VR fever

"Damn boss!!!"

After returning from his mission, Kaoru was suddenly yelled at by Himeko, who looked like a zombie.

"Why didn't you tell me that the game would be so popular? You know I haven't slept for three days because of all the paperwork, and during that time you also disappeared without being reachable!!!"

Himeko continued to complain and protest about how difficult it was to handle the paperwork and reports, especially with the overseas requests to increase the number of VR units.

Fortunately, the hardware development department had been instructed to keep increasing the production, even though it was still not enough.

Besides that, there were foolish requests from wealthy people demanding a top-up feature, which made Kaoru laugh when he heard about it.

"Do they think that if zombies, monsters, or other creatures come to attack, they can use money to fend them off? How stupid. Luckily, there are a few families who are smart!"

Kaoru reviewed all the reports about the wealthy families making foolish demands on his company, even going as far as threatening to attack his company if their demands were not met.

Fortunately, there were a few interesting families who ordered a lot of VR units even though they weren't told anything by Kaoru, like he did with the Ichijou and Kirisaki families.

"Nous, please report the development of the world story in Fantasy Art Online!!"

Right after Kaoru said that, a mechanical voice sounded throughout the room.

[Yes, sir! The world story development is at 0.001785%. With the current player speed, it is estimated to take about 4 more years to reach the 'the colossus' arc, 10 years to reach the 'zodiac temple' arc, 13 years to reach the 'tower of arcana' arc….]

Nous, an artificial intelligence developed by Kayaba, Tsukuyo, Kaoru, and the brilliant researchers of E.D.E.N., serves as the brain and core of their game.

And with Nous's computing ability, the staff's workload was greatly reduced, allowing Kayaba to relax and try various methods of suicide within the game.

Hearing the report from Nous, Kaoru was quite satisfied with the players, especially those with terrifying talents like Kirigaya Kazuto, Hizutome Rakuro, Towa Amane, and others, who would make the story progress faster than Nous predicted.

"Wow, even though I hear it often, I'm still surprised every time I hear Nous's voice."

On the other hand, Himeko almost spilled her coffee when Nous spoke.

After reading all the reports from Himeko, Kaoru ordered her to rest, while he headed to the main office.

-----

Upon entering the office, Kaoru was greeted by the receptionist and immediately escorted to his room.

There, Kaoru reviewed all the documents that required his signature and direct approval.

He approved several documents he deemed important and discarded the unimportant ones into the void, such as requests or more accurately threats to share his company and game's shares.

He also occasionally glanced at his computer screen to watch the players he had marked.

"Hahaha, they are really enthusiastic kids!!"

Even though it was past midnight, several players marked by Kaoru were still hunting and leveling up or completing missions.

Especially Towa Amane, who was a model with a very busy schedule but still found time to play the game.

Kaoru even thought that girl never slept.

Kaoru watched the players while enjoying a can of cold coffee, but suddenly an alarm on his computer went off.

*Beep beep beep

Hearing the alarm, Kaoru quickly checked what was happening.

And after knowing it, he couldn't help but mock Nous.

"Hey, Nous, it looks like you need to update your calculations quickly!"

[Sorry, Kaoru-sama, it seems I really need to do that. Even I didn't expect player 'Sunraku' and player 'Kirito' to trigger a hidden story just because they slipped during a mission in the 'Acendina' city dump area.]

Kaoru couldn't help but laugh because he knew those two were very talented and had strong determination and luck.

And Fantasy Art Online, a masterpiece where only those with talent, determination, and luck could survive.

Money, position, and authority in the real world were useless in that game because Kaoru didn't want any trash players to dominate.

Knowing that one of Fantasy Art Online's storylines would begin with Sunraku and Kirito, Kaoru decided to create a division tasked with monitoring and protecting players directly involved in the world story in the game.

After observing the players' progress, Kaoru then sought important information about two foreign companies that would surely become troublemakers in the future.

Namely, Umbrella and Gentek, both companies at the core of problems in two apocalypse-themed games he had played before reincarnation.

-----

Fantasy Art Online.

In the dump area of the great city of Acendina, two players were lost due to a misstep.

Causing both of them to slip and slide into a rather strange place.

"Damn it!!! Kirito, why did you pull me when you slipped?"

A player with a characteristic bird head still wearing full clothing kept scolding Kirito, who had been silent all this time.

Realizing something strange, Sunraku quickly followed Kirito's gaze.

And what he saw left him imitating Kirito, which was falling silent.

An underground city with magnificent architecture, even surpassing the grandeur of the great city of Acendina.

[Ruins of Roden Empire]

The notification woke Kirito and Sunraku.

They looked at each other and nodded, as if understanding what the other was thinking.

Quickly, they dashed through the city, hiding from monsters, which surprisingly had levels above 300.

They sneaked in until they reached the city center, where a castle stood.

Knowing they couldn't win, but their curiosity made them recklessly enter the castle.

After hours of sneaking and stealing from the castle, Kirito and Sunraku finally stood before a large door suspected to be the throne room door.

"Wanna check out the boss, Sunraku?"

"Of course! New boss, new challenge!"

After agreeing and thinking of a simple plan, they pushed the big door with all their strength until it opened, then quickly entered the throne room and finally saw the figure inside.

A creature in black armor holding a spear as if on guard.

And an adult woman with violet hair leaning as if sleeping on a throne covered in gold.

[Marcus of the Dragon Rage

Boss Monster

Level: 389 (+89)

The General of Roden Empire]

As usual, basic information appeared every time a player faced a monster.

And seeing the information of the knight named Marcus didn't make Kirito or Sunraku anxious, but the woman on the throne was different.

[Melissa Erthas Von Roden

The Fifth Colossus

Level: ???

Empress of Roden Empire

The One Who Becomes Legend

The Empress of Calamity

Divine Usurper

Grand Caster- Rune, Black Magic, Cursed Magic, Necromancy

Grand Tamer

The Champion

The Colossus

World Enemy]

Seeing such terrifying information, Sunraku could only comment.

"We're fucked up, right?"

But before doing anything, General Marcus moved and quickly slashed with his spear.

*Clang

Fortunately, they both managed to block the attack, though they were thrown back.

"Wow, damn, 80% HP with one hit, and the boss's level is a bit suspicious... very interesting!!!!"

Swiftly, Sunraku dashed towards Marcus, leaving Kirito.

He tried to attack Marcus directly with his new dagger, but Marcus easily blocked it.

Marcus didn't even move from his position when blocking Sunraku's attack.

At the same time, Kirito jumped from behind Sunraku and attacked Marcus's head.

A critical hit, but due to the high-level difference, there was no significant change in Marcus's HP.

If this were a fight against an ordinary boss, they might still comment on each other's mistakes, maybe even mock each other.

But this time their concentration was truly tested against Marcus, to the point they forgot about the other figure in the throne room.

After about five minutes of fighting, which felt very long for both of them, suddenly Marcus jumped back and spun his spear while saying.

"No one should disturb the Empress' rest!!"

Then a wave of energy emerged and enveloped the spear, forming a dragon's silhouette.

"Those who disturb the Empress' sleep must die."

"Rozan Sho Ryu Ha!!!"

Marcus released a thrust, and the dragon's shadow flew toward Sunraku and Kirito, devouring them both leaving only dust.

After the chaos in the throne room subsided, Marcus returned to his initial position, staring at the hall door.

---

In the resurrection area in Acendina city, two players appeared with haggard expressions on their faces.

"Damn it!!! What kind of AOE was that?"

"Full map AOE, and with instant death effect, who could survive that, damn devs!!!"

Sunraku kept cursing the developers without paying attention to his surroundings.

Meanwhile, Kirito, thinking of a trick to fight Marcus, accidentally saw something in his notification window.

"Hey, Sunraku, check your notifications quick!"

Sunraku quickly checked his notifications, fearing a debuff or something wrong with his account after being hit by Marcus.

[Congratulations! You have unlocked the world story 'The Fallen Empress and The Truth of The Sacrifice.']

[Stop or assist in the resurrection of 'Melissa Erthas Von Roden' the Empress of Roden Empire.]

[Uncover the truth behind the fall of the Roden Empire.]

[Mission progress: 10%]

Seeing they had activated a special scenario, Sunraku and Kirito finally understood that their deaths were perhaps a condition to unlock that scenario.

But before they could see their rewards, a world notification forced them to run quickly.

[Congratulations!!! to players 'Sunraku' and 'Kirito' for unlocking one of the world story scenarios!!]

[Congratulations!!! to players 'Sunraku' and 'Kirito' for unlocking one of the world story scenarios!!]

[Congratulations!!! to players 'Sunraku' and 'Kirito' for unlocking one of the world story scenarios!!]

With that notification, all players were shocked and quickly searched for information about Sunraku and Kirito and the world story.

----

A few days after that grand announcement, orders for VR units from Kaoru's company skyrocketed.

If Fantasy Art Online was previously flu, it has now become a plague infecting various countries worldwide.

Meanwhile, Kaoru, the mastermind behind the VR phenomenon, was busy preparing for the new school season.

"Wow, the big boss still wants to go to school?"

"Come on, you know, school is quite important, and hearing the students struggle against bosses in Fantasy Art Online is unique entertainment."

"Your hobby is really unusual, boss. Alright then, I'll continue drinking, bye-bye!!"

Himeko then left Kaoru to meet her fellow adult female friends for a drink.