ONLINE GAMERS {ARC 1 CHAOS IN ASTRAL CITY} CHAPTER 8

The third ranked player and second ranked level nine, Tsurugi Hime was on the peak of a flat-topped mountain in the Mystic Forest. She was sitting with a certain androgynous looking knight clad in silver armor with golden chainmail.

He began to speak in a somewhat self-deprecating tone.

“There is actually something I do want from you Tsurugi-san. I'm such a failure as a chivalrous knight! Wanting to use a pure demure maiden’s body for my own gain!”

“Umm...my body?”

Ignoring the bewilderment on her face, Percival continued to ramble on about how he had failed as a knight.

“I'm so unforgivable! How can I hope to call myself a knight after getting saved by an innocent maiden and not only that, wanting a favor from her as well! Damn it, even so the maiden herself doesn't seem all that troubled by it, if anything she feels indebted to me, so perhaps asking a favor from her to clear her conscious is proof of what a splendid knight I am...”

All she could manage in reply was an “Um?”

Hime was taken aback, but Percival continued to mutter on to himself eerily all the same.

She hadn't understood a word of what he was saying. If anything, it started to sound like a binding curse.

Takashi had picked out one thing. That Percival wanted something to deal with—the body of Takashi's avatar Tsurugi Hime. Her body? That was troublesome, but Percival did save his life so, there was no helping it.

Takashi wasn't the type to let a debt go unpaid.

Hime's face flushed red, but her lethargic eyes and tone didn't change as she spoke.

“Percival, just so you know... I'm actually a g-guy in real life.” Her face was blank as she stared at him and uttered her last words. “So, keep in mind if you wanted to do anything dirty with me, I'll...”

Percival shrugged, “Jeez—do you, take me, for a fool Tsurugi-san, I already know you're a boy.”

Punctuating his sentence with small laugh, Percival put a hand over his mouth.

“Huh!?” Hime put her hands to the ground as she leaned in close to Percival.

The composed Hime was gone.

Her ocean blue eyes were now giant white circles and her oval face now completely round and child looking.

This was an <<emotion effect>> a reaction system unique to the world of NWO.

Sitting across the surprised Hime, Percival boasted a smug grin with his androgynous face, he also gave her a pat on the head as he smirked.

“For one, aside from your shyness you really don't act like a girl. You talk. Sit. Eat. And act like a guy, that, and I'm a girl myself so figuring you out wasn't all that hard. I did have my doubts though.”

“Y-you're a girl?

Takashi couldn't believe all the sudden information. Not only was his real-life gender easily seen through but he had failed to see through Percival's.

Percival had mentioned something else that caught Takashi's attention.

“...And what do you mean by doubts?”

“Hm? Sometimes you give off an actual...girl vibe. But that might be due to your character bio...though.”

“???”

“Heh, judging by that look on your face you probably don't know what that is—how adorable, you really are a noob Tsurugi-san.”

“....” Noob? Was it a kind of insult? Takashi had no idea but was offended nonetheless.

Seeing her slightly annoyed face Percival offered a faint smile before continuing.

“Well, you see, when you open the system window—there's an icon written [character bio], right? Any info that you put down there before starting the game affects your avatar's mental state in the game.”

“...So, I might become someone else entirely?” Takashi asked somewhat concerned about his identity.

“No, the change isn't drastic—rather, just minor shifts in personality between your real self and your character. Don't worry about it too much. “

Takashi hadn't created this avatar. His sister had, and there was no telling just what kind of weird personality quirks she could have thrown in there for fun. She might even have put some just to mess with him.

TSURUGI HIME [Character Bio]

(A half human samurai of unknown origins. Wielder of the sacred <<sword of the heavens>>)

Personality

*Easily-embarrassed/ *Overly-protective/ *Shy/ *Aloof / *Submissive / *Speaks her mind / *Reluctant but not against physical contact

Bonus info >.< : Hime prefers wearing white panties.

“Percival.”

“...Yes. I guess white does suit you. Mm-hm, you know how to choose a pair that perfectly brings out your innocent pure nature Tsurugi-san. I'm impressed.”

Hime shrugged, “NO!...Like I said, I'm not the one who made...!”

Percival couldn't help admiring how despite the lack of emotion on her face Hime was still clearly flustered.

“It's embarrassing... Why would my sister put that there?” She said to herself.

I already caught a glimpse. Percival hesitated to reply and instead gave her a pat on the head.

“There's no need to get embarrassed, like I said I'm actually a girl. So, there's nothing to hide.”

The gallant knight—whom saved Takashi's life—Percival was actually a girl? No. The avatar was male but the person playing was a girl? ...Hm? The information was too much to handle.

How would that change affect their current relationship?

“No need to treat me different, you can just act as you like around me.” He spoke.

The reason Takashi neglected to mention his true gender in the first place was because he didn't want Percival getting the wrong idea about him. And now finding out Percival was a girl served to greater confuse Takashi.

“Percival... Listen... I'm not some weirdo who likes playing as a girl for fun...my sister,” Her ocean eyes darted to the side, “she made me do it.”

Hime began fiddling with her fingers. She seemed embarrassed, but quickly regained her composure. Percival thought the gesture looked extremely cute, but refrained from saying so.

“Well, sure whatever you say Tsurugi-san. Personally, I don't judge, I am playing a different gender myself, so you have nothing to worry about.”

The way Percival phrased it and with a smug look on his face made Hime have a depressed look.

“...I'm telling the truth.”

After a short summary from Hime, Percival now understood how the middle school student Kobayashi Takashi came to be the third strongest player—the samurai Tsurugi Hime in NWO.

“So, your sister who created all the level nine avatar accounts trapped you at conveniently the same time this became a death game? A-and she's currently on the Demon Continent right now? Doing who knows what?”

“Mm... that’s basically it.” Hime gave a nod as she replied, sitting across Percival with her legs spread.

“So... wait! Kimiko-sama and Kagashi are friends of your sister!?”

“Ki-kimiko? Ka-kagashi?” She cocked her head to the side in confusion.

Takashi had never heard those names before.

“Huh! Y-You don't know, seriously!? C'mon you're the second ranked level nine you should know!

“Um...sorry?”

“Go through the rankings properly when you get the time or at least go through the first ten Tsurugi-san!”

Percival was scolding Takashi on his lack of wryness towards his fellow level nines. Takashi didn't see any problem with it though. It wasn't like he was going to meet them.

Nonetheless he decided to take the advice.

Hime lowered her head apologetically, “Ahh, yeah I will...”

“Honestly! Make sure you do! But for now, I'll give you a quick rundown.”

“They're only three level nines on the Astral continent:

You—Tsurugi Hime [second ranked.]

The head of Astral city Tsurugi Kimiko [fourth ranked]

And lastly the guy causing a fuss in district seven Tsurugi Kagashi [nineth ranked].”

Aside from scolding Hime, Percival went into detail explaining the current state of affairs of Astral city. He explained how Kimiko was the head of the city and how she was receiving opposition from Kagashi and that a war might break out between the two.

Although... Takashi couldn't care less.

“Majority of the people in district one through three are on Kimiko-sama's side. She might act arrogant and stuff but she really does promote equality and fairness, regardless of whether you're a Player or NPC weak or strong she supports everyone equally.”

“The minority of Players—the worst of the worst—grouped together in district six and seven under Tsurugi Kagashi. Most of them are trash who don't care about NPC's or weaker players, all they care about is living it up in the game!”

“They might be smaller in number, but most of them are well above level two which means they're all bad news. And get this, apparently, they have six beta-testers on their side...!”

The way Percival put it made it sound like a something bad was coming.

“A war is coming!”

“Hmm...” Takashi nodded as if paying attention.

These were the two factions separating Astral city.

Add all that and the fact that both of them are led by powerhouse level nines and you have a pretty scary time bomb.”

Takashi didn't really care about the other level nines, or rather he didn't want to get involved, so he decided to change the topic.

“About that favor you wanted to ask of me, “she unconsciously held a hand to her chest, “you said it involved my body, what is it?”

“Mmm? I said, 'body' but that wasn't the right word... What I really meant was...”

Her status as second ranked—Astral city was peaceful for the time being, but there was no telling when that might change. And so having Tsurugi Hime as an ally—even in name would prove beneficial for him, Percival told her.

“Tsurugi-san I want you to add me as your friend.”

“...Okay.”

“Don't just agree like that!”

“...But I like you?”

“That is not the point! You are an important figure now. We are in a world where life and death aren't a game. Tsurugi-san, you're a level nine, you… You have influence now; promise me you won’t forget that.”

“...alright I won't forget.”

“That doesn’t sound very convincing… I want to use your friendship for my own gain. It's a selfish request and as a knight it is...unforgivable. For me to ask this of you, when it's not even your fight...but please think it over!”

She looked down deep in thought, “...I won't promise to fight for a city or anything like that, but...”

The glint in her eyes—the sharp glare in her ocean eyes—gave Percival chills.

“I can promise to protect you...”

She had the air of nobility as she spoke. Percival couldn't help getting lost in her ocean eyes.

“T-Tsurugi...san” He muttered.

“And Percival, your request wasn't selfish or un-knightly, in the slightest, you went through the trouble of asking me—despite how much it hurt your knights honor and pride. Because you have things you can't protect on your own right, there's nothing un-knightly about that.”

“T-Tsurugi-san? You—” Percival wasn't quite sure what to say to her.

So Hime spoke instead.

“...I, I might end up calling on you for help instead. I'm actually very weak. So don't think of this as a debt. But as a promise between friends—that is however if you still wish to be friends.”

Those were Takashi's honest feelings.

Sending a friend request wasn't too difficult, all you had to do was search the name and ranking of the person you wanted to add as your friend. The receiver only had to accept and it was done.

Percival sent the friend request and Hime readily accepted it.

“Tsuruugii-saaan! Thaaank youuu!!”

“Huh!? What the…!? Percival hold on, don't hug me so suddenly,” said a certain red-cheeked samurai girl online.

With all the strength in his body Percival gave Hime a hug. Takashi wasn't the hugging type. But now more than ever, he didn't enjoy it, this was mainly because of the two mountains on his chest going:

SQUUISH!

The strange sensation of his chest being squishy was more than he could handle. Never before had he thought a hug would be this sensual.

“Ummm...h-hey come on that's e-enough...” Her voice still lethargic, but trembling slightly at the tender embrace urged Percival to stop keep the hugging going!

“No way you're so soft and comfortable like a fluffy pillow. You can't just ask me to stop!

“Wha--?”

“--A fair trade is in order. Oh, I know, I'll stop hugging you if you'll let me lie on your lap instead!”

“Fair trade? But...? I'm not really getting anything in exchange?” She let out a deep sigh, “but f-fine just stop.”

One promise of a lap pillow later.

“Man, you really are soft everywhere Tsurugi-san! If anyone should get a fan art first it should definitely be youu!”

“I don't really know what you mean.” replied Hime tilting her head to the side.

“Eh heh heh heh!”

“Percival...” There was a hint of melancholy in her voice. “I need your help with something...”

“Hm?”

When they had first met in the forest, Takashi's reaction towards killing the monster had been guilt.

And now that this was no longer a game, Takashi did not want to shoulder any more guilt. Should he encounter another player and kill them. How would that make him feel? Takashi wondered.

After all death had more meaning now, the human being Takashi did not want to end another life if willingly possible.

Hime posed the problem to Percival her new friend. After all This was not a problem she had to face alone because friends share their problems.

Wait...? Was I...?

Was Takashi always the type to think like that. Sharing his problems with others? No he wasn't. Was this the result of becoming Hime? Was he going to end up becoming someone else entirely?

“You don't want to kill huh... I think I can help with that. No as a knight and your best friend I shall!”

When did we become best friends...? She glanced at Percival. The thought made her heart flutter.

Thump! Thump! Or maybe, Doki! Doki!

It was a short-lived emotion. It lasted no longer than a fraction of a second.

But still...

Hime's mouth contorted into a disapproving line at her split-second emotion.

Thoroughly appalled, by the sudden impulse Takashi turned away from Percival.

Percival unaware of the turmoil in Takashi's mind, went on to tell her the solution to her problem.

It was an item; he pulled from his storage—a sword.

If Hime didn't want to kill then the solution was simple. Use a weapon incapable of killing. That was the gist of his idea. And the nature of the item in Percival's hands was exactly a perfect fit for that.

A katana.

Not just any katana though. The swords' name was <<dull sword>> an item of the lowest caliber.

When used it did more harm to the wielder than their opponent:

[-80% magic resistance]

[-60% luck]

[-5% strength]

[-5% agility]

[-10% dexterity]

[100% defense]

[-80% attack]

“This sword is the <<dull sword>>, it reverses damage and effect. So, if you fight with it you don't have to worry about killing anyone...actually it's impossible to kill anything with it. I'll send it over to you.”

Accept Item: Y/N

Her thin body trembled as she accepted the item in Percival's hands. A look of genuine relief floated across Tsurugi Himes face. She was deeply thankful; she really did owe Percival a lot.

“Thank you.”

Takash did his best to convey his appreciation by bowing his head.

“You really are different from Kimiko-sama and Kagashi, aren't you?” He mused.

Pausing for a moment Percival felt remorse for having asked to involve her in a fight she had nothing to do with.

Goodbyes are meant to be had with a smile. He forced a beaming smile.

“I got to get going now! My guild mates are probably worried sick. Aha! ha! Stay safe now!”

“Ah, sure...but Percival. Before you go, I have another favor to ask you...I don't have a place to stay, any ideas?”

“Wait... So have you been sleeping in the forest this whole time!?”

Hime replied, “...yes?.”