Chapter 2:
ONLINE GAMERS!
“Hey! Kimi-chan!”
Akari Kobayashi called out to her friend, who had been openly ignoring her. She called out to the other girl five more times now, and was irritated by her silence. What kind of person ignores their best friend.
“...........”
“Ki-mi-cha-nn!”
“.............................”
“Um...Kimi-sama?”
“.....”
Come on! Stop ignoring me...” Akari pleaded.
The other girl—Ayano Kimi heaved an exasperated sigh. “What is it Akari?”
“If you keep acting distant, I'll cry!”
“Then cry.”
“Gaah! Is that anyway to talk to your best friend!”
““.....”“
Both silently exchanged stares for a second or two... The words that left Ayano Kimi's mouth were like daggers to Kobayashi Akari's heart.
“My best friend? Who might that be?”
“I'm right here!” Akari lamented.
◆◆◆
At a certain university. In a science lab.
It was a short time after classes had ended. Most people had gone home or to the dorms to retire for the day. The two girls Ayano Kimi and Kobayashi Akari had the whole place to themselves and where now whiling away their free time with idle chatter.
“Kimi-chan it'll be fun! I already prepared you a rig and everything, you're all set up. If you don't like it, you can stop anytime...and just so you know your avatar will be super powerful!”
“No.”
Kimi denied flatly.
“It'll be like playing god for you! You'll love it!” Akari insisted.
“Akari I'm not some gaming otaku.” She sighed. “I'm an upper-class member of society.”
Truthfully Ayano Kimi came from an upper-class family.
“Come on, just play for an hour and see for yourself.” Akari pleaded.
“Isn't this a little strange for you? Akari you're never this pushy about anything. Yet for some inexplicable reason you've been desperately trying to get me to play this game, why is that?”
“Huh? I just want you to experience the fun with me! Is that so wrong? And plus, it might even help you become a better person...” Akari smiled.
THUUD!
Suddenly Kimi reached out her hand to shove Akari against a wall.
“Aaah! Ouuch! Hey wait! Wh-What a-are you doing Kimi-chan!? Don't touch me t-there like that...”
“If you insist on being stubborn and lying to me, I'll have no choice but to punish you.”
Kimi closed the gap between them, pinning Akari down.
She then placed her hands along Akari's thighs, massaging and kneading away at the meaty thighs...her hand drifted further up, and then underneath Akari's skirt.
Kimi was now close enough that Akari could feel her breath against her lips.
She leaned forward, Akari could feel her hand going further up her skirt, caressing her through her panties.
Haaah...
haaah...
Akari's breathing became heavier, steamier.
“Kimi-chan? A bit too sexual for the second chapter. B-But if you don't mind neither do I.”Akari said, just as their lips were about to touch.
The mood was ruined. Her poorly timed poorly executed meta joke ruined the mood.
Kimi pulled back frowning. “No. I just hoped to scare you a bit. But a perverted otaku like yourself probably enjoyed the thought of another girl stealing your virtue.”
“No way I was utterly terrified!” Said Akari in a tone devoid of fear. “Don't stop! No, I mean please stop! Um—would it help if I went 'Gyaah!' instead.”
Kimi sighed. “Your chastity means nothing to you. Instead, I'll try a different approach.”
“No need. I'll tell you everything.” Akari replied.
“Huh...Why?” Kimi sounded disappointed.
“Knowing you, you'd probably try physical torture next. Sorry but I don't like pain. It'll be less trouble for me to just outright tell you. “Akari grinned.
“Are you sure, I was looking forward to the sight of your body convulsing in pain.” Kimi said glumly.
“Hey yo! I do have one condition though.” She was rhyming now? Poorly at that.
“A condition?”
Akari leaned in closer and spoke.
“Once I tell you everything...you have to play the game no matter what. If you can promise me that, then I'll gladly tell you, simple as that.”
“Sure.” She said confidently. “A little game is but a trifling matter to me.”
◆◆◆
“That's the gist of things! Aha ha! Do you understand now Kimi-chan?”
“Are you people insane? No, I'm certain you are, but everyone else involved in this—they must be aware of the risks are they not?”
“Yuup!”
“Akari you can't be serious, if what you're telling me is the truth, then the very laws that govern this world, reality itself will...”
“Hmm? Maybe who knows...So, you’ll accept the offer!? That was the deal, ah but maybe you're too scared now?” Akari feigned disappointment.
“Don't be silly. The end of the world isn't enough to scare me...And a promise is a promise. I'll play your game; I Ayano Kimi will be a part of this New World!”
◆◆◆
In a forest somewhere in the Astral Continent a girl had just slain a monster and saved a knight from certain death—her name Tsurugi Hime, third ranked player and second ranked level nine in New World Online.
She was a beast, a monster in human form—even a true monster—Cerberus (Hells Guard) —a level six monster and final boss of the Mystic Forest campaign paled in comparison to her.
Her sword was shining in the sun’s rays.
The tip of the blade was without a trace of blood—for it never made contact with the Boss monsters’ flesh—yes, that's right it was the force of her swing alone that killed it.
She had slain the monster without even staining her sword. Percival felt foolish for thinking she was weak.
◆◆◆
Without even using a skill Hime had destroyed both the monster and most of her nearby surroundings. With a single slash she not only liberated the monsters head from its body! But twenty or so unlucky trees behind it.
All this destruction was as a result of Hime’s raw physical power…and the unique item in her hands the <<Sword of the Heaven>> a katana that could cut through anything.
An S tier item possessed only by Tsurugi Hime courtesy of his sister being a beta-tester. Of course, Akari herself had stronger items.
Takashi was not to blame for this in any way. He was merely the pilot for this warhead, he did not build it, the culprit—the person to blame was surely its creator his sister.
He told himself just as much.
Ehhh! W-wh-what did I just do!? No…this isn't my fault it's her fault! Onee-chan... just how powerful did you make me!
I-I'm over powered!
◆◆◆
His conscious was weighing heavily on him.
That’s right! I was scared, so I ended up swinging the sword with everything I had…I didn’t think this would happen…It’s not my fault? I just panicked!
It may not have been his fault completely, but Takashi had cut down part of a forest once teeming with life.
The creators of the game worked hard to create the trees and plant life. And he destroyed it. It was something he alone held responsibility for.
But maybe it is.
He returned the sword responsible for all this destruction to its sheath, from which it should have never left.
Of course, there was no rule against damaging or destroying the terrain in NewWorldOnline…
However, to Kobayashi Takashi, cutting down so many trees and wildlife. Taking the lives of so many, even if they be plant lives—a life was still a life—he deserved some sort of punishment; even if it was to defeat the monster, he had clearly used an excessive amount of force.
“This body's not to blame, in the end it was me—hahhh….”
◆◆◆
The knight Percival simply watched with wide eyes as the girl he had earlier dismissed, as a ‘cute little level one,’ trembled and fell to the ground sighing heavily.
That thing was a Boss monster at level six yet she beat it with a single blow...
As Percival was lost in thought.
The girl began muttering words to herself, he could barely make out what she was saying. The only thing that was clear was that she seemed unsettled by something.
“Ahhh…. Maybe I should’ve just let that thing kill me, then the forest wouldn’t have been damaged this badly.” She muttered.
Admittedly when Takashi said these words, he had no idea that dying in the game meant forfeiting your life outside of it as well. He was so consumed by guilt he hadn’t noticed Percival marching over to him.
“Geez—here I thought I was going to get to rescue a cute girl, live out one of my childhood fantasies...but instead I end up getting saved by a cute girl!”
Hime showed no reaction to his words. She simply stared back looking somewhat baffled—what are you talking about? Her facial expression seemed to say…
“Cute? Are you talking about me?” She asked pointing a finger at herself.
With an angry expression he poked her in the chest. “Who else would I be talking about. You're a total cutey!”
Looking down at the melons on her chest making their presence known by swaying and bobbing at being poked. And the short black split skirt below his waist, it suddenly became clear to Takashi.
“Hm?” Percival was surprised by her sudden change in personality.
Ah...I'm a—
His current appearance was not that of the middle-school boy Kobayashi Takashi, but that of Tsurugi Hime, a well-endowed samurai girl.
Girl...
Girl...
Girl!
I'm a girl!
He had nearly forgotten the state of affairs—that his current identity was that of a busty girl clad in a kimono and short black split skirt.
Hime tightly clenched, the hem of her skirt.
Remembering this newfound information, Takashi felt somewhat embarrassed, he hadn't mentally prepared himself for interacting with others like this.
He was actually the type to stay cool, calm and collected, but in the face of an unknown situation like this, he would easily crumble, and crumble he did.
◆◆◆
“Aren't you going to say anything?” Percival asked.
Sounding flustered, Hime replied to the knight Percival in intervals. “Oh…! …I-I’m sorry.”
“Gah! If you make such a sad face, I won’t be able to stay mad at you! I wanted to save a cute girl at least once! It was my dream! But now I got saved by one instead! Daaamnnn it!”
“Um...Uh I'm sorry?”
Was he mad or not? Hime couldn’t tell.
“No fair! Sorry isn’t enough! My dream is ruined! A man’s dream is dead! You better be prepared to take responsibility for this, you little um— sword princess!”
The knight seemed to be genuinely upset with him and not upset at the same time? Takashi thought.
“U-uh...okay?” She nodded.
Sword Princes! Was that supposed to be an insult? Hime had no idea...
Percival's face was up close and personal with Hers as he protested, maybe too close.
Um...His really close!
◆◆◆
“I-I am... I’ll take responsibility. “She said with a stern red face.
Taking a better look at him, she noticed Percival had a rather androgynous figure; the long white hair, slender build and round green eyes gave him a feminine touch—he kind of looked better than Hime if proportions weren't your basis for comparison, Takashi thought.
Percival brought his face right next to Hime.
Takashi—no Hime, was flustered given Percival’s strong feminine appearance. Her cheeks turning slightly red.
“Great! Now For Your punishment! You'll have to follow me, to receive your punishment elsewhere! We can't punish you in an open zone like this, monsters might start to appear.”
Mm...? My Punishment? She thought.
“.....”
Hime hadn't said anything. Although, the look on her face seemed to be that of utter terror, she wasn't able to discern what exactly was going to be done to her.
“Okay let’s go.” He grabbed Hime by the hand attempting to drag her by force.
A bold move considering she had enough power kill him with a single slash of her sword. Upsetting her could spell his own demise! Percival had to have known as much, he saw her in action and yet he still acted the way he did. A testament to his bravery and stupidity.
Had he made a fatal mistake!?
No not really.
Of all the level nines Hime was most certainly the least likely to do any harm.
“Ah...” She sighed, surrendering herself to him. It would be too much effort to put up a fight anyway Takashi concluded and his avatar followed suit.
“Okay...let's go”
Percival let out a sigh of relief.
She really is different from Lady Kimiko... he thought to himself.
Hime obviously had her apprehensions about following a complete stranger. However, given everything that had happened she had no choice but to do as he said.
◆◆◆
I guess I shouldn't complain... this is all my fault...I destroyed some of the forest...and not to mention this guy said that I ruined his dream.
After everything I've done it's only fair, I get some kind of punishment.
The thought came to Hime as she gazed at Percival's back from behind, he was ahead of her walking jovially.
Percival's long beautiful silver hair was lovely to look at. And his silver and gold armor had a brilliant glow.
“La-la Lala♪!” He was singing and whistling as they walked.
His silver armor decorated in splendid gold ornaments and chain-mail made his appearance like that of a beautiful holy knight. But his demeanor was like that of a child.
“I wonder what he wants to do to me.” She muttered quietly to herself.
Half an hour later.
The two of them were walking up a mountain trail, the thick green leaves above them barely let any of the sun's rays through. Takashi occasionally caught faint glimpses of the bright blue sky above them through the gaps in the leaves.
It's so Bright...
Even if this was nothing more than a virtual world, all the things Takashi saw and felt were undoubtedly real. The dry crisp air, the bright blue sky, the thick green leaves above, the ground at his feet, the cool scent of the passing breeze, most likely from a nearby lake or river and...
The difference in stature, the soft supple skin, the blonde shoulder length hair brushing against the side of his now soft delicate cheeks, and the extra weight now on his chest.
All of it was real.
This world looks and feel so real...honestly, I feel even worse now about cutting down all those trees...they must have been real too and that monster as well.
Mm... Wonder what Onee-chan is up to right now? Probably no good.
“Hey what's your name?”
“Huh?”
Percival suddenly asked Hime's name.
She was lost in thought, as such, her response was slightly delayed. They hadn't talked for the majority of the way so this startled her.
“My name it's Ta—I mean Tsurugi...Tsurugi Hime.”
“So you’re Hime… I knew it. Oh, and your three measurements?” Percival asked.
“My three measurements...? Ah? Let's see...? Mmmm? Wait...? Like bust size? And other stuff?”
“Yeah! They’re like the perfect size! No, they are the perfect size! Not too big not too small! Honestly, I'm jealous.”
“A-are you now...” She tried to force a smile.
“All the guys at the guild would probably leer at you with their lecherous eyes. Aha ha!”
.....
........
“I haven't had a good look at them. So, I don't know how big they are...?” Takashi didn't have the faintest idea of his avatar’s measurements.
And when he first saw his reflection, he hadn't gauged their size.
“B-but if you really wanna know. “
She Placed both hands on each of her breasts. Her facial expression was like cast iron—devoid of emotion. Then steeling her resolve, she raised them up and down, as if measuring.
No.
That's exactly what she was doing! Her face was getting painted a deeper and deeper shade of red with each passing second—Boing—Boing!
“They feel like C....or...D cups maybe. I'm not too sure about my other measurements.” blurted embarrassed.
Her poker face was surprisingly amazing, if not for the red you couldn't tell she was embarrassed.
Hime then averted her gaze from the knight and tried her best to return to her cool composed self.
“Pfftt!” Percival stifled his laughter.
He had a wide grin on his face like someone who'd just seen their very own private comedy show. In Percival’s eyes Hime looked like she was just about ready to drop dead and cry. He couldn't hold back anymore.
“Gaha! hahaha! Ahahaha! I was only joking about the three measurements! I can't believe you actually measured your own chest by groping!? Gahaa! ha!”
“I owe you one for saving my life. Plus...this is just a game and I...so I....don't mind doing stuff like that...if it's for you.”
◆◆◆
Takashi did owe Percival for saving his life earlier. So, he decided that for the remainder of the time he'd be playing the game, he would do his best to pay Percival back as Hime. Even if that meant doing slightly embarrassing things.
This is just a game...
Little did Takashi know that NewWorldOnline was now a death game that offered no escape. And that the knight known as Percival, would lord this embarrassing incident over the third ranked samurai—Tsurugi Hime for the rest of their time as friends in game.
“Hey I was just teasing you earlier. You shouldn't be quick to do stuff like that even for me—Although the look on your face as you measured your chest was hilarious...”
“.....”
It wasn't as if Percival was ogling Hime's body sexually.
Actually, it was quite the opposite, his teasing and gaze seemed to come from another place, far removed from male carnal desire. Which more or less still put Hime off.
“Okay...I won't.” Replied Hime from behind him, her voice quiet as a mouse.
How long do I have to play this game anyway...
This is starting to get embarrassing.
◆◆◆
Percival's face looked puzzled yet again.
“W-what is it?” Hime asked still feeling the dregs of embarrassment.
“What to call you? Let's see...Maybe Hime-chan?!”
She shuddered at the thought.
“Um...s-sorry, but c-could you not, I'm not very comfortable with that.”
“Eh!? Hime-chan sounds so cute...?
“No.”
“If you're not comfortable with it, then there's no helping it.” Percival turned to smile at her.
He was surprisingly understanding.
“Does Tsurugi-san work?”
“Y-yeah that works fine. Um...what should I call you?”
“The name's Percival! Just Percival. A gallant knight of the round table! One of king Arthurs legendary knights!” He beamed with a bright smile.
Of course there was no such round table, and there was no such king Arthur in this world, if there were it would most certainly just be some player borrowing the name. Yet Percival a knight fanatic didn't mind.
Role-playing was also part of the fun with games after all.
He reminded Takashi of an innocent child playing superheroes.
“Mh-mm, so P-Percival-san works for you.” She spoke.
“You can drop the honorifics, just Percival's fine.” He smiled.
“Ah... sure.” Hime replied, with a faint smile of her own. “So... Percival the knight, then.”
Takashi was starting to feel slightly more comfortable around the knight Percival. Although some doubt was still lingering in Takashi's mind. What kind of punishment was he to receive? What was he to expect from Percival?
“Um...about my punishment, wha—”
“We're here!” He spoke aloud.
◆◆◆
The thick green leaves that earlier blocked the sun's rays were gone.
In their place was a field—a grassy field with a giant Sakura tree in full bloom at its center. A large stream of water was flowing round the tree and down the mountain—probably the source of the cool breeze from earlier.
The bright blue sky was a pleasant sight.
They were atop a flat-topped mountain; they had finally reached the peak. Takashi was captivated by the out of this world view. It was unlike anything Kobayashi Takashi had ever seen.
Hime's mouth agape she muttered. “I’d never even imagined a view like this one, it's beautiful.”
“Take a seat. Don't forget why we came here!” Percival said, in a strangely serious tone, as he sat her down beside him.
Eh!
Her punishment. That's right. She was here to be punished not to enjoy the view.
But how?
“Right...y-yeah my punishment so, what is it?”
In any event, it was just a game, no matter what Percival chose to do it wouldn't bother Takashi too much. He thought, but began to doubt again.
This is fine...Wait...
Her mind wandering, she thought, what if he's form of punishment was...
What if it's something perverted!? We're just the two of us up here! And right now, he's a guy and I'm a...
“Tsurugi-san!”
“Gwuh! Um, sorry, yes? W-what is it?”
For a moment her face showed some sigh of emotion but it was short lived. She quickly returned to her emotionless tone and cast-iron face.
“It's time to receive your punishment!”
Percival slid his right finger, opening the system menu window. Of course, Hime could see what he was doing, but she wasn't able to guess what icon he was going for.
From what his sister had taught him Takashi could guess. He was accessing one of the games systems features the <<item storage>>.
He Was getting an item or items, was it something for her punishment!? Her mind was a den of frightened thoughts.
Release Access
Generate Storage objects...
Baskets, plates and a jug with what seemed to be Lemonade in it all appeared out of nowhere—materializing with a golden glitter.
Their designs were simple and plane yet refined...
In the baskets were simple handmade sandwiches. Tasty looking ones at that.
“Dig in! Help yourself to anything you want.”Percival cheered. “No monsters will attack us here, we're within the safe zone of a nearby NPC village.”
It's not as if Takashi was against the idea of dining alongside Percival, but. “Um...What about m-my punishment?”
Percival grimaced. “Isn't eating alongside a failure of a knight punishment enough.”
“So, what do you want me to do?” She asked him.
“Didn't you hear me? Just have a meal with me. There's nothing else you have to do; you've already done enough. You saved my life earlier, remember so this is my way of paying you back.”
“Um?”
“Help yourself!”
Hime took a seat right next to Percival and dug in!
“Thank you for the food!”
Hime dug in. She hadn't had a proper meal in hours. Her eating was undignified. the samurai girl stuffed her face full with as much as she could.
For a refined looking young lady to be gorging herself like this, it was completely unsightly. Not only that but her legs were spread wide open practically flashing her panties at Percival.
Percival however simply found it amusing.
Geez—if you're going to pick a female avatar at least pick up on some basic ladylike etiquette first...she's hopeless...
“Tsurugi-san close your legs when you're seated those are basics for a girl.”
“Huh?”
“And try to take fewer, slower bites of your food.”
“Hm...?” She was a bit slow to react simply staring at Percival blankly...
Before hastily closing her legs and turning red as an apple. Realizing she had just given him an eyeful. “Eh!? S-Sorry you had to see something so unsightly!”
No! I was wrong this girl—her lack of femininity adds to her cuteness! Bonus points!
Percival had an impish grin on his face.
Completely unaware she was the source of his thoughts the beet red Hime asked. “What are you thinking about?”
“Oh nothing.” He replied.
There was something about Hime that was bothering Percival. He felt if he didn't ask now someone would end up dying later. It was a crucial question which would determine if most people survived in this game.
“Tsurugi-san when and where did you spawn from.”
“Munch! —Um...? Japan...” She said as she munched on a sandwich.
Thanks to the automatic universal translation feature people from all over the world could play together without worrying about language barrier. It was a good feature but it wasn’t what Percival was referring to.
“Funny, I'm from Japan too, I live with my cousin, but no... I mean, have you been to Astral city? The capital of this continent in the game. Most players spawned from there and started the game from the city.”
“No, not really. I started out in this forest.”
“...I see, makes sense now.” He smiled wryly. “In that case! There's something I need to tell you. Try...not to panic.”
◆◆◆
“Oh...I see, so everyone playing is trapped in the game, and they are unable log out for some reason is that it? “Hime said dispassionately.
“...that is really unfortunate. But there's nothing I can do about it” She continued.
Percival seemed taken aback by her lack of urgency.
“Wow? I was expecting you to be a little more freaked out... Honestly, I'm surprised...and I'm a little relieved at the same time. I had a panic attack when I found out, so seeing someone handle it so calmly, is kind of comforting for me.”
“.....”
She didn't respond to his words instead.
Hime slowly bowed her head to Percival—all the way to the ground touching the dirt.
“Eh? Tsurugi-dono what art thou doing?” Percival asked in a strange forced dialect.
“You risked your life to protect me. Despite the fact that you barely knew me, and if you'd d-died that might have been the end for you...”
He tried to get Hime's head off the ground, but it was like she was glued to the spot. Of course he couldn't overpower her, she was the—third strongest player and second strongest level nine.
Bowing in thanks regardless of whether he wanted her to or not. Percival shrugged; he tried to insist that he did nothing--that she was the one who saved him.
“Hey I didn't—”
“—Percival you. You've done a lot for me. You Saved my life, brought me here and offered me a meal, you even told me everything about the game. I'm grateful.”
“Um yeah I did but...”
“All without asking anything of me in return. I can't ever hope to repay you or thank you enough for everything you've done. But if there's anything I can do for you I will.”
Hime bowed her head as deeply as she could.
“Geez—now I feel all guilty. I'm such a cheap excuse for a knight!”
“Huh?” She wasn't sure what he meant by that.
Percival grinned. “Tsurugi-san, there's actually something I do want from you.”
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