371 Welcome to the holy battle, newcomers (1/2)
The venue for the doujinshi convention was a modern large showroom, which included a unique looking building that resembled several pyramids connected together.
This entire place had sufficient space for over ten thousand displays, but even so, there still weren't enough spaces. There were just too many groups and individuals that applied for spaces for their stalls, and they even had to go through a lottery system to receive a space.
There were many stalls, and even more participants. In the three days that this doujinshi convention would go on for, the total number of people entering would easily surpass five hundred thousand! The most vivid display of the number of people would come from the long, long lines that people had to wait in.
”So many people…”
”That's such a long line; just how long will they have to wait for?”
This was Mika and Chiaki's first ever time seeing such a scene, and they widened their eyes in surprise.
Although they were somewhat mentally prepared, when they saw the teeming hoards of people and the scarily long lines, the two of them were still astonished.
Not only that, people continuously added themselves to the end of the line, further increasing the scarily long length.
”Hurry up and get in line!” Seiji rushed at the forefront.
”Follow his lead!” Yukari followed after him, and Kaho who also had experience with doujinshis silently followed as well.
Mika and Chiaki regained their senses and hurriedly followed.
Their small group instantly rushed to the back of the line and carved out a small space for themselves.
After Mika and Chiaki stood in their place in line, they turned around to look behind them, and saw many people, male and female, coming over to stand in line behind them…
”Welcome to the holy battle, newcomers,” Yukari said laughingly. ”This is just the most ordinary scene of battle. Before all this, there were even fierce warriors that would wait all night beforehand in order to be the first to enter and have a chance at buying the most precious, limited-edition goods in short supply. The doujinshi convention doesn't recommend doing so, and has even forbidden it in the past. But even though the convention forbade lining up on the previous night, fierce warriors would simply spend the night at a nearby location, so the ban was lifted in the end. The way things currently are, compared to those fierce warriors' battle, is much more relaxing.”
”Waiting in such a line is called 'relaxing?'” Chiaki turned to look at Yukari. ”I feel like going home already…”
”This is a major even that only 'warriors' with passion and belief can enjoy, which is why we call it the 'holy battle,'” Yukari shrugged. ”As for ordinary people that aren't 'warriors,' it is a bit much.”
Chiaki blinked at this.
”I'm here already, so it'll feel like I've lost if I turn around and go back now.”
'I shall persist.' That was the meaning that she responded with.
”I've prepared heat pads as well as water here, so if you need anything, let me know,” Seiji told them. ”During the time that we're in line, we can browse the convention's website on our cell phones to see everything that's for sale, and confirm what we want to buy. That'll make things quicker when we go inside to look around.”
The moment he finished saying that, he heard his cell phone beeping.
That was a notification from his chatting application.
Seiji opened his chatting application and saw that it was a message from his sister Hana.
”So slow! My familiar, why haven't you started streaming yet?”
”I just arrived, and am currently waiting in line.”
”Too slow! You should have waited in line last night to be among the first to enter.”
”I could have done that if I was by myself, but I have companions…”
”Companions are a burden, and only by abandoning them can you become stronger!”
Seiji was rendered speechless.
His NEET younger sister just said something that resembled a classical line a villain would say.
”Don't say something so overboard like that. As a hero, I couldn't possibly do so!”
”This is an order from your master!”
”You don't know the right incantation, so I refuse to follow your orders.”
”You… a mere familiar dares to resist against me!”
”Let's stop messing around, master. Go ahead and watch some anime or something, and I'll begin streaming when I enter the convention.”
Seiji closed his conversation window and put away his cell phone.
”You were talking to that person who wanted you to stream?” Chiaki asked.
All the other girls looked at him as well.