Red Pill Glitch and Sweet Reunion

High-ranking NPCs—commonly referring to nobles, those of a certain level of power or above, or transcendent beings—possessed something special that set them apart from ordinary NPCs. 'Did she realize it? I'd been feeling uneasy for a while…' They could perceive the heroes' uniqueness. Regular NPCs couldn't even grasp that heroes were immortals, nor could they understand words or concepts from the real world. High-ranking NPCs were different.

"She must've seen something…"

They could recognize that heroes were immortals, occasionally comprehend real-world terms, and treat this place like a game. For that reason, the so-called Red Pill event—where a high-ranking NPC awakened to the heroes' true nature and reality—was one of the most dangerous events out there.

'...Did it go wrong?'

High-ranking NPCs held immense pride in this world and occupied prominent positions. There was no way they'd take kindly to having their world dismissed as mere 'entertainment.' It could work out positively sometimes, but nine times out of ten, it led to negative consequences.

Evan, a ranker and vanguard who'd weathered countless Red Pill events, gulped as he stared at the distortedStatus Window. A phenomenon he'd never seen before. When Lea's hand clenched the air, chills ran down his spine—but her expression held no anger or disgust.

"??"

Pure curiosity, tinged with a hint of fatigue. Fortunately, the Status Window recovered in less than a second, and Lea seemed oblivious to it.

"It seems the goddess's power flickered for a moment."

"Show me too."

"...It's beyond my authority to bypass."

"Hmm…"

Lea tilted her head and stared intently at the empty air Evan had seen, poking at it with mana, then pulling out her staff to test a spell. Evan stood motionless, waiting silently. After ten minutes that felt like a year, Lea lost interest and stowed her staff.

"I saw it earlier… weird."

"......"

"Whatever. I'm going to nap."

"Understood. I'll inform the others."

"Sure~."

Lea waved lazily as she left, vanishing completely from the training grounds. Only then did Evan exhale deeply.

"Phew…."

It had been four months since Haring started searching for Lea. She'd scoured every mountain in the central continent multiple times with NyaNya, visited over four cities to gather intel. By now, almost everyone else had given up, and even her fellow searchers had dropped out one by one. Haring had considered quitting too, but she couldn't take down the Legion Commander without Lea. Above all, she missed her.

Just as she was enduring those trials…

Evan, the vanguard of Progal and the 5th-ranked player, had reached out. He knew Lea's location and said she'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠specifically called for Haring and NyaNya. Haring ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠accepted without hesitation, then explained the situation to NyaNya, who logged in late today. NyaNya whooped and clapped at the news. She hadn't said it, but she'd been getting worn out too.

"Really?! Lea's actually there?!"

"Yeah. No one's lying. Probably?"

"Shouldn't we tell everyone else then?"

"Why invite the traitors?"

"The traitors are kinda… iffy, right? Maybe just let them know for reality's sake…"

"We're going!!"

Haring grabbed NyaNya's shoulders and shook her like a bobblehead doll at a storefront.

"Those guys ditched Lea's grace to chase their own paths. They don't deserve to see her."

"S-stop… dizzy…"

"Even if we called them, some wouldn't show. They're living fine already—why answer the summons?"

"...Maybe?"

"Exactly. Why else call just us ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two? 'Cause we're the most reliable and she's proud of us, duh?"

"...Or maybe 'cause we were stubbornly searching anyway."

"No facts allowed, NyaNya."

Haring giggled and poked NyaNya's side. NyaNya laughed ticklishly, pushing her away, then remembered something.

"But Yugi was searching too. Why not call him?"

"I think I know why."

"...No way."

NyaNya shook her head in denial, but Haring had her suspicions. Anyway, even if they wanted to include Yugi, Lea had summoned exactly two. Sorry as she felt for him, Haring and NyaNya had no choice but to obey. Acting on their own might get them both turned away.

A week later, Haring and NyaNya arrived at the Legion Royal Palace. After a brief wait outside the massive golden structure, Haring whispered to Evan. A hidden door in the palace wall slid open, and a knight who looked suspiciously user-like beckoned them. Knight armor, but that hairstyle screamed player.

"Come on."

"Uh…"

"No way?"

"It is, so hurry. You too, NyaNya."

"Y-yes!"

They glanced around cautiously before slipping inside. Luckily, few users lingered near the palace, and those present were busy with quests or heading elsewhere—no one paid attention.

Rumble… thunk!

The hidden door sealed, revealing a pristine corridor. Maids bustled about, ornate decorations and artworks stretching endlessly. As NyaNya gawked wide-eyed, Haring asked the leading knight, Evan.

"How the heck did you find her? We busted our asses for four months straight."

"Just stumbled on her while doing knight quests. Anyway, why the formal speech?"

"Kinda different from how we talk on the forums."

"This is reality."

"Prolagia is reality. What else would it be?"

"...Whatever. NyaNya doesn't do the forums anyway."

Evan shrugged awkwardly and kept walking. Haring snickered, checking if NyaNya felt uncomfortable—but she was too busy admiring the opulent hall.

"Straight to Lea?"

"I'm just the guide. I'll hand you to the head ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠maid for room assignment, meals, training, whatever."

"Where's Lea?"

"Doubt you'll see her right away."

"Huh? Why?"

NyaNya, hurrying to catch up, prompted Evan's shrug.

"She's eating. Best not interrupt meals if you value your life."

"Oh! Perfect timing then!"

"Totally. I brought tons of snacks."

"Snacks?"

"Yeah. Check out these new limited-edition ones…"

Evan eyed the light brown basket in NyaNya's hands—snacks mimicking real-world treats more than Prolagian food. His face hardened as he glanced between them.

"Four-flavor ddeokkochi, mala tteokbokki, tanghulu… and that new Fire Chicken sauce the chefs whipped up…"

"You'd better be careful with that."

"Huh?"

"Why? It was super expensive…"

"Feels like it's edging toward a Red Pill event. Might blow up soon."

"!"

"Red Pill event?"

"Lea~!"

"Wha? Already here?"

"Yep! Missed you so much!"

Haring and NyaNya entered Lea's room mid-feast. Lea munched meat casually before a lavish spread. Seeing her so chill made Evan's earlier warning seem overblown.

'Looks totally normal…'

Just a laid-back girl-dragon who loved sweets. That was Lea's image to them, and that's exactly how she appeared now. They relaxed and sat beside her.

"Why so clingy?"

"C'mon~ It's been forever, right?"

"Hmph."

"Try these too! We brought tons of snacks."

"Sure~?"

"Yeah! New flavors of that ddeokkochi you liked last time."

NyaNya excitedly pulled a small four-compartment box from her beige basket. Lea’s eyes widened at the colorful sticks inside, and she grabbed one.

"Ooh."

"Tasty, huh?"

"Love it."

"Ehehe… So hard to get. Trend's over, but the lines were insane…"

"Good job. Want a quest?"

"Quest? Yes!"

"Awesome! Uh, not the Legion Commander one though…"

"Huh?"

"Something's off from usual…"

"Saw it again."

"Eh?"