Currently Ahnuhc Ehthan is in a somewhat confusing situation.
He clearly remembered that after logging out from the MMOFPVRPG (Massive Multiplayer Online First Person View Role Playing Game) "Blessed Forge of Divinity " 『BFOD』 at 2: AM he goes to sleep to get up early since tomorrow he needs to finish the Astronomy assignment from Professor Andrew. However when he opens his eyes, not only the sun is already up, he found himself in a place that similar but unlike the sight he used to; there should have been a heap of clothes with questionable smell in a corner, a bookcase filled with various books, toys, ornaments and Catholic Cross hang above, and on a cheap fold-up black plastic table there would be some slighly hard but still eatable pizza in a paper dish, and let not forget the hard carpet with blotches of questionable origin like the back of zebra. None of these was anywhere in sight.
But after looking at the furniture and various swords that displayed on wall stands, he thinks the room had a similarity with his 『Personal Room』 at DFOD. Not only that, but his view also cluttered with BFOD interfaces windows just like when he played the game. Correction. The window seems to floating in the air, but moved following Ehthan's head movement.
He can see the Top Window that contained his Avatar information:
[『Ateijuk』| 『Ahnuhc Ehthan 』 |『28』]
[『Health: 100%』 |『Mana: 100%』 |『Stamina: 100%』]
[『Male』| 『Human』 |『United State of America』 |『Holy Power: 170/200』]
[『Wolfsmund』 |『Guild Vice Leader』]
[『Incarnation Mode-1: ON』 |『Limiter: ON - MAX』]
But since when the Character Information Window contains his real name? The other Window that showed his Skills, Equipment, Inventory, or Jobs aren't different with what he remembered before though.
At first, Ehthan thought that he forgets to finish the log out procedure and take off his HUD (Head Up Display) device or he was still dreaming. But something does not seem right.
BFOD wasn't a VR (Virtual Reality) game. It was just a mainstream MMORPG that use the advancements in 3D Monitor Display and Stereoptics to render graphics using HUD that the player wear in front of their eyes to create relatively-realistic images. The player then controls their character using the integrated gauntlet controller.
Using that logic it would be strange that Ehthan could feel the softness of the bed he sleeps on, the warmth of sunlight that pierces through the windows or the smell of fresh flowers from the fluttering curtains that was carried by the morning wind. There are no devices to replicate the realistic sense of touch, thermal and smells installed in his computer. He also doubts the existence of technology to recreate this sensation. This is so very strange.
If you ignore the game-like windows then it had no different from reality, of course it means that there are no Log Off button.
'What is going on?' Ehthan mind enter a state of deep thinking. Various hypotheses started from realistic to fantastic flashes in his mind. Just when he still thinks about it over and over, the door of his room is opened by someone.
That person is a young woman who wears a stereotypical frilly maid outfit. Her long brownish yellow-tinted hair is tied into two side tails that rest on her shoulder. Her youthful face can be considered a natural beauty that could win in a beauty pageant with a curved proportional body that could invite envies from most females.
As his brain in the process of wondering who the beauty before him is, he suddenly saw her resemblance with Florea, a 『Guardian』 NPC (Non Player Character) from his Guild in BFOD. Since when does the NPC get that realistic texture details? There is also no string of text on top of her head or a NPC marker indicator.
Luckily she wears a nametag with [ Florea d'Printempts] written in cursive Latin letter on her chest. This somehow reminded him of maid café?
"Oh yeah!" He then remembered that the person who organized the guild 『Guardian』's customization, fellow Vice Leader Bigbub said about: "A Castle mush have Maids inside!". He wants to bought 48 『Guardian』 NPC, but Guild monetary and data limitations makes him only purchase 12 of them. Bibbub cried about that later, calling it a shame beyond shame.
"Greetings, High Lord Ateijuk. This one sincerely welcomes Lord Highness' descent from High Heaven."
Florea speak with a very formal tone of voice while giving him a cutesy curtsy. This pulls Ehthan back from his thoughts. Because, hearing Florea speaking, he was a bit surprised. This was very strange. Although advanced voice synthesizers are already frequently used in mainstream and indie games to provide quick voice acting to game character (without the high cost for voice actors) since several years ago and BFOD also used it to voicing some of their important (and numerous) NPC, but Florea shouldn't had the 『Voice Pack』 installed in her.
The Guild "Wolfsmund", which Ateijuk belong to, is not a rich or powerful guild; so, it didn't purchase the optional 『Voice Pack』 for any NPC it employs since it had a rather high price tag. He stills remembered how Bigbub sulks about the lack of Maids' voice pack, but the Guild Master said: "Throwing Financial Assets for Unimportant Cosmetical Features are counterproductive!"
For this Ehthan just want to retort, "But you just spend the majority of Guild Fund, like 90% of it to recreate late medieval German castle-town and build it like a frakking SimCity..."
So the guild-purchased-NPC can only communicate to players using standard floating textboxes, at least the textbox is decorated (since Bigbub won't relent on this point!)
"Lord Highness?"
It seems that Florea is waiting for his reaction.
-Let's see... What to say? Nah... Let's go for this.
"Why is the need for formalities this time? Is my descent are not something trivial that doesn't warrants such treatment?"
Ehthan jokingly speaks with a royal tone of voice; half-jokingly mimicking a feudal lord in a historical drama he saw before. Well, she did call him 'Lord Highness' right?
He thinks that Florea face goes pale for a moment. She then quickly kneels at the floor, performing a splendid perfect dogeza. Eh? Why? Ehthan confused, isn't he just asked 'rather' nicely? What is she thinking?
"This one earnestly asks for Lord Highness' forgiveness if this one in ignorance had made Lord Highness displeased. I beg for Lord Highness' clemency."
Florea formal tone is gone and replaced by what can be said as weeping sound. Ehtan inadvertently feels bad for this NPC.
"I'm just teasing you, Florea. Raise your head; I'm not mad with you."
He said without his previous superior voice and replaced it with a kinder one. Florea raise her head and looks at Yuuto with her still damp eyes, a couple tear beads are huddling in her eyes corner. 'Well this expression is nice' was his thought at this sight.
He gives one of his hands to help Florea get up.
"Mou *cheeks puffing*. You such a mean teaser, Lord Highness. You scared me; make me thinking that my greeting is something appalling or something..."
Florea pouting… Then she remembered something, and quickly back to her previous perfect genuflecting position. Ehthan swear he can't follow Florea movements, what a scary girl!
"Pardon this foolish one Lord Highness for failed to pay respect Lord Highness, and dare to raise her voice rudely without thinking about her position. This one once again begs for Lord Highness' clemency."
What? For some reason Florea apologies once again. Is her internal programming malfunction or something? She is interesting anyway.
"No need to ask for my forgiveness, Florea. Raise yourself. No need to be scared of. You may speak and address the way you comfortable with."
"Is it all right Lord Highness?"
Florea stare at his face. She radiates a strong aura of cute small animal. This makes him flinches, as he is really weak against this kind of stare from women. He Blames his male gender.
"It's an order, Florea."
Florea smiled, and then raise herself up and tidying her rumpled uniform.