Episode 11. Player, Sephirah (3)
Sephirah turned around blankly, unable to do anything. Aiden could vaguely make out her profile. She just blinked several times, as if trying to confirm whether what she was seeing was real, but she didn't make a sound or move her hands.
It was about five seconds later that Sephirah pointed shakily ahead with a trembling hand.
"…Hi?"
"Hi."
Sephirah waved first, and Loqi followed suit. Aiden quietly watched the two of them, their expressions far from pleased. A reunion achieved after escaping crisis in less than a day. Even saying it like that didn't make it feel joyful.
What is this? A glitch?
Sephirah's hand, waving half-heartedly, stopped. Since she was reacting to the greeting, it wasn't a hallucination or a bug. So what the hell had happened that this kid she'd left way back there had shown up right behind her?
"Aiden, did this kid maybe hitch a ride on your back during fast travel or something?"
"Didn't you know? I thought you brought him on purpose."
"You're kidding, right? If you say that now, I'm really gonna believe you?!"
"…Kidding."
"A kid who never jokes around is messing with me!!"
The Aiden that players knew apparently didn't make playful remarks. Whether those jokes were funny to others or not.
Sephirah averted her eyes from the young NPC she'd failed to look after, even briefly considering just abandoning him like this.
"Did you come looking for me 'cause I was late?"
"You know it."
"…How'd you find us?"
"Can't you tell?"
Loqi pointed behind him, and a tall elderly man poked his head out—someone who hadn't been visible before. The mysterious player he'd run into underground, someone who'd seemed off enough that he hadn't pressed for more talk. It was Hasselhoff.
"No way, why's he here with you guys again… Hey! Why'd you bring some random kid all the way here?!"
"……."
"Ah, choices. Aiden! Sorry, but ask him for me. Why'd you bring some clueless kid, and how'd you even know to come here?!"
That's what you're asking.
Aiden relayed Sephirah's words verbatim without adding anything, and Hasselhoff replied.
"Looks like he saw you folks vanish straight up into the sky in the forest. How could I just leave him begging for help like that?"
"I get the method, but how'd you know we were here?"
"Well, there's no other place 'Aiden Oliver' would be at this hour. Just a hunch."
Aiden flinched, holding his breath quietly at the mention of his name. There was no reason to find it strange. Players were beings who might have known him as an acquaintance in their own worlds entirely. From his private life to events even he didn't know about his future—it was easier to assume they knew it all.
"Uh… I came through someone I don't really know. How?"
"Ran into him by chance?"
"Did I say it was okay to follow strangers?"
"Are you my parents?"
"You gotta know to wait quietly when adults are talking."
"……."
"Doesn't work on him."
Meanwhile, Sephirah kept glancing at everyone in the room, repeating only unimportant details. The bad habit of players: picking words that wouldn't affect her relationship with the NPC.
"We should head back together, right? You said you'd be my guardian."
"Uh… yeah. I did."
Loqi didn't quietly tolerate the player's frustrating habit. Full of riddles. A woman who'd pulled him out of some unknown confinement, boasting strange powers and foresight, volunteering as his protector. From the moment Sephirah intervened, his memories had sharpened as if he'd gained self-awareness. He had no intention of ever separating from her.
Ah, good thing I didn't say out loud that this is more fun right now…
Players always fretted over entirely different issues. No matter how things turned out, death wasn't on the table, but this meant she'd have to part from Aiden right now and continue the 'ongoing story.' Cut off the conversation where player and NPC were getting to know each other.
"In that case…"
"We'll see each other next time."
Surprisingly, it was Aiden who first brought up ending the conversation.
"Uh… yeah, that was what I was gonna say, but… you sure that's okay…?"
"It's late. Could happen."
"But…"
"If you're bummed, you'll come back. That's the kind of 'person' you are."
"Heh, true."
Sephirah chuckled softly and bowed her head. As long as she remained a player, she could see any NPC she wanted, anytime, anywhere. And luckily, unlike his worries, Aiden didn't view her badly, making it even easier.
"Loqi, can I at least say goodbye before we go?"
"You ran off like I was the enemy earlier today."
"I'll explain all that later."
"Eh, fine."
With permission granted, Sephirah turned back to Aiden with a bright smile. Seeing her fail to properly introduce herself to an acquaintance, both thought the other was in a similar spot.
On top of that, Aiden decided to ask about the things he'd heard next time.
"…Seems like new players are showing up, so be careful. You'll handle it without me saying, and I'll watch out too."
"Got it."
"I was having fun just now, y'know? Might come see you tomorrow, might not. Don't freak out too much if I do."
"Noted."
"Oh, and."
I wonder if game AI gets this kinda thing. Sephirah suddenly pondered that as she spoke.
"I don't expect you to believe me, but I'm kinda on your side. If I say there won't be a time you have to stand up to me, will you trust that?"
"…We'll see."
"Then, let's get along from now on."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Hehe."
Satisfied with the reply, Sephirah backed up toward Loqi. The old man who'd been standing guard behind them placed hands on their shoulders for fast travel. Loqi accepted it, but Sephirah, sharing the same system, brushed it off.
The two players opened their maps simultaneously and set destinations.
"Grandpa, destination's the hideout. You know, the underground one."
"……."
"I'll take that as understood. Last thing… hey."
The pin on the player's map glowed. Manipulating the system floating before their eyes would trigger 'fast travel' immediately.
Right before leaving, Sephirah left one last word.
"Next time we meet, use a friendlier tone, 'kay?"
They vanished together into the unseen.
Left alone, Aiden stood up to head outside the moment the three vanished. No pointless resolve to sort his thoughts. He knew he'd just end up staring blankly at the scenery anyway. And that's exactly what Aiden wanted—to quietly take in the view outside. That was all.
He changed into comfortable clothes late, stretched out, and as he opened the firmly shut door to step out—
"Long time no see, mister."
Claire peeked her head cautiously over the threshold. Her sleepy eyes were wide open now, her dusty body cleaned up, bedtime prep done. She greeted Aiden at the door.
"Was it that long?"
"No, probably less than an hour."
"…Come in?"
"Thanks."
Aiden let Claire in, who was still only poking her face through the door. She glanced alternately at the chair and the closed window, then carefully took the seat Aiden had been using.
"Feels like a job interview, huh? You talk alone first, then I come in and sit."
"Sit, then ask questions?"
"Yeah, that's it."
Even as she said that, Claire dragged her chair next to Aiden's.
"So why was the guy who said he'd head to bed first waiting outside?"
"Ah… just said that. I don't sleep much anyway."
She'd held off, but she was tired. Meaning she was exhausted but pushing through. Aiden thought it might've been better if she'd stayed to listen together, but Claire, minding his reaction, added,
"I thought about it—if I was there, one of 'em would've definitely watched their words. Right?"
"Probably… no, both would've held back. With a third party around."
"So I left you two alone and eavesdropped secretly. Curious what cozy chat you'd have."
So she'd planned to eavesdrop from the start, using a convenient excuse to slip out. That explained why she hadn't found Sephirah's absence odd.
"So, how was the eavesdropping?"
"Not that cozy."
"I'll tell you everything, so don't push yourself."
"…Ah, yeees. Truth is, I didn't get a word of it. You gotta explain from start to finish, mister."
He'd figured as much. Like how a non-mathematician couldn't follow mathematicians debating.
"Where to start?"
"What 'player' even means first?"
"In that case, first…"
Aiden spilled everything that had happened so far—just a fortnight on reflection. Memories formed without experiencing them. A voice only he heard trying to give him goals or power. And with it, beings called players revealed themselves.
The story didn't drag on to there. Aiden knew so little himself; all he could share was what had occurred.
Still, sharing even the gaps felt immensely relieving.
"…Yeah, and?"
"After that, I figured Sephirah might be reasonable enough to approach first, and today began."
"Past midnight—it's yesterday!"
"……."
"Kidding. Sorry…"
Claire's tone and vibe were the same as always. He'd thought she wouldn't take spoken words too seriously, but he'd braced to seem like a weirdo already.
A bit relieved, Aiden started feeling fatigue creep in.
"Didn't warn you ahead—don't have to believe it. Could all be hallucinations or delusions on my part."
"What? You had my full attention till now—what's that mean?"
"It's hard to believe, right?"
"I've been with you today alone, and if you're crazy seeing ghosts, that means I'm crazy too…!"
As Claire said, from the day they met—not just today—they'd witnessed several unbelievable phenomena together. The weird numbers floating by Aiden. People casually using teleportation debatable if it even existed. Strange monsters too.
Having shared all that, Aiden's words couldn't be lies.
"…So there are folks living other lives who come here to play, and we call 'em players. Right?"
"Sephirah said so herself."
"And one day, memories of hanging with those players popped into your head? Wild."
Aiden nodded, forcing his drooping eyes open. He'd shared all his experiences with Claire—except one. The content of those first resurfaced memories. That every one ended with Aiden being killed.
Memories after meeting Sephirah lacked that trait, so he figured it best to keep it as his private doubt.
"But about 'player'—what's it mean?"
"…Just what you think. Participant in a game."
"They come to play, and they're called players…"
Claire held her breath. Guests who came to play named players. Participants in play. Meaning they saw this world—the one she and Aiden lived in—as a playground.
That must be why Aiden was so guarded.
To break the awkward silence with no back-and-forth, Claire turned her head and spoke again.
"Mister, just thought of…"
But where she looked, Aiden had his eyes closed. His head bobbed occasionally, hands clasped on his lap, quiet breaths the only sound drawing focus.
Aiden had fallen asleep without realizing.
"Ugh, so many questions left."
Claire considered shaking him awake but lowered her hand. They'd only been together a fortnight or so, but this was the first night she hadn't dozed off first.
How tired must he be… Not quite the same thought.
Differences aside, he hadn't moved alone. Come to think, first time seeing him asleep.
That was it.
A mister who wouldn't notice if you waved in his face or circled him—as long as no sound. He was here.
"……."
They sat in single chairs. Backrests only, no armrests—some might find it lacking. But for Claire, this shape was perfect.
No obstructing arms, square seat easy to slide another chair beside. She pulled the wobbly mister who'd nearly tip off his seat.
Side by side, checked his face—no sign of waking.
Then Claire carefully, slowly leaned her body against Aiden's shoulder.
"…Hah."
Seeing he still slept, she sighed in relief.
Tested by bobbing her head a bit, touching with her hand, then got anxious without really trying and pulled away.
Staying like this might not help much, but surely more comfy than last night.
After hearing such vast, wondrous tales too big for a country bumpkin, she'd probably lie awake in the pitch-black empty room.
"…Nah."
But Claire didn't push her greed further and straightened up. If greed, she'd indulged plenty eavesdropping out of boredom instead of sleeping.
"Sleep well."
Time to prep for tomorrow.