Chapter 1-4 : Character Creation
ー11:59 AM, April 19th, 2025ー
Today, the server will be open at twelve and we can finally log into Nostalgia World Online.
After having a light snack to fill my stomach and using the toilet, I put on my VR headgear and lay down on my bed.
By the way, it wasn’t easy to get myself a VR headgear since these things were selling like hotcakes, but thanks to Shougo, who was familiar with the ‘gaming world’, I was able to buy one. Of course, it wasn’t cheap at all.
As soon as I pushed the power button on my VR headgear, I felt an electrical sensation in my brain, indicating that my brainwaves and the headgear were linked.
After I logged into the game, I was moved to the character creation screen. There I could see a woman that had a similar appearance as me. It felt like I was looking at myself in a mirror.
The headgear collected data about my body through my brain, and the gender and height of my character will be based on my body, so I can’t change them.
However, I can change my character’s hairstyle, hair color, skin color, eye color, face features, and body features.
Since this game will be my second home, I don’t want to change my character too much.
First, I think I will change my hair color. Mine is black, but let’s see which color is good for my character’s hair…
I selected the ‘Hair’ section and started adjusting the RGB bar.
By the way, I’m controlling the UI with the mouse cursor that I can move with my mind.
After adjusting the bar for a minute, I decided to choose a pinkish-silver color for my character’s hair.
As for my character’s eye color, I chose light blue to match the hair. It took me a while to adjust the RGB bar because I wanted my eyes to look a bit transparent.
After I was satisfied with my character’s appearance, I typed “Alice” on the character’s name and moved on to the next section.
As soon as I clicked the ‘NEXT’ button, my sight went white for a second. The next moment, I could finally look around and move my body freely. It seemed that my consciousness had been transferred into my character.
「Alice-sama, welcome to Proelesfi.」(boy)
When I heard someone’s voice, I turned around and saw a brown-skinned boy about ten years old.
Judging from his formal clothes, he seemed to be a guide.
「My name is Taurus. I’m one of the Rulers of Twelve Zodiac Signs.」(Taurus)
「Umm, nice to meet you.」(Alice)
「Nice to meet you.」(Taurus)
The mysterious boy bowed politely at me.
「I’m here to help you with your character creation. Without further ado, let’s get right to it. First, please tell me what basic skills you want to learn before you start your journey. You might have read about this on our official site, but you can only learn ten skills as a new player.」(Taurus)
Uhh… I don’t know why, but it feels like a job interview or something…
「Before that, there’s something I want to ask. I’m thinking of using a wakizashi. Can I use it in the early game?」(Alice)
「Don’t worry. You can use a wakizashi as your starting weapon as soon as you learn【Sword Mastery】.」(Taurus)
「I see. Alright, the skills I want to learn are 【Sword Mastery】, 【Cooking】, 【ATK Boost】, 【AGI Boost】, 【DEX Boost】, 【Gathering】, 【Perception】, 【Stealth】, 【Appraisal】, and 【Storage】.」(Alice)
I already decided what skills to learn the other day, so it didn’t take me a minute.
「Understood. Would you like to try your weapon of choice?」(Taurus)
「Oh? I can try it now? That would be great.」(Alice)
「Understood.」(Taurus)
As soon as the mysterious boy nodded at me, a wakizashi appeared along with its sheath on my waist.
I immediately unsheathed it and swung it around.
「Whoaa…」(Alice)
Its length is about 60cm. It’s not too long and not too short, and it’s surprisingly light.
「What do you think, Alice-sama?」(Taurus)
「I like it. It’s perfect!」(Alice)
「I’m glad to hear that. If you don’t mind, I can spawn a dummy for your target practice.」(Taurus)
「You can do that too? Then, can you please spawn one for me?」(Alice)
「Understood.」(Taurus)
Soon after the boy nodded at me, a scarecrow appeared in front of me.
I’ve never fought with a sword before, but somehow I know how to handle the wakizashi in hand right away.
I dashed forward and swung my weapon horizontally. The blade passed through the scarecrow and cut it in half.
「Hoo~ It feels good!」(Alice)
「You seem to like that weapon a lot.」(Taurus)
「I do. Umm… Can I ask you one more question?」(Alice)
「Of course. I’m here to assist you. You can ask me anything related to NWO.」(Taurus)
There’s something I’m curious about…
If this is already inside the game, that means the boy in front of me is an NPC.
If what the president of this game’s developer company said was true, that means he is…
「Taurus-kun… You are an NPC, right? Are you… really ‘alive’ in this world…?」(Alice)
「……..」(Taurus)
He fell silent…
This is so awkward… Ugh, maybe I shouldn’t have asked that question…
「Haha. ーAhem! Please excuse me.」(Taurus)
After a moment of silence, he suddenly laughed and smiled at me.
What a mysterious boy…
「So…」(Alice)
「As you might have noticed. I’m an NPC, and the other thousands of ‘me’, let’s just call them my ‘clones’, are currently talking with new players who just registered into the game like you. Some players asked the same question.」(Taurus)
「Eh!? So, there are thousands of other Taurus-kuns talking with other players right now!?」(Alice)
「Yes. My job is to assist new players with their character creations and record their data in my database. Although there are thousands of ‘me’ in different channels right now, we are all linked together.」(Taurus)
「I see…」(Alice)
The server has just opened, so there must be so many players logging into the game right now. Naturally, there can’t be just one Taurus-kun.
「Anyway, the answer to your question is… Yes. I and the other Rulers of Twelve Zodiac Signs were created by our Creators and are ‘living beings’ in this world. Our job is to support all the players so that they have the best experience while playing the game.」(Taurus)
「I see.」(Alice)
As expected from the latest AI technology developed by Avenir Company. What a well-made NPC with ‘self-consciousness’ they have created.
Taurus is an NPC, but I feel like I’m talking with a normal polite human boy who has feelings.
「Say, Taurus-kun, will we be able to meet again after I leave this room?」(Alice)
「Probably. We, the Rulers of Twelve Zodiac Signs, are the NPCs created to manage the game from ‘inside’, so we might be called to take part in events held by the Creators in the future. You might find me if you take part in those events.」(Taurus)
「But, will you remember me?」(Alice)
「Of course. As I said before, my job is to record the information about new players in my database. I will always remember you and thousands of other players I have assisted.」(Taurus)
「I see… Well, since we may see each other again, I think I will be going now. You’re busy talking with other players with your clones, right? I don’t want to bother you too much.」(Alice)
「No, Alice-sama. It’s a pleasure talking with you. Thank you.」(Taurus)
「I had fun talking with you too. Besides…」(Alice)
「Besides…?」(Taurus)
「Thanks to you, I realized that the NPCs in this game are really ‘alive’. I’ve never seen an NPC more human than you.」(Alice)
When I said that, Taurus smiled brightly.
「Thank you, Alice-sama. We don’t have the ability to fully understand human feelings, but we, the residents of Proelesfi, as known as ‘NPCs’, will always do our best to support you so that you can enjoy this world.」(Taurus)
「Un! I’ll do my best to enjoy this game too!」(Alice)
「Good luck, Alice-sama. It’s hard to say goodbye, but let me send you off now.」(Taurus)
「Alright.」(Alice)
When Taurus stretched his hands forward, a magic circle appeared under my feet.
It seemed to be Teleportation Magic that would send me to Proelesfi, the name of the world inside the game.
「May the stars guide you.」(Taurus)
As soon as Taurus said that, my sight went white again.
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This story has had a good start. Looking forward to how it develops. Thanks!