After that, I continued following the game rules to ask about much intelligence from the real world.
I really wanted to know more about the Young Miss, but that would be asking too much. Compared to intelligence like "Hunter x Hunter and Detective Conan still haven't finished this year," I was more concerned about the game company's current status.
I don't know what will happen to me if the game servers shut down, nor do I look forward to such a day. At least while I'm still alive now, I certainly wouldn't wish for death to come voluntarily. Fortunately, there are no signs of what I'm worried about happening. The game company is very stable, and there are quite a few players protecting Lemoria Continent.
They said half of The Eternal Pacificus's microtransaction revenue comes from middle-aged and elderly demographics. Originally, the company marketed it with the selling point of "ultra-high freedom rivaling a second life. " This ultra-high freedom unexpectedly attracted a group of middle-aged and elderly people—quite an unintended consequence.
In an era where virtual online games are prevalent, microtransactions are no longer anything new, and games are no longer viewed as something to be guarded against everywhere. The players who experienced deceptive mobile games back then grew older, leading to extremely high acceptance of game microtransactions. Another important reason is that the company boldly decided to eliminate class systems. Among popular virtual online games, The Eternal Pacificus is the only one without class settings, focusing on character role-playing.
Having no classes means there's the possibility of playing ordinary people. For most players, ordinary civilians have no gameplay value, but playing ordinary civilians and the game's realistic virtual nature attracted some middle-aged and elderly people. Playing ordinary civilians is equivalent to treating this game as a casual game. Elderly people who stay home all day particularly like logging into The Eternal Pacificus to climb mountains, fish, chat with NPCs, and so on. They have such a wonderful time all day long and don't feel bored at all.
Since The Eternal Pacificus effectively solved the problem of lonely elderly people's boredom, their children are also happy to spend money supporting the game company, ultimately forming this very peculiar microtransaction demographic.
Well, it seems I don't need to worry about the game company going bankrupt.
"Anna-chan is really studious and inquisitive."
The bespectacled male player pushed up his glasses with his trembling right hand, glancing at the dozen or so companions lying unconscious nearby, including Misaka 10086. They had all been drunk under the table by me.
Me? I was in excellent condition, though the opponents in recent rounds were all too weak, getting completely drunk after just a few cups.
"I'd like to know why they all call you Strategist?"
Let me ask about their affairs. As soon as I mentioned this, the bespectacled male player immediately perked up.
"Well, I'm a core member of Anna's Support Group. The entire support group, including the leader, doesn't have many normal people, so I have to take on the role of strategist. My idol happens to be the Three Kingdoms period strategist Kongming, so the think-tank position is perfect." (TN: Courtesy name of Zhuge Liang.)
"Anna-chan! I'm reporting him—the Strategist likes the gender-bent Loli version of Kongming! He's a perverted lolicon!" (TN: Idk if this is a reference. My guess is Fate series.)
"Right, right, and his ID in the game is Hohenheim!" (TN: Fullmetal Alchemist reference.)
"Shut up! It's not that I like Lolis; it's that my idol just happens to be a Loli after being gender-bent. Don't get the cause and effect mixed up. And changing my name wasn't my choice either."
"See, Anna-chan, he's not denying he's a lolicon at all."
The bespectacled male player—ID Hohenheim—seems to have a habitual action of pushing up his glasses. As soon as he finished speaking, he was ruthlessly undermined by his companions.
Yesterday, I saw that he was one of the leaders among the players. Although his position isn't that of a group leader, since the system requires the use of names that can be recorded in chronicles, he must have accomplished some remarkable achievements.
"Then, Lord Hohenheim, please continue to guide me in the future."
"...........Mmm-ah."
Rather than pushing up his glasses, Hohenheim seemed more like he was covering his face with his hand.
"Strategist! Didn't you say you have veteran experience conquering over ten thousand beautiful girls? How are you getting shy now?"
Scary... ten thousand? What an exaggerated number. Could Hohenheim be a hidden Casanova?
"I think the Strategist is wavering from his flat-chest faction beliefs."
"Give up, Strategist. More and more doujin artists drawing loli Anna-chan have chosen to abandon the dark side and join the light. Strategist, stop making pointless struggles!"
"Honestly, I quite liked that 'Starting From Zero: Raising a Maid' doujin."
"That one only has a good art style. Story is trash."
Huh? This naming format... doujin? The content they were discussing before is called doujin?
"—What is doujin?"
I asked with great interest.
".....................?!"
"Everyone?"
Why do they all have expressions like they're having cardiac arrest? Is it some kind of forbidden question?
"An... Anna-chan is here... ah..."
"Of course I'm here. What is doujin?"
I see you all chat quite happily whenever you talk about doujin.
Why is everyone suddenly avoiding eye contact with me? Is there something strange stuck to my face?
I became even more curious about what exactly doujin is.
"If it's inconvenient to say, could you show me?"
"Absolutely not!!!"
Suddenly, everyone unanimously denied me.
"Anna-chan... doujin is that kind of... book that masters would secretly hide under their beds... that kind of thing..."
Kurumi Tokisaki's Husband explained to me in a trembling, euphemistic tone, but I became increasingly confused. The Young Miss never hid books under her bed.
"Putting books in dark, damp places isn't good for book preservation. I would take them out and put them where the master could easily reach them."
"That would be social death..."
I jumped down from the log and stood before Kurumi Tokisaki's Husband, staring straight into his evasive eyes.
"I also want to discuss doujin with everyone, so please, tell me what doujin is."