Otherworld TRPG Game Master chapter 5

5 – S0. A Tour of Modern Civilization -2

“Isn’t this kimchi too salty and spicy?”

“Bark (Haht)!!!”

“Yo-you’re not that kind of character, are you?!”

What’s the big deal about a character when it comes to preserving the spirit of the Korean people? Seizing the opportunity, I boldly and refreshingly barked out.

Although the mage tower owner may have a medieval fantasy palate, even if he cannot comprehend the profound taste of Korean cuisine, the soul contained within the dish must be respected.

“Then maybe respect the 100 years of history of the Purple Mage Tower too…?”

Compared to the half-millennium history of the Korean people, there is a difference like that between a sheet of paper and a log.

I was the type who generally didn’t listen to those weaker than me.

“It’s at least twice as weird as usual… Ah, this tastes good.”

“Ahh, are you unfamiliar─ that’s ‘doenjang soup.'”

“…There isn’t anything weird in it, is there?”

He seemed worried that hallucinogens might be mixed into the food due to my consecutive character lapses.

But really, how could hallucinogens exist in virtual reality food conjured by illusion?

Hmm.

I was feeling quite elated as if I had returned to Earth.

Even though everything was an illusion created by magic.

That’s why the tension rose.

Nearly 20 years had passed since my abrupt reincarnation into another world.

After two decades of mostly enduring the stench of medieval dung, it was freeing to walk the properly recreated South Korea.

One wouldn’t be human if they didn’t feel overwhelmed.

There was one more reason for my exhilaration. Embedded within the DNA of Koreans is a function that derives satisfaction from watching a child eat food heartily.

And when that child is also a foreigner, the satisfaction triples with a boost of national pride.

The Purple Martini might be older than me, but looking at her face, she could pass as a student.

When the nectar of Korean cuisine met her parched soul after 20 long years, an indescribable satisfaction flooded her chest.

“This somehow tastes amazing…”

The Purple Martini carefully sliced the ribs with a fork and knife, munching on them.

Watching her diligently savor the food made me think she really was a noble.

Nobles are certainly food lovers.

Even amidst her clumsy rib-eating, an elegant air distinctly associated with nobility was detected.

Her slender fingers exerted soft force on the knife.

Just like watching an exceptional playwright’s performance can make one admire, the allure of a noble’s manners seems to charm spectators. Her way of eating was pleasing to the eye.

That’s why I manipulated the surrounding customers (NPCs) to compliment her.

“Whoa, that foreigner… eats so elegantly!”

“Is this the definition of manners? Ha, it’s a realm we common folk can’t reach…!!”

“She looks cute like a hamster. Could she be a celebrity – you know, someone who enjoys popular support and sometimes becomes the object of admiration?”

As admiring whispers poured out from the surroundings, the Martini’s ears warmed to a comfortable temperature.

In the world, some dance to compliments and some cringe; the Martini belonged to the latter category.

She seemed bothered and acted even more nobly, but after a minute, the blond foreigner who appeared like a noble disappeared, leaving behind a girl who was busily handling a knife.

“Whoa, that foreigner… is really cutting it up!”

“I can almost hear the creaking sound from her joints, ha! It’s a realm we common folk can’t reach…!!”

From Noble mtl dot com

“She looks cute like a hamster. Could she be an actual hamster – a mammal in the rodent subfamily?”

The Martini poked the table with the hand holding the fork.

“…Stop it! Was that you?”

“No.”

“Why would someone dining next to us suddenly start talking about ‘celebrities,’ a foreign term they’ve never heard before?”

The fact that she argued now, although she stayed quiet when being complimented, depicted her typical nature. The Purple Martini – Yuna – was still at an age where she craved compliments.

A master in TRPG should strike a balance between their desires and the players’ requests. My initial plan was to show the Martini landmarks of South Korea.

If she craves compliments, perhaps I should incorporate more praises in the future.

During her meal, when she was busy savoring a piece of kimchi and sipping water, I asked her.

(It seemed like she grew fond of it as she ate.)

“Next, if you want to proceed with ‘Being confessed to by handsome men for no reason due to the pheromone ability given to me when I accidentally fell into another world?!'”

The Martini spewed out her water through her nostrils.

For the sake of Matapju’s honor, there will be no further detailed descriptions.

“Fuhuuuh, aarrrgh!”

The powdered red pepper that is a key ingredient in kimchi causes significant damage to the nasal mucous membranes when inhaled mid-consumption.

Matapju, perhaps feeling a burn in his nose, clutched his nostrils and let out a scream resembling an extended groan of pain.

Considering his reaction was due to an unexpected comment, I quickly added an explanation.

“Originally, the theme of this experience, was supposed to be the excitement and fear felt by Yuna when she finds herself in a new world. She would explore a totally different civilization and realize how different it is from her own world, but then also realize some things remain unchanged. She would re-evaluate human values and make her way back to the original world.”

“Cough, cough…”

“But it seems like you’d be more satisfied just dating attractive men in a one-sided power relationship.”

“What do you consider me to be?! We can do all that later, but for now… do what you want. You obviously have something you want to show me, right?”

This guy did not deny that he didn’t like the part about ‘being confessed to by hansomes without reason’ and said that can be done later.

Isn’t this a sophisticated way of asking for an encore? It was a very pleasant surprise.

There are many improvements to be made to this world. Many tests are needed, and if Matapju would accompany me, it would be even better.

Even ignoring practicality, being together with Matapju was fun by itself.

I burst out laughing before responding,

“I think I’ve already shown you something. A bustling night market, a table full of all sorts of seasonings, and a day enveloped in smog. What happens on top of that isn’t essential.”

All I needed was a friend to share the same sight with.

It’s the same thing with games, isn’t it?

When recommending a game, it doesn’t matter how friends enjoy it.

Whether they play for the thrill or the absurdly efficient route doesn’t matter.

The point is you’re playing the same game together.

I wished Matapju could even have more fun.

“Is there anything you’re curious about? Anything else you want to see in this world?”

“I would like to visit a clothing store.”

“That’s unexpected. You usually just wear a Matap hoodie around. We even made bets with other seniors about how many of the same outfit you own.”

For the record, I bet he had five sets. He gave off the impression of being the type to wear the same thing from Monday through Friday and then do laundry on the weekends.

Thinking this was a challenge to his masculinity, Matapju was infuriated.

“I have normal clothes too, okay?!”

“Then why didn’t you wear them?”

“Because it’s embarrassing…!”

It seemed there was plenty for him to be embarrassed about.

“Alright, let’s go together.”

————-

“Over there… In your world, do people actually wear… such lascivious things?”

“Mmm…”

Korea’s resources, rendered by an illusionary magic, come from my own mind.

In other words, I can’t create things I don’t know or haven’t seen.

I do have a basic understanding from weathering the hellish three-hour shopping expeditions with my ex-girlfriend. I have a concept of what modest women’s clothing is.

But I wasn’t savvy enough to fill a gigantic department store with clothing options. Hence, I had to make a choice.

Either duplicate the same clothes to fill space,

Or fill the empty space… with ‘other knowledge.’

I chose the latter. Even if I never used them, having something was better than having nothing.

There was some cool calculation involved. A department store can induce vertigo and confusion in those with low feminine intuition. Those confused victims would usually say, “Let’s stop looking at clothes and move on,” to escape the place.

Considering my lack of understanding of women, depicted by my casual tossing of mismatched socks, I figured I’d be overwhelmed by the sight of even two stalls.

‘I see, so this is what clothes from another world look like. Hmm…’

I thought she’d then suggest we go eat some chicken.

However, she managed to get through six stores, and that was all the ‘modest women’s clothing’ I could remember. From the seventh store onward, I had filled it with ‘less modest women’s clothing.’

Clothes that could stir a man’s heart.

Things like reverse bunnies, band-aids, slingshots, bikinis, feather dusters.

“These aren’t popular clothes. They are meant for bed…”

“Sleepwear? Some of these look pretty uncomfortable though?”

“For when two people are moving as one in bed…”

“……..”

She put the Santa outfit she’d picked back on the hanger.

I finally understood why there was a slit i

After that, I tried this and that. I even got them to play StarCraft, a modern folk game imbued with the spirit of the Korean people.

(It was said that he had learned military tactics before being expelled from his clan, and indeed, his skills were extraordinary.)

I also indulged in some seafood pancakes and Makgeolli.

(Though the sense of drunkenness couldn’t actually be simulated, so I couldn’t get drunk.)

This led to a discussion of how such high buildings could be built without magic, which naturally prompted me to give a brief lecture on science.

“So, you’re saying that matter is composed of tiny particles… and that this planet Earth is but a speck within the vast void of the universe?”

“Yes.”

The master of the magic tower was hit by modern science straight-on and went into a daze.