"Living in this grassland is quite enjoyable. The roof work is almost done. Besides, I feel this place is spacious and full of potential. What if we build a housing complex or an apartment here?" Darren watched Richard speak as he pleased while he and Evan were resting after their long journey since yesterday.
"I'm not interested in working with you," Darren answered a bit sharply. He sat on one of the parts that had been roofed. This place wasn't so bad after they covered part of the roof.
The wind was friendlier, and the heat wasn't so punishing. Darren knew this was the right decision to build in this place.
"Your words are harsh, even though I'm your brother, Darren," said Richard, a little offended by Darren's earlier words. "That woman..." Darren turned his head as Richard started to mention someone. "...seems like she's also part of us, right?"
Darren looked over at Evan, who was still asleep beside him. Richard's aide, Max, was also sleeping along with several other guards after they had taken care of burying the bandit corpses some distance away from the camp.
Darren scooted closer, curious about how much Richard knew about this game world. It was hard to hate the man all of a sudden. After all, if Richard was just pretending, he would've let Luna die last night without helping her find Rhea.
"How do you know this?" Darren asked softly, making sure his voice didn't wake everyone still asleep.
"She's the only one who moves without the developer's script, Darren," Richard revealed, prompting Darren to listen closely to their conversation. "From what I know, after entering this game world, all characters act according to the developer's instructions. Rhea's abduction might be part of the planned storyline, and Luna can make everyone agree with her to save her sisters."
"But, are people like Evan and Max also part of us?" Darren asked quietly, suspecting that some of his subordinates might be aware of something too. Maybe they were just like him, but couldn't speak openly because of the game developer.
"I don't know. I haven't found anyone else yet. I think they all look the same, whether real people or game characters. For example, our two guards..." Richard paused before continuing, "...don't they look so natural? Especially with the various missions I've had to complete in this game."
Darren narrowed his eyes. He didn't know that Richard also had his missions in the game. He wasn't acting on his own will; everything was planned by the game developer.
"Except when I saved Luna. That was the only time I acted outside the game's instructions," added Richard, which made Darren think even harder.
"Could it be... there's a bug?" Darren asked, raising a more complex question.
"Maybe. No one knows, unless we find the game's developer. I'm sure he's laughing right now, watching our conversation, pretending to be God," said Richard.
"You know who this game developer is?" Darren asked again, eager to learn more.
"No, I have no idea at all," he replied. "But I did once get out of the game."
Darren's eyes widened at Richard's statement, which only made him more curious. He shouldn't underestimate this guy—after all, a gamer must've explored this game far more than he has.
"How did you get out of the game?" Darren asked again and again.
"Some time before you were about to be killed by one of my men," Richard said quietly, occasionally glancing at everyone still sound asleep. "The developer gave me the choice to enter the game in sixty seconds."
"When did you return to our world?" Darren grew more curious.
"Right before you entered the game, when you told me you'd gotten the game." Darren shook his head slowly, listening to Richard, unsure whether to believe him or not. "I did leave the game. But with the rejoin this game. I had to save you so you could stay alive."
"Then why did you let me enter this game?" Darren asked, annoyed—but he wasn't too upset now. You could say he was almost accepting life inside this game world.
"This world is fun. I also just realized there's a lot to uncover here. Listen, one month here is equal to one minute in our world. Isn't this the perfect vacation time?"
That wasn't what made Darren curious. He was thinking about what would happen if he chose to leave and didn't continue with everything in this game world.
"What happens if I stop continuing the game?" Darren asked many questions swirling in his mind as he talked to Richard, someone who had entered the game earlier.
"I don't know. It seems the developer hasn't provided a progress-saving feature yet," Richard said before both of them spotted a herd of deer passing through the road toward Oron Mountain Range.
"Could we lose our memories?" Darren asked softly.
"Stop giving that developer ideas, Darren. I'm sure it'll be hard for us to go back to our world if the developer finds out we're talking about this in-game," he said quietly. "Or maybe, it's just you who won't get the chance to go back. Try asking that woman if she's ever returned to her world or not."
If it were true that Darren was the main target of the game developer, he would never be able to return until the game was over, just as Richard said.
"There's a lot we can do in this game. I can take you exploring the Oron Mountains, then go to Ellery and Kleinn, then—" Richard hadn't finished when Darren cut him off.
"Wait! Ellery and Kleinn? What are those?" Darren asked, unfamiliar with anything about this game world.
"Two islands across from Georgia Island. We've been trading with the rulers of those islands for hundreds of years," said Richard, with a wealth of information he had gathered from the palace. "I think there's a specific reason why the developer made me enter the game world first."
"What is it?"
"To teach you everything I've learned from the palace," said Richard, smiling proudly at his still-confused friend in this world. "Come on, let me live in this camp. I'm sure I can make some contribution."
"What's the best contribution you can give?" Darren asked, wondering what this guy could gain by coming here.
"My network, or maybe a bit of my wealth from the palace. We can sell part of it and build a huge house here," Richard offered, clearly interested in staying.
"Then who will become emperor if you're moving here?" Darren asked.
"The emperor will still be Emperor Alric. I'll live here and occasionally travel to Ellery and Kleinn. Seems like those countries are just as great as Georgia," said Richard, explaining his plans. "Leading a country or a business isn't my passion. I'd rather explore this world and find a way out of here."
"Going home without taking me with you?"
"You've got a more important task than returning to our world. As a supporting role in this game, I'll help you as best I can. After that, I'll enjoy my life," he said, chuckling at the end.