2nd chapter - the first disturbance

Because I don't have any other things to do, my main activities is only log out for eat and a quick shower and the rest of it i spend inside the game since I can also sleep inside the game.

With Sakuya accompanying me, i quickly grasp the basic of the game and within a few days I'm already level 15 and she's at 11. Having her besides me is really convinience. She is an NPC and she is connected to the game database, if I don't know anything about the game, I can easily ask her. She is truly a walking gamencyclopedia. Hahaha...

After two weeks hunting with Sakuya, I’m getting curious. She always talked like a robot. She has a vast knowledge about the game. She doesn’t have any expression and finally she wouldn’t tell me what she was doing when I logged off.

“Hey, Sakuya. How do I see your status window?”

“The command is guardian window master.”

I executed the command and take a look at her windows. Name: Sakuya. Level: 32. Current class: caster (supportive). Advanced class: cleric (level 50- still have to do regular job change quest). Traits: free willed, *****. Fondness: 100%.

When I looked at it, no matter what it is strange. Our fondness level has reached 100% even though I never paid any attention to her. What’s more seems suspicious is the censored part at her traits.

“Hey Sakuya. Why can’t I see the full windows? There is a censored part in here.”

“That’s my privacy master. Master has given me permission to do whatever I want. So, hiding some information is allowed.”

“Hey, I’m your master you know that.”

“I acknowledge you as my master. But since you have given me a freedom, I can do anything I want.”

“Ugh.”

I can’t win in an argument against an artificial intelligence that’s been programmed to answer anything. I feel so hopeless for myself. But the day I spent with Sakuya is not that bad. I can feel refreshed every time I look at her.

“More importantly master, leveling up when you have reached level 30 has becoming harder. Won’t you join in a party with other player? I have a list of potential candidates.”

Honestly, I still don’t trust other people that much. But, if that’s what she suggested, I think there’s no harm in trying.

“Sure. It can give me a new atmosphere any way.”

“Okay master. There are three promising party member right now. They are currently inside a bar in the city. Should we go now?”

“Okay.”

When we arrived at the bar, I didn’t put my hopes too high. She managed to gather the three players and I started to take a quick look at them. The first man is tall and has a muscular built, his class is a fighter and probably he has an experience in martial arts before. The second one is a cute girl in yellow robe; most likely she is an offensive caster. The last person is a man with a tanned skin. He carries a large bow on his back, so probably he’s an archer.

“Hello everyone, I’m a thief level 33 and my guardian over here is a supportive caster level 32. Would you like to join my party?”

The first one to talk among them is the cute girl.

“Hello. My name is Lime and I’m an offensive caster level 30. I would be glad to join your party.”

“My name is Greenhorn, a level 31 fighter. I’m in.”

“My name is Orin. Level 28 archer. If you’re willing to let me join, I’ll go with you.”

“Okay. That’s great. Let’s get going then”

Our introduction is short and we didn’t talk too much on our way except for Lime. She keeps talking along the road and makes the party lively. It’s a bit loud, but I don’t hate it.

When we’re hunting in a party, I can feel the different. Usually Sakuya keep a distance from me while I’m charging towards the enemy. In this party, Greenhorn acts as our tank while I’m helping him in guiding the monster. Sakuya keeps our health on check and Lime keep casting some spell. Orin on the other hand, despite his level is the lowest among us, his attack deal a better damage than mine.

So this is how we hunt in a party. It really put me at ease knowing that someone is watching your back. I was hoping that our hunting days can continue. It’s one of the happiest moments in my life.

But, it was all just my own delusion. One by one they started to show their true color. Lime and Greenhorn monopolize the drop that we get. Although we already agreed that it would be evenly distributed, I can’t say anything. Orin too has been secretly whispering me, asking what we should do. But I didn’t have the courage to speak up to them.

I’m afraid. Afraid of what? Afraid that they would bully me? No, it wouldn’t be possible in here. What do I afraid? Ooh... I finally realized that I would be left behind again. Alone... just like how my friend abandoned me. So, I guess what I can do right now is bear with it.

Until one day, when we return from our hunt Sakuya stand up and speak to Lime.

“Hey, Lime. I have been seeing you for the last few days and you’re not agreeing with the party policy.”

“Heh. What do yo know little girl? You’re just a program.”

“It is true that I’m just a program, but I know what is wrong and what is right?”

“Ooh... so you’re saying that what I do is wrong then?”

“Yes, you’re wrong.”

“Heh. You sure have some guts to talk back to me.”

We all tried to stop them, but Lime already lost her mind. She pulls Sakuya outside with her to a dark alley in town. We couldn’t do anything but follow them.

“You’re just a guardian. No matter what you want to do, you can’t attack a player. It’s one of your restrictions. But on the other hand. I can do anything I want to you... Hahaha.”

Lime usual smile has disappear and replaced by an evil grin.

“Stop.”

I tried to separates them but Greenhorn is blocking my way. Even though me and Orin tried to get past him, he’s tall body is a really big obstacle.

“Ugh, damn it.”

At that time, Lime grabs Sakuya’s arm and tied them together. She then look at her and said.

“I have enough of your face already. You think that you’re pretty huh? I want to smash that silly face of yours. It’s also a good time to find out, what I can do to a NPC? Huahahaha.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Sakuya on the other hand seemed to be frozen. She didn’t understand what is happening right now.

“Let’s have some fun shall we?”

Lime then slowly strips Sakuya. She keeps showing her nasty face that is full of pleasure. She really enjoyed it.

“Move it Greenhorn.”

I desperately tried to get past Greenhorn. I must stop this before its gotten worse. By the time I looked again, Sakuya has been stripped down, until she only wears undergarment.

“Hehehe... look at that smooth skin. I wonder what will happen if I leave a mark here and there.”

Lime surely has gone mad. She takes out a small dagger and she licks Sakuya cheek on the process.

Lime slowly moves her dagger. She pushes the dagger to Sakuya’s neck a little and causing some blood to spill out. She licks her neck to taste the blood and she keeps moving her dagger towards her chest.

“Hmm... such a sweet taste. Let’s make you feel better.”

It seemed like that she want to cut her bra. Sakuya is still silent and do nothing she only shows a little painful expression when her neck is wounded. I was yelling as hard as I can and tried to get past Greenhorn.

“Stop it Lime. Damn you Greenhorn. Sakuya, what happened to you? Why you’re just standing there and do nothing?”

“Huahahaha... stop struggling little master. Can’t you see that she is enjoying this? She totally surrendered to me. She’s just a simple program that’s been given a humanoid shape. She can’t think and she can’t feel anything. Even if I killed her, she’s just going to be replaced.”

But, when Lime is going to cut Sakuya’s bra. Tears flow out from Sakuya’s eyes.

“m-m-ma-mas-ter... h-h-he-lp me...”

When I see that, my mind then goes into a chaos. What can I do to safe her? What should I do? How do I get past Greenhorn? How do I stop Lime? When I constantly thinking suddenly I can feel my brain is in a blank state.

It feels like watching a movie. Everything around me goes into a slow motion state. I calmly take out my dagger and I stab Greenhorn in the heart. I easily go past him because his movements are too slow right now. I quickly cut Lime’s neck and I hug Sakuya after that.

The clock seemed to be moving again and that moments passed away in an instant.

Greenhorn and Lime quickly disappear into a glowing dust.

I keep hugging Sakuya and her tears keep falling down and she’s now crying.

“Hick...hick... m-master... I’m sorry...”

I patted her head slowly and whispered to her ear.

“Don’t worry. As your master I have a responsibility to protect you.”

“Hua... master... please keep protecting me.”

“I promised. I will never leave your side.”

While we’re hugging together, we forgot about one thing, Orin is there. From his point of view, in a blink of an eye, the scene where Greenhorn blocks the way and Lime is harassing Sakuya has changed. In a mere seconds now I’m consoling Sakuya. He’s coming at us and asked in confusion.

“What’s just happened?”

“I killed Greenhorn and Lime, and safe Sakuya.”

“No, what I mean is, what’s just happened? I just close my eyes for milliseconds while I’m blinking and when I opened it again Greenhorn and Lime has died.”

“As I told you, I killed them.”

“How? Attacking another player shouldn’t be possible in town. Furthermore it happened too quickly.”

“I don’t know either.”

While still in his shocked state, Orin seemed to think carefully. He finally regained his sense and talked to me.

“Let me introduce myself once again. My real account name is Genki. I’m a game master from FFAID Corporation. I was assigned to gather some data while pretending to play as a regular player. So, could you please tell me now what’s really happened?”

“As I have told you before. I don’t know how, but I killed Greenhorn and Lime. More importantly, can you do something about the NPC in this game? You see what have just happened to Sakuya right?”

“Hmm... I won’t promise you anything but I’ll try to do my best. I’ll register your name on my GM account friend’s list. So, if any other things happened, tell me okay?”

“Alright. So, Sakuya let’s get going now. We should find you new clothes.”

Sakuya finally realized her current condition and try her best to cover her body. She then talks in her usual angelic voice with no tone.

“Master, you’re a pervert.”

After that, we laugh and dismissing Greenhorn and Lime from our party. Orin also left our party because he will return to his GM character. Maybe he’s the only person that I could trust in the game. He’s a GM so he probably doesn’t want anything from me. He’s a good guy and sometimes sent a message asking about me and Sakuya’s condition.

You can also trust his words. A week after that, a new command of GM call has been added to the system. There is also a new law regarding the NPC. A player that’s trying to kill an NPC or do anything inappropriate will have their character frozen permanently.

But, after that incident, I only have one reason to play. I want to get stronger. Stronger than anybody else. I don’t want to let Sakuya have another bad experience again. I want to protect her.

I keep hunting and hunting. I only logged off to have a meal or to go to the bathroom. Other than that, I spent my days with Sakuya. I also notice that she’s starting to change and that’s a good thing. But before I know it, my heart is frozen once more. I didn’t talk to any other player other than Genki. It’s also just a talk regarding my action back then. Well, Sakuya is an exception because she’s a NPC. I always keep my hatred to Greenhorn and Lime. I want them to feel my despair one day. I want to torture them for what have they done to Sakuya.

But, right now I don’t even know what to do anymore. Suddenly my hatred is gone. I feel empty inside me. Will I be able to accept others again in the future? I don’t know. Will I fall in love to someone in my life? I don’t know.

What do I know right now, is my daily life with Sakuya isn’t so bad... and I give my smile once again to her while enjoying her cooking.