Chapter 3

"Hey, then why am I inside Mevion?"

This is weird. What does this mean?

Is the afterlife Mevius Online?

"Such a good deal..."

Then I suddenly realized.

I feel like I was fervently wishing for something before I died.

Hmm, what was it? Ah, right, I think it was something like— "I wish I could be born in the world of an online game."

It’s a pretty crappy last wish, if I do say so myself.

But, does this mean my wish came true? Is that it?

It must be, right?

Even the human-like lines from Ice, who is usually an NPC, make sense if that’s the case.

...

...What?

If that’s the case?

If that’s the case...

...

"Foooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!"

This is amazing!

It’s amazing!

It’s so amazing!!!

Thank you!!

Thank you!!

I lost myself.

I danced wildly for about an hour, screaming.

For me, it was that significant.

It was the happiest moment of my life.

Even more so than when I won the world championship.

Several times, several hundred times more.

"Fooooooooooooooooo!!!!!"

Several thousand times more.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

I’m finally tired.

Looking at my status, my SP is at 0.

I thought about how much I moved around, but then I remembered that this character hasn’t been developed yet, so the stats are still at their initial values. It’s a natural result.

"Ha... fu..."

However, being out of breath and tired inside Mevion is a first for me.

It’s a brand new sensation.

It’s really interesting.

It really gets my adrenaline pumping!

I’m finally in the world of an online game!!

"Fooooo... 'Hold him down!' Ouch!?"

"Stop struggling!"

As I was about to dance again, armored people restrained me. What’s going on!?

"Is this the guy?"

"Yeah... He was causing a disturbance in front of the store, so we brought him here."

Looking at the grocery store, I saw Ice, the sign girl, looking at me with disdain.

"Who are you!?"

A knight NPC, I assume, asked me.

No, is he a "person" now?

Anyway, if asked, I can only answer like this.

"Who are you? That’s right, I am..."

"Take him away!"

"Ouch! Ouch! It hurts!"

It hurts!

But, the pain is fresh and new!

...

Before I knew it, I was arrested by the Third Knight Regiment, the 'Caster Kingdom Third Knight Regiment,' which is basically the police.

"Why did you do that?"

I was being interrogated at the regiment’s station.

"Well, you see, I just got really hyped up..."

I answered, embarrassed, after regaining my composure.

The woman sitting across from me was a stern knight with beautiful platinum blonde hair tied back.

She’s cute, or rather, beautiful. But I’ve never seen an NPC like her, so she must be a unique character in this world.

"Hmm... Do you look like a noble? Which family are you from? Why are you alone? What happened to your entourage?"

"No, I’m not a noble..."

"Our Third Knight Regiment doesn’t recognize any privileges. Anyone who breaks the law is a criminal. And crime is evil. It’s our duty to punish evil and protect good citizens."

"No, I’m not a noble..."

"Spit it out, corrupt noble! We already have the evidence!"

"..."

This guy is impossible to talk to.

"Got it, you’re staying silent... Fine then."

With a "sharan" sound, the female knight drew her short sword from her waist. No way, right?

"Wait! I’ll talk, I’ll talk! I’ll talk, so please!"

"Hmph, you should have done that from the start."

Ugh... I’m so angry.

But, isn’t this a bit much? In Japan, this would definitely be a scandal, maybe even a protest. Or maybe, I just don’t know, but police interrogations are... No, I’d better not go there.

The fastest way out is to admit and apologize.

"My name is Second. I’m an adventurer."

"Liar!"

"What do you want me to do!?"

This isn’t going well, I’m off to a bad start.

"Your clothes don’t look like an adventurer’s. They’re quite expensive, aren’t they?"

I see, it’s because of my equipment. Indeed, I dressed this character in some rare clothes to make it look good, though not as much as my main character. That’s why I’m being mistaken for a noble.

...This is really bad.

The tension between the Third Knight Regiment and the nobles is a well-known story in the game. The position of the woman interrogating me is like a righteous police officer who has been accumulating frustration under corrupt politicians and corrupt police. She’s seen the evil deeds of the nobles, tried to bring them to justice, but each time, she’s been pressured by the upper echelons and the truth has been suppressed... Eventually, she starts to wonder, "Why did I become a knight in the first place?"

Something like that? In short, she must really hate nobles. And I look like a noble.

...This is really bad.

"Come on, spill it. What are you planning—"

At that moment.

With a loud "Bam!" the interrogation room door was flung open, and a well-built knight entered.

"Sylvia! This idiot!"

"Wha!?"

And with a dull "thud," he hit the female knight on the head and made me bow.

"My idiot did something wrong. I’ll take over the interrogation."

"Ha... ha..."

The female knight, called Sylvia, left the room, holding her head and groaning, with tears in the corners of her eyes. She looked really in pain.

"Sorry. You are suspected of obstructing official business. Please briefly explain your identity and purpose."

The well-built knight spoke as if nothing had happened. Good, this guy seems reasonable.

"My name is Second. I’m 17 years old. An adventurer."

My real name is Sato Shichiro, 23 years old, unemployed, and single, but the character’s status shows 17, so I answered that.

Being an adventurer is also true. In Mevion, players are set to travel the world as adventurers.

"I see. You were seen making strange noises and dancing in front of Ice. Why were you doing that?"

"I just got really hyped up... I’m sorry."

"You admit it. What about your purpose?"

"I forgot I was in front of the store... I don’t have any specific purpose..."

It’s really embarrassing. I’m starting to realize this is a real society. I can’t keep thinking of it as just a game.

"I understand. You’re claiming you didn’t intentionally disrupt business, correct?"

"Yes."

"Got it. I’ll inform the other party. In the meantime, we’ll conduct a drug test. Is that okay?"

"Y-Yes..."

...I’m so embarrassed.

After that, the suspicion of drug use was cleared, and the owner of the grocery store, Ice, offered a settlement. I paid the money and was released.

I bowed repeatedly, saying "I’m sorry, I’m sorry," and the owner, an auntie, said, "Come to our store next time," and I promised myself I would never forget her kindness.

"...But, is this world really okay like this?"

I muttered, looking at the pile of gold coins in my inventory.

My current money is about 2 billion CL. It’s not a big deal to me.

And the settlement money was just 150,000 CL.

150,000 CL... If my memory serves, it’s not even enough to buy decent equipment to get out of the beginner stage.

By the way, I changed out of the fancy rare clothes that made me look like a noble as soon as I left the station. Now I’m wearing a set of brown leather equipment I bought from a city store. Head, torso, legs, hands, and shoes, a total of 2.3 million CL. I don’t know if it’s expensive or cheap...

Hmm, I need to check the currency value as soon as possible.

"Ah"

While thinking about this, my stomach growled. Perfect, let’s get some food. The cost of a meal or a night’s stay would be the most relatable and understandable.

I went to the main street and entered the most lively inn in the capital.

"How much is a night’s stay?"

"..."

I asked the girl at the reception, but she just stared at me with her mouth open, not saying anything.

"Um?"

"Ah, sorry! A night’s stay... Let me see... A night’s stay!"

After I called out to her, she blushed and panicked for some reason.

It feels like Ice was also like this. Is it my fault?

"Um, a night’s stay with breakfast and dinner is 7,000 CL. Without meals, it’s 4,000 CL."

After a while, she told me the price. It’s cheap!?

So, the 2.3 million CL I spent on the full set of equipment might actually be a luxury item...

Well, it’s fine, I already bought it. No point in worrying about it.

"Then, I’ll take five nights with meals."

"Sure, I’ll get you the key!"

The receptionist nodded happily and handed me the key. When our hands touched, she turned as red as a boiled lobster before I even had time to blush.

I tilted my head, but confirmed the room I would be staying in from today. It’s quite spacious. The lighting is from lanterns. The bed is decent. The toilet is communal, but I know there’s a bath on the first floor, so I’m not worried.

I went back down to the first floor and decided to have an early dinner at the bustling bar.

I sat at the counter and ordered the restaurant’s specialty, a hamburger.

While waiting, I suddenly felt a sense of unease.

Glance, glance, and glance.

...Ah, I see.

I’m being stared at.

I can feel gazes from all over the crowded bar, especially from women.

At this point, my suspicion turned into certainty.

It’s the avatar.

The result of using a limited-time paid avatar to make myself super handsome.

In a game, no one would pay attention to a handsome character, but in a world where real people live, it’s a different story.

...

...What is this? It feels really good.

I can feel the reality of being in a game world in my entire body, and a shiver of pleasure runs down my spine.

I can’t help but smile.

The world of Mevius Online.

Effort here is not in vain.

This is the only, the best condition for me.

"Online games are pointless no matter how hard you try," "Even if you become the world champion in a game, it doesn’t matter," "You need to get back to reality quickly," "Go to school properly," "Work hard," "What do you plan to do in the future?"

All the correct advice I’ve been told, all the dissatisfaction I’ve had deep down.

A world where all of that is overturned.

"Haha, hahaha!"

Laughter wells up inside me.

I’ve decided.

I’m going to become the world champion again—

Thank you for reading.