II.
"Dreaming."
Wisteria has entered the chatroom.
ZEN: I saw on the news yesterday that Jumin's new book is now a bestseller.
Yoosung : Oh that - You mean Jumin's quote collection book?
ZEN: Yeah that book, isn't the title so strange too?
707: The successful path of a certain man!
Yoosung : lolll so cringe loll
ZEN: Yea... Why is it even selling? Who the hell buys it? Even the name of the book is full of it!
707: Someone who wanna succeed like him?
ZEN: I don't get it -_- for real. He's the standard to success? One with a golden heart should be successful!
Yoosung : Then how golden is ur heart?
ZEN: More golden then the next-to-be CEO dude;;;
707: I like his book, its hilarious lol I can literally hear Jumin's voice dubbed when I'm reading it
ZEN: Ergh... It creeps me out just thinking about it.
707: Success is not something you work hard for. If you are competent, success will naturally follow.
Yoosung : oh god
ZEN: Hey ... STOP IT.
Yoosung : I think I just heard Jumin's voice.
Jumin Han: That quote must have been your favorite. I will keep that in mind while writing the sequel.
ZEN: Don't do that!
Yoosung : AMAZED EMOJI
ZEN: Don't write it.
Yoosung: There's a sequel?
Jumin Han: Yes.
ZEN: I said don't write it.
Jaehee Kang: ... The meeting with the publisher just ended.
V: If the sequel is coming out, I guess a lot of people are reading it. Is it coming out as a series?
Jumin Han: Not sure. Today's contract was finalized for book 3, for now.
ZEN: OMG...
707: OOOOH MUST PREORDER
ZEN: There are two more follow-ups of that weird book?
707: I shud memorize all the words.
Jumin Han: PLEASED EMOJI I am pleased to have such a loyal reader.
707: Villains twinge in pain when you recite 1 by 1 to them. Lol
ZEN: what's your purpose then?
707: V, have u read the book too?
V: I do have the book since Jumin sent it to me but I haven't had the chance to read it yet. Seeing how everyone's reacting, it's making me curious... I should spare some time someday to read it.
ZEN: No, V...;;;; I think it's better if you don't.
Yoosung : Jumin's book... Seems like it's selling well. Do you think it would come into my school's library?
Jaehee Kang: I do not know, if requested, it might.
ZEN: I don't know who'll request such a book... ;;; Have you read the book yet Jaehee?
Jaehee Kang: ...Ah yes, I did read it. But I closed it after reading one page.
707: lol
Jaehee Kang: Felt like I was working...
ZEN: If I... Get to have his book... I think that'll make two of us
Jaehee Kang: As Luciel said, I could hear Mr. Han's voice from the first line of the book;;
ZEN: Omg never ever want that to happen
Jumin Han: You do not like my voice?
Jaehee Kang: I did not want to feel as if I was working from home.
Yoosung : You're a secretary, is it okay to not read it?
Jumin Han: I cannot force her to read my book if that is not her taste. No need to force her, it's selling well already.
ZEN: Jeez;;; what a show-off
V: It's true. It's been a bestseller for a while now.
Jumin Han: I'm telling you... I've never been a show-off. I was only born extraordinary.
ZEN: ANNOYED EMOJI
Yoosung : Frankly, I can't refute that. Woohoo boo... I so do not want to study.
Jaehee Kang: Everything will pass by if you just roll with it. HAPPY EMOJI
707: ?
707: ?
Yoosung : what's wrong?
Jaehee Kang: Luciel, do not hog the chat room.
707: SHOCKED EMOJI
ZEN: What's wrong with you? Did a cockroach pop out or something?
707: INTRUDER INTRUDER
Jaehee Kang: If it's a cockroach, use Kombat.
707: WEEEOWWEEE WEEEOWEEE Issuing security alert!
Yoosung : Seven;;;
Jaehee Kang: The hogging has started.
ZEN: What do you mean intruder? In your room...? Or in the chatroom?
Wisteria: Oh, pardon me. I didn't mean to cause a commotion in your chat room um, I'm a little confused myself;;;
707: Too late for that lololol
ZEN: This isn't the time to joke around!
Jaehee Kang: Identify yourself.
Jumin Han: Suspicious how V has no idea what's going on.
ZEN: Seven, did you distribute this as a public app?
707: CONFUSED EMOJI
707: Nope! Huuh, W-a-i-t
Yoosung : what what;
707: lololol There's a written challenge email in my spam box.
ZEN: CONFUSED EMOJI Did you stir up trouble somewhere?
707: Yes... Seems likely.
Jaehee Kang: ANNOYED EMOJI Why don't you explain the whole story from the beginning?
Jumin Han: Why are we moving from an Intruder/intrusion situation to a challenge?
707: hahhahah...ahahah..
Jumin Han: Explain the casualty.
707: I hacked into a server that hackers use four days ago... I left a cat paw print! Meowing... They sent a challenge for me to take revenge.
ZEN: To the spam box...?
Jumin Han: Cat paw print...?
707: I was thinking that they hacked this messenger server to take revenge ahahhahahhaha
ZEN: WHAT IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?
707: They were bragging that their servers were super tight! Iron tight... That they were number one in the world's ranking. So I took the courage and challenged them!
Wisteria: I would hate to ruin your theory;; That's not exactly the case.
707: Oh so you're not totally cruel-hearted! I'm actually trying to trace the source of the intrusion right now lolol I'm actually, excited!
Jaehee Kang: How can you say excited right now?
707: I will begin the search for its identity. Today's HM~
Yoosung : But first, why don't we just ask he/she who they are?
Jumin Han: Doubt they will be honest with us but it's worth a try.
Yoosung : u won't know until u try. Hey, where are you from, Wisteria?
Wisteria: You wouldn't believe me if I told, you know? I'm actually here because I was sent here by someone.
Yoosung : Sent?!
ZEN: Who would send you to our chat room?!
Jaehee Kang: Luciel, are you done yet?
707: SHOCKED EMOJI
ZEN: hey stop hogging
Jumin Han: Is there something wrong, Luciel?
707: What's wrong with this?
707: It's not working?
Yoosung : what's wrong?
707: I can't track down the location - AT ALL
Jumin Han: I'll ask directly. For what purpose did you log onto this messenger?
Wisteria: I was told to hold a party.
Wisteria: I'm only here because someone named Rika sent me here in the first place. Am I going to be blocked or ;;;
Yoosung : WHAT?!
ZEN: OMG...
707: Wait, I think there's something wrong with my eyes
Yoosung : Rika? Ur someone Rika sent?
Jumin Han: Astonishing...
Yoosung : She contacted you, Wisteria? When...?
V: ...
Jumin Han: V is here with us. I hope you'd refrain from thoughtlessly mentioning Rika.
V: No, it's okay. I'm okay. Wisteria, I don't know how you know Rika. But she's not with us in this world anymore... in this world... She left our side six months ago.
Yoosung : That might not be true.
Jumin Han: From what intentions do you say that?
Yoosung: That's how I believe it...
Jaehee Kang: Yoosung...
V: Luciel, I have a favor to ask you.
707: Should I cut off this Wisteria's access?
Yoosung : NOOO! WAITT! Don't cut off yet! This person might know something about Rika! Aren't you guys even curious?!
ZEN: I'm curious but more suspicious
Jumin Han: I'm also starting to think this person might be dangerous.
Yoosung : I can't calm down... I didn't even get to see any evidence that she's dead...!
Jumin Han: Try not to distress yourself, you will miss out on something if you act with haste.
Jaehee Kang: I think you're overly calm, Mr. Han.
Jumin Han: There should be at least one person who can critically access the situation. It balances what's happening.
ZEN: This guy's not human;;;
Jaehee Kang: ;;;
V: No. I wasn't going to ask Luciel to deny Wisteria's access. It's the opposite.
Yoosung : Opposite?
V: Luciel, I want to make a call to Wisteria. Can you connect me through?
707: Umm... it's not impossible. Really? Should I connect?
V: Yes. There's something I want to ask Wisteria.
Wisteria: You could just ask me here.
Yoosung : Yes! You can just say it here!
V: It's a slightly delicate subject to discuss in the chatroom.
Yoosung : Discuss what? Is it about Rika? Another one of your secrets behind our backs again?
ZEN: Yoosung;; I understand that this is upsetting. But let's first see what happens from here, okay
V: Sorry... it looks like I'm causing disputes.
707: V... I'm gonna put you two through, is that okay?
Yoosung : Can we talk to Wisteria as well?
707: Probably... The fact that this person is here... means we're already connected to him/her. But V's connection is in manual mode. So I have to open that connection to make it alive...
Yoosung : I... I wanna hurry up and talk with Wisteria.
707: V, is it okay to put you through?
V: Yes, it's okay. Put me through.
Jumin Han: V, I believe you would have thoroughly assessed the situation and examined the situation. Hope it's not a hasty decision.
V: I appreciate your concern, Jumin. There is something that I must ask Wisteria, even if there are risks, I need to endure. If, as Wisteria has said, 'Rika' is the one who sent Wisteria to this messenger... I'd like to think Rika wanted the RFA parties to continue even when she's gone.
ZEN: If that's what you think, V, I guess it could be.
Jaehee Kang: If this is what Rika hoped for...
Yoosung : ...
V: Wisteria, I'll call you in a bit.
Wisteria: I was only told to open a party, honestly.
V: Yes. I feel that is what Rika wants to happen. That is if Rika really did send you, Wisteria.
Jumin Han: Since you are Rika's fiance, V, and if you feel that way... that could be what Rika wants.
V: If Rika wanted to continue the parties I want to make that come true.
Jumin Han: You are the final decision maker, so we should comply but I'm concerned that Wisteria's identity remains a mystery.
Jaehee Kang: That is true since we do not know anything about Wisteria. So I'm not sure if we can leave Rika's role to Wisteria...
Yoosung : What kind of person do you think Wisteria is?
Wisteria: I'm not a shady person with ulterior motives if that's what you're concerned about. I promise.
Yoosung : Then... are we going to be throwing parties again?
V: Yes. We will. As Wisteria will take Rika's role for us. But since Wisteria's identity has not been identified, we will have to see.
Jumin Han: A temporary hold.
Jaehee Kang: Even so, Wisteria's situation is quite perplexing. Is it okay for a non-member to take Rika's place?
V: That's what I wanted to talk about. I'm thinking of accepting Wisteria as a new member of the RFA, if Wisteria agrees.
Jaehee Kang: It seems a bit abrupt...
Jumin Han: I agree. Accepting a stranger as a new member...?
Wisteria: You make it seem like being a member is a privilege. What's so great about being a member?
ZEN: This one's quite straightforward...
707: If u become a member, guess what!
Jumin Han: You can use the RFA's messenger.
Jaehee Kang: That's not all is it...?
Jumin Han: You can live a contributing life.
Yoosung : Sounds big but not wrong and... Seven won't get rid of u right away
V: It would be best if you cooperate. Since you have come to host parties, Wisteria, our purposes are the same.
Jumin Han: I can't deny the fact that our situations and purposes fall perfectly, so things are quite suspicious.
ZEN: Hey, If you start questioning, there's no end in that;; I mean the situation is all so sudden but...
Yoosung : For now... I agree in holding parties again
Jumin Han: There is no reason to oppose holding parties itself.
ZEN: V has decided, so I'm going to follow that
Jaehee Kang: Of course, reopening the party is welcome, but it would have been better if we know exactly what kind of person Wisteria is.
V: I am fully aware of that. So Luciel, I want you to keep searching about Wisteria.
707: Um... Is it okay, Wisteria? I didn't think he would find anything if he even tried to do it. There was no way I was going to tell him that though.
Wisteria: While I would rather you not, I can see the purpose in that.
707: A background check is compulsory if we want to open the party with your help, Wisteria.
ZEN: Don't collect irrelevant info;;;
707: Yes, sir! V, shall I proceed?
V: Yes. I have a thought, so go on with it.
Jumin Han: V, I expect you will later tell us what your thought is.
V: I'll tell you when I collect my thoughts together.
Wisteria: I do apologize if I've caused you any stress. When will planning for the party need to begin?
V: There's no date yet, so there's no need to rush. I'll send a notice when I have a date fixed.
707: Rationally speaking - There is a simple solution - denying your access. I'm not sure if such risk is necessary... T_T
V: Speaking of which, there something I need to tell you. I'll call you right now.
Yoosung : One of those secret talks again... Wisteria, just so you know in advance, V is full of secrets;;;
V: Yoosung...
Yoosung : It's nothing new.
Jumin Han: Let's all think that he has a good reason.
707: Except for Yoosung.
Yoosung : Well, I do not understand;;;
V: I'll explain everything to you when it's time. I'm sorry. I should get going. Please excuse me first.
ZEN: See ya later V
Jaehee Kang: Take care.
V: Thanks everyone, I'll see you, too, later... Wisteria.
Wisteria: Yes, I'll see you around.
V: Yes. We will.
V has left the chatroom.
Jumin Han: Give us a replay la
707: srry
Jumin Han: He left while I was typing,
707: hecalledrightawaylikehesaid i'mgonnatakethiscall bye
707 has left the chatroom.
Yoosung: I wonder what secret V is up to again.
Jaehee Kang: Do you want to install a wiretap or something?
Yoosung : Yes, if secrets keep building;; Ever since Rika died, it feels like V only talks to Seven.
Jumin Han: It's simple. Luciel is in charge of RFA's confidential information.
Yoosung : ...
ZEN: As the head of this organization, V probably has a lot on his mind... He said he'll explain later. Let's trust him and wait a bit, okay?
Yoosung: Exactly when is later? What I'm angry about is...That it's been like this since Rika passed away.
Jaehee Kang: Yoosung calm down.
Yoosung : He's locked himself up in secrets about Rika's death too...!
Jaehee Kang: I'd like to think that was V's best decision, made for our sake.
Jumin Han: So do I. But he wasn't himself today, a bit flustered.
ZEN: V? Flustered? Didn't seem like it;;
Jumin Han: I could see he was baffled today compared to his usual stance.
Jaehee Kang: Is that so? i think you're the one who could tell that, Mr. Han.
Jumin Han: Asking to open up the call function...? That was a shock.
ZEN: Huh.
Wisteria: You and V must be very close.
Jumin Han: Childhood best friends to be exact. V is a trustworthy person. In fact, has V's decision so far threatened our association even once?
Yoosung : Not yet but... The way he closed Rika's death was a bit suspicious...
ZEN: Hey;;
Yoosung: He was strange even during the funeral
ZEN: V would have been the most agonized one;
Yoosung : But I still don't get it...
Jaehee Kang: Umm... Actually, I wanted to say this for some time now... Is it okay to talk about our personal lives when we don't even know what kind of person Wisteria is?
ZEN: I don't think we talked much about ourselves...
Jumin Han: Well, there's nothing bad about being careful, I guess. I will be watching you closely, Wisteria.
ZEN: What are you, a PI now? gawd
Jaehee Kang: In my opinion, our most crucial issue here is whether Wisteria is a threat to the RFA or not
ZEN: A threat? I think that's too much;;
Yoosung : It's someone Rika sent! Rika would never send a threat to us.
Jumin Han: If Wisteria's words are true, that would be so.
ZEN: ;; Suspecting isn't really my thing. I hope we can soon find out that Wisteria is a good person. Then, we can get the parties ready or something.
Jaehee Kang: Luciel is on it. We will soon find out.
Jumin Han: Anyhow, it seems the important issues have been taken care of. I should get going, I need to read a new business proposal plan...
Jaehee Kang: Mr. Han, there is something that I need to brief you about that. May I call you now?
Jumin Han: Go ahead.
Wisteria: Goodbye, both of you. Good luck with the rest of your day.
Jaehee Kang: Yes, I guess I'll see you more often.
Jumin Han: Hope all the questions about you are cleared soon, Wisteria. Hopefully in a good way.
Jaehee Kang: I hope so too.
Jumin Han: Well then, I'm off.
Jaehee Kang: I should get going too.
Jumin Han has left the chatroom.
Jaehee Kang has left the chatroom.
ZEN: Only three of us left in a flash. I wonder what kind of person you are, Wisteria.
Yoosung : Yeah, me too.
Wisteria: We'll take our time to get to know each other soon enough, talk and all, and get to know each other through that. I don't think I'm all that bad but I'll leave it up to you to make your own opinions.
ZEN: You're positive lol I luv that kind of attitude
Yoosung : I also have a lot I want to hear from you, Wisteria. Especially about Rika.
ZEN: I want to chat more but I need to get going. Duty calls. Wisteria, I look forward to getting to know you.
Yoosung : Aren't you going to say bye to me too, Zen?
Wisteria: Don't leave the boy hanging lol
ZEN: ANNOYED EMOJI Bye Yoosung. Yeah. See you later.
ZEN has left the chatroom.
Yoosung : Everyone's gone. Wisteria, Umm... Can't you at least tell me what you heard from Rika? Doesn't matter how small it is.
Wisteria: I've already said all I was told. I'm sorry that's so little information.
Yoosung : Then can at least tell me when and how Rika said those words? Did you talk with Rika directly? Did she leave any other words?
Wisteria: One at a time, please.
Yoosung : Oh... sorry. V told me that she committed suicide... but I couldn't believe that...there was no other evidence other than V's words...then you pop out, and say that Rika sent you... how do you think I'd feel?
Wisteria: It must be challenging for you. I lost someone like that myself once. I understand where you're coming from.
Yoosung : Thanks for saying that... I really cannot believe that Rika killed herself... I still can't believe it... Oh, I'm sorry My professor just called;; I'm a college student. I forgot that I set an appointment earlier on. I gotta go immediately T-T
Wisteria: Goodness. You should get going.
Yoosung : Oh god;;; why now? I think I have to take this call, seems essential. You must talk to me again!
Yoosung has left the chatroom.
The conversation had revealed a lot by the time everyone left me to my own devices and the RFA was as lost as they had been as I had come to know them but the grief was much more recent.
According to them, it had only been six months since Rika's accident. That was a surprise to me, but everything that was going wasn't anything I expected for that matter. Mystic Messenger took place almost two and half years after Rika's supposed suicide. I was considerably further back from the original story's origin and there was no explanation that I could find that could help me unravel the situation. Magenta was only in its infancy as of this moment and this building couldn't have been built to completion yet. There were sounds of construction that I could hear every now and again that lead me to that conclusion.
So, as far as I could tell, she was kicking off her plans way earlier for some reason. She ordered Ray to bring me here instead of the apartment, maybe for a controlled variable against Seven's background checks. It might have seemed more natural to use someone where they could make them do as they wanted willing or not. They wanted me to believe that this was a game, but there no ending in sight. I just had to plan a party, but beyond that, what was she planning? They couldn't just throw a party and bring everyone here against their will at said party. No, that wouldn't be the kind of thinking that Rika would possess and it was too much of a long shot to work that way. She thinks ahead, she has her ideal in her sights and I need to figure out what's going on fast and a way to stop it.
The weight of that bore down on me a ton of bricks.
I was just one person in the midst of this and I wasn't sure that I could do anything, but I knew the moment that I resolved myself to be brought here that - my fate wasn't my choice anymore. I came here thinking that this was some kind of trick, but it was becoming real fast. I involved myself, there was no turning back. Whatever happened to them was going to be my fault, I feared. I couldn't breathe. There was this panic, swirling in the back of my head that I wanted to fight.
Focus, find something to ground yourself.
Like, let's try and figure out this room.
I stood up from the small table in the middle of the room and began to inspect my new environment. It was elegant and unlike the simple modest feel that I had in my apartment. It made me feel like I was sitting in the middle of a posh hotel.
When the members of the RFA, Rika's Fundraising Organization, referred to their MC as a princess, I assumed that it was just some cute nickname that they all would give to her. She would be the princess to any of their stories as she saved them; She was less of a fairytale princess and more of a knight in my opinion if you wanted to think that she was saving the day every timeline for the characters. She was put to a higher status as we, the player, were usually lonely people who were seeking affection through a digital world as we couldn't have them in our reality. You could feel important to somebody. That was an aspect that I liked, many people liked that. However, it appeared as though Ray took the princess matter far beyond what I had expected. This room was decorated as if royalty were within it. The frills, the antiques, the flowers, it all reminded me a lot of storybook illustrations that I had been working on back home. It was busy by all means, the idea that Ray had put all of this together for my sake was a little... much. I was used to these kinds of sceneries.
This was the kind of room that I would want to paint for my collection and it was down to a tee the kind of thing that I liked.
What did that say for Ray?
Well, for one, he was all for this princess theory.
He had somehow managed to connect two universes with his technology, how, I wasn't sure, and why, I also didn't know. If Ray had been here with me down to the letter, that meant the people on the other end of this chatroom were very much as real as he was. That was a lot to take in at once and this was only the beginning of what they were going to be able to do once V and Seven cleared me of any suspicion. I had a feeling that I would be allowed in no matter what I said. V said he was going to be calling me; That meant that I could expect to be talking with the rest of the RFA as well. It was one thing when I was just sitting in my apartment and listening to them talk without having to think for a moment about answering with my voice. But now, now they were a simple tap away from me.
I stared at my phone just waiting for it to go off in my hands. Eventually, it did just that. V's photo illuminated my screen until I clicked the little green button to answer the message. "Hello? This is Wisteria, I assume you're V."
It was his voice that answered me not even a moment after that. "Oh, you speak English." was the first thing that he said in response.
I gripped the edge of my hair with my fingertips and let out a little broken but nervous laugh. "Um, yeah. It's the only thing I'm totally fluent in, my mastery of Korean isn't all that great. It would be super butchered if I tried right now. I hope that's alright."
His calm voice was surprising. V held himself together in the midst of a crisis like no one I had ever seen in my life. I kind of respected it, if I were in his place I'm not sure what or how I would handle it. "It's not a problem, I'm quite familiar with it through my work. Anyway, allow me to formally introduce myself. I am V, the head of the RFA. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you. The pleasure is mine." I said. V was calm and easy-going, I didn't expect to have a heavy barrage of information from him as if Jumin Han were trying to talk with me about information that I was withholding from the rest of the members. Of course, I had a lot of questions for him that I couldn't just outright ask at the moment either. I guess we were in the same boat when it came to that. "I'm sorry if I caused any trouble back there, I didn't mean to cause such a ruckus."
He took a breath on the other end of the call. "It's good to hear that you didn't hold ill intentions. It's great to hear you in person outside the chatroom. I called you because there was something that I wanted to ask you here. I already mentioned this in the chatroom back there but, uh... if it does not offend you, may I ask you something personal?" He asked.
I knew where this was heading. "Um, sure."
V didn't hesitate either, "Thank you for saying that. Can you tell me what you know about Rika? I believe it will be confusing for the rest of the members... if they hear it."
I hated to lie so I told only told him the bare minimum to get the point across. He had to know something was up, and I was holding onto that shred of information like it was a lifeline. He would want to know anything he could get about Rika if it was this close to her disappearance. I wasn't sure what he already knew or what it didn't. "I got an invitation from her that I was needed to fulfill her old duties in your organization."
"Huh... Just an invitation that told you to host parties for the organization?" He inquired.
"Yes, that's it more or less. I apologize that I don't have much other information, V." I said. Did V even know what Rika was doing? How exactly did he even discover what she was doing here in the first place? Was the suicide just a cover front for her disappearance or was there more to it than what I had been given thus far? Ugh, my head swirled with so many possibilities. "I'm in the dark on a lot of things as well... I just wanted to do as I was instructed in my invitation."
He was quiet. "Very well, for now. Thank you for answering me." He said with a hum. "Hmm... I think that's enough questions for now... And I believe there are limits to the conversation through the phone." The acid in the back of my throat was threatening to splash up the more that I spoke up. Lying wasn't my favorite thing. If anyone knew how to circumvent the situation this early - it would have been him but if Ray was monitoring my actions he could hack into the calls. He had a friendly face but I knew that I couldn't just - trust someone blindly - even if I wanted desperately to do so.
I had to walk a very shallow line on the edge of the deep end between my trust for the RFA and Ray if I was going to be working here in Mint Eye. There wasn't a guarantee that my phone calls were safe so I had to play it carefully for now until I found some kind of opening.
I swallowed, "...You're not suspecting me of something malicious are you, V?"
"No, that's not true. I was surprised that somebody who is a stranger to me talked about Rika. I thought I knew everything but I guess I didn't. That's only why I asked, I'm sorry if I offended you. Since you're here to hold parties, we share a common goal. So I'll help you to the best of my abilities. I'll tell you one by one... how a party is held. If you need my help or have any questions, please feel free to ask me anytime," He continued. "I hope we can spend a good time together, and I hope we can spend a good time with the rest of the RFA members as well."
I let out a breath I hadn't even known I had been holding.
"Please, leave it to me." I murmured.
Why was he so ready to trust me when I barely gave him an answer that made any sense? Could he be trying to figure out more about Rika's disappearance through me? Is that why he's vetting me now? If he was in his right mind this wouldn't even be happening. He had his suspicions, I'm sure. The issue now wasn't like the apartment, where Seven could see me and find out who I was in a matter of moments. He could only know me through my words and that was reaching for straws.
"I will. I hope you're a good person. Now I must leave... I look forward to your... future performances."
The other line went dead.
My mind needed a break to just... not deal with everything that just happened. I decided to check out what I could see from this floor and this room. Rising from my seat I headed over to the window to see if I could piece together my location. I couldn't see much from the window but I knew I wasn't on the first floor of this place. A jump from this height wouldn't end well. This building was very rural by all means, and it reminded me of the area that I grew up in... in that it seemed remote and away from bustling cities and any people. there were trees everywhere and the slope beneath me signified we were pretty high up on a hill.
Had it been different circumstances I might have liked the view.
"That doesn't tell me anything. I don't even know why I'm trying to... ugh, pointless." I lamented underneath my breath. Once more, I concluded there was no way out of Mint Eye for the time being. "I can't even remember all the twists and turns we took to get to this place. I don't even know where in the world in this country I am."
I headed to the door of my room and peered out of it. My head turned left and then turned right; It would be easy to get lost in this place, I knew, the walls were bare but posh. It seemed like one of those large hotels that had the same design on every floor. You couldn't dispute the looks and would only know where you were if a sign told you, or if you could gauge how high you were from a window. Rika spared no expense, that's for sure. I thought. Before I knew it I was out in the hall unsure of my next move, I was pacing back and forth, that was a habit of my anxiety when I had a hard time grounding myself back to Earth. All of the rooms were probably of the same varying states of quality but my gut warned me against looking right away.
My phone went off in my pocket and I picked it up without looking at the ID; A familiar voice rang through it. "Hello, Lila."
I stood still. "Oh, it's you, Ray. What's up?"
"I noticed you left your room a while ago, you weren't planning on exploring on your own, were you?" He asked.
"You... You were watching me?" I slowly began to say, trying to change that uncomfortable itch into a joke instead of a gasp of something else. "Well, that's impeaching on my privacy. I hope they're just in hallways, otherwise I might have to get onto you for watching me sleep next I see you."
I looked around for would be locations for cameras but came up short. There were cameras in this building but they were hidden out of my direct view. I couldn't be sure where to turn to duck from them. That would be something I would need to remember. Great, I thought. Another layer of defense that I hadn't initially considered. Ray could see me. This was like when the MC was in the apartment and Seven could see her in the hallway from his house. It was supposed to be comforting strangely when it was in that scenario but now it was a little nerve-wracking.
Ray didn't seem to understand that it was a quip. There was a little-strangled breath on his end that came from his mouth, it was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "O- Oh, um, y- you don't need to worry about that. There aren't any in that room. It - It's just in the hallways. There are cameras throughout our headquarters for security reasons, I hope you don't mind that I checked up on you, I was wondering if you had completed the first chatroom with the AIs." Ray admitted. "You were pacing back and forth for a while so I thought I needed to check on you. Everything's alright with the game right?"
"Oh... Yes, that's going fine." I told him. He could see my chat logs - I'm sure he knew how it went down to the letters that I used. All of the members of the RFA were now only a touch away. They at least existed somewhere in the world and were breathing. Their lives were intertwined with Rika. I wasn't okay with this way of interacting with them, but I pushed through the sinking feeling in my stomach. "They're peculiar characters... to say the least. I wasn't expecting them to be so... spirited? Sure, that's the word I'm looking for."
"I'm glad you've noticed their eccentricities, but you should be wary of those flaws.
"Do you like anyone in particular so far?" He asked, almost expectantly.
I didn't lean one way or the other with anyone in the RFA personally - I liked everyone. If I were to tell him any name it might not be a good idea. Showing favoritism might not be exactly a good idea knowing that he held ill feelings to most of the members, mentioning Seven was out for sure. His reaction towards his brother wouldn't be pleasant. "I guess it's too soon to say," I told him instead. On the other line, I could hear the clatter of fingers touching a keyboard. Ah, so that's where he is. There was a computer room somewhere in this building and that's where he had to be located most of the time. He had to be working double-time to keep Seven from locating this place during my chat. "It's only been a little while since I started playing. I haven't made up my mind that far ahead."
"Ah. Good point." He said.
"Aside from the game... to be honest with you, I was just a little curious about this place, I haven't been anywhere like this before, my curiosity's peaked quite a bit given these European inspired design elements," I said. My eyes focused on the little shine of a lens in the top left corner of the hallway. It was almost small enough that your eye might not catch it if you didn't look for the smallest flashing red dot in the crevice of the wall. "It reminds me of a castle given the grander."
"They spared no expense for quality," Ray automatically said. "You'll be able to explore soon, but given the construction in different wings has grown a bit busy in the past few days you'll have to wait before you can do that."
"I thought as much," I told him. That didn't tell me much, but there were people here other than just him and Rika, I did garner that now. "I didn't intend on straying far from my room, actually, I just wanted some fresh air for a moment, I was just about to head back in - sometimes when I'm alone for long periods of time I get a little stir-crazy."
He seemed pleased with this answer. "Oh, alright. I'll be dropping by sometime later so you won't feel too lonely down there for long. I just have a bit of work that I need to complete before then."
"Don't let me keep you then," I said. How long did he work? I couldn't imagine what Rika had gotten him to do in his time here - If he had time to keep Seven at bay and talk to me in the same instance then I couldn't imagine what kind of hours he might be working not to mention how intense it may be. I couldn't tell at first glance, but I knew his sleeping pattern was as bad as the one I had. The rings of purple were much clearer on his face than they were on mine. The implication of how he got those wasn't a good thing. "I would hate to think I might get you in trouble for slacking off or something, Ray."
"I'm good at completing many tasks at the same time, but I appreciate that you care about me like that, I was starting to feel a bit tired but I feel motivated once again now. Thanks, Lila."
My eyes didn't stray from the camera. I gave a small little wave at it, knowing that he was watching. "No problem. Now, make sure to take some breaks while you're working. It's not good for your health if you stare at monitors too long."
"Oh, thanks," He whispered as I hung up.
The day wasn't eventful from that moment on. The chatrooms slowly tricked in here and there but the day was relatively quiet as I adjusted myself to my new environment for the time being. A couple of texts did come in from the RFA, everybody was introducing themselves to varying degrees of kindness. Jaehee and Jumin were curt and to the point. Yoosung was bubbly and a little too curious about Rika. Zen and Seven were displayed varying degrees of humor that made me feel a little better and calmed my nerves. I hoped when they called I wouldn't have to give my butchered attempt at the Korean language.
God knows nobody wants to hear that.
All I had the time was to just pilfer everything my hands could reach and when I couldn't find anything to appease myself, I just sat down and let my exhaustion wash over me like a wave. I rested my head in my hands and just waited.
If somebody was worried about me and I knew I wasn't handling myself well on my own, I would let people know some of my struggles, never the whole picture, but some of it. There was a way to handle the issues- just not all at once when it may be overwhelming. There were a few people that I knew of that had that train of thought and well, speak of the devil, my phone had begun to ring in my hands with his name on it. It had been only an hour after I had spoken to V that I received this message and his voice came through the phone. I expected to be hearing from them one by one throughout the day but I didn't think Seven would be the first one after V.
His voice was loud and cheery. It almost made me jump given his tone. My body stood at attention in the chair I sat in and I listened to him talk back. "Oh, you answered right away. Since we got to talk like this, I'll officially introduce myself. My name is 707. This world's last hacker with a conscience! Hacker King 707!"
Crossing my leg over the other, I leaned forward into the palm of my hand to rest it. "Is that so? What a prestigious title! Did you claim through a tumultuous online war with other hackers to gain your throne, or did you just bestow it upon yourself? I have a feeling it's the later of the two but I don't think you'll let you me, will you?"
Seven laughed at my words. That sound was relieving to hear, he didn't seem to be playing the field differently than anyone else. He seemed amused that I was managing to joke now of all times, "Oh? Do you want to know? I might have to leave it up to your imagination if those are the things that you think. I am, after all, great enough to win a war with others. "
"I bet so," I said. "You have that kind of aura. I see V already filled you in on the language barrier. I was worried I might have to butcher your language for a minute there."
"It wasn't that much of a stretch for me. I'm fluent in many languages, it would be easier to list the ones that I don't know rather the ones that I do know that's how great I am. English was one the first one I learned after Korean so no need to fear communication with me! Although it doesn't quell my curiosity about you, I'll add to my mental list of you Wistera.
"You already have a list?" I asked, curious. "Wow, nobody's ever been that interested in me before. I guess I'll consider myself lucky then. I don't think I can expect the rest of my calls to you guys to be so simple."
"Well, actually, most of the RFA are fluent in English so it's not much of a barrier." He said, "Though Yoosung and Zen aren't all that great at it."
I thought of something. My brows were lined with confusion for a moment as I tried to figure something out. "Ouch. Wait, then how did your app translate everything back and forth?"
Seven had an answer for it. "The App has a translator implanted inside of it that can work with numerous languages. It helps for emailing different party guests or when I don't want to type in just one language." He explained.
"Impressive," I noted. "So you just coded it so you wouldn't have to settle on one language instead of just choosing what everyone else is using. I don't know if it's lazy or genius."
He chuckled at that. "It's a little of both, that's what I would say. I'll take that as a compliment to my character! Anyway, Miss Mysterious! I want to know about your psychological state. So I have an extraordinary psychological test to ask you. How about it?"
"Sure, why not, I'm not doing anything else right now." I murmured.
"Is that so? Oh, just hear me out and imagine. One day! Out of the blue! A person comes to you. That person asks you to test the newly released ice cream. Here's the question: What did that person look like?" He proposed an idea. I could only imagine his arms shooting out as he talked and enunciated his words with glee.
"If it were me, I wouldn't have paid much attention to what he could look like, hm, maybe he could have been good-looking... or maybe a nice looking woman? It wouldn't hit me at first. When people mention food I tend to get sidetracked and lose focus on everything." I said, musing the thought over and playing his little game. "You know what I mean?"
It was the truth, kind of.
"Ah... I wanted a more detailed description... So you're saying it's a likely a guy though... got it! Anyway, I'll tell you the result of the test! Drum roll! You're hungry right now. Am I right?" Seven said with a matter of fact voice that contrasted with the tone that he had held previously.
I held my hand to my lips to stifle the laugh. "Haha. You'd be mistaken, mostly, I just finished breakfast."
"Ah, but you were hungry! You can't hide that! So don't try to hide anything from me... it's no use. Anyway, that's the end of the test. It's a shame that I couldn't get the answer I was hoping for but... there's nothing I can do about that." His tone defeated.
"What did you think you were going to hear?" I inquired.
"Oh- it's nothing! Anyway, it was fun thanks to you. My mission is up here. I must get back to work. It was fun talking to you." Seven said.
"...So soon?"
"We can talk again later! See ya!" The call ended. On one hand, it was liberating to be able to talk to the RFA after I had only been able to choose from a set row of options for the longest time. It was kind of like a fever dream that I was having except it was really happening and I still couldn't believe it. On the other hand, it was a little scary to be able to know that I was talking to them and I wouldn't know what might happen when I talked. After all, this wasn't a game anymore. They weren't looking me like they would at MC because I just wasn't her, and this was their reality, not just a simulation of a reality like I had in my world.
That brought a thought to mind. What would happen if I were to research myself or anyone I knew in this realm?
The screen had lit up with my most recent quest. On my phone was the latest inquiry search that I had attempted. I had no way of knowing that Ray would check what I was doing outside of the RFA app, I couldn't risk searching for the members of the group and get away with it. I knew enough about them that I wouldn't have to worry about anything related to them just yet. I could find anything I needed to know about other things though, after trial and error, our worlds weren't all different from each other, names and things may have had other terms, but other than that we had the same reality. It was like reading the word wrong at first sight, however, for me.
Noogle... Not Google, so on and so forth.
The one thing that I had yet to research was, well, myself. Instead of directly searching for myself on the internet, I decided that I would look for my older sister first. It wouldn't be like it wasn't worth a shot at guessing. I held my breath and waited for the results to return: ZERO RESULTS FOUND. My heart sank. That was what I didn't want to happen. My fingers were moving before I could even think. I would try family, friends and former friends, even the names of products and companies only to discover time and time again that things were similar but they were the not the same. My search for anyone that I knew- any name and person that I could think of that would ground it back to my universe.
I held my breath and plunged my name into the text box and then hit send. It was the same disheartening reaction that I had received over and over already: ZERO RESULTS FOUND.
If I didn't exist, then there was nobody looking for me in this universe. I was on my own.