Chapter 5: Happy Accident

"S-So... how's this work again?" I smiled weakly.

Hardt moaned, annoyed at my thirtieth attempt at activating the Ground Circle system, "Just stomp the ground with yer foot!" He covered his eyes in shame of what he's witnessing.

Loona was encouraging me even though I failed my next attempt, "Come on! You can do it! Stomp, stomp!"

You're not helping me! It's like teaching a cat to bark up a tree.

The time was 16:38 GMT +1.

Hardt was running me through the basics of Asuka Empire's combat system, the types of classes in-game, and the green and blue bars at the top-left of my HUD.

I stomped on the ground again, holding a katana Hardt lent me, but... nothing happened.

"Aight, let's call it a day!" Hardt paused my 33rd attempt, "It's almost time for mine and Loona's timely check-up."

WHAT!? No no no no, you gotta help me!

"Just one more try, please!" I begged, practically being dragged on the floor while holding Hardt's left ankle, He eventually gave in and said I had a minute to make this work.

"Loona, gimme your knife," I demanded, she covered her waist in a weird stance.

"Nooo~!"

"Thaaank you," ignoring her strange performance, I swiped the blade out of its scabbard, "Now... let's try this one more time!"

Stepping hard on the ground, I assumed my dāisho sword stance as two icons appeared beneath my right foot.

Finally! I thought.

"Good on ya, Damai!" Hardt cheered.

Thank you so much! Your praise means a lot to me!

I wept silently, Hardt noticed tears forming in my eyes.

He quickly shook his head and applauded me for succeeding in the combat tutorial.

"Can I have my tanto back now?" Loona tugged my wrist, hands on her hips, and leaning forward while pouting.

I gave her the small sharp weapon as she snatched it the second my hand opened.

"So now we call it a day, right?" I faced Hardt and copying a particular someone's signature grin.

"Nah, we gotta treat ya for finally learning the basics."

That sounds like an insult to me.

Hence it was since it took me a record time of four hours to master a simple in-game skill.

We trekked back to an NPC cafe to relax and celebrate (shame me) for passing the combat tutorial.

"Heres cheers for our patience!" Hardt raised his virtual beer connecting with Loona's cup of coffee and my glass of water, "Cheers!" we all announced, with one unenthusiastic voice.

I downed my drink in one gulp then opened the VR menu of Asuka Empire... Uhh...

"Hardt?" I gave him another weak smile, "How'd you open the menu in this game?"

He replied with a smirk, "Ya, just swipe your left arm in a diagonal motion, like so!" he demonstrated by directing his wrist downwards to his waist.

Alright...?

I copied Brytehardt's demonstration, nothing happened, tried again, then another three times.

I heard a quiet snort and turned around to face Hardt, who was covering his mouth.

Loona sighed, "Do you have to be so annoying?"

"Sorry, Dude, I couldn't help myself," Hardt said, still snorting, "It just looks so funny since yer avatar's a gal!"

Wait... a gal?

As soon as that thought entered my mind, a short strand of hair slipped over my ear.

I instantly looked at my reflection in the cafe window.

A 5.8" female avatar was staring straight at me. She had long black hair with green highlights that wandered down the ends of her back. The dark green long-sleeved shirt she wore had purple stripes at both wrists, and a grey hood was tied to her neck, her eyes were sharp as daggers but soft as cotton and glared at me with deep green eyes.

Hardt lost it, leaning back on his wooden chair in a cluster of snorts and coughs, while Loona let out a giggle.

Wait... That's not another player... "THAT'S ME!?" I turned to look at them while directing a finger to my face.

Loona released a "Pfft-!" and covered her lips as Brytehardt cried in laughter, giving me confirmation.

I slumped my back and slammed my head on the wooden table twice before covering my head, feeling stupid for not noticing sooner.

Damn it! My avatar's a girl... a girl?

Arising from my temporary despair, I opened the VR menu by swiping my right finger diagonally to my waist and revealed the tab that showed my avatar's gender.

"Hah! It says I'm a boy!" I announced, "Suck it, Hardt!"

Loona was surprised by the smug, prideful grin growing across my face.

Hardt immediately stopped laughing for a brief second then resumed.

"Yer *snort* a dude?" He paused to clear his throat, "With that avatar?"

Loona tugged my sleeve, grabbing my attention, "How'd you get a guy to look like that?" She captured me in her curious eyes.

"I... I-- Uhh... I didn't!"

The whole cafe went silent... putting me on the spot.

"I... er- I skipped the avatar creation by hitting random and confirm, okay!" now realizing my mistake, I prepared myself for the upcoming event.

I forgot to edit my avatar at the starting menu, didn't I?

Silence suddenly turned into uncontrollable, roaring, mocking laughter as every customer in the cafe all lost their collective *%£$.

After being utterly humiliated in front of a broad audience, Brytehardt was carrying a crying, depressed crossdresser on his back, leaving a comedic scene with Loona trotting behind him while attempting to lift the spirits that had already abandoned ship.

"Ah, buck up, pal!" Hardt said, "Ain't all bad, right?" He glanced at Loona for support.

"Y-Yeah, it's quite rare to have a guy avatar that looks like a girl, s-so that means you got a super rare item right off the back!" She winked at me with a thumbs-up.

Yeah... Yeah!

Leaping off of Brytehardt, my body landed perfectly in an acrobatic pose.

"You're right, Loona!" I howled triumphantly with my mental SP fully restored, "I got the best item in the game without even trying!"

The two both contained stares of disbelief, astonishment, concern, and the equivalent of "I'm very worried."

"Y-Yeah... Sure!" Hardt stuttered and whispered to Loona, "What'd yer say?"

She replied with, "Dunno...?"

And with a last burst of energy, I pumped my fist and later faceplanted on the brick surface below.

"It's time ya called it a night," Brytehardt sighed and lifted my slender, feminine avatar over his shoulder.

The time was 21:46 GMT +1.

You're right, I guess.

And shut down.