Chapter 11
Suddenly finding himself a celebrity, Isamu feels confused as he returns to Starting Town.
(How did it come to this…)
Sighing, he slowly makes his way towards the fountain plaza.
The moment he arrives at the square――
「Oh! Could you be Sieg by any chance?」
A burly young man calls out to him.
「Uh, y-yes, that’s me, but…」
(Oh man, don’t tell me…)
「I knew it! I was watching Elena’s stream, and you seem super knowledgeable about the game, old man! Would you mind teaching me some stuff?」
「Oh, um, well――」
「W-whoa, old man! Could you be the famous Tutorial Guy from the community bulletin board?」
As Isamu hesitates in responding to the burly man, another guy comes running over shouting loudly.
「Huh, Tutorial Guy!?」
Hearing the man’s voice, a woman standing nearby also approaches.
Like a chain reaction, more and more players start gathering around Isamu.
「Old man! Is it true you’ll teach us lots of things? I’m a total newbie and have no idea what I’m doing.」
「Um, I started playing after watching Elena’s broadcast, but I didn’t really get it from just the stream. Could you teach me about the game too?」
「Ah, it’s Tutorial Guy! Lucky! Hey, teach us how to play the game as well!」
「Me too!」
(Huh? Wait… what? What is this?)
Bombarded by over ten players all at once, Isamu starts to panic.
「Hey mister, will you teach me about this game too?」
What snaps Isamu back to his senses is a young girl who looks to be around first grade.
She looks up at him with an anxious expression and asks in a small voice.
「Huh? Oh, umm… Did you also just start playing this game?」
「Yeah, my dad bought it for me a little while ago.」
「I-I see. And where is your dad?」
Although this game has no age restrictions, it’s a bit difficult for young children to play alone.
That’s why kids around her age usually play together with their parents or siblings, but Isamu doesn’t see anyone like that around.
「Papa’s at work. He said, ‘Play this game and wait for me to come home like a good girl.’」
The little girl answers Isamu’s question with a lonely expression.
Hearing this, the other players surrounding them speak up.
「Wait, little lady, are you home alone right now? It’s already night in the real world.」
「Yeah.」
「What about your mom?」
「I don’t have a mom.」
Instantly, the chattering players fall silent.
This child is from a single-father household, and her dad works the night shift.
Because of that, she’s left all alone at night, so her father gave her this game to help alleviate her loneliness.
The girl obediently started playing as she was told, but not knowing what to do, she grew confused and troubled.
Everyone realized this in an instant.
「…Alright! Uncle here will teach you all sorts of things, so let’s play together!」
Isamu breaks the silence, declaring this to the little girl.
If she can find enjoyment in the game, then perhaps staying home alone won’t feel so painful.
Plus, there happen to be many players here seeking his guidance already.
By teaching them together with this girl, it should help take her mind off the loneliness.
With that thought, Isamu decides to provide a tutorial for the girl and the other players.
「Really?」
At this, the girl’s face lights up.
「Yep, really!」
「Yay, thank you uncle!」
「You’re very welcome! So, what’s your name?」
「Shuka!」
「Shuka, got it! Alright everyone, first let’s――」
Isamu then proceeds to explain to the gathered players how to open the menu window, an overview of skills, how to equip weapons, and so on.
「What are you going to level up, Shuka?」
「Hmm, I think I’ll go with the sword!」
「I see, what should big sis here do…」
「I’m going sword too! Little lady, let’s work hard together as swordsmen!」
Just like that, the surrounding players eagerly strike up conversation with Shuka.
(Shuka looks like she’s having a blast chatting with everyone. I’m so glad.)
☆
After that, Isamu leads the group to the Rookie Forest.
There he teaches them how to use special moves and magic, and they start hunting monsters while working together.
「Shuka, did you get what I explained earlier?」
「Yep!」
「Great, I’m glad to hear that! ――Oh, look, there’s a monster over there! Want to try attacking it?」
「O-okay!」
「Then try doing the same thing I do!」
Isamu charges forward, swinging his sword at the Giant Rat that appears.
「Shuka, now!」
「Hiyah!」
Following his lead, Shuka brings down her sword with strength unimaginable for her small frame.
Perhaps because Isamu’s initial strike heavily damaged it, Shuka’s follow-up attack fells the rat.
「Excellent work! Your first victory.」
「Yeah! I did it!」
As Isamu praises her, Shuka beams with a huge smile, hopping up and down with joy.
The other players come running up to Shuka, showering her with praise.
「Shuka, that was amazing!」
「Nice moves, little lady! Alright, I can’t lose either!」
「Shuka! Want to compete with me to see who can beat more monsters?」
「Yes!」
Surrounded by the other players and looking like she’s having the time of her life, Isamu can’t help but smile too seeing Shuka.
(This is totally out of character for me, but being able to see that smile makes it all worth it. Well, I’ll let myself be happy about it, just for today.)
「Yo, old dude! Sorry, but what was the chant for Air Cutter again?」
「Oh, for Air Cutter it’s――」
☆
Around two hours later.
「Uncle, looks like Shuka is getting sleepy.」
「I see. Shuka, want to call it a day here? Let’s play together again sometime.」
「…Okay. Um, Uncle. And big bros and big sis. Thank you so much for today! I had a lot of fun!」
Shuka smiles innocently, her eyes drooping with sleepiness.
「…I had fun too. Well then, Shuka. Open your menu window, and press here. That will end the game.」
「Got it. Bye bye, everyone.」
「Yeah! Let’s play together again!」
「Good night, Shuka! See you next time!」
「Mmhm, good night. Uncle, thank you so mu――」
As soon as she touches the logout button, Shuka swiftly disappears.
「Alrighty, guess I’ll log off for today too. Got work early tomorrow morning.」
「Ah, me too! I’m getting kinda tired.」
「Same here, I should probably go too…」
「I see. Good work everyone.」
「You too, old man. Well then… oh wait, old dude! Send me a friend request!」
「Me too!」
「I’d appreciate one as well!」
「O-okay, got it. I’ll send the requests now.」
Having been asked by everyone there, Isamu proceeds to send out friend requests one by one.
As they’re accepted, many names line up on Isamu’s friends list.
「Welp, I’m heading out. Thanks for everything today, old man!」
「Thank you! As expected of Tutorial Guy! I learned a lot!」
「For real! Thanks a bunch, Tu-Guy! See ya!」
「Thank you very much! Good night!」
The players express their gratitude as they log out one after another.
(Being sincerely thanked by others… it feels really nice.)
Left alone, Isamu basks in their words of appreciation.
In his 35 years of life, this is the first time he’s received such straightforward gratitude from so many people.
And that blissful look on Shuka’s face.
(…Helping others might be more fun than hunting newbies after all.)
Pondering this as he walks, Isamu arrives back in Starting Town and ends his session of Dream Fantasy.
Returning to the real world, he removes his headgear and mutters to himself:
「But seriously, enough with the ‘Tutorial Guy’ stuff. And what the heck is ‘Tu-Guy’ supposed to mean…」
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