In the end, I explained everything from the very beginning—about the Infinite World Theory, the existence of countless overlapping realities, and how chaos and miasma had begun seeping through the cracks between worlds. I told her that the balance of every world was now at risk, and to stabilize them, certain chosen heroines needed to awaken their potential and grow strong enough to face those threats—without relying on anyone else.
Ai listened quietly at first, her expression unreadable. Then, she tilted her head slightly and gave a soft laugh.
"So, let me get this straight," she began, twirling a strand of her long purple-bluish hair with one finger. "This Multiverse Virtual Reality thing is a place where you… what, summon heroines? Train them by letting them fight monsters, so they can fight chaos across different worlds? And apparently…" She paused, tapping her chin as she smiled teasingly. "In your world, we're all heroines from stories or games or something?"
"Pretty much," I replied, scratching my cheek awkwardly.
Ai giggled, her starry eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ahahaha, that's kind of hilarious, isn't it? Me, a heroine or a protagonist of some grand story? That's a good joke."
Her laughter was light, but it carried that same bittersweet tone I remembered from the show—the sound of someone who hid their true feelings behind a perfect idol smile.
"Well, it might sound crazy," I said, "but this isn't a joke, Ai. You've really been summoned here. And this isn't a TV show or anything like that. I mean, come on—no production team could pull off something like this in such a short time, right?"
Ai tilted her head slightly, her glossy hair swaying with the motion. The light from the VR hub shimmered across her face, making her look almost ethereal.
I hesitated for a moment, realizing something important. I can't just tell her story… right?
Unlike with Eriri, it wasn't just the two of us this time—Eriri was right here, watching. And Ai's situation, her past… it was too personal, too sensitive to bring up in front of someone else.
Ai gave me a skeptical look, folding her arms. "Hmm… that's easier to believe than what's coming out of your mouth, though, isn't it?"
Her teasing tone caught me off guard, and I could only sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "That's… true, actually."
Eriri, who had been leaning against the table, finally spoke up. She let out a long sigh, crossing her arms and giving Ai a knowing look. "Haa… I reacted the same way when he told me all that nonsense. Thought he was either crazy or trying to pull some weird prank. But it turns out he's not lying. You'll see for yourself soon enough."
Ai blinked in surprise, glancing at Eriri. "You too? So… you're saying this isn't a dream or some elaborate set?"
"Not unless a dream comes with a leveling system and an upgrade menu," Eriri muttered, tapping her finger on the virtual screen still floating nearby.
Ai stared at the display in disbelief, watching as the translucent panels shifted and shimmered with data. "Whoa… that's… actually kind of real-looking." She reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing through the projection. "Does it even react to touch…?"
"Soon, you'll get something like this too. And honestly, there's no harm in trying. Who knows? Whatever you gain here might even help your career as an idol — and maybe make your family happy, too."
I couldn't bring myself to mention Aqua or Ruby directly, but I chose my words carefully. Something vague… yet meaningful enough that Ai would understand exactly what I meant.
Ai blinked, looking between us with an expression that mixed doubt, unsure and curiosity. "You two are serious, huh…? Hmm. Okay then, let's say I believe you a little." She smiled again, this time softer. "But if I'm going to fight monsters or chaos or whatever, you'll have to make sure I still look cute doing it, alright?"
Her words made me laugh, easing the tension in the room. "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. An idol's image is important, after all."
Eriri muttered under her breath, "So she's truly an idol, huh… I could tell from her uniform, but I never thought she was actually one. Well, she's beautiful and cute…"
"Did you say something?" Ai asked sweetly, narrowing her eyes.
Eriri quickly looked away. "N-no, nothing at all."
[ Congratulations! Ai Hoshino has joined the group. 3 Random Skills have been granted to the party. Each member receives one. ]
Adicipta Perkasa gained:
This is 'Trap' – Gain an exclusive bonus to Charm, Charisma, and Prestige when others are unaware of your true gender. Automatically inflicts a 5% Confusion debuff on targets who become charmed.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura gained:
Artisan's Tempo (Passive) – Greatly increases Drawing Speed and Precision while creating illustrations. When fully focused, reduces fatigue buildup and slightly enhances Inspiration Rate.
Ai Hoshino gained:
Loving Mother (Passive) – When protecting or supporting allies, increases Morale Recovery and Healing Effectiveness by 20%. Nearby allies gain a mild Emotional Stability buff, calming fear or panic. The effect doubles when Ai acts out of genuine affection.
"Gahahaha… what is that skill…" Eriri burst out laughing the moment my new ability popped up on the shared party panel. She clutched her stomach, barely able to breathe between her laughter. "It really suits you!! I mean, 'This is Trap'? Are you kidding me!?"
I sighed and slumped my shoulders. "Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want…"
"Hm?" Ai tilted her head, her bright eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at me more closely. "Wait a second… you're not a girl, are you?"
Eriri immediately smirked. "Took you long enough."
Ai blinked in surprise, then leaned forward, her gaze sharp yet curious. "You're seriously a guy!? I never would've guessed. I thought you were an actress… or maybe another idol from a rival group. You've got such a cute face, it's kind of hilarious!"
I let out a small groan, rubbing my temple. "Well, that's… something that can't be helped. It's part of the system, I guess."
As the two of them continued to react—Eriri still snickering under her breath and Ai giving me a teasing smile—I focused on the floating panel that appeared in front of us. The interface shimmered faintly, showing the newly updated party status and the next mission.
[ Party Status Updated ]
Leader: Adicipta Perkasa
Members:
Eriri Spencer Sawamura
Ai Hoshino
[ Mission: Starting the Journey of Adventure! 02 ]
With the arrival of new members, it's time to grow stronger through experience.
Venture forth, battle monsters, and level up your skills.
There's no better place than a dungeon as your first step toward greatness!
Objective: Join Orario and reach Floor 10 of the Dungeon.
Rewards:
1,500 Credits 150 EXP 3 Random Skills
"Hm… so again, we'll be heading to the dungeon," I muttered as I scrolled through the mission details displayed on the floating screen. Then, turning toward Ai, I gave her a short briefing about Orario—the city built around the massive dungeon, the adventurers who sought power within it, and the dangers that lurked below its depths.
"Ah, and one more thing," I added, glancing at them seriously. "Even if you get seriously injured inside Orario, your real body won't be affected. The system won't let your physical injuries carry over to the real world. But…" I paused for a moment. "That doesn't mean your mind will be fine. Pain, fear, exhaustion—those still feel real. So be careful."
Both Ai and Eriri nodded, their expressions a mix of anticipation and unease.
Just then, the air shimmered, and a series of messages appeared before us, glowing with a faint blue light.
[ Connection to Orario: Established ]
[ Synchronizing physical and spiritual data… Complete ]
[ Generating initial Status… Success ]
[ Coordinates locked: Labyrinth City – Orario ]
[ Dimensional Transfer Protocol activated. Please remain calm during transition. ]
[ Transfer commencing in… 3… 2… 1… ]
A brilliant light surrounded us as the Multiverse VR hummed with energy. The world around me began to blur and distort—our surroundings melting away into a swirl of light.
"Here we go," I muttered softly, bracing myself as everything faded into white.
[author]
Each chapter is about 1,000-1,200 words,
Update everyday, every 5.00 AM in my country and maybe 3:00 PM in UTC since my reader lot from US. Thanks for reading!!!
Sorry, I just realized I've already put shop opened in early chapter to make unlock Online Shop. Such blunder, next the Online Shop became Shop!!!
[/author]