Fireside Chat

“It’s a long story,” Gina said.

The woods were dark and damp, for some reason. Maybe the game had this area perpetually be a little wet, as if it just rained. Actually I’m not sure if I remember it raining in this world.

Gina and I sat on rocks around our own campfire. Meager compared to Half-Sword Dave’s, which lay a mere 10 meters away. But enough to keep us warm and well-lit. I inhaled the cool scent of moist pine.

“Well,” I said. “We have time.”

“Time is the one thing we don’t have right now.”

“Okay, you got me there. But it’s probably worth it hearing Dave’s backstory.”

Gina itched at her arm. Were there mosquitos in this game? I sure hope not.

“It’s kinda boring. And like I said, time isn’t on our side. We should go to bed,” she said.
Her face was contorted with worry. I leaned forward.

“If we figure out Half-Sword Dave’s beef with us, he can cooperate and actually help us in this quest. Isn’t that the whole point of why Coral sent us here?” I looked at Gina’s eyes. She didn’t return my gaze. “There’s three people within a kilometer of this place, and you’re the only one who can figure out Half-Sword Dave’s deal.”

Gina had taken out a dagger and was twirling it in her hands. Her body was here but her mind was somewhere else. 

“These woods are called the Lone Pines,” she said. “It’s said that many people take refuge in here. It’s at the midpoint between Tyro Town and the Demon King’s lair up north, so it’s at a natural break point for many travelers. I’ve heard that the trees here even provide a bit of cloaking magic, but those could just be rumors.”

She looked at her own reflection in the dagger blade.

“Though the main appeal is the monsters here. They’re high-level enough to keep any trespassers out, but low-level enough to be dealt with yourself. If you’re strong enough to defeat those monsters, you’re wise enough to know better than to disturb all those who hide here.”

“Wait,” I said. “There’s actually monsters here?”

“Oh yes. Quite famously. There’s classics like goose hydras, velociraptors, fickle-eared hogwasps—”

“Oh my Gooooood.” I shut my eyes tight. “Can you please shut up and just tell me about Dave? You’ve been dodging the question all evening.”

Gina glared at me.

“I am telling you about Dave. The reason he’s hiding out in these woods is because he’s at a decently high level and doesn’t want to be found.“

She went back to staring absently into the fire, captivated by the dancing tongues. 

“Not even by a former party member?” I asked. Her eyes remained fixed on the embers.

“No. Especially not a former party member.”

We sat without a word, listening to the crackles of the fire. Those words alone told a story, just one I didn’t know. I had to give her the time and space she needed to gather her thoughts and feelings. I could only imagine the last time she thought about what had happened.

She did her own deep breathing exercise and put the dagger away.

“Dave isn’t a Player in the same way you are,” she said. “He was born here.”

“So… he died as a baby?” I asked, dark as it was. “And was reincarnated here?”

“No, he was genuinely born here. This world was offered with a premium plan to you, but not everyone that lives here gets that. In the same way you were on Earth for the base plan, Dave is on Questia for the base plan. And since he’s at the base plan, he doesn’t have any of the premium benefits. Life isn’t as difficult as it is on Earth, but he’s not ‘enjoying it good’ like you are.”

My nose wrinkled at that sentiment. “I’m not enjoying anything good here. No offense but I’m pretty stressed out. I wouldn’t exactly call it enjoying.”

“I know. But think about it from Dave’s perspective. He’s spent his whole life grinding out levels, slaying monsters, completing quest. And for his whole life, there’s been this other group of people. He calls them transplants. They get to waltz in and breeze through the game with no struggle. Because they have access to customer support, they get information no one else in the world has. And,” she said, “they come with smart devices like phones or other things. Native-born Players don’t have that.”

“They’re just raw-dogging it?” 

“I don’t know what that means but yes. They are raw dogging it. On top of all that, transplants aren’t known for their altruism.”

“What do you mean?”

Despite the fire, Gina’s eyes seemed to darken.

“Take the capital city, for example. Prayerhaven. It’s where the king resides, and it should be the crown jewel of all of Questia. Home of all the royal houses, the best artisans, the wealthiest merchants. It’s right outside the Demon King’s territory too. It should represent the very best of humanity, represent who it is and why we fight.”

She reached for her pack and pulled out a flask. It was branded with the logo of the Wet Saddle. A thief indeed. After a swig, she wiped her mouth.

“It’s a shithole,” she said. “A total bed of debauchery and pleasure-seeking. Corrupt cops, bribed officials, unfettered criminals, you name it. And the only reason it’s like that is the transplants.”

“How does having phones cause this much chaos? Is simply having a phone enough to make you some society-destroying monster?” I asked. It sounded pretty bad when you said it outloud, but I had to make sure.

“It’s more that people who have their plan upgraded are looking to get something out of this world. Unlike native-born Players who consider Questia to be their home, transplants just see it as a game. And they treat it as such. They try the craziest potions they can brew, they hunt some species to the brink of extinction, they open catgirl maid bars and—”

“I would never do any of that!” I stand up, clenching a fist to my chest. “I’m a good, decent human being! I would never harm other people or the place they call home! And I certainly would not be into catgirls!”

“I know that, but Dave doesn’t—”

“Like, are you kidding me? I’m not into the freaky shit my brother is. I don’t even know if he is into that shit. But I know that I’m not.”

“Daisuke...”

“Why would anyone be attracted to catgirls? They’re part animal! That’s so gross, trying to envision being attracted to something part animal.”

“Daisuke.”

“And they’re cats too! Cats are adorable, why would you ever turn them into some strange, submissive sex symbol. They’re not even submissive. Cats are famously very temperamental and prone to—”

“DAISUKE!”

I sat my ass back down.

“Sorry.”

“I know you’re not into that, and I know you’re one of the good ones. But Dave has just seen so much suffering and corrupting of this world at the hands of transplants. The fact that you have a smartphone at all is enough to piss him off. You have reality manipulation effects like luck-effecting, you have status-effect selection, and even external help. Even the king himself is a transplant.”

I sighed. She was right. As per usual.

“I just think that we can convince Dave,” I said. “Prove to him that I’m a nice guy, I’m not here to disrupt his home world or anything. I just want to save his brother. If he was once an adventurer, there should be enough goodness in his heart so see that. Even after all the years of cynicism.” I glanced at Gina. “Is it really that bad?”

She nodded.

“Maybe he just isn’t that good with words. Maybe he’s the action-oriented type?” I said.

She looked like she wanted another swig.

“Are you suggesting you fight him?”

I held my hands up. “Well,” I said, “I’m just saying it’s a possibility. Y’know, speak as men. With our hands.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let’s just go to bed and think it over in the morning. You take first watch, I’m getting a headache.”

Gina laid down on the ground and just fell asleep. 

I sat there as the crackling fire joined her in the realm of dreams. It was just me and darkness and thoughts. Surprisingly quiet. I guess they forgot to program birds. Half-Sword Dave and I were cut from the same, brooding cloth. We were both men of strength in a world of wit and wizardry. Perhaps we could come to some sort of accord. I didn’t want to get my ass beat, but hey. Now Chouji can’t say I never did shit for him.

But I wouldn’t have to worry about any of that any longer. Because I something hit me on the back of the head and I blacked out.