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  I stared up at Alia. Despite my injuries and words.. I wasn’t angry. I knew that. It was something much worse. I was scared of the truth. Apologizing to her now admitted something nothing else would. That I considered her a real person. That she wasn’t just a doll or an NPC.

  I wasn’t going to say it, so I refused! She was an NPC.. A well behaved.. Unique one.. Sure.. But definitely an NPC! I spat on her almost hoping she wouldn’t react. I felt my heart drop as she looked.. Disgusted at me before using the hem of her dress to wipe the spit off her face. She.. she actually took a moment to wipe off the spit.

  No, it.. It was just advanced programming! I tried to hold back, but tears began to flow down my cheeks. “Fuck you!” I cried as I tried to feebly escape. She simply sat on me, somehow heavy enough to prevent me from getting up. I didn’t even know she knew Judo!

  We stayed like that long enough that Sapphire actually woke up.. For a few seconds before Alia turned, summoned her bubble pistol, and got a clean shot on her temple with the but of the gun. She.. threw it rather than fired it to keep Sapphire unconscious. She.. made an active decision to not kill her.

  I tried to bite my own tongue off, but she stuffed her panties into my mouth so I couldn’t. Seriously, what was with this girl? Why? Why did she care this much? I lay there silently with her on top of me. Despite everything… I was actually comfortable. NPC or not, Alia was…

  I stopped that though and looked back at her. She looked down at me neutrally. Her emerald eyes shimmering slightly like she was holding back tears. Her blonde ponytail had fallen to the side. She was sweating slightly and her chest rose and fell quietly. She.. was breathing. She was sweating… She really was so beautiful.

  Her pretty blue dress was a mess. It had tears and rips in it. It did not detract from her. But that was nothing new. I had always liked Alissa, even when she was a mini-boss. I didn’t need to fight her. The recliner wasn’t even a main area I needed to go. She was an optional boss fight.

  So why? Why…

  I felt myself beginning to bleed out. In a few moments I would be dead and I had another chance at escape. I looked into her emerald eyes for one long moment. Then I spoke quietly. “I am sorry for insulting you Alia. I.. don’t think.. I don’t think..” Before I could finish my voice died as the darkness claimed me.

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  ----

  I walked up to what appeared to be a massive recliner. Was.. was I supposed to climb that? I winced in fear. The sharks had been horrible, the bears made me cry. That Sarah doll felt kind of good for release, but even she scared me. This world was horrible!

  I shook my head clear. If.. if I could complete this stupid Hero quest, maybe I would be free right? Right now I had to kill this General and return to Princess Ruby. Stupid RPG mechanics.

  I began to walk forward when I heard a sound. It sounded like ringing… Then I felt a vibration and looked down. I tried to pull away from the landmine in time.. I failed. It hurts.. So much. I hated this place. I wanted to find whatever had done this to me and kill them. Make them go through this hell!

  After a few dozen tries, I managed to make it to the other side of that horrible sea of mines. I pulled out the map Princess Ruby had given me and looked at it again. Sure enough, that recliner was on the way. It appears I didn’t actually need to climb it.

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  I didn’t trust this world or Princess Ruby’s directions after the beastkin incident though. So I painfully grew claws out of my fingers and began to slowly climb the recliner. I made it about halfway when a voice called out from behind me.

  “Surrender now!” It called out in a feminine tone. I turned, making sure to keep my hands on the recliner. Behind me was a black dragon that looked like it was made of plastic!? On its back was… I froze, my eyes going wide. She.. she was..

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  -----

  I snapped into the world and respawned on top of Alia naked. She simply caught me and let me down. Smiling, she spoke quietly. “Thank you.” Then turned, and walked out of the room.

  I watched her leave before I finished the sentence. “Perfect.” My voice was quiet as the memory played. Shortly after that moment, she had killed me ruthlessly. Yet I came back. Again.. And again.. And again. No matter how many times she had killed me, I always returned.

  When I had gotten the mind control, I was so excited. Finally, I could have her all to myself… or so I thought. I clenched my teeth at the harem bullshit again. I was so close. None of this should have happened. I clicked the wall repeatedly before just sitting against it and putting my head in my hands.

  Alia was real now. I couldn’t deny it anymore. It meant she might not want me anymore. I hated this shithole. But she was the one thing that made it bearable. Now she was sentient and I… I don’t know. I didn’t want her to be. I wanted us to be us forever. Now everything is changing.

  “You.. really love her, don't you, Hero?” Sapphire said. She had woken back up and was rubbing her temple.

  I looked at her closely before sighing and turning away. “It doesn’t matter does it?”

  There was silence for a moment before she asked. “But.. isn’t that what you always wanted?”

  I stared at her for a long moment as my thoughts failed me. Her cheeks flushed red and she looked away before going and sitting in a corner. Because of course… Why would she sit on her bed… How very… I paused before I finally spoke what I was terrified to say. “Human.”

  At that moment, I felt something.. Click. It didn’t matter if her name was Alia, or Alissa, or even princess flufflebottom. Okay.. maybe the last one would have been funny. But no…

  I stood and took a deep breath. Sapphire looked up. “Is something wrong Hero? Where are we going?” I looked at her for a long moment and sighed.

  Walking over to her I held up my hand. “Simple” I said with a smile. “We are going to go get my wife back.” Sapphire looked at me strangely but grabbed my hand. I helped her up and we rushed to the door. It was time to be what the system wanted for once.

  I was going to be the Hero. I rushed to the door, summoning my spear as I reached it. I tapped on the door and appeared in the hallway. Alia was standing next to Ruby, staring down at her corpse. She was.. Crying. I felt tense, my hand reached for Sapphire’s door.. Only to feel Sapphire's breast. She had come out behind me.

  Instead of removing my head, I looked at Sapphire and squeezed. Her cheeks flushed a little red again and her breathing quickened. She also grabbed my wrist with her hand. She didn’t pull it away, just grabbed it. I let go and turned back to Alia. There was my last hope this was all a scheme.

  I walked over to Alia and grabbed her into a hug. She tensed for a moment, then pushed me away. “What do you want!” She snapped at me, her voice shakily neutral. “I got my apology, I’m fine, leave me alone!” She turned but I grabbed her arm.

  “No.. you're not. I’m not. We.. We aren’t. And I am tired of pretending we are.” I said as she tried to pull away. I let her arm go and she looked at me. “I.. I am sorry Alia. I don’t know what to do. I have spent so long in this.. This horrible place. You were the only thing to give me real joy. When you became.. Real.. I.. I felt lost.”

  Alia smiled at me and did something unexpected. She knee’d me in the stomach then pulled me into a kiss. Recoiling back, I looked at her irritated. She wiped away her tears and smirked at me. “That’s payback for making me wait!” She said with a small giggle.

  I smiled at her. “I take it that means yes?” I asked hopefully. I held my stomach in pain benched over.

  She stepped up, leaned in, and pulled me up. Whispering in my ear she said “It was always a yes. Just make sure the Ring isn’t poisoned this time or I might not forgive you.”

  I pushed my lips against hers and she reciprocated instantly. I felt lost in the moment. Someone called out. “So.. Where are we going, Hero?” and I lost my train of thought, pulling away.

  Only for Alia to snap “We will go when we're damn well and ready Sapphire!” Then grabbed me back into the kiss.