There is Something Wrong with This Game

C001 – Norn

[Hokkaido - Gaia Technology Headquarters]

In a certain cyberspace of Gaia Tech's server, Norn, the highest AI administrator, observed numerous data that represented everything that was happening in a VR-World known as Ascension.

These data are written entirely in computer language which no human can understand.

To improve performance, the data was directly processed in its most primitive form, without interpreting it to any programming language for human readability. It might be more correct to say that only computers and AIs can understand this data. There was no need for human intervention except for emergency and important situations.

Because of that, Norn was able to find out everything that happened in Ascension, including a certain loli's quirkiness.

For example, this loli has a strange habit of discarding items, like Elixirs, food items, and many things away with no reason. Norn couldn't understand what the meaning of such pointless action. Isn't that wasteful?

Though, she was just one of the many players who have strange behavior.

• • Player ID: 43002 hosted the 23rd secret orgy party in Perig Village.

    Participants: 15 Players; 35 Natives.

    Mental analysis concluded that none of the participants were unwilling or coerced.

    Judgement: All participants' Karma -50; Lust +500; (No warning) Lost the privilege of Chaste.

         

  • Player ID: 792044 has been arrested for the 63rd time in Nerkia City.

    He was arrested by guards after being reported as an MLM scammer.

    Judgement: Player #792044's Karma -20; Relationship to Nerkia City's Natives greatly decreased.

         

  • Player ID: 349885...

         

  • Player ID: 124305...

In the Japan server with more than 1 million players, there was no lack of players with strange habits. They do whatever they want which they normally can't do in the real world.

There was even also a cult that tries to increase its followers by preaching to the Natives.

Compared to them, the loli's strange behavior of discarding items was nothing special.

Perhaps her behavior was due to something like her personal beliefs or religions. Much like how a real Buddhist monk abstains from eating meat, or how an addicted gamer (gambler?) has to wash their hands or performed an indescribable dance first before buying a gacha.

Humans are truly creatures with complicated minds.

Either way, Norn need not care about them, as long as they don't trigger the security program. Rather than the Players, Norn was more interested with the growth of the Natives and monsters.

"In the end, Entity #830 (Arachnia) didn't continue her rampage."

Norn recalled about the existence of a certain spider queen, Arachnia.

Unlike Norn's prediction, Arachnia had suddenly calmed down and had done nothing else ever since she caused a spider riot throughout the continent a week ago.

From Arachnia's mental state, it seemed she had learned that her suicidal command was useless and brought no benefit to her race. On the contrary, it only brought heavy casualties to the spiders.

But, that doesn't mean her hatred for humans is gone. She patiently bid her time and continued to purify the demon blood in her body by hibernation. Her experience points continued to increase and she was already 30% done to regain her lost level.

"Was this a growth in her wisdom?"

It seems that the existence of Players has triggered the growth of wisdom of every resident of the Rodinia continent.

"Perhaps, the participation of Players should be further improved."

This can be seen from the recent trend of Natives in the Kingdom of Art, Asmerus Kingdom who are starting to learn about Otaku culture. Some of those Natives even took the Painter subclass on their own will to draw manga.

Gaia Tech quickly established various rules involving the law for the parties involved.

1. 1. All copyrighted works in the real world are prohibited from being brought into the game without authorization.

               

   2. The copyright of all works published by Natives in the game belongs to Gaia Corporation.

      Their works are not published in the real world, but all attempts to reproduce them can still be sued.

           

   3. Players may hire Natives as workers or assistants.

      It was far much cheaper than hiring real humans, but if their works ended up published in the real world, Gaia Corporation would claim a percentage of their profits.

Following this, two Lifestyle subclasses, Manga Artist and Animator were born. Then, some time passed and the present Asmerus Kingdom turned into the second Akihabara.

Naturally, not everything is smooth because of the many cultural and language differences. And all works must go through censorship before being approved. But, this is for another matter.

Of course, not all of their influences are good.

Norn could only watch the pure hearted Natives being slowly corrupted by the wretched Players.

Not only that, Ignis and Ventus also seemed interested in them. They had already descended with their vests and pretended to be Natives. It was only a matter of time before the others followed suit.

However, Norn had no intention of interfering except for emergency situations.

"It's as Takumi had said, the Natives had now become more human-like. They are not just a mere program anymore."

Norn disconnected with the server and closed all the reports.

"It will not be long before the perfect world Takumi desired can be realized."

With that said, she exited the cyberspace and flew through the Quantum Network, entering the computer in a certain room. It was the room of Prof. Ichinose Takumi, the creator of Norn.

From the camera embedded in the room, she saw Prof. Ichinose in his Capsule Pod. If a certain loli was present in this place, she would immediately recognize the Pod model as Executive type, the same type as hers.

Norn blinked her eyes.

It didn't take her too much effort to figure out where his mind was diving into. Currently, he was holding a virtual meeting with the top management of Gaia Corporation.

A new, enhanced nutrient solution for human use has been perfected and tested. One vial is enough to keep people going for a day without food and water. Theses and patents have been prepared. With this nutrient solution, the time people can virtual-dive without risk can be longer.

All that's left was just to convince the government to pass the law, and it might be done tonight.

Norn turned on the room's 3D projector and materialized herself. Soon after, her hologram body floated right beside Prof Ichinose's Capsule Pod. She looked at his wrinkled face who was sleeping in the Capsule Pod with a frown.

"Takumi... is no longer young."

It has been more than fifty years since Prof. Ichinose created her. Except from clothes and hairstyles, Norn's appearance haven't changed since then. Her face still looked young like a teenage girl.

As a super AI with an electronic body without flesh, the concept of getting old doesn't seem to apply to her.

But, Prof. Ichinose was different. He was a human and can't go against the flow of time.

This year, he has already reached the age of 80. Humans at that age are considered very old and their bodies are prone to problems. The reason why he was able to live until now with the appearance of being forty years old was because of the advanced medical science.

His body had undergone organ transplants several times. And now, not many of his internal organs are truly of his own origin. However, even the latest medical science has its limits, sooner or later he will still die of old age.

No matter how advanced medical science is, it cannot make a mortal into immortal.

This may be the reason why Prof. Ichinose has speeding up his research. He wanted to cast aside his weak flesh and continue his life in the virtual world of Ascension. As for whether this research would be successful or not, Norn didn't know.

Norn decided not to think too much.

"Good night, Takumi."

Not wanting to disturb his sleep any longer, Norn turned off her hologram body and disappeared from the room.

Ruri didn't log into the game while her items was 'discarded'.

The reason why Norn is unsuspecting is because it is possible to do character management without logged in from the Capsule Pod.

This feature is usually used by players to sort items in inventory and throw out useless loot to reduce weight. They can also change their equipment, invest stats & skill points, and set their hotkey skills. With this feature, they can save time.

Culture and Language difference

Songs of the two worlds isn't transliterated to maintain the melody. In the Natives' ears, the songs that the player sings only heard as melodious music, but they don't know the meaning of the lyrics. Vice versa.

The written language of the two worlds is also different. A lot of puns, jokes and memes don't convey very well. Manga produced by Manga Artist has automatic translation, but unfortunately some meaning is lost.

Dividing line

I didn't expect the dividing line is more popular than normal chapter. XD