[October 1, 9:47 AM
Fantasy Realm
Tutorial Section 4 - Central Square]
The strange figure moves instantly next to Alex, and Alex feels something being pulled out from within him. In that moment, he feels 1337’s presence vanish.
A glowing orb of light, pulsing with strange symbols and flickering energies, appears floating beside Alex. Then, with a single gesture from the mysterious figure, Alex, the light orb, and the figure are transported to another place.
Suddenly, Alex finds himself standing in a massive hall, one that unmistakably resembles a…
“A courtroom!” he says, still reeling from the series of events.
Then he hears a voice, a cold, clear tone that seems to fill every corner of the room.
“Court is now in session for the trial of player Alex Kerber.”
Alex stands on one side, with 1337 now floating beside him. 1337 appears as a colorful, golden wisp, much like the spirits from Warcraft, though without a face. Opposite them, a scowling goblin is seated, looking furious.
The goblin sneers, his voice dripping with contempt.
“Honored Administrator, I am Klatch Ingot, a board member of the Goblin Union of the Fantasy Realm. I demand immediate execution for this murderous criminal! He struck down our merchant in cold blood!”
The administrator, a being composed entirely of swirling black, gray, and white particles, turns to Alex. Though the administrator’s lips do not move, a powerful voice echoes throughout the hall.
“Accused, your system was granted the right to invoke arbitration, allowing for a proceeding much like the courtroom trials in your world. However, you must plead your case yourself—no system may speak on your behalf. Your system may communicate with you directly to provide assistance but cannot speak aloud in this court.”
“1337, sorry for dragging you into this. What do I do?” Alex asks 1337, his face a mask of anxiety.
[Host has really outdone himself. Not only did you get caught in the merchant’s scheme, but you overreacted and killed him. I can’t give you the right answers here. You’ll need to convince the administrator that this wasn’t your fault. Use your guts and logic—your intentions matter most, not the result.]
“Honored Administrator, it was never my intention to kill this goblin! I swear!” Alex declares, holding up the [285th Hunter Exam Application] with conviction. “Take that!” he exclaims, trying to make his point.
“I’m sure you’re aware of the risk this item imposes on players. Everyone views it as a death sentence! Please understand, I was only trying to freeze the goblin merchant to defend myself. But he was both so incompetent and so weak that he died instantly! How could a mere tutorial player like me kill a merchant with one strike? I was only using a blizzard sword technique to immobilize him and get away, so he couldn’t force this death trap item on me with his shady tactics. Administrator, is it possible to review the actions of the merchant? I’ve heard he even tricked other players by forcing the item on them with just a nod. Is there a way for you to verify this?”
The administrator’s form becomes eerily still for a moment, then, as if reviewing unseen information, he shifts slightly and finally speaks.
“I have reviewed the footage since this goblin merchant’s arrival in Tutorial Section 4 of the Fantasy Realm.”
A realization strikes Alex: “Tutorial Section 4? So, there are multiple sections?”
Ignoring Alex’s murmur, the administrator turns his focus on Klatch Ingot. “Your merchant manipulated his special privileges, forcing items onto players in underhanded ways. The system grants merchants rights to support players and provide fair offers. But since his arrival, this merchant abused these rights, making deals players never agreed to, with no regard for their intentions. None of his customers left happy—all felt deceived.”
Klatch Ingot flinches, stammering, “Mr. Administrator… mistakes may have been made by our young merchant, yes, but to execute him? Surely that’s an excessive outcome.”
In response, the administrator makes a simple gesture, and before them appears the ethereal form of the goblin merchant, revived in spirit form.
“Merchant, testify now about your interactions with this player, your actions concerning this player, and why you felt entitled to give this player that item, knowing he never intended to possess it,” commands the administrator.
The goblin, looking rattled but regaining his composure, takes a few seconds, then starts his explanation.
“I am an honest merchant. My aim was simply to assist these players by offering a special item free of charge! I even reduced the steep cost of 1,000 FC to zero!”
“OBJECTION!” Alex interjects, drawing incredulous looks from both goblins and the administrator.
“Administrator,” Alex continues, “with your power, surely you can tell that he’s lying outright.”
The administrator sighs. “I refrain from reading minds, despite my capabilities, to ensure fairness for you lower beings. However, yes... it’s quite evident that honesty is not this merchant’s strong suit. Merchant, I suggest you tell the truth.” He lifts his finger, and the goblin’s entire being trembles, screaming in agony as if feeling a searing internal fire.
“I’m sorry! Just give me another chance!” the goblin begs.
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“Go on,” the administrator replies, visibly irritated. “Don’t waste my time; I’m tired of these protocols. A few thousand years ago, I could pass judgment immediately... but bureaucratic reforms ruined everything worthwhile about this realm,” he mutters, his voice dripping with contempt.
The goblin gathers himself and speaks again. “My task was to distribute these [285th Hunter Exam Application] items to players. Recently, with population surges, longer life expectancies, and the internet’s reach, the player influx skyrocketed. To handle this influx, we now have 36 tutorial sections—whereas, 20 years ago, we only had 11. My superior ordered me to distribute these items to control the crowd by offering... let’s call them challenging opportunities. Yes, the items pose risks, but any mission could result in player death. And this item provides a chance for remarkable rewards, so it cannot be called murder or a trap.”
He hesitates, his face showing signs of unease. “I recall explicitly informing this player that a simple ‘yes’ would be sufficient to accept the item. I heard him say ‘yes’ and took that as consent to bestow it upon him. But then he tried to go back on our agreement, even had his friend trip me as I pursued him. He was clearly attempting to kill me, using some kind of frost magic to enhance his sword. I remember a biting cold, and then... nothing.”
“Player Alex Kerber—your response?”
[Host,] 1337’s voice sounds in Alex’s mind, [the situation is precarious. His deception is obvious, but you also killed him. You need a compelling defense to sway the administrator or risk a harsh judgment.]
Taking a deep breath, Alex gathers his thoughts, ready to make his case.
“Honored administrator, I have several points to make,” Alex says firmly. “First, if I were to say to you, or even the goblins here, ‘The next time you use the word I, you’ll give me all your possessions,’ would you find that acceptable? Of course not! Forcing me to avoid a specific word and then construing my utterance of it as my intent to accept a deal, which I neither wanted nor agreed to, is absurd. He is obviously a scammer! And, I wasn’t even speaking to the merchant when I said the word ‘yes.’ I was talking to other players nearby, at a distance from him, without even looking in his direction. That madman was obviously abusing his authority! He is a scammer!!!”
Klatch Ingot snaps back, “OBJECTION! That’s not our issue, Honored Administrator. It’s the player’s own fault for misunderstanding.”
Alex fires back, “Excuse me, but I’ve never had such ‘misunderstandings’ with the system or other merchants in the realm. These ‘rules’ he refers to were never explained to me or anyone else. They don’t exist! This is not how the realm conducts trade.”
The administrator, his patience visibly waning, cuts in, “I side with the player on this point. Let’s move on. Now, explain why you killed the merchant.”
“Honored administrator,” Alex begins, choosing his words carefully, “while some workers may be employed by the Realm, there is no real authority or grievance system in the tutorial section. There was no one I could turn to for clarification or support, It’s not like I can open a support ticket or something! Had the merchant succeeded in forcing that item on me, I’d have had no means of recourse. To protect myself, I felt I had to act. I admit I was angry, but I intentionally used a less lethal option than what was available to me. I could have used a grenade or even a “Fire Sword” attack. This was actually my first time using that ice skill—you may verify that. I was caught off guard by how effective it was, and I didn’t expect it to kill him outright. And let’s not forget, he was chasing me down using rocket boots. I took his aggressive pursuit as a potentially lethal threat, justifying my need to defend myself.”
Klatch Ingot screams, “Liar! Murderer! Don’t believe him, Administrator!”
The administrator, visibly irritated, finally raises his hand. “Enough! Normally, any player who harms a merchant faces immediate execution. But your union’s practices are making me question the integrity of these ‘business’ dealings.”
Turning to the merchant, he snaps his fingers, and the goblin begins to glow with an intense light, appearing revived and unharmed moments later.
“There. Your merchant has been permanently restored,” he declares. “Player Alex Kerber is exempt from soul destruction.”
“YES!” Alex screams inwardly, while 1337’s voice echoes, [Host did a good job!]
“However…” the administrator continues, eyeing them both sternly, “you’ve both wasted my time. Goblin merchant, you are banned from conducting any business for the next five years. Go back to your goblin school and learn how to properly conduct yourself. Klatch Ingot, appoint someone competent to distribute the remaining [285th Hunter Exam Application] so order can be restored, and don’t let this happen again. If it does… there will be consequences.”
He then turns to Alex, and a subtle smirk crosses his face. “As for you, human, for your reckless use of force… I will do nothing further to you. I believe that will serve as punishment enough. I’m curious to see how you handle the results of your actions. This session is now adjourned.”
In an instant, Alex is teleported back to the central square.
Rishi and Tereza rush toward him, Tereza pulling him into a relieved hug.
“What happened, Alex?” Rishi asks, eyeing him with concern.
Alex gulps, feeling a mix of relief and dread. “I guess I’ve been saved from death… temporarily,” he replies, opening his status and realizing the administrator’s ominous meaning behind “doing nothing” and leaving the rest to him.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 3
HP: 187/187, MP: 167/167
STR: 11 (+1), AGI: 11 (+1), PHY: 11, SNS: 11 (+1), CHA: 11 (+5), MNA: 11, INT: 11 SPR: 11 (+5), LUK: 11
Available Stat Points: 0
Innate Skills: Genius Conjurer lvl 3, Statistical OCD lvl MAX
Free Skill Slots: 0/3, Free Basic Skill Slots: 0/8
Basic skills: Basic Close Combat Prowess lvl 3, Basic Footwork lvl 3, Basic Endurance lvl 3, Basic Long-Range Combat Prowess lvl 3, Basic Eloquence lvl 3, Basic Concentration lvl 3, Basic Meditation lvl 3, Basic Mana Control lvl 3
Passive Skills: Pistol Proficiency lvl 3, Alexandrian Royal Swordsmanship lvl 3
Active Skills: Annihilation Grenade lvl 3, Sealions Icewing Embrace lvl 3, Black Magic (Fire-Blizzard-Thunder-Series) lvl 3, Sword Magic lvl 3
Fantasy Coins: 73,200 Soul Crystals: Small x8
Current Weapons: Mr. 5’s Revolver (Deep Blue), Sword of Pluto (Deep Blue)
Current Equipment: Commander Shepard’s Dog Tag (Deep Blue), Sealion’s Might (Deep Blue), Shield of Pluto (Deep Blue), Armor of Pluto (Blue), Visor of Pluto (Blue), Cuisses of Pluto (Blue), Gauntlets of Pluto (Blue), Sabatons of Pluto (Blue)
Miscellaneous Items: Navalia Wolf Jerky x3 (Gray), Healing Potion x5 (White), Gotcha Pork Roast (Light Green), Miso Ramen with Extra Pork (Green), Antidote (White), Jack’s Spare Silvery Mask (Light Green), Frost Essence (Green)
Special Items: Pluto’s Ceremonial Blessing (Deep Purple), Baroque Works Invitation (Purple), Player Contract (Tereza Řezník), Destiny Supporter Token (Purple), 285th Hunter Exam Application (Gray)
“FUCK! - It’s still there!” Alex screams in horror.