The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Chapter 55: Rect of Confusion

Everything that Elena did was pointless.

"I hate that word"

[Adas, are you okay? You are scaring me]

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha"

[Adas, you look scary]

[Adas, are you okay?]

"....."

[Warning warning warning warning warning warning warning warning]

"Hahahahahahahahaha"

[Adas?]

Das was laughing insanely while Lily was trying to call him.

[Error occurred. All The Players Will Be Logged Out]

[Warning warning warning warning warning warning warning]

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha"

[Adas, you are scaring me. Please say something]

[Warning warning warning warning warning warning warning]

All the players are logged out. The only player who is still in the game is Das and Lily, who is crying.

[Adas. Are you okay?]

[Warning warning warning warning warning warning warning]

[Adas. Adas. Adas]

"Shut the hell up."

Das grabbed Lily in his hand.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Huh? What's going on? Where am I? Everything is so blurry. Where is this place? Oh right, I logged into the game and checked my stats, and after that....what happened that?

My vision became a little clearer. Am I holding something? What is this...Lily? Why am I holding her? She is crying! I can't move my body. I can't speak. What's happening?

[Warning warning warning warning warning warning warning]

What is this sound? Where are the other players? What is happening? Why is Lily crying?

I don't know what's going on, but...what's this feeling? I feel like there is something inside me, wanting me to destroy everything.

A light glowed in front of me. The light shined brighter and brighter. There is someone in the light, a person? Huh...Rias?

It's Rias; she is wearing the same clothes she was wearing that night, her body is shining like it did that night. Why is she here? She is coming this way...wha...she kissed me.

She opened my menu and tapped on the logout.

"Come back again when the server is closed."

When I logged out, my head didn't hurt. I feel better now. That feeling is also gone.

"She kissed me, right?"

How is that possible? You can't kiss in the game unless you are married. No, Das. Don't think about that kiss; it was a game, and I didn't do it. She did it; I couldn't move my body; it's not my fault.

"She even logged me out."

No player can log out another player. Who is she?

"She told me to come back when the server is closed."

Does she know what happened? There is something weird about her.

"Lily"

She was crying. Why was I holding her? I...

"It hurts."

My chest hurts. What is this feeling? I have never experienced this before. Her crying face...it's the same...

"What was that 'warning warning' sound?"

The same thing happened when Elena got eaten by that sea monster.

"Strange things are happening to me."

It's all this game's fault. I will destroy it.

'Let's level up tomorrow.'

Dammit.

Knock~~ Knock~~

"Das. Are you in there?"

"Mom? What's wrong?"

"Dinner is ready."

"I am coming."

I am eating dinner with my parents. Being with them calms me down.

"Are you okay, Das? You look horrible."

"Yeah. It's nothing."

"Das"

"Hmm?"

"Are you hiding something from us?"

"I am not."

I am sorry, mom, dad. They get worried about small things. If I tell them what's happening to me...

"Your school is in the morning from tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah"

I completely forgot about that. We have morning classes now. Why do I forget things now? Is this also the game's fault?

"Das. Take a bath after dinner. You look tired."

"Okay"

I took a long shower, trying to forget what happened today, trying to forget Lily's crying face...my heart hurts again.

"Lily"

Why am I feeling sad for her? I am not acting like myself. She always pulls my hair and keeps annoying me.

"She is not even real."

She is an AI, a program. There is no reason to get so emotional. I can't keep going like this. One day, I have to stop playing...if I do that, she will just disappear.

"It hurts."

I am lying on my bed. There is still some time before the server closes.

I fell asleep and woke up at 2:43 AM.

I logged in.

[Welcome to Len World Online]

"Everything is back to normal."

I glanced around.

"Lily?"

There is no way she would be here. She disappears as soon as I log out, and besides, I am not ready to face her yet. I can't forget her crying face.

"Where is Rias?"

I decided to go where I met her for the first time, under the bridge. When I reached there, she sat at the flowing riverbank with her legs in the water.

"Hmmm mm mmm hm mm mmmm"

She is humming. She hasn't noticed me yet. Should I tell her?

"Ahem"

I made a sound. She noticed me, started at me, walked to me.

"Hello," I said.

"..."

She is not saying anything!

"I said Hello--"

She slapped me.