Versatile: Alternate World

The flashback I had in my dream still haunts me. Since Riko died after we rescued her, I can't help but put a little blame on myself for that. Perhaps, even though I returned back in time, there is no denying that perhaps I may have caused the untimely death of Riko in the past timeline. The guilt left me with some bad taste in my mouth and it seems I have yet to get over it. Maybe because the date of that upcoming event is coming, the memories that I tried to bury under all of my other memories that can't be forgotten have resurfaced again to make me remember the guilt I forcefully try to forget and felt at that time.

Despite that, I move on. The event that happened in the past timeline has yet to occur here in the new timeline and I will be making sure that it won't ever happen at all.

I stood up from the bed and ruffled my hair for a bit before I checked the time. It's already past the time for breakfast and I have yet to eat one. Doing late-night magic practice just causes me to be too exhausted and I would instead sleep longer than usual. Still, it's good that I have increased my mana and magic power more than usual. I am also close enough to reaching my previous mana capacity and it would be a great deal if I reach that point before the date of Riko's date. If I can't stop her from attending the date, I can at least stop the crash from happening.

Feeling famished already, I went outside my room to scrounge and see any good food I can eat. I am sure everyone else has already eaten so there is no need for me to even ask them if they have eaten already.

I was just halfway from the staircase when I heard the voices of Akira and Sora talking to someone. It's a man's voice and I am sure it wasn't Janus's voice. Not only is he not here because he is working in the morning, but he also doesn't have a deeper voice like him.

Then, I remembered the other guy who lived here. The guy who vacated his room for 5 years and has only kept on sending messages that he can't come back for a long time because he needs to focus on the medication of his sister.

I went downstairs to confirm my guess and I was spot on since it was indeed Suhei alongside Pandora who is now looking healthier than before. Not only that, but Pandora is now overflowing with mana just like us. The only one who does not possess any mana at the moment is Suhei.

Since the only way for the mana to manifest is to play the Alternate World, does that mean Pandora was a player of the Alternate World as well?

"Suhei? Pandora?"

"Oh, hey there, Manato! It's been quite a while since we last talked, yeah?"

"Yeah, way too long. Come on guys, why are you still there in the entryway? Come inside, you guys are technically still living here, so why hesitate to come in?"

"Hahaha, sorry about that. Please excuse us."

"Excuse us," Pandora smiled and the two entered the mansion.

It took me a few seconds before I realized that it was Pandora who talked to the last one instead of Suhei, which made me a little bit shocked.

"Hey, Manato. Are you shocked? I can see why. My sis was amazing for being able to recover from being unable to speak."

"So there is already a method to restore the voice of a mute person now?" I asked as we both sit down on the sofa.

"Not really. It was a secondary effect of her first treatment and even I was surprised that she even get to speak. Although the way she speaks is only using simple and sometimes single to two words, she is now able to hold a bit of conversation for a bit without relying much on the sketchbook."

"I must say that it's wonderful that the treatment gave you a bonus effect!"

"Indeed and I must applaud the doctor for giving us the recommendation to use it. And I must say that it was quite effective indeed."

His eyes then landed on my neck since I was just wearing my regular tank top at home and my neck is very visible, showing the tattoo of the Reality Verse Nexus but I don't need to hide it since everyone else who plays the game also has it already in their bodies as well.

"So you are playing Alternate World too?" Suhei asked.

"Oh, yes. I do play the game, in fact, everyone here plays the game. Do you also play the game as well?" I asked.

"Ah, no, no. It's not me who is playing the game, but my sister. I mentioned before that she is undertaking treatment right? The treatment was playing Alternate World's virtual reality. I wanted to treat her legs that are unable to walk and stand up and based on the treatment, the doctor suggested it as the best form of therapy for her since her legs Pandora are not in a bad shape, it's just that her brain seems to refuse to operate her legs. It's a pretty rare type of problem but it's easy to solve if the brain is given a slight memory of shock or shocks it up to restore the functionality that seems to be "missing". And since I don't want her to undergo the operation of doing that, I instead went through the route of Virtual reality instead."

That should be expected. That was how most treatments involving rehabilitation work. Not only that but it was an effective move as well since it involves the brain processing power that most movement is being done with. And with that alone, made treating paralyzed people and people who can walk before but were disabled due to an accident with Virtual Reality much easier and less time-consuming as well, not to mention, you play a game as well, making the treatment enjoyable for you.

"Still, I couldn't believe Pandora is playing the game."

"Yep. That's why in the past five years, we have had to stay where she was at that time since she was using the Cabin Version before. But since the Nexus Version has been given for free and is now possible to be used without the Cabin, it allows us to return here since she already got her tattoo so we can resume staying here until then."

"That's cool then. We could play together sometime if we meet at the game. Perhaps I can help her as well," I added.

"That would be great. I know she has friends in the game but it's more reassuring if there is someone we know in the real world communicating with her as well."

"By the way, are you not planning on getting the Alternate World as well?" I asked.

"I do have plans for it. but I want Pandora to get used back in here and settle down before I buy one for myself. It won't take that long so I know it won't be long enough before I can go and play the game as well."

As we continue to talk, Renatta arrived with refreshments and food in a tray and carried it to the table. I then realized that I was so absorbed in talking with Suhei and Pandora, I skipped breakfast entirely.

"Manato, can I ask a question?"

"Sure, what is it?" I sip on the juice and take a bite of the bread.

"Let me get this straight, that was not a costume, right? Those long ears on hers are not an extension, right? And the one flying on her side, the tiny girl, she is not a robot right?" Suhei had a big questioning look on his face.

"Oh, you mean Renatta and Pixie? Yeah, they are not. Renatta is a real elf who crossed through the dimensions and landed here. I rescued her before the other otherworlders also crossed dimensions and managed to make contact with humanity as well. As for Pixie, she is a familiar summoned here to act as Renatta's translator since she is the only one who can understand both Renatta's language and our language, acting as our bridge."

"Woah, I didn't know so many things have changed. Even Sora was cured as well."

"Haha, yeah. A lot has changed indeed."

I cured Sora a few years ago. Once the break started, I healed her eyes from the blindness effect and since Sora already adapted enough to her eyes, now, she can now go and see everything the world has to offer. Since she was no longer blind, she transferred to a normal class after that and is now a classmate of her brother.

Magic has finally taken over the world and sooner or later, the boom of the Alternate World will soon arrive, giving the Alternate World more players soon.