64. I Don't Feel Like It
Today's story is about something that happened in reality.
I didn't really feel like doing it, but today I decided to take a day off as a change of pace, just to relieve some of the boredom that had been building up.
It was like… how should I put it?
Maybe the game had suddenly become boring.
It was somewhat similar to the occasional bouts of gaming burnout that came to me from time to time.
“Junior, I was wondering what was going on when you called me first for once, but what's with that expression?
You look completely annoyed.”
“Do I?”
We walked toward the park where we were going to play tennis with the junior trainer.
We really only walked.
We didn't have any particularly meaningful conversation.
However, perhaps the junior trainer was simply born with a personality that couldn't stay still, because he eventually couldn't stand it anymore and spoke to me first.
Still, judging by how he had waited for a little while, it seemed that even he had been slightly nervous about this unprecedented situation where I had actually called him first.
“Yes.
That's exactly the expression I had when an elderly relative asked me during a holiday gathering when I was going to get married.”
“Was I really making such an annoyed face?”
“You looked like you hated everything in the world.”
…Yeah.
Exactly.
Because of what happened yesterday, my head was a mess and I was filled with irritation.
I don't like thinking too much.
And complicated relationships between people, tangled up with various organizations and countries like a knot that can never be untied, are something I absolutely hate.
I want to live like a single free breeze.
I want to be moderately lukewarm and gently drifting, enjoying the freedom to pass by someone without them even realizing that a breeze had blown past them.
“Actually, while I was playing the game…”
“Another game?
We've known each other for almost a year now, but somehow eight out of ten things you say are about games.
Shouldn't you show a little consideration for someone who doesn't even play games?”
“…I want to put more stimulation on my shoulders, but it's not working very well.”
“Hehe, I like that.”
I never imagined he would be this obsessed with exercise.
Was his entire life really centered around working out…?
The type of exercise was different, but he was actually a lot like me.
“So, go ahead and tell me about it.”
“Lateral raises?”
“No, I'm talking about the game.”
I really must have been born with good luck when it came to people.
Even in the game, I was on good terms with Great Heroes, and in reality, I was also fairly close with such a considerate junior trainer.
I couldn't believe someone like him was still single.
It wasn't as if he was clueless about romance or uninterested in it, either.
“Actually, I heard something I really didn't like.
To put it in simple terms, imagine that I was originally a freelancer working as a subcontractor for Company A.
Then I started accepting jobs from Company B, which was a competitor of Company A, and when Company B showed strong interest in hiring me, Company A suddenly came rushing over and offered me a position while looking down on me.”
“Junior, what kind of life are you living inside that game, exactly?
Didn't you say it was a fantasy world?”
“A life where I'm decent, hardworking, and reasonably capable, but I also have a criminal record?”
“…What kind of life are you really living?”
Would the better description be that I had lived however I wanted, but things had turned out better than expected?
“No, seriously, Junior.
In reality, you're gradually becoming a perfectly normal person, so why would you bother playing a game that forces you to go through such troublesome experiences?”
That's exactly what it was.
As time passed, reality was beginning to shine brighter than the game, and the game was gradually becoming less enjoyable.
Perhaps it was a kind of side effect from having so much money in my bank account that I had more than enough freedom.
On top of that, in reality, I had reliable advisers like Trainer and the junior trainer.
Between a game where my senses were somewhat restricted and reality, where I was completely free, there was no need to say which one was better.
Of course, all I really did here was lift weights.
But I was gradually being influenced by the junior trainer, and working out was becoming a habit.
But still…
“Because it's a game.”
Did I really need a reason to play a game?
I just played it.
If it was fun, that was enough.
If it wasn't fun, I would find another fun game.
Besides, I was still afraid of this damn reality, so for now, I would continue relying on the game.
The problem was…
Now that I had experienced World Gate, would I really be able to enjoy another game?
No.
I could say that with absolute certainty.
What other game could possibly exist where I personally moved around, made my own choices, and reached endings I never expected?
“Hmm.
Let's think about it once.
So, which company is offering more?”
“Company A is a traditional company, so even though I'm an exceptional case, they probably won't pay me more than their other employees.
Still, they promised me quite a lot of money.
They also confirmed that I would receive performance bonuses for each job.”
“What about Company B?
Are they offering less?”
“Company B is a huge trading company, so they probably have plenty of money.
They also clearly treat talented people better than Company A does, and they have a higher opinion of me.”
“Hmm, I can see why that would be difficult to decide.
Still, I guess the safest choice would be to see what Company B offers first and then decide.”
“No.
That's not the problem.
I just don't like either of them.”
The junior trainer stared at me with an expression that clearly said he couldn't understand me at all.
Then he remembered that I was talking about the game and relaxed his expression.
Please cut me some slack.
Talking to actual people in reality is unfamiliar to me.
Otherwise, make a character and meet me in the game instead.
“Then why don't you just refuse both?”
“The problem is that I have people depending on me now, I need money, refusing both companies could put my position at risk, and there are people I don't want to become enemies with in either company.
So it's not something I can decide that easily.”
“Hmm.”
“I told you I have a criminal record.
This is a little complicated, but because of something I did in the past, both companies… no, actually, the entire world sees me as a dangerous person.”
“What crime did you commit for that to happen?
Terrorism?”
“Something like that.”
