Ch.142137 – Superstar of WOA

The front of NoName’s private room was bustling with countless people.

Something even bigger than her age controversy had finally erupted.

How on earth did she bring an NPC from inside the game to the outside world?

When a World is cleared, the NPCs who fought alongside players as companions remain in the peaceful World of Arsheria.

Players could always visit them in Story Mode to interact with them whenever they missed their companions.

The residents of Arsheria were so emotionally responsive that critics said they could easily serve as software for future emotional robots.

And now, one of them had escaped from the game.

The stream remained silent on the matter.

So a small number of viewers connected to “VR SPACE,” pinpointed NoName’s private room coordinates, and waited.

“NoName, open the door!”

“Is Adella really in there?”

“Didn’t you watch the stream? That was definitely her!”

“NoName, explain yourself! Explain! Explain!”

The ownership of a cleared open world belongs to each player.

But could bringing an NPC into one’s personal VR SPACE really be considered intellectual property infringement?

The public had no time for such complex thoughts.

The gallery star of World of Arsheria. This wasn’t just a Korean phenomenon.

Because the Dawn Cat Adella was now moving and living right before their eyes.

[▶Private Mode – OFF]

[▶Communication Mode – ON]

Soon, blue grass grew from the completely white background.

Fences established boundaries, and the previously transparent house regained its form.

As everyone eagerly awaited the door to open, a young girl opened it first to greet the crowd.

“Look at all these people.”

NoName squinted one eye, trying to count the people who had gathered in front of her house.

At least 500, and with those running up from behind, certainly over a thousand.

Despite the massive crowd, a heavy silence hung in the air.

No one dared to speak first.

Just as she found this strange,

Another girl stepped into the light, her black cloak fluttering,

“WOOOOAAAAHHHH!”

“Holy shit, that’s actually Adella?”

Thunderous cheers erupted.

“Adella! Adella! Adella! Adella! Adella!”

One spectator shouted her name loudly.

Others joined in, and voices high and low merged together as her name echoed throughout the space.

Adella was simply bewildered by the situation.

“What… what’s going on…?”

As Adella unconsciously stepped backward, NoName gently pushed her forward.

“Your fans.”

“I have fans? Why?”

NoName chuckled at Adella’s genuinely embarrassed face turning red.

“Because you were undoubtedly the most outstanding person in the world of Arsheria.”

Adella’s brow furrowed slightly.

Even if the world she lived in was fabricated, Adella thought there were plenty of people better than her.

Yet her name continued to be chanted endlessly.

“Still don’t believe it?”

NoName held her hand and led her toward the crowd.

As they walked, Adella’s head kept bobbing left and right continuously.

Even the trembling of her long eyelids looked pitiful.

Meanwhile, NoName randomly brought one viewer inside the fence.

Somehow, it turned into an interview situation.

“Your name?”

“Ah… oh! Estern Merlin. Call me Merlin!”

“Alright Merlin, I’ll interview you briefly. In your opinion, why do you think ‘Adella’ became so beloved in World of Arsheria?”

Hearing this, Adella felt her heart sink.

In many ways, she was the character furthest from love.

Abandoned by her mother at the brothel, never acknowledged by her father at the academy.

She had no friends until she turned eighteen, and her life was always filled with betrayal and solitude.

Just as she was about to ask NoName to withdraw the question,

Merlin thoughtfully stroked his chin and slowly began to speak.

“I’d rather ask: what reason could there possibly be for Adella not to be considered the most charming character in WoA?”

NoName smiled contentedly at Merlin’s words.

Adella, who had been hanging her head, gradually looked up.

“World of Arsheria is packaged with dreams and hope, but if you look closely at its inner workings, it’s quite the dystopia. All characters move with their own desires and beliefs, giving us players various trials.”

Merlin’s and Adella’s eyes met.

Adella flinched at Merlin’s eye-smile.

“But I think the dream Adella holds is dazzling and beautiful. Even in dark reality, she never lost her dream and always did her best in whatever task she was given.”

She was simply lacking in tact and overly enthusiastic.

Even though she failed many missions in the Abyss, she always got back up.

“People who didn’t truly understand her value were quick to criticize her, but in the end, her true worth was revealed through a noble sacrifice no one expected.”

As the interview continued in a serious tone, the chattering crowd gradually quieted down.

“There’s never been a case where an NPC gained this much agency in any situation. If Adella had taken NoName’s body, she could have achieved her dream. But she didn’t. What she wanted wasn’t money or fame, but recognition from her companions.”

NoName approached the quietly trembling Adella and softly asked if she was okay.

With tightly pressed lips, she nodded slightly.

After checking on the girls, Merlin concluded the interview.

“There may be many NPCs with outstanding skills and stats. But remember World of Arsheria’s catchphrase?”

-Purity, Exploration, and may the last thing remaining be Companionship-

Not just NoName, but many others nodded.

“Ultimately, Adella was the only one who perfectly embodied ‘companionship.’ Because this is a heroic virtue ordinary people can’t possess, I believe she deserves all this praise. Adella, you’re the best!”

“WOOOOAAAAHHHH!”

“I love you, Adella!”

“You were so cool when you defeated Asmodeus!”

“You’re so beautiful, Adella!”

Whistles and inarticulate cheers pounded the cat girl’s eardrums.

Merlin, who had slipped back outside the fence, returned to his spot and waved his hand just like the others.

To the frozen Adella, NoName casually said:

“They all cheered for us with one heart to save you. Because you’re worth it.”

“I… I…”

Adella’s voice was a bit hoarse.

She probably felt dizzy from the unfamiliar sensation she’d never experienced before.

“If you want, I can send you back to your world. There, you’ll be a hero who vanquished demons, and the Imperial family will bestow all sorts of wealth and titles upon you.”

That was the rightful privilege an NPC should enjoy after clearing the game.

“You’ll sleep in the best inn in the capital, and you can eat whatever food you want. A whole world will be yours.”

But as if the outcome was already decided, Adella, who had been slightly frowning, shook her head vigorously.

Still, Adella asked out of courtesy:

“What if I choose to stay here?”

“In this world, you can meet your many fans. Even though this is virtual reality, you’ll still need to sleep in a ‘cramped room’ since it costs money.”

“Wow sis, way to end on a sour note…!”

Adella wiped her tears and smiled brightly.

“But it’ll take time to get you a physical body in reality. I can’t freely use golem magic like I used to, but I’ll try my best.”

“I think I’d like to live here for now.”

Her legs slowly moved.

The thousands who had come to see Adella had surrounded the fence.

Taking in each of their faces, Adella felt a strange swelling in her chest.

“This place seems… really fun.”

“VR Space is an interesting world too.”

“Can I go out right now?”

“Wait, let me set your name first.”

[▶Please enter a nickname.]

“What shall we call our cat-kin lady?”

NoName asked playfully while manipulating the interface.

To this, Adella answered with a bright smile:

“My name is Adella. The Dawn Cat Adella!”

A name preserved through 17 regressions.

NoName commented on the name of the first artificial intelligence to live in this new world:

“Whoever came up with it, it’s a really shitty name.”

“Oh, sis!”

* * *

[▶Would you like to connect to World of Arsheria?]

[May the blessing of the World Tree be with you.]

While Adella was having fun, I immediately logged back into the game to check my inventory.

[Mephistopheles’ Memory – α]

[Mephistopheles’ memory scattered in the mist of death. No curse can be found in the mist.]

[Cast: Appraisal]

It was a completely useless item given as a sort of trophy for clearing the final boss.

Unfortunately, the admin privileges disappeared when I logged out of the account, but it seems using appraisal magic to peek is still okay.

The same 10 lines of simple item code were listed.

Being without special abilities, it was short.

However, when I opened the file shown as 57,344 bytes, it contained 57,345 bytes of information.

1 byte had been added in the middle.

Can I check the information added at the very end?

I could.

[search: 4]

“So that’s how it was. That’s why they told me to keep defeating Mephistopheles.”

A message sent to an unspecified number of people.

And the rank where Mephistopheles frequently appears as an object is mostly Challenger or above.

It seems my World of Arsheria broadcasts will continue much longer than I thought.