Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 74: Changing the Game

It's been a week since the events in [Isekai Online]. Things have simmered down since the potion shortage event and most of the NPC shops in <Initio> have restocked their whole potion supply. Thanks to some players taking up an [Alchemy Mastery], many have set up their potion stands for everyone to buy more potions, using the same rules that we made for our shop to avoid selling out like the NPC shops. This is good news for me and Kazu as we've managed to have extra time hunting while using some of our remaining time there to sell our wares for some extra cash.

However, there is one more event that caused a ripple through the game. And right now, I'm staring right at it.

[Self-Proclaimed Veteran Challenges a Well-Known Isekai Player, Ends Up in a Virtual Hospital]

[Everyone is getting back into the first VRMMO, [Isekai Online] and it's all thanks to this young archer who was caught in a viral clip.

Last week, a viral clip was uploaded on Youtube from the game, [Isekai Online]. There, a player by the name, [Wind] was challenged by another player into the game's first PVP match after an in-game altercation with him and another player, [Kazu]. To everyone's surprise, the archer not only fought back, but he used what everyone considered to be the worst skills or [Masteries] as everyone calls it in [Isekai] to win the fight.

This isn't the only time [Wind] was involved in a publicized incident as he and [Kazu] were the same players who completed the first [Hidden Quest] of the same game.]

Damn it... First, the [Hidden Quest] paparazzi incident, and now this?! No matter where I go, I can't seem to get my in-game face out of the spotlight! I'm even shaking my head after I read the first half of the news article from the gaming site. At least I'm still in the classroom with some of our classmates inside or else, I might not have a reason to not scream in angrish.

After that, I sigh in defeat and ask Zac and Damon who are right in front of me. "Just to be clear, this isn't the only news article about me, right?"

As I say this, I see their expressions turn into worry as they look at each other and frown before they turn back to me.

"If we try to count it, you might end up screaming your head and earn yourself a detention."

I groaned in response. I guess that's Damon's way to say that there are tons of them.

"On the bright side, at least your brother is out of the limelight for now," Zac adds with a hint of panic in his voice. "Besides, if you hadn't step up, the game's status quo didn't change for the better."

"For once, I agree." Well, that's a first. Damon agreeing with Zac on something. "Since we now know that the shops have a chance to sell out due to AI events, many have taken up the same [Mastery] as Kazuki's to try and maintain the economy while providing players with some high-quality potions at the same time. To be honest, your reckless actions did something good for the game."

Heh. Guess that's another first. In fact, it's enough for me to cheer me up a bit.

"You're right. Thankfully, holidays are coming up and we have less time to play in [Isekai] since we have to prepare not only for Christmas but also for Kazuki's birthday."

"Oh, yeah. That's the same day as the maintenance for the upcoming expansion. Yeah, we really have a lot to talk about it after class, huh?"

I agree. Considering [Isekai] has probably become Kazuki's go-to game, it would be wrong for us to exclude him from the discussion.