Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 31: Uesugi Hitomi

He wouldn't forget that before entering the game, he had been warned that dying in the game would consume his lifespan.

Because the virtual interface doesn't mention how much it consumes, and there's no customer service mechanism, it's even possible that dying once could result in the terrifying situation of aging ten years.

However, in some movies and TV shows that we've seen before, the consequence of dying in a game is much less severe than dying in real life.

Stepping off the train, he quickly surveyed his surroundings.

He wasn't familiar with subway platforms, so he couldn't tell whether it was a normal platform or not. He just instinctively felt that the platform was a bit too long, seemingly stretching endlessly into the distance.

"From the flower card, I can tell that I'm an ordinary employee. Today I'm going home to celebrate my wedding anniversary with my wife, so the goal of the game is simple: to leave this eerie station." He looked up and examined the stairs leading up. Although it wasn't pitch black, he knew that there was probably no way he could go ahead.

However, hoping that there might be clues to gather, he still decided to go up and take a look.

"Uh—click"

Iwasaki took a few steps, his eyes suddenly widening as the fear of death enveloped him, just like the car accident years ago, suffocating him and making it difficult for him to emerge from the shadow for half a year.

He knew he was going to die, but he didn't know how he would die. Before he died, he tried his best to shake his head and remember the scene in front of him.

"Heh! Heh heh."

nursing home.

On the bed, Iwasaki suddenly opened his eyes, panting heavily, swallowing the copious amounts of saliva that were being produced in his throat.

He felt a splitting headache and his whole body was ice cold.

But he gritted his teeth, stared at the ceiling, and endured it for a minute or several minutes before slowly pulling himself out of that feeling of death.

"Hoo... So real," Iwasaki murmured.

"Eh? This is Goto. Is Mr. Iwasaki talking to me?" Goto's voice came from the device next to him.

"Don't mind it. As long as I didn't call your name, just pretend I was talking to myself," Iwasaki said, taking a deep breath.

Goto said "okay" a few times, then fell silent.

Iwasaki closed his mouth, but the corners of his mouth kept stretching out in a wide grin.

Although he experienced another brush with death, he also appreciated the beauty of being healthy, and for him, the latter was greater than the former.

The only question is how much lifespan is lost upon death in the game, which is quite important.

This determines whether death can be used for trial and error, and how many times trial and error can be tolerated.

But at least from his current perspective, he is not mentally impaired, so he shouldn't age ten years from a single death.

You played a game.

[The title of this game is "Subway"]

[Game Rewards Announcement:]
Entry reward: Red Paper Doll Amulet (Resists one instance of physical damage; can also be used in the game, please activate it beforehand (issued after achieving an ending))

Third place: Jian Ti Wan (strengthens the body, enhances immunity, and cures a few diseases (mostly ineffective))
Second place: Xiaoshoudan (extends life by ten years, but does not grant immunity to injuries and diseases (players only))

First Place: Rejuvenation Pill (Heals all diseases and injuries except for those involving soul damage or near-death experiences)

[Ranking List (Subway):]

1. Hao

2.Month

3. Wisdom

The content is concise and clear.

But it gripped Iwasaki's heart tightly. His eyes were fixed on the description of the first-place prize.

Heal all diseases and disabilities!!!
He looked much more serious, closed his eyes to calm his turbulent emotions for a while, and then solemnly chose to start again and re-enter the game.

This time, he only brought his phone with him, still using the right-side door, and immediately discovered the security mechanism of the surveillance camera, prompting Higashiyama Shin, who was watching from the sidelines, to exclaim: "No wonder he's a talented player."

Because players lose lifespan upon death, they simply don't have the resources to risk their lives like Shin Higashiyama does.

Shin Higashiyama's state is like Superman trying to use his super brain.

Super Brain: Use your superpowers! Give your brain a break!

That's pretty much it.

Using death to try and fail is the fastest and most effective method.

"Ahhh, I'm so scared! Help! Help! Is this the way? Is this the way? Waaaaah! There's a monster here too! It looks as ugly as my pet chicken! Help! Cluck cluck cluck!"

Mouse platform.

A virtual paper doll wearing what appeared to be a rooster's comb hat let out a death scream during a game livestream, sounding like a rooster crowing, and immediately a large number of messages flooded the chat box.

【Chicken Moon Sauce (*▽*) Chicken Moon Sauce】

Ah, I just love seeing Chicken Moon flustered like that!

Does Chicken Moon Sauce really raise chickens at home?

Ah, is it dawn yet?

[Newbie here, why is Toritsuki-chan called Chicken Mooncake?]

[Chicken Moon Sauce's Screaming Service Renewal Successfully! Daily Crowding Package Now in Effect! (｀)σ]

[Newcomers please note! Chicken Moon Sauce belongs to the genus Gallus in the family Aves, and its scientific name is *Gnaphalium affine*!]

I almost left as soon as I entered... I thought I had stumbled into a chicken farm ASMR zone.

The chat box was very lively; it was clear that people with a perverse sense of humor enjoyed seeing girls panic and scream.

However, behind the internet cable, the virtual streamer Bird Moon/Chicken Moon, as people call her, is without makeup, with messy hair, one foot on a gaming chair, calmly making what looks like panicked cries, and then controlling her game character to run around randomly, attracting a bunch of monsters but somehow surviving.

No way, no way, can anyone really take a business persona seriously?
"Over here, I know, it must be over here—ah no, hehehe, why are there monsters everywhere!"

She has mastered the skill of multitasking during live streams. For example, she is currently working, but another part of her mind is already trying to figure out what the notification box next to her is all about.

Why didn't it disappear even after I clicked "accept"?
She treated it as a hallucination, since it's normal to experience eye strain from looking at screens too much.

She had seen even more outrageous hallucinations before, but those were all hallucinations she knew were hallucinations. This one, however, she couldn't quite figure out at first.

"Yeah!"

She deliberately ran into the most terrifying room, and then, just as the multi-headed monster turned around and pounced, she let out a sharp bang, instantly exited the main interface, and turned off the broadcast, all in one smooth motion.

Great, now we have both entertainment value and a chance to see what's going on.

She brushed her bangs aside, casually tied her hair up, revealing a naturally beautiful face. Then, she focused intently, her small face tense, taking off and putting on her frameless glasses repeatedly, only to find that the square frames remained.

[Settings before starting the game?]

"Oh no, could I really have a mental illness?" Uesugi Hitomi scratched her head. She did a quick search and saw that hallucinations are one of the symptoms of mental illness, and may also be a warning sign of mental illness risk. How scary.

She finally found a suitable job, but unexpectedly, she got sick after only two years. She didn't feel much pressure at all. All she did every day was play games and shout a few times. It was her dream job. She didn't have to wear makeup and wouldn't be accused of disrespect. Hooray!
"Sigh, let's see where this illusion can take me."

Thinking this, she clicked "yes".

(End of this chapter)