Chapter 3

"Haa... haa...! Wait for me~!"

My body... won't move the way I want it to!

I can't run this badly, can I?!

The girls are chasing the monsters with ease and dispatching them one after another!

Is it youth? Is it youth?!

In the first place, since this is a game, does real-life physical ability even matter?

Or is it simply that my motor skills have declined, and I can't control my body well?

I remember that in some VR games, they measure real-life physical ability from nerve transmission and give players who perform poorly handicaps like getting out of breath quickly or moving slowly...

I don't know what the specifications of this game are, but apparently, the way I move my body isn't to its liking.

Well, I haven't exercised in a long time in real life too...

Thanks to the old-fashioned company culture where I used to work, I had to walk every day to and from work, which was a blessing.

If I had worked from home using the internet, even walking might have been a chore.

No, that's an exaggeration. I'm sorry, remote workers.

"Kyujii, the enemy is over there!"

"Haa haa... I'll take care of it!"

It's a good monster to come over here.

It's a rabbit-type, so it moves pretty fast.

The design of its face and front teeth is quite vicious, so I don't feel guilty about killing it.

"Roar!"

I swing my one-handed sword.

I miss the target completely and slice through the air.

I get bitten on the neck.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!!!"

It hurts!

It's probably better than being bitten on the neck in real life!

But it still hurts!

Even if realistic expression is required these days, this is too extreme!

"Fireball!"

A ball of fire hits my neck.

It's not... hot!

It seems that when you're in a party, your allies' attacks don't hit you.

So, someone in the party must have helped me.

"Ah, thank you..."

"Kyujii, do you not have pain settings on? The default is set to be quite painful, you know?"

"Pain settings? I haven't done that..."

I quickly open the window and adjust the settings.

The current pain setting is around 70% of the gauge!

Is there any reason to make it more painful...?

I'll ask.

"Is there any benefit to having a high pain setting?"

"Hmm, some skilled players say that other senses become more sensitive, allowing for more precise movements, but I don't understand that. However, in this new game, the players who stand out all have the maximum setting. As a result, the top players in events are always screaming."

"R-really...?"

It's, it's barbaric...

Using the latest technology to revert to the barbaric times of humanity...

No, it's not good to start with negativity.

Let's look for the good points.

"But, fighting while screaming might be fun, like being in a battle manga. I won't do it, though."

"Hehe, indeed. The play of skilled players is truly fantastic and cool. Well, I won't do it either."

"Then, let's adjust the pain settings and have one more battle..."

"No, I've already taken up a lot of your time, Kyujii. I don't want to trouble you any further."

"Eh, but we only had one battle..."

"Thank you! See you next time!"

He cast a recovery spell on me at the end.

The pain in my neck disappeared, but my heart ached.

Am I useless even here...?

No, it was just the first battle.

There will be failures.

I'll lower the pain settings and become more insensitive.

Sometimes, being insensitive is better in life.

I'll go back to town and try to join another party.

◆ ◆ ◆

When I returned to town, hell awaited me.

Feeling uncertain about the front-line role, I switched to a 'Mage' and was quickly invited to a new party.

'Mages' can learn healing spells early through level-ups, so they are highly valued in beginner parties.

It feels good to be needed.

Everything was going well until...

"Do you not understand that starting to cast spells in that position will get you attacked?"

"The timing is too late. Try to heal earlier."

"Do you remember what I said?"

I was scolded by the young-looking player who was leading the party.

It felt like being reprimanded by a younger boss.

It's my fault for being incompetent, but it's a humiliating feeling...

I left the party on my own.

I reconsidered that the front-line role is the star of the game and switched back to 'Warrior'.

My character design was quite good, so I was quickly invited to another beginner party.

But...

"Your movements are so bad! Are you an old man in real life too?!"

"You're swinging too much! Where are you looking?!"

"You're better suited for a back-line role! Give up on the front-line!"

I was insulted by a delinquent-like player who changed character during battles.

Not only that, the system also mocked me.

This game allows you to gain skills not only through level-ups and monster slaying but also through play style.

I gained a skill called [Aerial Slash] while fighting with the delinquent.

It's a classic sword skill that creates a blade of wind with the shock of swinging a sword, but the reason for gaining it made me laugh.

◆ Reason for Gaining

'Desperate Practice'

Continued practicing swings even during battle.

My serious attacks weren't even recognized as attacks by the game.

The delinquent laughed so hard he held his stomach and said:

"But, I might never get this skill in a lifetime of playing. Good job, old man."

Is he mocking me or praising me...?

Well, he's probably mocking me.

After returning to town, I left this party too.

Online games... they're scary...

"Hey, old man!"

"Y-yes!"

"You said the front-line role was impossible, but give up on the back-line magic roles too! They're not fun. Especially healing roles, they're treated like slaves."

"Haa..."

"Try being a marksman! It's quite unpopular, but it has the potential to shine later. I won't take responsibility! See ya! Don't quit the game! But don't come to my party!"

The delinquent said what he had to say and left.

He's not a bad person at heart, but his words are harsh.

Well, I hear that in the online game world, it's better than being subtly cruel.

But, a marksman.

It's unpopular, but it would be a waste not to try one of the three initial classes.

It might fit me perfectly, and I could use it to its full potential.

Shining in an unpopular class, that would be cool.

Okay, let's check the marksman's stats first.