Walking further from the previous Raid gathering pce, the atmosphere around me became much quieter to the point where I felt relieved to examine my surroundings. And looking around, it turned out Vaughan retty spacious.

  I meant that seen from the tral courtyards in front of the main building alohe other buildings appeared small and somewhat blurry, indig their siderable distahe setting was then lush and green, with manicured wns, gardens, and walking paths like the ones I was strolling through now.

  Ah, indeed, pying a fantasy VRMMame was fun, like entering into another world!

  So, instead of stantly looking at muhings like this, I switched to opening the [Menu] interface by waving my hand forward to see more details of the Quest I had to do.

  In [Location], which showed the distaneeded to be reached, the writing was blue with an underline, indig it had a clickable link. I pressed it, and a new s appeared above, showing a map with a fshing red dot—I assumed it was the destination. Underh it was a blue crosshair with a white dashed line leading to the destination, implying where I was.

  Quite simple, like the usual map dispy in most games.

  I closed the—Oh?

  When I closed the main menu s, this [Map] dispy didn't also disappear. Iing. While tinuing to walk, I fiddled with it a little and found this feature had 2D and 3D views. The map could be set to see only the surrounding area, oy, a try, or even the whole world.

  The map in this game was good. Most VRMMs typically ignored how it operated, f the pyer to explore the world as though they were strolling home (which retty absurd). Or even the map just blocked the view around, especially in the upper er. And I like how this map could be modified at will. Square. Regle. I pced it in my view and dragged it upward. Alright. I positio just above my line of sight, with a 16:3 aspect ratio and 40% transparency.

  The longer I looked at this, the more I thought it was like a "minimap."

  And thanks to this minimap, I could get to the Gear Department's main building faster.

  Wele to the Gear Department Main Building!Following the Quest dires, I reached the very back of the building and arrived at a vast, high-ceilinged space; I estimated the roof was about ten to twelve meters high. The NPCs here were crowded around puters dispying schematid prototypes beied.

  Based on their activities, they were using teology merely as a tool. Because... look at that! They could work without needing a puter! Iy, we stress the use of artificial intelligence. How unusual to see humans doing dirty jobs, such as standing by a big mae. One of them was clutg an iron rod with a U-shaped tip. Wait. It robably just around teimeters long and didn't deserve to be called a rod—Ah, why was I paying attention to this?!

  Anyway, they all seemed to be busy.

  All except for one person.

  He lounged in a chair, feet propped up indifferently on a makeshift desk. In his hand was a cell phone; his attention seemed entirely absorbed by whatever was dispyed there. Judging from his quick hand movements and the horizontal position of his phone, he must be pying a game. This rexed demeanor was highlighted by his attire—a sleeveless T-shirt, plete with blond hair, pierced ears, and a metal prosthetic repg his right hand.

  The sight of this "striking person" made me pause.

  I took a moment to observe.

  Although I knew some aspects of World: The in, I didn't know everything, let alone learn that THE ENTIRE NPCs existed here; how zy of me. So, what I knew were the ones I came across while browsing the i or social media, he Department Leaders (because they were mysterious) and the Principal himself.

  But from this one gnce, I khat sg NPC would py a signifit role in my gaming experiehere were many reasons I could name if I had to expin why.

  The most notable one would be his uniqueness. Remember how MCs looked in most fi? They used to be distinctive and memorable. I could also say this NPC was fshy for a reason. In addition, in terms of narrative, his unusual appearance forced any pyer to notice him; in RPGs, this kind of narrative detail was reserved for crucial characters.

  As I walked closer to him, I khis NPC was...

  "...Daniel."

  My utterance seemed to take him by surprise, even though I said it quietly, indig he wasn't used to being disturbed. However, his surprised expression quickly passed, as did the gleam of his metal prosthetid catg the light when he pocketed his cell phone.

  "What you need?"

  Cold.

  His gre was stern, and his face showed little emotioher because it was typical AI behavior (like Noir) or because he had raised his guard. But I responded as usual. "o see Daniel for Mouup. Noir sent me."

  His eyes widened before he reached into his phone again and typed something on it, visibly cheg something. If I had to guess, it must be about me.

  My guess was then firmed by him ughing while tapping his own forehead. And his eyes fell oh a smile. "udent, eh? Kay. I am Daniel. Sorry if I seemed a bit unoccupied. udents usually don't meet me first. It has been that way for a while."

  'Well, because there are no more newbie pyers here, Sir.'

  Putting it aside, Daniel's HP bar, name, and so on finally appeared above his head. It seemed the game system here was like that—when you introduced yourself, your status bar appeared to the interlocutor; this applied to fellow pyers and NPCs.

  If the trigger dition was to "introdueself," then as long as I didn't mention my name or make an intro, my status wouldn't appear oher party. Not bad. Somehow, this made me think of the bes of being cealed.

  But to his ents, I replied with a smile. Building an image at the beginning was essential. "Ah, that is okay. I don't know your—"

  Tug!

  Daniel pulled my ! My breathing instantly stopped, and I caught a clearer view of his eyes—green, a shade that seemed to pierce through the dim lighting of the workshop. Really. It wasn't something I had anticipated, especially from an NPC!

  As he released me and stood up from his seat, I pressed, "What was that for?"

  'How eous of an AI to behave like that.'

  But instead of eborating more, Daniel, who had already prepared to walk away, stopped. Without turning around, he asked, "What was that for, you ask?"

  Although it was kind of—more like, very—annoying, I kept my tone even with my expression carefully ral. "Yes, I ask."

  Daniel's face suddenly came inches closer to mine. "I also want to know why."

  A smirk was etched there before he stood upright again. Really, this guy? I wao press more, but not a single sound came out, to the point my hand reflexively reached out to hold my neck. This shod fusion, however, were immediately shut down as a red s appeared.

  Further iion denied!You haven't met the requirements; further reputation within Vaughan Academy is required to unlock this feature 'Alright, if that is what you want, system.'

  After all, this could be scripted behavior. Like narrative development in story-driven games, Daniel's bold aight be inteo ence pyers to explore the game world more... to get to know him better, to be exact. World: The in strongly emphasized social iion, anyway.

  And I didn't want to fall for that bait; it was time to redirect the versation back to the topic. "About Mount arras..."

  "Right. Follow me."

  Daniel led me to a secluded area where various Mounts were dispyed—from speeders to meical beasts.

  "Here," he said, gesturing to the colle before sitting on an avaible chair. "Pie, and I will work on it."

  While walking around this room, examining the various blueprints and dispys, my hands were folded behind my back as I sidered something.

  Mount... or a vehicle to travel the [Open World], was lio the Heart Core. In other words, pyers couldn't use their ons when they used it because the crystal orb could only perform one fun at a time. This meant I had to choose ohat would be advantageous if, for example, I was uedly ambushed. Perhaps something fast enough, flexible, and not too cumbersome.

  Although ging the model (from its accessories to pletely ging its shape) was avaible, pyers still needed blueprints and had to spend siderable resources. I wao use a Mount that could st until the end game.

  Thus, I poio one of the models. "I want this."

  In the distance, Daniel, still sitting and looking at me, looked surprised based on his posture straightened up. He even stood up to approach me, his head turning altero where I ointing at and my face. "You really want this?"

  I answered with a simple nod.

  "You thought long and hard just to choose this?" he asked again, seeming to really not believe what I had chosen.

  But I could uand his puzzlement because the one I chose was a mere hoverboard.

  In the real world, hoverboards were ong the rich. Besides being "fun," its design—as boards that floated freely in the air—was simple and easy to carry anywhere. I saw at least three or more kids passing by using them when I was out. So, the possibility of it being chosen in the game was slim to none; pyers in this game were money folks and would piething out of the ordinary.

  Even Daniel's algorithm uood that no pyer had picked it; thus, he was surprised when I did so. The thing was, I wasn't going for something fancy, and the money I earned would definitely not be used for tertiary items like hoverboards—even if I had wished to own one for a long time.

  'Fulfilling my desires and preparing for the long term is not bad, right? A win-win!'

  "I. Want. This."

  Daared at me as if trying to decipher a puzzle. Then, uedly, his expression broke into a wide grin, a out a hearty ugh that echoed in the vast space. "What a weird one! Choosing a hoverboard when peps go with rainbow horses and pilot starships, eh?"

  Wasn't he the weird one?

  'I also know his words are exaggerated.'

  Rather than enting on his babbling, I got straight to the point. " I?"

  "Of course you , Kid." And his hand rose as if to pat—Nope, no.

  I quickly took a step back. "Personal space, please."

  But, again, he ughed at my response...

  Ding!

  Daniel is amused by you!"Haaah, alright. e, gimme your Heart Core."

  I didn't know what this was all about—that notification, his response. Geez, to hell thinking about it! I just gave him what he asked for a him work to finish the Mount I chose. He reminded me of that person (Guo Dai). Was I subsciously being a mag for weirdos like them?

  With a resigned sigh, I sat down, as Daniel positioned my Heart Core into a slot on a sole adorned with holographic dispys and interfaces.

  To clear my mind after the annoying moment, I studied the system notifications that had previously appeared—that red s with the "Further iion denied!" statement. If the [Friendship] level wasn't enough, it seemed that the way to i with NPCs was to use Quest to call their attention to hiddes.

  In that case, it would imply that to befriend the "key NPCs," I first o know each AI's personality. Uanding them allowed me to adjust my iions to match their preferences or story arcs, resulting in a stronger bond more quickly.

  No wonder discussions about them were heated in the forum.

  This intrigued me to duct a test; I quickly stood up and ran to Daniel. "Wait, I request something?"

  Daniel paused, his hands momentarily still as he looked up from his work on the hoverboard. The surprise in his expression was evident, repced quickly by curiosity. "What kind of request?"

  "I want a modification."

  And from there, his expression turned... more serious. "Where do you think I'd give that to a peanut like you?"

  "You won't, that is why I asked."

  Daniel was silent, his eyes blinking as he stared at me for a long time—so long that I thought he might refuse ht. I didn't know why he was looking at me like this, perhaps trying to read me from my expressions? I tried to keep my face as ral as possible then.

  But my assumption was broken when he burst into ughter, tilting his head bad massaging his forehead. "Bah! You have got guts! Aware of limits but still cross them; you'd burn the academy if you had to, huh?"

  I just replied to his ent with a smile.

  "Kay, I give you that! What modification do you want?"

  A s appeared before me, dispying different modification optiing from the shape to the engine upgrade. Oh, how fortunate I was to acquire this for free!

  But, since I was in the process of making observations, I chose ohat could cover all aspects. "Stability trol."

  "You sure, kid? I know you are such a lunatic, but I am giving this only once! Later you will have to prepare your own funds; think carefully."

  "Which part didn't I think of?" For some reason, this pelled me to share a metaphor that ily reted to my desires. I smiled even wider while tilting my head. "Isn't it iing if you trol your life?"

  D.N.A.