A woman's voice sounded throughout my brain. Or was it my brain? I couldn't tell, everywhere I looked was white, I couldn't even see myself.

While contemplating in my thoughts, dark blue gem faded into view and a timer could be seen carved into it. The seconds slowly ticked down with a satisfying click every time. I could probably easily fall asleep listening to the steady countdown. Above the sapphire, words could be seen.

[The game will be released shortly, please be patient.]

The current player count could also be read, already at a whopping 45 million users before the game had even been released.

Dad, good job, you really did it this time.

Before I knew it a new announcement could be heard.

[5]

Oh boy, I can imagine the number of players getting hyped up because of this.

[4]

[3]

[2]

[1]

Huh, here we go then, hope I'm not the first death in the game at least. That would suck.

[Player, please design your avatar! But remember, you can only change up to 15% from your real appearance, thank you for your patronage!]

Hmmmmmm, okay, let's just keep my appearance as it is. Too much of a ha.s.sle to change it if we're only allowed 15%, you know?

[Please enter your username:]

I inputted the username that I had thought of earlier into the given slot.

[Nice to meet you Lynx, please select your cla.s.s]

Errrrr, cla.s.s? No showy ones, please. After all, being a swordswoman sounds really cringy after I read all those isekai light novels, yeah, no thanks. I don't think I would like to be one of those s.e.xy mages either. Um, I doubt I would like to be seen much and the only thing I like doing is running from stuff...I'll be a ranger then, they look cool with those hoods. Also, rangers always tend to run away first, right?

[Please select your region and starting country.]

Zircon sounds like a cool place, I'm not surprised my dad added that in here, it does hold a resemblance to 'her' after all.

[Thank you very much for buying this game! We will now be transporting yo—]

H-huh, the voice was cut off? Hey, don't tell me there's a bug already, seriously, did they forget to check for mistakes in the beta tests? Wait, were there public beta tests in the first place?

Oh, I bet dad just played the entire game while making it.

{Congratulations User #000000001, for your devotion in the game as the first player, you will be awarded a special item and t.i.tle. Keep up the good work!}

This is a scam, major cheat, the heck...well, I guess he always liked reading those books where the protagonist gets a head start.

Wait, but I'm not the main character or anything, I just want to stay in the shadows?!

Ahhhhhh...how did this happen…

[Thank you very much for buying this game! We will now be transporting you to your favored starting city. We hope you have a fun time!]

Slowly, my white surroundings became blurred, and soon I had found myself in the midst of a large town square with not a player in sight.

Um, this is awkward. All the NPCs are staring at me like some magical girl...I'll just put my hood up real quick…

After finally getting the gazes of the town folks off my back I resolved to take a good look around the town while it was still empty. Firmly deciding on my next course of action, I searched around for a good place to climb. Climbing's okay right, cause all magical girls love climbing buildings right? Yup, let's just leave it at that. Let's just head towards that tall clock looking thing.

Heading towards what I presumed to the town clock tower, I circled around it and found a rusty old door.

Oh, the door's unlocked, well isn't that handy. c.r.a.p there's a lot of steps, as I recall, stairs are my worst enemy, or at least a certain panda's. Yosh, let's do this.

"Koohk!? The stairs were so hard to climb. Why is my stamina so bad…?" I muttered to myself while desperately trying to catch my breath at the top of the tower.

Looking down at the town square I had sp.a.w.ned in, I saw a large swarm of players with more constantly sp.a.w.ning in.

Thank heavens that I left early, I would've gotten claustrophobic, like that poor boy down there...ouch.

Spending my time in a carefree state entranced by the scenery this game had to offer, I suddenly heard an old man's voice come from behind me.

"Mysterious adventurer, who I cannot inspect, do you find joy in watching those tiny gnats swarm the city?"

"W-wha, when did you get here?!"

Fl.u.s.tered, I quickly turned around and saw a man with military-style grey hair wearing an officer uniform staring at me with sharp and unrelenting eyes.

"I asked you a question ranger, why can I not inspect you, and why do you smile while watching your kin tumble around like newborn?"

"W-why, I just wanted to enjoy the scenery from here, sir" I responded with a twitching eye, trying my best to smile at the very extreme NPC.

Father, please, I know you love your strict army officers but why would I encounter one this extreme just ten minutes into the game!?

"You are quite an interesting person indeed, to enjoy looking down on others. I can sense determination from your eyes and you proved to have great endurance, climbing up a thousand stairs with such a frail body."

My good sir, I can recommend a good eye doctor, I'll pay for the examination.

"...Thank you very much for the compliments, sir."

"As a fellow ranger, answer me this question, why can I not inspect your stats even though it is plainly aware I am stronger?"

...This guy p.i.s.ses me off more than my old grandmother. But hey, I want to know the answer to his question too. This weird dude can't inspect my stats?

"Sir, with all due respect I cannot answer your question."

Uh oh, his eyes immediately turned from low harsh level too, do-you-want-to-die, harsh level. His apt.i.tude with my grandmother really is the best, father, did you create this NPC after your own mother I wonder?

"S-sir, don't misunderstand, it is because I myself do not understand the reason why."

"I see, well then please take off your hood, that may change things."

My hood? Buddy, this hood is my lifeline from the many stares of scary NPCs!

"Ah yes, of course."

Gently taking off my beloved hood I looked at the stern officer once again. Happy now?

"How interesting, young miss, you must treasure that cloak greatly. To have the power to block an inspect of a level 120 marshal while the hood is up is amazing." He stated in an amused tone, handsomely quirking his eyebrow up in surprise.

N-no way...I quickly swiped open my menu and stared at my cloak in befuddlement. What the heck is this? The power to block inspect skill from anyone under level 200 with the hood up, the power to clock inspect skill from anyone under my level without the hood, 50% higher concealment, 10% boost to speed, Shadow Walker skill, and...bound to Lynx? So I can't even drop this...DANG TOO OP!!! Ahhhh, has all the luck that was supposed to be mine, in reality, come here instead?!

Suddenly remembering the special t.i.tle they had also given me, I changed tabs and stared with wide eyes at what I saw.

{Hidden VIP}

Given to the first player of the game

All NPCs will favor you unconsciously

You will gain owners.h.i.+p to the Miasma Cloak

You will gain an additional 2 skill and stat points every level gained

No, freakn', way. Hey, isn't this just getting out of hand now? Oh right, I forgot about Mr. Scary who is still staring at me.

"Sir, this cloak is definitely a treasure to me, thank you very much," I said while bowing in grat.i.tude for opening my ignorant eyes. Seeing this the officer chuckled. Chuckled? No way, HE LAUGHED, didn't expect that. Staring at him with eyes filled with astonishment, he walked up to me and patted me on the shoulder.

"Young miss, you are very interesting and show a lot of promise as a ranger. Why not come under my wing and become my disciple? I, Marshall Abest, have been hoping to find one today, the foretold day where millions of adventurers are sent into our world."

"D-disciple? Sir, I am not even sure how to attack with a knife! How could I become a marshalls disciple."

Hehehe, my luck really is the best today. Better get the most out of it. Hearing my words, Abest smiled rea.s.suringly.

"Don't worry, I will teach you everything you need to know, starting now!"

He then picked me up and flung me over his shoulder, leaping off of the tower and over many rooftops.

Nononono, how did this happen?! All I wanted was a secret quest?!

"We have arrived at my squad training grounds. Here, I will shape you into the greatest ranger in the world, you will even surpa.s.s me!"

Gulp, my goodness, why are all the troops here staring at me with awe and respect? Please don't raise their expectations...I'm shy, I think.

[Hidden Cla.s.s Quest: Disciple of a Legend, has been unlocked. You have earned these for being the first to find one.

200000 xp

10 reputation points among NPCs

10 gold coins

1 Achievement]

Hey hey hey! I should go and buy a game lotto ticket after, I bet I would get something good.

"I see the overflowing potential within you! Will you accept this honor, young adventurer?"

h.e.l.l yeah! Let's go baby, make me overpowered!

"It would be my honor, sir!

"Hmph, looks like I wasn't wrong choosing you, from this day on everything you do will represent me! Everyone here will be a witness of this fact, make me proud, Ranger Lynx!" He proclaimed with a slight smile, while all the troops watching gave a loud cheer, raising their weapons in the air.

Oh yeah~...this is gonna be my path to fame in this game! Let's get em!

And thus, the legend of Lynx, the 'Humming Shadow' was born, not that she knew it at all.