My eyes scrunched in bewilderment as I scanned the surrounding area. This clearing was undoubtedly the same place where I had been teleported at the start of the tutorial phase. Everything appeared familiar, yet an unsettling sensation tugged at me. Hoping to gain clarity, I accessed my player status.

***

Player: Akira Sakamoto (Aoi Player)

Level: 7

Class: Marksman

Subclass: Gunner

Title: Lover of Peach

Health Points (HP): 160 — 100%

Mana Points (MP): 300 — 100%

Main Stats:

Strength (STR): 8

Dexterity (DEX): 7+1

Wisdom (WIS): 3

Charisma (CHA): 1

Intelligence (INT): 30

Luck (LUK): 2

Free Stats Points: 18

Overall Prestige (PRE): +120% (Max 1000%)

***

Everything checked out. My stats were updated post-battle with the goblins. Yet, a nagging doubt persisted as I scrutinized every detail. Gold, tools, items, skills—all securely stowed in their respective slots.

Questions raced through my mind. If everything was intact, why this disconcerting aura? Eyes scouring the treeline and ground, I sought clues. The trees stood as before, the clearing’s dimensions unchanged. Still, an eerie stillness hung in the air, absent from my first arrival.

I activated the full map, its holographic display overlaying the terrain I’d traversed. It confirmed my location: the very forest clearing where I had first entered this virtual realm.

“What’s the deal here?” I muttered, my perplexity deepening. “Is this the staging area? Where are the other players, then?”

Gazing skyward, I squinted at the blue expanse. “Oi, System, is this another one of your jokes?”

As if in response, rustling erupted from the dense undergrowth nearby. I readied my slingshot, eyes narrowing on the source of disturbance.

“Who goes there?” I called out, my voice steady and authoritative. A strange sense of déjà vu crept over me. Why did this feel so familiar? Before I could ponder further, a figure emerged from behind a tree, causing my eyes to widen in shock. It was the goblin I had defeated when I arrived in this forsaken game world, identifiable by the distinctive scar marring his left cheek.

The goblin tilted his head to one side and spoke in a squeaky, mocking voice. “Fear not, young warrior, I mean you ‘great’ harm,” he sneered, his statement punctuated by a chilling, echoing laugh.

“Yeah, right,” I retorted, quickly loading a kōkyū into my slingshot and releasing it with precision.

The goblin, caught off guard, was struck squarely on the forehead by the projectile. He toppled backward, his body hitting the ground with a lifeless thud.

I approached the fallen goblin, my steps cautious but steady. As I drew closer, an awareness struck me. If this was indeed the same goblin I had encountered on my first day in this world, why didn’t he show any recognition? My thoughts were abruptly halted by the appearance of the familiar blue screen before my eyes.

***

You have killed a Common Goblin

Gold: 10

***

“Eh? Why is the reward lacking?” I pondered aloud, eyebrows knitting in confusion. “Where are the free points and the ring? And why didn’t I level up?”

I knelt by the goblin’s side, turning his head slightly to examine the scar more closely. It was unmistakable; the very same. I glanced back at the blue screen, frowning. Something wasn’t adding up. My stats were right, my items intact, but the environment, the events—they felt off, like a warped reflection of my initial experience.

I stood up, brushing off the dirt from my knees. My eyes swept across the clearing once more. What was different? The eerie silence pressed on, unsettling and unnatural. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting.

“All right, System,” I clenched my fists. “I’m not falling for this. What’s really going on here?”

No answer came, just the wind rustling through the leaves. But I knew something was out there, something that wasn’t part of the original design. And I was going to find out what it was.

My gaze shifted to the Ring of Mischief wrapped around my finger, and an insight struck me. Was it because I’d already acquired the item? I wondered. The lack of level progression made sense now; at my current level, I needed more experience points to advance.

Turning my attention to the goblin’s dropped loot—a stone ax and an obsidian dagger—I quickly retrieved and stowed them in my Tool/Items list. Adding weapons from fallen foes to my arsenal would bolster my assets, which I could readily sell in the online store. The system adeptly differentiated between items acquired from defeated adversaries and those gained by other means—a critical detail in a game overseen by such a capricious master.

Rubbing my chin thoughtfully, I considered the unfolding events, each piece pointing toward a journey back in time. Could it be a glitch in the system? A weary sigh escaped my lips as I acknowledged the need for more information to validate my suspicions. Patience became my ally; I would have to await the next development.

Right on cue, sudden howling shattered the quiet. “Ah, I totally forgot about those horny devils,” I muttered, nodding my head and preparing for imminent action. Without hesitation, I retraced my steps to the location of my first encounter with these lewd creatures. Taking cover behind the dense undergrowth, I positioned myself keenly, watching the path ahead. Moments later, the first rabbit appeared. With a wry grin, I addressed it like an old friend.

“Hey there, little guy. No humping coming from you today,” I taunted, before unleashing a precise shot.

The rabbit was flung backward, life extinguished by the well-aimed projectile. Satisfaction spread across my face. “Now, for the rest of these horny buggers.”

As expected, the remaining rabbits emerged from the shadows. With a villainous laugh, I confidently wielded my slingshot, preparing for the skirmish ahead. Bewildered by my aggression, the rabbits barely reacted before succumbing to my rapid volleys.

In less than a minute, the forest floor lay strewn with their lifeless bodies. A notification screen promptly appeared, detailing my rewards: six gold coins and an additional free stat point. “Yes!” I exclaimed, pleased with the outcome.

With the creatures dispatched, I turned my attention to the next task engraved in my memory from that inaugural day in this fantastical realm: the cave. Keeping this mission at the forefront, I pressed onward through the dense forest.

An hour’s journey brought me back to my initial refuge, where the gentle murmur of a nearby stream provided a soothing backdrop to my thoughts. The tranquility of the scene, however, was punctuated by vivid memories of the ogre whose monstrous swing had sent me hurtling through the air.

Should I find a new base and start over? The thought crossed my mind, but I swiftly dismissed it. I had never been one to back down from challenges. Just as I had mastered the intricacies of the Time Crisis II arcade game with relentless dedication over two years, patience and perseverance were ingrained in me. Crafting intricate pieces in my wood and metalwork classes had taught me that overcoming obstacles required not just brute force, but a well-crafted strategy.

Moreover, I had two weeks to formulate a plan. The deadline hung over me like a sword, but it also provided a clear focus. I needed to analyze the ogre’s patterns, exploit its weaknesses, and perhaps enlist allies or acquire resources that could turn the tide in my favor.

As the moon ascended into the night sky, I savored the evening air, lost in thought. Regardless of whether my predicament was a mere glitch in the system, I remained determined to uncover the truth. If it meant facing elimination once more and returning to the tutorial phase’s starting point, so be it.

A sudden thought sparked within me, and a mischievous gleam danced in my eyes as I rubbed my hands together eagerly. Now I couldn’t wait to find out what Pokey’s meat tastes like.