Versatile: Alternate World

Mother's awakening startled me I instinctively put my two hands before me to guard an incoming attack. But I quickly realized it so I didn't take too long to bring it down and look at Mother.

She looked around in confusion and her mind is still stuck when she got into an accident.

"Huh? What is going on?" her face is filled with confusion as she started to look at the dextrose on her arm and the other things attached to her body. She also noticed the oxygen mask on her mouth and she removes it immediately.

After knowing that she woke up, I opened the lock of the door and go back to where I was so that in case a doctor comes in, I can just say that she just woke up.

Mother turned and saw me beside her. She was visibly shocked seeing me with her.

"Manato? Why are you here? Can you explain what is going on? Why are these things attached to me? Just what happened to me?"

"You don't remember Mom?"

"What would I remember? The only thing I remembered was that I am crossing the road and the next thing I know, I am now in bed with all of these things attached here to my body. Tell me, did something happen to me after I crossed the street?"

"Actually..." I explained to her all that happened after she crossed the street. She can't believe what I said but I showed her some of the messages that came from Father when she was still in a coma. Father might have called me but he also exchange some messages from me so I managed to show some evidence of what happened.

"Now that you mention your father, where is he? He is supposed to be the one who should be here since you are in Tokyo."

"He still has some business to do at the moment. He will be back soon. He called me last week that I should consider be the guardian for you here at the moment."

After talking to my mother, I called the doctor to inform my mother's awakening. The doctor and nurses immediately rushed to her room and they quickly crowded here for diagnosis. Thankfully, my mother is quite cooperative so the diagnosis of her condition ended quickly.

"Your mother seems to have miraculously recovered all of the injuries she acquired from the crash. Even the skin wounds she received disappeared as well. I don't know what to say about this but this is just a miracle!"

The doctor keeps on saying incomprehensible things that I can only laugh awkwardly at him.

...

2 days later...

Mother finally managed to be discharged. I paid for the cost of her hospitalization that she was shocked at how I managed to obtain a large sum of money. Father on the other hand managed to be discharged too from the monitoring and is now preparing to pack up their things from their old house. Since Father is not injured and his mind is in stable condition after everything that happened, he was no longer in need of monitoring.

Today is the day they will be moving from their old house to my mansion.

"Son, I know that you are hiding something but can you please tell me how you managed to earn a lot of money in just a short span of time?" Mother asked.

"Sheesh, Mom. I know you are very curious about how I obtain the money but please rest assured that I didn't do any illegal things to obtain the money I am using. Don't worry about it too much."

Mom keeps trying to pry on what really is going on but I am tight-lipped about it. It's not like I have to say it immediately but there is a proper place to tell it. Mom keeps getting surprises when we go to the parking lot and used my car.

"You also bought a car? Seriously, son, I am now having doubts about this "job" of yours."

...

When we arrived at home, father also arrived with some of the movers too. Since I hold the key to the mansion, they are staying outside. I went out with my mother out of the car and Father approached us. He hugged Mother first before he faced me with a serious face. He then whispered in my ears.

"Manato, I know that you have done a lot these past few days but I am not sure how you managed to get a lot of money to buy a mansion this big. Have you been dealing with drugs or something? I don't know what kind of job you got but that is the only way you might be able to earn tons of money in a short span of time."

"Ugh... Father, not you too. Anyways, wait for a bit, I have something to do inside the mansion. I will tell you later after the moving process is done."

I used the key to get inside the mansion. As usual, the teddy bear who is currently the possessed material the entity inside the mansion used is currently still doing his workouts. Currently, he is using the treadmill and the speed is set to the maximum speed.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"

The bear made a signal that it is okay. I just realized that the teddy bear has fingers. This spirit is using the teddy bear like it was a mascot. 

"My family will be moving here. I know you are the real owner of this house but my mother and father aren't bad people. They will understand if I explain the circumstances of your condition. And no worries, you will not be forced to leave this place, I respect your decision. So can you allow them to live here?"

The teddy bear did not respond and continue to run on the treadmill without giving any signs that he agreed. However, he didn't give out any sign that he disapprove either. After a few minutes, the teddy bear gives an ok sign.

"Thank you," I smiled and left the room before going back outside.

"What took your time inside?" Mother asked.

"I asked my roommate if he is fine with you guys here. He approved your move so please get inside and move the things that you all packed inside the boxes."

With my permission, the workers immediately do their work. Due to their efficient movement, no time was wasted, and just in thirty minutes, all of the stuff that was placed inside the truck are moved inside the mansion. The only next thing that needed to be done is for my parents to arrange them inside.

"Son, that person who is currently on the treadmill and was wearing a teddy bear mascot is your roommate? He sure has a weird way of clothing!"

"No worries Mom, although he is like that, he is a good guy. He is also a good cook and I bet you two would be good friends."

After the movers were done with everything and received the payment, my father and mother quickly confronted me on what my job is. I didn't intend to hide it from them so I told them everything about the game, Alternate World. I didn't tell them the real effects of the game since they would only be surprised if I bring it out. 

"You mean, that virtual reality game you are playing now supports real money exchange?"

"Yeah. The gold coins you earn in the game can be converted to real money. I earned a lot playing the game so now I can have as much money as I could. The game is growing in popularity so I wouldn't be worried about the money at the moment."

"In that case, we will also buy the console that will allow you to play the game."

"What the hell? Dad, Mom? You two will also play?!" I didn't suggest the two of them play the game since I think they have no interest in online games. But this comes as a surprise. After all, the two of them died before the Alternate World gets more popular for the masses so this is a new discovery for me.

"Of course, son. You didn't know but when we were still in high school, your father and I played online games a lot of time. With our friends, we are having fun most of the time. So when you said that the money you earned is from playing video games, the spark that I thought to have died out after all these years would be reignited again!" Mother said with an enthusiastic sound in her voice.

"This is the first time you have known this right? Don't worry, unlike other parents, we are supportive of you on this. We understand the fun in games so it is a good idea if we also get engaged with it, this way, we also can hang out in the game too. I know you won't be staying here in Nagoya since you still have your upcoming school semester. Since it is a VR, this is a good way to meet up even though we are just in the game! What do you say, son? Aren't our reasonings credible?"

I can only grin about this outcome. I managed to stop their upcoming deaths and prevented them from going to the next life. Not only that, it seems like I will also be gaining some people who will be playing with me. This is the best outcome I can think of.

Now that my parent's case is done, I think the next thing I needed to do is to save Dolly and Hagane. I have to make sure they will not die in this timeline.