c3: A Chat Group Without Any Villains Is Just Amazing
"Alright, this is a sure thing!"
Luo Chen breathed a sigh of relief upon unlocking the usage method.
That prompt about sending a help request was exactly the kind of core function often discussed in chat-group-type systems.
While his mental fortitude was strong, facing such a life-or-death situation,
it was impossible for him to remain completely calm.
After all, the Slit-Mouthed Woman was still within lethal range.
"So this is the correct way to use the cheat system, just ask a group member for help when you encounter a problem, right?"
However...
while it worked, it felt a little awkward.
It wasn't the kind of instant power-up he had imagined.
Did he have to rely on others every time he used this cheat system?
"Forget it, let's solve the problem first."
It was too early to consider that now.
Right now, survival took priority over long-term concerns.
There would be time later to study the system's deeper mechanics.
Rather than figuring out how to use this useful cheat system later,
it was more practical to deal with the immediate trouble.
The danger in front of him was very real.
In the distance, the Slit-Mouthed Woman was still working on her masterpiece with scissors.
Her movements were slow and methodical, almost artistic.
A classic portrayal of a high-level urban legend entity.
Judging from the bloodied face of the figure on the ground,
the progress bar was almost full.
If this were an anime scenario, it meant the "execution phase" was about to end.
Should he post a help request now?
"That doesn't seem like a good idea."
Luo Chen thought for a moment, then didn't rush to press the button.
Even in chat group systems, timing and approach mattered.
Acting recklessly could backfire.
After all, he had just joined this chat group.
Although, according to his memory, the members of this dimensional chat group were all kind-hearted people.
They were the type of protagonists who would step forward without hesitation.
The kind often praised in anime discussion communities.
They're the kind of people who would risk their lives to help you if you were in trouble.
But...
we're not that close yet.
Trust wasn't built instantly, even across dimensions.
Even if you want to ask for help, you have to go through a roundabout way first, right?
[Heisei's Strongest Rider]: So what's going on here? You all know me?
Seeing the chat message pop up again,
Luo Chen thought for a moment and raised his hand to reply.
This was a good opportunity to establish rapport.
[Future Time Apostle]: We know each other pretty much. To put it simply, this is a chat group that brings together people from different worlds. We're all in different worlds, do you understand?
[I Reincarnated as a Spider]: I get it! So, the people in this chat group are all from different worlds. Even characters like Kamen Rider, who only exist in tokusatsu shows, are brought into this chat group?
Before transmigrating, Spider Girl was an otaku.
Her reactions and references clearly reflected that background.
That level of excitement was unmistakable.
Although her true form was just a spider in the corner of the classroom,
she was only infused with the memories of Wakaba Hiiro by the evil god "D".
That combination created her current personality.
If we consider "Wakaba Hiiro" as Spider Girl's past life...
then her knowledge of anime, games, and tokusatsu made perfect sense.
Her constant references were proof of that.
Regardless of the fact that Spider-Child is constantly using references,
and has a particular fondness for the Evil King's True Eye,
it's clear that anime or tokusatsu dramas exist in her original world.
[The Strongest Rider of the Heisei Era]: Tokusatsu... what is that?
Tokiwa Sougo was clearly confused by these unfamiliar terms.
His world didn't treat Kamen Rider as fiction.
For him, it was simply reality.
[I Reincarnated as Spider-Child]: Hmph~ It just means you're a character from some tokusatsu drama I watched before. You can think of it as a TV series or movie. Kamen Rider Zi-O, the young demon king Tokiwa Sougo who aspires to be the most benevolent and virtuous, I choose you!
[The Future Time Apostle]: The last sentence is about Pokémon...
Don't use references like that randomly,
Luo Chen couldn't help but complain.
Otherwise, you'll need to apologize to the production company.
[I Reincarnated as Spider-Child]: Huh? Cough cough... I see. After all, I've lived in another world for tens of thousands of years, so it's normal to forget things occasionally.
[The 300-Year-Old Highland Witch]: Live... lived for tens of thousands of years?
[Not a Blonde Loser]: ...You just pinched my cheek, it hurts so much, so this isn't a dream or an illusion?
Tens of thousands of years?
Although Luo Chen was willing to believe that,
his intuition told him that was definitely exaggerated.
This tone clearly came from someone who had just transmigrated not long ago.
That exaggerated bragging was very much in line with Spider Girl's personality.
There was no way she had actually lived that long yet.
Putting aside everything else,
her original body probably hadn't even left the upper level of the Elroe Great Labyrinth yet.
That was still early-stage survival difficulty.
[The Strongest Rider of the Heisei Era]: Obviously not a dream, this really is a chat group that suddenly appeared in my mind... Wait, that's not the point, the point is what do you mean I'm a character from a tokusatsu drama... Are you kidding me?
Inside the 9-to-5 office...
Tokiwa Sougo, who had just finished fighting Another Rider, rubbed his still sore shoulders.
The fatigue from battle hadn't even faded yet.
Faced with the sudden message in the chat group,
he felt his whole body gradually become numb.
The situation was far beyond normal comprehension.
A character from a tokusatsu drama?
Really? You're kidding me!
As a typical chuunibyou teenager in the Heisei era who aspires to become a "king",
Tokiwa Sougo's experiences during this period can be described as quite magical.
First, I found a strange watch face in the back seat of a car and became a Kamen Rider.
Then, a man named "Woz" suddenly appeared, passionately celebrating my destined path to become king.
And after that, I was relentlessly pursued by Kamen Rider Geiz, who came from the future to stop me.
Although the two eventually became friends...
or at least, that's how it ended up for now.
The situation was still complicated, to say the least.
In any case, this experience was definitely not ordinary.
It already felt like something straight out of a tokusatsu storyline.
A sequence of events far removed from normal daily life.
But now, an even bigger shock has come without warning.
A strange chat group popped into my mind.
Just like the interface Luo Chen described earlier, it appeared directly within consciousness.
Completely defying common sense.
According to the group members, everyone is from a different world.
And somehow, I have become a character in a tokusatsu drama they have watched.
A piece of fictional entertainment in their eyes.
"A...are you kidding me?"
Living a perfectly normal life in this city,
and then suddenly being told that you are just a character in a TV series—
who could possibly accept that so easily?!
But then again...
thinking about my recent experiences,
it does resemble the typical structure of various light novels or manga.
An ordinary boy suddenly gains special powers.
Then encounters companions and enemies from different timelines.
And gradually walks the path toward becoming a king.
Could...
could this actually be real?
Am I truly just a fictional character in some tokusatsu drama?
[Future Time Apostle]: He's not kidding you, you are indeed a character from a certain tokusatsu drama we've seen... but actually, it's not a big deal.
Heisei's Strongest Rider: H-how should I put it?
Tokiwa Sougo felt his mentality beginning to crumble.
Even with the calm tone of the explanation,
his heart still struggled to process it.
[Future Time Apostle]: This law is rather complex. Simply put, dimensions and the universe are endlessly expanding and splitting, with countless possibilities—a number far exceeding trillions... Do you understand?
This is the pain of not being academically inclined.
Tokiwa Sougo felt like he understood something,
yet at the same time, understood nothing at all.
[Future Time Apostle]: Explaining the specifics would take some time, but I probably don't have the time right now. Or rather, I might not be able to log on later.
Heisei's Strongest Rider: Eh, why?
Tokiwa Sougo, who had just begun to grasp the situation, was immediately stunned again.
Just when answers were within reach,
they were suddenly cut off.
Don't just stop halfway—tell me everything first!
[Reincarnated as a Spider]: Are you in trouble?
[Future Time Apostle]: Indeed, I'm in big trouble... You know the Slit-Mouthed Woman? Right now, there's a very terrifying Slit-Mouthed Woman in front of me, and the area I'm in is experiencing violent explosions. God knows what's going on.
[Future Time Apostle]: Anyway, if nothing unexpected happens... I might die on the spot once the Slit-Mouthed Woman notices this place.
The message carried a clear sense of urgency.
Even across dimensions, the danger could be felt through the tone alone.
It was no longer a casual conversation.
[Not a Blonde Loser]: Slit-Mouthed Woman? Your world actually has such a terrifying thing... Is there any way to take a picture for me?
Even in this situation, Eriri's curiosity as a creator surfaced.
A real-life urban legend specimen was extremely rare material.
Though her request was clearly mistimed.
Heisei's Strongest Rider: Is there no way to escape?
[Future Time Apostle]: There's no way to escape, but I have a strange button here that seems to allow me to ask for help from group members... I don't know what will happen, but I can at least try.
Ah, thankfully everyone in this dimensional chat group is a good person.
At the very least, no one dismissed his situation as a joke.
That alone was enough reassurance.
Luo Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Asking them for help when in danger is surprisingly straightforward.
Much easier than he initially expected.
There was no need for complicated persuasion.
If there were any Aizen-type schemers in this chat group,
he wouldn't have been able to ask for help so easily.
The situation would have been far more dangerous.
While sighing inwardly, Luo Chen pressed the button.
[Ding, request for help sent successfully.]
...