Chapter 06
[Hello, Ned. I’m Uni.]
No, the mail would show my name anyway, so I didn’t need to introduce myself like an NPC.
[Hello, Ned. Do you remember the person who gave you a bow in front of the dungeon last time?]
“…….”
I’m not running a scam. I don’t sell anything in this game.
Still, holding a pen and actually writing made me feel like I had to introduce myself.
[Hello, Ned. I’m Uni.
Do you remember the person who gave you a bow in front of the dungeon last time? That was me……
I believe the game master has already told you about the situation. That GM is really bad at their job… ah, seriously, just because one orb changed, they—]
When I drew lines through the messy part, it disappeared. Convenient system.
[I believe the GM has told you about the situation.
I’m sorry if my actions caused you trouble…….]
Technically, the one who should be sorry was GM Neria, but I didn’t think that useless GM would say something so reasonable.
So I wrote it myself.
“Yeah, what wrong did the newbie do…….”
The biggest fault was the GM’s, and a small part was mine for not switching the orb back.
The newbie has no fault!
Everything is forgiven because they’re a newbie!
Do whatever you want, Ned!
I was a long-time Uneria player too, but thinking of him as a newbie made me smile.
No, I couldn’t waste time smiling now.
[I heard from the bard NPC that you cleared the northern monster island.
To leave this world, we have to save the continent, right? Actually……]
Talking about the crystal was technically a story spoiler.
Could I tell a newbie this?
I hesitated briefly but decided it was fine.
If Ned is in the north, he probably visited the largest castle there.
That castle’s lord is an NPC obsessed with finding the crystal.
If he was there, he must have heard about the crystal at least once.
[To leave this world, we have to save the continent. That means we have to collect the crystals, right?
One of the crystals is on the island you cleared. The location is]
I opened the map. Conveniently, it even showed my position and coordinates. Perfect.
[On the island map, go near coordinates X177 Y887 Z131. You’ll find an abandoned village. In a corner, next to a big red-roofed house, there’s a path that barely counts as a path leading to an open area.
If you dig there, you’ll find the crystal. Could you put it in your item inventory?
Don’t break it!]
I emphasized not to break it.
If the crystal broke, it would cause a huge disaster. I looked up at the sky for a moment.
I remembered what happened to a player who broke the crystal in the PC version of Uneria.
On a famous Uneria community board, some user had broken a crystal during the main story.
That player complained they couldn’t continue the story with that character.
[Then I’ll just send a ticket to fix it.]
The community reaction was the same everywhere.
But when they contacted the GM, the reply was ridiculous.
[Hello, Player X.
You reported that breaking a crystal prevents the main story from progressing. ^^
We regret this unforeseen issue. ^^
Please follow the instructions below to fix it quickly. ^^
Thank you.]
Below that, it said:
[Uneria Official Website > Customer Support > Character Data > Delete Character]
In short, “delete your character and start over.”
This endless response became a meme not only in Uneria communities but across gaming forums.
That player went all the way to UerMoney Games’ headquarters, but months later, they were still playing a new character after abandoning the one who broke the crystal.
In short, the GM didn’t really fix it.
“Ugh.”
I shivered.
If Ned accidentally broke the crystal, we might be stuck in this world forever.
I even underlined and starred “do not break the crystal.”
[Please take care of it. From Uni]
After writing it, I felt uneasy, so I added a postscript.
[p.s. Can I use the items you have to level up my character?
I already used them a bit, but when I get my character data back, I’ll pay for repairs and everything.]
Sorry for using your stuff without permission!
Of course, it sounded like Ned was happily using my equipment anyway, but I had to say it.
I couldn’t just secretly use Thor’s Sword and pretend nothing happened.
[“Mail sent to Ned.”]
After sending the mail, I felt a bit relieved and headed to the bank.
The pouch of coins Ken gave me was heavier than expected. I decided to leave some in the bank.
“Heh……”
Honestly, I had a little hope.
Even though all my gear stats had changed to Ned’s, my name and appearance were still Uni.
So I had some hope that the bank NPC might recognize me.
“Hello.”
But when the bank NPC saw me, their shoulders stiffened, and they greeted formally.
I looked like a total stranger.
Before, I had maxed affection with this NPC and even had shoulder-to-shoulder greetings.
I was a VIP, so I didn’t pay bank fees.
Why are you looking at me like this now?
“What brings you here?”
Even the tone was formal.
Right, you don’t recognize me either.
The NPC was visibly nervous.
I had been friends with En, the bank NPC, for a long time. I barely remembered how they treated first-time visitors.
Were they always this stiff?
“I came to deposit some money.”
I sighed and said it.
En nodded and turned around.
They probably meant to open one of the many lockers behind the counter.
But instead of turning fully, En rummaged under the counter.
“Please, follow me.”
“?”
Follow? Where? Did Ned never come to a bank before?
Even for a first visit, do bank NPCs normally lead players somewhere?
Suppressing my confused thoughts, I followed En.
En led me down a narrow path behind the bank counter.
I had played Uneria for ten years, clearing even useless and annoying content, but I never knew this hidden path in the bank existed.
What is this? Did I come to deposit coins and get ambushed?
Feeling uneasy, I opened my item inventory just in case.
If needed, I could grab Thor’s Sword and fight my way out.
Back in newbie specs, I felt ready for anything.
If I got hit wrong, I could easily die.
Then I’d have to lie here until Ned found me.
No way I was letting that happen!
“Here we are.”
I swallowed hard.
Ned’s stats were lower than mine, so it was hard to see in the dark.
Along with En’s voice, I heard a sound.
—Click.
What is that? Handcuffs? Chains? Am I being tied up?
While all sorts of thoughts ran through my head, a door I hadn’t noticed suddenly swung wide open.
—Whoosh!
A bright light poured out from inside—too orange to be yellow, too yellow to be sunset-like.
I was blinded but couldn’t look away.
“Wow.”
“Please knock three times when you finish your business.”
En left me there and vanished into the door.
I stared at the mountain of gold in front of me, dumbfounded.
“……So Ned didn’t carry it because it was too heavy.”
The mountain of gold in front of me was all Ned’s coins deposited in the bank.
