Pandora of Fantasy And Reality Chapter 10

Avatar

Wonder Drug of Love.

Its disappearance from the quest list caused a bit of commotion inside and outside the game.

It was one of the staple quests for raising money in the early stage.  Many players were troubled by its sudden disappearance and they  immediately wrote about it in forum and the like.

Akito who was related, or rather the cause of that commotion was at his wits’ end.

There were five students inside the classroom.

Riku was near Akito with a tablet in hand. He gathered information in the internet about Pandora’s Box and reported it to Akito.

「Players who are knowledgeable about the current situation are acting  like know-it-all and wrote that the Wonder Drug of Love quest was  removed from the quest list because the dev is scared it might become a  target for regulation because of what the quest entailed. Others are  saying that actually the dev is preparing another quest to replace the  Wonder Drug of Love, while other is saying that the quest get erased  because of its horrible content……you have really done it now  Ponsuke-kun.」

Akito lifted his face and started making excuse to the grinning Riku.

He never intended to cause any problem from the start, and also he  never even imagined that it would become this kind of commotion.

「I only decided to cancel the quest at the middle. The other two were  also giving me sad eyes……they look like beautiful girls at the outside  even though they’re uncles in the inside, so it messed my line of  thought somehow.」

Riku tilted his head.

He asked a question that sounded like he was doubting him in Akito’s ear.

「What, so those two are really GIRL (Guy In Real Life) just as I  thought? Well, it’s not my business though. To each their own I say.  Still, that’s surprising. They looked completely natural to me.」

It was Akito who was dumbfounded now from hearing that.

「But! It was you who said that they were middle-aged man at the inside that time!」

Riku crossed his arms and recalled when he helped them out at the first day of their login.

It seemed that he finally remembered after thinking for a while. He sighed and looked at Akito coldly.

「Really you, it’s not that strange even if a man is using female  avatar. There is also that kind of people among my friends. It’s not  really anything strange at all.」

Akito asked Riku in a fluster.

「I-is that how it is? Because, there is this talk that changing your  gender isn’t recommended because VR game is a fully immersive game――」

Ruky calmly talked about the rumor.

「That’s just a rumor. A rumor. Certainly I can’t guarantee that there  won’t be any effect from doing that, but even the dev is just giving a  warning about that without making any regulation about it. Besides, if  you say that then you using orc race will also be problematic. You’re  clearly using something that isn’t human body.」

There was only a warning and a bit of explanation about that when making the avatar.

But it was unclear just how many players there were who took that warning to heart.

「Certainly, I’m not feeling any discomfort even though I’m using orc body……no, I felt that my field of vision was higher……but……」

Akito fell into deep thought. Riku was exasperated with him, even so he continued explaining.

「And besides, have those two ever caused trouble for you? No, sorry. They have been causing you some amount of trouble huh.」

Riku recalled how Akito was going through the hardship of acting as the mediator between the two.

But he said to Akito.

「But still, it’s not like they’re acting like parasite with you using  their female avatar right? They fight and play together with  you……that’s all there is to it. It doesn’t matter whether they’re woman  or not. Don’t bring in male-female relationship into game, you damn  flirt.」

「No! There are also times when I don’t know how to deal with them if they’re actually male inside that female body!」

The game being fully immersive brought its own kind of trouble. A  woman who was right in front of his eyes was actually a male at the  inside――he would have no trouble acting casually if it was something  that happened at the other side of the screen, but this being an  interaction that happened just like in real life sometimes caused player  who wasn’t used to it to feel at a loss of how to act.

Riku told Akito.

「You can just keep acting the same like now. It’s not like they’re  asking you to treat them like girl. Juts focus on enjoying the game  together. Besides it’s inside the game, so there are nice looking  characters everywhere you can see right? There’s no point feeling  bothered about it.」

There were people like Rubin who created their avatar using popular  actor as model, and there were also players who obsessively made their  avatar on their own.

Riku told Akito how there were also books like “How to Make an Avatar” being published.

「Interact with the other players more. You three are playing on your  own too much……no, that also means that those two are fine with the  current situation. I guess you have good affinity with those two? You’re  lucky Akito.」

Akito reflected on himself a little bit.

(We are just players enjoying the game, so genders doesn’t really  matter……huh. But, in that case I don’t know what is the best way to  interact with them.)

Riku gave advise to Akito who was thinking hard.

「If they themselves don’t tell you that they’re actually male then  just treat them like how you have been treating them until now or treat  them like a female friend. Just don’t do any sexual harassment okay?」

「No way I’ll do that! ……Aa, I have enough. I’ll just treat them no  differently than before. Certainly there is no point at all for me to  worry about their actual gender.」

But Akito had a thought at this moment.

(Now I’m curious about the actual people inside that hardcore M orc group……)

And then Akito recalled.

「Come to think of it, I picked up an item that didn’t seem to have any use.」

The item that Ponsuke obtained from the Wonder Drug of Love quest stayed in his possession in the end.

After hearing that Riku said that this was a great chance for him to introduce Akito to a certain player.

「It should at least help with gathering money. I’ll go with you so  wait for me at the plaza after you login at five o’clock tomorrow.」

*

Inside the game.

Ponsuke and his party waited at the plaza after logging in. There Rook arrived with a player in tow.

His equipments were similar from before, but all of them were equipments that couldn’t be found in the Capital of Hope.

The player he brought with him was wearing a hooded robe that reached  his waist. It was unknown whether the avatar was human or elf. Their  His face was also hidden by the hood’s shadow.

「’Sup~」

Rook raised his hand and approached. Ponsuke also raised his hand.

But his gaze was directed toward the robed man.

Alfie was also looking curious.

「Just who is he?」

Mariela asked Rook.

「Hey, he looks really suspicious. Is he perhaps a top player like the group we saw before?」

Rook shook his head and opened his mouth to explain, but the robed man stepped forward.

「I guess you guys won’t know if you haven’t played for that long. I’m  an information broker. This robe is an item so that I won’t give any  information to other player. The top players are also using the same  thing.」

The information broker was wearing the robe to hide his information  like his race, equipment, and so on. He sat down on a nearby bench.

Mariela was puzzled when she heard that he was an information broker.

「That kind of play style exist? Umm, is it fun playing like that?」

Rook warned her.

「It’s to each their own. Asking about that kind of thing too much is rude.」

The information broker waved his hand.

「It’s fine. I’m also enjoying the game normally when I’m not doing  this. This information broker thing is like my hidden face. I started  this business because I admired this old movie, but I’m apparently  suited for it. Besides, gathering information inside this game is  unexpectedly fun.」

It seemed the information broker got pleased with his current outlook while handling information in the Pandora’s Box.

Apparently he loved gathering information of this game world that wasn’t recorded in the official setting.

Rook shrugged.

「He want to ask you guys directly about the Wonder Drug of Love  quest. He’s going to pay for the information, so can you three tell him  what you know?」

Ponsuke looked at Alfie and Mariela. The two nodded so he talked about it.

「Err, at first we took the quest to gather money but――」

He described how they gave up on completing the quest after seeing the monsters adorably cuddling with each other.

But then the quest was considered successful and they were given the reward.

At the end, Ponsuke took out the Kind Heart inside his item box and showed it to the information broker.

The information broker spoke of his impression.

「Had the quest been planned to be like that from the start, or was it  a key quest in order to lead to some kind of new quest……and yet this  item you got doesn’t become any kind of key item after that. I analyzed  it but it only seems like a trash item……is it a commemoration item for  clearing the quest? I also never heard about getting the quest reward  after cancelling the quest.」

The information broker fell into deep thought after hearing the story  from the three. Then he decided to hand tens of thousands of money to  Ponsuke.

「This much!?」

The information broker shrugged while giving the stone back to Ponsuke.

「It’s unrelated with the main story, but I believed that the  information is quite beneficial. It’s interesting to learn that a quest  can be cleared by abandoning it halfway. It’s worth checking about.  Also, I added a bit of extra in there. Here is hoping for a good  relationship from here on.」

The information broker said that he wanted to have a dealing with Ponsuke’s party even in the future if something happened.

Alfie turned a doubting gaze toward the information broker.

「We’re still beginner as players you know? I don’t think that you will gain any merit from doing this.」

The broker laughed.

「That depends on how you look at it. Many of my contacts are in  different worlds. It won’t harm me to have contacts who are based in the  Capital of Hope. It will allow me to quickly learn if something happens  here. And also……I have the feeling that you’re the same like Rook.」

Rook who got mentioned smiled wryly.

The information broker looked at Ponsuke and nodded.

「Sometimes there are players like you who find fresh and important  information. They often find a new side of the game with high frequency.  I believe that you――Ponsuke is also that kind of player.」

Mariela looked at Ponsuke.

「No way, is Ponsuke actually an amazing orc?」

Alfie shrugged.

「He’s still completely hopeless in dancing though.」

Ponsuke retorted back.

「I don’t have the talent unlike you Alfie! I’m doing my best so it’s fine!」

Both Alfie and Mariela made a slightly surprised look. Ponsuke always  added the suffix “-san” when calling their name until now, but he  didn’t do that this time.

Mariela pulled at Ponsuke’s mammoth vest with her right hand.

The information broker watched that sight with bewilderment and looked at Rook.

Rook smiled slightly in relief.

「Well, you can say that this is the moment their party become one.」

The information broker nodded.

「Aa, that huh. I understand. That’s right.」

The information broker looked at Ponsuke and made a suggestion.

*

Rook and the information broker left. Ponsuke was now at the grassland while facing a red colored goblin.

This was a monster called Goblin Warrior. It was considered as strong among the goblins.

It wore a steel helm while holding a shield and a rustic sword in its hands.

「KISHAAAA!」

Droll flew out from its mouth that was filled with uneven fangs. Then  it leaped and attack. Ponsuke blocked its attack with the buckler on  his left hand.

He then pushed it back and thrust the one-handed sword in his right hand toward the goblin’s eye.

Its head was protected by steel helmet while its torso was protected by its shield, so he could only attack at that spot.

But the goblin became red light particles when the one-handed sword stabbed it and it dispersed.

The word [Critical] popped out at the spot that the goblin previously occupied. It showed that his Counter skill succeeded.

Mariela who was watching it from nearby approached Ponsuke and clapped his back.

「Good job there Ponsuke!」

Alfie also sheathed her sword and approached.

「You successfully pulled the Counter for the first time. Congratulations.」

However Ponsuke felt somewhat dejected despite the success.

「……Yeah.」

It was true that he succeeded, but that was because there was no  other enemy around him and he was able to predict the enemy’s attack to  some degree.

He had failed many times before this and the success this time was also more like a coincidence.

The success caused the bar for the Counter skill’s proficiency level  to be filled just a little. The skill’s proficiency level would go up if  the bar was completely filled.

The proficiency level was something separate from the skill level.  Increasing it would cause the skill’s power and other aspect to go up.

Mariela put her hands on her waist and looked around while talking.

「Still it was surprising wasn’t it. I don’t understand why that guy asked you to not remake your avatar.」

Alfie was also chuckling.

「And this suggestion came even though you said that that you would  remake your avatar after you successfully do a counter. That’s too bad.  Ah, are you going to disregard it and remake your avatar anyway?」

Ponsuke sheathed his weapon and fell into thought.

(Shit, what should I do now!)

Actually it was related with what the request that the information broker made to him.

According to the broker.

『The special players……well, we called these chosen existences as  Selector. There’s no orc among the Selectors. It’s hard to say that  there’s no racial factor in Pandora, so I wish that you will continue to  play as orc. Well, in exchange of you doing that I can only offer to  give you priority for any orc related information or buying orc related  information from you with high price though.』

Orc was called as a joke race, because of that few players were using it in the game.

And then about these Selectors that the information broker mentioned, none of those players were using orc race as their avatar.

Furthermore even Rook was supporting this request.

『He’s right. You had even defeated an area boss with that avatar. If  you erase it then even the job point and skill point that you got would  be lost. It’ll be a waste to erase it. Besides, your friendship meter  with them had gotten quite high right?』

Alfie and Mariela.

His friendship meters with the two had gone up over 50. From there it  would become harder to increase it even higher, but currently it was  enough to make it easier for the three of them to perform combo attack.

There were many factors that made it a waste to remake the avatar.

And then…….

『That’s right. If you agree to not remake your avatar for a while,  I’ll give you beneficial information for orc for free. Actually there’s  an orc exclusive quest to strengthen yourself. It’s a hidden quest that  is hard to find……what do you think?』

Rook also continued after the broker said that.

『I’m telling you it’ll be a waste if you erase your current avatar.  You’re going to just replace it with a handsome avatar anyway. You can  find that kind of avatar everywhere, so it’s best to look unique like  your current avatar.』

Rook said that despite being someone who was using a handsome character himself.

His words didn’t have any persuasiveness, but the information  broker’s offer managed to cajole Ponsuke. He decided to continue playing  as an orc for a while more.

「……I wonder why? I get the feeling that I’m gradually being pushed into direction where I’ll end up playing as an orc forever.」

Mariela and Alfie were both really happy.

「It’s fine. Or rather, I’m going to feel troubled too if Ponsuke  suddenly turn into a handsome guy at this point. I won’t know how to  react.」

「Ponsuke is Ponsuke after all. You keep being an orc is for the best.」

The two’s words made Ponsuke worried.

「Are those really praise? Haa……but somehow I also feel like that staying like this is alright.」

He had heard that going forward he would receive the demerit from not  being able to receive the divine protection from Goddess Pandora.

But he had his excessive status as an orc that he could rely on.

Besides the information broker also told Ponsuke that there were still many other merits from being an orc.

(Perhaps this race is unexpectedly not a joke race.)

*

Mariela――Yakumo woke up at seven o’clock as usual.

She took off her headset and stood up while stretching. Then her hand reached to the smartphone that she placed on her desk.

She checked her mail and other things in her smartphone. Then she touched her PC and activated it from its standby state.

The wallpaper of her PC was set to show the picture of three players with the scene inside the game as the background.

It was the photo that her party took together inside the game.

The orc Ponsuke was at the middle, with Mariela and Alfie standing at  his sides while crossing their arms. Yakumo found Ponsuke’s troubled  face as amusing.

「He finally stopped calling me with “-san”.」

She said that and finished checking her mail and the like, then she returned the PC back to the standby mode.

She changed her clothes and prepared to go to school.

*

Ponsuke――Akito woke up. He took off his headset and sighed.

「What to do. I got the information about an interesting quest but, it would be impossible to do it with just us three……」

It was nice that he managed to learn about the existence of the quest  for strengthening orc race, but the problem was that they lacked  manpower to clear that quest.

They needed two parties at the very least.

He was told that it would be better if he at least prepared three parties.

The quest’s difficulty level was also high. Their party also lacked healer.

「……The two were also interested, and they said that they will help even with the preparation for the quest.」

The quest was indispensable for orc, but it was completely unnecessary for human or elf.

Considering that, as expected he couldn’t say that he didn’t get along well with those two.

Even while feeling troubled, that fact made Akito felt a bit happy.

「I already come this far, so I guess I’ll continue being an orc for a while.」

He laughed a little and turned on his monitor. There was morning news playing in the screen.

『Today we have Professor  Oosaki, the leading figure in VR research  gracing us with his presence. Professor, I heard that you’re currently  raising the alarm against VR game nowadays.』

The male who was called Professor Oosaki had hair that was starting  to turn gray. He was looking older than his actual age of 57 years old.

『Yes. I’m worried that the lesson of the past from that tragic great  war is being forgotten seeing how often there are news about game that  are promoting brutality among the youths. But even compared to that, my  worry is especially directed toward a particular VR game.』

The professor didn’t say the game’s title, but from the context anyone could understand that he was alluding to Pandora’s Box.

『That game has pursued after realism too much that it has left behind  reality and pursued after the ideal. Even among my students there are  some who feel satisfied just from eating food inside the game while only  eating food with enough nutritional value in the real world. It’s like  for them the inside of the game is starting to become their reality.』

However the glasses wearing commentator argued against that opinion.

『Isn’t that argument too extreme? They’re just getting absorbed into  the game because it’s fun. I heard in the past there were even youths  who abandoned their whole life just to play online game. The current  situation is still far better compared to that.』

The atmosphere inside the news venue was also supportive toward the commentator.

The news also touched upon the increase in regulation, where the  commentator said that perhaps they should focus more in preventing the  game to encourage brutality.

Akito thought.

「This commentator……who is he?」

It was true that he wasn’t that knowledgeable about the entertainment  world in TV, but still Akito never saw this commentator who was talking  like a know-it-all before.

He spoke to his monitor and browsed for the commentator’s  information. He learned that apparently he was formerly an entertainer.

It seemed that recently he was getting more popular as commentator rather than a comedian.

But he was getting bashed in the internet, saying that some of his comments were horrible.

Akito lost interest and changed into his uniform with the voices of Professor Oosaki and the commentator as BGM.

『I’m telling you! The problem isn’t just something on the surface  like that! We can’t feel relieved just because there is regulation――』

『So you are saying that all VR games are no good? After all you are  rejecting the fully immersive game itself. Besides, rejecting VR  technology will lead to rejection toward society considering how  widespread the use of it right now.』

『I’m not rejecting the whole VR technology! I understand that this  technology has widespread use in society and there are even aspects of  society that won’t be able to keep going without the use of it. But  that’s exactly why we have to exercise more caution――』

Akito finished preparing so he turned off the monitor.

The screen that turned dark reflected Akito’s face like a mirror.

Prev Table of Content Next