Author’s note: Chapter 92 is pushed to tomorrow, I need to think more carefully about the chronological order to make sure I don’t fuck things up. There should be 5 chapters total this week.
Inside Albatros Company, Julie’s POV
Standing with my hands propped against the table, my mind began to wander.
Yet another youth troubled with mind attacks appeared today.
This whole situation is ridiculous!
We’re endangering players’ lives because some big fish donated cash?!
*sigh* However, I’m still a part of it.
Part of such a hideous act.
It makes my stomach turn upside down.
Every day I despise myself.
Despite my efforts to exclude this content, there was nothing I could do.
There are no other companies with operating Virtual Realities as of yet, so there’s nowhere else for me to work…
If it weren’t for my kids, I would quit this job at a heartbeat.
However, money makes the world go round.
Without income you can’t live long.
I can’t let my kids starve because of my guilty conscience.
There were many times when I considered going to the police station and reporting a crime, but what good would it do?
Albatros Company has many lawyers hired, my contract has a non-disclosure agreement included, thus all the evidence I provide would be excluded.
A fruit of the poisonous tree and then it’s a dismissed motion.
There was nothing I could do about the Blood Eccentric’s content itself, but I couldn’t simply take it lying down.
Persuading my colleague, Reese, we went to the board and presented an idea.
Hide all the Blood Eccentric’s content as a part of special hidden quests!
Nothing in the company’s signed contract prevented that, so after much deliberation the board reluctantly agreed.
Henceforth our work began, both Reese and I have created a lot of locations hidden so deep, that even when the game reaches its end, some will remain undiscovered.
Seeing that player, Icicle Whitesnow, I thought of convincing him to get rid of the Blood Eccentric content.
He was fine even with all the mind attacks, surely he’s someone with extraordinary mental fortitude.
Then again, wouldn’t it be discovered by those rich people?
If they could sneak a rule like keeping the content into the contract, then what is mere surveillance?
Reese: Look at that, that young man has just destroyed that [Sanguine Great Waraxe] like it was nothing.
Hearing Reese talking out loud, my mouth involuntarily curled into a smile.
It seems he was pondering on the exact same thing.
Julie: Indeed, the entire floor we have so meticulously constructed to make sure that this location stays hidden, even if the large airborne beast landed on it was used as a mere scraping wall…
Reese: Hahahah, what did you expect, players don’t think like us, developers. We’re focused more on the technical aspects, if the game works, if the boss reacts as it’s supposed to and so on. Compare it with players. They’re more concerned with what will the beast drop and how not to get tired while killing it.
Julie: As if BOSSES made by us could be so easily slaughtered.
Reese: Those ones? Yeah, I think we may have overdone it a little.
There was once an “inside event” in the company.
Every developer was supposed to create a boss that was hard to defeat and present it at an appointed date.
Reese and I combined our efforts and made a few vicious beasts.
Truth be told, I wouldn’t want to struggle against those bosses even in the best equipment.
Heh, I’m sure there are some hardcore gamers that will try them out.
As far as it goes, only a few of those bosses are in the open, we call them Wild Bosses, others are either deeply hidden in dungeons, islands, other continents, or summoned by acquiring a special quest or incantation.
Making all of that content was hell.
I spent God knows how many hours on this project, let’s hope this shitty Blood Eccentric’s content won’t ruin the fun for others.
Reese: That Icicle Whitesnow’s class, what was it again? Ice Lord?
Julie: I think so, why?
Reese: Wasn’t it the one that’s useless by itself? Of all the elements, every single element related class was self-sufficient, yet Ice Mages were always reliant on other classes.
Julie: It’s true, we’ve made Ice Mages the strongest on the Fashin Continent, but they always had correlations to other classes. Without sufficient mana you can’t cast the most powerful spells, that’s the concept. Simply put, it is one of the classes requiring a lot of time spent on it to see the effects.
Elemental related classes were extremely powerful, after all most of them stemmed down from the respective deities, their concept was stolen and used on that damn Blood Eccentric as well, making it seem like “deity of blood and carnage”.
Hmph, just thinking about it makes my blood boil.
Reese: Since that kid is a chosen one and someone who can withstand mind attacks without blinking, we should pay attention to him. Who knows, maybe he’ll luck out with the class like a [Librarian] or something and gain the necessary stats.
Julie: Who cares, it’s just one person. There are definitely others who can withstand the mind attacks and are not burdened with this… class. The sheer amount of luck involved in reaching mastery of Ice Mage class is absurd. We had better focus on other people who have it easier. Speaking of which, how are artisan classes faring?
Reese: Give me a second.
*click* *click* *click*
Diverting my attention to the screen, I saw a few files being opened, then a search was conducted.
Several minutes later there were a few names listed.
Reese: It seems we have 50 people at the beginning stage of reaching [Inventor] requirements and three at the intermediate stage.
Julie: So quick?
The [Inventor] class was as it sounds, a hidden class for artisan professions making them able to create content of their own.
They couldn’t shape the world, but add into it by creating various items, including weapons, buildings and trinkets.
Reese: I am surprised myself. Who would have thought that the players will advance this quick. Heh, when we were beta-testing there wasn’t so much content, nor resources we could use. This time it really is totally different. Well, not like it matters, even if those players manage to become [Inventors], the AI needs to accept the item first and we surely know how picky it is. How many times did we have to rework certain aspects until the AI accepted it?
Remembering the amount of times I had to rework the code, the graphics, background story, quest info and whatnot until that damn picky artificial intelligence found it suitable made me feel nauseous.
I wanted to smash those eggheads who created such a complicated AI with an enormous spiky club until they were no longer breathing.
“It will act like a human.” they said.
Fuck that, who wants to babysit an AI?
Arghh, I am about to pull my hair out!
Wait a second…
Looking at the time, it was already an hour past my shift.
Picking up my belongings, I headed for the exit, leaving Reese hanging.
Reese: Wait, where the hell are you going?
Julie: Home. I stayed behind to help you with minimizing the damage. Since it’s done with, I should have gone home a while ago. Now then, have a nice day.
Without waiting for Reese’s response I walked towards the exit.
Turning my head around, I winked playfully and left.
…
Forsaken Labyrinth, Loiterous, Tyxx’s POV
Tyxx: Boss, what do you mean I’m staying here?
I didn’t come back to my family for a reason, they didn’t want me to!
Damn, I even told Boss about this, but he still wants me to stay?
*whoosh*
Fierce kick landedon my butt, pushing me a forward a little.
Icicle: Honestly, Tyxx, I have explained it to you already. You can’t fix your family situation, so I’m helping you out. I know, I know, you don’t understand, but you will shortly. Now go and have a talk with your mom. Like I said earlier, minotaur tribe has 3 days to consider the “offer”. If they don’t agree, well, I suppose they won’t stay as fleshy.
Seeing Icicle turning around, I felt hopeless.
Icicle: Besides, where can you find minotaur females if not in here? I strongly recommend you to become stronger so you can attract some attention from your counterparts.
Tyxx: Wait Boss, I-
Icicle: Tyxx, there’s nothing more to say. *shudder* It seems like my sister wants to kill me. Alright boys, we’re heading back to the village, get going!
You’re shuddering?!
I’m the one who received the capital punishment here!
Even if I trained, the gap between me and my peers can’t be so easily breached, otherwise everyone would be strong!
No matter how much I want to complain, it won’t change anything.
Slowly moving over to the minotaur tribe, I sensed the tense atmosphere, mixed with confusion.
Well, at least there are females…
…
Forsaken Labyrinth, Sylph’s POV
Sylph: What the hell! Why are we retreating, I was finally getting into it to show-off-, *cough* I mean, to help my allies and now the battle’s over! Exlain yoursel-
Icicle: First of all, you were not invited here and barged in by yourself. So don’t you dare complain. Secondly, I didn’t want to exterminate the minotaur tribe, but to control them. What use do they have when they’re dead? On the other hand, when those overgrown bulls are used to protect the village, like a private army, don’t you think they suit it perfectly?
It appears I really pushed the limit today.
Jason isn’t so strict unless he’s pissed off.
He always tries to mask it, but he’s not good at it, at least not when it comes to his family.
To calm the seething cauldron, by that I mean my brother, I tried to explain the situation in a favorable light.
Let’s go puppy eyes!
Sylph: You see, I only wanted to help out… Also, your idea makes much more sense, it was my bad. I’m sorry.
Icicle: Jeez, it’s not like I can be angry with you. I didn’t invite you not because you’re not skillful, but because I didn’t want you to see this bloodbath. You have always been better than me at sports, plus that movement speed you’ve employed before the dungeon entrance… I can firmly grasp your level, there’s no need to show-off.
Sylph: What are you talking about? I am a player as well, you can’t protect me from the gory stuff! Besides, who needs your protection, I’m an adult!
What an overprotecting little brat, I’m the older sister here!
Seeing Jason shaking his head I was slightly startled.
Icicle: Hahah, I guess so. Always playing the role of an older brother made me overprotective. You can’t blame me for your cuteness, it compels people to protect you with all they’ve got.
That rascal…
Silver-tongued devil!
Argh!
Feeling my face muscles twitching into a smile involuntarily, I could only let it happen.
I thought I was somewhat pissed off, but my body moved by itself once again and gave my brother a warm hug.
Icicle: Aren’t you being sentimental now?
Sylph: I haven’t seen you for a long time, it’s only natural for older sister to hug her little brother~.
The words I said came from deep down, as if they came from the bottom of my soul.
Those words didn’t differ from what I was currently experiencing.
Seeing that Jason didn’t push me away and even faintly smiled, I didn’t release the hug.
Sylph: You know, I’ve been thinking, and…
Icicle: What is it? Are you planning on visiting me soon? I could eat something nice once in a while…
Right, Jason was never a good cook, not because he lacked skill, but because he was impatient.
Instead of waiting for the dish Jason preferred going to a fast food restaurant and eating there.
*chuckle* I wonder how he’s faring now.
Could he have a girlfriend that cooks for him?
Nah, he wouldn’t complain like this if he did.
Unless she’s a terrible cook like Quan.
Can one even be as terrible as Quan? Her food is lethal…
No, no, that’s not the right phrase.
Edible once in a lifetime!
Sylph: I will come soonish, when the university isn’t so… demanding. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. I haven’t talked it out with the girls yet, but I want to take most of them and form a guild on my own. As far as I am concerned, your house can’t simply take random people in, right? From my comprehension, although you can create branches, there’s no way to have a guild under you. At least not as a part of the house, only as an ally. I want to help you out by providing trustworthy players. What do you think?
Looking intently at my brother’s gentle face, I was amazed.
Not a single ripple, how am I supposed to read him?!
This little brat really wants me to age early, doesn’t he?
Can’t I have one thing go my way, for once have the advantage?
Icicle: I guess it’s fine. It will be kind of lonely without you guys, but that’s a good idea. Who would have thought that a person like you, who has no gaming experience whatsoever would be this insightful. It must be in blood.
Sylph: Hmph, don’t flatter yourself. I’m simply smarter than you.
Icicle: And that’s why you crashed into a tree with a new car?
What! That little, how dare you bring it up!
Sylph: How dare you criticize me! You can’t even drive!
Icicle: But I didn’t crash into the tree with my new car.
Sylph: If you don’t make mistakes, you don’t make anything.
Icicle: …
Haha, I got him!
…
Inside the condo near the university, Kiyu’s POV
Brie: Ahh, it’s good to take a bath after playing, especially in the afternoon. My hair feels so fluffy.
Kiyu: How long do you think she will take?
Brie: Who? Clare? I don’t know, but we had better not disturb her.
Even an airhead knows this, why did I even ask?
Returning to painting my nails, I waited patiently…
At least I wanted to, but my stomach started growling.
It’s Clare’s turn to cook today, well, technically it’s Quan’s, but we all know how this would end.
If I stuff myself now, I won’t be able to eat her delicacies later…
…
Around 15 minutes later
Hmm? What’s that noise?
*creak*
I was about to check who opened the door, when Clare walked into the room, all smiles.
Clare: Did you wait long?
Kiyu; Umm, no.
Brie was still sitting on her bed, brushing her hair.
What happenned to Clare, why is she so cheerful?
I won’t ask, I don’t want to spoil her mood.
*hum*
Hearing her joyful humming, my previous “not asking” ban was suddenly lifted.
I couldn’t restrain my curiosity so I asked bluntly.
Kiyu: Did something good happen?
Clare: Nothing much. I’m just happy.
Yeah right, like anyone would believe you.
Clare: You should tell the girls that lunch will be ready in 15 minutes.
Kiyu: Okay.
Lazily standing up from my bed, I tried to peek at Clare’s creation but she hid it too well…
I smelled some meat, but aside from that I couldn’t discern anything else.
Moving around the house, I realized that all the other girls are still playing.
Recently our school has made some deal with the Albatros Company.
All of the textbooks can be accessed in the game, which means we have thrice the time to study.
Loiterous gets free advertisement amongst the students that way, if it works, then their families will probably consider moving their businesses over too.
A win-win situation.
Putting my helmet on, I logged in, only to tell all of my lovely roommates to log out in 45 minutes so they won’t miss out on dinner.
The reactions were… surprising.
Apparently those women were so focused on playing that their forgot Clare is substituting Quan in cooking and didn’t even want to log out…
I could feel the incredible dread coming from their messages.
Spending five minutes reassuring my roommates it’s not the case, I finally logged out.
Only two minutes passed in the real world.
One time I asked Nete about this, she told me it’s probably because of how our brain perceives time.
I think she called it “time dilation” and that it has something to do with sleeping.
Nete was giving me an example along the lines of “Sometimes you’re napping for only one hour, but the dream you’re having lasts a whole day. It’s not like you can remember much of it unless you’re lucid dreaming anyways, but the time spent compared to the time dreaming is incomparable”.
To my understanding, it simply means that developers of Loiterous are using a part of the brain that we humans can’t use consciously to create the Virtual Reality for us.
Suddenly, I smelled something nice coming from the kitchen.
My Virtual Reality musing was thrown aside, replaced by building anticipation of the exquisite cuisine I’ll get to taste.
I saw Brie setting the table.
With lightning fast movements I helped her finish the job, anxiously waiting for the dishes to calm my growling stomach.
Growling of my stomach was so loud it was embarrassing.
Soon after, we had our meal.
I don’t know if it was because of the hunger or the wait, but everything tasted more delicious than usual.
My stomach was filled and I felt bloated, so after a friendly chatter, I decided to take a nap.
…
Forsaken Labyrinth, Icicle’s POV
Instructing Tyxx on the terms I set for the minotaur tribe, I claimed the dungeon then took the undead back to the village.
Lariette was obviously raising her arguments of “scaring people”.
What could I do about it?
The villagers need to get used to undead sooner or later.
There are still minotaurs *sigh*.
I explicitly told Lariette that undead are staying no matter what, 3 days from now minotaurs need to make their decision.
This decision is pretty simple, join me alive and serve for 150 years or be enslaved as undead for eternity.
The dungeon’s mine either way.
Even with recent technology I most likely won’t live past 100, probably die at like 70 years old, so what’s the point of enslaving the minotaurs forever?
If they have hope and goals they’ll work harder.
After briefly discussing things with Lariette, I told the villagers that those undead of mine don’t bite and that they were once humans too.
Acting as a proxy, I let the two groups familiarize with themselves.
Undead should feel more like people and the villagers can calm their fear a little.
In an ideal situation that is.
We all know that never happens, but there’s that tiny little chance that everything works out.
Taking the parchment out, I told Rewin, the [Witch] to imprint her bloody thumb.
That silly woman thought I forgot about her.
How could I forsake my soon-to-be direct underling?
It’s a huge no-no.
Before leaving the premises of [Forsaken Labyrinth], I called upon Zetra to wait before the entrance.
It was finally time to visit Saress and enroll into old man Hylzar’s Mage Guild.
I was tired. Not physically, but mentally.
That’s why I wanted the meeting there to end soon so I can log out and get some much needed sleep.
There was simply too much going on recently.
First the imprisonment, then the jobs distribution, afterwards was the whole labyrinth clearing and now I’m dealing with a village and a minotaur tribe.
That’s not the worst of it.
Soon I’ll have to deal with a red-haired princess who’s not exactly elegant and refined, but impulsive and fierce.
I like her that way when I’m rested, but now she will probably be slightly difficult to deal with.
Oh well.
Patting Zetra’s back, I flew off into the horizon, ready to meet with my destiny.
Rebirth Online World 