Chapter 03 ~ The Town of Maria
A gentle breeze whispered across the open fields, brushing through the mid-length grass in waves of soft green and lavender. It carried with it the scent of fresh blossoms, fluttering petals across the air like tiny messengers of spring. The wind slipped around Hikari's frame, tousling his golden hair and caressing his calm, ocean-blue eyes.
He walked slowly, each step measured, unhurried. His hands rested loosely at his sides, his expression peaceful.
A soft smile curved his lips.
"Nothing beats the beginning of a new game," he whispered. "This OST… this atmosphere… It's been years since I felt a start this serene."
The music that played was subtle—piano notes laced with gentle strings and wind chimes, weaving through the sounds of rustling trees and distant birdsong. It wasn't just background music. It was part of the world, breathing with it.
As he approached the town, the transition was seamless. The stone path curved gently toward towering gray gates. Guarding the entrance stood two soldiers clad in partial armor—metal bracers on their forearms, greaves over their boots, and steel-forged swords sheathed at their sides. Their shoulders were bare, exposed to the wind, but their stance was easy, relaxed.
Hikari slowed his pace.
One of them noticed him first and smiled.
"Welcome, Rising Star," he said warmly.
The other guard let out a soft laugh. "It's been a while since I heard a name that interesting."
He elbowed his partner lightly. "You think he'll live up to it?"
The first shrugged. "Let's hope so. Always nice to be surprised."
Hikari looked at them quietly, his expression unreadable.
One of the guards tilted his head. "What's wrong, Rising Star? Got questions? We can tell you anything you need to know about this town."
Hikari's voice came softly. "Do you two know… that you're just characters in a game?"
The guards exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
"Of course we know. What a strange question!"
"I'm just surprised," Hikari murmured. "The way you speak… how many lines you have. It's unnatural."
One of them smirked and slowly drew his sword, resting it against his shoulder. "Let me tell you something, Rising Star. There's no law that stops me from running this blade through you right now and serving a sentence in our prison system."
Hikari didn't flinch.
"You'll respawn," he said calmly. "Start over. But when you return to this town… I'll be in that cell."
"Does that sound strange to you?"
Hikari exhaled slowly. "No. It sounds terrifying. You mean this entire game—its people, kingdoms, stories—they all know they're in a simulation… and yet if I die, and restart, the world remembers what I did?"
The guard looked to his companion, who nodded slightly. "Most players don't realize that until level 15. Or unless someone from outside the game spoils it. But your deduction is impressive, kid."
He sheathed his sword with a metallic clink.
"This world is connected. Don't think you're above it just because you're a player. Every player exists in the same server. If a high-level lunatic decides to burn this village to ash… you won't find friendly guards next time you return. Just rubble."
Hikari lifted a hand to his chin, thoughtful.
"That contradicts how most games work. How hasn't the company lost everything making a decision this reckless?"
The other guard stepped forward, crossing his arms.
"We've already told you more than we should've, Rising Star. From now on, our mouths are sealed."
"Just one more question," Hikari said, eyes narrowing slightly. "How would you feel if you killed me here and ended up in jail?"
The guard stared at him, annoyed—then looked away without a word.
The silence that followed was thick.
The other guard sighed.
"In the end… we're fictional. Our feelings, our thoughts… do they even deserve protection?"
He looked down, voice quieter.
"Move along, Rising Star. Talking to you… it's starting to sting in places we don't have names for."
Hikari nodded gently, his hair still swaying with the wind. Without another word, he stepped forward.
His boots echoed faintly against the stone path as he walked beneath the looming arch of the gray gate. His gaze lowered, quiet.
No more questions.
Just silence.
A soft breeze greeted Hikari as he stepped past the town gates, gentler now, as if the air within the walls held its breath in contrast to the open fields beyond. The rustle of the outer wilds was replaced with a subdued hum—quieter, contained, almost domestic.
Above him, just ahead and slightly overhead, a shimmering message faded into view:
Welcome to the Town of Maria
He raised his head, staring at the words as they slowly faded into starlike dust.
"So… this place is called Maria," he murmured.
He paused, listening.
"Hm. The music changed too."
The background tune had subtly shifted—flutes, soft percussion, and a faint bell rhythm painted the mood with a humble warmth. It wasn't grand or heroic. It was homey. Inviting.
He walked further into the town.
Stone roads paved the main walkways, dulled by years but clean and well-kept. The buildings were simple, their exteriors grayish-white, roofs layered in overlapping tile. Wooden stalls lined the plaza ahead, bustling with vendors and the low rumble of townspeople chatting, bartering, and living.
The scent of warm bread wafted from a nearby bakery, carried on the wind like a whisper of comfort. Somewhere to his left, a blacksmith's hammer rang against an anvil in steady rhythm. Laughter echoed near the well. A cat darted between barrels.
Hikari's blue eyes scanned the crowd as he walked.
He began to notice them—people with faint numbers glowing above their heads.
Lv. 7
Lv. 10
Lv. 8
They stood out from the others—not just by level, but by presence. Their outfits were flashier, more personalized. One wore a coat with glowing runes, another a blade sheathed in frost.
And the townsfolk around them? No numbers. Just faces. Expressions. Movements with no UI.
"I see…" Hikari thought, stepping gently around a group carrying crates.
"Those with levels… they're players. Like me."
His gaze followed a Lv. 12 girl in a crimson scarf, then fell to his own hands.
"Seniora," he said, "what's my current level?"
A soft chime rang.
Opening Profile Menu…
A translucent interface appeared in front of him:
Name: Rising Star
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
A static avatar of his current look floated to the left.
He blinked at it.
"…That's it?" he muttered, standing motionless while NPCs and players brushed past him in the market square.
"This profile consists of seven main tabs," Seniora said smoothly. "Would you like to view the second?"
"Yeah. Let's see it."
Tab 2: Elixirs
The screen shifted, revealing a grid—completely empty.
Not a single bottle, orb, or vial.
"Third tab," he said.
Weapons
Another inventory, neatly arranged, beautifully animated.
Also empty.
"Fourth."
Apparel
Same grid. Same result.
He stared at it.
"I literally own nothing."
"Try removing something," Seniora suggested. "That might help illustrate it."
Hikari reached for his hands, tugging slightly on the brown adventurer's gloves covering his forearms. A flicker of light shimmered around them—
Item unequipped: Beginner Adventurer Gloves – Lv. 1
The gloves vanished in a quiet burst of blue static, and their icon appeared in the first open slot of the Apparel tab.
He looked at his hands—now wrapped only in soft, white bandages.
"Equip Beginner Adventurer Gloves," he said.
Electric-blue sparks curled around his fingers and wrists, reshaping into the gloves he'd just removed.
Item equipped.
"Efficient," he murmured. "Alright… fifth tab."
Food & Provisions
Rows of empty slots appeared, each outlined with icons of meals, drinks, or packaged rations. He blinked at it, then said:
"Sixth."
Treasures & Relics
This time, the grid was ornate, decorative—clearly meant for rare finds. All the boxes were empty, but a few had faint question marks shimmering inside.
"Seventh tab."
A loud clunk echoed as the interface turned gray. In the center of the tab, a massive digital lock pulsed faintly.
He raised a brow.
"What's this?"
"You are not permitted to view the contents of Tab 7 until you reach Level 45," Seniora replied.
Hikari blinked. "Level 45…? That's a bit high. I wonder what's hiding behind that."
But before he could say more, a notification flickered out of existence—the interface vanished completely, disrupted by a soft, physical presence crossing into his personal space.
He stepped back slightly.
A girl had appeared in front of him—just a few paces away.
She wore a maid-style uniform in black and white, accented with ruffled trim and a light waist-apron. Her brown hair was tied neatly, her round glasses perched gently on her nose. Light brown eyes met his, polite yet purposeful.
"Welcome, Rising Star," she said with a formal nod. "I am your personal guide for this town. You may ask me anything within the limits of my knowledge."
Hikari's expression stayed neutral. "You took your time showing up, Guide."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Ah—my apologies. I was only just informed of your arrival. I was still assisting another player with the town's rules."
"Are you the only one assigned to this job?" he asked.
She smiled softly. "Oh, not at all. We're a full team. Exactly twenty guides operate in Maria—we're compensated by the system for helping new players."
Hikari's head tilted faintly.
"So… the NPCs here work for money."
He rubbed his chin.
"Makes me wonder—what do they even spend it on?"
She blinked. "I'm sorry?"
He waved it off. "Don't worry about it. So then—what exactly are you here to tell me?"
She nodded, her brown hair shifting gently with the motion. "Everything you need to get started."