"What are you doing—! Hey! Stop!"
The voice suddenly panicked, words tumbling over each other.
"Don't touch that!"
Femi ignored it.
She looked down at the long blade resting on the broken platform. Its surface reflected the dim light like water, flawless and untouched.
"A sword…" she murmured, tilting her head slightly.
"Is this sword talking?"
Her fingers hesitated for only a moment before reaching out.
"No wait STOP!" the voice shouted.
"It's for the main character! Not you! Not you! Noooo—!"
She wrapped her hand around the grip and pulled.
The blade slid free without resistance.
Light ran cleanly along its edge. It was brand new. Too perfect for a place like this.
"Woah…" she breathed.
"Put me down!" the voice cried.
"I'm not a weapon!"
Femi stared at the blade in her hand, then shifted her grip, weighing it.
"Uhh…" she said slowly.
"But you are a weapon…"
There was a pause.
"…That does make sense," the voice admitted, sounding conflicted.
"But I don't want to be used as a weapon! I was supposed to be the one using this! I was supposed to wield this katana!"
Femi lowered the blade slightly.
"Katana?"
The voice brightened instantly, pride flooding its tone.
"Yes! A katana! A peerless blade! Single edged, curved, perfectly balanced! Forged for elegance and deadly precision! Do you know how cool it is?! Legendary even—!"
She blinked.
"So…" she interrupted. "Why are you a sword?"
Silence.
"I don't know!" the voice snapped.
"I was supposed to be the main character! Chosen one! Overpowered! But somehow I ended up as the starter weapon!"
Femi frowned, completely lost.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
The voice let out a heavy sigh.
"Believe it or not…" it said in a more seriously tone.
"the world you're living in is a game."
She held the blade loosely, eyes fixed on its reflection.
"What do you mean… a game?" she asked quietly.
The sword hesitated.
"You won't believe it," the voice said.
"But I really want to let it out."
His voice felt heavier as he continued.
"This world… it's actually a game from the world I came from. A place called Earth. People there sit in front of glowing screens and control characters for fun. This one is called Level Up Freaks. Dungeons, ranks, monsters, skills, loot everything here exists there as a game where player must level up for battle and rare item."
Her brow furrowed.
When he said the name, something twisted uncomfortably in her chest.
She let out a dry laugh.
"That's just a lie," Femi said flatly. "Sounds like some kind of trap. Maybe I should destroy this sword."
Fear exploded from the blade.
"WAIT—! Don't! Please! I'm telling the truth! You have to believe me!"
She raised the sword slightly.
"Game?"
The word echoed as she said it in a serious voice.
In an instant, memories flooded back. Cold nights. Empty hands. Her parents turning away. Blood and pain in dungeons. A small, warm body sleeping against her chest.
Her grip trembled.
"You're telling me," she said slowly, voice shaking, "that all of this is a game? Every pain? Every death? Every tear? My life… my child… all of it is just a game? Just for entertainment to someone?"
Silence followed.
Then the voice spoke, quieter.
"I know. I understand. I'm confused too. This world wasn't supposed to be like this. The game world… it somehow became real. Everyone here has real consciousness."
She lowered the blade slightly.
"You mean you're some hero from another world," Femi said.
"Summoned by a king to save everything."
"Something like that," the voice replied. "But not exactly. I wasn't summoned. I don't even know how I got here. I remember playing the game all night. When I finished it, a message popped up asking for one wish. I joked and typed that I wanted to be in the game."
There was a pause.
"And now I am."
Femi stared ahead, saying nothing.
Finally, she spoke.
"No one is going to believe that."
"THAT'S WHY I'M TELLING YOU TO LISTEN TO ME!!!" the voice shouted in frustration.
Then it calmed itself.
"Anyway… you're badly injured. Look in the corner. There's a starter chest for the players. There should be a healing potion."
Femi turned her head.
In the corner of the chamber sat a small treasure box, its surface carved with faint lines and symbols, untouched by dust.
She walked over slowly, every step cautious, and placed the sword carefully against the wall beside the chamber. It hummed faintly as if offended.
Then she knelt and opened the box.
The moment the lid lifted, bright light burst out, flooding the chamber. She instinctively shielded her eyes. After a few seconds, the glow faded, revealing what lay inside.
Three small bottles filled with green liquid sat neatly to one side. In the center was a folded set of clothes. A small knife rested in the corner, simple but sharp from just it's look. At the far end were a few fresh looking fruits, and beside them a leather pouch that looked heavy.
"Wow…" Her eyes widened.
She reached for one of the green bottles, uncorked it, and drank without hesitation.
Warmth rushed through her body.
Light wrapped around her limbs as pain vanished. The bleeding stopped instantly. She gasped softly as her missing fingers reformed, bone, skin, and flesh knitting together. Strength returned to her limbs, steady and complete.
The empty bottle slipped from her fingers and shattered on the stone.
She exhaled deeply.
"I feel much better…."
"There should be a set of clothes too," the voice said.
She glanced back into the chest and lifted the folded fabric. When she unfolded it, she froze. The clothes were clearly made for a woman, simple yet well crafted, and judging by the cut and length.
They would fit her perfectly.
"How…" Femi whispered.
"The chest registered you as a player," the voice replied.
"It generated equipment based on your gender, height, and style."
"M-magical chest!" she blurted out.
"Something like that," he said.
"But it's only a one time thing."
She glanced at the sword resting against the wall.
"How can you see me…?"
"Huh?" the voice replied, confused.
"I'm going to change my clothes," she said flatly. "I don't want you watching."
"Oh, don't worry~ I'm just a sword, so you don't need to wor—"
She picked him up without another word, turned around, and tossed him straight back into the dark opening he had come from.
"AHHHHH!!" he screamed as he disappeared.
She smiled faintly, then looked toward the spider monster still waiting beyond the barrier.
"Such a pain in the ass…."
She began unfastening her soaked clothes.