I turned on my smartphone. There was a notification for a new email on the home screen. I hurriedly checked my inbox. The name there was "Luan Almeiza."
I sighed. Him again? As expected, when I opened the email, it was filled with indecipherable, garbled text.
My smartphone has been acting up lately. The screen often glitches into mojibake. And for some reason, this person named Luan, who was somehow added to my contact list without my knowledge, has been frequently sending me nonsensical emails. Deleting them and blocking the sender has no effect.
Did I get a virus? I have security software installed, and I'm sure I haven't accessed any strange sites. I asked for a repair at a mobile shop, but they refused, saying it was unsupported. Left with no choice, I tried various things like researching on my own and formatting the device, but it was all in vain. There's a limit to what amateur knowledge can do.
This smartphone doesn't seem to be a commercially available model. It's a special-made device, just as Pomerni, who gave it to me, said. It seems nothing can be done unless I talk to him first. However, the situation where I couldn't get in touch with Pomerni continued.
It has been over a month since I started my activities as an iTuber. It was a month like a stormy sea. I myself have been unable to fully process the reaction.
The first video I mistakenly posted went viral for the wrong reasons. Even though I deleted it immediately, re-uploaded versions were posted one after another, and there was nothing I could do. My assumption that no one would watch such a low-quality video anyway was naive.
The status of an Official Pomerni Child was just that significant. That's probably why I drew people's ire for uploading a video that betrayed those expectations. My dream of making it as an iTuber was shattered into pieces.
However, I am still able to continue my activities today. I was able to recover thanks to Pomerni. When I was about to give up, thinking it was impossible, he encouraged me many times over the phone. He told me that such a commotion was only temporary. He said my talent wasn't so cheap that it would be crushed here.
There's no way I have talent as an iTuber. I knew that all too well. But, out of a single-minded desire not to betray his expectations any further, I continued posting videos. Thanks to that, I am now known as a respectable iTuber.
...Or so I wish I could say, ending the story on a happy note. Even if I'm "known," it's more like a bad reputation. While the view counts have become quite high, it only seemed as if the viewers were drawn in by that infamy.
The state of the comments section on the videos I post is actually on the milder side; I'm still too scared to check the re-uploaded videos. I might find out the accurate assessment of myself on the internet if I ego-searched, but I don't have the courage for that.
In the end, even if the view count increased, it's likely not because my videos are interesting. It's all thanks to the title of "Official Child." I'm constantly indebted to Pomerni.
Still, I desperately thought about what kind of interesting video filming I could do. If I did the same thing as everyone else, no one would look my way. I wanted to make videos of things I could do, things only I could do.
That's when I came up with the idea for animal-themed videos. Videos of cute animals like dogs and cats are a popular genre. And for some reason I didn't understand, I had a mysterious constitution that attracted animals. I thought I might be able to create unique videos if I used this.
I can interact without difficulty even with wild animals that would normally be wary and not approach. In fact, pets that are accustomed to humans tend to snuggle up without any regard for my circumstances, so in that sense, wild animals that maintain a certain distance were easier to deal with.
The video where I successfully filmed a pack of wild wolves became popular, but Pomerni warned me to stop doing dangerous things. Even if it's an act I'm comfortable with, it feels dangerous to someone who knows nothing. Actually, I do have the intention of posting them for the sake of that thrill.
I understand that Pomerni warned me out of goodwill and concern, but I ended up rejecting his opinion on this matter. There's a part of me that feels sorry. However, the feeling of not wanting to lose the clue to being an iTuber that I finally found was stronger.
While it's still hard to say that things are on track, I feel like my genuine fans are gradually increasing. However, there was a next trial that I, being who I am, had to face.
An offline fan meeting.
With Christmas approaching, a fan event jointly held by iTube and related businesses every year was waiting. A dream-like grand offline meeting where Pomerni and the Official Children gather. Yes, even the Official Children are subjects for participation.
It's an event that almost feels like forced participation, but it was possible to refuse if I insisted. At first, I was fully intent on refusing. Just the thought of standing on the stage of such a major event with a mentality that can't even look straight at the comments section of my own videos makes me feel like I'm going to faint.
However, this year's offline meeting had disturbing information circulating that was different from usual years. iTube announced Pomerni's non-participation. This event, where it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he is the biggest guest, was about to be held without its protagonist. Moreover, this year was a special meeting to commemorate the 5th anniversary of his debut, and it was scheduled to be held even more grandly than usual.
While iTube and Pomerni's agency are avoiding clear statements, there were discussions on the internet about whether something had happened to him. The updates to the videos that were posted almost every day have ceased. I also tried to contact him, but the phone calls would no longer go through.
Then one day, an email suddenly arrived from Pomerni. The content urged my participation in the year-end offline meeting. Furthermore, it contained something bordering on a threat, saying that if I didn't participate, he would strip me of the title of Official Child and make it impossible for me to ever work on iTube again.
While I was confused by the content of the email, which didn't sound like something the usual him would say, I first checked on his safety. The phone still wouldn't connect, but there was a reply via email. He said there was no need to worry, and that although he was caught up in some trouble, he would participate in the year-end offline meeting, so he told me to make sure I participated as well. With that as the last message, communication was cut off again.
As I thought, something must have happened to him. I couldn't purely rejoice in his safety. I made up my mind to participate in the offline meeting. It'll be fine as long as he shows himself being safe and sound at the venue. I won't be able to feel at ease until I see him directly there and confirm it for myself.
I should have made up my mind, but at this point, that resolve was already on the verge of crumbling. Today is the day of the offline meeting. To go to the venue, I had come to the airport. No, to be precise, the venue has come to the airport to pick me up.
The Sky Island, an ultra-giant cruise airship boasting one of the world's largest sizes. I could confirm its majestic appearance, truly worthy of its name as an island, even from the window of the waiting room. It is said to be capable of accommodating tens of thousands of passengers, equipped with a wide variety of entertainment and commercial facilities, and contains three concert halls alone.
That was to be chartered for two days and one night for the offline meeting. Furthermore, the participation fee is free. Invitation tickets have been distributed to 2,000 people by lottery. These tickets are being resold at terrifyingly high prices, and obtaining them is said to be incredibly difficult. It's a staggering story.
The first air travel of my life, but I'm not in a heart-pounding mood. My footsteps coming this far were heavy, and I ended up being at the very limit of the designated boarding time. If I don't hurry, I'll be left behind... I don't think that will happen, but I'll probably cause a lot of trouble.
I check my appearance before boarding. My clothes are the same as before, ones I obtained on White Swallow Island. I have enough electronic money in my phone from advertising revenue to buy new clothes. I thought about replacing them, but apparently these clothes are quite valuable. I had only thought of them as old clothes, but many comments were sent saying they wanted to buy them at a high price.
Just like appearance, the realm of human fashion is something difficult for me to understand right now. According to my research on the internet, jeans full of holes and in tatters on the verge of being discarded were being traded for hundreds of thousands. My clothes must be that "vintage" thing as well. Thinking that, I felt like they had a certain good old-fashioned charm.
Since the dirt was starting to become noticeable, I washed them in a river. This should probably be an outfit I won't be ashamed of even in front of people. If there's anything different from before, it's that I'm carrying a small backpack. This is to keep the bug itself inside. If I kept it hidden under my clothes forever, it might actually look suspicious. Especially as the opportunities to show myself in front of people increase.
As expected, I can't go through the boarding procedures in "Indifference Mode" without anyone noticing. When I spoke to the person at the reception, I was immediately guided to the boarding gate. I had told the management in advance that I couldn't provide a guardian or identification, and thanks to them sensing various things without me needing to explain in detail, there was nothing in particular I needed to prepare on my end.
"Now, we will perform a luggage check."
I suppress a strange voice that almost escaped. I had thought I could just pass through like this. I sent a gaze asking for help to the male inspector.
"Please let me see the inside of your bag."
Eye contact failed. It would be suspicious if I refused here. I took out the contents of the backpack while pretending to be as calm as possible.
There was only one thing inside. It was a teddy bear. Expecting something like this, I had prepared a plushie and hidden the core body inside it. With this, to outward appearances, it only looks like an ordinary stuffed animal.
"Can you let me check it for a moment?"
The inspector reached out his hand. This is bad; if he touches it, I'll be caught. I just pulled out the stuffing of the plushie and stuffed the body inside. If he touches it, he'll know something is inside, and he'll realize the weight is clearly abnormal just by holding it.
If that happens, a suspicious passenger trying to bring a dangerous object onto the ship will be born. There's no way he would overlook a mysterious, eerie bug-like thing.
"N-No..."
I hugged the teddy bear and stared at the male inspector. I shook my head and refused to hand it over. It's the tearful plea. This is all I have left. Please, give up...
The man smiled troubledly and began to contact someone via radio. Apparently, he is consulting with his superiors about how to handle me. This might work.
"Haa... It really pains me, but for some reason, the security alert level has been raised. I have to check it. Don't worry, I won't do anything mean to your bear. Can you give it to me for a bit, little one?"
It was no good. That said, it would be even more suspicious if I ran away here. I'm at my wit's end. Even so, just as I was thinking it might be better to run than to have the inside seen, noisy voices approached from behind.
"Ah! It's Six-chan!!"
Surprised, I turned around to see a pair of people. No, a man and a woman? One had a neutral face that made it hard to tell their gender, but their voice sounded feminine. The other man was wearing an eyepatch over his left eye.
"It's the real Six-chan! Crap, can I take a picture!?"
"Excuse me! This area is currently under restricted access!"
"Hah!? What are you saying? We've got tickets for the offline meeting! Look, right here! See, we have them!"
"No, but general guests can enter through a different boarding gate..."
Without caring at all about the inspector's restraint, they strode closer and snatched the plushie from my hands. Taken aback, I let go of it easily.
"What's with this plushie! So cute!!"
However, what happened next surprised me even more. With fluid speed, the woman pulled the body out of the plushie and shoved it into my backpack. It didn't seem like the inspector noticed. The other man created a blind spot so the inspector couldn't see, and the series of movements was performed swiftly there.
"Oops, sorry! It kind of broke!"
The inspector took back the plushie from the hands of the laughing woman. The neck was almost falling off, and stuffing was popping out. That hole was the place I had originally torn to put the body in, and I had just sewn it back together haphazardly.
"What have you done...! You people, to take a plushie from such a small child and break it, do you have no common sense as human beings!? Security, come here!"
The inspector repeatedly apologized as he returned the plushie. I received it blankly and started walking toward the back of the boarding gate.
What was that just now? Were those two Six's fans? But their actions were too mysterious. It was as if they had known something from the start; there was no hesitation in their movements.
Looking at the result, I suppose I was saved. I was able to slip through the luggage check and bring the body in. Even now, the pair of man and woman are continuing to argue with the inspector. They probably took it upon themselves so that the inspector's attention wouldn't turn toward me.
I don't know what's what anymore. My head is already full just thinking about the offline meeting that's about to start, and on top of that, the appearance of that meaningful pair. My brain, having exceeded its capacity, abandoned thought, and I could do nothing but trudge toward the airship.
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