Chapter 34: Effectively Reducing Character OOC
In the end, Sparkle and Neji's conversation did not reveal much information in the audience's video. It merely showed the two meeting, having a brief conversation, and then Neji leaving.
And with that, this "slice-of-life episode" came to an end.
Sparkle had earned quite a bit of Popularity Points. Added to what she had saved up, her Popularity Points had now returned to around 15,000.
Negotiations with the production team have been completed. Please choose one of the following as your actor's salary. 1. Actor Training (Random Action Scene): Three Stars, 3 lessons. Enter the training base for random action-scene training. You will temporarily leave this world during class, and time in this world will pause. 2. Actor Training (Random Romance Scene): Three Stars, 3 lessons. Enter the training base for random romance-scene training. You will temporarily leave this world during class, and time in this world will pause.
Since the Promotion Test had yet to begin, the Actor's Salary Settlement still took place after this slice-of-life episode rather than once per season.
The downside was that she could not receive better rewards, but the benefit was that daily settlement allowed her to quickly obtain compensation and strengthen herself. It suited an "extra" like her quite well.
"They're both Actor Training. Did the stage specifically choose these?"
Because she would be participating in the test later, were the salary rewards all related to acting?
Sparkle had noticed this before. The Dimensional Popularity Stage was not entirely mechanical; it felt rather tailored to her needs. Preparing for her future career was perfectly normal.
"But compared to the etiquette course in the Popularity Points Shop, these are much worse."
The Japanese Etiquette course refreshed in the Popularity Points Shop had not been assigned a star rating. It was marked as "Special."
As for these, they were blue "Three-Star" courses. Not only did they have far fewer lessons, but their content was also "random."
Simply put—it depended on luck.
"I'll choose the first one."
Action scenes were better.
As for romance scenes...
There was no way she would act in romance scenes. Even if she became an emperor-level superstar, she still would not act in them.
So it seemed she could only learn some action scenes if she wanted to survive.
Of course, if her romantic co-star were a soft, adorable girl like her sister Hinata, then it would not be entirely impossible.
After receiving her Filming Fee Reward, Sparkle began preparing to spend her Popularity Points.
This time, Sparkle chose to upgrade the Star Rail Sparkle Character Card to LV3. Fifteen thousand Popularity Points—just enough to use them all.
Character Inheritance Card Thousand Faces of the Trickster - Sparkle LV3 Rarity: Five Stars Talents/Skills: Fire Affinity, Quantum Affinity, Genjutsu Affinity Bonus: While wearing a Red Japanese-style Outfit, gain 10% Attention. Token: Thousand Faces of the Fool - Mask Token function: When worn, can transform into any appearance, body shape, or condition you require. Cannot be seen through. LV3 Additional Talents: Riddle Doll, Temporary Lead Riddle Doll (0/3): Can create dolls capable of exploding. A maximum of three dolls may exist at once; this number increases with Character Card level. The dolls can detonate at will. Depending on the user's intent, the explosion may produce different effects. Options include harmless fireworks, Fire Affinity damage, and Quantum Affinity damage (currently unavailable in this world). Temporary Lead: Can stylize your items, skills, and abilities without affecting their original effects or bonuses. In certain highlight scenes, you may receive the same Popularity Points treatment as a Child of Destiny.
The bonuses from Star Rail Sparkle were not as strong as Jingliu's, but reaching LV3 had unexpectedly provided two effects. That was a pleasant surprise.
Riddle Doll was easy to understand. Sparkle immediately received the inheritance from the Character Card in her mind, and she almost instantly understood how to create a Riddle Doll.
"Like this...?"
It seemed Riddle Dolls could be created through all kinds of mediums and powers.
After using Chakra and some cloth as mediums, Sparkle created a doll.
However, it was not a doll of Sparkle from the original work. It was instead a chibi doll of Hanabi Hyuga.
This seemed to be the default form.
Sparkle could alter its shape, but she felt that doing so would consume additional Chakra and might even weaken its effects, so this was fine.
"How fascinating. As long as I don't detonate it myself, it seems nothing will happen no matter how much it gets abused."
"The explosion effect... Hmm, it seems I can control it."
The explosion's effects changed according to the Chakra she infused into it.
"...Right."
Sparkle took out a stack of Explosive Tags.
"If I inscribed the formula of Mutual Destruction Paper Bombs onto this Riddle Doll..."
Would some interesting chemical reaction occur?
"I'd better not try that for now. Setting off fireworks another day could be fun, though."
It would not be funny if she actually blew herself into the sky.
Still, setting off a few fireworks during the New Year would be quite interesting.
"And then there's Temporary Lead. What does stylization mean?"
Although she had received the inheritance, Sparkle still did not quite understand.
"Hmm, it seems it lets items and skills better fit the style of the current world?"
For example, since this world was the Naruto World, the skills she learned could look more like ninja ninjutsu and Taijutsu, minimizing absurd situations like Guan Yu fighting Arthur.
It could effectively reduce OOC.
Simply put, it meant fewer deductions from her pay.
"Unfortunately, it's not easy to test on my side for now."
Jingliu's Character Card had already been "localized." Star Rail Sparkle's Character Card had been localized from the start. Mai Shiranui herself was also a ninja, and Sparkle's Performance Outfit was a kimono. Even the course she had learned, Japanese Etiquette, fit the setting perfectly.
There really did not seem to be anywhere she could use it.
"But this action-scene course seems random. I wonder what it'll involve."
Perhaps it would come in handy?
Actor Training (Random Action Scene): Three Stars, 3 lessons. Enter the training base for random action-scene training. You will temporarily leave this world during class, and time in this world will pause. You have used one lesson. Training institution preparing. Negotiating a discount with Party B. Treating them to drinks. ODM Gear course has been arranged. Please concentrate. In an unoccupied environment, push open the door.
This time, it did not seem to require her to dress properly?
Most of the others had already gone to sleep. Natsu Hyuga was making her bed and was not nearby either.
Taking advantage of the empty surroundings, Sparkle pushed open the adjacent door.
"Hmm?"
What appeared before Sparkle was a room that resembled one from the Middle Ages, with a folded set of clothes beside it.
Please store all equipment and change into the training uniform.
"This uniform..."
Sparkle looked at the outfit.
It seemed familiar.
No, it was very familiar.
"Isn't this the uniform of the 'Training Corps' from Attack on Titan?"
Combining it with the stage's earlier prompt, Sparkle roughly understood.
"—So this action scene is training with the ODM Gear from Attack on Titan."
Using ODM Gear was indeed cool, but only in the Attack on Titan World. In the Naruto World, this thing was rather useless.
She had gotten ripped off.
"A skill too many never hurts."
It seemed like a loss, but the course she was learning belonged to her. It might not be very useful in the Naruto World, but perhaps it would be effective on another set.
Who would ever complain about having too many skills? If she could not use it now, she could use it later.
"And it's the perfect chance to test what Temporary Lead's stylization actually does."
After changing out of her kimono and putting away all her equipment, including her mask and eyepatch, Sparkle tied her hair into a ponytail. Then she changed into the Training Corps uniform and left the changing room...
Author's Note:
White's script has been scheduled for after the Land of Waves arc.
I looked through the props everyone left behind. I'll sort out some usable ones, modify and adjust them when the time comes, then use an Anke-style roll to give them to Sparkle whenever random rewards appear~
Actually, for everyday worlds, I personally think it would be pretty interesting to broadcast the anime Sparkle filmed here. It would not be limited to filming sets; it could also be a consumer market, haha.
Chapter 35: Attack on Sparkle
With her eyepatch removed, her side ponytail tied up, and her training uniform on, Sparkle now looked spirited and capable.
Only her eyes with their white pupils were somewhat conspicuous.
But nothing seemed to have happened when she attended Teacher Ryougi Shiki's training class last time. Perhaps the people here would not care either.
If they did care, that would be even more interesting.
Sparkle also wanted to see what interesting things would happen.
"But I can't waste class time either."
After all, she had paid for it.
After leaving the cabin, Sparkle arrived at a training field.
There were already quite a few trainees here.
Sparkle discovered that she seemed to have "skipped" the enrollment stage and entered directly into ODM Gear training.
There were mechanical devices made of three pillars everywhere. Steel cables hung beneath them, somewhat resembling swings. Many people were suspended by the cables, trembling as they struggled to maintain their balance.
This was the training apparatus and method for ODM Gear.
Sparkle craned her neck for a look.
She did not see Mikasa, nor did she see Eren.
Unlike the treatment she had received when she met a "protagonist" like Ryougi Shiki last time, she apparently did not see the protagonists of the Attack on Titan World this time.
That was somewhat regrettable.
Sparkle was not particularly interested in the world of Titans.
Especially its warped ideas and its delicate ending. If she was not careful, it could easily damage her reputation and drag down her Popularity Points.
"That one over there, it's your turn." An instructor called out to Sparkle, who was watching from the sidelines.
"Yes."
She was immediately pulled up by the apparatus.
Maintaining balance was child's play for a ninja. Even on a steel needle, Sparkle could stand for a full day and night.
Before you continue