Flaming Red Hair, Vivid Green Eyes, Tanned Skin.

Reader did the best he could. He wasn’t an artist, but he thinks his avatar looks decent enough.

The cat-girl who had advised him had moved on so Reader called over the next closest one. “Yes sir! How can I help?” She asked.

“I’m done with adjusting my appearance. What do I do now?” Reader asked.

The cat-girl bowed respectfully. “Kindly proceed to the class registration counter and take a number.”

The cat girl pointed at corner where counters seemed to have been set up by people with red-striped uniforms.

Reader made his way there and was issued a number and ushered to a waiting area. There was a huge holographic screen floating overhead with the words “Now Serving:” followed by “44827.”

While waiting, Reader took note of the other reincarnated people. They were all mostly young. Some looked depressed, some solemn, and some terrified. But a good portion of them seemed rather hyped about their current situation.

“I guess being reincarnated into a video game must be one of the best afterlife scenarios these young kids can expect,” Reader said and chuckled to himself, “Certainly better than going to hell for fapping off to a Twitch-streamer or whatever.”

Eventually, the big numbers on the screen hit Reader’s number and he got up and marched to the series of doors along the wall. He found his glowing number floating above one of the doors. Shrugging, Reader marched right up to it and entered.

Reader found himself in a large room with a man-sized wooden sculpture standing in the middle of it like an Oscar trophy.

“Welcome!” Someone spoke.

Turning, Reader saw a woman in tight leather outfit and black hair approaching him.

“My name is Giselda,” said the woman.

“Hi I’m…”

“Oh, I know who you are,” the woman said and licked her lips. “You’re Mr. Moneybags.”

“Huh…” Said Reader, “Word gets around pretty fast.”

Giselda giggled. “You can’t honestly expect otherwise. Not after you made a single data-loader thread a billionaire.”

“I suppose you’re looking to sell something on the side as well?” Reader asked and smiled.

“How very perceptive of you. Yes, of course, if you don’t mind, I would love to be of service.”

“And what can you do for me exactly, Giselda?”

Giselda giggled. She started circling Reader like a wolf sizing up its prey. “Life in the new world where you are headed is very different from what you are used to on earth. One of the major differences are that every sentient being possesses an attribute called a class. Creatures who are born there are assigned a class by default. Thus reincarnators are also assigned a class.”

“I see,” Reader replied, following the woman with his eyes.

“The difference is, reincarnators get to choose from a basic set of classes. Locals who are born in the new world do not get to choose what classes they are born with. However, their classes are drawn from a much larger and varied set, so they have higher chances of obtaining exotic or higher tier classes.”

“Huh… So are reincarnators like second class citizens or something?”

“Not so. Classes can be advanced to higher tiers as a person gains levels. Which brings me to another distinction between earth and this new world. Every sentient creature in the new world also has levels.”

“My God. This is totally a video game huh?” Reader said.

Griselda continued, “There are two types of levels. One is the level of your avatar, which affects your basic attributes such as your might and dexterity. The other is your skill levels, which applies to each individual skill that you have. The higher the skill level, the more effective and dynamic it will be. To improve your skill levels, you merely have to use them or practice with them. Naturally, the context where you apply the skill is important. Fighting with fireballs in the middle of a real battle raises your fireball skill level much faster than just repeatedly blasting a tree for practice.”

“And the other level?”

Griselda smiled, “Your main character level can only be increased by accumulating potentia. Potentia can be acquired several ways. The main ways are by killing or vanquishing other creatures, by consuming items containing potentia, and lastly, by completing quests.”

“Quests?” Reader asked, “What kind of quests?”

“Of course, not just anything that is asked of you willy nilly. A quest is a pact that is bound by the goddess of quests, Questina.”

“How… original.”

“In the new world, people who needs something done may invoke the goddess Questina to preside over their request, thus making it an official quest. The requester may also offer compensation of value, like money, for the completion of said quest. They can offer you the quest in person or they can advertise it at one of the many adventurer’s guilds across the world. Upon completion of the quest, you can collect your rewards from the requester or leave it up to the guilds to collect and pick it up later. Questina frowns upon people who doesn't meet their end of the bargain.”

“Okay, that’s convenient. But how does that help me level up?”

“Oh right,” said Giselda, “In addition to overseeing the transactions of physical rewards, Questina will also bestow a blessing of potentia upon the quest-worker. The more challenging the quest is in the eyes of Questina, the more potentia you shall receive upon the quest’s completion.”

“Right…” Reader said. “Thanks for the explanation. Now what is it you do here?”

“I help provide information on the basic set of classes that reincarnators such as yourself get to pick from,” Giselda says, “And then I apply that class to your avatar. Here is the list of classes that are available…”

A holographic screen appeared on Griselda’s palms as she presented it to you. On it was a list.

1. Soldier
2. Hunter
3. Thief
4. Devout
5. Caster
6. Crafter

“What exactly are classes?” Reader asked, “If I pick one, am I locked into it forever?”

“Simply put,” Griselda replied, “Classes are your innate talent. And no, you are not locked into one class. There are no limit to the number of classes you may acquire. However, most people will typically find more utility in specializing in a single class rather than acquiring many and mastering none.”

“So if I picked a Soldier, what would it mean?”

“It would mean you are much more talented in physical combat. You will find martial skills easier to use, learn, and advance.”

“What if I choose to do something else that is unrelated to soldiering?” Asked Reader.

“Nothing bad happens. You would be able to learn any skill as you like, and master it with your own intelligence and ability, with no help from your class.”

“So a class just acts as a boost towards specific activities and skills?”

“That is correct. And if you learn enough related skills from another class by yourself, say, a Hunter, you will be able to obtain that class eventually, though there will be quite the learning curve to overcome. Similarly, if you learn enough skills that are from classes related to the Soldier, but on a higher tier, for example, a Knight, your Soldier class will eventually advance to Knight.”

“Gotcha,” replied Reader, “So let me guess,” he said coyly, “I’ll be able to pick all the classes if I just drop some tokens?”

Giselda chuckled. “I see where you’re going with this. Unfortunately, from this point on, there isn’t that much leeway to implement big changes compared to the loading screen. The best I can do for you is three extra classes. The first class absolutely has to come from the basic list and you will receive it for free, same with everybody else. If anyone asks, use that basic class as a cover.”

“And the other three classes?”

“You can pick the others through a catalog of higher tier classes that I have here.” She licked her lips again, “For the right price of course.”

“Of course…” Reader replied, grinning ear to ear.