Chapter 1-19 : Port Town, Hafen (part 1)
Our carriage proceeded down the street, moving away from the Erst Town.
It will be five to six hours of traveling, so I guess we’ll arrive at the port town around the evening.
It’s nice to take a leisure trip while looking at the scenery like this sometimes. It’s so real that it’s hard to believe that I’m inside a virtual game.
「Ahh~… The breeze feels nice…」(Alice)
I could feel a gentle breeze flowing through the carriage as we kept proceeding forward.
The breeze felt a bit cold on my skin. It didn’t feel humid, and today’s temperature wasn’t that hot. I think I will be enjoying this trip.
While looking outside, I saw some town guards other than players patrolling around on the grassland.
It reminds me. I woke up in the guard station today. A guard found me lying unconsciously near the forest.
If it wasn’t for him, I might have been killed by a monster and ended up waking up in the church with some debuffs.
I think I’ll visit him and bring something delicious for him and the other guards as thanks later.
I wonder if they like to eat monster meat…
「Waaaitー Wait for me pleeeeaseー!」(??)
「Hm?」(Alice)
While I was wondering, I saw a girl running toward the carriage.
The coachman seemed to notice her. He stopped the carriage and waited for her.
「I’m sorry. Are you going to the port town?」(girl)
「We are. Do you want to come along?」(coachman)
「Yes. How much?」(girl)
「100G, please.」(coachman)
「Alright… Here.」(girl)
「Thank you. You may hop in.」(coachman)
After paying the fee to the coachman, the girl got into the carriage.
Our eyes met when she was looking for a seat. She looked a bit surprised when she saw my face.
「Umm, excuse me, can I sit next to you?」(girl)
「Please, feel free.」(Alice)
「Thanks.」(girl)
The black short-haired girl who seemed to be a player replied to me with a smile and sat next to me.
Our carriage then continued moving forward.
「…..」(Alice)
「…..」(girl)
Somehow, I could feel her gaze while I was looking at the scenery outside.
Is she looking at me?
「…..」(girl)
「Hm?」(Alice)
「ー!!」(girl)
She quickly looked away when I glanced at her. She was definitely looking at me.
Does she know me? I don’t think I’ve ever met her before…
This is so awkward…
Should I strike up a conversation with her…?
「Umm… Hey.」(Alice)
「Y-yes!?」(girl)
「Are you playing solo?」(Alice)
「Solo…?」(girl)
「I mean… Are you playing alone?」(Alice)
「I was with a friend, but… Yeah, I’m alone now.」(girl)
「I see.」(Alice)
Hmm, I don’t know why but for some reason, I feel like we have a lot in common.
Perhaps she’s an introvert like me. She doesn’t look like a person who’s good at talking.
I’m not that good at talking either, but this might be a good chance to make a new friend. Maybe I can invite her to play together.
「You’re going to the port town too, right? Wanna form a party with me?」(Alice)
「Eh?」(girl)
「We can explore the new area and perhaps hunt monsters near the town together if you like.」(Alice)
「Really!? I’d love to!」(girl)
Oh? She looks very happy.
Her smile’s kinda cute.
「Great! My name is Alice, by the way.」(Alice)
「It’s nice to meet you, Alice. You can call me Ruka.」(Ruka)
「Nice to meet you too, Ruka.」(Alice)
「Umm… Can I add you to my friend list?」(Ruka)
「Of course.」(Alice)
「Thank you!」(Ruka)
Soon after she sent a friend request, a floating confirmation window appeared in front of me. I then immediately pushed the ‘Accept’ button.
Now, Ruka has been added to my friend list, and my name should have been added to her friend list as well.
We haven’t talked much but we’ve officially become friends now!
「So, Alice, why do you want to go to the port town? Do you want to unlock the portal there?」(Ruka)
「That too, but my main goal is to eat seafood!」(Alice)
「Seafood?」(Ruka)
「Yup! This is a wonderful game where you can taste food like in real life. I love to eat and I want to try seafood here.」(Alice)
「Fufu. I think I can understand that. The food in this game is delicious.」(Ruka)
「Right~? Other than that, I also want to gather some good-quality fiber materials to make new armor.」(Alice)
「Fiber materials… So you can get them in the new area?」(Ruka)
「Yes. I heard that there are spiders and silkworm monsters that drop them in the south. I plan to hunt them, but… Ruka, are you good with those kind of creatures?」(Alice)
「No worries. I’m not afraid of bugs.」(Ruka)
「Great. Then let’s gather enough materials for both of us.」(Alice)
「Un!」(Ruka)
She’s a bit shy but she’s a good girl.
This is why I like MMO games. You can make friends with strangers, and if you’re lucky, you may befriend a cute girl like her!
I can’t wait to introduce my new friend here to Shougo and Suzu and brag about her!
「Fwaaaaah~ *yawn*」(Ruka)
「Ruka, are you sleepy?」(Alice)
「A little. I had been quite busy in real life lately.」(Ruka)
「I see.」(Alice)
I wonder if she’s a student in real life.
We just met, so I’m not sure if I can ask her about her real-life situation. Not yet.
「I’m tired, but I don’t want to log out. I feel like I would oversleep in my bed. Time flows three times faster in the real world after all.」(Ruka)
「Yeah, and I can’t wake you up if you log out.」(Alice)
「True… Fwaaah~ *yawn*」(Ruka)
「Say, Ruka, why don’t you take a nap here without logging out? Umm… I can lend you my lap if you want.」(Alice)
I smiled at her and tapped my thighs, telling her that she could use them as a pillow.
I’m aware that we have only been friends for a few minutes, but I want to get closer to her. I have a strong feeling that we’ll be good friends in the future.
「…Eh?」(Ruka)
She looked a bit puzzled.
That’s an expected reaction, but I hope she doesn’t think that I’m a creep or something…
「Your… lap… *gulp*」(Ruka)
She swallowed while looking at my thighs.
「You… don’t want to…? Well… It’s embarrassing after all. I’m sorry. Forget what I said.」(Alice)
「No, no! I didn’t say that! I’d be happy toー No, I’d be DELIGHTED to sleep on the lap of a cute girl like you!」(Ruka)
「Cute girl? Haha, you flatter me. Well, then… Come. You can put your head here.」(Alice)
「I accept your kind offer then…」(Ruka)
Ruka lay down sideways, put her head on my lap, and closed her eyes. I could see her face turn a bit red.
I don’t know her age, but she’s smaller and looks younger than me. She’s probably a high school student.
Seeing her cute sleeping face, I couldn’t stop my hand from reaching her head and stroking it.
Ahh~ I feel like I have a little sister now.
I was so absorbed that I forgot there were people other than us in this carriage.
The woman who seemed to be a resident sitting facing us was watching over with a gentle smile on her face.
I couldn’t help but awkwardly smile back at her.
This was my idea but… Ugh… This is kinda embarrassing…
「Umm… Alice… Thank you.」(Ruka)
Ruka thanked me and fell asleep.
I kept stroking her head.
I still don’t know anything about her, but looking at her sleeping face makes me want to protect her somehow.
「Good night.」(Alice)
I never thought I would let someone I just met sleep on my lap like this.
Perhaps I’m not as introverted as I thought…?
*/TL : We have a new character!
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Tomgirl arrives?