Her
First of all, before we jump into the full story, let clarify one thing.
I wasn't always a ratling. Instead of being a half-man half-rat monster living in a sewer, I was a human like you. A very average one.
Hmm, no, let correct that. Co to think of it, my life was actually below average.
It wasnt my family or my parents who were to bla. The problem was .
Lacking any semblance of motivation, dreams, or passion, I studied randomly, entered the first university that had a spot open, and lived a colourless life.
I had no drive to go out and get a job, and I had no ambition.
As I spent ti like that, I was nearing thirty before I knew it.
The job market was tough, so I still lived at my mother's, earning so pocket money from playing video gas.
Ah, now that Im rembering it again, my life sure was pathetic.
It was after my mother collapsed that I ca face-to-face with reality.
A woman who raised her son by herself, had to keep supporting him even after he beca an adult, was it any wonder that shed fall ill?
Because she didnt have any money saved up, she didnt even go to the hospital at the start.
I was able to put a lid on the fire sohow thanks to the help of my kind-hearted relatives, but still, it was at that ti that I finally saw myself properly in the mirror.
A useless human being who couldnt even take care of his sick mother.
The only thing he knew how to do was to earn so money from playing gas.
I was drowning in self-loathing, and the fear of living all alone in the world hounded my every breath.
That was when I t her'.
She was a beauty that would turn any mans head, and it was my luck that she was a fan of mine.
Id once uploaded a lets play video with a cara view of my face. This was when I had a delusion of becoming a famous strear. Of course, I didn't have the kind of guts that required, so Id quickly dropped the matter, but she said she recognized from that. She was one of the few subscribers to my channel, apparently.
Your taste is really unique.
Exhausted in both body and mind, that was the only way I could respond.
It was nothing but the truth. Because I always chose to play as monsters or villain characters in gas, and as all sorts of perverts, too, my subscribers often left malicious comnts under my videos. For example
He always makes the gas feel weird. I bet this bastards so kind of a NEET shut-in.'
But she only laughed.
Well, everyone has their own preferences, dont they? Anyway, nice to et you. Whatre you doing here at the hospital?
Then, as if possessed by sothing, I started telling her my life story.
About my sick mother. About my uselessness, belated regrets, self-loathing, fear of the future, and above all, about my anger at the world.
Why are you angry?
"Thats"
I was reluctant to say it, but in the end my words poured out. Now that I think about it, I really mustve been possessed.
Because this world neglected , and abandoned .
This world?
"I know. Im talking nonsense. But I can't help but be angry, yknow? This world never gave any attention, and thanks to that, Ive lived my life without paying any attention to myself. If anyone had found my talent or had enough interest in to give so guidance, I wouldn't have ended up like this.
Oh? Bullshit as that is, it sounds quite novel.
"I know. I know already how ugly it all sounds. You don't have to remind .
But it is impressive. In a way. It's not easy to open up like that, even to your friends. I think I have an inkling of how hard it is, and how desperate you feel.
How desperate I feel? Just the hospital bills no, if I could get even a single chance to be a good son or a useful human being once again, I could trade my soul to a demon for it. Im serious."
Oh, is that enough? Then would you like to work for my company?
My head went blank for a mont at the suggestion that popped out without any sense of reality.
Are you a demon?
"Oh dear . Have you ever heard of a demon this pretty? And honestly, your soul isn't even worth trading, right? Ah, sorry. I didnt an to insult you. I was just telling the truth.
Harsh words. However, they happened to be true.
"Fffuck then are you so kind of an organ trafficker? A dating scamr? Or a con artist?"
Arent you just imagining things?
But it fits. A job offer out of the blue let be clear, I'm poor as dirt, so stop thinking about scamming . I already have enough problems on my plate right now.
She giggled and said sothing incomprehensible.
Ah, you guys really have overactive imaginations. Well, that's what we live for, though. But anyway, don't worry, it's not what you think."
"Even if you say so"
Then let show you sothing you can believe.
As she said that, she started tapping at her phone.
After a while, a text ssage ca to my phone. It was a notification of money being deposited. A ridiculous amount of money.
"What is this how many zeroes are there?"
Now do you believe ? Isnt that enough money to blow all your worries away?
I suddenly had a bunch of stuff I wanted to ask, but because of my shallow vocabulary, I could only ask sothing stupid.
How did you get my account number?
Hee hee hee! She laughed.
I sent that much money, but thats what youre curious about? Sothing so trivial?
Uh, no, sorry.
Then, would you like to co with for a bit? I know the director of this hospital. You can stop worrying about your mother for a while.
Gripped by an unknown fear, I hesitated for a mont. She urged once more.
Maybe Im the last one in this world who can help you. Shouldnt you take it? Its a rare opportunity.
At those words, I moved like soone possessed.
When I ca to my senses, I was sitting with her in her car. It was a luxury sports car you'd only ever see in movies.
I thought I wouldn't be able to buy a single doorfra even if I sold all my organs, but then I felt relieved. At least she wasn't soone whod cheat sobody like .
Right? Sobody driving a car like that would look for bigger prey.
Instead, a new question arose.
Who are you, really?
Shed introduced herself as an employee of a foreign ga company.
When I asked her the na of the company, or their flagship ga, she said it wasnt important.
At first, I thought it was so small indie ga company, but that didnt track with her extravagant car.
Maybe she was born into money? Ah! I bet thats it!'
However, such expectations were shattered the mont I saw the company building.
The building she worked at was a splendid high-rise nestled in the middle of a forest of concrete.
She took into the building and started explaining the job.
First of all, Im serious when I say that Im your fan. I've never seen such perverted gaplay anywhere else. Instead of hunting monsters or completing quests, you were kidnapping village NPCs or trafficking player characters it was really fun. Why did you do that? Because you were angry, like you said?"
Don't get wrong. It was just an experint to see how high the degree of freedom was. I dont have so kind of ntal illness if thats what youre thinking.
How unfortunate. Personally speaking, I wouldn't mind a ntal illness or two.
"Haha. Youre kidding, right?
"Of course, of course. Anyway, I said I was offering you a job, right?"
"Yes."
Theres a ga at the testing stage, and I want you to play test it.
We stopped in front of a room. When I opened the door, there was only an armchair and a ga console inside.
Can I ask a question?
Of course.
What do you an specifically by play testing?
Theres this product that our company is developing. It's a virtual reality ga, but theres a twist. You can eat and sleep in the ga, or even do sothing a little naughtier if you want. To sum it up, you could say that another reality has been made into a ga.
What, really? That's amazing. Incredible. Is sothing like that possible already?
"Yes. Technology keeps marching on, after all. But theres one problem. The ga is too realistic. So the users have been experiencing so side effects.
"Side effects?"
Yes, side effects. Like inability to distinguish between the ga and reality due to excessive imrsion. Symptoms of PTSD and the like. If you cant spot one from the other, is there any difference between a war ga and a real war?
Then, I
Yes, your job is to be a kind of an experintal subject to obtain data on the side effects. Think of it like a part-ti job in a clinical trial at a pharmaceutical company.
She pulled out a docunt from sowhere and handed it to .
Of course, I wont lie to you and say that its safe. But theres no free lunch in the world, right? Read here. These are the provisions for compensation wages, welfare, and unforeseen circumstances.
To be honest, Id never laid eyes on an employnt contract before, so I had no idea what was what.
But even at a glance, the conditions looked excellent.
All the more so for sobody like , who had no relevant prior job experience or related skills. A question ca to mind.
I rember from the elevator, that this is the 66th floor.
"Yes. Are you uncomfortable with heights?
I noticed quite a few foreigners along the way.
This is the era of globalization. Are you a racist, by any chance?
Everyone greeted you politely.
I might be a woman, but Im a high-ranking executive. What, are you a male chauvinist?
"No. No I'm just curious. Youre a high-ranking executive at such a great company, why the hell would you offer a job like this to soone like ?
Ill be honest. I dont deserve this. Honestly speaking, this is all so unrealistic that it feels like youre setting up for a joke.
She smiled. It was a smile that could bewitch anyone who saw it.
I told you. I'm your fan, so I'm here to help. Also, I need you, too.
It wasn't a convincing answer, but I couldn't ask any more questions because of that bright smile.
Her pure charisma was hard to resist.
Well, then what do you want to do now? Would you like to try it? Or would you like to quit? Youre free to choose. Just in case youre wondering, the money I gave you is yours, so don't worry about it. Even if you refuse, I wont ask for it back.
I hesitated. Would I go back like this? Or would I give it a try?
Common sense was telling to just go back.
Didnt this whole setup sll dodgy? But I couldn't.
Because she needed . Because soone acknowledged , and expected sothing from . It wasnt an offer I could refuse.
Because I yearned to be needed. By sobody. Anybody.
No, I'll do it. But I have a question about this part here, about the character. Its been decided by this A'. The provision that the character must be a ratling'. What does that an?"
Just as it sounds. You literally have to play the ga as a ratling.
"And? Whats a ratling?
Lets just say that theyre monster rats that live in the sewers. A mutant race created by the goddess Derubo, who loves the cursed and the marginalized.
Is this a ga setting?
Ah of course. Do you have any concerns?
No, no, it sounds a bit disgusting, but thats just fine with . Hmm. By the way, can you tell why I have to play as a ratling character?
Its a race I designed. So I guess Im fond of them? Anyway, right. Make sure to also check out the main storyline.
"Hmm, I see. Then, how should I play the ga?
Just go as hardcore as you want.
Her words sounded like a riddle. But I just nodded and signed the contract.
Then, shall we try it right now?
"Right Now?"
"No ti like the present, as they say. Or, you dont want to?"
"No. No, Im ready.
As expected! I have a good eye for people, you know. Just sit on that chair over there and relax. It should be pretty comfy, it certainly costs enough.
It was true. As I sat on the chair, my body relaxed as if I was lying on a fluffy cloud.
Now then, wear this.
As I was about to put on the VR console that looked just like sunglasses, I paused as a question suddenly ca to my mind.
By the way, whats the na of this ga?
Oh, the na of the ga? I haven't decided yet how about M&A'?
Like, rger/acquisition?
Yes, or rather a hostile takeover, to be precise.
What do you
I tried to ask, but she forcibly put the console on . She was so strong that I couldn't even resist.
After a while, I managed to open my eyes and there was a goblin standing right in front of .
Editor's Notes:
None for this chapter.
Reviews
All reviews (0)