Somehow Niki immediately latched on to Sayooshi. And from then on, Niki joined the group.

Niki and Sayooshi were both using virtual reality headsets and controllers to play the game. Krafty also uses a VR headset to play the game but sometimes he switches between VR controls and a regular console controller. Meanwhile, it was questionable whether Remixhorizon was using a VR headset or not, but she was certainly playing with mouse and keyboard.

Speaking of Remixhorizon... For whatever reason, she has already grown attached to Sayooshi and Krafty. And as a fellow woman, not a mere girl, she was very skeptical and annoyed with Niki's behavior so far. Who was this random lady, wearing such a frivolous outfit and playing the game as a clerical-bard? And how dare she act so chummy with Sayooshi? Maybe she might be a bit older than Remix...and maybe she's a higher level and generally a better skilled player... but it isn't an excuse for being so strange, even with strangers on the internet!

The party, of now four, people were walking westward following the path. Krafty and Sayooshi were getting to know this eccentric Player, exchanging their player names and when they started playing the game. It's been about six months since the release of Divine Mortality, and people have already began measuring their 'experience as a veteran player'. Krafty also introduced his player character's background and whatnot, Niki did the same. They were working on the same roleplayer wavelength, which made Sayooshi cringe a little to the side. Meanwhile, Remixhorizon was walking slightly behind the group. At one point Niki turned around momentarily and showed off a smug (emote) face directly at Remixhorizon. A lightly SLAM sound emitted from someone's desk.

"Did anyone hear that?" Krafty asked, but Niki turned his attention quickly away asking him about whether he has any ingame pets or if he owns a player-home

Five minutes after Niki killed the annoying teenage lads, she was still walking along this new group. Krafty was taken away by her charisma, and so way Sayooshi, only for a bit because he was still wary of this clearly suspicious character that's acting a bit too forward with strangers she's never met before. Perhaps she's some sadistic player-killer?

"Umm, Niki... are you a Player Killer?" Sayooshi asked while slightly blushing and turning his headset to see that Niki was still hugging his virtual body

This isn't good... nope nope nope.... but maybe she's interested in my character's appearance? I am a slightly chubby, tanned skinned, blue haired Elf guy...that's a bit exotic right? No. Shut up idiot! God I'm such a loser... stay away stay away stay away stay away-

Niki ran up in front of the group, she continued to face them while walking backwards and extended her arms like "ta-dah!" while smiling

"Yes I am!" She said happily, which worried everyone else.

"I'M NIKI, the BEST full-time Bard-Cleric (slash) part-time assassin! I kill other Players for fun, buuuuuut don't worry... just those who deserve it! Teehee"

"Uhhhh! S-s-so... so you are a Player Killer!" Krafty cried out, emotional as ever

"Yup!"

Who'd have expected a lady in the middle of the woods getting harassed by a**hole guys to actually be an honest player killer?

"So you just go around killing anyone you come across that bothers you?" Sayooshi righteously assumed

"Hmmm... let me think... hmm... nope. It's kind of, the other way around! I found those two young men asking if anyone wanted to help them finish a quest out here in the woods. When they saw me offer my help, I bet their eyes instantly dirtied my body...ew! But, they started of gentle, yet during and after we finished the quest...they just kept harassing poor little old me... wanting to hear this precious voice of mine... so I gave them what they wanted, a climax, where I slew them teehee"

I can't tell if she was the victim of this story or not

"This happens to you everyday?!?" Krafty asked out of worry because of the misogyny or uncomfortable harassment (of all kinds) that can happen in these games

"Yup! I love luring men, and women, out of their cozy cities...warming them up, and then if fate decides... I slay'em!" Niki's smile looks heartwarming, but with the context just provided... not as much

...

"Well, you have fun doing that. Please don't attack us, we'll be on our way" Sayooshi said, Krafty didn't have time to react, and Remixhorizon nodded

"Wait! Please wait a moment, my, Sayooshi... would me mind if I join your little fellowship?"

Nope nope nope nope...she's suspicious... stay away stay away STAY AWAY.

"If you promise not to hurt more people without a good reason!" Krafty said instantly,

Underneath her character's indifferent expression, Remixhorizon was in dismay. They were just about to get rid of Niki, this vixen! And plus... this group ain't big enough for two assassin-type characters. Even if you are better than me despite being just a support-healer type character... Thought Remixhorizon. She wanted to disagree with Krafty's openness but didn't know what to exactly say at the moment.

Niki's player-character pressed herself against Sayooshi's again. I'm sorry brain!

"Fine... just please be honest with us because... you're legitimately very suspicious, and we're doing something uh, a bit important"

"And a bit creepy" added Remixhorizon.Sayooshi quickly agreed.

Niki gracefully stepped back in front of everyone, bowed, and stepped to the side. She leaned her body a little and her arms said "lead the way"

The dirt path eventually came to an end and all that was left were trees. Maybe a trail here and there, but from now on they group walked around the woods, searching for the village Makron. After a few minutes of nothing, they decided to move towards the river, which served as a natural boundary between Sonder and the Hinterlands.

While searching, Krafty and Sayooshi were questioning who Niki was. But, in fair exchange, Niki requested them to finally tell her what they were up to. She admitted that a part of the reason why she wanted to join them is because she could sense that the three Players were doing something interesting. It is rare to find another Player in this part of the Overworld. Sayooshi explained that he received a quest from a Dwarf in Kurejar but it was hard to complete, the directions and clues of the quest were inconclusive and so they decided to find the village Makron because something foul is happening there.

"No no no, I'm not asking about your question... I want to know how you three met up! Because I can already tell that you three aren't close friends...so what's up with that? And, why shouldn't I smooth in and link myself with you too, Sayooshi?

"Why are you targeting Sayooshi, Niki?!" Remixhorizon finally spoke up

"My my, well, isn't it obvious? Sir Krafty I don't think would appreciate something like this, plus Sayooshi... I can tell, is a young man. And, today I'm just not feeling young girls like you, sorry sweety."

Another desk light SLAM (-10 HP), and this time everyone knew who it came from

"Niki tone down your seduction! It's a bit too weird. Also, if you need to know anything about me, is that I hate roleplayers" said Sayooshi

"My my, sorry sir Sayooooooshi"

"Yeah, I can back Sayooshi up on this. He really doesn't like it when I roleplay... but I'll do it anyways!" Krafty added, but he didn't realize that it also subtracted from Sayooshi's attempted authoritative stance

"You all are peaking my interest!" Niki chuckled

...

"Anyways, I don't know how you're good at finding people out like this, but you're basically right. Krafty and Remix are new friends, and they're helping me out with a personal project." Sayooshi concluded, and Krafty and Remixhorizon nodded in agreement

"I like... this cohesion you three have. Don't worry, I'll take my time, but I'd like to get to know about your project...Personally." Niki chuckled again, on the border between creepy and character-roleplay

A few minutes later and the group was still searching for the village. The four individuals split up to better scour the area. Sayooshi was exploring next to the river, Krafty was exploring northward, Niki went southward. But Remixhorizon followed Niki. She approached the self-proclaimed superstar, who was suspiciously silly the whole time and that made Remixhorizon a bit uncomfortable.

"Oh, did I go the wrong I direction?" Niki said upon noticing Remixhorizon behind her, in local voice chat

"No you didn't. I just wanted to ask you something..."

"Sure, go ahead, I'm all ears sweety" Niki smiled back

"Umm, don't get the wrong idea or anything. But can you not play around so much with Sayooshi...-"

Up to this point Niki was focused on finding the fabled village called Makron. But her curiosity peaked, so she spun around and paid full attention to the short ninja character. Her face smug again, but she remained quiet and respectful of what Remixhorizon was trying to say.

"Like- like you see... he's a little...He's a lonely guy who is sorta obsessed with creating a successful Player Government! Or whatever, and umm, if you distract him too much he'll probably loose track... Me, and I think Krafty too, really lik- REALLY enjoy playing with him because he's so goal-oriented."

Remixhorizon gushed out what she had on her mind, the best way she could without getting on Niki's bad side. Niki meanwhile, continued staring in smug amazement. Behind the headset, Niki was entertained. And she waited a little longer, to see if the shy ninja-girl was going to say anything else...

"And I'm sure you're really pretty in real life, at least your voice is soothing and you seem like a really charismatic person... SO I'm sorry if you have random dudes hitting on you when you're walking outside and stuff. But, could you please not redirect your stress or whatever out into our party...!?"

RemixHorizon realized she said something inappropriate. But the truth was, even if it was wrong, she felt that ugly emotion and wanted to surge it out.

"...I mean, if you are doing that..."

She tried to add a little extra cushion from that fall from grace.

...

Finally after a moment of silence Niki laughed out loud. But this time it didn't piss Remixhorizon off because Niki's laugh sounded genuine and lighthearted now. There wasn't a dramatic age difference between Niki and Remixhorizon, but Niki felt much more mature.

"Don't worry Remix! I'm just playing around a little. I won't take your man-"

"No that's not what I mean!!!" Remixhorizon quietly screeched in embarrassment and false accusation.

"Anyways, you don't need to worry about me. You see, I can't move my legs. So, sometimes I'm stuck in the hospital or sometimes I'm stuck at home. By the way I'm not asking for sympathy. But, the point is, playing this game allows me to be a lot more frisky than I would or could ever be in real life-"

"Stop! I'm sorry! I'm VERY sorry!"

"Don't be silly"

A minute after their conversation, Krafty alerted everyone in the Party's voice chat that he found Makron.

When the Party gathered together, Niki acted 'normal', Krafty and Sayooshi were excited, and RemixHorizon was dead silent. Which wasn't unusual half the time, but this time she felt internally guilty after an 'eye-opening' conversation with Niki. She wasn't completely bashing herself, because a part of her mind understood that Niki is still a stranger and could be making things up. But the people around Remix so far, have been 'real' and 'legit' individuals with their own personalities.

They immediately set off, entering Makron to check out what's going on in there.