Volume 1 Chapter 5 Other World Or Game Or Dream Ending
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Growl~.
My stomach’s growling. Yeah, I’m hungry.
I totally forgot about it while I was flailing around after the mantis attacked me, but it’s been a while since I started the game.
While waiting for my clothes to dry, I opened the menu again to see if there was any info on how to log out, but there was nothing.
Looking back, I really should’ve read the game manual before diving in.
If I had known this was a dive-type VR MMORPG, I would’ve been more careful about playing.
But then again, thinking about it, I didn’t even have any dive equipment hooked up to my PC…
I’ve never heard of a game you can dive into without any gear.
But there’s one thing that’s been bugging me.
It’s about the text I saw on the PC screen before I lost consciousness over there.
It said, “[Now, I will summon you to the Grimoire]”.
1. [Hunter Life] is a dive-type MMORPG where you can only log out at specific points.
2. I’ve been summoned to a place called Grimoire in another world by someone, not just in the game [Hunter Life].
3. I’m dreaming in a world created by my own mind, not in the game.
If it’s the third option, it’s just a funny story.
I’d hate to wake up and find I wet the bed, though.
Next, if it’s the first option, there should be some kind of building or object around here for that.
Plus, if I go to the town, I should be able to ask my PC about it.
Lastly, as much as I don’t want to admit it, if it’s the second option, I have no choice but to recognize this space as ‘reality.’
If it’s a virtual space, the graphics are incredibly realistic. If I can pluck grass, smell it, and it actually smells like grass, then I have to say it’s an amazing game…
But there’s also a phenomenon that can’t be outright called another world.
That’s the menu screen and message log that can be displayed in my field of vision.
When I see the familiar status screen and inventory from games, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m in a game world.
By the way, this menu screen automatically opens when I focus on it.
So, if I want to see the message log, I just need to think about it, and the log window pops up.
The opened window is displayed semi-transparently so it doesn’t block my view.
Growlll──.
Since I’ve been running on just a little nutrition, my hunger level has hit its limit.
I decided to stop the pointless loop of thoughts and focus on dealing with the reality of my hunger.
…
Ah! No way! I have no idea what I can eat or can’t in this world.
Am I really going to starve to death like this…?
Panic and hunger are making it even harder to think.
Looking around, I noticed some mushrooms growing near the roots of a tree.
I wonder if I can eat them if I cook them…
I gave in to my hunger and started roasting the mushrooms on a branch.
Suddenly, a delicious smell wafted up from the mushrooms.
For a moment, I thought how nice it would be if I had some soy sauce, but as they say, hunger is the best seasoning, and to me, those roasted mushrooms felt like a feast.
As I brought the mushrooms closer to my mouth, a black object zipped past me at high speed and lodged itself into a nearby tree.
Upon closer inspection, it was a dagger.
”Phew! Made it just in time.”
”Huh?”
Looking in the direction the dagger came from, I saw Miriallia.
Apparently, the dagger belonged to her.
She seemed relieved that I was kept away from the mushrooms.
”Kent! That mushroom is a deadly poison even in a single bite! You can’t eat it!”
”Wait? No way! Really?”
”Many plants and animals in the Dervish Forest store toxins in their bodies. By the way, the mushroom you were about to eat is called a Withered Mushroom.”
After Miriallia told me that, I looked at the mushroom I was about to eat.
It had a dull color and resembled a shiitake mushroom.
Who said poisonous mushrooms are brightly colored? I almost died!
Growlll──.
My stomach growls in protest.
”I’m at my limit.”
”Kent, hold on a sec, I’ll whip up some food real quick. Just munch on these Totona nuts for now. They’re edible, but don’t go overboard, okay?”
Before I could even get settled, Miriallia tossed a leather pouch my way.
Inside were some nut-like things that looked like walnuts.
I picked one up, checked how hard it was, and cracked the shell open with my bare hands.
Inside was a brown nut, which I tossed into my mouth.
The crunchy texture, with a hint of sweetness and nuttiness, spread across my taste buds.
Oh, this might actually be pretty good…
I was so hungry that I popped two or three more Totona nuts into my mouth.
Whoa! This could get addictive…
*Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch*
Before I knew it, I had finished all the Totona nuts in the pouch.
”Uh-oh, did you just eat all the Totona nuts?”
Miriallia, looking like she just finished cooking, sighed as she glanced at the empty pouch.
”W-was that maybe an expensive snack? I-I’m so sorry!”
”Oh, nah, it’s not that pricey or anything…”
Miriallia trailed off a bit.
”Are you feeling okay? Everything good?”
”Wait! You said they were edible, right? Are they poisonous or something?”
”Nah, they’re not poisonous… well, as long as you’re not feeling weird, it’s all good. Let’s just eat now.”
”Thanks for the Totona nuts and the meal too.”
”I’m just doing this because I want to. Don’t hold back!”
Once I figured the Totona nuts weren’t toxic, I felt relieved and decided to dig into the meal Miriallia prepared.
It was bread, a roasted animal that looked like a rabbit, and grilled fish.
I stuffed my belly, which wasn’t too full from just the Totona nuts.
This is delicious…
Lately, I’d only been eating convenience store meals, so Miriallia’s home-cooked food was way too good.
”This is so tasty!”
”Hey! No talking while you’re eating! Look at you, getting crumbs everywhere!”
She picked a crumb off my mouth and tossed it into her own.
I was a bit flustered by her actions but kept eating.
Once we finished the meal and I felt more relaxed, Miriallia started chatting with me.
”By the way, why was Kent deep in the Darvis Forest? I can’t believe a kid from the Majin could get there alone…”
”Well, um, I just kinda found myself in this forest…”
”Could it be that someone kidnapped you? Which village are you from? Do you have parents?”
”My parents have already passed away, but my real address is in Japan.”
”Oh, so your parents are gone. Still, a village in Japan? I’ve traveled a lot across the Demon Continent, but I’ve never heard of that village.”
Miriallia looked puzzled by my words.
It seemed she wasn’t a player of the game after all.
This made it much more likely that I was in another world, but since she was the only person I had met here, I couldn’t make a solid judgment.
I figured I needed to gather more information in the town.
So, I concluded that and casually suggested to Miriallia.
”If possible, I’d like to go to a nearby town… you know, just in case something like earlier happens again.”
”Sure, I get it. I just finished a request, so I’ll escort you to the nearest and biggest town, Abyss Vena.”
”Ah, thank you, Ms. Miriallia.”
So, the nearby town is called Abyss Vena.
I wonder how long it’ll take to get there…
I had thought about just asking for directions and going on my own, but after hearing how dangerous the Darvis Forest was, I decided to have Miriallia escort me.
However, I was a bit worried about how much my sanity could handle Miriallia’s harassment.
If I lost my cool and ended up getting intimate with her, I’d be in serious trouble.
In that earlier bathing incident, if Miriallia hadn’t been a succubus, I would’ve definitely pushed her down and lost my virginity.
I can say that for sure.
With her blonde hair, blue eyes, slender jaw, cute little nostrils, and duck lips, plus a body that’s just my type, she’s a total knockout.
The wings on her back and the horns on her head barely keep my sanity in check.
But honestly, I’m not sure how long that brake will hold.
”Ah! But there’s one condition.”
While I was lost in thought about my concerns, Miriallia brought up a condition.
Is it still money? Or will I be forced to perform physical service?
I don’t know about money, because I don’t have the currency of this world, but I’m willing to do anything as long as it is not naughty.
”Well, I’m sure I’ll be grateful for your help. I don’t have any money.
”Hmm, what’s your offer then… you can’t pay it, but…”
I swallowed hard, waiting for her to state her terms.
”Aw, forget the money! Just call me Milly! That’s my condition!”
I was taken aback by Miriallia’s proposed condition.
”What? Is that all? Ms. Miriallia…”
”Hey, Kent! It’s Milly! Or Big Sister Milly, that works too!”
I couldn’t help but notice Miriallia’s face turning a shade of red.
”Okay, then, let’s get started. Ms. Milly.”
”Sure! But it’s not safe to move at night, so let’s camp here. Kent, have you ever camped before?”
”Not really. I’ll help with whatever I can.”
”Then, I’ll prepare our beds, so keep an eye on the campfire.”
Ms. Milly said, and then she took out a simple tent from her heavy backpack and started setting it up.
With nothing else to do, I opened the message log, as usual.
──Handsome Guy Skill Activated [Miriallia] Friendship Level Significantly Increased
──Protective Instinct Skill Activated [Miriallia] Toto’s Fruit Obtained
──Handsome Guy Skill Activated [Miriallia] Friendship Level Significantly Increased
──Protective Instinct Skill Activated [Miriallia] Escort Mission Accepted
──Handsome Guy Skill Activated [Miriallia] Friendship Level Significantly Increased
──Handsome Guy Skill Activated [Miriallia] Friendship Level Significantly Increased
──[Miriallia] Status: Love
As I read through the log, it seemed like the Protective Instinct skill had activated for the first time.
Maybe it’s a skill that requires a certain level of friendship to activate.
Also, it looks like the friendship level has changed to a “like──level.”
This must be a feature where the status changes to “like──” once the friendship level reaches a certain point.
Thanks to the [Handsome Guy] skill, we went from “friendly──” to “love──” in a single day.
I just don’t really get how the usual friendship level goes up, so it’s hard to tell if this is weird or normal…
Still, the fact that super aggressive Millie is in a “romantic──” state…
I wonder if my virtue and life are safe…
I’m kinda scared of the night.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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