Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

Gao Hai felt that he needed to refresh his concept of obsessive objects.

The cardboard box in front of me was trembling slightly.

Hidden in the box, Goto Ichiri knew that he had been discovered by Takami and had been forced into a situation where he had to face a nearly complete stranger one-on-one.

They wanted to escape immediately.

My breathing has become erratic, and it seems like there's something wrong with my heart as well.

A strong sense of tension spread through her nerves and muscles, making the girl feel dizzy.

However, you cannot escape.

She remembered clearly that Gao Hai had established close relationships with multiple JK (high school girl) players, and it was very likely that the JK attribute had a very high level of XP (experience/affinity) for Gao Hai.

As for her two friends, although they hadn't been in contact for a while, they were still close friends. Both Ryo and Nijika were beautiful and youthful high school girls, and thus within Takami's hunting range.

After joining the [Market], Goto Ichiri witnessed the methods used by Ogawa Itsuki to manage players in the Tokyo area, as well as the insane things done by players whose minds had become twisted and insane after participating in multiple dungeons. Although Takami himself seemed normal and not like those people, Goto Ichiri dared not take the risk because it involved her few close friends, so she finally mustered up the courage to return.

But she discovered that the other person had no intention of talking to Hongxia or Liang at all, and he had noticed her as soon as she arrived. This man is terrifying! Her blessing had no effect on him, and she couldn't hide her whereabouts. What should she do? What should she do? What should she do? What should she do?

"that."

Gao Hai waved his hand, and at that moment tried to take the initiative to start a conversation.

"The weather is so nice today!"

The next moment came Goto Ichiri's own powerful voice, which had a somewhat broadcast-like style.

Gao Hai:?

"No, no, no, it's not a prelude to dancing! No, it's about how beautiful the sunset is! No, it's not about life and the future! No, it's not about how cute the cat on the corner is! No, it's not about that new game! No, it's not about that new album! No, it's not about that... uh... uh..."

Almost the instant Gao Hai showed a puzzled expression, the girl, as if her program had malfunctioned, uttered a series of strange words at an extremely fast pace, the content of which was completely incomprehensible.

The cardboard box, like Michael Jackson moonwalking, rapidly retreated in front of Gao Hai, then crashed into a wall not far away with a "thud." As it tried to turn and escape, it crashed into a traffic light because of the extra width of the billboard, then into a roadside bench, then into a wall, a trash can, and a bus stop sign.

By the time Gao Hai had had his fill of amusement—or rather, finally realized something was wrong and was about to help—Goto Ichiri, who had swept through half the street like a tornado, was already lying peacefully on the ground. Her upper body was still covered by the cardboard box, and she seemed to be sobbing softly. Her legs, clad in a tracksuit and sticking out of the box, would occasionally twitch, making it difficult for Gao Hai to determine whether she was having a breakdown or was about to die.

Incidentally, probably because it was wrapped in a cardboard box, the billboard that Goto Ichiri was wearing had not been completely smashed yet, so much so that one end of the cardboard box was pressed against the ground, preventing Goto Ichiri from falling completely to the ground.

Interlude 3-37: Little Pochi, who loves to overthink and is easily inflated with pride.

Puff——

The straw punctured the thin paper at the spout and was inserted into the juice, making a rather strange, soft sound.

Gao Hai turned around and looked at Goto Ichiri, who was squatting in the corner with his head drooping and looking dazed as if he had lost his soul. After hesitating for a moment, he handed over the juice in his hand.

At this very moment, repairmen on the street are cursing and swearing as they repair the knocked-down billboards and road signs, while many people are gathered around the bent utility pole taking pictures.

Although the distance was relatively far, Gao Hai still overheard several passersby discussing that this was not the first or second time such an incident had occurred, and it seemed that there had been many instances of utility poles or road signs being damaged in the city.

It can't be that all of it was done by Pochettino, right?

Thinking this, Gao Hai turned to look at the girl sitting blankly in the alley and found that she had instinctively reached out to take the juice and then continued to sit on the ground without moving, as if she had become a statue.

"Hey, snap out of it, get out of class is over."

Takami waved his hand in front of Goto Ichiri's face again.

"..."

no respond.

The girl sat silently on the ground, showing no reaction to Gao Hai's movements or voice.

“I’m telling you, don’t overthink it. I’ll help rescue your friend Kita Ikuyo. After all, you’ve helped me a few times, and I’m not an ungrateful person. I’ve promised to do this, and I will definitely do my best to do it.”

After thinking for a moment, Gao Hai sat down next to Goto Ichiri and continued speaking to her.

"..."

Goto Ichiri remained unresponsive, sitting motionless on the ground like a program that had lost its function.

Is he... out of his mind?

Gao Hai scratched his head, unsure of what to do next.

After thinking for a moment, he finished his glass of juice and then handed the glass to Goto Ichiri.

The girl, with a blank expression, reached out her free hand to take the cup, and then continued to sit there, holding a paper cup in each hand.

Even if consciousness has failed, does the body still have instinctive reactions?

Why do I feel like it's kind of funny?

Gao Hai felt a stirring within him.

It's hard not to want to tease such a special and interesting girl.

But how best to play a prank?

Some wicked ideas began to creep into his mind, some harmless jokes, others a little more wicked. Of course, Gao Hai would only think the latter in his mind and wouldn't actually do them.

However, after such a thought arose, the power of blessing detected the faint malice in Takahashi's heart, and Goto Ichiri, who had been in a daze just moments before, suddenly woke up and his eyes instantly became wary.

Then I realized I was sitting on the floor, holding two paper cups.

Oh dear, this is...

Carefully, Goto Ichiri turned her head and glanced at Takami sitting next to her.

Although Takami was actually sitting quite far away, about two meters away, Goto Ichiri immediately felt a strong sense of oppression and his face showed an expression of extreme discomfort.

Then, she turned her head again and looked at the juice she was holding. The girl's somewhat sluggish brain started working again, and she vaguely recalled how she had fallen to the ground, how Gao Hai had pulled her out of the cardboard box and dragged her to this alley, and how Gao Hai had handed her two glasses of juice and sat down next to her with a playful expression, looking her over.

It's over!

So shameful, it's almost as if they've revealed their true colors and have been completely seen through!

He had previously wanted to ask him to rescue his friend, and had even given him all his information as a gesture of goodwill, hoping to cooperate. But before they even got close to the dungeon, he was witnessed in such an embarrassing and utterly disgraceful manner. He was certain that in the other person's eyes, he had now become an incredibly unreliable player.

Goto Ichiri could already picture that scene.

【Mr. Koga, I have serious complaints about your player list. How did you manage to put a trash player like Goto on it? Are you trying to frame me?】

In the girl's inner world, Gao Hai, wearing black sunglasses, a suit, and with his hair slicked back, sat in the highest seat with a cold expression, looking at Xiao Heshu kneeling on the ground and speaking indifferently.

I'm very sorry, but I will immediately remove this player from the team for such an embarrassing behavior.

Kawaki also answered righteously and sternly, and quickly stood up, looking at Goto Ichiri, who was kneeling to the side and being eyed covetously by countless players.

[Players who damage the market's reputation like this really can't be allowed to stay. So, Goto Ichiri, sentence her to death! As for the charges, well, they're too disgraceful for the players. Let's leave it at that.]

Everyone nodded in agreement, believing that there was no problem with this conclusion.

Goto Ichiri, who had mentally sentenced himself to death, revealed a look of despair, as if he had turned into ashes and completely lost the vitality he already had.

"..."

Watching the girl's face change so dramatically, Gao Hai, who was observing from the sidelines, was completely at a loss as to what expression he should make.

What's going on with her...?

At least in comics and animations, there's a God's-eye view that lets the audience see the rich inner world of Pochi, but now Gao Hai has become an actor in that theater, so he has absolutely no way of guessing what this little girl is thinking.

However, with such a drastic change in emotions, one can imagine that he must have been thinking about quite a lot.

Takahashi pondered how to start a conversation, only to find that communicating with Goto Ichiri seemed even more difficult than communicating with Shinomiya Kaguya.

However, the pink-haired girl's expression quickly returned to normal. She blinked, her mind returning to the real world, and then nervously stood up from the ground, holding the juice, looking at Gao Hai and opening her mouth as if to say something.

"I……"

The girl's voice caught in her throat, and she couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time. Tears began to well up in her eyes again.

"Don't rush, don't get agitated, tell me slowly what's going on."

Gao Hai could only try to appear friendly and kind, and stood up and took a step back to avoid getting too close and provoking the other party.

"I...I will...I will try my best not to hold anyone back, so, so Mr. Gao, please don't kick me out of the team, don't sentence me to death..."

The girl, who finally managed to finish speaking, bent over deeply, her head almost touching her ankles.

As for Gao Hai, well, he really didn't know what to say right now.

Expelled?

A death sentence?

Sister, if we disregard the black watch's ability to rewind time, and we were to fight one-on-one now, it's really hard to say who would be the one to die.

Are you really that awesome player who cleared 13 missions and has both S-rank Dusk Night buffs and A-rank Red Moon buffs? Or are you some kind of player version of the popular Wilderness Brawl player that's been trending online lately? With your god-tier gear and top-tier stats, can't you be a little more confident?

My inner urge to complain is growing stronger.

However, Takahashi knew that if he really started making sarcastic remarks about this Shimokitazawa Tsuchigumo, Pochi might actually melt on the spot. Therefore, after enduring it for a while, Takahashi finally took a deep breath and gave the girl a very friendly smile.

"Ms. Goto, without your help, I don't think I could have left Fujika Junior High so smoothly. So in my heart, you have always been a very strong and kind senior. So please use your strength to help me and support me in the next mission. Let's work together to completely destroy this twisted dungeon of 'School Ghost Stories,' rescue the people trapped inside, and also rescue your beloved friend, Ms. Kita."

Gao Hai's voice was extremely solemn and sincere.

He did his best to present his most sincere attitude.

After a slight moment of surprise, Goto Ichiri subconsciously muttered to himself, "Am I strong?"

“That’s right, you are very powerful and very capable. As a senior Red Moon level player, I am very grateful for your willingness to help me and Zhenfei when we were newcomers.”

Seeing that the other person was showing signs of recovering from their autistic state, Gao Hai did not hesitate and immediately continued to praise them lavishly.

"Huh? Is it really that amazing?"

The girl's expression wavered.

"Of course, you are a very reliable and trustworthy player. The next task is up to you!"

Gao Hai's voice gradually rose a few decibels.

"Hey, hehe, I'm not that good."