[Rishi: Contact me when you are back. I have a plan that needs your input; it’s important.]
Pfft, how cold. I guess I’m thankful for his trust in me. Wonder what that plan is all about, huh? Alex wonders to himself.
“That’s one of your friends, right? I can see these messages as well. That’s interesting,” Menchi says, peeking over at the system interface.
[Menchi: Test! Menchi is the best 😉]
“...” Alex stares blankly at the message, then replies flatly, “It’s working alright. Looks like you can write your own messages, but we have access to each other’s messages as well.” Menchi sheepishly sticks out her tongue in response.
Alex continues reading through his messages:
[Tereza: Are you back yet?]
[Tereza: Getting a bit worried here….]
[Tereza: Your two friends, Eirini and Patricia, are back… why are you still missing?]
[Tereza: ANSWER ME!!!!]
Guess she was honestly worried about me…
Alex thinks. The last night before I left… I still haven’t thought much about it. I guess it’s only been one or two days for her, while it was months for me! Feeling slightly uneasy about Tereza’s concern and Menchi’s recent arrival, he tries to shake the thoughts away. He’s also unsure about his relationship with either of them.[Alex: I’m back. Sorry it took a while longer since I wanted to clear the optional DLC after the main mission ended.]
“Guess she’ll respond sooner or lat…” Alex starts to say but is cut off by an immediate reply.
[Tereza: WHERE ARE YOU? Also, stop using gamer slang, that’s so lame!]
[Alex: It isn’t. This whole thing is like a game. Get used to it. I just left my room and was planning to go to the center. Need to use my stats, upgrade my skills, and sell a bunch of things, the usual stuff. Want to meet up?]
[Tereza: Come to the usual place first!]
Alex sighs. “Change of plans. Let’s take a small detour first to meet her,” he says, motioning for Menchi to follow him.
He leads her toward the abandoned temple ruins in a deserted corner of the Realm.
As soon as Alex enters the temple ruin, Tereza rushes toward him with a big smile and hugs him passionately.
“I’m so glad you’re back! I seriously thought you were gone…,” she says, visibly relieved.
“Wait, who is that?” Tereza asks, noticing Menchi standing behind him. Her eyes widen in disbelief. “No way! Is that Menchi? What is this?? How?? Damn she looks really hot, I’ve got to say.”
“You know me?” Menchi asks, clearly surprised.
“Yeah… I’ve been binge-watching all episodes of Hunter x Hunter the last few days since you entered that world. So, of course, I remember the second examiner of the Hunter Exam,” Tereza explains.
“Wait a minute, I was the examiner of the third exam,” Menchi argues, frowning slightly.
“Menchi, it’s like I told you,” Alex interjects. “There’s the canon version of yourself, and then there’s the real, current you. In the manga and anime, you don’t show up until two whole years later to test the main character of the show. Now that we’re talking about it… I wonder what happens now? Since you left the world, the plot can’t move forward like it usually does. Will you get replaced by a random NPC or what?” Alex wonders aloud, scratching his head.
[Host should know that Menchi is still part of Hunter x Hunter. Any player that enters a fresh world will encounter the canon Menchi. Your particular progress in the world of Hunter x Hunter is special. Even during your absence, a part of Menchi still remains. Should you and Menchi reenter that world, Menchi will integrate into that placeholder version of hers for the time of the mission.]
“Countless versions of me… am I just a random copy 1337? This is kinda scaring me!!” Menchi says, her voice shaking slightly.
[You are as much alive as these players. The Realm is divine; it is beyond what humans like you can comprehend. Every single named ‘NPC,’ as you call them, in each world is as human as the players. Just because numerous versions of you exist does not diminish your current state. In fact, you are clearly superior, as there is only a single version of each NPC allowed in the entire Realm. There will never be another Menchi present as long as you accompany the Host.]
Menchi looks visibly appeased after hearing this explanation, but Tereza interrupts, her face growing serious.
“Sorry to interrupt, but there’s something you need to know,” Tereza says, her tone worried. “It’s about Rishi! We found out some information while you were gone, and Rishi… he’s gone for now!”
“Gone? What do you mean?” Alex asks, confusion written all over his face.