9 Ch 8 – Priest

"Uwah!" said Aki in wonder as he looks at the wide-open field of green grass that sways with the refreshing breeze that hits his face while he walks along the dirt path that goes towards the large town in the distance.

"Hmm, what class would I want to pick?" muttered Aki as he started to remember the videos and stuff he read on Metube and the forums for New World.

"So according to the devs, those who have mythical class Gifts will still have the same rank and Gift at the next reincarnation to make mythical class gifts more op so it should be safe if I do die. Hmm, what if I… become a priest?" muttered Aki as he started to think of the class paths of Priest.

"Or paladin, wait… how does one become a Saint in the game? Hmm, let me check the forums" muttered Aki as he checked the forums and search for a few minutes and it seems like there are no hints on how to be a Saint.

"Ehhh, I guess Priest it is, it enhances the Mind and Energy stat which is useful for many things in the game. I can also learn light and holy magic and most of them are very useful with only a few races having resistance to both. And I can also go learn other magic instead of just the two later so it's a pretty decent class. The class also allows me to earn exp by healing others and taking a part of their exp" muttered Aki as he decided to become a Priest and already made a plan to earn some money not only for in-game but also for real life.

How? Well, it's because you can actually trade in-game money for real money with the ratio of 1 gold coin to 1 dollar, it's super complicated to explain how this was possible but there is one simple reason, it's because of Gifts.

Soon, he reached the outskirts of the town and saw many players like him with some having the demi-human race due to either their real-life Gift that mutated their body or in-game Gift that mutated their body.

"Woah" gasped Aki in surprise as he looks at the map plastered near the entrance to the town and found where the Church is and started to head over there while looking at the medieval-looking town with kids playing around, groups of adventurers walking around carrying swords, bows, staves and more.

He saw the stalls filled with vegetables, fruits, meats, and more as he smelled the refreshing aroma as his eyes shone in wonder.

"Nghhh! I couldn't believe I never played this game in my life!" said Aki in joy as he wandered around the town and talk to some NPCs and was very much impressed at how realistic the NPCs were, they smiled, they cried, they chuckled, they felt pain, they were… too human-like as it even creeped him out for a bit and wondered what Gifts were used to develop this game, no, this New World.

Soon, he found himself lost and couldn't find the church and looked around but to no avail so he decided to thicken up his skin and found a man buying some fruits from one of the stalls, with a big muscular body wearing leather armor, with a sword buckled just beside his waist, it seems like he's a player just like him.

And as he approaches him bit by bit, his whole temperament started to eerily change as it became kinder, friendlier, more likable, as if he appears to be a guy you couldn't hate as if it was a crime, just like last time when he talked to the girl he murdered in cold blood as there seems to be more unnerving stuff behind the veil Tanaka Akihiko wore.

"Umm, hey mister," said Aki as he pokes the man on the back.

"Huh? Who?" said the man in confusion as he didn't see anyone until he heard a meek voice from below.

"D- down here," said Aki as the man look down and saw Aki.

"Oh, sorry, so what can I do for you?" said the man with an amicable smile.

"C- can you please point where the church is? I- I plan to be a Priest!" said Aki as his figure was still very much child-like or what would be called a shota because of his chronic disease that stunted his growth, but it seems like he will naturally look like that even if he was healthy from the start just like his little brother and his still kid looking father.

"Oh, why does a little kid like you want to become a Priest? Don't you want to be a cool mage and shoot fireballs from your hands?" said the man with a chuckle as a ball of fire appeared in his hand.

"H- hey! I'm almost 15 okay! I- I'm not a kid!" said Aki with a pout while the man chuckled.

"Sorry sorry, so you just head left and once you see the restaurant, just turn right and walk forwards and you will see the Church, and if you want to be an adventurer just walk further and you will find the adventurer's guild," said the man with a smile.

"Thank you!" said Aki as he turned around and started walking towards where the man pointed at.

"Good luck kid!" said the man with a laugh as he shouted in protest.

"I told you I'm not a kid!" said Aki while turning around with a pout while the man just laughed harder with them bidding their farewells and went their separate ways.

"Uwah!" said Aki with a breath of relief while his temperament went back to normal and slowly headed for the church and finally saw its grand exterior made of pure white color while he entered inside it and saw many people like him wanting to get a class related to Faith and walked towards the Priest standing at the side.

"H- hello mister," said Aki in a cute childish voice as his temperament became likable once more, that it became somewhat unnerving if you can even notice how disturbing it actually is in the first place and not just ignore the change altogether as charisma seems to just exude out of his body.

"Oh hello, young boy! Do you plan to pray to our lord and savior Ai-sama?" said the old man with a smile while ruffling his hair.

"I- I want to be a Priest!" said Aki with a red face.

"Oh! Well, of course, you can, stay still now boy, I need to bestow you the power of Faith right now" muttered the old man as he was soon enveloped in a soft warm glow and just like that, he became a Priest.

"Now you can go grab the normal gear in the storage room which is just a robe, a staff, and some spell books," said the Priest while patting his back and leading him towards the storage room.

"Thank you, sir!" said Aki with a smile.

"No problem, well, go on now," said the Cleric as he put on the robe inside the changing room and walked out looking like a cute boy while the Cleric chuckled.

"Mmm, you now look like a real Priest, well you go on your day now, you can visit me anytime if you want," said the old man as he sat back on his post for anyone that needs some healing or wants to be a Priest while Aki went out of the church with new gear and a new class.

"Status" muttered Aki as he went to look at his brand new status.

AN: Hmm, Ai-sama? Is that a goddamn reference!? Is that a little hint for what Dahsoo is about to do in FB!? Am I breaking your mind right now because you are now connecting the dots or is just stupid!?

The Sword of Damocles hangs above each and everyone one of you with its ever present threat of despair, so send me some power stones with your power of friendship and save the thousands perhaps even millions to come who will read this masterpiece immortalized in the tunnels of time.

(March 10, 2022 – 106th day of writing)