"Please proceed to the foot of Lake Okutama!"
Under the imperious announcement of the childish voice, a slight nervousness seized me. The rendezvous had been set at the foot of Lake Okutama, a place where the tranquil waters seemed ready to reveal mysterious secrets. The idea of meeting Ryo Kanjo for the first time aroused in me a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The protagonist of the film I was watching was about to appear before my eyes.
Saé, in an attempt to comfort me, assured me that everything would go smoothly. However, a growing curiosity within me prompted me to ask if I could take a look at his shoulder. My lingering doubts about the mysterious marks seemed ready to be confirmed.
We were about to reach the foot of Lake Okutama, the tension palpable in the air. When we arrived, the scene before us was far from reassuring. A group of people were complaining vehemently, expressing their frustration to who-knows-who.
Saé, observing the situation, murmured in a worried tone: "Something doesn't seem right here."
I nodded slightly in agreement, also picking up on the unease among the other participants. "What's reassuring is that at least we're not alone."
The words of these disgruntled people echoed, forming a discordant murmur that floated through the air.
One of them addressed us with a look mixed with frustration and confusion: "Don't you understand what's going on here too?"
I replied in a calm tone, looking for more information: "We've just arrived. Could you tell us exactly what's going on?"
The person hesitated for a moment before sharing his concerns, revealing a murky tale that hinted at the complexities of this world.
The child's voice rose again, cutting short the preoccupied man's speech. His words echoed in the air: "Hey, hey, it's time for the second riddle! Bunkyo's solvers having solved the first, you may now proceed to the next!"
The man, visibly annoyed by the situation, raised his voice to the sky, accusing this childish voice of playing macabre games. He clearly expressed his desire to return to the real world and put words to the group's collective frustration.
"Why should we submit to these trials?" he cried, provoking a murmur of approval from the other participants. Eyes converged on the sky, searching for an explanation to this strange situation. They didn't know where the voice was coming from, but it was certainly coming from heaven, like a god speaking to us.
Saé said in a low voice: "It's understandable that they're all upset. But that won't change the reality we're in." I nodded in agreement, aware that not even angry expressions could alter the nature of this bewildering world.
Well... I guess you're entitled to that favor, I'm not going to hide anymore! Everyone on the planet must be awake by now!
Suddenly, massive cubic rocks appeared in the sky, forming a sort of chain in the air.
A murmur of astonishment went through the crowd. Glances were exchanged, each trying to understand the significance of this phenomenon. It was as if magical elements had stepped out of a fairy tale, confusing us all.
One exalted man proclaimed that the mysterious voice emanated from what they called the "giant telegraph". By common consent, people decided to give it this evocative nickname. Intrigued, I shared with Edano and Saé the hypothesis that if the child's voice really came from this object, it should be visible to the whole Earth, as are the sun or the moon. Whispers and speculation spread through the crowd as everyone sought to unravel this newly revealed mystery.
This isn't a video game, this is real life! You humans loved virtual things so much that virtuality has now come to you."
"She's talking a lot today..."
While she detailed this strange metamorphosis, I searched for Ryo Kanjo among the crowd, hoping at last to meet the protagonist of this tale come true.
I scanned the hands of those present, looking for Ryo Kanjo among the crowd. After a few failed attempts, I finally found the protagonist's hands. And so, holding his hands with discreet sensuality, I discovered the beginning of his mark, which began 'DCC LXXXII CXI CMLXXXIV'.
I raised his arm, presenting him to the crowd as the focal point of the whole enigma. Ryo was embarrassed to ask who I was, but quickly recovered his composure and removed his hand from mine.
I told her not to worry and that everything would work out.
With a touch of daring, I slid off her clothes, exposing a body that seemed the epitome of physical perfection. Every contour, every muscle, seemed an anatomical masterpiece sculpted to perfection, evoking strength mastered with elegance.
His torso, a symphony of well-defined muscles, created an artistic topography. Abdominals, like craggy reliefs, drew a seductive cartography of physical power. Revealed nudity revealed perfect symmetry, and the silky texture of her skin added an enchanting dimension to the scene, creating an atmosphere of sensual intimacy between us.
One would have thought that Apollo himself had worked on the creation of this bodily work of art, arousing the envy and admiration of all those who would have the privilege of contemplating it.
Although his body had not left me unmoved, I had lifted his clothes to check whether the mysterious mark was also present there. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw that Ryo Kanjo's perfectly sculpted abs were adorned with Roman numerals.
Ryo pushed me back with a powerful kick to the ribcage, demonstrating all the strength of a movie protagonist. He didn't wear that title for nothing. The coldness in his eyes froze the atmosphere. His protagonist status was not merely decorative. His next question to me was marked by an even more intense coldness.
"Who the hell are you? You pervert!"