NOVEL NEXT The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 1
1 Welcome to Hard Mode
――Morning.
When I opened my eyes, I had become someone else.
“……Huh?”
It was no metaphor.
“Good morning, sir.”
A young maid stood beside the canopy bed. When did she arrive? She saw me, frozen in shock, and the blonde maid, who looked like she belonged in Akihabara, began to change my clothes with a neutral expression.
“Wh-what are you doing!?”
“…Just getting you dressed, is there a problem?”
The maid responded matter-of-factly, without emotion, but with a hint of irritation. Was she angry about being interrupted at work? As she gazed down at me, confused, she twisted her face in disgust.
“Didn’t you ask me, a maid, to help you with your morning dress, Master Shouma?”
“Ah, eh…?”
“I have other work to do, so I’ll finish this quickly.”
“―Whoa!?”
As I thought she was just pulling up my pants, she dragged them down to my knees. I felt embarrassed at the sight of my white briefs, but the maid clicked her tongue, “Tch,” and took away my pants, which were half-removed.
Her words were true; she finished quickly. Although her attitude was terrible, she was a professional, and I was quickly dressed in a navy blazer.
As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, I thought again… Who am I?!
I was 27 years old, a useless freelancer, but now I had transformed into a gloomy black-haired boy with long bangs. My body was probably around 15-17 years old. Young and weak. I looked down at my junior self, feeling miserable.
It seemed that this boy’s body belonged to a wealthy family. I had never seen a real maid before, and the Western-style mansion was decorated with high-quality paintings and vases.
Well, if I thought about it normally, it was just a dream…
…But for some reason, I couldn’t wake up from this dream…
As I thought, my stomach growled loudly. I was starving.
“……Why don’t we head to the dining hall?”
“Sh-should I…?”
“…Tch!”
The maid’s attitude was really bad.
She clicked her tongue and walked out of the room without a word.
…I guess I should follow her? I trailed behind her, feeling anxious.
We arrived at a luxurious dining hall. The chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the walls were adorned with a large fireplace, deer antlers, and gold-rimmed mirrors. The long table in the center was also impressive.
As I looked around, bewildered, the maid scolded me, and I quickly took a seat. There were a knife and fork on the table, but I had no idea about Western table manners.
As I was overwhelmed by the grand atmosphere, a girl with two maids entered the dining hall from the back door.
With her golden hair tied in twin tails, swaying left and right, she took a seat in front of me. How old was she? At least not a high school student, I thought. Maybe a middle school student? She had a two-dimensional character-like appearance, but it was a natural, not a cosplay. Maybe she had some Caucasian blood in her.
As our eyes met, she gave a bright smile.
At the age of an elementary school kid, I was taken aback. The girl’s Japanese-unlike features and her Western-style dress were too perfect, making her seem even more intimidating.
“—Shouma! Morning greetings!”
“H-huh!?”
Her smile instantly turned cold. The sharp, piercing gaze she gave me was like a command. I, a 27-year-old, had never experienced being ordered around by a teenage girl who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Moreover, the girl in front of me looked younger than me. What’s with her condescending attitude?!
I felt puzzled, but ignoring her wouldn’t be good.
“A-ah, g-good morning…?”
I somehow managed to stammer out a morning greeting, trying to respond to the unexpected situation. I was proud of my ability to think on my feet.
But—
“…Huh? What’s that?”
The girl looked displeased.
“When I said greetings, didn’t I mean you should bow your head? Do it again!”
The girl pointed to the floor.
Bow my head… to the floor…?!?!
I couldn’t help but make a silly face.
“Stand up from the chair and kneel down!!”
Reluctantly, I did as she said.
This was too much. Why didn’t the maids around us stop her?!?
I looked around, expecting someone to intervene.
Instead, I saw the maids with mischievous grins, enjoying the sight of me being scolded. They didn’t even try to stop the blonde girl.
I was completely surrounded!
This kid, I’m too hated?!
What kind of life did I lead to deserve this treatment?!
I sighed inwardly, feeling forced to crawl on the floor. I had to bow my head… in other words, prostrate myself.
What’s with me getting treated like this?!
“G-good morning…?”
“—”
Under the gaze of the crowd, I bowed my head to the floor, greeting the younger girl. From an outside perspective, this must have been quite a scene. Humiliation… no, I was still in a state of confusion.
“…Huh?”
Even after I greeted her as told, the girl’s reaction was lukewarm. When I looked up, I saw her gazing at me with an expression like she was looking at a pig in a pen. In that instant, my head was stepped on like a footrest, and I was forced to bow my head again.
“…Gross. Is that the appearance of the next head of the prestigious Stone family, the Stone household? You’re a shame. Why don’t you just hand over the head position to your sister?”
“Th-there’s no way I can say that…”
Stone family? Head of the household?
The appearance of a new term made me question everything.
“If you just leave the house, that would be good enough. That alone would end your daily suffering. The next head of the Stone household is your sister, Lady Aina. Just acknowledge that and sign the document. Then, I’ll stop bullying you. How about it? Isn’t that a good proposal?”
“H-huh…”
Even after being told that, I couldn’t respond. I was still stuck, unable to keep up with the situation, and all I could do was stammer out a response while my head was being stepped on.
At that moment…
“What’s all the commotion about!?”
“Aina-sister!!”
A dignified voice echoed from the entrance of the dining hall. The girl in front of me hastily retreated her foot from my head, and I could sense a hint of joy in her tone, as well as deep respect for the person she called “sister.”
Ugh… I’m already good, right?
As I slowly get up from my crouching position, I make eye contact with a beautiful older sister with short, blue hair. She’s tall and has a model-like physique, giving off a strong impression. She’s wearing a girls’ school uniform, so I can tell she’s a student here.
Is this… Ishiru Aina?
I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but I have a sense of déjà vu when I see her name and face.
――Legacy Sense.
A popular VRMMO game that’s been trending recently. Ishiru Aina is the name of an NPC in “Legacy Sense”. Her appearance is similar too… If you were to bring the game graphics to life, it would probably look like this. The original recreation is extremely high-quality.
“Leia… Are you doing it again…?”
“That’s… um…”
“No, I won’t say anything. It’s pointless. As my younger brother, it’s pathetic. A man who gets bossed around by his three-years-younger sister is not worthy of being a part of the Ishiru family. I’ll take it upon myself to straighten out this rotten attitude!!”
“Eh!?”
It seems I don’t have the luxury of taking it easy.
The situation is getting worse by the minute.
One problem after another!?
I can’t take it anymore――!
As I cover my face with both hands, that’s when it happens.
“――But I don’t have time to say that now.”
“Huh?”
“Today’s your first day at the Academy, isn’t it? Your fiancée is waiting for you at the entrance. A man shouldn’t keep a woman waiting. … Hurry up.”
Fiancée!?
Does this guy have a partner like that!?
Even at 27, I’m still single!?
… But that’s beside the point――
“Ah, um… I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, though…?”
“――Tch!!”
I got tongue-lashed by everyone, including the maid.
It seems I wasn’t given the option to eat breakfast.