An Eyepatch That Pierces Reason

Good things have always come to me, but they are always followed by misfortunes.

As if the sweet fortune doesn't fit in my fountain of luck.

There was a special event where a rare item from my favorite game would be gifted to just one person. Since it was a single player game without PVP elements, people were skeptical about the event's existence.

I, of course, applied for it.

I didn't expect to win.

I applied because it was an event, an action that came naturally to me.

However, I was the chosen winner, and little did I know it would lead to my "possession."

(Zeto) Lv.5

Skills you possess:

• ‌Ghost Sword Lv.4

• ‌Excellent Senses Iv.1

• ‌Weakness Detection Iv.MAX

• ‌[Eye Patch that Pierces Reason] effect is being applied

Items you have equipped:

• ‌Eye Patch that Pierces Reason [Legendary]

• ‌The Sword of the East [Poor Quality, Normal]

Even though it was a vivid reality, this unrealistic and familiar screen floating in the air was enough to confuse me.

At first, I thought it was really a dream.

However, it didn't take long to realize that this was reality. This place, this world I was most familiar with, was neither a game nor a dream, but an obvious reality.

The initial skills selected in the character creation window became my body's strength, and the 'eyepatch,' a special item I received before being possessed, became a valuable item that could not be exchanged for anything.

And a nickname I came up with without much thought.

'Zeto' has become my name for living in this fantasy world from now on.

I'm blind because I'm wearing an eyepatch that covers both eyes.

If you are blind, of course it is a sword.

blind swordsman.

How well matched and cool.

Those two words were the concept of this character I roughly thought of.

As I touch my eyes to remind myself of reality, I feel the thin cloth covering my eyes.

'An eyepatch that pierces reason."

'Legendary' grade items that are hard to find anywhere, not only in games, but even now that the world in games has become a reality.

In terms of rank, it was the highest, best, and strongest rank at the end.

From the outside, it looked like an ordinary white bandage, but as the name 'eyepatch' suggests, it had to be wrapped around the eyes to be worn correctly.

The effect of this item, as explained by the game company, was fraudulent due to its grade.

'Experience gain increased by 500%'

'Weakness detection skill level MAX'

'Increases critical damage by 300%'

Even if you take out just one of these effects, it should still be considered an excellent item... Nevertheless, it is still vague.

The game was basically combat-based.

That meant from now on, instead of using a keyboard and mouse, I had to lead my own body, dodge pouring magic and arrows, and clash swords against swords.

It was not easy for me, who had never fought properly in my life.

The good thing was that even though my eyes were undoubtedly covered by the eyepatch, I could still see clearly.

This was also the effect of the eyepatch that penetrated reason.

I looked up at the sky where the dazzling sunlight was beating down.

The sky was clear and blue without any superfluities.

On the street, I saw people dressed like me walking by.

There was nothing out of sight.

Through the eyepatch, I was able to see without obstruction.

It was truly bizarre, infinitely fantasy-like.

"It's already the entrance ceremony."

Zeto, or rather, I had been busy walking since early morning.

The last few days since being possessed felt like a prologue to a game.

Today is the day of the entrance ceremony for 'Innocence Academy', which was the main background of the game.

Since it was a typical academy game, the story in the game begins on the day of the entrance ceremony.

In fact, not entering the academy would be a way to live in this world, but all the information I have was obtained through games.

In other words, since it was information inside the academy, it was good to use it within the academy.

In that sense, I thought that leaving the academy from the beginning was not such a good option.

In this medieval fantasy world, there was no place like the academy for a commoner like me without a last name to aim for safe growth and success.

As I continued to walk, I realized that the academy was farther than I initially thought.

Although I could have taken a carriage with the money I had, I didn't know if carriages could go this far into the outside area.

Innocence Academy was not only an educational institution but also a fairly large city. I had heard that it had a very closed tendency, but I didn't expect it to be this big.

With not much time left until the entrance ceremony, I hurriedly moved my feet and turned a street corner.

Suddenly, there was a loud sound of collision, and I fell to the ground.

"No! Where did you leave your eyes...!"

I heard the voice of a woman, sounding angry, but her words trailed off as she saw me.

As I sat on the floor dazed, I slowly looked at her face and realized who she was. She was the main character in the game, Yuri Clementine.

She had red hair that was finely braided and the same color as dark blood, and red eyes that sparkled like flames.

If I had to bump into someone, why did it have to be her?

Yuri Clementine, daughter of Count Clementine, famous on the continent for her flame magic. The only heir to the Clementine family, she has the nickname "Flaming Flower" due to her beauty.

I don't really like that nickname.

What's more important than anything in the current situation is Yuri's personality. She's known for being hot-tempered and quick to anger.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention..." I scratch my head and apologize as quietly as possible.

I know that if I touch on Yuri's pride, it won't end well. As a main character, there's a high probability that we'll encounter her many more times in the future.

"...Ah."

Suddenly, Yuri falls silent. It's rare to see her speechless.

"No, I should have been more careful," Yuri finally responds in a raised voice.

Did Yuri Clementine just apologize?

It was a rare and unfamiliar expression on Yuri's face, but I could understand it. Her gaze was fixated on my eyepatch.

Yes, to anyone who saw me, it would appear that I was blind.

It was a simple matter, really. If someone covered their eyes with a bandage, it was only natural to assume that they were blind. After all, why else would they be walking down the street like that?

In truth, however, I could see perfectly well. But to others, it was obvious that I was blind.

Despite my annoyance, I realized that getting angry with Yuri would be pointless. After all, if the other person was blind, I would be the only one who would end up looking foolish.

The Yuri I knew was always hot-headed and quick to anger, but she knew how to keep a level head when it mattered.

I picked myself up from the ground, brushing off the dirt from my clothes.

"Judging by the color of your tie... you must be starting at the academy today. My name is Yuri Clementine."

Yuri extended her hand, her gaze still fixed on my eyepatch.

"Ah," she exclaimed, uncertain of what to say.

Despite my annoyance, I realized that getting angry with Yuri would be pointless. After all, if the other person was blind, I would be the only one who would end up looking foolish.

The Yuri I knew was always hot-headed and quick to anger, but she knew how to keep a level head when it mattered.

I picked myself up from the ground, brushing off the dirt from my clothes.

"Judging by the color of your tie... you must be starting at the academy today. My name is Yuri Clementine."

Yuri extended her hand, her gaze still fixed on my eyepatch.

"Ah," she exclaimed, uncertain of what to say.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her adorable awkwardness.

"Hahahaha, you really don't know what to make of it, do you?" I said, extending my hand for a handshake.

The touch of her hand, which I had only watched through the monitor screen, was surprisingly soft. It was hard to believe that such powerful fire magic could come from these slender hands.

"Does it feel uncomfortable?" Yuri asked, referring to the eyepatch.

"I can't see, but I can feel what's around me with my other senses. It's not uncomfortable to move my body."

It was crucial that nobody else knew I could see. If it became known that this ordinary eyepatch around my eye was a legendary-grade item with special abilities, my life could be in danger from those who coveted it.

The value of such an item would surely attract the attention of villains lurking in the shadows.

For this reason, I had no choice but to continue pretending to be blind and come up with plausible excuses to avoid arousing suspicion.

"Oh, that's just the sound of my glasses."

As we were both admitted students, Yuri and I started walking together.

"Do you wield a sword?" she asked, noticing the one at my waist.

"I'm still just a novice swordsman," I replied.

"If you're a swordsman, does that mean you're from the East?" Yuri asked.

I nodded in confirmation.

"'Swordsman' is actually a job that existed in the game. I figured being a blind swordsman was a better choice than a blind knight," I explained.

"I should've guessed, being the daughter of the Clementine family, you have a lot of knowledge," Yuri replied, smiling subtly.

While it was clear that Yuri was complimenting me, I couldn't remember if my character in the game ever smiled. Was there a difference between the game and reality?

In reality, the impossible could become possible. For example, even though I couldn't pursue a romantic relationship with certain characters in the game, I could try dating them now.

But the most important thing was that, in reality, characters who died in the game could potentially be brought back to life.

That meant quite a bit to me.

It's because I had also tried to save a certain character by retrying.

I was lost in my thoughts for a while until I felt people crowded around me.

"Looks like you're almost at the academy."

"Come to think of it... how did you find your way until you met me?"

"Yeah... I asked people around me for directions or walked along the road that many people were going to. I figured that there would be a lot of cadets walking around the city at this time."

"Whoa... That's a pretty smart move."

For some reason, the conversation seems to become an exploration of the life of the blind, but Yuri has a very curious personality, so there is no choice.

After walking along the road, the main building of the academy is finally revealed.

The main building of Innocence Academy, where talented young people from all over the continent gather, exudes grandeur worthy of its reputation.

The main story finally kicks off.