Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“Are you okay…?”
“I’ll be… As long as I’m looking outside…”

Still feeling completely drained, I replied to the voice behind me.
The damp handkerchief covering my eyes felt cool and soothing; the churning in my stomach from earlier had finally subsided, and it seemed I no longer had to worry about causing a major incident at this crowded station.

That’s right. In the crowd on the train heading from our rural hometown to the city… I got sick. It wasn’t that I had motion sickness from the train itself. It was the sight of so many people crammed into the confined space of the train that made me feel queasy.

“Even though you’re fine with people in the game.”

Reiji murmured that as he pushed my wheelchair.

…Speaking of which, I’ve had important nerves damaged in a past injury, so I can’t move from the waist down the way I’d like.

It’s not that I can’t move at all—I can stand for short periods if I hold onto something, and I can walk short distances inside the house with a cane—but for the most part, I still rely on a wheelchair.

“Well, that’s just how it is. Even though it’s much more realistic than any game we’ve played before, I think part of me still recognizes that it’s not my real body, since it’s still stylized to some extent.”

No matter how beautiful the graphics in 『Worldgate Online』may be, it’s impossible to simulate every single aspect of reality.

For example, even something as simple as a cloud is just a random combination of a few pre-made patterns arranged to look like a real cloud. It’s not as if every single grain of sand on the ground or every single leaf on a tree is individually rendered; there are many parts that rely heavily on textures.

The same goes for the characters. You can touch them, and their skin feels soft—you might even sense their body heat—but the only thing that truly replicates the texture of the tissue beneath the skin is the large bones; since you can’t see blood vessels or other internal structures, they retain a somewhat doll-like quality.

Thanks to this, since I don’t have to think too much about them being “people,” I don’t feel much fear within 『Worldgate Online』. Even when using my 『Iris』 Avatar—which draws crowds and attracts stares—I can maintain my act without letting my true feelings show.

…I’ve been feeling more at ease lately, so perhaps this experience is serving as a form of training.

Above all, the sensations in 『Worldgate Online』—especially pain—are significantly duller than in reality; even if I’m cut with a blade, at most, I just feel a tingling sensation there. Knowing that even if the same thing happened here, I’d be fine—that sense of security is truly immense.

.

……I’m afraid of real people.

A robbery-murder happened in my past—the one that took my parents’ lives and left me unable to use my legs.

Then there was the stress from the intrusive media coverage that continued even during my subsequent hospitalization, until my grandfather finally yelled at them and took us away to the rural area where my grandparents lived.

Because of that, except for a few trusted acquaintances—like Ayame and Reiji—I can’t shake the thought that someone might pull out a knife and attack me at any moment.

I could still manage when there were only a handful of people around, but places where crowds gathered, like schools and train stations, were unbearable to me. Though they say time heals all wounds, far from recovering, my condition gradually worsened—to the point where I eventually dropped out of high school.

.

However, I think I’ve gradually gotten used to it as I’ve interacted with people in 『Worldgate Online』. I used to go into a full-blown panic even with these two right beside me, but now it only makes me feel a little queasy. So…

“Don’t look so gloomy. I’ve actually improved a lot already. At this rate, I’ll be fine soon enough. Okay?”

I reached out and gently patted Ayame’s head as she sat beside me with her head lowered.
My injury came from being stabbed while shielding Ayame after she fell while fleeing from the robber, so she tends to blame herself for it. She doesn’t need to worry about it—after all, she was only five years old at the time, and it was only natural that I’d shield her.

“…I’m not really worried about it.”
“Really? Well, that’s good, then.”

She’s such a beauty, so I feel it would be a shame for her to be tied down taking care of me forever.

With her neatly trimmed black hair falling halfway down her back and her graceful gait, Ayame is a beauty, even setting aside my family bias. That’s exactly why I find myself thinking—in a somewhat old-fashioned way—that I hope she finds a good partner and finds happiness soon.

…Ah, but then again, if Ayame and Reiji ended up together, I might actually be happy about that.

As I was idly thinking about such things, the traffic light in front of us began to flash the moment we approached it, and my body lifted slightly as the wheelchair came to a sudden stop.

“Whoops, sorry. Maybe I should’ve just kept going.”

As I fidgeted to adjust my sitting position, a concerned voice called out to me.

“No, it’s fine. It’s scarier when we don’t make it across.”

The cars speeding down the main street showed no mercy, and we probably would’ve ended up having to stop near the middle. So Reiji’s decision wasn’t wrong.

The wait at this traffic light was long. As I stared blankly at the flow of traffic, waiting for the light to change, the rear wheel of a large truck trying to make a left turn in this narrow space came right in front of…

Isn’t that a little too close?

“Watch out!”
“Uwah!?”

Reiji quickly lifted my wheelchair and moved it to the side. Just then, the truck’s massive rear wheel rolled right across the spot where I’d been sitting only a moment earlier.

……My face went pale as I slowly realized that I might’ve just died then, but more than that, what just happened was…

“Onii-chan!? Are you okay!?”

Ayame patted me all over, checking to see if I was hurt.

“Y-yeah, Reiji saved me… But more importantly—”

Reiji, who had just rescued me from that tight spot, seemed unable to contain his frustration with the truck:

“Damn it, we’ve got someone in a wheelchair here! Pay a little more attention to your turning radius…!”

He was cursing under his breath. Doesn’t he realize what he just did…?

“Ah, sorry about that. Did I startle you?”
“You did, but that’s not it! Just now…”
“Reiji-san, is your arm okay…?”

Reiji looks puzzled at our slightly panicked voices.

“Hm? What, what did I…—!?”

It seemed he had finally realized what he’d just done. Even on the spur of the moment—no matter how well-trained Reiji is, or how scrawny I am—lifting a wheelchair carrying a grown man as if it were a folding chair was no small feat.

“Huh? Wait, what? But it didn’t feel heavy at all just now?”
“M-maybe it’s what they call adrenaline rush… haha.”

Though there’s also the fact that he defeated his grandfather. I can’t help but wonder if something is afoot.
I feel like the doubts I’d once pushed aside are starting to rear their heads again… but what Reiji did hasn’t changed at all. He just helped me out like he always does.

“But you saved me, Reiji. Thank you.”

So, even though it’s a bit late, I figured I should at least properly express my gratitude.

“…Oh? Sure…”

For some reason, he blinked rapidly for a moment, then started rubbing his eyes vigorously. He looked at me again and began muttering something under his breath. What on earth is he doing?

“…Excuse me, what’s with that dry answer? I’m always grateful to you, you know?”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that a moment ago, you… Sorry, never mind. Come on, let’s go.”

With a look on his face as if he’d seen a ghost, he started pushing my wheelchair again, and we began crossing the crosswalk as the light turned green.

.

“…What was that just now…? Why did Yanagi look like…?”

.

.

『Arcs VR Technology』… This company is located in an inconspicuous spot on the outskirts of a certain government-designated city in the Tohoku region.

The administrators of 『Worldgate Online』, the game we’re involved with, haven’t disclosed its exact location, and all communication other than phone calls is handled through the parent game development company. As a result, the building where this company is housed has no signboards, and from the outside, it just looks like a fairly new, ordinary office building.
Mind you, apparently there’s a large server room in the basement packed with a massive amount of very expensive equipment.

“Well then, I’ll just wander around a bookstore nearby. I’ll be back in about two hours.”
“Sorry about this all the time. I’ll treat you to something on the way home.”
“Sure, man. Good luck with work.”

I watched his back as he waved and walked away. “Alright,” I said to myself, giving my cheek a light tap to psych myself up. When I rang the intercom, I immediately heard a clatter.

“We’re Kuga, here for our appointment today.”

As soon as I said that, there was a commotion at the front door, and a young guy who looked a bit like a playboy burst out. I knew him. And I wasn’t exactly fond of him.

“KUGA-KUUUUUNNNNN!!”

He—Hikami-san—came racing toward me, shouting my name… Just before he reached my wheelchair, he slammed on the brakes, came to a screeching halt, bent at the waist at a right angle, and bowed deeply.

“I love you! Marry me!!”
“Hello, Hikami-san. You mean in the game, right? No thank you.”

I flatly and firmly refused.

“If you ask me, I’d marry you in real life as well!!”
“I said No Thank You!!”

…He’s joking, right?　

Geez. He’s not a bad person, but the pranks he’s always pulling are annoying. Look, even Ayame has a scary look on her…uh-oh, that glare is bad news.
Look, I know he’s a bit like *that,* but he’s the Art Director. The company would be in big trouble if he suddenly disappeared. Above all, he’s my boss.

Just as we were making a fuss, there was a clap from the back of the room, and a kind-looking woman in a suit emerged. This was Hatakeyama-san, one of the planners.

“Now, now, you shouldn’t be holding up the kids who came to work. Welcome, Yanagi-kun, Ayame-chan. Was the trip too hard for you?”
“Y-yes, thank you… Um, it was actually pretty okay this time.”
“He got a bit sick on the way, but he seems to have settled down now. …Um, I don’t think he’s pushing himself too hard.”
“Hmm, if Ayame-chan says so, then I guess he’s fine.”
“Excuse me!?”

Does she not trust me!? I mean, I did push myself too hard once and collapsed during a consultation, but that was one time!

“Speaking of which, have you finally reached level 110, Kuga-kun?”
“Ah, yes… um, I’m sorry about that.”

She was also the person I had reported my leveling spot to, and the one who handed down my punishment. Though, of course, it was immediately overturned by a single word from the president himself.

“…Well, I suppose it’s not exactly something to be praised, but when *he* personally said that it was okay, well…”

“What a headache,” she said, placing a hand on her cheek and letting out a sigh.
The genius scientist who founded this place—Aureo-san—apparently makes these kinds of changes on a whim quite often, and I hear it causes all sorts of trouble.

“Well, *Iris-chan* is famous after all. Maybe he just wanted to avoid a scandal.”
“T-That really stings to hear.”

As I apologized profusely, Hikami-san and Hatakeyama-san looked away, seeming a bit sheepish.

“Sorry about that. That must have caused you a lot of trouble, right?”
“Well, that’s true… but I’m actually having quite a bit of fun right now, you know?”

After all, I’ve had plenty of experiences I wouldn’t normally get to have, and I’ve even landed some work. The beginning was rough, but now I’m really enjoying myself.

“So, I’m truly grateful. Thank you so much.”

I bowed my head while still seated. When I looked up, I saw Hatakeyama-san smiling somewhat sheepishly, but…

“……Hikami-san, is something wrong?”

Hikami-san covered his mouth with his hand and looked at me in surprise. …That’s the second time someone reacted that way to me today.

“N-no, it’s nothing. My eyes must just be a little tired. Come to think of it, Kuga-kun’s character is a Celestial Bishop, right? Which means finally……”
“Fufu, that’s right. Since he set that up himself, it’s quite moving to finally unveil it. I wonder what’s going to happen… I’m looking forward to seeing the reaction at the upcoming event.”
“Um, what are you talking about?”
““Trade Secret.””

You spoil me that much and leave me hanging?! That’s terrible!

.

“…Oh, Prez, it’s rare to see you coming out of the development room. Thanks for your hard work.”

Hikami let out a gasp of surprise upon bumping into a man wearing an exceptionally fine suit right around the corner.

He was the president… Mr. Aureo Uber, whom I had seen repeatedly on the news for a while.
Up close, he was surprisingly well-built. With his magnificent silver hair and neatly trimmed beard, he had the air of a movie star, and combined with his overall presence, he looked just like a real king.

“……Yes. Things have settled down on my end as well.……You’re Kuga……the one who created the player character 【Iris】, right?”
“Ah, yes. We haven’t met since I signed the contract with you… Long time no see.”
“It’s fine. Take it easy… I have high hopes for you. Keep it up.”
“…Huh? Ah, yes, I will…”

Startled by those words, spoken as he suddenly tapped on my shoulder, my eyes widened in shock. But for someone who says he has high hopes for me… I don’t seem to be in his line of sight at all; it was as if he was looking somewhere far away, and a chill ran down my spine.

“Well then, I’m going out for a bit. Leave the meeting materials on my desk as usual.”

With just those words, he clicked his heels and walked out of the building.

“…Phew, that was nerve-wracking.”
“Huh? Really? The prez is actually pretty chill, you know?”
“You’re the only one who can pull off that kind of attitude, Hikami-kun… He really has me on edge.”

I agree with Hatakeyama-san—I certainly don’t have the courage to be that casual with him.

“…Um, there’s something I’ve been wondering about.”
“Hmm, what is it, Ayame-chan?”

Ayame, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly raised her hand and spoke up.

“Is he the model for the King of Nordglacier, the kingdom we belong to? I’ve been wondering about this every time I’ve seen him up close at events—there’s just something about him that reminds me of him…”
“……Now that you mention it.”
“I guess he does look a bit like him……”

For some reason, the thought that he had probably just based the character on himself never crossed our minds. In retrospect, perhaps everyone here had already sensed something inexplicable at that very moment.

***

The protagonist is a baby-faced man with features very similar to his younger sister’s, though he isn’t aware of it himself. He’s actually quite beautiful.