Ch.60[Chapter 60] Entrance Presentation Is Important

“Well, if you say so, then I suppose that’s how it is.”

The dragon sighed.

While a small card pool could be dressed up somehow, there were limits, and he could vividly imagine the explorers going wild after seeing the probabilities.

Fortunately, such situations had been commonplace for a long time.

In modern society, there were strangely many people with excellent abilities but lacking confidence.

They say rice plants bow their heads as they ripen, but these people’s confidence seemed to dig into the ground, bowing far too low.

Despite sufficient demand, such people often printed fewer cards simply due to lack of confidence.

“It would be nice if they built up some self-esteem.”

“…?”

“No, never mind. Let’s move on to the next procedure. Let’s go record your entrance animation and lines when you’re drawn.”

At the dragon’s lament, Sir Dominic raised an eyebrow above his eyepatch with a puzzled expression, but soon nodded at the dragon’s words.

“Entrance lines and presentation are very important. The stronger the impact, the easier it is for people to remember you. That increases your value.”

The dragon rose from the desk and floated leisurely into the air, crossing over the desk.

“Let’s discuss the rest after trying it out. It seems you understand better through action than explanation.”

Sir Dominic nodded once more in agreement.

Indeed, it was easier to understand Gachaland’s mysteries through action rather than explanation.

The dragon crossed the lobby while hovering about 3 centimeters above the ground.

Sir Dominic followed behind him.

The dragon waved his arms gracefully as if about to use some magnificent technique with mystical gestures, but merely opened a door.

Sir Dominic looked at the open door and raised his head.

Above the door hung a nameplate that read “Betty Rude, Entrance Animation Director.”

“Ah, Mr. Shenlong. It’s been a while. I heard you got promoted. Congratulations. What brings you here?”

“Promotion is just something that happens when you work long enough, so I’m not particularly excited. We have someone new entering the gacha pool.”

“Ah. You’re here for entrance animation and lines. Well, that’s the only reason to come here anyway.”

With orange-red hair, a freckled youthful face, and thick glasses.

The woman wearing a beret and trench coat grinned as she lifted the camera hanging around her neck.

The lens was so large it looked like she was holding a cannon with both hands.

“Is the person behind you the new addition to the pool? Let me see… My goodness! It’s Sir Dominic! I thought Sir Dominic was already added to the pool last time!”

“That was an illegal pack.”

The dragon said with a solemn expression.

“It was done by someone impersonating Sir Dominic. If you’re going to do something, do it properly. That sloppy impostor is now mining coal in the depths of Gachaland.”

The dragon, who grumbled that there would probably be plenty of coal in the next global server Christmas event, called out to Sir Dominic who was blankly looking around the room.

“Now stand here. As long as you don’t get nervous, you’ll have a splendid entrance animation. Betty Rude here is the best director I know.”

“That’s right. Just count the spots on the ceiling and it’ll be over before you know… Oh, that’s not it. Mr. Shenlong, is this for an adult game pool by any chance?”

“Unfortunately, it’s for all ages. Sir Dominic’s character is that of a noble knight… Wait. Noble knight. Hmm. He might actually fit well in an adult pool…”

The dragon said that Sir Dominic’s concept might suit it well and suggested considering it for future additional packs.

Adult and all ages.

Sir Dominic knew nothing about content ratings, so he simply nodded, thinking it must be some kind of system.

“Anyway, entrance animation is very simple. And you have to pack everything into that simplicity. There’s a reason they call entrance animation ‘the 5-second magic.'”

“5-second magic?”

“No matter how long an entrance animation is, it’s only 5 seconds. Even that’s too long for impatient people.”

Sir Dominic wondered if it was possible to complete a self-introduction in just 5 seconds, but the director continued her explanation as if reading his mind.

“You said this is your first time registering for the gacha pool… Oh, of course, most people recording entrance animations are first-timers. Anyway, entrance animation is very simple. Instead of including all information, you show what your concept is, what your personality is. People who draw cards based on concept go cra— I mean, decide to raise characters they like from this. Performance details are listed on the card once drawn, so they can read those at their leisure.”

“I’ll step out for a bit. It sounds lengthy, but it’ll be over quickly.”

The dragon looked with disgust at the director who was starting to talk at length, shook his head, and left the room.

To Sir Dominic, they both seemed talkative, but as the director continued speaking, he missed his chance to mention it.

“It’s really nothing complicated. Just strike one pose and deliver one line, that’s it. The rest is handled through production. It’s the cheapest and most effective method.”

When the director clapped her hands, the room’s appearance changed.

A stage covered with green cloth on one side, filled with dozens of cameras.

While Sir Dominic was staring in awe at the small but fascinating place, the director approached and began attaching something to his clothes.

“It’s a wireless microphone. It records your lines when you speak. Just strike the coolest pose and deliver the coolest line. Got it?”

Sir Dominic nodded at the director’s rapid-fire instructions.

He didn’t understand everything, but he remembered the two key points: pose and line.

“Your clothes are a bit… don’t you have something more stylish? The worn, rough veteran look is good, but something more ace-like and elite?”

Sir Dominic was currently wearing his basic outfit. The knight’s uniform he always wore.

“How about this?”

Hearing the director’s words, Sir Dominic changed his outfit.

A splendid knight’s ceremonial uniform purchased for a large sum.

“That’s nice. This is the kind of thing that works well.”

The director touched the swaying golden cords once and smiled with satisfaction.

Inspiration for how to direct the scene was already forming in her mind.

“First, stand facing forward and imagine you’re using your shield like a staff—”

Sir Dominic followed the director’s instructions.

He faced forward, lowered his head slightly while looking up intensely.

He placed his shield in front of him, resting both hands on top of it, and gazed at the director, who looked satisfied but tilted her head.

“Something seems a bit lacking… Ah, yes. Can you summon a flag? The background feels a bit plain.”

Sir Dominic took out a flag as requested.

“Stick it behind you. Yes, there. Just a moment… Yes. I’ve turned on the fan, so it will flutter naturally.”

When Sir Dominic took his position, a brown flag with Feralant’s emblem fluttered behind him.

It was quite a stylish shot, but the director wanted more.

“Let’s take another shot while you deliver your line. Try the coolest line you can think of.”

“That’s… not as easy as it sounds.”

Sir Dominic was flustered.

On the battlefield, when blood rushed to his head, any words might come out, but doing this deliberately was embarrassing.

The director spoke as if Sir Dominic’s embarrassment was expected.

“Really, you can say anything. A motto or even nonsense about being hungry is fine, or you can just laugh or remain silent. It’s all about showing your personality.”

“In that case.”

Sir Dominic looked at the director pointing the camera at him again and grinned.

“I feel like I could die of happiness. Because if I’m not happy, I feel like I could die.”

“Great! Next, try greeting someone as if you’re meeting them for the first time.”

“Are you my master?”

“Ah, that’s already copyright registered. Try something else!”

“My sword is yours.”

“That’s… also already registered. One more different one!”

“For Feralant!”

“That’s good. Let’s keep that one! Would you like to try other lines? This time, stand slightly at an angle, holding the flag, as if looking into the distance! You’re doing great!”

At first, Sir Dominic found the directing awkward and unnatural, but the director created a natural atmosphere with praise and jokes.

Sir Dominic smiled happily.

Since arriving at Gachaland, he had experienced many things, but this “directing” was among the most enjoyable.

Growing more confident, Sir Dominic began striking poses he thought were cool without being told.

“That pose is great! Yes, confidence looks good! Don’t forget your line!”

“Pleased to meet you. I am Sir Dominic of Feralant.”

Click. The photo was taken.

Sir Dominic was now enjoying the situation.

“Alright, we’re done. Would you like to see it?”

After the shooting and recording were finished, Sir Dominic got to see his entrance animation.

Brown and light brown lines flew side by side as the enlarged screen darkened, then the phrase “I feel like I could die of happiness. Because if I’m not happy, I feel like I could die.” appeared along with Sir Dominic’s recorded voice.

Hearing his own voice was quite a strange experience, but Sir Dominic felt his hands curl with embarrassment.

As the text disappeared, a fortress with a snowy background flashed by, showing glimpses of Sir Dominic.

Then, after a tantalizing close-up of Sir Dominic’s eyepatch, the cutscene expanded to reveal a frontal shot of Sir Dominic leaning on his shield.

‘Pleased to meet you. I am Sir Dominic of Feralant.’

With the final line, Sir Dominic’s movements were repeated as he stood before the snowy fortress.

Somehow, though he didn’t understand how, the photograph was gently moving.

Was this what they called Live 2D?

Sir Dominic looked at the photograph with interest.

“What do you think? Do you like it?”

“Of course.”

Sir Dominic replayed the video that had turned out better than he had imagined and said:

“I don’t know who that is, but he’s quite handsome.”

Sir Dominic’s joking remark contained a degree of sincerity.

That’s how impressive the video before him was.