Chapter 23: 1_ ch 19: K. Confusing

Finishing my explanation, I ignore the I-don’t-understand expression on Himari’s face and focus on breakfast.

But then she cut me.

“ah, right, I forgot. So you see, there is a new sweet shop opening today, and I thought about visiting it. Isn’t it nice? having a date with your cute little sister, nii-san ?”

So that’s the true reason why you woke me up before. But anyway, did this girl forget?

“oi. Himari.”

“yes, nii-san.”

“in what world does a second-year university student go on a date with a first-year high school girl ?”

“hmm, this one ?”

This idiot. Those misleading words of hers were the reason why I have chosen this place to escape to, but she just had to follow me. Could you not just solve your own problems, why follow me here?

“I will ignore your words for now, as I don’t feel like committing murde,r any time soon. And concerning the store, let's go after tomorrow, as I will be busy these two days with LSO.”

“ But, nii-san ....”

“Oi. You are freeloading here, and you still want more? Is not that the reason you had to escape here? after all the misunderstanding you caused with people before?”

“Cough. I d-don’t know what y-you are talking about.”

“Anyway, I will keep my word, but after tomorrow.”

“sigh. Okay.”

This idiot, as if I can’t see your hidden smile. Am I pampering her too much?

“well, anyway, should I kill some time?”

.....

..............

........................

..................................

Click.

Opening my room’s door, I get inside.

“it’s soon, I guess.”

Checking the clock on my phone, it is 16:00 , so there is less than an hour to the game lunch.

Lying in my bed, I put the drive on.

“so ‘resonance’ mode or ‘synchronization ?”

Well, I will use the latter, as the first one may disable some options apparently.

“synchronization.”

Opening my eyes.

Fuuuush.

Strong wind sounds

“huh ? ..... waaaaa!”

What’s this? why am I falling from the sky ? shit.

Covering my face with my arms, I glance from the gap between my arms, and I see a water surface. Apparently, I am falling head-first in it. And brazing myself for the shock, .....

Splash.

I drown.

“ghuruuruu...”

The hell, I fall and then drown? Do they have a grudge against me?

Looking around at my surrounding, something caught my eyes. Bodies. Lots and lots of dead corpses floating underwater.

Wow. Now, this is scary.

Taking a moment to calm down. I quickly swim back to the surface. Reaching it, I take a breath.

“Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Fuuh. That was some seriously bad experience.”

Relaxing I look around, and

“wow, just what’s it that I got myself into.”

Water stretching to the horizon, giant electrocuted walls, and a crimson moon. And is that a tower there? is it my destination? then what? should I swim there? do you think I am doing a trial of the underworld here?

Hmm ? the water surface...

“so I can walk on water,.... how peculiar.”

Having figured out how to move around here, I climb the water and start walking in this chain-made path.

After a while, and having reached the tower...

“so it’s just water ?”

I am surprised, as It seems that I can just pass it normally, and that’s what I did.

Passing the water barrier, I can see a giant pillar of light.

Walking toward it, I am lost.

“So now what ?”

Looking around, I don’t see anything that can function as a guide, but the pillar of light in the middle.

“hmm, ah, I totally forgot. The UI menu is here.”

But hey, who can blame me? falling, drowning, and surrounded in this weird place? it’s really hard to focus here.

“so, let's see.”

Touching the red menu in front of me.

Some texts appeared.

Let me see. Hmm.

-Welcome to Lost Solace Online-

And then getting curious at that, I start reading it.

-Welcome to Lost Solace Online-

-You are surely confused by your place right now, are you not ?-

-Then that is good. Be confused, be scared, and be ready.-

-As you have no idea yet, of what you have just being chosen for.-

-As you may regret being chosen, as you may curse your fate, or you may simply be swallowed by your new world.-

-But fear not such things, as such things are but a luxury, for the living.-

-Instead, remember where you stand, remember the ocean of the dead, and remember, that forgetting and just drowning peacefully, may one day be one of your greatest wishes.-

-So here I beseech you, oh chosen one.-

-To make your choice carefully, as there is no turning back anymore.-

-So, may you be new hope, even when drowning in despair.-

-May your action result in a new ending, even when you are, but trying to escape.-

-But no matter what may you have fortune on your side, as you’ll need it.-

-And so remember, that this is my message for you. That this is my gift to you. And that this is the beginning...-

-Of a new hope. Of a new ending.-

-And now lastly, with that all over, let me give you a piece of good personnel advice.-

-Don’t choose an avatar randomly, you’ll regret it, period. There is no “but” or “maybe”.-

-So seriously don’t make a stupid choice like changing your gender, or becoming a shrimp.-

-And so with no further ado, let me welcome you, chosen one.-

-And may you be one of the lost solaces.-

".........”

I am speechless.

“.........so”

“what was that? I can understand the first part, but what about that personal advice, is it some part of a joke ?”

“you know what? the hell with avatars, I will just go with the real module. After being literary thrown from the sky, I have no courage to try something funny.”

And to my dear pioneers who’ll do so, may you rest in peace. I can’t imagine what will happen, but I am still shuddering.

“I am sure it’s going to be scary.”

As for an outfit, let's just go with a gray tracksuit to run in case I am thrown in some weird place next time.

Though in case I end up needing to change, then I will just go to my safe room for that.

Apparently, there is a wardrobe of clothes there.

Weird, right? it really begs the question, just where is the starting point?

Though, to me, as long as it is solid earth, then I am grateful. I don’t want any other free-falling experience.

But it seems that even after all this time, the timer is finally reaching the end.

7, 6, 5, 4

3, 2, 1

And now finally, I ......

-You can touch the pillar of light, as of now-

Reached to the light.