The trip to the throne room was more or less typical to say the least; there NPCs and players crowding around cheering and congratulating. Some were giving disturbingly murderous looks, though I ignored those as best I could and rushed through to my destination; jealousy, envy and pride are dangerously volatile emotions. On one knee I am now waiting for the king to finish his grand speech about all my heroics and rewards including titles, riches etc. etc. I quickly hit ok after the king finished speaking and logged off back to reality. Which I have to say is a dump, dirty laundry, stacks of instant food and cup noodles, bottles and cans littered everywhere. I.... should really clean up, but I can always do it tomorrow, I have sleep to catch up on. And so I drifted off to my first full nights sleep in a long time.

  I woke with my eyelids still tightly shut, it was getting uncomfortably hot. Did the air conditioner shut off? Grudgingly I opened my eyes, only to find myself staring at an unfamiliar stone ceiling. Wait what stone ceiling? I sat up straight, all sleepiness gone. I was no longer in my dusty, cluttered mess of an apartment but a perfectly smooth stone room that had a giant ring of black fire in the middle. I must be dreaming right? But the unbearably hot sensation of the fire said otherwise and even if I was still connected to the VR machine there are dampeners so things wouldn't be this hot.

  "Where the hell am I?"

  *Ding

  With a familiar sound a notice like one in game popped up.

  I stared at the message... I must still be in the VR machine right? Maybe a bug or a glitch caused the heat to feel like that.

  "Log off........ Huh?"

  No menu popped up and I was obviously still in the room.

  "Menu, Help, Contact Support....."

  Nothing...

  "Is this some kind of prank?" Maybe someone hacked my VR machine, maybe because I beat the game.

  "Wait, hold on backup I still don't believe this is reality but, I beat the game so now I'm a pawn of a god in a GAME he is playing with other gods?"

  "No way, send me back I never agreed to this!"

  "No, just NO who are you to dictate someone else's life I am NOT going to be some bored god's toy."

  Despite being just a message I felt pressure from it, for now it would be best to just listen.

  Status thinking that a familiar screen popped up.

  I have a title already? I mean it's accurate but what the hell does it even do?

  *Ding

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  "... What... that's a skill?"

  *Ding

  So does everything I do give me skills? Wait...

  "Say, are you the one giving me skills?"

  "Why!!! And you put the skill failed thing to annoy me didn't you?"

  *Ding

  I stare at the new window and sigh...

  "Well what do I do now?"

  *Ding

  I can almost hear the sound of a switch flicking as I start analysing the benefits of the rewards. The title can be really useful especially the Reputation boost, in the game there were many things you can't do without having a high reputation. On the other hand though I already have a title and if it's the same way as it is in the game I can only use one title at once, which means I would probably be switching the title out at some point. The Stat points will give me a really nice boost in the direction I want especially since my starting stats are so low. I don't know the prices or the currency model for this world so while the potions are a standard start and the EXP tempting it may turn out to be cheap goods that I can easily get later on. The Divine item is most tempting since a Divine item in the game is an item made by the gods, being indestructible and having potentially game breaking effects but the game had many trash divine items as well.

  "Um... I do not mean to be rude but do you have a name? It's hard to remember the numbers also if possible can you tell me the worth of the items?"

  So the helper is kind of like an in-game encyclopedia I guess. Also was? I'm curious but I feel like it's not a subject she (think it's a she) likes talking about.

  "But since you are the one who gives me skills.... is it possible to -"

  Oh... "Sorry for asking."

  "That... is a good point. Durability is something you always have to worry about, a weapon or armour breaking in the middle of a fight is a good way to get yourself killed. Alright I'll take the item then."

  More questions that I can list, but if I'm 2 years behind every second counts, in a game it can be the difference between lying face down on the ground dead or dancing in victory.

  "Is there a way to get back aside from winning? Or at least a way to communicate with some people in my world?" I wasn't particularly social, to most people I'll just be someone who finally gave in and blocked out the world for a game or another. But there was one person at the very least that I don't want to worry, Yuki was my childhood friend from the orphanage and being the same age we were always together. Since long ago she has been taking care of me, even the past half year she was the only reason my place didn't turn into a complete garbage dump.

  I just hope she doesn't get too worried... I don't want to trouble her more than I already have.

  "Thanks, I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be now. Let's get this over with quick," my lips parted in a forced smile, "There's a new game releasing in a month I wanted to play."

  *Note: I apologize for how short it is (and the ridiculous amount of windows), for now I'm planning to update within a few days, the next chapter though should be out sometime today.