Chapter 32: Difference Between Realities

"...Hmm...this is nice." Nio is in a famous eatery in the empire. Since the emperor only saw her during an informal visit, she knows he probably won’t mention any of this to Stelaria.

And even if he does, she’s confident she can handle it, so she decided to enjoy the time she has by taking a short walk through the empire to see how far the technology goes.

To her surprise, technology is advancing quite well in this world. Agriculture with proper tools, construction using cement—even if rudimentary—bathrooms with functional plumbing, water delivery pipes with rustic faucets, carriages with slightly improved designs, and even small steam engines.

No industrial-grade motors, just small steam machines that give a light hand with heavier work, but still, a great fusion of technology and magic.

Even if it’s a very low level of technology, it reminds Nio of things she’s read about the industrialization era, something very old and barely mentioned in the books she’d read in her "real" life outside the game.

"Hmmm..." She bites into a grilled fish sandwich she took a liking to. The flavor is simple, but still, it’s not something she could normally experience. There’s something in the simplicity that she enjoys.

’Probably steam engines, water piping, plumbing, and the like came from players...and mild technological advances from the world itself...cheese...they even got involved in the food.’ Nio looks at the cheese on the bread.

This cheese is made using a small steam engine to handle the process of moving, stirring, and mixing the cheese evenly with a few other things.

The flavor is somewhat strong, but slightly refined. It’s nowhere near industrialized flavor, or the taste of the game’s food, but it’s still a natural taste.

’Haaa, they should use aluminum instead of wood in the machines. I can faintly taste the wood and a weak mustiness in the cheese, even if it’s just a slight flavor and nothing harmful to health.’

’Well, they probably don’t know how to use aluminum properly... The taste is almost trash compared to the game’s food...so why did I like it?’ She finishes eating, gets up, and slides some coins across the counter. Coins she stole from Stelaria without her noticing and stored in her inventory.

"..." She leaves the eatery while observing the relatively lively streets. Despite the "Bloody Emperor" being the one who governs the empire, his rule has actually proven to be excellent.

"He’s smart. Even being egocentric and having a completely uncooperative attitude, he’s still someone with real capabilities." Nio watches adventurers passing by on the street. She finds it interesting. It reminds her of the game’s streets and gives her a sense of calm.

’Normally there’d be people in gaudy armor, with colorful auras, and joke items... it’s strange not seeing that...’ She bites her lips. Even as a solo player, she lost something irrecoverable.

The feeling that she belongs to the world she’s in. The wings that show the universe, her horns with details like stars and galaxies, her dragon-like appearance with white markings.

All of it clashes extremely with an environment that was common in the game, but is almost alien in this place, which makes her realize she’ll probably never fit into this world, no matter how much time passes.

"..." She sits on a bench, looking at her hands, and then looks at an adventurer in full heavy armor passing by. Her pupils turn into dangerous vertical slits.

As she imagines how different it would be from the game’s situation. In the game, PK in a neutral zone was impossible, but now there are no more walls, barriers, or borders to stop her.

Just as she feels nothing dangerous around her, no one among the people passing by can perceive that Nio is in a dangerous test situation.

’No...I should hold back. This isn’t the game anymore...there are no more barriers preventing me from killing here, but it also wouldn’t be good to do it...’ She shakes her head, leaving where she is and heading into an alley, distancing herself from people.

"I never realized how much I deviated from the norm... seeing people passing by on the street so calmly while I know I could end everything is... strange... I think... I’d like to see another player."

"W-Well, maybe I’ll take over the world, and if I follow through with that plan... I can reshape the world to suit what makes me more comfortable, even if it makes me a tyrant..." Nio tries to distract her mind, but before she can, she notices her Status opening.

"...?" A message appears in front of her, drawing her attention immediately.

[Amidst the Witches’ Night, you have just received a temporary invitation. Walpurgis requests your permission to summon you to another location through a direct summoning by your name.

The recipient -You- has the options to decline or accept the invitation. If accepted, you will be immediately sent to the summoning position.]

"W-Wow!!! An invitation from Walpurgis?! It’s poorly refined and has a generic message! But it’s the real deal... someone knows how to use this? The ritualistic magic that can only be done by sacrificing people? Wait... but it only works by name, or randomness pattern..." Nio quickly gets excited, flapping her wings.

Because in the game, only players used the [Walpurgis Invitation], a connection magic widely used on certain occasions. It was a strange magic, but one that some groups liked to use for Roleplay.

"A player!? It has to be. And they seem to know me, since they invited me by name directly... wait..." Nio is excited, but something seems off, because how would anyone know she’s on this planet.

"...It’s another player... right?" She stares at the floating message in front of her, the invitation awaiting her answer. She looks around the empty alley and then back at the invitation with growing suspicion.

"...The Walpurgis invitation is temporary. That was to prevent unfair PK, but it had a duration of 10 minutes for balance and position saving reasons... whoever invited me would have 10 minutes to kill me."

"And even though performing a PK against someone strong in just 10 minutes is difficult without preparation, it could be a trap... besides, is it really a player?"

"In the game there were magic series. Walpurgis is an entire series of magics linked to witches. That means whoever is using it at least knows the other magics in the category... a possible level 100... level 70 at the very least..." She grows pensive.

’I haven’t found any proof of a max-level player in the present... but it’s not impossible... I’ll accept...’ She faces the invitation, tempted to decline, but the growing sense of isolation she felt while walking the streets and realizing how far she is from humanity guides her to accept.

’I hope it’s a decent player. If they’re trustworthy, we can have great conversations about this world...’

"I accept the invitation. And may we all, among witches, have a wonderful tea party." She steps into the Roleplay between witches by agreeing to go. When the magic receives the confirmation, it begins to teleport her. She takes a deep breath, preparing herself to fight another player if necessary.