Silence once again filled D'Lobby as the light from the surrounding screens faded into a deep blue. The WC(Wood Carving) class students stood around the virtual roundtable, the centerpiece of their endless debates and designs for the kingdom born from their imaginations. They had reached the final step deciding who would lead, and assigning the roles in the government that would drive this newly formed kingdom.
Mike looked around, his gaze drifting to the screen that projected a diagram of the government structure. Its branches sprawled out like the roots of an ancient tree complex and seemingly unending. "Uh, Zoe," he muttered, stroking his chin, "There's only fifteen of us. How are we supposed to fill all these roles?"
Zoe, the cool and orderly voice of the system, responded swiftly. "You are free to decide who holds which role in the government. Each individual may choose the position they desire. If a role remains unfilled, the system will assign a competent individual based on your bootcamp exam results."
Mike nodded slowly, though hesitation lingered in his eyes. Then Irvan, who had mostly observed from the sidelines, spoke up seriously, "What if one of us doesn't want to be the leader or king? Are we going to lose control and leave the fate of this country in the hands of NPCs?"
Everyone turned their attention to Zoe's screen, awaiting its answer. The system's voice remained calm and neutral, despite the concern in Irvan's question. "No. You will maintain full control over this kingdom. You may choose to act from behind the scenes or in the forefront, but all major decisions will still rest in your hands."
Mike exhaled deeply, visibly relieved. "Alright then, based on your explanation, Zoe, we could appoint, say… a 'King Ligma,'" he said with a slight frown, "but every decision would still be ours to make, right?"
Zoe responded in her monotone voice, "Yes, that is correct. The king or queen you appoint will simply carry out the decisions you make."
Irvan grinned. "Great. So, can we start choosing roles now?" he asked, casting a sharp glance at Mike.
Mike looked around at his friends, one by one. "Alright, let's start at the top. Is anyone willing to be the King or Queen?" His voice echoed through the room, urging someone to step forward.
But instead of volunteering, everyone, as if prearranged, pointed their fingers at Mike, all at once.
"Damn," Mike muttered with an ironic chuckle.
"You're the most suited to be our leader, Mike," Erika said from her spot, her smile calm and reassuring.
Mike shook his head slowly, trying to suppress both his laughter and the stress that was creeping up on him. "Alright, how about this: we appoint an NPC as the king for the first two days while I get my bearings. Then, on the third day, the old king dies… of a heart attack. Sounds reasonable, right?"
The sharp stares around the room showed they couldn't believe such a ridiculous idea had just come from Mike's mouth. "Slipping in the bathroom would make more sense," Irvan added with his trademark smirk.
They laughed, a brief moment of levity breaking the tension. But behind the laughter, Mike knew that a great responsibility awaited him. Being the King of Vanchett, even in this game, would test his leadership. Though everyone believed in him, he still couldn't shake his nerves.
"I'm serious, it's like a short internship," Mike said, trying to steer the conversation away from his anxiety. "I figure we'll all wake up in a few days, and it'll all be done, right, Zoe?"
The screen in front of him flickered, displaying a loading animation that spun continuously. Everyone watched it intently, waiting for Zoe to give them the answer they sought. But the spinning stopped abruptly, and a sudden "ERROR" message appeared, accompanied by a grating static noise.
"I cannot answer that question," the system stated coldly. "Access to that information is restricted."
Mike's expression changed for a moment, unease flickering across his face. "Alright," he sighed deeply. "Let's finish this."
They completed their final tasks, and Mike clapped his hands together. "Our work here is done, my friends. Roles have been assigned, our objectives agreed upon, and… Vanchett, as we envisioned, has begun to take form."
Everyone nodded. There were no cheers this time, no applause like before.
With a final nod, the screens around them slowly dimmed, one by one. But deep down, they knew this was no longer just a game. Vanchett had come to life, and its fate now rested in their hands.