As I started the game, my first task wasn't to sightsee the VR world but to search for a contractor.
As a spirit player, I cannot exercise my "power" without a contractor. Without [MANIFESTATION], sightseeing is a waste of time. I can't level up either. No level-up means no money. Therefore, I must find an NPC to contract with.
However, there's one problem. I am part of the "first wave" of this game. I was one of the earliest players to buy the pod, but my resignation process took longer than expected.
Now, it's been three days since the service started. This is the worst! All the promising NPCs have already been taken by other players.
The kingdom's knight commander. The holy maiden. The handsome third prince (the first prince apparently dislikes spirits). Most other seemingly strong and good-looking NPCs have already been contracted by other players.
"I also prefer a beautiful girl, if possible." If I have to watch over someone, I prefer a woman over a man, and the more beautiful she is, the better. Moreover, the stronger they are from the start, the better it is, right? Considering the growth boost and the penalty I have set up, an initially high-level NPC might not be ideal, though.
I floated away from the royal capital towards the surrounding villages. In my current form, I was like a glowing balloon.
Apparently, NPCs without the aptitude couldn't see me, so I could observe anything freely. Some players, not choosing contractors, spent their time peeping. This game is restricted to players aged 19 and over, meaning even the erotic scenes are unrestricted.
By the way, there are no limits on gore either, leading some players to quit due to trauma. It's not even been a week since the game started, though.
I had been floating for an hour. Although time flows three times faster in the game, it felt like a waste of time. I was torn between my desire to be selective and my urge to start quickly.
It was at that moment.
"St-stay away!"
At the outskirts of the mountains, near a small village, a young girl was being attacked by monsters. The enemies were goblins, and they were drooling all over her, pinning her down. She was still a child, but the goblins were small too.
They seemed to have found the perfect prey. Well, I can't really tell from a goblin's face.
"Wow..."
This is the terrifying part of "PHO." Such things happen routinely. Some players contract beautiful girls and happily venture into the field, only for those girls to be defeated and violated by goblins.
Some players get excited, some are devastated, and others cry out in despair. Many different types of players emerged. The internet buzzed daily with debates on whether this game should be discontinued due to these things.
"This... is really unpleasant to overlook." Even though they are NPCs, they are equipped with advanced AI. Whether or not you can call it emotions, they seem to experience pain and sadness.
I sighed, accepting this as fate.
▽Liorna's Perspective▽
The young girl, Liora, was in despair. She had ventured into the mountains to collect medicine for her sick mother. She knew there were monsters but never thought she would actually be attacked.
"S-someone, help—"
A goblin punched her in the face. Blood spurted from her nose, and her vision blurred with flashes of light. The goblin was already in an attacking stance, pulling off Liora's skirt. Finding her smooth skin, young flesh, the goblin laughed gleefully.
'It's over'
Liora closed her eyes, envisioning herself being taken to the goblin's nest, her belly swelling with goblin children. She saw herself living a life of a breeding sow amidst filth.
"Kill me..." She said, just then.
'Can you hear me, young girl?'
"...Huh?"
Turning away from the goblin's filthy face, Liora saw a floating black orb beside her. The orb spoke to her.
'Girl, do you desire power?'
She couldn't understand what it was saying.
'Do you not want the power to protect yourself from these vile creatures?'
She didn't understand. But the voice was so gentle. It was the first time anyone had spoken to her so kindly.
'It's too early to give up. If you contract with me, you can be free.'
"Free...?"
'With power, you can do whatever you wish. You may live as you please, and I will permit it.'
'I can live as I please...I can save my mother?'
'Will you contract with me?'
In Liora's despairing heart, a spark ignited.
"I will! I'll contract! I want to save my mother!"
[PLAYER ZEPHYR, you have contracted with NPC: Liora.]
Suddenly, the black orb burst. Immediately, darkness enveloped Liora's entire body, and power surged through her. She felt an overwhelming sense of invincibility. Liora's eyes widened.
At that moment, the black orb spoke.
'I see. Your name is Liora, correct? Liora—scream it.'
"W-what should I...scream?"
'Darkness Creation!'
"DARKNESS CREATION!!!"
And with that, the darkness was unleashed.
▽Zephyr's Pov▽
What I unleashed using Liora's MP was one of the dark spells.
A dark sphere collided with the goblin's face, sending its body flying with the impact. It probably wasn't enough to kill it in one blow. The goblin tumbled on the ground, quickly getting back up.
However, its face was now a mangled mess. It had been ugly to begin with, but the injuries seemed to add a certain grim determination to its appearance.
By contracting with me, Liora now had [HP Auto-Recovery]. Her face, which had been punched, was gradually healing.
As Liora stood in shock, I spoke to her.
"Stand up, Liora. The battle isn't over yet."
"Uh, what should I do..."
"Pick up a weapon."
"A weapon?"
Liora glanced at the sickle lying on the ground. She must have brought it to gather herbs. The sickle was old, its blade rusted and chipped. But a weapon is a weapon. She picked it up and, with trembling hands, pointed it at the goblin.
"Run."
"O-okay!"
Liora dashed forward. It was an amateur's full sprint with no sense of distance management. Despite the contradiction in terms, her short stride didn't gain much speed.
The goblin raised its club mockingly, only for it to be ensnared by a rope made of [Darkness Creation] that I had cast.
"Gyah?"
The goblin, bewildered by the loss of its club, looked up just in time to see Liora drive the sickle into its unprotected heart.
[Zephyr has levelled up!]
[Liora has levelled up!]
[Zephyr's dark magic has levelled up!]
[Darkness Creation has leveled up]
[Liora has reached level 10 and can now change jobs]
The first game logs flowed. So many!
Next to me, in my joy, Liora looked at her own trembling hands in astonishment. But the twisted smile on her face was not one of fear—it was joy.
Yes, it was joy.
That day, I knew, I am creating a monster—a little girl-shaped one.