Chapter 1 (1/2)

As I mentioned before, since I lack the skills to make a footnote I’ll proceed to add them after the text and signal them with a number like this (1).

I know it doesn’t look good and it might take you out from the reading experience but it’s the only thing that came to mind for now and I apologize. I’ll try to use them as little as possible.

「Ahh! I’m going to die! Hind heal me!」

「Unfortunately, both my items and spells are on cooldown. Try to do something by yourself.」

「Eh!? Ah! The sword brok-」

「Oh…she died.」

Yumir’s HP reached 0 points.

As I saw that, I took some distance from the goblin-like monster.

Since the target went out of its range of action, the monster left.

That’s why I told you to use the infinite beginner hp items…

Saying that it’s uncool or whatever, you care too much about appearances.

I approached the gray corpse of the defeated Yumir and poured the beginner revival item with infinite uses on her.

Its full name was 「Beginner holy water」, it can’t be used mid-battle.

What does this name even mean? Are you telling me that God cuts corners when making them?

「Re・vi・ved!」

「…Yeah yeah, good morning」

Color returned to Yumir’s body and she vigorously stood up.

By the way, apparently, if you don’t get revived within 1 minute after the battle ends, on top of the death penalty you’ll get sent back to the last town you’ve passed through.

Playing solo is quite harsh.

I wonder if there’s any sort of auto-revive consumables for solo players?

「It was impossible after all! Let’s continue after we have leveled up in the forest at the beginning!」

「You are saying that because I’m a beginner right? Right!?」

「But, don’t you want to rush through the beginning?! It’s launch day after all!」

Apparently this game launched today at 10 am.

The time right now is 2pm.

Anyway, I don’t think we can compare to those people that take the day off to play all day long…but some things are better off unsaid.

I didn’t want to pour cold water on Miyu’s…I mean Yumir’s motivation.

However, this is too inefficient.

I wonder if there’s any way to find a suitable hunting ground?

Just now we were the ones being hunted instead of being the hunters.

Is what I thought as I kept casting healing magic on the near-death Yumir.

「Once we get back, why don’t we investigate a bit? Stuff like the levels of the monsters or how much experience you get in parties.」

「Investigate? That kind of stuff, just leave it to the people that make walk-through sites! Until then, we should just use our instincts to find a way to proceed!」

「You are going to leave the hard work to others!? It’s still launch day, I don’t think that kind of information will be out yet. Don’t you think that investigating by ourselves is another way to enjoy the game?」

Yumir stood there, her long eyelashes made a *pachi pachi* sound as she blinked repeatedly.

I…Did I say something that weird?

「O-Oh…」

「what?」

「That thought never crossed my mind…Like I thought, When I’m with you, I find new ways to have fun! I’m glad I invited you to play the game!」

「…」

Seriously, her way of conveying her feelings is too direct…I find it hard to react sometimes.

For some reason, I didn’t want her to see my face so I turned my back to her and started walking.

「Anyway, let’s return. Dondery Forest…was it? I’ll tag along until our level is high enough that we can’t use beginner gear anymore.」

「Really!? Let’s go right away!」

We started walking back.

On the way back, we passed by a group full of guys.

I feel bad for Yumir but..let’s try getting some distance from her and pass by them.

As we passed by them, I could hear whispers.

「Oh, Isn’t she quite pretty?」

「Hey, try talking to her! Let’s get her to take a screenshot with us!」

「For someone like me, talking to a beautiful girl of that caliber is too high of a hurdle…」

Just like I thought, Yumir was getting stares from the guys.

…Just now…did someone just talk in a really old fashioned otaku way? Was it my imagination? (1) (The last person ends his sentences with -degozaru)

Anyways…act like you don’t know her…It just so happens that you are walking the same way as her.

It was an evasive skill to naturally get away from my childhood friend who had a pointlessly pretty face.

In this game, your face doesn’t really change much…though it’s not like I want them to make the avatars plain looking.

Of course, if Yumir gets involved in anything I plan to help her out, but as someone that’s not her boyfriend, I’d find the gazes of jealousy annoying.

Moreover, it drains your stamina and there’s no easy way to deal with it.

Perfect…my camouflage is perfect!

「Why are you suddenly distancing yourself from me? That makes me lonely～」

「Don’t get close to me now!!」

Camouflage failed.

Stares of jealousy flooded from the male-only party towards me.

As for the reason I started playing this game, we’ll have to turn back the clock 2 hours.

Today, Sunday, I had the day off my part-time job so I was lazing around the house but…

In front of me, my female classmate was prostrating on the floor.

Her long black hair spread out on the carpet.

It was quite the awful sight…How did it end up like this?

「I beg you Wataru! with me…Play a VR game with me!」

「Why are you prostrating before me…isn’t your way of asking favors too manly?

I would hear you out even if you didn’t do something like this, but…I don’t have a VR headset.」

Taking my reply as a positive one the girl before me…Miyu vigorously raised her face.

As I had placed my hand on her shoulder to make her stand up, the sudden movement made her hair attack my chin and cheeks.

That tickles.

Plus it has the good fragrance of a girl.

「Is it okay!? Is it really OK!? Even though you are so busy everyday!」

「Well, as long as it’s only a couple hours every day I don’t think there will be any problems. Besides, I don’t have work every day and at the latest, I would end at 10pm.

But still, you know I can’t afford to buy a VR headset.」

My household doesn’t have a father.

My mom works every day until quite late and the money I get from my work goes toward the savings for household expenses.

Spending on games that aren’t too expensive would be 1 thing but I can’t really afford to spend the large sum that current VR headsets cost.

If it was an old game that supported old headset models it might have been possible, but contrary to her appearance Miyu is quite the gamer.

Most likely the game she’s inviting me to play is the latest game released.

「Fufufu…I thought you would say that.」

「Huh?」