V2 chapter 1

Chapter 1
Not good, the friend list is so little

*Online*

I will only say this.

2D world is the best.

When the power that was sealed in my body suddenly awakened, I was like how strong I am.        

Abruptly, something unexpected occurred like surrounded by bunch of girls, then it became a harem situation.  
                                                                                                              

Writing and spelling a youth graffiti (harem) was an impossible situation in real life, while in manga and anime, those self-projected protagonists could be soaked in such a state.

Yes, in 2D world, there were full of dreams.

Including game. Especially the planning beforehand in the recent MMORPG is not half-hearted.

It’s like the world is incorporated like the real one.

I was born in another world, and raised in it. If only those illusions are real.

Also because the next gen gaming device [ESG] had the headgear which powered by artificial sense, it’s a lot of work to do.

When I stand on green field, the air felt so good that it’s strange.

From the people who walked on a not busy street and the commotion in bazaar, the scent of life is very rich.

Doing shopping, chatting, fishing on the entire day, laying myself on the prairie while gazing at the blue sky to spend time.

However, there were times where unfold a life threatening fight with demons and monsters ----- Well, it happened occasionally.

The life in this world, is more real than the reality.

This “ZX Welt Online” led to a very great sensation.

Affinity? I think it’s good.

“As expected ZX is very comforting…”

I, Sagamiya Keita, in my avatar [Riel] appearance nodded with relief.

The one who is projected on the water surface of fountain beside, is a girl with the neat impression nodding in admiration.

The cleric in priest clothes is my appearance in this world. The so-called “Nekama”.

Before this, there was a disturbance between the guild members. In offline meeting, being mistaken as the one who controlled [Knight-sama] character, and this Riel avatar account being stolen, then the embarrassing poem that I wrote was taken hostage, and so I became the one who controls that [Knight-sama]….

Those things happened and various problems came but, now it’s as usual, I continue to become a nekama.

Well, even the riot is over, everything was in those girls’ hand.

Aside from this Riel’s body.

I once again think that as expected this avatar is easy to handle. I don’t actually understand but it’s nicely created.

Today also with that appearance, as usual for idly chatting with the guild members, all members gathered in the guild house.

Putting my hands on the wooden door that I got used to see, I opened it with my usual posture but….

“Afternoon~……..tte, fuooooooo!?”

I have predicted it to some extent but I reflexively raised up my surprised voice.

Because, when I opened the door, in front of my eyes is---

A bride.

This also happened before, didn’t it?

What kind of déjà vu is this.

I flustered and then she lifted the veil.

What appeared from beneath it are tranquil eyes.

A slender good looking face, and a plump pink lips.

If she just skipped a step, her long black hair on the top of her ‘A’ line pure white dress will further sway on air.

“O-oi! What’s with that appearance!!”

Unintentionally, it became a boyish-like tone.

I sometimes lose my temper so please pardon me.

Since guild members already knew that I am the nekama, it’s not good to fuss over it but, I feel a strange discomfort about this avatar’s habit of mine until now.

So, I cleared my throat and once again spoke.

“W-what is it…? That kind of appearance”

As I inquired, my sight was being stolen by the beauty of the bride and my consciousness became slightly vague.

Seeing that reaction, the bride’s mouth let out a laugh.

To match it, a hairball-like monster [Suama] which was resting on her shoulder let out a cute voice “fukya”.

She’s not in her usual beast-tamer’s outfit but, she was our guild leader, Shizuku.

She placed her hands which was covered with white gloves on her waist and proudly puffed out her chest.

“Oya, you don’t know this? It’s obviously a wedding dress.”

“Un, I know that. What I want to ask is why you wear that here.”

“Sorry, I don’t know what you mean.”

“Eee!? Did I just ask a difficult question?”

“Fumu, Why I wear this kind of thing? An answer to that question maybe a very easy one. However, if you used a thing in versatile manner, it maybe will become a complicated and esoteric. But in the end, the truth perhaps will be an unexpectedly simple thing, maybe it’s like that.”

“I don’t understand the thing that Shizuku spoke more actually…”

As usual, a girl with strangely argumentative behaviour but in offline, she is a silent hikikomori girl so I don’t know her in society.

Maybe not satisfied with my reaction, Shizuka breathed out a deep sigh.

“If we talk about wedding dress, then it means wedding ceremony. A clothes for that purpose only, isn’t it?”

“W-wedding!? The bride is Shizuka?”

She silently nodded.

 I’m a bit surprised but, the one she talk about was not the wedding in real life, it’s a virtual wedding in this ZX Welt.

In the world of ZX, they also adopted a wedding system which is common in the other MMORPG games.

To the player who became husband and wife, there was a pair of rings which could be equipped by the two people and also a home for two people.

Well, in short, one could flirt as one likes.

Then, next to the name bar, one could add a notation like husband: OO or wife: AA.

Incidentally, if there happened various troubles after wedding, sometimes one could ask for divorce to ZX.

In society, there were also many people who mix reality and virtual. In offline, the same person mistake their relationship as the same one in virtual, so there are many cases that after offline meeting one being targeted by a stalker. So to prevent that from happening, many people has stopped doing that.

Those kind of dreadful things clung to the wedding system, you know? That’s just one example.

That’s why although I don’t know the feeling of a girl like Shizuku who is going to marry, I became curious to who her partner is.

I asked her because I was interested.

“So, whom are you going to marry?”

“You are going to make me say it? Really, even an idiot has its limit. He’s knight-sama.”

“Just now, I feel like I just heard something important, didn’t I?”

No way, this…… but, there’s no way. It’s impossible. Un.

“I say that I’m married with Knight-sama.”

Shizuku clearly stated.

E-tto…. If he’s Knight-sama, then it’s surely me, isn’t it? I played as Riel but, I also played as Knight-sama.

Originally, when I as cleric joined in the offline meeting, Knight-sama is an avatar prepared by them for me as to not worry about staying in guild but, suddenly it became like if you didn’t continue to play as Knight-sama then we won’t give Riel back----- It shifted to me being threatened….

As I unconditionally agreed, now I controlled two accounts.

So, that Knight-sama and Shizuku, are married??

It seemed that my thought had come to a stop in accordance to an intense heat which brings a recent calamity to my head. Let’s logout and drank something cold.

Thinking like that, I opened the status window and stretched my hand onto the air.

Inside the guild house, a light effect to indicate [Login] is shining.

From the scattered green light, what appeared was---------

Why a bride again!

Princess line wedding dress in which the skirt is fluffily spread out.  She’s an elf child which gives out tsundere vibe with an almond shaped eyes on her face.

One of the guild members, [White princess] or [Hime].

Different from her usual thief style, with a really fitting princess-like appearance, her entry made a good combination with my and Shizuku appearance. I got stuck in this amazing situation.

“Wait Shizuku!?  Why are you running away!?”

As her long elf ears perked up, her transparent blonde hair fluttered by wind.

However, I felt like Shizuku said “Yare yare”, it seemed like she didn’t care about her questioning. That’s why on her behalf, I asked her.

“Run away? What is?”

“I-It’s nothing! It's not related to you even a bit!”

“I heard that if you deny it thoroughly, then it means the opposite that it’s actually related to me…”

“He-!?”

Hime with her cheeks flushed in red began to be dismayed.

This…. For some reason, I felt a bad feeling about this.

“On top of that, why even Hime is in that appearance? Don’t say that Hime also have a plan to marry someone?”

“T-that…of course. Na-naturally. It’s impossible I’m behind Shizuku.”

“Hee-…. Incindentally, with whom?”

“T-that… K-Kni…”

Hime, while looking embarrassed, started to speak again.

“Knight-sama nya!”

“Fuboo!”

In a different place from Hime, I let out a voice, and then something clung around my neck. Two arms crawled from my back and then turned to the front. A shuddered cat ears and a brilliant silver hair entered my field of vision.

“Ricotta!?”

“Fufu- that’s right.”

“No no it’s not about right or anything, in the first place, I’m not hiding anything right?”

(Raw : そもそもなんも隠してないでしょー？)

“Riel-tan, you’re sharp nya.”

The girl who answered with her pure innocent smile is Ricotta. In ZX, she’s a beast alchemist. In reality, she’s my little sister, Sagamiya Rio.

So she also had this side of herself…, she wore a mini skirt wedding dress which I unintentionally admired.

Well that’s that but, I couldn’t afford to hear what she said next.

“Surely, Ricotta is here for…”

“Of course, to marry Knight-sama nya-!”

Ricotta answered that with full of smile.

I feel dizzy.

“Therefore, right now let’s go to that church with Ricotta to hold the ceremony nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

Suddenly Ricotta bent backwards and uttered a sound like a stepped cat.

The reason is Ricota’s foot. A few centimetre from her tiptoe, there is a single arrow pierced the ground.

“W-what are you doing!? Even though it’s a game, if it’s hit then it will hurt you know nyaa!?”

“Fuun, because you also escaped, didn’t you!”

The one who faced Ricotta’s anger, there is Hime who seems in bad mood holding a bow.

“Nyanyanya! Ricotta didn’t run away nya! Just want to marry knight-sama only nyan!”

“Only huh, that’s the reason you escaped! Really…. Speaking about Shizuku and you, you all are too selfish. Even I, want to “marry knight-sama”.”

“A… so it comes to that.”

“Ee!?”

As I was getting fed up with it, Hime just realized her own speech and she started fidgeting with her fingers while her elf ears tinted in red.

“T-that, that’s wro-…cho-gofgowthokyo££!?”

“Calm down.”

I talk to Hime who is like a boiling kettle. Shizuku’s cold gaze directed here.

“That’s why I told you beforehand, If you’re going to be like this, it’s better that you don’t take part.”

“I-It’s not like anything happened. I just bit my tongue there. Fu-n, Even if it’s marrying? I o-only want to know how it feels. There’s no deeper meaning.”

While saying this or that, Hime couldn’t hide her agitation. I muttered a long sigh as I casted a side glance on her.

“Iyaa- It’s not like I ever agree about marrying, don’t I?”

Saying that, Shizuku gazed here with a strange eyes.

“Then, it’s decided that this wedding party will be arranged.”

“I am ignored! My consent itself is being ignored!”

I know that I don’t have my human right in this guild but, this is too frank that I on the contrary felt refreshed.

As I dropped my shoulders in a defeated manner, Shizuku’s eyebrow moved slightly.

“Putting that aside, this is more natural and crucial. Today also, why doesn’t Riel play as Knight-sama?”

“E…?”

“If you’re in that appearance, we can’t hold the wedding. You should know that it’s systematically impossible between two girl avatars. For what reason you made me troubled?”

 “Yes nyan, yes nyan, I am troubled nyan!”

“Really cannot read the atmosphere ne-“

What an awful thing to say.

Everyone stared at me from down to top like they’re not satisfied with my current appearance.

Rather, why I should’ve been told these things because I just login as Riel.

Shizuku draw nearer with an inquiring tone.

“Even we had put considerable effort to prepare Knight-sama as the strongest avatar, you know. With that kind spec, are you still dissatisfied?”

“There’s no way I’m dissatisfied but….”

“Then what is your reason? If hereafter Knight-sama exist---that’s the condition for returning Riel, isn’t it? If you keep that manner of yours, then we also have another idea.”

“…idea?”

“You didn’t forget that we had trump card, right? Then, how about if we read aloud those shameful poem diary of yours?”

“O-wa-wa-!? Anything but that!”

It’s a poem diary which consist my thought about player [Meruruna]-chan that I yearned for.

It’s a very embarrassing poem diary that could make me faint in agony just by reading it again.

“Then, you’d better login as Knight-sama right now.”

“T-that…”

Since it came to this, I’ll say it.

Level 99 Paladin, while his ability value is top notch, his item and equipment also skill are all out of standard. A broken existence like an addicted game junkie.

For a ZX user, it must be a character that he wanted badly.

Or it should be like that but I didn’t feel like going to login as that avatar.

As for the reason… They will be too hyped up if I login as Knight-sama.

For example before this, when I come in the guild house as Knight-sama, all the guild members were waiting for me in swimsuits. That is….. a bit problematic.

In reality, my body has a special constitution which is Female Tolerance Deficiency Syndrome, a body where it’ll faint if I just remembered some stimulation from opposite sex.

However, that’s only in the reality and it’s never happened in online. Recently, I don’t know why they just keep doing those things and fatally, once this special body of mine almost triggered. Looking back, it was very dangerous.

If I faint in online, maybe it’s the same as falling asleep. If that thing happened, what would become of my avatar?

Maybe an exhibitionist.

Besides, the girls didn’t knew what effect those kind of pranks had to me.

I felt alarmed just by thinking about it.

However, it’ll bad for my body if they just kept continue to be like this. Eventually, I couldn’t come back from this world if I faint…. I wonder.

I, who suffered from FTDS in reality, sought for a substitute in ZX.

But, right now the truth that I as nekama had been revealed, it could…… not be the same as before.

Perhaps if this situation kept continuing, my body’s special constitution would began developing in ZX like reality. Then I, whose symptom is getting worse, would completely lose my only peaceful place.

If I lost my quiet place in reality and online, where should I go?

Somehow, I have to avoid those occurrence from happening.

Fortunately, I felt that as Riel, I had a little contact with those girls.

A bit gentle touch maybe?

As long as it’s like that, I could still resist them.

That’s why if possible I didn’t want to play as Knight-sama.

I casually thought.

Before, I was restrained in guild and pressed to become Knight-sama. Since that purpose has been achieved, there’s no need for me to play as Knight-sama again. Nevertheless, the girls persistently forced me to play as Knight-sama.

What on earth did they want to do?

“H-hey,….I always curious about this thing, why are you so cynical about Knight-sama? Moreover want to marry him…”

“That’s um that. That’s because we all are infected by “Princess Syndrome”.”

“P-Prin…cess…Syn…drome??”

Shizuku was strangely proud but, I inclined my head because of the word that I haven’t ever heard.

“If it’s a girl then, she must had a dream where she wanted to be protected by a strong prince-like existence with his white horse. That is the moment when a girl’s heart is satisfied. Addiction to keep seeking pleasure from those led to a symptom of “Princess Syndrome”. In other words, Princess Syndrome (in katakana).”

“I’ve never heard that disease though?”

“Of course. It’s something that we made.”

“It's fabricated, huh!”

“Even though it’s fabricated, the addiction is real. We hope that Knight-sama continue as an ideal Knight-sama forever. And after wedding, we’ll love and flirt with each other. Of course, you can expect something too, you know?”

“What expectation!? I will pass! Please let me pass!”

This situation… An exclusive pleasure born in a form of wedding with all members.

“Then firstly, let’s prepare the white horse.”

“We don’t need something like horse! Rather, I’m surprised that you’re concerned about looks.”

“Looks is important. Why do you think that we made Knight-sama?”

“E, that…. So that Riel felt like staying in guild…huh, it’s not!? You don’t say that from the beginning, you aim for that!?”

“””Nufufufufu”””

Shizuku, Hime, and Ricotta, those three altogether showed eerie smiles.

Not good…. Somehow, I felt something dangerous coming….

Originally, I’m not into some hero-like existence who protects heroin. In addition…

“Then Riel, quickly become Knight-sama and protect me nyan♡ As present, I’ll give you anything, okay? Nyafufufu.”

“Y-you see, at princess’ side, there’s always be a prince or knight, isn’t it? That’s why if there’s no one at my side, I’m not befitting to be called princess, am I? T-that’s the reason. Of course it’s not free. The price w-will ….be…m-me..?”

“If you become my exclusive Knight-sama, it will come with amazing benefits, you know. For example, a deep love with indescribable depth or, a huge love enough to cover the galaxy or, a hot love enough to melt gallium alloy or, love or love or love!”

…..Because there’s someone like this…. My health is ruined.

There’s should be some anxiety mixed on my expression but, I should say that this is enough.  I took a deep breath and got myself together.

“Hmm, you really have a strong desire but….now is a bit….I can’t use Knight-sama…how should I say…”

“Can’t use? What does that mean?”

Shizuku looked here with suspicious glance. The other two also put an expression that wanted an explanation.

“It’s recent thing but, when I entered the account, it’s always getting rejected so I couldn’t login as Knight-sama. ‘This account is in maintenance’ bar also appeared so I couldn’t proceed.”

“Yes? If you want to lie, please put up with a better lie, okay?”

Shizuku’s suspicion is only getting bigger.

“No no, it really happens. I felt like I could play normally as Knight-sama after one week. I have already tried to contact the management side but there’s no reply.”

To me, who uttered that urgently, the girls still didn’t trust it but at least they understood.

I will say it again, that’s not a lie you know? Really.

After being told, the three people with troubled expression talked in whisper among themselves.

Although I say that you had already heard everything.

“What will we do nyan. We didn’t expect that right nyan?”

“As expected, we shouldn’t trust that girl.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying. Undoubtedly, it’s dubious.”

I could hear their conversation but, I didn’t have a clue to what they’re saying.

However to me, this is a happy occasion. That’s because I could avoid being Knight-sama.

From now on, I could still hold on to my nekama life!

As I thought, it calmed me down the most when my relationship with those girls is like friends.

No matter what happens, I would continue being Riel.

It’s a moment when I hardened my resolve.

There’s a sound of the guild house door being opened.

Of course, all the members had realized it, and spontaneously directed their gaze to the door. What appeared is----- a zombie.

“Guonbuonboaaaaaa!”

As zombie’s mouth opened, a beast-like roar resounded thorough the room.

“”””Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?””””

At the moment the zombie roared, we shouted frightened screams. It’s a loud voice even enough to scrape off a shout.

Well, no matter how frightened we are, we won’t exclaimed a scream to just a zombie. After all, we got used to see the monsters in the field.

Then why?

Because the appearance is scary. The most disgusting monster that we’ve seen until now.

The intruder is actually a “bird”.

To be exact, only the head is bird but the body is a human. In other words, it’s a birdman.

I didn’t know its classification whether it’s a sparrow or a society finch. However, with that kind of feature, the feathers on some place fell out so some of its goose-flesh is exposed, also with its one eye fell off from its eye socket, the tongue is sloppily hanging from the beak.

Even though it’s grotesque, its body is that of a woman. For some reason, it wore a mermaid line wedding dress and its pure white clothes is dirtied by bloodstains.

Extremely, in its hand is a bloodied axe.

Because of that, it’s no wonder that anyone would raise their voices.

However, that zombie-like birdman unconcernedly move its leg to enter the guild house and,

“Binnabougiidedandouezunueee!!”

With an unpleasant and incomprehensible voice from its beak. While I don’t have any idea to the thing it’s trying to say, the floor became wet due to the blood dripped from its axe.

“Gyoee!? D-don’t come here!!”

Hime, who is vulnerable to grotesque things, earlier than anyone, crouched down at the innermost wall and shook in fear.

“Unyaa!? Even if you eat Ricotta, it’s not delicious nya! Hiiii!”

Ricotta randomly throw things to birdman but, since she closed her eyes, nothing was spot on.

The always calm Shizuku also showed a tense look. She also as expected trembled after seeing this thing.

While doing so, the birdman with its legs drenched in blood *puchipuchi* step by step came closer.

What the hell is this? New breed monster?

Then, I need to do something about it.

While I didn’t know how effective cleric power is, I have to do it. Even when I said battle, my magic power is only purification, then my only way is to directly hit it….

I wield my silver wand. However, I felt a strange discomfort.

In the first place, it’s systematically impossible for monster to come in guild house.

It’s constructed so that only the guild member can enter the guild house. Which means…

I lowered down my wand.

At the same time, the birdman also stopped its legs.

Its bloodied hands hold its bird head, and it comes off like a mask.

“Fu~…”

As she breathed a quite cute pant, what appeared beneath the mask is a fluffy long hair. She’s a girl who carried a gentle expression which is an exact opposite to the ugly mask.

“Seems like I didn’t properly tell you this is just a cover. Ehehe.”

“Ma-mashu!?”

While my eyes turned round, she returned a beaming smile.

She is an assassin in online, while in reality, she’s a wife.

Mashu as in marshmallow (mashumaro).

She’s also one of the guild member. No wonder she could easily enter the guild house.

That bird mask must be one of those joke item equipment. As soon as it is removed, the bloody effect on her wedding dress also faded away. That sound effect also seems because of the mask.

Then other girls beside her, maybe the feeling of fear still didn’t disappear, they still stuck to walls.

Seeing those girls, Mashu with pure eyes inclined her head to one side.

“Harara? So that bird mask is ‘interesting’ to that extent, huh?”

“I-interesting!? There’s no way!”

“Very disgusting nyan!”

Finally, Hime and Ricotta, who had relieved from fear, scolded Mashu with anger.

“Ee!? It’s… not interesting? Rather it’s… d-disgusting? It’s strange…. I don’t think so. Even though it’s recommended by the onii-san who opened bazaar that said “this is absolutely interesting”….. But so it’s like that…. It’s not interesting…”

Mashu dropped down her shoulder as to say ‘what a shame’.

I thought that perhaps it’s a different meaning of interesting…. But still, she’s a girl who didn’t know what a ‘doubt’ is. She honestly believed that. After all, she even bought a full set with the axe.

“Or rather, I want to ask you which part of that do you deem to be interesting.”

Shizuku angrily talked while pointing her finger to the mask that Mashu hold. 

“For example, this flying hairball, with stripes or marks on its feather, won’t it be cute and interesting?”

“…”

As expected, I still didn’t get Shizuku’s sense so I remained silent.

“However, I’m troubled~. If this isn’t interesting, what should I do… if it’s like this, my friend won’t increase.”

“F-friend?”

My eyes turned round to the sudden thing she said.

However, I know that ‘friend’ which she meant is the friend in game. Because there’s a little people who called their friends in reality as ‘friend (furendo)’.

“Hmm you see, in elementary school or middle school’s graduation book, there’s an interesting people ranking, right? Mostly the people who attained first is popular and have many friends in their class.  That’s why I think being interesting could gather people.”

To her unskilful friend-making, my chest hurt remembering those painful past.

A-, incidentally I was second place in ‘KY people best 5’. Although I was not in first place, it’s enough to make me depressed….

(KY : Kuuki yomenai, people who can’t read the atmosphere)

“Does Mashu want to increase her friends? Why so suddenly…”

“Hmm, to be exact after became friends, I want him or her to join this guild. If not, trouble would appear in the wedding with Knight-sama.”

“Yes?”

Well, I felt unrest after seeing that appearance in wedding dress but, I felt like I missed something too much.

“That… I don’t know what you mean… what is the relation between guild invitation and wedding?”

“Has Riel-chan seen ZX official page?”

By the way, I remembered that today was an update date in a week.

“No, today I haven’t…. What about it?”

“Now it’s on top page, it’s an announcement about the wedding plan in cathedral. It’s introduced as “The propriety of a special wedding between the two people who love each other”.”

“What, is that real!?”

“I have an interest in that “Special Wedding” nya.”

Immediately, Hime and Ricotta bit the bait.

If it’s a marriage between ordinary players, it’s normal that they firstly must made an appointment to the management side and reserved the church or another fancy place.

However, cathedral is the head of the churches that spread all over the continent, it’s originally not opened for wedding.

Once I have visited it because of a quest, the outer and inner side emitted a lot of majestic atmosphere.

Maybe it’s a respectable and inviolable atmosphere, huh? I remember that it’s not a place to freely throw a banquet.

If an ordinary ceremony is a place where people clamorously congratulate the couple’s entrance, then the cathedral is a holy ceremony where a couple swear their loves in front of God.

Girls tend to like it, don’t they. Something like that.

“It’s the best location for the wedding place, isn’t it.”

Shizuku also agreed and nodded. See?

“””” “Special Wedding” with Knight-sama kyaaa-“”””

The four people, even though there’s nothing on the ceiling, they looked up in trance while muttered something like ‘poyaya~n’.

What is this, this situation.

While the girls were taking a trip to an illusionary world, Mashu, who had come back to reality, continued the conversation.

“Then, then. The condition to hold that “Special Wedding” are [The two people that married should be in same guild], [The guild rank should be in minimum C rank].”

From that, I finally knew the reason Mashu want to increase the guild members.

“Guild rank” to put it simply is decided by the count of guild members. C rank guild is medium scale class with 30 members. In the same way, D rank is 20 members, E rank is 10 members, and below that is F rank. Without saying, our guild rank is F. The lowest possible guild.

Guild rank as the ceremony condition, perhaps it’s like a gift to an active guild? I don’t really get it but maybe close to that.

“I see, this a grave situation, huh.”

Shizuku was seriously considering something. Already in serious-mode.

“No no, even you have planned that place as the ceremony place, the crucial Knight-sama isn’t available so it’s meaningless right.”

“Well, that will eventually work out.”

The fired up Shizuku couldn’t be stopped anymore. Of course it’s not only her, Hime and co. also sincerely went for that plan.

“However in the end, the one that can marry Knight-sama is only one, right? What’re you going to do about that?”

“Because the ZX system doesn’t allowed polygamy, huh~.”

To Hime who had said the most important part, Mashu answered.

Ricotta who joined, proudly snorted with “fufu~n”.

“Then everyone should back down, and let me marry Knight-sama nyan.”

“Haa!? What you are saying. That’s of course will be me, you know~. Well, if you insist, I think I will give the second seat for you if you do dogeza. Well, on the floor that laid corrugated cardboard only however.”

“Aa! Ricotta-chan and Hime-chan, it’s unfair. I think Knight-sama found me to be a more suitable partner.”

“What that’s mean nyan!”

Spectacularly, a bloodbath happened…. Though I think it’s not the case for a bystander. Because from the beginning, I stood at the hypocentre of it.

“Really, I can’t bear to see it.”

The one who abruptly muttered that was Shizuku. She looked at them with a scorn.

“What’s with that? Is it fine to think that you’ve withdrawn then?”

“I didn’t say that.”

In respond to Shizuku who answered with serious look, Hime clicked her tongue.

Without care, Shizuku sent her glance to Mashu.

“That “Special Wedding”, in any case it must be limited right.”

“Yes, hmm though I forget the limit but certainly it has limit.”

“Which means, we better ensure the place rather than put up this messy fight. For that, we need to quickly increase our member to 30, and aim for C rank.”

Shizuku unusually blurted out things like a leader.

Unity! What a guild-like line. However, since the final purpose was ‘that’, I personally didn’t feel like doing it.

“Well, that’s that but…. In the end, don’t we have to decide who will be Knight-sama’s partner? When that time comes, what’ll we do?”

She gave a serious look different from the usual Hime,

However, on the contrary, Shizuku gave off a smirk. That’s a chuckle like anticipating the future slightly ahead.

“Fufufu…. I am really a genius. At the same time we aim for C rank, we will decide who had the authority for marrying Knight-sama. To think that I’ve found this convenient method.”

“W-what? Stop praising yourself and tell us!”

“Invite people.”

“Ee?”

“Inviting people. The one who had invited the most members to this guild will be given the authority to marry Knight-sama. This is the best method.”

Certainly because it’s based on quantities, it was easy to understand.

But, Shizuku was strangely confident, did she have a sure winning-way?

More precisely, this guild where all the members had communication disorder, is there even one person who could invite people?

30 people were an impossible count.

This, I could be relieved right?

“H-hee…….. It’s alright, right? Well, obviously I will get first however.”

Hime puffed out her chest, but her face was completely twitching.

“O-shi, Ricotta will do her best (in a monotone).”

While her ears and tail stood up, she was full of enthusiasm but her body was slightly trembling.

It was a bravado.

“W-what will I do….. I’ve been told that the bird mask is disgusting.”

Mashu had already lost her spirit.

Accordingly, they won’t do it to that extent as the girls (including me) are weak at socializing. Even though they said it’s a Princess Syndome, what merit will they get?

Now I also couldn’t use Knight-sama. Even if I could use it later, it’s impossible for me to become prince on a white horse.

I won’t do it, you know?

Really.

By the way, I recalled this word “wedding”.

Before, something close to this also happened right?

I would explain a bit about my past.

Right, that time was when Knight-sama is still a male player called “Hugues”. At the place like harbour, he confessed to me, who is logged in as Riel.

“I like you,” he said.

Following the flow, he said something like “Let’s marry”.

As various things happened, It’s discovered that Hugues was not exist and it’s actually a player that controlled by all members. After that, a mail came in.

(You’re already a past thing but, “my confession” ---------- is real, okay?)

What does that mean?

If I thought normally, maybe I’m just being favoured but….

No, wait.

That’s also a part of Princess Syndrome.

Un, it must be. It must be true.

If it’s not like that, I’m troubled.

After all, I only loved 2D. If something like that happened, it mattered to my life and death.

While I imagined those scary things, someone pushed my back.

“Hey, what’re you pouting about? Let’s go now.”

“Uee *sfx*.”

When I turned back, I saw Hime who was pushing my back while her face was completely red. Without giving me time to response, two hands joined to push my back. The right hand is Mashu while the left hand is Ricotta.

“Quickly go to invite members.”

“Riel-tan also help us nyan~.”

“What. are. you. talking. about?”

Sadly, I have to do things which would strangle myself.

“I will absolutely not help, huh what are you doing? Sto- qjdrftgykolp!?”

I’ve been dragged to the street as we came out from guild house. No matter how I resist, the lightest Riel avatar can’t put up with the three girls.

As expected, Shizuku couldn’t stand my half-crying any longer, she halted her movement and said,

“Well, there’s no need for you to act to that extent, right. In this match, Riel’s invitations aren’t counted after all. You just need to slowly spectate us. Naturally witnesses will assemble around an evil act right?”

Where did you get those confidence? I on the contrary felt interested.

Our guild party was heading to Central Square at “Philums Capital”.

In reality, it’s also night time. The suitable time when the players in server were increasing. So, the Central Square is very crowded.

On top of the stairs in Square. Taking an extensive view on the crowds, various things could enter one’s eyes.

The person who opened a bazaar and walked to a player.

The person who shouted to a quest party.

The person who talked like an ordinary people.

The person who run quickly to somewhere.

This jammed atmosphere was one of the MMORPG sensation.

In the centre of the crowded player, there's irregularly an empty space.

Apparently, everyone had avoided from passing by that place, as deliberately they even made a circle out of it.

Why is that?

Well, without thinking, I knew.

Because I fully knew well the people who were standing in that circle.

As we arrived at the Central Square, following Shizuku’s instruction, they would by turn entered the crowd to pull in members.

Immediately, the perpetrator Shizuku went first but…

The girl in question, while she didn’t do anything special in the circle, she just stand proudly.

In one hand, she hold several sheets of the common currency in this world, Gran bill. With her other hand, she raised a signboard above her head. A litter far from her, I looked at the words that was written on the board.

“Guild member! 1 name 1000 Gran.”

I’m already uncertain what she wanted to do.

In my words, it reeked of vexing scent.

That person also didn’t call out to the surrounding, just gave off strange feeling to the crowd.

That, doesn’t it seem like a human trafficking? It looks like in a meat store where 99 yen for 100 grams, so I didn’t know whether she wanted to buy or sell them. Moreover, I smelled an intense aroma of crime. Of course, no one dared to come closer.

A, see, there’s someone reporting her, then a game master- like person went towards Shizuku to perform his duties.

Soon after that, Shizuku came back to our place with a swollen face.

“Truly, this is why all public servant are block headed.”

“Public servant huh…. I think you’re miswording it…”

“In any way, my words can’t get through them. I even get suspected of real money trading.”

“…..Rather, what are you doing? There.”

“An?”

I am being glared.

“Why you don’t know. Human = asset strength. If 1 person gives 1000 Gran, I’ll tell that one person to join the guild.”

“You don’t say that you instead receive money!?”

“Of course. Why should I give my money to someone who I don’t even know or see?”

“No no then, what is the money on your hand?”

“There’s a saying that money called for money.”

“….”

Needless to say, I’m sure it’s impossible for her to invite members.

Because from the beginning, she lacked the ability to communicate with other people.

Moreover, that outrageous thing is outside my expectation.

“Even though you’re boasting like crazy, you’re all mouth.”

Hime directed a scornful gaze to Shizuku. Shizuku, who also didn’t have anything to say back, pouted in ‘へ’ shape.

“Well, I’ll show you. How I’ll easily invite 30 members to our guild.”

While saying something like I’ll take the marriage authority, she with high spirits disappeared into the crowd.

That confident speech, I became uneasy as to what if she really came back with 30 members.

The result---------

I began to wonder why I felt the anxiety in the first place.

Hime put a considerable effort to speak but, with an incomplete sentence like “Ano-“ or “Sono-“, 

people who passed her by didn’t realized it. Sometimes, there’s also a player who responded to Hime but, she said,

“S-shut up! T-t, to talk with me, y- you’re still a thousand years early for that.” Or

“W-what? If you want to become my slave, m-maybe I’ll consider it!?”

She wasted her chance herself.

Really, what did she want to do… it’s too pitiful for the people, isn’t it.

In the end, Hime’s invitation count is zero.

“30 members easily? Fukkuku….”

While looking at the returning Hime, Shizuku hold back her laughter.

“…Mu! I don’t want to be told by you!”

This is the result from the two people, what about the other two? I think, it should be close to this.

Next, the one who will go to invite members is Ricotta.

She usually talked very much but, she became nervous in the center of square and unable to utter out a single word, even if she was called by someone, she just returned a “Nyan” and thus, she became a weirdo.

As Ricotta changed out, Mashu went in.

That’s, maybe it had become her punch line.

She, with her clown joke item, suddenly took out a silk hat and started to play a trick in the crowd.

Outside my expectation, she was showered by attention from the surrounding, but only that.

Not even related to guild member’s invitation, she just received their applause and came back.

“It’s ‘interesting’ but, I couldn’t make friends~”

Her mouth told a disappointment but her face was satisfied. Is this good or bad….

“Really, only useless people are here.”

In the front of the terrible result, she folded her arms. To that attitude, Hime wrinkled her eyebrows.

“Useless, useless. Like you’re one to talk.”

“Ha? You, who showed your sex appeals and can’t even bring one person is the lowest, right.”

“I,I didn’t show that kind of thing! And I don’t want to be labelled as the lowest. If we want to talk about the worst, it’s Ricotta, right?”

“Nyan!? Why (Nyande)!?”

“Right! Aren’t you not doing anything and just stand there blankly.”

“Even though it’s like that, I’m doing my best nya! Moreover, the one who completely didn’t have the will to invite members, Mashu is more useless nya.”

“M-me? I think if everyone has fun then it’s alright, but maybe it’s right, I’m the most useless….. I see,

I’m useless…. Anyhow, I’m a useless person. Yes, it’s always like that…. Lastly, if I have any regret, I just want to see Knight-sama once again… But, that’s also…. Huh? Aa….. Somehow, it’s cold….. very cold…..”

Mashu only moved her mouth, but her avatar was standing upright while gazing at the empty sky. Clearly, something is strange. Not only Ricotta, who brought the subject, Shizuku and Hime also noticed her peculiarity.

This is really…..

I’m really worried whether what is her real body up to.

I promptly drew closer to her and shook her shoulders.

“Wait!? Mashu-san? What’re you doing? Don’t do anything strange, okay.”

“…”

No response

“D-don’t go!! Uoi, hello! Come back!”

“Aa, I took off too much clothes. Teehee.”

“Nubuu!?”

Abruptly, Mashu’s avatar came back to life. At the same time, unexpected word also came out so instinctively, I let out a surprised voice.

“T,t-t-t-t-take off??”

“Ee, it’s hot. But, it became cold so I put on the clothes again. I’m still halfway through, so let me excuse myself.”

After she left those words, Mashu’s avatar once again became hardened and her eyes became hollow.

Scary!

Looks like she took off the ESG from her head and proceed to change her clothes. Please stop that kind of thing…. It’s bad for my heart.

While Shizuku and co. also seemed worried, but after seeing that, they lost for words.

After that, for some reason a commotion happened at the square.

From what I see, there was a gathering of players.

“What is it? Is something happened there?”

Curiosity is human’s nature. As I thought like that, even I can’t see from here, I tried to stand on my tiptoe.

Then Shizuku beside me,

“We’re changing our place.”

Suddenly said that.

It seems like she said that to keep me away from that gathering.

At the same time, I could hear part of cheers coming from there.

“It’s Melluna-chan.”

“C-cute.”

“Kya- Look here.”

….

What??

They said Melluna-chan!?

I could tell that my expression has changed.

Melluna. She is an idol player, a person who became my trigger to play this MMORPG.

I, who just looked at her screenshot, one-sidedly fell in love at the first sight with her.

“As expected from Melluna-chan. But I can’t see her clea- owa!? Wai-wai-wai-wait!?”

Shizuku forcibly dragged my shoulders.

As she had me went away from the gathering, she brought me to the edge of the square where the commotion couldn’t be heard.

“A-an, even though I had already caught a glimpse of her.”

“Your eyes will rot away if you saw that bitchy girl’s face.”

“I-isn’t that a bit harsh.”

Hime, Ricotta, and Mashu also nodded in agreement.

If you’re all saying that, I couldn’t say anything, could I?

“More importantly, right now the invitation comes first.”

“Then, what’ll you do?”

Hime asked Shizuku. Shizuku who heard that seemed to know the answer.

“Anyway, this a situation that if we were to compete with our invitation count, then we can’t get to C rank. Hereafter, how about if we work together until we rank-up once? About Knight-sama’s partner, we’ll decide it again with different way.”

“Isn’t that okay?”

“Ricotta’s also okay with that nya.”

“A, yes. I also approve of that.”

Following up Hime and Ricotta, Mashu, who return online, also agreed.

I became lost in thought. Even if the girls, who didn’t have communication skill worked together, the result would be the same, right.

Want to owe someone’s respect, it’s fatal if you didn’t have the right attitude when conversing with the person in question. I didn’t think that’s the sole reason but if you didn’t have at least that much, you couldn’t strike up a decent conversation.

That’s why, am I outstanding at communicating? If you asked that….. It goes without saying.

“First, let’s go back to guild and come up with a new plan.”

The girls agreed with Shizuku’s proposal, and followed from her back.

I didn’t have a feeling to cooperate, but I also didn’t have anywhere to go…..Well, I didn’t know what the girls are planning. For the time being, better grasp what they are doing for the sake of my body.

Thinking like that, I also followed behind. And at that time.

Somehow, I felt a strange gaze on my back.

At the shadow of bazaar tent, stopping my legs and turning around, there was a girl who stared here.

With bun on left and right side of her pink hair, she wore a mini skirt and on top of that, a robe like a long parka. While having a scary looking mace in her hand, she dragged it on the stone pavement.

From that appearance, she’s a beginner in ZX.

After all, that’s a beginner equipment you get at the beginning of the game.

I’m afraid she hadn’t even decided on her job.

A workless player.

No matter how you think about it, that workless girl is staring at us.

When that innocent eye locked eyes with my gaze, for some reason she revealed an extremely happy face.

What? Who? Have we ever met before?

Perhaps an acquaintance of guild member.

I never had a memory of her. In the first place, because she’s a beginner, it’s impossible for me to be acquainted with her.

So that girl, is planning to come here, huh? She’s hastily running toward us, and magnificently fell down.

Moreover, she even dived into the neatly lined bazaar goods.

Making a huge voice, as the goods and weapon scattered around, her mace also disappeared into somewhere.

“E-excuse me, excuse me! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

While flustered and trying to stand up, as she apologized, the goods became more and more fallen apart.

Looking at her behavior that didn’t reflect her words, I guess as a beginner she hadn’t still got used to the control.

The shopkeeper said something along the lines of “You, what the hell you do?”, and thus it became like,

“Oi! What’re you planning to do!?”

“No, this is not as what you think. It’s not.”

“You….. do this on purpose?”

When blue veins popped out from his forehead, a green phosphorescent started to envelop around the girl. If they played ZX, that’s a logout effect which everyone had known.

But, it looks like it’s also the first time for the girl….

“E…. what is this?”

“Oi,oi, after this much, you dare to run away!”

“No, I don’t have that intention.”

“You wait!”

“A, no, that, that….”

While she talked like that, she disappeared along with the light.

Looks like because she lost her control, she unintentionally logged out.

The game machine until now was using ESG which is limited. Therefore, until you got used to the artificial sense when you login, there were many confused players. But, I didn’t label them as unskillful players.

In the middle of disappearing, she seemed to send me a ‘please help me’ look, was I just imagining things?

Even so, what is that? That girl.

It’s almost impossible if she’s acquainted with the people other the guild members.

On top of her head, her avatar name was showed but….

Hmm, certainly was it [Mario (lol)]?

As expected, I didn’t know her.

More than that, (lol) huh. Not needed right.

….

Gathering my feeling, I continued to follow behind the guild members.

*Offline*

After that, as we couldn’t come up with a good plan for inviting members in guild house, in the end, it’d come to a standstill. Since it couldn’t be helped, we decided to discuss that again at later date, and it’s already evening. I just hoped that they would give up on that.

Logging out and taking ESG off from my head, I had a mail in my phone.

I was friendless until now, but before this, I exchanged my email address with the girls in offline meeting. That’s why I could only think them as the one who sent the email….

Then, from who?

Thinking that, I moved my finger.

[Subject] Reconfirmation

[Sender] Hugues (kishisama666@motmail.co.jp)

[Recipient] Keita (wan_U-x-U@pocomoco.co.jp)

《Hey, it’s me. Even I say that, you don’t know which ‘me’, do you?

Then, I’ll quickly tell you.

The ‘me’ now, is ‘me’ who confessed to you at the place that looks like harbor.

Before this mail, I also say this, my confession that time is serious.

How serious I am, it’s to the point that I want to marry you in the reality.

That’s why even if it’s a wedding in ZX, I will get jealous if you’re taken by the other members.

Moreover, the first one to say “let’s marry” is me.

I have to protect that promise.

Therefore, about this “Special Wedding, I will put all my effort to win. That’s why please look forward to it.》

As I saw my phone screen, I became absentminded.

Hmm…. This was….

Before I had said that there were people in society who couldn’t differentiate reality and virtual, and insisted to have relationship even in reality. After offline meeting, they became targeted by stalker. I have said something like that before, and the example――

AM I THE EXAMPLE!!

One of the guild members,

Wasn’t related to princess syndrome,

There’s a person who seriously like me.

As the premise, she even wanted to marry me in reality.

As a high school student, if you thought normally, you should not have produced an ill feeling after being confessed by girl.

Rather, a happy feeling.

But to me, who has Female Tolerance Deficiency Syndrome (FTDS), it’s a life and death matter.

【TL : In raw, it’s said to be FEDS but I can’t find the right word (女性耐性不全症候群】

W-w-w-w-w-what to do!?                            

    

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