Chapter 252: The Place of Rumors

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As they continue debating—this way, not that way—they gradually notice the sun beginning to set.

The "strategy meeting" was quickly reaching a stalemate.

After all,

• It needs to make a tremendous impact.

• Only equipment available is a smartphone and a low-spec notebook PC.

They simply couldn't come up with a plan that met both conditions.

"Really, we should probably collaborate with Hana, who's already popular..."

"That's an option, but... just doing that wouldn't be enough."

"Is that so?"

"A collaboration needs to at least appear mutually beneficial. It has to look like a partnership between equals. Otherwise, it just comes off as riding someone else's coattails. No one's going to like that. First, we need to establish our own style."

"Huh."

You talk really fast, you know...

Still, I felt like I was having a genuinely youthful conversation for the first time since the end.

Funny how conversations like this—fleeting, like trying to grasp clouds—can be so enjoyable.

As I spoke, I could see a girl nearby riding a unicycle, recording her failed attempts into a video.

According to Asuka, “That kind of thing is designed to perfectly appeal to an in-group, so it’s probably best not to take it too seriously.”

Hmph.

I guess popularity really is tougher than I thought.

So we decided to change the subject.

We figured it was a waste of time to linger here any longer.

"By the way, about meeting up with Hakka-san..."

"I'll arrange for an email to arrive from Kurokudo-san as soon as we return."

"Shouldn't we wait at the entrance instead?"

"Hakka-san, it seems they quietly slipped out from here, afraid their account would get deleted. There's probably some secret back exit or something like that."

That's right—'Dancer-san' mentioned something like that earlier.

She said that once you go abroad, your account gets erased.

...Back then I thought, "Well, that's just a minor thing," but now that I think about it, losing your entire fortune just for crossing borders feels like an incredibly absurd law.

Seeing Migan-chan starting to doze off from boredom,

"Since we have some extra time... let's go check out the sleeping quarters first."

Asuka offers helpfully.

"Come to think of it, where exactly do all the people here stay?"

"Down below."

"Wait, where exactly?"

"You'll see when you get there."

Following her enigmatic smile, with Miharu on my back and Sotatsu by my side, we head toward a place no ordinary Disneyland guest would ever set foot in.

It was the designated entrance labeled "Cast Only."

The backstage of the Land of Dreams.

▼

"Over this way," she said.

Following Asuka's guidance, we step into the staff area, just behind the fantastical world visible from the front.

After walking a short distance down the corridor, where massive pipes were exposed,

"……Ughh"

An overwhelming scent of youth... how else could I describe it? A cloying fragrance clung to my nose, making me feel like I might choke.

"Is the ventilation properly handled here?"

Probably

Probably...

That's just about getting used to it.

I've heard an urban legend about Disneyland having underground passages for transporting supplies.

Apparently, since the corridor connects directly to the warehouse, supplies keep arriving continuously, so each store rarely runs out of stock.

"However, I never expected there to be a lodging facility as well."

That said, there was no doubt that it had been hastily created after the "end."

A long passage, about seven meters wide, designed for transporting supplies.

On one side of the lane, about three meters are used to create a makeshift divider, stretching out like the kind often seen in net cafes.

It seems these partitions will be dividing up the space we'll be staying in for the foreseeable future.

Peering inside, there's a sofa that doubles as a makeshift bed, a laptop connected to power (for video editing) next to it, and a locked locker.

...Yeah. This is definitely a net cafe.

"Privacy will be... well, just the bare minimum, really."

"Patience is what it takes to become a high-viewership Vivian. Did you know the underground here is actually connected to that famous Disney Hotel?"

"Huh. I've heard it's always fully booked, so you can never get a room."

"Still, surprisingly, life here isn't so bad."

"By the way, where's the restroom?"

"You can use the staff-only facilities—but it's paid."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. So it seems Vivian, being low-rated, has been turned into something like a soda bottle."

Darkness, indeed.

Thinking about it, that cloying girl scent might be partly... or perhaps even entirely...

I quickly stopped thinking—faster than light.

"Also, the shower room is..."

"Not many available, but there's one the people from Nya-kky were using. It's also paid, but fairly spacious and quite easy to use."

Then Migen-chan, rubbing her sleepy eyes, asks, "The person from Nya-kky?"

"Oh, nothing much~?"

"……Umyu."

We escorted her to the room assigned during the "national registration," laid the girl down on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

"……Thank you..."

Huh.

She can actually say thanks. Though maybe only when she's sleepy.

It's hard to believe that the girl who just now plunged a knife into the "Hungerman" with a monstrous expression is the same person lying here, asleep.

After confirming she's breathing steadily, we leave the bed we'll be spending some time on.

That's because, just a moment ago, I received an email from Kurokami.

The message read:

『Hakka, return.

But urgent matter.

"Migration Bird's Feather" has been used. Reply immediately if you don't have it on hand.

The location is atop the highest roof of "Avienia Castle" in the central park.