The Inquisitor gripped her shield and mace tightly as she watched the man melt into the darkness. The sense of duty and disgust etched on his face as he left her ankle behind.
"Archmage, what… what should we do now?"
"Hmm, well. Even this old man is facing a situation like this for the first time."
"We can't just let him go. He's already this strong, and if he gets devoured by a demon…"
"Do you think that man will be devoured by a demon?"
"…Personally, I hope not. But…"
"I understand. Wishes and reality are often far apart."
Perhaps reading much from her silence, the Archmage stroked his chin and snapped his fingers.
"For now, let's mark that young man. We'll give it a little time… and make contact again, pretending it's coincidence. Forcing ourselves to follow him now would only provoke him, which would be a bad move."
"…Understood."
It was the most compromising option available.
* * *
"…We're here."
I finally made my vow at the city entrance. Looks like I'm walking here on foot again, you deep-sea bastards.
"...."
The full day's walk had been fine. Since I was walking myself, the eight in-game hours felt like a full real-time day, but I could endure it.
No, I can't.
What the hell is up with this insane deep-sea pearl? I get lost in games sometimes, but not to the point of mistaking eight hours for twenty-four…!
Still, fine. I can tolerate this because it's a good thing. If a short session feels like it lasted forever, that's nothing but a boon for a gamer who has to juggle real life.
But what kind of game implements sleepiness and fatigue? Fullness, sure—plenty of games do that. But sleep? That's unacceptable.
Or maybe it's their roundabout way of saying don't hunt for twenty-four hours straight? They must know they made the game too realistic.
But regulating it like this? If that's the case, just ban full dives outright and piss off everyone who shelled out for the gear…!
And there were bugs everywhere. In the dirt, between the grass, on the trees!
The optimization was so perfect there wasn't a single stutter, but this was a waste of tech.
You have no idea how freaked out I was when I dozed off in the forest and felt bugs crawling on my back, do you? No, you don't, you evil pearl bastards.
You turned my trash game into a god game, sure, but this is overkill!
"Huh? You're back already…?"
I couldn't hold back my words upon seeing Clerk Izren's face.
"…Check it."
I'd been through too much. I'm exhausted for real.
"A snake… no way!"
But I couldn't cry over my pride. I tossed the snake in front of the clerk and slumped into the chair by the counter.
"A Medusa… it was a Medusa. That explains…"
Ah, screw full dives and all that—I want to log out. First time a game's so well-made I feel like quitting.
At this rate, I'll probably feel tired even after logging out. Games shouldn't mess with real life—that's my creed—but this deep-sea pearl is about to ruin it.
"We should keep monitoring the forest just in case… but it seems correct."
Still, quitting now would waste all the money I spent. Full-dive fluid is expensive. And logging out mid-dive means replacing the whole batch.
What a miserable situation. It went from trash to god game, but it's such a god game it's killing me. Damn it.
"We'll process the quest as complete and pay the reward as soon as we verify it. Good work, Adventurer."
Bam-bam-pa-ram!
In the midst of it, upbeat BGM assaulted my ears. Not exactly cheerful right now.
My head was foggy like I'd pulled an all-nighter, eyelids heavy. Even a casual gamer wouldn't enjoy this condition.
"Um… you look tired. May I recommend an inn?"
Inn recommendation? Sure, why not. I was planning to stay at the trading company's spot, but trying somewhere new could be fun.
"Kon!"
"Yes!"
At the clerk's call, the kid I'd first met when starting the game came running over eagerly.
"Will you escort this Adventurer to the White Wind Inn?"
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
The kid seemed more lively and spirited than before. Though I'd become worn out in the meantime.
"Um… Adventurer, did you catch a demon?"
"…Yeah."
"What kind of demon? What did it look like? Was it strong?"
Less timid now, the kid sidled up to chat. It was a shame. On any other day, I'd have played along without breaking character, but not now.
"Demons aren't playthings for amusement."
I spat out the words in an icy tone. As intended, the kid flinched and shut up.
"…Sorry."
Aaaah! It's not your fault!! I'm the one who's sorry!! If I were a real kid, fine, but I'm not adult enough to be kind even to an NPC boy…!
Tormented by guilt inside, I made it to the inn. Fortunately, the boy buttered up the innkeeper with a "Please take good care of the Adventurer" despite my gruffness before leaving.
A truly admirable kid who could set aside personal feelings.
"…! Thank you!"
And I was a terribly unadmirable adult who could only tip in place of praise….
"…Should I quit?"
After giving the boy a generous tip, I staggered into the inn room, pondering.
I had to. The NPCs' varied reactions made role-playing fun, but the game itself was exhausting me too much.
It wasn't the sensation of enjoying a game—it felt like an experience, like taking on the world's toughest job. Even with nostalgia and gratitude factored in, it was hard to shake.
"Whew…."
No… I'm just at max fatigue right now, that's why. Of course, the devs who made it feel this real are the worst offenders….
I flopped onto the bed. A window slid open.
「 ▲ 0 hours 00 minutes Sleep ▼ 」
I set the timer to six hours. I'd decide after sleeping—whether to keep playing or not. Experience told me judgments made when tired lead to regrets.
Ah… come to think of it, I should wash off the blood on me….
Gear auto-cleans after time passes, so why not stuff on hair and skin…?
Too bad, that thought hit after I'd already hit sleep. My vision went dark in moments.
* * *
'Gotta wake up.'
「A hostile target is within 10m radius.」
My eyes snapped open. The light filtering through the window was dimmer than when I slept—probably midnight. An unnatural silence filled my ears, not even crickets chirping.
More importantly, did my Detection Skill just ping?
…I never even opened the window.
I blinked, then grabbed the sword beside me. Thunk! A heavy blow landed on the instinctively raised blade.
A chill ran down my spine. The presence behind me was so clear it was eerie I'd only noticed now.
"Damn it!"
A unfamiliar voice cursed. That's what I wanted to say. This damn skill only triggered when the enemy was right in my face.
"Die!"
The heavy thing that had hit Two-Hander pulled back, then rushed in with a whoosh of wind and killing intent.
No reason to take it lying down. I quickly raised my upper body. My game-character eyes adjusted to the dark instantly, clearly illuminating the surroundings.
Thwack!
The club smashed the empty bed, and I twisted my torso toward the enemy.
Then I swung Two-Hander at him. My stance didn't allow full power, but I sliced into his flesh some.
"Argh!"
The enemy clutched his chest and staggered back. With distance opened, momentum shifted to me.
Keeping Two-Hander extended toward him, I groped for the lantern on my belt. I could see fine, but I wanted a good look at this bastard's face.
"Sh-shit!"
The lit room revealed a hook-nosed stranger.
Right hand gripped a club studded with iron, left clutched his bleeding chest.
"P-please, spare me."
He backed away trembling. What a clown. Who attacked first?
"I-I just wanted the money pouch…."
"Looks like money pouches come from smashing heads these days."
If I hadn't specced Detection, what then? Better to get my skull cracked by the Inquisitor than have it smashed in my sleep—no style in that.
I ground my teeth and pointed the sword.
"Drop it and hands on head."
Wow, never thought I'd deliver a cop line in this character.
Now what?
"I-I'll drop it, just spare my life…."
"Think that blade under your chin will move you faster?"
My low growl made him jump. Thud. The club hit the wooden floor, hands went up.
Sword at his neck, I circled the bed. Long blade made it convenient to keep aimed.
Clunk.
The club I kicked rolled to the corner. I grabbed one of his arms. His hands stayed firm on his head even as I yanked.
Instead, he drew a dagger from his bosom himself.
"Pathetic."
NPC gone mad wanting death. No learning curve.
I blocked the dagger with Two-Hander as a shield, then hooked his leg with my foot to topple him.
As his body lurched, my right elbow slammed his back.
"Guhk!"
Criminals never play nice if treated soft. Human rights aren't for that.
"Ugh…."
I kicked the fallen man's hand—specifically the gripped dagger. Hurt his hand a bit, but it worked. Dagger rolled away like the club.
"You thought that puny blade could kill me?"
I bent down, gauntlet seizing his nape. He yelped in pain, but I ignored it.
This lowlife should be grateful he's alive.
"Hey."
Gripping the intruder's neck, I strode downstairs. A counter NPC dozed at the desk.
Bang!
Rather than shout, I kicked a nearby chair. Crash! It tumbled, echoing through the hall.
"Egumoni!"
Sorry for the temper. But you didn't handle security, so no apologies there.
"Wh-what?"
I slammed the dragged thief to the floor. The startled clerk, jumping up, alternated glances between us and screamed. Horror-movie worthy. Juicy.
"Wh-what happened…!"
The whole inn soon buzzed. Some poked heads out rooms, others rushed to the hall.
"M-murder…!"
No, look. Yeah, blood on my head, but it's dried.
If it were fresh, it wouldn't be crusty. How do you program NPCs to misunderstand facts like real humans?
"Eyes just for show? Calling murder with that guy right there—"
I raised my sword to point at the groaning thief trying to rise—clearly alive, to dispel the misunderstanding.
「A hostile target is within 10m radius.」
"Did you commit murder in that split second?!"
If not for the alert and that familiar voice, it would've worked.
"As expected of a zombie clinging to ego—!"
Hey, isn't that the girl from the forest?
"No questions!"
Whoosh!
Before I could assess, a mace crashed where I'd stood. Dodged by a hair—precarious. The priestess, sans plate armor and shield, was lightning fast.
"You…!"
"This time, I'll eliminate you!"
No clue why she's here, but she's misunderstanding again.
What insane NPCs. Unlikely to meet like this every time.
Or is this story? Feels too contrived and luck-based.
If the player hadn't woken, they'd have died for real.
"I told you I'd kill you if you followed…!"
Or maybe not waking was the right flow. Like teaming up to recover the stolen pouch.
Though if player had Detection first like now, it'd break—low odds.
"Filthy demon!"
"…This time, I'll sever your jaw and rip out your tongue!"
Whenever this priestess shows, my immersion switch flips—it's too fun. How does she always pick lines that poke my complex?
"In the name of God, die—!?"
"Freeze!"
As the Inquisitor and I clashed, white-and-blue chains erupted from the floor, binding us.
Binding. Mage CC skill to lock enemies, buying spellcast time. Auto-releases after duration, resist to shorten.
Still, at least two seconds bound. As in the original.
"Hold still!"
I resisted anyway, coating Two-Hander in skill and swinging. Archmage's shout hit my ears simultaneously.
"Ah, Archmage, why—."
Boom!
The chains shattered from my swing, Two-Hander slamming the floor.
Crack!
The blade split the wooden floor, carving a fissure across half the hall. The thief I'd tossed barely dodged the path, trembling.
"Hiiiik!"
"M-monster…!"
"...."
…Ooh, uh… so…
This works. The PVP-overpowered skill that kept getting nerf calls in the original shatters this easily….
A brief silence hung between me and the Archmage.
read more on novelshub.org