almost dead, and the players on the verge of death responded with "Oh," like a horde of zombies.

・First Shooting Spot: "The Underground Lake of Tears"

We arrived at the now nostalgic Underground Lake of Tears. This place is home to mainly salmon, sea snakes (or water snakes since it's a lake?), and crayfish, and it's a good spot for earning experience points in the early to mid-game.

However, the main purpose now is the mystical underground lake that glows with a thin, bluish-green light.

"Sunraku-kun, there's one truth about photo shoots like this."

"What's that?"

"Standing in the middle of nature, where there's no trace of civilization, makes you stand out."

So, before the shooting starts...

"Alright, you guys! Let's thin out a few monsters that are about to attack us!"

Some of the costume team members responded with "Okay" and jumped into the lake. I talked to Survivor, who was leading the charge.

"Live bait?"

"No, they can fight underwater. Except for the Destro-Lobster, they can be hunted solo, so hunting the serpents will prevent the Destro-Lobsters from spawning."

I see... We don't need to hunt everything. By the way, one of the costume team members who jumped in was caught by the Destro-Lobster's claws and dragged underwater.

A player's death is less concerning than an NPC tripping over a rock. No one cares if a person becomes lobster food... Ten minutes later, the person who returned, saying "I was scared, I was scared," was included.

So, with the temporary depletion of lake serpents and the lack of prey, the Destro-Lobsters stopped coming to the surface, and the shooting began. The theme is "The Songstress Standing on the Lake Surface."

"How exactly are you going to make her stand?"

"Since she's a conquering doll, can't she float just above the water? Like a jetpack or something?"

We actually tried it.

"Executing: Maintaining a 1mm hover above the water."

Conquering dolls can't fly on their own, but they can perform various actions with external reinforcement. Tactical machines can even be used.

However, we can't shoot with bulky machinery, as it would take the project in a completely different direction. But there's a smell of money in that direction too.

So, with the wing attached to her waist, Saina hovering just above the water's surface can be said to be "standing on the water" as ordered.

However, Pencilgon's gaze is sharp.

"Hmm... something's off."

"What's off?"

"The wings for flying... they still make it look like she's 'flying' or 'floating' no matter how you hide it."

In other words...

"You want her to stand, not float."

"Exactly."

"There's no way."

However, it would be a waste to discard a good idea, so we all brainstormed to find a way to make it happen. After all, this is a fantasy world, so there must be solutions that can't be done in reality.

"How about freezing the surface to create a platform?"

"If we use it as a platform, we need to extend the ice to the bottom of the lake, and it will be visible."

"How about suspending her with wires?"

"Can we do that with this ceiling?"

When one thing is extended, another is retracted. The meeting became more and more intense, but Pencilgon, who had been silent, finally spoke up!

"Instead of not wanting a platform, let's think about it in reverse."

"What?"

"If something that is essential to Saina is reflected, it can be within the acceptable range."

A platform that is essential to Saina...?

What exactly is he referring to... Pencilgon, what are you... Wait, hold on.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Sunraku-kun, you can stand upside down, right?"

Okay, okay, I get it. I stand upside down, and Saina stands on the soles of my feet.

"Wouldn't I sink straight into the water?"

"Furthermore, you must not let air out of your mouth or nose, this game can even make bubbles from your breath."

"Are you telling me to drown?"

"And there's the Holy Grail, right? Use it to change your gender. If we're both drowned, at least the one who looks better is better."

We actually tried it.

"......"

Using the boundary between water and air as the "floor" from underwater. It was possible after a few attempts.

However, since we can't maintain that position indefinitely, we had to start shooting!

"Good, good, Saina! Try looking up a bit!"

He seems to be on the receiving end of the shoot, but... I guess it's like the saying "the baker knows the best bread" - the one who eats it also knows what's good. Gobble, gobble, gobble.

"Hey, platform! Don't breathe!!"

Are you telling me to die?

・Second Shooting Spot: "Upper Layer of Third Rema"

"The theme is 'The Young Lady's Secret Date.'"

"Who's the partner? Depending on the situation, I might cause a scene here."

A radical member of the costume team was escorted away by two people. Survivor said she would be a "good girl" by the time she returned. These people have a dystopian sci-fi vibe...

Saina, who had changed into a modern-looking outfit, excited the costume team so much that their numbers were reduced by half. I glanced at them with a half-closed eye and returned my gaze to Saina, who seemed to be blending in with the city but not really.

"Is the level of civilization off?"

"I think it's within the acceptable range. To add, ..."

Saina said, turned around, and made a smug face.

"More than fitting the 'scene,' the combination that best suits me, the unit itself. That is the ultimate intelligence."

"Oooh..."

I heard a groan behind me, but I didn't turn around. No way, if I turn around, I might be logged out by the system detecting abnormal brain waves.

Pencilgon's gaze, which seemed to be looking at a rat that died in a very ridiculous way, gave my hypothesis some truth...

"Let's start shooting, shall we?"

"Sorry, the woman who was just escorted away was the photographer."

Who sighed so deeply, me or Pencilgon? Both of us had a headache, so it was hard to tell who sighed unconsciously.

So, we took a short break. The photographer... or rather, the ones who dropped out, would return as "good girls" for the future discussion.

"But that place is too much, it's beyond unreasonable..."

"Hey, I'm back~"

"I've become a really good girl, I won't be escorted away again!"

"What? Saina's current date outfit is too crazy, isn't it? The developers are crazy to implement this."

One person was escorted away again.