“Huh?! Whoa what’s going…?”

My Communicator keeps shouting error until I answered the freakin’ thing.

“Ugh… I hope I didn’t overslept…”

I pulled out my Stat-Checker. The time is 6:21 pm…

“… Did I sleep for three hours?!”

I press on my Communicator and call my manager.

“A bug? Man… I can still logout at…”

No logout button. Blank slate, nothing there.

It was there!! I logout many times before damn it!

“… Don’t panic… The players are playing normally right?”

“Unknown NPCs?”

I looked around, there are many people here… Something doesn’t look right with them… I been working as a Game Master for five years. I basically can tell an NPC by glance without having to look at their indicator! Everyone here is an NPC!

“Did some major hacking group attack the game? Or an update?”

“… The hell is going on?!”

So these so called NPCs are players or not? No… Even players have some sort of coding to them.

I glance around, everything seems to be in order… All I can notice is that there are considerably less people (NPC?!) here… Normally, you’ll have a lot of new and old players here mixing in with the NPCs…

I don’t see that many ‘player’ like people who often have weapons with them.

“Are you suggesting that I kill everybody?”

Oh, the <[TEXT]> thing is what you call an AI. Artificial Intelligence for those of you who don’t know what it stands for.

Well not entirely an AI anyway… We just call it AI. The AI is linked to the entire database of guidelines, rules, troubleshooting, and etc. program into it. If we somehow encounter something unusual like the situation is right now, the AI would provide us with a suggestion. Rarely does it that since we often report abnormalities to our managers.

“As much as I am capable of destroying entire servers, I rather not get my hands bloody if these guys haven’t actually done anything wrong.”

“I was thinking more that these guys are actually human than NPCs…”

“… Not so sure about that yet… Ugh… Now what do I do?”

“I don’t think patch notes is going to help us… Maybe I’ll… Collect information? Whoa! Wait do I still have my powers?!”

I check my GM Skill Screen.

“Wait… All of my power restrictions are lifted?”

“… That means I’m literally a god in this world…”

“Yeah… No wait… If I do that, then what’s the point in experiencing the world?”

With my power restrictions lifted, I can literally do almost anything. Downside is that I’m one of those guys that hate being lazy. I’m a pure being. Not really… Anyway, if I relied on my powers too much, then I will most likely become lazy… Once it’s gone… Then I’ll have a hard time adjusting.

“If I keep this up, I’ll become anti-social… The King of all anti-social tactics/skills (I ran out of ideas, okay?)… It’s best if I blend in with the crowd and” shivers “ask for information?”

<…>

Looks like the AI doesn’t have any comments on my social tactics. Oh well. My Stealth Mode is still on…

“I need a secluded place to decloak myself…”

…

I manage to find an alleyway with some barrels to decloak behind, it took a while since I had to adjust my radar to find a suitable place without any distraction. After finding one I teleported and deactivated Stealth Mode.

“Where do I go now? Oh yeah! The Info Center!”

The Info Center is a building often used by new players to find out more about certain features, abilities, laws and other sorts of questions one might asked. Like a FAQ in game. They also provide the patch notes if you want to read them in game. Not that it’s going to help us…

Anyway, I could teleport there… But that would just be me being lazy. I rather enjoy what people call ‘life’ and ‘effort’ since I am technically a god here… Maybe that doesn’t make any sense… Just think of me as being a down to earth guy okay?

Besides the scenery is nice… The stone floor has gotten a bit dirtier, but everything is bound to wear down eventually. The sky is clear of clouds and the sun is shining down, wonderful weather we’re having…

Everything seems fine, only… Everybody is staring at me… From their perspective, it is odd for a kid to be wearing a featureless masquerade mask. Wait… I just notice that my clothing is different than everyone… It’s like I’m a time traveler sent back into the semi-medieval age (plus fantasy magic fix with slight sci-fi) wandering like an idiot.

“I should have gone to the Info Center under stealth before uncloaking…”

Too late for that now, no choice but to run to the Info Center if I want to escape from these gaze.

“Sir, that kid looks very suspicious sir.”

“Ah, he ran away.”

The oddly dressed boy sped away with an unmatched speed.

“He’s a fast one.”

“Shall we report this?”

“… I think its best…”

…

Finally I reached the Info Center so sad that it’s full of people! The place seems more crowded than I could remember. No wait, they’re putting up stalls in the damn area! No wonder!

What is with all these goddamn market stalls?! Go to the freakin’ Community Market!

I am fully tempted to cause a tornado at the center of the crowd. So. Tempted. Half of it is because people are blocking my damn way, the second half is that you cannot setup stalls in this area. There is a restriction on market stalls in certain areas! This is one of them!

Players cannot setup market stalls in restricted areas. The stall kit wouldn’t budge. These people are NPCs (harsh words) so they are the loopholes in this rule.

I begin to feel heat emitting from my eyes causing my eye to glow red. You ever wonder why in film or animations where a character wears a mask, but the audience can’t see the damn eyes within those eye holes? It’s all shadowy and stuff?

Well mine is similar, it’s actually a sunglasses like feature. What’s with my glowing red eyes? They input that into my avatar so they know my mood. When I’m angry, my eyes start to glow red to indicate my building rage. When I say that my rage is legendary, I really mean my rage is world ending.

I cleaned out the entire server somehow three times. The only thing closest to that is a shutting down the server. (And I wasn’t fired or yelled at for that.)

People who saw my eye glowing red utter a small sound and took a step back. Judging by their reaction, they never seen a human eye glowing red like a star. They’re all normal people, though I think normal is overrated I understand if people want to not become a trouble magnet.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Please let me through.”

I said in the kindest voice I can muster. I’m not that angry, yet…

Everybody made way for me like how a positive and positive magnet repulse each other.

“Many thanks.”

I walked pass the stalls and gave them a glare for violating our rulebook. I’m like a Templar knight when it comes to our rules.

I decided to let them off actually, they’re all vendors that probably makes a living like this.

The Info Center is a large building like most of the public buildings. Its entrance door is permanently open unless an emergency comes up like an Invasion Event. I walked pass the entrance and into the noisy building.

First thing I notice is that there is another counter that was not there before.

“… An Item Shop? They built an Item Shop here?”

First things first about the Info Center. This place is for information like news channel and such. The second is for beginners to obtain beginner’s potion and equipment from the Info Center free of charge. They do not however, sell navigational items like Teleportation Scrolls; the reason for doing so is because we want to give the beginner players a chance to navigate and experience realistic travel.

“Ah whatever…”

Who am I to judge? Everyone. I’m the Game Master, I pass judgement.

But that’s not important, the first thing is to acquire information like a normal down to earth person. I like doing things the hard way sometimes.

The people in here aren’t crowding the area allowing me to make my way through the building and to the News counter. Along the way people gave me odd looks, which is starting to irk me.

Standing behind the News counter are three people. Two males and one female, I do not recognized all three of them. You may be saying that is because they are NPC I forgotten, but I been around since the beta version of the game and I know most of the NPCs by name and their background.

Especially the ones in the Info Center, the staff (Game Masters and such) make contact with the NPC in the Info Center more than any other NPCs. I know all of them personally, not these guys.

“Can I help you?”

One of the male staff wearing glasses nodded in my direction.

“Do you know anyone name Brad Wingman?”

The glasses guy frowned.

“You know the Head of the Info Center?”

The glasses guy is name Victor Stover. Victor noticed the oddly dressed child and felt that this boy isn’t someone ordinary by seeing his emblem on his uniform. He’s even wearing a high quality mask for god sake.

“I know him well enough. Do you know where he is?”

The boy is obviously irritated.

“Yes I do, but I’m afraid that he is busy.”

“Please call him out, tell him that Verden Kyler is asking for him.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“May I ask why?”

“If you are familiar with him then you would know that he is constantly in a trance like state. He is a Wiseman that strives for knowledge, he should not be disturbed.”

“He will awake from his meditation when someone mention my name. Please.”

“I cannot.”

“Is there a problem?”

Another employee walk up from behind and glance at the masked boy.

“Yes, this young boy, Verden Kyler wants to meet Master Brad Wingman. He said that he knows who Master Brad is and wants to meet with him immediately.”

“Verden Kyler is it? Howdy boy, my name is Jack Krieger. I’m the manager of this place.”

“I am twenty three years old. For future reference, please do not refer to me as a child.”

“Twenty three?”

Both Victor and Jack looked at me skeptically, I know it’s understandable. I do sound young, surprising I sound a lot older than an eleven years old, but that doesn’t stop me from getting angry. I knew I should have done this the easy way…

“Uh… Are you an elf or something?”

“No, I am something else.”

“Right… Kid.”

My eyes started glowing red. Victor and Jack stiffen at that; Jack started sweating while Victor grew paled and held his breathe. This glowing red eye is convenient.

“I apologized! But, but… Master Brad cannot –“

“Oh? Game Master Verden? Is that you?”

An elderly voice came from upstairs behind the counter. All three of us looked up; the two employees looked shock while I frowned.

Standing on the stairs is an elderly man with a long gray hair and shaved face. The elderly man is wearing a faded light blue robe and a crystal pendent. That pendent…

I check the elderly man’s indicator:

* Brad Wingman - NPC

Brad Wingman? Wait… But Brad Wingman is a man in his forties, he doesn’t look anything like an elderly man!

“It’s me alright… But… Are you really Brad Wingman?”

“Of course! In case you didn’t notice, we humans actually age.”

“I know that. I’m asking… This is awkward…”

“This is awkward for me too. It’s been exactly thirty years since I saw any Game Masters, I was worried!”

Thirty years?!

“Did you just say that it’s been thirty years?”

“Yes. What happened?”

“… I have no idea…”

Jack, who has been silently listening to our conversation interrupted with a polite bow to Brad.

“Master Brad, it is an honor to see you. Um, may I ask what is going on here?”

“Quite simple my boy, I awoke from my meditation and came out to meet with Verden here.”

“Your blunt sarcasm earned you the nickname Captain Obvious, Brad… Still the same as always, well… That’s good I guess.”

My comment made Brad howled with laughter.

“Captain Obvious Brad Wingman! Oh how I long to hear that nickname again! Hai. I haven’t changed much except for my appearance. Let’s head towards the meeting rooms, we can discuss in private.”

I looked around and notice that everyone is giving us the stares, all of them directed at Brad. Is he famous or something?

“Nothing to see here folks, please continue!”

With those words said from Jack, everyone resume what they were doing.

“I will unlock the doors to let you in Master Verden.”

“No need Victor, Verden can easily pass without our permission anyway.” (Brad)

“Yeah, it’ll be a pain to walk or jump over this counter.”

I teleported a few yards to get past the counter and walked up the stairs ignoring Victor and Jack’s expression.

…

Meeting room; it’s just a medium sized room with a large round table and twenty chairs. It’s as the name says; a room for meetings. I sat on one of the chairs while Brad sat two chairs away from me.

“What to say? It’s a good thing you finish your nap and came looking for me. I would had to do things the easy way if you didn’t show up.”

“I detected your presence, that’s why I woke up from my meditation.”

We Game Masters can influence NPCs’ decisions, but we don’t often do so. Anyway all NPCs are supposed to be respectful towards Game Masters, they will acknowledge us (unless we are in stealth mode).

Those two NPCs didn’t recognized me; one of the reasons why the AI will deem them an Unknown NPC Entity.

“Let me repeat what you said… It’s been thirty years here? In the Avant-Garde’s Mirror Sky world?”

“Correct, though the people here call the entire world Grandia.”

“Impossible…”

We have anniversaries and stuff but I do not remember the Development Team implicating a passing time feature.

Look, what I am trying to say is that every single thing in this world is supposed to be timeless unless the developers change it!

“What is impossible?”

“Time isn’t supposed to actually exist in this world…”

Brad snorted.

“Now it does. Ever since you Game Masters disappear, the world order began to restore itself. Where have you been?”

“… I took a nap for three hours and woke up finding myself isolated from contact.”

“Well the spirits didn’t tell me anything about you. Then again, you Game Masters are the gods that disobeys the laws of the universe.”

“Thirty years…”

“I was forty-seven years old when I last met you, now I am seventy-seven years old this year. Proof that it has been thirty years. You obviously know that.”

“... Well… Now what do I do?”

I have no idea how to get back to reality (or back to my world) even with all of my GM abilities…

“I don’t know, build a temple for yourself and proclaim yourself as a god.”

“What a meaningless thing to do.”

“Why not? I know you can do many things that even the deities of this world can’t do. Hell, I know you guys can even reverse time… Oh…”

… Light bulb…

“Oh yeah, I forgot I could do that.”

I don’t know how to call this situation, but the restoration files should still be there… Yup it is! If I can restore everything back to the… Update Patch or something I can maybe find out about what lead up to this situation. How convenient that my powers are unrestricted, normally and obviously, I can’t do these kind of things.

“Verden, please don’t.”

“Rule Zero Braddy, the GM is always right. So… Uh… Nothing…”

“Nothing?”

Brad look pitifully at the little figure slowly curling up in the chair.

“The restoration files… There’s nothing in it… It’s like everything is gone…”

I am truly done for… What am I to do in this world? Well… On the bright side, I don’t have to indulge in worldly laws… Yeah… No more work… File those annoying IRS Tax… I can do whatever I want in this world…

I brighten up a bit. Sure I may be anxious isolated from reality, but at least I am capable of fending for myself in this world.

“Okay, being all alone without my co-workers in this world isn’t that bad. I still have my powers.”

I uncurled and stood up from my chair and stretch.

“Question is what do I do now?”

“Well, for one you shouldn’t destroy this world like you did many years ago.”

“Three times actually. Some brat called me a brat.”

“Are you a chil- Uh… Forget what I was about to say. I’m just glad that I was able to meet you again. Everyone else…”

Brad Wingman is actually the first NPC ever created. The developers designed Brad to be someone who is knowledgeable on the game mechanics for new players and sometimes even veteran players. I might not have mention this, but the NPCs and mobs in this world are actually perfect AIs. They can feel, think, react and even adept to the situation without the developers interfering with their programming.

Because Brad is life like and being the first NPC, the developers and staff have a friendly relationship with him and converse with him. Eventually Brad knows most of the staff’s personality and even their families.

“You miss them. Don’t you?”

Brad nodded.

“I am close to death. Maybe I can live longer than an average human, but I will eventually die. When my creators disappeared, I felt like the world died, alone… Like how a child would feel if their parents died. But the world grew, new generations rise and the world recovered its color. Know what I am saying?”

“Yes. I must ask you one thing. What about the players?”

“The players… They disappeared as well. They were here, next they vanish into thin air. In fact, I’m not so certain about what happen… But around the world, civilizations made them into divine beings. Idolized them.”

“Idolized them?”

“Do you know Kritical and his assembly?”

“Of course I do.”

Kritical is a player who is the first one, along with his party to defeat all Seventy-two Malefic. The 72 Malefic are powerful bosses that holds unique abilities individually. Not only are they difficult to fight, but they were all were design to counter certain line ups, classes, and battle tactics.

“They turn Kritical and his ‘hero’ group into a legend. Do you want to hear the tale?”

“Oh? My first time hearing it, sounds interesting. Go on.”

“Ahem. You can find a storybook to read the full thing, I’ll just give you a brief summary. The legend talks about 72 demons who broke free of their realm and wreak havoc on Grandia. A lonely warrior rose from the countless ranks of mercenaries to stop the demonic threat, he traveled the world to find powerful allies and befriend them. Satisfied with his friends’ ability, they set out to fight against the 72 demons; each battle they fought was just as fierce as the next, eventually they manage to kill the last demon. Kritical’s Band of Heroes return home triumphantly, the end.”

“Sounds like it’s going to be an Epic poem.”

“There is a variant of that.”

“Oh, well I see what you mean. In the common people’s eyes, they are obviously godlike.”

“Sigh, not just the common people…”

“This is no longer the world I knew… Looks like everything is ancient history or even a folklore. Everything changed.”

“What are you brooding about?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. What do I do? Where do I live? What’s my function now?”

“Can’t you just create a living space for yourself? Didn’t your friend Curtis made another dimension as an event? With all sorts of strange monsters in it?”

“Yeah I can, but I… I don’t really know what I want.”

Brad rubbed his chin.

“Sucks being a god that can do almost everything huh?”

“Game Master, but yeah.”

“I heard from Game Manager Zhan that you’re into reenactments. Mostly battle reenactments.”

“Zhan Damnit! I’ll…! Ugh, yeah. I couldn’t play in most of it because of my appearance. People won’t take you seriously when you look like an eleven years old.”

“Aw, poor little – “

“Don’t push it.”

“I feel really bad for you. You did get a chance to be in a reenactment once right?”

“Not in any battle scene. I was neglected to a navigator.”

“Now I want to cry for you. Rest in pieces your dream.”

Normally I would destroy anybody (mostly NPCs and players) who makes a mockery of me, but I begin to felt depressed because it’s true. Then again… I can warp reality in this world…

“… Verden I didn’t mean it. I do however want to write a letter regarding about your condition to the King and Queen of Refallelia. They – “

“Oh whoa whoa… King of Refallelia? There is no king in Refallelia, only a queen… No wait, dammit it’s been thirty years. Never mind. I know the queen if she’s still the same queen thirty years ago, but not the king.”

“King Richard, Richard Regalia. A warrior king with a friendly personality, doesn’t seem to suit a warrior though.”

“Richard… Where did I hear the name before?”

“Hmm? There are many people named Richard.”

“No not that… Wait… Brad, did you receive a notice about a missing player called Tsrif?”

“It’s a bit fuzzy... But I did, why?”

“The king married the queen taking up the family name Regalia, what was his original family name?”

“Err… He called himself Richard Anderson I believe... Answer my question already, why?”