Let's Make Logging Out a Habit
A rundown shack. A young girl sat on the bed with a blank expression. She glanced around briefly, then pinched her own cheek several times. Only after her sticky rice cake-like cheek turned bright red did she stop.
"......What the hell."
She looked down. A white dress. Short limbs.
"This is ridiculous."
With a deflating sigh, the girl flopped back onto the bed.
"......I've never even downloaded a pedo game."
It seemed she'd ended up in a different game altogether. An unexpected glitch was never welcome. Especially not for someone starting their first day at a new job tomorrow.
She let out a short sigh and murmured softly.
"Log out."
......But no matter how much time passed, nothing changed.
"...Log out."
Even shouting it again yielded the same result.
"Menu."
"Status window."
"Skills."
"Call GM."
Starting to feel something was seriously wrong, she bolted upright. Her eyes immediately caught an old wooden table nearby, with a small mirror beside it.
She approached cautiously, picked up the mirror, and checked her reflection. The face of a girl who looked about six years old stared back.
".........."
And next to it, an identity plate.
Sisilia
Born in the Year 483 of Saint Michael
...Another World?
A familiar character name. Appearance. Even the birth year. The only difference was that she was younger, but everything else matched the character from Another World.
But still.
There was no unpleasant visual haze unique to Another World, nor the sluggish sensation compared to reality. And then, memories surfaced. The GM's words about a sequel to Another World, and the gate.
......So this is Another World's sequel?
It was the most plausible guess. Especially since this happened right after that conversation.
Then why wouldn't logout work?
"......Am I trapped in the game or something? Does that even make sense?"
Sisilia instinctively rejected the idea. But the tiny cracks etched into the shack's weathered wooden planks. The rough texture of the wood under her fingers. It was a level of detail no VR game she remembered could replicate.
Too precise. Does it really need to be this realistic?
This time, she kicked the edge of the bed with her foot. The fairly heavy bed creaked and shifted slightly. The weight and impact transmitted to her toes. And the growing unease.
It feels real......
Suddenly wanting to confirm something, she walked to the wall. Clenched her fist and slammed it down with all her might.
Thud!
An impact too heavy for a child's body. And pain too real for virtual reality.
"......Ow. That hurts. A lot."
Sisilia curled up like a ball, holding back the spinning tears in her eyes. No matter how advanced VR games got, they couldn't simulate pain like this.
Then, a word naturally surfaced in her mind.
Reality.
She didn't want to believe it, but it was the only explanation. Nothing else could account for this situation.
"......"
This wasn't some game. It was reality. The setting was probably a world based on Another World.
"No way."
Sisilia's lips twitched.
-Could you test it for us?
-You're the most suitable person among the users......
Was that it? The GM she'd talked to earlier was actually a real goddess, who had sent her to this world. A bit clichéd for a modern novel.
The kind, gentle face instantly transformed into the most infuriating one imaginable.
"Calm down, calm down."
The problem was, if it was based on Another World, this world was hell itself. No time for panic.
......I need to prepare. Gotta survive first.
Sisilia began rummaging through the room thoroughly.
**
"This is everything."
She gathered all the items in the shack onto the table. It was bleak.
Just a stone bun and a knife. At least there's a shack—should I call that lucky?
Having a safe base was a huge advantage. No worries about getting mauled by forest wolves, at least.
Accepting the situation somewhat positively, Sisilia first picked up a stone bun and bit into it.
......It tasted awful.
"How do I use Aura?"
Sisilia clenched her fist and swung it through the air.
Whoosh—!
A sharp whoosh cut the air, her hair fluttering. In a slightly relieved voice, she said,
"Same method, good."
Aura was the measure of power in Another World. Fortunately, that hadn't changed. Her attribute was still Wind's Blessing.
And that means I'm decently strong for my level.
This was why Another World was tough. Unlike other games where saying a skill name activated it automatically, here users had to manifest it through mental imagery. Sisilia, who'd reached rank 1, had an extraordinarily high manifestation level.
So this was a relief. It guaranteed her some combat ability.
"......Time to scout around."
With inventory sorted, it was time to move. Sisilia wobbled to the door on unsteady legs. Standing on tiptoes, she barely opened it, revealing a dense forest swaying like it was dancing in the breeze.
Sisilia's lips curved up slyly. Even in this grim situation, she felt great.
Exciting.
Her heart raced. The thrill of a new world. Confidence as a top player. Escape from a suffocating reality. No work tomorrow.
None of that. So when it officially launches, other people will get pulled in like me, right?
Ten years of a stale game without newbies. Just thinking about soft, fresh newbies made her giddy.
Max out before official launch.
A hint of madness gleamed in Sisilia's eyes.
**
Liannen Kingdom, heart of the capital Terezia. There stood the Windsor Knight Order, protectors against demonic threats. The main gate stood wide open for anyone seeking aid, bustling with knights and citizens.
But today, an unusual scene unfolded.
"I want to become a knight."
The clear voice rang out, silencing the surroundings momentarily. Knight Karl scanned the girl up and down with a dumbfounded look.
Silver hair cascading to her waist, paper-pale skin, wrists so fragile they might snap with a flick. Her height barely reached his waist. Maybe six years old?
"Scram, kid."
Karl waved her off dismissively. Already stressed from weekend duty, he had no patience for a child's games.
"Where do I take the entry test?"
But Sisilia showed no sign of backing down. Karl sighed deeply and tried sounding scarier.
"This ain't a playground. Go home before I get mad, uncle's orders."
"Classic pattern, huh."
Sisilia clasped her hands and took two steps back. That's when Karl noticed the dagger in her hand and frowned.
"Why's a brat carrying that? Put it down now."
"Sorry."
The girl bowed her head in apology. Then, without lifting it, she said flatly,
"I'm in a rush."
"What?"
"Here I go."
In an instant, silver hair whipped through Karl's vision. And suddenly, a gleaming dagger met his eyes up close.
Karl instinctively dodged back, but the next moment, the dagger embedded in the wall.
Boom!
A shockwave that shook the wall and a deafening roar.
"W-what the hell are you doing!"
Karl shouted urgently. But the girl pulled the dagger free and replied calmly,
"Fastest way."
Karl froze halfway. As he opened his mouth to speak, the dagger flew again.
"Wait! Hold on!"
He could only dodge every which way. Not because she was a child.
Had to.
She was fast, attacks coming from utterly unpredictable angles. Dodging was all he could manage.
Impossible!
Shocked as he was, a knight was a knight. As Karl's panic settled, he gradually adapted to Sisilia's blade.
Sisilia widened the distance and lowered her dagger. A faint tremble ran through her small hand.
Too much for this body. Can't beat a knight right now.
The game's foundation was fast leveling. Good hunting grounds were essential. Problem was, this wasn't Another World. No familiar spots.
She'd have to clear skipped quests sequentially for stepwise growth. Tedious and boring. Like tutorials, it needed skipping.
Simple method. Hate stairs? Take the elevator.
Make them think. Too dangerous to ignore.
She closed her eyes. Drew an image. A technique possible only with the barely visible Wind's Blessing.
The most threatening form of Aura she could manifest now.
Overwhelm them.
A shrill sound like tearing air filled the space, the wind from her blade writhing like a living thing. The gathered wind elongated from the tip, beginning to glow.
"Sword aura......?"
The knight ahead muttered in confusion. Sisilia smiled quietly.
Lucky. Manifested it, barely, with this pittance of mana.
But her hand shook, cold sweat trickling. She knew sustaining it would wreck her, yet she gritted her teeth.
One step. Just one more.
Release this, and she'd surely join the knights.
But.
Something's off.
The knight's face was odd. Bluish, but not from sword aura fear. A knight wouldn't die from one hit.
And his gaze tilted slightly upward.
Someone behind me?
Before she could turn, a hand gripped her nape. She was lifted slowly.
It felt like standing atop a skyscraper.
"Stop. Your body can't take more."
Bushy beard. Sturdy build. Above all, silver epaulets on the shoulders.
"Releasing that just now would've wrecked you."
"C-Captain! How are you here...!"
The Knight Order captain. My future boss.
Sisilia subtly gauged him and lowered her eyes. She'd hoped for anyone, but hooked the biggest fish.
"And this much is still far from enough. Anyone in this order can use sword aura."
The captain's gaze was filled with interest as he stared.
"But considering your age, potential's there. Who are you?"
Sisilia barely opened her mouth. Overuse penalty brought crushing drowsiness.
"......Room and board's fine. No need for pay."
"?"
"But salary negotiation once a year, mandatory......"
With those final words, she fell asleep. Astonishment colored everyone in the hall.