My TPM and I were sent out of the dungeon. Night had fallen. Unlike the city skies I was used to, stars filled the night sky. Walking a few steps forward, the gentle night breeze blew, so I removed the hood of my cape to feel it further.

“Thank you for everything. Let’s find a place to discuss our plans for the boss.” I said, turning around with a large smile.

My TPM did not reply. He simply looked at my direction and stayed silent.

“Is—“ I was interrupted by a strong wind blowing through.

“Dove…” I could make out the sound of my name through the blowing wind.

“Who… are you?”

My TPM brought down his cape. I could not believe who he was. It was my classmate from university, Hawk.

“Hahaha… the one time I decide not to overthink, it backfires.” said Hawk.

Relief filled my heart when I saw Hawk. While we may not be the closest of friends in university, seeing a familiar face put my mind at ease.

As for what I thought of Hawk, I did not particularly like or dislike him. While we were friends, we did not speak often outside of important matters. Personally, there were parts of him I disliked. First, he’s easily annoyed by small things. Second, he teased his friends way too much. Third, he was arrogant: he believed that and acted as if he was one the greatest, smartest, most talented person in the world. Fourth, he lacked respect towards some authority; it seemed he has his own beliefs in who he should respect. Lastly, he had never given full effort in anything and aimed only to ensure that probability of failure was zero. Aside from those, I did have a personal reason to dislike him, but that’s no longer important.

While it may sound like I’m bashing Hawk like crazy, I don’t hate him as a person. Well, seeing him in Reality here proved my theory. If he actually gave full effort, he was actually amazing. No… he surpassed my expectations of his full effort capability. Maybe his arrogant confidence rooted from this. Maybe the parts I disliked about him… are justified…

“I’m happy I met someone I know.” I said.

“Now then. I’m sure there are a lot of things we want to talk about, but first… let’s remove this horrible stench.”

The people we passed avoided us with a disgusted look as we ran to the Inn in the slums then cleaned ourselves. I exited the toilet and found Hawk already waiting for me.

“Sorry. Did I make you wait long?”

“No. I only just finished myself. Now then--” Hawk’s words by my stomach’s growl. After spending the entire afternoon clearing the dungeon, it couldn’t be avoided.

“Let’s get something to eat first I guess.” said Hawks while giggling.

While food was available in the Inn, Hawk led me towards a part of Naut City I have never been to—an area without any buildings for Players and was mostly buildings for characters.

“This is… a restaurant?” I asked after we entered a large building around four times the size of Liza’s house. Similar to the Quest Guild, tables filled the area, but these tables were more formal. The tables were covered in white cloth and plates properly on each seat. The chairs were crafted with more aesthetic taste. There was also a counter with a clerk like the shop, but a number of people dressed as waiters and waitresses were lined up. Several noble looking Characters were taking their meal.

Noticing our presence, one of the waitresses approached us. She looked like a cosplayer due to his beautiful face and voluptuous body. She was the same height as Hawk and had brown eyes and short brown hair that was tied into a ponytail.

“Kim. The same room as always.”

“Yes. Master Hawk.”

The waitress, Kim, faced me and bowed, “Pleased to meet you, are you Master’s Hawk companion?”

What was this… she’s acting respectfully and her tone was kind, but why could I sense bloodlust from her… scary…

“Yes. I’m Dove. Nice to meet you.” I said after mustering my courage.

Kim then led us to the terrace at the second floor. There was a single table for four located there. It seemed as if she only exuded bloodlust when she talked to me, I wondered why? Did I do something wrong?”

“Two of the usual please.” ordered Hawk.

“Yes. Please excuse me. It’ll take around ten minutes.”

“Now… where do we begin?” asked Hawk.

When he said that, my stomach growled again. I looked away in embarrassment as Hawk was stopping himself from laughing.

After a few minutes, our meal arrived. It was rice along with steak.

“Delicious!”

“Much better than Inn food and Quest Guild food.”

“Is this free?”

“No. Don’t’ worry it’s my treat today. It’s normally 10 Fitts per order, but I have a special 50% discount.”

“Why?”

Hawk told me his story before we met outside the dungeon. Just like myself, he shut himself in the Inn, but only for a single day. After that, he gave full effort clearing Quests and fighting Monsters. Apparently, he sought the Quest Requestors personally and befriended them when completing the quest. Now, the Quest Requestors specifically wanted him to help them. Kim was one of the people he helped and she was the restaurant’s owner’s daughter.

As we finished our meal, I told Hawk a summary that led me to now.

How long had it been since I felt this relaxed? Talking released all the stress that had built up in me.

“If I recall you mentioned something about overthinking and being wrong with my identity, could you clarify?”

“I noticed your personality was similar to Dove the instant we talked; however, I thought it was an illusion created by my wishful thinking that someone I knew would be here.”

“You should have asked earlier!”

“You were hiding yourself in hood…”

“Because people kept harassing me to join their Party due to my looks.”

“Due to your looks… are you stupid or stupid?”

“They were hitting on me!”

“Cause guys always hit on you in university—oh wait… they didn’t…”

“You were wearing a hood as well.”

Although our conversation seemed like an argument, it was a friendly banter without any ill thoughts. This feeling of relaxation was so good~

“Because I defeated that idiot in a Duel and he kept asking me to Party with him.”

“Who?”

“Blitz. He’s famous in Naut City, I’m sure you’ve heard of him.”

“You mean the Party Leader of Crimson Swords, the largest Party in Naut City with over one hundred members?”

While Parties were limited to nine Players, Crimson Swords main Party of nine members each had their own Parties that work under them. These Parties were treated as part of Crimson Sword as well. Some of the sub-Parties have even further divisions as well, creating its over a hundred membership.

“Yes.”

Hawk didn’t say anything for a while after that. He probably disliked Blitz for harassing him. It took him a while before breaking the silence.

“Did you never consider it was me?”

“No. To be honest, you’re like a completely different person…”

After I said that, Hawk’s look became serious.

“I know. My reason for half-heartedly giving effort in the real world does not exist here.”

His eyes were different from the Hawk I knew. The Hawk that was always unmotivated.

Hawk stood and approached the railings of the terrace. After a few seconds of thinking, he turned and said, “Dove. I want to form a Party with you. Not because I knew you from the real world, but because the Player Dove is an interesting Player.”

“I accept.” without any hesitation, without any thought, I chose to form a Party with Hawk.

“Now then, what’ll be our name, Mr. Party Leader?”

“I’m the Leader?”

“Of course! I’ll be the Vice- Leader” I said with a smile.

Although there was no Vice- Leader implemented in the system, most Parties have one informally for emergencies where the Leader is unavailable.

“Sigh… I hate naming… I guess… Azure Rain Forces.”

“… What is that supposed to mean?”

“Sounds good. The name sound very anime~y you know.”

“Shut up…”

We created and registered the Party Azure Rain Forces, henceforth shortened as ARF, through the menu command. After that, we could see each other’s names besides our icons. Also our Party Name was now visible to everyone above our icons.

“Tomorrow we are going to fight the Boss. I can bring some people to help us, is that fine with you?”

“I thought you didn’t want people who could not find the dungeon get benefits from it.”

“I’m in need of help. It’s a simple bargain.”

“So I asked for help, you’d want something in return?”

“Friends… are different… It’s getting late, we should head back. I know of a cost efficient Inn. Want to stay there as well?”

“Sure. It makes things more convenient as well.”

Just as we were leaving, I noticed a familiar face eating on one of the tables.

“Liza!” I said as I approached her.

While walking behind me, Hawk said, “Hi, Liza.”

“Dove and… who were you again?” replied Liza turning her head away from Hawk.

“You remember my name fully well.”

“Hawk…” replied Liza with an irritated look.

“You’ve found a Party, Dove, congratulations.”

“Thanks. We’ll be going now.”

“Yes. Visit Liza’s shop frequently, Dove. As for Hawk, it’d be better if you find another Item Shop.”

“There are no other Item Shops in Naut City.”

We left Liza and headed towards the Inn. Since I had a Party already, I put my hood down. Hawk did the same. While walking across the empty streets, I opened the conversation.

“About Liza… What was that about?”

Hawk remained silent, seemingly deep in thought. When I gave up on awaiting his reply, he said, “She likes me.”

“What!?”

“I know… and you should know why it can’t happen. Liza knows as well, that’s why she is avoiding me.”

Romance between a Player and a Character was almost impossible. However real they may and not just simple AI, this was not our world. We had to one day leave.

“Liza’s having a hard time.”

“Yes. I feel bad for her as well. If only she wasn’t from Reality…”

“So you do like her?”

“She fits all my preferences and tastes… there’s nothing significant to dislike from her either…”

“If Liza existed in real life, she wouldn’t like you.”

“Why?”

“A girl’s intuition.” I replied with a smirk.

If you acted in the real world the same way as you act in Reality, I’m sure more girls would be interested in you. Inversely, if you acted like you do normally in Reality, no girl will be interested in you. Of course, that’s for you to figure out by yourself.

“We’re here.”

We arrived in front of an Inn. Just from the outside, I realized that it was better than the one I stayed in. The cost was 65 Fitts a night, a small increase as well.

We rented our rooms and rested for the night.

Tomorrow… Boss… I’m sure we could do it…

Help System: Player vs Player, Part 2

Players can challenge one another for Duels or Battles in Safe Zones. These fights have agreed upon rules by both sides and never lead to death. A Player’s Health cannot drop below 10%. Reaching this limit results in the loss of the Player. They were limited to an area agreed upon by all Players. Players inside the area cannot exit; Players outside cannot interfere. These battles forced the participants to stand at least 5 meters away from each other before it began. Players can surrender at anytime. If all Players agree to it, a draw can be declared.