Otilia looked at her customized character and nodded in satisfaction.
Her golden hair flowed like a waterfall over her shoulders, fluttering in the breeze. It shimmered gently like strands of sunlight, giving her the appearance of a delicate fairy—graceful and bright, yet still holding onto her original petite charm.
Her large, expressive eyes shimmered, filled with spiritual energy, as though they were gathering all the light in the world. They glowed like gemstones, stunning to behold. Even Evan Walker found himself staring at her for a moment, slightly dazed.
> "It's a reaction to the spiritual power residing in her body," the Nightmare Lord explained in his usual tone.
Though there were only a few visual options available, Otilia had made clever use of what she had. She added subtle touches—lining the corners of her eyes and lips with makeup. Most eye-catching was a small red graffiti-style mark on her forehead that enhanced her cuteness and added a layer of mystery.
> "Kuku~ As expected of me! No matter how I style myself, I always look adorable~" she giggled, admiring herself in the mirror. Slight narcissism was hard to miss.
But the moment didn't last long. Otilia frowned and tugged at the front of her shirt with a pout.
> "Ugh… Why can't I adjust the body shape?!" she whimpered, pained by her flat-chested figure.
> **[Are you sure about this character appearance?]**
Without hesitation, Otilia tapped **OK**.
As soon as she confirmed, the surrounding fog began to disperse once more. Behind the mirror, a path appeared—about 20 meters away—leading to an enormous set of double doors glowing with a soft light.
> "So the point is to step through *that* door..." Otilia murmured.
She glanced around. Other than the gate, the environment was still lost in swirling mist.
A true gamer at heart, Otilia felt a powerful urge to wander off and explore the fog-covered areas first—something she'd always do in actual games.
However, this was different. Even if she knew she was dreaming, being here herself made her hesitate. The fog was ominous. After a moment's hesitation, she let go of her reckless curiosity and walked toward the light-filled door.
What greeted Otilia on the other side was the image of a **fluttering flag**. A deep male voice echoed around her:
> **"Then… all members of the Fifth Expedition Team, the time has come. Say your goodbyes. Once you're aboard this ship, there's no turning back. If you've lost your nerve, I suggest you step off now.**
> **Now begin your journey to the New World!**
> **And may the Blue Star shine upon your path."**
With the passionate conclusion of that speech, Otilia seemed to glimpse others walking through the glowing gate alongside her.
The image blurred, then faded briefly. When it cleared again, she found herself looking at a **wine glass**, which was soon lifted as a young man—in armor—gulped down the contents.
> "Ah! You're finally awake—took you long enough!" The man noticed her stirring and grinned. "If you can't handle your liquor, don't try to keep up! Only ends with an empty glass!"
> "Wine…?" Otilia glanced down and realized she was holding an empty glass herself.
> "Where… are we?"
> "Seriously?" The man laughed. "Did you get so drunk you forgot where you are? This is the expedition ship. We're sailing for the New World, remember?"
> "New World...? That sounds familiar... from the earlier cutscene," she whispered to herself.
> "Huh?" the man tilted his head.
> "Don't mind her. She's an adventurer," a woman across from him said calmly, putting down her book.
> "Ah, so that's it. An adventurer! That explains it," the man said with sudden realization. "I was wondering why someone so young ended up on this mission. Guess that makes sense."
His gaze lingered on Otilia, clearly seeing her differently now—as someone special.
> "Wait, I'm an adventurer?" Otilia asked, startled.
> "You seriously don't remember anything?" the man chuckled, lifting his cup again.
In this world, "Adventurer" was the term used for **players**—those different from the native inhabitants of the Nightmare Realm. Evan had set up the in-universe lore so all native NPCs (Non-Player Characters) would have a basic understanding of the Adventurers' existence.
Otilia looked around. The place resembled a lively tavern. People chatted in clusters, downed drinks in celebration, polished weapons, or quietly read—creating a warm, bustling atmosphere.
Yet, Otilia looked slightly out of place. Despite the vivid detail around her, she wasn't sure what to do.
> "Ugh. Worst tutorial ever—where's the main quest?" she muttered after scanning the area and seeing no obvious prompts.
A moment later, she overheard the armored man from earlier.
> "Hey, do you think we'll find out the truth about the Elder Dragons in the New World?"
> "This marks the fifth investigation. Clearly the Guild is confident we'll get some answers this time," the woman replied from beside him.
> "Elder Dragons, huh… Someday, I want to hunt one myself. Become a legendary hunter!" the man said with a gleam in his eyes.
> "Hunting dragons... Is *that* the main quest?" Otilia asked herself quietly.
She stood from her seat and approached a nearby window.
> "The ocean… it's enormous..."
From beside her, a nearby young woman in **yellow leather armor** smiled and joined her at the window.
> "Did you hear that just now? The sound of the waves changed... I think we're getting close to land."
> "Huh?" Otilia blinked in surprise.
> "Welcome aboard, Miss Adventurer. Let's—"
But before she could finish, the entire ship **shook violently**, cutting her off mid-sentence.
> *To be continued...*