The NPC's Counterattack Episode 3

[P01]
A town at dusk. Some time has passed since the final scene of Episode 2, and the mage girl is nowhere to be seen.

Lulua
"Good grief... you really are something. Just how impulsive can you be?"

Nemo
"Ahaha. But we've taken a step forward, haven't we?"

Lulua
"Well, I suppose that's true, but..."

Lulua looks unconvinced.
Flashback scene here. Returning to immediately after Episode 2.

Mage
"I see, a raid event. The participation requirement is a party of at least two people, huh."

The mage looks at the advertisement with interest.

[P02-03]
Nemo
"I really want to participate in this. But I don't have any companions right now."

Mage
"It sounds interesting, but I have things I need to do too... hmm."

Nemo (Inner voice)
(Honestly, I don't have many good memories of players, but not everyone was arrogant toward NPCs.)
(If they're willing to help, there's no reason to hesitate... right?)

Mage
"...That's it! How about this, why don't you help me with my errand first? Then I'll help you with yours!"
"It'll be a big help for me to have a companion too. Let's call it a give-and-take, a mutual favor."

Nemo
"...! Y-yes!"

Mage
"If that's decided, let's finish setting up the party."

They form a party by operating a holographic window.
The mage is used to it, but Nemo is clumsy and fumbling.

[P04-05]
Mage
"All done! Now, let's introduce ourselves. I'm Carol. My class is Mage!"

A large panel depicting the full body of Carol the Mage.

Nemo
"Um... I'm Nemo, a Magic Swordsman. And this is my companion, Lulua."

Carol
"Nemo-kun, right? Well then, nice to meet you!"

The flashback ends as the two shake hands.

Lulua
"...But in the end, you never even asked what it was you were supposed to help with."

Nemo
"It can't be helped. Players have lives in that other world, right?"

Insert a flashback panel of Carol logging out with a smile and disappearing.
Add light, casual dialogue like "See ya" as sound effects.

[P06-07]
Nemo
"Let's meet at the central plaza at noon tomorrow to continue our talk."
"For now, let's just find an inn and get some rest!"

Lulua
"An inn?"

Lulua looks suspicious. However, Nemo doesn't notice.

Nemo
"Well, I haven't really rested since I rushed out of town on impulse."
"I'm really starting to miss a bed..."

Lulua
"Wait, wait. There's no way there's an inn where you can stay."

Nemo
"...Huh?"

Lulua is dead serious, and Nemo is frozen stiff. Depict both of their reactions clearly.

[P08-09]
Lulua
"Inns for players don't function as lodging facilities. They're just recovery spots and respawn points."
"Avatars don't need biological sleep, and when the 'person' in that world sleeps, they just log out."

Nemo
"I-I suppose so... Does that mean I'll have to sleep outside from now on...?"

Lulua
"Don't worry. I've already taken care of it."

Lulua gives a fearless smile to the anxious Nemo.

Scene change. Outdoors, away from the city. There is no one else around.

Lulua
"Well, this area should be fine. Try selecting the 'Camp' command in your menu window."

Nemo opens the window as instructed and selects the command.

[P10-11]
A large tent appears in front of them. It's the size of a small cabin.

Nemo
"Whoa!?"

Lulua
"This is a standard feature for all players. Go on, try entering."

The inside of the tent is quite well-made. It reminds one of a glamping tent.

Nemo
Wow...!

While Nemo looked around the inside of the tent, Lulua explained with pride.

Lulua
Normally, a player who logs out will resume play from the inn in the last town they visited or from the Assembly Tower they used for their initial login. That is because an avatar can only be regenerated at one of those two locations.
But it would be inconvenient to have to start over from town every time you just log out while exploring, wouldn't it?

Lulua sits on the edge of the bed.

[P12-13]
Lulua
That is where this camping feature comes in handy. If you log out inside here, your avatar will not disappear but will remain, and you can resume from here when you log back in.
Of course, it can also be used as a rest area to prepare yourself. Neither players nor monsters can cause harm to the tent. It is a completely safe zone.
I have modified it to give it the functionality of a residence where human collaborators can live.
As long as water and food last, you can live comfortably for days. With this, you have no need for inns.

Nemo
You even did that... Amazing, you're like a god...

Lulua
Not like one! I am the Goddess of Wisdom! Worship me more!

At that moment, Nemo's stomach growls from hunger.
Lulua's anger vanishes, and she chuckles.

Nemo
...I haven't really eaten since yesterday, after all.

Lulua
That's right. You should have a meal.

[P14-15]
Sandwiches and a canteen are laid out on the table.
It is noted that they are an HP recovery item and an MP recovery item, respectively.

Nemo thrusts his arm up to the shoulder into a small bag and pulls out a second canteen.
His arm is clearly inside to a depth that ignores the bag's dimensions.

Nemo
This is amazing! It holds so much, and I don't feel the weight at all...

Lulua
An inventory bag. That is also common equipment for players.
As long as the Game Master has certified it as an item, it can be stored while ignoring size and mass. It is an excellent tool that also prevents decay and deterioration.

Nemo
(She seems kind of happy...)

Nemo is suspicious of Lulua's reaction. However, he doesn't say it out loud and changes the subject.

Nemo
Come to think of it, is it really okay to just eat player recovery items?

Lulua
No problem. Most of the Arcadia Online system was created by repurposing things that originally existed in this world. The food-type recovery items are also made from the same ingredients you eat every day.

Nemo
Hmm, I see. I've never eaten player items before, so...

Nemo begins to eat, looking intrigued.

[P16-17]
Continuing the conversation while eating. Lulua is only having water.

Nemo
"Does that mean, by any chance, this tent and these bags too?"

Lulua
"Of course. To begin with, the account and avatar systems themselves are based on the power of the gods of this world."

Nemo
"Gods...?"

Lulua
"...The gods, including myself, were defeated by the Game Masters. I was sent away by my mother and immersed myself in the study of Replicants while remaining in hiding... but I don't know what happened to the other gods."
"Whether they survived and surrendered, or were killed and had their powers stolen... in any case, the Game Masters are using the power of the gods. That much is certain."
"That is precisely why I was able to create a counterfeit account in just three years. It was an application of the abilities of companions I knew well."

Nemo listens quietly to Lulua's sorrowful monologue, then speaks with a gentle attitude.

Nemo
"Then we have to participate in the raid battle no matter what. Since it's our first lead."
"If we can make friends with other gods that way, we'll be one step closer to defeating the Game Masters! ...Right?"

Lulua
"...I suppose so. Yes, that's right."

Lulua smiles, looking a little happy. A panel suggesting a scene change is inserted at the end of the left page.

[P18-19]
Scene change. A deserted rocky mountain. An old tower near the summit.
Nemo, Lulua, and Carol are looking up at the tower from the foot of the rocky mountain.

Carol
"The Executioner's Tower. It has an ominous name, but it's actually just an unremarkable small-scale dungeon."
"But for some reason, it's become a gathering place for player killers lately."

Nemo
"Player killers?"

Carol
"Yeah, exactly. Thanks to that, casual players don't come anywhere near it."

Behind the troubled-looking Carol, Nemo and Lulua communicate via telepathy.

Nemo
"They're killing each other between players. Even though they can't attack NPCs."

Lulua
"It's an intentional feature. If you kill another player, you can obtain some of their belongings."
"In exchange, a bounty is placed on you, and you become a target for bounty hunter players."
"There seem to be additional penalties upon death as well... but well, that's not your concern."
"Replicants are exempt from the bounty system, after all."

Nemo
"I see... so that means, by any chance..."

[P20-21]
Nemo
"Carol, is your goal to go after the player killers' bounties?"

Carol
"A friend of mine suddenly started player killing, so I wanted to tell them to stop."
"I thought I'd find out where they are as an informant and go confront them."

Nemo
"That's a dangerous thing to think about."

Lulua
"Well, it's convenient for us. There should be plenty of perfect targets if they're player killers."
"Why don't we take the opportunity to acquire some suitable accounts?"

Carol
“Alright, let’s set off! We’re going to sneak in!”

They climb the rocky mountain and approach the tower. However, the area around the tower is eerily silent.

Carol
“Huh? That’s strange... It shouldn’t be this quiet...”

The three of them peer cautiously into the tower, their expressions turning to shock.

[P22-23]
Inside the tower, the remains of player avatars (Episode 1, P42-43) were scattered about.
The scene clearly shows that a large number of players had fought and died in this location.

Carol
“W-what is this... What happened here...?”

Lulua
“Judging by the state of the avatar disintegration, it doesn’t seem like much time has passed since they were defeated...”

Nemo
“That means, could it be...”

[P24]
Nemo
“The culprit is still nearby.”

Along with Nemo’s line, the perspective shifts to the top floor of the tower.
Episode 3 concludes with a large panel of a sharp-eyed girl player leaning against the tower wall, holding a fantasy-designed rifle.