Chapter 146 – Let's Play in Virtual Space

“Alright thеn, I’ll bе оff fоr а bit~”

“Have а sаfe trip~”

‘Вig Sis Marinnа hаs divеd intо thе Nеt Sea.’

“Аre yоu gоing to dеvеlор sоme nеw magiс using Leviathаn’s соrрse?”

I’ll leаve sеa matters tо thе Sea Grimoire.

I hаd Flоppy recоrd оur location, so rеgrоuping should bе eаsу еnоugh.

And so, Spicе decidеd tо еnjoy this virtuаl wоrld in his оwn way.

‘First, whаt should we dо?’

“Hmm, well then, let’s gо tо that virtual hоst сlub we gоt the flyеr for earliеr!”

Thаt’s hоw it was decided.

While wаlking arоund in his Sрiсe аvatar, hе did аttrаct somе attеntiоn, but in this wоrld, еvеryоnе wеars аvаtars that are cute, cool, or eccentric.

Blending in among them, he actually didn’t stand out that much.

“Whoa, look Floppy! An okonomiyaki rice bowl avatar is walking!”

‘We’ve seen a few rice bowl types since arriving here, but this one is exceptionally well-made.’

Since it was a good opportunity, I decided to call out to him.

“Hey thereee~”

‘Ah, hello there. …Little Spice!?’

“That’s right~ I’m just playing around off-stream, but that avatar is amazing! And why an okonomiyaki rice bowl?”

‘Well, you see, one of our company’s talents is the originator of rice bowl avatars… And also, okonomiyaki is part of my identity.’

“Whoaa. I see, I see. So there was someone who started the rice bowl trend… Well then, since we met like this, it must be fate… Want to go to the virtual host club together?”

‘Very well, this must be some kind of providence too. Let’s go.’

What an agreeable person!

It seems he got today off in lieu of working over the New Year holidays, which is why he was strolling around the VR space.

His name is Mr. Okonomi.

“Hellooo! We came to play at the virtual host club!”

‘Hello, hello.’

‘Welcome, princesses. To Club Furikake Castle!’

Clearly a woman’s voice, but a handsome avatar-clad host greeted us.

Hmm, Furikake Castle…

‘Even though it’s called a host club, you can’t actually eat in virtual space. It’s more like a pretend play kind of thing. Ah, but we do have something like currency. I’ll cover the entry fee here.’

“Mr. Okonomi, you’re so generous~!”

‘I freelance doing video editing for various events, you see. I have quite a lot of VR currency.’

The host club staff came out to welcome us.

Everyone noticed Spice for a moment and flinched.

‘It’s Little Spice!’ ‘Little Spice at a host club!?’ ‘Isn’t she the ultimate princess?’ ‘We have to welcome her with our full force!’

They all rushed out, and some kind of microphone performance began.

‘Thank you sooo much for coming todaaay! Today as well, we at Furikake Castle will give our all to entertain our princesses!!’

It seems everyone usually does other jobs in VR space, and only twice a week they put on their host avatars and run the club here.

Oh, the mirror ball is glittering brightly.

This is an unknown space~!

‘Let’s pour some champagne.’

“Go go! Champagne tower!”

‘Champagne tower is heeere!!’

‘『『『『Thank you sooo much!!』』』』

The hosts are dancing all around!

And so, Spice had a grand time laughing and playing around.

Wow, what a ruckus!

It was fun.

‘Little Spice, haven’t you done VR until now?’

“Haven’t done it! Reality has been way too busy! Personally, I have no resistance to it at all~”

‘I see~. I thought you’d like this kind of techy stuff, so I’m a bit surprised~’

“You know me well~”

After that, Mr. Okonomi and I walked around the VR space together.

A Baby Cafe!?

Where customers become babies and get coddled!?

The lady calling out customers… her voice sounds like a man’s.

How profound.

‘Shall we go? It’s quite an interesting experience. Being nursed refreshes both body and soul.’

“Spice is still a beginner, so I think I’ll pass for now~”

Just as I was saying that, a girl with bright red hair in twin braids came out of the Baby Cafe.

She wore a black and red devilish dress, with black horns and wings growing from her.

‘Aah~, that was satisfying~. You really need to become a baby once in a while. This old man felt revived after being nursed.’

“She’s calling herself an old man with such a cute voice! What an intense person~”

‘Ahh!!’

Mr. Okonomi let out a surprised cry.

Spice and the girl with braids flinched and stopped.

‘The two cutest old men in the streaming world have gathered in this one place!!’

“Wha, what are you saying~!!”

What a shocking thing to say!

In other words, the girl with braids before our eyes…

She, who looks about the same age or slightly younger than Spice’s avatar, is!

‘Whoa~, Black Pepper Spice!? Nice to meet you~! You saw me in quite an embarrassing place. Well, all my listeners know Ira does the baby thing and all.’

“A cute appearance and she doesn’t even hide being an old man! Could you be Little Satan Ira? Nice to meet you~!”

‘Nice to meet you~! Yeeeah!’

“Yeeeah!”

The two did a high-five.

To think I’d encounter someone whose name I’ve known for so long in a place like this…

Mr. Okonomi was happily taking screenshots of Spice and the others being together.

He looked delighted.

‘Can I make a compilation video of this later?’

“Sure~”

‘Just link to Ira’s channel and it’s fine~’

‘How generous~’

And so, the two old men who had met.

Shouldn’t we have a lot to talk about?

Seeking a more relaxed place, Spice and Little Ira began to move together.