Chapter 24: Get Along, Will You?
Shortly after the meeting at the cafe, we decided to take a look at the forest of tree ents where Green Earth Mother resided. We didn’t jump straight into it, thought.
Ori hadn’t exactly expected to be taking a field trip to another world right after Christmas Eve, nor did she have the heart to dive in just yet. This whole thing felt like something ripped straight out of an isekai anime. The fantasy of it is nice and all—but realistically, who’d want to jump into another world they know next to nothing about without preparation? She wanted to spend a few days preparing her heart and her bags.
Come to think of it…
“Ori, why’d you come to my condo right after Christmas Eve? I get that Luke wanted you to come find me and all, but it’s the holidays. You could’ve just let the whole “missing condo unit” mystery slip by and spend the season with friends until something would’ve clued you in.”
“... You’re acting like I had people to spend the holidays with.”
“What?”
“I DIDN’T HAVE ANYONE TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH, OKAY?!”
Ow. Shit. Loud.
Did I just step on a landmine? My ears are ringing now.
“Don’t you know how hard it is to make new friends when you’re an adult?! Everybody’s busy all the fucking time, doing their jobs and shit, while my NEET femcel ass wastes away in the darkness of my own room! And what few friends I had were all off spending Christmas with their lovers and families! And where does that leave me?! Cold and alone during the season! Fucking shit!”
“C-Calm down. People are looking at us funny now.”
“Let them look! Those guys over there were probably ogling me already before all this!”
Holy shit, chill, lady. We’re in the middle of the street right now. Besides, some of those guys are probably looking at you because you’re dressed like you came straight out of a manhwa panel. Not many would wear a dark metal gothic lolita outfit outside of a cosplay event, you know? Not that I can tell her that right now in the state she’s in.
“Besides!...”
“Besides what?”
“I…” she muttered, “I was starting to get a little worried about you, too…”
“What did you say? I can’t hear you if you whisper like that.”
“Read the mood, you virgin loser!”
“I am reading the mood! And you’re clearly off your rocker! Leftover Christmas ca–”
“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!?”
THUD!
“OW! You bitch! You think I can’t throw hands with a woman?!”
“Try it, loser! Show me that gender equality!”
“You’re on!”
We spent the next thirty minutes brawling in the middle of the street until a couple of coppers came to break up the fight. After explaining the situation to the cops, they gave us a stern warning before leaving, and things finally calmed down.
“Say…”
“What?”
“If you want to hang out sometime, just ring me up. We live in the same city, after all. Not exactly strange for friends to meet and hang out now and then, right?”
“... Are you trying to pick me up?”
“Do you think I have the balls to?”
“No.”
“There’s your answer.”
Pffft.
While I couldn’t read her expression through her black mask, Ori was clearly suppressing her laughter before flipping me off with her middle finger.
Ugh. I was just trying to be nice. If this woman were even half as abrasive as she is now, she probably wouldn’t be bitching about being alone this season. She should really just go get herself a boyfriend already.
True femcels are about as rare as mythical unicorns, anyway. Shouldn’t be too hard to step out of that circle, especially for someone with her looks and following, right?...
No, maybe I’m just talking out of my ass. What do I know about women, anyway?
The last time I dated a girl was back in high school, and she was an absolute psycho. I haven’t dated anyone since.
Anyway, it was finally time for us to go home.
“Hey, before I go… You’re planning to visit that other world with that Green Earth Mother chick and the gorilla tomorrow, right?”
“That’s right.”
“... Stay safe, alright? You know you’re playing with fire right now, so bad things could happen.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks.”
“Bye.”
Just like that, we both went our separate ways for the time being.
Green Earth Mother and Ramube had already left much earlier. Ramube said that he was going to meet with other constellations regarding the matter of strengthening our ranks and took Green Earth Mother with him. So I had the rest of the day to myself.
“Oh, right… Luke.”
I should probably let him and the rest know that I’m doing fine.
While walking home, I pulled out my phone and opened Chaos.
UTOPICWorldBuilder:
I’m alive.
meat6beat9master:
oh shit hes back
Kenja450:
bro where have you been? we missed you
meat6beat9master:
>gayge.png
Kenja450:
you dare use my own magic against me?
>wizardcastingspell.gif
9A-Corvet:
I just heard from Ori that you two met. Glad to hear you're ok.
So Ori already contacted Luke. I wonder how much she told him about this whole ordeal? I’m guessing not much. Not that she can say much more, considering how absurd the situation surrounding me really is.
Gods. Constellations. Some tentacled creature wreaking havoc across all realities in a doomed future. It’s a story that sounds like a web novel author’s fever dream. Nobody would buy that shit unless they met with a dimension-hopping gorilla themselves.
Ding.
Hm? A new message? Who could this be from?
ENDTIMES:
I can see that you have made contact with her. I cannot say whether I should be concerned or relieved, although this was exactly the situation I was hoping for.
What? Who’s this LARPer? And what’s he doing in my DMs?
Tap. Tap.
UTOPICWorldBuilder:
Who is this?
( ! ) Failed to send message. Hold for options.
Am I out of network range right now or what?
The network seems to be fine, though. The weather’s pretty good, too, so there shouldn’t be any interference with my messaging. Strange.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. TAP!
UTOPICWorldBuilder:
Who is this?
( ! ) Failed to send message. Hold for options.
UTOPICWorldBuilder:
Who are you?
( ! ) Failed to send message. Hold for options.
UTOPICWorldBuilder:
Fucking mobile data.
( ! ) Failed to send message. Hold for options.
This is getting annoying, man. Maybe I should just respond to the message once I get back home.
Ding.
Oh? Another one?
ENDTIMES:
Lord Yvell—the Constellation, Utopic World Builder. The future lies in your hands now. Do not make the mistake of cutting your connections with others. You will deeply regret it.
What? Is this guy… a constellation? What is he talking about?
Tap. Tap. Tap…
UTOPICWorldBuilder:
I am afraid that I do not understand. I would appreciate a little more clarity in your words.
( ! ) Failed to send message. Hold for options.
Kyle [ ✓ APP ]
Your message could not be delivered. This is usually because you don’t share a server with the recipient or the recipient is only accepting direct messages from friends. You can see the full list of reasons here:
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Did… that guy just block me? No fucking way.
You just drop some cryptic message on me like that and then block me right after? Come on, man. This guy has to be on the members list of the Constellation Community Server.
I take a minute to scroll through the members list of the server and… no dice. Not a single name even remotely similar to “ENDTIMES” on it.
Maybe I should ask around and see if anybody knows the guy.
UTOPICWorldBuilder:
Is anybody familiar with the constellation who goes by the username “ENDTIMES”?
#1OlympusBeauty:
ENDTIMES? I do not think I have heard of them before.
Potheadthotslayer:
Sounds like a powerful foe. Do they accept duel requests?
DemonKingofUnification:
Quite the interesting name. I would like to meet with this person.
2-BalledAngelos:
Error. Results are negative. No such constellation has held such a username here before.
… I just got the chills.
Whoever this guy is, he clearly knows about my constellation persona. Yet somehow, he’s not associated with the server.
Just who is he, and what was he trying to tell me?
Ugh. It’s just one new worry after another.
I should buy some Dao-Lemons on the way back home. Could use some chuhai running through my veins after all I’ve been through lately.
“So you will be participating as an observer to this thing you call a… “Constellation Mentorship Program”? Is that correct, Gorilla of Fates and Twisted Futures?”
“Oog.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that that’s right. He plans to see how well Utopic World Builder does in teaching Green Earth Mother.”
In a space somewhere disconnected from Earth, yet still somehow within it, a group gathered together in discussion on an important matter concerning the future of constellations.
The group consisted of men and women, ascended mortals and gods, and a gorilla. There was also a small robot vacuum cleaner. It too came as a participant in the discussion, all while answering inquiries on Chaos online—though the constellations present were unaware that its body was designed for cleaning rooms.
What was important was the current focus of the discussion: a little-known but allegedly powerful constellation, Utopic World Builder.
An old man with short, frayed white hair, sunglasses, and a brightly-colored Hawaiian shirt over a surprisingly muscular frame, paired with white shorts and a pair of Curox, raised his hand to ask a question.
“Are you sure this constellation can be trusted? I find it strange that a constellation of his caliber has not made contact with other constellations before Gorilla of Fates and Twisted Futures invited him in.”
Another old man who looked like a Buddhist monk, carrying a staff in one hand, with a bow slung over his back, responded to the man.
“Stormking Usurper. While I have not met with Utopic World Builder directly, I believe that Gorilla of Fates and Twisted Futures is a man… erm… primate of good judgment. Seeing as he had already met with this mysterious constellation personally and readily entrusted him to the role of mentor, surely that constellation must have left quite the impression on him.”
“Oog.” (Thumbs-up)
“Is it not too early to conclude judgment on a figure we have yet met? We know little about this constellation besides the rumors of him presiding over hundreds of worlds.” Another god interjected.
“Surely, that must be a lie. Where have we heard a constellation capable of exerting its influence on more than one world before? It must be all a tall tale to satisfy his ego. A story spread from his mouth to another.”
[Such a poor act of naivety is ill-suited to a king of gods such as yourself, Stormking Usurper.]
“What did you say, you flimsy discus?!?”
Stormking Usurper’s body suddenly emitted an electrical discharge as his anger momentarily peaked, sending bolts of energy across the room. This was his childish threat to the round, sentient, mobile vacuum, who spoke without a hint of emotion to the lightning god in a Hawaiian shirt.
The robot vacuum cleaner approached him without fearing short-circuiting, its eerie light glowing brighter as it grew closer, humming as it moved. The robot vacuum cleaner bumped against Stormking Usurper’s Curox, as if challenging his authority.
[You who know so little about dimensions beyond your own appear to carry far too much confidence in your assumption that no such constellation can exist.]
“... AI, was it? A sentient chunk of metal, you are, Two-Balls Archangel. Am I to believe that you are taking his side? You constellations from other dimensions always gather together in the dark like rats hiding from the light.”
[Inquiry: Does Stormking Usurper feel threatened by the growing numbers of constellations from other dimensions? You appear distressed over the possible presence of a constellation stronger than yourself.]
“Speak anymore, and I will send you flying through the air, flimsy discus.”
“Oog.”
Ramube came between the two, acting as a mediator in the sudden conflict.
While all of these constellations present were part of the same online community, that didn’t mean that they all got along.
Constellations, just like mortal men and women, have their motivations that can conflict with one another. Some strive to regain lost power and authority, and hope to return to the spotlight as deeply revered deities. Others obsess over the continued existence of their home countries from which they ascended. Often, these kinds were heroes from a bygone era watching their homeland from beyond.
There are more examples of different motivations that various constellations held, but that wasn’t too important right now. What was important was Ramube’s motivation, which was his newfound duty.
Ramube, once a mere bored and almost functionless god, found new purpose in serving as the community server’s host. He, who held aspirations unlike those of all other constellations, became the de facto leader of this group of mythical beings and embraced his new role with sincerity.
His goal was simple—the continued existence of this community, which he had grown to love over time. For that purpose, he was so eager to stop the dark timeline he foresaw in that vision. If they were to avoid such a future from ever coming to fruition, then there must be harmony amongst the constellations as they must work together to stop this cosmic threat.
“Oog.”
[Understood. Will cease conflict immediately.]
“Fine. But know that I will not stand for any further insults.”
“You are much too quick to take offense at things, Stormking Usurper. One would think your skin to be as thin as paper.”
“Do not think that just because you are a War God, I would not dare reduce you to ash with my lightning! Try my patience one more time! I dare you!”
“Oog…”
Green Earth Mother patted Ramube’s shoulder in reassurance.
“It will be alright, sir Gorilla! I am sure Sir Utopic World Builder’s help will change things significantly!”
“... Oog.”
Ramube, the Constellation known as the Gorilla of Fates and Twisted Futures, couldn’t help but feel that the future was bleak.
