Chapter 29 - Normal Gameplay?
I was watching Seth (Miki)'s "Goblin Settlement Extermination" quest via stream.
The five-person party, including Seth, boarded a carriage on the west side of the Capital and the next moment, arrived at the village where the quest was given.
They probably entered an instance dungeon from there. There were no players other than Seth's party.
The group conversed with the requesting village elder and proceeded to the target location. The bow-wielding player moved according to their [Presence Detection], eliminating stray goblins as they found them.
Perhaps because they defeated 8 goblins before reaching the settlement, there were only about 10 visible goblins remaining in the settlement.
A settlement, but it was just a bonfire surrounded by what looked like hunted rabbits and deer piled up haphazardly. Hmm, was the island's goblin settlement like this too?
While I was thinking that, all party members took their predetermined positions.
The first attack was magic. A Mage's [Fireball] initiated the attack, and a Bow user precisely finished it off, at which point Seth jumped in to gather aggro.
Seth solidly blocked and deflected the goblins' attacks with clubs and knives using her greatshield, and steadily dealt damage with her longsword.
"You're a good tank."
I unintentionally murmured, and Seth, feeling pleased, even performed a [Shield Arts
The Spearman and Twin Blade user then systematically eliminated the goblins, completing the extermination. After dismantling and looting the spoils, they returned to the village and received a letter of completion from the village elder.
"With this, the quest's clear flag has been set, so we can apparently disband here. Well, since moving is a hassle, we'll return by carriage."
Seth quietly informed me.
It was the same on the way there, but apparently, for quests, you can choose to move by walking or take the shortcuts provided.
Well, even in a VR MMORPG, if they fully implemented the travel time for quests, gameplay would get tedious...
They returned to the guild and reported at the counter. After selling off Magic Stones and spoils, the quest was finished.
"Then, until we meet again!"
They disbanded the pick-up party and ended. All that took just over an hour. I see, so this is what normal gameplay is like.
"This looks fun too, in its own way."
"Indeed. It feels like a standard MMORPG brought to full-dive VR, but it's well-made, making enjoyable parts realistic and smoothly skipping stressful parts."
Compared to this, the Uninhabited Island Start feels incredibly realistic, doesn't it?
No, but it still skips things that would normally be impossible – like dismantling and trap setting – at key points, right?
"For the time being, are you just going to complete quests?"
*"That's the plan. According to the developers, once stable operation is achieved and new registrations are unrestricted, the main story will begin.
Until then, these quests are probably meant to teach us what this world is like."*
"I see. Well, it probably doesn't concern me, though."
Leaving the guild, Seth continued to wander around the Capital. She must be showing me the cityscape.
"This is the largest plaza in the Capital."
Stepping out of the street, a plaza as large as a stadium spread out, filled with a considerable number of players.
"There are even street stalls."
"Heal Potions of better quality than those sold in stores are starting to appear. Weapons and armor are still lacking, but they will emerge eventually."
Seth visited several street stalls, browsing for potions. She diligently used her [Appraisal] skill to assess the items and purchased two high-quality Heal Potions.
"So they have glass, then."
"It seems they don't have sheet glass, though."
Well, if they have iron tools, they must have glass. Blown glass existed before BC, they say.
I need to be able to make glass on the island someday too. I want to drink ice-cold ginger ale. No, first I was going to try making potions.
Alright, it's almost time for me to log into IRO...
[Uninhabited Island Discovered!]
"Huh?"
"Oh? Is this the World Announcement, said to have occurred when you first started on the Uninhabited Island, Brother?"
"Ah, I think so."
So someone else besides me started on an Uninhabited Island? If I do say so myself, how did they find that method?
I'm curious about what kind of gameplay someone else is trying to do, but I have no way to check...
Then, a notification popped up. Who could it be...? It's President Bell. It must be about this announcement.
"Miki, sorry, but President Bell called. It's probably about this World Announcement."
"Understood. Then, I'll see you at dinner."
I closed Miki's stream and opened the notification from President Bell, which was an invitation to President Bell's stream. It seemed she couldn't log out of IRO right away and wanted to talk via stream.
"Um, can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you. I apologize, but I'm in the middle of a quest and can't leave."
"I see. So, it's about the Uninhabited Island World Announcement again, right?"
"Eh? I thought you weren't playing IRO?"
"I was just watching my sister's IRO stream."
"..."
What was that subtle pause for?
"Um, it seems that Uninhabited Island Start is being live-streamed."
"Eh, seriously? Then I should go watch it, right?"
"Yes, could you please? I don't know if the archive will be made public."
Live streams are usually saved and can be published as is, but some people don't publish them for a certain period to increase the value of the live content.
I need to go watch it quickly.
"Alright, I'll go watch it. I'll give you my thoughts, or whatever, at the club room tonight."
"Yes, please. The new Uninhabited Island Starter is apparently one of the Game Dolls. You should find her easily."
"Understood. I'll go watch it right away."
"Please do!"
Game Dolls, was that the company doing it? I think it was something about a strategy site hiring virtual idols.
They wouldn't release the live archive until the strategy site had the information, so I should go watch it quickly.
Um, search for 'IRO' 'Game Dolls' or something... Oh, it's right at the top.
'Sayaka Imagawa @ Game Dolls "IRO Uninhabited Island Start Live Stream #1"' This must be it. Trending up, huh?
"I wonder if she's doing anything interesting? I hope there's something we can learn for our island, something like that."
Thinking that, I opened the live stream, and it was amazing in a completely different way...