[RPG Heroes Academy]
A plain white rectangle floated before me.
[Contract]
Beneath the title was an absurdly tiny tiny line of text of.
[Read More]
Below it, in much larger letters:
[By stating your name, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of this Contract.]
"...Huh?" I stared at it, Pinching my eyes wondering if I saw that right. "No... no. I'm not becoming a corporate worker."
Since there wasn't exactly an ['Exit'] button, I tapped the microscopic [Read More.]
The screen expanded.
.....
[Requirement]
[Save the World.]
.....
[[Clauses]]
[Article I - Designated Duty]
[The Contractor shall ensure the continued existence of the Designated World and prevent any event that would result in its premature annihilation.]
[Article II - Prohibition of Harm]
[The Contractor shall not intentionally perform, authorize, or knowingly assist in any action whose primary purpose is the destruction of the Designated World.]
[Article III - Indirect Liability]
[The Contractor shall not knowingly permit preventable extinction when intervention is reasonably possible.]
[Article IV - Preservation Over Preference]
[Personal desire, morality, relationships, and self-preservation shall not supersede the obligation of preservation.]
[Article V - Forbidden Self-Termination]
[The Contractor shall not intentionally seek death while the obligation remains incomplete.]
[Article VI - Prohibition of World-Terminating Authority]
[The Contractor shall not obtain, create, awaken, or wield any authority whose sole function is the destruction of the Designated World.]
[Article VII - Corruption Clause]
[Should the Contractor become mentally, spiritually, or physically incapable of fulfilling the obligation, corrective measures shall be enacted.]
[Article VIII - Completion]
[This contract shall end only when one of the following conditions has been fulfilled:
1 - The Designated World reaches its natural conclusion.
2 - The obligation is lawfully transferred.
3 - The Clauses unanimously declare fulfillment.]
.....
Stretching my neck with my hand, I shouted
"...Pass!, Huge Pass!, send me back."
The white rectangle rippled, new words immediately popping up.
[Why not?]
"HOLY-!" I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"Ever heard of personal space?!."
[Hahaha, My apologies.]
Sighing I thought, How do I convince this thing to send me back?.
"...This is a completely one-sided deal. I do all the work, and I get nothing."
[Nothing? Have you never fantasized about another world? Magic? Monsters? Saving kingdoms? Especially princess? Or Kicking some ass?]
Looking up pretending to think, "No." I flatly stated.
right theres nothing to look at here but white void.
[..Really?]
"I've got responsibility."
[Fair enough.]
The words shifted again.
[But, I already returned your sense of taste. That means you've already gained something, so I can't just send you back.]
"Yeah I notice, swallowing my saliva taste good." I smacked my lips, "Didn't asked for it tho, it still doesn't change anything, i've got a sister and a grandmother waiting for me."
Resolute on my decision, I firmly said
"I made a promise, I can't just disappear."
The screen remained silent for a moment.
Then-
[That won't be a problem, you'll be able to travel between your world and the other one.]
[I'll even slow the flow of time so you won't miss anything in either world.]
I folded my arms.... that's tempting.
"...I still have to save the world."
[Correct.]
"...Who do you think I am?, I'm just a regular dude name ca-" I almost got myself..... Groaning it continues.
[You'll be Barry.]
"...Who wants to be Barry?, if you're really trying to recruit me... At least pay me."
[Money?]
"Real-world money, i'll consider it."
[One million dollars.]
"...Too low."
[Two million.]
"Five."
[Three.]
"Ten."
The rectangle paused.
[...Wait.]
[Why does the price keep going UP?]
I shrugged. "Why are you negotiating?, as far as I can tell, you're basically a god."
[I thought it'll be funny, do you know the last time I talked to somebody?, anyway no i'm no God I'm simply... a very, very strong person.... 10 million right?.]
Raising both my hand to make a sarcastic gesture, I sarcastically said "Right.... A very, very strong person.... Still, saving the world takes years, i want an advance payment."
[You're that confident?. Oh right I wasn't very clear, was I?, I meant each Arc-.]
immediately blurting out.
"I'm in, Cassius. Thats my name."
The moment the words left my mouth, the contract dissolved into countless specks of white light.
[Contract Completion.]
"...That's it?"
[Yep that's it.]
The clauses are easily exploitable, what's up with that?.
[...What's up with what?]
I blinked....
So you can read my thought afterall.
[Haha, don't worry about it, After all, you'll have my eyes soon.]
[I'll be watching.]
"...That's terrifying."
[So, ask me anything whenever you're wondering whether you can do something, I'll answer yes or no, ok?.]
"...So." I cracked my knuckles. "When do we start?"
[Right now.]
"Huh?"
The world vanished beneath my feet.
Goddamit.... This thing really just like messing with people doesn't it.
I was falling.
Fast.
So fast that I couldn't even tell which way was up anymore, the endless white disappeared in its place...
A snow-covered mountain, an endless forest blanketed in white.
"...Beautiful."
I'd only ever seen snow in pictures, seeing it with my own eyes... It was somehow even whiter than I'd imagined.
I looked down, noticing my transparent body my scar are gone. "...Wait Am I a ghost-"
The ground rushed toward me.
"...What kind of ghost has gravity?!"
THUD.
Pain exploded through my head.
"...Ow..."
Groaning, I pushed myself upright, someone lay a few meters away, someone who I only ever seen in pixel art.
He's pale as hell, Messy purple hair, Rainbow-colored eyes?.
"...Whoa." Even though I can barely see it, they were mesmerizing. "So that's what it meant by 'my eyes,' huh..." There was a small mole beneath his right eye, a thick fur-lined hood wrapped around his shoulders, black gloves covering his hands 2 earrings that helds gem, and a heavy dark coat built for brutal winters, the whole winter package.
Honestly...
He looked like the protagonist of every fantasy novel ever, I'm not saying he's ugly but he looks generic.
Just swap the usual black hair for purple.
"...Barry." Why is he dead?... I stared at the unmoving body. "...The hell am I supposed to do now?"
A familiar rectangle appeared.
[First Mission]
[Time limit: 2 minute]
[Possess Barry.]
[Success: Possession of Barry, The system which include the Inventory, Profile, etc.]
Failure: Existance Deletion
"...No."
I pointed at the corpse.
"I'll die if I go in there."
[You won't.]
"...How?"
[You just won't.]
"That explains absolutely nothing."
[I suppose you're just... a rather unique ghost.]
I looked back at Barry.
"...I'm not going to become a zombie, right?"
[No. Who do you think I am? I wouldn't unleash a catastrophe like that.]
"I don't even know you."
[You'll survive, Trust me.]
"...Not like I have many options."
I took a deep breath. "...Here goes nothing."
Actually hold on a second..... "Ok here goes nothing"
The moment I reached toward Barry...
The world twisted, Agony, every nerve in my body screamed, bones cracked into place, muscles knitted themselves together, blood surged through veins that hadn't carried life moments ago, Lungs drew their first breath, my heart slammed against my ribs.
Ba thump- once.
Ba thump- twice.
Then it began beating on its own.
"AAAGH!!"
Despite the pain lasting only seconds, it felt like hours, Finally...
Silence.
I slowly opened my eyes, cold air filling my lungs. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh" I took a long breath.... With shaky legs, i stood and stretched, Every joint popping.
I looked around at the endless snow.
This.. is Barry starting point,
"...What a shitty starting point."
Considering Barry's condition... he must've managed to escape before bleeding out. Touching the empty scabbard beside me, I haven't been robbed blind yet so, the mercenaries are probably still conducting a grid search.
The real problem is that things have already diverged too far from the game initial situation.. and I'm no longer bound by the game's limitations either or at least I think so?.
...That's a terrifying thought.
There are far too many variables I have to account for now.
I have to say it again because this is genuinely ridiculous.
"What a shitty starting point." As I said that the blizzard becomes stronger.
Lucky me.
Blizzard is a chance event of this conflict, just think of it as something that gives you more option, thought i planned to run to the academy at first, but this changes everything.
Doing the Goku stretch.
"Lets do this."