November 8th 2022

I woke slowly from a dreamless sleep, sunlight leaking in through cracks between the curtains. Slowly getting up, I gathered my belongings. I should go back to hunting Boar, I planned, with my contracts all out of the way, I can just relax and enjoy my time. I glanced out the window, easing the curtains aside.

The morning sun shined through the exposed window. Filling the room with a pleasant, pale yellow light, the look alone put a smile on my face. Getting on all fours, I proceeded to do a set of pushups. Just as I pressed, a notice emerged from my HUD.

[Strength Training - Minigame]

[Choose your exercise.]

[Cross the threshold by successful lifts + the amount of weight given.]

A list appeared before me, showcasing an anatomical image of the human body. My eyes lit with the options. Bench press, flies, squats, curls of all sorts, it had it all! Taking me back to the days in the college gym, I felt utterly engrossed by the opportunity, I just had to try.

Selecting [Bench Press], a set of equipment was deployed on site! Warped in from God knows where, the basic barbell and weights were laid out, ready to use. A vertical bar appeared to the right of my HUD, an arrow pointing towards the top. Reading [Threshold], breaking it became my goal.

Lifting the bar again felt like a dream. The compressing of the pecs, the force of moving heavier and heavier loads, it was perfect. Due to my six years of experience in weight-lifting, breaking the threshold was challenging, but doable. Man, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how bad it'd be if I started lagging.

Feeling the chest come alive, I felt the rush of a good workout. I proceeded after with squats, leading on with dumbbell aided shoulder presses, hammer curls, high-to-low wood chops, and abdominal twists!

The aches, the burns, it all felt so real. As the muscles ached, I gleamed, finding something to remind me of home. If this system's anything like the real world's then I could only imagine the benefits. To be able to raise my strength higher and higher, I'll crush Boar with my bare hands!

I opened my inventory, making sure I had everything I needed. Checking my balance, I noticed that I accumulated over five hundred Cor. Judging by the amount of Cor I earned yesterday, I shrugged. Could make a thousand today alone off hunting Frenzy Boar.

I stretched my arms, feeling my yellow shirt squeeze my body further. Definitely going to need new clothes, I thought, better make a quick stop.

Headed for the clothing store, I left the inn as quietly as possible. I traveled through the open roads, bustling with the activity of adventurers. The birds above sung their songs, breaking the ever present tension with their optimistic tune. The morning sun crept over the stone walls, lighting the pale stone tiles around town.

Reaching the clothing store, I felt a slight shiver. What if someone decided to seal my fate too, I wondered, all it would take is an unplugging. One pull would mean the end of my life. All the more reason to be thankful for the time I have.

I entered the store, the rich wood and white stained walls were lined with various forms of apparel. The NPC, portraying an elderly woman, looked at me, startled by my sudden entry. "You alright?" she asked, "you look afraid."

It's able to sense my emotions, I noticed, I thought these things were brain dead! I stared back at the bot, surprised by its perception. "I'm fine ma'am," I assured her, looking at her with open surprise, "just looking to buy some clothes. May you show me the best hiking boots you have?"

"Certainly," she remarked, "Come right this way."

She smiled warmly, waving me over to the shoe section. Following her, I couldn't help but realize how advanced such an AI had to be. I wasn't even frowning, I admitted, yet it could sense my distress through body language. Just like a real human being.

The storekeeper presented a pair of luxurious looking boots. Brown in color, the boots overflowed with rich, grayish black fur. "These," she explained, "are Bear Fur Boots. They add to the user's strength and stability. Having fur inserts, they're quite comfortable." She extended these boots to me, "Wanna try them on?"

"Sounds great," I said, reaching out and trying them, "thank you." As I slipped on the new boots, I paced around the space near her. I could feel the soft fur against my socks, cushioning every step. Oh man, I noticed, feels like I'm walking on a mattress with these! I looked up to her and asked, "How much are these?"

"1,000 Cor" the woman answered, looking anxious to hear my reply. A thousand? I thought, well...fair enough, they are very comfy. Knowing I lack the funds to afford it, I returned the boots. "I'm sorry," I replied, "it's a bit too expensive. Least right now."

She nodded, taking back the boots. Placing them on their pedestal, I found myself staring at them. If I'm going to travel anywhere far, I noted, I'm definitely saving up for those. Was always told that footwear makes all the difference.

Returning to my old basic set of shoes, I browsed for new clothing. Different styles of clothing were laid out, each with a full range of colors to choose from. From cloaks, to beanies and underwear, the options were extensive. At this point, I mused, anything that doesn't choke me would be fine!

Looking through the aisles, I found a sleeveless, light green tunic. Simple in design, its light shade gave an almost neon appearance in the sunlight. Beside it, rested a cloak and cowl.

Colored slightly darker than the tunic, I enjoyed the contrast I took it as well. This stuff might even help me hide better in the grass, I noted. The cloak would also help mask the sword strapped to my back, almost.

Last, but not least, I grabbed a pair of brown trousers, nothing that would serve me great benefit besides utility. Finished making my selections, I made my purchases, totally up to 50 Cor. Before heading out, I dropped an additional 100 Cor as a tip, leaving me at a total of 350.

The second I gave the tip, the NPC frowned, looking uncomfortable with the offering. "Sir," the bot croaked, "why are you being so rude?"

"Huh," I turned back, eyes wide with shock.

"You gave a tip," the NPC explained, "do you think I need that kind of motivation to be nice to people?"

"What?" I stood there, unsure what to make of this. Giving a tip was always an act of good will back home, what changed? Maybe it had something to do with me being in a Japanese game...there must've been cultural differences I didn't know.

"Sorry about that," I submitted, "I'll take it back if it insults you. Really, I meant no harm."

She smiled, giving me back the hundred Cor tip. I slipped into one of the changing stalls, quickly equipping my new clothes. I started to question what else I've been doing. Was there anything else I've done that's considered rude out here?

As the undersized clothing left my body, I felt a burst of relief. Not feeling like an overstuffed turkey, I could actually lift my arms! As the grassy green cloak came over my shoulders, I felt a sense of inspiration. Looking at myself from my hand mirror, I smiled.

I admit, I'm feeling like a wandering adventurer and I loved it! The sleeveless green gave my shoulders a renewed sense of freedom. The forest colored cloak wrapped over, acting as an insulator. Basic in appearance, but effective.

Leaving the store, I felt the breeze stroke my face. My short, curly hair brushing in the direction slightly. With my newfound enthusiasm, I gazed out into the streets as I strolled out. Great winged beasts flew over the distant sky, their draconic forms loomed above, their pointed tails hung low. Wait, are there Dragons out here? If so, I'm boned.

On my way to the eastern gate, I made plans for Boar hunting. I saw what appeared to be another merchant along the road. Right next to a church, a basic rug was laid out. A petite woman sat across it, potions stacked all around the mat. Considering how RPGs worked, I knew I had to make a quick stop.

Approaching the merchant, I asked "got any healing potions? Going to be on the road for a while."

The woman squating behind the rug was an intriguing sight. Her snowy, white hair reached down to her neck, flowing. Her eyes were a soft green, easy going and thoughtful. She wore a set of rugged brown clothing, a grey apron on top.

"Sure do," greeted the woman, "how many do you need?" She placed several bottles on the rug, each a bright cherry red in the rising run. "Also," she mentioned, "May I interest you in some other products? Got loads of stuff. From salts, sweeteners, spices, even hair dye."

"Hair dye?" I repeated, looking at her sheepishly.

"Yea," the merchant gleamed, "it's pretty popular right now. Everyone's looking for something positive. For you? I recommend a light blue."

Light blue hair, now that was an amusing idea. Comfortable with what I had, I figured right now was unnecessary.

She smirked, "so how about it Beef Cake, wanna go blue?"

"Yea," I replied, "no thanks."

"Bummer," commented the merchant, "and I had the fashion police waiting just around the corner."

Jeez, didn't realize I look that bad, maybe I ought to go pink instead! Looking down at the healing potions, I returned my gaze to her. "You mentioned spices," I asked, "what do you have on those?"

She smiled, opening her menu. "Not too many," she answered, "it's only been a few days since...well you know. Got any preferences? Mild? Strong? Sweet?"

"Something sweet," I inquired, "you know, something like sriracha sauce? The kind of spice that makes you crave for more." I felt my mouth water at the idea.

"Got just the thing you need, bro" she stated, digging through her inventory. Pulling out a large red bottle, she placed it in front of me. "This," she said while patting on it, "is sort of sweet, while still very capable of spicing up any meal."

"I'll take it!" I exclaimed, "How much will that be?" I asked, looking at her with excitement.

"That'll be about 150 Cor." she answered, easing the bottle aside. She brushed her white hair back behind her ear, looking a bit impatient.

I stopped. "Before I buy this," I asked, "may I have a sample? Wanna know what I'm buying first."

She shrugged, placing a small piece of what appeared to be black bread near me. She motioned to me, letting me pour on a few drops.

Picking the bottle up from the ground, I lifted it to drop a sample. Just as I tipped it over, I lost my grip on the container! Falling out of my hands, it struck the stone pavement. Crashing to the floor, the bottle shattered all over the street.

I stared, my eyes widened, my face feeling cold. The spice bottle's contents stained the stone streets, leaving a mixture of glass and puddles of fiery red. I glanced back to the merchant, my face heated with embarrassment. She glared at me, her green eyes looking ready to kill me. At that moment, I realized it...I should've slept in today.

"That…" she stammered furiously, "was a 150 Cor bottle…of some of my finest spice…and you broke it."

The look in her eyes sent a shiver down my spine. Her soft green eyes turned as sharp as the tips of spears. She stared me down, cementing my feet to the ground. Despite her looking as frail as an orchid, I feared her more than the Boar outside, more than Kayaba for that matter!

"Wow," I shouted as I stepped back, "hey! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!" worried she was going to hit me.

She rose from her seated position, closing the distance with me. Despite the massive size difference, her eyes intimidated me. Cornering me at a lantern post, fire burned in her eyes.

"Look buddy," she snapped, "if you think you can just come to MY shop and pull off something that dimwitted," pointing towards the street, "then get out."

I pleaded, "I'm very sorry about that." Hoping to regain her respect, I asked, "Is there anything I can do to help you make a new one? I owe you for that bottle."

She stopped, pondering as she pinned me to the pole. "Actually," she remarked, returning her gaze to me, "there is, but you'll need an alchemist to identify the plants I need." While her mood was simmering down, I was still on a tightrope.

"You're an alchemist," I asked, "aren't you? I was gonna leave town after this. Maybe I can help you in gathering other stuff too." As much as I hated to see myself begging, I was in no mood to antagonize another merchant, let alone one related to dragons.

She looked at me, her eyes reading me like a book. She stepped closer to me, but suddenly backed away. "god," she grunted, clamping her nose shut with her left hand. "You smell awful!"

"I do?" I asked, unaware that players needed to bathe here. I looked at her with a worried expression.

"What do you know?" she inquired, "Because at this point I'm surprised you found your way out of bed this morning, how'd you even feed yourself?"

I groaned at her a little, not terribly amused with her commentary. I, however, needed her in order to repay for the broken spice bottle. "Tell you what," she directed, "there's a bathhouse run by NPCs just south of here. You can go in and get a bath for 25 Cor. Just don't tell them how long you've been without one."

I nodded to her, leaving for the aforementioned bathhouse. The morning sun rose to full view, showering the stone city in its brilliant yellow light. Moving south as she instructed, I realized something. Dammit, I forgot to ask what the building looks like! Guess I'll have to figure that out.

I smelled myself. While I found no odor, this wasn't news, since I was used to my own body odor. Looking through the rows of structures, one building in particular caught my eye.

Two stories tall, the sand colored stone face was decked with several curved double panned windows. Noticing a sign on the front pillar, I inspected it for directions. 'House of Purity Bath', I smiled, liking the name. As I stepped through the double doors, the first room in this building appeared to be a waiting room, with a bright red carpet laid out from the doorway to the end of the room.

An NPC stood behind a counter to my right. "Hey there!" greeted the bot, "looking for a quick bath? We've got four slots open." He smiled, his expression of emotion looking almost human.

I nodded, signing up for one of the available rooms. The moment I deposited the 25 Cor fee, I was whisked away in a teleport aura! Still unused to the blue aura, I froze in place. As the blue light vanished around me, I found myself in an almost completely white room. With a square hot tub just a few feet to my right, I took my time.

Feeling the hot water, I sighed with bliss. Oh man, I imagined, now this is where I need to hold out! I joked to myself, no need to deal with people, just Boar slaying and hot baths…actually sounds like a nice way to live. I smiled, though suddenly wondering, if I do end up staying, should I train to join with whoever's looking to clear the Floors? I can't just sit here.

After spending time enjoying myself, I left the tub. Feeling relaxed from the hot water, I took a minute to look in the mirror. Staring at my physique, I inspected for imperfections. I grimaced, already seeing an issue I've had for months. My shoulder muscles haven't yet parted from the chest muscles. My anterior deltoids still don't pop out...when I'm out of this, I'm fixing that.

It suddenly hit me, what's going to happen to my body!? While my muscles bulged in the mirror, how long would it be in the real world till they shrink? The thought alone terrified me. All these gains I've made in the years...gone.

On a side note, I noted a lack of hair from anywhere past the face. While cleanly shaven, the smoothness of the replicated frame looked awkward to me at first. Even my chest hair is gone, I noted, how am I supposed to be a glorious viking without that?

Putting self-criticism aside, I re-equipped my gear. I smiled, my body feeling refreshed all over from the experience. As I draped my green cloak, I left the bath house. My body felt an inner warmth as I left the building, a sense of cleanliness. I'm definitely coming back here, I concluded.

Returning to the alchemist, I felt presentable. I found the merchant on her knees, casually fiddling with her products. She glanced up at me, covering her mouth to hold back a chuckle. She waved me over. What's so funny, I wondered, what's she so damn happy about?

"So you took a bath, huh?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Her smug expression revealed something devious in her words.

"Yep," I answered, "what's with the face?" I held my breath, preparing for whatever secret she had.

"Pfffffft," she choked, "You idiot!" she laughed again, slamming her fist on the grass. "Players don't give off natural odors here!"

I stopped, looking at her with a shocked expression. So I just got played? I thought, what?

"How do I know?" she continued, "I know because I've seen plenty of guys come back and forth through this gate! Despite how dirty they all looked, none of them smelled."

I groaned. Had absolutely no idea, I noted, well at least the bath felt nice.

She smirked, "was messing with you." Her impish grin dripped with mischief. I sighed, annoyed with her lying to me. "Now," she ordered, "give me a minute. We've got herbs to snatch."

I nodded, buying a set of six healing potions before stepping back. My balance was left at 150 Cor. Leaning against the nearby pole, I waited for her to get ready. I watched as various players strolled down the road, many with depressed expressions. Minutes passed, listening to passing players as I waited.

Looking back, I noticed she packed away the rug she's used. Now wearing an over sized jacket. Colored a similar earthy brown, it was layered with an unbelievable number of pockets. With a dagger on her hip and fingerless leather gloves, her overall frame remained hidden.

"alright," she called out, "ready."

She caught me looking, "what, expected something showy?"

"No, no," I replied quickly, hoping to not come off as a pervert.

She shrugged, "well pack mule, think we should know each other's names," she looked up at me, "I'm Haru. What'd your breeders name you?"

"Garr," I greeted, reaching out a hand to shake with, "nice to meet you, Haru." By nice, I mean good lord help me. "

"Garr huh," commented Haru, shaking my hand. "Well with a name like that, I could only imagine how much you value your Intelligence stat."

Turning towards the gate she nodded, "let's focus on our task, shall we?"

I followed her out the town gate quietly. As we meshed in with the crowds heading out of town, I looked back at Haru. She doesn't open her mouth like that all the time, right? I hoped, if not, this'll be a long day.

Keep wishing, Garr. Thanks for reading my attempt at writing a story! Please be sure to leave a review, it'll be used to pay for this bone head's insurance bills. Leave a follow and/or favorite, it is appreciated!