"Let's put an end to this. With my secret technique, I will erase your existence from history!" The malevolent deity plotting global collapse has now taken steps to finalize its scheme. Raising both hands overhead, he generates a "light" that erases everything. The time limit is 10 seconds. If I can't take him down during that period, I lose. However, I have already unleashed my secret technique. My magic power has bottomed out, leaving me with no option but to repeat monotonous attacks. And yet. I won't give up till the end. I am absolutely not giving up! Just a little more. I should be able to reach it with just a little more. Thus, I persistently continued the assault. With the most strategic movements. With the most optimal solution. I pour all my current strength into it. 0.7 percent. 0.3 percent. 0.1 percent. And then... "Impossible!? Am I to be defeated? Can it be that I, a demon god, am to fall to mere mortals...?" Just before he unleashed his ultimate move, I somehow managed to whittle down his HP. "Yesss... I did itttttt!!!!" Even though it's the middle of the night and I shouldn't, I end up raising my voice loudly. And in addition I fist pump the air. Because, how could I not? I had finally overcome the boss that's currently dubbed the toughest challenge. "We did it, We did it, We did it! Awesome, awesome, awesome! Yessssss!!!" Cheers of joy come through the headset from the other side. "We did it, didn't we?! We really defeated the demon, didn't we?!" "Yeah, we did. It was incredibly close, but we took it down!" "Ye..." "Ye?" "Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!" A shout so loud it hurts my ears. But I completely get the sentiment. After all, we spent a month trying to beat this boss. "Ah... this feeling of accomplishment is indescribable. It's truly the best..." "Yeah, for sure, for sure! That's the allure of FanNex; you just can't quit it!" Fantasy Life - Next. An MMORPG played by over 30 million people worldwide. With settings crafted in meticulous detail and a deep, dramatic storyline. Alternatively, it's feasible to lead a 'slow life,' engaging in activities like nurturing crops and erecting dwellings... It's a game beloved around the globe. I discovered FanNex a year ago and have been hooked ever since, playing daily. The girl on the other end of the headset, currently overjoyed, was equally as addicted. We met in-game, became friends, and eventually started a clan together... We even got married in the game, partly for fun and partly for the items. Her in-game name is Iris. By the way, mine is Hiro.

I think our names reflect our personalities. "Hey, hey, what kind of equipment did you manage to get? Something cool? Show me, show me♪" "Of course. You'll show me your gear too, right Iris?" "It's not merely showing, it's more like making a statement!" I met Iris when I first started playing the game... and we've kept in touch ever since. Online games often have players impersonating the opposite gender, but... FanNex has a significant number of female players, and I'm pretty sure Iris is one of them. She doesn't exude masculinity; rather, she's attentive and picks up on the finer details. Her voice is feminine, but these days, one can never be too sure with voice changers around. I just had the feeling that she didn't use anything like that. It sounded like her natural voice. Additionally, it's likely that she's a stay-at-home mom. Or maybe she works for a white-collar company. In any case, I think she's older than me. "Ah... still, I'm really tired. I heard it was tough, but I had no idea it would take this long. That is just crazy..." "But, but, it was incredibly fun, wasn't it?!" "Right. Building up strategies little by little, breaking through each phases bit by bit, and finally clearing it... The sense of accomplishment is just unbelievable with this game." "It's addictive, isn't it? But to be honest, I was close to giving up." "Really?" The reason we're speaking informally is because Iris preferred it. Using polite language, despite beeing married in the game, would feel like there is a barrier between us... or something like that. "When it takes a whole month, it really gets to you..." "Yeah, it's definitely tough." "But I could keep going because of you, Hiro." "Me?" "If I had been going solo, I'm sure I would've given up. But with Hiro there, I could muster the strength to keep going. Having you by my side made me think, 'I can do this.' So... thank you, Hiro." Her kind words were so heartwarming that I almost cried. This game, connecting people as it does, always gets to me during moments like this. "Uh, I mean... I should be the one thanking you. I could only get through it because I had Iris with me. Thank you for always being there for me and for your support." "You're welcome. Um... Please keep looking after me, okay?" "Yeah, of course." "Ehehe, I love you so much♪" The mood turns kinda sweet. I've been in situations like this before, but there's always something I think about. That is, 'What kind of expression does the real Iris have right now?' Are these sincere words? Or just role-playing, fully immersing in a character? I contemplate this often, but the truth is, I don't know anything. It's all speculation, but for all I know, she could be a guy pretending to be a girl online. Maybe it’s just the work of a voice changer. "Hey, hey" "Huh? What's up?" "Why don't we throw a party to celebrate our success?" "That sounds great. At the clan house then..." "No, not that" "Eh?" "Let's have a real-life party!" ―――――――――― Akihabara. In the past, it thrived as an electronics district.

Not long ago, it was renowned as a haven for otaku. Yet now, it's being revamped into a district tailored to foreigners. At the station in that neighborhood, I was waiting to meet up with Iris. It was a celebration to mark the clearing of the toughest content. To do this in real life... a so-called offline meet-up. We chose to assemble in Akihabara because there's a cafe themed around FanNex. And, surprisingly, our addresses turned out to be quite close. It feels like a strange twist of fate. "Still... an offline meeting, huh?" I was curious about the real Iris, never imagining that we’d actually get to meet. I'm restless and feeling extremely uneasy. Having never had a girlfriend, I'm clueless about things like fashion coordination. I did my research and tried my best, but will I end up being laughed at for being unfashionable? Or being dismissed for being just a high school student? No. After all, it feels a bit too convenient to expect a relationship from an online game to transfer to reality. Often it's just a game, kept strictly separate. The game is the game. Real life is real life. By thinking of it that way, if one were to treat an in-game marriage as something real, others might be put off. Hmm... I always seem to dwell on the negative. "Ah, this is bad." The offline meeting is making me incredibly nervous. For now, it doesn't matter who Iris is... Even if Iris is a guy, that's fine... As long as we enjoy the same game, I'm hoping we'll have a good time. "Excuse me, are you Hiro by any chance?" I was suddenly addressed from behind. I couldn't have misheard. It was Iris's voice. I turned around in a panic. "Ah, yes! I'm Hi... ro...?" It was at the moment I turned around. I was met by a very small girl. She was short. Just bearly reaching up to my waist. Her long, night-sky-black hair cascaded down to her hips. Her eyes were big and bright, and her cheeks seemed so soft and chubby... She's cute, but overall, she still has a childlike quality. Her figure is slender. Considering these aspects of her appearance, the girl in front of me looked to be about 10 years old... I thought she was an elementary school girl. "Um..." "I'm so relieved we managed to meet up! I've been to Akihabara a few times, but since it's the first time meeting Hiro in real life, I was worried we might miss each other." "...Iris?" "Yes♪" "...Could it really be Iris?" "Yes♪" "...Are you absolutely, positively Iris?" "Yeah?" When we had the offline meeting for the online game, an elementary school girl showed up. Could this bring me to court?