Chapter 4: Interaction

Words: 1,684

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AmbitionlessShinoa: Yes, I guess I'm another member in the Group Chat.

AmbitionlessShinoa: I've been trying to understand how this works for a long time. I thought that these were the tricks of my Demon.

Rias Gremory: Demon? You have a Demon? Are you part of someone's peerage?

AmbitionlessShinoa: Demon... and yes, I have a demon inside me.

Rias Gremory: Are we in the same world? Demons don't exist inside humans in our world... are you human?

AmbitionlessShinoa: Yes, as far as I know.

Anthony (Administrator): Remember that we are from different worlds. This means that in the world of "AmbitionlessShinoa," demons exist inside humans. In my world, there are demons too but they are quite nasty, sinful creatures that are eager to take over the world.

Rias Gremory: Seriously?

Anthony (Administrator): Yes, that's why I want to convey the idea that different worlds have different creatures. In my world, demons are literally beings of sin who want to get to Earth and control them. It seems that demons in your world are more human-like. I'm sorry if I offended you. This is the conclusion I drew from talking to you. You seem like a nice person with a good appearance, but demons are quite the horror in our world.

Rias Gremory: I... understand, and I'm not offended. You're right, Anthony-kun, and thank you for the compliment.

Anthony (Administrator): AmbitionlessShinoa, are you okay with telling us your name?

AmbitionlessShinoa: I'm Shinoa Hiragi... I'm fifteen years old.

AmbitionlessShinoa: Changed nickname to "Shinoa Hiragi"

Anthony (Administrator): I'm glad you're in the Group Chat with us. It seems I know which world you're from... by the way, this is true for both of you.

Rias Gremory: What do you mean by that, Anthony-kun?

Anthony (Administrator): The search for members didn't start until I became an administrator. The search seemed to be based on a pretty simple set of conditions. The administrator must know something about their world. I came to this conclusion when I learned your name, Rias. And to check, you have one of the pawns with a female appearance named Gasper, who is afraid of his powers and hides in some box. In addition, you "own" the territory of Kuoh City. Also, there is a sadistic cute girl named Akeno in your peerage, and another swordsman hates holy swords. Am I right?

Rias Gremory:... Yes. How do you know that?

...

[Rias' POV]

A pretty girl with red hair and blue eyes looked worriedly at her phone in a big room. The comfortable posture became tense all of a sudden.

"There is so much information. But I've already checked that the Group Chat is clearly much stronger than my perceptual abilities, even stronger than my brother's abilities, which was very surprising."

I muttered.

This Group Chat would have looked too much like the Sacred Gear if I hadn't summoned berries.

These berries only grow during one season and quickly die.

Akeno had already noticed me staring into space too often, so I put the Group Chat on the phone.

But I couldn't hide something like this from Akeno for long.

And now even Anthony-kun said that he knew about my world, and my curiosity was unstoppable...

...

Anthony (Administrator): It's all much simpler and more complicated at the same time. I was thinking about whether to say this or not... but I seem to understand how. Rias, your world is familiar to me from...

Anthony (Administrator): It feels awkward even to say this is from some works of fiction. It was anime and manga.

Rias Gremory: ...

Shinoa Hiragi: What's that?

Anthony (Administrator): Something like books and cartoons... in general, works of fiction.

Anthony (Administrator): Shinoa... can I call you by your name? It's just more convenient for me since I'm from America... if you don't mind, and you too Rias.

Rias Gremory: I'm fine with it, Anthony-kun... do you really know about my world from anime and manga? And do you know about... my problem?

Anthony (Administrator): You mean the burning immortal rooster?

Rias Gremory: Haha, no one has ever called the Phoenix family that before.

Anthony (Administrator): It's just my impression after its appearance and what I saw while reading the manga...

Rias Gremory: I completely agree.

Shinoa Hiragi: You can call me like that...

Rias Gremory: Shinoa, you still haven't sent your photo. Are you shy?

Shinoa Hiragi: ...

Anthony (Administrator): I think she just doesn't trust us... I know your story, Shinoa, and the world you live in. It's a terrible world where vampires treat humans like cattle, and you're trying to fight them. As I said before, we're from different worlds... but you don't want to open your heart to anyone because of the demon, am I right?

Shinoa Hiragi: You know a lot...

Shinoa Hiragi left the Group Chat.

...

[Shinoa's POV]

A girl with purple hair was sitting in one of the rooms of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army.

This army used cursed weapons to fight vampires and demons.

I turned my head away from the sign and closed my eyes.

"Is it your doing, Demon Shikama Doji?"

I whispered into the air while keeping a mental wall up around the demon to stop him from taking over me.s

This was my way of keeping people out of my heart and not getting attached.

The human population of the Earth dropped by ninety percent in 2012 because of an unknown virus that killed all people older than thirteen or who did not get vaccinated in time.

At the same time, "Horsemen of the Apocalypse" showed up.

These were mindless monsters that only attacked people and ignored vampires or demons.

Demons are either vampires who haven't drunk blood in a long time or have had their hearts torn out and not returned.

Over time, humans learned how to seal demons into holy and pure gear, which makes them much stronger and weakens vampires regeneration.

The strongest people use these "cursed weapons" to fight vampires.

The fact that seven people with cursed weapons should be able to kill one vampire without a weapon shows how weak an ordinary human is compared to a vampire.

Then there are the Progenitors, the strongest and noblest, the eldest of vampires.

After the apocalypse, vampires offered humans protection from the Horsemen in exchange for... servitude.

"Other worlds... I don't believe in that,"

I whispered quietly while opening my eyes, but I did not see the Group Chat in front of me.

But there was a small notification in the corner of my eye. The notification showed up again as soon as I thought about it.

I am a sergeant in the army and have already fought several vampires. I maintained my appearance and pressed on the Dimensional Store...

"The lieutenant colonel is summoning you."

I heard from the person passing by my room.

...

[Anthony's POV]

Anthony (Administrator): I can understand her because her demon can start to influence her when she opens her heart to someone.

Rias Gremory: So... it can possess her? And what do you mean that vampires treat them like cattle?!

Anthony (Administrator): Well... their world...

While I explained some information from Shinoa's world to Rias, I also considered what to do next.

The Group chat is good, but I'm currently the weakest of them all, and I'm just a human without abilities.

It doesn't make sense to ask Rias for magic books because our magic is probably different since we come from different worlds.

But... the Group Chat serves to change their future, and maybe that's exactly what I need to do.

Rias Gremory: It's just awful! It's an apocalyptic world where vampires treat humans like animals! Disgusting!

Anthony (Administrator): Agreed. And yes, Rias... if you want, I can send you a manga about your world that I'm familiar with. Remember that it's just manga, and you can only write about your own future. The Group Chat has connected us, and it has changed a lot.

Rias Gremory: I tried not to think about it... but I'm curious to see the future of my world. I didn't find anything like that in the Dimensional Store.

Anthony (Administrator): Do you have anything unfamiliar in your store?

Rias Gremory: I'm not particularly familiar with Scandinavian magic... some sacred artifacts, but what?

Anthony (Administrator): Just checking the similarity of the Dimensional Store.

Rias's response was quite interesting.

Does this mean they can buy everything from their own world but not from others, like me?

Or is this limitation only because they've only been in their own world?

After all, I have access to all items from participants' worlds, including my own.

[Hidden Task Completed: Learn more about the Dimensional Group Chat.]

[The Group Chat has many uses and confusing functions that you should know as an administrator. You've guessed one of the parts.]

[Reward: +500 Chat Points]

The system showed up in front of him, and it was nice which means that the Group Chat rewards attempts to learn more about it and its functions and limitations.

In my store, there was the DxD manga and anime each of them cost one point, but there was also a copy of the High School DxD that cost two points.

In short, it's like watching the story of a realistic movie from a third-person point of view.

I bought the second one after spending a total of two points, but I only sent the story to the Group Chat until Issei beat the Phoenix.

After that, there will be a lot of chaos, and it's best that Rias shouldn't do anything stupid.

Anthony (Administrator): Sent a copy of the High School DxD.

Anthony (Administrator): Rias, don't take this as the absolute truth. This is another world from a reality similar to yours.

Rias Gremory: I understand... and thank you. I have to go.

Rias Gremory left the Group Chat

"Erina still hasn't said anything, obviously immersed in cooking with the new berries that Rias sent her."

I thought while exhaling heavily.

It's been a few hours since I woke up, so it's time to go outside and breathe some fresh air.