Prologue - Part 5, "Jasper Roopsgar"
Written by: CS-Masyet
Uploaded on: December 21, 2017
After finishing our first battle together, we all decided to call it a day. Once Hunter showed me how, I was able to "log out" of the game along with everyone else. I felt that uncomfortable, wobbly feeling once again, which I still hated. Hunter told me I would eventually get used to it, which I hoped was true...
As much fun as I had playing with my friends, I could not wait to go back and tell Butler about what my grand experience!
Gracia "Ungh..."
Butler "... Milady?"
Gracia "Mmnph..."
I had begun to awaken in the real world, my senses slowly returning. I could feel someone take the device off my head; presumably Butler.
Butler "Are you feeling alright, milady?"
Gracia "U-uhn, yes. I am already starting to feel better..."
Once my senses had felt completely restored, I stood up from my bed and stretched. It felt like I had taken a long nap, but I had still felt rather tired. Unsurpisingly, I was still wearing the attire I had been wearing before I had started playing the game, but it felt strange after wearing my cyber outfit for so long.
Gracia
"It is nice to see you again, Butler. How long was I playing for?"
Butler
"About four hours, milady."
Gracia
"T-that long?! And you were by my bedside the entire time!?"
Butler
"Of course, milady. I did not want you to wake without someone by your side."
Gracia
"Thank you very much, Butler! Even one such as I is lucky to have someone like you serve me!"
Butler
"... I am merely doing my duty, milady."
I got up out of bed, but felt surprisingly wobbly. Butler helped me make sure I did not fall down.
Butler
"You need to be careful, milady. You were in bed for a while, but your body is not properly rested."
Gracia
"I see... It is rather late, it seems. I will take another dip in my golden jacuzzi, and then head back to bed."
Butler
"Would you like me to prepare you a meal, milady?"
Gracia
"I would actually prefer something light, thank you. And please do hurry, I would like to tell you about my wonderful time in that game world!"
Butler
"Of course, milady."
--
After Butler had left to prepare me a light snack, I had changed into my golden swimsuit and entered my golden jacuzzi to relax in once more. Since the sky was a nice and bright golden color, I decided to actually fill it with water this time to complement it.
Gracia
"I admit that it was pretty fun pretending to be a commoner, but it sure does feel great to be back to being my actual self once again!"
Gracia
"Ohohohoho~!"
Butler
"I have prepared some scones for you, milady."
Butler brought over a tray of sweet-smelling scones and placed them near my golden pool.
Gracia
"Thank you very much, Butler!"
Butler
"So, did that device help you make some friends, milady?"
Gracia
"Yes, I made friends with three wonderful people!"
Gracia
"The first person I met was a boy named Leet Hunter. He taught me many things about the game."
Butler
"Hm? This 'Leet Hunter' person was the first person you met, milady?"
Gracia
"That is correct. Naturally I, Gracia Moneyrich, had enough natural talent to perform superbly in the game... But even so, I do not believe I would have done as well as I did without his help."
Butler
"... I see."
Gracia
"He was not the only one to show me kindness though; I also met a kind young lady by the name of Lyrica Bell. She was nice enough to give me a present as a sign of our friendship. It was a stone that I do not really know what to do with, but it is apparently very valuable so I appreciated is nonetheless."
Butler
"That sounds nice. And what is the name of the third person you met, milady?"
Gracia
"Oh, that is right, I had also met someone before encountering Lyrica. I cannot remember his full name, but I do know that is first name is 'Kaze'."
Butler
"Kaze?!"
Gracia
"Hm? What is wrong, Butler? Is something troubling you?"
Butler
"... No, it is nothing. You may continue, milady."
Gracia
"Right. Anyway, he was a rather eccentric fellow, but he was also helpful to me as well... in his own way."
Butler
"That is good to hear, milady..."
Gracia
"Indeed. I did not even try very hard, but I made friends with them so easily! Even while disguised as a completely different person, it is so easy to make friends with commoners!"
Gracia
"If I already have three friends now, it will only take me about a month to make 100 friends! Then I will finally be able to show that spiky-headed ruffian and make him regret making a fool out of me, Gracia Moneyrich!"
Gracia
"Ohohohoho~!"
Butler
"..."
Gracia
"Oh goodness, I had almost forgotten! I need you to take me somewhere tomorrow, Butler."
Butler
"Certainly, milady. Where to?"
Gracia
"My friends told me that they would like me to meet them in person. They asked me to meet up with them at noon at a place called 'Café Caroline'."
Butler
"... Milady..."
Gracia
"What is the matter? Do you not know where that location is, Butler...?"
Butler
"It is not that. Did you mention to them even once who you really are?"
Gracia
"Of course not. Disguising myself as someone else to make friends was the plan, right? Telling them about my real self would defeat the purpose o-..."
Gracia
"... Ah."
Gracia
"OH NOOO!!!"
Butler
"Do you understand now, milady?"
Gracia
"I was so excited about meeting my friends in real life, that I did not think of the consequences! It is much too early for them to meet my real self! I have made a huge blunder!"
Butler
"... Actually, it may be possible to salvage this situation, milady."
Gracia
"E-eh? Truly?!"
Butler
"What did you make yourself look like in the game?"
Gracia
"Um, I wore my hair in a simple ponytail, and my attire was given to me by the game itself, so my appearance is not a big issue..."
Gracia
"... but when I was choosing a name to give myself, cousin Jasper's was the first thing that came to mind. As a result, I also ended up disguising myself as a boy to go along with it..."
Butler
"You disguised yourself as your cousin Jasper...? Interesting..."
Gracia
"What do I do? Was that a mistake?"
Butler
"No, it should still be fine, milady. Jasper is a boy, but he still has an appearance similar to yours. All we will have to do is make you look like him."
Butler
"Of course, as a result of this decision you have made, you will have to pretend to be a boy in real life as well as in the game until you reveal your true self to them. Are you alright with this, milady?"
Gracia
"It is my own fault, so I do not have much choice but to accept that, I suppose..."
Gracia
"Well, I am sure everyone will come to have even more respect for me once I tell them of all the sacrifices I have had to endure to make friends, so it will be worth it in the end!"
Gracia
"Ohohohoho~!"
Butler
"Indeed, milady... You may head off to bed whenever you are done relaxing in your jacuzzi; I will prepare proper attire for your day tomorrow, so you need not fret about that any longer."
Gracia
"Wonderful! Thank you, Butler!"
Gracia
Even though I will have to disguise myself once again, I still very excited about meeting my friends tomorrow! I will go to bed immediately to make sure I get plenty of rest!
I left the jacuzzi, changed into my sleeping attire, and went to bed. I slept peacefully, thinking about the things I had done with my friends today. I could not even begin to think what spending time with commoner friends would be like, but that made me even more thrilled for tomorrow, especially after the grand time I had playing that game with them.
A part of me was eager to reveal myself as the great Gracia Moneyrich herself, which I am sure they would be most happy to find out, but I still had to watch out for that blue-haired neanderthal...
Gracia It would be awful to run into that boy again tomorrow... It would almost ruin my entire day! But I believe there a lot of people that live in that commoner village, so the chances of that are rather slim... I am sure I will not have to worry about that, then! Hoho~!
--
The next day, after making my usual, proper morning preparations, I changed into the outfit Butler had given me.
Butler
"What do you think, milady? Will this be situable?"
He asked me, bringing me over to my large bedroom vanity in order for me to take a better look at myself.
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Wow... This is..."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"... quite interesting!"
Butler
"I am glad that it is to your liking."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"I much prefer my usual attire, but wearing these clothes out could be a lot of fun!"
Butler
"I just hope it does not cause you to develop any strange habits, milady..."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Alright! I am all set to go meet up with my friends now!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Ohohohoho~!"
Butler
"Watch your tone and choice of yours, milady. You must be careful to not break the illusion that you are a commoner boy."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"O-oh, right, of course... I must be more careful about that..."
Once we were all set to go, I followed Butler out of the mansion as he brought me over to a small, drab vehicle of some sort.
Gracia | "Jasper"
"What is this, Butler?"
Butler
"This is the car I will be using to bring you to your friends' meet-up spot today, milady. Since we do not want them to know you are rich, bringing the usual limo will not suffice today, I am afraid."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"It is so tiny and cute! Even though it is not made of gold, I quite like this 'car'!"
Butler
"I am glad it is to your liking, milady."
We entered the car and made our way to the commoner's village once again. Even though Butler took generally the same roads as before, the whole experience felt a lot different. It felt weird being in such a cramped vehicle, and none of the passersby seemed to pay any attention to us this time.
Butler
"It is still a while before noon. Would you like to drive around and see more of the streets of this town?"
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Sure, that sounds fun!"
We drove through some roads that I had yet to see. There were a bunch of cute little shops and houses, with a few people crowded around some of them. I opened a window and waved my hand in an attempt to greet them, but I only got the attention of a small girl, who happily waved back. A woman came back and pulled her away afterward for some reason.
Gracia | "Jasper"
"This is such a nice place. I would love to make friends with some of the commoners outside of the game, too!"
While still sticking my head out the window, I saw and heard a large dog barking at me furiously. It startled me, and I immediately hid my head back inside, closing the window.
Gracia | "Jasper"
Even here, I never seem to have any luck with dogs... Why is Goldie the only animal that has ever liked me...?
Butler
"Are you alright, milady? Brace yourself, the road is bumpy ahead."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Bumpy? What do you mea-..."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"AaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAa...!"
The straight-paved road turned into one covered in rectangular stones, which made the car shake slightly as we drove over it.
Butler
"Are you doing okay back there, milady? I apologize if this is uncomfortable for you; we will be out of here shortly."
I could barely hear him over the sound of the car shaking. Eventually the shaking stopped, as we made our way onto perfectly flat road once again.
Butler
"My apologies. That road is old; it has not been paved over like the other ones have yet."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"That road is going to be paved over? That is kind of sad; I thought that was quite fun, actually!"
Butler
"Oh, is that so? Well, I am glad I decided to take that shortcut, then."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Shortcut?"
Butler
"It is almost noon, milady. I will be bringing you to Café Caroline shortly."
Gracia | "Jasper"
Wow, it is noon already?! Time sure flew by!
Butler eventually brought the car to a stop, in front of a small, brown building with a sign on it that said: "Café Caroline".
Gracia | "Jasper"
"This is it? It looks like a quaint little cottage!"
Butler
"My apologies milady, but I cannot see you out today. As you are pretending to be a commoner at the moment, you will have to open the door yourself, I'm afraid."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"That is alright, Butler. Thank you."
Butler
"Also, take this."
From the driver's seat, he handed me a strange, flat object.
Gracia | "Jasper"
"What is this thing?"
Butler
"That is a phone, milady. I will not be in your company this afternoon, so it is good to keep that with you. If you need to ask me to come pick you up, or need me for anything else, call me immediately. If you have trouble using it, you may ask one of your friends for help."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Alright. Thank you, Butler."
I opened the door and stepped out of my own. It definitely felt unusual to do so on my own, but it was not a bad feeling. I had almost tripped because the sidewalk was made of similar rectangular stones that we passed over on the road earlier.
Butler
"Have a nice day, milady."
He opened the window to say farewell, before he drove away.
Gracia | "Jasper"
Okay, time to go see my friends!
I entered the café, searching for my friends. While looking around, I had realized something.
Gracia | "Jasper"
Wait a moment, I must not be the only one who made themselves look different in the game world... My friends may have changed their appearance, too!
Gracia | "Jasper"
I mean, for example, surely Kaze does not actually dress up like a ninja in real life...
Gracia | "Jasper"
What if I am not able to find them...?
??? "Oh, Jasper! Is that you?!"
A boy with messy hair, a red sweatshirt, and foggy glasses called out to me from one of the tables.
???
"Hey, dude! Over here!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
"... Kaze...?"
??? "Hmph, do you actually think that's me...? I am insulted..."
I turned behind me to see who had just spoken to me...
???
"..."
... to see a boy dressed up like a ninja.
Gracia | "Jasper"
No, that must be Kaze, without a doubt! He actually does dress like a ninja in real life!
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Hello there, Kaze. It is a pleasure to meet you here in the real world for the first time..."
Kaze
"...!"
Kaze
"... Likewise."
Gracia | "Jasper"
That is odd... What was that strange reaction of his about?
???
"Come over here, you two! I saved us a table!"
I went with Kaze to sit at the table that the boy with the red sweatshirt was sitting at.
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Nice to meet you, sir! May I ask who you might be?"
Gracia | "Jasper"
By process of elimination, he should be Leet Hunter, but...
Kaze
"This might come as a shock to you, but that is actually Lyrica Bell."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Wha-what?!"
???
"Well, to be more accurate, Charlet is the one who plays as Lyrica Bell. Unfortunately she's rather shy in real life, so I've come out to meet you in her place. By the way, I'm Charlie, her other half."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Um, 'other half'...?"
Kaze
"In other words, he is a delusional fool."
Charlie
"Excuse me?! That's really mean, Kaze!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
There is no doubt about it, that is definitely Lyrica Bell...
Charlie
"Besides, you're one to talk! Always going around everywhere pretending to be a ninja, even in real life!"
Kaze
"I'm not pretending. I really am a ninja."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"I beg your pardon, but could you two please stop fighting?"
Charlie
"Oh, sorry about that! We really should be speaking more kindly to each other at our first real life meeting with you..."
Kaze
"... Speak for yourself."
Charlie
"Anyway..."
Charlie
"... Charlet told me how interesting it is that you speak so formally in the game. I didn't know you spoke like that in real life, too!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
"U-um, sorry, is speaking this way to you strange?"
Charlie
"No, it's not like that... It's just, you sound like some sort of rich noble or something."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"E-eh?!"
Charlie
"Actually, are you rich? I heard that there's this big, golden mansion near the mountains. Considering where you spawned in game, you must live near there, right?"
Gracia | "Jasper"
"U-um..."
Gracia | "Jasper"
I cannot let them find out who I really am, especially so soon! I need to change the subject!
Gracia | "Jasper"
"H-hey, why is Leet Hunter not here yet? That seems rather strange..."
Charlie
"... Oh, speak of the devil, he's here!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
"R-really?!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
Yay, I will finally get to meet him in per-...
??? "Sorry I'm late, guys!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
... Wait, that voice...!
I hesitantly turned around in my seat to see who was standing behind me. Leet Hunter's true identity was...
"Leet Hunter"?!
"I got here last, huh? That's pretty embarrassing."
Kaze
"Really? You don't look ashamed whatsoever, Drake."
Gracia | "Jasper"
W-what is he doing here...?!
"Hunter"?!
"My name is Lake, Kaze."
Gracia | "Jasper"
I do not understand! That crude, spiky-haired commoner and Leet Hunter are the same person...? That cannot be! That is absolutely preposterous...!
Gracia | "Jasper"
... Unless...
"Hunter"?!
"In that case, get lost! People like you aren't welcome here! You don't have any influence here just because you're rich!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
This was all a ruse?! Was his kindness a trick this entire time? Does that mean he had seen through my disguise from the beginning!?
Gracia | "Jasper"
And what about Kaze and Charlie? They are his friends; does that mean they are a part of this too?!
Gracia | "Jasper"
W-what do I do...? My second chance to make friends has been... Butler...!
"Hunter"?!
"... Hey, is that you, Jasper? Nice to see you made it!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
"..."
"Hunter"?!
"What's the matter? You okay, buddy?"
Charlie
"This is the first time you've met in person, so he's probably just shy. Why don't you just take a seat for now, Lake?"
"Hunter"?!
"Sure thing... Hey Kaze, mind if I take your seat? I want to sit next to Jasper."
Kaze
"..."
Gracia | "Jasper"
O-oh no! No no no! That would be absolutely awful! Please do not move, Kaze!
Kaze
"... No way."
Gracia | "Jasper"
Kaze!
"Hunter"?!
"Why not?!"
Kaze
"I'm perfectly comfortable in this seat. There's an empty seat next to Carly; sit there."
"Hunter"?!
"Jeez, fine. You're such a pain, sometimes..."
Charlie
"My name is Charlie, Kaze!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
Thank you so much, Kaze! I do not think you did so advertently, but you were a really big help to me just now!
Gracia | "Jasper"
It may be possible that Kaze at least does not know... That makes this situation a little bit better...
"Hunter" sat at the seat next to Charlie...
"Hunter"?!
"Well, at least I get to sit across from him! Actually, that's almost better!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
... On second thought, that was not helpful at all! Quite the opposite even...!
"Hunter"?!
"Hey Jasper, I don't know if you heard, but my real name is Lake. Nice to meet you!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
"..."
"Hunter"?!
"... Still won't talk to me, huh?"
Kaze
"He's probably intimidated by your stupid porcupine hair, Jake."
"Hunter"?!
"It's Lake! And my hair is not stupid!"
"Hunter"?!
"So anyway, what were you guys talking about before I got here?"
Charlie
"Oh, that's right! You know that big, golden mansion in the mountains?"
"Hunter"?!
"... What about it?"
Charlie
"Well, I was wondering if Jasper lived near there. Maybe he knows that rich girl that came to our school the other day..."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"...!"
"Hunter"?!
"Why does that matter...?!"
Charlie
"Well, I dunno... Her showing up out of the blue like that was pretty interesting. And she was kinda hot..."
"Hunter"?!
"I thought we agreed to not talk about her, Charlie! Just thinking about that stuck-up rich girl makes me so irritated!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
And why is that, you porcupine-head brute?! Just what is your problem with me, exactly!?
"Hunter"?!
"Besides, I'm sure someone as nice as Jasper has nothing at all to do with her, anyways."
Gracia | "Jasper"
H-huh?!
Charlie
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Rich people wouldn't spend their time playing Cyber Shot, of all things!"
Gracia | "Jasper"
I do not understand... Does he not actually know who I really am after all? But then why would he be so nice to my commoner disguise, but so mean to my true self?
Gracia | "Jasper"
If he is truly as kind as when I met him in the game, he should have been worshiping the ground I walk on when I first met him at the commoners' school!
Gracia | "Jasper"
Just what is going on here...?
RING RING BBRING! RING RING BBRING! Something suddenly started making noise in one of my pockets.
Gracia | "Jasper"
Ah, that must be the phone Butler gave me! But why is it...?
I took it out, and a name appeared on the screen. But it was not Butler's...
Kaze
"Is it an important call? Go ahead and take care of it outside; we'll wait for you here."
Gracia | "Jasper"
"A-alright, thank you..."
I got up and left the café as quickly as I could. After stepping out, I stopped and focused my attention on the phone again.
Gracia | "Jasper"
"Richard Moneyrich"?! Why is Papa calling me? I call him all the time, but the only times when he calls me are when it is extremely urgent...
I pressed my finger onto the phone's screen, and I immediately began to hear Papa's voice.
Papa "Sweetie... c-can you hear me? My darling Gracia..."
Papa's voice did not sound as strong and grand as it usually did. He almost sounded... out of breath. Exhausted. It was very strange...
Gracia
"Papa?! Is something wrong?"
Papa "L-listen to me carefully... What you a-are about to hear may shock you, b-but I know that you will be able to h-handle... the truth..."
Gracia
"W-what? What are you talking about, Papa?"
Papa "T-they took everything... E-everything away from me... I have nothing... N-nothing except for you, my beloved daughter..."
Gracia
"W-what do you mean? Who are 'they', Papa?!"
Papa "Y-you cannot let them find you, Gracia... I-if they do, I will have... truly lost e-everything..."
Gracia
"W-why Papa?! I do not understand!"
Papa "M-my only wish now is that you stay well, Gracia... G-goodbye..."
Papa "I... love you..."
Gracia
"Papa...?"
I could no longer hear his voice. After a long moment of silence, the phone eventually disconnected.
Gracia
I do not understand... What is happening?!
All of a sudden, a car pulled up next to me. It was a small, drab vehicle...
Gracia
"Butler!"
Butler got out of the car, heading over to me while holding something in his hands.
Gracia
"What is that?"
He handed it to me. It was my diary.
Butler
"... That is all you have left."
Gracia
"What do you mean, Butler?"
Butler
"Some... people have taken over all of your father's riches. They have also taken possession of your mansion, your gold, and... all of your belongings."
Gracia
"W-what?! What does that..."
Butler
"It means you are no longer rich. You are... now officially a commoner."
Gracia
"...!"
Gracia 
Gracia 
Gracia 
Gracia