Cha Sera had a fondness for all things cute.
More precisely, she delighted in observing and admiring the small, adorable creatures that existed in nature.
Indeed, her Archive nickname, chosen upon her initial awakening, reflected this very sentiment, making it easy to discern her preferences.
Knock.
Knock.
“What? I didn’t actually think they’d come, but they’re really here?”
While she hadn’t truly expected her opponent to accept the challenge when she first issued it, now that they had, she planned to chat, share a drink, and inquire about aspects of the game that had piqued her curiosity.
‘High School Grad Middle Schooler’ was known as a rather secretive user within the channel, with no one having yet uncovered his true identity.
Naturally, this secrecy had only fueled her curiosity.
‘Now that I think about it, didn’t he also have an old photo of Shin Yirin?’
A picture of Shin Yirin from an earlier time, her face much younger, participating in volunteer work.
That very photograph had been the catalyst for High School Grad Middle Schooler’s full integration into the channel, and to this day, many still wondered about its origins.
‘Yes, I’ve got you now.’
As a long-standing fixture of the channel, she vowed to uncover every single secret he had been hiding today!
With this resolute determination, Cha Sera flung open the door, only to find herself staring into empty air before her gaze was captivated by a shimmering silver thread fluttering below.
“……?”
Her visitor was far smaller than she had imagined, possessing an unusually distinctive appearance.
To make matters worse… Cha Sera knew all too well who the girl before her was.
As Cha Sera’s mind momentarily froze, the girl, who had been waiting patiently, tilted her head and began to part her dainty lips.
“Aren’t you going to let me in?”
“Huh?”
“It’s me. High School Grad Middle Schooler.”
“Oh, uh… what?”
wldks_08.
A fashion influencer who had recently appeared on Clam like a comet, captivating countless people from around the world.
Faced with the very girl who had been the subject of her recent obsession, Cha Sera’s jaw dropped, and she found herself utterly dumbfounded.
****
“Um, could you… sign this, please…?”
“……”
I genuinely hadn’t believed it, but it turned out Cha Sera’s sudden interest in ‘Action Party’ was all because of me.
Her behavior was akin to that of a devoted follower meeting their long-admired star.
Cha Sera, timidly extending a laminated sheet, presented a stark contrast to the persona I knew from the channel.
Swish.
Swish.
Swish.
“Here you go.”
“Oh…! Thank you so much!”
I had been nervous, expecting a seasoned B-rank Hunter, but this was more like someone who would readily offer their liver or gallbladder if asked.
Feeling a slight sense of disillusionment, I met her gaze with a lukewarm expression, yet Cha Sera seemed to find even my reaction endearing, expressing an almost overwhelming delight.
And so, thirty minutes later.
“Water.”
“Yes, ma’am…!”
As I sat on the luxurious sofa and gave a slight nod, Cha Sera, who had been standing nearby, scurried to the kitchen to fetch the herbal tea I had praised earlier.
“Cookies.”
“Right away…!”
Indeed, her title as a B-rank Hunter seemed no mere boast, as her movements were so precise and swift that not even a whisper of sound could be heard.
Being served tea and cookies by her, now completely transformed into a personal attendant, I made myself at home and settled in to watch an anime I had previously noted with interest.
“Is there anything else… you might need?”
“Don’t just stand there; come sit here and eat with me.”
Feeling a slight burden from her excessive attentiveness, I patted the empty spot beside me on the sofa, whereupon Cha Sera, with a joyful expression, sat down and then abruptly scooped me up, placing me on her lap.
‘Has this woman lost her mind?’
Thwack!
“Ow.”
“Are you crazy? Do you think I’m some stray cat?”
“Oh! I’m so sorry… it was just an old habit.”
Seeing a cat dash out from across the room and leap onto Cha Sera’s lap, it became clear that this spot was originally its sanctuary.
Rubbing my forehead, which was slightly numb from the headbutt, I continued watching the anime and then posed a question to her, who was now smiling brightly.
“So, do you not need me to teach you the game anymore?”
“Uh… I don’t think it’s necessary anymore, is it?”
‘After all the effort I put into preparing and coming all this way, how dare she show such an attitude in front of me?’
As I, having discerned her true nature, expressed my displeasure with a sulky expression, a startled Cha Sera hastily changed her tune and immediately moved to turn on the computer.
“And stop with the honorifics. In the channel, you talk informally even to the old man in the neighborhood watch.”
“Oh, should I?”
“Yes, you should have done that from the start.”
Her demeanor was so utterly different from the ‘Cute Wren’ I knew from the channel that I had been feeling a serious sense of incongruity for a while.
Having dropped the honorifics, Cha Sera hummed a tune as she launched the game, and I, after applying the special settings I had prepared for her lack of talent, began to briefly explain the setup.
“Alright, repeat after me: QWER click.”
“QWER click.”
“I’ve set you up with cooldown reduction gear and focused all skill customization on area-of-effect abilities, so all you have to do is press them in order whenever the cooldown is ready.”
While her nonsense had certainly irritated me, if she was determined to try a game I loved, shouldn’t I at least give her a proper taste of it?
Cha Sera seemed genuinely touched by my carefully prepared plan, showing immense delight, and thus, our meeting concluded with a mutually satisfying outcome.
‘…Acquired 3rd worshipper.’
Though I spoke of it jokingly, my newfound acquaintance with Cha Sera held a certain significance for me.
Even though I was currently living life as it came, a time would eventually arrive when my secrets would be revealed, and everything would need to be reordered.
At that point, Cha Sera’s network, as the Vice Guild Master of the Norsoop Guild and a B-rank Hunter with connections to various influential figures, might prove invaluable.
“Be careful on your way home! Don’t follow strangers, and don’t visit the homes of people you don’t know, like today…”
“……”
Still, perhaps I hadn’t come here solely with such calculated thoughts in mind.
Meeting a friend I had laughed and chatted with online in person was surprisingly enjoyable, and they saw me for who I truly was, not just the labels attached to me.
That realization, for some reason, lightened my heart considerably.
****
[Subject: High School Grad Middle Schooler << Probably some muscular old man with a lot of hair…]
[Balsamic Cat]
[Content]
Seriously…
[Comments]
– Agreed.
– Definitely not a girl, and probably not young either.
– People with nicks like that usually bench 400 lbs, you know.
– Cute Wren: [Katsu (TL Note: A loud shout or roar, often used in Zen Buddhism to express enlightenment or to startle students.)]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
– ?
– ??
– Huh? Lol.
– What’s with the sudden outburst? Haha.
– Don’t tell me she’s also part of the Middle Schooler Fan Club?
[Subject: As of today I withdraw my support for High School Grad Middle Schooler]
[Cute Wren]
[Content]
FromthismomentonHighSchoolGradMiddleSchoolerandIarenolongerinarelationshipofsupportbuthavebecomeonebodyanattackonHighSchoolGradMiddleSchoolerwillberegardedasanattackonmeandanyonewhooffendsHighSchoolGradMiddleSchoolerwillfallintoeternalwrath……
[Comments]
– Hey, f***ing use some spaces!
– What a mess…
– High School Grad Middle Schooler has charmed another person.
– Seriously, why is everyone like this? Is this a hidden camera prank? Am I the only one who doesn’t know anything?
– No one knows except the parties involved.
– Damn, it’s like some urban legend, lol.
[Subject: The fact is High School Grad Middle Schooler is seriously freaking adorable…]
[Mint Soboro Bread]
[Content]
Those who haven’t realized it yet, join before it’s too late.
[Comments]
– Get rid of the Middle Schooler Fan Club, damn it.
– This guy seems to be the cheer captain.
– The channel owner is watching with wide eyes; how dare you?
– Mint Soboro Bread: The fact is, even the channel owner admitted to her transcendent cuteness…
– Really?
– What’s your source??
– Mint Soboro Bread: High School Grad Middle Schooler.
– Ugh, damn, isn’t he a lunatic, lol.
Although the channel users seemed to dismiss it as nonsense, I had never spoken a truer word.
The channel owner had already liked my photos and followed me ages ago; what else could that be but an acknowledgment of my cuteness?
Anyway, Cha Sera’s over-the-top reaction was just too much, so I sent her a private message with a warning.
Ding!
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: Don’t overreact.
– Cute Wren: Okay…
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: Use spaces too, it hurts my eyes.
– Cute Wren: Yeah…
The channel had 47 active members. Among them, I had 3 worshippers.
Though the beginning was humble, the end of this journey would be magnificent.
‘Hmm…’
That aside, it was about time to shoot the concept photos and videos I had planned to activate Clam’s subscription panel.
However, upon reflection, it seemed rather difficult to shoot and prepare all of it by myself.
‘…Should I call them?’
Cha Sera usually enjoyed finding and photographing cute birds or small animals on her days off, so her equipment and skills would likely be more than adequate.
However… I harbored doubts as to whether it was truly appropriate to use a high-value B-rank Hunter like Cha Sera for such a task.
After all, I wasn’t *that* morally bankrupt.
– Cute Wren: Oh, I’m totally fine with that???
– Cute Wren: Should I come right now????
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: Don’t overreact.
– Cute Wren: Okay…
As you can see, such was her reaction, making me suspect that with an appropriate reward, she would likely be quite satisfied.
After some deliberation, I ultimately called Cha Sera as soon as the next morning dawned, and thus, our photoshoot began.
