198 THE IM
"What the hell was that for? …. She's really a slut," he exclaimed, recoiling as she slumped over, already asleep on him.
"Told you," Leo remarked with a smirk.
The two men shared a chuckle and continued drinking. Soon, the conversation shifted, Rabama's curiosity spilling out as if a dam had burst.
"What's it really like out there?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. "This place is suffocating. I've been stuck here for years... it's so fucking boring."
"Then leave," Leo said simply. "What's holding you back?"
"The damn rules of this place," Rabama muttered bitterly.
"Rules are made to be broken," Siphonia mumbled groggily, half-waking before dropping on Rabama, kissing him again. Surprisingly, he didn't resist her kiss this time but soon she fell asleep again.
"Told you she's a slut", Leo added.
"She's the second girl I've kissed here, I don't know why I did that with her?" Rabama defended.
"She won't remember any of this in the morning", Leo added.
Rabama put Siphonia down to rest.
Leo studied Rabama. "You don't seem like someone deeply attached to this fucking place. How long have you been in this... server?"
Rabama blinked, startled. "You're talking about the game?" He shook his head. "No one here talks about that at all. Everyone pretends we're real people, just like the NPCs."
"No one at all?" Leo asked, intrigued.
"Only Hanna," Rabama admitted.
"There are plenty of players out there," Leo said. "Some are even in strange game systems."
Rabama turned to him, his curiosity piqued. "And you, Leo—you're a player too?"
Leo hesitated, aware of the restrictions as a registered villain. He couldn't access the usual social features with players.
"I'm from a different server," he replied smoothly. "We don't use IM systems. Only paper and dice."
"Paper and dice? That's ancient," Rabama said with a laugh before looking back at the mined mountain.
Frustration flickered in his eyes. "There's so much I don't know about this fucking game. I can't stay trapped here forever."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Who's Hanna?"
"Hanna?" Rabama hesitated, then smiled faintly. "She came here about a year ago as part of the bride selection for my father. Later, I realized she's not an NPC—she's a player, like us."
"You like Hanna, she's the first one you kissed?" Leo said flatly.
Rabama froze, then gave a nervous laugh. "I've been against this whole bride selection nonsense from the start. All those 'brides' are just NPCs to me. But Hanna..."
"You're into Hanna," Siphonia interjected, cutting through his deflection with surprising clarity.
"Damnit, are you drunk or just pretending to eavesdrop on guy's talk?" Leo snapped, but she promptly fell asleep again.
"Yeah," Rabama admitted after a pause. "But in this stupid game, she's technically my stepmother."
Leo smirked. "This is just a game. Your 'father' is either an NPC or another player. Go get Hanna and leave this fucking place."
Rabama sighed. "It's not that simple. I tried. I told her we should leave, but she refused. She's here for something."
"The treasure," Siphonia muttered, her words slurred but perceptive.
Rabama nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, it has to be. She wouldn't put up with this place—or my father—if it wasn't for something big."
Leo regarded him for a moment. "So, what's your plan? Are you just going to wait and watch her chase this treasure forever?"
Rabama leaned forward, his tone growing determined. "Help me. Let's form a party and find the treasure together."
"So, you can give the treasure to Hanna?" Siphonia asked, suddenly wide awake.
"Yes," Rabama admitted. "If she gets what she's looking for, she won't stay here with the old man. She'll leave with me."
"Have you even asked her what kind of treasure she's looking for?" Siphonia asked.
"She didn't tell me," Rabama admitted.
Leo chuckled, swirling his wine. "Well, things just got interesting."
Siphonia glanced at him. "What's on your mind?"
"Try reaching out to Hanna, send her an IM," Leo suggested.
"Chatting with his stepmother? Why not?" Siphonia remarked, already pulling up her interface.
"Wait, what are you fucking doing?" Rabama asked nervously.
Ignoring him, Siphonia sent a message. "Trade Request to: Hanna from Kissmebabe."
"Done," she said, grinning.
A notification chimed almost instantly.
"Who is this? – Hanna."
Siphonia smirked. "She's biting. What should I say?"
Leo leaned back. "Keep it simple. Offer to talk about the treasure."
Siphonia typed quickly. "Want to meet up? Talk about the treasure you're looking for? – Kissmebabe."
Another pause, then a reply: "Where to meet? – Hanna."
Siphonia shot a mischievous glance at Rabama. "Guess where I suggested?"
"Don't you dare let her know I told you about her identity as a player," Rabama said.
"Rabama's room. – Kissmebabe."
Rabama groaned. "You're going to get me killed."
Leo chuckled. "Relax. If she's here for something important, she'll come. Let's find out what she really wants."
Rabama sighed, resigned. "Alright. But if she's coming here, we do it my way."
-----
"Why are they fighting again?" Lord Kabana muttered, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Weren't they drinking together just last night?"
"I have no idea," Hanna replied, watching the chaos unfold in the courtyard. "Should we intervene?"
Kabana shook his head grimly. "They're the strongest mages in Eoloth. Who could stop them?"
Below, Rabama's furious voice echoed through the courtyard. "I'll kill you, Lilleo Gullee!"
Leo stood his ground, his tone ice-cold. "No, Rabama. You'll die trying."
Rabama raised his hands, casting a powerful spell, but before it could form, Leo's counterspell shattered it. The force sent Rabama sprawling to the ground, his body still and unmoving.
"Rabama, No!!!" Kabana shouted in alarm. "Guards, stop that demon!"
The Eoloth soldiers rushed into the fray, weapons drawn and spells at the ready. Magic arrows streaked toward Leo, their glowing trails cutting through the air.
But before they could land, a terrifying apparition materialized around Leo.
A Dragon like apparition loomed over him, its spectral presence radiating raw power. The magic arrows disintegrated upon contact with the conjuration's aura.
"Dragon Rakhshasa Transformation Sutra."