Unbeknownst to him. Alice's thoughts were a little different.
'Hehe~'
'Darling and I should match. So of course I'll take the weapon darling chose.'
'Ohh~ We are such an incredible pair.'
'I feel closer to him now.'
'Ahh, I wish I could have chosen all the same ones darling chose. But I can't be greedy.'
Thinking that Alice returned to Reina's side. She can't miss an opportunity to gain some brownie points from her mother-in-law. So she should be close to her too.
She can get close to Shin all she wants when they are alone.
'Hehe~'
Reina smiled at Alice seeing her holding Wakizashi as some treasure and coming towards her.
"Will you be fine with only that?" Reina asked with concern.
"Yes, Mom. I'll take good care of it." Alice's gleaming smile made Reina's heart warm.
"Alice is very powerful, Mom," Shin said to Reina so she doesn't have to worry too much.
'Yes, indeed powerful.' Shin said inwardly. Suddenly he thought of Alice's fight and then her bombs. He shuddered for a moment.
Reina was still worried but she decided to protect Alice if something happens. She was like her daughter after all.
*Clap*
"Ok, then let's move, shall we." Said Alfred while clapping his hands.
Everyone agreed with his words.
***
//9:50 a.m, 7th December 2025.//
All four of them came out of the house and started running in the direction of the Mall. The Aston Krat Mall was in the east of their current location.
They were moving at a very fast pace. No normal athlete could have kept up with them.
Alfred and Reina were surprised. This much speed was nothing for them. But they didn't expect Shin to move so fast while holding Alice in his arms.
Yes, Alice was being taken in a princess carry. How did this happen? A little while back.
Outside their house, before they started moving.
"How much time will it take to reach there, Dad?" Shin asked Alfred.
"Hmm, It depends on how fast we run. If I and Reina run at normal speed we can reach there in 5 minutes." Alfred replied while estimating the time.
Shin thought of something as he glanced at Alice.
Alice knew what it was. Her physical strength is very low and she can't run that fast. She will be only holding them back. She felt guilty. She felt like crying. If only she had more stats in agility. She never wanted to hold back Shin whom she cares for so much.
She was devastated. She was regretting not increasing her agility.
'If only...If only I had..' Amidst her thoughts, she felt a hand behind her back and one behind her legs sweeping her off the ground. She was surprised.
She was in Shin's arms. She could feel the strength in those arms and the tenderness while holding her. He held her very gently.
As her thoughts cleared up her face turned red.
'Wh-What is going on?'
'Did the heavens bless me just now?'
'What good deed did I do?'
She felt like she just won a jackpot.
'I am so happy. Good job past me for not increasing your agility. Or I would have missed this chance.'
'Hehe hehe hehe he~'
'I'll enjoy this moment to my heart's content.'
*Sniff*
'Ahh, Shin's smell. Ok, I've memorized it now. Hehe~'
Reina and Alfred were surprised at Shin's bold actions. They never expected it of their son. But when they looked at Alice whose face turned red in embarrassment. They held back their laughter.
'Ahh, it's good to be young.' Both of them thought the same thing.
Shin looked at Alice who wasn't complaining about being held like that and smiled.
'It seems she doesn't dislike it. Now we can reach there fast. Alice doesn't have to worry about anything. I did promise to take care of her.'
"I'll carry you so don't worry about anything." Said Shin in a gentle tone.
Alice who was already busy sniffing him turned redder in embarrassment, so she could only nod meekly.
She didn't want to get caught sniffing. She had to be careful.
"..."
While running they came across many people. But most of them were mentally broken and not in a situation to talk.
They soon came across a group of people who were hunting monsters. It was some Goblins.
Seeing Shin's group running speed those group of people understood that they were also awakened.
Shin and the others didn't want to involve with them. So they just plan to pass by them without involving themselves.
The leader of the group dealt the finishing blow to the last goblin and everyone started cheering.
"That's so cool boss. I leveled up."
"I leveled up too. I reached level 3."
"Me too."
"You are so awesome, boss."
Another one of them praised their boss who was the highest level among them. He was level 6. The bearded man with brown hair was laughing being praised like that. He was on a high horse.
After the monster attack yesterday. He somehow managed to survive and even kill a monster as he awakened. At first, he was confused but soon he met others like him who also awakened, and now they are fighting in a group trying to level up.
'With my overpowered ability 'Knife throw'. This bunch of monsters is nothing.' Thought the leader with a smug smile.
He soon saw a group of four people passing by them at an insane speed.
'More awakened. With that much speed it's obvious they used all their stats on agility. Fools. They can't run forever.'
"Hey, you people. Stop right there." He shouted in a commanding tone. But the response he got made him infuriated.
Shin and the others didn't even bother to stop and glance at them. They just continued running. As this group of people don't have that much agility to chase after them they couldn't stop Shin and the others.
The leader of the group felt his pride shattered. How could these bunch of weaklings ignore him?
If he sees them again. They will regret making a fool out of him.
"Let's continue hunting." the leader said with a smile as he turned to his group. None of them said anything and just agreed. They knew their leader was strong so laughing would only lead to their death.
***
"Hmm, interesting," Shin muttered without looking back as the color of his eyes flickered.