Episode 5.5. To Another World (3)
Just a few minutes ago.
Sephirah confirmed the red dot vanishing from her minimap and returned to the basement.
"Ha, yeah, why'd you have to refuse... You got caught."
Sephirah tapped her cheek with the wand in her hand as she scanned the basement. The recovered stolen goods, the defeated 'evil-aligned' enemy NPCs, and the vanished Loqi Mendacium. On the surface, it all played out exactly as she'd expected.
The problem was that her expectations had been terribly negative, so there was zero joy in it.
Grind.
Sephirah gnawed at her nails while staring at the gruesome scene. Her already mangled nails shortened further, blood beginning to trickle as it flowed along her skin. But it was a habit—and she was in a foul mood—so she didn't stop tormenting them.
"Ha, no. He might've escaped, right?"
Even in this near-certain scenario, Sephirah clung to a sliver of optimism. Loqi Mendacium was no ordinary NPC. He'd once been the game's most notorious nemesis, dishing out stress and challenge to players galore. Sure, this was his younger Easter egg version, far weaker than the late-game Loqi, but a Loki was still a Loki.
"......It was almost full."
The mysterious counter that ticked up whenever she talked to major characters and picked options was nearing its max. With only two left to fill, no one was easier than Loqi—which made losing him sting on another level entirely.
"What did I do wrong?"
Sephirah grumbled irritably and activated one of the player's core functions: Focus.
A staple system in other games too—Eagle Eye, Hawk Vision, whatever you called it. It let you spot footprints, battle traces, and other clues at a glance. Sometimes it even threw in slo-mo for players, but sadly, this game didn't go that far.
Found it.
Scanning the floor, Sephirah spotted the one set of footprints glowing blue and cracked a faint smile. Focus excelled at tracking enemies or key figures, especially for story or quests.
Lucky break. Loqi Mendacium had always registered as both 'major character' and 'enemy' in-game.
Should be fine. No way he got caught...
Sephirah kept Focus active and followed the trail. Out of the basement, up the stairs, outside—head down, eyes locked on the prints, no detours.
But as ever, no hopeful outcomes awaited.
The footprints led straight to Satyr's house—the one that'd just been trashed.
"Yeah, fu—knew it."
Confirming the utterly predictable endpoint, Sephirah slumped against the wall by the door. Wasting time on one NPC? Fine by her. Right now, she wanted something fun to happen in this game.
So was she happy it had? Hell no.
If Loqi or she died here, it was game over—nothing left.
Think. Remember. What did Satyr lady do if you went back after committing a crime?
Easy recall—too vivid to forget. Her house brimmed with valuables by lore and layout, so theft was tolerated once. Push your luck with high-difficulty steals and a revisit? Captured on the spot.
Back in the day, you'd just reload a save. Not anymore.
"...Gotta be in a spot I can rescue him from."
Sephirah released Focus, pulled a shield from her inventory, and gripped it tight. Hostile NPC already—one step in, and attacks would rain. But she wasn't scared.
Players knew exploits and strats. Impossible? Sure. Otherwise? Anything goes.
No reloads? Then don't fail.
"Hoo..."
Sephirah took a deep breath, plotting on the fly. One hit and she'd drop—then, per community tales, no re-entry to this 'glitched game' forever.
Act efficient, swift—before attacks ramped up. Timing to storm the house?
BAM!
Right freaking now.
Sephirah yanked out the junk shield and kicked the door wide, charging in.
Satyr lady stood dead center in the living room, poised like she'd anticipated it. Aiden in the corner? Thrilling, but Sephirah committed.
"Here to save ya, you damn NPC."
Satyr lady snapped her fingers from her central stance, activating the house's security.
Hostile player assault incoming.
Tick!
A massive clock-hand chime echoed. The penalty for illicit item grabs: Gladio System. That signature tick was its exclusive audio cue.
Whirr—
Weird magitech popped from the walls—looking for all the world like a pistol, clashing hard with the medieval backdrop.
Whoa, even in a game, medieval setting and this...? Come on!
Sephirah lamented her predicament but raised her shield defensively.
Whatever her thoughts, Satyr pressed on.
"Won't hurt much, dearie. Just a quick nap."
Satyr bared her teeth at the thief. True, no instant game over on hit. But the knockout led to reloads worse than death—effectively the same.
Bang! Bang!
The magitech—no, pistol—roared, bullets flying at Sephirah's head.
Per her experience, even a graze triggered the KO cutscene and auto-progress.
Thud!
She blocked with the battered shield from that basement thug. Characters with HP always took hits, but these bullets dealt zero damage—a known exploit.
"Loqi!"
Deflecting frontal fire, Sephirah called to the glimpsed boy.
"You actually came? Shit...!"
Loqi sounded stunned she'd really shown—but Sephirah didn't care. Location confirmed; now, extract him.
[You approach.]
[You call out to Loqi.]
The game registered the 'dialogue' with a major NPC and offered choices. Tailored to her personality—protagonist calling him an NPC? Spot-on.
Two actions: lead the rescue or lean on Loqi.
Ha.
Sephirah smirked at the options. NPCs might evolve, but in-game, trust yourself first.
"Stay put! I'm coming!"
Straining behind her puny shield against pistol fire, she dashed past Satyr lady. Security activated, but neutralizing her changed zilch.
"Dammit...!"
Loqi decided too—slicing his leg ropes with a hidden blade, bolting her way.
Hands clasped at last. Escape now the only goal.
Or so it should've been.
"...What?"
Sephirah planned to backtrack with Loqi in tow, straight out the open door.
So why was the doorway... a wall?
Wait, this can't happen.
Even strat-master Sephirah hadn't foreseen it. One scenario blocked shop exits despite being inside: 10+ crimes banning shop access entirely.
Trapped to curb exploits—harshest anti-cheat ever.
But a last resort for extreme abuse. Not this blatant.
Realistically? Blocking doors upfront would've been simpler.
This was bullshit.
"Goddammit...!"
A normie might stall till capture—waking to 'etiquette lessons,' massive losses, then freedom.
But she was a player with tools. And this was just a game.
Map. Open map!
Frontal assault blocked, Sephirah skipped pondering for Plan B: hug the wall, yank out her map.
Pick a prior spot—bam, her form blurred.
Fast Travel. Instant relocation for the sprawling game world—days of walking skipped.
Confirmed working, Sephirah...
"Catch you later, Aiden!"
Taunted the watching corner NPC and slipped away unscathed.
* * *
Proceed to Sephirah's Ajiit?
[Yes / No]
Yes.
Sephirah voiced it aloud—not as her character, but her real self. Her body had already warped away, no hesitation: instant alt method, screaming 'Yes' like she'd kill the system otherwise.
"Haa, wasn't supposed to cut it that close."
Impromptu hack-job, winging it? Solid win. Who'd guess that wrist-guard-tier shield would tank everything and snag Loqi?
Though, in a world where movie heroes block bullets with bracers, why not players?
"Loqi?"
Self-praise done, Sephirah checked on him. Great escape, but if he was hurt? Pointless.
"Up here."
Voice from above. Sephirah rolled over, scanned, and finally relaxed.
Hand-in-hand for Fast Travel—should've been side-by-side. But this brat NPC was already up, peering down.
"What the hell are you, huh?"
Sephirah tilted her head, eyeing his face. He pressed on.
"What's your deal?"
"My deal?"
"What do you want from me? Figured you'd try a rescue, but this?"
Made sense from his view. No proper answers given.
Interest unexplained—breeding resentment? Tough to be honest about.
"Uh..."
Something was off. No dialogue options for NPC responses.
She'd planned a safe pick to soothe him—nothing. Waited. Nada.
"Quit 'uh'-ing and answer! I can threaten with a knife too."
"Wait, what'd I even say?"
"See? You talk fine."
"...Huh?"
Yet Loqi replied. Her words reached him. Sephirah touched her mouth—moved as willed, lips brushing fingers confirming control.
In-game. Not reality.
Come to think of it, those few exchanges maxed the counter.
Options always filled it.
"Hey, Loqi..."
"What."
So the full reward was...
"Can you really hear me?"
...Direct player speech in dialogue.