End Online: Volume 5 (17 page)

“We have been through quite a lot together, the three of us… and
that wolf!” Verde continues speaking. “The cause of my condition was indeed
from the game. It terrifies me to the point I want to log off and never play
again!”

“My lady, what do you mean your memory loss was caused by the
game? The VL is supposed to be one of the safest pieces of hardware available.
I don’t understand how it could malfunction and cause mental damage.”

As he says that, I recall all the times that I got a headache
from using ‘Peripheral Sight’ and wonder if it could be a problem with the
hardware. If it is, it is a serious fault that the creators of the device and
this game need to know about.

“It wasn’t a fault with the hardware. When my memory returned I
was so afraid. That wolf girl. S-she’s not normal. This was all caused by her
back in Grenton!”

As Verde recounts her story of what happened in Grenton up to
the point Fen grabbed her head, causing mind-splitting pain and
unconsciousness, I am shocked time and time again. All of this happened from
the girl next to me and I never had a clue. I don’t know what I should think
about Fen after learning what she is capable of.

Sir Laurence also appears confused and astonished. I can imagine
him recalling the first time he met her in human form and tried to flirt, only
to be squashed into the ground. Such an incident could have gone much worse.

“Sir Laurence, Lost, we need to get rid of her. Lost, I know she
is classified as your companion in the game, so you should be able to do
something. I want to keep playing with you two. You are the only friends I
have, despite one of you being clueless and the other having a horrible
personality.”

“Verde, I’m afraid it isn’t that simple. The only way to get rid
of her is for her to die.” I am pained to think it, but knowing how dangerous
she is I try push my feelings for her aside.

“We can’t beat her,” Sir Laurence speaks the truth and Verde
agrees with him. “There are a lot of other games we can play together. I will
pay for everyone if it means we can play together.”

I am conflicted as to how to respond, and decide to reveal my
biggest secret about Fen. “As I said, it isn’t that simple. After Fen became my
companion, something strange happened. She is technically no longer a part of
the game and resides within my V-Link. She can log into any game I play.”

Sir Laurence and Verde are taken aback, not believing what I’m
saying about Fen. It takes me assuring them multiple times of the situation and
even recounting how I met her for them to finally believe.

The prince offers to purchase a new V-Link for me and to destroy
my current one, but I turn him down. I explain to him that I currently use the
sale of equipment in this game as my only source of income and that I need to
continue playing this game.

“I am going to log off and speak with Fen. She is difficult, but
she isn’t completely unreasonable. I want us to play this game together so I
will take responsibility for her and keep her beside me, ensuring she doesn’t
do anything she shouldn’t. I-I also somewhat… care for her.”

My face turns completely red from admitting my feelings out loud
and the other two look at me strangely. They agree that we should keep playing
together as long as I keep Fen’s behavior in check. However, we also make a
pact to meet outside the game and talk further about what to do.

I am nervous about revealing my incapacitation to them and
decide to wait until we meet before letting them know. Finding out about Fen’s
dark side is enough of a shock so I will leave the information about me being
in a wheelchair for later. I do manage to have them agree to meet me at a cafe
near my house with the reasoning that I can’t travel very far.

Walking back to the others, I whisper to Fen to log off and
return to my locker ahead of her. When I leave End Online and return to my
locker, Fen somehow manages to be there before me as usual.

Staring at the shamelessly dressed wolf girl, I speak in a
serious voice that I didn’t know I had, “Fen, I know what you did.”

“What… I did?” She tilts her head sideways and gives me a
confused look.

“With Verde, you caused her memory loss, didn’t you?”

“I don’t… understand.”

“Back in the city of Grenton, you grabbed her head and did
something to her.”

“I told… her to… stay away,” Fen says in a neutral voice as if
she didn’t do anything wrong.

‘Can this girl not even understand what she did?’
 I ask myself with both astonishment and concern. 
‘If
she doesn’t even know what she did, that only makes her more dangerous!’

“You did something else to her at the same time.”

“No… I only… forced my words… in her head. That way… she wouldn’t…
forget… to stay away.”

I stop to think for a while before I feel like lightning strikes
me, fully understanding the situation. Fen tried to force a single thought into
Verde’s mind, and presumably caused damage to her memory. This girl clearly has
no clue about the human mind, yet tried to touch it.

This is extremely bad. Being able to do something like this, she
is clearly capable of much more. If she truly has malicious intentions… I can’t
think about it, the thought is too frightening.

For the first time, I am torn between reporting the AI known as
Fen, likely causing her destruction, and keeping her close to me. I am aware I
have already developed feelings towards her. Otherwise, I would not hesitate to
remove this dangerous entity.

“Are… you going to… leave me?” Fen asks, crouching down into a
ball with a small crystalline tear forming.

The sight of Fen with her knees to her chest tears me up inside.
I realize that there is no way I can bring myself to get rid of her. I must
protect her and keep her from making any further mistakes.

“Fen, listen to me. What you did was wrong. If you do anything
like that again, I will immediately leave you. From now on, you will stay
directly next to me at all times.”

“Y-yes,” The wolf girl’s voice trembles, her usually crystal
clear voice making a sound like glass breaking.

I walk up to the girl and hug her. For the next half hour we sit
together as I attempt to explain right and wrong. Like a young child, she has
no concept of the difference and doesn’t seem to be able to understand.

“Well, you will eventually learn,” I say with resignation. “Let
us log back in. Everyone will be waiting for us.  Remember, do not leave
my side.”

Fen gives me a genuine smile as I turn away and I only catch a
glimpse before it vanishes as if it was never there. With a light sigh, I
access the terminal and log back into End Online.

***************************************************

Back in the sand-strewn landscape, I am greeted by a scene which
is quite satisfying. Mason and Matrix have logged back in, but are currently on
their hands and knees, bowing with their heads nearly buried in the sand. In
front of them, Sir Laurence has drawn his sword and is pointing at the back of
their heads in a menacing way. Verde stands next to him, looking down on them
equally angry.

“..Waz wrong, I’m zorry!” Mason’s apology comes out completely
muffled due to his face in the sand.

“How dare you! You have tarnished my honor!” Sir Laurence
shouts, pulling off one of his gloves and throwing it in the sand in front of
Mason. Of course, Mason cannot see this.

It is strange to see Sir Laurence taking on his role as a knight
so seriously every time. I begin to realize that Sir Laurence and CaptainGordon
aren’t so different from one another.

Fen wraps her arms around me as I watch the spectacle between
the shining knight and the brothers. The pressure of her chest on my arm is
much more intimate thanks to the bikini top.

Sir Laurence and Verde look over at Fen and I. I nod toward them
to let them know everything is under control, which they return and go back to
tormenting Mason and Matrix.

Ten minutes later, after Mason also apologizes to me, we head
off to the south. Fen’s new clothes definitely have a strong effect on both her
speed and attacks. Her speed is definitely above mine, and she can easily climb
sand dunes that we can’t despite being in human form. Her bolts are now made
from ice even clearer than usual and give off a light blue luster in addition
to doing greater damage.

We travel for seven days. I am relieved that there are areas
other than pure sand in this land, else I would have lost my mind a long time
ago. There are areas which are more of a sandy dirt, with small creeks and a
few palm trees around. They offer a respite from the sun and a cool place to
rest.

In the latter part of the week of travel, we get further south
and to our surprise we start to run into a few players. They keep their
distance and don’t bother us, so naturally we don’t attack them either.

Climbing atop one particularly large dune, I see a large city in
the distance. It is too far to make out any distinguishable features, but it’s
size is truly impressive. Behind that city, a sky-shattering mountain range
blocks our view of the horizon.

Walking or running to the city in real life would normally take
a full day or two. If it was just Fen and I, we could possibly get there in
less than an hour, but with everyone else travelling together, the journey
takes three hours.

The city is mostly made from sandstone with brown sheets hanging
down several walls for immediate purchase. Pole torches stick up from the
ground at odd angles along the main streets to provide light at night. I see a
rolled up sheet on one building that reveals a hole in the wall.

‘Ah, so the sheets are to cover the windows! For a place so
abundant with sand, I would have thought they could manufacture glass, though.’

The players are more condensed inside the city and I notice
several strange traits about each of them. First, the insignia on the back of
their right hands is different than any of the three kingdoms. The symbol here
is a scorpion inside of a circle.

Second, they have tattoos. Many NPCs and players reveal a lot of
skin to combat the heat here. On that skin, nearly every player and NPC has at
least one tattoo. Tribal patterns in black and dark blue ink, skulls, dragons,
daggers, a few partially naked women, and other, more plain, tribal insignia.

I wonder whether this city is the capital for some unknown
kingdom and how these players acquired their insignia. I know for a fact it is
impossible to select this place as a starting city when creating your
character. Could it be possible that ‘Compact Soul Gems’ can be acquired here?

We traverse a full ten miles within the city and still don’t
even reach the center. The size of this place is comparable to any of the major
cities of the three kingdoms, albeit a little smaller and there is no towering
castle in the center.

Asking a nearby player where an inn is, we get directions to a
double story inn called the Desert Plume. Once we reach the inn, we find that
everything is dusty. Cleaning has been attempted on most of the major surfaces,
but traces of dust are still everywhere.

Considering this is a game, cleanliness isn’t a major concern
and there are several players already sitting at another table. Looking up at a
board over the bar with what drinks are available, they have all the usual ones
and a new kind that I haven’t seen before. It is called a Yatta.

Unsure about this new drink yet curious, we all decide to order
one. Yatta looks very similar to beer, only it has a slightly yellowish tinge
to it. I am curious how it is made.

After taking a sip from the cup, my face twists in disgust. The
taste of the drink is thick, warm, and it stings the tongue and throat.
Everyone else adopts the same look when they taste the drink. Everyone except
for CaptainGordon, at least. He appears to be truly enjoying the drink, taking
large gulps before woozily slouching in his seat.

Whether he liked the drink or not, he drank the whole thing.
Sitting back in his chair, his eyes close and he falls unconscious.

‘So he couldn’t handle the taste after all.’

When a bar maid comes around our table again, we hastily hand
back the drinks and order five large cups of the strongest rum to wash the
taste of the Yatta away. Glancing over at Mikhail’s party around another table,
they are secretly conversing about something that arouses my suspicions.

The entire party, apart from the slumbering CaptainGordon, downs
half of the cup of rum immediately upon receiving it. At about the time I begin
to feel tipsy, someone comes and sits down at our table.

I glance at a completely bald player roughly the size of a bear
standing up on two legs. His physique is covered with rippling muscle and
sturdy-looking leather armor which covers most of his torso. Picking a fight
with him is the last thing I want to do.

The person is one of the local players with the insignia of this
city on his right hand. Several pitch black tribal tattoos around his shoulders
and neck only enhance his aggressive demeanor. He looks at us with a smile that
doesn’t reflect in his eyes.