Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 59: Force Blade

[TWO UNKNOWNS BEAT ISEKAI's FIRST UNKNOWN QUEST!]

[NEW VRMMO'S PLAYERS SHOCKED BY EXISTENCE OF NEW DUNGEON QUEST!]

[SEE ISEKAI ONLINE PLAYERS' REACTION TO UNKNOWN QUEST'S COMPLETION!]

[VRMMO PLAYERS GOING CRAZY OVER QUEST NOTICE!]

W-What am I reading?! Every article Star has shown me is filled with nothing but reactions about the <Tested Wilds'> so-called hidden [Quest] and seeing our in-game names displayed as we read through them. There is no way that these can be real, and yet here we are reading them just to find some answers about our crazy encounter earlier. Thankfully, we are reading this back in our inn rooms with Star and Annie with us, so that took care of our privacy issue for now.

"Hey, Star. How long has this been out?" I quietly ask in suspicion.

"Most of them have been out for about a week now, but many people in the forums said they learned from a special in-game announcement called a [World Notice]," Star explains. "As for how those people knew you, there are some forum threads that had several screenshots of you and Kazu wandering around <Initio>, along with some depicting both of you with the famous vending machines and shops you put up before. I hate to say it, but you've been talk of the town since Day 2 or so."

I groan in dismay while burying my face on the wooden table.

"Why does the world of the Internet have to be more complicated than real life?!"

"On the bright side, at least we get some sort of recognition. I mean, we saved Bai Hu and the whole forest from pure chaos around the world. Who wouldn't want that kind of achievement?" Kazu says in the most optimistic tone, yet it's not enough to sway me out of my small embarrassment.

"That is true. But not everyone wants it in this game though. But let's not worry about that right now. Since you two are now talk of the gaming town, you two have to be careful wander around <Initio> on public," Star speaks up. "Your real-life selves haven't been compromised, obviously. But I'm not letting you two get bombarded by crazy fans and players again."

I raise my head as I emerged from my brief state of humiliation.

"You're right. With many players already knowing us online, we can't go out in public lest we risk ourselves of any unnecessary gossip."

"W-What do you mean?"

I hear Annie speak up as I turn to see her frowning with her eyes began to swell up with tears.

"Are you saying Annie won't get to see Kazu anymore?"

Err... Shoot... I forgot that Annie has a thing with my brother. I have to pick my words carefully to avoid making her cry by accident.

"No, it's nothing like that! What I mean is that we have to be careful with how we move around town, such as avoiding crowded areas like the marketplace. Though the real dilemma is that we have to visit a town, not to mention the <Adventurer's Guild> and the <Crafting Hall> if we want to get things done in this game."

"That is true. We do need to get some [Quests] to level up our [Masteries] and craft some items with the latter's equipment," Kazu adds.

"Not to mention I need some help regarding what I've planned for today."

We become silent as we ponder our next move. Preparing our equipment is important to us and we need to do this discreetly than ever. Although, I notice that Star is humming louder than usual.