[Six major races, over thirty different classes!]
[An unprecedented world map, a fantastical world of adventure!]
[Break free from the shackles of gravity and fly into the sky of the fairies!]
[—A super-massive fully immersive MMORPG]
[ALfheim Online (Fairy Kingdom) is now available!]
...The exciting BGM could be heard everywhere on the streets, and in just a few short days, the game had achieved national-level fame. Even on the train, whether it was high schoolers or elementary students, the screens of their phones all flashed with the animated PV for [ALO].
How exaggerated—the blond high school student with slightly fierce-looking eyes withdrew his gaze from the passersby.
He stood out a bit on the train, mainly due to his old-fashioned and serious black school uniform, as well as the pure gold sash hanging across his chest.
The former proved he was a student of the renowned Shuchiin Academy High School Division, while the latter was a symbol of honor for a special position—Student Council President.
In a prestigious school like Shuchiin Academy, becoming the Student Council President required either exceptional ability or family background. Having that on one's resume was the best guarantee of a limitless future!
For such a person to commute to school by train like an ordinary student was indeed quite eye-catching.
However, Shirogane Miyuki himself didn't mind, calmly accepting the curious gazes of others.
Coming from a poor family, he naturally didn't have a private car service. He usually rode his bicycle to school, but the forecast for today predicted an over eighty percent chance of rain, leaving him no choice but to take the train.
And in such an enclosed environment, the topic that all the young people were paying attention to and discussing inevitably piqued his curiosity.
Of course, although he didn't have a smartphone, he was still a high school student living in the present, so he had at least heard of the game:
[ALfheim Online], or ALO for short, was a revolutionary online game launched by a company under the Kuse Group and developed by "Rect". It was what was commonly known as a "VR MMORPG," and it caused a huge sensation upon its release.
Speaking of which, before this game, there was another heavily promoted one called "SAO," but on the day of its launch, it was quickly hit by a series of scandals, including server crashes, the exposure of corporate spies, and the manufacturer cutting corners.
A game that everyone had high hopes for had suddenly bombed due to both internal and external troubles!
But soon after, ALO, which was touted as a "superior replacement," was launched. It could run directly on SAO's exclusive gaming helmet, and the ten thousand players who had purchased the helmet were given a free software upgrade, allowing them to seamlessly transition into playing ALO.
From the sudden death of a hit title to the release of a new game, it all happened in no more than ten days—so fast it seemed like a joke!
The manufacturer later came out and explained that it was another project they had prepared long ago. Unlike the hardcore-style SAO, it was a more adventure-oriented open world with magic and flight systems, specifically designed to attract players who didn't enjoy sword-based combat systems.
Now, due to SAO's inexplicable failure, they had no choice but to release this first to compensate the players.
This explanation was widely accepted, but as the Student Council President, Shirogane Miyuki had a broad network of contacts and vaguely knew that there was more to the story. However, since it involved the Kuse Group, he hadn't actively investigated it.
In any case, no matter what game it was, it had nothing to do with him—
The Shirogane family absolutely couldn't afford a gaming helmet!
Besides, his academic pressure was immense. He had to spend a great deal of time every day reading and solving problems. Even if his financial situation allowed it, he didn't have the time to go on adventures in a digital world.
Of course, after hearing so much about ALO, it was impossible for him not to be curious; he just suppressed it with his strong self-control.
'A VR game... does it really feel exactly like reality?'
With this question in mind, Shirogane Miyuki walked into the student council room, only to be greeted by a baffling scene:
On the two sofas in the reception area sat two boys and two girls, all leaning back as if they were asleep. But a glance at the "NERvGear" on their heads and the host server placed on the table in the middle made it clear that wasn't the case.
What are they doing—Shirogane Miyuki didn't dare to disturb them. He went to his seat as usual and began to organize the day's schedule.
But as the Student Council President, his position naturally allowed him to command a view of the entire room, so he couldn't help but keep looking at the four of them playing together.
"Shinomiya, Ishigami, Fujiwara... is the last one Kuse?"
Skipping the nurse's office to come to the student council room today?
Shirogane Miyuki was well aware that some people were difficult to restrain with rules, so he wasn't indignant, just rather helpless.
"Does this mean Ishigami isn't the only gamer geek here anymore? But for Shinomiya to be playing too..."
What truly surprised him was that Shinomiya, who had always been uninterested in high-tech and digital products and still used a flip phone, would also be engrossed in it. Was this game really that fun?
Beep~!
A short beep pulled Shirogane Miyuki's attention back to reality. One of the people suddenly sat up straight on the sofa and took off their "NERvGear," revealing a handsome and cheerful smiling face.
Ryu stretched his neck and, upon seeing Shirogane, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I accidentally triggered the safety mechanism."
"Huh?" Shirogane was startled.
"What happened?"
"Senpai?"
"Is there a bug?"
Before Shirogane Miyuki could answer, a series of surprised voices rang out as the remaining three also logged out of the game and removed their helmets.
"Ah, President! You're already here."
"Good morning~"
"Good morning, Shirogane-kun."
Ishigami greeted him politely, glanced at the bewildered-looking Shinomiya and Chika, then looked at Ryu in confusion. "Did you get disconnected? Why did you log out without warning, Senpai?"
"Yeah, we were so close, we got it down to one percent, and then we wiped."
Chika was someone who took games quite seriously, and her voice was full of regret.
Ryu said apologetically, "Sorry, I think I got too excited. It detected that my heart rate was too high..."
"Hmm?"
Chika tilted her head. "Generally speaking, the helmet does measure heart rate and blood pressure, but a forced logout requires a very high threshold, right?"
"It's probably an equipment issue," Ryu shrugged. "There was that quality scandal a while back, you know how it is."
"Ohh~"
Everyone drew out the sound, exchanging mischievous glances, unable to hold back their laughter.
Even the Japanese themselves found the "bowing craftsman spirit" to be a rather speechless affair.
At that moment, Ishigami also noticed the silently observing Shirogane and enthusiastically explained to him: "Although the NERvGear intercepts the body's sensory signals, it has safety thresholds. If your heart rate or body temperature fluctuates abnormally and violently, it will alert the player in-game.
Additionally, in some special cases, it will thoughtfully save the user's progress and log them out automatically.
Like your bladder exploding! That's the biggest fear when gaming~"
Shirogane understood at once, while Chika and Shinomiya looked disgusted.
Miss Fujiwara pouted and said, "I think Ishigami-kun should pay more attention to his choice of words... Don't look at me, I don't need that function, because I always take care of things before I go online... Ahem, President, you're a little late today."
"The train was delayed."
A thought flashed through Shirogane's mind, but he couldn't grasp the main point. He felt like he was overlooking something.
Would someone like Ryu tolerate repeated quality issues in his own project?
—He had guessed correctly. It wasn't an issue with the helmet; it was Ryu's own body that was special.
When Ryu enters a game, he uses [Demon Brain] to engage in simulated combat, causing his vital signs to become incredibly exaggerated, just like when he directly triggered the alarms in the lab before.
Therefore, the helmet he uses for himself is custom-made, with a threshold two or three levels higher than that of a normal person.
This time, he had brought gifts to the student council room to visit and let everyone try it out. He had subconsciously activated [Demon Brain], forgetting that this was just standard equipment.
"By the way, it's early in the morning, what are you all doing?"
"Playing a game A gift from Ryu-chan"
Chika drew out her words in a cute, whiny tone. "Don't you know about ALO, President?"
"I'm not a caveman. I'm just a bit surprised that it has already invaded our student council room."
Well, what can you do when there's an inside collaborator—Chika giggled foolishly, completely unaware.
"Would you like to try it, Shirogane-kun? There's a spare helmet here."
Ryu smiled gently. "If you haven't played this type of game before, you might feel a bit dizzy at first, but you'll get used to it."
"No, it's just..."
Shirogane scratched his cheek, looking troubled. "I don't really have enough time."
"That's not necessarily true, President," Chika chimed in, trying to persuade him. "It was my first time trying it too, and how should I put this... it's surprisingly useful."
"Useful in what way?"
"This game's software has a 'teaching module' loaded into it. Whether you're looking up information or problem-solving methods, it's faster and easier to understand than using a computer. The search results are exceptionally accurate... What was the name of that AI again?
Anyway, it helps us filter out useless information and select the answers we want."
Chika now looked as though her eyes had been completely opened. "I wasn't quite used to it at first, but once I got the hang of it, I realized how much more convenient it is. You can even use holographic projections for reference, just like in the movies. It's perfectly clear at a glance!"
"That sounds like a great tool," Shirogane Miyuki's interest was greatly piqued upon hearing this. "I'll give it a try!"
He also sat down on the sofa and experienced it for himself. He was immediately struck by the sci-fi sensation of seeing future technology. After taking off the helmet, he savored the feeling for a long time, a sense of wistful loss washing over him.
But he was truly short on cash, and his family's budget was tight. It was unlikely he could afford such an expensive item anytime soon.
Maybe I can earn enough money from a summer part-time job to buy one for my little sister~
Just then, Chika spoke up cheerfully, as if seeking praise, "President, Ryu-chan and the Chairman have already agreed to run a pilot program at Shuchiin Academy to test the educational effectiveness of this helmet~
Although we can't let the whole school use it yet, they're apparently going to select volunteers to form a temporary class."
The others were clearly already aware of this news, so they weren't surprised. Shirogane also immediately understood what was going on:
Under Shuchiin Academy's system, the Student Council holds considerable power because, to some extent, it represents the interests of the entire student body. And behind these students lies immense influence. Therefore, the school isn't run solely by the Board of Directors; often, pushing certain initiatives even requires the Student Council's approval.
For example, the current Student Council includes the young ladies of the Shinomiya and Fujiwara families, and Kuse Ryu is also hidden away at the school.
If something needed to be negotiated with Ryu, it goes without saying that having these two act as intermediaries would be more effective—what does the Board of Directors even count for?!
"I see. So, Kuse-kun plans to enter the education sector?"
Shirogane Miyuki not only understood Ryu's intentions but also stated them bluntly, "If even Shuchiin Academy starts vigorously promoting this kind of educational tool, other prestigious schools will immediately follow suit, won't they?
Not to mention that parents will also be exposed to the NERvGear... Same as always, a flawless plan."
Ryu smiled smugly, and he and Shirogane exchanged a look, both nodding.
—The two had a good relationship; Shirogane was one of the few friends Ryu had that didn't involve any business interests.
Incidentally, Chika was very close with the President's younger sister, Shirogane Kei, which was how Ryu became acquainted with the Shirogane family, even going shopping with his childhood friend and the two siblings.
"If the NERvGear's effects are truly immediate and noticeable, then even if educational institutions are resistant, they won't be able to stop the enthusiasm of students and parents."
Shinomiya Kaguya also showed an appreciative expression. "You live up to your reputation. You've found an excellent breakthrough point, Kuse-kun."
"I must also thank everyone for their assistance," Ryu said with a polite smile.
At this point, even Ishigami understood and couldn't help but show a pleased expression.
Conduct a pilot program at Shuchiin Academy, where student volunteers use the NERvGear to improve their learning efficiency and show significant academic progress;
Other students, either to avoid falling behind or out of curiosity, also start using the NERvGear to study;
The parents, who are powerful and elite, inevitably come into contact with it and fully understand its practicality;
The NERvGear's teaching and work modules are promoted even further;
—This phased development was easy to predict, and it was bound to happen.
In the magical land of East Asia, you'll find that even students at Shuchiin Academy, who have no worries about their future prospects, are still urged by their parents to study.
Even the powerful figures at the top of the social pyramid feel that it's a great honor for their children to have good grades—of course, if a child turns out to be a lost cause and can only be sent abroad for a fancy degree, that's another matter entirely~
Once the NERvGear becomes a powerful educational tool, families with the means will naturally become its supporters. Otherwise, they would face the risk of not being able to keep up with their classmates' progress.
In this way, the Kuse Group would profit immeasurably... although Ryu didn't care about that.
Ryu was pushing this for two reasons:
First, to follow through on his initial idea of spreading virtual reality technology throughout the world, indirectly strengthening his own influence.
Second, and this was a very recent development... to protect all of humanity!
No joke!
Although he hadn't found the pyramid yet, and the exploration team sent to Kumamoto City hadn't discovered any ruins, now that he had already encountered a "Sukuna Demon," he had to be on guard for the possibility of more powerful monsters appearing in the future.
And the technology of the real world, compared to the black technology of humanity in Ultraman... was lacking by more than just a little.
Therefore, both now and in the future, he would actively disseminate such advanced technology. At the very least, he could contribute something, and maybe some genius out there would be inspired and invent some black tech~
—If that happened, the Kuse Group would be the first to reap the rewards.
Maybe when the Kirieloids show up in the future, Ryu will be able to pull a Maxima Cannon out of his pants and blast those space hillbillies back where they came from!
...
[ALO] was creating quite a stir. Although the helmet was only sold locally, the realism and playability shown in game streams alone had already earned it a worldwide reputation, and some small Southeast Asian countries were no exception.
In a hospital room in a certain plastic surgery clinic in Thailand, the news on the small color TV hanging from the ceiling was covering the [ALO] craze that had swept the nation this month. The host looked quite excited, as if he had played it himself.
The patients in the room were also quite interested, showing looks of curiosity and envy—all except for one person.
That was a very special patient. It wasn't that his injuries were severe, but as a patient who had undergone "full-body surgery," she (?) should have had the best post-operative care. However, her guardian was extremely stingy and had only placed her in a regular ward.
Now, less than two weeks after the surgery, with the bandages still on, she had to struggle to survive without a caregiver and with only occasional check-ins.
Fortunately, she was very resilient and had actually pulled through. And the doctor said her surgery was a complete success—you're a real girl now, be happy!
This period of perseverance in Thailand had also caused many changes within her, and she had gradually become stronger—
But she still burst into tears when she saw the incredibly familiar promotional PV for [ALO].
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