Episode 8. We Are Player. (3)
Once you step into Uwa's Cabin, all the trees and grass around it vanish completely for a while. In truth, since games have their limits, it probably just teleports the player into a withered forest and triggers the event like that. But according to the lore, the forest's atmosphere itself changes. So, was it just an event that shifted the mood and called it a day?
No, it wasn't.
'Normally, a quest should pop up too.'
In the game Sephirah remembered, simply entering the cabin triggered the quest. Suddenly, a horde of monsters—leveled way beyond what you could handle—would spawn. You'd have to find the hidden path to the basement before they smashed through the door and escape to safety. She couldn't recall the story since she always skipped it, but the production values were decent, and the rewards were good.
'Good thing the event still triggers even without the quest.'
This forest had been a random pick just to shake Aiden off, but Sephirah planned to handle everything she could. She'd left Loqi behind in the peaceful woods with the fresh trees to buy time, in case he slowed her down. Trigger the cabin event based on her lingering memories, create an opening, and escape—that would end the chase. Not bad for a spot chosen on a whim. Plus, killing the boss would net some EXP and items.
"This is bad."
The plan she'd whipped up on the spot should've been solid. But Sephirah pressed her forehead and muttered,
"Something's seriously off..."
The javelin gouged a deep hole in the massive tree monster, then vanished like it had never been. An effective hit, but not lethal—the creature retreated briefly before resuming its stance. The spear reappeared in Aiden's left hand, ready for the next strike.
"...What the hell."
She glanced away while munching her bread, only to spot another bizarre sight. The ground monsters here were plants that had gained sentience and started moving. Logically, tossing a basic firebomb should make them ignite each other and exploit their weakness. Half right, half wrong.
This was a game world, after all. Even if fire was their weakness and it spread, status effects like burn didn't last long—they wore off quickly.
"I'll crush this place. You lot, set them ablaze."
A spark flared on one thick leaf. It blackened rapidly, crumbling to ash, and soon flames leaped to other spots, engulfing the monster's body. One by one, starting with the nearest foes, they vanished into the fire. It wasn't the game's burn debuff—it was like someone had actually torched the forest.
On one side, Aiden darted around with his weapons. On the other, Claire was pyromaniacally incinerating everything. No matter where Sephirah looked, it was a scene straight out of a game she'd never seen.
"If you dawdle, you won't even get to run, huh?"
Sephirah finally faced forward. Monsters crept in from blind spots the two NPCs couldn't cover, targeting the player per their original AI. Especially since players at Uwa's Cabin were supposed to head underground—the monsters moved to drive them out.
"...Recovery done."
Her HP auto-regenerated right on cue. A slim wand dropped from midair into Sephirah's hand—one of her inventory spares she'd been too stingy to use.
"No HP bars?"
Sephirah checked the names above the enemies' heads. Fitting the sentient-plant concept, they were simple: mushroom, tree, and so on. But none showed HP. Had the system even stripped that away?
"Eh, whatever."
How did players cast magic here? For real-world weapons like bows or swords, the obvious method worked. But sadly, no magic in reality. Pulling up a skill list mid-cast broke immersion, and pure thought-casting wasn't feasible yet. So, players and devs adapted an old VR trick: hold a magic rod in one hand, curl a finger like pressing a button with the other, and fire a pre-saved spell.
One finger per spell. Make a "V" sign, and—
Stardust Barrage
Kiiing—!
Twinkling mana bullets like a galaxy swarm pelted every slowed enemy's vitals. Plants like trees or flowers—what even were their vitals? But usually, the "head" area counted as the weak point.
"Fewer numbers make it workable."
As Sephirah's foes crumbled into EXP, the chaos around her quieted. The incoming waves were getting cleared faster than they spawned. Monsters respawned endlessly, sure, but for now, kills outpaced arrivals.
'Hold up.'
Sephirah clamped her mouth shut and scanned intently. Aiden still slashed through hordes without tiring, speeding up even. A few swings shaved hardened bark; flames from the wounds charred the plants black. He'd gained leeway to throw and recall his spear repeatedly now.
"..."
And Claire? Still grinning as she torched the world. No enemies left—even the rolling tree corpses were fuel.
So right now, no one was watching Sephirah. No one.
'Let's see...'
She slunk away, inching distance from the NPCs. Two people couldn't cover every angle unnoticed. With monsters drawing eyes gone, slip underground before they pursued.
'Perfect. Let these two keep playing.'
They'd fought close to the cabin, so a short detour would hide her. As Sephirah edged toward the doorless cabin—
"Sephirah."
Aiden grabbed her shoulder from behind.
"...Ah."
"Where you headed?"
"Where I'm headed? Well..."
She glanced around—the last monsters were gone. Faster than her estimated thirty seconds.
Sephirah scrambled for an excuse.
"Right, you know. No wand, just fists. So I was gonna shift spots a bit..."
Aiden eyed her hand—the wand was gone. He'd noticed her using it and meant to call it out, but now he couldn't complain. Nothing on her body anyway.
Because Sephirah had—
"Used inventory, huh. Should've tied your wrists."
"Oh, you know that trick too? This is really busted..."
Sephirah realized Aiden knew player systems inside out. Even if NPCs recognized players, modern trends treated them as "visitors from another world"—not system-deep. His wariness screamed old-school cliché.
"Ah, haha..."
She felt like the NPC now, protagonist approaching. Had to look up thanks to her short avatar settings. Couldn't run, kill him, or ignore the size difference intimidation. Game or not, his glare stung.
"We have business. You caused this mess and delayed it."
"Wha... if you've got stuff to say, sure."
"Not planning to do anything to you. Just questions."
"And I don't wanna talk."
"...Come quietly. Or."
Aiden pointed back with a finger. Black ash scattered from charred remains.
"Join that in flames right now?"
"..."
As a player, Sephirah knew: he meant it. Low-game-knowledge folks might doubt Aiden'd burn someone alive. But shockingly, he followed through on threats.
"Fine. Not going anywhere..."
That broke her completely.
Scenario Denial: 11%
Player: 12%
Realization: 5%
The moment he grabbed Sephirah, numbers visible only to Aiden spiked rapidly. He usually ignored them—wished they'd update silently—but this steep climb demanded attention.
Finally, the voice he summoned only when needed listened as he willed it to explain.
Points accumulate as each stat fills.
Points unlock new Player Genres and Systems.
Not surprising. He'd guessed as much when points first appeared—they unlocked abilities.
Stats met. Partial meanings of 'Scenario Denial' and 'Player' revealed.
What Aiden craved most—information—arrived.
[Scenario Denial]
Players foresee events as if they've lived them. Some know major incidents; others pinpoint trivial outcomes with eerie certainty.
Shatter that certainty—their belief in an unchangeable 'scenario'. No one knows what happens next.
[Player]
Guests from another world frolicking in the sandbox.
You don't know what Players are. They don't know your state.
Understand each other through the story. Your relationship with them is your choice.
Shatter Players' faith. Understand Players.
Seemed important, but not useful. Knowing they're outsiders didn't change much. The "goals" thrown at him were things he'd end up doing anyway, tangled as he was.
If the voice had intent beyond explanation, it felt like:
'Whatever mess you're in, you're doing fine. Just roll with it.'
Was that what the one forcing "Be A Player" wanted? What was the endgame?
"Fine. Not going anywhere..."
Just tangling with Players like her boosted stats and granted powers? Aiden had treated them as enemies so far. Now Sephirah stood before him.
"...Player."
"What, you little shit."
But her clumsy, chummy vibe erased danger. She looked immature yet not childish or silly—just a smiley girl.
...Aiden deliberately recalled ominous memories, staying vigilant.
"Irrelevant people around, so serious talk later. We all need to get out first."
"And only I know how."
"Where to?"
"Basement first... Nah, you're topside thanks to you two—might shortcut it? Lemme think."
"...Ponder that. Fetching your friend."
Far in view, Claire leaned on her staff, panting heavily. Lingering risked suspicion—hard to deflect if they realized they knew each other. Better approach first.
Accommodatable Players increased.
And what was this about? What happened to the Player?