There is Something Wrong with This Game

Announcement Warning: Ecchi chapter

Ruri stepped out of the car charging station, her figure invisible to the world around her.

The cool night breeze brushed against her as she began her quiet walk along the glamorous streets of Shizuoka. The air was crisp, the sky clear, and the city sparkled with life.

Large stores lined the main road, their bright signs glowing in different colors.

Shoppers moved in and out of the stores, some chatting and laughing, others carrying bags full of purchases. Cars occasionally passed by, their headlights sweeping over the perfectly maintained streets. Air purifier poles stood tall, their soft hum blending into the background, while cleaning robots moved efficiently, sweeping away even the tiniest bits of litter.

The small cat bell tied to her left ankle let out a faint chiming sound as she walked, but the sound was drowned out by the advertisement music and the general hustle and bustle of the night. Perhaps someone nearby could hear it, but no one seemed to react.

Passing a glass window of a store, Ruri briefly glanced at her reflection—or rather, the lack of it. Her lips curled into a faint smile, a thrill running through her.

'They can’t see me. But what if someone could sense me? Would they turn and look?'

She turned to a CCTV camera nearby, raising her hand in a playful peace sign.

Knowing her appearance wouldn't be captured, she giggled softly. She thought that if the camera were equipped with heat or infrared sensors, it might pick up her presence. But as long as her visual form remained hidden, it didn't matter too much.

After making the peace sign, Ruri felt a surge of confidence and daring.

She paused briefly, then reached down to untie her shorts, folding them neatly before pocketing them inside her jacket. Now, with her top and bottom exposed, she felt the cool night breeze against her skin, a sensation of freedom mixed with a sense of shame.

'When else will I get this chance? I have to enjoy this moment to the fullest!'

Feeling a bit mischievous, Ruri approached a vending machine, scanning the payment code with a quick tap.

The sound of the machine dropping her canned juice caught the attention of a passerby. A man glanced over briefly, his brow furrowed in confusion. Ruri snatched the can quickly and moved away. She drank the juice in silence, savoring the sweetness, and later tossed the empty can into a nearby trash bin.

Ruri continued to wander through the vibrant scene, blending seamlessly with the flow of the city. Her heart raced each time she passed close to someone. When a dog barked suddenly near her, her pulse quickened, and she froze for a moment before continuing. The idea of someone sensing her presence, even without seeing her, sent waves of excitement through her.

But as she walked further from the main road, the scenery began to change. The clean, polished streets gave way to narrower, dimly lit alleys. The smell of fresh air faded, replaced by a heavier, unpleasant scent. The air felt thick without the constant presence of purifiers, and the streets were littered with garbage.

Her nose wrinkled slightly.

'So this is what lies beneath the glamour. How do people live like this?'

She wondered, her steps slowing. Her excitement dulled as she took in her surroundings. Her gaze swept over the cramped buildings, their walls stained and worn. People sat on broken steps or leaned against walls, their faces tired and worn. A drunkard lay sprawled on a mat in a dark alley, an empty bottle by his side. His loud snores echoed faintly as Ruri passed by, careful to avoid stepping too close.

Ruri paused for a moment, her invisible form standing still in the shadows. The dirt-streaked streets and the lack of order only irritated her. Still, something kept her moving forward, her curiosity drawing her deeper into the poorer district.

She overheard bits of conversations as she walked.

The first was a woman with a trembling voice, speaking to a man, most likely her husband.

"I had to choose between paying rent and buying food for our kids this month. How are we supposed to live like this?"

The woman's voice was quite loud and there was a tone of anger. The man could only remain silent and seemed to be holding back his shame. Their appearance was rather dirty and shabby, reeking of poverty.

A little further, a man with a bitter tone grumbled to his friend.

"They promised us better wages last year, but look at us. Still breaking our backs for scraps. And they have the nerve to tell us to work harder."

This man most likely worked as a scavenger. He was one of the few people who had no other choice for work. As more and more large companies employ robots and AI, jobs are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Nearby, a group of older men sat on wooden crates, their voices carrying a mix of regret and nostalgia.

"Things weren’t always this bad. I remember when you could walk these streets and feel proud of this city. Now look at it. Look at us."

Those old people were undoubtedly the older generation who had been around for decades before Ruri was born. They had their own memorable stories of the past with this place.

All of these people were only a handful of the individuals Ruri saw on her walks. Regarding them, Ruri only felt indifferent. They were strangers, after all. What did their suffering have to do with her?

'This situation is just like what they teach in sociology classes,'

The impact of technology couldn't be more clear—it was slowly but surely replacing the role of humans. That was why so many people are now switching to work in the second reality, inside virtual worlds like Ascension.

Her gaze swept over the dark streets again.

'As for these people… why don’t they join in? Maybe they still underestimate VR games, thinking they’re all just games.'

Ruri let out a quiet sigh and turned back toward the brighter streets, her curiosity satisfied for the night.

As she stepped onto the well-lit sidewalks again, a conversation caught her ear. Two men, dressed in casual clothes stood next to a parked vehicle.

"Remember, the boss said to be ready. After the exam period ends, our Prominence Guild will go to war with Genesis Guild,"

One of them said in a hushed but firm tone.

The mention of war and the two familiar guild name stopped Ruri in her tracks. This was unexpected news, with the current political power structure of the Genesis Guild supported by the Church of Light, there was actually someone who dared to declare war.

"Got it, I’ll make sure everything’s prepared."

The companion replied with a serious tone.

Ruri stood silently in her invisible state, her thoughtful gaze lingered on the men as they walked away. Her curiosity piqued, she decided to follow them secretly. She kept her steps light and her presence unnoticed as she walked behind the two men, listening intently and recording their conversation.

Unfortunately, it seemed they didn’t know much about their own guild’s strategy. Their talk was vague, filled with speculation and repeated reminders to prepare. Realizing there was no reason to continue following them, Ruri turned back and made her way toward the charging station, her thoughts swirling with the unexpected news.

Approximately half an hour later, Ruri went back to the charging station and entered the car unnoticed. As she opened the car door, Kuu, who had sensed her presence, greeted her with its usual chirp.

Kuu didn’t rely on visual senses, so her invisibility had no effect on it.

“I’m back, Kuu. Did you miss me?”

Ruri said with a small smile.

She took off her jacket and tossed it into the backseat, settling into the driver’s seat to rest. This time, Ruri didn't bother putting her shorts back on and left herself naked.

The charging process had already reached 100%, but she needed to wait until her invisibility wore off before continuing her journey. If she moved now, the car would turn invisible along with her and then suddenly reappear on the road, which would undoubtedly draw attention.

Fortunately, the wait wasn’t too long.

“Okay, let’s continue our journey to our new home!”

So Ruri said cheerfully as her body appeared in the reflection of the car window.

For her night stroll today, Ruri used up 6 bottles of Improved Invisibility Potion, which meant a total duration of around 3 hours. By the time her invisibility ended, it was already midnight.

“Kweeh,”

Kuu responded, its tone matching her enthusiasm.

As soon as her invisibility expired, Ruri turned the car on and set the autopilot destination to her Dreamhouse’s address. The car smoothly took off, leaving the charging station behind.

Inside the car, Ruri relaxed in her seat and activated her T-Bracelet. She sent the recording of the two Prominence Guild members’ conversation to the group chat.

	...
Hecate	It seems Prominence Guild will declare war on us soon. What do you think? ? video.mov
Rena-cchi	Hecate-chwaan, I missed you! (づ￣ ³￣)づ
Emilia	War, huh? What an ordeal we have to deal with after the exam. "( – ⌓ – )=3
Leon	I see. I already knew this would happen sooner or later. @Hecate, you did a good job reporting this.

Despite it being the middle of the night, her guildmates were still diligent and stayed up late. Ruri closed the chat window and continued to relax, occasionally glancing at chat notifications as they popped up.

With several hours left before reaching her destination, she decided to get some rest. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes, letting the gentle hum of the car’s movement soothe her.

Before long, she drifted off to sleep, leaving Kuu to quietly keep her company.

After a few hours, the autopilot notification rang, signaling that the car had reached its destination. Ruri stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she stretched in her seat.

Looking out the window, she saw the grand gate of her dream house standing before her. A smile crept onto her lips as she realized she had finally arrived.

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