Game Over

STAGE TWELVE >> Changes

This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are all products of the author's imagination used in fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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—Irasshaimase! Go chūmon o uketamawarimasu ka? いらっしゃいませ！ ご注文を承りますか？ (Welcome! May I take your order, please?)

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The idea that one would like to "show their real self" to others usually implies that one knows their real self. Like most people, there was a difference between how they perceive themselves in the privacy of their own minds versus the behavior that others see, probably. That creates cognitive dissonance, a sense of "faking it" or "hiding it out", which does sort of qualify as inauthenticity.

Perhaps, the desire to show his real self to others was what drove in joining his friends in the game "Incarnate". Firstly, he didn't think it would be possible to play as their avatar within the game world, to feel every action, every fatigue, and every blow within one's body even if it was done subconsciously. According to Yuki, the game developer or developers have used sophisticated technology and taken their time in creating the virtual game world. If he was going, to be honest, Aoi understand nothing about what Yuki said. So, he'd rather not dwell too much on the programming aspect of it.

However, since joining the game, he found himself getting more and more attached to it. To the point that the real world becomes a distant dream in his head and that the Nether Earth felt more like home than an illusion.

Unlike Hikaru, Aoi doesn't concern himself with the aesthetics of his character. Truth be told, he would accept whatever Yuki or the rest give to him. He knew he wouldn't be much of an assistance since he has zero knowledge about playing games. Even when they were just playing using PlayStation or XBOX, Yuki and the others had to explain everything to him painstakingly slowly, with Yuki commenting on how he resembled those senior clients that Yuki had to train in modern gadgets and technology.

Completing a solo quest within the game gave Aoi some sort of triumph, small and nonsensical as it may sound to others, but it was still a triumph—a triumph that he alone did by himself.

Not to mention that he met a very interesting person...

"Hyde" or at least that is what he would like to call himself in the game world, has chosen a beastly race because of their natural strength and of course, the ability to shapeshift. And despite that 50% stealth, he had chosen not to become an assassin, but rather a pursuer. An interesting combination if someone would ask.

Actually, the rest of Wanderer's team was quite interesting. Their jobs were a stark contrast to the race they have chosen. For instance, it would be very difficult for a beastly race to become a pursuer, given that they will have to use weapons such as crossbows or guns. Those weapons look quite small for someone with huge hands and a massive body.

"But that was the challenge," said Hyde, as he insisted on accompanying Aoi as Sable to his first solo quest. "It might be a difficult built for this race, but if you get how the algorithm of the game works, you'll discover that what you think was a disadvantage could be their primer strength."

Sable frowned, though it doesn't really show on his face because...well because he has the face and body of a humanoid bear. "I don't really get it...but, whatever works for you works?"