A hawk soared through the air, clamping a flapping dove in its claws. Below, the Capitol sprawled beneath the sunset like a giant, basking beast, surrounded by square fields and green forests. Smaller clumps of villages scattered far past the horizon, and I could still see lantern lights in the most distant cottage. There was a common saying that Akoras’ developers poured more time into design than gameplay. With this view, it was hard to disagree.

I waved my hand, idly bringing up small bones from the dirt. They rearranged themselves with wisps of purple: a bowl, a small dagger, a rat. As the skeleton rat clattered off across the grass, I glanced at the time. 8:50 was a little late, but I figured I would enjoy some peace and quiet before logging off given today's events.

The grass rustled behind me. Footsteps—they were light, but someone was definitely there. My spear was out in a blink, nearly impaling the hooded person who had crept up on my cliffside.

“Relax, relax, it’s just me.”

The hood went off, and the player put her hands up placatingly. Silver-white dreadlocks waterfalled down cloak fabric, and a half-smile quirked on her lips. The sight of her face did nothing to make me relax—if anything, it made me even tenser.

As was my luck, another troublesome person had come to find me today.

Michi had the gall to laugh as I grudgingly lowered my weapon. “I saw the crater you left in the eastern fields this afternoon. Poor Gabriel, you’re usually not that harsh on him.”

“What do you want.”

“Straight to business, I see.” She plopped herself down at the edge of the cliff. “Wow, I can never get used to this view. No wonder you keep it hidden from everyone.”

If she was pushing my buttons on purpose, it was working. My composure was already escaping me.

“Why are you standing there? You look so awkward.” She patted the grass beside her. “You were sitting here when I walked in.”

I had until an unexpected visitor barged into my space.

In the end, I said nothing, and the smile slipped off her face. Animosity flickered in its place, much more like the looks I was used to receiving. “Alright, alright, I got it. I’ll stand, too. We can’t have a proper conversation like this.” She straightened, back turned to the view. “Anyway, I’ve got news for you.”

Right, as if that wasn’t clear enough already.

“Heard the news of the Blue Rose Faction lately?”

“No.”

“Right. Should’ve expected that.” Her brows furrowed. “You do know who the Blue Roses are, yes? Big-shot players? One of the leading groups of the seven main factions? Major pieces in the war?”

I wasn’t that out of the loop—at least not yet. I frowned at her, though there was no way she could see it.

She seemed to get the memo anyway, as she placed her hands up again. “Just checking, just checking. Rumors have been going around that they might finally seize the Palace.”

Rumors like those had been going on since the launch of Akoras Online, yet they never came to fruition. “That’s none of my business.”

“Oh, but it is.” She looked at me head-on now. The setting sun made her brown skin glow orange. Two gleaming eyes, moon-white like her hair, seemed to bore past my mask. She had really taken advantage of the game’s limited physical modifications. People called her the “Moonlight Assassin” because she only went online late at night, but I wondered if the appearance contributed to or was a result of the title.

“The Blue Rose is looking for you. They want your help.” She took a moment to think. “Hmm. Well, the other factions too, if they’ve caught wind of this—which they probably have by now. You know, for someone with such a terrible personality, you’re a pretty popular guy.”

Popular in the wrong ways, as always. “I’ll just turn them down.”

She laughed. I was getting really tired of that laugh. “You’re only one player. You think they haven’t messed with you yet because you’re some invincible god? No, they just leave you alone because you don’t meddle. Plus,” she waved at the scenery around me. “They’ll have ways of finding you. Case point is me—I’m a mere assassin. And yet, I made it all the way here, didn’t I?”

I stiffened. My hand flexed over my spear. “What are you planning on doing?”

“Hey, hey, I’m on your side. That’s why I’m telling all this.” Michi placed a dramatic hand over her chest, eyes widened.

“I could’ve learned of this myself.” Through Gabriel, mostly. The guy never seemed to stop talking, even while I was pummeling him.

“Sure, but we’ve got a good deal going on, right?” She moved as if to punch my shoulder, but thought better of it. “You know my identity, I know where your little hideout is. We can both keep a secret. It’s a trust exercise!”

“I don’t trust you at all.”

“I’m hurt.” She grinned. “After all my visits. Whatever could I do for you to finally trust me?”

“Stop coming here.” But of course, she wouldn’t agree. Usually, I knew what people wanted from me (usually my death) and would send them away—or kill them. But then there was Michi, a casual player who had managed to hold something over my head, and yet all she did was waltz in and out of my peace for the past month. I couldn’t figure out her intentions at all.

“But then how would I get to talk to you? Hmm.” She pretended to think. “I do know how I can keep you updated with private messages.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a blue screen popped up in front of me.

m1ch1ko [Michi] has sent you a friend request.

I didn’t even have to consider it. My hand went straight to the reject button.

Michi’s hands flew up. “Wait! Think about it. I wouldn’t have to invade your personal space anymore.”

That made me hesitate. Through my two years on the server, I hadn’t gotten a single friend request; I liked it that way. Besides, I had a terrible personality. Too apathetic to be likable. I had a feeling that Michi wasn’t using me for my charisma, though.

Oh. I get it now. She just wanted some shitty power—the glory of having connections with me—for whatever prestige play she was fighting in. I let out a slow breath.

Things were still in my control.

“Fine.” I took the plunge and pressed accept.

You are now friends with m1ch1ko [Michi].

Given the slow grin on her face. I already regretted it.

“Thanks, friend.” There was a gleam in those silver eyes. Not for the first time, I was glad that my mask covered my expression. “But really, be careful. It’s dangerous for a high-level player like you to stay out of the main wars for too long. Even Gabriel’s affiliated with factions. Actually, he’s affiliated with everyone, even you. I wonder what he does outside of the game.”

He was probably a useless nobody like me. Judging by his voice—and his frequent immature insults, he was definitely still young. Maybe some college student with too much time on his hands, or one flunking the semester.

Michi smoothened the fabric of her cloak. “Really, you could’ve been a major player like him. A celebrity, if you joined the cause. Such a waste of potential.”

My hand curled into a fist.

She didn’t seem to notice as she stretched, working out the stiffness of her shoulders. “Well, you were a joy to talk to, like always.”

The hood flew back over her head, leaving out one trailing loc. A set of shadowed lips were all that was left of her features.

“Alas, an assassin has other...” The lips twisted into a grin. Something silver flickered in and out of her sleeve with a deadly glint. “Duties, you could say. See ya later. I’m off to work.”

The only trace she left behind was an indent in the grass.

I stared at the patch for a while, took three deep breaths. Let the tension drain out of my shoulders. The skyline had flushed dark pink, and I slumped on the ground as the last rays of light sank below the horizon. It was past nine o’clock now—looked like I was going to be working through midnight again.

I pulled up the single icon in my friend’s list.

m1ch1ko [Michi] is currently online.

For a moment, I considered unfriending her then and there. This had been a terrible idea all along.

In the end, I dropped my hand, dispelling the panel. A small sigh escaped me as I stared into the city below—the city that, for some reason, kept trying to drag me into their problems. I thought that if I accepted the role of “Demon King”, no one would bother me anymore. Now, it seemed to bite me in the ass every chance it got.

At least Michi was true to her word; nobody else had come to harass me yet. Tomorrow, I would take extra measures to make sure that no one found the only land I claimed for my own.

My finger reached for the logoff screen.

“Demon King, I’ve come to defeat you!” A familiar voice yelled triumphantly. “Now fight me properly, no tricks this time!”

My entire body froze. I almost didn’t dare to look behind me.

Standing there, a few steps from my last visitor’s footprint, was a player whose face was clear despite the dim light. His hands clasped a golden-hilted sword, at the ready. Even meters away, I could tell his eyes were an unmistakable glimmer of blue.

The words glowing above his head read [Gabriel].