[Free World] I

Knock~ Knock~

Following the sounds of knocking, the door to Zen's room opened.

The first person to enter was a valiant and strict-looking man in a suit. His pitch-black hair combed backwards with a moustache and goatee around his mouth, giving out a mature and suave look.

His face was serious, as if conflicted about something. He also had two boxes in his hands.

An elegant woman followed after him, also wearing a suit. She had her snow-white hair tied in a bun and shades that covered her ruby-red eyes.

Looking at his parents, Zen's heart softened. Although they were tired from their work in the government, they always made sure to spend time with their kids.

He understands that they are doing their best, that was why he never gave up on life.

As he was thinking, a young girl about 18 years of age entered the room. She was wearing a hoodie coupled with jeans and snickers, with her snow-white hair tied into a ponytail.

She was Sera, his little sister. Throughout the years she had grown from a little girl to a fine young lady.

Zen noticed that she had also become quieter than before. Although it was heartbreaking for him, it was normal that a child changes as they grow up.

As Zen's family entered his room, they sat down on the sofa near his bed. They began to chat with each other while laughing from time to time.

Normally, they would be overly excited to see each other. But Zen noticed that something was off.

The couple talked about their colleagues and their interesting experiences about their work while Sera talked about school and her classmates.

Although she had become quieter, she had always treated Zen and her parents the same.

After a few hours, they had all been exhausted from talking and just stared at the television.

As the silence continued, Zen noticed something and asked. "Is something the matter?"

Ren and Rina looked at each other while Sera just continued to stare at the television.

After a while Rina sighed softly. "Well you see son, your father has something to say to you."

The flabbergasted Ren had a strong sense of deja vu, he didn't dare to look at Rina and instead carefully spoke.

"You know that we work in the government right?"

"Yes dad."

"Then did you also know that there was this famous game that announced their launch?"

"Oh the virtual reality game? But it's not as if it was the first time something like that launched though, why did you ask dad?"

Zen wondered why his dad brought up the topic.

He had seen commercials of the game in the television, they boasted 99.99% immersion but all its predecessors have used the same statement to scam people. That was why he did not really know where this was coming from.

Ren cleared his throat and signalled his family to come closer to Zen. After a while, he whispered just loud enough for them to hear him.

"Listen carefully. Last week, we received an encrypted message through one of our satellites. At first, we suspected that it came from an alien race."

"We did our best to decrypt the message and had only been successful just last night. The message that we got said, 'The apocalypse is near. In order for beings to have the chance to gain power, the [Free World] has descended'."

"At first we had no idea what the message was talking about, but then a commercial of the new virtual reality game which was named [Free World] played on the television in our office. And that was when it hit us. There may be something more to this game than what we see with our naked eyes."

Zen gulped at the things he heard from his father while Sera's ears twitched.

The siblings continued to listen, feeling that something big was about to happen.

Ren brought up the boxes to the table. "These are two of the very first helmets needed to access the game. We're still not sure if it could be trusted or not. We also don't know if it was a scam or not. But although you do not show it, we know that you are already tired of being bedridden for 10 years."

As his father talked, Zen remembered all the suffering he had endured. All the nights when he cried alone. Pathetic as it may seem to others, it's not something that everyone could endure.

After a while of talking, Ren asked Zen, "Son, do you want to take the gamble?"

Rina hurriedly added, "Baby, you don't need to force yourself. I think that we should make sure that it's safe first."

Zen chuckled, "Mom, I'm already 20 years old. I'm not a baby anymore."

Although he looked calm on the surface, a feeling that he hadn't felt for so long started to surge in his heart.

After ten years of being unable to leave his bed, he started to feel joy for once.

He continued to ask as he glanced at his little sister. "But dad, why are there two boxes?"

Hearing his question, Sera's ears pricked up and gave them a side-eye.

Just as Ren was about to reply, Rina interjected from the side.

Rina looked at Sera and giggled, "Well we knew that you would want to try the game and we came prepared just in case Sera wanted to follow you."

Hearing this, Ren was aggrieved.

'Why is it that whenever we have to tell bad news, you always pass it to me! So unfair!'

However, his thoughts were meant to stay as thoughts as he did not have the guts to question his lovely wife.

Zen looked at Sera who had her face covered with her hands and chuckled, "I thought you didn't like your brother anymore~"

Those words of his got him a punch from his sister.

Sera pouted and said, "Be thankful that you're sick otherwise…"

Looking at his sister who tried her best to look intimidating, Zen smiled teasingly.

Ren and Rina just watched with smiles on their faces as their children bickered with each other.