This truly is a disgusting world. Vile, wretched, ugly, these words don't even begin to describe the world of RUINIFORM Online.
"Nngh!"
I'm being hurt.
"P-please, stop!"
I'm being violated.
Cast aside like a broken tool, I lie on the floor, staring at the night sky. For hours, I've been used against my will. I've been broken, broken to the point where I've lost all hope.
My arms are tied behind my back and a piece of cloth is tied around my mouth. I can barely move.
"It's cold…"
How can the strongest be so weak? Well, this isn't a game any more. I wonder if there's anything I can do? But, I can barely concentrate. That scum did something to me to make me weak. Drugs? Probably. I can't believe this is the first thing that happens after showing up in this world.
"It's freezing…"
My eyelids are heavy. My mind and my body are exhausted. I close my eyes. I can't hear any of them, they must be asleep. I want to sleep. I want to sleep in my bed that I spent so many nights in. I don't want to be in this place. My life before is complete luxury compared to this. It's only been a day, but it feels like weeks. I really want to talk to Morgan again. I just want to...
"Miss! Miss! Are you OK!?"
"W-what?"
"Miss, are you alright?"
"Where am I?…"
"You're safe, don't worry. You're at the church."
"…"
"A group of adventurers found you in a deserted camp. You were almost frozen to death. It's unbelievable that you survived that long."
"I was…ra-"
"It's fine. There's no need to say anything. Just know that you are perfectly safe now. No one will harm you."
"Thank you."
"My name is Adelaide. I'm working as a priestess in the church. What's your name?"
"P-Petra."
"That's a pretty name, Petra. You've been asleep for three days, how about something to eat?"
"Thank you."
"It's no problem at all. Afterwards, we can go take a bath together."
"Hm."
The priestess exits the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
That night was truly the worst experience of my life. Heh, to think that's how I'd lose my virginity. I may have lost something then, but I gained something even more valuable. Knowledge. The knowledge that is what this world truly is like. Here, magic or training doesn't determine your strength. What does, is your will to survive. From now on, I will survive. To give up now is to insult those who don't, and more importantly, insult me.
Because I'm worth not giving up on.
I don't know why I'm here, or how I got here, but I won't let this world have victory over me again. But first…
"Here's your meal! It's meat and potato stew."
I need to eat!
After eating, Adelaide and I took a bath. It felt good to finally be clean, but the process of cleaning was rather embarrassing. Especially with the cute priestess there too. However, I prevailed.
"I assume you don't have any money, huh?"
"Yeah. Everything I had was stolen."
"Well, I suggest you go apply at the Adventurers Guild in town. You don't have to do anything dangerous, just help out the other adventurers."
Perfect. I'm not acting as anyone's lackey though.
"I can take you there if you want. Or do you want to rest for a bit?"
"No, please take me. I don't want to be a burden."
"Alright then. I have some shopping to do anyway."
We head out for the Guild. Along the way, Adelaide explained the whole process for becoming an adventurer and earning money. Of course, I know about this all already, but I'll explain anyway. When signing up, you pay a fee of 5 gold coins. Adelaide said she'd pay that for me, and I can just pay her back.
Before becoming an official Adventurer, you have to decide on a class. This will help guilds if there are ever missions that require specific skills. Some of these classes are: Tanks, Mages, Swordsman, etc. I'll be applying for the Mage class since I specialize in magic.
With every class comes an examination. This will determine your base capabilities. For the Mage class, there's a special staff that measures your magic. On the tip is a crystal that'll glow different colours depending on your magic's strength. After that, you get issued a rank, and you're free to go.
I've only applied once before, and that was still when I first started the game. I mainly did it to meet other people, but everyone was already in their respective parties, so I just quit and grinded on my own.
"So, since you don't have any skills or experience, you can just apply for the Helper class. You'll earn a significantly less amount of money this way, but there's not much choice."
"Oh no, I'm aiming for the Mage class."
"What!? Can you use magic?"
"Yup."
I conjure up a tiny ball of black fire in my palm. "See."
"Wow. I thought you were just a beautiful woman."
"I'm not just a pretty face, you know. Oh, is this the guild?"
We approach a large building with crossed swords atop the entrance. A couple of roughed-up men walk out. They probably just finished a mission.
"Yup, this is the Adventurers Guild!"