Two Worlds, Starting with Kaguya of Penglai Mountain

Anna Hanami: "So what if we lose money?"

Kazuya Kurokawa: "We definitely won't lose money. My plan for promoting the otherworld game already included cost-saving considerations."

Hanami Anana: "For example?"

Kazuya Kurokawa: "For example, we could try hiring people in this world—drawing, designing, modeling, even scriptwriting. The Onmyoji in this world who know illusion magic are quite skilled. As for payment, we could pay them by having them play games. According to the market price I found out from Her Highness the Princess, a lecture by a highly virtuous monk is worth a fortune. The spiritual energy that group of people generate while playing 'Tsukihime' is far more effective than a highly virtuous monk."

Frankly speaking, the most expensive parts of game development are actually the most basic ones, such as drawing and modeling.

If Kurokawa Kazuya were to create anime based on the IPs he owns, he could then easily utilize local labor for free.

Kazuya Kurokawa himself even wondered if he could entrust the task of coding to the people of this world.

Of course, since there are not enough facilities in this other world, they can only rely on Banami's "Imagination Manifestation" to make up for it.

This may not be feasible for the time being, but the future looks promising, doesn't it?

That random, gacha-like scene of magical artifacts being sold at wholesale prices in mobile games will inevitably produce a magical artifact related to the internet sooner or later.

Anna Hanami: "Having others make games for you, and then having them spend their entire salaries to play them... I suddenly realize, Kurokawa, you have the potential to be a shrewd businessman."

The blue-haired girl then started to complain.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "Do you believe that if I advertise this out, people will flock to my door to apply? They'll have to ask for connections to work for me."

He curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a spirited and triumphant look.

Seeing Kurokawa Kazuya's smug expression, Banami suddenly seemed to realize something and chose to shut her mouth and fall silent.

Kurokawa Kazuya: "Hmm? Why aren't you asking about Hachimi anymore?"

This time, it was Kurokawa and Mi who turned around and started asking questions.

The blue-haired girl, with her eyes half-closed, looked at Kurokawa Kazuya with a sarcastic gaze: "Kurokawa, aren't you actually using my question to show off?"

Kazuya Kurokawa: "How could that be?"

Hanami Anna: Don't worry, I won't ask anymore.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "But I think you can ask Hana again."

He had only just finished showing off when how could Banami suddenly stop being his straight man? Didn't she see Yoshiki was still looking at her with anticipation?

"Tch~" The blue-haired beauty rolled her eyes at Kurokawa Kazuya.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "Heh~ You think I can't do anything without your straight man, Yoshiki?"

Kurokawa Kazuya waved his hand.

Yoshiki Kurokawa: "Leave it to Yoshiki, brother."

The adorable little sister responded obediently at this moment.

Yanai sees Ancai: "..."

The gaze shifted back and forth between the brother and sister, Kazuya Kurokawa and Yoshiki Kurokawa.

Why do I suddenly feel like I'm the one who's superfluous?

Chapter Twenty-Two: Pochi and Her Friends

The cross-world conference proceeded slowly, with various matters being discussed and arranged.

With network connectivity, cross-world cooperation is, in a sense, no different from transnational technological cooperation, and various related businesses can find references.

At this moment, Goto Ichiri, the "Guitar Hero" who had been silent on the other side of the screen, watched the man and woman fighting on the screen and listened to their conversation.

Somewhat confused, somewhat bewildered, and deeply envious, she occasionally wondered why she was in this place. Also…

Is the other world thing real?

This might be the kind of role-playing game that guys with a "positive" personality often play?

Wouldn't it seem silly for her to ask a question at this moment?

Kazuya Kurokawa: "Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero, are you still there?"

Goto Ichiri: "Ah! Yes, yes, yes, yes!!!"

Her thoughts quickly returned to her reverie, and the pink-haired dumpling promptly gave an answer, prompting her to stand up abruptly off-screen.

Kurokawa Kazuya: "Oh, don't rush, don't rush. You're practically a veteran in our company now. Didn't I already share my story of being transported to another world with you? That's quite a big secret."

Although their communication has always been online, Kurokawa Kazuya still has some understanding of "Guitar Hero's" personality.

Sure enough, he revealed a big secret.

The "Guitar Heroes" players, separated by the internet, became noticeably more active, even starting to ask questions.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "We were just talking about the issue of prize money distribution after the game's release. What are your thoughts on that?"

Goto Ichiri: "Ah, oh, oh, oh, I'll give you whatever you think is best."

The girl foolishly handed over her initiative.

More than anything else, what she really cared about was...

Goto Ichiri: "Are you really in another world?"

The words, spoken with courage, carried a great deal of seriousness.

Nestled in the small closet, the light from the screen illuminated the pink-haired girl's cheeks, her gloomy yet adorable face seeming to shimmer with a faint glow.

Almost everyone who feels socially awkward in real life has fantasized about being transported to another world.

She fantasizes about being transported to another world and becoming a completely different person, free from her original social relationships, so she can do whatever she wants.

Because it's another world, everything can naturally start over. You won't repeat the stupid things you've done before, and you'll meet new friends whose impressions of you will be completely different from those of the world you came from.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "Yes, but for the guitar hero in reality, it doesn't really have much of an impact, since your life won't change much."

Kurokawa Kazuya didn't hide the fact that he was in another world.

After all, if someone hadn't personally spoken with him, no one would believe it even if they told others.

People living in another world can neither demonstrate supernatural abilities in reality nor return to reality to meet people.

Even if Kurokawa Kazuya himself heard it without knowing the truth, he would most likely just think that some gang with a base overseas was putting on an act with him.

There's already internet signal, so why is it another world?

To be honest, if he hadn't revealed this information to "Guitar Hero" before he transmigrated, he might not have invited him to this gathering.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "Although others may not believe it, I still hope that you, 'Guitar Hero,' can keep this a secret. Don't worry, I won't ask you to do anything extra. Just continue your voice acting as usual, and I'll continue to pay you your salary."

Kazuya Kurokawa spoke gently to "Guitar Hero".

Meanwhile, Anzu Hachimi, standing to the side, kept glancing back and forth between the screen and Kazuya Kurokawa, giving the impression that Kazuya Kurokawa was bewitching a child.

Then, time passed quietly under Anzu Hachimi's watchful gaze, lasting for more than a minute.

Hanami Anana: "?"

She reached out and tugged at Kurokawa Kazuya's sleeve.

Kurokawa Kazuya reached out and hovered the mouse over the chat window to check if his voice connection with the other end had been lost.

The results showed that the voice was constantly in a state of communication.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "Guitar Hero?"

He tentatively asked a question.

With his words, their simple voice communication with the guitar hero transformed into a video chat.

Simply put, Guitar Hero turned on his computer's webcam.

On her screen was a high school girl in a tacky pink coat, sitting in a dimly lit closet.

At that moment, the other party was making an apologetic gesture of bowing deeply, facing the computer's webcam.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "..."

Yanai sees Ancai: "..."

Yoshiki Kurokawa: "Pochi-neechan looks really interesting."

The well-behaved younger sister made her remarks.

Goto Ichiri: "I'm sorry, it's all my fault for being like a paramecium, completely unable to resist other people's questions. Please feel free to insult me, it's all my fault. I definitely shouldn't have been born into this world, I..."

Blah blah blah~ Blah blah blah~

On the other side of the screen, Goto Ichiri, who was still in a dogeza posture, spoke softer and faster, and his spirits visibly sank lower and lower.

In the dim light, it seemed to gradually shrink into an insect as the words were spoken.

Of course, if she could, Goto Ichiri would rather be an insect.

The reason why Goto Ichiri apologized is actually not complicated.

Goto Ichiri was recently recruited to be the guitarist in a band, and she and the other members of the band formed a group.

After going through a lot, they seem to have a very good relationship.

To prove their good relationship, Goto Ichiri gave an example of how she was given the nickname "Poke-chan".

It's clear that this girl, who has never been given a nickname before, is quite happy with her new one, and she can't help but show a little pride when talking about it.

In short, during Boqi's participation in the band's activities, she stumbled upon the time travel incident involving Kurokawa Kazuya, who was unable to return.

Goto Ichiri believed this and became upset, prompting her teammates to question her.

Ms. Goto Ichiri, who has absolutely no ability to refuse others, didn't realize that this was something that needed to be kept secret, and told them everything.

After discussion, the teammates reached a conclusion—

This must be a new type of scam.

Anna Hanami: "So all you have to do is go and clear up the misunderstanding, right?"

Goto Ichiri: "No, that won't do."

The pink-haired girl on the other side of the screen remained in the dogeza posture.

Goto Ichiri: "My words are completely useless. I'm sorry, I'm really too useless."

She didn't care whether Kurokawa Kazuya was deceiving her, but her teammates were unusually concerned.

In the words of their band's drummer, Nijika Ijichi:

"Boqi is beautiful and has a big bust, but she has a super gloomy personality. She gets carried away by just a few simple compliments. If a scumbag finds out, she will definitely be cheated out of everything. We need to be very careful."

They genuinely intended to meet with Kurokawa Kazuya, at least to find out Goto Ichiri's current condition.

If Goto Ichiri continued to refuse, they decided to inform her parents so that they could personally observe their daughter's situation.

Kurokawa Kazuya: "No, if I had just lied to myself about being transported to another world, there would have been no need for such a grand meeting, right?"

He made Goto Ichiri do the work, but he paid him wages.

In this situation, just consider it as encountering a boss with a delusional, immature personality.

We're all communicating online and haven't revealed any real-world information. If a problem arises, we can just block each other. There's absolutely no need to take it so seriously.

Goto Kazuri: "..."

The pink-haired dumpling, bowing deeply, looked up slightly at Kurokawa Kazuya's question before quickly lowering her head even further.

Goto Ichiri: "Please kill me."

The girl's tone was resolute.

why?

Why did she mention the other person's admiration for her while bragging?

Why would someone advertise that the other person is asking them to be their girlfriend?

But there's nothing we can do about it. After all, it's someone we thought we'd never meet online, and they secretly wanted to speak recklessly to improve their reputation. They thought there wouldn't be any problems at all.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "..."

Looking at Goto Ichiri's silent state, he roughly guessed what was going on with her.

Posting job ads online to find people to do engineering work won't raise any red flags, but if it involves emotions and the intention is to sexually exploit someone, then the issue escalates to another level.