Chapter 05 ~ Apple.
The Guide-girl continued walking beside Hikari, the soft thud of her shoes syncing with the ambient rhythm of the town. The cloth bag of apples rested in her arms, held carefully like something fragile and dear. She smiled, her voice tinged with warmth.
"You know, Rising Star… I really like this conversation. It's been a while since someone talked to me without drowning me in silly questions."
Hikari glanced at her, the corners of his mouth tugging upward ever so slightly.
"You don't need to flatter me," he said. "I still don't understand most of the system."
She chuckled quietly, brown hair swaying with each graceful step. But before she could respond, she suddenly bumped into something.
A small gasp.
A boy, maybe seven or eight, stumbled back, clutching his nose.
He had messy black hair, wide brown eyes, and wore a red shirt tucked into black shorts. "Ah—s-sorry, Petra-chan!" he blurted. "I didn't see you!"
Two more kids came running up behind him, panting.
"You idiot," one said. "You're getting in Petra's way while she's working!"
They turned to her and bowed their heads quickly. "We're sorry!"
Petra knelt gracefully on one knee, her maid-like uniform crisp and proper despite its modesty—long sleeves, high collar, and a flared black skirt beneath a clean white apron. She placed one hand gently on the boy's head and smiled.
"It's alright," she said softly. "I don't think this player will mind if I spend a few more minutes here, will he?"
She turned her head toward Hikari with a knowing look.
Then, like a proud older sister, she lifted the cloth bag just slightly, her eyes sparkling.
"Look what he gave me!" she said cheerfully.
The children's cheeks turned rosy, their eyes lighting up as they gathered around her. She opened the pouch and handed out bright red apples, one by one, as they giggled and thanked her in soft, overlapping voices.
Hikari stood still, blue eyes calm as he observed the moment.
The AI in this world… it's frightening, he thought. They know exactly how to appeal to a player's emotions.
But even as he watched, he noticed something in Petra's expression—a flicker of surprise, genuine and uncalculated. The children, too, looked more touched than programmed.
He spoke aloud, voice steady.
"Don't some players give you money sometimes?"
Petra stood, dusting off her skirt as she fell into step beside him again. Her tone grew thoughtful, almost… tired.
"Not all players treat us badly," she admitted. "But we're still just tools in their eyes. Even kind people—once they log in—they act differently. Here, Petra is just an overtalkative NPC who doesn't matter."
She exhaled.
"They just want to slay monsters, explore dungeons. Who wants to waste time talking to someone like me?" She smiled faintly. "Maybe you should act like that too, Rising Star. Might make things easier."
Hikari didn't respond at first.
Only the sounds of footsteps and market chatter filled the silence between them.
Then, softly:
"I think 'Petra' is a really nice name."
She stopped walking.
For a moment, she simply stood there, clutching the apple bag to her chest.
Then she turned, reached into the pouch, and pulled out a single red apple. She held it out to him with one hand, while keeping the rest cradled protectively in the other.
"I'd like to give you this," she said gently. "Even though you're the one who bought them for me. That would leave me with two left."
"I don't really need it," he said, raising a brow.
"I know," she replied, her voice quiet. "But it's a gift—from me. Because your words made me happy."
She looked down at the apple in her hand, then back up at him.
"I have a younger sister," she said. "And now I'll have two apples left. I'll tell her they came from a Rising Star."
The apple glowed softly between them, red and round, the way digital light refracted across its smooth surface.
"For you," she added, voice even softer. "This apple's worth less than half a Diamo. And this whole moment won't even register as one percent of the events waiting for you in this world."
"But to me…" she smiled, eyes warm, "…to my sister… we'll remember this."
Their eyes met.
Blue and brown.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?" she asked, voice trembling just slightly with something real. "We carry memories too…"
Hikari stared at the red apple in Petra's outstretched hand.
Her words still echoed faintly in his mind, threading themselves into the silent seams of an earlier conversation—one he'd had with the town's gatekeepers. What had started as a quiet exchange about names and kindness had slowly turned into something else… something bigger.
He reached out and took the apple with his right hand, fingers brushing hers.
But as the fruit rested in his palm, his thoughts deepened.
What exactly does the developer want from this?
Could it be... the AI itself is evolving? Not into rebellion—but into something more dangerous? Emotional sentience?
Are these characters tugging at the players' hearts just to manipulate empathy? Or… is this entire emotional nuance part of the company's plan to deepen immersion?
The apple was warm, softly glowing in his grip. As he examined it, Petra's voice broke his concentration.
"Forgive me, Rising Star," she said with a soft smile. "Please don't overthink it. It's really not worth it."
He glanced at her, his calm blue eyes half-lidded with that familiar, lazy weight.
Then—
"Yeah. She's right. It's not worth it."
The voice came from behind.
Both Petra and Hikari turned.
Approaching them was a group of three: two boys and a girl, each dressed in ninja attire—no masks, but clearly outfitted for agility and precision. The girl wore a white ensemble with a flowing red scarf that wrapped around her neck and trailed down to her knees. Her golden eyes gleamed beneath short, cropped blonde hair.
To her right walked a boy in blue. His outfit matched his icy blue eyes and jet-black hair, and a soft cloth cap (more casual than combat) tilted on his head.
In the center stood the one who had spoken.
Taller. Broader. His ninja gear was jet black. His skin was a warm brown hue, and his short brown hair was clean-cut. His eyes were the same color—unflinching, firm.
The group stopped in front of them.
"You're a newbie," the man in black said flatly. "Don't let these clunky robots mess with your heart."
He stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Hikari's shoulder, the one holding the apple.
"Don't be soft," he said. "This is a game. The only souls here are ours."
Hikari's eyes flicked up toward the floating tags above their heads:
Miryana – Lv. 13
Kazuki – Lv. 14
Asaka – Lv. 17
Asaka's hand remained on his shoulder.
Behind him, Petra took a half-step back, her voice a tense whisper:
"…The Shadow Ninja Party. What do they want this time…?"
Asaka caught the words.
"Hah?" he tilted his brow and smirked. "That fear in your voice…"
He stepped past Hikari, straight to Petra.
He reached out, placing two fingers beneath her chin, lifting her gaze.
His voice dropped to a whisper meant only for her.
"What's wrong, Petra? Has this little player already won your heart?"
"You do remember the level gap, don't you?"
His tone darkened, almost snake-like.
"Look at him. Do you really think he can protect you? If you don't want to disappear like a fading star in this simulation, I suggest you watch what you say from now on."
Then, without waiting for a reply, he pulled back and smiled as if nothing happened.
Petra didn't speak. Her expression trembled—she tried to keep it together. Hikari saw her trying.
"What did he say to you?" Hikari asked, voice quiet.
She couldn't meet his gaze. Her head lowered.
"…I'm sorry, Rising Star," she said. "It looks like… I've reached the end of my role here."
She took a breath and continued, tone mechanical, but wounded.
"One last thing. Royal Fantasy Elixir can be played solo… or in duos, trios, and parties of four. If you find yourself struggling against certain enemies, I recommend joining a team—even temporarily."
She turned.
"There's another new player I need to guide. Thank you… for everything."
Her footsteps were soft. Fading.
Hikari stood still, staring as she walked away, then looked back down at the apple still resting in his hand.
Only for it to be snatched away.
Asaka held the apple casually in his hand, examining it.
"You really shouldn't get attached to these things," he said. "What are you—one of those people who cries when their favorite anime character dies?"
Hikari didn't respond.
Asaka lifted the apple toward his mouth, smirking—just about to bite. But before his teeth met the skin, Hikari's hand shot forward. He gently took it back.
"I'll take that back."
He held it a moment, then whispered:
"Seniora. Store this item."
Item secured.
The apple vanished in a flicker of electric blue light.