Chapter 4: I Got Bear Equipment!
The long-awaited update day had finally arrived.
The world’s first VRMMO fantasy RPG.
A game with multiple races, multiple classes, and multiple skills, offering a wide range of playstyles.
One year after its release, a major update had arrived today.
Three years had passed since I became a shut-in, and I was now fifteen years old.
And the game I encountered a year ago was World Fantasy Online.
A game where you could experience fantasy with a sense of realism.
It had been a year since I started playing it.
I hadn’t gone to school and spent all my time gaming.
Sleep?
Of course I sleep properly for eight hours.
Because I get sleepy.
First comes sleep, second comes delicious food, and third comes games.
School?
That’s a place for idiots, right?
In this world, there’s an alchemy called stocks.
Just by depositing money, it keeps increasing.
It’s like an easy game.
As long as you gather information, money will keep coming in.
When I told my parents that, they said school is a place to make friends.
Friends?
Are they tasty?
My parents were extremely annoying about it, but when I gave them one hundred million yen, they shut up.
After that, they stopped coming home.
They’re probably enjoying themselves with the money.
When it runs out, they’ll come begging again.
So I decided to secretly move into a luxury apartment without telling them.
This way, I’m finally free from my parents.
I may be fifteen, but I have money and can cook.
There’s no problem living alone.
As for laundry, I can just send it to a cleaning service.
And so, today as usual, I start the game alone.
Maintenance ends and the update is complete.
Not wanting to be even a second late, I log in the moment maintenance ends.
“Welcome back, Yuna-sama. Would you like to hear the update information?”
When I log in, a woman dressed as a maid guides me through the game.
She’s an NPC you can choose during the initial setup, either a male butler or a female maid.
Without hesitation, I chose the cute maid.
Butlers are fine too, but I prefer maids.
“I don’t need it. Just start the game already.”
“Understood. Then we will begin the upgrade campaign.”
“There’s something like that?”
“There are present items based on your total playtime over the past year.”
“Really!”
When it comes to playtime, I won’t lose to anyone.
I didn’t spend three years as a shut-in for nothing.
“Then please choose one item from this present box.”
As the maid says that, countless treasure chests appear before me.
As far as the eye can see, treasure chests, treasure chests, and more treasure chests.
There are so many that they can’t even be counted.
“I have to choose from these?”
“Yes, please choose whichever you like.”
Even if you tell me to choose, this number is ridiculous…
An endless room filled with endlessly scattered treasure chests.
There’s no point overthinking it, so I decide to pick the one at the maid’s feet.
The moment I pick up the chest, all the others disappear.
It seems I can’t change my choice anymore.
When I open the chest…
“What the hell is thisーーーーーーーーー!”
Item Name: Bear Set
Right Hand: Black Bear Gloves (Non-transferable)
Left Hand: White Bear Gloves (Non-transferable)
Right Foot: Black Bear Shoes (Non-transferable)
Left Foot: White Bear Shoes (Non-transferable)
Clothing: Black and White Bear Outfit (Reversible, different colors on each side, looks like a mascot suit)
I wanted to start the game quickly, but this ridiculous reward made my thoughts freeze.
There’s no way I can play the game wearing this.
Even for someone like me, a shut-in with no friends, this is way too embarrassing to wear.
And I can’t even transfer it.
It’ll just end up as junk in my item box.
Still, I should at least check its effects.
Black Bear Gloves
Attack gloves.
Power increases as the level rises.
White Bear Gloves
Defense gloves.
Defense increases as the level rises.
Black Bear Shoes / White Bear Shoes
Speed increases depending on the user’s level.
Prevents fatigue even after long periods of walking.
Black Bear Outfit (Front)
Increases resistance to physical and magical attacks depending on the user’s level.
Includes heat and cold resistance.
White Bear Outfit (Back)
Automatically restores stamina and mana while worn.
Recovery amount depends on the user’s level.
Includes heat and cold resistance.
What is this overpowered ability?
If I, who is already max level, use this, I’d be completely unbeatable.
But I don’t have the courage to equip something that looks like a mascot suit.
Still, these abilities are too good to waste.
“Hmm…”
Do I endure the embarrassment and choose strength?
It’s a tough decision.
“Yuna-sama, is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
Well, I don’t have to equip it right now.
I’ll think about it later.
“Anyway, start the game already.”
“My apologies, but there is one final survey.”
“What’s that? Sounds annoying.”
“I apologize. This survey is only for players with long playtime.”
“Fine.”
“Thank you. Is World Fantasy Online more enjoyable than reality?”
“Of course it is. Reality is boring.”
“Do you have someone important to you in the real world?”
“Hmph, I don’t have anyone like that.”
My parents are just money-grubbers, and I don’t go to school, so I don’t have any friends.
“Do you have a best friend in the real world?”
“I said I don’t! These questions are really irritating.”
“Do you have something important in the real world?”
She continues asking without caring about my responses.
“Money, I guess.”
…
…
…
The questions keep going.
How many are there?
“Do you believe in God?”
“Religion? Of course not. The only thing I trust is my own power.”
“Then finally, do you think the bear equipment is cute?”
“I think it’s cute. But I don’t want to wear it.”
“Understood. Thank you for answering the survey.”
The room suddenly begins to shine brightly.
“Now then, please enjoy your new world.”