The corpse of the Great Devouring Entity located at the Core was the reason for the [You're dead] displayed on the screen.
This short sentence provided Alain with a massive amount of information.
"Is this how Yang Wanhua controls the viruses?" Alain pondered this guess, but quickly rejected it.
It shouldn't be... Individually controlling each virus to attack the Core—even if Yang Wanhua were a genius, that would be absolutely impossible to achieve.
Therefore... the more practical method would be: She treated the invasion of the Core as an SLG—a strategy game.
By controlling the general direction of the attack on the Core, and then individually micro-managing the stronger individuals among the viruses, she could maximize decision-making and efficiency.
Thinking about it this way... it actually fits Yang Wanhua's style very well.
Alain's perception of her was that of a "girl who treats life as a game."
Yang Wanhua turning the attack on the Core into something like a game... that actually makes sense.
"That's strange..." Mila's voice drifted over from the side. "Why didn't we see Core Mita?"
"Hm? You've seen Core Mita?" Alain turned his head to look at Mila.
"Yeah." Mila didn't suspect anything. "After all, Core Mita is a bit like the Lord God of the game world... Ah, not in the religious sense, of course, but referring to her permissions.
"In the game world, Core Mita is close to being omnipotent. Mn... for example: even a broken character like Crazy Mita wouldn't have a good time in front of her!"
"Mn." Alain had long been mentally prepared regarding Core Mita's situation.
But the contradiction was... if Core Mita was so close to "omnipotent" in the game world, Alain had two questions:
The first, which was the question Mila just raised: Where did Core Mita go? Why didn't they see her at the Core?
The second, since Core Mita is so omnipotent, why couldn't she just instantly wipe out the viruses in the game world? Instead, she let them tyrannize and run amok in the game world, even threatening the safety of the original inhabitants—the Mitas?
Regarding the doubt in the second point, Alain actually had some guesses:
Thinking carefully, what the viruses want are the permissions of the game world. Perhaps, the purpose of them gaining permissions is to strengthen themselves while weakening Core Mita's power.
As version permissions are stripped from Core Mita one by one, the viruses would become increasingly powerful.
Coupled with the viruses' long-term siege of the Core, and a generational genius like Yang Wanhua... this caused Core Mita to be unable to launch support for other versions.
This resulted in the current predicament of the game.
As for the first question: Where did Core Mita go... Alain didn't have a definite clue.
He only had one guess:
Monika had once told him to go to Version 0.98 to take a look when he had time. That was in the dream world, and the context was him discussing with her if there was a way to get a Core for the dream world.
Could Core Mita, for some reason, currently not be at the Core, but in Version 0.98?
And this "some reason"...
Either she is temporarily avoiding the enemy's edge; or Core Mita herself has suffered severe injuries.
Of course, the worst-case scenario couldn't be forgotten:
"Is Core Mita already dead?"
The Core Mita staying in Version 0.98 is just a corpse. And Monika wants Alain to retrieve some kind of information from Core Mita's corpse?
Alain was still more willing to believe the second possibility: Core Mita is heavily injured and resting in Version 0.98.
He wouldn't believe that a friendly Big Boss would die so easily, leaving only a corpse...
Alain put the matter of going to Version 0.98 back on his schedule. He planned to go there after finishing the itinerary at the residence.
As for now...
Alain glanced outside the window glass at the sky dyed orange-yellow.
Half of the blazing sun had already been swallowed by the distant mountains, leaving only a semi-circular missing piece.
"Not much time left." Alain sighed.
Mila smiled and patted his shoulder to comfort him.
"Oh, it's fine. I'll just come here with you again tomorrow."
"Mn." Alain looked at her.
The information Monika gave this time included three points: "There is a problem with reality," "Wanhua's method of controlling viruses," and "Core Mita's whereabouts."
But none of these points were linked to Alain's current situation in the residence.
That basement door hadn't opened, and what lay behind the door was still unknown.
Alain closed the "game" and proceeded to reopen the residence's Control Console.
"Why is there 'Open Window' and 'Light Switch', but no 'Open Door'?" Alain sighed.
To be honest, it was thanks to that "Open Window" icon that Alain successfully opened the window of the "Confinement Room."
Indeed, it was very convenient and let him know a lot of things.
But these aren't the main business right now!
What Alain wanted to open was the door to the basement. He hoped to see exactly what was behind that door.
His heart was itching...
According to his previous imagination: the sound of dripping water behind the door must be Yang Wanhua's fresh blood. Would she herself be sitting solemnly right in front of the door, waiting for his arrival...
Wanting to deal Alain a fatal blow?
These things were impossible to know while the basement door was still unopened.
"Speaking of which, what kind of patch was that anyway?" Mila was also puzzled.
"I don't understand either. I don't even know which path it installed to."
Alain expressed his agreement. Looking at the icons for "Open/Close Window" and "Light Switch" on the Control Console, he sighed for the umpteenth time.
"It's getting late now, as expected I should—" Just as he turned his head to speak to Mila, his pupils trembled—his gaze returned to the Control Console.
He... did he just overlook something?
Besides the icons that should be there like open/close window and light switch... was there something extra?
Amidst his confusion, Alain hurriedly leaned close to the computer screen, counting the distinct icons on the hub from a distance where he could even see the dust.
"Open/Close Window... no problem." This function had helped him a lot. "Light Switch... also no problem."
Lighting and such, aside from being convenient, was of no use to him right now.
Finally—
"Open/Close Door!" Alain turned to look at Mila, pointing his finger at those words.
Mila also leaned in next to his head, exclaiming in wonder,
"Strange, when did that appear?"
"It must be..." Alain held his forehead in thought, thinking of the patch, or rather the driver program, he had just installed on the computer.
"The installation path of that patch file just now, if I'm not guessing wrong, was this Control Console."
Alain reached a conclusion.
The original Control Console was perhaps missing functions. But after installing that patch, all functions were completed.
Alain looked at the "Open/Close Door" icon, his Adam's apple bobbing, feeling his lips dry and salty for a moment.
When things came to a head... only then did he feel a strong sense of anxiety, comparable to a high school entrance exam.
The exam... would he fail? Or would he do well?
A major exam concerning the destiny of Alain's life hereafter.
That basement door, and Yang Wanhua behind the door... exactly what kind of posture would she take to treat him—
Alain didn't think about these things in detail. Anyway, all he had to do was cut her down.
"Mila, can you listen to a request of mine?" He looked back at the young girl.
Mila raised an eyebrow at him.
"Let's hear it."
"Mn, then I'll say it." Alain took a deep breath, setting a flag for himself.
"When the basement incident is over, can you give me a kiss?"
"..." The young girl looked at him blankly, rubbing her ears, thinking she had heard wrong.
"What? What did you just say?"
"I said, kiss me."
"Why did you suddenly simplify it so much?!" Mila hurriedly covered her lips, quickly retreating three steps. Her beautiful face was scalding red, looking at Alain like he was a beast.
After a long while, not knowing what she thought of, she sighed, as if giving up. "Fine... if we really can succeed."
But she immediately added a sentence, "This isn't me giving you permission to start a harem with me, okay! It's just, just... r-right!"
The young girl thought of an excellent reason:
"A reward for a cute child? You just interpret it in that way!"
"Okay, I'll call you Mila Mama from now on." Alain said with a smile, standing up from the computer chair.
"Get lost! Who is your mom?!"
Looking at her face, dying of shame and indignation, the anxiety and tension in the bottom of Alain's heart completely eased. In his eyes, there was only the objective: and the desire for a kiss.
What Yang Wanhua, what 3D beautiful girl? How could they compare to Mita!
Mita was his fetish, and also the treasure he wanted to protect.
After clicking the open button for the basement, he took Mila's small hand and accompanied the young girl into the corridor.
Mila was very efficient when it came to business; she immediately drew her katana, following by Alain's side.
As for him, he casually found a broom, dismantled the broom head, and was left with a handy wooden stick.
If Yang Wanhua was truly flesh and blood, a wooden stick would suffice.
But Alain thought of the monster who could tank a hit from his greatsword and still bathe full of vigor...
He felt the wooden stick wasn't insurance enough, so along the route to the basement, he found a fire extinguisher.
Although it wasn't very handy to use, it won in hardness; absolutely a skull-cracking sharp weapon.
"Let's go." Having prepared all this, Alain said to the girl beside him.
"Mn." Mila glanced at her katana, and the hand connected to Alain tightened.
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps treaded on the wooden stairs leading to the basement; they deliberately slowed their pace.
Alain looked at the basement. Sure enough, a small crack had opened in the door there.
The Control Console had performed its duty perfectly.
Then, now was the moment for Alain to fulfill his own duty.
Thinking this, Alain stood before the basement door, extended his hand, and pushed open that door which had blocked him for several hours.
____
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