"Next, please choose three selection skills."
"I'm done being reckless! At this point, I'm going to embrace randomness completely!"
Without hesitation, I choose the random selection again. The results are...
**[Defense Up]**
**[Status Resistance Up]**
**[Production Success Rate Up]**
"Wow, I've just stacked a bunch of underwhelming boosts..."
Why do I keep getting these ability-enhancing skills? They're probably useful, but there are rarely moments when I actually appreciate having them.
The status resistance is especially lackluster. In games like this, you can counter dangerous status effects with accessories. Sure, having an unexpected resistance that activates automatically is handy, but...
Then there's the increased success rate for production. I can't even imagine how that will play out. It might be the most useful of the bunch.
Alongside these, as a mechanic engineer, I also have the skills **[Invention]** and **[Machine Production]**—both of which are somewhat ambiguous. I don't even understand why **[Invention]** comes with a ruby annotation.
"Invention and production—aren't they basically the same thing? Damn it!"
Well, if I looked it up in a dictionary, the definitions would probably be quite different. But if I was going to do that, I might as well just learn while playing the game.
"Finally, it's time for visual customization. Since this game doesn't have a race system, please adjust your appearance using this customization feature."
My face and gender reflect my appearance in the real world. However, with some modifications, it seems I can change my race or ethnicity. Pointed ears could make me an elf, while a darker skin tone could turn me into a Native American. If I manage this skillfully, even an awkward person could quickly become attractive.
I check my reflection on the monitor. No matter how many times I look, I'm still dressed in a simple charcoal outfit.
"This is just too dull..."
The mechanic job inherently comes with a plain look. The only distinguishing feature is the goggles perched on my forehead. Maybe I should at least change my hair or eye color.
I scan the screen for parts that might suit me, and I stumble upon something intriguing.
"Beast ears..."
No, that wouldn't work. If I put those on, I feel like I'd lose something essential about being human. I should stop with the bizarre choices.
"I'll stick with the default, please."
Normal is definitely better. If I attempt to stand out, I'll just draw unwanted attention. I'll keep my cool and act as if I have no interest in the options. Honestly, I can't help but think how boring I must be.
After making all my selections, I can finally begin in earnest. In the end, my agonizing choices led to a random selection. I can't help but feel I've wasted a lot of time.
The female NPC began the transfer, her voice smooth and reassuring. "Now, I will send you to the world of Deepguard. May the blessings of the gods be upon you..."
As her words faded, my body started to vanish from my feet upwards. This must be the transfer. It felt incredibly strange.
Before I completely disappeared, I turned to her and expressed my gratitude. Although she was just an NPC, she looked entirely human, and I couldn't help but keep my manners intact. "Thank you for everything."
"You're very welcome. I look forward to our next encounter," she replied.
It was odd to hear such sentiments from a computer-generated character. What could those words truly mean? Before I could ponder further, my consciousness slipped away into darkness.
When I regained awareness, I found myself in a vast expanse of green fields stretching to the horizon. The bright sunlight poured down, though there was still a slight chill in the air, indicating it was morning in the game world.
Everything before me was a mere illusion born from consciousness and data, products that did not exist in reality. Yet, the texture felt astonishingly real—the wind brushing against my skin, the scents of grass and flowers—everything was indistinguishable from the real thing.
"Wow, science has come this far…"
I stood there for a while, gazing at the stunning green plains and the morning sky painted in hues of purple. It was a sight I could never experience in the real world unless traveling.
Honestly, I dislike full-dive systems. They create a false world hidden behind data and consciousness. To me, this perception is beneath me, and I can't help but look down on it. Yet, witnessing scenes like this isn't an entirely unpleasant experience.
But I can't afford to get lost in the scenery right now. I need to achieve my goal as quickly as possible.
"Focus, focus. I didn't come here to play around. I need to find what I'm looking for..."
I've come to this Deepguard to search for someone. I have to see for myself if they truly exist in this world. I'm not just a traveler.
With no clear destination, I start walking across the vast grasslands. Suddenly, two players block my path. The moment they see me, they shout excitedly.
"Welcome, newbie!"
"This guy's a mechanic! That's pretty rare!"
One is a woman dressed like a white priestess, and the other is a man in a traditional Chinese kung fu outfit. Judging by their attire, the woman seems to be a cleric, while the man appears to be a martial artist.
They seem thrilled to see me, but I can't understand why they're so happy. The term "rare" catches my attention too. If they think it's rare, they could just choose the same job. Mechanic is a perfectly valid option among the choices.
"Hey, hey, join my guild!"
"That's unfair! Please, please join my guild!"
"Huh? Wait, guild…?"
I didn't quite understand, but it seemed these two were eager for my presence. As someone who was completely out of place in the real world, I felt surprisingly good about it. In fact, it lifted my spirits.
However, following them without knowing what was going on felt too risky. I realized I needed to decline politely. Just then, a new figure appeared.
"Hey! Soliciting at the starting point is bad manners!"
A man clad in armor stepped forward, and judging by his appearance, he was probably a warrior.
With an intimidating, tough demeanor, he exuded the aura of a strong fighter. I couldn't imagine the two grinning in front of me matching up against him. Suddenly, their cheerful expressions turned to panic, and they bolted.
"Oh no, it's people from the self-defense guild!"
"Run!"
The armored warrior pursued them relentlessly. I stood there, dumbfounded, watching the players darting around in what looked like a game of tag.
The warrior, though clad in sturdy armor, was not particularly quick. Yet, perhaps due to a difference in levels, their speeds seemed evenly matched. Both sides were putting up a good fight.
But ultimately, before I could see how it played out, they vanished from my sight.
"This makes no sense... Someone, help me!"
I shouted foolishly, feeling lost in this vast plain with no idea of what to do.
It's all that guy's fault. I don't care if he's some big shot named TP or whatever—he's been selfish from start to finish. He's thrown my life off balance...
Why do I have to go through this? Now, I can't even bring myself to ask him.
I haven't done anything, yet I feel exhausted. Is this what they call mental fatigue?
I lie back on the grass, arms outstretched, staring up at the drifting clouds. I just want to stay still and drift off to sleep in this peaceful moment.
"What am I going to do now...?"
If only I had paid attention to the game's instructions.
If I had been more informed, I might have already taken action and leveled up. But I don't have the confidence to go it alone. I didn't even look anything up online; I suppose that reluctance is part of my problem...
As I contemplate wallowing in this state, someone suddenly peeks into my view, shading my face from the sun.
"Um..."
Startled by the unexpected voice, I freeze for a moment.
In front of me stands a girl. She has a slender figure and shoulder-length hair, and she's wearing a handmade apron with visible seams. It's hard to tell what class she belongs to just by looking at her. Her attire, clearly not suited for combat, suggests she's in a production role, like me.
She speaks up, her voice shy yet confident. "Are you in trouble? If you'd like, I could help..."
I immediately jumped up and stood in front of her.
"What! When did you get here?"
"I just logged in a moment ago."
This was embarrassing. I let my guard down when I thought I was alone and shouted out my feelings, never considering someone else would be making their first login at the same time.
On instinct, I decided to explain my situation honestly. I needed her to understand how I felt right now.
"No, this is my first game like this... I don't know what to do..."
"I see! Don't worry! I know a lot about games like this!"
The girl accepted my situation effortlessly; she was quite straightforward.
She pulled a cylindrical object from the pouch hanging over her shoulder. It appeared to be a map. It was likely an item that all players receive at the start.
I checked my own Ivy item case, which was a pouch at my waist. Sure enough, there was a map and some herbs securely inside. This girl was definitely familiar with the game.
"In situations like this, you should aim for the town first. It's like a tutorial!"
"Th...thank you!"
Holding the map in one hand, she started walking west. I decided to follow her and head towards the town together.
This was incredibly lucky. To run into a player well-versed in games like this felt like a promising start. I bowed my head to the girl whose name I didn't even know and introduced myself.
"Sorry, but I'll be accompanying you to town. I'm Renji Inaba, nice to meet you."
"W-wait! You shouldn't use your real name!"
"Oh right, it's actually Renji. Just like my username."
For a specific reason, I had to play this game under my real name. After all, my visit to this world stemmed from real-world circumstances. I had no qualms about revealing my name, but being teased about it was definitely frustrating.
"Lenny... Electronic Lenny!"
"Well, I guess everyone thinks that, but it's not something you usually say out loud…"
"I'm sorry..."
To say something like that right after meeting someone shows this girl has quite a bit of nerve. Though her chest is small, her courage is anything but.
Still, her casual demeanor is actually quite convenient in this situation. I could connect with her, smooth things over, and exploit the moment to achieve my own goals.
Unaware of my ulterior motives, the girl cheerfully introduces herself.
"My name is AI. How funny that we share the same name!"
"Wow, you too..."
She must really like her name. Otherwise, she wouldn't have used it as her username. It's unlikely she has a complicated backstory like mine.
"Honestly, I was feeling a bit lonely. But I'm glad to have met you here! So, what are your plans when we get to town? I'm thinking of checking out the armor shop first to see if they have any cute outfits, and then…"
This chatterbox just doesn't know when to stop. I mentioned I was just heading to the city with her, but… it seems I've crossed paths with a so-called "unfortunate beautiful girl." Her endless chatter cascades toward me.
"Are you part of the攻略組? Or just here for fun?"
"Neither, actually," I reply.
"Oh, then what brings you here?"
What does bring me here? It's obvious—my purpose has been singular from the start. I accepted this game for a reason, despite my lack of interest in it. That reason stemmed from a certain person.