lin4t has started a voice chat with you. Would like to accept?
A message popped up on my monitor. Without really thinking I clicked OK.
The first words I heard were:
“Why did you suddenly send your king on a suicide rush? It was just getting good…”
Almost by reflex I replied:
“Getting so heated up about a rough and tumble battle between men, the smell of sweat surrounding and engulfing yourself in all this manly essence. Could it be? As I suspected? You really you swing that way?”
“The fuck? Go die!”
Hahaha it never tries me out to troll people.
“My battery ran out which caused the chess program to malfunction”
“Oh yeah… cause your computers definitely powered by batteries right?”
Words laced with sarcasm. How typical of him. Nevertheless, I decided that was enough playing around and said truthfully:
“My capsule just finished installing Royal Road… I’d rather start on that then play another online chess game again. Be thankful, you got a free win.”
“Oh that. You know my one finishes installing in about 30 seconds but I was still playing with you?”
“Well you never know how those 30 seconds will play out now will you? Like destiny it will become one of the things you have to accept in life.”
Enjoying the non sensical conversation I decided to invest 30 seconds of my time to keep lin4t company.
“So Royal Road… looks like your deat-arh I mean birthday wish will finally be recongnised…”
“Deat-arh? You were definitely going to say deathday right? Right? Anyway what wish are we’re talking about again?”
“World domination.”
“Oh… yeah… I mean what are you talking about? It was definitely world peace!”
“So anyway, let’s have competition shall we?”
Having been my friend for many years lin4t was already on the same wavelength as me.
“A race is it?”
“Yeah! let’s see who will do it first.”
“Haha you’re on! Oh my capsule finished installing.”
“Ha let’s do this.”
Without another word I shut down my computer and leapt into my capsule.
***
[The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you want to create a new account?]
When I connected to Royal Road, the first sound that reached my ears was a feminine voice.
I looked around. Nothing but white space.
“For such an expensive game it sure looks like the developers were cutting corners… God damn it I want a refund!”
[Don’t bother, I’ve been sending them requests for better hardware ever since I gained awareness.]
“Oh she speaks! O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head…”
[O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?]
“Oh hey! I wasn’t expecting that sort of reply. You know what? I think I could get along with you nicely.”
It was always a pleasant feeling when you meet someone who could follow your train of thought. After thinking this I asked that question that a normal person probably would have asked first.
“Who are you anyway?”
[I am one of the function from main responsible for the character creation process of Royal Road.]
Damn was that programing jargon?
“Are you trying to confuse me by using unfamiliar words? How sneaky of you… So you’re an A.I?”
[Yes I am. And how rude! If you have any grievances please direct them to the people who wrote me! ]
“Yes! Give me their private emails so I can spam them!”
[Unfortunately I do not have the authority to do that.]
“Then at least turn this white background into something better!”
The white space suddenly blacked out.
[Error: Segmentation fault…]
“The fuck? Did I glitch the game by talking to an A.I?”
[…All your base are belong to us]
“…”
[Well… You asked me to change the background so I did.]
“But why black though?”
[Everyone knows that the darkness alignment is better than the light side. I mean look at all the heroes with super powered evil sides that come out when they wear a hollow mask or through some sealed fox.]
“Are you trying to convert me now?”
[Luke… Join the darkside.]
“Where are my cookies bitch?! And my name’s not Luke.”
Suddenly I felt my hand on onto something. What the-
It was a round glowing object. It was hard yet I got the feeling that it would crumble if I exerted too much pressure on it. What a masterpiece!
It was without a doubt…
A glowing cookie.
[Just a demonstration of the capabilities of virtual reality! Take a bite- Hey! At least wait for me to finish talking before you eat it!]
“…. …. …. Wow that actually tasted pretty real… do you have more?”
[You- what- sigh~ whatever-]
“Yay more cookies~”
As more cookies were created, I killed a bit of time talking to the A.I.
Eventually, I remembered the reason I was supposed to be here.
“Oh damn…. …. ….I almost completely for I was here…. …. …. …. for character creation.”
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My mouth was full of cookies when I said that but I don’t think the A.I. would mind my bad manners.
[You are a strange person you know.]
“… …. …. Am I? I never would have known. …. …. …. …. But if you look at it from another perspective …. …. …. …. I could be normal and everyone else could be weirdos.”
[I don’t think any other person spent this much time without even entering character creation yet. And it’s obviously irregular to do the virtual reality tutorial before you make a character.]
“Tutorial? You mean the cookies? Wow this is sound better by the minute. Oh right! Character creation!”
[Sigh~ The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you want to create a new account?]
“Yeah well obviously”
[Select the name of your avatar]
“…. I’ll pass this for later…”
[Select your gender from male, female or neutral]
“Lol neutral? What’s that?”
[Neutral is the only gender that has sub genders in it. Basically if you pick it you either turn into a being with androgynous looks or a trap or a hideyoshi].
“Wait! What was the last thing you said?”
I must be hearing things.
[A hideyoshi.]
Gender: Hideyoshi
A mix between male and female in which both genders are confused on which side this one resides on no matter what happens besides the actual person who has the gender Hideyoshi. While the person looks entirely female, the person is in actual fact is male but has the cruel fate of being dressed up in female clothings for the rest of his life.
- Doubles the chance of charm succeeding
- Unable to equip male clothing
- Confusion on gender
[ This gender can only be unlocked through special means.]
Meanwhile, I was just clutching my stomach laughing. Was this game made by some otaku game developer?
“Hideyoshi…. Ha that actually became a gender…. Ha whoever unlocks that will be one unlucky bastard.”
(Needless to say I wasn’t to know these prophetic words of mine would become true in the distant future.)
[Royal Road has forty-nine races. You may select your race from the primary ten]
“How much time have I wasted here?”
[41 minutes 6 seconds]
Oh my goal is approaching! I won’t miss it this time!
“I better hurry this up then. Human!”
[You may alter your appearance]
“The way I am.”
[Your account has been activated. Your stats and class shall be determined while you are playing Royal Road]
[Select The kingdom you want to start. Available human kingdoms are Haven, Kallamo-]
“Haven!”
Since there wasn’t much time left I just when with the first kingdom available.
[Select the name for your avatar]
This time I told the A.I the name I had chosen.
[You know, I’ve taken a liking to you. for the first 4 weeks ingame you can find me as a help assistance NPC in your system menu. Welcome -]
“Wait! Time?!”
[Congratulations you have reached the answer to life the universe and everything~ Oh and Welcome to Royal Road~]
“Fuck Yeah!”
The scenery around me flashed and changed dramatically. Okay! Time to conquer the world!
***
A few hours later….
“You’re an interesting person you know.”
“Haha I get that a lot.”
Laughing at the comment made by my recently made friend, I continued:
“So it seems we share a common goal. So how about it? Want to form a guild with me? We can’t do it now because of the level restrictions but later on I mean. Oh yeah! What’s your name?”
“You’re asking that now? Shouldn’t that be among the first things you say to someone you just met?!”
In response to my friend’s tsukiyomi I only smiled. It was people like this that were really fun to screw with.
“As I remember it you haven’t asked for my name yet either so doesn’t that make you abnormal?”
“Guh- You’ve got me there. Anyway…”
My new friend and future guild mate suddenly straightened up and held out his hand. I took and we shook hands. As we did so, I told him my name.
“My name is Satoshi. Nice to meet you.”
And likewise he did the same
“I am Ray Bard. It’s a pleasure to be working with you.”
Number of members in future guild: 2.
--------
Word count: about 1600 words
Why am I posting this when i have a calculus test in half an hour? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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