At night, in a house in a quiet neighbourhood, two sisters are speaking as they cleaned up the dishes. The elder sister, Alni, washed the dishes as the younger sister wiped and stowed them away.
"Sister! Are you still playing as a Goblin?" The younger sister asked, a bit concerned.
"Yes, why?"
"Nothing~. I just heard a whole bunch of Goblins quit after an event yesterday."
They are talking about the most famous, or rather, infamous first Full Dive VR game that was released two weeks ago, [New World]. It was the most anticipated game for years where players, set as Wanderers in this world can choose to be from a variety of races and artificially experience their life. Among which, few are as notorious as the Goblin race.
"That's true, both the race and spawn are too handicapped, especially after our species evolved from a normal Goblin into a Goblin Elite. The situation turned worse instead of improving."
"Uwahh~ This game is as realistic as it is difficult, but isn't the goblin race, like, cursed. Not only are they weak, their spawn is also smack in the middle, surrounded by dangerous areas. Undead and other races also has it hard, but at least they have support and guides from the Fels."
The Fels are what NPCs are called within the game. Every NPC are simulated using the state of art AI technology that just recently had a break through. They can completely simulate the intelligence of humans and the game was rumoured to be a testing site for autonomous AIs.
"It truly is as difficult as it is interesting, it's like playing in Nightmare Mode, there are obstacles in every direction. But it's not true that that we have no support, an academy opened up the next day of the event. Everyone just missed it."
Alni though back to this morning in game where she received a shocking enrolment certificate to the [Goblin Academy]. She decided to attend only to realise that there were only four players left as goblins.
"Why do they open an academy so late into the game?" The younger girl spoke incredulously.
"I think it's because Goblins can't learn skills properly. Compared to grinding skills as a Goblin Elite, a normal Goblin improves at snail pace." She explained as she remembered to hardship of learning and using skills.
"So the real thing starts after evolving? Yet no one was able to make it to that point. Did the Devs miscalculate?"
"There are three people other than me who stayed."
"…So there are three more freaks like sister." The younger sister mumbled in amazement.
"So cruel~ Well the academy turned into direct mentoring after most people left, so that's a win."
"School even though it's summer holiday, just thinking about that makes me shiver in disgust."
The sisters finished up the last plate as they returned to the living room with some tea. Alni continued chatting as she leaned into the sofa.
"How is everyone doing now. Are they doing well."
"Compared to the Goblins, we are advancing much quicker. Other races are mostly halfway through their first evolution and the Human Races are strong enough to explore independently. We all decided to focus on building our strength first before adventuring together. At our level, we can barely leave spawn."
"I see." Elder sister remembered how little they know about the world since the developers gave almost no information about it. Everything must be discovered by the players, and so the forums became a vital tool for all players. "What race did everyone choose? Are you still playing as human?" She asked suddenly, realising how she ignored them over the two weeks.
"That's a secret~ Everyone decided to keep to ourselves before we meet so I don't know."
"Ehh! But don't you know mine, that's not fair."
"It's little sister's privilege. Don't worry, I won't tell the others, but they should have guessed."
"Was it so easy to guess?"
"Yes, and if you, sister, don't do something, you will be left behind!" Scolded the little sister as she pointed her fingers. "Though at that point we will just go and escort you out the spawn~" Then she turned soft.
"If that happens, I will be counting on you all. But I don't think you will have to, I got a feeling that the 'merit' of being a Goblin starts from here." Said Alni, as she thought the human sized goblin NPC she met today.
[Conditions Realised]
[Acquired Title: 'Student Of The Sage']
[Title: Student Of The Sage
Description: A title granted to commemorate the day you became a student of the [Goblin Sage], one of the few wisest individuals who reached the apex of the wisdom, and beyond.
This title will display powers depending on the relationship between the teacher and students.]