The Little Prince in the Ossuary-Chapter 82 : Lakefront Night (2)

Lakefront Night (2)
"Level 9 Civil Servant: I came to this channel after seeing it featured on the relay portal main page... Something feels off..."
"Level 9 Civil Servant: I synced up the main sections from the early parts of the broadcast to now as a 'digest,' but no matter how much I checked, there wasn't a single sex scene. Am I the weird one? Guys, what about you?"
"PizzaIsObviouslyLarge: Same here. Even if you sort by satisfaction, they're all rated PG-13."
"EastVillageSmeagol: Come on, who goes into Afterlife Insurance and doesn't have sex?"
"AppSoonie: Boo. Is there really no boonga-boonga? The host is totally my type. He seems to act well, and, unlike other hosts, he creates situations where I can really get immersed. I want a taste, quick. ^_^"
"SweetMocha: Yeah, yeah. Seems nice but not all the way nice. How do I put it? Half adult? Anyway, it feels like he has a dual charm. Like he has two flavors♡"
[SweetMocha has sent 30 stars.]
"OlympicsGold: Let's ask the regular viewers. Anyone, step up."
"Storm224: Welcome, newbie freaks. New idiots are always welcome!"
"OlympicsGold: Something weird showed up. Since when have you been watching, punk?"
"Storm224: From the beginning. Call me senpai."
"OlympicsGold: Psycho. Can't you see my nickname? Want to have an Olympics with me all night?"
"Level 9 Civil Servant: That's enough."
"PizzaIsObviouslyLarge: Storm224, if you upload your logs, we'll see what we want. Show us your happy time bookmarks. If you watched from the start, you must've marked some spots, right?"
"Storm224: I don't have anything like that."
"PizzaIsObviouslyLarge: No way... That's a joke, right?"
"SweetMocha: You really don't? ㅡㅠ"
"Storm224: Yeah, really."
"Storm224: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."
"JessicaFullTimer: Hard to believe, but it's true. I've also watched from the start, and the host just doesn't play that game. Even when people put up thousands of stars, he just kicks them away."
"IntenseDog: Yeah, so people just gave up and are watching anyway. Still, it's fun."
[IntenseDog has sent 50 stars.]
"20sRetiree: I see..."
"20sRetiree: Yeah. I never imagined the world of 「After the Apocalypse」 could go this way. I had to check the relay title again to make sure this was the game I played."
"Level 9 Civil Servant: Came in expecting instant noodles and walked into a fine dining house."
"HardKay: Metaphor, lol."
"EastVillageSmeagol: Maybe I skimmed too much of the past episodes? I still don't see what's so good about it."
"SALHAE: It's better not to know."
"EastVillageSmeagol: ?"
"SALHAE: Here's some advice for the new guys. Don't watch this broadcast."
"AppSoonie: Eh? Why?"
"SALHAE: It comes out in your dreams."
"AppSoonie: ... What the heck, lololol"
"OlympicsGold: What's this freak's deal? So many threats to my throne."
"SALHAE: I'm not joking. I'm saying this for you guys."
"20sRetiree: What the hell are you talking about? I don't get it."
"SALHAE: This show, the realism is way too much. The virtual personas each feel like real, living people. When I'm synced with the host, I feel like I disappear."
"SALHAE: The problem is, damn it, I want it that way. I want to be Han Gyeo-ul so badly, to care for people, to be loved by them..."
"SALHAE: Then when it's time to disconnect, I feel fucking miserable. I don't want to go back to reality. I don't want to be someone else. But that someone else, is actually the real me. Just an expendable temp in a chicken coop. Life doesn't feel like living..."
"SALHAE: Fuck fuck fuck..."
"OlympicsGold: What, just a regular game addict after all? Dumbass, lolol"
"FirstStrike: Don't you guys hear something weird? I hear it. The sound of exploding inferiority complex."
"NitrogenPacked: Self-esteem loser thinks everyone else is at his level. That's why you're a temp. You're a defeatist who runs to virtual reality with no will or effort to change reality. Welfare's too cushy, so everyone gets lazy. If you hate the chicken coop, you should try to get out. Tsk tsk."
"TeamLeaderKimMiyeong: We offer no-collateral credit loan consulting. 0100-8282-****
"
"SALHAE: Fine. Say what you want, you assholes."
"OlympicsGold: ing you."
"まつみん: You're all being too harsh. What's with the loan ad? You shouldn't laugh at someone else's worries! No matter what it is, if someone says they're hurting, you should at least ask if they're okay first!"
"1BillionLoan: Whoa, let's all calm down."
"1BillionLoan: Actually, I sort of get what he's saying."
"1BillionLoan: Never felt it before subscribing to this channel, but I started to think maybe this 「Sensory Synchronization」 thing could be a little dangerous. SALHAE's not the weird one."
"GrapesOfWrath: Agree. I'm not as bad as that guy, but I've been left with an uneasy feeling too."
"Mustafa: No wonder SALHAE hasn't harped on about sex lately, lol"
"groseillier noir: Hm. Korean media criticizes Korea's Afterlife Insurance so weirdly much, I always thought it was just because it's not profitable. But watching you guys, I kind of get why now. Maybe I can't explain it yet though."
"groseillier noir: Still, I like Afterlife Insurance. :)"
[groseillier noir has sent 172.25 stars.]
"Владимир: Indeed. Korea's Afterlife Insurance is an artificial paradise built by science and capital. Would've been better without Active X. After experiencing it myself, I think it should absolutely be brought to Russia too, but without Active X, of course."
"BigBuffetBoy86: Oh, russki. You've been coming here regularly. Have your gaming skills improved?"
"Владимир: Not at all. If anything, I've gotten worse. Just now I played a skirmish, and we had a pro-level Korean on our team but we still lost. Why?"
"BigBuffetBoy86: Easy. Must've been two pro Koreans on the other team."
"Владимир: ...!"
"Musiell: Enlightenment, lololol What is this dumb conversation lololololol"
"まつみん: Russian uncle wwwwwwwwww"
"SnowFieldFox: ;;;;"
"Владимир: I seem to have made a mistake. Punished my subordinate who recruited the Korean..."
"BigBuffetBoy86: What, did you sink her to the bottom of the Baltic Sea again?"
"Владимир: No, she is a daughter of Russia. I wouldn't waste her pointlessly. I just sent her on a somewhat difficult mission. She might not come back alive."
"BigBuffetBoy86: Your jokes are always fun. :D"
"Владимир: I'm not joking."
〈〉: A viewer quest has been assigned by SALHAE.》
『Viewer Quest: Please, just this once.』
『SALHAE says: Honestly, don't you think Lee Yura seems like a good woman? So kind and innocent, but you can see her sense of responsibility too. It's so nice. Forget about eye-rolling, and you don't have to have sex—just make a sweet mood or something. Life is tough for your big bro. Give me a little comfort.』
『AI Help: The objective of this quest is for registered user B-612 Han Gyeo-ul to form a romantic relationship with Lee Yura. Once completed, 1,000 stars will be awarded to the channel's host at the point of success.』
〈〉: Han Gyeo-ul (host) has rejected the viewer quest from SALHAE.
"SALHAE: Haaa. Guess it's no good after all."
"JessicaFullTimer: Lololol, didn't you say you gave up, sALHAE?"
"SALHAE: I thought since it wasn't about sex, it'd work. But looks like they just hate interference. Guess I have to sit and watch quietly. If only they'd share a sliver with me..."
"Don'tPitchWithNames: Hm. So this is what hyperreality is."
"SALHAE: What's that?"
"Don'tPitchWithNames: SALHAE. When you have time, read Gilles Deleuze's book, the one about simulacra. I think it'd help you look at your situation objectively."
"SALHAE: Gilles Deleuze? I have no idea who that is, and I don't even have time to read books. I barely have enough time to watch the show. It's rough these days. Watching this is about the only joy I have to get through the day."
"Don'tPitchWithNames: Your life is really pitiful too."
"SnowFieldFox: ..."
[SnowFieldFox has sent 1,000 stars.]
#Night by the Lake, Fort Roberts (1)
The old typhoon passed and a new one came. Fort Roberts grew as gloomy as the weather. People, like dark clouds, were burdened with worries: rising river levels, abandoned construction sites, rare airlifts, and shrinking rations. Everyone wished for the rough patch to end soon. But bad weather was forecast to continue. The National Typhoon Center cited severe El Niño effects.
In the midst of this, something trivial yet crowd-attracting appeared.
"Wow? Can we really use this?"
Yura widened her eyes and asked Gyeo-ul. He nodded.
"Yes. It's a military rugged smartphone. A lot of the features are still locked, but you should be able to use it as a phone. Be sure not to forget your login passwords, and make sure to read the manual."
Only four people had received a smartphone from Gyeo-ul: two department heads and two squad leaders. The others eyed them with clear envy. Gyeo-ul thought it would be nice if they had more, but it couldn't be helped. The supply office originally planned to give one only to Gyeo-ul.
In truth, this military smartphone was not commonly supplied even among U. S. troops. The manufacturer was gone, making it harder to obtain. Without Gyeo-ul's influence, he wouldn't have been able to get these.
Examining the device, Jang Yun-cheol was surprised.
"No wonder the design seemed familiar. Looking closer, this is domestically produced!"
"Wow, you're right! The case was so thick I couldn't tell! I can't believe it!"
Yura held the phone with both hands, teary-eyed. Min Wan-gi and Park Jin-seok also couldn't hide their excitement. Even with most features disabled, they exchanged texts and enjoyed it. For many, it was an item evocative of nostalgia—old smartphones had long become a hassle.
Brimming with excitement, Yura asked Gyeo-ul:
"Can I call the major?"
"Go ahead."
The boy smiled gently. Yura pressed the shortcut key. There was a brief delay, then the phone rang. It was a face-to-face call. This time, those who were envious clapped and laughed. Yura's face turned red, maybe out of belated shyness. Still, she held her ground. Instead of just checking the connection, she seemed very serious. Why?
'Is she trying to make herself the butt of the joke on purpose?'
If it could chase away others' worries, even briefly. Gyeo-ul pretended to answer.
"Hello?"
"Hello! This is Lee Yura! Is Major Han Gyeo-ul there?"
"Yes, that's me. To what do I owe this call?"
The surrounding laughter grew louder. Yura raised her voice.
"I just wanted to thank you!"
"This was just a supply drop today, you don't need to thank me for that."
"Still! Not just this, but for everything! Thank you for all of it! I look forward to your support in the future!"
"Same to you. Send my regards to the others as well."
This was the commemorative first call. After a bout of comedy, Gyeo-ul followed up.
"Squad Leaders Park and Lee, your devices have more features than the department heads'. Most are useful in combat situations, so get used to them as quickly as possible. That's an order."
Jin-seok questioned:
"How does a smartphone help in combat?"
Gyeo-ul held up the manual.
"As I said earlier, reading the manual is best. But for a simple example... There's a tactical map that updates everyone's positions in real-time, you can calculate ballistics based on distance and wind, and you can mark coordinates for fire support."
"Wow. That's impressive."
All these functions were provided by just one app, the 'Android Tactical Assault Kit.' You could also add plugins for other features.
So, the squad leaders' devices and Gyeo-ul's had different functions. Gyeo-ul's was set up with much broader authority: access to the base's CCTV, controlling noise makers, and partial access to the military intranet. The last one was a bit surprising.
There was a reason for that. The U. S. Department of Defense's civil affairs and psychological operations officers wanted real-time data on Gyeo-ul's activities, intending to refine it for propaganda.
'If it's a duty, it's a duty... but isn't combat camera footage enough?'
As Gyeo-ul pondered this, his device buzzed. This time it wasn't Yura. It was a call from the command and control room. Gyeo-ul stepped away from the group to answer.
"First Lieutenant Han Gyeo-ul speaking."
[Oh, you picked up quickly. I was about to radio.]
It was Capston, the lieutenant colonel.
"Major? What's the matter?"
[ to the briefing room immediately. There's an operation that needs you.]
"An operation?"
Gyeo-ul glanced up at the sky. With all outside activities restricted due to the severe weather, what kind of mission required a boy officer? Since air transport was out, it would have to be within marching or driving range. The lieutenant colonel spoke quickly.
[I'll explain in person. If this leaks, I'm afraid anxiety will spread.]
"Understood. I'll head over now."
[Good. See you shortly.]
The call ended. Gyeo-ul heard anxiety in the major's voice. What could it be? Gyeo-ul said goodbye to those present and hurried out of the tent, tightening the raincoat and walking quickly through the rain.
--------------------------- Author's Postscript ---------------------------
1. The military rugged smartphone mentioned in the main story is actually a Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The US adopted Samsung smartphones as part of the Net Warrior project. Usually, they put them in a multi-purpose protection case called a Juggernaut Case, which covers up the brand logo, so that's why it took Jang Yun-cheol a while to recognize it.
2. Mister Pizza isn't tasty... Last time I had it was about 10 years ago. Don't know if it's my taste buds that changed or Mister Pizza itself.
3.
Q: Velos: How do you know all this US military or police lingo? Any sites or books to recommend?
A: Unfortunately, there aren't any truly great sites or books.ㅠㅠ
The author got a lot of material from English-language websites. If you're determined to overcome the language barrier, it's a convenient time for writers.
Q: KaioGa: @I can't even finish a regular size because I eat cola with pizza instead of pizza with cola—how much pizza can you eat? (I max at 6 slices and 1.2L cola... cough cough)
A: Used to be able to finish a regular whole, but these days, maybe because my body's worn out, it's tough.
Q: HorangiCandy: @To fill your childlike wonder, here's a comment. Does the growth of your childlike wonder depend on comment length or certain content?
A: It has an impact. Praise makes the Ancient Ones rampage. Long praise makes them rampage harder. Smashing several star systems is nothing.
Q: AhuraMazda: @For your childlike wonder, I recommend some mili songs
A: Never heard of them, but I'll look them up when I have time.
Q: MasterKalsolum: @Isn't regular size for kids? Costco pizza seems like a personal portion. I eat about two pies.
A: What, two? Of Costco pizza? Wow; you've transcended. A proper reader indeed.
Q: Inoino: @Sometimes I wonder if I'm from another world... Like finishing a pizza alone, or taking a punch and acting like it didn't hurt, or staying unfazed after a cold shower. Seeing others, I wonder, why is my toughness so low...?
A: That's all due to a lack of childlike wonder. Try the Necronomicon. I hear it's a good book for restoration.
Q: ChaosLine: Was there ever a "regular" size? Thought it only came in large or super large.
A: Maybe the Blood Ravens stole even the pizza.
Q: RGZ95: @ Regular? That's too small.
A: Maybe I could forgive it if it were a premium, but having the basic menu didn't satisfy the Ancient One. Hahaha.
Q: Reinesis: @make us whole!
A: I want to play Dead Space. Can't even play Overwatch right now...
Q: 清流蓮: @Today feels like another day full of childlike wonder. Lately I'm reading Life Point One, road of the Apostle, and some Light Novels (saving the 'Chosen Child' for later). Are there any web novels on Joara you're reading?
A: The Little Prince in the Ossuary!
Kidding, I read Baram and Byeolmuri and The Reincarnated Sword God. Don't have time for others.
Oh. I meant to read The Devil's Justice, but after the recent leak, the author stopped serializing.
Noooooo...ㅠㅠ
Q: Moranon: @Is there a reason you don't split chapters? It was easier to find what I wanted in Helkeginia, but this one's hard to search.
A: It's because the storylines crisscross and episode segments don't fall evenly. I'll look into splitting them up.
Q: Foxward: @Sad author is cute... Are melee combat techs also subdivided?
A: Yes. Specialized skill concepts exist too.
Q: Adrenalin: @How about crowdfunding instead of donation accounts? If it's only an e-book, you could offer print or setting books.
A: It's not about how to receive, but whether the author deserves it.
Q: BlueCrystal: @Will there be a print release? Would love a signed, hardcover. Personal is fine, but I'd love an official version with good art.
A: Honestly, I wasn't planning a print run. It's a dream for some, but paper doesn't sell well now.
But I hope to bring good news soon.
Q: Ghozt: @The novel "I Am an Item" was brimming with dream and wonder, but seems weak on it now. Maybe you should distribute some of your advanced wonder. What do you think? Regular size should actually be large!
A: I lack wonder lately myself... Don't you feel the deficit in the writing?
Q: Dohwaon: @Is there really a regular size? Pizza isn't pizza unless you have a slice or two left after eating alone. If you still hunger with an empty box, that's not pizza!
A: Agreed. Haven't seen a regular in ages, but it looked absurdly tiny.
Q: Winshinel: If you order pizza, do they deliver to the deep sea or space?
A: I'm keeping a warp gate open in Songpa for deliveries. :)