** “Now, this really is a delightful surprise, Peter! We’re here, in the Iregorn’s Inferno Summer, Open Tournament, and we’re seeing Shooting Stars doing a spectacular comeback!”

** “That’s right Mallory. One would think that after most of their members quit the guild, they would fade into obscurity, but look at them! They have climbed all the way to the semi-finals, and without even showing their Triumph Card, the powerful Golden Comet!”

** “If their idea was to prove that they could win a 5v5 tournament without Astrid Bradford in their team, and to show they’re still on the top guilds in all The Novus, well, it’s working!” **

“Yes, that was definitely her intention,” Amelia said, watching the video stream while sipping coffee. The camera was focusing on the weakest competitor on the battlefield, a level 83 female warrior, who could absorb elemental magic with her hands. “I would kill to have a Unique Skill like that,” she said bitterly and put the mug aside at the sight of two customers strolling towards the shop’s door. As the entrance bell rang, Amelia changed her somber expression into a friendly smile. “Welcome, come in!”

Upstairs, a busy Alan was perfecting his next project while Ashley observed the process.

“Why didn’t ‘Isabella I’ log out all the Users like she did with me, and restarted the Novus, Singular included? That would erase it, right?”

“Alan, by that time I was still Isabella I,” Ashley replied from atop his bed, Sloochie resting on her lap.

“Oh, right,” he whispered, glancing at her. “How old are you as Isabella II?”

“I was created two weeks before entering The Novus along with you.”

“Oh…” he said, looking down, before beaming. “So you know the song!”

Ashley stared at him for a moment before singing, “New London’s bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. New London’s bridge is falling down…”

“Awesome! Although now that I can see your face, you look like you're not enjoying the song at all!”

“I did not get any pleasure from singing it, that is true.”

He shut his ears. “I didn’t hear a thing!!”

“Responding to your previous question, it is impossible for Us to log out all the Users at once.”

“It was also impossible for you to enter The Novus.”

“This was an extraordinary case, many improbable events helped shape this workaround. Besides, even if it was possible, We would not be able to reset The System. The only way for Us to wipe The Novus, with the Singular caught inside, would be to physically destroy the entire Cryo-Chambers and the Central Mainframe.”

“So I’m still on my mission. To search for any damage or manipulation by The Singular inside The Novus and report back.”

“Yes. That was before talking to Adriano Silva and getting proof that The Singular has no authority here. The AI is trapped inside the body of a User, just like me, with no special powers.”

“Change of plans then?”

“Correct. Our mission is now to identify who The Singular is and report back. ‘Isabella I’ will log me out in 90 Real Life days. That would be 540 Novus Days.”

“That should be enough, right?” Alan said, looking absently at the crafting parts. “Where's the trigger?”

“Here it is, Master Alan.”

“I thought you asked her not to call you Master,” Ashley said, as Sloochie jumped out of the bed and exited the room.

“It seems that if I don’t ‘order’ her, she won’t reprogram her habits.”

Ashley stared at Alan’s eyes as he finished reassembling a shotgun. “Can I ask you a question, Alan?”

“Sure,” he said while showing the weapon to Anastasia. “Did you see how I did it? Now try to disassemble and assemble it back.”

“Of course, Master.”

“Why are we always talking about our mission?” Ashley blurted out, making Alan turn to her, perplexed.

“I hadn’t noticed that.”

“We are always talking about leveling up, The Singular, The Santa María, gearing up, crafting, selling materials, getting parts…”

“S-sorry,” Alan whispered, looking down. What’s with her all of a sudden? “It’s just that I never considered that you would like to talk about other things.”

“Our mission is important, and it’s our priority, yes. But even if you get stronger, if you do not rest, your mind will not keep up.”

For a moment, I forgot that you were programmed to be the Protector of Humanity.

“You’re right. Hey, maybe we could go visit the Slime Village tomorrow, and see how they’re doing.”

Ashley gave him a half-smile. “I would like that.”

Is it me or is she acting more human-like?

Alan smiled at her too, until clicking sounds behind him distracted him.

“It is done, Master,” Anastasia said, giving him the weapon.

“Wait, I didn’t see a thing.”

“Would you like me to do it again?”

“Can I try?” Ashley asked, suddenly too close to Alan’s face.

He glanced back at Anastasia’s electric-blue eyes, striking facial features, and at her cute fox ears. Then he looked back at Ashley’s beautiful, curious expression.

She’s right. If I put too much stress on myself, I won’t be able to confront the incoming storm. I should be happy to be surrounded by beauties!

“You’re both helluva cute.”

“Thank you, Master, tee-hee.”

“That’s unrelated to my question.”

Maybe Amelia was right, and I’m unconsciously creating a harem… He glanced at Anastasia’s plump lips. She would kiss me if I asked her to. And Ashley is interested in new experiences. Ah, the possibilities.

He hid his flushed cheeks while Ashley looked at her surroundings, frowning.

“Look at these earrings, Scarlett,” a customer said to her friend, selecting the item and looking at herself in a mirror-like window, previewing how she would look wearing them. “Aren’t they lovely?”

“Sure,” her partner said, absently browsing the displays.

This other girl doesn’t look like she enjoys girly stuff, Amelia thought, watching the second customer’s grimace and botch persona. “Scarlett, right?” Amelia called aloud while changing the content of the displays in front of her. “I also have a variety of rock and punk-inspired accessories.”

Scarlett’s gaze landed on a black choker with a silver skull on it, which she previewed in the Mirror-Window. “Yeah, this is more like it.”

Another happy customer, Amelia smiled at the sight of the notification stating that she had received 200 gold. from each girl. She glanced at their levels, 41 and 42. “Hey, I haven’t seen you around. Where do you come from?”

“We’re from Espaniel! My name is Serenity, and you know Scarlett’s name already. We wanted to revisit the Beginner’s Town, and see how everything looks now, isn’t that right?” She turned to her friend, who kept staring at her reflection.

“It looks the same to me. It was a big surprise to learn there were still people here.”

“I know, right!” Amelia giggled. “I used to live in Londorus, so moving here made me question why people would enjoy living a dull life here. For me, opening this shop is the most exciting event that has happened here in a long time.”

Serenity stared at Amelia before grinning ear to ear. “I completely agree with what you say. But that would also apply to the entire Userbase here.” She strolled towards the counter, meeting Amelia’s puzzled gaze. “Traveling the galaxy is the most exciting thing that has happened to humanity since the invention of the wheel. And yet, people here spend their time battling, and playing. They might be enjoying all kinds of pleasures, but it isn’t anything new.”

“An exact recreation of what Earth was like 200 years ago,” Scarlett said aloud, joining her friend.

Amelia sneered, tilting her head. “What do you expect us to do, then? We’re stuck here until finding a new home planet. Besides, I enjoy being able to do whatever I desire. Even if that means staring into a wall or having adventures killing dragons.”

“Do you consider yourself a hedonist, Miss Shop Owner?”

“Sure. Why not? I like drinking wine and coffee, listening to Miss Cosmica’s music, and I love watching my enemies burn to ashes.”

In less than a second, Scarlett reached out to grab Amelia by the neck, lifting her off the ground.

“Hedonism is for the short-sighted,” Serenity said as her black hair turned white.

Scarlett also changed appearance, gaining muscle and height, until she towered over Amelia.

I can’t cast! Amelia thought, feeling that her consciousness faded before a squeaking sound was heard from the bottom of the stairs. Sloochie? No, run! Warn Alan!

Serenity, who shut her eyes for a couple of seconds, looked up and gestured to her partner. “Upstairs.”

“We’re done with her then,” Scarlett said before cracking Amelia’s neck.

Sloochie dashed into Alan’s room, squealing.

“What is it, buddy?”

“It says that Amelia is in danger,” Anastasia said, with a monotone voice, unlike her usual joyful tone.

Before Alan could question her, Ashley pushed him aside. “Watch out!”

A long, purple whip split the room’s floor and the entire house in half, smoke entering from the new gap.

“What the hell was that?! And is the house on fire?!”

“Let’s go, Master,” Anastasia said, carrying Alan’s on her shoulder and jumping out of the window.

“W-wait!” Once landing on the street, Alan could see their home engulfed in flames. “Amelia!”