Chapter 67: Himeko died, Luo Mo Runs Away.
After successfully driving away the dodo, Luo Mo and Fu Hua, with a sense of shared purpose, made their way towards the company. Their minds were filled with the tasks that lay ahead, the work that needed to be completed before the day's end.
As they entered the bustling workspace, Luo Mo's gaze fell upon the three little ones. Despite their youthful exuberance, they were diligently trying to contribute to the day's work, their voices filling the room as they engaged in dubbing. However, one person was conspicuously absent - Himeko.
Ever since the completion of the last dubbing session for the Side Story, Himeko had become increasingly elusive. She was always finding reasons to excuse herself from work. Luo Mo couldn't help but notice that every time he saw Theresa, she was comfortably resting in the villa.
A sudden realization dawned upon Luo Mo. Perhaps Himeko's constant absence was due to her workload. He had found the blind spot.
With the progress of the plot in mind, Luo Mo decided to involve Bronya. He beckoned her over and, with a firm voice, instructed, "Let Himeko-sensei come and dub!"
Bronya was taken aback by this request. Was it that she didn't want to call Himeko? It was true that Himeko-sensei had a lot thing on her plate, and when she wasn't busy, she was often found in a state of drunkenness. However, he was also working towards rescuing Seele, so Bronya didn't have any complaints about Luo Mo's thing.
Curious to hear Luo Mo's justification, Bronya asked, "With what reason should I call her?"
...
"he's going to kill her character!"
"????"
(????)
The others look at her, their faces filled with confusion and disbelief. "Are you kidding, Bronya? Isn't she one of the main characters, Himeko-sensei?" Kiana asks, her voice trembling slightly.
Bronya's expression changes dramatically, her mind racing back to the last time she was able to influence the game's plot, when she saved Seele. "Do you think I look like I'm joking?" she retorts, her tone serious.
Luo Mo, standing in nearby room, sneers at the unfolding drama that will happen. He has already prepared an escape route, ready to flee once the plot twist is revealed to the players.
Bronya's mouth twitches in annoyance. She had suspected from the very beginning that something was off about this game. Now, her suspicions are confirmed. What kind of game kills off the main character's mentor? But there's nothing she can do now. She's already too invested in this game.
Fu Hua, standing next to Bronya, looks at the script in her hands, her brow furrowed in concern. She's unsure whether she should voice her thoughts. She wonders if her character is also slated for death. What kind of game is this?, where the main characters are sent to their doom.
Kiana nods her head in acknowledgment, indicating that she understands the gravity of the situation. She then returns to her work, focusing on her voice acting.
Bronya couldn't help but notice that Kiana's voice acting seemed unusually subdued that day. It was as if a veil of silence had descended upon her, masking the vibrant energy she usually exuded. Bronya found it strange, especially since Kiana had refused to share her script with her or Mei. When probed, Kiana had simply sniffled and cryptically stated that they would find out in due time.
Bronya couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. Could Kiana, the shining star of their show, also be leading them into a trap? The thought was unsettling.
...
Their mentor, Himeko-sensei, who had arrived later in the afternoon, was equally taken aback. She confessed to having been a bit lax recently, but the sudden news of her character being killed off was a shock. She had even splurged on several bottles of fine wine, a luxury her dubbing paycheck could hardly afford, to celebrate her role. The sudden turn of events left her feeling a pang of sadness.
Despite being an A-class Valkyrie, Himeko's salary wasn't exactly high. But then again, her paycheck went directly to St. Freya's Academy. Those in the know would understand the implications.
"Why am I suddenly getting killed off?" Himeko demanded, her voice echoing in the room as she clutched a bottle of wine. Luo Mo, observing Himeko's state, frowned in disapproval. He suggested that she take a break from dubbing for the day and familiarize herself with the episode and her lines.
Himeko, however, was defiant. She snatched the script from Luo Mo and began to read it. As she delved deeper into the script, her pace slowed down. She read each word carefully, sometimes mouthing the words. By the time she finished reading, her eyes were moist. She clutched the script close to her chest, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.
"Well, a very romantic moment for a warrior indeed, I approve," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll come back to dub tomorrow, at my best."
With that, she sauntered off, sipping her wine as she went. Her crimson hair swayed with each step she took, her mind filled with thoughts about the unexpected twist in the plot.
In the flickering light of the script, she saw a reflection of herself, a mirror image of Captain Ragnar. The sight stirred something within her, a longing, a yearning for a reality where she could emulate the heroics of the character on the screen.
She yearned for a warrior's death, a glorious end in the heat of battle. She wished for her body, a mere shell of her spirit, to fall in the path of honor and valor, just like Captain Ragnar.
Her aspirations were not driven by a desire to vanquish the Honkai gods. Instead, her heart pulsed with a noble cause, a selfless desire to fight for the greater good, to protect the world she held dear.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and red, she raised her glass in a silent toast. A toast to the setting sun, a symbol of endings and beginnings, and to herself, a warrior at heart, ready to embrace whatever the future held for her.
...
Two days had passed in the blink of an eye, and the time for Luo Mo and Fu Hua's departure was fast approaching. The impending release of the ninth chapter of their game was causing a stir among the team, particularly Su Lu.
"Boss, you can't leave," Su Lu pleaded, her voice echoing with desperation. "The ninth chapter has to be launched by you personally!" Upon learning that Luo Mo was planning to leave, Su Lu had thrown caution to the wind, clinging to Luo Mo's legs in a desperate attempt to make him stay.
Su Lu had just finished reading the plot of the ninth chapter. The realization that she was the only one responsible for its release filled her with a sense of dread that was almost palpable. It was as if she was teetering on the edge of a precipice, staring down at the abyss of death. The thought of bearing the brunt of the players' reactions, of becoming the target of their wrath, was too much to bear. She didn't want to be the butt of their jokes, to be reduced to a mere 'Su Lu Sauce', as her team often teased her.
She found herself longing for Luo Mo's comforting presence, yearning for him to stand by her side and share the burden of the release. A spark of determination ignited in Su Lu's eyes as she mentally sifted through the list of potential candidates who could lend her a helping hand.
However, her options were severely limited. There weren't many people she could rely on for help. Luocha, the rising star, was now off the table. He was currently managing two new game projects. Why now, she thought, when his face was practically a carbon copy of the game's villain, making him the perfect scapegoat. The others were simply hiding behind their projects.
Luo Mo, her boss, seemed to be the only one capable of shouldering this responsibility without batting an eye. His absence would create a void that would be difficult to fill.
"I need to leave, I have something to attend to." Luo Mo announced, his voice echoing in the room.
Su Luo, however, was not convinced. "What could you possibly have to do that's more important than this? All you've done today is flirt with the girls! You spend all your time in the dubbing room, but what are you actually doing in there?" she retorted, her voice laced with frustration.
Despite her words, Su Luo reluctantly let go of Luo Mo. Yet, her small hand remained firmly clasped around his sleeve, a silent plea for him to stay.
"I really do have something important to attend to," Luo Mo insisted, trying to free his sleeve from Su Luo's grip.
"I don't believe you! Are you just trying to escape the chaos?" Su Luo challenged, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Su Luo, you should know by now, this is the Female Valkyrie Academy. It's a safe place, filled with female Valkyries," Luo Mo reasoned, trying to reassure her.
"But, boss, do you really think those Valkyries are safe?" Su Luo countered, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew all too well that the most dangerous threats often came from inside. The Majority Valkyries might be safe to be around, but the ones around them were not necessarily safe. This was a truth Su Luo had come to realize.
Just a few days ago, Kiana, one of the voice actresses, had approached her for a heartfelt conversation. Tearfully, Su Luo had admitted her mistakes and promised to reflect on her actions. But now, she was pulling stunts like this. It was enough to make Su Lu question the safety of their environment.
"Remove your hand!" Luo Mo demanded, his voice echoing in the room.
"First, make a promise!" Su Lu retorted, her eyes locked onto Luo Mo's.
After a tense standoff, Luo Mo finally relented. "Alright, here's a compromise. You can list my name under the editing and planning section. That should suffice," he proposed, hoping to end the stalemate.
"But boss, this isn't some kind of trick, is it? I won't get fired for doing this, will I? All you need to do is make a promise, and I'll stand by you," Su Lu responded, her voice filled with concern.
Su Lu was visibly worried. She patted her shoulder, a silent gesture of reassurance. Despite everything, she still had a sense of responsibility. She had earned her position and felt obligated to fulfill her duties.
Over the past few days, she had noticed the hostile glances from her colleagues. The fans of Theresa seemed to be constantly on the verge of confronting her. The incident with Luna kindred Plot had turned her into a scapegoat, the target of countless accusations. Yet, she remained steadfast, since she earned this money.
Luo Mo remove Su Luo grip on his sleeve and went stepped out onto the balcony of the room, taking in the panoramic view before him. He then turned to face Su Lu, his expression serious.
"Do you know, Su Lu… One cannot simply apologize to one's conscience!" he declared, his voice echoing with a profound sadness. He tilted his head upwards, his gaze lost in the vast expanse of the azure sky, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. He wished he could simply escape, avoid the storm that was brewing. But then again, did he even possess something as noble as a conscience?
In his desperation, he contemplated a more drastic escape plan. He spread his arms wide and retreated, climbing up a small staircase that Su Lu hadn't noticed before. Seeing this, Su Lu immediately thought of the worst-case scenario.
"Boss, don't do it! You still have hundreds of tasks left. If you leave, I will chase you until the next reincarnation," she cried out, rushing after Luo Mo who was now perched precariously above the balcony divider. Luo Mo, however, merely smiled at her frantic reaction.
"Boss, don't!! I WILL DO IT, so don't do it!" Su Lu shouted, reaching out in a futile attempt to grab Luo Mo. But it was too late. Luo Mo had already jumped. They were on the fourth floor, for heaven's sake.
Su Lu peered over the edge, bracing herself for a gruesome sight. But what she saw was something entirely unexpected. Luo Mo, who she had assumed would be severely injured, was being carried bridal style by a woman. A woman she recognized as his Valkyrie bodyguard, Fu Hua!
Luo Mo gave her a thumbs up, "I heard that, Su Lu. I'm counting on you," he said, his expression smug. "Next, Fu Hua, let's go!" he whispered to his bodyguard. With a nod of affirmation, Fu Hua swiftly carried Luo Mo away, still in the bridal style position.
Su Lu, left behind on the balcony, could only shake her head in disbelief at the absurdity of the scene that had just unfolded before her eyes.
Su Lu felt a wave of frustration wash over her now.
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Author note:
finally finished volume 1, hehe
there are not many changes, maybe I will shorten Su luo's name to Su lu because it is more comfortable to type and eliminate the confusion of her name with Luo Mo.
what do you think about this story? if it's good or there are criticism suggestions, please give a review and comment,
okay that's all what I want to put out, stay tune~
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