Chapter 49

~ Outside of the Box He is Trapped Within ~

SW/SW/SW

“Did you see the battle yesterday?”

“I did! It was kinda brutal, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah… was Azariel supposed to act like that? He looked alive and it was scary…”

“Dude, you can stop playing this game if you don’t like it. Go play dressing up games instead.”

“Sir,” a bespectacled woman greeted, a bottle of melon juice in hand. The man turned his gaze from the huge screen to face her. He raised his hand in acknowledgement.

She put the juice on the table, nodding to fellow programmers she met in the area. Her eyes went to the familiar figure resting on the table, whose head was covered with a helmet. He was paler than he once was and his figure was slightly thinner.

Exchanging a glance with her boss, she knew that this plan worked just like what they had planned.

“Mr. Johan, the website is full of players questioning our Advanced AI System, especially asking about Azariel. He was inhumanly unstable yesterday and didn’t follow the rule as a boss to battle last. They want us to change him back,” a programmer informed. He apparently had quite spare time to open the official website.

Johan, the figure sitting in front of the huge screen stretched, “Well, duh, we can’t. That’s what Advanced AI System is all about. The NPCs are living beings in the game. They act based on their programmed personalities. Azariel was designed to be a mad king, of course he is mad,” he scratched the back of his neck while giving the helmeted figure a glance.

…I’m quite surprised to see him play the role of Azariel so perfectly. As if he’s mad himself. Johan continued inwardly, a wry smile on his lips.

“Leave that to other department. We’re programmers. We work with codes, not people,” Johan sipped his favorite melon juice, eyes never leaving the machine the higher ups had sent.

It amazed him how… advanced the machine was. It allowed them to gather basic human needs data in the form of codes to develop GeaOnline further. It wouldn’t be long before the game was able to support the so-called 99% realistic pain.

Deus ex machina, if he said so.

...and it wouldn't be long before he could realize his own dream...

0000

Hilda hated Kail, that was for sure. He reminded her of her son of a bitch father, who had left her family alone to rot. He lived a corrupted life, just like Kail. He fought, smoke, and took drugs. Her mother even told her that he was a frequent visitor to a red district in a nearby town. Being a child of a diplomat had its own merits as no one dare to question him. Well, humans were hopeless when came in contact with money.

Her mother was even worse. How on earth she could fall in love with someone so… stupid like that. She must’ve been drugged or something. Or worse, hypnotized.

Hilda took a deep breath and stared straight ahead. She indeed hated Kail, but why was she here standing right in front of his house, still dressed in her school uniform? Why, she even missed her cram school! She hoped it was worth it!

She could not care less about what happened to him, but seeing as they knew each other at least she ought to pay her condolence. Who knows, she might get information about his mysterious disappearance. It sounded silly, but it might have something to do with Ace…

Hilda pushed the fence and stepped into the front yard. Turning her head to the left, she was met by a chubby, calico cat sleeping under a shade of an apple tree. Her lips formed a small smile as she approached the said cat. It stirred awake when she patted it and then continued sleeping as if nothing happened.

She left the cat alone and knocked at the front door. Several minutes later it was opened by a girl around her age. She was dressed in a simple, soft pink cardigan and skirt. Underneath, she wore a white t-shirt. Her luscious black hair was braided on her left shoulder.

“Hi, I’m Kail’s friend…” Hilda murmured and the girl smiled ever so slightly.

“Come on in,” the girl spoke, opening the door wider.

“Thank you,” Hilda murmured and entered the house. She took off her shoes and placed it near the door.

“Excuse me,” Hilda called to the girl. “Is this… is this our first meeting?”

The girl cocked her head to the side, “Why yes. Something wrong?”

Hilda frowned at this, “I’m sorry it’s just that… it’s just that I’ve seen your face somewhere… I’m sure of it.”

“Maybe you saw me around the neighborhood?” she, then, gestured towards Hilda to follow her, which Hilda quickly complied.

Seeing the girl from behind made Hilda’s memories ticklish. She was one hundred percent sure she saw the girl’s face before, but she forgot where. It was not from the neighborhood. Ah, Hilda wished she could remember!

Oh, well… that was not important. She was sure she could remember it sooner or later.

They sat on the sofa in the living room, facing each other. Hilda was the first to speak, “I’m sorry to hear the news. What did the police say? Have they found him?”

Kail’s sister shook her head slowly, keeping a neutral expression on her face, “Still no clue. It’s not like them to be so unmotivated in solving my brother’s case. I’ve called them many times, but they said they had no idea where to look. Besides, the kidnappers haven’t contacted us yet. It’s really, really weird…”

The police detectives had no idea and no contact yet from the kidnappers? Hilda wondered. “That’s odd. I’ve heard about the CCTV being placed in that area. Have they checked the recording?”

The little sister bit her lower lip and linked her fingers together, as if in prayers, “They have, but saying that there’s nothing wrong recorded on it. Just people passing through.”

There was a wrinkle on Hilda’s forehead as she listened to her. The police detectives had inspected the recording but refused to say anything? There’d be no way they’d do that unless… unless…

Hilda dreaded the outcome of this thinking.

...could it be that someone in power had Kail kidnapped?

“I’m sorry. I seem to have a knack for worsening the mood…” Kail’s sister said, eyes downcast.

“No, it’s okay,” Hilda shook her head, “if someone were to blame, then it should be me. I was the one asking for a depressing question.”

A silence ensued. Neither Hilda nor Kail’s sister spoke for a long time. Both were swimming in the depths of their minds. Finding that it was the time to leave, Hilda excused herself, “I’m so sorry but I have to go. It’s already dark out there, so…”

“Ah… yes, you’re right. Oh!” suddenly she exclaimed, “I forgot to brew some tea… I’m so sorry…”

“No, it’s okay really. Anyway, I have to go. Sorry to intrude on you so suddenly.”

The little sister smiled and led her to the front door, where Hilda quickly put on her shoes. After double-checking everything, she waved to the girl, “I hope they find him soon. Be strong.”

With that, Hilda left the house.

Standing beside the lamp post, she sighed. Why did she go to his house? He had nothing to do with Ace’s disappearance. They might have the same face, but that did not mean that they were the same person.

Kail was kidnapped and there was no ransom still. Ace… he was gone, too, but there was the probability that he might be busy with his work and personal life.

Hilda covered her face with one hand. DPS was right…

…it looked like she was back to square one…