Darn my reckless enthusiasm! I once more chided myself.

I swallowed my resentment down and asked a question. “But, I don’t understand. If it was a simple question of gender, then why was it such a big deal? Is there any difference between the service of a male AID and a female AID?”

“I’m glad you asked! It is apparent to me now that your brain cells have not quite ceased working yet.” He replied with a smirk.

I struggled to keep from rolling my eyes. Can you just stop with the insults and continue the explanation, please!?

He seemed to sense my impatience. “The female AID has several functions that are different from the male AID. One of them is the ability to turn into a piece of equipment, such as angel wings that bestow flight, a magic wand that reduced mp costs for spells, or a learning weapon which would grow along with the owner. Another is a passive increase by 5% in gaining the goodwill of the townsfolk, as well as a 10% increase in the likelihood of obtaining a powerful pet.”

My liver almost turned green with envy when I heard this.

Learning weapons are the kind of thing most gamers drool over. Since they grow with the owner, there is no need to keep searching for new weapons. Instead, one can just focus upon leveling up and finishing quests. The passive increase and likelihood weren’t bad either.

But, surely there was something the male aid could do that balanced things out on my end, right? I looked expectantly at my AID.

“Wow. That sure does sound pretty sweet.” I said. “But surely, there are things that only the male AID can do which would make them a desirable companion as well, right?”

Seeing how he was so high on his horse, I promptly used my go-to method for dealing with narcissists: empty flattery.

The AI inclined his head graciously. “Good. I can see that your head is on straight. There are indeed functions which only the male AIDs are able to initiate. First, instead of becoming a piece of equipment, we can directly aid you in battle, although our level will only be as high as yours.”

Like a kind of doppleganger? That doesn’t sound too bad. I thought to myself. But, my hopes were dashed with his next sentence.

“However, to balance this, those who have male AIDs are 50% less likely to be able to capture a pet. Moreover, the male AIDs cannot assist you forever. There is a time limit. Before you approach the limit, if you toggle our assist off, then time will slowly be added back to the assist summons.

The more you level up, the longer we can help you, but when the time limit is reached, or if we are defeated, then we are placed under God’s protection dome and you cannot summon our help for one hundred minutes. “

I did some quick calculations. “But, wait, that’s an hour and forty minutes!” I replied.

NOOO! NOT MY FLUFFIES!!!! I inwardly cried. Well, it only said by 50%, right? I should be grateful it’s not 100%. There’s still a chance, my pets!

He nodded, laughing a bit through his nose.

“Yes, yes it is. But I know that time flows differently where you come from, so let me help your slow brain along. It’s only an hour and forty minutes in this world. In your own world, it would be roughly about twelve minutes.”

What was that about my brain!? I’ll let you know I’m a straight A-minus high school student, you know! I retorted in my head.

Blinking, I realized that his face was super close again, observing me with unblinking half-closed eyes. I flinched backwards, “Wha-what are you doing?” I asked, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under his stare.

Then he poked my forehead.

“Don’t frown. It reflects badly upon me. And the perfect me should not ever be seen as anything less than perfect!”

I was speechless for a moment. I’ll frown when I freaking want to frown! I thought as I set an even deeper frown on my face just to make my point.

He floated backwards with a sigh. “Suit yourself.” A small blue bird flew over and perched upon his shoulder, chirruping into his ear. He inclined his head sideways as if he could understand it... After delivering its message, the blue bird flitted away out of sight.

“It seems you are more lucky than you realize.” He said. “The immortals that reside in the higher worlds have decided to bestow upon you a weapon, as a bonus for being the first to have a male AID. One random weapon will be added to your inventory alongside the usual beginners set.”

I blinked. Okay, having a male AID kinda sucks, but I get a free weapon out of this? Sweet! I was already imagining what kind of badass weapon I’d be getting.

He clapped his hands, startling me from my reverie. “My words are important. Pay attention to the great me.” He stated.

I refrained from snorting, as I was sure that he would connect my actions to a pig’s, and I was convinced that he would not spare me his harsh words. I did raise an eyebrow, quizzically, though.

“Name.” He states. and a blue box popped open in front of me.

“It’s rude to ask for someone else’s name without introducing yourself first.” I retorted.

“How you call me is unimportant. Stop this pointless discussion.” He replied.

“I don’t think it’s pointless.” I replied, once more playing upon his pride. “A person’s name is very important. Even you should have something that other people refer you by, aside from the mediocre ‘AID’ that everyone should be calling their AIDs.”

I gave the finishing blow as I raised a hand to my mouth in mock surprise.

“Don’t tell me, the great and perfect you doesn’t even have a name?”

His sigh of exasperation was music to my ears. What came next, though, I did not expect. “Fine. Since you refuse to continue without hearing the great me’s name, I have no choice. It’s Ryuu.”

Ding! A blue box appeared in front of me.

You have unlocked your AID’s name. Your AID will henceforth be referred to as Ryuu by NPCs.

…Huh? Was this game actually so well-made that even the AIDs had names? And I thought I had found the perfect counter for his rudeness earlier. Oh well. There will be time for that later.

“My name aside, please enter a name.” Ryuu urged, impatient to be done with this.

I eyed the blue keyboard that popped up. Hmm…Should I go with KrtcyKat^9000, or FluffiesRule…nah. I read a light novel about the deities in a game getting pissed off at the name the gamer chose and cursed him with bad luck. I’ll go with something that sounds refined…and slightly elegant. I quickly typed it in, tapping the blue window that felt smooth like glass.

Another blue box popped up in front of me.

You have chosen the name Jade. Do you wish to confirm?

I rolled my eyes and tapped the ‘yes’ button.

Confirmed: Your name is now Jade. Name is unable to be changed, although one may accumulate any number of aliases.

Noticing that the word ‘aliases’ was in italics, I tapped on it, and another blue box popped up.

Aliases can be acquired by doing good or bad actions while disguised to the point where the face can’t be seen. If the sight of you switching to your alter ego is witnessed by an NPC you will either lose the alias, or it will be permamently added to your name, so try not to do anything stupid.

Whoah. Even the text is giving me flack. Who says I’m going to do something stupid! It’s as if you have already assumed that I can’t do anything successfully!

After I waved the box away, another box popped up.

For paying close attention to the subtle differences around you, you have unlocked [appraisal] Analysis of the status of others is now made possible. Range and quality of information increases with each subsequent level. +2 wisdom +2 intelligence

Well, it was a far cry from Google-sensei, but I’ll take what I can get.

“For now, let’s get your character customized. “ As soon as Ryuu said that, a row of examples from the different races appeared from the white background behind him. After briefly sweeping over the row, I discovered that all except for five races were greyed out, or blacked out completely.

“Why are some of the races grey?” I asked.

Mister Narcissist sniffed and replied “It’s because they don’t meet my standards.”

I stared at him, wishing I could brain him. YOU DISCARDED RACES WITHOUT MY APPROVAL BECAUSE THEY DON’T MEET YOUR STANDARDS!????!!” This is a seriously screwed up AID. Please get me another one.

I struggled to keep my voice even. “You did this without consulting me?” I asked in my calm warning voice, I was pretty sure my face was twitching, though.

“Of course!” Ryuu replied smugly. “I knew that unless you were a true idiot, you would also agree with my standards of which races were the most competent.”

I am going to complain! I am seriously going to complain! What’s up with this! I thought as I refrained from grinding my teeth. An AID making choices for their master was unheard of! Moreover, it was just plain. Downright. Rude!

“If it’s all the same with you, I’d still like to see if my opinion matches yours.” I replied, using a bit of ego-stroking. “Could you just open them up for me to look so that I too might acknowledge your prowess in choosing what pleases me?” If you don’t let me look, then I will make life hell for you.

“Of course!” Unaware of the hidden threat underneath my oiled words, he readily agreed to do so, and the greyed out characters now had color. “Look and see how the best AID of them all handles things. Testify to my perfection~” He laughed.

Ignoring Mister Creepy, I proceeded to examine the now unlocked characters. No to trolls, goblins, giants, or lizardmen. I get the feeling that if I became them, I would feel guilty for how many of their kin I’ve slaughtered in my old games. That, and they’re totally ugly. Who would play someone like that? The dwarf is too short, so it’ll mess with my sense of balance. Hmmm…the spirits seem interesting, but being incorporeal would really weird me out.

It would appear that Mr. Hateful was right. In the end, I only seriously considered the five races that were not greyed out beforehand.

“Thank you for your patience. You have indeed chosen well.” I said to him.

A smirk brightened his face. “Since you have said so, there’s no further need to keep the rest of these out.” He waved his hand and the greyed and blacked out characters disappeared from the display.

This is strictly conjecture, but I believe that one of those races had to have been Dragons. I wonder how the race would be unlocked. Would it be after a subsequent game update? Or by means of a chain quest?

Whichever way it was, if the dragon race gets unlocked, I am totes gonna buy another chip so I can play it. Which is another thing: you aren’t forbidden from playing secondary characters. You just need to add the specialized expansion chip in order to play a secondary character.

The only thing is…that secondary character will always be considered as a companion of your first character. If fact, if you switch back to your first character, the second one will switch to computer mode and become like an NPC, following you around, kinda like D*nkey K*ng.

But the expansion chip is twice as expensive as the game chip, and I was wiped out with just buying the gear and the game, so there was no way I could include the expansion chip.

Back to my choices, the only ones left were the five races: Humans, Beastmen, Elves, merpeople, and demonkin. I decided to use the method of elimination and choose whatever is left.

[Appraisal]-kun was very helpful in giving me interesting little tidbits here and there.

Now, why merpeople was not a part of beastmen, I really didn’t know, but perhaps it’s because there is both a beastman kingdom and a merpeople kingdom? Or maybe cold-blooded animals aren’t considered beasts, since mermaids are half- fish---I seriously got a chill down the back of my spine. I get it, I get it. Mermaids are not half -fishies, I GET IT. But I’m bad at swimming…and singing…and being half-exposed…so…. Pass!

The Demonkin were also interesting, appearing to be sculpted humans with bronze skin and horns sticking out the side of their heads. One can gain the summoner class under this race…Maybe I’d be able to get a fluffy after all! Nah, probably not. It’d probably be stuck with just a bunch of grotesque demonic monsters instead. Moreover, those horns seem to be a racial weak point. Pass!

Ooh! Elves! I always wanted to try having pointy ears! As usual, their specialties are archery and nature magic…it seems like there’s a subclass that can become an enchanter of sorts, but in terrains that are bereft of greenery, their racial traits begin to work against them, and they become super squishy. If I’m going to be bustin’ fire-breathin’ dragons’ behinds, (cough*includingRyuu’s*cough) I’m gonna need something that won’t become homesick at the first signs of fire and brimstone! Pass!

Beastmen: …when you cannot obtain a fluffy, the next best thing is TO BECOME A FLUFFY!! Well, I was really tempted by the fluffy ears and the tails, but Beastmen’s tails is another weak point. There were many different kinds of beastmen too, which was totally appealing. Ah, I was so undecided! I was about to choose beastmen, when I realized the horrors of being surrounded by people who wanted to pet you. Eek! NO! I want to pet, I do not want to BE petted! PASS!

So, in the end, I can only chose human, huh? Oh well, better get this over with.

“I choose human.” I said confidently.

“Really? You’re sure? You can’t take it back once it’s set, you know?” He asked.

“I’m sure.” I replied.

All the others except for the human model vanished. I stared face to face with my doppleganger.

“Here’s the part where you can make adjustments to height, width, color, shape, anything you want. You want to try being thin? Instantly beautify? How about making a gamble with our randomizer? Unique and undiscovered character are just waiting for you to find.”

He read this like it was lines from English class or something, in a complete monotone. Something about changing my face to something fake irked me. Actually, it was just too much work, and I wanted to start gaming already so I just waved my hand.

“Don’t bother. I’m fine with my own appearance.”

“…What?” He asked, surprised.

“You heard me.” I replied. “No changes. Fine as is.”

“I see…” Was his noncommittal reply. What is it? Are you saying I’m ugly? What are you gonna do about it, huh!? I should have chosen something revolting just to annoy him-upon second thought, it’s not worth it.

That part where the revolting person would be me is really undesirable. I am lucky I did not have this thought earlier, whew! That would have been a huge mistake on my part.

I feel like my personality will quickly cause me to cause harm due to anger, if I don’t restrain myself.

A blue screen appears in front of my doppleganger.

Name:

Jade

Class:

Rookie

Level:

0

Title:

------------

HP:

100

MP:

144

Stats:

Points:

Strength

10

Defence

10

Vitality

10

Intelligence

12

Wisdom

12

Agility

10

Dexterity

10

Charm

10

Luck

15

Bonus Stats:

10

Skills:

Beginner’s Luck: Lvl 0

No death penalty and double experience points up to Lvl 10. This skill is lost upon reaching level 10.

Appraisal: Lvl 0

Unlike [Inspect] one does not have to be in contact with an object, monster, NPC, or player, in order to know its stats. Range is dependent upon level

Range: 0 (you have to touch the object to appraise it.)

After fiddling around with the stats, I decided to put two points each into Vitality, Wisdom, Agility, and Dexterity. After finding out that Charm and Luck cannot be raised, I placed the last two points into Vitality, bringing my mana up to 168, and my HP up to 140, making me a bit less squishy than regular newbies.

After confirming my stats, the blue box disappeared.

Oh, it seems that my stats are being displayed to Ryuu, for a blue box also appears in front of him. He stares at it, running his eyes over the numbers, calculating some things. Then he swiped his hand and the box disappeared.

Ryuu then looked at me, hard, as if trying to see through me. After several moments of silence, He cleared his throat. “Well, now that that’s finished, you will find yourself in the kingdom of humankind momentarily”

The character merged with me, and a light column sprung up around me. I saw my AID had said something, but I couldn’t hear what it was.

“What?” I said, but was transported away before he could repeat it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the now empty white space, the AID sighed, having missed his timing. “… See you there…Milady.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End Login Diary Entry 1