Pandora of Fantasy And Reality Chapter 5

The Ideal World

Each classroom had ten male and female students each. The classrooms were noisy in the morning before the short homeroom.

Akito and Riku who had just spent time together inside the game from five to seven o’clock talked about Pandora’s Box.

「What are you gonna do?」

「It was fun so I plan to continue but, now I’m at a loss whether to change my avatar or not.」

Akito chose to be an orc without knowing that it was a joke character.

Playing with that race would bring many problems if he intended to continue the game.

However Riku didn’t care at all about Akito’s problem now that he had  gotten his hand on the item from the newcomer invitation campaign.

「Well, just do whatever you like.」

They were fellow friends playing the same game, but remaking avatar was a common problem in game so he didn’t seem to care.

「Also, why did we login at the morning? We could also play right  after we returned home. It was annoying to wake up at morning like  that.」

Akito switched the topic. Riku sighed.

「The number of players are too many from the evening until 2 AM. The  management also dislike it when the players are too concentrated like  that, so they give special treatment depending on the time. Playing at  the morning like that made the drop rate for rare item and experience  point slightly higher.」

Akito nodded in understanding. Then Riku made a displeased expression.

「Also the busy hour is filled with ill-mannered players, so you need to consider seriously when to login.」

Akito was thankful to Riku who had even taken such consideration.

(As expected it’s helpful to have a knowledgeable friend.)

The class president Maya entered the classroom while he was thinking that.

The noisiness inside the classroom decreased a little bit because of that.

(As usual, she has a different atmosphere from everybody else.)

Akito thought that while looking at Maya. But then he saw that it was like her expression was somewhat gentler than usual.

It was surprising considering that she usually was radiating an atmosphere that made her difficult to approach.

「What’s wrong? If you harbor a feeling toward the president then you  should give up. She’s an elite although she’s attending the same school  like us.」

The school that Akito and Riku were attending couldn’t be said as high level by all means.

But, Maya was the only one who differed from other students. She was very capable.

「It’s not that. It’s just she looks a bit happy.」

A mediocre person and an elite……even Akito understood that they weren’t good match for each other.

This was an era where using a lot of technologies, including the VR  technology, the talents of each people could be determined in the early  stage.

It helped people with adapting to the society.

For example someone with talent in art could choose to study art from the start.

If people learned that they were talented in sports or studying, they  could simply give up the fields that they weren’t good at and focused  in the field that they were talented at from the start.

It was a dream-like world.

But at the same time the thing called talent became quantified and it invited a lot of youths to give up on their dream.

Someone like Riku who was a sportsman but ended up dying his hair and lived frivolously wasn’t something that rare in this era.

There was a clear measuring that was drawn there.

Akito was also the same.

He had no particular talent in anything. And yet it didn’t mean he  was at the lowest end of the spectrum. A lot of his talent scores were  barely at average level; His scores personified the term of jack of all  trades, master of none.

He couldn’t become first class in any field. At best he would only be able to reach advanced level.

(I’m just a single replaceable cog in society. It’s impossible  someone like me can get close with an elite like president. Even she  surely doesn’t hold any interest to me.)

They were classmate, but surely there would be no common ground at all between them after they graduated.

Akito was thinking like that.

「Also remember that her parent is the director.」

Riku muttered as though it didn’t concern him at all. Then the  homeroom teacher of this class entered. Riku tapped Akito’s shoulder and  returned to his own seat.

It was then.

(Eh?)

He caught sight of Maya’s seat while turning around. Maya felt Akito’s gaze and returned her gaze to the teacher.

(She was looking at me? ……No way that’s the case.)

*

After school.

Akito who was working part-time in Mild Supermarket was taking a break.

He was watching his phone while thinking. He was reading information regarding Pandora’s Box.

He was especially reading the page about paid items.

「The equipment to increase experience and money drop will break after  one login huh. As for weapon it will last two or three login if used  normally……wearing paid items for your whole equipment set will cost  around 2000 yen? And if you play like that every time……it’ll become a  cool 40000 or 50000.」

Just the billing for the early stage would reach that high with that  kind of play style. The player at the front line would spend twice that  much. Akito turned off his phone after learning that.

「That’s impossible for me.」

He had just purchased the VR machine and software, and also paid the playing fee for a month.

His remaining money that he could use freely only had a little left.

Besides Akito’s reputation would sink into mood if it got found out  that he wasted too much money and had to borrow from someone else.

In this era, living alone and working part-time were a part of the education to prepare for going out into society.

It was common for people to spend several weeks inside VR machine  where time was compressed to drill knowledge into their head. It was  also recommended for student to attend cram school or the like and  obtained even more specialized knowledge, but other than that living  alone and working part-time were also considered as evaluation target.

Leaving the parent’s house and lived alone.

Earning money through part-time work to get by in their daily life.

Those were preparations to become a splendid member of society. It  also wasn’t rare for the school to introduce the students to part-time  job.

But as expected, even Akito who was doing such part-time work couldn’t possibly spend around 50000 per month.

At best he could spend 10000 or 20000 per month.

「Looking back again, Alfie-san must be really rich or a working  adult. Well, the possibility that she’s a working adult is higher I  guess.」

Yakumo entered into the break room while he was muttering to himself like that.

Her expression twitched a little when she saw Akito.

「Stop talking to yourself like that. It’s a bit creepy.」

Akito hurriedly try to explain himself, but Yakumo had lost interest.  She gestured with her gaze to hurry up Akito to go out at the store  front.

「……I’m going.」

「There’s no customer, so please organize the shelves.」

Although they were in the break room, they could see the situation inside the store through monitor.

(Three children just came in and touched all over the candy shelves after all……)

As he walked toward the exit, Akito saw Yakumo sitting down on the chair that he had just vacated.

(Eh? Didn’t she usually take another folding chair to sit on?)

Akito thought that Yakumo acted differently than usual while finishing his break and resumed working.

*

Akito finished working and returned to his apartment.

He felt tired while turning on the monitor hanging on the table. Currently there was sports news playing.

The sport news was playing an interview with this season’s rookie  athlete. This athlete had the record high talent score when he got  tested in the past.

「So this person joined that team.」

A lot of pro teams were giving offer to the athlete not long ago. There was a lot of attention about which team he would join.

A pretty announcer was interviewing the athlete.

『You joined the team with the record-high talent score. Can I ask you what is your target for this season?』

The athlete acted confidently without any bashfulness.

He had left behind a monstrous achievement ever since his high school  era. Because of that he had gotten used to receive this kind of  interview.

『As expected my target is to reserve a spot among the first string  players. But, first I want to contribute in taking first victory――』

Akito switched the channel at that point.

But, even another channel was broadcasting a special program about that athlete.

『His parents started giving him special education since his childhood after his record high talent score was discovered――』

『As expected, even such talent will be wasted without the necessary environment to support it――』

『The parents’ understanding and the person’s own talent――』

Aktio turned off the monitor.

He tossed his bag on his bed, and then he took off his shirt and put it on a hanger.

He sat on the chair with a dissatisfied expression.

「Of course the people around him wouldn’t just stay quiet after he got record-high talent point like that.」

Human wasn’t born equal.

His mind understood that, but as expected it still felt unfair.

「Haa, I heard that it was freer in the past……is this really the ideal world?」

It seemed the older people said that it was a happy thing to be able to know one’s talent already since childhood.

But Akito who was living in such era felt doubtful about that opinion.

The boundary line that was vague in the past had become very clear in the present time.

Now humans weren’t just divided based on the disparity of wealth, but also the disparity of talent.

「……I’ll finish my homework before sleeping.」

Akito looked at the VR machine at the corner of his room while saying that and stretching his back.

*

Virtual world.

Ponsuke login and appeared at the plaza of Capital of Hope.

He looked around and saw a lot of players also appearing at the surrounding.

「It’s nice inside the game. I don’t need to think about a lot of things.」

In the end Ponsuke decided not to change his avatar. He was thinking  to do the same thing like Rook the other day, recruiting party members  through the notice board.

「Perhaps I should go to the shrine first before that to distribute my job point and skill point.」

Ponsuke considered his plan for today while thinking about what fun  thing he could do. He decided to go to the shrine first and started  leaving from that place.

Around him he saw the other players talking cheerfully with their friends.

(They look like they’re having fun. I also got to find friends to have fun with quickly.)

There were also people who silently played alone, but that kind of play style felt too lonely for Ponsuke.

If he was going to have fun then it would be better to do it with a lot of friends.

Then he saw a familiar face looking around.

「Geh!」

「Ah, Ponsuke-san! Wait, why are you making that kind of displeased face?」

At first Mariela looked happy when she saw him, but she frowned  seeing Ponsuke making a look of reluctance. Her scowl felt intimidating  and pressuring, all the more so because of her beautiful appearance.

(If only I can say it’s because she’s a middle-aged uncle in the inside.)

But actually it wasn’t like it was a problem even if she was an uncle at the inside.

He was thinking of Mariela as someone that he could purely work  together with. She wasn’t a player who liked to be parasite or acting  like spoiled princess.

But Ponsuke had gotten too many bad memories while playing with her yesterday.

「Put your hand on your chest and think back about what you have done. Still, do you have business with me?」

Mariela’s face reddened slightly when Ponsuke told her to put her  hand on her chest. She averted her face a little while turning her gaze  toward Ponsuke.

「We accidentally met again like this, so we might as well party  together again today. I started playing this because my junior begged  me, but seeing that it’s free of charge for two weeks, I thought I’ll  play for at least that long.」

Ponsuke thought.

(Is it a junior at school or at work? And yet she suddenly played as  girl like this……is that junior not with her because he got creeped out?)

Ponsuke imagined that both were male and came to an understanding on his own.

「I don’t mind but, today I’m thinking of going to the shrine to distribute my job point.」

Mariela also smiled and nodded.

「That’s nice. Still, we had only done the point distribution at the  initial setting didn’t we? We should have done that before the boss  fight.」

Ponsuke and Mariela started walking together.

To outsider, it was a sight of a beautiful elf girl walking happily beside an orc.

Some of the players who passed by even looked back to stare at them.

「Rook too thought that we didn’t need to do so because we were only  fighting small fries……apparently he wanted to leave giving the  explanation of that for the last. But the boss fight got him too excited  that he forgot to do it.」

Surely even Rook never imagined in his wildest dream that they would fight against an area boss at the first day of login.

「Now that you mention it, he did look really happy.」

Both Ponsuke and Mariela recalled how Rook was acting very happy at  the inn’s dining hall after the boss fight. After that he immediately  sent mail to his friends.

Both Ponsuke and Mariela laughed.

「He looked like he really had fun.」

「Just watching him also made me felt happy. Hey, he isn’t playing together with us again?」

Ponsuke crossed his arms.

「That Rook has his own friends in this game after all. He said something about forming a guild, and he was busy right now――」

Ponsuke stopped talking in the middle and turned around.

Behind him there was Alfie wearing a red dress. She was pinching at the vest of mammoth skin that Ponsuke was wearing.

Ponsuke was far taller than her that Alfie had to look up at him.

From Ponsuke’s perspective it was like a beautiful girl was giving  him an upward glance, Ponsuke’s friendship meter toward Alfie was at  minus.

(She’s making a cute gesture like that even though she’s an uncle at the inside)

「What is it Alfie-san?」

Alfie winced slightly at Ponsuke’s cold attitude.

「That’s cold. Aren’t we comrades who had defeated a boss together?  What’s more our friendship meter has also gone past 30, and yet you’re  being this cold to me.」

Ponsuke laughed.

「Well, the friendship meter in game is high but the real friendship  meter is minus though. I still haven’t forgotten how I got thrown into a  crowd of monster and attacked from behind okay.」

Alfie pouted.

Her girl avatar was lovely but, Ponsuke’s feeling didn’t waver at all  when he thought how there was an uncle behind that appearance.

Mariela was exasperated.

「You have a big body but small heart. You should be more large-hearted if you’re a man.」

Ponsuke shrugged.

「I’m sorry. It’s only my body that is big. And, what’s the matter?」

Alfie made a troubled smile.

「Actually, I have tried calling out to some other players but none of  them wanted to join me. Just why are they like that even though I’m  already fully equipped with paid items like this?」

(So this guy also got no friend huh.)

They had just started playing and this was their second time logging in to the game.

Alfie must be still unused with writing recruitment poster on the  notice board and she also failed when she simply tried to chat other  players.

「……Haa, we’re going to the shrine. Want to come?」

Alfie became all smile when she heard that.

「Yeah, please take care of me too today.」

Ponsuke thought.

(Why do I have to look after some cross-dressing uncles like this.)

*

The shrine was located near the center of the Capital of Hope.

It was a large building. Each fortress city that was called a capital would definitely have one.

The jobs that could be obtained in the Capital of Hope were all just  basic class. There would be new obtainable jobs added as player  progressed through the game, but as expected there was only basic jobs  available at the early stage.

The priests were all wearing loose garments with blue and white  colors. They were talking with the adventurers who were the player and  granted them job.

The ceiling was dome shaped with large stain glasses used for the window.

The building’s coloring was fundamentally uniform with white color.  Ponsuke’s party was inside there in front of a stone slab that  explanation written on it.

「……Thy should discard thy possibility and obtain a new path?」

Mariela was looking at the stone slab that had such roundabout expression written while tilting her head.

Ponsuke translated what the stone slab was meaning.

「In other words, you should pay some job point to obtain new job. You  can only obtain the point from level up and boss fight, so perhaps it’s  telling us to think carefully before choosing our job?」

It was impossible to obtain everything.

Because of that player was faced with choices.

Would they specialize in close quarter combat?

Or would they become all-rounder, or rear guard?

The player’s play style, the combination of efficiency and utility for the clearing――the choice of job was important.

But Pandora’s Box wasn’t only an MMORPG but also a VR game.

Although the strongest combination existed, the player’s own skill was required in order to make use of it skillfully.

Even the strongest combination would only like pearl thrown before  swine when it was in the hand of people who didn’t have that player  skill.

Rook had told Ponsuke about it. He also explained to the two about it.

Alfie got a look of understanding.

「So we should also consider our own capability before choosing a job.」

Mariela also understood.

「Aa, so that’s why you will take the fighter job? If I remember it  right, that job has beginner friendly skill that let you guard  automatically isn’t it?」

Ponsuke nodded.

「I found that kind of advice when I looked at internet. That job seems like a safe job to have.」

The fighter job was a necessary support for player who wasn’t confidence with their own skill.

The job was like a training wheel inside this game.

「Well, that’s why you two should think carefully before picking a job. I already decided so I’ll go ahead.」

Ponsuke said that and approached a priest. When the NPC priest saw Ponsuke――.

「Tsk, a smelly orc. And, what’s your business here today?」

The middle aged male NPC who had a gentle look before this was clicking his tongue without even hiding his irritation.

(……Is it really necessary to program the behavior to be this cold? The developer was definitely getting too carried away.)

Ponsuke couldn’t help but to think so.

Prev Table of Content Next