On the early morning of the next day, the sky was clear without any clouds. Because of last night's rain, it wasn't hot outside. instead, it was somewhat a cool weather.
Mu Fan made a bowl of noodles for Sagiri, but because of the fresh ingredients, even the plain noodles earned 90 points which made Mu Fan speechless.
Yesterday's experience was fresh in his memory. This time he won't be home so he would avoid that awkward moment. He closed the doors and windows like always as he was still worried about that exhibitionist even though he or she was caught already.
After checking again, Mu fan held a bag containing the manuscript of Accel World and left. These guys were professional editors so it would probably take some time to decide whether to publish it or not.
As his home wasn't that far from Akihabara, Mu Fan didn't take the bus but decided to walk instead. The Sakura blossom made his mind relax as he walked toward his destination.
This scene made Mu Fan recite a poem he knew from an anime in his previous world.
…
After half an hour, Mu Fan finally arrived in Akihabara station which is the place he would meet Tomoya in.
Today's weather was good and Akihabara was even more lively than usual.
Mu Fan stood at the station watching the people coming and going. He also saw some maids in front of a maid café attracting customers.
Although Mu Fan was very interested in Akihabara, his purpose was to buy the equipment for SAO with Tomoya so he put the sightseeing of Akihabara to another time.
"Mu Fan, over here!"
When Mu Fan took his phone and was ready to call Tomoya, the latter just arrived.
The boy had short black hair and wore a black uniform while wearing a pair of black rimmed glasses. Except for his face which was somewhat handsome, everything else was black. The boy stood at the side waving his hand toward Mu Fan.
"Tomoya!"
Mu Fan greeted him and walked over. The boy who waved at him was actually Tomoya, his good friend who he last saw in the restaurant.
He was a popular blogger, in fact, his look gave the impression of humble otaku. While if he took off his glasses he would be an ikeman.
"Tomoya, I didn't expect you to arrive this early."
Mu Fan walked over and said with a smile, he went earlier so he could go to the Ascii Media Works earlier. But he didn't expect Tomoya to come even earlier than him.
"Long time no see, Mu Fan!"
Tomoya put his hand on Mu Fan's shoulder and smiled: "That's natural, today is the release of SAO. It will be sold too fast if we didn't come early."
"Don't we have coupons, which booked the equipment number 100 and 101 for us?"
"But we still need to queue. If we don't we would probably wait for the afternoon or even the night."
"Is there really that many people?"
Mu Fan was shocked, he sped up along with Tomoya to where the game was released. He asked in surprise: "How many people are buying SAO?"
"This is only the first batch of equipment. there is only 50,000 piece, which means if everything was sold this time, we have to wait for the next week to get the equipment. According to the information I have, SAO now has only one Zone. All people will gather in that one area for the first few days. So you should know what it means to start the game a few days earlier than others."
"Of course I understand." Mu Fan nodded. If there was a madman in the game, he would be able to create a huge gap from the beginners in just one day.
But doing that shows how much thoughts RECT has put in this.
"Can gold inside the game be bought using Real currency?" Mu Fan asked curiously while they walked. If it was like that, then a poor person will suffer greatly in the game.
"No the game doesn't sell anything using real currency, but players can trade with each other through bank transfer, but RECT will take 5% of the transaction and it's the same with Items traded for gold, some would go to them."
Tomoya explained.
"You can't buy things from the company using real currency but you can trade with players using real currency. It seems like a lot of people will start their path to be professional players."
After thinking of this, Mu Fan hesitated for a bit as he thought about changing the few Fantasy points he got for a gaming talent. With that, he might be able to earn money inside the game.
…
It didn't take them a long time to arrive at the sales office in Akihabara. What surprised Mu Fan was that even though there was still an hour before the release time of SAO, but more than a hundred person were gathered at this place. The queue reached almost to half the street.
"So many people?"
Mu Fan's mouth twitched a few times and asked Tomoya: "Tomoya, there are so many people wouldn't we have to wait until the afternoon to go and meet the editor?"
Although he always wanted to have a relaxing daily life with just writing novels and cooking, as far as he knew the game was just something he casually thought about.
Yes, it's just something I wanted to do casually…
"It doesn't matter. I set the time with the editor to the afternoon already."
Mu Fan: "…"
Mu Fan was speechless.
At this time, Tomoya was pushing through the line of people as he said with excitement: "Mu Fan, when will you send the follow-up story of Accel World, I still didn't read what happened after the last time. You should have already written a lot, right?"
"Adding the one I sent you before, there are 100,000 words. I have them in papers and also inside the phone."
Mu Fan took his phone and sent the rest of the story to Tomoya. It wasn't a problem anyway. He just continued to write as he waited inside the line. When he finishes he should get another book.
Just after an hour of Writing, Tomoya finished what was sent before. He was full of excitement as he said: "Mu Fan, with my experience of many years reading novels, your Accel world will definitively be a hit. If you try harder, this year's best newcomer novel should belong to you because… I really didn't see such a good work for a long time now."
Even Tomoya, who was a famous blogger, expressed his admiration without hesitation. Before when he saw Mu Fan's plot, he was worried about the follow up that would affect the game. After all, many authors wrote interesting novels in the first few thousand words, but it later collapses and becomes boring.
After years of experience, he found that Mu Fan's Accel world was simply so thrilling and as stable as a log.
***
After waiting for two hours, the line in front of Mu Fan finally dispersed and their turn arrived.
Mu Fan took 50,000 Yen and handed it to Tomoya who already took out his own and handed the 100,000 Yen to the sales staffs.
These staffs were wearing official clothing prepared by RECT, especially for this Event. They looked at the coupons and took the money. Finally, they gave two papers with the numbers 100 and 101 to Tomoya and Mu Fan respectively.
"Excuse me, This is?" Mu Fan looked at Tomoya while the latter did the same, they could see the confusion in each other's eyes. Their eyes were saying Isn't this where the SAO equipment are sold? Maybe they were mistaken. How did 50,000 Yen and the coupons be exchanged for these lottery tickets?
Looking at their confusion, one of the staff in front of them smiled and explained: "This is an equipment exchange coupon for SAO. Today we aren't giving the equipment to avoid troubles if the number of equipment isn't enough. So we decided to count the number of buyers and give each one an equipment exchange coupon which he can exchange the equipment with tomorrow."
"Tomorrow!"
Tomoya looked down with disappointment and said: "I need to go to the restaurant to work tomorrow morning. I can't come here to get the equipment."
After saying this, Tomoya looked at Mu Fan as he asked: "Mu Fan do you have time tomorrow?"
"I do."
Mu Fan told him the truth. He had nothing to do anyway. Tomoya was good to him. He will introduce him to the ASCII Media Works and gave him an equipment coupon. So he will come to Akihabara tomorrow and get the equipment for him.
"Then please help me get the equipment tomorrow. If you need anything in the future I will help you."
"Don't worry about it. I don't have anything to do tomorrow morning anyway." Mu Fan waved his hand.
Friends don't owe each other.
At this time, the staff handed a paper for Mu Fan to fill as he said with a smile: "A message will be sent with the opening time of the game. So please fill your numbers here so you won't miss the time of the opening."
Mu Fan looked helplessly. He thought when he buys the equipment he would be able to play directly, he didn't think that he will have to wait for the game to start. IF he knew couldn't he just ask Asuna directly?
With Asuna's identity, he will definitively be able to know when the game would start. But he couldn't help feeling that he wouldn't get the chance to play the game with Asuna.
Mu Fan thought for a bit but he still filled the paper so he won't face any trouble.
"Is there a guide for the game?"
After filling the paper Mu Fan looked to the stuff and couldn't help ask.
The staff apologized: "Sorry, our company won't reveal any information about the game. Players would have to explore it on their own. The only thing we can tell you is that if you defeat the boss on the 100th floor then you will complete the game and your name will be known throughout the entire world."
"Oh, so that's how it is."
Mu Fan nodded. This game was different then other games, it's a good idea to start earlier if he wanted to have a chance to complete it.
…
Because the people behind were still waiting with impatience, Mu Fan quickly put the coupons in his pocket and left with Tomoya.
He will just have to come tomorrow to get the equipment.
Mu Fan and Tomoya already stayed there for a while and there wasn't too much time for the appointment, they hurriedly went to the station.
When they passed beside an arcade, an unwilling sound was suddenly heard. Mu Fan glanced over and saw a middle-aged man crying in front of a Machine-doll. His hands were over his head as he unwillingly shouted to the sky: "I clearly had that Doll, but I was snatched by that wicked girl! I can't believe this, I can't accept this."
Looking at the man's exaggerated moves and words, Mu Fan was a little surprised. What kind of doll could make an adult cry like this?
Mu Fan looked at the Machine-doll and saw a girl wearing a red shirt, denim shorts with socks wrapped around her slender legs. He couldn't see her face from his point of view but judging by her figure, she should be a beauty.
The girl turned in a corner and disappeared from his view while holding a doll in her hands.
"I always feel like I know the girls here from somewhere."
Mu Fan should his head and thought he was imagining things.
I may know her—
She may like me—
He just arrived to this world, how can there be so many people he knew.
However, the fact that the girl just now made such a thought appear in his heart made Mu Fan look at Machine-Doll for a while. Suddenly he thought about getting a doll for his cute little sister.
Although he had no talent for catching dolls, he decided to get one back for her no matter what.
With the temptation of food and dolls, I don't believe that Sagiri won't let me enter her room.
It's just a machine-doll, I'm sorry old-man but I you will make another loss.
…
At one o'clock in the afternoon, Mu Fan and Tomoya finally arrived at their destination.
"This is the ASCII Media Works."
Tomoya pointed at a 20-story building in front of them and said to Mu Fan.
"Here, are you sure you remember the place?"
Although didn't go to Tokyo before in his previous life, he heard about this place a little. In his memory, the office was indeed in Tokyo but it only had a few offices and just one floor.
Can this building be really the ASCII Media Works from his memory?
"Yes, it's here. I have been here several times already."
Tomoya smiled and walked toward the building as he said: "What is it that difficult to accept it?"
"No."
Mu Fan shook his head, it seemed like this world wasn't the same as the one he used to know. This era is the most prosperous era of the ACG Empire.
So this place changed due to that. Even some unknown novels in his original world were now bestsellers, so the ASCII Media Works had a huge development and it's not as shabby as it used to be.