Now that they'd figured out which version they were in, all that was left was to find a solution.
Alain looked at the Internal Network Firewall icon on his phone. Although it was still flashing, it was mostly grayed out.
That meant its uses were depleted.
"I know you're anxious, but don't rush." The admonishing voice of a certain system fairy made Alain want to tease her mercilessly.
But he held back.
"Spit it out."
"So rude, you!" She grumbled, turning her head away before pointing around the room.
Alain followed her gesture.
Misha was back at the photo wall looking for clues, while Miluo and Millie were also searching for information.
"You could try exploring the other rooms first. After all, holing up in here won't get you anywhere."
"Good point." Alain was convinced and was about to push open the door to the living room.
?! But the hand he pushed forward with felt like it hit a solid wall.
The door didn't even make a creaking sound; it was completely unmovable.
"Can't... open the door?" Alain muttered in confusion. He tried again, but it was still no use.
Just as I thought...
This confirmed a certain suspicion 2D Mita had.
She said, "If I'm not mistaken, your real-world home has been 'projected' in a sense."
"Mhm." 2D Mita's theory coincided with his own previous thoughts. The only difference was the verb used: "projected" versus "corresponded."
"And what's more, you can only move around in this one room. That makes things difficult." She said, troubled, having likely realized something.
"1.0F is the known lair of the Corrosive Entity. And the reason the Internal Network Firewall doesn't work, is probably because you and this room are still in different dimensions."
"In other words, your bodies are still in the real world, but the room you're in is still part of the game world. That hasn't changed."
"Wait a minute." Alain noticed something strange and picked up a caster from the computer chair on the floor.
"If we're in a different dimension from the room, why can we pick things up?"
"That just proves..." On the phone, 2D Mita's expression turned serious.
"You all are converging with the game world, gradually becoming a real part of it."
"Based on my guess, if this continues over time... Alain, you and your Mitas—"
Her tone was sharper than a biting winter wind, filling Alain with a sense of urgency.
"—will all become a part of the game world. No... I should say, a part of the Corrosive Entity's world."
"Mhm." He wasn't panicked. In a way, being unable to open the door was a good thing.
It proved that their convergence with the game world hadn't reached a very deep stage yet.
"Let's get back to the door not opening." 2D Mita sighed and raised a hand to point at the door.
"According to my theory, there must be a source causing this fusion of game and reality. And that source is definitely inside Version 1.0F."
"Mhm." Alain thought that made sense.
But, when you combined that with the fact they couldn't open the door and their movements were confined to this small room...
"If the source you're talking about is in a place like the 'living room' or the 'kitchen,' then we can't get there to solve the problem since we can't open the door."
"Exactly. And that will cause you to sink deeper and deeper over time, until you're completely absorbed into the game world."
2D Mita said, "I'll keep trying to find a solution for you. For now, just explore a bit. Who knows, maybe the source of the corrosion is right here in this room."
"Yeah, look on the bright side... right?" Alain chuckled lightly, then turned off his phone and looked around the room.
You could call it optimism... or you could call it "having no choice but to be optimistic."
Everyone else was still searching. He couldn't just stand around either.
So Alain went to check the computer and books on the desk.
As for the books, there was nothing wrong. The pages were smooth, filled with elegant handwriting.
As for the computer, the desktop was simple. A few default apps, plus one called "Mita's Love Story," and that was it.
"?"
Mita's Love Story?
Isn't that the game 2D Mita was from? To think it would show up here...
Alain grumbled to himself and decided to summon 2D Mita again.
"What is it? I'm trying to think of a solution here." She was lying lazily on top of the system panel's progress bar, flipping through a book like a connoisseur.
Alain glanced sideways and saw that the "book" was his damn phone album.
The young man's face darkened, and he mercilessly revoked some of her permissions.
"Hey! That's so mean! I was looking for inspiration!" she huffed, noticing Alain's pointing finger and looking over.
"Ugh... Mita's Love Story? I can't believe I'm seeing this stupid name again."
"Well? Any thoughts?" Alain asked.
"...If you could, I'd rather you delete it." 2D Mita scratched her cheek. "It's part of my dark past."
"Is that so? I think it's nice to keep it. What do you say? The protagonist of a galge with no R18 patch."
"R18?! You, you bastard! What are you talking about all of a sudden?! Do you have to discriminate against me like that? No, this is an insult! You jerk!!!" She clutched at her clothes. "You want R18? How about I unpack 'True Love Yuri' for you next time so you can have some fun?!"
"N-Never mind..." "True Love Yuri" was a particularly famous R18G title.
Filled with a "mature," "passionate," and "heart-ripping" kind of love.
"Ahem!" She recovered from her embarrassment. "As I see it, this probably isn't the source."
"Why not?" Alain was puzzled.
"If Mita's Love Story had a tendency to corrode outwards, I'd definitely know about it."
She puffed out her ample chest proudly.
Right. Alain had almost forgotten she was the master of the 2D Version.
Everyone searched for a while longer, eventually gathering by the bed to report their findings.
Seeing their helpless expressions, Alain knew their results must have been meager.
They had just done a thorough search, from the computer to under the bed and the photo wall, combing through everything.
So, is the source of the corrosion in the living room or the kitchen after all?
In that case, how are they supposed to get through that door?
Just then, the sound of running water from the bathroom finally stopped. The girl's melodious singing also paused for a moment.
"Brr—it's a little cold."
a clear voice echoed.
This gave Alain an idea.
They couldn't open the door, but that didn't mean the Mita from this room couldn't.
They just needed to get the Mita to open the door, and then they could go to the other rooms and check things out, right?
___
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