Unfolded before my eyes was the reflection of a vast sea. The humid salty sensation that can be felt in the surrounding was floating in the air. A group of seagulls was soaring high up in the sky. I somehow remembered about a flash game where the player has to throw a balloon at the seagull before it laid their bomb of poop onto the player.

It was a nasty flash game.

The virtual reality is pretty much like a real reality, which is confirmed by me. Considering that I can hear the sound of waves hitting the beach, looking at the seagulls above the sky, smelling the foul salty smell of the sea air and able to stand on two foot on the dock.

It was none other but the sense of reality.

I tried to move my hands, pick my nose, and touch my silky hair. I can truly feel it.

Big ships are all over the dock, some look like marine ship, some look like a pirate ship. There were a lot of people, or rather players who were running around. I started walking when I saw a group of people flocking over one person, there was a big question mark [?] yellow in color on top of the person head.

After I heard the conversation that the players had with each other, apparently the person with a big question mark on her head was an NPC.

That was a surprise, in every game that I played before never did once I’ve seen an NPC who can interact freely with players, I wonder if that NPC was one of the so-called Artificial Intelligence that people were talking about. She was a Starting NPC for beginner player who had just started playing the game.

It took about one hour and a half before the people that was flocking over the woman began to take their leave. I then took my time and walked my way to the woman,

Of course I didn’t just stay down and wait patiently until those ants that were swarming over a cube of sugar scram. I was walking and checking things out in the city while waiting. Before anything else it was a give thing to check your inventory, there was 10 gold and 100 silvers in my inventory bag, a few slice of bread and two pet bottle of mineral water. Obviously it was for satiety. I then proceed by viewing my own info.

Player InfoNameIchirokuLevel1RaceHumanProfessionN/AStat Info:

Strength : 2

Stamina : 2

Dexterity : 5

Agility : 5

Intelligence : 0

Wisdom : 2

Endurance : 1

Luck : 100

Additional Stat Point : 0

[/tds][td6]Attack : 5 ~ 10

Health : 100

Mana : 0

Defence : 6Enhancement

N/A

Apparently you only got 100 bag space available when you first log into the game, as time progress the bag space will be unlocked one by one when your online time reach a certain amount. I’ve unlocked two spaces just now. The first cool down time was 30 minutes while the second back space took me 1 hour. The total of bag space that is available after all of it unlocked is 250.

Soon after I finished checking my bag I walked through the gate that connects the dock with the main city. The abundant city with flourish economy; certainly a city for beginner where the economy hit the peak with newbie boastful spending attitude on items and potion along with merchant who wanted to take an advantage by selling items for newbie.

When I entered the gate there were already a few merchant who came toward me offering me their help with charges applied, they were calling them self as a guide to the game. But most of the thing that they were offering where things like I can find easily through online means like hunting ground, NPC that gives the best quest for fast level up, and profession counselling.

Though I doubt they would offer profession counselling in the internet.

As I walked freely throughout the city entrance I saw a building with a very interesting signboard hammered above its entrance door.

[Game Centre]

Needlessly to say my legs brought me inside the building subconsciously. I was baffled when I entered the premise. It was a casino. There were pachinkos, round table of black jack and numerous other machines which I don’t know the name of lined up. In my whole life the only gamble kind of games that I ever played was lottery after all. It’s not surprising if I don’t know the name of the machine that they use.

“I wonder if they have something like lottery here”

I walked briskly in the game centre which is a lot more like a casino if you ask me. After walking quite the distance I found it, the ticket cost about 10 silvers. That is so freaking cheap if you ask me, I bought 10 tickets and used up all of my silver that I had.

I scratched off all of it in haste but ended up getting an annoying notification.

Tough luck.

Try again, maybe you will be luckier next time.

Well true enough, I converted all my gold into silvers and I got 1 thousand silvers at the nearest counter, there were explanation for the currency rate.

100 silvers = 1 gold

100 gold = 1 diamond

100 diamond = 1 Einstel

The highest currency value was Einstel.

After I used up all my silvers and bought 100 lottery tickets, I finally won a few items and gained a few levels. This game is nice, I never thought just by playing lottery you can gain level without having to fight mobs right at the start or doing any sort of quest.

The item that I won was a dagger, a set of card and a piece of dice. I was absorbed in examining the item that I got. I retrieved the dice and deck of card and stuff it inside my inventory bag. The same goes to my dagger. My first weapon that I got through lottery!

I don’t understand the fuss about players who were giving a guild to a beginner to set out for a quest, meet this NPC, meet that NPC and gain 10 levels in less than 6 hour for a job change. I was only playing lottery for less than 2 hours minutes and already gained 7 levels.

This is easy, easy I tell you.

After that I was left with 0 silver and no gold. I pulled out the dice from my inventory bag and decided to roll the dice. If I got small number which is 3 or lower I will go back to that Starting NPC, if I got big number which is 4 or higher I will continue on checking out the city. I threw the dice just below my feet, the dice spun on the ground and stopped after some times. I got small number.

Well, I have 0 silver left and I think it is about time for me to earn few load of money and try out the lottery again. Whit that said, I made my way to the Starting NPC to attain the newbie quest.

I reached the destined place.

The woman was shrouded in a white robe. She was holding a thick book that was black in color. I cannot see her face well so I cannot tell what kind of expression that she had when I was looking at her.

“Hello there.” I greeted her politely.

Even though she was an NPC it was a written rule in Einstel Online to greet every NPC nicely due to this thing called intimacy. Or at least that was what my net friends who played Einstel Online before told me.

Apparently if you have a high intimacy point with an NPC you will get a secret quest from them. But not that I really care though, as I’m only testing this game out until a buyer who is interested in buying my Monolith Capsule appear.

“Hello adventurer, what can I do for you?” She replied and asked me a question at the same time.

“Hello er….” I paused, thinking what kind of words should I use. “…I’m wondering if you have some quest for me to do… Or something that will give me reward as I am pretty new to this game. I’m kind of short in money.”I replied honestly.

“Oh, well then you are in luck. There is one thing that I need your help with. By the way the name is ‘Mysterious Woman.” The woman said and began to flip over her book, pages by pages she went as if she was looking for something.

Mysterious Woman, that is a naming sense that only 10 years old kid would blurted out.

After a minute passed by she stop and said “Here it is.” She then point her index finger onto her book, curiously I leaned over and looked at the book that she was holding. But it was written in a character that I do not recognize. It was neither kanji nor alphabet. It was something that looks like Arabic writing but I’m pretty sure it was not that.

“Oh I’m sorry; of course you can’t read this… Your intelligence stat needs to be at least 50 before able to decipher a book.” The woman said haughtily.

What the hell! Is she implying that I’m idiot or something? Even though I am a NEET I was one of the few who scored high in national exams you know, I am by no mean an idiot.

“… I understand.” Regardless, I replied in polite manner.

“There is a severe case of merman attacking the villager that was living in a nearby island. Their corps was destroyed and they livestock were eaten. The villagers are living in depravity right now due to lack of food and security.

They sent a letter for help from the Baron of this city a few days ago, but as the letter just came to the Baron’s possession last night he can only send food and medical supply for the villagers as he still need to command a force to subjugate the merman.

Can I ask you to send these food and medical supply to the villagers and wait for the arrival of the Baron’s subjugation force?”

As soon as she finished talking a notification box pop out of nowhere.

-Do you want to accept this quest?

“I would certainly accept the quest; it is in my blood to help those I need.”

I lied, yet again.

-You had accepted the quest.

A supply transportation quest, this should be easy. It would be okay as long as I sent the supply goods. The reward going to be enormous!

Quest Accepted!A server case of merman attacking the villagers that was living in a nearby island had been reported. Their crops were destroyed and they livestock were eaten. The villagers are living in depravity right now due to lack of food and security.

They’ve send a letter for help to the Baron of this city a few days ago, but as the letter just came to the Baron’s possession last night and he can only send food and medical supply for the villagers as he still need to command a force to subjugate the mermen.

You are to send the food and medical supply that was provided by the Baron and protect the villagers until the arrival of the subjugation force.Objective : Go to Verlassen Island and deliver the food and medical supply. Protect the villagers from the mermen attack while waiting for the subjugation force arrival.Time Limit : N/A

Quest Difficulty : F

Reward : 1 gold 50 silvers

“What, only 1 gold and 50 silver? The reward is way lower than my initial starting money. Shouldn’t this type of quest usually ranked as D or C difficulty with higher reward prizes, and what is this ‘protect the villagers from the mermen attack’? You only told me to send the supply and wait for the subjugation force!” I asked in disbelief. The quest difficulty and the reward were too absurd for something that is can be describe as hard.

From my experience from the previous game that I’ve played, usually quests that require the player to protect a certain NPC would be given a good reward, and these kind of quest are only give to player who have reached a certain level, mostly after player reached level 70.

As the difficulty of this quest is unprecedented for lower level players, given the newbie item and low stat due to their level; it would take a lot of effort just not to get killed, moreover to protect an NPC. It’s like asking a new born calf to kill a veteran lion.

Certainly it’s not a bug isn’t?

The Mysterious woman chuckled, as if she was able to read my mind she opened her mouth and said,

“The mermen itself are easy to kill, as the villager themselves are able to kill it themselves. But the numbers was way beyond what they could handle and the villagers had gone tired from the restless attack from the mermen to the point they need help from the royal family. The mermen are weak when they are alone; you can handle it just fine as long as you deal with them one by one.”

She made it sound so easy as if it was as easy as counting sheep to sleep. But as I already accepted it there’s nothing can be done, it’s not like I can cancel it anyway. But still, I’m unsatisfied with the rewards. 1 gold and 50 silver, geez!

I opened the quest map; there was an [X] and [O] mark on the map. The [O] mark was the place where the supply was located and the [X] mark is where the Island was located. The island that I’m heading to was Verlassen Island. What a weird name for an island.

I then head over to where the [O] mark pointed out to. The pointed destination was a ship, a ship that contained the food and medicine supply. It was a large ship, large enough that I can say it was about 3 storey building tall with the width of your average playground. Aboard on the ship were boxes that I think where the food and medicine kept at.

There was a thin yet sturdy looking plank that was placed on the deck which was connected to the ship. When I stepped onto the plank I heard a very familiar sound ‘pak pak pak’ that I’ve heard in a pirate themed anime.

I raised my chin and an old man appeared in my field of vision. He was wearing a triangle like hat, a long dark mustache, left wooden leg and an eye patch, simply the stereotype definition of a pirate captain.

“Aye mate, you’re the man huh?” He says and holds out his hand offering a handshake, or not… I took his hand and he pulled me aboard the ship. “We almost took off because we need to unload these goods as fast as possible. These supplies won’t last long in this humid air.” He explained further.

“I see and thank you…” I paused. I was frantically trying to look for his name, in normal online games usually an NPC name would’ve been stated just above their head. But, apparently in this virtual reality game, there was none at all. Well, truth to be told it would be quite weird if I suddenly saw my name floating above my head whenever I go.

“No Hair, the name is No Hair…”

I see, because you’re bald so the name is no hair eh? What a simple naming sense this game have, the previous NPC, because she was wearing a white robe with a hood and her expression was hidden she was named ‘Mysterious Woman’.

Seriously Einstel Game how lax can your naming sense be?

“And here we have sailor 1 and sailor 2.” No Hair added. He was pointing to two men who was washing the deck and another who was transferring fresh water using a broken pail.

I was stupid for asking.

“Well then mate, do you have any sort of sea sickness or anything?”

“Not that I know of...” I replied.

“Not even a slight motion sickness?”

“No.”

“That is good then, the travel going to be pretty rowdy due to the raising tides and I can assure you it won’t be a ride that you’re going to enjoy. The monsoon are coming after all, the food and medical supply was supposed to be transported along with the subjugation force but I’m afraid it would be too late when we get there, the villagers might’ve died due to hunger. So we decided to go earlier than planned.

There are also the probability that when we got hit by the storm the food and medical supply are going to get bad due to the seawater. Even thought the supplies are all tightly sealed in these boxes, during stormy situation, anything can happen.”

“I understand.” I replied short.

§§§

The black cloud was spitting thunder all over the places. Bright blue sky that I was feasting my eyes before had gone and changed with dark and gloomy atmosphere. As the cloud began to pee on us with its droplets of water a cold shudder entered my bone.

The wave that was calm before moved wildly as if it was dancing to a rock song.

Only a few hours passed and I’m thinking to revaluate my opinion about this game.

“Bueekkk…”

My throat was sore, my head was spinning.

“Are you okay mate?”

“I’m… okay…” I replied, almost unable to let my voice out trying to stop myself from vomiting.

“I thought you said that you don’t have a seasickness or any sort of motion sickness.”

“I… thought the sa¬- bueekk… too.”

Of course I don’t have that ‘slight motion’ sickness… But the way this ship swing from left to right isn’t what people normally call ‘slight,’ this is way worse that the highest and roughest roller coaster that I’d ever rode. If the normal roller coaster ride is mode is easy than this swaying ship level along with the waves and thunderstorm would be at Nightmare level.

“For 1 gold and 50 silvers reward… this isn’t worth the effort at all!” I screamed out.

Due to the rodeo like ship travel I had to use all my strength just to hold onto a rope. Due to that my satiety dropped from 100 to 0 as I used up all my energy. My hp was gradually decreasing as time passed. I wonder if it was due to my satiety bar being empty yet I was still struggling trying not to fall over.

“Here mate, drink this and get a rest at the room downstairs…” No Hair handed me a small potion, without hesitation or anything I grabbed it and drank it right away.

When I finished drinking the potion a small notification popped out.

+All kind of disease and sickness has been cured.

+1 permanent stat has been added to Endurance.

+1 permanent stat has been added to stamina.

Wow… this old man potion had such effect?

“Feeling better now mate?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

“We work together so we need to hold each other’s back. Plus I know how it feels like when you got a sea sickness…” No Hair said and stares at the distance; as if he was reminiscing something he put his hand on my shoulder and told me not to give up.

I wonder if there’s anything that I can give up in the first place.

I’m getting sick of the sea smell… I wish we will land on the Island soon.

As if my prayer has been heard, the sky was cleared and I was once again bathed under the glorious sunlight. Of course I didn’t forget about the supply. The supplies were all good and dandy, protected in the perfectly closed boxes.

“Ahh… the sun! It’s so bright… Just like my future after I sell my Monolith Capsule.”

“Even thought you looked as if the world going to end just a few minute ago, you sure are energetic one mate.” No Hair said in response to my reaction.

It can’t be help, it was true after all. I mean, who the heck would not be happy after going through that horrendous storm that come visiting out of nowhere. I am no masochist! I don’t enjoy getting in trouble or in pain.

From afar, I can see the island. There were no mermen sighted during our way here, I thought there were going to be some ambush during the stormy weather that was the reason why I stand on guard even though I was on the verge of collapsing. Knowing that we’re going to arrive soon, I took my time to check my profile again.

***