Was it a good or bad idea to stray away from missions so meticulously planned for him? Well, it’s not like he was straying entirely. He just ignored the first few, following the tutorial.

1. Joining or building a team.

2. Getting familiar with the hunter’s guild.

3. Killing a spirit cat. 

4. Join a team (Repeat)

Unimportant ones, if he said so himself. It wasn’t like the game was going to force him to complete tasks; it didn’t have that power. 

The first thing he did was, naturally, ask around. Ask around for the way to the great overlord shown on the commercial, earning horrified glances from multiple NPCs, who only told him not to throw his life away. 

Only after days of trial and error did he get some info. No, not about the location or the direction. Just that the players needed to be familiarized with the game to a certain degree before that information was shared. 

So that was what he was doing now. Familiarizing. And learning how to hunt. 

[Hunting Mission Progress: 0.1%]

That bit was for learning to hold the weapon. He did gain an achievement, though. 

[Failed to hunt an animal for the 37th time.]
And counting. 

What could be done? He had good reflexes, but that was barely relevant in the face of a monstrous beast. 

So he did the next best thing to hunting with his own hands, setting up traps.

The smart pressure plate trap, using every bit of physics he’d ever learned. He was quite proud of himself. And thankful that the game even allowed him to do it. He had spent two weeks on this only. 

‘Once something steps onto the plate, it’ll be thrown at high speed, making it easier to subdue later.’

Now he just had to wait. And wait. And continue to wait.

[Achievement: Stay logged in for two hours.]

How long could someone possibly wait?? Ryuu had been waiting in the bushes so long; he was starting to feel like one.
“Enough is enough! How am I supposed to hunt if nothing appears!? This is—”

*Rustle*

The leaves in the other end of the trap moved, and Ryuu shot back to his previous stance as though he hadn’t shouted like a madman seconds ago.

Two glints of light reflected from the darkness of the bushes. The bushes trembled violently, branches shaking as though something massive forced its way through. It crept forward, silent except for the faint scrape against earth. The long-anticipated creature finally emerged from the shadows, launching forward with shocking speed. 

Then it wriggled its nose, whiskers twitching as the hunter froze. 

A rabbit. 

Ryuu just stared, hopelessly. “I hate this forest.” 

Then the anticlimactic foe moved forward with a hop. Ryuu blinked.
Hop. Blink. Hop.

“Stop moving!” Instead of running from the sudden outburst, it stared at him blankly before moving forward again.

So did Ryuu, by reflex, which had always failed him. Jumping out of the bush with leaves stuck in his hair, aimed his hands forward to catch the target. 

*Click* 

But he didn’t reach it; instead stepped into the area he wasn’t supposed to, while the rabbit grazed the grass right by it. In mere seconds, he was sent flying backwards, questioning his life choices. 

It wasn’t like the rabbit was actually going to get hurt. It was just a game! They were just elements of the game. Ryuu knew that in his mind. But they just looked so real.

‘Ah, forget it.’ At least he couldn’t break bones here. 

The landing was rough, setting all his sensors haywire. His trap worked. A bit too well, perhaps; sending him further back through the trees until his body slid across the grass before coming to a stop. 

He could see rabbits jumping around his head while giving him judgmental looks, even without opening his eyes. 

[New Achievement.]
[Fall into a self-created disaster.]

Ryuu opened his eyes to glare at the screen, but was met with another pair of glaring eyes instead.
Was it glaring, though? He couldn’t tell from the upside-down view. “Hello…” Ryuu muttered. “Sorry if I hit you in the fall.” 

The eyes narrowed. “Are you new here? You should head to the town before attempting tasks.” 

“Oh, you’re not an NPC?” Ryuu’s eyes lit up, “Could you please help me up? I think my sensors broke from overload.”
The person stared for another few moments before finally helping him sit up. “Thanks,” pause, “How much of that did you see?” He asked nervously. 

The now right-side-up person looked across him briefly before answering, “Starting from ‘enough is enough’.” 'So the whole thing.'

Ryuu wanted to hide away from embarrassment. This is why using the original appearance was a bad idea! He’ll probably become a laughing stock on the forums any moment now. 

“And what about your teammates?” 'They are probably already out there posting this. Why am I even asking?'

“I do not have teammates.” Ryuu’s eyes lit up hearing that. 

“Please don’t share this on the forums! I don’t want to become negative-famous!” Ryuu said as politely as he possibly could while looking like he had dug through a forest. 

“Negative…famous…?” The guy said the words as if this was the first time he had heard of them. Ryuu didn’t pay attention to that.

“I’ll compensate you. Coins or materials…I don’t have many materials…Coins!”
Currency was equal value in KS. 1 Earth currency = 1 coin of equal value. It could be earned in-game or exchanged. No one would deny coins, as long as the task was doable. 

“I don’t need coins.”

Ryuu’s hope shattered with sound effects. He was doomed. His peaceful life was doomed. The guy perhaps noticed his dejected expression. “I won’t share whatever you are worried about.” Ryuu’s eyes lit back up. “But,” and down again. “Show me around here, I’m unfamiliar with the customs.” 

Ryuu thought for a moment. “I don’t know much myself, but I’ll help anyway I can. Let me add you…” Ryuu, who spent weeks avoiding everything, was unfamiliar with the connection system, struggling with the directions.

“What’s your name?” 

“Hmm?” Ryuu hummed while sliding through the functions. “Ryuu,” He finally jumped to his feet, “Found it.” 

Players had to touch their wrists to one another's to connect. 

Ryuu extended his hand after activating the function. The guy who was now in better eye range glanced at him, then at his hand. A small light appeared on his wrist, less flashy than Ryuu’s glowing circle. 

Upon touch, the lights changed to a similar shape and form. “Done! I’ll contact you whenever I’m online. I need to go fix my sensors now.” Ryuu was about to log out when he suddenly remembered the rabbit. He stepped back instinctively to see if it’s ok, sighing in relief upon seeing it gobble up grasses, taking a step forward.

“Ryuu…I thought you were leaving?” Only to turn back instead upon hearing the name. Shit…I said the wrong name. The person probably realized that seeing his reaction. 

“I’m Kai.” 

Two names outside the system’s records were brought back to light that day; by mistakes, by choices, and by coincidences. And thanks to an ever-powerful beast known as rabbit.