***
Rouya was at a loss as she faced the three in front of her. She assumed that they'd find a restaurant and immediately get down to business—but instead, once they'd settled in, they ordered a mountain of dishes and dove in like they hadn't eaten in days.
Resigning herself to the situation, she began to eat, only to discover the food was absolutely a delicacy. No wonder the three were eating so heartily!
"Ugh... the best part of this stupid game is that I can eat as much as I want and never gain weight—and the food tastes just like the real thing," the silver-haired girl said, cursing and praising the game in the same breath. "Whoever made this is a total genius."
They polished off every last dish on the table, still acting like it wasn't enough—completely forgetting that even in this game world, they could still feel full just as they would in reality.
"Let's get down to business, Aislinn," the violet-eyed girl cut in, turning her gaze to Rouya. "I'm Noir. This is Aislinn," she said, gesturing to the silver-haired girl, "and that's Ginger," indicating the cute, beady round-eyed girl. "We have one more member—our guild master Priscilla—but she isn't here right now."
"I know where she is!" Ginger chimed in excitedly. "She must be in Twilight City, the largest city in the area. Her boyfriend is a member of a powerful guild there, so she visits him now and then."
"Ginger, you shouldn't pry into others' privacy," Aislinn said sternly. "Our guild master is old enough to date whoever she likes. Besides, they were separated when they entered the game. If she hadn't promised to help us start our own guild, she should have joined his instead."
"I'm sorry—I won't do it again."
Aislinn rolled her eyes, clearly not convinced, before shifting her attention to Rouya. "What should we call you?"
"Rouya."
"Rouya... Here's the thing—it's been months since the game launched, and players who control the major cities have started enforcing rules that everyone must follow, or face their punishment," she explained.
"What? In just a few months, some players have already built up that much power and influence?" Rouya asked in shock.
"More or less. Many of them are veterans or even former beta testers. While the data they collected during testing became useless after the game's new update, beta testers are still known for how quickly they can adapt and adjust to online games."
"One rule requires all players to join a guild—otherwise, they can't enter any large cities. On the surface, it sounds reasonable, like they're keeping players from becoming isolated lone wolves. But two months ago, a problem came to light: a female player was assaulted by three men. It turns out intimate contact between players works exactly like it does in the real world," Noir added.
The words hit Rouya like a bolt of lightning, shattering her perception of the game. If it was no different from reality, then a world without proper authority or restriction was far more dangerous for women.
"Because of this, many female players have been left in a desperate position. To avoid becoming targets, joining a guild has become a necessity. But there's no such thing as a free meal—large guilds will offer protection, but they'll always ask something in return," Aislinn said, her tone carrying a clear meaning.
Even without being spelled out, Rouya understood exactly what she implied. Still, she struggled to come to terms with such a harsh reality.
"Most players are male, putting us women at a numerical disadvantage. While many men do still protect and help us properly, some see us as commodities—playthings, or worse, sex slaves. Trying to hold them accountable is pointless; since this is a game world, outside authorities have no power here," Aislinn added, her voice was heavy.
"Rouya, this is only the start. The longer we're stuck here, the more players lose their grip on reality. They'll give in to the game's twisted sense of morality, where right and wrong blur together—and only strength matters," Noir stated plainly, as if stating an unavoidable fact.
Rouya fell silent for a moment, then looked at them directly. "Are you planning to create a guild to shelter all female players?"
"Not exactly. We just want a place where we can stand on our own and protect ourselves. Helping others is good too, but only if they're willing to strengthen themselves as well. After all, building up our own abilities is the best protection we can have," Aislinn said firmly.
She wasn't wrong. Relying on your own strength was far better than leaving your safety in someone else's hands. Besides, since the game was still in its early stages, most players still held onto their sense of reality—which gave women valuable time to grow and prepare.
"Rouya, join our guild! It's probably your best option anyway—other guilds might demand things from you in exchange for protection," Ginger said carefully. She clearly wanted Rouya on board so they could officially establish the guild and gain access to larger cities with more resources and connections.
Rouya was caught off guard by how blunt she was. While she understood their goal, the direct invitation felt a bit sudden.
"Sorry—Ginger tends to be straightforward," Aislinn said with a small smile. "But let me extend a proper invitation: we'd like you to join us. We can't offer much yet, but we can promise you a genuine companionship—something you won't find easily in other guilds."
Being part of a guild with other women certainly seemed better than joining one full of men. Thinking back to what they'd told her earlier, a cold shiver ran down her spine.
"I'll join your guild!" Rouya said quickly, as if fearing they might change their minds if she hesitated even for a moment.
"Great! I'll take you to where we're staying right now," Ginger exclaimed happily, reaching out to take Rouya's hand and pull her to her feet. "Our guild master is so generous—she bought us a headquarters in a beautiful scenic spot."
Rouya could only go along as Ginger led the way, while Aislinn and Noir exchanged helpless smiles. Watching Ginger's bright, energetic demeanor helped ease some of the weight they'd been carrying since discovering just how harsh this game world could be.
***