Traveling through the game world, starting out as a third-rate villain

"Did you receive the same message as I did?" Sylvie asked, looking at her watch.

"Yeah."

"I feel like something ominous is about to happen," she muttered softly, looking up at the sky.

'Her intuition…'

Considering Sylvie's role and her abilities, I absolutely cannot ignore her intuition. In the game, players received a lot of help from her.

"Let's hurry."

"Okay."

We didn't say much more, quickly picking up our pace towards the city center. It was late, and the cold wind was blowing fiercely against us.

When we arrived at the city center, the other members of the club had already gathered together. Vice President Emilia-senpai stood in the center, her expression filled with worry.

The others also had equally serious expressions, realizing that something was very wrong.

"Emilia-senpai, what happened?" I asked, joining the group with Sylvie.

Emilia turned her gaze to us, then looked around.

"Please wait a moment, let's wait until everyone is here before we talk."

As we waited for the other members, I couldn't help but notice Emilia-senpai's anxiety. She was usually inseparable from Maya-senpai, and the two had a very good relationship.

'Where is Maya-senpai?'

Suddenly, I realized that Maya-senpai was missing. Coupled with Emilia's normally calm and confident demeanor, which was now somewhat shaken, I immediately understood that these two things were related.

'Could it be?'

"Mason is also missing."

At this moment, Emilia said softly. Hearing Mason's name, Sylvie couldn't help but tremble slightly.

'Also?'

I was immediately drawn to this word and immediately asked Emilia.

"Did something happen to Maya-senpai?"

Emilia's eyes met mine, filled with worry. "Alas… she's gone," she replied.

"What happened?"

Emilia sighed. "I wish I knew," she confessed, her tone filled with anxiety.

"We were walking around the city, discussing and observing it. But suddenly, I don't know why, Maya's attitude changed. She left in a hurry without saying anything, flying off in one direction. I tried to keep up with her, but she was too fast, and I quickly lost her. Since then, I've been trying to contact her, but there's been no response."

Hearing this, I narrowed my eyes slightly. This incident reminded me of information from the game.

'Maya-senpai is also very sensitive to demonic energy.'

She was an important character in the game, and I knew a lot about her. It was possible that she sensed demonic energy around the city.

"Do you know something? Both Mason and Maya are missing, this is very strange."

Emilia looked at me, and I thought about how much information to reveal.

'The truth will come out sooner or later anyway.'

Considering the seriousness and urgency of the situation, I decided to reveal some details. After all, the club members had the right to know Mason's true colors.

I glanced at Sylvie and saw her nod. It seemed she had also decided not to hide what happened.

"I don't want to say much, but Mason won't be coming back," I said, responding to everyone's questions. Emilia's expression changed, she leaned forward slightly, urging me to continue.

"What happened? Why won't he be back?" she asked, a light of suspicion flashing in her eyes.

I took a deep breath, carefully choosing my words. "Mason was involved with a group of demon followers, and he and the others tried to kidnap Sylvie. Earlier today, we confronted them, and then… Mason won't be causing any more trouble."

A silence enveloped the entire group as everyone digested this shocking fact. Sylvie stood next to me, clenching her fists, her expression revealing relief, but also lingering fear.

"Are you saying he was a demon follower?" Emilia asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

"That's right," I nodded, then turned my gaze to the girl who had been following Mason all along. She was the girl who had been manipulated by Mason's demonic energy.

"You, do you remember anything?" I suddenly asked her, the question making her hesitate, the eyes of the whole group focused on her.

The girl hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I don't remember very well, I have a period of blurred memory."

I pressed, "Do you remember Mason? Anything about him or what happened before?"

She frowned, trying hard to recall, "Mason… At the beginning of the semester, he asked me out on a date, and after that, I don't remember."

With this revelation, the other members whispered among themselves, clearly shocked.

"Mason asked you out on a date? But it looked like you were chasing him…" one member whispered, clearly surprised.

I clarified, "She was under Mason's influence all along."

Emilia maintained her usual composure, nodding. "So, you mean that those who tried to kidnap Sylvie are related to Maya's disappearance?"

I shook my head. "No, it's impossible. They're all dead."

The group fell silent again as everyone digested the weight of my words.

"You… you killed them all?" Emilia asked, her eyes widening. It was uncommon for an ordinary student to fight a group of demon followers alone and survive, especially for a student like me who was ranked lower.

I deliberately didn't describe all the details, because from an external perspective, Sylvie was the one directly involved, and she was better suited to explain.

"It's not like that, you can ask Sylvie for the details," I sighed softly, "What I mean is, Maya-senpai's disappearance has nothing to do with Mason."

"I understand…" Emilia nodded, an expression of understanding appearing on her face. She pondered for a moment, "This must have been difficult for you," she looked at me and Sylvie, even in the face of Maya's disappearance and this series of sudden events, she was still able to remain calm.

This was also the advantage of senior students. After a year of training, they were able to remain calm, showing a rare quality.

However, people like Trevor Phillips would inevitably need to be cleaned up. It was only a matter of time.

But what we were facing now was far more urgent and serious than that.

'This is strange.'

Maya-senpai's sudden disappearance made no sense at all. She herself was very strong, and in this city, apart from a very few high-level hunters, few could match her.

Even other demon followers or villains, I could learn other clues from the game. But this time, the situation was different from my experience in the game. Was it because of the butterfly effect?

"Anyway, I've already notified Mr. Jones, and he said he's contacted people," Emilia said softly, her tone tinged with frustration.

A somber atmosphere enveloped the club members as everyone digested the information. West Oukes, which had once excited them, had now become unfamiliar and filled with unease.

"We can't get anywhere by going on like this," Emilia sighed, expressing everyone's shared concern.

She looked around at everyone and said seriously, "I'm not forcing anyone to stay. If you feel uncomfortable staying here, you can return to the academy at any time. We have no obligation to involve ourselves in unnecessary danger, but I will stay to find my friend. If anyone wants to join, you are welcome, but safety is always the first priority."

The members exchanged glances, silently considering their next move. I could easily see what they were thinking.

'Most people will choose to go back.'

They didn't have as much of a relationship with Maya-senpai as I did, so no one was willing to stay and take risks.

But they were also hesitant, because they knew that offending seniors like Maya and Emilia would be detrimental to their future.

'They're too easy to see through.'

"I won't blame those who want to go back, your safety is the most important thing, there's no need to feel responsible for getting involved in this," Emilia continued, her tone gentle.

She glanced at the group members, seeing the look in their eyes, it was clear that no one was willing to risk their lives.

As the members finally made their decisions, they apologized one by one, awkwardly leaving and heading for the teleportation gate.

"Senpai…"

"It's okay, I understand."

Emilia smiled and nodded. Although the number of people had decreased, she still maintained her composure. Prioritizing personal safety was rational, and she respected their choices.

Sylvie glanced at me, then nodded slightly, she decided to follow my lead.

Soon after, only me and Sylvie remained.

"As expected, junior. You didn't leave."

Emilia smiled at me, I hadn't left.

"Of course."

'How could I leave?'

Maya-senpai was the one who taught me the most basic and important things about being a hunter. She may have been a bit forceful, but without her, I might not be where I am today.

Just as I will remember hatred until I die, I will also remember kindness in the same way, and now is the time to repay it.

Moreover, I had an uneasy premonition in my heart. Something ominous was lurking in the streets of this city, something that shouldn't have happened.

"Let's sit down and talk, I also want to know what exactly happened to you and Sylvie."

And so, we walked to a nearby coffee shop and sat down.