[Else whaere]

"We had a deal. Your people would be allowed to use everything in Aincrad, but you would have no say in any of our laws"

["We aren't arguing with you and we thank you for your generosity, but many of the Republics citizens have become Players and in fact, they make up the majority of the Players"]

"That isn't our problem. The moment they became players they became citizens of Aincrad and became subjected to our laws. The Republic refuses to bend or change a lot of its ways"

["...We would like to become citizens, the Republic is offering everything we have kept for ourselves.]

"Do you realize"

["Yes, its time we move on, in time we will go back, but as things are we nither have the numbers, nor the resources to even restart the war and take back the surface"]

"Look at your help screens, everything the Coalition agreed to is in front of you."

["This is a short list"]

"You have already been doing the most of it, these are just the few things you didn't agree to"

["Deal"]

][][

I remember the first time. [Two years ago]

"Damm, that taste good, what do you think?"

"I don't know the air is clean and all but where is the smoke and smells I've gotten used to"

The two of us said to each other as we looked at the green field in front of us, I had no idea who the guy was but from those words, I could tell he was an okay guy.

My help screen beeped and I looked at it, officially I was no longer a soldier.

"So what are you going to do now?" he asked me.

"Don't know I've been fighting since the day they showed up and now..." I said as I signaled to the unicorns eating grass nearby.

He just chuckled. "Then why don't you become a Player, that's what I' ging to do."

"Players get the same privileges as the Adventurers, we get to go all over the castle and if we want to, we can just settle down and live wherever we want"

I listened to him as he pointed at the bag he had filled with gold, I can't believe everyone gets paid in gold.

"So this Player thing how does it work?"

"Caught your interest," he said to me, I can still remember his wide smile.

"Its easy you just goto one of the guilds sign up and you're a player, but its a life long job. Hold on before you say anything, the reason is, Players, do everything from plumbing, gardening, exploring, fighting monsters and whatever shows up"

"In rare occasions, we are expected to join in wars, but do to the Adventurers orders we can say no to this"

We didn't say anything after that, I watched him lay down and close his eyes, I sat down on the grass and laid on it.

God that felt good, to just lay down and feel the suns on my skin, it felt amazing the cool wind blowing, the itchy cool and warm grass underneath me.

How long I laid there, to be honest, I don't know.

I followed the guy back to town and we walked into a large building, the place was an expensive hotel, one you would expect rich people to use, but the moment the doors were opened, the mood completely changed.

Outside was calm and the moment the door opened, the sound of loud music reached my ears, men and women were eating grilled and fried meat, some people were drinking alcohol others just plain water.

Women were wearing lingerie, others skimpy clothing, some men were doing the same, all around us waitresses and waiters walked around carrying food and drinks.

We walked up to a counter and there was no one to greet us just a help screen.

All receptionists are busy, please connect your help screen to this one and all paperwork will be filled out immediately.

I just called my help screen and pushed it forward, the moment the two connected, I watched the help screen in the counter copy my information and immediately return my screen to me.

There was one difference however the word Player was now displayed on top of my name.

The feeling of vertigo hit me like a ton of rocks and I watched jobs that needed to be done fill my help screen, what rank I was, was displayed in bold letters.

The room kept on spinning and I could feel my body change, no, not change, altered.

When the feeling passed I found myself on all fours and when I looked up, I saw my reflection, all of my injuries had been heald.

My help screen beeped and I saw an automatic message.

Would you like to see the outside? It's customary for all new Players to see the outside of the castle and see the outside world.

I pressed yes on the screen and I felt my breath leave my body, blue skies as far as the eye could see, looked down and I could see the world I left behind.

You are on the highest floor Player, this is your playground. I read my screen, I turned around and saw the castle, oceans-forest-fields-mountains-desserts, and monsters.

]][][

"What now?" I said to myself as I took in the view.

"Screw it" I said before pressing the return button and suddenly I was back inside the guild, I found an empty table and called to a waitress and ordered a beer.

Televisions weren't needed anymore because of the personal hologram machines everyone has, but they are a welcomed remnant of the past, something that told us we still had some control over everything that happened around us.

The smell of the fried meat made my mouth water as I tasted the hot grease in the air as the plates were carried past me.

"Did you hear, another one's pregnant"

"Why can't I find a girl that's ready"

I listened to a man say to another, pregnancies were at an all-time high, it was like all of the females of the species had gone into heat and all of the men were ready to help start the next generation.

My help screen beeped and a live coverage was coming in, I could ignore it, but right now as things stand every bit of new information was valuable.

"People of Sera, we are pleased to announce that the Adventurers, the Republic, and the Coalition have agreed in a mutual protection treaty."

"Officially all resources are to be used to protect the castle and its for that reason that I'm pleased to announce that people of the Coalition of Ordered Governments are officially citizens of Aincrad."

"The Union of Independent Republics are still negotiating"

"We understand that many of you are still struggling to adjust to this new way of life, but rest assured that we are working on creating employment and new opportunities for all of you" the transmission ended.

"So that's it," I said as I took a drink of my beer and, right now the only thing I want to do is relax, so I did just that, I listened to all of the people speaking in the background, as I drank.