1 Chapter 0

Prologue:

The fully immersive VR game that can finally be easily accessed by the general public has quickly taken over the market, and now VR is thriving. These games are not only popular among heavy and light gamers, but also among real combatants like fighters and brawlers, as well as people who can't easily enjoy sports, the elderly, parents who want to balance recreation and family service, and more. It can be said that it is more widely accepted by users than previous games.

Especially popular in VR is MMO. The combination of VR and MMO is highly addictive. It's clear that it stands out from other VR genres.

The appeal lies in its broad range. It's good to master strategies and hone skills in player vs. player combat, as well as to enjoy a slow life in a virtual world. That's why it's accepted by such a wide range of users as mentioned above.

The pleasure of setting up a preferred avatar in a virtual world, building characters as you like, and playing with other players is something that cannot be experienced elsewhere.

I, too, am one of those who have become obsessed with the VRMMO "Break Force Online".

BFO is a fantasy world of swords and magic, but its attraction lies in its various professions, equipment, martial arts, and magic.

My avatar, Theodore, is a battle mage, a purely combat-specialized magic profession.

I returned home from a little outing today and proudly put on my headgear and turned on the power. It was then that I noticed a security alert. The alert indicated that there was someone in the private area. What? Someone?

VR headgear has this kind of feature. While logged in, it monitors abnormalities in the surroundings and notifies you even during gameplay. For example, it senses if there's a decrease in body temperature or hunger, or if someone enters the private area that's set up as a theft or mischief prevention feature.

However, the front door was locked and I lived alone. I don't have a girlfriend, and I don't have any rude friends who would come in without permission. In other words, there should be no alert for someone's approach. Normally.

"Eh..."

I activated the external monitor and looked around while still wearing my headgear. Then my gaze met with a man who came out of the closet.

I think this is an unfortunate event for both of us. If the alert had reacted since logging in... I would have had no freedom of movement and could have just watched the thief escape.

However, with only the power of the headgear on, I could still move my body and voice. Although it was through the headgear, the man seemed to have realized that I saw him too.

According to what my university friend said, there have been many burglaries in the neighborhood.

The man was holding a knife in his hand. He rushed towards me, who was lying down to log in, after judging that he had been seen.

"Is this a joke!?" 

Running on such a shortsighted idea of showing up after misunderstanding that I had logged in without permission and then trying to get rid of the witness all of a sudden. If you hate being seen so much, you should wear a hood or something to cover your face. That's what I strongly believe.

I reflexively protected my neck, but the stabbing pain was in a different place. A hot impact ran through my side. The man pressed the login switch on the headgear I was wearing. Sensations quickly faded from my body.

This way, I couldn't even protect myself until the system finished processing. While dumbfounded by the structural defect, I watched the headgear's processing finish with a feeling of despair. What the hell is going on?

--What I first felt was a sensation like being held close.

My whole body was numb, unable to move a single finger. I had no sense of up or down, and even trying to confirm my surroundings was dizzying as the scenery kept changing rapidly, making it difficult to understand what was what.

Anyway, I was in the water. I couldn't breathe or swim properly, so I was staring with black and white eyes, but suddenly the fast-moving scenery stopped. My arm was grabbed, and my body floated up. There was a hard sensation on my back.

I was pulled out of the water and laid down somewhere. I understood that much, but I didn't understand why it had happened.

"Theodore-sama! Please hold on! Theodore-sama!"

When I opened my eyes slightly, I saw the relieved face of a blonde beauty named Grace. I sat up and looked around. It seemed like I was in the middle of a town in the Gardener County. There was a canal nearby, and apparently, that's where I was pulled out from.

Judging from Grace's wet hair and clothes, she must have rescued me from the canal. There were also unfamiliar adults around, so maybe they helped too.

What happened to me? Am I logged in to BFO? What is this event?

No, wait. What is "logged in"? What is an "event"? Am I not Theodore?

...There was confusion. While I was drowning, I felt like I was seeing the memory of someone from a distant world who knew that this place where I am now was inside a game.

Does this mean that I remembered the memory of a Japanese person named Kagemasa Kirishima? But if that's the case, it contradicts my ten years of memory as Theodore.

Because I have to accept that I am in a game right now. But at the same time, I have a sense of recognition that I am Theodore and Kagemasa Kirishima.

...I don't understand. It would be easier if it were just a simple reincarnation and I remembered my past life.

The abdomen that was supposed to be stabbed is unharmed.

I can't even log out, call the GM, or even open my inventory, so even if there's something wrong, there's nothing I can do.

"Are you okay?"

As I pondered, Grace's expression clouded over again. I awkwardly smiled at her to reassure her. Grace is a servant of the Gardner Earl's household. She's with me in my room, and she's one of the few allies I have in that house.

"Hey, Theodore. Are you okay?"

Byron, my half-brother, spoke to me with a grin. Daryl, Byron's younger brother and a total idiot, was beside him.

Oh, right. I remember now. I was pushed into the waterway by someone. Well, it's probably them, eight or nine times out of ten.

They made me help carry their shopping today, and brought Grace, my servant, along with me to embarrass me in front of her. Byron and Daryl, the idiot brothers, are the unpleasant eldest and second sons of the Gardner family, who bully me whenever they get the chance.

And I am the lovechild of the Gardner Earl.

I was taken in by the Gardner Earl's family after my mother died of an illness, but I don't get along with my half-brothers at all.

Or rather, it's a story of how I'm supposed to get along with people who treat me like a dog or a cat from the beginning.

At BFO... during character creation, you could set and adjust the character's background in great detail. By doing so, it was possible to adjust the initial ability values by characterizing the character's personality.

In terms of the game, this meant nothing more than just adjustments. Whether or not to role-play according to it during the game was entirely up to the player. But for me now, role-playing is without a doubt reality.

If the character creation settings that Kagehisa Kirishima came up with were my reality now, I would want to say, "Don't even think about creating someone like that," but... well, it's me we're talking about. It's possible that my reality has been reflected in that world.

Because of the kind of childhood I had, Theodore tends to seek power and became suitable for initial ability values for a magician... That's how Kagehisa intended to adjust it.

Now then. What should I do from here on out? I gather magic power in my hands, shaping and rolling it as I think.

"You should at least be able to swim. You're causing trouble for the Gardener Count's household, so make sure you're not embarrassed," Daryl said. He spoke like someone who never recognized me as a part of his family. That's fine. I don't think of them as my family either.

If it were me from a little while ago, I would have hung my head and kept quiet, but now I don't feel the need to endure it even a bit.

"... You seem like the type that could float in water without even learning how to swim with all that fat."

"Huh?"

Daryl's face turned bright red and twisted in anger. Perhaps he didn't expect me to argue back, as Byron also furrowed his brows.

"Hey, Theodore. Do you understand your position?"

"Well, it's just too much trouble, you know? It's getting old having to always try to please you idiots."

After all, I was bullied every day for no reason. I was often beaten for no reason at all. As the lovechild and the smallest one in the Gardner Earl's family hierarchy, I had always felt insecure, but I no longer needed to endure it.

When I calmly considered it, my father didn't hate me, and even if I acted up a bit, he would forgive me. Otherwise, why would he call me home?

"You bastard..."

Byron tried to step forward, but I pointed at his feet and preemptively cast the beginner wind magic "Air Bullet". 

"Ah!"

The wind bullet hit the ground and caused an explosion. Byron's eyes widened, and he stopped moving.

"... When did you learn magic?"

If someone were to ask me when it happened, I would say it was just now. It's honestly so surreal, almost like a dream come true. Kiri Shimakeihisa's magical knowledge has now become mine. 

Although I still have a relatively low amount of magic power, I can now cast beginner-level spells without incantation. I feel confident enough to tease those who are proud of becoming apprentices like Byron while humming a tune. Additionally, I have a different level of experience in PvP battles.

I told Byron, "If you behave yourself from now on, I think we can get along just fine." 

His expression twisted with hatred. It's better to make the power dynamic clear with guys like him.

Byron yelled at me, "Theodore! Don't get cocky just because you can use magic a little bit!" It seems like Daryl didn't quite understand the power dynamic yet.

Daryl gathered some stones and threw them towards me, but Grace, who was standing next to me, stepped forward to protect me. However, there was no need to worry. Instead, I grabbed her arm and pulled her back, and spat at Daryl, "Get lost."

The one I activated is the same Air Bullet as before, but this time I adjusted it so that it wouldn't focus. Rather than a bullet of wind, it might feel like a wall of a storm in imagery. I scattered the stones thrown by Daryl and blew him away into the waterway. It was a piece of cake.

Screams and the sound of water echoed.

"Daryl!"

Hmm. Well, it's quite as I imagined.

I pointed my thumb at Daryl, struggling in the waterway, and hooked Byron with a sidelong glance.

"It's your turn to help him now, Byron. He's your cute little brother."

"...Remember this!"

"Hurry up. Grace doesn't need to get involved. Byron, if you dare to order someone here using the power of our earldom, I'll push you into the waterway."

Byron gritted his teeth, turned around, and the sound of him jumping into the waterway echoed through the street.

Well, that's retaliation. If I want to live comfortably from now on, those stupid brothers have no choice but to change their actions and way of thinking. But living together is also out of the question. I wonder what I should do from now on. Honestly, I think it's a waste of time to rot in this countryside.