《Seeker》 Prologue & chapter 1 : My Wasted effort Within the 2 storey house on the second floor, a man with a short hair and white skin frown his brow while clutching the already worn out flyer on top of his bed. Shaking his head, he get up from the bed and walk toward the computer which not really much of high spec but enough to play some game and browsing. A few step and you can take a look at the normal face and around 173 cm tall guy from full size mirror that you normally couldn''t find from a guy''s room around the corner of that room but not caring about how much his face seem tired and starting to browse through his computer, a surprise expression appear before began to change into a happy smile. This is it!-Tought him with delight as if finally found his oasis in the middle of the desert. Leaning his body as if wanting to kiss the monitor, the black eyes of his start to brighten little by little before he start to abruptly get up and ran outside. "I can do it!" *** "Yeah as if" My name is Baki Lumay. Sound a little weird name if you consider my country that is indonesia which if you change the ''B'' from ''Baki'', it will change into Daki which meant ''A dirt on body'' but I don''t want to bother with such a thing considering that I already tired being made fun of throughout my school life. After a happy coincidence that I found from some website and run outside, not even 1 minute and I already go back again. What is written on the monitor was somekind of lottery but not your typical one. It is the gamble where you can get the first game that boasted about 95 % similarties with real world with only a few change of money. You can find a lot of novel regarding VR but never been such a high quality game released for real even though the past few years, there are a lot of pseudo VR coming out. "Well I already 23 years old so it might be better to save up for my dowry or maybe for buying my new house" The price of one game reach a whooping 21.000.000 million rupiah or around 1400 USD. I don''t know whether it is expensive from foreigner POV but that is one hell of price for salary man like me especially I can get a motorcycle with it instead of just gaming device. "I can buy it with my saving but, sigh" With the salary of Rp. 6.000.000 per month, I can buy it of course. Even with my saving are enough to do so but the problem would be whether it is worth it or not. Working for 9 hours and transport time around 3 hours back and forth so it takes around 12 hours a day plus sleeping around 5 hours it mean I can only play for 5 housrs or more including break and meeting in the toilet. "I can do something more valuable than playing game within that amount of time." And you need to excersise every now and then because my job require me to always sitting and wouldn''t get up until it is break or praying. "Maybe around 4 hours just for gaming if praying are included. Is it really worth it?" Thinking it back again, I really don''t want to buy it but the pressure from my exclassmate and my coworker start to become unbearable for me to bear. Do you know that if you kill this... I already reach... How come you don''t have one? Should I buy it for you? Of course the last question I answer with absolute yes but he apparently just playing a joke on me. How rude. But when the people you always know talking about something that you don''t have an idea about and ended up being chase out by them, there is no way a normal person like me can endure such a thing for a whole 3 month. "On top of that, there is no way I would reach a pinacle just like in the novel right?" I mean, having the late start and all. Basically, the protagonist always have an early start or maybe taking a lot of information first before dive in and coincidentaly asked with a special quest. That is what so interesting with Randel Online which boast 95% similarity with reality world. You have the chance to create your own legend, tale, and your own girlfriend that is AI NPC. That is so much confident they have if you think even your sweat might have a life micro organism in it. "I doubt they can recreate such a thing" And yet when asked about that 95% in press conference, all of their researcher and technician officer answer it with puffed out chest and challenging smile. Laying down on top of the bed while sighing helplessly, I can only thank my own concience to not be baited with such loterry''s obvious scam. Looking back at the flyer and that detestable Ads that''s still visible on my not yet turn off computer, hatred and relief swep over me in constant repeat. Yeah if the one who do it truly an honest man, you might have a chance of less than 5% getting the desired prize but I doubt they will let you just like that. "But, I ended up wanting to buy it" Just like any normal guy you can find, I really want to have a feel just how wonderful it is to have different life compared with how you do normally. "Nothing interesting by moving your body and tired it out" That is what I feel but still¡­ "Let''s just buy it then" Just consider myself as one of the stupid dude who get baited by and ads and be done with this annoying feeling of mine. Getting up and prepare to change that is my favorite black hodie, looking at the time that show 9:23 AM, grab my ATM card and motor key and go to the mall 4 km from my home, I decide to just buy it directly from the vendor instead of online purchase because just in case I want to look at the thing myself. Entering the mall, go straight the 4th floor and dumfounded by just how long I need to wait while queued up, a wry smile appear ever so helplessly with how much of people here and how much time do I need to wait. Waiting are not that long actually. Only 3 hours of standing and my turn almost there mind you. ''I start to realise that such a money may not that much for a trend, huh'' You don''t buy the thing and bring it home but only filling a few documentary and the capsule will be sent to your home including the installation. "If it is not worth it, I am gonna cry for sure" "Don''t worry dude, it wouldn''t" "Hmmm?" When I almost got bored from playing mobile game, the dude from behind me said so with a smile. Blonde hair, 176 cm tall with proportioned body, ear piercing, branded clothes and watch, and that gesture that screaming "I am a Sultan" (Rich Boy). Just how much care they have to even add a hidden salesman between the queued? Thought me but apparently, he already have one but never did sign it up because always used by his brother "That is why I buy the new device to create my one and only character" Said him with a pumped fist. Just in case, I ask him to buy me one instead and of course he refuse. What? I don''t have a concience? If such a thing can cut my more than 20 million money, I will gladly do it and he wouldn''t buy it for me too of course so I think It wouldn''t be too much a hasle by just asking. "Why don''t you just making your only character powerfull? Isn''t a bother focusing on 2 things?" "Well, I want to change my job but didn''t dare to delete my hard effort so better just buy new one instead" You better check your money spending dude- Of course I didn''t say such a thing because only idiotic people dare to waste that much money just for a game unless it is not much for them. "Please I beg you!" "Miss, I know your circumtances but I am but only a seller staff" "Can''t you ask your boss?" "No, I can''t" At that time, we both heard the scream of somewhat old lady in the very front of queued. What happened?-glance us both toward each other but it seem we have no intention to be swept up by others problem. Pretending to be a background, the old lady become even more frantic untill the staff couldn''t bear it anymore and call the security over. But curiousity took over me making my ears strained in order to catch the mystery that should not be opened. ...I beg...my...if... I can only...help... with...my only chance.... At the time, I don''t have even a little sympathy nor do heroic desire in me. Only curiousity that brought us to the old lady, the rich boy, and me looking at each other and move my normally very ignorance feet toward the screaming yet dragged the lady that still not far away yet. May I help you?-I ask with tilted head but the woman keep screaming toward the staff while the security began to use a little force behind their trained arm. Please stop a while-I ask them with worry and finally she began to notice my presence and the dude that should be still queueing from before. "Why are you following me?" "How rude of you. I just moving on my own without following anyone just like a freeman" "...Is something the matter ma''am" After just ignoring the dude nonsense who get close to her just like me, the woman began to tell her story. She is a single parent with 2 daughter. 1 still in high school while other half paralyzed because unfortunate circumtance that is motor and car accident. Truthfully, such a thing alredy not a surprise for me especially in this time where a lot of people manage to buy motor with cheap Down payment. Well, with the game device, the chance of her daughter healed from paralyzes become higher because how real the feeling are.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. But that is not the problem here at all. Looking at each other, we nodded as if in agreement before leaving the security do their job and glaring those annoying people who dare to cut our line. "Please young guy! Have mercy! Please help me and my child!" Yeah as if ! You think with that half assed back story we would waste our hard earned money just like that? Why don''t you say your husband are a real jerk, your mother in law are strict b*tch, your father in law are real pervert, and your second daughter a delinquent gal girl to make it more pitiable? Closing both our eyes with a sneer on, we somehow feel some kind of camraderie between each other by how much similar we are with our thought process. After this, let''s just ask him for a friend list- such is my plan which I am confident enough that he too thought the same thing. "I can just eat rice and ask the side dish from my friend. If I do that, I will not be suspected as a swindler like that woman" But what we both never expect is, our ears twitched at the same time when hearing such a weak, fragile, full of helplessness but have a strong determination mumble of the girl on line behind us. It is so low to the point you wouldn''t catch it unless one paying attention at the time but it just happen for both of us actually wanting to hear other people opinion reagarding the scam woman''s performance by closing our eyes. Reaching my turn and finally shake my head in helplessness, I turn around and said to the girl behind me. "...Hey girl. I will give you 1 minute to convince me" Said me toward the 159 cm young girl and braided black hair which probably only a highschooler with her casual clothing on and confused gaze behind me. She look left and right, back and forth before finally pointing toward her face while saying -are you asking me?- with a tilted head. "Why don''t you convince me to help for buying the device?" Said me again this time with louder voice that manage to be catched by a few people around us. How stupid. Is he crazy? Maybe he is only playing around. Isn''t it too much for a show off? A lot of such comment thrown at me from the people who began to know from the others mouth. Well, fine by me. It is not like she can but even if she did, I will just judge it latter. Based from my understanding, this girl behaviour are the truth so maybe it will be great if I can be of help. She seemed troubled instead and after a bit of pondering she look at me with determination on her eyes while saying... "No need" ...declare her that she understand what my sentence imply and yet still refuse. This kind of person actually really touch my soft spot but as always, if she didn''t want to I wouldn''t want to bother much. They give us people who don''t have much money to credits the game out for 6 months and 1 years so she must be using that service. But it seem the rich boy thought differently while his hand on his chin nodding and smilling creepily while looking at both of us alternately. Filling the neccessary information, giving my thumb sign and written one, I finally get the game that tortured me since the first time it release. "By the way, what level are your brother?" "Him? Well, around level 41with the job of assassin. How about you? What would your job be in the game?" "I don''t know. I just want to try a bit of my time after work so it might only reach lower level" "The job man, the job. Not how far will you get" Well I know why you look a little pissed by my roundabout answer but that is exactly what I will do so the job doesn''t really matter to me. Having a little talk after then exchanging contact ( are we girls? ) with each other that really despair me knowing so few girl''s number on my contact list, I decide to ask the girl from before for one too. At first she refused saying that we definitely wouldn''t meet each other but after hearing the rich boy saying " We might be some of help to her" she suddenly agreed though still looking at me with a little frown as if hating my little pity from before. "...By the way, what is your name?" "Just call me robert" "...Rich boy then" "Hahaha, it is just a joke man. I am Vian, nice to meet you." "Just call me lumay" "Your full name?" "...Why don''t you give me first?" "Then lumay, see you!" "Running away? It seems his name are quite an embarassment just like me" Thought me while not realising the real reason behind that behavior of his. Looking at the girl once again for the last time, I decide to go home and play my game as fast as possible. "A good thing tomorrow is still my day off" Thought me with relief. But that relief turn into an annoyance when it already 4pm and the gaming still not coming. I forget to ask when Will the device sent to me- regret me so much of my stupidity. But when I search the info from the internet, it is supposed to come within 24 hours after purchase which might be the fastest. Just when I want to play an android game thentake a bath afterward, my mother shout that a delivery service come to meet me. What?- thought me with confusion and then ask the delivery service people what is Going on. They said my piece must be sent within 12 hours instead because of personal request from the Guy called Vian. ''Just who is that guy?'' Ignoring my thought and my parents dissaproval over my high spending for a few minutes, I call Vian and say my thanks then thanking the service after they done with the instalattion. It take more than 1 hours to calm my parents down before finally they give in and let me do as I please. Well, some people might find such parents annoying because how they control even your spending even all of the money are your own hard earned, but I cannot do that. They even don''t get angry over me when I become a meet for 1 whole years on the past so I just take their scolding as a little flash news before continuing my thing. "Wow" After witnessing my capsule, the thrilling feeling suddenly take over me while a few imagination of myself in a cool manner flashing on my mind. Maybe it is not that bad, thought myself before take a pray and then dive to the game right away. Suddenly, something flash on my mind. What kind of persona should I thread? The same as how I act in real world? Become more confident or maybe stupid, annoying, energetic? I really want to live different life but my own personality couldn''t be changed all of sudden so it must be something that I hid deep inside since entering the society. ...After a little ponder, I finally enter the game that will change my life. "WELCOME TO RANDEL ONLINE" Would you like to skip an introduction? Yes What? I shouldn''t skip the intro? I already said it before that there is no way for me to be a main character or a leading figure in a game with limited time of mine so it is a bother to waste my time for such a thing. I already skip numerous game''s introduction in my whole life and will always do so in the near future. Skipping the introduction right to the character design, I choose my race to be a half-beast with the ears of a cat. I really want to choose a human but the introduction said that human have the cappability to learn all but to master one thing might be difficult so I choose the normally strong body of half beast. About the annoyingly good looking elf, their starting stats have a great lead on their inteligence but low physic so yeah. No need. Character name? Hmmm, Lets just choose "Foule". NAME ALREADY EXIST Hmmm, How about "Portha"? NAME ALREADY EXIST ... After a few minutes of struggle of choosing the name, I ended up with "Brat" as my nick. It is really annoying when the cool name you came up with always already choosen. Maybe, literally no one who will choose such a good curse material as their Nick like me. "It is a good thing they will provide the change of name for the first timer" Or else I wouldn''t be idiotic enough and regret it latter. Where would you like your starting town- the game ask me but I really don''t know so when I choose to leave it random, I get teleported right away to the town called Bouria. "Wow, this is really real" This brightness, this atmosphere, the crowd and every people in this very lively city. At this 7 pm in the evening, the time actually reversed and become a day instead. Or is it? I don''t know exactly the time difference between a game and my real world anyway. Trying to act as calm as possible because I know it will be an embarassment if I act like a country bumpkin, I finally cannot endure it anymore and start to look left and right. "You look really real" "...Seriously man? I am trying to sell my fruit here, and am not a gay!" "...Even your expression look so real" "What is your problem? You have a fever?" When I touch the old man face who sell some unknow fruit nearby, I got really surprised with how squishy yet firm the feel was. On top of that, their expression really rich even when I try to pry deep on his eyes. "How about here?" Said me while opening the oldman door house behind the shop. "Oy, that is prohibited place!" "Ahaha, sorry sorry. So if I ask, I can go inside?" "There is nothing interesting inside anyway" "I will find it interesting so please let me okay~" "Can I call the town guard now?" ''Ugh, I Wannan go home'' "Preaty please?" "Are you always act that annyoying, brat? How come you are able to survive up till now?" "Well, I normally wouldn''t act like this. How do you call it? New debut? ''I want to change for something that is buried inside of me'' "You mean a country debut? You really look like a country bumpkin" "Hahaha, I am. Anyway, pardon my intrusion~" "Oy!" Wait, he start to get angry for real. I want to stop really bad. When I decide my persona, it is just my own childish side that is full of curiousity. In the society, you need to act reserved and not become an embarassment but just in this world... "...what should I do for you to let me in?" "...I become curious just what is so interesting from my home. Nothing in particular?" Said the old man while checking his inside and come out with a confuse expression. Well, I know that at least but at first, I just want to know whether there would be something different from how the NPC live their live over us human. "I just curious with how city folk live" "¡­you really are country bumpkin but sorry Brat, the answer is a no" "By the way, I am not that young old man. Why do you keep calling me Brat?" "Why do you call me oldman" Just when we start to glare each other. "Haha, you both became so close even though only met a few minutes ago" Said the quite Beautiful woman around maybe 24 years old who help the oldman sell his product. Her smile are so warm with the braided to the side brownish hair and very housewife like clothes on. Seems a little mature feeling but that smile show that she is still young. "What a beautiful lady your daughter is, oldman" "Okay, why don''t I let you come inside and talk about life with me" Hiiik, why is he so angry this time? This kind of persona really a pain in the ass. I really want to back down but as a new person, my first objective shall be accomplised right here right now unlike how I behave normally. "I am sorry, sorry! You don''t need to be that angry. She is your wife right? I am sorry for picking her up in front of you" "¡­I am sorry. She is my little sister. I am sorry for looking like an oldman" ¡­should I apologize again? What a sensitive guy you are. "What the? I am sorry for hurting your brother''s feeling, sis. My name is a Brat. Nice to meet you" "You! Apologize to ''me'', not to my sister! And tell her your real name not from how I call you!" Wut? I don''t know but this oldman start to get more funny to tease. Are the human on my society this friendly? Should I use this kind of move when going to the market? "Hahahaha. Brother, I always said that you should change your style a bit right? And he is only teasing you since just now" Actually I am not at first, but he is indeed fun to tease. "Brat, is it?" "Yes, I am a Brat" *Giggle Woahhh, the infamous girly giggle. "I will let you get inside if you do one of my request." "You shouldn''t let a stranger going inside, Aya. That''s is dangerous" "What kind of a request is it?" "Why both of you ignoring me?" Well, isn''t because you don''t have a say on this household decision? "Help us to sell our fruit and vegetable for today! How is it?" ¡­woahhh, girl are scary. No way in hell that letting someone inside a house worth with the tirely work for a whole day and she look like assumming that I Will agree to it. "¡­if it sold out before one day.I can consider it finish okay" "You are really a stupid Brat aren''t you?" "Old man. Would you believe me if I say it is in order to get to know you better?" "So creepy! You just want to hit on my sister aren''t you!" "No! It is for your sake! Please believe in me!" No! Please don''t believe in my nonsense!! Woahhh, you can stop looking at me with such a disgust, okay!? "¡­.I know that you want to make a joke. But if your face cramped with cringiness and tears like that, then don''t make such a disgusting joke in the first place" Waaah! I went overboard this time!! So embarassing! I thought it will not that weird from how anime character behave on their daily live but after doing myself¡­ "*Sniff. I will not. Thanks to not believe in me, oldman." Said me while wiping my tears with a bit trembling body. Yeah, let''s not do it again. Such a weird conduct only work on fictional character so as a real adult that already influenced with the societies law, it is too much for me to bear. You don''t need to pat my back with a face of pity you know? Well, I will let it slide for now out of debt of not believing my awful joke from before. "*Giggle. You two seems really close. Anyway, why don''t you help from now? Mr Brat?" "Well *sniff. Please lent me your fruit for a bit" Why are you two looking a top of my head like that? Well let''s just finish this request so I can get over this request. There is no way in hell I can sell all of the fruit on only today but it is quite easy for the vegetables because it always sold out every day based of from their experiences so I focus only toward the fruit. Getting close to a player looking with a lot of expensive equipment, I give the banana on my hand and shove it to him. I am sorry could you hold it a bit? Said me while crossing my arm and looking at him and supposed to his girlfriend alternately. One rule that show how stupid a man can be. -They will show off even the most Petty thing in front of their interested girl. The only thing I said was- Wao! Your equipment look expensive! With that much money, it wouldn''t matter too much for you to buy a few fruit, right? While looking at the girl with expression- If he can''t, then don''t bother getting close to him. Of course the dude with a smile on while try to flirt with the girl from before began to twitch after realizing my purpose. The second rule that show how stupid a man can be. They will gladly being used on if it means rising his probability of success. This might be easier than I thought, while shoving 1 melon, 1 basket of Apple, and 1 more water melon. The guy seems to almost explode but after making a determined expression as if choosing his life career, he finally buy all of it for 500 coin. I don''t know whether it is expensive or not but the price already fixed either way. After being satisfied after the girl suddenly link her arm around his with coy smile, the guy left with a proud smile and raised chin forgetting that he is being exorted a moment ago. "¡­let''s look for another jones-I mean, let''s look for another customer". Said me while forgetting that in no normal circumtance that the always ''hold back'' in real life that I am actually began to change little by little. -By the way, why am I doing such a bothersome things like this? Chapter 2 : An unexpected It have been 4 hours after my first sold fruit. "Hey oldman, why am I so obessed with this ordinary house of yours?"-ask me while looking around the living room where I eat with while sitting atop of only a mat and using hand instead of spoon and fork. At first, I just want to know what kind of life the NPC have when we the players not looking around but it ended up making me doing an weird work even though I at first just want to play a game. "...I already said that nothing special here and yet you keep persisting to go inside. How is it? The feeling of being used of meaninglessly?" "Being thanked and cooked a food by beautiful girl is a bliss" Woah! So embarassing... I hope she didn''t hate it. Hm? A good thing that she take my word as a normal compliment, if not I will be to ashamed meeting her again in the future. Look at that beautiful face, thin cute lips that curled up on her smooth small face, even though there are a sweat on her face it didn''t negate her beauty instead make her more enchanting. "You don''t need to show it to me. Stop your hand gesture as if presenting her beauty, I know her better than you." "Well, why don''t we stop talking and start to eat?" After work of course it would be a break but we do it at the oldman house with Aya''s cooking which of course after we put the "On Break" sign in front. "But, that is quite a feat Mr.Brat. Though we already almost sold out the vegetables as usual, but the selling of our fruit really exceed expectation." "I quite unwilling to accept it but it is indeed true" Why are you unwilling? How weird can you be, oldman? "Well, it is just a technique to scam...I mean a little persuasion to every jones...Every customer that''s seem quite rich" And I probably won''t do it again in the future because it somehow darken my innocence heart a bit. "By the way, what is jones?" "...It means, a guy who seems sucessful but don''t know how to use their money to" It is not a complete lie so let''s ignore the innocent face of an adult with such pure realization or else it might guilt me. I wonder what the people who always trick their friends feeling when do such a thing? Is it like me who feel a guilt, or maybe not even a tiny bit? No use thinking it so let''s justeat Aya''s food. Almost all of the menu are consisting vegetables such as eggplant, water spinach, luffa acutangula, or others that mixed with an egg, sweet corn, anchovywith a slice of meat. I thought that the fruit are unknown to me because their shape that slighlty differ but the taste are somewhat simillar with different names of course. But I don''t know the name of it so I ended up using the old naming that the real world have. "By the way, can I use a restroom?" Their food indeed delicious and healthy but I rarely drink a fruit juice so it upset my stomach a bit. How come I upset it in this virtual world anyway?- thought me but nothing can be done unless I check it myself in real quick. Pointing to certain direction, I go toward the back of this house and dumbfounded by the spectacle. "I thought for sure I will be taking a dump in a hole and buried it with a sand" "OY!" But it is just normal squat toilet. Oopps, he will get angry again. I should tone down this persona or I might get hated instead. Closing the wood door, I try squating and nothing in particular happen. What''s wrong? Thought me but the warning window that appear so suddenly in front of me almost make me scream in shock. ''What? is this?'' Confuse then curious, I try read the content before realizing that my body in real world are in need to do business. Oh yeah, this place are literally only a game where my real body will need to eat, go to toilet, and sleep. "I almost forgot" Getting up hurriedly, go to the living room and start to gobled up all the food in hurry. "Hey, what''s the hurry? Are you sure you already wash your hand first?" "You can eat slowly" Said the oldman and Aya with both worry and smile on their face. That is right. The reason I am eating here was because I want to know just what is the difference between the player and NPC but I know for certain it is out of my reach. ''Almost no different if you look only at their appearance'' "I am very sorry but I forget that going to this town was for a reason so I need to take my business ASAP" What kind?-Ask them both at the same time but I don''t want to lie to them after al of their kindess they give toward me leaving the answer hanged with a smile become my choice. "Are you really giving me kindness" "...You really need to be punched" What? I am just wondering whether lying to you really make me feel guilty. I did for Aya''s because of her kindess but I doubt it for you, oldman. Eating a lot of the food take quite of time but it is a fulfilling treat for me so I am really satisfied. I should thank them properly. "Now that you mention it. Oldman, I forgot to ask for your name. I am sorry for my rudeness" It is really rude to call people oldman oldman like that in real life and yet I do that unhesitantly like this. Since when I change so much? Are this game influence me in anyway? "My name is Hahya. You should give us your name too, brat" "Isn''t he Mr.Brat? *giggle"Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "...I am not lying at you two this time but you indeed can call me Brat. As for my real name..." Should I give it? My real name in real life? Well, they are both an NPC ( Probrably considering there is almost none to differentiate both based of my conjecture, except our attire ) so it will not harm myself for real, right? "...It is Baki Lumay. Thank you for your kindness and your tolerant about this stranger rude behaviour" said me while lowering my head to both of them who still stting on the floor atop a matt. ''Truly.'' I mean, if there ever a chance someone act like that toward my father and mother, I will beat him up for world''s sake. They both just laugh it out while saying it is ok. Well, the oldman really beat me up for a bit. ''It hurt like hell! So much for a game even though you want to make it the more real, at least make it playable, delevoper'' Though me while I hide in th alleyway before logging out from this world for 3 or 4 hours. ''Just for working while it''s actually my day off'' Thought myself while start to regret buying a game a tiny little bit. With a beep sound and my hazy sight that start to gain it''s light, I begin to daze for a bit before shaking my head and get out of the capsule and looking at the machine that give me the chance to try becoming different person. It is quite different from how game was in my imagination because if it is too real, one might get confused but maybe if I start to leveling and killing the monster, the thrill that should be there might dawn to me. Looking left and right and grabing the phone with it''s notification light on, the missed call and a few message startle me and finally realize what is going on. *Ring "Hello? Sorry, I am diving just now so, why are you calling me, Vian? If it is not important, I will hung up right away. {Are you not reading the manual? You can input your android into Phone holder and the player will be noticed if there is a call or message to your Game Chara} "...The first time I heard of it. I will read it latter" You can call me the type who play first and learn later. But with this advanced technology and the convenience it bring, it will be better for me to read and make use of it. {Anyway, want to play together? We can level up faster this way} "Sorry, in urgent! I will call you back latter!" Wow, never realise my bladder already reach my limit! Running down the stair like some parkour expert and landing with a boom, I ignore the intense stare my shocked Mom gave and run toward the toilet. Unfortunately this 2 storey house only have 1 toilet, so it is actually better to make a new toilet on the second floor rather than buying a game capsule. "Mom will talk to you after you done" ...Is it alright if I take my time longer? "It is no use even if you make it longer" "...After this,okay" You blur my concentration, mom. What would you do if I failed to aim right? Unlike west people, we feel more comfortable with squat toilet rather than sitting one where the need of aiming are unecessary after all. Done with my thing, I go out and went todinning room where my family waiting. We consist of 4 people including me with 1 older brother and no sister. Looking right we have the normal father with a little plump body and a lot of white hair and white skin. looking left and my mother with tied hair and brownish skin preparing the food. Both have pointed nose and staright hair so the different between the two are only their skin. ''It seems I still safe'' Looking at the food and remember the experience I had before, I spoon out some food and bring it to my mouth while closing my eyes. "Don''t start early" Said mom while she start sitting after giving us 3 our serving. It is bit shameful for the adult me to be served by my parent still but maybe because it is already our routine that I don''t feel a thing. Chew, gulp, drink, nothing much different with my experiences from the VR which really confuse me because it might influence player whether good or bad. Peacefull other than the sound of our cutleries, I forgot that it is supposed to be the interview with my mom. What did she mean by wanting to talk with me?- thought me with really bad feel that start to crawl up from my heart. Nothing weird happen during but it come out after instead. "Now I will go back to sleep" "Don''t go back for now because we need to talk" "...Okay" Woah, it is normal for mother to scold me for buying the game but I already consult with father that I maybe will buy the game in the future 1 month ago when I struggled with the temptation and he say yes. "I understand." "...It is a little hard to say this but..." Just said it quickly, dad. It is rare for you to-- "You will get married" *Rattle *** After the weird brat that call himself a "Brat" the house weirdly become quite. "Brother, why are you always calling Baki a "Brat" every single time?" I don''t know but maybe because he dare call me an oldman that is why I want to tick him off by calling him abrat but... "Instead of feel offended, he ignore it as if such a nick actually a normal thing" "Like a child, or maybe just plain weird" He is really weird. What kind of sane human who call themselve a "brat" like that? He naturally have a real name, and yet he insist to be called that. "Well, leaving aside his age of a half beastman, maybe he is around 28 years old with how youthful his appearance is." That curly black hair with black fur on his ears, height about 173 cm and I don''t know about his weight maybe proportional if guessed from how toned his muscle is. "It will be great if he come back and play with us again, right? Brother" "No need for the liveliness as long as we live for tomorrow safely" "I never say his presence make our family more lively you know?" "...It is just a guess" Our family only consist us brother and sister. Already live like that for around 7 years without the presence of parents or acquaintance, the being called Baki really start to make the dull life we had a bit more cheerful. "We must be grateful because the weird being that call themsellve adventurer suddenly pop out one another and protect us from the beast" Said my little sister with a smile of relief. She is indeed a beauty when she smile even to me her own brother to the point that she always hit on by those hateful adventurer. "But, even though without them, we can still survive with the both of us" It might become more difficult but because of our circumtances that is leading a pionerr village which one of our only lifeline at the past, it reshape us to be more stronger and more immune to pain and sadness. "I don''t want to remember those painful day, brother. Sorry" "No! I mean, I am sorry too for bringing it up" But an unwanted experience still something you don''t want to recall, especially for her. But now that you mention it. Didn''t Baki said that he want to become an adventurer? "Aya, who do you think Baki is?" "...What do you mean?" I know from her hesitant answer and those flying around gaze of her. "If he is an adventurer, we have not fate whatsoever with each other. Remember that" Said me with a sigh while cleaning up the dish that brat dare to leave behind. I feel a little doubtful because how he dress really resemble adventurer but still that is not certain because I don''t feel something that every adventurer supposed to have. "If I meet him again, I will teach him some manner about eating out on other people place. How dare of him to leave before washing the dish." Why am I assumming we will meet again? That is right, it is not certain that Baki are the so called adventurer. Those monster who somehow always comeback alive after got killed really make one body shiver in fear. What kind of purpose do they pursue? How come they still come back with a smile after experiencing the fear of dying multiple time? When and where those people come from? Even Baki so called hometown might not exist if I think about it. If, just IF. If he is indeed an adventurer, our live must not be crosssed with each other. We get old, we die, we struggle to survive, and they still retain their spirit while continue getting stronger. Looking back the down gaze and curled down lips of aya''s, I shake my head while bringing the dish back after being cleaned. "...You should just rest and I wil take care of the rest" "No need, it is just a little work" ...It seem I am too careful. From how she go to the front for the next sales, I can say for sure she is not feeling down in the slightest. Maybe the influence we get from Baki might not be that much after looking the normal expression of my sister who come back after she forgot her hair tie. "You get it wrong brother. I just missed the cheerful expression of yours. If his presence might make you smile again, I thought it will be a pity if we not meet again" ...I take my word back. That last sentence of her reek a little bit of white lie in it. "Well, if he choose the path of adventurer, we very much will not have a fate with each other" ''But if he choose the other...'' No need to think the not really much important presence called baki, I stride with a lighter step to the front for my awating fruit to sell. Chapter 3 : An unexpected (2) Let''s calm down first. Deep breath~ Fiuh~ Yosh! "Dad, Mom. Don''t be hasty and tell me what is going on first" *Smack "Don''t say it like that, Dad! Actually, it is not that complicated. The marriage are not fixed yet and we just want to tell you the posibility that you might have a fiance exist" Smack my mom to dad''s back head ligthtly with a wry smile on her not so old face. That is not that far off and I still don''t know what is going on though. "...We parent''s rather worried with how you still don''t have any girlfriend since the day you were born... ( I am sorry, dad ) so we tried to bring the matter about that and introduce you to our friend''s daughter and they agreed" "On top of that, they would even be more happy if you both marry each other" "...Here is her photo" said dad while rumagging his bag on the side and put it on top the already tidied table. Well, it is rather pathetic for me to say it but their worry are quite understandable. What if I actually a gay? Or maybe I just plain not popular? How about I actually have a fear of woman or other psychological circumtances? It is my whole live that lack any romance history we are talking about afterall. Closing my eyes, the turmoil on my heart began to calm down as amemory of my past flashing on my mind. To be honest, I am just having the difficulties accepting the difference between real girl and anime girl. You know like how cute and girly they are and how much they capable accepting the plain and idiotic main lead. ''I want to get a girl who will accept me no matter how the way I am!'' Such delusion keep haunting me every time I get dissapointed with the girl I actually interest in until I reach this age which reallyamazing in it''s own way. That is why... "I understand. I will try to look at it first and decide afterward. Marrying will be a bit difficult but if it is just a girfriend, I can assure you that it will be almost 100% certain." Beggar cannot be a chooser. Beggar cannot be a chooser. Opening my eyes, I can even imagine the light you normally found when a main character determined infront of life and death war and prepare to accept whatever comes. !!!! ''...Wha?'' "Dad? Mom?" ""Yes?"" "Your friends have 2 daughter?" ""No, both are the same person"" *Sweat Don''t lose hope! Confirm it first! "Just in case, which one is the current girl in these photos?" It is important! there are two different girl in the photo. One the brightly smiling girl with quite a beauty face and fluttering hair, the other is lightly smiling obesive girl on top of the bed with messy hair. "This one" "...Here" But both of them point their finger toward the obesive one. Well...can I take it back? Beggar cannot be chooser but even beggar have limit right? "*cough. Are you two testing me or something" Please just tell me so. "...There reason why they accept quickly because ofthe unforseen circumtances" "The girl have an accident and it paralyzed both of her leg. After the shock, she relief her stress through foodbecause the now bleak Model future she aspire to be" I see. Actually, it is quite a good thing for her to still capable of eating even after the shock but you both musn''t expect to make your son marriying disabled girl, right? "And your real reason for suggesting it despite knowing the truth?" "...The girl are really a good one when we meet each other." "Of course expecting you to marry unwilingly are still something we don''t want to" "...But there is no way we can take back our word. That is why, it might not be that bad if you meet her first and tell us your thought later " "Your word as if implying..." ""Please meet her"" "...Since when did you manage the plan?" "You forget? We have a reunion with our exclassmate friend and both of us introduce you to them" "...Including her parents, there are 9 more of them and that is whenwe decide it. You don''t need to worry about anything else." I have the right to worry! "Hah~ I give up. So, when and where will the meeting be?" "Tommorow morning. At the town called Neiza City" "Pardon?" Never heard of it or is it just me who are sure that name never exist in our country? "...It is called Neiza city inside the game you just bought. Because of your spending and her circumtances, we decide to just let you both meet with each other through the game just a few hours ago out of convenience." "What? You can''t even do that?" *Ugh My heart and Head! Can I curse at them? Even though they are my parent, can I? "Can I make a call first?" said me with tired voice and slumped shoulder over the work that I need to do because of their so called inititative. Going back to my room, taking my phone and go back to the dinning while calling Vian, I make a pray toward God so that the city called Neiza city won''t be far. "Hello? Why are you calling? I am in the game right now" "You can talk even though in the capsule? Oh yeah the feature." I really need to read the manual or troublesome thing might happen again in the future.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Can you take a look at the map?" "Wait a minute, why? I can but it is to only some extent because your map wouldn''t be filled unless you go there yourself" "It is the city called Neiza, can you find it? I think it wouldn''t be troublesome because it is one of the starting city" "Neiza...is it? Hmmm... There it is! Why are you asking again?" "...Can you tell me how far it is to travel from there to City called Bouria" "...Bouria?please wait a moment! Hmmm...Weird? I cannot find that name. You sure that is the right name?" "Of course! Well, I really eager to Dive so I just skip everything except for my nickname" "Well, it would be easy then! Just Add my nick. It is Heipyz! With that, my and your location will be detected including how far it is with each other." "Please take a good look at the map, man." I mean, it is way simpler that way. ''''And btw, thanks for the early delivery for the game. Just who are you really?" As expected of sultan''s son. Back to the topic, I really cannot wait any longer or else my parents will spray their saliva at me. How can I say that I cannot meet her tommorow because my lack of knowledge?. Even though they already make an arrangment ( without my consent ), At least I should know how far the city between each other. "I am sure there aren''t any city like that in the map! Well, maybe you choose the small city?" "Hah~ wait for me please. I will dive right now" "...son, what about your answer?" "Dad, do you have her number?" "Oh yeah, here it is. Her name is Fania'''' Said my mom eagerly while shoving her phone toward me. Taping the now feel heavy of my finger, I climb upstair and dive again toward my fate. ''At this rate, I don''t really care as long as the girl not like'' crazy bitch or plain stupid'' But it is better to see her reaction toward the plain and unhumorous guy like me too. Ariving at the exact town, I glance left and right and realise my position are that of my last log out place. Shaking my head over the bustling city and amazed by the difference between how lively it is from real live,I tried to open the menu where I jolt upon a really bad news. "...how do I find the map again?" Wow, a good thing I put my phone on the capsule so that I can call Vian. There is a limit at how stupid a working man can be. "Maybe the news of my marrying proposal took a bigger blow than expected" Said me while too, wondering how to use that feature either. Just when I almost flip the nonexistent table and log out out of frustation, the 2 faces that I met a few minutes ago flash on my head and bring myself toward that certain place. Taking a deep breath and steadied my step, I lift the corner of my lips and hope these 2 people know what I am trying to find. "Brother, isn''t that Baki?" "What? Oh. Yeah, why is he smilling while coming here?" "Maybe just want to meet us out of convenience?" "No. That is the face of those who want to ask a favour" Oy, I can hearly you clearly! Wait, normal human wouldn¡¯t be able to. Is it because the game feature or something? Scratching my head and touching the fluff yet flexible ear on top, the reality dawn upon me that it is because of my race not because the game itself. ¡®This game is too scary. Too much inside and you would start to confuse between virtual and reality.¡¯ Not like I plan to anyway. ¡°Good afternoon, Ms. Aya. Good day to you, Mr...Oldman?¡± ¡°Do you know this fruit called Durio that have a pointy outer shell? Want me to throw it to that forgetful head of yours?¡± Said the oldman while taking that as big as basketball fruit and ready to throw it at me. ¡°Wait~! Joking, Joking! I just forgot your name a little because I am not that much inter- Woah!!¡± You shouldn¡¯t throw food around! ¡°Wait brother! He is just joking!¡± ¡°...I don¡¯t think he is joking though¡± ¡°I am just joking, seriously~¡± This is the first time in my life I have been thrown with a fruit. I in multiple occasion thrown with plates and bowl in the past though. Is it really normal for this world resident to be this expresive? ¡°Mr. Hayha. Well, this is quite awkward for me. Can I just call you mr?¡± ¡°Then what is the point with knowing my name?? Anyway, do you have something to ask for?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it is not realated with money¡± And you don¡¯t need to take a breath of relief either. ¡°Then, why don¡¯t you come inside?¡± Ask Aya with her signature kind and warm smile. Well, I have a fiance ( probably ) already so let¡¯s not looking at the other girl and go to the topic. ¡°Oldman ''So I ended up called like that? '', ugh. Oldman, do you know the town called Neiza city?¡± ¡°Of course I know. Why?¡± I can tell by their face that asking me why you wanted to know the name of other city all of sudden. But of course I wouldn¡¯t tell a stranger about my circumtance. Glossing it with any kind of excuse I can think of, they finally give up and let me go inside again while the oldman go and inside his room to take something. ¡°By the way, you won¡¯t happen to be sleeping together right?¡± Weird, that oldman not responding. Or maybe that kind of question actually not that sensitive? Should I poke a fun at him again? Nah, even asking this favour to the stranger I just make aqcuaintance with actually quite bold of me, let alone being rude any more than this. Bringing paper like on one hand and huge axe on the other, he ask me what will I choose with unnecessary radiant smile on his rough face. ¡°...I choose on your right hand--WOAH¡± The paper of course I want that but doesn¡¯t mean the other that I not choose should be thrown at me! Just how angry he is to be like that!? ¡®Should I say sorry?¡¯ "I might get angry you know!!" "Ohoh, just do it then" Nah. It is not like I will meet him again in the near future after I go to neiza anyway. "...You know. I want to say sorry" "No need to worry. I just throw it out of joke anyway" ''Really?'' "You can call it even then? Anyway, I want to go to that city as soon as possible so it would be our last meeting" Said me while glancing a little toward these 2 expression. "...You 2 seems a little too calm about this" "It is not like we are that close" "I thought it must be because a certain need right?" "No. Even if it is not because important trip, we sibling didn''t feel a thing actually" Ignoring their discussion about whether my entire being really that important or not, I decide to just snatched the map and look inside of it. So, where is it again? This? Our city...None? "Eh? Oldman, where are we again in this map?" "What? It is in this continent called Boalov. We are a small city compared with other and quite close with Foht Imperial city that is why we ended up includ--what is with your expression" WHY!?? Just why another continent!?? How did it ended up like this? Is it alright for me to meet up in real life instead? No, it must not be done unless there are no alternative left whatsoever. ''For mental health of us both'' I very much want to delete this account and just re-- "...haha.ha.HAHAHA" That is right! I can just recreate the damn game again and decide to be teleported to there! "Hah~ I thought that the world have a grudge against me just now" "Just what is with you, Baki? Your expression are quite a sight to me you know?" "It must be because the place that is really far, brother. You don''t need to worry, we have a transportation using aero ship which can bring you there." "It is expensive though" "No, it is alright. I have a better alternative" And only take a couple of minutes to be done to booth. "If you insist, just do your plan then. And it actually make me qurious about your business over there? Is it because family circumtances?" "If it is a secret, then don''t say it Mr.Baki" It is not that secret as long as I just tell them the general Idea. I just worry about their respon regarding it. ''Haha, just who do you think you are, me. Some kind of galge protagonist where the first girl you met almost certain fall for you?'' "Truth be told, it is about my marriage plan" *Sneak It is not like I am curious about their impression toward me but after taking a sneak, what is with their lukewarm expression. ''Oh, its just that'' And just let it slide as if it is not interesting anymore. "Wait! How come your response too...normal? It is the matter of my fated one, you know?" "I don''t really care, how about you, Aya?" "I do care but not so much?" So it is only me who thought of them as my friend? The world really heartless whether virtual or real wolrd. Right after I just want to get out of this game and recreate new character and forget about the guilt for erasing our bond, a ring icon suddenly make me wonder by poping up in the corner of my eyes. Clicking it out of reflex, a shout which almost make me go deaf surprise me yet again with just how much of bad luck that I accumulated. ¡°OY BAKI!!¡± ¡°Ouch¡± ¡®You don¡¯t need to shout!¡¯ Isn¡¯t it normal for human to do a greeting first? And what is with this cool system, amazing. ¡°I am sorry, I need to make a call¡± Saying sorry and going out in hurry without waiting this host house answer, I immediately ask Vian what is going on by his urgent voice from before. ¡°Baki, I just want to confirm first. Where are you again?¡± ¡®...I have a bad feeling about this¡¯ ¡°It is a city called Bouria¡± ¡°So I am not hering wrongly. Listen, this might be a good opportunity for you. Tommorow morning based of my brother guild¡¯s information, there will be a Beast break out and might attack the city called Bouria.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°At normal world quest, we only receive info that some city make be attacked by monster but the name Bouria appear after a lot of meeting in my brother¡¯s guild¡± My heartbeat quicken as the thought of this whole city, no, Aya and oldman¡¯s face appear on my mind flashing with fear and anxiety infront of the never ending monster wave. There are a lot that I want to ask about after hearing Vian unusually serious tone like, what is world quest, what kind of monster, why am I not receive such a thing, etc but... ¡°...The most important question here, just how much did you certain about it and what time exactly?¡± If it is almost certain, I will drag them out of this city if necessary. They are just NPC and we only met today but never did I feel like talking with a program but just a normal everyday family you can find. ¡°Almost. If I precentage it, around 85 %¡± ¡°...Do you know where and what should I do in order to get out of this city within today¡± ¡°The only way is by using an Aero Ship because the probability your area already surrounded with the beast are not low. As for how, just ask the pilot with some quest and you can hitch a ride for free which only possible if it is your first time ¡±I am the first time and please give me a message as to how to do it. Please¡± ¡°No need to be polite. You owe me a favour. I will CERTAINLY ask you about the payment later¡± This is giving me a headache. A good thing I know about it in advance or else it must be the worst if I witness someone I knew get teared up by monster. What worry me a little bit is the nature of businessman to ask a favour and pay it back later. That guy suddenly become so kind to me so it must be because of something and based of my prediction, it is related with the game. ¡°I can worry about his weird tone later. Anyway, oldman, Aya, please be calm after you hear wha¡ª¡° ¡°You are an adventurer?¡± Hmm? Is it just me or both of them feel like suddenly took a step back a bit?