Chapter 419 – Side Story – As Soon as You Step on the Path (2)
There are many ways to sleep in virtual reality.
There is a way to really sleep, and there is also a way to pretend that you slept and skip the sleep time.
The method I used this time was to skip until a certain period of time had passed or there was an external stimulus.
This method is usually used when you have to sleep in a dangerous place.
Of course, in this case, you would know what dangerous means without me having to say it.
But… I never thought I would greet the morning without anything happening.
When a pretty girl like me sleeps unprotected in her remote village, isn’t it normal for someone to hide in her?
I wondered if an item like a sleeping pill had been used to prevent him from waking up, but there were no new scenes added to the flashback room list.
It means that nothing really happened.
Did I configure the game settings wrong?
I was suspicious of the settings without even realizing it.
But that doubt quickly disappeared. Because I have experienced it so far.
Is it just a coincidence?
Well, this may sometimes happen when you play a game.
Jeopuk, Jeopuk.
The sound of footsteps approaching could be heard through the old wall, which had no soundproofing at all.
The footsteps stopped in front of the door.
I heard the voice of the man I met in front of the village last night.
“Adventurer. Did you wake up?”
“Ah. Yes!”
I got up from the bed, opened the door, and greeted the man.
“Hmm, big.”
But the man took one look at me and quickly turned his gaze to the side.
“Why?”
“Well, would you like to come back a little later?”
“Yes? … Ah.”
For some reason, I got used to not being able to make eye contact, so I looked down and saw my body wearing thin clothes.
It wasn’t a safe place, so I wasn’t wearing only transparent pajamas like I did when I was staying at Flora’s Castle, but it was inappropriate clothing for walking around outside.
“Ahaha… “Just a moment.”
Squeaking, I closed the door I had opened.
I put on the outerwear and armor I had left behind, and also straightened out my hair that had become disheveled while I was sleeping.
After we finished cleaning up, we faced each other again, and this time the man didn’t say anything. My cheeks were still slightly red, though.
“Big. The village chief said he would like to see you.”
“Chief? Great. Let’s go.”
“Is there anything else I can prepare?”
“No. “It’s all in here.”
I patted the pouch on my waist.
The man was skeptical when he saw the pouch, which was big enough to fit at most a 500ml plastic bottle.
“There? “What goes in that bag?”
“It’s bigger than it looks. “It’s a magic item.”
“Is it? “I guess adventurers carry something like that with them.”
In fact, it wasn’t really a magic item or a magic tool. Every time you put your hand into the pouch, you take out an item from your inventory.
Well, whether this was a real magic item or inventory didn’t really matter. The man also turned away without asking any more questions.
“Follow me.”
I followed behind the man and brought up various stories to break the ice.
However, the man only answered my questions minimally.
The weather is good. I see.
Are there a lot of monsters around you lately? Same as usual.
Are there any dangerous places nearby? Don’t go to the eastern forest.
At least he only briefly answered questions related to his personal safety.
Why are you so blunt?
It felt a little different from being wary because I was a foreigner. Maybe this is my original personality.
The village head felt the same way.
“Are you the adventurer who came last night?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I slept well. Thank you!”
“There is nothing to be thankful for. I will pay you properly for letting me sleep. Let’s see…”
The village chief looked at me, stroking his beard, as if he was guessing what he would receive.
What on earth are you planning to ask for?
Feeling my heart pounding in anticipation, I waited for the village chief’s next words.
“Right. Is there extra food? It would be nice to have some salt or meat.”
“Yes? Food?”
“Why. Not enough? Then…”
“Oh, no. There is. “Just a moment.”
I took out an appropriate amount of food from my inventory and handed it over.
In addition to the requested salt and meat, I was given some fish, and with a very satisfied smile, I was told that this was enough. Since it’s inland, the only fish I eat is freshwater fish occasionally.
And… It was sent very neatly.
I didn’t hold on to it any longer, and I didn’t ask for anything else.
I asked for a place to spend the night, and the village provided the place as they said, and paid the appropriate price.
It was a clean transaction with no problems.
… Why?
So it was even weirder.
Of course it would be strange if nothing sexy happened in a night game.
Has the event rate decreased because the main story is over?
As I left the village and walked south, I was lost in thought.
Since it wasn’t a trip with a specific purpose, I had plenty of time to think.
Now, I am walking through a meadow where there is no trace of a road, and I am leisurely walking in the warm sunlight.
And just as the sun, which had just risen, was hanging in the sky, enlightenment came along with the ringing of a navel clock.
Taaak!
He snapped his fingers and shouted.
“… Flora!”
The culprit was Flora!
…
It goes without saying, but in the meantime, Flora brought in a man without our knowledge and had him humiliate her… It’s not the same thing.
Our Flora is so kind and cute. If there is a person who misunderstands like that, she will give him the Soira Punch of Justice.
Anyway, the cause was Flora’s ability. To be exact, it’s not an ability, but a penalty.
「Sexual Misfortune: You often encounter NPCs who try to humiliate you. The number of lewd incidents experienced in daily life is also increasing.”
It was such a simple penalty that I completely forgot about it.
Until now, I thought that what we had been through was just because of a night game. It’s natural to encounter erotic things in night games.
But what if Flora’s penalty was applied to all those encounters?
What if this is normal, where nothing happens even if a beautiful girl sleeps alone in a remote village?
“Ahh!”
I held my head and screamed.
If this thought is true… This means that leaving Vale Castle and going on a trip because you were bored was completely counterproductive.
A travelogue of humiliation becomes just a travelogue.
That’s not bad either. It’s fun to travel around and enjoy nature. It’s not bad.
But, you can’t help but feel like something is missing.
I held my head and glanced behind me.
The road I passed. It’s been a long time since we’ve no longer been able to see not only Vale Castle but also the village where we stayed last night.
However, at the end of this road, there will be a royal castle with Flora, and if I go back now, I will be able to enjoy the same humiliation as before.
Yes…
Should I go back?
… That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I quickly shook my head to shake it off.
It would be a waste to go back just for this reason.
And let’s think calmly.
Even though Flora’s penalty effect is no longer available, it still doesn’t change the fact that this game is a game.
Before actually meeting Flora, he… I don’t remember the name of the village, but you experienced some nasty things in the first village too.
It’s just that the frequency of encounters has decreased slightly. In that case, you just have to move around more.
I gathered my courage and resumed the steps I had stopped for a moment.
And… Like a lie, nothing happened.
◆
How long did it take?
I don’t know exactly how much time has passed in game time because I got tired of looking at the scenery halfway through and turned back time.
In my perceived real time, I think I walked for about 3 hours.
After walking for a long time, the seemingly endless meadow finally came to an end.
The grass that was up to my shins became as low as my ankles, and before I knew it, the grass disappeared, replaced by pebbles and stones.
From grassland to wasteland.
My vision changed from green to brown and dull gray.
As we proceeded a little further south, we encountered a group of adventurers.
They had a bonfire and were having a simple meal.
“Hello!”
As I greeted him and approached him, I placed my hand on the weapon that the adventurers had placed right next to me. However, once I confirmed that I was the only one on the other end, my guard was noticeably relaxed.
A woman who appeared to be the leader stood up and asked.
“Are you an adventurer? What’s going on?”
“Ah. I have something I’d like to ask. “I’m not a suspicious person, and I’m also an adventurer.”
He showed his adventurous spirit.
Only then did the adventurers relax their guard after checking the adventurer’s card that said Class B. Some resumed eating where they had stopped.
This is because from level B, not only skills but also personality are evaluated. It means you can trust it.
… I think I filled out that evaluation part with a letter of recommendation, but anyway, there’s no doubt that he’s an extremely harmless and good adventurer, so let’s move on.
The leader adventurer I was talking to also let his guard down.
“Okay? “What do you want to ask?”
“Is there anything fun happening around here? “I just came here after working somewhere else, and I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Fun thing? Wow. There are still adventurers like this left.”
The leader adventurer looked at me as if he was amazed or curious. Then she shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
“It wasn’t a good time. “The orcs’ tribal war has just begun.”
“Tribal war?”
Tribal war literally means that all the orc tribes in an area gather together to wage war.
It was the orc’s unique culture that continued until the strongest tribe recognized by all tribes emerged.
“Okay. It’s still at the pre-exploration level… In just a few days, the entire wasteland will be shaken. “We don’t want to get caught up in that, so we’re moving to the grasslands.”
The leader adventurer was disgusted as he said that. It felt like I had experienced this once before.
“It won’t be difficult to protect a body if you’re a B-class person, but still be careful.”
“Yes! Thank you for the information!”
After giving some items in exchange for the information fee, I parted ways with the adventurers and continued heading south.
The leader adventurer told me to be careful, but unfortunately I had no intention of doing so.
A war event taking place throughout the wasteland?
It seems like fun just thinking about it.
