Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 115: Resolution

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"...Is that all you can share, Dad?"

I glare at my Dad kneeling right in front of me. After releasing most of my pent-up anger from dealing with the shit I had to go through in my [Hidden Quest], I'm relieved to see all I got from using my bow without my arrows is barely enough to chip 1/4 of his [HP]. I'm still pissed at him, but that doesn't mean I want to kill him in the game or in real life over a petty reason.

"Yes... After the program was finished, the game developers invited me to try out both the closed alpha and beta tests. Because of that, I got the [Role-Player] character, and it allowed me to create a special scenario related to two [Hidden Quests] they plan to publicly share after the first major expansion," Dad answers.

"AKA the ones Kazu and I finished," I guess. "I supposed the mysterious books were part of your [Hidden Quest] scheme. as well, correct?"

Dad shakes his head and says, "All I can do is you can blame the devs for that." He sighs next. "I'm sorry I can't share anything else without spoiling anything else. I swear, I'm not rigging the game in your favor. I tried to make sure the [Quests] here are not only tough but not impossible for the players to succeed."

I groan. I have so many complaints, but I can't take it all out on Dad since there are many good points.

"If what you say is true, then I'm not going to question it any longer," I declare. "Although, that doesn't mean you're off the hook after I almost quit the game over that [Hidden Quest], Dad. Sure, I can deal with the nitpicking and verbal abuse against me, but some players cannot. So at least give them a content warning window beforehand! No, a change isn't enough! How about you compensate us for enduring that hell?!"

I might be asking too much from Dad, but can you blame me? Because of them, I was forced to be separated from Kazu when the quests partially disabled the [Guardian Player] feature. Thank god it got enabled again after my [Hidden Quest] was complete. I guess that reuniting with Kazu somehow did the trick.

"W-Well, it only occurred to you since Kazu passed the ceremony with flying colors, so I doubt he's not bothered by it. So maybe I'll send you and your friends to Disneyland in California as my way of apologizing over your grueling battles."

Yeah, I would have accepted that for Zac and Damon's sake, if I were that naive and forgiving. But is there anything I can get from Dad without exploiting him or getting him in trouble with his bosses? I'm mad, but I'm not being a spoiled brat here. All I can give him is telling Mom about him and a slap on the wrist, but...

"Who says Wind is the only one being mad around here?!"

I quickly gasped to see Kazu standing behind Dad. He is still frowning from earlier, only his glare is a bit more intense than usual. Staring at his eyes is enough to make me quiver from them.

"Even if I was the only one who completed the quest with no issues doesn't mean I'm not mad that Wind was almost traumatized to the point of quitting! Besides, you already promised that you would take us to Midnight Dragon Games after my birthday!"

I drop my bow when I hear this. I recall from Dad and Zac that Midnight Dragon Games was the one who created <Isekai Online> along with that famous RPG video game. But I'd never expected Kazu to make that bold demand on him.

"Kazu! You know what I said. Demanding that kind of request requires me to ask the developers and it will take some time for them to answer..."

That's true. But I'm not accepting other excuses at this point. "But you want to apologize, right? Then how about you follow Kazu's request? I don't care if it will take weeks, but you don't want to disappoint Kazu before his birthday, right?"