RPG Veteran Possesses Their Main Character

After putting the ripe apple in her inventory, Lumiel moved her steps towards the outskirts of the village.

The stone path along the road ended, and a soft dirt path stretched out.

With each step on the ground, the moist scent of earth tickled her nose.

Beyond the small hill in the distance, lush trees stood in a row, and soft sunlight squeezed through the branches, warmly coloring the path.

As she left the village, the air felt even fresher.

The fact that this was no longer a simple game space became apparent once again.

In the distance, small red creatures were hopping around in the grass.

Every time the wind blew, the leaves above their heads swayed gently, and there was even a slight movement like small breaths, puffing up and deflating their bodies.

Small round bodies, short legs, tomato-like bright red color.

Even the small leaf-like decoration on top of their heads was exactly the same as in her memory.

"Wow..."

Lumiel unconsciously let out an exclamation as soon as she saw their adorable appearance.

'They're really cute...'

The name of those tomato-like creatures was Toto.

In the game, Toto was the first weak monster that beginners encountered.

With low health and attack power, and being cute on top of that, they were essentially the mascots of the game.

Probably realizing Toto's popularity, the game company had introduced various subspecies monsters based on Toto, and even released various products like Toto body pillows and Toto mochi rice cakes.

Lumiel herself had repeatedly exclaimed in admiration when she saw the life-sized printed Toto at a Toto body pillow auction before...

Indeed, seeing Toto in real life feels much cuter and more vivid than the pixel images or 3D models in the game.

"Tu!"

The Totos were happily playing, making their unique sound effects while pushing through the grass.

One was sitting still, shaking its leaves, while another was slightly digging the soil. A few were hopping around, playing with each other.

Lumiel slowly approached the Totos.

At that moment, one Toto that noticed the human's approach hopped towards Lumiel.

"Tu?"

The small creature looked up at Lumiel, who had stopped walking, with round eyes.

Soon after-

Tap.

It lightly touched Lumiel's shoe with its small leg.

The creature tilted its head once as if waiting for a reaction, then tapped Lumiel's shoe again with its leg.

Was this its way of attacking?

Lumiel quietly raised her hand.

The creature bounced up playfully and tapped Lumiel's thigh.

Lumiel looked at the Toto for a while, then slowly reached out her hand.

And gently, she caught the creature with one hand.

"Tu!?"

The Toto flailed its small body as it was lifted into the air.

Lumiel carefully held the Toto with both hands, as if cradling it, and slowly lifted it up.

Finally, Lumiel's gaze met the Toto's.

"Tu tu tu...?"

The Toto had a puzzled expression with its eyes wide open, as if bewildered.

Lumiel quietly looked at it.

Soft texture.

A head like swaying leaves.

Small size that fit perfectly in both hands.

"...It's smaller than I thought."

Lumiel gently pressed the leaf part with her index finger.

"Tu...!"

The Toto cried out softly, flinching in surprise.

It struggled a bit, but didn't seem to be in pain. It just seemed startled by the sudden touch.

Lumiel examined it for a while.

Touching it up close, it felt much more vivid than the in-game modeling.

While fiddling with the Toto, a light question came to mind.

'Shouldn't I check if I'm really strong in reality too?'

It was an unnecessary worry, but they say even a stone bridge should be tapped before crossing.

There was no harm in checking.

Lumiel slowly took a deep breath and clenched and unclenched her hand.

In the game, the method to test attack power was simple.

You just had to hit a monster.

"Tu?"

The Toto, still in Lumiel's grasp, blinked its eyes looking up at her.

Lumiel looked at the Toto and chewed her lip.

Of course, Lumiel's level after playing this game for decades was the max level of 300.

Moreover, as a character that was always in the vanguard of top-tier raids, her equipment was also end-game level.

But the Toto in front of Lumiel was just a lowly mob at level 2.

Even with the weakest attack, it might disappear in one hit.

If that happened, it would be too pitiful for the Toto.

'Since I'm too strong in this state... I should unequip all my gear.'

Thinking that she should test it safely, as weakly as possible, Lumiel opened her inventory and removed all the equipment she was wearing.

Weapons, armor, accessories with attack power increase effects.

Rings and necklaces that increased critical hit chance, even avatars were all unequipped.

Fortunately, there was a system called 'Soul Avatar' that only applied appearance without giving any help to specs, so the disaster of becoming naked on the street didn't occur.

Now all that was left was Lumiel's bare hand with no effects.

Lumiel, having removed all her equipment, slowly bent down.

Lying on the ground with her hands on the floor, she carefully put the Toto down.

The Toto flinched for a moment but soon looked up at Lumiel again, blinking its small eyes.

Lumiel took a deep breath.

And slowly, as lightly as possible, she moved her fingertip.

Tap.

She lightly touched the Toto's head.

Really, just lightly.

There had never been a moment in Lumiel's life when she was this careful.

But...

-Baaang!

The Toto hit by Lumiel's attack was thrown back helplessly.

A large number appeared above the flying Toto's head.

-《3,000,000,000》

Lumiel quietly looked at the number.

3 billion.

Poof!

The Toto that fell to the ground disappeared instantly with white smoke, without even uttering a death cry.

In its place were a few small coins and an item called 'Toto's Small Leaf'.

Lumiel froze, looking at this sight.

She had just lightly touched it with her fingertip, but 3 billion damage appeared and the Toto became a star in the night sky.

Lumiel unconsciously turned her palm over to examine it.

A delicate hand, white and soft, without a single callus.

Lumiel had just lightly pushed the Toto with this hand.

But the result was too cruel.

"Tu...?"

As Lumiel looked around, she saw the small eyes of the remaining Totos trembling.

And, a moment later.

"Tu tu tu tu tu tu tu!!!!!!!"

The Totos began to flee, frantically pushing through the grass.

Small red dots with short round legs scattered in all directions.

Lumiel, who had been blankly watching all the Totos fleeing in panic, soon found one Toto at her feet, blinking and unable to move.

"Tu..."

Unlike the other Totos, this one was frozen in place, not moving at all.

Lumiel slowly lowered her body and quietly reached out her hand.

"...Are you okay?"

But the Toto didn't move.

It just crouched, looking up at Lumiel with eyes that seemed terrified.

Lumiel sighed and carefully placed her hand on its head.

"It's okay, I won't hurt you."

At that moment, a thought flashed through Lumiel's mind.

'Just now... no damage occurred.'

Lumiel quietly raised her hand and lowered it again.

Indeed, nothing happened.

Earlier, 3 billion damage appeared as soon as she touched it, but now there was no sign of that happening.

'I see. Damage occurs the moment I decide to attack.'

Lumiel quietly looked at the ground.

As long as Lumiel herself doesn't recognize it as an 'attack', monsters won't get hurt.

Realizing this fact, the ripples in Lumiel's heart calmed down.

'That's a relief.'

Lumiel let out a sigh of relief and carefully stroked the head of the Toto that was still frozen in place.

The creature flinched but didn't run away anymore.

Lumiel got up from her seat with a light smile.

Shhoop. As she took a deep breath, clean and fresh air seeped deep into her lungs.

The scent of nature that could never be felt in the desolate city.

"...This is nice."

She couldn't help but smile.

Although she had traveled through the game world countless times before, experiencing it directly with her body felt different.

The sunlight was warm, and the wind was cool.

From below came the sound of grass swaying gently in the wind.

So this is what real nature is like.

Lumiel had lived in the city since childhood and never had time to relax in her busy daily life.

Perhaps for that reason, Lumiel smiled and flopped down on the ground.

Fortunately, the soft grass cushioned her back.

"...I can understand why people return to farming."

Lumiel lay down using the grass as a pillow and looked up at the sky.

Clear blue sky.

Fluffy white clouds floating by.

The peaceful and gentle sky evoked such a happy feeling in Lumiel that she wanted to stay here forever.

After lying there for a while, Lumiel suddenly felt a small presence.

When she gently turned her head, she saw small red bodies carefully approaching from between the grass.

It was the Totos.

Lumiel blinked and looked at them.

"...?"

They had fled in fear just a moment ago.

Perhaps because she was lying down with a drowsy face, they were now cautiously approaching Lumiel.

Lumiel slowly reached out to the Totos.

"Come here."

Then the bravest Toto stepped towards her.

Lumiel gently reached out and picked it up.

"Tu...?"

The Toto seemed a bit tense at first, but soon relaxed in Lumiel's hands.

Lumiel quietly hugged it.

Soft and fluffy.

A subtle warmth transmitted from the Toto's small body.

It was a pleasant sensation.

Feeling a smile form involuntarily, Lumiel hugged the Toto tightly.

"...You guys are really cute."

As she hugged one Toto, the rest of the Totos who had been watching the situation from the grass began to gather around Lumiel, moving their tiny legs up and down.

They no longer ran away, but instead started dancing around Lumiel.

Under the warm sunlight, Lumiel quietly closed her eyes while holding the Toto in her arms.

The wind was cool and the mood was drowsy, making it the perfect time for a nap.

"Hey, you there! Are you okay?!"

But Lumiel's nap time was quickly shattered by someone's shout.