[Time is 22:30]
I was told to get rest by Ron and the others, but I couldn't sleep. I felt uneasy and afraid, unfamiliar with everything that was here.
It was like going hiking with many possible dangers, and yet those dangers were something broader.
As I went to walk around the firelit settlement, the people and demi-humans were smiling and laughing together.
As if the war that they said was happening was not there.
This didn't feel like a game. It feels very real.
Maybe it was their way to cope with how things are, but maybe they're just trying to forget it.
"Can't sleep?"
"I-I...yeah."
From behind me, there was a girl that seemed to be my age. She was Thei's daughter.
"Where are the other players...?"
I asked her. I've been told that players had appeared nine years ago but I wondered if any players might be here right now.
"Ah... It's... a long story. Would you mind listening if you ain't gonna sleep yet?"
"——. Well, sure. I'm curious anyway."
The way she spoke just now felt sad. It makes me wonder if I am the only player here right now.
"Just like they've told you, before the appearance of the players, the King had already detested the adventurers that were slowly gaining more power and popularity than him."
She began with the existing knowledge that I know to build the story she had.
Apparently, after the players appeared, who were then deemed stronger and more heroic than the adventurers, the King went against their era, antagonizing them even if they had wanted to only protect the Kingdom.
He wanted to bask in the glory of saving the Kingdom alone, without the help of otherworlders or barbaric heroes that took away his reputation.
The people had no way but to follow what the King wished as his army which was considered to be the most powerful in the Kingdom could defend against thrice the large forces of the Empire, yet fail to protect more innocent lives.
"What?! He only defended the Capital?!"
"It was selfish and brutal. It was the King's fault that many had lost their lives, but he still stands as the King. Even if the Empire was evil, the King's morality was beyond."
To think that there would be such a selfish King. Ah, I'm familiar with such a cliché. I've read too much about such that even hearing this only surprises me about the real reason for his actions.
A shallow and unreasonable cause for the death of many.
"So, the players who were with us before had sacrificed themselves when the Empire attacked Nora, while the others had defected to the Empire as the Kingdom despised them, but there were a few players that the King had taken a liking to."
"I thought he hated every adventurer and player?"
"I thought so but, there are the famous three players and adventurers that serve under him. They were called the Silver Banquet."
"S-Silver Banquet?"
As I heard her say that out loud, I had almost slipped my tongue and rolled out laughter. It was such a cringe name that I had forgotten that this was a world within a game.
"Yes. But despite their attractive faces and righteous propaganda, they were rumored to have killed thousands of soldiers of the Empire. They had even found spies within the Kingdom, obliterating them out of their sight."
She continued to exaggerate the words she used, even going through all those hand gestures just to tell a story.
"It was how strong they were. They were even equipped with legendary artifacts like the Excalibur and Soul Ripper. They were people that can turn a city upside down in a night."
She kept on telling me, however as I observe her face, she was enjoying this. The moment where we talk to one another. Forgetting the war that existed.
This wasn't just a world inside a game. This was very real to me.
"Haha. They do sound scary for me."
I laughed at her embellishment of the stories, which she even had started after getting carried away.
"Ah, that's right. I haven't introduced myself."
She held a hand out to her chest, introducing herself.
"I'm Nara."
A unique name. This might as well be the night I start to appreciate everything.
"I'm Ichiro."
I might as well forget about everything and live in this moment.
A world inside of a game was not so bad after all.
That's what I thought, shortly.
△▼△▼△▼△▼△▼
It has been a week since I had arrived in the settlement, receiving physical training from Ron who stripped me of my dignity.
Every morning, it was hellish training that involved running around and push-ups.
As they said that supposedly, for a player, five skills and status points are granted after a tutorial, making it so that they do not need any physical training.
However, for me who had only received one. Such physical training was necessary to bring up my strength by at least five points up.
[Ichiro Mushibami: Lvl 1.]
Status Chart
Intelligence: 40
Strength: 15
Constitution: 20
Agility: 77
Attack Speed: 60
Luck: 51%
Mana: 10/10
[Skills]
Healing Factor Lv. 1, Luck Lv. 2, Curiosity Lv. 1, Inspect Lv. 2, Wisdom Lv. 1, Cooking Lv. 3, Household Lv. 3, Insight Lv. 2
[Unique Skills]
Traveler Lv. X, Adaptation Lv. X, Blink Lv. 1
[Class]
Commoner/■■■■
[Sponsor]
N/A
I've been doing push-ups until my arms gave up. My muscles were frozen and my breath felt cold. This was something you'd never usually feel when exercising.
"Nara! Heal him, please. We're not done yet."
"[Quick Heal]"
She cast upon me who was pathetically fatigued on the ground.
The feeling of frozen muscles was gone, and even the feeling of scorching tendons was gone. She was able to heal the pain away in my muscles, however, the mental fatigue was still there.
I can't get up even if they say so. I just feel so... tired.
"Get up, Ichiro! How are you going to survive in this world with that kind of attitude!"
He just won't shut up. I can't even keep up with the exercises he is making up.
"I know you guys are working very hard, but can't you at least give him a break?"
Nara helped me back up, with my feet trembling with just the attempt to stand. I can't even lean to stand up, it was like being paralyzed, yet I could still move.
"Huh? What happened? Did you guys somehow get together now, is that it?"
Ron somehow slipped in a small tease that had made both of us suddenly flustered, which made me fall back down to the ground harder than I did before.
"N-No?! Why would you think that?!"
Somehow, both of us shouted the same thing. Although, it was true.
Every night, we'll sneak out and go out on walks around the plains. Telling stories to each other. It was always a refreshing moment to have.
How I wish those moments would last forever.
"Nara. This is war. If we're going to have a break, that is after we die."
Ron directed those words to both of us. However, as someone who didn't experience war firsthand. My first response was this;
"Come on! I've been dying every morning to what? Just to earn one point of strength and constitution?! Can't I just skip through all of this and teach me some skills already?!"
If only I had those overpower powers those bastards had, then I'll put it to good use.
I'll use it to save everyone! I will not have to go through this shitty training just to earn the power I want!
"Tell me. Are you jealous of those people gifted with strong skills?"
Ron stood up in front of me and had his back against the ground.
"..."
"Are you jealous of them?! Answer me!"
"YES, I AM!"
I shouted out as I curl up and slam the ground.
I was super jealous of them. I was ambitious that I would even be one of them. I was never the main character in this game's story.
This is. This is just me hitting my limit.
"Then, why aren't you standing up?"
"——?!"
"If you're jealous then stand up!"
Ron shouts again.
It was deafening to the ears.
I was jealous, but do I even have the chance to surpass those bastards?!
They don't understand that being overpowered means that no one can defeat you.
"Even if they are stronger. There will always be someone greater, and that can be anyone as long as you persist..."
"..."
Those lines he said were somehow familiar like I heard or read them before.
"So what will you do, buddy? Stay in the ground and be weak? Or stand up and fight against your limit!?"
It was a quote that was from the game itself whenever you lose. When you lose a level, it gives you rewards so you don't feel bad after putting in so much effort.
It was something greater, just like he said.
"You fucker....!"
I slowly leaned on both of my hands to stand up, forcing through my mind that thought it was impossible for me.
I cursed Ron, I used this inferiority that I felt to push myself forward and stand back up.
Hearing that line makes me remember the losses I had in the game, only to be given something useless.
If I falter here now then...!
"I might as well die trying!"
I was standing on both of my feet. My body was trembling but I could do it.
I can't believe that I'm standing! Now, I'll just have to step forward and smack Ron once!
"I'll definitely...!"
Suddenly, the world twisted into darkness. It became dark.
"Ah shit. I—"
"..."
[The skill Adaptaion Lv. X is activated.]
[The skill Luck Lv. 2 is triggered.]
[The skill Healing Factor Lv. 1 is triggered.]
[You have went beyond your limit, you feel a bit stronger than you are before.]
[Your luck has given you more chance to reap rewards!]
[Strength increased by 1]
[Strength increased by 1]
[Strength increased by 1]
[Strength increased by 1]
[Strength increased by...]
[Strength...]
[...]
[Adaptaion Lv X. is breaking its limit.]
[Adaptation Lv X. has turned into Evolution Lv 1.]