A family.

It generally refers to a group of individuals who are connected by blood, marriage, or other significant relationships, providing emotional, financial, magical in this world, or social support.

‘Family’ often serves as a fundamental unit of society as not just the foundation upon which each ‘character’ is developed but the absence of this important element of nature also contributes to shaping identity, values, and one’s role within a certain community.

“So… looks like everyone’s here.”

An orphan entering a family through their lover can create a unique and delicate situation. The orphan, who may have faced loss or might have had an eternal emptiness of this certain kind of important element, will likely be seeking emotional stability and a sense of belonging.

At least, that is what should happen in normal circumstances.

“We didn’t really have to dress up now, did we? You made us do this on purpose, didn’t you?!”

“Of course he did! He’s such a bad person!”

Both Alex and Alice liked wearing simple things when they were at home, but unlike Alice who was in formal or professional clothes most of the time when she was outside, Alex simply didn’t like wearing complicated dresses or things that made her look… good, and frustrated at the same time.

“You two look fine, ladies. Cut it out, will you?” His mom simply smiled at both of them while correcting Alex’s back lace. She was clumsy sometimes when it comes to complicated dresses, but she liked this side of her the most.

They were having the important party that Alex had asked Elio about when he was stuck in that forest.

The condition was for her to be the one to reach that place and if she does that, he would have to give her a ring… it did not matter what kind of ring he was giving her, she simply wanted a ring.

And, if Elio was to get out of that forest first, he simply had to throw this party. A ring wasn’t going to be mentioned anywhere, but at least, this was going to be his party… something he organized, something he was doing as a surprise for her.

Of course the others helped him, but aside from what food was cooked, how the decorations around the house were, or what they Might do at this party, they did not know much of anything.

They were going to just play around and see whatever Elio had organized, talk about what they all were going to do when the Timer ends, and discuss their plans in case something happens.

This house that they had, each one of the houses in this area, were special houses.

They had their individual underground areas that were no less than a survival bunker. These special places, made to be safe areas in case of emergency, were interconnected underground.

The neighborhood was specifically made by those who cared for their families, those who had money and resources for projects such as these, and the entire underground network was strong enough to withstand at least a (Level-200) creature that had an Earthwyrm’s characteristics from NO.

If things go wrong, something that was definitely a possibility, there was a chance that they might have to fight back with the resources that they had secured in these underground passages.

And, since the people that lived in this mountain region, all owners of fortune Empires, were not simply rich people that were trying to live a minimalist life.

They were looking ahead into the future. The people that they had under them knew how to operate things that could most certainly kill a (Datademon) if needed.

They had resources and they had people so, if the time to evacuate arrived, they were going to prioritize their families before they focus on someone else.

No one knew what was going to happen when the two worlds collide and become intertwined.

The fact that one world operated on unique Laws and had unique elements than what they had in this world was going to significantly affect their world than how much the other world might be affected by their presence over there.

The players had been part of that world for a long time now.

A decade might seem like a short time to the l8ng life species but to the common humans of this world, it was a long, pretty long time.

There were a lot of things that could change in this long time, especially in a world where foreign elements that could not be ‘killed’ appeared out of nowhere.

“What is this party even about? Elio, what are you going to do now?”

There was a certain hypothesis in the minds of the experts… just like how the players were undying beings in that world since they were not part of that world, if, by any chance, the natives of that Data world were to enter their world, would the ‘foreigners’ be able to kill them if needed?

Would the natives of that world die in the world of the foreigners?

It was a simple question, but… it haunted many who played this game and knew about the impact that a ‘materialized’ data unit might have on this world.

There were a lot of questions. Everyone was confused. Even the most knowledgeable didn’t know more than those who knew little of what was going on, but there was one thing that Elio knew was important in times like these.

“First of all… I’d like to thank all of you for being here today.”

Elio faced all of them, and looked at his mom, his dad, his elder sister, at Blaze who had now suited up and was standing before him with Olive and their parents… he looked at Alex, a smile present on his face.

“A lot has happened in the past few weeks. This month itself has been a complicated one among the many, most we have faced until now.”

He remembered the day he started playing NO like yesterday.

The first time he created his Metabody and entered his Immortal name. He still remembered how the dumb system was going to give him a dumb name, and he still remembered the look on her face when he first heard that he was finally retiring.

They had money already, but he was an egoist.

He had not relied on them ever since he was a teenager, and he did not do so even right now.

He was grateful for the freedom that they gave him as well as the trust that they had in him. He was forever grateful for having them as his parents, he was blessed to have a partner like Alex and a friend like Olive.

Her parents and their elder siblings were his idols. He had learned all that he knew about work from those two… and he respected them immensely.

“…that’s why, I’ve prepared a little song for all of you.”

He told them how he was grateful for everything they had done for Them. He knew how Alex was feeling fuzzy with all these people here, with Her family members here, as well as how well she was hiding it all.

It was pretty obvious that she was trying to not look funny in any manner. He wanted to tease her right now, but this party was for her.

He had a plan for their proposal, and it wasn’t going to be possible anytime soon now, so at the very least, before the storm approaches, he wanted them to at least have a moment to themselves.

And for that, to ease her fears and help her relax a bit, he had prepared a little song… which he played with his piano as he usually does, and she loved it.

-Hmmmmm~.

With Olive’s mom and dad playing a flute and violin, the three of them produced a slow, warm music with Elio singing with the music in his charming and deep voice.

It was a fun show for them, and she loved it.

Among these people, with this music, in Their home… she was a part of this family. Even if Elio doesn’t take the initiative and make things official with her, she was still going to be part of this family.

She knew that… she knew all that…

And yet…

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[{ What are you worried about, master? }]

She had not told them a few things. And she did not want to tell them about any of it anytime soon either.

[{ “This… Victor. I’m worried about this.” }]

As she watched him move his fingers around the piano keys, as she listens to to beast, the changing sounds, his sweet voice, and at the same time, as she closed her eyes and remembered what She had been through, what that world meant to her… she couldn’t simply come to a conclusion.

[{ “That world gave me more than what I ever had, you know that well.” }]

Not many know this yet, but soon, everyone will have to make a choice…

[{ “He is the most important for me, nothing is going to change that, but…” }]

His green eyes, his light brown hair shining under the cool blue light, his pretty clothes and his expression as he sang that song that he wrote for her…

She wanted to have that, she didn’t want to part ways with what they had, even if their world was mixed up with some other one.

[{ “I’ll have to make a choice as well, Victor. WE all will have to.” }]

Blaze will be fine since he was not like them, but she was different from the normal players.

Be it the TWO of them, that lucky bastard or the judge that was smiling warmly at her best friend right now… they were all different from all the normal players.

And, when their time ends, and when the dawn of change approaches… they will have to make a decision.

But…

“Thank you for being here, with us… with me, Alex.”

Until that time comes, she did not want to worry about all those things.

The present, this right here… all these people, and that dummy playing piano… this was all that mattered to her.

Whatever she does going forward, all that… will be for them, for him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep