Stepping into the Virtual Game, New World, Ryou traversed a vibrant tunnel, emerging into a mysterious black space. There, a diminutive female fairy with dual pairs of wings gracefully approached him, she was the palm-sized guide.

"Greetings, esteemed player. Within New World, I am your guide, Lori," chimed the diminutive fairy. "Allow me to unveil the realm's eight main classes. Choose the vocation that resonates with your essence.”

With a delicate wave of Lori's diminutive hand, a vivid illustration materialized, revealing the eight main jobs for Ryou's contemplation.

The eight main classes are:

- Guardian

- Berserker

- Swordsman

- Assassin

- Ranger

- Mage

- Cleric

- Druid

Lori began to succinctly outline the well-known main classes, familiar to any seasoned gamer. Ryou, drawing on his previous life, understood that these eight foundational classes expanded into myriad subclasses, finely tuned to players' performances and prowess.

In his past experiences, Ryou had chosen the Swordsman class, and with his hard work he had unlocked the rare 'Shadow Dancer’ subclass. However, it was thanks to his talent for gloominess and sneaky maneuvers (mostly to dodge social interactions) that he accidentally unlocked the subclass.

Having earned the nicknamed 'Shadow Blade,' Ryou's constancy to the Swordsman's journey remained resolute, marked by substantial investments in its mastery. Without a moment's hesitation, he decisively opted for the Swordsman class.

"Class selection complete. Now, designate a name for your character."

“Rem.”

It was the name he used in his past life and a tribute to his sister, her name.

"Naming successful. Now, choose a race from the options below."

Ryou was presented with a fresh array of choices:

- Human,

- half-elf,

- half-beastkin*,

- half-vampire,

- half-orc,

- halfling, and

- dragonborn.

Ryou chose 'Human' without hesitation.

"Please choose a city in the Lunar Kingdom," the fairy urged.

Spread before him was a detailed map, unveiling numerous cities within the vast Lunar Kingdom. New World's launch, synchronized globally, accommodated millions of players in lands surpassing Earth's scale two to threefold. Ryou's starting kingdom, aligned with the server's regional settings, was determined by his city in Hokkaido.

“Snow City.”

With a tinge of nostalgia, Ryou settled on Snow City, a locale intimately familiar from past gaming ventures. Ranked 8th in the Lunar Kingdom, this city held significance in the northern reaches, previously it had hosted two prominent Gold-rated Guilds alongside numerous Silver and Bronze-rated Guilds. Snow City also strategically sidestepped conflicts among larger factions in the central areas.

"City confirmed... New World differs from past games; I suggest you peruse this tutorial and game description.”

A comprehensive page with text and images unfolded before Ryou.

Ryou pressed the “Skip.” button as he was already well-versed in its nuances.

“Ok. Player will arrive in Blue Burn Town of Snow City in three seconds. We wish you happy gaming," declared Lori.

As Ryou's surroundings blurred during his transition, Blue Burn Town materialized—a medieval-inspired cityscape with haphazardly arranged buildings. The bustling streets was teemed with NPCs and players.

Emerging in front of the Fire Temple, Ryou, now resembling a Beginners Swordsman, donned a Common Novice Leather Armor and wielded a Novice Sword strapped to his waist.

"Hmm. I ended up in Blue Burn Town this time." Ryou smiled faintly as he looked at the familiar sight of the small town, confidence welling up within him.

Arriving in Blue Burn Town after a delay, Ryou found the virtual world abuzz with activity. Numerous players roamed the town, engaging NPCs in quest-related conversations, while others ventured into the wilderness, eager to battle monsters. The collective urgency in their tasks conveyed a sense of dedication, with players yearning for the ability to split their time between the town's quests and the untamed wilds.

With a slight wave and touch of his finger, a player's Attribute Panel appeared before Ryou.

Character: Rem (Human)

Title: None

Job: Swordsman

Rank: Beginner

Level: 0 (Next level +500 Exp)

HP: 50/50

MP: 20/20

Strength 3

Intelligence 1

Agility 2

Defense 2

Intelligence 1

Vitality 1

Physical Attack: 6

Magical Attack: 2

Attack Speed: 1

Movement Speed: 1

Endurance: 2

Physical Resistance: 4

Magical Resistance: 4

Free Attribute Points: 4

Weapon Mastery:

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

One-handed Sword Mastery: 3

One-handed Sword Damage by 3%

Two-handed Sword Mastery: 3

Two-handed Sword Damage by 3%

Free Mastery Points: 0

Sub job: None

Sub class: None

Skills:

[Chop]. Active skill. Additional 4 points of physical damage. Cooldown: 5 seconds. Skill Level: 1 (Proficiency 0%)

Equipment:

[Swordsman's Leather Shirt] (common)

Level 0

Equipment Requirement: Defense 1

Defense +1

Durability 10/10

[Novice Sword] (common, One-handed Sword)

Level 0

Equipment Requirement: Strength 2

Attack Power +2

Durability 10/10

Ornaments:

[Samsara pendant]: (???)

____________________

Ryou's expression became inscrutable as he scrutinized the last detail on his personal items interface, he looked in his chest only to discover a pendant hung around his neck. It was a small, flat, triangular piece of dark rusted metal adorned with intricate symbols, suspended by weathered chains.

A flood of memories surged as he recognized it—the same pendant that Nakamori had wanted in his past life. The mystery of its reappearance in this virtual realm left him questioning multiple hypothesis and hunches about New World.

Contemplating his revelation, he stood in quiet reflection until the sudden arrival of fellow players teleporting nearby disrupted his thoughts, snapping him back to the virtual reality unfolding around him.

Deciding to conceal the conspicuous pendant, Ryou removed it and stowed it away in his space bag, the mysterious item now hidden from prying eyes. Within the bag, he discovered a practical cache—ten pieces of apple and a stack of Herb. Eating the Apple would recover 5 HP per second while consuming Herb would recover 5 MP per second, and both effects lasted ten seconds.

He then looks at his free attributes. All new players would be given the same four Attributes, with the distinction lying in the allocation of Free Attribute Points. Also each Level increase granted four of these points, offering players the flexibility to shape their unique playstyles.

Strength bolstered Physical Attack impact of each strike, Agility enhanced Attack speed and Movement Speed. Vitality influenced maximum HP and Endurance, Defense providing physical and magical resistance. Intelligence amplified Magical Attack Power and maximum MP.

The game's diverse classes emphasized unique combinations of these attributes, enabling players to shape their strategic approach as they progressed through the game.

Breaking away from the conventional path, Ryou, a Swordsman bound to physical damage, diverged from the norm. Unlike his past choices of prioritizing Strength, he made a swift decision. Without hesitation, all four Free Attribute Points found their way into Agility.

In this bold move, Ryou's Agility surged to 7 points, reshaping his stats. His Attack Speed leaped to 3, and Movement Speed followed suit, rising to 3. With this distinctive allocation, Ryou paved the way for a unique playstyle of speed and finesse.

Ryou's unconventional approach to prioritizing Agility over Strength defied the norms even among Assassins, known for their high Agility. The common strategy was, emphasizing Strength for easier leveling due to increased damage, a mindset Ryou chose to disregard.

In the early stages of New World, Ryou believed that, for melee Jobs, Agility was the optimal choice. After adding the Attribute Points, Ryou took a look at his surroundings.

The bustling central plaza was alive with the influx of players, their blue symbols creating a vibrant scene that overshadowed the green symbols of NPCs. Skillfully maneuvering through the crowd, Ryou diverted his path toward a small, dark alley.

He recounted that Blue Burn Town housed thousands of NPCs, yet the ones offering quests were limited to twenty, hidden Quests numbered at ten, and Unique Quests only one, forever vanishing once completed by a player. Ryou was eager to uncover that unique quests.

In Blue Burn Town, the elusive Unique Quest had remained shrouded in mystery for weeks, sparking a city-wide sensation upon its discovery. The fortunate player who unraveled its secrets became the envy of many.

Ryou, determined to seize this Unique Quest in his second life that would shape his journey in New World, navigated to the slums. As he entered a dark alley teeming with beggars in ragged attire, they swarmed him like wolves drawn to fresh meat, pleading for food.

In his past, a player had generously fulfilled the ungrateful beggars' escalating demands, only to receive nothing in return. This unfortunate turn of events transformed the player into a subject of mockery within the gaming community, becoming a cautionary joke about the challenges of obtaining rewards and quests in New World.

Turning a corner and leaving the beggar-filled alley behind, Ryou approached a vegetable street stall owned by a slender green haired woman in a violet sweater and a green long skirt.

"May I be of assistance, Sir?" the woman inquired with formality.

Ryou, offering a subtle smile, responded earnestly, "I'm not here for a purchase miss. Rather, I wish to inform you that I can aid in apprehending your husband's assailant."

Rather than displaying surprise or curiosity, the woman sighed. "Numerous have asserted the same, yet none have prevailed.” Her green eyes were filled with skepticism, “How can a fledgling level 0 adventurer possess knowledge of my husband's murderer's whereabouts?"

This unique quest was a chain quest, and Ryou needed to gather clues to unveil the identity of the killer. The woman before him wasn't meant to be his initial contact for the quest but rather a key figure providing descriptive clues about the murderer.

However, armed with knowledge of the killer's identity, Ryou opted for a direct approach. He sought out the widow to trigger the quest immediately, aiming to claim the prompt rewards she offered for solving the mystery. Though the conventional path promised greater rewards, Ryou understood the value of seizing an early advantage for a more immediate and satisfying outcome.

“Mam, I genuinely know who killed your husband. I can reveal the identity, but as you rightly pointed out, I'm just a level 0 adventurer. We'll need the assistance of guards to apprehend the killer," Ryou explained.

The woman's eyes reflected a mix of doubt and hope. She cautiously inquired, "Adventurer, if you can truly help me, I would be eternally grateful. Are you certain you know who the killer is?"

System: **Unique Quest: Find Elsa's Husband Killer**

- Time Limit: 48 hours

- Consequence of Failure: Blue Burn Town's reputation drops by -20

Do you wish to accept [Y/N]

"I assure you, ma'am, I know the identity of the killer," Ryou affirmed, his confidence reflected in a reassuring smile. "Please, go and summon the city guards. The perpetrator is level 15, and their assistance will be crucial." With his declaration, the quest was officially accepted.

Despite being a small town, Blue Burn Town's guards were formidable, ranging from levels 20 to 25. Normally, Ryou would have to deal with the level 15 adversary by himself if he followed the chain quest and he would have to bring the killer's head to the mayor. But since he was level 0 he would need the help of guards to catch the level 15 killer.

Elsa nodded and she closed her shop which took some minutes before rushing to the guard post.

As the woman hurried from the shop to summon the guards, Ryou chose to patiently await their arrival. While he was eager to join the effort, the attention he might draw by walking alongside a group of guards was not good for his health.

Ryou mused as he watch the closed shop, ‘I couldn't steal a tomato even if I tried, so why did she slam the shop door?'

“...”

As the five guards approached, a small group of curious players trailed behind them like inquisitive shadows.

Ryou couldn't help but let out a resigned sigh.

The players, fueled by their insatiable curiosity, did come to witness the unfolding spectacle. Naturally, players were after a possibility of a quest and a procession led by a woman and guards would go not unnoticed by any quest hungry players.

Draped in steel armor adorned with hues of dignified blue, the guards commanded a presence that hinted at both strength and duty.

The lead guard, approached Ryou with a direct inquiry, "So, you're the adventurer who knows the killer's identity?"

Close by, players exchanged excited whispers, affirming the legitimacy of the quest. One player enthusiastically exclaimed, "I told you it's a quest, just look at this!"

His companion speculated, "Must be a hidden quest; how did he manage to get it so early in the game?"

As the discussion unfolded, another player suggested, "Can we steal the quest from him?"

The prospects of seizing the quest or even snatching the rewards after Quest completion filled the air.

Amidst the murmurs, Ryou decided to reveal his account of encountering the killer. "I know the killer. I witnessed him take someone's life, and he even took mine, though I was resurrected," he lied.

Despite the story's many loopholes, such as his knowledge of the killer's connection to Elsa's husband, the guard nodded in understanding.

Eager to resolve the mystery, the guard asked, "Can you show us the killer?"

Without hesitation, Ryou agreed, "Yes, follow me."

Leading the way back to the dark alley, where the beggars were clamoured. This time, the beggars refrained from rushing forward and begging, they were subdued by the presence of the guards.

In the corner of the alley, Ryou led them to a beggar who, despite sharing the same tattered attire as the others, had a healthier frame. Ryou pointed at the beggar lying on his back and declared, "This is the killer”

Looking directly at the guard leader, Ryou added a startling revelation, "He's a vampire, draining the life from his victims to satisfy his thirst for blood. If you doubt it, make him walk into the sunlight."

The beggar, exposed as a vampire, sprang to his feet in a desperate attempt to escape. Yet, the swift reaction of the guards restrained his limb firmly, while the vampire howled in protest, vehemently denying his supposed vampiric nature.

As the guards persisted, dragging him toward the awaited sunlight, the vampire's cries reached a crescendo.

His true identity from what Ryou remembered, was a spy from the Vampiric kingdom, and he possessed an item that concealed both his appearance and identity of being a level 15 [Elite Vampire].

The relentless pull toward the sunlight intensified the vampire's anguish, his cries echoing until he met his demise, leaving behind only smoldering ashes.

The players fell into a hushed awe, witnessing the dramatic revelation, they would have not guessed that New World was such an exciting game.

The guard leader, expressing gratitude, turned to Ryou with admiration. "You've been a tremendous help, young adventurer," he exclaimed, extending a hand, “ This orb was recovered from the ashes of the vampire, take it as a thanks”

Flabbergasted by the unexpected reward, Ryou recalled that the previous quest-taker had never received such tokens. Perhaps his swift action in finding the vampire early in the game had minimized casualties, earning him the unique acknowledgment and reward from the system. He took the orb without hesitation

As Ryou held the mesmerizing red orb, the onlookers couldn't help but drool at the sight.

Whispers of envy and darker intentions circulated among the spectators. "He really scored a fantastic item; it looks so valuable," one remarked with a covetous grin.

Another one said, "We should ambush him outside the town and snatch that item."

Flabbergasted by the audacity of these discussions, Ryou thought ‘At least go somewhere private to share those dark thoughts.’ He also squinted at the guard leader's lack of discretion, wondering, ‘Can't he read the room? Why give the orb in such a crowded place?’

“Young adventurer, can you come in my shop for a moment?” Elsa, who was beside him, spoke.