.hack//AI Buster - Volume 2 - Chapter 5.2

.: 2 :.

I stood on me streets of the river city, Mac·Anu. Beautifully strange and colorful flags waved along me canal. The city resembled an old European town, almost like Boston, but medieval. Best of all, my ears were full with me sounds of the very language I had come to hear: Japanese.

Growing up in Boston, I felt right at home with my Irish heritage, but my Japanese roots always seemed so distant. I wanted to learn Mom's language. Unfortunately, a trip to Japan was too expensive. So I did the next best thing. I set up an account on the Japanese server of the world's largest online game, The World.

Of course, my mom taught me some Japanese, and I took a couple college courses, but I wanted the opportunity to finally test myself.

Looking around Mac • Anu, T noticed I was surrounded by players carrying swords, spears, staffs, and all of them were speaking Japanese. I listened to conversations as they passed by, then decided to wander the streets. As I peered into shops, I realized I had to be careful of what I bought, since I didn't understand everything.

After wandering around town awhile, I began to get bored and wanted to go on an adventure. Only I couldn't figure out how to leave. I wandered back and forth, but couldn't find any gates or exits. I was trapped in Mac·Anu.

I had wandered down an alley, when I decided to try out my linguistic skills on a pair of passing characters.

"Excuse me." I asked the one carrying an axe.

"Yes?"

I wanted to ask how to leave town, but everything I said came out garbled.

"What's that?" asked the Heavy Axe.

His partner, a female Wavemaster, turned and said, "He's probably a gaijin."

She continued speaking, but I had trouble following what she said, since she spoke so quickly. At any rate, I knew what gaijin meant. It was slang for foreigner. Even if my avatar looked Japanese, my broken Japanese quickly revealed I was nOt a native speaker.

"Let's go! We don't have time for this," the Wavemaster said, as they turned and quickly walked away.

Thus far, my cultural interaction wasn't going all that well.

I needed to understand the basics of The World before interacting with others. I was about to take off my FMD to review the player's manual, when I heard a giggle.

I looked around, but couldn't find anyone. I thought I was alone in the alley.

"Hello!" someone whispered in my ear.

A faint light appeared above me and slowly floated closer. It was a small, glowing fairy that could fit in the palm of my hand.

"What is the one thing there are not two of in The World?" it asked.