Welcome to VR

Enchant Thunder was super effective for hunting Lizardmen.

"By the way, Alto-san. When you've got big prey or a lot of it, it's better to deliver at the dismantling warehouse in back."

"Ugh, that sounds like a pain yo. I just want them to handle everything at the counter yo."

"But you get a small bonus on the reward assessment that way."

"Yo, well that changes things yo."

So we delivered the large pile of Lizardmen at the dismantling warehouse. Rewards aplenty.

"Alright, delivery complete! This hunt got me to Lv 30."

"Congrats Tria yo! I'm at Lv 29 too, so almost there yo. Any features unlock yo?"

"We figured out that milestone levels — multiples of 5 — tend to unlock something. So let's see…"

I checked the config from the menu.

Tapping the display mode selection box, there was the current "3D", the previously unlocked "Voxel", and now "VR" had been added.

… VR, huh. Do I even have an HMD…

"Looks like 'VR' just unlocked."

"Ooh. That sounds fun yo! Probably super nauseating though yo."

"Right? With my martial artist combat style that has me constantly moving around, I'd definitely get sick."

"Still, I'm playing on a mobile device, but VR shows up in the config… huh."

"Y'know yo? You set the phone in a box with special lenses yo."

"Oh. Old school… wait, how would you even control it? Brain chip?"

"Bluetooth controller maybe yo?"

"Good point. I wanna try VR, so I'll look for one of those VR boxes online."

"Yo yo. I've got gadgets like that, so I'll grab mine yo. Gonna go solo hunt to hit Lv 30 yo."

"See ya."

I closed the config for now.

Seeing my coworker off to hunt outside town, I switched to the usual muscle training auto-mode and opened a shopping site.

Let's see, what do I search for? VR, mobile device… Oh, found it. This is what I need. Huh? Cheaper than a convenience store rice ball, and with free shipping?

And I already have a controller. Add to cart and click.

"Back yo, leveled up yo."

"That was fast. I just hit buy myself."

My coworker Alto had just returned with blood on her face.

She tossed some kind of mushroom monster at the warehouse for delivery. Myconids, apparently. Didn't know those were around here.

"Yo yo yo, I was just a tiny bit away yo! Now I'm Lv 30 too, VR function unlocked yo!"

"Congrats. Why don't you try it first then? The VR function."

"Even if you ordered now, fastest it'd arrive is tomorrow yo. So yeah, I'll take you up on that. Let me try it right now yo!"

Probably setting things up, judging by the fragmented chat messages.

…

"Yo…? Huh!? Wha!? Whaaaat!?"

"What's up, Alto? How's the VR function?"

"Wait, you, you, you gotta switch to VR display too yo!"

"Hm? Like I said, I just ordered and it won't arrive that fast."

"Just do it yo! Quick!! Do it now yo! Now!!"

Rare to see my coworker this flustered. Last time was when monster customers showed up all at once.

If she was insisting that much, I decided to try VR display myself.

…

Wind blew.

"Hm?"

Yes, wind had blown.

I should have been indoors.

I should have been looking at my phone.

I just opened the config on my phone, switched to VR display, and tapped YES on the "Apply changes?" dialog.

…

The place was the warehouse area I'd just been seeing on screen. The sky was mid-afternoon. Blue.

…

"What is this yo! What is this yo! Oh! You turned on VR too yo!?"

"Huh?"

A cute girl was talking to me. It was my coworker's character, Alto.

Alto was right in front of me. Glossy black twintails, blue eyes, pale skin. Looking excited, she was staring at me with sparkling gem-like eyes.

When I moved my neck, the view moved with zero latency.

"Still though, isn't Tria-chan super cute? This is your taste yo?"

"Uh, wait a…!? My voice is cute!? Is this my voice!?"

"Yo!!"

Looking at my hands, they were a girl's. Equipped with gauntlets.

What the hell was going on here?

Huh? VR? Wait wait wait. I just ordered the box and it hasn't even arrived yet…? What is this? How does this work? What kind of technology is this?

I breathed in slightly dusty air.

"And it's gross! Wait, this stench! What's this smell!? Fish!?"

"Huh? What yo? It smells? … You're right, it reeks yo!? Wait, it's those Lizardmen we delivered earlier yo!?"

"That's it! Retreat!"

"Roger yo!"

My coworker Alto and I fled the warehouse area. The fishy smell lessened somewhat, but it felt like it had soaked into my body… No wait, this is coming from Alto. Probably.

Come to think of it, she'd traveled all the way to town and then gone straight to hunting… Yeah, nonstop until now without a break.

"Hey Alto."

"Oh, going with that name yo. Roger. What's up yo, Tria?"

"You stink. You haven't been bathing properly."

"Gasp!? I mean, I traveled all this way and went straight out hunting, but! A beautiful girl's scent is a reward yo!?"

"No, you smell like blood. You've been hunting monsters basically without washing, right?"

"Blehh! Inn! Let's go to the inn yo! Bath time yo!!"

So we headed for an inn first.

Where was I staying again… That way? Ah, the scenery is exactly like the game screen. Amazing.