LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 157: Catching Up
"So let me get this straight. Not just me, but my entire world, is just fictitious? Thought up by some manga author named Togashi? While you, as a player, died in the real world, got revived, and now have to complete missions to survive? Are you on drugs or something? Who would ever believe this!" Menchi, clearly annoyed and angered, asks Alex again.
Alex sighs. Even after a few hours, Menchi still refuses to believe anything he's told her.
"You know it sounds kinda insane, but floating in a dark void, speaking with a weird system… logic can't explain that, can it? How about this: let's just leave my player room for now. I need to contact a few friends and get a lot of work done. I think seeing is believing, and once you experience more of this Realm, you'll finally accept it. Oh, and maybe you should take a lesson from Mustrano. He's not complaining or asking questions. Good boy!"
"I do not underssstand a ssssingle thing you exxxplained to me," Mustrano hisses in response. "The only thing I care about is killing!"
Alex sighs again. I guess I spoke too soon. He glances at Menchi, whose smile is wide and smug, clearly enjoying Mustrano's outburst.
With a thought, Alex stops conjuring Mustrano, and his left hand returns to normal.
[Host, before you leave, there are several issues that require your immediate attention. First of all, I see that you have taken quite a lot of damage. Do you want to spend 2,000 FC to eliminate all external and internal injuries?]
"Yes, do it. What else is there to take care of?" Alex responds, shrugging. He doesn't value 2,000 FC very much at this point.
[It's about the new Subhost. She can move freely in the Realm, but certain limitations are placed on her. First, you may only take a single combat supporter with you on missions. To enable this, you'll need a particular item, which can be purchased in the main section of the Realm. Note that followers have their own levels, and if you take them with you, they will be scaled down to maintain world balance. For example, Subhost Menchi is currently level 11 but has the combat strength of an average level 17 player. In this regard, she's a valuable choice as a supporter. However, if you take her with you, her strength will be scaled down significantly. For instance, she would be adjusted to level 5, meaning her combat strength would be lowered by more than half.]
[Additionally, should a follower perish on a mission, you will need another rare and costly item to revive them.]
"What? So I can't take Menchi with me for now? This sucks!" Alex complains, frustrated by the limitations.
[You can take them with you as a non-combatant follower. These followers may interact with NPCs, yourself, and other players in peaceful zones, such as towns, cities, and camps. However, they may not participate in battles. If a battle occurs, these followers will be forcefully removed from the fight and may only reappear in a peaceful zone.]
"I like a good fight, but I'm not really here to participate in fighting. I'm fine as long as I can visit foreign towns, get to know their food specialties, cooking techniques, ingredients, and dishes. That suits me just fine," Menchi says, then adds, "Of course, if you ever need my help, I'll gladly join as a combat follower as well. Still, I'm less interested in hunting my prey and more interested in turning it into a delicacy."
Alex nods. "I guess that's fine. You can accompany me into the worlds, stay in towns, and support me that way. For now, that's plenty, I guess. The most important thing is that you can move freely in the Realm. The Realm has items from many other worlds available, and as long as you have money, called Fantasy Coins, or FC—you can purchase them freely. You can expect a lot of different ingredients and foods to show up."
"I see! I can't wait to see what's available!" Menchi says, her excitement evident.
Alex feels his injuries slowly healing, and after a few minutes, he and Menchi leave his private room.
"You weren't kidding! This architecture is insane. Is this heaven? It looks like some kind of ancient ruin, there's no way this place could have been built by humans!" Menchi says, looking around in awe.
"I said the same thing when I first got here," Alex replies. "Anyway, I need to contact my friends. I've got a bunch of messages."
[Rishi: Contact me when you are back. I have a plan that needs your input; it's important.]
Pfft, how cold. I guess I'm thankful for his trust in me. Wonder what that plan is all about, huh? Alex wonders to himself.
"That's one of your friends, right? I can see these messages as well. That's interesting," Menchi says, peeking over at the system interface.
[Menchi: Test! Menchi is the best 😉]
"..." Alex stares blankly at the message, then replies flatly, "It's working alright. Looks like you can write your own messages, but we have access to each other's messages as well." Menchi sheepishly sticks out her tongue in response.
Alex continues reading through his messages:
[Tereza: Are you back yet?]
[Tereza: Getting a bit worried here….]
[Tereza: Your two friends, Eirini and Patricia, are back… why are you still missing?]
[Tereza: ANSWER ME!!!!]
Guess she was honestly worried about me… Alex thinks. The last night before I left… I still haven't thought much about it. I guess it's only been one or two days for her, while it was months for me! Feeling slightly uneasy about Tereza's concern and Menchi's recent arrival, he tries to shake the thoughts away. He's also unsure about his relationship with either of them.
[Alex: I'm back. Sorry it took a while longer since I wanted to clear the optional DLC after the main mission ended.]
"Guess she'll respond sooner or lat…" Alex starts to say but is cut off by an immediate reply.
[Tereza: WHERE ARE YOU? Also, stop using gamer slang, that's so lame!]
[Alex: It isn't. This whole thing is like a game. Get used to it. I just left my room and was planning to go to the center. Need to use my stats, upgrade my skills, and sell a bunch of things, the usual stuff. Want to meet up?]
[Tereza: Come to the usual place first!]
Alex sighs. "Change of plans. Let's take a small detour first to meet her," he says, motioning for Menchi to follow him.
He leads her toward the abandoned temple ruins in a deserted corner of the Realm.
As soon as Alex enters the temple ruin, Tereza rushes toward him with a big smile and hugs him passionately.
"I'm so glad you're back! I seriously thought you were gone…," she says, visibly relieved.
"Wait, who is that?" Tereza asks, noticing Menchi standing behind him. Her eyes widen in disbelief. "No way! Is that Menchi? What is this?? How?? Damn she looks really hot, I've got to say."
"You know me?" Menchi asks, clearly surprised.
"Yeah… I've been binge-watching all episodes of Hunter x Hunter the last few days since you entered that world. So, of course, I remember the second examiner of the Hunter Exam," Tereza explains.
"Wait a minute, I was the examiner of the third exam," Menchi argues, frowning slightly.
"Menchi, it's like I told you," Alex interjects. "There's the canon version of yourself, and then there's the real, current you. In the manga and anime, you don't show up until two whole years later to test the main character of the show. Now that we're talking about it… I wonder what happens now? Since you left the world, the plot can't move forward like it usually does. Will you get replaced by a random NPC or what?" Alex wonders aloud, scratching his head.
[Host should know that Menchi is still part of Hunter x Hunter. Any player that enters a fresh world will encounter the canon Menchi. Your particular progress in the world of Hunter x Hunter is special. Even during your absence, a part of Menchi still remains. Should you and Menchi reenter that world, Menchi will integrate into that placeholder version of hers for the time of the mission.]
"Countless versions of me… am I just a random copy 1337? This is kinda scaring me!!" Menchi says, her voice shaking slightly.
[You are as much alive as these players. The Realm is divine; it is beyond what humans like you can comprehend. Every single named 'NPC,' as you call them, in each world is as human as the players. Just because numerous versions of you exist does not diminish your current state. In fact, you are clearly superior, as there is only a single version of each NPC allowed in the entire Realm. There will never be another Menchi present as long as you accompany the Host.]
Menchi looks visibly appeased after hearing this explanation, but Tereza interrupts, her face growing serious.
"Sorry to interrupt, but there's something you need to know," Tereza says, her tone worried. "It's about Rishi! We found out some information while you were gone, and Rishi… he's gone for now!"
"Gone? What do you mean?" Alex asks, confusion written all over his face.
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