The fans' eyes shimmered with heart-shaped effects, but didn't that seem like a state of enchantment? If they're here as fans, it could be argued they were under a spell from the start, so perhaps it's not a status ailment after all.
The song was bright and poppy, and whether it was Rhea's talent or skill, it was undeniably captivating. Her voice was clear and easy to hear, her moves sharp and stylish, and she danced cutely. The audience waved their glow sticks in sync with Rhea's performance. One of the three monitors on stage showed the entire scene, and the glow sticks were unified in their rhythm, almost making it seem like the blue color was coordinated by a machine.
Phoebe watched with sparkling eyes. "Wow, what a charming singing voice! It makes my heart flutter!"
"Yeah..."
I had never been interested in idols, but if the leader hadn't given me a live ticket, I would have definitely missed this performance. It was turning out to be an amazing experience, far beyond my expectations. As I enjoyed the concert, the first song came to an end.
"Alright, before we jump into the second song…here's an announcement from the management! For those who couldn't make it to the live show, don't worry—this message will also be accessible through our email system!"
As she spoke, text appeared on the stage monitor, and to ensure everyone could see, a similar message also popped up on handheld devices.
"This event takes us to the ocean! For some, it's a fun-filled swimsuit extravaganza!
To explain for beginners, you can teleport to the event's dedicated stage from the magic circles located at the entrance of each town or your own home. At the event stage, there are exclusive quests and enemies. Completing quests or defeating foes allows you to accumulate points, which can be exchanged for special prizes or useful adventure items.
And it seems that wearing a swimsuit at the event gives you bonus points! That means I need to don my swimsuit and head to the venue as well!
The crowd, buzzing with excitement, includes me among them. This event will run for three weeks starting tomorrow—a pretty long stretch.
"I didn't understand most of the explanation, but we can go to the ocean, right?" I asked.
"Yeah, do you want to go to the ocean, Phoebe?"
"Yes! I've never been, so I'd love to check it out!"
I wonder if the reason I didn't grasp much of the explanation is that I'm an NPC…? Now that I think about it, are there any other NPCs among the crowd besides Phoebe? With so many people, it seems likely there could be others.
"Alright, alright! No more announcements! Let's move on to the second song!"
My thoughts are interrupted by the live performance, so I decide to immerse myself in the music. The second song bursts with speed and passion. The crowd waves their glowsticks, transforming into a sea of red, their enthusiasm palpable…
"That song seems like it could ramp up the attack power..."
"Really? Lena?"
"Just throwing it out there."
As I chatted with Phoebe, we enjoyed Rhea's live performance. It was amazing! The effects she scattered over the audience and her rapid costume changes created a mesmerizing experience that felt otherworldly. The singing was powerful and captivating.
"Alright, let's dive into the final three songs!"
The third track, themed around the ocean, was a cool vibe. The fans in the crowd changed their glow sticks to blue and waved them slowly, creating a sense of unity. Rhea looked like she was having a blast while singing.
"This song is incredible! I'm so glad I came to this live event!"
"Yeah, me too. We owe a lot to the leader for this."
Phoebe was moved by the music, and I agreed as we savored the concert until the end before leaving the stage.
But if we're heading to the beach, I should probably prepare a swimsuit. It's a must if we're going to swim. I wonder if there are certain materials that are best for swimwear...? I'll need a recipe too...
Maybe I could ask the leader or Lily for advice? I should give it a shot.
"I have the perfect materials for swimwear! I made a killing at last summer's event, so I have a ton of diverse recipes. Want to buy some? I can sell them cheap, with the recipes included!"
After enjoying the concert, I logged out once, grabbed a bite to eat, and then logged back in.
After thanking the leader for the tickets with Phoebe, I asked about suitable materials for swimsuits, and it turned out I could buy them along with the recipe. I currently have about 1.5 million yen, but it's been slowly dwindling due to purchases like recovery potions. Crafting weapons could potentially earn me a fortune again, but I wonder if wanting to save money makes me frugal.
"Hmm, I've thought of something fun... Lena, how about a gamble?"
"Gamble?"
The leader flashed a mischievous smile, as if an idea had just struck him, and Phoebe and I echoed his intrigue.
"I have a card here with a swimsuit recipe written on it. I'll shuffle it so you can't see the recipe. Lena, you'll pick one card, and Phoebe, you'll pick another. We'll sell you the recipe with all the materials included for a mere 10,000 yen…
However, the twist is that regardless of what you draw, you'll have to wear the swimsuit on this year's summer event's exclusive stage. You can choose between wearing it over pants or getting something that matches when you purchase it.
By the way, most swimsuit recipes can change color and size, but the shape usually remains the same—so choose wisely if you decide to play."
"…Can I take a look at the swimsuit recipe list?"
"Alright, here's the list of swimsuit recipes. It's a fair gamble, so you can relax!"
I looked at the swimsuit recipes, and unlike the previous ones, the designs were clearly laid out. There were unisex items like parkas and rash guards, clearly feminine swimsuits, and even some high-exposure options that made me wonder if they were suitable. And then there were the shell swimsuits... was that a prank by the developers?
"...Why are there so many revealing options for something that's supposed to be beachwear?!"
"Phoebe, you should ask the person who created these swimsuit recipes. Leader... you know I'm a guy, right? What's your plan if I draw a women's swimsuit?"
"Take a look at this."
Leader then showed me a photo of an unfamiliar man sitting cross-legged, clad in a women's swimsuit from head to toe, sporting a look of despair, while Leader was off to the side, laughing hysterically.
"Anyone can wear it. I think if Lena, who has a more feminine appearance, just wore the top, it wouldn't be an issue. But as a fellow guy, I'll definitely give you a recipe for half-pants that men can wear on the bottom."
"That's a huge problem! If my sister Lily sees me like this, I would never hear the end of it! Besides, with ten cards in this gamble, one is for shell swimsuits, six are for women's swimsuits, and only three are unisex? The odds are terrible!"
The thought of wearing a swimsuit designed for women with a 70% chance of being teased by my little sister for life is more than I can bear.
"Well then, let's change the rules. Phoebe and Lena, you can each draw two cards. You can choose one of the two, or if you prefer, you can swap the cards you each picked. However, if you decide to swap, Phoebe must wear the swimsuit that Lena drew, and Lena must wear the swimsuit that Phoebe drew. How does that sound?"
That way, they can draw four cards together, and even if they do swap, it probably won't lead to any major mishaps. I check the cards.
**Lucky card options:**
- Rash guard swimsuit
- Hoodie swimsuit
- Tank suit swimsuit
**Women's swimsuit options:**
- Triangle bikini
- One-piece swimsuit
- Bandeau bikini (strapless)
- Micro bikini
- Eye patch bikini
- Monokini (one-piece in front, bikini in back)
**Meme swimsuit options:**
- Shell swimsuit
"By the way, how much would it cost to buy the regular recipes and materials?"
"For two people, about 1.6 million. It's for limited materials from a year ago, so prices are similar everywhere. Just so you know, after gambling, if you break the contract and intentionally stay in swimsuits other than the specified ones during the summer event without special circumstances like forced equipment changes, you'll be banned from the workshop. When the contract is signed, I'll use a special power I obtained from a numbered quest, so don't think you can pull a fast one."
"If you're going to gamble, just know I'll stick to the rules and the contract."
...But with my current funds, I barely have any choice. Plus, the consequences of breaking the contract are severe...
Sure, taking the time to find ways to raise money isn't a bad idea, but if I can get valuable materials cheaply through a gambling opportunity with decent odds, isn't it worth it? Besides, I've received a lot from the leader; indulging in their little games... or mischief, might not be such a bad idea after all.
"Phoebe, is it okay if I gamble?"
"Yes, absolutely! If it's affordable, that's the best option. I'll show you that I can win like I did at the casino!"
And so, we decided to gamble.
"Contract power activated!"
With the leader's words, a system screen appeared. In short, it outlined that in exchange for selling limited materials and recipes from a year ago at a low price, I had to wear the swimsuit recipe I drew from an honest gamble and put in some effort at the limited summer event stage. The contract stated that aside from unexpected accidents, engaging in intentional long-term contract violations would result in being banned from the workshop! At first glance, it didn't seem to put us at a disadvantage as long as we avoided intentional breaches.
"Don't worry, I'd never set a trap with malicious intent for Lily's real family... I'd rather not get a hole blown through me by her..."
That leader… I mentioned the wind gap before, but did something happen in the past? At the very least, it seems likely that the leader got utterly crushed by Lily…
Well, if we're doing this, I'll definitely stick to the contract and won't break it, so I'll hit the agree button.
"The contract has been established. You can review the terms in the email screen."
"Alright then, let's have Lena draw two cards right away."
Confirming the contract was finalized, the leader shuffled the ten cards and laid them out.
I hesitantly started drawing cards.
Gambling results:
The cards I drew:
- Bandu bikini
- Shell bikini
The cards Phoebe drew:
- Hoodie bikini
- Triangle bikini
"...…"
"Hmm, so this is how it turned out… What do you think, Phoebe? Do you want to swap cards? If not, Lena will have to wear either the shell bikini or a strapless swimsuit."
The leader turned over the remaining six cards face up, proving it wasn't rigged, and said this with a hint of amusement.
I messed up; my bad luck is infuriating… No, considering I drew two cards first, the chances of getting a good one were already slim… Still, what should I do?
To be honest, I want to swap for the hoodie bikini card Phoebe drew.
But of all cards, I ended up with the shell and a strapless sexy type, meaning Phoebe would have to wear one of those if we swapped… Wait, no matter how I look at it, this seems like a surefire way to make Phoebe dislike me…
"Lena, let's swap. You can use this swimsuit with the hoodie."