Chapter 12
The next night.
Isamu is deep in thought.
The topic on his mind is what to do going forward.
Originally, Isamu started playing this game with the pretense of getting revenge on the normies, using it as an outlet to vent his frustrations.
However, over the past three days, as he interacted with more and more people, those feelings gradually faded.
Indeed, Isamu had inadvertently discovered the joy of being useful to others.
Though, it’s not as if he had completely forgotten the bitter feelings the normies had made him experience.
During the beta test, he had even held himself back from exploring the other areas he was interested in, focusing solely on hunting beginners in the Rookie Forest.
If he quits now, wouldn’t that restraint be for nothing?
But when he thinks back to the smiles and words of gratitude from the players he met these past three days…
「――Alright!」
After much deliberation, Isamu came to a decision.
If, just if, there are people today who need his help, he will sincerely respond to them.
And if doing so brings him the same sense of happiness and fulfillment he felt these past few days, he will be true to his feelings and play the game earnestly.
The moment no one calls out to him, or he starts feeling dissatisfied, that’s when he’ll carry out his original plan of hunting beginners.
With his mind made up, Isamu excitedly boots up the game.
☆
In front of the now familiar fountain in Starting Town.
Isamu walks over to a bench and slowly takes a seat.
「…Hm?」
Scanning his surroundings, he notices about a third of the nearby players—roughly 20 or so people—have their gazes fixed on him.
Immediately after, they all rush over, and one of them calls out to him.
「Hey, are you by any chance Sieg?!」
「Y-Yeah, that’s me, but…」
As Isamu answers the man excitedly rushing towards him, he reflexively recoils a bit――
「Yay, we finally found you!」
「Please, Tu-Guy! Teach me all sorts of stuff!」
「So you are the one they call Tutorial Guy. Very well. I shall permit you to bestow your knowledge upon me.」
「I watched Elena’s stream! Please give me some guidance too!」
「I read about you on the forums, is it true you teach newbies anything and everything?!」
They all barrage him with comments at once.
Isamu is momentarily taken aback, but quickly assesses the situation and stands up from the bench.
「E-Everyone! First, let’s all calm down!」
Surprisingly, the players obediently heed his words and quiet down in an instant.
Still a bit flustered by their reaction, Isamu continues.
「Um, well then. Just to confirm, you all want me to teach you about this game, is that right…?」
「Yeah!」
「Yes, that’s right!」
「Indeed, Tutorial Guy.」
「Please!」
Hearing their responses, Isamu can’t help but smile.
It really does feel good to be relied on by others.
Even if he’s just being conveniently used as a stand-in for a manual.
「…Understood! I’ll be happy to give you all some guidance if you’ll have me!」
「Woohoo! That’s our Tutorial Guy for ya!」
「For real? Tu-Guy, you’re such an awesome dude!」
「Thanks so much, Tutorial Guy!」
「Hmph. Be honored that you get to be of use to me.」
(I guess 「Tutorial Guy」 has already become my nickname… Well, I don’t really mind. Alright then!)
「Okay everyone! Just to double-check, is there anyone here who skipped the tutorial? If so, please raise your hand.」
Isamu is left dumbfounded.
Around half of the players present raised their hands.
He had asked expecting there might be a few people who skipped, like Leon, Kaito and Emi, but he never imagined this many.
In this case, he has no choice but to explain from the beginning.
He feels bad for the players who already went through the tutorial, but it can’t be helped.
「Got it! Then let’s start with how to open the menu window――」
Isamu then proceeds to explain the usual topics like an overview of levels and skills, how to equip weapons, etc.
Perhaps because he’s done it so many times, he’s gotten quite used to teaching and is able to do so smoothly, which he finds amusing himself.
「Alright, we’ll head to the Rookie Forest now. Everyone, please follow me.」
「「「Okaaay!」」」
Isamu takes the lead, informing them of shop locations and where key NPCs are as they walk, while the players trail behind him chattering excitedly.
(I wonder if this is what it feels like to be a teacher…)
With that thought in mind, Isamu continues walking towards the magic circle for teleportation.
☆
After moving to the Rookie Forest, Isamu explains to the players how to activate skills and magic.
Once that’s settled, he has each of them try hunting monsters on their own.
「Blades of wind, slice and dice! Air Cutter!」
「Double Slash!」
「P-Pierce through! Rock Lance!」
「Somersault Kick!」
It seems everyone is handling combat well.
「Aww yeah, first victory!」
「Dude! This game is ridiculously fun!」
「I know, right? Okay, let’s hunt some more monsters!」
「Yes! Ah, another monster appeared!」
Everyone is excitedly enjoying the game to their hearts’ content.
Seeing them like this makes Isamu happy too.
「Tutorial Guy. May I have a moment?」
Amidst all this, a handsome young man who looks to be about college age calls out to him.
「Yes, what is it?」
「I followed your instructions and bestowed words upon the evil god, but my dark magic isn’t activating.」
(Ah, so that’s the kind of character he’s playing…)
In VRMMOs, it’s not uncommon for players to roleplay.
This guy must be trying to act as some Demon Lord or something.
Frankly, it’s quite cringeworthy, but how one plays is up to the individual.
With that in mind, Isamu responds earnestly without making fun of him, albeit with a wry smile.
「I-I see. Did you correctly recite the chant and skill name?」
「Indeed I did, or so I thought.」
「Hmm, that’s strange… Then, do you mind if I check to make sure it’s really correct? Ah, please do it facing away from everyone else.」
The disappointing ikemen nods and extends his hand in a direction with no players.
He then takes a big, deep breath and moves his mouth.
「Manifest, O jet-black flames! Scorch my hated enemies to cinders! Dark Flaaaare!!」
Isamu is at a loss for words.
To think he even prepared his own original chant.
And without a shred of embarrassment too.
「…Um, well. The chant for Dark Flare is supposed to be ‘Come forth, black flames, and burn’…」
「I-I know that! But it sounded too weak and lacked impact, so I took it upon myself to――no, I mean…」
「Is that so… But if you do that, the system won’t recognize it, so it won’t activate at all.」
「What?! Is that how it works? Then I suppose I have no choice. Come forth, black flames, and buuurn! Dark Flaaaare!」
The ikemen recites the chant and skill name in an excessively theatrical tone.
And with that, the dark magic—Dark Flare—is unleashed from the magic circle.
「Whoa!」
「You did it! Okay, use that magic to defeat monsters and level up!」
「Y-Yes! Tutorial Guy, you have my gratitude. Then, I shall take my leave.」
(Phew… There sure are some unique folks out there.)
Thinking that teaching really isn’t straightforward, Isamu responds to the players’ questions.
At the same time, he bids farewell to the players logging out, and continues this for several hours until――
「Man, that was a blast! I think I’m gonna log off too. Thanks for today, Tu-Guy!」
「Not at all, you’re very welcome! Have a good one.」
「You too, Tu-Guy, and thanks again! See ya!」
The last remaining person also returns to reality.
Now alone, Isamu closes his eyes for a while, lost in thought.
As he thought, it feels great to be useful to others and be thanked for it.
And if he’s being honest, he can’t get enough of playing together with everyone like this.
Hunting beginners has its own merits, letting you feel an overwhelming sense of superiority which is fun in its own way.
But if both are 「fun」, then it’s obvious that being appreciated is better than being resented.
With that in mind, Isamu makes a decision.
From now on, instead of hunting beginners, he will become their source of strength.
(And enjoy the game to the fullest.)
There are still many areas he hasn’t been to yet.
And if he becomes well-versed in those areas, he can teach beginners how to clear them too.
「–Alright!」
At this very moment, Isamu resolves to live as the Tutorial Guy in this game.
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