Re: Rebirth Online

flash back, first login, first guardian

Warning: this Re:Rebirth Online is the same story with the original Rebirth Online but I will make it more systematically without other character POV gets in the way... This story POV will be based on Kuro and it will progress faster since it revolves only around him... 

After seeing the advertisment of a new game called Rebirth Online, I decided to run away from reality to that world... 

I don't have any good memories about my life so far... 

With average looks, average academic ability, with no selling points, I basically just going trough my life taking the easy and peace route.. 

My childhood friend starts to turn back on me since I was getting bullied... 

My highschool life should be peaceful as usual except when the bullied starts, my life grade drops from average to trash... 

I don't think that someone will still care about me anymore, but surprisingly I also have some good memories with girls... 

Altough I said it some, I only have one... 

That day afterschool I was lucky that I have some class duty so I can dodge the daily bully routine... I notice that the clock is dead and decided to go grab some batteries to replace it... But when i was just about to exit the class i saw a girl coming in to the class.. 

The beautiful sunset, gust of wind passing trough the windows, and I'm alone in the class with a girl... A perfect scene for a sweet highschool confession to take place... 

Yeah.. Dream on.. 

In reality, it was only a false hope.. Her name is Akari, white skin and black hair in reality suit her perfectly. Small lips and charming brown eyes... 

If only I wasn't such a loser maybe I can try to hit on her... But taking my condition in consideration, I don't even have the rights to talk to one of the most beautiful girl in my class... 

She is doing something that I never imagine.. She climb into one of the table and trying to reach out for the clock.. Unfortunately she can't reach it and fall down to the floor.. 

"Hey, open your eyes! Are you okay, Akari? Did you hit your head? Does it hurt anywhere?” 

I quickly run to her seeing her falls down... 

“I’m sorry. I’m okay now.” 

“Thank god you’re okay. You’re not hurt anywhere right? Do you want to go to the nurse office?” 

“Nope. I’m sorry for troubling you.” 

“You’re stupid. You should just ask me to change the battery.” 

“I’m sorry... I’m sorry for what just happened...” 

I don't understand what happened, but I haven't talk to girls but words come out of my unexpectedly smooth.. I don't care why she's apologizing, but seeing her so nervous i smile a little and gives a reply... 

“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad you’re unhurt.” 

She then facing down and her face turned red... 

"I’m sorry once again and thank you for saving my live...” 

I don't have a clue of what to say as she over react to these condition. 

But i need to get myself out from this awkward moments... 

“Hahaha... don’t make it over dramatic. Let’s just finish our clean up and go home.” 

Maybe that day, it's just something normal for her but it was my only chance to talk to girls... No, she's actually the second girl that I ever talk to.. The first one is obviously my mother... But that one moments is actually a good memory for me... Before I was beaten up again the next day and almost have an amnesia... 

But, the second time I talk to her actually the last time for me to see her face... The day I was bullied until I have to be taken to the hospital, she was the one that called the teacher and accompany me to the hospital... When she was leaving while I have to stay to get my treatment, I say my last word for her... 

"thank you Akari..." 

Even without a reply from her, that is the last time that I will talk to her... 

Why? Because I will not come to school anymore... 

I will run away to that world... 

After I'm out of the hospital, the next day is the launching day... 

I sleep in front of the FFAID building to be the first one in line along with several hundreds people... 

When the building opens, I quickly took advantage of my almost nonexistent presence to sneak on bought the game... 

I quickly go back home running in anticipation with the game box in my hand.. 

***** 

When I arrived, I immediatelly open the box... It contain a black box, and a black visor helmet that have a cable connected to the box, it also comes with the manual book... I quickly took a peek at the manual book and after read it all, i get some basics of the game.. 

Looking at the clock 10:59am.. One minutes before the server is open, great.... I quickly put on my helmet and lay down my bed... When the clock hits 11:00 the view in front of me sudenlly changed... 

(to make this part shorter, you guys can check the first time login for players in the original story and the manual book in the extra login of the first book, it is one ways to make the story progress faster) 

I create my character and name it Kuro... Just like my original name Kuromaru Ryuuji, meaning black dragon... My parents hope me to become strong like dragon (Ryuu) but what actually stuck with me is the darkness (kuro=black) living in the deep despair i think.. 

I didn't alter my appearance and choose thief as my class.. I have confidence in silent assasination since my exsitence in real life almost like air, they wouldn't even notice me... 

Finally starting the game at the opening day, makes it hectic... 500.000players logged in and I'm in the middle of ocean made by group of people... 

There are advantages playing in games... Firstly you can change your character appareance to be what you always wanted to be, but people strongly attached to the second reason... 

You can act like a different person in real life... Many people that seemed to be nerdy and shy can act like a leader in game and showing a massive amount of confidence... 

But I can't do that very well though... My interaction with other people is only with my childhood friend and now he's gone I can say that I never interact with others except my mother and father... 

Taking the past events of me getting bullied, I don't think I will partying up with other players in a near future.. 

I seemed to be lost hope in humanity but I still believe that there are still good people out there.. Just because one person did wrong doesn't mean everybody is wrong... 

While walking around the town, I realized this virtual reality world is so real.. I can sense everything just like in the real world... The gust of wind, the warmth of the sun setting in, I feel like I'm reborn in a new world, taking place in the medieval setting with worlds of sword and magic... 

Party invites keep coming around and I always declined every time, after all I'm going trough, I don't want to interact with other people, I still have a trauma... I remember when I read the manual book earlier, Rebirth Online providing a guardian system where a player can hire a NPC as companion or party member... 

Trusting player is not safe, and trusting the NPC seems like a wise choice for me.. After all they are all just a bunch of data that act as how they are programmed.. No risk that they will take advantage of me, or betray me, or even PK me in the future... 

Remembering that,  I quickly heads to a place called guardian quarter.. 

When I get to the guardian headquarters, I’m shocked to see that the place is empty. But after all, other people probably just going to hunt with their friend. What kind of person that’s going to spend their first day playing online games, hunting with a NPC when there are hundred thousands of player out there. 

Well, this kind of person. Me... I was heading to the administration desk and greeted by a polite woman in glasses and wear a maid outfit. She bows down a little and speaks to me. 

“Welcome player to the guardian headquarters. Would you like to hire a guardian?” 

“Y-yes.” I’m so amazed to see the NPC in front of me. I stutter a little when answering. After all I’m not used to talk to girl. If I remember it clearly, I even never talked to a girl before. But, I think I can recall from my memory there is two occasions when I talk to a girl. 

The first time is when I save her when she fall, and the second time is the day after she save me from bullying. I guess I won’t even get the chance to talk to her again then. Well, let’s not think about that right now. 

“The cost of hiring a guardian is 10.000 gold. Would you like to proceed sir?” 

I didn’t think about it before. There should be some administration fee, but I didn’t think that it would be that much. I tried to open my wallet, but it’s only having 800 gold in it. I let out a big sigh in disappointment. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t have enough gold.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry... I forget about this. Since it’s the first day the server is launched, the cost has been reduced to 100 gold.” 

“Well, if it’s only 100 gold, I can afford that.” 

“Okay sir. Let’s continue. What kind of guardian would you like to have sir? An attacker or a supporter?” 

“A supporter please.” 

“The best supporter for thief class is archer and caster class. Which one would you like sir?” 

“A caster class.” 

“Okay. Supportive caster or offensive caster sir?” 

“Supportive caster please.” 

“Okay, finished filling out the requirements. 3 guardians have matched the description. Please choose one from the list sir.” 

Immediately a small window popped out in front of me. Just like how I choose my class. There are three windows that I can choose. The first one is Legmond. I click on the window and it gets bigger. In the window, I can see a tall man with a scar on his cheek, with a white hair and white robe. Ugh, he’s so scary. 

I decided to skip on him and look at the second window. The name is Senza. She was a little girl that looked like a little red riding hood girl. Black hair and red robe, she’s also short. What a perfect girl for a lolicon I thought. 

I let out a sigh and decided to look at the third windows. I didn’t expect so much after seeing the two sample guardian earlier. I just hope that this one looked more normal. The name of this guardian is Sakuya. Current class: caster (supportive). Advanced class: cleric (level 50- still have to do regular job change quest). Traits: none (can be learned from regular activities) Fondness: 0% (higher points will determine the guardian loyalty). The status information seemed normal, but when I look at the appearance I was stunned. She was a real beauty. She was wearing a white robe and has red eyes that are glowing. A long black hair that’s shiny. And the best part is her cute face. 

I get embarrassed when I look at the picture, I think I have seen someone as pretty as her. Oh, right. That girl in my class. Well, I think I better forget about her and choose my guardian. 

“This one please. Sakuya” 

“One last thing, when a guardian dies his or her level will return to 1. So would you like to confirm your selection sir?” 

Hmm... I was thinking hard about that. I couldn’t let her died isn’t it? If she died her level will return to 1 and it’s a great risk. But well, I have decided before and there’s no point in backing out now. 

“Yes, please.” 

“Registering a guardian purchase. Purchase number: 000001. Name: Sakuya. Class: caster. Master: Kuromaru. User ID: 502003. Registration successful.” 

When she finished saying that, a bright light suddenly fall from the light at my side. I’m closing my eyes because I can’t handle it and when I opened it, I swear a goddess must have fallen from the heaven. 

She was a pure beauty. She’s even prettier than the picture. Her skin is so white and glowing. Her red eyes are so lovely. Her black long hair looks very elegant. Her small face is so attractive and finally she let out an adorable voice like an angel. 

“Good afternoon, master.” 

Although there is no expression in that sentence, I was so enchanted by her, I don’t know what to do or say. 

“U-um... I just hired you and starting from now, you’ll be in my party.” 

Ugh, what did I just said. Shouldn’t I introduce myself or something? Before I can think of anything else, she bows down and speaks to me. 

“Pleased to meet you, my name is Sakuya. I hope we can get along well, Master.” 

“O-okay, please to meet you too. L-let’s gets going.” 

I don’t know anything about talking to a girl before so it feels awkward. So, all the way to the hunting grounds we just walk in silence. When we arrived near the beginner forest, she spoke to me and make me surprised. 

“Master, are you going to hunt for some jumping rabbit? Based on my knowledge, with the number of people that has logged in today, you won’t be able to gather a lot of experience here. I can show you a better place if you allow me to.” 

“U-um... sure...” 

It sure is awkward. It’s like talking to a robot. Well, after all she’s a NPC. What make me pleased the most is her knowledge that will come in handy. 

At first I have some trouble adapting to the game. But after a few hours I can move my body normally and I can hunt pretty well. Aided by Sakuya, my hunting regime is progressing smoothly. 

Just when I was too focused in killing the enemy, a frozen bird attacks Sakuya. She managed to dodge but her foot is bleeding. When she was attacked, I’m sure that I can see her reaction. It should be really painful. I quickly came to cover for her and after we finished eliminating the enemy I think it’s about a good time to stop. I was concerned about the wounds on her feet. 

“Are you okay Sakuya?” 

“Yes master. It’s only a little grazed.” 

“Does it hurt?” 

“Yes master. Player sensitivity is reduced; it’s only 1/20th of the actual pain. But a NPC get the actual painful feeling from attacks. Different from regular player wound that would disappear if your health point is full, if we get hurt, the scar will remain. That’s why if we died, we will start over from level 1. You will be able to hire another Sakuya, but that other Sakuya is not me.” 

After hearing that, I feel some pain in my heart. So the game maker thinks that a NPC is just something that can be replaced easily when they died huh? Basically they will load another data of the NPC rather than trying to preserve the current one. It’s so sad. 

But why you need to programmed them to feel pain then? Really, human are all stupid and thinking only about themselves.. 

“I see. Don’t worry, I won’t let you die.” 

“Thank you for your concern master.” 

While saying that, she bows down to me. We’re heading back to town after that while I lend her some hand. She had some trouble walking from the damage she taken earlier. When we arrived, the hunger level on my bottom right windows is reaching 20%. No wonder I feel so hungry now. I guess I’ll log off and eat for now. 

“I guess I’m going to log off and eat now. What are you going to do Sakuya?” 

“I’m going to wait here until you’re logged back in master. A guardian is obliged to stay at her master side all the time. As for my hunger level, may I get some gold and your approval to have my meal? A guardian didn’t get any drop from hunting. We’re only allowed to live at the mercy of our master.” 

When I hear that, I fell sad more and more. I know that NPC is just a program, but can’t you give them a better treatment. 

“I’m so sorry Sakuya. I didn’t even think about you. Can we set our hunting loot policy to be distributed evenly from now on? That way, you can have your own gold and you can eat whenever you are hungry. You’re also free to do anything you want every time I logged off. Is that possible?” 

“Let me check master. Setting additional rule to guardian law number 7. Sakuya is allowed to get gold and item from hunting. Setting additional rule to guardian law number 3. Sakuya is allowed to eat whenever she feels hungry. Setting additional rule to guardian law number 1. Sakuya is allowed to do anything she wants whenever her master logged off. Guardian law setting done. Would you like to do anything else master?” 

“Let’s adjust the law number 1 once more. You’re free to do anything you want even though I’m online.” 

“Okay. Setting additional rule to guardian law number 1. Sakuya has been granted permission from master to do anything she wants. But, wait a minute master. By applying this rule, you have obliterated my main task. Are you okay with this?” 

I can only smile when I hear her comments. Her beautiful face and pure attitude, I definitely can’t leave her alone can’t I? Furthermore the system treated her poorly. 

“Yes, I’m okay with that. Don’t worry about it. I’m just going to eat for a moment and I’ll be right back. Here’s your gold. Have your meal when I’m away. “ 

After that, she bows down a little while sending me off.