(The terms "mother," "mom," and "father" in this chapter are temporary definitions within the virtual game space. They share no blood relation with the protagonist, are not human species, but imagined monsters.)
Crack!
The bedroom door opened.
A middle-aged woman with golden, wavy hair stood in the doorway, perfectly still, her face fixed in the kind of smile a "mother" should have.
Without her smile changing or her lips moving, a gentle voice came from deep within her throat:
"William, have you seen Sherry?"
"No, Mom! I went upstairs to read after breakfast. Isn't Sherry downstairs?"
Yi Chen sat upright at the desk with his back to the door, flipping through a book with one hand while keeping the other ready to reach for the hand axe beneath the desk at any moment.
Mother did not press him about Sherry. Instead, she changed the subject. "Do you know why the mailbox outside our house was opened?"
"Hm? Someone opened our mailbox?"
"Apparently, you don't know about it. Don't worry, Mom will investigate thoroughly... Once I find out who did such a thing, I'll make sure he receives the punishment he deserves.
"You can come downstairs to eat now. We're having your favorite beef stew tonight."
"Okay, Mom."
After confirming that "Mother" had left, Yi Chen stood and straightened his clothes, securing the hand axe and firearms in suitable positions.
He descended the stairs at a brisk pace and reached the first floor.
The tidy dining table had already been set for three, and the middle-aged couple were both seated.
Looking at the spotless, completely unused stove, he wondered how the "beef stew" Mother had mentioned would appear.
Takeout? Or had it been cooked quickly somewhere unknown?
Father held a newspaper in one hand and still gripped the cup of coffee