Chapter 725 The Savior with a Small Skirt
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Arcadia didn't supply new players with a starting fund, so for a player to have ten coppers, they must have killed at least five [Wild Boars], or ten [Red-Eyed Rabbits].
It might seem trivial at first, but hunting and killing monsters in this 'game' turned out to be a lot more difficult than most people initially expected.
Despite all the marketing and hype built by the world-renowned genius Darryl, no one imagined that this game would really be so hyper-realistic, to the point where if not for the interface, they may not even be able to tell that they weren't in a real world.
All the other full-dive games with their pixels and distinct lack of direct multi-sensory feedback were simply 'trash' in comparison.
Unfortunately, being so realistic wasn't all good.
Most modern people weren't very good at hunting and killing wild beasts, and their first reaction to such confrontations was naturally to avoid them and flee.
Even if they understood that it was only a game, and they wouldn't really die if they were killed... it was hard to try fighting against such ferocious beasts, especially after witnessing those sharp tusks skewer a few newbies to death.
Without any strong motivation forcing them to overcome this fear, it was even easier for them to succumb to this 'weakness'.
"Shit, no matter how pretty the game looks, this shit is not fun at all!"
"I can't even log out immediately, what's with this stupid fifteen minute cooldown?!"
"This has to be illegal, right?"
"I-It wasn't there before."
Unfortunately, the wild beasts around weren't very compassionate, and neither were the more 'skilled' players.
Lesser competition and extra loot would only help them get ahead, after all.
For these unfortunate newbies, losing their life naturally meant that they would spawn at the nearest town after a level-dependent 'timeout' period, which was luckily 'zero' at level one.
Sadly, the death penalty also included dropping at least one piece of random item worn on their body, and half of their 'wealth'.
That is to say, most people lining up in front of the shops were not only short of equipment... but they also barely had any copper coins in their pockets.
The crowd that had been scolded by the shopkeeper was clearly unwilling, but when the 'Favorability -1' messages started raining down, they quickly scattered, afraid of being completely debarred from accessing the store in the future.
"Sheesh, how stingy!"
"I-I only managed to kill twelve rabbits... and then that stupid boar came charging out of nowhere and killed me!" A tanned girl sniffled against the wall of the village chief's house. "N-Now I only have six coins left, and no skirt..."
everyone spawned randomly, very few were lucky enough to find a party.
All things considered, her results were actually quite a bit better than the 'average' player.
None of the classes were particularly good at taking down similar leveled monsters solo, but since everyone spawned randomly, very few were lucky enough to find a party.
All things considered, her results were actually quite a bit better than the 'average' player.
But while the price of an 'armored skirt' was only five copper coins... the shopkeeper already made it clear that only those willing to make purchases over ten coins in total could line up. As such, the poor girl could only sulk by the side of the road.
A few 'good guys' came by to offer their help, but she resolutely rejected them. "I-I won't take any charity!"
"But you're crying...?"
"I-I'm not! I-I will pay for a skirt, f-five copper, no, s-six!"
Losing the last coin she had in her pocket might seem stupid, but the tanned girl feared that no one would help her if they didn't see any benefit in doing so.
Unfortunately for her, there was no way the crowd of boys would be carrying around skirts in their inventory. At least, not so early in the game, when resources were scarce and most only had their starter equipment on.
They could only shake their heads helplessly. "Should we ask some girls for help?"
"I see a few, but... uh, it would be really weird to ask for their skirt, right?"
The sulking girl also understood that no one would give up their own skirt for her. 'The next few dozen guys in the line of that shop... should I go beg them to buy one for me...?'
In fact, losing one piece of equipment wasn't really something to be so upset about, and she normally wouldn't even be bothered with not being able to buy it for a while, being only a 'casual' gamer. But being exposed to so many people in just her underwear was really too embarrassing.
Why did she have to lose her skirt, of all things? None of the other girls around seemed to be in the same situation!
What made her really sad was that she couldn't even rush into some house to hide, because they were all now stuffed with players. Squeezing in with only her panties on... the girl shuddered at the thought.
And what really horrified her was that a few people in the distance even seemed to be 'streaming', if the red dots blinking over their heads meant what she thought they did. 'I-If one of them walks over here, m-my life is over!'
If not for the restriction of not being able to log out for at least fifteen minutes after logging in, she would have already quit. As it was, though, she could hide in a corner and hold on. 'I-I'll definitely sue this stupid game company!'
Of course, even she knew how stupid it would be to try going against the genius Darryl's lawyers, so this was only a momentary thought. If she didn't get completely destroyed by their retaliation, it would already be a good outcome.
Seeing Crystal stare at the 'spectacle' thoughtfully, Emilia hummed. "Are you interested in helping her out...?"
The blonde girl jumped, startled. "A-Ah...! No, well, I-I mean... yeah, kinda."
She didn't know how to clearly explain her 'findings' without exposing her ability to others, so Crystal could only hope that the crimson-haired beauty understood her meaning.
Emilia grinned. "Alright then."
The small crowd of boys that surrounded the girl immediately made way to the two beauties who suddenly approached, whispering in excitement.
Obviously, their keen eyes would have noticed Emilia from a mile away, not to mention when she was standing so close.
"I-Is this the legendary bullying we're going to witness?!"
"Or maybe they took pity on her and want to give up their own skirts?"
"Idiot, can't they just have one extra? Or maybe buy one for her by pooling their funds?"
"If it's as short as the one that girl is wearing... I'm all for it."
"Hehe."
They only dared to joke around in whispers, but their thoughts were clearly written on their faces, and Crystal couldn't help but roll her eyes. 'Boys... though I can't say I don't get it.'
Emilia's skirt was really a bit too short, and even she, who had been between those silky thighs more than once, had to admit that she found it hard to resist the temptation. How could she blame anyone else?
Of course, much to everyone's disappointment, the crimson-haired elf did indeed seem to have a 'spare' skirt, and it was also of a normal length.
Emilia grinned as she directly handed it over instead of initiating a trade request. "Here, it's my old one, but should work for you for a while since you're also a warrior."
"T-Thank you... um, six copper coins... it's enough, right?" The tanned girl blushed and bowed to her 'saviors' as she happily clutched her newly acquired armored skirt. "I-I'm Esmeralda, by the way, but you can call me Esme."
'I-I almost got blinded by that smile...!' She gulped. 'Can there really be girls so pretty in real life...?'
For a moment, she even suspected that these two must be some quest characters, but nothing new popped up on her interface.
Unaware of the girl's strange thoughts, Emilia responded with a smile. "Princess."
She assumed that 'Esmeralda' was probably just the girl's in-game name, unless she picked one that was the same as her real one.
Her blonde girlfriend also nodded. "Crystal."
Emilia then closed the open palm of the tanned girl in front of her, clearly rejecting the offer of six coins. "You can keep those for now, and pay us back later once you level up. Just add us as friends for the moment."
Obviously, six copper coins were nothing to the two of them, and since Crystal seemed to have taken an interest in that girl, Emilia would much rather trade this meager sum for a favor.
The 'incoming friend request' stunned the tanned girl to the point where she completely forgot to insist on paying them, and while she was hurriedly pushing the accept button on the screen that popped up, her 'saviors' were already walking away.
She didn't have the courage to chase after them without wearing her skirt first, so Esmeralda could only reluctantly watch them leave. "I-I guess they wouldn't want someone clumsy like me in their party, after all."
Luckily, most of the 'lecherous' boys who had been surrounding her had left after 'Princess' and 'Crystal', so she wasn't watched by many while putting on her skirt, but she still couldn't help but grit her teeth hatefully. 'T-This Darryl... he's definitely a pervert!'
There were so many full-dive games around, but none were stupid enough to so blatantly violate people's privacy.
But thinking about the beautiful girls who came to her rescue, Esmeralda soon cheered up. 'N-No, maybe this stupid game is my chance, and I can finally make some good friends!'
If not for the random spawning process of this perverted game, would someone like Emilia be wandering around and stumble into her like that? Unlikely! She would definitely be surrounded by her own clique, and wouldn't even bother sparing a glance her way.
Esmeralda clenched her fists in determination. "Since everyone has the same starting point in this perverted game, I can't make excuses to hide like I always do!"
What she needed to do... was to prove that she was worthy of being invited to their party!
"E-Everyone is rushing to take that stupid quest, right? I-I'll go do it too, then! How hard can it be?"
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