It was time to assess his situation more clearly now. He eyed the Wood Elf who also stared back at him without a word. "Is there some way to contact the Creators of this life simulation?" Han Jing asked the Elf as clearly as he could.

The Elf fidgeted, swaying left and right like some kind of bamboo. "Um...I'm not really sure."

Okay, that Elf was really useless.

"I see." He sighed a bit. Maybe he had to rethink his earlier choices of forming an Alliance with the person in front of him.

"But why don't you join the Universal Chat?" The Elf beamed at him. "I'm sure somebody else has ideas!"

"Alright...I guess you have a point there." Han Jing accepted the invitation link from the Demon Lord. A large screen displayed itself in front of him.

< Races: Online Universal Chat server sixty-nine >

Han the [ Human ] has entered the chat.

Demon Lord was the first one to notice and started typing. "Look who's finally decided to join us—"

"Welcome Han~!" The first message was sent by the Gnome and included a cute chicken emoji.

The Demon Lord narrowed their eyes and retyped their sentence. "Who needed this guy on the server? We've managed without him, just fine."

"Ah Demon Lord is so grumpy when it's them who sent the invitation link." Wood Elf replied with a laughing emoticon.

The Witch responded curtly, "Let's try not to scare the Human away. Instead, we warmly welcome one of the Youngest Races to this server. Ignore the two idiots."

Han Jing chewed on his lip as he tried not to eye the Wood Elf just a few feet away from him. He could see the screen displayed in front of the Elf and how they seem to be just staring with a small smile.

It was now or never.

But could he really just give away the position he was in now?

"Ah, Respected Seniors. I may have found myself in a terrible situation within this game. Is there some way to contact the Creators?" Han Jing asked them.

The Demon Lord responded so fast. "Looks like somebody wants to quit already. Pitiful Human."

"You're being a bully you know?" The Gnome defended him. "Don't give up Youngkin!"

"Well, the Creators are surely busy expanding this game. We have a Moderator here who can help us, if I recall correctly. They're most likely to lurk too." The Witch responded.

Han Jing heard the same tinkle of bells that he had heard on the beach earlier. It was like someone was chiming in his ears.

"Ah, you have such strong senses, Witch. It's no fun when everybody is too perceptive."

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

He could almost hear a childish voice in his head as he saw the words. The one who had typed was the Moderator… named Peach.

"Hi there Human~ Hello! Welcome to Races: Online, it must have been tough for a first day eh? Especially with the Demon Lord already messing around with you, right?"

"I wasn't messing around with him!" An angry retort was sent.

The Demon Lord has been muted for twenty-four hours.

"Man, interrupting me while I'm talking with you. Tsk. Tsk." The Moderator responded.

Han Jing could almost imagine a disappointed expression on the Moderator's face. Or perhaps a small smirk.

"What seems to be the situation?" The Moderator continued.

He paused, not immediately stating his problem. If he told everybody else about his situation… then they could probably take advantage of it. He eyed the Wood Elf who seemed to be content watching their interaction play out. Unlike the Demon Lord, they managed to hold back from chatting.

"Would it be alright if we talked about this in a DM?" He asked.

"Eh? That's not fair, it may seem like I'm favoring you~ Why don't you tell the situation here in the Universal chat and see if anybody else is experiencing the same problem as you. It could be some sort of bug? The others have to be aware!"

Han Jing sighed, he had no choice then.

"I was sent a message by Races: Online that told me that I was to become a beta-tester for this life simulation game. I was able to download it on my smartphone and even play it… but I blacked out and now found my consciousness directed into this avatar of mine, like I'm actually inside the game. Like Virtual Reality? Is this normal?"

"Huh, consciousness directed into the avatar?" The Witch typed into the server. "Do you not mean a projection?"

"What's this smartphone though?" Gnome asked. "It sounds like he managed to partake into this activity through strange methods?"

"Humans are weird… but does that mean that if I attack you right now, you'd actually feel pain? Or if I killed you then you'd actually die?" Wood Elf added.

Han Jing froze and looked at the Wood Elf standing a few feet away. Should he open his < Inventory > and make a run for it?

"My, my~ Everybody has so many questions and observations that I wasn't able to respond. It's like everybody wants to be muted from this or permanently removed from this collaboration. I guess it's best if we move into a more private communication method~"

"It was only a question though!" Wood Elf replied with an emoji of an Elf hiding behind a tree.

Gnome responded next. "I'm just curious, apologies!" Their emoji this time was of a rabbit hiding in its burrow.

"I'll simply observe next time then." The Witch replied.

< Peach Started A Conversation With You >

Peach: Phew, dealing with multiple races sure is troublesome. Han Jing from Earth right?

Han: ...Yes, that is me.

Peach: Oops, seems like we didn't tell you that we collect your personal data. Teehee~

Han: It's alright. I just want to log out of this game, project or whatever.

Peach: It's time to let the cat out of the bag, then. But first… how are you feeling? Is your sanity still intact? Do you not feel like your brain is about to explode or something?

Han: Just peachy

Peach: Heh, once I tasted the forbidden fruit—I couldn't help but fall in love with it. It's a shame that the Immortal—But now, where was I? You want to log out the game?

Han: Yes, I didn't sign up for a Virtual Reality game, I wanted to play a Casual Life Simulation Game on my smartphone

Peach: You shouldn't have chosen Free-Reign Mode then dum dum

Han: ...It was that?

Peach: Even for Creators, it'd be hard to allow you full access to this simulation without connecting your consciousness to your created Avatar

Han: So the others are also experiencing similar methods to access this simulation or something? The Wood Elf said that they control an Avatar… but they're not inside the Avatar like me right?

Peach: Similar in a way I guess. There's more options for them on how to control their Avatar, unlike you Humans. The only way for you to truly control your Avatar is by transferring your Spirit to the Avatar

Han: I'm still alive right?

Peach: You didn't die, right? You're alive!

Han: ...can I log out? How do I redirect my Spirit or whatever back to my actual body.

Peach: Awww, you want to leave so early? What about your village?

Han: Er...I'm curious but I'd like to make sure my mother doesn't think I'm dead.

Peach: You're no fun. But I guess I'll have to let you go. Alright, the Command for you to return back to Earth is 'Return Back To Life' or for fun, try 'Ikikaeru'