Chapter 1

This is my first submission on Narou.

I would be delighted if you enjoy reading it.

※This chapter mainly consists of explanations and the tutorial scene during login.

Even if you read the prologue first, there won't be much of a problem with the story.

(=ↀωↀ=) <I've been told that there are many settings that make it hard to read, but please bear with me.>

□July 15, 2043

July 15, 2043.

Sixty years after the birth of a legendary game console, a game was released.

The game's title is <Infinite Dendrogram>.

The game, named "Infinite Dendrogram" by its creators, was a dream game—a Dive-type VRMMO (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online) where players could immerse themselves in a virtual game world.

The period of dreaming about Dive-type VRMMOs lasted nearly half a century.

In the 2000s, Dive-type VRMMOs began to be featured in comics, animations, and as games within games.

In these works, Dive-type VRMMOs were awaited as dream games, and pseudo-VRs that enhanced visual and auditory immersion through headsets were introduced in the 2010s.

Then, in the 2030s, fully immersive Dive-type VRMMOs, which covered all five senses, were released, albeit in limited numbers.

The limited release was due to the high development difficulty and the enormous development costs, which only manufacturers with advanced technology and financial power could undertake.

Or, even if they tried, they couldn't complete them.

In any case, only a few Dive-type VRMMOs were released to the public.

And even those few that were completed and released... were quickly disappointing.

The first Dive-type VRMMO, <NEXT WORLD>, was met with ridicule upon its release.

It boasted "reality indistinguishable from the real world," but it lacked realism, and the poor reproduction of the five senses caused constant discomfort.

It was touted as "the new generation of graphics," but in reality, it was not much different from traditional game consoles.

It claimed that "you could immerse yourself in a different world by diving," but in practice, it was just like playing a regular game, influenced by the real-world environment.

The worst part was that it promised "safe and secure design," yet many players were hospitalized due to health issues during or after play.

Due to these issues, the first Dive-type VRMMO, <NEXT WORLD>, suffered a significant defeat in sales, reputation, and lawsuits from health victims, leading to the bankruptcy of the development company.

A reviewer commented on <NEXT WORLD> as follows:

"A dream game console was created, but a dream could not be created," he said.

After that, several Dive-type VRMMOs were developed, but none of them could be called a success.

Until <Infinite Dendrogram> was released.

Before its release, <Infinite Dendrogram> revealed no information.

On the release day, it was announced worldwide on TV and the internet.

During the announcement, the manufacturer of <Infinite Dendrogram> presented four key features.

One, complete realism.

Perfectly reproducing the five senses. However, the pain sensation can be turned on or off, so you can play with peace of mind.

Two, a single server.

Even if there are a hundred million players, they can all play in the same world.

Three, individually selectable graphics.

You can choose how to view the world from realistic, 3D CG, or 2D animation.

Four, the discrepancy between real time and game time.

Time in the game progresses three times faster than in the real world.

The announcement stunned users worldwide who saw the information.

Is such a thing possible?

How much budget and technology were used to achieve it?

And they laughed. "If you're going to make exaggerated claims, at least make them more realistic," they said.

The announcement was impactful, being broadcast simultaneously worldwide, but the content was too far-fetched.

As a result, 99.9998% of people, including those who don't usually play games, didn't believe it and decided it was a lie, refusing to buy the game.

However, the remaining 0.0002% of people thought, "It sounds like a lie, but if it's true...," "I'll give it a try," "I believe it," and went to game stores to purchase it.

The price of the dedicated device, around 10,000 yen in Japanese currency, was so low that it was almost a reckless move.

They bought the game, thinking, "Well, it's only 10,000 yen if it's a lie," and played it.

And they discovered that <Infinite Dendrogram> was real.

They were stunned by the realism, delighted by the graphics, and shocked when they checked the time after logging out.

Everything was true.

It was the moment when the dream game console became a reality.

The next day, amidst the buzz of the release day players' word-of-mouth, the manufacturer made a second announcement.

It was about the content of the game.

The male presenter, Louis Carroll, who claimed to be the development director of <Infinite Dendrogram>, said the following on TV and the internet:

"Yesterday, we finished explaining the main features, so today I will explain the game system."

"I believe those who have already started playing have noticed, but <Infinite Dendrogram> has a certain characteristic."

"It provides infinite possibilities and true uniqueness."

"Thousands of job combinations, skill configurations, and even more distinct uniqueness."

"In <Infinite Dendrogram>, each player will be given an <Embryo>."

"<Embryo> evolves into infinite patterns based on your behavior patterns, experience points, biorhythms, and personality."

"Not just different colors or parts, but truly infinite patterns, including unique skills."

"That is what <Infinite Dendrogram> is."

"Yes, <Infinite Dendrogram> provides a new world and your own possibilities."

These words were the final trigger that made Dive-type VRMMO <Infinite Dendrogram> a major movement.

◇

□March 16, 2045 Ryūji Mukadori

I, Ryūji Mukadori, was sitting in front of the game package.

I could feel myself getting nervous.

I might be exaggerating, but after a year and a half, I'm finally going to play this game, <Infinite Dendrogram>, so I'm nervous.

"It's been a long journey."

When it was released, I was a second-year high school student, determined to work hard for university entrance exams.

I'm sure other game-loving students who were second or third-year high school students at the time felt as desperate as I did.

I always wondered why such interesting games were released during the exam season, just like when I was taking high school entrance exams.

But now, that's about to change.

I successfully passed the entrance exam for a university in the city.

I started living alone when I entered university.

Now, I can finally play the game to my heart's content!

The move was completed yesterday, and my family, who helped me, has already returned home.

This morning, I went straight to the game store as soon as it opened and bought <Infinite Dendrogram>.

For about half a year after its release, it was in short supply and sold at premium prices, but after a year and a half, it was finally available at a normal price.

By the way, my older brother bought it on the release day.

For the past year and a half, every time he called me, saying, "Let's play Dendrogram together soon," I felt both envious and resentful...

But those feelings are over today!

"Here we go!"

I made up my mind and opened the package.

Inside the box was a helmet-type game device and a manual.

After reading the manual, I understood that by putting on the helmet and turning it on, I could enter the game world.

There were also various explanations about visuals and time, but it was truly amazing.

I really wonder how such a game could be made. It feels like it's ten or twenty years ahead of current technology.

However, I couldn't afford to be intimidated.

Following the instructions in the manual, I put the helmet on my head and lay down on the bed in the recommended position.

Then I turned on the game.

Instantly, my vision went dark.

◇

"Welcome!"

I found myself in a space that wasn't my room.

The room's interior resembled a study in a wooden Western mansion.

In front of me, an unfamiliar cat was sitting in a well-made wooden rocking chair, speaking to me.

...A cat?

"Excuse me."

Despite my confusion, I decided to return the greeting first.

"Good, you're polite. I like that."

The cat spoke fluent Japanese, but its words always stretched out at the end.

"Is this like the login screen of the game?"

"Pretty much. This is the entrance. You'll set various things here before entering <Infinite Dendrogram>. I'm Cheshire, the management AI No. 13 of <Infinite Dendrogram>. Nice to meet you."

Management AI... I see, that's why it gives such vague answers.

A management AI is an artificial intelligence that uses an entire supercomputer as its brain. Its main purpose is management, and it is said that one can manage the databases and networks of a small country at high speed and perfectly.

Since this is management AI No. 13, there must be 12 other management AIs of the same level managing this game.

"Nice to meet you."

"Okay. First, let's choose the rendering method. Sample visuals will change, so choose the one you like."

As Cheshire said this, the scenery around me changed.

The study turned into a spacious space, resembling a medieval European town.

Many people were walking around, but their appearances changed at regular intervals.

No, not their appearances, but how they were seen.

From a realistic appearance to a CG appearance, from CG to animation.

The animation was not rendered CG but looked like a TV anime.

"Um, how is this possible?"

"Visuals are ultimately processed by the brain, so it's possible. So, the visuals change like this. Which one do you want? By the way, you can change it later using items."

"I'll keep it as it is."

I thought it would be better to stick with the usual visuals until I get used to the game.

I was also curious about what it would feel like to have a sense of touch in an animated world.

"Okay."

With that, the scenery returned to the original study.

"Next, let's set your player name. What name do you want to use in the game?"

"Ray Sterling."

This is a name I often use in games.

Well, it's just my last name, Mukadori, in English, and a slight modification of my first name.

"Okay, I'll set it as Ray Sterling. Next, let's set your appearance."

As Cheshire said this, a featureless mannequin and many screens appeared in front of me.

On the screens were words like "height," "weight," "chest size," along with sliders and screens with eyes and noses.

"This is..."

"Use the parts and sliders to create your in-game appearance. By the way, you can also create an animal form like me."

However...

There were so many sliders and parts that I didn't know where to start.

"Take your time. You have three times the real time here. ...By the way, there was someone who logged in and out repeatedly for a month in real time to create their character..."

That's an incredible effort and concentration. I don't think I could do that.

Moreover, for a non-professional, the modeling is too detailed, and I would end up with a poor result. It's like being asked to create a real person's face instead of a game character.

So...

"Can I start with my real appearance and make some adjustments?"

"Sure."

Cheshire wagged its tail.

Then the mannequin turned into a perfect replica of me.

"From here, you can make adjustments based on this."

"Thanks."

After that, it was relatively easy.

I changed my eye color, made my hair blonde, added a little height, and changed the base race of my face while keeping other settings the same.

...I wonder what my real face would look like as an animation or CG?

I'm a bit curious.

Maybe I'll log in without any changes and get a switch item in the game to try it out?

But I'm not sure if I want to play with my real face online...

"I'll leave it as it is."

After about 30 minutes, my character