4 Game 04: What About You, Master?(Fixed)

"I need to find a way out of this labyrinth and learn more about this strange phenomenon."

That's what I keep telling myself. And it had already been one week since that thought. Yet, I couldn't find a way out. 

As expected, it is not some kind of advertising event. Did I really cross over the dimension like in any Light Novel? If so, why is it nearly identical from the VLF? Even the system command is identical. Doesn't feel real at all. It doesn't make any sense

I could only sigh.

"I've been here for about a week, according to my perception, and my body clock doesn't work at all; I don't feel sleepy or tired, and while I can feel hunger, it's still out of the ordinary."

I continued to mumble to myself. The labyrinth was constructed in an unusual manner. I noticed the building's structure was small during his one-week exploration of the labyrinth. The entire structure was only made up of a hallway and the Guardian room, which they used as a base. The hallway was only 50 meters long and 10 meters wide when it came to an end. And the labyrinth had such fast regenerative magic that the battle they fought from the start of their meeting yielded no result. It was repaired and  back to how it was.

There appears to be no code, secret doors, or even a simple exit. There were nothing but dead ends. The Guardian room, which we used as a refuge, is 10 meters long and 12 meters wide. The only thing that separates it from the hallway is a door. A holder stood in the center of the room, and on top of it was a crystal the size of a basketball, emitting a brilliant golden light.

If my guess is correct, that one must be the source of power for the entire labyrinth. 

[{Question: Master, what are you up to?}] 

"Ah, me? Checking my status... It appears that my VLF status has not changed... So the first conclusion is that, we are inside the game?"

With a week of nothing to do, I conducted experiments and verified my status. I realized that everything I had from VLF was still there and properly stored in my inventory. All of the items I've collected since the beginning of my gaming career, from the basics to the most powerful specs, are all here. Most importantly, I'm unable to locate the log-out section.

The majority of my abilities were restricted. This is the most unpredictable thing I've ever encountered. I had already inherited all four continental abilities, but it appeared that I would be unable to use them all. Only the original sword skills I learned from my grandfather are permitted to be used. Not that it came from the game in the first place. Oh, hmm... The magical ability is already available! It's no surprise that I could make use of Brunhilde. That was careless of me. If it hadn't happened by chance, I would have turned to ash the last time I fought Andrea. Brr... It makes me shiver just thinking about it!

All of the other continent's (Marksmanship), (Physical Oriented Fighting Abilities), and (Sword skills) were locked. What a let-down. You should know that I worked very hard to obtain all of these! 

Magic, huh? That seems to be, the West's ability was all that was left. 

The 'Second Conclusion' is that I am inside the game and it still has the bug that was mentioned in the news the last time.

[{Question: Master, I'm not sure what your world is like, or if this world is just a game... So, how about you, master? What distinguishes your world from this one? }] 

Andrea, the inquisitive, inquired. As a result, I paused, preparing to respond. Then I responded with a light smile.

"Magic, I suppose? My world lacks magic, so I feel more hype doing so. Yeah." 

[{Retaliate: Imposible! A world devoid of magic. That can't be right. Master, you're a liar! }] 

"Oh, Andrea, you really enjoy arguing with me, don't you? It's true, though." 

I smile once more.

"Sometimes, when I was alone, I always found our world boring. All we do is study, and that's what makes it boring, and maybe the reason that made me dive in Fantasia, but there are people who really loved me back there, and that's what makes me want to return. Welp... If I couldn't log out for now, all I need to do is find a way. No matter how long, I will make sure. I promised after all."

All of this was said with Hikari and Sakura flashing through my mind. Those who played online with me as well. I smiled as I remembered my promise to Hikari, and it was this that motivated me to work harder. 

[Question: Master, are you lonely right now?] 

"Nah, you're with me after all." 

I answered nonchalantly. I'm not sure why, yet for sure she blushed, and that sudden and unexpected response from me made her jittery. Is it really acceptable for a homunculus to behave in this manner? But who cares as long as she's cute?

"Andrea? What's the matter?"

I asked.

[{Response: Nothing! It has nothing to do with you, master!}] 

She said it in a rising tone, which was unusual for her. Since so, I thought I ought to ask since her eyes stares like daggers at me. I'm not quite sure, but let's ask.

"Oh, eh? Are you upset?" 

[{Not even a speck of that happening!}] 

"Wow!" 

So it's true that a girl is a mystery. She even turned into Ogata Rizu from the manga Bukoben. This cuteness will never end! Well, if you know that Japanese manga, We never learn, then you know what I mean. 

[{Question: Master, when did you begin playing this VLF game you're talking?}] 

"Hmm? Andrea-chan, are you curious about me?" 

[{Yes!}] 

"Wow, that was quick." 

I meant it as a joke, but Andrea's quick response fired back at me. I felt like a moron. I stood there staring, hesitant to say anything. But how could I say no to her sparkling eyes? 

sighed... 

"Haaa... Okay, Andrea-chan you win. I'll tell you then..."

I then began to reflect on the past. 

"It was 5 years ago when my grandfather, mother, and father were traveling when they were suddenly involved in an accident; it was unfortunate, but none of them survived. My Nee-san (Older sister), Sakura, was still in highschool, and I was still in my first year of junior high. Grandfather was a good person to us, both Sakura-nee and me, and our parents are too caring. That broke our hearts...

But I knew Sakura-nee was in more pain than I was. Consider a first-year high school girl taking care of her younger, quite foolish brother. Fortunately, our parents saved money for both of us as a result of a not-so-lucky event. Receiving those, on the other hand, is not a pleasant experience. It was so sad that I couldn't even cry. My grandpa, who taught me everything, and the parents I adored vanished without a trace. How could I not feel that way? 

But my sister Sakura was different. She never cried, she always held my hand and comforted me. She'll always say, 'It's all right.' I will defend you. Cry, Guren, but I will never abandon you.' Sakura-nee was my only solace at the time. Despite being a high school student, she made a debut with her novel writing and began working soon after. Her time for me was split, and I couldn't blame her. She was sacrificing her time for me in order to care of me.

My classmates always looked at me with pity in school, which I despised! That's why, at the time, I skipped school and discovered that a very recent game, VLF, was testing and looking for Beta-Testers. Without a second thought, I signed up and became one of the very first generation of VLF players. I've been playing VLF since the beginning, and I'm one of the so-called "Players of Origin" who knows more about VLF than most of the other players. That's why I'm worried about the difficulties I'm encountering here in Fantasia.

For me VLF is my escape world. A world where I can be the person I've always wanted to be. I began on the Eastern continent, the continent of the sword. Then I spent four years traveling across the VLF continent. And eventually I obtained all of the necessary components. Magic, Fighter, and Marksmanship are my rewards for all those years of playing. Well, all those are now locked though.

Why didn't I become the 'Mythical Emperor'? 'Well, most likely because of Hikari.' Hikari appeared at a certain point in time and gradually relieved me of my loneliness. As a result, she made me feel as if I no longer needed that escape world. Not for as long as she was present. So I played sparingly, but I'm still smitten with VLF. But, just like that, I discovered myself to be lost in this place, resembling that game I loved. Haha, silly right, little Andrea? "

[{...}]

She had been left in silence. However, 

"Whoa, Little Andrea?!" 

Andrea stood firm, tears streaming down her cheeks, without saying anything. Although her expression remained the same, it felt as if she was sad about something. Do homunculi actually allow you to feel this way? Her eyes were asking herself the same question, but she couldn't stop her tears from falling. It was an avoidable situation for her. She took a step closer to me, and... 

"A-Andrea..? What are you..?"

She patted my head as if it were a natural thing to do. And, though I was flustered and embarrassed, I let her do whatever she wanted for the time being. I'm not sure why, but it was a moment of comfort for me.

"..."

[{Solace... It's all right now, Master. It's fine..}] 

"Umu...You really did it now...Andrea-chan..."

I wasn't expecting such a warm moment. It felt to me like I was being held by my sister. In the back of my mind, I'm thinking, "I wonder if Hikari and Sakura-nee are all right..."

"Thank you, Andrea-chan... Hmph! Now all I have to do is find my way out of this labyrinth." 

I said this as I stretched out my arms. 

[{Confirmation: Is it just an exit? Master, I know one.}]

"What... did... you say?! " 

I turn my gaze to her, wide-eyed. 

[An exit; I know one Master who can teleport me from here to the outside of this Guard room.] 

"Andrea-channnn!" 

Devastated, I growled in agony. Is it wrong for me to feel this way because it was my own cause?

"Why didn't you tell me that earlier?! Why? I wasted A whole week for nothing?!" 

[{Answer: You did not inquire, Master. Furthermore, you confirmed everything about your stats at the time. And I now know more about you, Master. It's a win-win situation.] Fwing*

She said quite smugly.

"Win-win... she says..."

[{Question: Do you want to see what's on the other side of the labyrinth, master? Despite the fact that this is my first time doing so.}] 

"Hmm, so you didn't step outside either, huh? So, you can do it now?" 

[{It's simple.}] 

"It's simple?"

Damn!

I sighed... I, once again thought to myself... "What the hell did I do in my whole week?! Damn it!"

Remember, asking isn't going to kill you. So here's some advice.... Never be a fool who tries to appear cool by not asking... It would do you a lot of harm and cost you a week's worth of time... seriously!

(Finally, a way out of the labyrinth? What will become of him? )

...To be continued...

Chapter Quiz!

What will be the first thing Guren will see outside the labyrinth?

A. A monster with 3 heads.

B. A plain.

C. An ocean.

D. A naked hot lady.