Chapter 2

"――Huh?"

Before I knew it, I was inside Mevius Online.

I was on the main street of the capital city Vinston, in front of the grocery store 'Icicle' that I often visited.

The medieval European-style town that I hadn't seen in a while. I thought I would never see the landscape of this world of swords and magic again, which I had seen more often than my parents' faces. But, as always, good things are good no matter how many times you see them. I felt like I had come back.

However... when did I log in?

"Hey, get out of the way! Don't just stand there in front of the store looking dazed!"

A voice from behind me called out. It was Ice, the shop's mascot girl. The familiar voice of the voice actress... but wait, I've never heard this line before. Was there an update I didn't know about?

"Ah... s-sorry. Do you need something from the store?"

When I turned around, Ice's eyes widened in surprise, and for some reason, she suddenly became shy. Upon closer inspection, her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"Wow, so cute!"

I couldn't help but say it out loud. This is great. Really great. It's not an exaggeration to call it a divine update.

"W-What are you saying, you weirdo!"

Ice's face turned bright red, and she turned away, then shyly went back into the store. What a wonderful reaction! Maybe a good-feel system or something was introduced while I was away. Not bad, you bastards who run the game. This could attract a lot of players and boost the market...

...Huh?

Wait, something just now...

"――――!"

I saw my reflection in the grocery store's display window.

Ah, as I thought.

It's not the same.

It's not 'seven'.

This is...

"...Second"

I touched my cheek, confirming my face, and whispered the name.

The sub-character 'Second' I created at the same time as my main character 'seven'. A warehouse character with zero experience, a tall and slender figure, with blue-black hair, silver eyes, and porcelain-white skin, the limited-time premium avatar was showing a look of shock in the glass.

"Right, I remember."

I recalled logging out in front of the grocery store a while ago. I think I had the main character buy a lot of glutinous rice for the New Year's event, which filled up the inventory, so I had this one buy some and left it at that.

"......haaah"

A huge sigh escaped me.

I was a fool to unconsciously hope for even a moment that seven had come back.

My seven, the world's number one, no longer exists anywhere.

I had chewed on this fact many times, yet just thinking about it made me want to cry.

No.

I can't bring myself to start Mevius Online again.

I'll just log out.

...

...

...

...

"Huh?"

I can't log out.

Actually, I can't even open the management screen.

Is it bugged?

I'll just press the emergency stop button and return to "reality"...

...Ah.

No, wait.

"――――Ah, right."

That's right. There is no reality. Why did I forget? That's right. Yes. I am already...

"Dead"