“Did you sit here all night?” Shae Harris asked curiously the next morning as she came down the steps.
“Wasn’t it uncomfortable?” Mori Aoi asked as Yi Zheng massaged his neck.
“So-so,” Yi Zheng replied before walking up the steps to take a shower.
By the time he was done, they were all waiting for him, their food left uneaten.
“I thought I was going to starve to death first,” Shae Harris said, shoving a full spoon into her mouth.
“Then maybe you should have eaten next time,” Yi Zheng retorted.
“Do you think that man would still be there?” Mori Aoi got in the middle before Shae Harris could say anything else.
“Definitely,” Wei Zhi said anxiously.
Mori Aoi turned to Yi Zheng, who nodded in confirmation.
“I’m sure he will,” Wei Zhi said more confidently, blocking her line of sight.
He also said it more confidently this time, he didn't like the way Mori Aoi was seeking Yi Zheng's approval of what he said.
“He had never met Shae Harris before, yet he seemed pretty obsessed with finding her.
Two, he was quite strong—and very arrogant about it too.
Thirdly, Shae Harris let him in herself,” Wei Zhi quickly said, trying to prove his point.
“Are you seriously trying to blame me right now?” Shae Harris pointed her spoon at him and waved it around.
“I wasn’t the one who let some random guy in,” Wei Zhi shrugged.
“Then why don’t you see closely just how wrong my decision was?” Shae Harris stood up, put him in a headlock, then dragged him out of his seat and toward the van.
“Will she go away?” Mori Aoi asked Yi Zheng vaguely.
“Wasn’t she always?” Yi Zheng said as he stood up.
“I guess it’s always going to be the same ending,” Mori Aoi muttered sadly.
“Then it’s best you live in the moment,” Yi Zheng replied, walking past her.
“Something wrong?” Shae Harris asked when she came back inside.
“Nothing,” Mori Aoi said, standing up. She took Shae Harris by the arm and walked her to the van.
“Alright then, let’s go before the reen tea acts out again,” Shae Harris whispered.
“What are you talking about?” Wei Zhi leaned in from the seat behind them.
He used his face to separate the two immediately after they sat down.
“Jeez, can you get your shaggy hair away from me?” Shae Harris said in disgust.
“Nothing,” Mori Aoi giggled.
Shae Harris rolled her eyes and gagged, leading to another round of bickering with Wei Zhi.
“Look, we’re here,” Mori Aoi cut in.
“Yeah,” Wei Zhi immediately wilted, his eyes nervously studying the outside of the van.
“Do you think he’ll still be waiting?” Shae Harris asked.
“Probably,” Yi Zheng said, stepping out of the van.
Mori Aoi said “wait,” hoping to stop him, but he was already outside. Her words died before they were fully spoken.
“Doesn’t look like he’s still there,” Shae Harris said, watching Yi Zheng stand in front of the van.
Yi Zheng surveyed the perimeter and found nothing suspicious, then beckoned them out.
Shae Harris gulped and told the others it was probably safe.
Wei Zhi muttered that he preferred a definitely in situations like this.
Mori Aoi, worried about Yi Zheng being alone outside, agreed.
So they all stepped out, with Wei Zhi being the most reluctant.
“Welcome.”
The guide appeared in front of them.
The three jumped, while Yi Zheng only took a single step back.
“You scared us,” Shae Harris said, rubbing her chest as she glared at the guide.
“I think I’m about to pass out,” Wei Zhi said, his face pale.
“Why did you just appear like that?” Mori Aoi complained.
“I apologize for scaring you. I simply noticed your fear and wanted to reassure you,” the guide said sincerely.
“Well, you did a great job. Now my heart can’t race any faster,” Wei Zhi retorted, annoyed.
“I apologize once again,” the guide said, bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
“Don’t worry about it,” Mori Aoi quickly waved for him to stop.
“This is the first time you’ve come so far from the building,” Wei Zhi said awkwardly, trying to change the topic.
“Maybe that’s why we were so surprised,” Shae Harris added.
“And your clothes look more handsome,” Mori Aoi said, stepping closer to examine the fabric.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“You are different,” Yi Zheng said, his words carrying multiple meanings.
The others didn’t grasp it—except for the guide, who smiled before explaining.
Due to what happened yesterday, he had been promoted from a worker to a manager of sorts.
He was also given more authority so that what happened would not repeat itself.
“Congratulations on your promotion,” Shae Harris said excitedly.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t bring any gifts,” Mori Aoi said, instinctively searching her clothes.
“Does that mean you captured that guy from yesterday?” Wei Zhi sighed in relief, already certain of the answer.
“I thought you were merely a hologram. Why can’t your creator just make another?” Yi Zheng asked.
“I began as a hologram, created to be your guide.
Then I received your approval and became more solid.
Now I’ve been promoted,” the guide explained vaguely.
“Wouldn’t it be better to call you Manager now?” Shae Harris suggested.
“It is up to you,” the guide shrugged.
“But guide sounds better,” Mori Aoi said.
“Then that is what I will be called. Now, after you,” the guide gestured forward.
They walked more confidently this time, seeing no sign of Alex.
“Welcome,” two people in uniforms greeted them at the door.
“These are new staff members to assist me,” the guide introduced.
“Pleasure to meet you,” the two men said.
They were ordinary young men with short, straight black hair and eyes—average build, average looks.
“Do they have names?” Shae Harris asked, circling them and looking them up to down as if examining a new product for sale.
“Workers,” the guide replied.
“I know that, but what should we call them?” she pressed.
“They do not have names. Just call them workers. They know when to respond.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you,” Mori Aoi said, shaking their hands.
“So what games are we playing today?” Shae Harris asked eagerly while rubbing her hands to show it.
“Why don’t I show you where it will happen?” the guide replied.
He led them forward, followed by the two girls.
Wei Zhi walked beside Yi Zheng, while the workers flanked them like guards.
“It feels like I’m a VIP or something,” Shae Harris puffed out her chest.
“And I’m heading to a very important secret meeting,” Mori Aoi added.
“So now we’re passing a very secluded spot,” Wei Zhi said flatly.
“And protected on all sides,” Yi Zheng added, stressing protected.
“Exciting, isn’t it?” Shae Harris said, missing his meaning.
“Exciting in a special way,” Wei Zhi muttered.
“And here we are,” the guide said, opening a large door.
Inside was a white room. White leather seats sat at the center, each fitted with a helmet connected by wires.
A massive screen floated above them which was attached to the ceiling.
Three seats were arranged in a triangular formation.
A circular glass wall blocked off the central area, while the outer room held audience seating and snack machines.
The guide explained the process.
They would choose a seat and place the helmet on when ready.
The helmet functioned like the anime convention game—but with fully awakened senses.
Before Shae Harris could complain about copying Ming Jun, the guide continued.
Unlike before, the helmet also allowed them to learn skills and feel themselves grow stronger as they leveled up.
It granted basic survival knowledge related to the game.
“And that’s it?” Shae Harris said, touching the helmet.
“There is one last matter,” the guide said, turning to the workers.
They left, returning shortly with Alex between them.
He looked different—dazed, confused.
He who had been obsessed with Shae Harris uncharacteristically focused entirely on the guide.
His eyes did nothing to hide the shock and wary feeling towards the guide.
“Is he okay?” Mori Aoi asked startled at the change in Alex's demeanor.
“Just a bit rattled I guess,” the guide replied helplessly.
“You didn’t do this, did you?” Wei Zhi asked, stepping back.
“I assure you, I had no hand in it,” the guide said calmly.
“Then who did?” Shae Harris gulped.
“Let’s say… he was spooked by your cat.”
The shadow cat appeared.
“This adorable guy?” Mori Aoi scooped it up.
“Didn’t take him for a chicken,” Shae Harris teased, eyeing Wei Zhi.
She was referring to the fact that Wei Zhi was the only one who was still stiff around the cat.
Mori Aoi was in love with it and she found it nice to look at in its own weird way.
“The cat doesn’t look normal does it,” Wei Zhi retorted.
“That’s not all, is it?” Yi Zheng asked.
“He’s not reacting to the cat,” Wei Zhi added.
“Well he did end up being scared so badly that he forgot about that event,” the guide replied.
"Is it really that scary?" Shae Harris asked in doubt
The three of them studied the cat intently.
The shadow cat stared back with bottomless eyes.
It released some of its aura that was used to test Alex the previous day.
“Cute,” Mori Aoi was the first to break, squeezing it.
“Am I crazy, or is it more appealing?” Shae Harris muttered.
“Just a bit weird but still nice looking,” Wei Zhi agreed.
[Death] retracted its aura and looked at them speechless.
He couldn't help but agree with [Life] that these really aren't normal human beings.
"Then what happened" Shae Harris asked
“Well, I blocked off a close companion of his,” the guide shrugged.
Alex flinched and his gaze fixed to the guide darkened.
“He is an audience member so he can only observe
He cannot harm you and neither can he interfere with your game
So play in peace” the guide said.
The group relaxed after that.
Half of the reason was because of the guide's speech.
The other half was because the shadow cat was scary to Alex so he probably wouldn't dare to do anything while it was around.
The shadow cat sat at the front row seat alone.
They sat and put on the helmets.
The guide further mentioned how Shae Harris was the team leader making her have the highest authority in the game.
Of course that included what game they were playing.
After Shae Harris pressed the 'Activate' button floating infront of her while she was in a blue space.
They felt a sense of weightlessness like they were free falling out of a plane.
Then they were suddenly standing upright of flat ground.
The sudden shift made them dizzy and Wei Zhi had to swallow numerous times to stop himself from puking.
They adjusted their states and found the sensation just as promised.
Like they had been transported to another world in person.
They all wore the same blue jumpsuit with a game logo on it.
"This is the logo of my game console" Shae Harris said smiling at the logo on her left chest pocket fondly.
"These clothes are quite soft" Mori Aoi said rubbing the fabric
"And clean too" Wei Zhi sniffed his clothes.
On their bodies were also protective equipment.
"These are basic items for defense" Shae Harris explained.
"What about the weapons on us" Wei Zhi asked pulling out a gun from his holster attached to his belt.
Mori Aoi brought out a sword from her scabbard
“I know how to use this,” Mori Aoi said, swinging a sword.
“So do I,” Wei Zhi unloaded his gun then counted the bullets before reloading it.
“Hop on. We’ve got work to do,” Shae Harris said, sitting on a motorbike with an axe on her back.
"Where are we going to?" Mori Aoi asked curiously.
Just then a man came out of a stronghold that suddenly appeared behind them.
He walked out of the huge steel gate that opened just enough for him to pass through.
He was dressed in the same jumpsuit but in green.
"Good you guys haven't left yet, this is the picture of the person you are to rescue"
He handed Mori Aoi a photo of a young girl and she collected it while being bewildered.
“Good luck and don't forget to aim for the head.” he said before walking back to the stronghold.
"Don't tell me it's what I think it is" Wei Zhi paled.
“You guessed right, we're finally going zombie farming,” Shae Harris laughed.
“I quit,” Wei Zhi said.
“Too bad, I'm the team leader do I own you,” she grinned.
Wei Zhi squatted on the floor in dejection and Shae Harris graciously left him alone.
"Cheer up" Mori Aoi comforted him by patting his back.
"Yeah and if you don't, the game would trigger zombies in the area to swarm over here if we waste too much time" Shae Harris shrugged.
Wei Zhi gulped and rushed to the motor bike.
Mori Aoi was already swayed by saving the kid so she resolutely got in the middle of them.
"Let's go farming" Shae Harris hollered into the wind as she drove off.
That statement brought fresh tears to Wei Zhi's eyes but it was blown away by the wind.
Outside, everything that happened was seen by Yi Zheng.
The guide left as soon as they were settled in the game, while the workers stood at the door.
Yi Zheng sat among the simulated crowd of people, beside the only real human being.
Alex, though, wasn’t paying attention to the scrutinizing gaze coming from beside him.
He had more important things to worry about.
Mainly the fact that the system was quiet.
Not that it didn’t want to answer him, but the silence that comes with something not being there.
Alex could sense it… the system was in a place he couldn’t reach.
Blocked from him.
And by the man who calls himself the guide.
