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The moment I stepped out of the room. I knew the world I was living in was different.
This world was much more technologically advanced than I ever expected. A world bordering science-fiction and magic.
The place that I am now living on is earth. Or more precisely a clone of earth that I was familiar with. But the most important difference between this earth and my original earth is its connection to the outer world.
The Outerworld was not just the name of a novel. It was an existence that linked multiple worlds together. While space-time portals help humans to enter a dungeon. The dungeon in itself was a connecting path to another world. Clearing dungeons open up portals to other worlds. That was also why the novel Outerworlds was called such.
Now, humans have yet to clear dungeons and gain a passageway to outer worlds. But in the coming future, humans will get strong enough to clear dungeons. This will in turn drive humans to evolve in unexpected ways. More ways than anyone could have imagined. And this will mark the real beginning of the novel.
And as I was saying. That might be the reason why a nurse with horns was staring at me from the counter. Evolution was bizarre. Just the access to dungeons drove biological mutation in a vastly peculiar direction. What might happen when the Outerworlds collide with this earth?
I just had to move with Emily towards the elevator and to the exit. But I couldn't take my eyes off the nurse.
I have to remember not to be speciesist. Ah! Even here, my brain cells have to work hard to be politically correct.
With that in mind, I hid my expression under my unenthusiastic face. Maybe the nurse will not notice me.
"Are you in any pain? Should I support you?" Emily came close to me to support me.
But it was too much for me. I shouldn't exploit her kindness, right? After all, I am not Alex. There should be a limit to taking advantage of others' kindness.
I moved slightly towards the side avoiding her hand. Emily noticed my movement but didn't question it.
Does she think that I was unsatisfied? Did I mess up!
My mind was wandering into uncharted territories now. So, it wasn't easy for me either. Human interaction is so overrated and exhausting.
"Ah, the elevator. Let's get in." I said, seeing the door open. That was also when I realized, this was my first time riding an elevator.
Maybe I should go to the roof and jump down to try my powers. Feather falling was a neat trick.
Now that I think about it. What was that glowing cyan heart? It never appeared in the original novel. Another unexpected thing to worry about was added to the list. I just hope it isn't some kind of superpower cancer.
"Looking at the elevator controls, it was hard for me not to be impressed. Not just medicine. Even the advancements made in the technology field are impressive.
As a species in war with multiple extraterrestrial creatures inside dungeons. Human innovation was boosted a lot. The radical improvement in life-saving technology can be explained that way. While the general laziness of humans might be the reason for the increase in the technological foundation of this world.
Looking at the elevator control. It was hard for me to imagine all the permutations of functions of the touch screen elevator control.
But Emily easily navigated through it. An elevator that can travel horizontally and vertically was a new experience for me.
'Maybe this is how a grandpa would feel after seeing a smartphone for the first time. Even if it was intuitive and easy to understand. The first time will always be hard.'
Said so myself to comfort my tech-illiterate soul. I should include learning about basic technologies on my to-do list.
'Thank god they still use English and Arabic numerals.'
If I had to relearn a new language from scratch. That would have been a pain in the ass.
So, after going through all that. I got on a self-driving taxi and finally reached home. Or more precisely someone else's home.
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Due to my luck, there was only a biometric lock on almost all the devices. If not, I would have had a hard time getting into the apartment.
Being part of the police force was a highly respected job with great pay in this world. When there are people with superpowers roaming the street. You need to have a police force as strong as them to maintain the order.
Although Alex was suspended from work. He was still a police officer. That might be why he had above average living conditions.
The apartment was large. Larger than any one person could make use of. With two bedrooms, one hall, one dining hall and a kitchen. It was more than enough for me.
Especially because of living in the affluent part of the city. This apartment would have cost a lot.
I just hope Alex paid all the mortgage.
I don't want to live to pay off the mortgage. I now understand why many people call debt the new form of slavery.
Debt makes people do all kinds of crazy things. You don't even have to force someone. Just the psychological pressure would be enough to break someone.
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Now that I am home. I need to make a plan to survive in this world.
When I said that the sword of Damocles was hanging above my head. I was not joking.
If the novel progresses as I expect it to. Alex will die soon just after being reinstated into the police force.
Alex was suspended due to a robbery case. He was supposed to be one of the people who was guarding a clock. And the clock was robbed from under his nose.
You might be wondering how important a clock can be, right?
Remember when I said there are portals, dungeons and other worlds. Remember when I said the technology was vastly advanced from the earth that I know of.
And the clock that was robbed was the culmination of human technology in this world.
A device made using a quantum synced crystal.
And the only device capable of transmitting information through the portal and across the universe without much delay. And the reason why a clock was used to transmit information was simple. Due to interference from portals any other form of information transfer becomes obsolete in the face of portals.
And the working mechanism of these clocks was also cool. That was why I remember so much about them even after I transmigrated into this world. Two crystals can vibrate synchronously no matter the distance between them. And by controlling the rate at which a crystal is being vibrated, with a reference model. Data can also be transmitted across the universe. The only downside was the rarity of the quantum synched crystal. There was no method to artificially create it either.
That was also why these clocks are so few in existence. They were so important that they were considered national treasures. And only very few people can use it and the government has absolute control over all the technology and material used in its production.
So, imagine losing such an important device while on duty. If I was Alex, I should be thankful that I only got suspended.
'Oh! I am alex. Damn it!''
'Let's check if the mortgage is paid and quit the job. I don't have the energy to deal with what's about to come. Maybe they will leave me alone once I quit my job, right? After all, poking his nose into this robbery case was the reason Alex got killed in the novel. Maybe avoiding it altogether will work in my favour.'
With that in mind. I began my exploration of the new home.
Where is the AI hub? Don't tell me there aren't any, should I call out for Siri, Alexa or google?'
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Meanwhile,
Emily, who dropped off Alex at his home, went out shopping. Seeing as there is nothing inside Alex's fridge.
After all, he was injured while saving her. She should keep the minimum human decency by helping an injured man.
'How can a person change so much? Does losing memory make someone so polite? Maybe some screws came loose after the injury.'
Emily thought while having a hard time adjusting to Alex's new personality.
'He always had to walk in front of me. He always had to do all the manly things and I had to do all the girly things. My reasons and opinions didn't matter to him before. Even Though it took me a couple of months to recognize this. How can a person change so much in a day.' she thought.
Remembering how he looked at her, she almost dropped the tomato she had in her hands.
It kind of made her angry and happy at the same time.
The fact that Alex doesn't remember her was a bad thing. But the fact that this is the chance for a renewed relationship also gave her hope. She was planning to break up with Alex if can't change his ways.
But what if his memories come back?
Will he change back to how he was?
Should she break up with him?
All kinds of thoughts sprouted inside her mind.
Moving on from this relationship might have been better. But she had enough reason to stick around. One way or another, Alex risked his life to save her. This was enough confirmation for now.
Quickly packing and paying for all the groceries. Emily returned to the apartment building.