For ten years of living in this world, Tetsuya had led nothing more than an ordinary, almost leisurely, life. Writing his novels, going to school, studying, and so on. He had never encountered anything unusual or supernatural, aside from his mysterious and sudden reincarnation ten years ago.
But now… Yotsuya Miko?
Wasn't she from the anime Mieruko-chan? The girl who could see terrifying evil spirits?
Tetsuya observed Miko's gloomy appearance. Her yellow eyes looked slightly dull, clearly showing signs of exhaustion and lingering fear, even trauma. Her head was always lowered, only occasionally lifting it, perhaps because in this classroom… she was seeing countless evil spirits.
Thinking about that made Tetsuya feel a chill run down his spine. It wasn't his fault; the evil spirits depicted in Mieruko-chan were horrifying enough on screen, let alone if one were to see them in real life.
Yotsuya Miko's mental fortitude was truly astonishing.
Even though he couldn't see evil spirits himself, Tetsuya sincerely admired her.
"Tetsuya-kun, what's wrong?"
Megumi, who was sitting to his left, noticed his condition and gently poked his arm, asking with her usual flat expression.
Yet there was genuine concern behind it.
"Ah, no, it's nothing, Megumi. I was just thinking about something," Tetsuya finally snapped out of it and smiled at her.
Megumi nodded and shifted her gaze back to the front. Even though she spoke, no one else paid attention, and Tetsuya had replied in a low voice as well.
Miko went to her seat by the wall, lowering her head onto the desk, looking extremely distressed.
'System…'
Tetsuya shifted his attention to the voice he had heard earlier, right at the moment he realized that this world wasn't simple at all.
A system screen appeared before his eyes, visible only to him, displaying a single line of text.
[Welcome to the Amazing Chat Group System!]
[Tetsuya Hiratsuji has joined the chat group!]
[Pirate Empress has joined the chat group!]
[Legendary Sannin has joined the chat group!]
[Mysterious Girl has joined the chat group!]
[Cruel Sword Girl has joined the chat group!]
While the teacher was explaining the lesson, Tetsuya watched the notifications on the system screen, quietly thinking to himself.
A chat group system.
This term was hardly unfamiliar, especially to someone who read novels like him.
Wasn't this the protagonist's golden finger?
Tetsuya hadn't expected to receive one after ten whole years.
…..
[Mysterious Girl: Wow! What is this? A chat group? Is this some new technology from Madam Herta?]
[Legendary Sannin: What the hell is this? Genjutsu? Did you cast genjutsu on me while I was drunk? Come out and face my fists, you coward!]
[Cruel Sword Girl: A chat group, a system, a transparent screen… Is this some kind of black technology?]
[Pirate Empress: A chat group? This must be another scheme by the World Government, right? Hmph! Fine, it'll be useless to me. After all, I'm extremely beautiful!]
"…"
Tetsuya fell silent as he stared at the four initial members of the chat group.
The Mysterious Girl mentioned Herta. Tetsuya only knew the name Herta from Honkai: Star Rail, and from her message alone, it was obvious, this was March 7th. The Legendary Sannin was drunk, and judging by her tendency to punch people, she was clearly Tsunade Senju.
The Pirate Empress was obviously Boa Hancock. The term "World Government" existed in many places and worlds, but her personality alone, especially the last sentence, gave it away. That overwhelming confidence in her beauty.
As for the Cruel Sword Girl… that one was less clear. Tetsuya wasn't entirely sure.
It seemed this chat group connected people from anime, manga, and even games.
His current world was already a crossover of multiple anime, and now there was a chat group system connecting to anime and game worlds?
Tetsuya was shocked.
Still, seeing how confused and panicked everyone in the chat group was, he knew he had to explain.
[Tetsuya Hiratsuji: Please calm down, everyone.]
[Legendary Sannin: Hey, kid, who are you? Are you the one who did this to me? Come out right now and face me!]
[Mysterious Girl: There's another person here! Is this Tetsuya Hiratsuji the one who made all this?]
[Pirate Empress: An agent of the World Government! What other despicable things are you planning to do?]
[Cruel Sword Girl: Tetsuya Hiratsuji-san, according to the join order, you entered this "chat group" first. Do you know something about this?]
[Tetsuya Hiratsuji: First of all, please calm down. I didn't create this chat group. Now, let me explain.]
Of the four of them, one was innocent and cheerful, one calm and analytical, while the other two were explosive and aggressive.
[Tetsuya Hiratsuji: This is a system called the Amazing Chat Group System. It connects people from countless different worlds, allowing them to become members of a chat group and interact and communicate with each other.]
[Cruel Sword Girl: Is it like LINE or something? But people from different worlds… interesting.]
LINE? That was a messaging app, right? So the Cruel Sword Girl came from a modern world?
Was she Saeko Busujima?
[Mysterious Girl: Wow! That's amazing! Even the technology from Herta Space Station probably couldn't create something like this!]
[Pirate Empress: This is ridiculous. Connecting people from different worlds to communicate? Is that even possible?]
[Legendary Sannin: It doesn't make sense. No matter how you think about it, a transparent screen that connects different worlds is too incredible to believe. But this doesn't seem to be genjutsu, since the screen is still here even after I sobered up.]
[Tetsuya Hiratsuji: You can change your names in the personal information section.]
[Tsunade Senju: Like this?]
[March 7th: Oh! The name changed! And wow, this chat group is awesome!]
[Saeko Busujima: Overall, this chat group's interface really does resemble ordinary messaging apps.]
[Boa Hancock: Hmph. Be grateful, residents of other worlds, that you get to know my name!]
All of his guesses were correct, and the Cruel Sword Girl was indeed Saeko Busujima.
After all, there were many female characters from anime and games who used swords and had cruel tendencies in modern settings. Tetsuya had guessed Saeko partly because fanfiction novels almost always included her early on. Ahem!
[Tsunade Senju: There's a daily sign-in function here. From 1 to 100 points. I only got 10 points, damn it!]
[March 7th: I got 70 points!]
[Boa Hancock: 80 points.]
[Saeko Busujima: I got 50 points. Seems my luck isn't too good or too bad.]
[Tsunade Senju: Damn it! Hey, Tetsuya! Hurry up and sign in and see how many points you get!]
Tetsuya saw that the sign-in function really was there and immediately clicked it.
[Tetsuya Hiratsuji: 100 points.]
[Tsunade Senju: ???]
[Tsunade Senju: Damn you!]
[Saeko Busujima: Tetsuya-kun's luck is extremely high.]
[March 7th: Wow! Tetsuya is amazing!]
[Boa Hancock: Higher than mine… Very well, I'll allow it.]
[Tetsuya Hiratsuji: Forget it, Tsunade. When it comes to gambling, you shouldn't get involved at all!]
[Tsunade Senju: Damn you… what do you mean by that?]
[Tetsuya Hiratsuji: In short, you're terrible at gambling.]
[March 7th: Tetsuya, what are these points used for?]