I think I did the foreshadowing right. First was Sebas being tardy for the first time, second was the gaining something but losing something thingy. I may be wrong though, but who cares? As I said last chapter, the main focus of the story is the game.
__________
After logging in, Rina and the others went to Maize canyons, which was connected with the war continent, one of the biggest zones in Zanaria Online where different fortified cities are located, guarding the entrances to their realms.
They still can’t enter it though, since they still haven’t finished the main quest for it.
Rina and the others went down the canyon to meet with Kiting101 and her party. Once Kiting101 noticed them, she yelled. “I’m level fourty five now!”
“You grinded all day again!?” Said Rina.
“Muahaha, to widen the gap between our levels.”
Rina was still at level fourty two, since she spent the rest of her time with her mercenaries before logging out at 8:00 am.
“Sigh, I hope it doesn't create problems for you in real life.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine, I already sold another blue print earlier.”
After that, the two went to the other side of the canyon and started grinding.
Kiting101 was an inventor. Unlike Ren who specialized mostly in androids and weapons, Kiting101 was good in different fields of technology, giving her a lot of influence.
She gains money by selling concepts that she created. A number of her concepts were used in the creation of Zanaria Online. Kiting101 also uses one of her inventions to keep herself healthy.
On Monday, At 12:01 am, they got a message saying the exp boost is over, though they still continued grinding. They were almost at level fifty, so they didn’t want to stop.
“Sigh, it really is slow without the exp boost.” Said Kiting101 who was now level fourty seven.
“Then get back to your real life for a bit.” Said Rina who was now at fourty four. “You already played for almost two days straight.”
“Muahaha, then you’ll play while I’m gone.”
“I won’t, so just log out...”
“Yes, yes, as you wish mother.” Said Kiting101 who was a year older than Rina.
After that, she logged out.
“Sigh”
Thinking that she wanted to catch up to Kiting101’s mercenaries and stay with her master more, Nona said. “Master, we need to catch up, so let’s grind some more!”
“Sorry, I can’t.”
Decima grabbed Nona’s mouth before she can say anything. “See you later, master.”
“Gao”
Nona forced her way out and said. “That’s my line!”
After chuckling a bit, she bid farewell and logged out.
___
Rina woke up at 7:45, so she stayed on the balcony, waiting for Sebas to come.
Though she was in a dire situation yesterday, at least her mercenaries and pet were able to survive. They even gained a large level boost, godly accessories, a guild, and a real friend.
She couldn’t ask for anything more, except for getting Sebas and Ren to play Zanaria Online with her.
While thinking happy thoughts, Rina fell asleep. When she woke up, it was 8:30, and Sebas was still not in her room.
Worried, she ran out of the room, and on the corridor she saw Sebas laid on the ground, with blood on his mouth.
She wanted to cry and shout for help, but she carried Sebas, ran to the lounge, and gently placed his body on the sofa.
She told one of the android butlers to tell Ren about Sebas’ state, immediately called doctors, and tried to examine Sebas to find if there’s something she can do.
She couldn’t see anything wrong from the outside, Sebas was simply weakened. The doctors were still on their way, so Rina ran to the entrance of the underground laboratory and repeatedly hit the iron door as she yelled Ren’s name.
Ren was an invetor not a doctor, but Rina still wanted him to at least look at Sebas. Moments later, Ren finally came out and ran to the lounge with Rina.
Sebas was perfectly fine yesterday, so Rina can’t think of a reason why this happened to him.
Ren and Rina stayed in the lounge, observing Sebas, and waiting for the doctors to arrive.
Rina gently held Sebas’ hand as she cried. “Please...*hic*...wake up...”
At around 9:00 am, Sebas opened his eyes, and said. “Rina-sama, please don’t cry.”
“*hic*It’s all*hic*your...fault!”
As sebas stood up, Ren said. “Old man, don’t move, just rest.”
“It’s ok, I’m fine.”
Rina stopped crying and rubbed her eyes before saying “YOUR NOT! I TOLD YOU TO TELL ME IF YOU HAVE AN ILLNESS, NOW LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED!”
“Rina-sama...”
“Please, just tell me...”
“I didn’t lie, I have no illness, I’m merely getting weak because of my age.”
“Lies! You vomited blood earlier, that was-“
“I pushed myself too hard.”
“...”
Ren walked away, letting the two be alone, and stayed just outside the lounge.
“My body was past its limit, but I forced myself move like I always do.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything? You could have at least told me, you didn’t have to continue training me, you didn’t have to force yourself to do something your body can no longer do.”
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“Ohoho, because I didin’t want to.”
“...”
“If you knew, you would have stopped me.”
“Of course I wi-“
“But I didn’t want that.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want to be what I’m not. I have always been a butler since birth, and I’ll die as one. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life laid on a bed being taken care of by my master, I want to die taking care of my master. *cough*” Blood came out from his mouth.
“Sebas!”
“No need to worry Rina-sama, I still have some time left.”
“S-stupid, your stupid...”
“I know very well that I am indeed stupid.”
“N-no, you’re not stupid...”
“Ohoho”
“...”
“Rina-sama, I’m a bit curious, did you call the hospital?”
“Y-yes”
“Please tell them that I don’t need help.”
“Why?”
“I want to spend the rest of the day here.”
“Then the doctors can stay here!”
“Please Rina-sama, I don’t want to be tied up in my last day.”
“W-what are you talking about, t-this isn’t the last! You’ll still get better, then you’ll make me up like usual!”
“I apologize Rina-sama, but I can no longer do that. Just moving my mouth is taking a lot of effort.”
“Then don’t talk!”
“Please Rina-sama, this old butler of yours asks for a favor.” Said Sebas as he knelt on the ground. “Let me spend the day as I please.”
“N-no! You’ll still get better.”
“Rina-sama” Sebas looked at her filled with resolve.
They stared at each other for a while, until Rina finally gave in. This was the first time Sebas seriously asked her something, so she couldn’t reject his wish. “F-fine, but you have to go to the hospital tomorrow, promise me.”
“Ohoho, I promise.”
“You’re lying! Take it seriously!”
“It might be a bit late; would you like to eat breakfast or would you like to take a bath first?”
“Don’t change the subject!”
“Ohoho”
“...”
They spent the day like they would a normal free day, with Ren hiding in the shadows, not wanting to disturb their time together.
Unlike earlier, Sebas acted like he normally would, like he wasn’t weakened at all. But in truth, it only made his condition worse.
After eating dinner, they went to the balcony again, but this time, Rina plans on staying up all night with Sebas. Ren stayed just outside Rina’s room.
Seated on a chair, while staring at the sky, Rina said. “Don’t forget your promise ok? We’ll go to the hospital at 12:01 am.”
“Ohoho, I won’t.”
“You won’t what? You won’t forget or you won’t go to the hospital?”
“Ohoho, the sky is beautiful is it not?”
“Don’t change the subject!”
“Ohoho”
“...”
“I do not regret anything. I do not regret my actions, I do not regret serving the Takahashi family, and I do not regret serving you, Rina-sama.”
“Stop talking like that...”
“Ohoho”
They continued conversing, until Rina fell asleep at 11:30 pm.
Sebas carried her to her room and placed her on her bed. With a smile on his face, he said. “Thank you for everything, Rina-sama.”
He walked out of the room, and said. “Rina-sama loves you”
“I know” Said Ren.
“How long will you repent for something you did not do? You’re only hurting Rina-sama by acting like you can’t see her feelings.”
“It’s was all my fault, it was my fault her parents died. I have to protect her, but I can’t be with her...”
“Then why do you keep on showing yourself to her? If you can’t be with her, then just stay inside your laboratory and don’t show yourself to her.”
“I...I...”
“You can’t, because you like her.”
“...”
“*cough*I’m*cough*almost out of*cough*time...if...you like her*cough*show it...” Said Sebas as he walked back to his room and spend the rest of his life sitting on his favorite chair.
___
On the next day, Rina watched Ren bury Sebas’ body on the Takahashi family’s private cemetery. After that, Ren went back to his laboratory, leaving Rina alone as she brood over Sebas’ death.
He distanced himself, but Ren strictly ordered his androids to look after Rina, to make sure she stays safe and healthy. Though Rina’s health worsened as her stressed piled up, without a way to relieve it.
A week later, Ren could no longer stay quiet. He decided to temporarily stay with Rina until she moved on.
Another week passed, and Rina looked better than before, but Ren could no longer distance himself. The more he stayed with her, the harder it was to leave her.
In his times of confusion, Sebas’ last words came to his mind. He decided to stop hiding and be with the one he loved, wishing that Rina would never find out that he was involved in the events that killed her parents.
Two weeks after Sebas’ death, Rina came back to Zanaria Online. Ren also started playing, to spend more time with Rina.