Episode 12. Stealth (2)
“...Finally gone.”
Aiden muttered, lowering his head. The countless footprints left by one person pacing in place kept nagging at him. It was from the single player who had brought the two of them here—one who hadn't stopped fidgeting even during their brief conversation. Those traces, left by a player, faded like ghosts and vanished.
Now it was time to stop the players.
“Claire, let's prepare.”
“......”
“We don't have many structures set up, and it's wide open, so we...”
Claire just met Aiden's eyes without a word. Even in this moment where it wouldn't feel awkward if she were simply listening quietly because she had nothing to say, her gaze stung oddly.
“Hey, mister.”
“Yes.”
Aiden braced for a complaint. He expected something like, Why are you listening to some weird woman we don't even know? or I can't even follow what she's saying. Maybe that's why her stare burned.
It wasn't what I wanted either.
Players were like unavoidable disasters. Even one acting on a whim could spark a catastrophe. He'd explained that much to Claire, but some unease lingered.
“Whenever that person comes by, everything gets messed up. Like a typhoon blew through.”
But her words rang perfectly true.
“Just a few minutes, and it's that bad?”
“Nooo. Time together doesn't matter. Being around energetic people just drains me.”
“Too bad. You'll have to see her at least a few more times.”
“Euuugh...” Claire groaned in disgust, crossing her arms and dipping her head slightly. But she couldn't keep her distance from Sephirah on purpose. With slumped shoulders, she forced out a reply.
“Fiiine, got it. From now on, I'll just think about finishing quick and resting, okay?”
“It won't take long. Like last time, within a day.”
“That's still long. We should aim to wrap up by evening.”
“Well...”
Since players showed up during the day, finishing by evening meant half a day at most, even generously. It'd be great if possible, but he couldn't guarantee it.
“Think about what we'll do after instead.”
But Aiden didn't hold back. Things escalated fast once players got involved—why would this time be different? Whatever happened, happened.
* * *
Too ordinary...
Nothing unusual at all. Aiden reviewed his sweep of the village from the shadow of an inconspicuous tree. A small place where everyone could be neighbors. Yet it had everything a village needed, even drawing passing merchants for a stop. Just as he'd heard.
No one mentioned anything special yesterday, no signs of hiding or obliviousness. Only Sephirah claimed something was off here.
Something will happen, though.
Aiden had no doubt players would come. It was info straight from a player. True or a trap to lure him, an anomaly would hit this village. He couldn't ignore that.
“Want some bread?”
As the sun hit its midday peak, Claire yawned beside him in the shade and offered a small loaf from her mouth—broad and scored with three lines, the classic kind. She hadn't held anything moments ago.
“Where'd that come from?”
“Books pop into my hands outta nowhere—why not bread?”
“That's different.”
“So, not eating it?”
Sketchy, but probably fine. No set time to move, so rest when you can. As Aiden reached for it—
“What the hell are you?! You little shit!!”
“...!”
A rough male voice boomed from not far off. Pointing, it was village center—loud but not deafening, so not too close. Right as daytime hit, something started.
“Mister, do small villages get into fights like that normally?”
“Not neighbors.”
Both rose from their relaxed spots. Distance blurred details, but one thought hit them.
“Where to hide?”
“Anywhere out of sight.”
“Got it.”
Claire bolted for the outskirts without more questions. They'd planned before noon. Players were enigmas who didn't grasp simple confrontation. But now they knew where to expect them—hide and watch.
Right, something to try.
Moving to a good vantage, Aiden summoned the voice in his head. She'd pestered him at first, forcing help, but lately stayed quiet. Now he approached first.
Unlock an ability.
Please enter the name of the ability to unlock.
Points: 2
His mind cleared as the voice returned. He'd checked the list before Sephirah left. She hadn't finished explaining before he picked, but no need to recheck. Five she recommended, two unlockable. He mentally named the top priorities.
System: UI, Genre: Stealth. Unlock?
Unlock.
“Ugh...!”
His vision's edges lit in colors. Top-left: red angular shape. Top-right: local map. Bottom: icons for items.
The world players see.
Aiden had glimpsed it once before.
UI (User Interface)
Not just status visuals this time. Voices had been auditory—memorable but clunky. Now...
Visualizes everything given to players, aiding use.
“So that's what it is?”
The new view felt instantly natural, like always there. No hindrance turning his head—minimal overlap, eye movement made it transparent.
Touch for details.
Details later—content now sufficed. The center text vanished. Saving solo UI check, he focused on events.
Player encountered.
One wall away, Aiden hid near the player.
“Hey, hey! What gives? Others react when I talk, but not this one.”
“......”
“Ugh... Figures smart-sounding NPCs are buggy as hell.”
Villagers murmured. Eyes on the raging center figure: a scrawny, androgynous stranger. A hulking man silently took the abuse.
“No bug like this in the village before. Total glitch look.”
Tsk. The stranger clicked his tongue loudly. Hard to believe sans bias: picking a fight with someone who could lift boulders. No staff or gear—bare hands. Crazy small guy, passersby thought.
No.
Stranger spread his hand—a black-burning branch appeared. Quick right-hand check, then raised left. Player magic gesture.
Stop it. Or the two...
Crack.
As he thought non-player side, ominous sound—bone shifting. Man's heavy fist smashed the player's face faster than folding fingers.
Crunch...
The cocky player rolled limply, neck twisted. Then—
Thud.
Head-first into a building wall, crumpled. Predictable. Unacceptable in this peaceful village.
“Fiiiight!!”
Casual onlookers fled screaming. Wails filled the air. Good they'd hidden.
The giant ignored it, approaching slowly without turning.
“What? Blocking attacks ain't fair.”
Amazingly, wall-smashed player lived. Blood unheeded, he scratched his head and stood casually. Still acting invincible.
“Ah, got it.”
“......”
“Never seen, super strong... Added NPC, huh?”
No reply. Man closed in. Player stayed chill—he was still a player. Freest, strongest possible here. Right thought.
If sole player...
Snap.
Man grabbed left hand, veins bulging with force. Palm crushed impossibly. Not enough—he wrenched all five fingers backward. Blood blocked by grip.
“Wait, hand won't move... Hold up, can't skill like this...!”
“......”
“What are you? Blocking skills like...”
Fist to face. Once to check survival. Frown, again. No talk. Player rambled on, but no mercy. Taking hits without resist, he muttered realization.
“No way, others...”
Spot-on, but too late to flip.
Sephirah, you damn...
Lips bitten, Aiden pictured her smirking face.
Didn't say multiples.
Thirty players including her. No guarantee they wouldn't group.