A loud voice echoed throughout the village.
I looked in the direction of the voice.
The two men who had gone out of the village earlier were rushing back in a panic.
They were shouting something, but I couldn't make out what they were saying.
Soon, the villagers came out of their houses with weapons.
They had swords and hoes.
Could it be? Were they found?
I thought, but it didn't seem to be about me.
The villagers gathered in groups and ran towards the east.
I quietly moved through the forest.
Looking to the east, I saw dust rising.
Many people were rushing towards the village.
Equipment: Copper Sword, Leather Shoes
Equipment: Copper Sword, Leather Armor, Leather Shoes
The thieves were still far away, only visible as tiny dots, but the necessary information came to mind.
The appraisal skill is really convenient.
It was clear what was happening from this appraisal result.
The game starts with a thief attack event.
I might be able to ride it out by hiding in the forest, but...
The thieves' levels were generally low.
I should be able to handle single-digit levels.
I have the holy sword Durandal.
The villagers' initial equipment, which looks like copper swords, wouldn't stand a chance.
The villagers were stationed at the village boundary, a little past the stable where I had been sleeping.
They seemed ready to intercept the thieves.
The Level 25 man from earlier was at the center.
The village chief was also there.
Don't overdo it, Level 8.
Equipment: Iron Sword, Thief's Bandana, Iron Armor, Leather Shoes
This man must be the leader.
He's the only one with a high level.
He's even wearing a stylish piece of equipment like the Thief's Bandana.
The next one is a significant drop to Level 19.
The Level 11 from earlier is third.
The rest are single digits.
Are their levels low because it's the first event?
If I focus on the leader, I should be able to handle it.
The thieves eventually reached the village and charged in, swords raised.
The villagers intercepted them.
A chaotic battle began right in front of me.
They were shouting, but I couldn't understand a word.
The battle was taking place right in front of the forest where I was hiding.
I could probably catch them off guard by jumping out of the forest.
Since both the thieves and the villagers had low levels, neither side was overwhelming the other.
The Level 41 leader was facing off against the Level 25 man.
However, the level difference was evident, and the leader soon gained the upper hand.
He knocked the man down and straddled him, holding him and thrusting something desperately.
He must be stabbing the man through the gaps in his armor.
I've heard that in ancient martial arts, where armor was assumed, this was a common technique.
The leader, who had the man pinned down, was naturally looking down.
I felt I could reach the leader without being noticed.
I could deal a significant blow from behind with the holy sword Durandal.
I drew Durandal from its sheath and gripped it with both hands.
Durandal was heavier than a wooden sword but not too heavy to wield.
It was easy for me, having practiced kendo.
If this is the initial event of the game, I should be able to take down even a Level 1.
I had no choice but to go.
The sounds around me faded away.
I couldn't understand what anyone was saying anymore.
I jumped out of the forest and ran straight for the Level 41 leader.
One of the thieves noticed me and tried to block my path.
I swung Durandal and cut down the Level 2 thief in one stroke.
That's what a Level 2 is like.
I raised Durandal again and ran closer. I jumped a little and landed next to the leader.
Without losing momentum, I swung the sword, planting my feet firmly.
I brought the sword down on the leader's neck, which was facing down. Durandal caught the thief's neck.
The leader's head flew off.
Red blood spurted from the severed neck.
What kind of splatter is this?
This game is definitely a piece of crap.
I didn't have time to think about that.
I charged at the other thieves.
The single-digit level thieves around the leader were all taken down in one stroke.
Each time I swung Durandal, blood splattered, and the number of enemies decreased.
I looked for the next highest level, Level 19.
While clearing out the single-digit level grunts, I turned my head to check the thieves.
The Level 19 thief was attacking the village chief, a little away from the leader.
Several villagers had gathered around the chief, forming a defensive line.
The Level 19 thief noticed me and shouted something.
The thieves began to stop fighting and flee.
They must be retreating because the leader was killed.
Now was the chance to attack their backs.
I cut down several fleeing thieves.
A Level 11 thief stood in my way. The third man.
I blocked his sword from the left with my right, and then I swung from the left, forcing him to block.
Since he was wearing armor, a single hit to the torso wouldn't knock him down.
I quickly decided to move my sword slightly and target his wrist.
The Level 11 thief's right wrist was cleanly severed and fell to the ground. Durandal was impressive.
Ignoring the blood spurting from the wrist, I swung back up. Without a wrist, he couldn't block.
I decapitated the Level 11 thief.
The thieves were in full retreat.
The Level 19 thief was fleeing. What a coward. Or, they're just thieves, after all.
I cut down more fleeing thieves and then attacked the Level 19 thief.
The defenseless back of the fleeing Level 19 thief was no match for Durandal.
I scattered the remaining stragglers.
In the end, none of the thieves escaped and became my experience points.
After defeating all the thieves, I slumped to the ground.
Even though it was just a game, I was breathing heavily.
I took a deep breath and calmed myself.
The sounds around me gradually returned.
The field was littered with the bodies and blood of the thieves.
It didn't need to be this realistic.
It took time for the defeated enemies to disappear.
Did the beta testers not complain?
I've never heard of a fully virtual reality game, so maybe I'm in the beta test.
As I sat and caught my breath, the village chief approached.
The slightly low-level Level 8 village chief.
"I can't understand what you're saying."
"Excuse me. Are you a speaker of the Brahim language?"
"Ah, impressive. Are you an adventurer?"
What's impressive about that? You're speaking too.
"Thank you for saving the village."
It's an event, after all.
But I sound unusually cocky.
It's because the village chief is too humble.
Even though he's the chief, his level is low.
Using polite language is a hassle, so I end up like this.
"I'll do my best to thank you."
"Okay. Is there a place where I can lie down? I'm a bit tired."
Even in a game, I feel physically exhausted.
Virtual reality is impressive.
Besides, I don't want to stay where the bodies of the thieves are. Hurry up and disappear.
"Please come to our house. I am the village chief, Somara."
Somara, Male, 68 years old
Equipment: Copper Sword, Robe, Sandal Boots, Village Chief's Ring
The information seems correct.
"Please. My name is Michio."
They don't seem to have last names, so just Michio will do.
The village chief started walking, so I hurriedly stood up and followed.
I couldn't understand the conversation between the village chief and the villagers.
What's going on with this game?
"Are there few people who can speak Brahim?"
"In this village, only I, the merchant Bicker, and the innkeeper can speak it."
"Even though you look young, Michio, you can speak Brahim. Impressive."
What's impressive about that?
By the way, Brahim is not Japanese. It has a strange sound.
Of course, I shouldn't be able to speak it, but I somehow understand and can speak it completely.
It's a confusing virtual reality.
"There was another man who could speak Brahim, a former adventurer, but he... in the battle just now..."
The village chief's voice dropped.
It must be the Level 25 man. Or, if he was a former adventurer, his job might not be a villager. There didn't seem to be anyone like that, though.
Kaga Michio, Male, 17 years old
Villager Level 2, Thief Level 2
Equipment: Durandal, Sandal Boots, Ring of Resolve
It seems my level increased after the battle.
It was a fierce battle, so it's natural, but should I complain that it only went up by one?
We headed to the village chief's house.
"I'll have some hot water prepared."
The village chief spoke to someone in the house and led me inside.
The village chief's house was a two-story cottage. It had a mud wall and a rustic appearance.
The civilization level didn't seem very high. It looked like the ancient to early medieval period.
There were no guns or bows.
There was a large earthen floor just inside the entrance.
I was led to a small room next to it.
"Please rest in this room."
The room was still an earthen floor, but there was a wooden board at the back.
Should I log out for a while?