1 Vol 1. pt. 1 Patch 1.0: User Setup and Avatar Creation (1/2)
No matter how advanced technology may become, there is one annoying problem that will forever plague MMORPG gamers: downloading and installing patches. Even in the year 20XX, Ryouta finds himself impatiently tapping his foot underneath his desk while the hottest game in – well, ever, goes through the process of downloading and installing multiple patches. Version 1.01, version 1.02, version 1.05, version 1.2, version 1.21 – it seems as if the download of patches is endless.
He knows that he can't really complain. Such an incredible headset only cost him about seventy dollars, but in the early 21st century when virtual reality was first taking off, it easily would have cost an unimaginable sum of money.
After all, the man who invented the breakthrough technology to make this headset—and the components within it—a reality is now the richest, most powerful man in the world.
Yet, not even the famous Jenson Clark is capable of speeding up the internet to a non-annoying speed. One hundred gigabytes per second download and upload for public use is so last decade.
All of the data is being downloaded directly into the headset sitting in front of Ryouta. Unlike the first virtual reality headsets, this ”headset” is more like a headband that comfortably wraps around the top of the user's head. It is completely wireless with all the technological bits being hidden underneath the comfortable and elastic outer layer.
This headset not only has a built-in computer on par with the supercomputers that keep most of the world running properly, but said supercomputer is dedicated entirely to a single game: Fantasy Tales Online.
It might not be the most original sounding name for a video game, but what it accomplishes is something that none others have. It simulates a photorealistic fantasy world that is constantly changing.
”Patching complete. Thank you for your patience. Please place the New Realities Incorporated headset, Fantasy Tales Online Mass Consumer Model, on your head as shown in the on-screen instructions,” a feminine voice speaks from Ryouta's computer's speakers. On the screen is a repeating image of a faceless model carefully placing the headband around the top of their head. A warning reads ”do not snap the band” underneath the picture.
Ryouta wastes no time in securely placing the headset around his head.
”User detected. Please lie down on a soft surface, such as a bed, to continue with user setup.”
Just as before, the excited Ryouta wastes no time in hurrying over to his bed so that he can lie down on it just as requested. This is standard for virtual reality headsets. Any that are fully-immersive suggests users to rest their bodies on beds for maximum post-immersion comfort.
”Immersing user in five, four, three—”
Here it comes!
”Two, one—”
Ryouta's vision is replaced by an all-enveloping darkness. He can move his arms and legs, but not really. There is nothing to move. He is but a floating consciousness in the darkness of virtual reality.
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The title of the game comes up in big, gold letters.
Fantasy Tales Online
A floating head pops up in front of him. It looks like one of those mannequin heads seen in malls often wearing hats and oversized shades.
Needless to say, it is fairly unsettling when a pair of eyes and lips appears on it to look directly at Ryouta with.
”Greetings, User TheMemeStruggle. Would you like to use the name of the linked PC user profile as your username, or should I address you differently?” the floating head asks him in the same feminine voice that was coming from his speakers.
”I – uhh, just Ryouta is fine, thanks,” Ryouta says. Being called after what he stupidly named his user profile on his computer just makes him cringe in embarrassment.
It's even more unsettling when he realizes that he's speaking out loud without having a mouth.
”Okay, 'Ryouta' has been set as User. Before we may continue, please look over the user agreement.” A window with an eternal scrollbar pops up in front of his not-eyes.
There is way too much here for any mortal being to read within a day. No matter how advanced and efficient technology may become, it will never be enough to stop users from agreeing to things that they haven't actually read. ”Alright, I accept.”
”Are you sure, Ryouta? You have only read .03% of the total, legally binding, user agreement.”
”Yeah, yeah. I'm good, thanks.”
”Alright,” a big green check mark pops up over the window before it vanishes, ”initializing user-system synchronization, time dilation, and mental rewiring. You will be ejected from immersion if trauma is detected during setup. Please stand by.”
Wait, what? Mental rewiring? Trauma? ”Hey, what does that mea—” he tries asking a question but finds himself unable to think or ”move.” His brain feels like the static channel on a television when the cable goes out.
He finds himself in a café from his childhood. This was his favorite afterschool stop as the cute girl who worked the ice cream part of it would always give him extra fudge on his sundaes.
How can he be here?
Sitting across from him at the booth is a petite girl with blonde twin tails, an oversized sweater, and a spoon between her lips. She looks exactly like some cliché tsundere girl out of an anime.
What's even worse is that she is his exact type.
”You're thinking about how trash you are, aren't you, Onii-chan?” the girl asks. Even her voice is adorably high-pitched.
”Alright, I'm guessing you're the floating head from before and that you can read my thoughts. Can you please, for the sake of what little dignity I have left, not call me that again? I like it way too much,” Ryouta pleads.
The petite tsundere giggles before popping the spoon out from her mouth. ”Correct! Maybe if you read the user agreement then you would have known that I would be scanning your memories and personality to learn all sorts of stuff about you. Don't worry, none of it is going to the government. Instead, I'm just using the information to become your ideal assistant! Would you like me to change my personality, O-nii-chan?”
”Yes.”
”So quick! Alright, fine! It's not like I wanted to be your dream girl or anything like that, ba—”
”Please don't finish. My heart can only take so much.”
She pouts. ”Is there any personality that you would like me to use in specific?”
”Just – anything other than what you're doing now,” Ryouta says, looking away to try and not make eye contact.
”Alright ye' wee lil' rascal. How 'bout this for ah good ole perso-nawl-atay?”
Ryouta immediately snaps his head to look at the girl. She looks the same, but now has the voice of – well, he can't quite tell what the accent is supposed to be. It is like a horrifying amalgamation between Austrailian, Irish, and what he imagines redheaded farmers smoking corn cob pipes would sound like. ”Okay, anything other than that.”
The girl leans back in her seat and crosses her arms. Whereas before she was looking playful, now she's looking at him as if he's disgusting! She spits on the floor. ”Tch. Why do I have to be stuck helping some loser like you? Like, shouldn't you be doing something other than playing video games? You're so gross. I would so rather be like, at the mall right now than helping some trash like y—”
”I'm only a masochist when in the right mood. Alright, if you're just going to keep on messing with me, just go back to the first personality,” he whines. He cannot believe he just told somebody, even if it's an artificial intelligence, to act like a tsundere sister for him.
He truly is trash.
”Haiii, Onii-chan! Do I make your heart go doki-doki? Well, I know I do! I mean, I have to monitor your vital signs to make sure that you don't have a heart attack or wet your bed or anything like that.”
”I thought I signed up to play a fantasy game, not be tormented and reminded why this world is better off without me?” Ryouta's question causes the girl to suddenly turn serious.
”If you are experiencing suicidal tendencies then please reach out to the nearest self-help line, a therapist, or somebody that you trust and can openly talk to. If you would like, I may schedule an appointment for you at the nearest—”
”No! No, I was just making a joke. I don't actually want to die or anything,” Ryouta is quick to correct her. However, when he looks at her face again, he sees a taunting smile.
”Haha! You actually fell for that! Silly Onii-chan. Moving on! What would you like my name to be?”
Ryouta just wants to smash his head into the table instead of continuing this skit. ”Can I call you Satan?” he asks.
She places both of her hands over her mouth as oversized tears form at the edges of her eyes. ”O-Onii-chan! You're so mean to me!”