Iho moved a little closer to me, her eyes narrowed slyly, as if she was going to ask the simplest and at the same time the most tricky question.
— Well... when will you find a boyfriend?
At that moment, I took a sip of tea and almost choked. My throat burned, my eyes widened, and I coughed so hard that my father immediately frowned and put down his fork.
— Ma-a-am!
But Iho seemed to be getting into the spirit. Her face was filled with the same maternal concern that can sometimes be so difficult to bear.
—What "mom"? You're already twenty-five. Time is running out, you know. You should start thinking about the future, about a family, about children. And there are still no suitors.
My cheeks flushed with a scarlet fire, as if someone had abruptly turned on a spotlight. I clenched my fingers into a fist under the table, nervously tapping them on my knee.
— Ma... Do you really think I don't know how old I am?
—Well, what about it? You're beautiful, smart, and successful... or is it all just for books and games?
I abruptly placed my glass on the table, unable to bear it.
—Mom, stop! It's too early to think about it. And please... don't ask me such questions again.
I looked away, not wanting to meet my mother's curious gaze. My heart was filled with frustration, awkwardness, and shame.
—Oh, you.
Iho sighed, but a pleased smile remained on her face. I tried to calm myself by looking down at my plate. My heart was racing from the unexpected conversation.
***
Finally, the noise and excitement subsided. My parents left, leaving behind a warm atmosphere, the smell of homemade food, and a lingering sense of awkward conversations at the kitchen table.
The house fell silent once again, and I found myself alone with my thoughts in my spacious room.
I logged back into Log Apofis and was pleased to see new notifications. Two achievements stood out before me, like awards carved in golden letters on the screen:
[One Against the Thorns]
[A citizen's apprentice to the Fairy Queen]
A tired but sincere smile appeared on her face.
"At least there's progress here..."
The second achievement was especially rewarding. It officially made me a student of Mor Adelina. This meant not only recognition from such a majestic NPC, but also that I gained access to unique opportunities.
Now, the doors to the Fairy Kingdom were open to me at any moment, just by summoning Fritte.
I thoughtfully scrolled through the game tabs and even took a look at the fan forums out of curiosity.
The internet was full of speculation and rumors, with some claiming that the Fairy Kingdom was a myth or an illusion created by the developers.
Others swore they had seen players disappearing into the forests near mysterious portals. However, there was no concrete evidence to support these claims.
"So that's how it is..."
I was surprised to discover that this location was not displayed on the map at all. Even if you're standing right at the entrance, the system stubbornly refuses to capture your coordinates.
For all other players, the Fairy Kingdom simply doesn't exist. It's hidden, concealed from prying eyes, and the only way to access it is through a special offer, the same one she completed.
This thought gave me a pleasant sense of exclusivity. It was as if I had become part of a secret society, one that ordinary mortals were not allowed to join.
Yes, my parents were once again trying to take me back to reality, but it was here, in this virtual world, that I was truly embarking on an adventure.
I opened the game menu again, and a new notification appeared on the screen, causing the girl's heart to flutter.
[Unique Offer: "A Unique Story from the Kingdom of Fairies and Flowers"]
The wording of the task itself sounded unusual, as if it wasn't just a quest from the developers, but something ancient and mystical, as if it came from the very heart of the game.
Without hesitation, I clicked [ Accept] , and lines of text appeared before my eyes, as if written by an invisible being:
[When the Ultimate Night reveals its eyes,
The Guide will show the path of eternal damnation.]
These words echoed in my mind, causing my skin to prickle with goosebumps.
— The Ultimate Night?.. A curse?..
I repeated the words in a whisper, staring at the symbols. Suddenly, my brother's words came back to me, as if on cue. He had often mentioned the peculiarities of this game:
"Have you ever wondered why we're all so small? The players, the NPCs, even the monsters seem like toys. Perhaps someone has cast a curse..."
At the time, I dismissed it, thinking my brother was being dramatic. But now, after the words embedded in the "Unique Story," I felt a chill in my chest. It all seemed too much of a coincidence.
"Maybe... this is the answer."
If my suspicions were correct, this particular quest was linked to the main mystery of "Log Apofis."
And perhaps it is this that will shed light on why the game world looks so ridiculously scaled down, as if they are indeed grapes on a giant branch.
"Can I do this alone?"
An alarming thought crossed my mind, but I immediately dismissed it, pretending that nothing had happened. Strangely enough, I wasn't worried at all. On the contrary, I acted as if everything that was happening was just a backdrop for my entertainment.
I didn't care that an unknown guild leader named "Coyote" had taken an interest in me and sent out orders to find out everything possible. To me, it sounded like nothing more than a rumor.
I just chuckled indifferently, flipping through the in-game notifications:
— Let them. I didn't come here to play by someone else's rules.
And so, almost immediately, I forgot that in two days, they would really come for me. I was supposed to be tracked down, and the guild was going to take control of me.
But I didn't care. I just didn't want to waste time worrying about it, and I preferred to move forward while the VR world remained a source of joy for me.