When Ehthan fiddle with the various menu windows, he found that he can use the Guild Skill 『Instant Movement』. Using this skill, the user can select predetermined teleport point that had been set up before inside the castle and the city that the Guild owned.
Ehthan choose the 『Inner Hall Relay Point』 near the 『Central Round Room』.
After he activated the skill, his surroundings are melting like a psychedelic CGI in a certain western sci-fi television series. Then he found himself in a grand corridor that spans far and wide in his right and left direction. In front of him is a grand wooden door with meticulous golden reliefs and ornaments. He opens the door and enters the large circular room with large rows of clear glass windows and doors that leads to a large veranda.
When it was still a game, it was just a common meeting room, but now Ehthan can appreciate the subtle elegance in the room décors and furniture. A calm air current is flowing between the opened windows. Ehthan glances and admires at the furniture and ornaments items that dotes the room. Here and there are various trophies, souvenir and memento items that come from various game events and Instance raids. Some are his own contribution; some come from the now retired guild members, some even dates back from the guild founding times long before Ehthan join. They're more fascinating than when they were just an image in HUD at least.
When he passes the large Frost Glacier Mirror, he was rather surprised. There was a handsome guy reflected on it. Okay... Maybe not that handsome, but Ehthan had some confidence in his looks that can be said not lower than the male handsomeness median value. But this means that his 'Avatar' body now had his real appearance, not the hardboiled muscled, brown spiky hair middle-age man with a large scar over his eye. Thank you God! Even if a muscled middle-aged man is cool for his avatar, Ehthan doesn't want to be in that appearance. But then how Florea recognize him as Ateijuk, since his current appearance is very different from his avatar?
Ehthan then open the door to the veranda and relish the feeling of the breeze and sunlight in his face. The air is much clearer than the rather stale air of the modern city the familiar with. Ehthan are rather relieved that 『Wolfsmund』 Guild's 『Holy Land』 is modeled as a standard medieval castle and city. The larger and richer guild designed their 『Holy Land』 with eccentric concepts like a castle in the middle of volcano, a fleet of pirate ships, a large bridge on top of the sea, an underground cemetery complex or a flying continent.
Looking at the vast plain and forest that was surrounded by tall cliffs, the sea of crops in the farm fields, and the bustling of the city below the castle, the ambience had very different feels than urban concrete jungle he usually see. Ehthan is more and more accepting this as a 'reality' not some vivid, lucid dream or a VR game.
"This is... the current 'reality-world' huh?" He said a rhetorical question with a wry smile.
If there are things he wants to protest is that the existence of White Foggy Sky which ruined this idyllic scene. The White Fog swirling without clear pattern like an expressionistic painting by Van Gogh. Even so, although the sun can't be seen, somehow the sunlight can go through the fog normally. Really a rather otherworldly scene.
*open*
Ehthan then hear the large room door opening.
A calm looking young woman with "older sister" look wearing a stereotypical priest robe and a rather gloomy guy with somewhat disheveled long hair that didn't match with his flashy dress filled with silver and black laces from BFOD's Day of the Dead Events entered the room. Of course different from game with various hair colors, their black hair is like most Japanese people. From their outward appearance, Ehthan think that the older sister is the Priest 『Zetta』 and the messy hair guy is the self-styled Revenant 『Shin』.
But he can't be completely sure of this because they don't have a floating text on top of their head like in RAHO.
After seeing them walking in, Ehthan also go to the inside and sit in one of large circular sofas.
"Are you… 『Ateijuk』...?"
Zetta is the one who first speaks. Ateijuk think that for some reason her voice had a mature lady quality. Of course the question arises because they didn't sure about his identity. But it's not strange since Ehthan lack the spiky brown hair and large scar over his left eyes that his character Ateijuk had.
"That's true. So you are 『Zetta』 and 『Shin』, I assume. I never think the real person behind the bald macho priest, Zetta is actually a gorgeous lady." (Ehthan)
"I also never imagine that the real Ateijuk-san is a flirty guy." (Zetta)
"I accept that as a compliment. Please have a seat. You too, Shin. And no need for formalities, you can call me just Ateijuk like in the game." (Ehthan)
Zetta sits on a chair near the bar and the rather weary Shin throw himself on a large sofa in the corner.
Zetta is a Tier 4 Priest with 『Holy Saint』 built and Low Tier 4 Character. Zetta in-game avatar is a bald brown skinned macho male. He, or rather she, had a plethora of support, healing and divine magic. She and Ehthan was a frequent partner in various Instance raids in the past. Who can imagine that the reliable 'Bro' Zetta is actually a beauty that gives very strong Sister aura. Not that Ehthan want to complain about this.
Shin is a Tier 4 Wizard (NO! It's Magical Wonderman!) with 『Frostfire Mastery』 built and also a Low Tier 3 Character. He gives more priority to flashy magic but his magic vocabulary of Fire/Blast and Water/Ice Magic is very extensive. His in-game avatar is an anime standard pink-haired magical possible-girl twintail Golem base… But the Shin now… Is just a guy with messy hair and a rather gloomy face.
"Ateijuk, I guess you also just come to this 'place', right?" (Zetta)
"That's right. So I can't give you any information more than you do. The last thing I remember I going to sleep before awake in this 'place'. What about you Shin?" (Ehthan)
"My last memory before coming to this place is also when I went to sleep. It's really strange right? Is it also the same for you Zetta-san?" (Shin)
"It's the same. I sleep after watching late night anime… When I awoke I had already in this world…"
Zetta answer with a state of energy deficient. "Huhuhu…" laughs her with a weak voice.
"I see. Ateijuk where do you think this place is? The uncanny similarity with our Guild 『Holy Land』 and the human like 『Guardian』 NPC… This is not just simply a dream right?" (Shin)
'It's not that Hollywood movie where we dream together. Even if this is really a dream, please someone wake me and play the Mama Mia's song' think Ehthan.
"So you notice that too huh? The once generic NPC now had interesting response just like a real normal person right? The 『Guardian』 NPC that greets me apologizes a lot even for reasons that I don't know…" (Ehthan)
"The 『Guardian』 NPC that greets me is a very taciturn, she didn't speak much." (Zetta)
Zetta had a small laughs like she remembered something really funny.
"The one with me, speak like a machine gun... so I'm tired… so... tired"
Shin also gives his lackluster reply.
"I see. What's wrong with her, Shin?" (Ehthan)
"Zetta-san didn't know that she can use Instant Movement. So she walks all way down from SouthEast Tower and walk to Central Corridor by foot." (Zetta)
"Ah... That's so..." (Ehthan)
"Don't you dare pity me!" (Zetta)
"That aside… I can't give any clear answer about where is this place or why we here. This is just my crude guess, but I think this place is a 'reality' or rather a 'world' that closely resembling RAHO we know." (Ehthan)
"If you still don't understand, listen. In short, this is a situation similar to a common plot in fantasy light novel, manga and game. We are summoned or drifted to this game-like world from our world, maybe without any way to return to our original world. Annoying! Now I can't watch the last episode of Attack on Titan and there are a lot of game and manga I haven't finished completely. Why the other world don't had any internet connection!!! I'll die from the curiosity! I'll die you know!!!"
Zetta started to flailing her hand and feet while lying on the sofa just like a children who upset when you take their candy…
"Is that so…maybe there's another way, one that we haven't think of before....."
Shin expression becomes sullen yet in his eyes there was still a glimmer of hope.