Chapter 19 – What Does it Mean to be Real?

Chapter 19 – What Does it Mean to be Real?

"Ow, Ow." Yumi cried in pain. "That really hurt; not exactly a fan of being launched into buildings." Yumi was flung across the base by Minazawa's knock-back attack to separate her from Akagi. This wasn't the first time she was separated from her master in such a spectacular fashion.

Yumi stood up, shaking off the dirt and rubble that had landed on her and readied herself for the battle to come. As she did this, Minazawa finished running across the base and stood before her, drawing her sword and raising her shield.

"Well, you didn't die on impact so, I guess that's something." She chuckled. "I guess you're pretty durable for a healer."

"Heh” she laughed. “I had a pretty strict teacher, so excuse me for being a bit hard to kill. "Yumi summoned her staff and used magic to swap into her battle clothes. “If you want to kill me, you're going to have to try a lot harder than that!”

{That said, I might be able to take a hit here and there, but I doubt I can actually beat her head on. She was a player; someone like me can't compete in terms of power or abilities. If I'm gonna win, it will have to be by outsmarting her.}

"Hey, tell me," Minazawa said lowering her sword. "Why are you still working for that bitch? I mean, in FWO you were just an NPC follower. You really didn't have a choice so I understand helping her in the game, but you're free now. So why?" This was only partially true, the NPCs of the game were very intelligent and autonomous.

"Listen, I'll cut you a deal." she continued. "Surrender and come help us; I'm sure the government would love someone like you on the team. At the very least, you won't have to die along with that master of yours," she said trying to help.

"I refuse." Yumi didn't even have to think about her response.

"That was quick." Minazawa was surprised by the immediate and unflinching answer. "I don't get it; your master murders people for a living. She takes the lives of innocent people for what? Money? Doesn't that disgust you?" She asked.

Yumi didn't respond.

"Because it disgusts me. A person, no, a monster like that shouldn't be allowed to exist and if you want to die with her, then so be it." She lifted her sword which shone with a purple glow.

"A monster? That's rich coming from someone like you." Yumi took a fighting stance, filled her staff with magical energy and fired it at Minazawa.

“What are you talking about?” the swordswoman blocked the attack.

“Your words make it seem like you're upset by my Lord's actions, but you're not actually angry that she killed people. No, you're angry that she killed other players.” Yumi answered firing off another blast.

{What is this girl talking about? Isn't that the same thing?} Minazawa thought while dodging her attack.

"If you're so against the killing of others, where were you when players slaughtered people from my world for fun? Did you help us? Did you find the player who killed all my friends and family?" Yumi asked with a cold voice. "No, you didn't; you and all the others couldn't care less when we died." she began to spin her glowing staff above her head.

"Well, I mean you were just NPCs so..." Minazawa was confused. Of course, players wouldn't fight each other over the deaths of NPCs. Right?

Hearing this, Yumi stopped preparing her attack and shot Minazawa a spine chilling glare."NPCs, yes, we were just non-player characters to you all. You treated us like objects to use and abuse as you wished, with no regard for us or our lives." Her anger was palpable.

"Do you know how many players I begged for help after my village was slaughtered? Do you know long I waited in that city center praying that someone anyone would take revenge on that man?" Yumi slammed the butt of her staff into the ground causing a small tremor."And do you know what they told me when I asked for help? They told me it didn't matter because I wasn't real, that my friends weren't real, that my family wasn't real." Yumi said on the verge of tears.

"Do you have any idea how horrible that was to hear every day for three months?" she began to cry. "To be told that my entire life was meaningless, to be told that if I died, no one would care, just because I wasn't real." she took in a deep breath.

"WELL IT SURE AS HELL FELT REAL TO ME!" she screamed, startling Minazawa.

Yumi stood across from her in complete shock. She never imagined her opponent would lose all will to fight just from hearing her story. It seemed that she overestimated her opponent's mental fortitude. In her eyes, the other players were abhorrent people, but even still, seeing Minazawa act this way made her feel pity.

{I guess that makes sense, doesn't it? Most players would likely never have done such horrible things in their world. In the game, they convinced themselves that we were nothing more than mindless drones and that it didn't matter what they did to us. With that illusion shattered and the truth made evident, I guess most people would react this way.} Yumi felt somewhat sorry for the woman.

A few moments later, Minazawa composed herself enough to speak.

"I-I'm-I'm so sorry." She began to cry. "We didn't know. We didn't know." She started shaking as she wrapped her arms around herself. "If I had known, I would have stopped Kyojaro... I wouldn't have let him do something so horrible to you. I'm sorry." Yumi's revelation had left her broken.

Yumi lowered her staff.

"You were not the one who killed my family and friends. You are not at fault for the deaths that he caused." Yumi said in a warm voice. "Besides, he has already paid for his crimes with his life; I believe that is enough."

{Doesn't she hate me? Even though I never killed anyone in the game, I didn't view them as people. I used and abused them like the rest and I acted terribly towards so many of them. Doesn't she blame me and everyone else for what happened? Doesn't she want to kill me?} (Minazawa)

"Now then, It would appear that my Lord has finished her fight with your friend." She said with a smile. "Shall we continue? Or can I consider this fight over?"

Hearing that Ishigami was defeated, Minazawa slowly stood up and placed her sword in its sheath.

"No, I don't want to fight anymore." her voice was still unsteady. "The only reason I agreed to fight Akagi, was because I wanted revenge for Kyojaro's death." she looked down. "But, now.... Now I just want to go home. I still don't agree with what she does, but I now understand why Kyojaro had to die. What he did was unforgivable, even if I do still love him." (Minazawa)

"That's good to hear. I will inform my Lord you have withdrawn from combat and will be leaving." She said watching as Akagi walked towards them. "Do you wish to speak with her?"

"No. I don't even know what I would say. I might try and talk to her later when I've sorted my thoughts." Minazawa looked at Yumi and asked. "Your name is Yumi, right? Can you go ahead and pass on a message to your master?" her voice was still shaky.

Yumi nodded.

"Tell Akagi... tell her that she was right about Hassan. We really were all idiots, just like she said." Minazawa then proceeded to jump onto the rooftop of a nearby structure and disappear beyond the base's walls.

Almost immediately after she left, Akagi appeared next to Yumi.

"Well, I guess that went better than expected, huh?" Akagi grinned.

"Yes, I must admit, I was quite nervous to fight her by myself. I was even considering sending an SOS to Chloe if it came to it." Yumi said while scratching her cheek.

"It's good that Minazawa backed down from that fight, but don't expect the other players to have the same reaction," Akagi warned. "Minazawa was on the nicer end of the spectrum. I can tell you that many won't care one bit about all those they killed while in the game." (Akagi)

"Yes, I know. I don't intend to let my guard down." Yumi said.

"Just making sure." Akagi turned and faced the main building. "Now that the final obstacle has been removed. How about we have a nice chat with the General and end this nonsense?" Akagi said as she pulled Yumi into a hug.

Spoiler

Yumi's Battlemode!

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