First Player

Chapter 42 "Pearl Tower."

【December 31, 2023, 20:00】

…

In the night sky on festival days, the most indispensable thing is the beautiful fireworks.

Everyone goes out in old-fashioned clothes, in small groups, wearing yukata, wearing wooden clogs, holding steaming takoyaki in paper bowls, and stepping on slightly damp bluestone bricks and moss-covered stone steps.

The lively festival area was filled with people like this.

In front of a stall selling takoyaki, a woman wearing a bloody mask stood.

The bright red knot went around her jet-black hair and tied a knot at the back of her head, revealing a pair of dark eyes like obsidian, dark, quiet, and calm.

Wearing a kimono embroidered with cherry blossoms, she silently accepted the takoyaki from the enthusiastic shopkeeper.

The slightly cold wind blew through her dark hair, like swaying willows in spring. She lowered her head slightly, pricked the bamboo stick, and a hot takoyaki overflowed with delicious juice.

She stepped on wooden clogs and swung through the crowds looking for a spot to watch the fireworks. She rejected several men who approached her and came to a deserted hillside.

After carefully wiping the flat stone with a white cloth, she sat down, facing the slowly passing stream.

She held out her hand.

The bamboo stick that poked the takoyaki was held between her two fingers. With a small force on her wrist, the round takoyaki fell down and fell into the flowing stream, and soon drifted farther and farther away.

She watched the takoyaki go away.

She clasped the paper bowl with both hands, and the red rope in her hair hung down by her ears.

Through the pine needles and bamboo forest, she seemed to be able to see the bright smile of the girl who was always chasing and calling her sister.

The joint team told her that Mizushima Kawaharu only accepted a special status mission and was similar to an observer who could move freely. Sooner or later, the sisters will be able to meet again.

Mizushima Kawa Sora was willing to believe this statement, but gradually, she began to feel worried.

She and Mizushima Kawaharu had telepathy since childhood, but one day during their stay in White Sand Paradise, she suddenly felt that the connection between her and her sister was gone, as if the thread had been suddenly torn apart.

She didn't believe Mizushima Kawaharu would die. Qing is so smart and quirky, even though she looks like a madman, she knows that Qing is a real genius.

Genius and madness are sometimes just one step away.

Qing seems to have endless new ideas, and her brain circuit is something that ordinary people can never keep up with.

Mizushima Kawa Sora didn't believe in which instance she would die in because she was so smart.

Sitting on a deserted stone, she looked far into the distance and saw the lake at the foot of the mountain.

The area she was in was a limited-time event area for annual celebrations. People from many different countries came here to enjoy the celebrations, and some people would place lanterns here. The lake was the area where the lanterns were held. At this time, orange-red lanterns of different shapes were floating on the clear water, like sparks flowing on the Milky Way.

She watched and suddenly realized something was wrong.

The extremely high mental points allowed her to keenly detect the strong ones among a group of ordinary people. With her quick gaze, she discovered a group of four people wearing masks.

A bright silver light lit up in her eyes, and the next moment, the distant scene immediately became clear in her eyes.

The black-haired young man squatted down, held a corner of the lotus lantern with flickering candlelight, and gently pushed it out.

The edges of his figure were softened by the candlelight, as if ancient oil paint was flowing on his body.

The clear water held up the slightly swaying lantern, making a slight splashing sound.

Soon, this lotus lantern merged into the stream of lanterns like a drop of water, and gradually became connected with other lanterns.

In the brilliant light and shadow, his figure was dimmed extremely softly by the candlelight, as if he had suddenly taken off his guard.

……That is.

Mizushima Kawakora squinted her eyes. Different figures kept flashing in her mind. After a moment, she compared the figures of the four people in the group.

Su Mingan, Noel, Lu Shu and Lin Yin...

She straightened up immediately and left here.

Although she didn't want to believe it, she seemed to have a premonition, a spiritual premonition.

The disappearance or even death of his sister is probably related to this guy Su Mingan...

If we can face each other in the eighth world,

At that time, she will definitely ask for clarity.

As for now, this guy's birthday is today, and she won't bother him. She's not that indifferent.

The number one player, his nineteenth birthday, a worldwide celebration...

Compared with the weight of this identity, this person is so young that it is shocking.

…

Noel took Su Mingan to many places.

The ancient town of Dragon Kingdom and the torii gate of Fuso.

Worldwide gatherings, annual lantern festivals.

Yuguo Art Exhibition Hall and Glenguo’s Revolving Corridor.

...and the 578-meter-high architectural virtual scene, the Pearl Tower.

The Pearl Tower at night is like a lighthouse that condenses light. It is particularly dazzling in the dark night with light snow. Looking from a distance, the extremely tall tower that stands like a sky and the earth seems to hold up the entire dark night sky. .

Go up the elevator to the observation deck on the highest floor. Visitors can look out the window through the entire floor-to-ceiling glass.

They could see the rolling hills below, bright red torii gates, quaint buildings, crowded alleys, and cross streets as vivid as blood vessels.

A giant light screen hangs on the tall Pearl Tower.

On the light screen, there is a line of large red characters. The font is like blood, and it is as conspicuous as an aurora in the dark night:

[Happy birthday to No. 1 player Su Mingan - I wish you good luck in martial arts! 】

…

This light screen is extremely conspicuous, and it lights up after nightfall. It is located at a height enough for everyone who walks at night to see it.

At this time, most interested tourists gathered in this specially opened activity area, and this light sign was enough for them all to see.

When he climbed onto the Pearl Tower, Su Mingan didn't expect that the players who liked him could give him such a surprise.

Even though he still had to wear a mask and watch in secret, he did receive their thoughts.

Standing on the observation deck on the highest floor, blowing the night wind mixed with light snow, he looked at the land full of tourists.

What is diffused in the mountains is the gradually disappearing fog, and the lights of lanterns are like diamonds dotted in black velvet, shining in the silent night.

In the street below, ant-like people walked by one by one. The repertoire on various stages was constantly changing. Their performances were swaying one after another, and the music was played over and over again.

At this time, what Su Mingan saw was a beautiful picture composed of people.

Next to him, leaning against the railing with him, there were three quiet people who didn't speak.

After a day of intense play, they seemed to fall into an eerie silence when they arrived at the last attraction.

It seems that just standing here quietly, not going anywhere, not talking, is already very beautiful.

The "click" sound of the camera kept ringing behind them, and other people were also taking photos with each other. Here, happiness and joy between people seemed to be able to communicate without any hindrance.

The breeze blew up the red rope behind their heads, and the masks tilted slightly, revealing part of their young faces. They raised their hands in unison to straighten the masks.

After noticing each other's overly synchronized movements, someone finally couldn't help but laugh.

His laughter broke the solid silence, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake.

"Su Ming'an." Noel's laughter was loud and came out without any hindrance through the stuffy mask. He arranged the golden braids on the back of his head, and the smile in his tone was warm: "Are you happy today? "