A face that suspiciously resembles someone.
– Oops.
It was so dark, and half of her face was covered, so I couldn’t see clearly, but that woman definitely resembled Lily.
[?]
[Oh st]
[Is that really Lily?]
[Crazy]
[Hahahahahaha]
[The cosplay is amazing]
[What the heck???]
[?]
[Is she a cosplayer?]
[Why is Yena there?]
[Yena?]
[…?]
[I told you Lily is in the stadium. Why don’t you believe people?]
[Why is the cosplayer with Yena?]
The woman, hiding half her face, was wearing a mask that covered about 80% more.
Now only her eyes were faintly visible as she lifted her head.
Her blue pupils flinched slightly as they gazed at the screen.
Looks like she just realized she was being filmed.
[Wow]
[So pretty]
[????]
[Wait, her figure is totally Lily’s? Is this real?]
[Huh?]
[She’s huge]
[Hahahahahaha]
[Wow]
[Why didn’t I notice her earlier?]
“Lady Lily… I think she’s a cosplayer? She did an amazing job.”
“That’s right. The outfit isn’t cosplay, and I was genuinely surprised. For a moment, I thought the real Lady Lily was there.”
“That’s correct. The person next to her…”
In an instant, the gaze that had focused in one direction turned sideways.
The laughing face was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a girl stuttering and experiencing a fit of eye tremors.
“It’s Miss Yena. Miss Yena is so well customized that she looks almost identical to her real self. Ah, for those who don’t know, Miss Yena is a famous assassin ranker and a broadcaster.”
“Miss Yena! I’ve heard a lot about you. It seems you came to watch the DCK finals. Miss Yena and Chuka Chip were a team in the mock Siege War, too.”
“Exactly.”
While the commentators babbled on, Yena barely managed to regain her composure, but it was already enough time for her to feel something unusual.
[Yena, start the broadcast!]
[Why is Yena so flustered?]
[?]
[But is that really Lily?]
[Wow, seeing her without the mask is insane]
[What’s going on?]
[Is it real?]
[But why is Yena hanging out with the cosplayer?]
[?]
[She’s really pretty though]
Yena exaggeratedly waved her hands, trying to greet everyone.
She intended to divert some attention, but people were already focused on the ‘Lily’ cosplayer.
Finally, when it was her turn, the cosplayer lightly nodded and looked at the camera.
Then she smiled brightly and waved her hand.
[…]
[Wow]
[????????]
[Wow, insane]
[Lily?]
[That eye greeting is epic]
[??????????????]
[What the heck, st]
[This scene looks familiar]
[The synchronization is crazy]
[Take off the mask!!!!]
[Sis…]
[Yena is pretty too? Was she always that beautiful in reality?]
“Isn’t it pretty? Was reality always this beautiful?”
“…Oh. Ah! You’re greeting me! Thank you.”
“Cosplayers of Miss Yena and Lady Lily! I hope you enjoy until the very end! This is going to be a hot topic, isn’t it?”
“Well, most people know that Lady Lily and Miss Yena are quite close. It felt like seeing Deoen in real life.”
“That’s right! …Ah! The award ceremony for the finals is about to start…”
The screen transitions back to the stadium shrine we saw at the beginning.
The much-anticipated finals. A time to bless the main character at the very end.
Since the wait was long, if it were any other time, I would have caused a scene wanting it to start quickly, but…
[Ah]
[Ah]
[Where did Lily go?]
[Lily, give her to me! Lily, give her to me! Lily, give her to me! Lily, give her to me! Lily, give her to me!]
[Lily, hand her over!]
[Ah, why skip ahead?]
[So who is that cosplayer!!!]
[Is it the real Lily?]
[No way, is it really?]
[Lily, turn on the broadcast in 5 minutes. I think I’m going to go crazy.]
[What the hell is going on?]
[Move Choco and show us Lily;;]
[Hahahahahahahahaha]
[This is chaotic, hahaha]
[Does anyone have info on that cosplayer?]
[Yena, let’s have a clarification broadcast.]
Now, it’s become chaotic in a different way.
Completely out of control.
-…We’re in trouble.
■
Honestly, I was somewhat prepared for this.
I knew the audience would be watching through the broadcast and had anticipated this from the moment I stepped outside.
‘Looks like I could be caught on camera.’
But I figured it wouldn’t matter. I was covering 80% of my face, and the VIP seating had its own dark atmosphere, making it hard to be recognized.
Even if I did get caught, they would probably just think, ‘Oh, a pretty and well-shaped person is cosplaying Lily,’ right?
Whether it’s real or fake, I had no reason to prove anything.
‘…Or so I thought.’
“I was just a tad too relaxed, to be honest.”
The waiting time was an hour.
The camera usually didn’t catch the VIP seats, and at first, I was well-concealed, but as time passed, my guard relaxed a lot.
This isn’t a war like in the past.
No one was attacking me, and there were no real threats in this peaceful reality.
In a safe social infrastructure like this, I had let my guard down a bit too much, leading to this outcome.
“I shouldn’t have started eating snacks at that timing. I was too relaxed in the end.”
“……”
“But I was a little hungry─”
“Uh… I’m sorry.”
Yena bows her head at a perfect 90 degrees.
I nod and look at Yena.
“Why are you sorry?”
“I could have just watched the broadcast, but because of my request…”
“But I said I would come. What about it?”
“But…”
“Miss Yena.”
─The CO players are entering!
“You see, I’ve always walked alone.”
─Let’s give a big round of applause!
Whaaa!!!
“This job is something only I can do. If I’m just hanging around, who knows, I might just disappear again. So I had to go alone.”
“……?”
“I wanted to keep everything under my control. If it got dangerous, I’d either eliminate it or somehow force it into the framework I made.”
The players are coming up.
Though there’s a leader at the center, they’re all equals in a ‘team.’
They reached the destination relying on each other against any threat.
“I firmly believed that was the right thing to do back then. That’s why I’m here now, but…”
“…Lady Lily?”
“I think it’s okay to loosen up a bit now.”
I don’t have to bear it all by myself.
If I’m lacking, I can borrow a hand, and if I look like I’m struggling, someone can step in to help out.
‘The nightmare that was devouring everyone is over.’
“…So, the conclusion is…”
─DCK’s fifth victory is~~~ CO!!!
“Can’t I just live?”
‘As per his last wish.’
“…Are you pulling a prank?”
“No.”
If I were going to do that, I would’ve shown up confidently in the first place.
Why go to such lengths to hide?
“Do you know this saying? ‘Imagination is free.'”
“…No way.”
“I thought you’d be a supreme beauty in reality, or maybe just an ordinary person. That’s freedom.”
I just keep broadcasting steadily from Deoen.
The choice will be left to the viewers.
“So you should think about it too, Miss Yena.”
“About what…”
“Whether the person in front of you right now is the ordinary half-bred Lily Elbrite. Or…”
─Thank you. It took a lot to get here…
“…a really strange person from somewhere.”
“I know. That Lady Lily is an alien from some Kka-ring Kka-ring planet.”
“That’s right.”
“I knew from the first time I saw you that you were unusual. Should I report it?”
“I’d prefer you not to.”
“Why? Are you afraid of being exposed since they told you to hide your identity?”
As Yena strikes a haughty pose, I can’t help but chuckle.
“No. I’m worried about you getting hurt.”
“…Using force is illegal on this planet.”
“I could bend a trivial rule for my mission.”
“No, it’s not trivial!”
“Shall we test it?”
As I playfully clench my fist, Yena puts up a barrier with a snack platter, taking a defensive stance.
As soon as I grabbed it, Yena blocked me with a snack board and took a defensive stance with her shield.
“Did you have fun today?” she said with a smile, playing a ridiculous prank.
“Of course.”
“Then let me just explain about Lady Lily’s face in my own way. Um… She’s just an acquaintance who wanted to come watch, so I brought her along. How about that?”
“That’s a bit too simple, so let’s mix in some truth. I originally received two tickets, but one was left over. So I thought about what to do, and then I casually made the suggestion.”
“I have a feeling they won’t believe half of that.”
“That’s fine either way.”
Whether it’s truth or lies.
I plan to keep broadcasting and I’m not particularly looking to do any external activities.
CO raised the trophy, which was placed in the center of the shrine, marking the end of DCK’s long finals.
People began to leave the stadium one by one, and some waited at the exit to check on Yena and me, but this place is how it is.
“The VIP audience seating has a separate exit route.”
After escaping the stadium through a secret route that didn’t have many people passing by, we were able to return to the sports car that Yena had parked.
This parking lot is also restricted to only authorized VIPs.
“Let’s go.”
“Sure! Want to grab a drink?”
“Sounds good.”
Yena mumbled “Yay~” and started the engine.
Yena’s face looked quite happy.
I wonder what thoughts are going through Yena’s mind.
She probably doesn’t completely believe it’s a lie anymore.
It’s been nearly three years, almost four, since Deoen turned the world upside down, and this world became one led by Nutri Company.
The company most fitting for the joke about “being made by torturing aliens.”
No matter how absurd the stories get, Yena, who is deeply involved with Deoen, would already have some expectations.
Still…
“Oh, right. I was going to mention that.”
“? What about?”
“I don’t care what kind of person Lady Lily is. It’s just fun being with her.”
I kind of felt that the first time I saw her.
“She seems like someone different from us, right?”
“…….”
“Is that too serious?”
“A bit? Let’s add a pinch of fun.”
“Then… let me have that Green Hermit. Not just borrowing, but forever.”
“That’s a bit much.”
“Ugh.”
I can’t give up my precious ingredient.
But I will definitely teach her diligently.
“You can look forward to it.”
“…I’m feeling a bit uneasy.”
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