Netoge no Yome wa Onna no Ko Janai to Omotta? [Prologue] [Vol 1] (Patreon)

◆Lucian: Will you marry me?!

◆Nekomimi: Fu-funya?  

A tall, broad-shouldered blonde man knelt down, sword strapped to his back, extending his hand toward a girl wearing cat ears on her head.  

The scene, rendered in smooth, sleek 3D graphics, looked so majestic and sacred, almost as if it belonged in a single breathtaking painting—at least, that’s what I thought at that moment.  

“I actually said it... I actually said it...”  

Staring at my own chat message on the screen, I clenched my trembling hands tight.  

There’s a game called Legendary Age, abbreviated as LA.  

It’s a PC-only massively multiplayer online role-playing game—a MMORPG—where lots of players connect to one shared virtual world and play together in real time. LA had only been out for about a year, but it drew a decent number of players thanks to its solid action elements and cute, charming graphics. It was a pretty hardcore MMORPG, all things considered.  

I was new to online games myself, having only played offline games where NPCs are your only companions. What hooked me deeply about LA was that the players were real people, and that sense of connection and unpredictability unique to online games. I was totally obsessed, playing non-stop since launch, even risking sleep.  

Now, LA just celebrated its first anniversary with a major update.  

The centerpiece? A brand-new feature called the “Marriage System.”  

Players can propose marriage to characters of the opposite sex. If it’s accepted, they can hold a wedding ceremony. Afterward, they’re recognized as spouses, granting various perks like status bonuses when together and the ability to track each other’s locations—all kinds of cool benefits.  

◆Nekomimi: Marriage... with me, you mean? Nya?  

◆Lucian: Yes! Please say yes, Nekomimi!  

On that very first day of the update, I went for it—I proposed to Nekomimi, the most beautiful and adorable girl in our guild. She was always thoughtful toward our teammates, had great taste in gear, was a skilled player, and—most endearing—never failed to end every sentence with “nya☆.” She was the guild’s undisputed idol, inside and out.  

Right after maintenance ended, we logged in at the same time, and I took that perfect, unbeatable moment to pop the question. No rivals, no interruptions—just perfect timing.  

◆Nekomimi: Nya-why me? Are you joking? Are you serious? Really, seriously?  

◆Lucian: I’m serious! I like you!  

“Please, please...!”  

If she agreed, we’d be married—officially a couple in-game. I could enjoy playing alongside Nekomimi, our beloved guild angel, with her love all to myself. A dream come true.  

Sure, I was nervous, knowing she might say no. But I was confident we were closer than anyone else, and my feelings for her were stronger than ever.  

Even if she rejected me, I’d hold no grudge. That was the kind of resolution I had—the kind of heartfelt, resolute declaration I made.  

So—  

◆Nekomimi: Oh—sorry. I’m actually a guy in real life.  

“...What?”  

The moment those words appeared on the screen, I just stood there dumbfounded, mouth agape in front of the monitor.  

A m-man?  

My angel, Nekomimi?  

What’s going on? Is this a joke?  

Ah, of course, a joke!  

Haha, Nekomimi sure is a prankster.  

◆Lucian: P-Please, Nekomimi, stop. Don’t joke around like that.  

◆Nekomimi: No, I’m serious.  

The reply I got from her was so cold, it didn’t feel like something the real Nekomimi would say at all.  

◆Nekomimi: Sorry, but I’m really a guy inside. Actually, an old dude. I just thought it’d be funny to try playing an obvious “net-kama” [male pretending to be female online], but I never expected anyone to seriously propose marriage. My bad.  

◆Lucian: W-what are you saying...  

I tried to deny it, but her words sounded so unlike Nekomimi that I couldn’t think of anything else to say.  

◆Nekomimi: Seriously, I’m sorry. I messed with you.  

◆Lucian: Y-you’re really a guy?  

◆Nekomimi: Yep, for real, a guy in real life.  

◆Lucian: And you’re an old guy too?  

◆Nekomimi: Yep, a real old man, haha.  

“N-no way...”  

I dropped my shoulders in utter despair.  

My precious Nekomimi—the one I could even call my first love—was actually a guy inside? An old man at that? Such nonsense couldn’t be true.  

No, it’s impossible.  

There’s no way. Absolutely not.  

Maybe she didn’t want to marry me and was just lying to gently let me down without hurting me—because she’s a kind person, that could make sense...  

◆Nekomimi: And besides, no real girl would ever say “nya☆” right? You should’ve realized that by now.  

“Ugh, ughhhh!”  

I screamed in despair, pounding furiously on the keyboard.  

◆Lucian: qw@#$%^&*()_+  

“That bastard! Damn it, damn it! Fake fake! Traitor!”  

Maybe I slammed the keys so hard the game immediately crashed—I didn’t even notice it closing.  

Tears streaming down my face, I kept smashing the keyboard again and again.  

“Damn it, damn it! From now on, I’ll never, ever...!”  

As I slammed the keyboard hard, several keys flew off into the air.  

“I’ll never trust a girl in an online game againgggggg!”

***

That was about two years ago.  

Even now, just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine—it’s a truly terrifying memory.  

◆Lucian: —So, that’s what happened.  

◆Ako: Really? Are there actually people out there trying to play as girls in games? That’s wild.  

◆Lucian: Back then, I was still a total newbie, too...  

After a long pause, I finished telling the story.  

I figured by now, the girl sitting in front of me—or more accurately, the female character sitting in front of my character—had fully understood my intentions.  

◆Lucian: So, that’s how it is.  

◆Ako: Got it! Please! Marry me!  

◆Lucian: Were you even listening to my story?!  

◆Ako: I did listen—and I’m asking anyway!  

◆Lucian: I don’t get what you mean by “anyway”!  

◆Ako: It’s obviously more fun if you marry me! That’s a fact!  

◆Lucian: I don’t know what gives you that confidence, but no way!  

◆Ako: Then when will you marry me? —Right now!  

◆Lucian: Not right now! Listen to me!  

And that’s pretty much the story of me and my “bride.”