Orion had no idea how powerful the NPC standing before him was.
In a regular game, you'd expect every character's level or threat level to be somewhat visible or at least predictable. But with this ultra realistic game, he had no clue what the developers were thinking anymore.
No monsters or human NPCs showed any level.
At least not until you died and notifications showed the numbers.
But he also knew something. This game didn't begin yet. He was just level 0 and many game elements were locked. Maybe things would change after this tutorial ended and when the real game started.
But if dying in real gemaplay took something from him each time (like exp), then testing things by dying wasn't exactly a sustainable plan.
Getting one shot by a damn dragon had been a stupidity-shattering experience.
He didn't care about anything before that experienece. But now, he started using his head.
This is progress in my book.
Orion didn't even know if that 1220 Level Dragon was absurdly strong or something average. But considering he was still Level 0 after two hours of playtime, that monster should be insanely strong.
When will I be able to see other people's levels?
Orion pushed the thought aside, shifting his focus to something more entertaining.
Like NPCs.
Sexy and beautiful NPCs, and what they could actually do.
He remembered when he first looked at her, NPC Thalia's crimson hazelish eyes were a bit cold. But now she was staring him so excitedly.
"Thalia. I don't know if you've noticed but I'm naked. Do you have anything I could use to cover up?"
Orion was well aware of his lack of clothing. But after going through so much pain and dying several times, it didn't really bother him anymore.
Besides, this wasn't even his body.
He'd never had abs this smooth or a chest this firm. As far as he could remember, he'd always had a bit of a belly.
If it were his real body, he probably would've died of embarrassment, but in this moment, it didn't matter inside a game.
"I may have something in my bag. One second."
As Thalia crouched down to dig through her small bag, Orion's eyes locked onto the figure visible even beneath her armor. Curvy. Dangerous.
He swallowed. Then leaned forward, pretending to look at the bag but edging close enough that his shoulder lightly brushed against hers.
He'd seen her blush earlier when she'd gotten a peek at his body. So now he was going to test the game mechanics in more details.
Orion reached out and placed his hand gently over her left hand, the one holding the bag, and leaned in to rest his head against her shoulder.
Their faces were now side by side.
Bodies touching.
Thalia froze mid search as her hand still inside the bag.
She doesn't do anything to stop me. Also game doesn't have a barrier or a similar thing to stop my touches.
Good job "game developers". I love you!
Thalia said with a trembling voice, "Actually, now that I think about it, there is nothing in my bag to cover your body."
Orion didn't see the way Thalia was looking at his body from that angle.
"Maybe you don't need to wear something. It's very hot here, we could just hang out like this."
Orion asked in an exited voice, "It won't bother you right?"
"I don't mind at all." Thalia was looking like an innocent little girl. But her voice's tone was a little bit different.
She was too excited.
Her lips trembled beneath her sweaty red hair as she turned her face toward him. Their proximity was so close that her voice came out in whispers.
"I looked again but there is nothing as a cover." She didn't even give a prententius look to the bag while saying that!
Her eyes darted nervously between his shoulders, chest, and lips. She tried to open her mouth to change the subject from the cloths.
"Orion, this pl—"
But Orion moved even closer. He used a bit of force to make her let go of the bag, sat down on the ground, and gently pulled her with him.
"I'm really tired. Just need to rest a bit."
He slung his arm around her shoulder. She didn't resist at all.
Thalia was still clearly dazed and excited while Orion was slightly pressed against her gear.
Yeah, she was wearing armor but this place was too hot. Honestly, the cold of her gear was refreshing for Orion.
Thalia relaxed beside him, letting her legs stretch out. When they sat like that, Orion felt more at ease.
Things were finally calm since the moment he opened his eyes in this crazy game.
Finally a safe zone ha.
..
They didn't talk for half a minute.
"I saw some weird stuff on the way here. Where exactly are we?" Orion expected some kind of dramatic lore dump but instead the reality was different.
"We're in the exam." Thalia replied softly. She seemed to realize how short that answer was and turned her head, her expression suddenly full of realization and shock.
"Wait. You don't know where you are?"
A hundred thoughts rushed through Orion's head, but it only took him a few seconds to decide: He'd lie. A little bit.
"I don't remember, Thalia. Can you tell me more about this place? When I opened my eyes, people were fighting everywhere. There were monsters and I had to run to stay alive."
It wasn't even a complete lie.
Now that Orion had an NPC he could talk and depend, he finally felt like he could relax and start the real game. Hopefully, she could explain the leveling system.
But then Thalia reached out, gently took his hands and leaned even closer.
Poor baby. He needs help. A soft helping hand. My hand.
"I will explain everything bab-Orion!"
Orion was enjoying her touch very much.
And her breath smelled sweet.
Does my mouth smell?
He'd vomited and oozed pus during his first few deaths. Gas and other things were disgusting too.
But after that, his body had been destroyed and rebuilt so many times that he wasn't even sure what he looked or smelled like anymore.
Thalia's soft gaze made his heart speed up a bit. The last time he'd gotten this close to a woman was a paid experience during his college years.
Even if this was just a game, he couldn't deny how real it felt.
"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice unintentionally slipping into something closer to a principle's command. She quickly caught herself, softened her tone and played the role of a nervous student again.
"I meant you should be happy. Coming this far in this maze is excellent. Also, this area is far from where the entrance exam normally takes place. Just being here probably puts you among the top candidates."
Entrance exam?
Wait… This is just a beginner level dungeon?
There is huge ass dragon here. And she said this was a test before but seriously?
A magic school kind of test with dragons??
Orion hugged her slightly tighter, pulling her body closer like he was using her to relax.
"I've seen a lot of death just getting here. I was already in the middle of a battle when I woke up. But somehow, I kept surviving. It all felt like a dream."
He leaned forward, staring directly into her curious hazel-red eyes. They were inches apart.
"I remember nothing except my name."
He grinned inside as Thalia's expression changed like a puzzle piece had clicked into place.
"So you don't remember the written test either?"
He shook his head.
"I don't even know how old I am or how I will get home either."
She was shocked because he was telling the truth. Even if she wasn't a mage, she still had basic abilities about lie detection.
He isn't lying.
Thalia was an experienced fighter and instructer. She had seen too much. But even she didn't see this big of a memory loss before.
If Thalia was in her right mind, she would still question Orion like a predetor and got the whole truth.
But she was in a strange mood and had her needs. So she wanted to believe, wanted to relax a little bit. Wanted a handsome and young man to be close to her.
She accepted the whole "memory loss" thing with a big smile.
Orion was relieved that his lie worked like a charm.
This one lie was going to make everything else easier. If he could start the game pretending to have memory loss, it would be his excuse for every dumb mistake he made going forward.
Still he wasn't really thinking about the game anymore. He was wondering if he could kiss her cheek or lips.
Would the game stop him?
Was there any limit?
At the same time Orion was thinking erotic things, Thalia reached into her bag and pulled out a brochure. A photo of a huge building filled the front page. Texts Orion could somehow understand etched across it. It was clearly a new language.
"We are inside the entrance exam for Midka Academy. And like I said, it's almost over. We can get you checked out by a doctor to see if they can help you with your memory problem."
As Orion looked at the smiling girl and the picture of the school, a wave of warmth rushed through his chest.
Maybe this wasn't some dark, gritty survival game after all.
Maybe this game had a romance genre and it was about regular school life.
Things were looking pretty good.
"How will I commute to school though? All my clothes and belongings destroyed earlier."
Thalia showed a sweet smile and took a sneak peek at Orion's body using the topic at hand.
"Don't worry about that. We had to submit all personal belongings before the exam started."
"And the school wanted you to prepare a backup set of clothes in cases you don't die during the hell maze. Our school doesn't allow students to walk around naked, silly."
Her smile and reddish hazel eyes were mesmerezing.
I need to find out if this game has a NPC conquering system." he swore to himself.
Orion would've caught on sooner If Thalia didn't look so adorable.
Wait, did she just say "if students don't die?