Episode 9. We Are Team? (1)
“Now, if we go in here, that's it. The big, scary-looking monster I mentioned earlier.”
Sephirah pointed at the cave in front of them, her tone laced with obvious regret. She fiddled with the skin around her bitten nails, her face noticeably pale until she spoke up.
“And... once we kill them all, we automatically fast travel back. Home sweet home.”
“What's exactly inside?”
“Well, obvious, right? Looks like a dragon but isn't one—just a big reptile, y'know? Like a wyvern or something. Tough, but not gonna kill us?”
Aiden nodded for now. He wasn't sure if it was truly obvious, but stories like that were common enough. Common enough that Claire, who recognized the tale, perked up with interest.
“Doesn't seem related to what happened to the forest, but is there some connection?”
“Uh... I mean, lizards weaker than dragons couldn't pull off something like this, right?”
“Yeah.”
“...Now that I think about it, you're right. No connection at all? Damn...”
Tsk. Sephirah clicked her tongue. She might have wanted a playful vibe, but her low, grumbled complaint created a heavy stillness instead. Still, it was clear she was trying to act upbeat. It just wasn't landing.
“...I don't know. But probably some plausible reason. I just don't care, so I only remember the necessary info.”
“You only know what needs to be done. That it?”
“That's all you need.”
The NPC and the player locked eyes. Then the player looked away first. Sephirah found Aiden's newly realistic gaze intimidating. She could barely meet it. Normally, she'd pull off all sorts of weird antics without a second thought—jumping around the NPC, skipping dialogue to rush the next story beat. Anything went because it was a game, no need to hold back even now. But Sephirah was holding back. Aiden might look at her strangely now. An NPC made by the game, of all things.
“It's a game, after all.”
“Huh?”
“...Nothing. If you got no questions, let's move.”
Right after averting her eyes, Sephirah led the way again without risking another glance. Getting hung up on an in-game NPC's reactions was foolish. Mindfully adjusting your behavior because of them was idiotic, and cowering like this was even worse. But Aiden felt too real for her to act like a normal player.
...It's a game, though.
A game was just a game. Lacking in some ways compared to reality, overstepping into it in others—a mere diversion. One you could never truly experience like real life. In-game dialogue never broke its limits, no matter how long you waited. Online games meant fumbling communication with foreigners; even VR had NPCs that weren't quite human. She knew those realistic limits well. In fact, those limits reminded her it was all just a VR game. No matter how advanced, it was made by people.
'NPCs are getting all prickly.'
Dialogue with in-game NPCs felt too real. But it was still a game. Aiden called out player names, understood words from players' mouths. Still a game. Even if they grasped specific commands, spouted unscripted lines, moved beyond pre-made animations—it was still a game. So she figured she'd just play it like always. There was always a strategy guide.
'It's just dialogue choices turning into free talk...'
If it was all a game, then everything visible was made by people. No update notes needed—it was human-made. Aiden, Claire—they were just the result of 'realistic dialogue and motion' programming. So there had to be a right answer. That's what Sephirah thought.
...Shouldn't that make me happy, then?
Sephirah knew nothing.
To Aiden, players seemed more human than he'd expected. They looked human enough, but something was off. Yet their actions, observed closely, were close to ordinary people. Pushing away that inexplicable familiarity didn't sit right.
ROGUE-LIKE ending soon.
Effects expire at midnight, degrading experience.
He touched the fading blue pattern on the back of his hand. Intangible, it slipped away, but he knew it marked the remaining time. The elation and power from this 'experience' would soon end.
“...We're here.”
Sephirah whispered cautiously then, arm outstretched to halt the NPCs behind her.
“See? Lizard like I said.”
Her eyes sparkled at the cave's depths. Nest-like setup, eggs, slumbering giant reptiles. Exactly as imagined—enough for Sephirah to nod approvingly at the unchanged scene. For an NPC unaware of players and a player unable to comprehend NPCs, this 'familiar' sight was welcoming for the same reasons.
But.
“Didn't hear there were multiples.”
“Didn't say just one.”
“...Fair.”
Wyvern-like things, giant reptiles, lizards—whatever. Not just one. Four adults. Outnumbered, plainly.
“Not hard. Not dragons. Just rare lizards. They might not even notice us if we don't go deeper.”
“Got it.”
“Low difficulty! If cranked up, they'd look like real dragons!”
“...Any special notes?”
“Nah. What you see. Just... four strong lizards. No hiders, no eggs hatching. Even if, they'd just crawl.”
Sephirah played it cool, true to her word. No hidden threats or tricky spots. Straight path to a wide chamber—simple, easy to picture. At the end: a black altar and statue atop it.
“Kill 'em all, then the next guy that spawns, smash that statue. Done.”
“That looks like it has some deep backstory...”
Claire craned her neck to peer at the distant altar and statue. Black and huge, sure—but too far for details on the small statue. Ominous vibe came through clear, though.
“We can smash it? What's this place even for, with stuff like that?”
“Uh... dunno.”
“...Pardon?”
“Why would I know?”
Sephirah didn't care about lore. Probably some epic backstory per Claire, tucked in collectible docs linking to Uwa's Cabin. But players needed situation and goal. Smash statue—good enough.
“...Then why clear everything before touching it? Why not skip ahead?”
“Oh, normally no interaction till cleared...”
Sephirah paused, then pivoted. With all the changes, maybe old limits were gone.
“Nah, let's try?”
“Huh?”
“Things changed—might work. Rush and smash it first.”
“Ehhh...?”
Claire eyed Aiden: Trust her? Aiden dodged chit-chat, focused on Sephirah.
“Fine. Say we do it your way—what's the plan?”
“No plan! Run fast! I'll back you up.”
“If you're good.”
“Okay, countdown! Three, two!”
As Aiden stepped forward, all four adults snapped awake, heads up, wary of the intruder.
Kiiik. They screeched at him but didn't fully grasp, tilting heads wide-eyed, frozen. Back off now, and alert levels wouldn't rise.
“One!”
No reason to.
“Move!”
The trio charged cave-end, Aiden-centered. No plan—just brute frontal assault. Simple stupidity, but a plan nonetheless. Aiden, fittest, naturally led.
Kyaaaak—! Wyverns stirred, spotting intruders. Rising from crouches, they glared at lead Aiden, striding straight to close gap. No giants, no speedsters, no oddballs. Just lunging claws.
ROGUE-LIKE ending soon.
Aiden gripped sword, closing on nearest lizard. Bone-chilling growl up close. Experience screamed danger. Body? Unfazed. Too far gone for past instincts? It urged: Go for it. Ignore vitals, gaps—simplify, it'll work. Swing. Enjoy.
RPG
Kwak. Ugly gash on tough hide. Blood sprayed dramatically, yet none stuck. Casual swing hit perfectly.
This was enough—
“Hey, old man, no time to gloat!”
Snap. Voice yanked his narrowed focus back. Goal: ignore all, rush altar. Tangled with one, and it all unravels. In that brief swing, Sephirah pulled ahead; the other two neared encirclement.
“Ignore 'em! Don't get stuck on trash! Run!”
“No worries!”
“Worries? Close eyes a sec!”
Sephirah grimaced reluctantly, glancing at ceiling. Player magic: finger-curl on wandless hand for slotted skills. Wand in other, she raised arm.
Flash— Pre-set Flashbang blinded foes in light.
“...!”
“Don't gawk—run! It won't last!”
Crisis averted easily. Aiden nodded, dodged lizards, bolted endward.
Kiiik...! As Sephirah said, couldn't hold long—angry cries echoed soon after. Heavy thuds on hard floor closed in. All four chased him alone, clear before glancing back.
Altar still distant. Needed a way.
'Didn't say I had to smash it myself.'
Aiden dropped sword without hesitation. It vanished mid-fall to inventory. No weapon needed for far shots. Tiny flame sufficed.
Fwoosh. Cupped hand, index extended at altar statue. Light sparked from fingertip, aimed true. Weak spell—slingshot at best, range unpredictable.
FOCUS
Enhances senses, revealing what you normally can't see or feel.
But player power visualized the 'slingshot's' arc and landing.
One more step closer. Aim higher for drop. Confirm sightline. Fire.
Boom—!!
Perfect. Tiny magic nailed statue's head. Decapitated, it flew back, hit wall, spun midair, crashed down.
Chijijik— Glitch.