Link Start! BaldoJang's Monkey Debut

"Not NPCs? Fine, let's go, another world! 'Link Start!'"

With those words, my consciousness plunged into the darkness.

Woooong— Ding-dong—

"Female, obviously."

It's been over 21 years since I tossed out any hang-ups about identity. I still wear pants, sure, but that's just for mobility. Anyway, after inputting my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠age and nationality on top of gender...

What the hell is this? Why's it suddenly in English? Avatar's probably literal, so Real must be... my actual appearance? Hmm... Uh... Uhhh...

It's a solo game anyway. Who cares about avatar or whatever? My real body's more comfortable for running around.

Here it comes, the toughest ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moment before diving in. But no sweat. I came prepared.

IaidoExpert_

"Ah."

It exists. Fine!

IaidoGenius_

Then!!

IaidoMaster_

...All of them exist? Whatever.

zlIaidoPro_

"Why does this one exist?"

Too tacky, right? Even by 2027 standards, it's cringe. Who the hell walks around with that?

Anyway. Baldo... Jang...

"This one's gotta be taken too."

It doesn't exist. Sigh, guess I'll go with this.

BaldoJang

Hmm. Not bad, not bad.

....

"Fuck, I should've thought this through..."

There has to be a nickname change ticket, right? First goal: buy that...

You might think it's a pain, but it's not all bad. Long journeys need a purpose. For me, that's "nickname change ticket..."

...Fuck.

Anyway, I'm in the game now.

"Whoa."

I opened my eyes and looked around. First thing that caught my eye was the massive fountain behind me. And people. People. Peoplepeoplepeople.

All NPCs? Why so many?

Even for a solo game, this is overkill for loneliness, right?

Sigh... whatever.

Just pretend I got dropped into a medieval baby boom.

Senses are...

Integrating well.

But my body's kinda heavy. Unavoidable?

My real body is heroic enough to call superhuman. Dumping that straight into a game could cause balance issues, even in a solo one.

I was hoping for a slight munchkin start.

You know, the tropes—slaughtering high-level stuff from the get-go, grinding this and that. I've read my share of webnovels back in the day.

Hmm...

How weak am I now? I threw some punches in the air to test.

Next, a kick! Punch again! Now roll! Backflip!!

"Eek!"

Hehe. Fun. Might as well spin twice more!

Flick flick!

...Nope? Where are my ears?

Human ears now, huh.

I fiddled with my ears in fascination when I felt a gaze.

'?'

At the end of it was a woman staring intently. Black bob hair to her shoulders, round eyes. Total cutie NPC vibe.

I shoved my face right up to hers without warning.

"Whoa..."

The NPC gasped in admiration as I approached. Ego boost. Time for that line I'd always wanted to try.

"Onee-san, itsu no mu?"

"Pffft!!!"

?

NPCs laugh too? Wild.

"So, virtual reality's your first time."

"Yeah..."

"And you thought we were all NPCs?"

"..."

I have some common sense. I know not to monkey around in front of people.

But I didn't know they were people! I didn't know it was an MMO!

I swear I searched the 1-player tag!

They said it supports solo play, so they added the tag? What the hell kind of logic is that?

Do you know the damage? Monkeying in public wasn't enough—I shoved my face in a stranger's!

"Pfft."

Don't laugh.

"Kkh."

I said don't laugh.

"Puhaha... ha... hahaha!!"

...Should I just die?

"Ahaha. Ha. Ha... Sorry... hng... too funny..."

"No... it's fine..."

My voice came out a bit crumpled.

I'll get revenge someday.

Hey, it wasn't my fault! The goddess said the one mocking others' flaws is worse. So I'm the victim here.

Anyway, I'm sitting across from this woman at a table. The one I face-planted on, thinking she was an NPC. Her tag's ChaerinJji. Says she's a streamer. Broadcasting live right now.

...What did I even say to her?

'Onee-san, itsu no mu?'

Should I actually just die?

"Um..."

"Yeah?"

"You're not mad, right...? I laughed too much..."

"Not mad."

Liar. I'm pissed.

"Your eyes look mad though...?"

"My eyes are just sharp."

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

......

Silence stretched on.

....

This sucks.

BaldoJang

The three letters floated above the woman's head.

What kind of person is she?

I thought she was a viewer when she shoved her face in mine on first sight. Then the backflips for aggro—I figured she was hooked.

In the beginner village, no less...

There are only two ways to end up in Rebion Arc's beginner village. One: total newbie. Most players here. Two: account reset.

The first is fine. The second? Insane. Nuke your account for a snipe? Only a lunatic would.

But the possibility crossed my mind anyway.

Her face is too naturally pretty.

Rebion Arc offers two customizations: your real face, or basic avatar.

First one's natural but rare—few dare plaster their mug online.

Pretty or not is secondary. I did it anyway.

Cam streamer life—face is merchandise. Plus, I've got confidence.

Most use avatars. Even obvious ones guarantee beauty.

But BaldoJang? Naturally gorgeous. Celebrity-level.

That's a vet trait. The customization system's detailed—eyes, nose, mouth, bone structure. But that's also excruciatingly complex.

Game's too new; even customization pervs lack research time. Most pretty ones feel off.

Rare naturals? Usually custom-perv relics hoarding exclusives.

So yeah, suspicious. Asked if she customized herself: "Huh? No?"

Real face then? Cele? Never seen her.

Still don't fully buy it. First VR? Yeah right.

As viewers say, doesn't add up. Not like she's from another world.

Suspicions galore, but we're partying up. Pretty faces always in demand. Seems decent from talking. Still skeptical on first VR, but vets sometimes hook newbies with customs. Above all, she's hilarious.

Look at her now...

Swish— swish—

Flying around. Dodododo—

Climbing trees now. Crack—

"Uwak!"

Thud—

"Pfft."

Monkeys fall from trees too, huh.

"Ugh..."

Doesn't hurt. Devs aren't suicidal. Just... embarrassing.

I'm good at climbing trees... really good...

Why was that branch so flimsy...

Anyway.

"So, what's next?"

"Us? Level up, duh."

"Aha."

Off to hunt monsters then? Piece of cake.

"Alright~ Let's go~"

"...BaldoJang, how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠old are you?"

"Huh? Why?"

"No reason... hehe..."

?

Oh right. Not 2020 anymore? They don't say that now? For real?

Sigh...

"Not middle-aged."

"Kh. Okay."

I said I'm not!

Fixed quests, fixed routes, that's standard games. Rebion Arc's system is quirky.

Prime example: adventurer guild.

Quests must be picked up from the guild yourself. Only forced one at start: "Go to the adventurer guild."

Your choice after that.

And so!

Newbie means slimes! Slimes means newbie!

Let's grind slimes!

We arrived at...

"Herb gathering quest?"

"Yeah."

"Not slimes?"

"Slimes start at level 10."

"Aha."

It was some tiny hill. My slimes...