Walletbreaker, in a mischievous tone, spoke:

  "Oiii, Melissaaaa! Aren’t you supposed to be sick or something?"

  Nocture-san had properly informed the company of the critical employee’s status.

  Melissa-san replied, "Of course I’m sick! My head is hot, I’m dizzy most of the time and my heart is racing without much exercise! Of course I’m sick!!!"

  She nervously looked up at the sky, avoiding eye contact with the Demonic Blade.

  Walletbreaker, as if understanding something deeper, spun around Melissa’s head teasingly:

  "OIIIIIII, I feel like what you're saying is true... butttt... that's not the real reason you called in sick, is it?"

  Then, with dramatic flair:

  "The real reason isssssssss... you wanted a day off because… you wanted to see me and slack off together!"

  Melissa-san: "........."

  Caladblock: "........"

  Valiant Engine: "Pfffff..."

  Whalescalibur: "My houseeeee!!!!"

  Melissa-san, catching her breath, switched to classic suck-up-to-the-boss mode:

  "Yesss, you’re quite right, Miss Walletbreaker. I've always hoped for a chance to bond with an item of such esteem as yourself."

  Walletbreaker beamed:

  "Yep, yep! I’m always right! Now that you’re here, can you help me with something?"

  Like any good boss, she was about to drop her work on the employee.

  "Can you convince Hero-kun to attend a meeting with ^@%#@$^? I tried earlier buttttttt..."

  She looked at the cocoon with a ‘can’t be helped’ face.

  Understanding the situation, Melissa replied:

  "Sure, no problem. You can trust me on this."

  Walletbreaker nodded approvingly a few times. On her third nod, an orange snot bubble appeared. She floated over to the body pillow, and that was the end of the matter.

  Caladblock, muttering:

  "Such a lazy opportunist… I’ll take care of her someday."

  Valiant chimed in:

  "Is she smart or dumb?"

  Then she resumed scribbling cryptic notes in the sand.

  Whalescalibur, still staring at the rubble, suddenly snapped her fingers:

  "Wait a minute!"

  She remembered she was in a dream realm. Her house re-materialized like nothing had happened. She was just getting caught in the moment...

  Caladblock, biting her lip with jealousy and hatred, glared at the position of Hajime’s cocoon.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "If only I had been quicker… Hajime-kun’s cocoon would be between mine!!!"

  Valiant:

  "You're pissed because of that???"

  Whalescalibur:

  "I don't really get it… but shouldn't we save Hero-kun???"

  Valiant:

  "Does Hero-kun need saving?"

  She had already infiltrated the deepest parts of Hajime-kun’s consciousness… and now, she made her move.

  Hajime:

  "Stop crashing into the back of my car! I almost had it that time!"

  Asura-kun:

  "Then stop driving in front of my dash you idiot!"

  Nitro Boost Upgrade appears. Both yell:

  "It’s mine!"

  They crash out of bounds and lose to a third-place NPC who stole the upgrade.

  Both Hajime and Asura throw their controllers out the window:

  "Why is it so hot in here?! Turn on the AC!"

  They snap their fingers. A cool breeze circulates with new controllers materialize in their hand.

  They try a co-op game this time — a space opera with a dubious plot that was way past its golden years.

  Meanwhile, the Lunathong Silk figurine morphs into an orange-haired lioness girl. She walks toward Melissa-san, who is intently analyzing everything in the room — favorite games, merch, food. Nothing escapes her hollow-eyed office lady gaze. Years of unreasonable work conditions have perfected her observational prophecy. All of this culminating at improving her chances for this one singular moment.

  Then Valiant taps Melissa’s shoulder and whispers:

  "You know you’re going a bit overboard here, Melissa-san — 4th Heavenly King of the Predatoriad Marketing Division."

  Melissa slowly turns to her:

  "Who are you... and how do you know that?"

  She starts hissing defensively, unable to justify the unease gnawing at her.

  Valiant:

  "I'm Valiant. Hero-kun’s recent acquisition. I’ve got to say, Hajime-kun is very interesting. I share your enthusiasm in getting to know him. So, how about we make a deal?"

  Melissa’s business instincts tingle. She listens at this suspicious lady...

  Valiant:

  "I’ve gathered most of Hero-kun’s personality data and search history — something you'd eventually gain... if you had enough time. But we both know you don’t."

  "What I need is your insight into the subconscious layer. He’s stingy with that part... but you —"

  She licks her lips.

  "You broke in."

  Melissa, sweating:

  "Why are you going this far?"

  Valiant, smiling:

  "Because I’ve got to catch up..."

  Then she taps her wrist:

  "Time is ticking. Do you accept?"

  Melissa hesitates… and then nervously shakes her hand:

  "Deal…"

  No one can say no to efficient but dubious sources.

  A BDSM-themed ship sails toward Adlantis. Its sails are black leather, and the air is filled with cries of "Kyahhh!" and the sniffling of paypigs rowing from below.

  In the captain’s quarters, Nocture-san sits on a throne, monitoring the mules' performance.

  Any mule who rows substandardly — or expires — is thrown overboard all for a chance for a gacha reward from their cruel mistress.

  Now pissed and radiating malice, she growls:

  "Faster, you swine! Row if you want to bask in my presence!"

  She makes record time — arriving in half the time Hajime-kun took to cross the sea.