S.A.O Project Alicization - OC/Male Reader Insert

Project Alicization ----- Chapter Twenty

March 378 HE, Underworld Human Realm
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"I was coming here from that direction and wound up lost. My friend Kirito here also was with me, but he's currently asleep, and won't wake up unless I force him up" I said, pointing to what I guessed was south and then to Kazuto. The boy's eyes bulged. He set down the round object in his hand and got to his feet, pointing in the same direction.

"You mean...from south of the forest? Did you come from Zakkaria?"

"Er, n-no," I said, fighting the instinct to let panic grip my features. "I, um...actually, I don't know where I came from, really...I just kind of woke up from being passed out in the forest... as I said, Kirito still hasn't woken up yet"

I was hoping for a response like, Oh, an STL error? Hang on, I'll contact the operator, but the boy merely gave me the same shocked response. He stared closely at me and said, "Wait...you don't know where you came from? Not even...what town you live in...?"

"Er, right...I don't know. All I remember is my name..."

"...I can't believe it...I've heard the stories about 'Vecta's lost children' but never thought I'd actually see two in person."

"V-Vecta's lost children...?"

"Don't they call them that, wherever you're from? When someone disappears one day or appears in the forest or fields all of a sudden, that's what the villagers call them. The God of Darkness, Vecta, kidnaps people as a prank, stealing their memories and placing them in a far-off land. In my village, an old lady vanished years and years ago, they say."

"Ohhh...Then maybe that's what I am..."

On the inside, I found this ominous. It no longer seemed likely that this boy was just a tester engaging in a bit of role-playing. Sensing that some walls might be closing in around me, I decided to test out a more direct tactic.

"Anyway...I'm in a bit of a bind, so I'd like to leave. But I don't know how..."

Silently, I was begging for him to pick up my hint, but the boy only looked at me with sympathy and said, "Yes, the forest is very deep. If you don't know the way, you're bound to get lost. But don't worry-there's a path out of here to the north."

"Er, no, I mean..."

I threw caution to the wind.

"...I want to log out."

My Hail Mary attempt was met by a curious tilt of the head. "L-log? What about a log? What did you say?"

That settled it.

Whether tester or NPC, he was a pure resident of the realm with no concept of a "virtual reality." I tried not to let the disappointment show as I hastened to clarify. "S-sorry, I think I slipped into my local slang for a moment. Um, what I meant to say was...I want to find a place I can stay in a nearby town or village."

I thought it was a very weak excuse, but if anything, the boy was impressed.

"Ohh...I've never heard those words before. And that white hair of yours and the black hair of your friend is uncommon in these parts...Perhaps your friend was born in the south.... but I have no clue where your from..."