“You want to sponsor us?” Alan shook his head and glanced at Amelia, who shared his bewilderment. “Why?”

Miss Cosmica made a hand sign, and one of her partners activated a drone camera. This was slick, pink, and of better quality than Clara’s. It projected a video hologram in the middle of the room, and its sound played with high fidelity.

“If what you really want is to watch another boring max-level battle, then switch channels, you bastard! There are thousands of streams of that already! But how many channels depict the struggles of the underdog? Have you, my dear audience, forgotten what being powerless used to be, back when--”

The video was paused, showing Clara’s frozen face before the hologram disappeared.

“That is why,” Miss Cosmica said, smirking. “Don’t underestimate the power of nostalgia, Alan. My first hit was a cover of an already existing song.”

“Digital Tender Love!” Amelia cried, and Miss Cosmica winked at her.

“Ten cosmic points to you!”

Amelia clapped, excited, making Alan stare at her. Who is this girl beside me?

He remembered Amelia’s excitement when he told her about the meeting. She spent like three hours in her room, trying out different outfits.

They were in the living room, Amelia and Alan sitting on the couch and the two maid NPCs standing on their backs. The star comfortably rested on the armchair and her companions behind her. Ashley could be heard munching from the dinner table, tasting the cookies Miss Cosmica had gifted them.

“But,” Alan muttered. “Would people really want to watch our…?”

“Show him,” Miss Cosmica said aloud, and her assistant opened the Novus’ intranet, using the drone’s hologram to show the top trending streams.

Clara’s stream of Phantom Seekers was in ninth place. “Oh! That... that’s neat? I think.”

“Alan,” Amelia called, tapping his knee. “We could have a stable source of income if we stream and keep hitting the trending list like that.”

“By just streaming?” Alan said, frowning before the hologram disappeared, inadvertently crossing eyes with the idol’s smirking face. “What would be the terms?”

“I thought you’d never asked.” She giggled, and a system window appeared in front of him. “That’s the contract. Read it thoroughly, but I can give you a summary. You’ll give me exclusive rights to your streams, and in exchange, I’ll promote you on my channel. Ask your friend about it.”

“Miss Cosmica has this brand, called Cosmic Nation, where she features some of the best guilds and warriors that take part in official, competitive PVP battles,” Amelia explained, making the idol nod satisfied.

“Beautifully explained. Another 10 cosmic points to you! That’s right, Alan. I could feature your guild there, so you could potentially reach thousands of viewers. But, making entertaining content would fall entirely into your hands. My advice? Just be yourself.”

“I don’t even know why people enjoyed watching us struggle,” he said in a tiny voice. “And what would you gain from this?”

“As the contract says, we would split the revenue earned from paid exclusive content, tournament rewards, and merchandise. 20 - 80.”

“You want 80%?”

“No, Alan. You would keep the 80%.”

“T-that’s a very generous offer!” Amelia cried, grabbing Alan’s hand. “That could help our guild grow immensely! You’re always talking about buying gear and weapons to craft your own.”

Alan glanced absently at the contract, swallowed, and made use of a new active skill. ‘Accelerated Thought, which he had got after getting his Unique Skill.

Only usable when I speak to Aaron.

“Yes, Alan? How can I help you?

“I just need time to think this through. But what do you think about her? Can you, by any chance, detect if she’s lying?”

“There is an active skill that lets you detect lies, but only warlocks can learn it.”

“Lie Detector machines are a thing, and we are all about machines, right?”

“Are you suggesting we should develop an engineer version of it? Creating new skills from scratch is possible, but you would have to constantly train your mind at detecting lies naturally before the System recognizes it as a Passive Skill.”

“Well, I’m already used to analyzing everything in sight, so using it on humans would not be a problem. For instance, I know this woman in front of me is hiding something. She’s acting too neutral towards us. She’s not being pompous, nor friendly. She’s acting too safe.”

“Careful, Alan.”

“Would signing this give you the right to make us do something we may not want?”

Miss Cosmica smirked. Like if she knew I used ‘Accelerated Thought’ and patiently waited for me to speak.

“No, Alan. The content of your stream is up to you. Although I could urge you to enter certain competitions from time to time. Oh, and one other thing. I strongly suggest that your Max-Level partner here, appear as little as possible.”

Alan turned to Amelia, who slightly nodded.

“We… have already talked about this. My presence would only steal experience away from you,” she said to Alan. “So I don’t mind.”

“Fine.” Alan rose and stretched out his hand. “I’m in.”

Miss Cosmica stared at him. “Don’t you want to read the rest of the contract first?”

“In a moment. For the time being, your summary of it sounds good enough.”

The idol chuckled while standing up. “We’re partners from now on, then.”

As both shook their hands, Amelia stared at them with a sulky expression on her face. Amelia smiled brightly at her. "Do you want a handshake too? We can take a picture together if you want."

Amelia beamed. "I'd love that, yes!"

10 seconds had passed, and their hands were still glued together. Miss Cosmica frowned at the realization and noticed something else. Alan's hand was not sweaty.

Every hand Miss Cosmica had shaken since she debuted was soaked in sweat.

She looked up, meeting his serious gaze. “This is also my way of saying thanks for helping us rebuild Unus Town," he said in a deep voice. "Not only do you bring happiness to the entire Novus with your music, but you also seem to care for all of its Users. Thanks a lot. I’m indebted to you.” 

Miss Cosmica’s lips parted before she pulled her hand away. “A second longer and I'd have to charge you. And you owe me nothing, Alan Warden. I did it because it was the right thing to do.” The idol turned around. “I need a little rest before parting.”

“You can use my room upstairs,” Amelia quickly suggested. “It’ll be the one at your left.”

“Thanks. You can discuss the contract with Celestine in the meantime.”

As the idol exited the room at a hurried pace, her other guardian, Nebuline, stood at the feet of the stairs, blocking the way up.

“Very well, Alan Warden. Let’s revise the contract, shall we?" Celestine said, sitting on the armchair. "I’ll answer any question you may have.”

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"Sure," Alan said, still looking in Nebuline's direction. "Did I say something that made her mad?"

"Of course not. You know how all divas act." Celestine paused to look him in the eyes. "And she could never get upset at you, she's a big fan of yours."

"Celestine," her partner called in a severe tone.

"Why is that?" Alan asked, half-smiling.

Celestine smiled warmly at him. "What you said about her it's true. Miss Cosmica is not satisfied with only bringing joy to the Novus with her performance, She's also constantly helping people around this world. Her mere presence influences Actives, Guild Masters, and Administrators alike. All for the sake of this virtual world. And you seemed to do the same in your own way."

"I don't think I can be compared to her."

Celestine shrugged and rested her chin on her palms. "Well, she sees something in you worth nurturing. So don't disappoint her, alright?" She giggled, leaving him silent. "Anyway! About the contract!"

Amelia, who had been absently staring at the nothingness since the idol had left the room, suddenly grinned awkwardly. Like only old pervert geezers do.

 

***

 

Come on, Miss Celebrity, do something embarrassing, so it can get burned into my mind forever, fufufu. Amelia could see the idol taking up the stairs and entering her room. Inside, Miss Cosmica looked around before channeling mana. What are you going to do?

"Spell Scroll, No Signal Zone," Miss Cosmica cast with the help of an item, emanating an electronic pulse in a 300 feet radius.

Amelia blinked, bringing her attention back to the living room, noticing that their pink drone camera was sparkling before turning off. She gave a quick glance at Alan and Celestine, who were discussing the contract without realizing it, and Bella and Anastasia behind her look unaffected.

A spell that only targets any recording device, huh? 

Amelia focused again on what was happening upstairs, finding Miss Cosmica using another scroll. "...Silent as a grave."

I recognize that one. It’s Marissa’s favorite. It helps her silence an entire room so she can perform an assassination.

The idol cast a third spell. “No Mana Allowed.”

And finally, something that cancels any familiar, magic construction, or anything made of mana that might spy on you. You're too cautious, Miss Celebrity. Too bad that it won't work this time.

As she giggled, Amelia sneakily watched Miss Cosmica relax and roam around the room. What stood out the most was the shoe closet. The idol entered and darted her eyes across its content.

“You really like shoes, Amelia Laflamme,” Miss Cosmica muttered until she locked eyes with a pair of pink, open-toe high heels.

Please tell me that she’s going to try them out! 

“Equip,” Miss Cosmica said aloud, wearing them automatically. She then looked at her feet in the nearby mirror. “10 more points, Amelia.”

From her place on the couch, Amelia shrieked excitedly and her nose started bleeding.

“A-Amelia, are you okay?!” Alan cried.

“I’m okay! Don’t mind me. Keep reviewing the contract, please!”

Bella quickly approached and offered her a handkerchief. “Here, Master Amelia.”

“Thanks, Bella.”

I’m going to wear those next!

By the time Amelia concentrated her vision back to her room, Miss Cosmica had already left the pink shoes in its place before sitting at the edge of the bed, sighing.

“Everything went well, huh?” the idol said to herself, with a tired expression on her face. “It was way easier than expected, thank the goddess.”

What’s she talking about?

“I don’t know what I’d have done if he had rejected my offer. But how could he? This partnership was made in heaven! I suppose I have to thank the Red Bitch for helping him make the choice.”

T-the… Red… Bitch?

Miss Cosmica raised her hand and stared at it with a conscious look on her face. “I can’t believe he shook my hand like that… It was so…” She grinned widely. “AWESOME!”

Wait… what?!

Miss Cosmica grabbed Amelia’s pillow and hugged it while rolling on the bed, over and over again. “Kyaaah! And the way he looked at me! His gaze was SO INTENSE that I felt I could DIE right there in front of everyone! And his, ‘Thanks for saving Unus Town. You bring joy to the entire Novus’, SO COOL! Stop acting so GALLANT! Can’t you see that you made me BLUSH, you idiot!”

Amelia blinked perplexedly and glanced at everyone in the living room, unaware of what was happening upstairs.

Is that why she cast ‘Silent as a Grave’?

…But…

What the hell… 

…is happening?

Amelia took a deep breath before spying again. But something told her that she would regret it.

But I must keep watching! I can’t back down now!

Miss Cosmica was now strolling to the room's restroom. Her steps looked irregular as if she was dizzy. "Here we go..." she was saying while leaning over the sink. The sound of bones and flesh rearranging echoed through the bathroom. Her pink hair lost its vibrant color and her skin stopped being light pale. Something white and oval fell on the sink.

A mask.

Everyone knows she is using a disguise to protect her identity, but I can finally be a witness to it! That artifact's effect must have worn out.

Amelia ordered her little spy to get closer so she could look at the mirror's reflection. 

No… 

But as soon as she glimpsed at a golden hair, she felt like puking. 

No… No, no, no, NO!

YOU HAVE TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!