Ch 2-3

"Hail, citizen—or mayhaps a traveler? How may I be of help?"

On my way to Central Park, I stopped one of the patrolling paladins fully covered with silver-armor from head to toe. The guard spoke in a husky androgynous voice and their build seems pretty feminine too.

"I am handsome."

I had a mind to do some other experiment.

I expect, if this was a game-like world, it wouldn't compute my inquiry at all. Not that I'm actually good-looking, I'm just average at best. So average and plain, my only redeeming quality is my glasses.

What I got was, as expected, the kind of answer when in games, like when you typed a wrong query:

"Excuse me?"

The guard tilted their head at me and placed their hands against their ear as if they're hearing me wrong.

"What I mean to say is, that I'm handsome."

"Err...fellow traveler. I am very sorry to say but, even if I find other men sexually attractive, I do not see you that way. Well then, I am busy and I have a lot of work to do. If you will let me be on my way..."

The silver-armored paladin walked out in the same manner as before.

Now that's kind of unexpected, which further excited me to perform yet another test.

I stopped the paladin again and talked to them.

"What is it? I have no time to play around with your games, traveler."

"The truth is, I am pretty lonely and have a bit of money. Although I am not sure in this city of holy soldiers, I am able to find someplace to purify my desires. In this case, can the servant of God give me aid?"

"I'm afraid we have no male prostitutes or futanari over here, but if you are okay with the limited preference, I shall mark the [Purification House] on your map."

Now that I checked my menu, there's a new place in the Docks District called [Purification House].

"What is the rate and what girls do you recommend?"

"I'm sorry but I only like men."

"Sorry if the question is offensive but, is being homosexual okay in here? How about if you're a member of Holy Order?"

"Anything is okay if it's consensual whether you're doing it with men, women or futanari. Plus both you and your partner have to be at the age of consent which is eighteen. If you're caught raping someone, whether it's men or women, or doing the act with a minor, you will be expelled from Holy Order permanently and be sentenced to a prison. Of course, when you're not a member, it's still a crime.

For those who were found out to have sex when they're still a minor, they will be sent to a camp for re-education, that's all."

"That's pretty informative."

"If you excuse me, then."

"Wait, I'm just kind of wondering—sorry, but I kinda bring up this since you look pretty...hot. Can I see what's beneath your helmet?"

"You would be disappointed when you found out what's beneath it."

"I'm fine with it."

"Do not curse me for this."

When they lifted their helmet, I think I saw something so turn-off, for a second my genitals seem unable to stand erect again.

Only when I fantasized about Liese and Fiona pressing their genitals against each other, my penis came back to life.

Praise the Yuri Goddess.

...

Interesting.

With this, I just realized about how many possibilities I can make with my actions.

Now that I think about it, I never tried talking to the same NPC two times in a row or inquiring about weird, illogical things. That's why this world felt more like a game.

It's kinda ironic, when I approach this with the mindset of a gamer, what I got was a realistic response.

Looking at the scenery of the people walking fro and about, not giving a single damn about my perverted talks with the guard. It's like, if the conversation didn't involve others at all, everyone besides the one I'm talking to will act like there's nothing happening.

Now I understand why, during the day before, I could just walk in and take their stuff without anyone complaining at all. Otherwise, whenever I see the Holy Order member, I'd be arrested from the spot for theft. It's not like I was being all secretive when I took stuff away.

While it might net me a jail service if I talked to the owner while taking their stuff.

...but that would be completely illogical to a gamer. When you're in a game and want to steal from someone, you make sure they didn't notice.

I also thought about how my clothes were all good and dandy, but nobody seems to point it out, except if I mention to them right away. Like, when I refer to me as 'handsome' earlier, the guard point out that I am, indeed, NOT handsome.

Maybe if I asked him about my clothes, he would give his opinion about it and will definitely remember about it the next time I meet him.

I will drop the gender-neutral pronoun since that face's definitely a 'he'. Ah, I didn't want to remember it again. I want to apologize to him for freaking out when he revealed his face though—I really shouldn't judge people by their looks.

Wait a minute, maybe he did wear that ugly mask just to scare me off? Could be. The next time I met him, I will make him take out that mask! I want a Trap waifu so badly now. In any case, I tell you, I'm not gay! I'm not homosexual at all, got it! I'm at least bisexual—oh wait—I mean—straight of course. It was only considered bi if the balls touch.

What about Fiona though? Maybe she's more like an Important NPC, some kind of Essential NPC who actually advanced the main plot. So, whatever I do with her and party members around will greatly impact this game's story progression a lot more than when I talked to ordinary NPCs like the guard.

You can say that she and others weren't an important NPC, but this world is basically a game and I'm it's player—although I'm not sure if I'm the only one.

In any case, the main plot's going to advance soon or another as the time went by.

With that in mind, could I actually do my best and achieve the best ending for me?

I really don't want to do it like the regular Isekai protagonist, if I got to do it, I'll only want it my way.

On the second thought, to hell with those overpowered monsters, I'll still live the way I want to be. Otherwise, why would I have the [Godslayer] ability to fight back in the first place? Just let them come, you think I'll be afraid?

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Even if I can't beat them, I can always try to think of a strategic retreat. I don't believe there's anyone here as shameless as me, so far.

In my previous life, I had enough just following the rules of others all the time. Now, I want to survive and become stronger the way I'd like. This was the chance given to me, even if it's through a sheer chance of luck, it doesn't matter.

I truly wish to make this count.

The kind of life which made me truly feel alive.

Even if this world is fake, it's still more real than what my old world could ever be.

...

Ah damn it, when I was in bad mood from reminiscing about my past life, I passed Central Park without knowing.

Just to be safe, I went to the nearby Item Shop and brought a backpack to camouflage my items—although no one's going to notice anyway, not even Fiona when I took the items right before her nose. Well, there's no harm in being careful.

I also have a habit to carry backpacks around when I'm going out. So it'd make me feel more comfortable.

Also, going at the nearby Weapon and Armor shop, I'd be buying the training dummy for quick clothing swap and other things I'd like to test on.

The shopkeeper kinda looks puzzled when I want the dummy.

"I just want to hone my skills better."

"It would be hard enough to carry around and pointless to buy unless you have your own house."

The shopkeeper was a rugged and muscular middle-aged man who wielded a hammer and wore overalls. Just your typical blacksmith. He also spoke in a strong tone, although his words were polite.

"What if I told you I'm also a collector of training dummies?"

Lame excuse, I know. I just couldn't think of anything clever to say.

"Pardon me, but you having that hobby just threw me out of the loop."

"In any case, I want it—I will care for it and make the best use of it. If you want, I can just pay extra."

"Ahaha, young man, it's just, this is the first time I saw someone with the same hobby."

"Err...what?"

"I happen to also enjoy collecting training dummies and making them, that one you want is just a common one I made. You can have it for free if you want."

[Straw Training Dummy Received!]

...just like that?

"Young man—you are a traveler, right? When you happen to collect more training dummies around the world, can you show it to me when you get back?"

[Side Quest – Gotta Catch 'em Training Dummies!]

Description:

The shopkeeper at Beginner's City wants you to collect all the different training dummies you can get hands on.

Reward: depends on the type and the number of training dummies you brought back, the next time you met him.

Completion: this quest will always be active as long the Shopkeeper is still alive.

You will fail the quest if the shopkeeper dies without you showing him at least one unique dummy.

Otherwise, it'd be treated as complete, the quest can also be completed after you showing him one unique dummy and killing him afterward.

Failure penalty: probably nothing, since you're a heartless piece of a bastard.]

Err...what the hell with this quest? Did the game world go loco all of sudden?

In any case, this was too much for me; I'm not the type to remember such details.

"I'm sorry but I'm afraid I cannot do that. In the first place, during my journey, I will always go forward and I'm not sure whether I'll return here or not."

[You have rejected the Quest!]

The shopkeeper went really down this time.

"In exchange, I have a tale from my home country. About a certain cat robot—I mean golem. Robots is what my country use to call them."

"...ah, cat golems...unfortunately I'm not into golems at all."

"It's about a cat golem who appears from inside your desk, which has the chance to connect to another dimension. The cat golem will help those unfortunate, with his magic bag who can access the wonderful kinds of magical tools from a separate storage--"

"Y-you don't mean, the legendary cat of good luck, Maneki-Neko? That black hair, did you come from the Far East?"

It's also a game thing when the NPCs mention your character's own trait on the certain plot points.

"Something like that yeah, but I believe my home country was a bit further from here, so I'm not sure if the legends match."

"...there is no other country than our glorious Sunlight Empire! Hahaha, my fellow countryman. You should be proud of our country. After all, in the Far East, we're the absolute superpower, the--"

"[Go to]."

I teleported to the Item Shop again.

...

[You have ended the Event Mode prematurely. As such, the Side-Quest 'Continuing Dori Eman's Legacy' won't be generated.]

[The affinity with Shopkeeper went down from forcibly interrupting the event. You no longer will get the reduced price from buying weapons and any further story events involving the Shopkeeper will be locked out.]

Eh, fine by me.

I don't think I would get along with that kind of people in the first place. Just to make it clear, I don't hate the nation. I just don't get along with nationalists in general. I wouldn't bother in politics at all. I never even voted once in my whole life.

Just in case, I entered the Weapons and Armor shop again.

"Glory be the Sunlight Empire!"

"Yes, fellow countrymen, the Sunl--"

"[Go to.]"

...and I entered it again.

"Glory be--"

"Now wait a minute there, young man—are you trying to solicit me into learning your magic tricks here?"

"Oh? [Go to.]"

Sorry, old man, but I'm the kind of person who prefers running from my own troubles.

In any case, I have about enough to buy at the weapons and armor shop for now.

As Central Park's just about a short walk, where all of the stores circled around it, let's just relax and forget about all the foolery I'm committing.

[Due to skipping the Event Mode this time, the hidden class 'Parlor Trick Magician' will be locked out.]

Oh fuck.

...well okay, it's not like I'm interested in such things anyway, and I'm not a tsundere.