Rebelling against other guilds wasn't illegal when the world government wasn't involved. This was due to the history of corrupted guilds in the vibrant city, which were always replaced by better guilds created by the people, for the people. It was an exclusive law that belongs to Sector 0 known as the Vibrant city as this law was created by the Freiheit family, one of the four powerhouses that known as the four pillars of Tellus.
Bridget fixed his eyes on me. "This isn't your problem, Einsamer. You don't have to involve yourself in this trouble."
At that moment, I knew I had to help Bridget, regardless of the potential internal conflicts within the island or the impact on my social credit. I knew the risk of having a criminal or misdemeanor record would immediately block me from even entering a law institute.
But to hell with being a judge. Perhaps I had been lying to myself all along, becoming a judge just because I wanted a stable life, validation, and the privilege that came with it. It was true that I wanted to help people, but if I couldn't help my friend, then what was the point of helping others?
With a serious tone, I replied, "I will return to help you."
I could see a hint of shock in Bridget's eyes, but then he smiled and stood up, teasingly saying, "I always knew you never wanted to become a judge, did you?"
I looked down slightly, feeling indecisive. "I don't know. Maybe I don't know what I want in life either. But I just want to protect and fight alongside everyone."
"Nonetheless, I think you shouldn't be involved. So many people have gone missing in the past few days, not just on this island, but in the entire vibrant city," Bridget said with concern in his voice.
Our conversation was interrupted by someone else, an energetic voice belonging to Setsuna.
"I will let my father know about this matter and request that some of our elite guild members help you out," Setsuna declared.
I looked at her with gratitude, realizing that even though I may not fully understand my own desires, there were people like Setsuna and Bridget who believed in me and were willing to support me.
With a grateful smile, Bridget replied, "If you can do that, I will be in your family's debt forever."
Setsuna playfully smacked his back, causing him to flinch slightly. Her energetic smile lightened the mood as she said, "We're in the same band, no big deal."
I turned my gaze towards Stella, who had removed her mask. I noticed a brief moment of her genuine smile, and it warmed my heart. Each of us had joined this band because of our love for music and the companionship we shared.
"Let's not think too much. I'm going to rest now," Shan said in a laid-back tone as he headed back into the house.
The five of us remaining continued to practice our instruments and tools. No one stopped Shan because we knew he was already skilled at what he did. It was fine for him to take a break and indulge in his research when he was alone. We all knew that he spent most of his free time conducting research, which was why the only group of friends he had were the people in this band.
We respected each other's personal boundaries and privacy, except for Setsuna, who sometimes crossed the line. But even then, we knew it was just her honest and caring nature shining through.
As I strummed the guitar and hummed the lyrics, Stella walked up to me and motioned for me to follow her. I pointed at myself to confirm if she was calling me, and she nodded.
I placed my guitar on the chair and followed her into the house, through the private bar, and out another door, leading to the street. A shooting star in the holographic sky above illuminated the scene. I noticed Stella standing and leaning against the wall in front of the house. With her mask and sunglasses on, her true identity remained concealed.
Curious about why she had called me outside, I could see excitement in her eyes as she said, "Let's go to the interweb cafe."
The Interweb Cafe was a traditional gaming cafe that stood the test of time even after the great global disaster, it still exists and many people on this island love to experience it more than spending their time in the VR world.
It offered both arcade and console gaming experiences with many gaming collections from the past. It wasn't surprising that the VR game was temporarily shut down and the only place we could have fun was to go there, but what surprised me was that she invited me to a public place like this despite being a celebrity.
"It's not a bad idea. We should relax our minds before the performance in this evening, however what about you?" I replied.
"I will be fine, I can change my voice pitch and volume. Moreover I have a hood and mask with sunglasses, perfect for cover my identity!" Stella said jokingly.
This girl... she was taken this light.
"You are wise beyond your age, so I know nothing will happens." I sighed and looked at the artificial night sky filled with stars.
To be honest, my mind was filled with thoughts from yesterday and today. Especially the blue particles I briefly saw around the creepy angelic masked man a while ago, reminded me of the magic particles in TWOD.
Lost in contemplation, Stella grabbed my sleeves and pulled me along. Obliviously following her, we exited the side road and reached the main road, where numerous holographic advertisements illuminated the surroundings.
The four-lane road had a green arrow painted on it, which powered the flying vehicles barely hovering above the ground. These vehicles would absorb energy from the surface of the road to recharge their batteries.
Meanwhile, I noticed many girls looking at me and giggling, some even winked. Quickly, I averted my gaze, causing disappointment to flash across their faces.
"Maybe that girl in a hood and sunglasses is his girlfriend!"
"Geez, I want to taste blondie like him"
"It is rare to find a blondie with great physique as well, such a shame.."
Were they saying that on purpose to get my attention?
Stella looked at me with a smug face.
"I'm used to attracting attention due to my appearance, but the girls here are quite bold!" I commented with a frown.
Stella responded, "Well, you're naturally handsome, so it's expected for people to look at you. But don't worry, they'll lose interest quickly since you're also boring."
Her comment left me feeling conflicted. Should I be happy or sad about it?
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at a three-story building, adorned with a holographic display of a spaceship, arcade, and chess above the entrance. The glass sliding door automatically opened as we entered the Interweb Cafe. Along the left side, there were several rooms lined up.
Each room contained a round table with five seats, surrounded by curved realistic holographic displays in every direction. In the center of the hall, traditional arcade machines were aligned, and there was a staircase and an elevator leading to the karaoke on the first floor. Instead of a cashier, security cameras were placed everywhere, and guards stood at the stairs and entrance.
"It's been so long since I've been here," Stella said, her voice filled with nostalgia.
"Yeah, we grew up on this island until the cathedral took me in," I replied, glancing around.
We proceeded to play an arcade game we used to enjoy as kids. It was a two-player, two-dimensional shooting game. After scanning the QR code on my tablet, the start game menu appeared before us. It felt strange to play a game in front of a physical screen in this modern age.
I chose a character in a red uniform, while Stella preferred a blue one that matched her hair color.
Together, we battled through waves of zombies, studying multiple maps to progress. It took us several minutes to reach the fifth level, meaning there were five more levels until we faced the final boss. However, I died first, leaving Stella to continue on her own. Unfortunately, her characters met their demise at the sixth level.
"Ohh noo." She sighed.
"It is just a game, let's cheer up," I said with a gentle voice.
She nodded, then looked around for the next game to play, and stood up after she probably found it.
Undeterred, we moved on to the next game, a racing game with real seats and a holographic display that enveloped us, offering an experience akin to virtual reality.
Now that I thought about it, she was like an elder sister to me since she helped me a lot in my old orphanage. Therefore, in this game, I would pretend to give my best but actually go for defeat to cheer her up.
We raced against each other as the in-game environment crumbled, simulating an end-of-the-world scenario. Our skills were evenly matched, but in the end, I managed to overtake Stella, I intentionally steered the car to crush against the debris and let Stella claim victory.
Silently cheering for her, a smile of excitement spread across my face.
Stella, despite not laughing, seemed to be having fun as well, but she mostly didn't celebrate energetically and show it outward. Afterward, we entered a space enclosure room where we could experience the surreal beauty of stargazing.
As we stepped inside, the room darkened, and countless stars and constellations emerged. It was a breathtaking sight, making me feel as though I was truly floating in space alongside Stella. The immersive experience had no bounds, with no visible horizon to limit what I could see.
"Ever since I was young, I've always wanted to go to space," Stella remarked, her voice filled with longing.
"You'll get there someday," I replied, my eyes still fixed on the mesmerizing surroundings filled with stars.
Then, unexpectedly, she posed a question that caught me off guard.
"What if the entire world faced an end-of-the-world scenario? Would you find and protect me?" Her gaze locked onto mine, seriousness shining in her eyes.
Without hesitation, I responded, "Of course, I would protect everyone in the band, including you."
Her question reminded me of Setsuna, who used to ask me the same thing.
"I'm just kidding," she said, a smile playing on her lips. "I can protect myself."
I was glad she was satisfied with my answer.
As she continued to gaze at the holographic stars and constellations, I realized that she was a mentally strong person. Even without me, she would be able to handle any situation on her own, just as she had done during the seven years we spent apart.
Suddenly, Stella asked me another question, her voice filled with curiosity. "Do you believe that aliens, time travelers, gods, and supernatural beings exist in this universe? I mean, our solar system is so small compared to the entire universe."
Her question took me by surprise, reminding me of the younger version of Stella. Back then, she wasn't particularly hardworking or talkative around people yet she was bold and cunning, but whenever she spoke about the stars, the universe, music and the supernatural, her eyes would light up. I had thought that side of her was gone, but it seemed I was mistaken.
"To be honest, I don't know," I replied. "But it's certainly an interesting idea to think about."
She moved closer to me, her excitement evident in her tone. "Right? It makes life so much more interesting when you consider the possibilities."
"Yes, indeed," I nodded absentmindedly, my heart skipping a beat from her proximity.
"Anyway, let's head back to the garage," she said, breaking the moment. She turned and headed towards the exit of the room.
As we stepped out, the dark space filled with the light of the constellations vanished, leaving behind a blank screen. The door slid closed automatically.
We proceeded to purchase coffee from a nearby vending machine, sipping it from paper cups as we strolled along the street. During our walk, Stella initiated another conversation.
"Do you still see your childhood bully?" she asked, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.
"There were many people who bullied me in the past. Which one are you referring to?" I responded, curious about her question.
"When we were living in the same orphanage, you mentioned a guy who manipulated everyone to hate you in your elementary school," she explained, trying to recall the memory.
I sighed, reluctantly answering, "His name is Jesses. Why do you ask?"
Jesses was the person who used to beat me up during Karate training, claiming it was just practice. This was one of the main reasons why I switched schools and eventually found my place at the Divine Light Cathedral. While my hometown used to be on one of the islands within the vibrant city, I realized that Jesses was also somewhere in the city. However, it was none of my concern anymore.
"I heard he became a guild leader now," Stella commented.
It wasn't surprising, considering his family's wealth as an elite society member. I couldn't deny feeling a twinge of jealousy, but I knew that no amount of envy would change my life. That's why I had chosen to play it safe from the moment I switched schools and aimed to become a judge.
Once we returned to the garage, I noticed that Shan and the others were engrossed in a card game, with snacks and drinks scattered on the table. Setsuna waved at Stella and me, inviting us to join in the game.
We spent several hours playing card games, chatting, and enjoying the snacks and drinks. Eventually, the girls decided to head back to their room, while Shan and Bridget stayed with me.
As I glanced at the clock, I realized it was already 3 pm. However, Shan seemed to have something important to show me, so I sat down beside him.
He projected a holographic display from his tablet, showing hundreds, if not thousands, of people marching on the main street of Zero Zone Island. This was the center hub for music festivals in the vibrant city, and it seemed like these protestors had been there for two straight days. More people were expected to join soon, and this would undoubtedly gain the attention of the world government.
"It's concerning that our performance is taking place in the same location as the protests," I voiced my worry, my expression mirroring my concern.
Shan replied, "I just wanted to show you this so that, as the leader, you can make an informed decision."
Bridget joined us after examining the van parked next to Setsuna's vehicle, having overheard our conversation.
"There's no need to worry. The protests are limited to the main street at the edge of the island. Any attempt to disrupt our performance would be met with immediate action from the forces of the Golden Deer Guild."
The Golden Deer Guild, led by the president of the vibrant city, was one of the most powerful guilds in the region. Since its leader didn't work for the world government, it was a relief to know they would handle any potential disruption.
In conclusion, the vibrant city was a democratic sector free from the rule of any major power in the solar system.
As I contemplated the situation, I realized that attending the performance could be dangerous. However, I knew I couldn't make the decision alone. Just because I was the leader of the band didn't mean I had the final say. But personally, I felt that this was an opportunity we couldn't miss, considering it could be our last chance.
"Let's have a vote first," I suggested.
Shan and Bridget sat on the sofa in the living room, waiting. Meanwhile, I went upstairs to knock on the girls' doors. Setsuna eagerly opened the door, asking what the problem was. I explained the discussion I had with Shan and Bridget and asked her to invite Stella and Ginevra to join us for the vote. Then, I returned to the living room on the ground floor, waiting for everyone to come downstairs.
The living room had a bar-like decoration, with chairs aligned before a table and two sofas facing each other in the corner. Neon lights in shades of blue and pink softly illuminated the room, with jazz music playing in the background.
Once everyone gathered around, Ginevra and Stella went to fetch glasses of juice and placed them before each of us on the table in the middle of the two sofas.
I explained the situation with the protests on Zero Zone Island and the potential risks involved. I expressed my concerns about the possibility of something unexpected happening, recalling the events in the Tower of Eternia within TWOD. I didn't want to lose control again and wanted to avoid a similar situation.
However, I couldn't share the fact that I was present in the Tower of Eternia when the explosion occurred. But through my words, I conveyed my worries, and it seemed like everyone understood my concern.
Yet, to my surprise, everyone voted to proceed with the performance. Setsuna even mentioned that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we couldn't reject. Additionally, everyone in the band knew that Stella was planning to leave soon, so it was expected for us to do everything in our power to gain recognition as a farewell gift to her.