Chapter 172: Unknown
"A consciousness-projection device, huh… looks like I was overthinking it. Since Astraea's already inside, she should be in the main city right now.
Bulma doesn't know her, and she doesn't know Bulma, so sending her to a new town wouldn't help. We should get ready to go in too.
Ikaros, can you enter the game now? We'll all meet up inside, and we can log out tomorrow during the day."
The always-silent Ikaros looked at Franklin with that familiar blank face, but there was a hint of seriousness in her eyes.
"Wherever master is, that is where I will be."
Seeing Ikaros's adorable expression, Franklin smiled and gently patted her head.
"That's the perfect answer. Then wait for me in the game for a few minutes."
He turned to Nymph. "And you? You can send them into the game, but can you enter yourself?"
"Master, there's no need to worry. As long as this machine exists, I can enter the game anytime."
Franklin nodded in understanding, then looked at Momo and Nana.
"Momo, Nana — can this other-dimension space you created generate additional empty rooms? There really aren't any rooms left for these three little angels.
If not, I guess we'll have to expand the house, but that'll be way too troublesome, and it's already late."
"Little… angels…"
Nana's expression grew complicated as her gaze swept over Astraea, then Ikaros, and finally Nymph. Only when she looked at Nymph did her expression improve slightly.
That immediately caught Nymph's attention. The two petite girls, both lacking curves, exchanged looks — and inevitably glanced at each other's chests before quickly looking away.
"There are extra rooms. The furniture and daily necessities are all set up already, but since no one was living in them, we kept them hidden.
Leaving empty rooms lying around inside a pocket dimension feels… odd."
Momo smiled knowingly. Franklin, fully aware of the reason, forced himself to keep a serious expression as he nodded.
"Ahem. Good. Then I'll trouble you to reveal those rooms. Let's send them into the game first.
Bulma's probably anxious already — I should hurry up too."
At that moment Franklin suddenly remembered Mikan beside him. He looked at her, thought for a moment, then dismissed the idea.
"Mm. They haven't introduced themselves yet, but you should remember their names.
But Mikan — you haven't started training. Your priority is still school. I'll take you to play once you graduate elementary school."
Knowing she was still just a grade-schooler, Mikan pouted. She stomped toward the exit of the dimension. Just before leaving, she turned back.
"Big bro, you're such an idiot!"
Watching her disappear, Franklin scratched his head helplessly. "What can I do? Kids need their rest."
"Franklin," Momo said, "if you're afraid of getting yelled at, you can go into the game now. I'll take care of the three artificial angels and send them to you once I'm done."
Franklin was tempted. He looked at the two additional angels and hesitated.
"Ahem… then I'll leave it to you. I need to warn Bulma first, otherwise…"
His scalp tingled at the thought. He had even turned down Bulma's invitation to her bed after dinner.
As he turned to leave, he saw Ikaros trying to follow. Franklin hurried to stop her.
"Ikaros, wait for Momo to arrange things. Once we're in the game, we'll meet again."
"Yes, master."
Even with her blank face, there was a faint hint of reluctance. Franklin rubbed her head again, then returned to his room.
Seeing Lala still asleep, Franklin slid into bed, wrapped an arm around her waist, and selected "Enter Game."
A white light filled his vision as the countdown appeared. Franklin let out a slow breath.
"00:20"
"00:19"
"00:18"
As the numbers dropped, Franklin suddenly felt a flicker of danger — but before he could react—
At "00:10," the countdown froze. The pure-white background dimmed.
Black, viscous sludge began seeping through the darkened countdown display. It oozed downward, slowly devouring the white space around him.
A nauseating wave hit him. Franklin immediately felt intensely sick — his real-world body even dry-heaved.
"What is this? Momo? Nana? Are you doing this? This isn't funny! I'm getting mad!"
He shouted, but no one answered. The nausea surged again, consuming his awareness.
When Franklin was about to lose control, a golden light burst from his body. In an instant, the black sludge was erased completely.
The white space returned to normal. Halfway through the login process, Franklin was left stunned.
Then he saw it — the countdown had reset to "00:30."
A chill crawled up his spine as the numbers neared ten again.
Feeling that same sickness deep in his consciousness, Franklin shouted, "Exit game! Exit game!!"
But the emergency override didn't work.
The countdown reached "00:10" again. Black sludge erupted out — this time far more than before. "Overflowing" barely described it.
The viscous mass spread across the ground. Franklin no longer felt nausea — only overwhelming danger. A threat of death itself.
He tried to move, to resist — but he couldn't. All he could do was watch the sludge engulf everything.
Everything except a half-meter circle around him, left untouched as if mocking him.
"Who are you? What do you want?!"
No one answered. It all felt unreal — like a dream.
A dream…
Realizing that, Franklin drew in a tense breath and attempted to force himself awake through sheer willpower — but failed completely.
"There's no point struggling. You guessed right — you are dreaming. Entering the game was just an illusion."
A raspy voice echoed around him. Franklin narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you? What are you after?"
"My purpose? Now what was it again…? Ah. I remember.
Kid… do you want to become stronger?"