Chapter 5
Isamu returns to the Starting Town and decides to do some shopping with his accumulated funds before searching for his next target.
His current balance is 1,150 Gald.
Gald is the currency unit in this game.
Of that amount, 1,000 Gald was provided at the start of the game, so the remaining 150 Gald is what he earned from defeating monsters.
Isamu heads to the armor shop, trying to avoid attracting attention from other players who may have also gotten off to a good start.
『Welcome. This is the armor shop.』
The shopkeeper greets him in a monotone voice as he enters.
The shopkeeper is an NPC. No matter what you say to him, he only repeats the same lines.
Ignoring the NPC, Isamu touches the iron armor without hesitation.
『That’s the iron armor. It costs 1,100 Gald. Do you want to buy it?』
＜Do you want to purchase the Iron Armor?＞
Isamu immediately selects 「Yes」 on the panel that appears, and a ringing sound echoes in his head.
He then opens the Item List page from the menu window and equips the purchased iron armor.
Instantly, his body is enveloped in iron plates.
Clad in armor with a sword in his right hand, Isamu may be an unremarkable middle-aged man in everyday life, but now he looks like a proper swordsman.
Unfortunately, he didn’t experience the beta version of PVP, so he doesn’t know to what extent the damage will be reduced, but at least he shouldn’t be killed instantly.
After all, he paid a hefty sum, so it better save him from that fate.
『Thank you very much. Please come again.』
the NPC says as Isamu leaves the shop and heads to the item store.
There, he purchases several Life Potions to restore HP.
(With these, even if I’m suddenly attacked, I should be able to handle it in my current state.)
「There we go.」
Isamu grunts as he sits down on a bench installed around the central fountain in the Starting Town.
He surveys the area, looking for suitable prey, and soon spots a promising target.
It’s a demure woman who appears to be in her early twenties.
She’s been staying in the same spot for a while, looking like she’s waiting for someone to arrive.
Isamu assumes she’s probably waiting for her boyfriend, and they’ll play the game while being all lovey-dovey.
Feeling indignant at this thought, he decides to make her his target.
In the real world, he would never dare approach a young woman, but this is inside the game.
Moreover, with his current equipment, she shouldn’t be wary of him.
Isamu stands up from the bench, takes a deep breath, and slowly starts walking towards the woman.
「――man! Hey, old man!」
A male voice calls out from behind him.
「Hm?」
Isamu casually turns around, wondering if the person is talking to him.
(Ugh!)
Standing there are the types of people Isamu dislikes the most.
The man has long, golden hair, resembling a host you’d often see in entertainment districts.
The woman also has blonde hair with curled ends, looking like a hostess.
「Hey, judging by your appearance, you must be really good at this game, right? If you don’t mind, could you teach us some stuff?」
「We’re like, total newbies at VRMMOs. We don’t know anything. Pretty please!」
To his surprise, the flashy couple is asking him for guidance.
(Wh-why do I have to…)
Of course, Isamu isn’t enthusiastic about the idea.
He’s playing the game to hunt down these types of people living it up in reality, so why should he go out of his way to teach them about the game?
Just as he’s about to politely decline to avoid provoking them――
(Wait a minute. This could be a chance.)
Isamu stops himself.
From what he heard, these two are VRMMO beginners. And he just got new armor too.
Now he can hunt this couple one-sidedly.
Isamu pretends to agree to their request, planning to lure them to the Rookie Forest and kill them there.
「W-well, I guess I have no choice. Okay.」
「For real? You’re pretty chill for an old dude!」
「You’re like, a total lifesaver! You rock, old man!」
「Ahaha… Then I’ll teach you various things, so, um, could you follow me?」
Isamu forces a smile and leads the two towards the teleportation magic circle.
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