Prologue
Kajiyama Susumu wasn't a happy man right now.
He was sitting in a small side-room of a studio, connected to the broadcasting room. In front of him was a large vanity, one of many situated side by side. Its design was simple yet elegant, the wood stained a very light color, yet showing off a very rich tint. Above the mirror were several lights to better see the subject using it, and on top of the vanity's tabletop were a host of many different care products and make-up.
Kajiyama twitched as he felt his 'attendant' move around him, forcing him to endure this torture of being prepared for broadcast, before he sighed. He didn't understand why he couldn't go to air as he was when he arrived.
'Doesn't help that I feel like i'm being made a fool of. What kind of man wears makeup?! Damn Hideyoshi, I bet this was his doing, wanting to see me squirm.'
Instead of spending his valuable time to sit on a talk show and answer some asinine questions about god knows what, he could instead be back at the programming lab working on the company's masterpiece, and his own child of creation.
'But nooooo, I have to be here they said. Its very important that I be here to promote both good public relations and the game itself. Pfft, bullshit. Not like they couldn't send someone else in my place. I'll never understand those corporate heads.' Kajiyama grumbled to himself.
Hearing someone talking to him by his side, he focused on his surroundings again, leaving his thoughts aside.
“... Such an honor to have you here to answer the many questions we have. You have no idea how much this means to us and our studio.”
Kajiyama turned his head to the side to look at the other man sitting next to him in the bordering vanity, having so much cosmetics applied it made him slightly nauseous to look at. The man's name was Takeshi Kitano, the host for the show he was going to appear on. Takeshi was a very feminine man, with very sharp features that the many female viewers idolized and wanted to covet for themselves. He had the normal onyx eyes and ebony hair that most Japanese had. His long hair was slicked back with gel, and he was wearing a very form-fitting blue suit that showed his thin wiry frame.
“I mean, this is the first time we've had contact with Trivate Inc. since the release of its very first Virtual Reality Capsule! And after many years, you finally are coming out, to reveal to the world news of a completely new game for the VR? This is going to get us record-shattering views once we air. We could even...” Takeshi continued his rambling, not paying attention to whether his guest of the evening was even remotely paying attention.
Kajiyama silently started to lament again at having such a bubbly and talkative interviewer for the first release of information of the game. Someone so young couldn't even possibly fathom nor appreciate the complexity of it, and yet they chose this show for it.
'I mean sure, it does have the most viewers in comparison to other relative programs, and the viewer base itself is very diverse, but come on! I'm sure they could've found something more cultured and educated, or at the very least NOOOOT have sent me!' He lamented.
Kajiyama almost snapped at the girl who was attending him before he managed to reign himself in.
Thanking god that she was done, almost throwing off the styling gown as he stood up, garnering a sideways look from Takeshi. He scurried his way to the concession table to the side of the set, before grabbing one of the numerous water bottles set there alongside other food and drinks.
He waited there sipping his water before Takeshi stood up from his own vanity, seemingly finally finished with getting prepared for the show. Making his way over to Kajiyama, he smiled to the man before grabbing his own water.
“Well Mr. Kajiyama, are you ready to reveal to the world what Trivate Inc. has been hiding these past few years?”
Kajiyama didn't like the wording of that, as it felt like he and his company were being accused of some crime for refusing to comment to the press. But, knowing he would be severely scolded if he didn't uphold his company's image and name, and worse - have to listen to Hideyoshi nag him for being too 'uncool' to sit through a single interview - he smiled before speaking.
“Why that's exactly what we plan to do. The whole world has waited for this moment, and we merely plan to show it to them.” He responded confidently, though inwardly crying at how he had to be polite and play nice while he could be going over programs and working on his beautiful code. He could've finally been finishing that hexadecimal double variant polyamor code he was working on in the time it took to finish this interview!
“Well then Mr. Kajiyama, after you.” Takeshi motioned with his water, following him as he went towards the studio…
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“Three!”
Kajiyama saw the many cameramen swivel their equipment to point towards him and Takeshi where they were seated.
“Two!”
He blinked as the lights overhead and around the area flared and dimmed, before they finally stopped at what he assumed was the perfect brightness. That, or they just thought it fun to try to blind their guests on the show right before it started. He knew he would've.
“One!”
'Finally! Let's just get this over with, so I can finally get back to work.' He silently whimpered to himself.
“And we're live!”
Kajiyama shifted in his seat as he heard music announcing the start of the broadcasting and the intro to the show.
As this was going on, he saw Takeshi shuffle the cards he held in his hands, before smiling brightly into the camera.
"Hello Japan!” He started, “As you know, i'm Takeshi Kitano, and this, is Flash-Game News, where you can be informed of anything technology and game related. As our motto states, 'Reporting News in a Flash, As interactive as a Game'."
Kajiyama almost laughed as he heard the show's 'motto', but with great effort he managed to keep a straight face as Takeshi paused and straightened his cards. The studio took this as cue and started to cheer with what Kajiyama assumed was enthusiasm. As the cheering died down, Takeshi continued to speak.
“So, lets get to the biggest scoop of the night! As many of you might have heard, there have been rumors surfacing for years about a brand new VR, or Virtual Reality, game, but nothing could be confirmed and it was left to itself. Now I know many of you might be thinking, 'Whats so special about this particular game?'. Well, today we're here to tell you exactly that and much more. As you see, the covert game that we've discovered was in fact a hidden project by Trivate Inc., the very people who made the VR machine we use today!”
Kajiyama inwardly basked in the reactions of the audience members as they all gasped and shouted in astonishment. Looking at Takeshi, he was smiling in a condescending fashion, motioning for the audience to quiet down so he could continue.
“Yes, i'm just as shocked as the rest of you at this news. For the past five years no one has managed to have any contact or interaction with the company as it showed the outside world a taciturn silence. But now they've decided to come out of their shell and show the entire world what they've been working on. And here to represent Trivate Inc. and answer all of our questions, please welcome Mr. Kajiyama Susumu, Head Developer of the game 'New Life!”
Kajiyama took this as his cue to stand and wave a little to the cameras, though he really didn't care if it wasn't. He took his seat and turned his body towards Takeshi, trying his best to look cheerful.
"Mr. Kajiyama, it's a pleasure to have you here." Takeshi grinned, leaning forward in his chair. " Now please, before it drives our viewers - and me - crazy, would you mind answering some of our questions?"
"Of course! That is why i'm here." Kajiyama cheshire smiled at Takeshi, cheeks hurting from the effort, which was by no means small.
Shuffling his cards, and waiting a few seconds while looking at the cameras, he turned his attention back to his prey, the information abundant Kajiyama. "Okay, so one of our first questions is, what is the premises of the game?"
Kajiyama grimaced inwardly at this blunt question. He really was hoping for something far more subtle and probing, not this straight to the point. "Well, like the name states, the whole idea of this game is to start a 'New Life' so to speak/The setting of it is within the world of Lyel. There are two Major Continents, with a smaller Third Continent. It is a world of Sword & Sorcery, Magick and Might, a life of survival."
Takeshi seemed impressed with this, if his raised eyebrows were anything to indicate, and so was the crowd. While a very vague explanation, it seemed to grasp the attention of everyone, for a valid reason. There hadn't yet been a VR game entailing that of a fantasy setting.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
"That sounds absolutely wonderful. Now, would you be so great as to kindly explain the different features that set it apart from other games? What makes it tick, makes it shine? What could possibly make it so that I - and our viewers - would want to spend any time or money on it whatsoever"
'Now we're getting somewhere' Kajiyama thought. 'I'd take points off for wording, and maybe lack of exact questions of mechanics. Hell, he could have tried even comparing it to the one or two previous titles of VR'.
"I'm glad you asked. You see, 'New Life' has a feature we call "Synthesize". When you create your character, the very first thing you do is make your 'Background', the story of your character leading up to his current life. The world and AI controlling and monitoring it will incorporate, modify, and establish it within, allowing for many possibilities. Its special function is that while keeping the basis of your input, it will modify and improve upon it, making a complete history of your 'Character'. This is both a fixed and random action, to allow all players to be equal in power and setting. It adds both Tragedy and Joy to your life in the game, giving you real motivations and goals alongside your personal ones as a user. Due to the element of random selection, some might have more Pain and Sorrow than others, but that is all part of the fun of the system. After choosing your 'Race' and Name - though you can have a randomly chosen name if you choose so , or lack the basic creativity to make it yourself - you are put someplace into the world relating to your 'Background'. As you find yourself near a settlement, you finally start playing."
Everyone's eyes within the studio were glittering as they listened to Kajiyama go on with his explanation.
"Here comes the true essence of ''New Life' and the "Synthesize" system. You have your memories of the world outside of the game, outside of Lyel, 'lessened'. They are, in a very ingenious way, made as an underlay, made less important and apparent, covered by those of your 'Character'. So, this allows you to remember things from Lyel, from 'your' New life, while still retaining your awareness as a person, and the ability to direct still as a game. After that, you live, you accomplish goals, learn new things, all this and much more. When you finally reenter the regular world, you retain memories of your adventures in Lyel. It is 100% realistic except for the fact that you still have some ability to think and know inside of the game, and use the ability to check 'Status' and relative menus like that. Otherwise, it is completely dependent on interaction in the world and its inhabitants. Npc's aren't programs but people, with lives and dreams. Also, as a heads up, if your 'Character' dies, they are permanently dead. Their legacy, if any, is left to the world, recorded, or hidden, left to rot. You can then create a new 'Character'."
At the end of his explanation, the entire studio audience started cheering and applauding. Even Takeshi was clapping, very much so. As the cheering started to die down, Kajiyama took a deep gulp of water before setting it back down onto the table. He was really exhausted from all that talking, and just wanted to curl up and nap near his programming.
"I am just overwhelmed at all of this. This is a revolution in the world of Virtual Reality. A whole new world seems to be opening before us. Now, how difficult is the game? What are the 'Races ' that you can be in 'New Life'? What are the 'Classes'? And what is the time ratio of the game to ours, if there is one?"
Kajiyama almost cried at the rapid fire questions, and the agreement of the crowd to them, before taking a laborious moment to answer them.
"Well, in terms of difficulty, there will be crime, death, war, and poverty. Monsters are very populated in the world, but they aren't so easy to kill. They threaten everyone, as they truly are 'Monsters'. They are faster, stronger, more agile. Some are strong in Magick, have sharp cunning and intellect, and need specific steps to defeat them. It might take a while for a player to be able to kill even the weakest one. In fact, Leveling is very hard to do in the game. I don't expect to see anyone over level 10 in even one year. To Level Up, you need to have experience, to have the ability to be considered stronger on your respective 'Class'. In fact, you don't have a 'Level' until you do find a 'Class'."
The whole room was hushed in stunned silence as he started to explain about some of the finer details of the game. If a pin dropped, it would sound like a loud fanfare of trumpets in comparison to the hushed silence of the room.
"Now, there are three Races so far, but there are more, many more, that need to be discovered. And even if you discover them, you won't be able to turn into them, unless you make a new character, or they're a special type of race that allows tran-genome pliability. As for Classes, there are Sections, such as (Mage), (Warrior), and (Rogue). Within
these Sections are a few Branches, and some of them are already attainable, while others need to be sought ought. There are even some 'Hidden Classes' that can only be obtained by hard work, luck, and skill, all in collaboration with eachother.
Taking another breather and a sip of his water, Kajiyama let his words sink in before finishing to answer, hoping he had stunned everyone enough to give him time - preferably hours - to relax after all this explaining. Sadly, his interview wasn't finished. Thinking of a final last ditch piece of information that wasn't too important that might end this for him quickly, he acted.
"Also, for all those who are used to it, the time ratio is within the game will be a ratio of six hours to every one of ours(6:1)."
"Well Mr. Kajiyama, I think I speak for everyone in saying that this sounds like the epitome of gaming, and can't wait for it. One last round of applause for our wonderful guest everyone!" Takeshi grinned in humor, seeming to get the hint the disgruntled programmer was sending him.
The audience roared it's approval to these words while cheering loudly, chanting the game's name.
"Well, I must be going soon, but I do have one last thing to say." Kajiyama twitched a little. 'Forced to by those pricks of bosses that I have.'
"In three days on our company's website we will be hosting a lottery. After one week, we will announce a winner who will not only be given a New Specialized VR Machine that we made for 'New Life', but given special accommodations, and a week early access to the game. We'll be using footage from him along with other clips to showcase the game on its day of release. As a bonus, if the winner has interesting enough adventures, we might even negotiate a deal and broadcast them. Anyway, I truly must be going..." He trailed off.
"Thank you for your time sir!" The entire building shook with the combined voices of over one hundred people
"No problem, it was my pleasure." Kajiyama said with, perhaps just a bit more of a true smile.
He stood up and shook the Takeshi's hand, before exiting as quickly as he could off to the side. This was definitely the last time he was ever going to be a part of any type of media. 'I swear I'm going to get you for this Hideyoshi, I swear I'll send you so many viruses you'll wish you never volunteered me for this!'
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Takeshi picked everyone's interest back, trying to move along the show back to its normal pace.
"Well you heard him here folks, the most anticipated game, as i'm sure you can all agree, will be coming out very soon, along with a lifetime chance for free access and other perks. We'll investigate and get more details within the next hour. Now, lets switch over to..."
The news went on with their regular program, but everyone's mind was on this 'New World', and the lifetime chance to win greatly. Millions of peopled had tuned in to that program, and everyone's minds were turning with thoughts of winning, of adventures and glory. That is, everyone but one person was...
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Author's Note: Hello everyone, thank you for reading the very beginning of hopefully a budding series of my creation. I take much influence from the light novels of Korea, China, and Japan, and enjoy them immensely, and I hope I can write something just as good. I do apologize for any mess-ups with Japanese names, places, and all of that, as I am not that knowledgeable about it despite my great interest in novels from there. I also apologize for any grammar mistakes and the like. Please rate and review, and tell me your thoughts!