NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

Epilogue for Volume 1

....

(Himari's Point of View)

It had been two-and-a-half days since my brother, Okami, went to Code and tried saving Ryoshi; and five days in the game. The doctors who saw his body placed Okami in a cell, specialised for players trapped inside the game. It was a glass container that functioned as life support for unconscious individuals playing Code. It was a machine that had multiple infused nourishment. The technology also gave the needs of the players through intravenous therapy.

Warner Asimov, the brains behind Code, provided all standard players with this cell for every family. But for me, these boxes acted like a coffin. The news also mentioned that Warner would state an update for Code.

Okami was right beside me, sleeping until the game completed itself. But every time that my brother felt pain, he shook violently until the pain subsided. This occurrence happened once in a while, as long as that console remained on his head.

The same sensation was happening to everyone.

Ryoshi's parents told me I should visit them once in a while to check on him. They also told me I could get some free meals from them, which I would have loved. Working as a cashier at a department store while studying my tests brought a burden to me.

"I'm off, brother," I said, and went outside. I took the umbrella with me and opened it.

It was raining cats and dogs as I trod the empty streets. Most of the people were also babysitting their loved ones trapped inside that video game. We had a grim future ahead of us, but life must continue.

There was nothing we could do to stop this nightmare.

My feet stopped by after the bungalow greeted my widened eyes. I raced towards the house's entrance and retracted my umbrella, splattering the water that came from the rain. I placed it on the rack and hit the doorbell as light as I could. A high-pitch sound blasted through my ears as the doorbell rang through my ears.

"Oh, you're early! Come inside, Himari. We've prepared the meal for you." A woman answered behind the gate and slid open the door.

With a light squeaking sound, the door welcomed me. Ryoshi's mother painted me with a smile and gestured to me to step foot inside the house. I entered the quiet place and placed my footwear at the sides.

"Sorry for the intrusions," I expressed, and followed Mrs. Aika's lead.

The two of us entered the kitchen and found a similar-looking cell nestled at the sides. Mrs. Aika's husband stood up from his seat and came to greet me. Gripped in his hands was a bento box filled with rice and vegetables, a work of classic.

"Here's a meal for you. We can't thank you enough for visiting Ryoshi. We also want to express our gratitude for your brother's sacrifice…" the husband continued.

"No. It's fine. If I were in Ryoshi's position, I would have saved my best friend too," I answered, reassuring him with kind words.

Ryoshi's parents beamed at me with a smile and invited me to join their dinner. But I politely refused and told them that exams were coming right across the corner and I have to review. The two expressed their gratitude once again and showed me the door.

"If you ever need us, call me, Himari dear."

"I will."

After our exchange, I was off yet again towards the empty roads. There were a few cards that drove from elsewhere, rushing towards the hospital. Some old couples cried on the bench.

'Those old people might have someone trapped inside Code, or worse, got killed from the game,' I thought, and refocused my sight on the road.

It took me a complete fifteen minutes to reach my abode. I placed my slippers and umbrella away and headed for the couch. With a gigantic bag of chips braced in my hands, I had nothing else to do but study in the living room and watch some news.

I ripped the bag open and flickered through my scribbled notes. I left the television on, which was the only sound that kept me company. My crunching sounds were also a thing that reverberated through these dark walls, but I paid it no mind.

I needed to ace the test and apply for a scholarship to help my brother and me with our needs.

As soon as I went to focus on mathematical problem solving, the news caught my attention. The press release that would broadcast Warner's statement was now on-air.

"Hello, Mr. Warner, welcome to our news station for today! Warner is the director and game developer behind the marvellous game that sold four billion copies in the market. Warner called the game 'Code', which the game developers used for coding all the fantasies one could desire! However, a death game occurred inside the game and killed fifty million players within these two-and-a-half days." The news anchor gave the mic to the well-dressed guy in a white suit.

"Warner Asimov has some statements to say to the masses. We are currently giving you the hottest interview that all of you are waiting for! Mr. Asimov, tell me about the death game and a way to stop it?" the news anchor continued.

"Asimov finally decided to show himself in front of a camera. The man who killed people received glorious praise from the government. Even the officials are covering up his story, not the person who we should blame," I stated, while crunching my chips down through my throat. I did not know why, but a salty feeling entered my palate, making my snacks taste awful.

"My game developer buddies and the soldiers that are still inside Code had an announcement. They told me everything that I needed to know about the game. It turns out, the entire kingdom of Code went against the script that the game developers placed upon them. We thought that making them more humane would make their characters believable, but we were wrong. Those NPCs had proved us wrong. Now that we know the product of our mistakes, we will complete the game by eliminating all NPCs inside Code. The elves took thousands of lives from players in the Western Branch Guild. But we have stopped the war and prevented the elves from doing as they pleased. The Western Guild is on their way to vanquish those NPCs. We are currently on the lookout for a specific non-player character who stirred up the war between players and the game. I will announce yet again another update for the next two weeks or a month. But for now, my soldiers are out there, taming the NPCs. I send my regards to those fifty-million people that have died from the game. I will also send the cells needed to preserve the players stranded in Code. With the help of the Russian Union and the United Nations, I will do whatever I can to stop this chaos." Asimov stood up from his seat and gave everyone a bow. But upon inspecting his face, his lips curved up a smile.

It was a sinister smirk that nobody noticed, not even the news anchors present at the station. I had a bad feeling that Asimov was tricking everyone and played us in the palm of his hands.

"We advise all of you to return the console to us. Representatives of my company would personally visit all families and take the gaming consoles away from their hands to avoid further injuries. We will provide you with additional fees from when you purchased the items. I will double it and pay you handsomely. My company will also provide information to you. So you will know the status of your loved ones inside Code. None of my team could communicate in and out of the game. Remember, we could only go inside Code and not return here in the actual world. All the information that I had presented to you are all facts that came from the boards. That is all for my speech. Thank you very much for having me here today," Asimov concluded his talk, whilst at the end of the channel.

"The elves? That's where Okami and Ryoshi are going right now!" I screamed, but I cannot panic, not this time. I could only hope for their survival in this world, apart from theirs.

But Asimov lied to us. The Futaba family (Ryoshi) and us had nothing that Asimov mentioned. We received no warranties or cash upon surrendering the consoles. All we received were threats and the cell that provided nourishments for my brother. Those representatives told us that this container was enough to return the favour before leaving the house.

I couldn't contact them anymore after the representative's visit.

My eyes wandered to the side and glanced at the closet. There was a gadget that was lying around for some time. The representatives did not notice it.

I moved towards the shelf and took out the console. It was the same technology that allowed players to travel to Code.

"I am coming for you, brother," I whispered.

My brother was the top 1 player in his prime.. Little did everyone know that Okami's little sister was also in the top 2 of Code.