Chapter 14: Ten Thousand Worlds Chat Group
Chapter 14: Ten Thousand Worlds Chat Group
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Sometimes in this world, the most lethal things aren't words but actions and expressions.
Though Utaha didn't say anything, her eyes swept over Sora from head to toe. Her expression alone was enough to convey her meaning, even if Sora wasn't particularly perceptive.
"You vile woman, with your mean figure, what qualifications do you have to look down on me? You're just excess fat all over!"
Sora's face froze slightly. She hadn't expected such a direct and offensive remark. Clearly, Sora's usual reserved demeanor had been discarded because of Elric.
"Sora, my figure is a perfect golden ratio. You know, this is what men dream of."
Utaha crossed her arms confidently, her tone laced with mockery.
"I believe Elric will like it too."
Her self-assurance about her figure was unshakable, and she dismissed Sora's outburst as nothing more than a weak attempt at defiance.
"Brother would like you? What nonsense are you spouting? You're really silly—and maybe a bit cute."
With a sneer, Sora stood her ground, refusing to concede.
"I… Sora, there's no point arguing with you. In the end, it all depends on Elric's choice."
Utaha decided to put an end to their bickering, though her words carried a sharp edge.
"My brother's choice…"
Sora's gaze shifted, and a peculiar confidence settled over her. She thought of her healthy body and, more importantly, her bond with Elric. Her brother had trusted her enough to confide in her the moment he awakened his superpowers.
Compared to that, Utaha felt insignificant.
With her newfound confidence, Sora looked at Utaha again. This time, the other woman no longer seemed like a threat.
"What's with that look in your eyes?"
Utaha, ever observant, noticed the sudden shift in Sora's demeanor. The confidence in her expression was puzzling, and it unsettled her.
Something was amiss. Utaha couldn't shake the feeling that Sora had some secret involving Elric, something she herself wasn't privy to.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out, interrupting their thoughts.
[Ding Dong, the Ten Thousand World Chat Group invites you to join. Do you agree?]
Both women froze, stunned by the unexpected announcement. The voice echoed in their minds, clear and direct.
"Sora, did you hear that? A chat group?"
Utaha asked cautiously, her brow furrowed. She had no idea what was happening, but judging by Sora's reaction, she wasn't alone in hearing it.
"I heard it. It wasn't your doing, was it?"
Knowing the supernatural nature of the world she lived in, Sora's first thought was that this might be a manifestation of some new power awakening within her. But when she saw Utaha's equally confused expression, she realized the phenomenon wasn't unique to her.
"So… do you want to agree?"
Sora hesitated. The implications of agreeing or refusing were unclear, and she wasn't eager to take unnecessary risks.
"Of course, I'll agree."
As a novelist, and one who had absorbed countless fantastical themes thanks to Elric's influence, Utaha recognized this situation immediately. Golden fingers, mysterious systems—she knew how these stories played out.
With a confident smile, she mentally selected Agree.
[Ding Dong, Kasumi Utako joined the group chat.]
"You… Fine, I'll agree too."
Not wanting to back down, Sora quickly followed suit. The competitive tension between the two women was as strong as ever, even in this bizarre scenario.
[Ding Dong, the Princess joined the group chat.]
The moment they joined, a virtual panel appeared before their eyes. It displayed the details of the Ten Thousand Worlds Chat Group and an ongoing conversation among its members.
[Tyrant Nero: Hmm, new members? It's been a while since we've had any fresh faces.]
[Kaguya Sama: Seems like it. I wonder which world they're from.]
[Cowardly Crybaby: Kasumi Utako? Princess? Never heard of them. Newcomers, introduce yourselves!]
As the names Kasumi Utako and Princess were displayed in the chat, both women found themselves staring at the translucent screen.
[Kasumi Utako: Ten Thousand Worlds Chat Group? Is this really a chat group connecting the Ten Thousand Worlds?]
Seeing that there were six other people in the group besides herself and Kasugano Sora, Utaha remained cautious. She did not immediately reveal her true identity, opting to stay vigilant and observe the situation first.
Sora, on the other hand, was happy to let Utaha take the lead in talking. This way, she didn't have to be the first to break the silence.
[Kaguya-sama: The newcomer seems to be very cautious. It's okay. Take your time to check out the group announcements and rules.]
[Kaguya-sama: When we first joined, we were confused too. But as time went on, we realized the people here are actually quite friendly.]
[Kaguya-sama: By the way, now that we have new members, you three should stop lurking. @Dragon Tribe Monster @Perfectionist @Yukinoshita Haruno.]
"Group announcements? Group rules?"
Taking Kaguya-sama's reminder into account, Utaha and Sora simultaneously turned their attention to the system interface, deciding to check out what this so-called Ten Thousand Worlds Chat Group was all about.
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[Ten Thousand Worlds Chat Group Rules]
Rule 1: This group connects members from different worlds across the multiverse. Group members are encouraged to help one another, treat each other kindly, and avoid hostility. Physical confrontations between members are strictly prohibited.
Rule 2: Only the most promising women from the worlds are invited to join. Men are strictly prohibited from joining.
Rule 3: The existence of the chat group must remain confidential. Members are forbidden from revealing any information about the group to non-members. Violators will be punished by death.
Rule 4: Invitations to the group are controlled by a special system and cannot currently be altered or manually initiated.
Rule 5: The timeline of this chat group is independent of the worlds its members originate from. Events within this group will not affect the timelines of members' respective worlds.
Rule 6: No group owner or moderators exist for now, as administrative permissions are currently disabled.
Rule 7: Features like group points and group tasks are not enabled at this time but may become available in future updates.
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After reading through the group rules, Utaha quickly made sense of the chat group's nature.
The Ten Thousand Worlds Chat Group seemed to be a unique space reserved solely for girls. Members were forbidden from disclosing its existence to outsiders. Currently, group points, tasks, and other features appeared to be unavailable—possibly due to the limited number of participants.
[Kaguya-sama: How are the rules, newcomers? There's no need to be so wary of us. We're all in the same boat here.]
In the luxurious Shinomiya family mansion, Shinomiya Kaguya smiled faintly as she watched the lack of responses from Kasumi Utako and Princess in the group chat.
"Hayasaka, it seems these two newcomers are quite guarded," Kaguya remarked, her calm demeanor not faltering.
"Indeed, they are, young lady," Hayasaka Ai replied, her fingers typing swiftly across the keyboard. After a moment, she added, "By the way, I've located some information about Kasumi Utako."
She turned the laptop screen toward Kaguya, where detailed information on the young author named Kasumi Utako was displayed.
"She's an up-and-coming writer," Hayasaka continued. "That much checks out. However, I couldn't find anything unusual related to a 'Kasumi Utako.' It's likely an alias."
Kaguya nodded slightly, taking in the information with mild curiosity.
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Note: The chat group setup right now is just a brief introduction and will take on more importance after the Second Simulation concludes. At that point, the heroines from reality and those connected through the simulator will join the group, sparking dynamic interactions and conflicts.
For now, this is meant as a light introduction. Writing too much about it now might feel unnecessary or forced, but it's laying the groundwork for later developments.