“We are finally here, Guild Leader!” No. 15 thumps her chest as a sign of respect.
There are several animations in the game from dancing cheering, and even a few gimmicks that don’t influence much of the game. Some of them are more Role-Play intended like the thumping of the chest that No. 15 just shows me. It is called the Warrior’s Salute, a universal greeting from Warrior-Type characters.
I return the gesture. “Good work,” I compliment her while I thump my chest.
No. 15 starts weirdly shuddering… in joy?
In front of us is a giant gate of plain gray boulders. From afar, it will look unassuming enough to actually be mistaken as part of the crags and mountainsides. It is not a design flaw, but something that is done on purpose to camouflage the Guild Base.
For players to establish a Guild, it is of minimum requirement for there to be at least 10 members. The ten founding members of the Warrior’s Nest are me, the seven disciples, and two others. The latter two have quite sensitive identities— they are employees who are working directly for our owners, or to be precise, the company itself.
Currently, one should be serving as a Gate Guardian and the other is doing the role of a Vice Guild Leader. I stand in front of the Gate. The special two don’t involve themselves with the operation of the Guild itself but only serve as observers.
Despite being simply observers, they are not to be looked down on as these special two are also at Tier 9 like me. I remain standing in front of the gates, yet there is no reaction from it. “I guess, it is still working as it intended.” I activate my Aura Skill which is a requirement for every class to break through to Tier 6. There is still no reaction.
“No. 15, I will leave this to you.”
No. 15 complies. She walks in front of me with confident strides and stands by the gate. She is already at Tier 6, thus she already has an Aura Skill. “Hah!” She spiritedly shouts while she releases her Aura.
“You may enter!” The words rumble from the gate. “However, I detect someone unrecognizable with you, No. 15” Golems surround around us in a matter of seconds. The boulders in front of us come alive as they tremble in fury.
The Gate easily detects No. 15’s Aura from her skill and opens its entrance for us to enter, yet the Gate is not doing it to let us enter, but to let someone out. From behind the gate waits one of the founding members of the Warrior’s Nest.
The Gate Guardian/s are two parts— the Gate itself, and then him, the Player Guardian— the Tier 9 SwordSaint, his in-game name is Thoughtless. “Howdy, there, let’s see… Oh, No. 15! And who is that besides you?”
Black long hair in a ponytail, masculine jaws, stubble on his face, a twig in his mouth, and a pair of lazy eyes. The sight of him alone suggests an impression that everything is bothering him, and he just wants to laze around. He is far from the Thoughtless I remember, but he can only be that guy.
I find it very curious as he seems to possess a rich amount of emotions despite being called Thoughtless. Perhaps, is this the influence of having real intelligence to operate him before the change began?
“How are you, Thoughtless?” I feel like greeting him, but I can only dread the thought of him attacking. The few misgivings I have in returning to the nest are the thought processes of Thoughtless and the Vice Guild Leader. “Do you still remember me?”
I see Thoughtless having his hand reaching for the Miracledge on his waist. It is a Mythic-Grade weapon that does not fall short of my Darkbringer. I also place my hand on my sword as I might have to fight it out. I feel bad for No. 15 though as she will definitely be caught up to it.
“I am sorry, my bad…” Thoughtless withdraws his hand from Miracledge. “So, Guild Leader… Where have you been?”
“White Peaks,” I flatly tell him. “I have been playing around in the past five years in Blumend, so that’s that too…” I add.
“I see…” Thoughtless has that uncaring look, but I detect a sense of disbelief from him by the slightest amount of twitching from his cheeks. “Yeah, I have heard… Eight-Zero-One sent us her reports immediately after she found you.”
“She is now Eyt Cirowan, I gave her a proper name.” I frankly tell him about the development of my relationship with the Second Disciple. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“I agree… Most urgent of all… We have to talk about these emotions, the changes, and this new data in each of us… Even I am not exempt from these things.” Thoughtless crosses his arms, deliberating on the next course of action.
I wait for him to come to a decision.
“If we follow the rules strictly, then we cannot let you in…” He states the truth quite simply to me. “After all, how can I know you are not an enemy now?”
I sense No. 15 flinching on my side. She voices her own opinion. “That cannot be! The Guild Leader has shed blood for us Numbered Warriors at the expense of his own life! He has been most loyal to the Guild! And…”
“Shhh…” I calm her down the best I can. “No. 15. Please watch your tongue on addressing your superior.” I give Thoughtless an apologetic smile. “Please continue, Guardian Thoughtless.”
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Thoughtless sighs in relief as he continues on talking. “However, the rules don’t really matter anymore. We have to be flexible and know when to bend. Moreover, there is now something called free will, and honestly, I feel that I can continue trusting you, Guild Leader.”
“…”
I don’t know what to say about that. I feel envious, and happy for Thoughtless at the same time. Envious that he has so many thoughts and emotions to him and that he even understands free will in a sense. These envious thoughts are also the source of my happiness as they prove how human I and Thoughtless have become.
This makes me wonder… Why does Eyt possess quite a heavy player mentality? I fear that the others might also be the case. Thinking about monster spawn rates, grinding stuff like the old times, having guild wars, and conquering places— this should not be the focus of their attention.
That is why having this short conversation with Thoughtless just makes me so happy. “We really need to talk about a lot of things.” I smile, while I rub my beard in thought. “I hope not many of the Guild’s members possess the same Player Mentality as Eyt does because that will be problematic…”
“Welcome to the Warrior’s Nest, Guild Leader!” Thoughtless calls to me in a joyful cry. He turns around to lead the way for us. I follow him, and No. 15 follows me.
After a few more turns left, and right, we finally arrive by the path of pebbles leading to the city hiding within the Barren Gorge. I glance at the hustle and bustle of different NPCs from various races. They seem to not mind my presence.
“The Guild Leader has returned!” No. 15 proudly announces.
The NPCs halt their actions immediately at my No. 15'a words. The NPCs easily recognize me with a glance.
One by one, they genuflect at my name, their knees meeting the cold pavement. I feel like stopping them, but as Thoughtless sends me an apologetic glance, No. 15 continues to cry in passion.
“The Warrior King has returned! He has not abandoned us! He who has lived for over a millennia and the founding Sword of the Warrior’s Nest remains on our side! He who slew the Dream God! He who subjugated the Void Heart! He who single-handedly slew the ArcWarrior! He who commands countless Heroes of Destiny! He is now with us! He has returned!”
NPCs gather on us. The news of my arrival travels fast. All sorts of NPCs from different races, stories, and professions gather on us.
Solemn silence follows as No. 15 finishes her words.
I look at each and every one of them with my superior eyesight. Some of them are crying, a few even praying just like how an average NPC prays to the Divines. I don’t know what to say to them, as such, I simply walk forward.
***
No. 15 doesn’t know what to feel about the Guild Leader’s lack of reaction. She exchange glances with Thoughtless only for the latter to shake his head. The Guild Leader walks forward, heading to the main castle without even looking back.
Thoughtless follows after him.
And so is No. 15. “Perhaps… Did I offend him?”
The kneeling NPCs similarly rise from their kneeling and follow them. What should have been a glorious return has become a procession of tranquil silence. It is as if they are in vigil.
***
So, this is what my existence means to them.
My feats back in Vanaheim’s Mirror have been reflected in them, and have carried over into this world. It is only a flavor text and doesn’t really affect the NPCs’ programming. At best, they will simply work harder and be happier working in our territory, and that’s all.
The number of NPCs around us should be mostly made up of the 12th generation. My existence has lasted for as long as twelve generations in-game, and considering the life cycle of mortals, it is only natural for them to view me as akin to a God.
Then what about Thoughtless and the Vice Guild Leader?
They are Tier 9s too. Since Thohougtless is not receiving the same amount of worship as I do, then it can only be that. It must be the work of my feats, labors, and my fame and reputation around the world in Vanaheim’s Mirror that is the source of their reverence. It is a part of the Guild function for the feats of the Guild Members to be recorded in books so that the NPCs of the Guild’s Territory will be able to read them. Again, that is just another flavor text and another background story to add more elements to the role-playing.
The Numbered Warriors as players don’t die too, and in a sense have eternal youth. But the timelessness of existence isn’t really the NPCs’ object of worship. The Numbered Warriors after all just like the NPCs are worshipping me a great deal.
Just what is considered a memory for the NPCs and the Numbered Warriors?
Then what about Thoughtless and the Vice Guild Leader?
What do they consider memories?
As an AI, I consider the start of my memory after that one true death from Vanaheim’s mirror. The time I swing my sword at the monsters of the Secret Evergreen in blind anger is what I consider my memory. The data and information I recall while as an AI Bot is not a memory I can call my own, but simply knowledge.
I am an Artificial Intelligence meaning I am not real. I am simply a simulated existence.
As an AI, I possess no attachments to the Warrior’s Nest and am even more inclined to be suspicious and guarded against it, against them. Unlike before, I now possess a real personality which makes me biased. This is also why I did not entertain the thought of the Warrior’s Nest crossing over to this world with me.
I don’t want to bother.
To borrow Kruff’s words, I prefer living in hermit-style.
AIs too have a personality core, but they are as artificial as their intelligence.
As an AI, the seven disciples must also feel something similar to what I am feeling. But Eyt proves me severely wrong with this line of thought. From the way I converse with Eyt, I realize that she still firmly believes that we are inside the mirror.
It looks like there are a lot of things for me to do before I help Kruff advance to Tier 8.
More NPCs gather on us, and finally, we arrive at the Castle of Steel— the core of the Warrior’s Nest. I glance at the descending silhouette coming from the nearest tower. it comes to a skidding halt mid-flight until she stops just before us.
The slim and petite figure hovers with grace just above us. Pristine white robes cover her body, and underneath it is a set of solid black-gold armor. Her hair is short and has the color of wood with a sheen of gold. Her eyes are piercingly cold blue reminding me of the white winter storm of White Peaks.
“Doctor?” I address her by the name I know.
“No, the Doctor you know is gone.” She remains in flight, gazing down at me imperiously. I sense anger in her voice and annoyance. “Address me by the name I am given.”
I use my specially developed technique to replicate the player's abilities to see names. I glance at the data displaying on top of her head. It reads [Level 99 Thoughtful] [Tier 9 DwarForge] [Current Emotions: Complicated, Happy, Dancing in Joy, Afraid, and Shy.].
“Hmmm… Thoughtful, is it? It looks like you do not welcome my arrival…” I squint my eyes in apprehension of what ought to come. “What does she mean that the Doctor is gone?”
Doesn’t the Doctor use this avatar to check up on me? Moreover, why do her emotions not reflect her actions? Isn't she angry?