The steps for an in-game marriage were surprisingly simple. All we had to do was form a party, speak to a dedicated NPC, and pay the required fee.
Since the Bridal Event was currently active, the marriage fee had been waived, and the formalities were over in an instant.
Upon completing the ceremony, we received an accessory called a Wedding Ring. It didn't provide any stat boosts; it was essentially a souvenir with the names of both characters inscribed in the item description.
"You know, I think this might be the first time I've actually seen one of these," I remarked.
"Well, you did say you were mostly a solo player, Kaito-san. Did you never join a guild or anything?"
"I was in one for a bit and even participated in Siege Battles, but PvP content is exhausting. I eventually just settled back into playing solo."
"Ah, I get that. Those Siege-focused guilds definitely feel like they’re for the hardcore enthusiasts."
Guilds—not the official Adventurer Guilds of this world, but player-organized teams—were a staple of the game, and I had indeed spent some time in one.
However, the guild I’d joined put a lot of effort into Siege Battles, which were essentially wars between player groups. While these battles only occurred once a week, they were marathons that lasted for hours. Between the combat and the grueling preparations, the whole experience was incredibly draining.
Of course, the rewards for winning were substantial, including items that could only be obtained through that specific game mode. In my experience, the higher a player's rank, the more likely they were to focus on PvP.
"Well, that’s the marriage out of the way. Should we head straight to the limited dungeon?" I asked.
"Before that, Kaito-san, why don't we get your character upgraded to his Third Class?"
"Ah, good point. Selling those items you told me about gave me more than enough funds. It makes sense to job-change before we hit the dungeon. By the way, what are my options for the Third Class?"
Just as Aoi had predicted, I’d found several people in the market chat looking to buy the rare materials from my storage. Selling them off had netted me a staggering amount of currency.
With this, I could afford a full set of new equipment, but I needed to decide on a direction for my build first. My character was a Knight, a front-line class known for high durability and decent attack power.
Since I’d always been a solo player, I hadn't optimized my stats or skills to be a dedicated tank, but given that tanks were always in high demand for party play, I was essentially filling that role already.
"You're a Knight, right? You have three paths for your Third Class," Aoi explained. "There's the Royal Knight, which is the standard evolution and offers high durability; the Dragon Knight, which focuses on an aggressive skill set; and the Magic Swordsman, which shifts your stats toward the mid-line but grants you access to magic."
"That’s quite the variety. Hmm... since you're a magic class, Aoi-chan, it’s probably better for me to stay on the front lines while we’re playing together. In that case, should I go with Royal Knight?"
"I think so. The Royal Knight is basically a direct upgrade to the Knight, so it should be easy for you to pick up even after a long break. Once you reach your Fourth Job, you can specialize into a tank-heavy Royal Guard or even a Holy Knight with recovery magic. Either way, the stability is unmatched."
"Then I'll go with Royal Knight for now. Does the job change take long?"
In this game, job changes were completed through specific quests. I was worried about making Aoi wait if the process was too involved, but she just gave me a reassuring smile.
"Not at all. The Third Class quests are easy for every job; it’s mostly just talking to NPCs. It’s the Fourth Job quests that take a lot of time and require specific items."
"That's a relief. I didn't want to keep you waiting."
"Hehe, well, we can talk like this while I'm waiting, so it’s not like I’d be bored. Besides, being able to play side-by-side like this is even more convenient than I expected."
"Communication is definitely smoother, and it’s a lot easier to keep track of what we’re both doing."
It was obvious, but talking in person while sitting next to each other was much more efficient than typing in a chat box. It made coordinating our actions and understanding the situation effortless.
It was probably easier for Aoi to explain game mechanics this way, too. If I had to pinpoint a single issue, it was that Aoi’s energy was exceptionally high today. She kept leaning in so close that her face would suddenly be right next to mine, making my heart skip a beat.
...I’d just have to stay focused on the game and try not to get too distracted.