novelhk Page 261
Page 261
A throbbing pain shot through her eyes, and Shana pressed them shut: "Maybe I'm seeing things..."
As the pain subsided, when Shana looked down again, she realized that it was a complete stranger, looking exactly like Ota.
"Forget about that disgusting pervert, Heroine Shana, look!"
At this moment, Erwin's voice rang out with a hint of anticipation:
"Songstress Cuiyin, you're about to reach the city gate—!"
This city gate was specially closed to distinguish it from the other three gates for today. Only the convoy escorting the border songstress Cuiyin could pass through here directly to the capital.
At this moment, a group of figures could be vaguely seen at the end of the road leading to the city gate.
"That's... the Border Diva?"
Shana's attention was indeed drawn to the procession. Ordinary people had to wait for the procession to get closer before they could see it clearly, but for her and Erwin, who were standing on the city wall and possessed great physical strength, it was a different story.
Simply focus your energy on your eyes, and you can clearly see the distant scenery.
In the center, guarded by two squads of border soldiers, there was no one but a black cube the size of a tree stump, rolling around on small wheels at the bottom.
The black box has a metallic finish, but it doesn't look rough; it's like a smooth cube.
On the front of the cube, there are glowing marks, but they do not form words; instead, they form an emoticon-like pattern (^_^).
"That's... the Border Diva?" Shana blinked and asked in surprise again.
"What a surprise."
Erwin was surprised by the escorting team:
"Songstress Cuiyin, you didn't bring anyone with you this time? I thought you would have technicians to maintain and repair the machines."
The border soldiers escorting the songstress will immediately return to the border after delivering her to the capital.
This also means that in the fifteen days leading up to the concert, Suine will be alone in the capital. Even though she is called a songstress, it is still unimaginable for her to act without the assistance of other humans.
Erwin's statement also implicitly acknowledges that the black cube's true form is the virtual singer, Tsuriune.
Shana was somewhat puzzled as she watched the procession slowly approach the city gate. Some people shared her confusion, but most seemed unsurprised.
Just as the black cube slowly entered the center of the crowd.
The surface (^_^) has been changed to (=>w<=).
The next moment——
Suddenly, a burst of light erupted!
Illusory, pure white feathers drifted down from the sky, their emerald hue casting a beautiful hue on the air.
A girl, as pure as a goddess, descended upon the scene.
Her long, light green twin ponytails cascaded down to almost the ground, gently tied up by an angelic halo, and her emerald green eyes shone with a fluorescent light.
Her delicate skin appeared almost transparent in the air, so fragile that it seemed as if a gust of wind would cause it to vanish, inspiring an endless desire to protect her...
The girl's slender white fingers were encased in pristine white gloves. She gripped the microphone tightly with both hands, and the moment she opened her eyes, she seemed to come alive, revealing the sweetest smile on her face.
One step forward.
Immediately afterwards, the green and white pleats scattered like flowers. This fluffy dress, resembling a formal gown, accentuated the girl's purity and beauty, while the design lines also brought out a vitality and dynamism like sunshine. It formed an absolute territory with the white garter stockings that went past her knees, stirring up cheers in the audience!
The girl's heels were slightly touching the ground, and she brought two V-shaped fingers to her right eye, giving everyone a wink!
A sweet, energetic voice, accompanied by the vibrations of the projection box beneath her, spread to the ears of everyone at the city gate:
"Everyone, Ciallo～(∠?ω<)⌒☆"
Beneath the body, the surface of the black box also revealed the text "(∠?ω<)⌒☆".
"That is, the virtual singer, Cuiyin..." On the city gate, Erwin was also somewhat shocked.
This was the first time he had witnessed the appearance of a virtual singer. It must be said that the beautiful girl, who was somewhere between real and comic book, was a visual shock to everyone!
Even those who don't particularly like this place can appreciate its unique beauty.
This is especially true for hardcore enthusiasts.
Erwin looked down and saw the city gate.
As Cuiyin passed by, a group of enthusiastic fans were already in tears. The guy that Shana had pointed out earlier was even more excited, waving his fluorescent magic wand in a twisted and agile manner.
"In a sense, that place is quite impressive too..."
Erwin twitched his lips and turned to look at Shana beside him.
Somewhat unexpectedly, the other party had been staring intently at the image ever since Cuiyin appeared.
Were they also shocked? Well, it's understandable, seeing such a beautiful virtual girl for the first time.
"That really is a... songstress from the border?"
Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted.
Erwin was startled, suddenly sensing that Shana's aura had become incredibly dense and terrifying, as if she could kill him with a single blow!
The crimson demonic eye pierced down, and Shana gripped the hilt of the sword at her waist.
Others see only the beautiful appearance of the virtual singer Cuiyin, but for some reason, she can see much more.
Deep within the girl's projection, there lie hidden... terrifying spells powerful enough to corrupt one's mind.
Is it an illusion?
No, Shana lowered her head and looked at a group of people who seemed to be very enthusiastic about supporting one person, among whom the guy who looked like Ota seemed the most obsessed.
"Clearly, someone has already been infected—"
Chapter 377 Poor Ota, manipulated by a virtual songstress.
"I really didn't expect that, Your Highness Hearst."
Border, dimensional city.
Inside the tent, Syl breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving news that the songstress had arrived safely in the capital. She then looked at her prince, somewhat puzzled.
"Regarding the plan to deal with Prince Ota, I thought you would at least send the most reliable people, if not more, and even have me disguised and escort him to assist the virtual singer's plan—"
"Unexpectedly, you allowed the terminal carrying the virtual singer—oh no, the machine itself—to enter the capital alone."
Your Highness, I must say, you have a truly big heart.
“No.” At the long table, Hearst closed his book, a secret plan lurking in his eyes:
“This is the most necessary step in order to deal with Ota… Only in this way can we gradually arouse Ota’s protective instincts and make him subconsciously feel that Cuiyin, who has no one to protect her, can only rely on herself.”
“A protective instinct and all that…” Syl asked with some surprise, “Does he really treat the virtual singer like a real young girl?”
"This is the key to our next plan."
"The first half of the virtual idol project was to imprint the image of Tsui-yin firmly in Ota's heart, forming an obsession with wanting to meet her... But once this obsession is actually realized, the novelty in Ota's heart will quickly fade."
"No matter how much technology is used to simulate it, virtual idols will never have human emotions. Once Ota realizes this, he will completely wake up and treat Tsui as just a comic book or a figurine... Therefore, the second half of the plan is to make Ota fall even deeper into it before he wakes up, so that he truly sees Tsui as a living girl."
"This is also the highest level of virtual idols."
“That’s Prince Ota,” Sir said hesitantly. “Would he really fall to such a state of mental instability?”
"Yes, because he is Ota."
With his eyes closed, Hearst offered an answer he couldn't comprehend, his eyes revealing a deep acceptance of his brother with whom he shared similar blood:
"Once he can't resist taking the first step to contact Cuiyin, he will be completely on the path of no return...
……
Straight, jagged marble columns cast neat shadows in the corridor before the heavily guarded gate.
As the majestic face emerged from the light and shadow with steady footsteps approaching, the paladins guarding the two sides immediately knelt on one knee.
"Your Highness Ota!"
"Hmm." Dressed in meticulously chosen fine clothes, Otta nodded slightly, then looked at the door before her:
"The songstress Cuiyin will be staying here, right?"
"Yes!"
A responsible paladin raised his head and reported:
"As you have arranged, we have prepared the most complete living supplies and bedding in the room. If Princess Cuiyin needs anything, we will replenish it as quickly as possible."
Ota stood in front of the door, somewhat dazed, feeling that he was indeed not quite awake.
Bedding, daily necessities, even food... these were indeed the instructions Ota had given Tus earlier.
Upon closer inspection, although she is called a songstress, Suine is actually just a peculiar machine equipped with a projector. The palace only needs to prepare a place for her, and when the concert time arrives, it can be released and activated.
For Ota, Cuiyin was more of an object of longing and healing, which is why he became somewhat out of control and excited when his long-cherished wish to meet her was fulfilled.
Now, as the emotions from that first meeting at the city gates subsided, Ota remembered something: it was just a projection without intelligence, a mechanical creation that neither ate nor felt.
"Your Highness Ota... the songstress Cuiyin is inside. Do you wish to go in?"
At this moment, the paladin beneath him cautiously inquired.
Ota felt a slight tremor in his heart.
In the paladin's eyes, it was normal for him to come and check out the songstress Cuiyin out of curiosity since he had never met her before. But in reality, he had already witnessed Cuiyin up close in front of the city gate.
After the concert ends in fifteen days, his wish to see Cuiyin's concert will be fulfilled. Is it... necessary to go in again?
The king's rationality questioned himself: Why go to see an inanimate object? Why? And what's the point?
In the dim light, it seemed as if a road of no return appeared before my eyes.
It was just because it was a cute thing that I wanted to look at it a few more times... That's how Ota finally convinced herself.
"Okay, let me in."
Ota's voice rang out from the doorway.
Prior to this, he had already issued an order that no one but him was allowed to approach Cuiyin's residence, in order to prevent accidents and malfunctions from occurring while the songstress was left unattended.
Even Erwin, the Grand Master of the Holy Knights and a confidant of the prince, did not have permission to enter.