The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Usually, my body hurts for 10 minutes, but it's been thirty minutes, and I still can't even move my body correctly. It's like my body—is out of sync.

My phone was beside the bed. I grabbed my phone and opened the game app.

Rikka was talking about that photo. I searched for the post and...

"It has nearly one million likes."

Not even 30,000 people play this game. I checked the comments.

[Who are they?]

[They look cute.]

[Is that from LWO?]

[I want to do this too.]

[That boy looks hot.]

[Are they a couple?]

[What's their game ID?]

[Do they have social media accounts?]

[That girl is cute.]

"Don't call my girlfriend cute!"

I can't believe it. Why do people like this photo?

I checked my friend list, and of course, everyone was offline. Elena offline. Rikka and Ricky too. Rias is....online. She was also online during the raid. I should Xera--Miss Serah too.

"Lily."

She is an AI, so I can't add her to my friend list. If I could, then I can talk to her from the real world.

She disappears when the server is closed and...wait. Lily never told me that. Lily said she was there when I was there, that means...

"Hahaha. So that's how it is."

Lily doesn't exist in the game unless I log in, which means she disappears when I log out and reappears when I log in.

"It's too cruel."

Why am I feeling sad for her? Is this sympathy? Is it because she was kind to me?

In the end, I am just a hypocrite. I act kindly to those who treat me kindly. I only love those who love me.

"Hahaha. What's wrong with me?"

Sometimes I think about what 'if' I was a normal kid. What if I was a normal boy? Would I have a normal childhood? Usually, like everyone, going to school, making friends if I were like that, maybe I would have never met Elena!

"I don't want that."

Is this what they call, 'Whatever happens, happens for good'?

"Hahaha."

Does that mean everything that happened to me was because of this? But if it's like that, then I don't mind it.

"As long as Elena is with me, I will be fine."

I hate those who hate me, and I love those who love me. If I had met Elena in different circumstances, would I have fallen for her? I started going out with her because she asked me if she hadn't asked me out then...

I was in love with her before she confessed to me, but I didn't realize my feelings. I don't recognize my feelings. I am always late...always late.

If I had met Ricky, Rikka, and Miss Serah in different circumstances, I don't think I could get along with them.

The same thing might happen to Lily. What if one day developers decide to get rid of her? Can I do something? What can I do for her...what can I do to save her if that happens?

"Hahaha. I won't let that happen."

; you

I have my university exams this week. I haven't told Elena about anything.

"Why?"

Why does it have to be me? I also wanted to live in everyday life. I want to be with Elena. I want to go to university with her, live together with her, marry her, and grow old together with her.

No, Das, you can still do that. You have a chance to do that; you are not late this time.

"That's right. I still have a chance to do all that with her."

I am tired. I will sleep for now.

"Das. Das. Wake up; it's morning."

"Mom?"

"Yeah, it's me. Get up now."

Did I fall asleep? My head still hurts.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am fine. Just a little headache."

"You were sleeping in a weird position with your phone."

"....."

I am eating breakfast. I don't remember much about last night.

"Dear, at least put that away when you are eating." my mom said to my dad, who is reading news on his tab.

"There have been many crimes in this city lately."

"Crimes?"

"Kidnapping, girls are being violated, murders."

"It's like the city is going back to how it was 30 years ago."

Again 30 years ago! What exactly happened 30 years ago? That night too, mom got so furious when I talked about the VR game. What exactly happened with them...no, I might know it. I just don't want to confirm it; I am scared to see the truth.

"What's wrong, Das?"

"Nothing."

"Your University exams are this week."

"I know."

"You should tell Elena now."

"Not now."

It's not like I don't want to tell her. If I tell her she will just say 'Do what you want' or 'Don't worry about me'. What then? Drop out of school? I don't want to.

"Are you dropping Elena off at her house every day?"

"Yeah"

"Do that for a while until the crimes reduce."

"You don't have to tell me that. I am going to school."

"Take care."

There is still half an hour till school starts. Elena texted me that she is waiting near the park. I am on my way to the park, or I wanted to, but...

"What the hell is going on?"

"The road is under construction; you will need to go the other way."

The park is right in front of me, but the road is under construction. There is a big hole in the ground. Do I have to go the other way? Wait, what if I jump over it?

The hole is about 6 meters long. Last time I jumped about 4 meters, which is great for me, but this is 6 meters.

"It should be okay."

I took a run up and jumped. A little more, a little more. I am about to make it. Nope, I won't make it.

"Huh?"

What just happened?

"Did I just jump in the air?"

What's going on? This was like my levitate skill in the game.

"I am overthinking--"

"That was so cool, Das!"

"Elena!"

Did she see me?

"Did you--"

"Yeah, I saw it."

Embarrassing! Wait, I can ask Elena...

"Did you see something strange when I was about to land?"

"Something strange?"

"Never mind."

I am just paranoid.