Afterlife Dream

We knew the answer in our hearts.

No one.

Human beings, be they adults or children, were originally selfish by nature.

Everyone preferred to reap the most benefit from the game and let the troubleshooting be someone else's headache.

The only time when the low-level players actually united to fix a problem was during the Dimensional Master event when they realized that the event was the only chance they had to re-establish Fairy Forest on the map. The high-level players on the other side were rather relaxed and nonchalant about this issue.

Why?

Because they had all passed the second job advancement. Third, even. Whether or not the Fairy Forest was fixed was not on top of their priority list.

Vice Versa, the Dimensional Master was more the problem of the high-level players than the low-level players.

Why?

Because there was no one else to rely on.

We used to have BlackPuma, depending on him to save us from the Dimensional Master's menace. And then he disappeared and we lost our biggest weapon. It was our selfishness that led to his disappearance in the end.

Who knew how BlackPuma was doing at the moment?

Ingenious sighed. He took his seat back on the chair.

"I have a proposition," he said. "Can we just abandon the raids and level up as soon as possible so we can go against the Dimensional Master?"

His question was met with unsurprising reluctance.

"I don't think we should do that," SakuraChan said. "What is the point of being level 150 but weak? The end-game equipment are must-have items in order to defeat the final boss."

"For as long as we focus on getting these end-equipment items, we will never be fast enough," Ingenious pointed out.

"We will, Ingenious. We are already quite fast," HinoKun said.

"So we are just waiting until the boss kidnaps us one by one? I want to say that it is better to be a weak level 150 than be a strong level 90. Just saying."

"We just need to be more careful," HinoKun pointed out. "No one should even step into the deactivated raid areas anymore. Be vigilant toward everything."

"DragonTalon returned safely from the Lava County but he still ended up disappearing," I pointed out. "I believe it was a glitch at the Dark Fairy raid that led to him being shattered by the Dimensional Master. Or what I believe it was that shattered him. My point is that it could happen to anyone.

In any kind of raid."

The game was very unstable at that point. Glitches could happen anytime, and players had to pay if they were stuck in the glitches. It was the game's natural solution to just eliminate the players together with the glitches.

We could not come up with a solution for the time being. Meanwhile, BellaWarrior from Dominion successfully looted the only Dark Fairy gloves that dropped within the raid and XiXYukiXiX refused to run the raid because she valued her life more than a pair of gloves.

The evening Dark Fairy raid was thus canceled. The Twelve members mostly hung out on Paradise Island until it was time to sleep.

Having absolutely nothing to do, I decided to go to Marsh City to meet up with Kitty and Wolf. I felt that I had to tell them about what happened to DragonTalon. We had all been friends for a long time, after all.

They did not take it well.

Kitty broke into tears and could not stop crying.

Wolf looked as if he had just been struck by thunder. He stared at me as if I was the one who personally killed DragonTalon.

We did not have much to talk about. Instead, we decided to retreat to our bedrooms and sleep for the night. Hoping that the next day would be much better.

Except that I was unable to sleep. I tossed and turned on the bed for a few hours, slept maybe only ten minutes due to fatigue, and woke up right afterward. Outside of the farmhouse, the full moon was shining brightly. I rubbed at my forehead and sighed to myself.

If I was unable to sleep, there was no point staying in bed. Might as well go take a walk outside of the farmhouse and breathe some fresh air. Maybe then I would be tired enough to finally fall asleep.

I went out and closed the door behind me. In front of me, a figure was sitting on one of the wooden benches and was gazing at the beautiful moon. I did not need to ask to know who it was.

"Wolf?"

Wolfhound jolted from the sudden call and turned around to see me.

"Antares, it's you."

"Mmm, can't sleep?" I asked.

"Yeah..."

I sat next to Wolfhound and watched the moon with him. At night, the air was unbelievably cold and refreshing. It was a peaceful night on the outskirts of a city. I could understand why Kitty and Wolf decided to abandon leveling up and just became residents of Afterlife Dream. If the game could be considered as a second life, then how much better could the life be?

No matter how many Life Points we exchanged at the NPC, could the benefits grant us what Wolf and Kitty now had? Was it not good enough to be content with what we could achieve using our own hands in Afterlife Dream, rather than forcing ourselves to work hard in order to get the best possible start in the next life on earth?

My train of thought was cut short by Wolfhound's sudden call.

"Antares."

"Hmm? Yes?"

Wolfhound looked at me. "You never once asked. About me and DragonTalon."

He lowered his eyes in shame. "About the murder at Dai City."

"Oh."

I did not think to ask. Then and now. What for? I was merely grateful that we managed to come together as a party at that time. I did not think that I would make it this far without the support of my dear friends. Even though Wolf and Kitty then decided to step back and enjoy the game while DragonTalon and I ambitiously moved forward with the game.

We remained friends, and that was the most important thing for me.

"It is a sensitive topic. Not a pleasant one. Why are you suddenly bringing this up?" I asked.

Wolfhound gave me an uneasy smile. "It is because of DragonTalon. I suddenly remember a lot of things about him. There are so many things that I have yet to say and do for him. I feel so guilty."

"He already forgave you," I interceded. "You know that, Wolf. Besides, it was an accident."

To my surprise, Wolfhound shook his head slowly. "No, Antares... it was not an accident. I really tried to kill him."

"...."

I did not expect to hear that at all.

If the confession happened a few months back, I would have not allowed Wolfhound to run any party quest with us at all. I would have dragged Kitty away from Wolfhound at all cost. What I did not say must have been written all over my face, because Wolfhound gave me a sad smile. Tears started to form in his eyes.

"Antares, I know that nothing could ever justify my action, but I want to hear me out. Please take it as if you are hearing me out in place of DragonTalon," he begged.

My heart softened. I sighed.

"Okay. Go ahead. What do you want to say?"

Wolfhound then started to tell me about the story of his past life.

Wolfhound was the oldest of four siblings. He had two little sisters and one little brother. The little brother was the fourth, the youngest one in the family.

When Wolfhound was only seven years old, his parents decided to divorce. His father took off with no intention of even having a further relationship with his children, and his mother got sole custody of all the children.

The problem was that the mother had no job and relied on social service to help put food on the plates every single day. Until she met another man and thought that this man could provide for her and her children. In her desperation, she ignored all the glaring red flags during the short courtship period and accepted his marriage proposal in no time.

It was a grave mistake, because the man proved to be mentally ill.

He did provide for the whole family, but in turn, he abused every single person whenever he got drunk. Initially he still apologized, saying that work was tough and that he had poor self-control, but then he got drunk more and more often.

Wolfhound's mother, Wolfhound himself, and his little siblings were beaten up almost every day. Once, Wolfhound urged his mother to go to the police station and report the man, but the poor woman told him to be patient instead.

"At least he still provides for us. If he is not around, we will all starve and die!" so Wolfhound's mother said.

Wolfhound endured and endured. Until he could not anymore.