A Few Days Later Tokyo, Okubo
Let me stay here.
Okay, I guess.
After that quiz show got broadcast to the whole world,
both her fans and haters found out where she lived, and it wasn't safe to stay there.
So young Miss Kanna came to live with me instead.
You've been here a whole week.
Yeah.
Not that I mind.
Yeah...
Just stop looking at your phone.
I'm sure it doesn't say anything good.
Yeah, but I'm addicted!
Self-awareness doesn't excuse it.
I want to find the one compliment hiding in the 99 insults!
I want to cling to it like a lifeline!
Yeah, you're addicted, all right.
It doesn't bother you?
I mean, I don't like people talking shit about me,
but it doesn't actually hurt me.
Not like I'm ever gonna meet the guy who said it.
You're actually not cut out to be a streamer.
Maybe not.
Mayu was the one everyone came to see.
She had a lot of fans.
Yeah.
Heard anything new from Kei-san?
Nope.
I'm worried.
They said the company's a mess.
I hope they go bankrupt and have to shut down that VR place.
I'm sure the Great Old Ones will use their powers to stop that from happening, right?
Man, this pisses me off.
I just wanted to run away from all the scary stuff and have fun.
This one's saying I should've faced my problems instead of running. Yeah, right.
Who the hell does he think he is?
Listen, just ignore them all.
I'm willing to help you.
With what?
With bringing Mayu-chan back.
There's nothing I need points for anyway.
Really? That'd be great!
We just need to get that octopus woman called Cthulhu to go away, right?
They said one billion points would be enough.
That's still a long way away.
I mean, how many points do you have now?
Five million.
Seven million...
Next up is the fourth game... and then the finals.
Do you think we can get enough?
I'll make sure we do.
No matter what it takes.
Did you order something?
No...
So did somebody find this place, too?
It's me.
Seishiro Sano.
Hello.
Hey, shota-lolicon.
I told you to stay at least one meter away from me at all times.
Apologies.
I've been looking everywhere for you.
Well, don't! Stalker!
I didn't tell anybody about this place!
Well, I wasn't worried about you.
But Kanna-san went missing, so I figured she was likely with you.
The whole world's up in arms about your father's hospital.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
I'm sure he'll cover it up.
I can't say I'm sad to see them suffer, though.
If it makes you feel better, then I'm all for it.
You're a good person, Seishiro-san.
For a shota-lolicon.
Hey, now...
What about you?
I quit my job as a teacher!
I don't want to cause problems for the people around me.
And as for my family... I had them get out of town.
It's fine. They understand.
I'll be going, then.
Where are you living?
Oh, I'll be staying in cheap business hotels for a while.
Maybe I'll stock up some points and ask for my life back.
I think that's a good idea.
Thanks.
However this ends, we only have two games left.
Oh, right.
Eita-kun...
has gone missing.
Sudden Disappearance, Involvement With Classmate's Death?
Kyoto Station Square
Sudden Disappearance, Involvement With Classmate's Death?
You're right on time,
Kei Amenomura-han.
Are you really Gha-san?
Yes.
You can think of this as an "astral body with mass," I suppose.
Say what?
Well, basically, I used my "one-day revival" ticket.
But you've stored up so much...
We all need a vacation once in a while, right?
Oh, perhaps so.
You guys run everything on points, huh?
Yup. Points are how we handle everything.
Each of the Great Old Ones values different things.
So this way, there's no hard feelings.
I don't really get it...
Come on, let's go.
I can't waste my 24 hours!
Um... where?
Kyoto
On a Kyoto foodie tour, of course!
That's why I had you, a fujoshi and history-lover, come.
A Great Old One going on a foodie tour?
Of the very Earth you're invading?
That's crazy!
Let me tell you a little bit of trivia.
Everybody calls me "Gha," but my real name is Cthugha.
Ah.
They say my name's hard to remember and too easily confused with Cthulhu.
So I just go by "Gha" at the studio.
That does make it complicated.
At a cosmic scale, it doesn't matter.
But when we lower ourselves to a more Japan-sized scale, things get complicated.
Now, let's eat.
Oh, don't worry about the money.
I made a 100-million-yen bank account before I came.
That's cheating!
You're overcomplicating things.
Let's think on a more cosmic scale.
I don't want to think about it cosmically, either. But...
Listen, if we're capable of communicating like this,
can we not just convince you to call off your invasion?
Nah, not happening.
You see, we don't think of humans...
as creatures of equal standing.
If an ant beneath your feet asked for you to negotiate with it as an equal, would you?
Candy Apples
We stick out, don't we?
Samurai Boys
Just pretend it's Comiket.
You know some weird things.
This is a shrine...
Well, I guess we don't get as many weird looks as we used to.
"Cheese"!
Thank you so much!
Any time!
See? They think I'm a Japanese anime character!
I'm contributing to Cool Japan!
You're invading Japan, not helping it.
Is it good?
It is.
I can see why it has a 4.2 rating on Gourmet-Navi.
Good!
I wanted to eat this with somebody.
My body wants food. It used to belong to a foodie streamer.
What is with her?
The real streamer is asleep in a hospital, right?
One of those mysterious coma cases.
For now.
I feel bad for them.
Really?
Think about if a flea beneath your feet...
We've already discussed that.
I wish the others could eat this, too.
"The others"?
Oh, I didn't mention?
Mayu...?
What's this?
Are you entranced by my beauty?
Um...
We're just kind of surprised.
What the hell are you doing here?!
What's going on?
Is she invading our world already?
No idea.
I don't know what octopuses think.
What a lively town, albeit small.
Well, excuse me, princess.
Reminds me of R'lyeh.
There were a lot of idols there, too... Though of a different sort.
What were prehistoric cities actually like?
Were they actually pretty cozy?
Don't ask me.
So good.
Cannibalism!
Here's one for you.
Th-Thanks...
Is it good?
Damn it!
She's just using Mayu's body!
And for you, too.
Don't use your tentacles to give it to me!
People will see you!
It's true that this astral body has no combat capability.
I should try not to stand out.
Any idea what an "astral body with mass" is?
Nope.
Shockingly Cheap Discount Store
Donkey Hotep
The Muvians didn't have any of this stuff!
She's cute!
But she's my enemy!
Wonderful, wonderful.
I look good in everything I wear.
You didn't even have a human body originally.
Oh, correct.
I guess I've gotten used to this body.
I've grown attached to it.
I'd rather you leave it.
Don't say that, human.
It's good to have a body.
I can't wait to fully revive and bring unspeakable horror to Earth, you know?
I don't know what you expect us to say to that.
And for that, I need to bring you more and more despair!
You're crazy.
It's our day off today.
I shall challenge you to one of your lesser human games!
You think you can beat me?!
No fair, octopus!
I am not an octopus!
I am the Great Cthulhu!
Damn it!
This astral body is running out of stamina...
Got you... Victory is mine!
I don't even care who wins.
What is this? It's embarrassing!
It's been a while since I've done one, so I got a bit too into it.
The Great Race of Yith had many inventions,
but they never created this.
They never did know how to have fun.
This country is delightful!
What's with you?
You're a Great Old One and an invader, but you're so cute!
That's just who I am!
Sh-She's getting more depraved by the minute!
I think at some point, we could probably beat her!
Not happening.
So, I get that you've used your one-day revival ticket.
But what did you actually come here for?
Diversification of Marketing Design
Flexibility in Targeting
Increase in Inbound Demand
And thus, in the future we can expect further emphasis
Wide-Ranging Customer Needs & Risk Hedging
Switching Between Broader and Ultra-Localized Views
Ideas of Sustainability and Social Contribution
on authorized, sustainable in-bound risk-hedged solutions.
I see.
So the unchanging Great Old Ones will need to embrace diversity.
This is good stuff.
Um, your mask...
Oh, right. This is considered rude here.
There!
He's so handsome!
Apologies. Continue the lecture.
All of this is on me!
Drink! Drink!
Who is that guy?
Some really big-time streamer, I guess.
You heard about these "streams" people do?
Nobody watches TV anymore, I hear.
That's right!
Hey, you guys!
Did you see it?
"It"?
The Cosmic Horror Show! The Horror Show!
Huh?
Crap... Hasn't anybody seen it?
Oh, I think I saw that!
It was the one with the streamers cursing each other out. The quiz thing.
The news reported on it.
People were wondering if it was real.
So one of you's worth a damn, I see!
Yeah, that's the one!
I produced that!
W-Wow, that's amazing.
I came to do some market research today.
Oh, yeah. The Horror Show's amazing.
I can't wait for the next episode!
Right? Right?
Make sure you like and subscribe, guys!
Okay, let's pop some more champagne!
These guys...
...didn't see it.
She's cute.
I'd expect no less from the body I chose.
Are you satisfied?
You're making a mockery of her.
Oh?
It's your fault she's still asleep.
You know that, so why come see her?
Curiosity, I could say.
Miko Kurono.
In you, I feel a strange power that other humans lack.
Your SAN doesn't drop much.
The source of that power lies outside of you.
It's something you think of as more important than your body—than your soul.
And that something is her, right?
That's why you can face me despite your tiny size.
It's fascinating.
The moonlight gives power to wicked things.
I can't wait to get my true body back and bathe in it.
What's with you?
You've done what you came for, right?
Get back to VR.
Miko Kurono.
What?
This temporary body... The soul of Mayu Mayusaka, the one you love...
It tells me that it wants to be with you.
I've lived for tens of thousands of years as a Great Old One,
and this has never happened before.
I still don't know how to feel about it.
Is this Mayu Mayusaka's heart that stirs within me?
Or is it mine?
Don't ask—
What the hell?!
Wonderful, wonderful.
Perhaps the boundary between individuals no longer matters.
I could feel a long-held yearning for her within your soul, too.
Don't pry into my feelings!
I wished for the same.
There's nothing wrong with that.
Get away from me!
Now I've done what I came here for.
It was fun, human.
Cthulhu...
How dare you play with my and Mayu's feelings!
I'll defeat you.
I swear it.
I don't care if you're a Great Old One!
Even if my body ends up reduced to stray atoms,
I'll track you down...
and kill you!
That's it!
That's the face of yours I love most!
I'm glad we got to see each other tonight.
Farewell.
Cthulhu!
[Notice] Invitation to the Fourth Game
Seems it's begun.
Now, then...
I wish the Vatican would give me a day off sometime.
Thanks for the meal.
Sanity check.
OK.
Standing by.
Roll!
Complete.
This is...
Kyoto!
Yes, welcome to VR Kyoto!
Kei-han, I enjoyed our trip to Kyoto the other day.
You went to Kyoto with her?
Y-Yes...
Part of that trip was actually location hunting for the next game.
Now, feast your eyes on my creation!
Brave warriors who have survived this far...
Today, we have a tower defense game made by our very own Gha-dono!
One of those where you protect a base from attacking enemies?
Looks like we don't have to think too hard!
Yes!
Uh, I wouldn't be so sure.
Um, if I may...
What's wrong?
We seem to be missing a player.
Yeah...
Something tells me we're not going to like why.
Oh, that?
Actually...
Eita has forfeited the game.
Huh?!
I'm sure he had a good reason.
Are you actually able to quit?
He had a lot of people angry at him, too.
Don't tell me he killed himself.
That... is outside of our control.
You...
So, today's game will have four players!
And there's something I have to tell you before it begins.
Oh, that's my cue.
Come forth... Star-Eating Warrior.
What?
"Warrior"?
The Kyoto moon seeks blood tonight.
You're...
Eita-kun?!
I don't know any humans by that name!
I am the Crimson Malefic Star,
the Star-Eating Warrior:
Aldebaran!
Eita!
New rule.
He is the Star-Eating Warrior.
Starting with this game, he'll be fighting you on behalf of the Great Old Ones!
What?!
DOOM HAS BEEN REWRITTEN
[Foodie] Summoned for a Day with the Old Ones [Ancient City]