AN: Argh, was just on a roll so here I am staying up late in my timezone. Do give me feedback on how fast or slow you want the 'plot' to progress as I will be thinking about moving along the 'producer' aspect soon. Needless to say, this is less action and more, LOL LUCK FTW!
LUCK FTW!
You have rested on a virtual bed!
HP and MP restored! Fatigue reset!
You have gained the Well-Rested Perk! +10% EXP for two hours!
… Oh, right. That is actually a thing.
I, The Gamer, am 'trapped' in Sword Art Online.
Just because…
Well, I'm in a different world and if I somehow get out of here in one piece I should be able to abuse my powers to make lots of money.
After that, I can live off the interest while living in a modern home, married with three well-educated children.
Yeah, let's go with that.
Quest Alert! (Compulsory)
Title: Survive SAO!
Objectives: Survive until you are logged out of the game safely! Time limit: None
Completion reward: New body in SAO universe with all your stats! SAO abilities added to game avatar! 10,000,000 EXP! Gain title [SAO Survivor]!
Failure penalty : Death
Challenge accepted motherfucker!
I didn't need to press my finger on the screen as it was a compulsory quest.
That said, I couldn't exactly move my finger up to the screen with Uta holding onto my arm.
What were we doing in the same bed again?
Oh right, I allowed her to cry herself to sleep.
Well, it's better to be inconvenience slightly compared with putting my foot in my mouth by saying something insensitive.
Hmm, what can I do while waiting for her to wake up?
Ehh… maybe I can select my second skill slot for my SAO avatar, I mean, One-Handed Sword was pretty much automatically there but there were a few options for a Level 2 (SAO).
Namely, Leather Armor, Parry, Sprint, Tools Appraisal, Picking and Hiding.
Uhhh… I'm pretty sure the [Sneak] skill can be made normally, I would rather have a partial effect through [The Gamer] and simply spend my skill slot on something else.
Parry is both more 'skill-based' and a system-assisted skill so I'm not sure on whether I should take it or not because it sounds pretty damn useful.
Tool Appraisal, can be replaced with [Observe]. Picking? That might be useful considering my high LUK. But I don't think the blacksmithing stuff really comes up until later so I may as well save the slot and respec it later.
I think I'll take Sprint as my own running abilities through [The Gamer] probably won't be able to affect my Virtual Avatar.
Skills: One-Handed Sword, Sprint
Yup, looks good.
Uta stirred and grumbled, yawned and opened up her eyes, rubbing them like the kawaii anime girl she was.
Her shoulder lengths brown hair was tangled up with her loosen braid as she slept without undoing her hair.
"Uta-chan? Are you feeling alright?"
"Nick? O-oh, I… this is actually happening isn't it? W-we're still stuck here."
She simply looked resigned, did she believe so much in her father that not being 'saved' in just a few hours believe there was nothing that could be done?
Who knows?
"It seems like it. I'm going to go down for breakfast, would you like to join me? I won't pressure you or anything."
"I… I would like that."
In the end, we did not like the food.
Mostly because it was fucking bland bread…
"I heard something about a cooking skill… how the hell do I unlock it? I don't want to be eating tasteless white filth like this for the rest of my in-game life!" I grumbled, my rambling seems to have amused Uta slightly, her lips turning upward at my description of the bread we ate.
"Mmm, would you still get the skill if it involved eating lots of bread?" She asked.
I paled, she laughed.
"Hahar… anyways, I'll pay for a few nights in the inn, you can stay here and I'll go get some money." I say, making Uta tense up.
"No! Don't go! You'll die I mean, you'll die for real if you get killed! It's too dangerous!" She gripped my arm tightly, not letting go.
"Hey, listen Uta, listen… I'll stay safe, all right? I mean, we need a place to stay and everything needs money, well… Col. I don't want to put you in danger so I'll be the one going out. I'll stay safe, I'll be right outside the town, all right?"
"Nonono! I won't let you!"
"Look, Uta. I need to do this. How else am I supposed to protect you?"
"Protect… me?"
"Well, yeah. You're my friend, aren't you? SAO has a PK function, as in Player Kill, it's only a matter of time before someone snaps and starts killing other players. I mean, I saw some guys running to throw themselves off Aincrad, essentially committing suicide. I don't want any of us to get to the point where we think throwing ourselves off is the best option and the best way is to be secure as much as possible."
"… You really think that? I mean, we're all in the same situation. People killing each other is… they wouldn't…"
"Every society has people desperate enough to go that far. And besides, I'm sure there's already a few nutjobs around that wanted to play the game for the thrill of killing other players anyways."
I think my words scared her too much.
"How… how are you so calm?"
It's because I have an ability that keeps me calm.
"I don't know. I'm scared, believe me I am terrified of dying. But… I don't want you to feel the same fear and if I can take steps to make things feel less hopeless for you, then I will. So please, let go Uta-chan."
Well yeah, I sure wouldn't like to die but… if I keep pumping stuff into LUK then perhaps the setting would throw me a few Deus Ex Machina's?
I mean, come on, Kirito had Kayaba helping him against Sugou! WTF!
"Why? Why are you doing this for me?"
Actually… why am I doing this for her? Hmm, I don't cry often, especially not when watching anime or movies but…
I did cry watching Shelter and Logan… so, I think fatherly love or the loss of family is my soft spot.
Family.
Will I even get to see my own family again?
No, if [The Gamer] is as OP as I had written it in the past then perhaps, one day, definitely… I will see them again.
Multiversal timetravel is now on my to-do list buy for now?
"It's because unlike me, you have a family to go back to." I held her hand as I told her the reason I came up with.
She looked stunned at my words.
"You love your father, and he loves you. That, if anything, is something you can always believe in. I don't have anyone anymore so at the very least, I can help you so that neither you nor your father needs to face such a loss."
Eh, is my voice becoming a little too hoarse? Crap, the roof must be leaking because my eyes are getting wet.
"Nick… you shouldn't have to…you don't need to…"
I had the feeling she wanted to say that I didn't need to do it for her after I 'suffered so much' but quite frankly, perhaps I triggered her selfishness at the last second, making her want to rely on me.
Honestly, in a game like SAO I want someone I can rely on and considering our good first impression I'm… surprisingly invested in her.
"I'll be back." I said in a tone, mimicking Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator voice.
I see Uta was about to follow me but stopped right at the Inn's door, too frightened to go out.
I hope she doesn't hate herself for it.
Fear, after all, is natural in all living beings.
Oh, I better stop using my Lord Sosuke Aizen's quotes all the time.
That would veer into villain territory and make Kirito kick my ass.
Quest Alert! (Optional)
Title: Finish 3 Quests from NPC's today!
Objectives: Go go go! Get a quest! Time limit: 24 hours
Completion reward: 500 EXP, Blacksmithing for Reals!, 500 Col,
Failure penalty: Depression
Challenge fucking accepted motherfucking Aincrad!
The first NPC I went to was a butcher/hunter NPC, he would pay me to deliver 5 Wild Boar Meat's to him, and pay me more for extra.
I turned that quest in immediately, levelling up to 3 by completing the quest.
STR: 5, AGI: 7, VIT: 5.
Fuck VIT, Speed blitz FTW!
I gave the man an extra 15 Wild Boar Meat's, gaining 100 Col each.
1000 Col from the initial reward plus 1500 = 2500 Col
YEAHHHH!
Kaching!
I also got a [Wild Boar Hat], which I put on along with my [Wild Boar] coat, tunic, pants, boots, gloves and already equipped blade.
Thanks to my immense luck, I had all those items and had completed the Wild Boar set.
Now, I can probably instant kill Wild Boars… yay! Also, I seem to have a [Pig's Bane] buff, where I deal 50% more damage to anything with a snout.
LOL!
I repaired my sword for around 25 Col as the durability damage wasn't very high.
The Blacksmith also gave me a quest to deliver a weapon to someone across town.
I happily skipped past the depressed and despairing players to my destination before completing the quest for EXP.
He had another quest that involved me going out to pick up some stones for him to turn into Whetting Stones, stones that are used to polish and sharpen blades.
That reminds me of Monster Hunter.
I walked out of town into crowded outskirts of the First Town.
What was its name again? Oh right. The Town of Beginnings.
Aka, the town of 'smart' people that know their place as background characters only meant to make Kirito look better and cooler.
There were some wolf mobs but they stand no chance against the Almighty Pig Slayer!
Feel the wrath of my Roasted Pork Blade!
"FOR PORK!"
*Slash*
Get rekted Wolf Mob Numero Uno!
After killing a few wolves easily thanks to [Gamer's Mind] keeping me calm and my INT boosting my thinking time, I continued with my quest to pick up stones.
Hmm, I'm hitting my weight limit.
I should make it a habit of storing things I don't want to be stolen into my Gamer Inventory instead of my SAO inventory.
… Is that a fucking rabbit?
I threw one of the stones at it.
OHKO!
Rabbit Meat and Rabbit Pelt was added to my inventory!
And 1 measly EXP.
Oi! That was a fucking perfect throw, why do I get only one EXP motherfucking ahhhhh!
Well, I got the [Throwing] skill so I suppose I can live without getting that skill for my next skill slot.
After completing the quest, I completed a fourth quest, bringing my SAO Avatar to Level 4, unlocking my third skill slot. Point to Agility.
The 500 EXP I got from completing the quest from The Gamer helped pushed me to Level 8.
15 Points to spend… eh, let's save it until I can put it all in Wisdom, just in case I need the extra luck.
Making a wise decision has increased your Wisdom by 1!
Don't tell me what's right or wrong!
Actually, please do… I will take whatever I can get.
Making a wise decision has increased your Wisdom by 1!
Ok, this is fucking excessive.
I can't be that unwise.
I opened my Gamer's Inventory, finding the Blacksmith for Real's book.
Oooh, A skill book.
Consume, Om nom nom…
[Actual Blacksmithing] – Passive/Active – Lvl.1/100 EXP: 0%
Description: A skill that allows the user to make weapons, armour and work the forge. Knowledge scales with levels. Level can be synced with SAO system.
I picked Blacksmithing as my third skill option immediately, who knows? Maybe I can upgrade my own weapons while relying on my luck for max successes or even get lucky and make a legendary weapon?
There's still plenty of sunlight so… It's time to grind MOAR! After selling my 'junk' loot to the NPC's… I can't be bothered with selling them to any players now.
I asked where the closest town was… "Tolbana" was about 30 minutes away.
Yeah, let's go full Kirito!
They see me running-
Wolves came to attack me.
They hate it!
Stab, Critical Hit! Slash! Critical Hit!
WTF LUK OP!
Funnily enough I ran into Kirito who was just about leaving.
"Woah! Awesome sword man! Where did you get it? I'll give you this wolf coat for the info!" I say, taking out my wolf coat that I didn't bother wearing because I look weird enough for people to avoid considering how hairy my Boar Set was.
"It's black by the way." I gave my winning speech.
"Go that way to reach Horunka Village and do exactly as I say." I had Kirito hooked immediately.
I got the instructions and decided to ask a bit about Blacksmithing as well. He said the basic equipment can be bought for 5000 Col at this village, Tolbana.
I immediately bought it and some basic Iron ores from the NPC's.
I whacked my sword a few times and upgraded it five times.
"What the actual fuck! How did you luck out so much?" Kirito actually looked flabbergasted.
"Eh, just lucky."
"I'll tell you about the [Cow's Counter attack] repeatable quest if you upgrade my Anneal Blade for me. It's first two levels can be upgraded with Iron Ore, the rest of it I'll have to farm the materials myself."
"Deal. But you have to add me to your friends list."
"…Fine."
I upgraded his Anneal Blade, adding a +2, to it.
"Right, see ya… Niku?"
"It's Nick but… I get that a lot. Don't worry about it Kirito-san."
I ran to Horunka, talked to the relevant NPC's and finished the quest without triggering the 'trap' of Little Nepents with Fruits luring it's kind to me.
I levelled up again, putting 1 point into STR.
After that, I whacked my Anneal Blade twice before, sold some of my shit and ran back to the Town of Beginnings.
I reached there just as nightfall came about.
I opened the door to the Inn and checked my friends list, confirming that Uta was in our room I walked in and-
-My waist was being hugged tightly.
"You're back! You're back I was so scared you were gone forever please don't leave me! Why were gone for so long!"
I told her about the events of the day and she gave me an angry look for it.
"Okay, maybe I should have sent a message through the friends list."
"Yes, you should have! Wait, we can do that?"
In towns I guess.
"I found out how to get milk! No longer shall we suffer from tasteless white filth!"
The dirty part of my mind wondered what two year's worth of… you know, would taste like to a woman in this world but I probably won't get such a chance.
"… Will it be dangerous?" She asked softly.
"Nah. It's close by and I can just run across the field safely enough."
"I can…we can do without milk for a day. I… can you stay with me tomorrow?" Uta asked of me, giving me those anime puppy dog eyes.
But… but mah grinding!
Oh… wait… grinding is for Kirito. Whoops! I got too ahead of myself.
"Yeah, I think I'm a bit tired as well. How are you coping?"
"Better. Now that you're here, safe and sound… I feel better."
Whew!
"Will you… can you listen to my song? I… I got the [Music] skill and I need an audience to practice it with."
"… I would like that very much." I opened my menu and turned off the BGM.
Her voice was nice to listen to, the song itself was soothing in a solemn way… I get the feeling she just made the tune up some time ago.
Was she practicing the entire day?
I would ask but she's probably angry at me.
"Is it good?" She asked.
"Yes. Yes it is… I like how it starts off sad before ending on a hopeful note. Sorry, I don't have much constructive criticism since I kind of suck at hearing and improvisation."
"That's alright. I'm just glad you liked it."
"I bet a lot of people will like it as well. It's very… hopeful, at the end. It reminds me that hope is indeed a powerful force." I placed a hand to my chin, close my eyes and nod as if I was a philosopher.
"Yeah… hope. But if people keep hoping then people will keep trying and- people will die in this world if they try. It'll be better if everyone was scared like me… we'll be safe." She said, gripping her Ukelele tightly.
"And what of those that have courage to face death head on? Are they stupid? What of me?" I questioned her gently, in a slightly rhetorical manner.
"They- You, it's not the same! You're being stupid by going out on your own! We should be relying on the people outside… my papa will definitely get us out. He's one of Kayaba's mentors so he definitely will…" She began shouting, almost crying.
"I see. Well, I guess I am reckless but I'd like to think of it as smart recklessness." Well, I believe in my LUK that believes in me!
Making a wise decision has increased your Wisdom by 1!
Stop giving me your propaganda!
"You're actually insufferable when you're trying to be smart." Ooh, getting snappy aren't we?
"So I'm not smart? Not one bit smart?" I ask.
"You… urgh, actually fine. Nick is slightly smart."
"Then you're very slightly smart, right Uta-chan?"
"…" She threw the Ukelele at me.
I defended myself with a pillow, she took a pillow on her own and attempted to beat me down in the Safe Zone.
I explained what an 'Immortal Object' was as she futilely attempted to damage me.
She was a lot calmer the next day and… at least you managed to get her out of the Inn.
I had to sell some of my loot as I was putting on a lot of weight.
"Oh, Uta-chan. I found this and I think it'll look nice on you."
"What is it?"
"A Nepent Fruit Ribbon, it's mainly cosmetic and gives slight poison resistance. I think it'll look nice on you."
"Nick… you don't have to give me everything you have."
"I don't have to. But I do want to give you nice things."
Yes, after all, I have to keep my first friend closer because First Girls have less chances of stabbing me in the back.
After all, I remember that moving someone's fingers to initiate a duel to the death while they are sleeping is a way to kill people in the safe zone.
And that usually is an opportunity reserved for friends sharing a room or couples, and I would rather be on her good side.
Perhaps a part of my reasoning is that I'm also seeing how well we work together.
My father and grandfather had a ten-year age gap between their spouses so for all I know I'm fated to marry someone much younger than me.
After spamming 'Observe' I levelled it up to two, letting me see that Yuna was 16 right now… so she'll be legal when Kirito saves the day.
May as well keep my options open.
"…Thank you. It really is pretty." She put on the accessory immediately, along with some of my nicer wolf set gear.
Now she's fluffy! But sadly, touching her fluffy clothes would make me a pervert so I guess I will have to settle with my own fluffy wolf equipment
As for the rest of the day? Well, I still have to find a way to spend this 8th of November…
SAO Avatar
Level 5
STR: 6, AGI:9, VIT 5
Name: NickLZH Age: 22
LVL: 9 EXP: 468/1242
Title: Seeker of Purpose Affiliation: THE FAMILY
Race: Human/Spirit
HP: 280/280 Regen: 2.8 per hour
MP: 140/140 Regen: 2.8 per minute
STR: 4
END: 5
AGI: 4
INT: 18
WIS: 30
LUK: 50
Points: 20
Col: 18200