Episode 6. Ready, Player 1 (1)
It had been about 20 seconds. No, it was such a fleeting moment, rushing by like an arrow, that it probably hadn't even reached 15 seconds. In that brief span, the player had snatched the boy named Loqi and vanished once more.
She had burst in without even bothering to hide her face, deflecting every incoming threat from all directions with just that small shield, then achieved her goal and disappeared.
"We missed her."
"Yes, we did."
"Did you see how she kept her eyes on the walls from the start, shield at the ready?"
"I saw it, dear. Clear as day."
The red-haired player, Sephirah, had known exactly what would happen after she infiltrated this place. That's why she had anticipated every point of attack from the outset and charged in holding only that small, worn-out shield that seemed utterly useless.
"No wonder she came alone. She was that confident."
"I'm sorry, dear. I did my absolute best to block her."
When the woman with the shield had charged in, Satyr had no intention of leaving it to anyone else. She pulled out the weapons embedded in her defense system right there, determined to knock the intruder out cold on the spot. Every weapon that sprang from the walls targeted the shield-bearing woman in line with that intent.
Satyr, who had believed her defense system unbreakable for life, was overcome first and foremost by astonishment.
"Incredible. How did that girl know the exact positions of every knockout weapon?"
"Maybe she got intel from someone who survived a previous encounter."
Satyr shook her head as she looked at Aiden.
"Those weapons change positions every time they're used, dear. No one but me could ever predict where or what attack would come from."
The old woman explained to Aiden, even after he fell silent, that figuring out and countering the weapons' positions was simply impossible. Aiden listened quietly, lost in thought.
Player encountered.
Just moments ago, when their eyes met again, the same message had rung out without fail. Even though the voice's owner clearly already knew it was a player she was facing, it reminded him once more that the one across from him was indeed a player.
Were players beings who could breach even impenetrable defense and attack systems?
"See you again, Aiden!"
And those final words the player had left behind. Unlike the previous player he'd met, she hadn't come to harm him, but she had clearly known of Aiden's existence and called out to him—joyfully, as if thrilled to see him.
"Aigoo, by tomorrow, word of this will spread everywhere. I don't like things like this happening more often."
"Satyr."
"Yes, dear?"
Satyr, who had been lost in her solitary worries, turned to Aiden without showing any strain.
"Ah, you two ended up helping me out. Thank you. If you need anything, just say the word."
"Shall I track down that woman named Sephirah for you?"
"You mean you'd bring her to me?"
"Yes, that's the idea."
Satyr pondered for a moment, then shook her head. As far as she knew, Aiden was skilled at wielding power but not a specialist in tracking people down.
"No need, dear. No need to trouble yourself. If I need strength later, I'll call for you..."
"That woman acted like she knew me."
"...I must have misheard."
Aiden nodded. Satyr seemed to think there was no way that name would come up at that point, but Sephirah had unmistakably called for Aiden. With two people saying the same thing, there was no need to doubt it.
"Ah, ah, I think I heard it too!"
"Now it's certain."
Yes, make that three. At this point, it warranted paying closer attention. Otherwise, he might meet the same end as the Aiden in his memories.
"Hearing that, we can assume they'll come looking for us. They definitely will."
"Just to check, it looked like you two knew each other?"
It was an ambiguous question to answer. Striking appearance, distinctive voice. Even a passing glance or overheard word would stick in the memory, but he had no such recollection. And yet, paradoxically, Sephirah felt familiar. Her unusual face didn't give the normal first impression of "what a unique person," but rather felt like something he naturally accepted. Even though it was their first meeting—no sense of "I've seen her somewhere"—he felt as if he'd known the woman for ages.
Aiden himself couldn't quite grasp what he was thinking. It was just that, despite clearly never having seen her face before, she felt somehow familiar.
"I don't know the face or the voice. No idea how someone like that would know me..."
"In that case, you might end up needing my help instead."
"Could be."
"Well, for that reason."
Satyr's initially negative attitude softened. He hadn't wanted help because he disliked relying on others to clean up his own mess. But framed this way, it became a collaboration to solve the same problem—no harm in that. Just a matter of pride.
"If you ever need my help tracking her down, call me anytime."
Satyr said this as she pulled out a cigarette she usually ignored and lit it up. It seemed like a sales item she'd never tried herself, but her hands moved with practiced ease.
"And the spear I gave you earlier... just keep it."
"Must have been hard to procure."
"Consider it partial thanks for your help. I didn't gather it myself anyway."
Satyr had acquired the spear mainly to draw Aiden's attention. Thinking of it that way, she might have handed it over like this eventually, regardless.
"It was fun today, dear. Come back with your friend next time."
"Hold on, was that work?"
They were on the way back. He'd done the favor, gotten some reward, shown Claire things she hadn't seen yet, and the two of them had chatted lightly while seated. Only after all that could Claire finally follow Aiden out.
"Yes, work. We got something in return."
"Oh... sorry."
"For what?"
"I came along without preparing properly."
"...?"
Aiden glanced sideways, and Claire spread her palms to show she had nothing prepared. What had she even done tagging along? If her memory was right, she'd just caught one little kid and been pleased about it. That was basically just following him around like a child. At least, that's how Claire saw it.
"What was there to prepare? It was just a coincidence that work came up."
"Still, I didn't really help today."
"Without you, it would have been harder to assist Satyr."
"Hmm..."
Claire nodded silently. She wasn't the type to deny even encouragement or praise.
"So... this counts as one of your mercenary jobs, right?"
"Something like that."
"It's different from what I imagined again."
"Books ruining people again."
It's different from what I expected. Aiden tilted his head slightly at her words. During their days traveling together, whenever he answered Claire's curiosities, it almost always ended with that response. What on earth had she heard and read to live by?
"But this time, I think I know what you were expecting."
"Really? You, mister?"
"Doesn't this feel like just running errands?"
"...Yeah. That's exactly what I was thinking."
Yeah, he figured. It wasn't systematic, and on the surface, it looked like he'd just happened upon an acquaintance's request while passing by. Exactly that level of work, as she said.
"Let's think of it a bit lighter, Claire."
"Okay."
"What comes to mind when you hear 'mercenary'?"
"Hmm, monster hunting?"
Aiden nodded.
"Nothing else? You've heard stories."
"Uh... joining wars, or traveling around doing favors for people?"
"That's what we did today."
"Wha—now that you say it, kinda..."
Among the wandering tales, those who do favors and get praised are common, but what they do is no different from mercenaries. They just embellish heroic tales to make it sound cooler. If you think about it, from ridiculous tasks to heroic ones here and there, the title "hero" comes to mind... but if you're asking for their job, not title, wouldn't "mercenary" suffice?
"Errand boys. Errand boys who take up arms instead."
"Saying it like that kinda blurs the sense of helping people, mister..."
"It's fine. That mindset won't last long anyway."
"Wow, harsh."
Aiden paused, glancing sideways at Claire to gauge the mood. Playful steps mixed with mischief, lips that bridged any lull in conversation, one hand that couldn't stay still. No different from the past few days.
Her heart hasn't changed?
It wasn't a huge worry, but Aiden was relieved nonetheless. Even in a big city, adaptation wouldn't take long, and if the work didn't suit her, they couldn't stay together. Sure, yesterday's casual agreement to travel more together had been made lightly in a fun mood. He wondered if today's events had changed her mind.
"Claire."
"Yes?"
"Do you remember what we talked about yesterday?"
"Yeees?"
Claire tilted her head one way, recalling, then nodded.
"Oh, that thing about guiding you along the road? That seems like the only important bit I remember."
"And you still feel the same?"
"Uh... you're asking if my mind's changed about traveling together?"
"It was decided lightly in a casual mood, after all."
"...It wasn't decided lightly."
Claire's expression darkened slightly as she matched his steps. She didn't frown deeply, but made no effort to hide her disappointment—her gaze drifted from Aiden briefly before returning, subdued. As if deliberately showing her dissatisfaction with his words.
"Mister, what kind of situation am I in, being in a place like this?"
"Who knows."
"A runaway lost child. Like you tease sometimes."
"...You've been holding onto that?"
"No, it's the truth. I ran from the only home I've ever known, into a place where I don't even know the roads. It was a decision I made with resolve."
Claire started to spread her arms but stopped, then hugged her book close as if her hands felt idle. It was just casual talk, nothing deep, but their feet had halted.
"Truth is, I could have wandered alone even without anyone. It would have been harder than now, but that was the scenario I expected."
"..."
"But luck was on my side, and I got one acquaintance."
"Me?"
"We've known each other less than ten days, but that's enough to call acquaintances, right?"
Claire paused, gauging Aiden's reaction, then pointed at the ground below.
"So, put differently, this is the only place I can relax. Actually, shouldn't I be the one asking that?"
"..."
"In that sense, um, Aiden. Can I ask one thing?"
"Of course."
Claire hesitated, averting her eyes briefly before looking straight at Aiden.
"Do you still think I'm worth keeping around?"
Aiden's answer to that question was different from what she expected. But just as she hoped.