Chapter 2: Starting Over
"Can you hear me?"
"Where am I…?"
"Hey, can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you, Natas!"
"Oh great! I guess it was a success!"
"What do you mean a success?"
"Rather than explaining it to you, it's much better for you to see it for yourself,"
Upon hearing Natas' words, Kayn gradually opened his eyes and was immediately met with a radiant light emanating from the sun above him. Annoyed by the brightness, he instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes and blinked several times to adjust to the sudden illumination. As his vision cleared, a sight before him sparked a seed of doubt within him.
"How strange…"
Currently seated on a wooden bench in the midst of a park, Kayn's attention is drawn to a grand fountain that sprays water gracefully into its basin. However, it is not the picturesque scene that elicits a sense of familiarity within him. Rather, it is the inexplicable feeling that he has experienced before as if this place holds a deeper significance to him.
"Why does this park feel so familiar to me?" Kayn finds himself pondering aloud, his voice laced with curiosity. He searches the recesses of his mind, attempting to recall any memories or associations he may have with this place.
Curiously, without needing to visually survey his surroundings, he possesses an uncanny awareness of the precise arrangement of the trees, the various types of foliage, the number of trash bins and benches in close proximity, and even the count of crosswalks leading to his current position. This heightened familiarity leaves him perplexed as if the very essence of this place has etched itself deeply into his consciousness.
"Eh, wait, wait!"
Shortly afterward, he finally realized why he was getting a sense of familiarity in this place.
As the memories begin to resurface, Kayn's voice carries a tone of realization. "If my memory serves me correctly," he reflects, "This park holds a special significance to me. It used to be my sanctuary during my university days, a haven where I sought solace when troubled. The tranquility that enveloped this place had a unique effect on me, allowing me to clear my mind and find solutions to my problems with greater ease,"
"But why am I here?"
To the best of his recollection, this park had suffered destruction over a decade ago when an unexpected dungeon outbreak, managed by a nearby small guild, ravaged the area. During that time, he felt a profound sense of sorrow for failing to safeguard this cherished place that held great significance in his heart. The loss of the park left an indelible mark on his emotions, a reminder of his inability to protect what was dear to him.
Even though he possessed the means to reconstruct the park, he was very much aware that it would never be the exact same park as before. It would merely be a replication, an imitation with a mirrored layout and features. Deep down, he understood that the essence and cherished memories of the original park could never be fully replicated or restored.
"Wait, could it be that someone has rebuilt it without my knowledge?" Kayn's mind races with possibilities, contemplating the existence of the park in its current state. However, amidst his pondering, a crucial realization strikes him.
"Wait a minute," Kayn interjects, his voice tinged with confusion. "You mentioned back then that Gods cannot leave the 'Tower,' so why are you here right now?" He directs his question towards Natas, seeking an explanation for this apparent contradiction.
In the present moment, Natas sits beside Kayn on the bench, his gaze sweeping across the park with a curious expression. His demeanor resembles that of a cat exploring a park for the very first time, his eyes taking in the surroundings with a mixture of intrigue and fascination.
"This matter goes beyond the mere act of exiting the 'Tower,'" Natas remarks, his head shaking slightly as he meets Kayn's gaze.
"We are physically outside the 'Tower'," Kayn voices his confusion. "So, what exactly do you mean by that?" He is puzzled by the discrepancy between their location and Natas' previous statement.
"I've already mentioned before, experiencing it firsthand will make it easier for you to grasp rather than me trying to explain it," Natas reiterates, a note of finality in his voice. He redirects his attention to the park, immersing himself in its captivating beauty and tranquil ambiance.
"Okay..." Kayn resigns himself to follow Natas' advice, allowing his gaze to wander around the park. However, in the midst of his observations, a sudden realization strikes him. "Oh, I almost forgot... everyone currently despises me," he remarks with a tinge of sadness and resignation in his voice.
As the weight of the realization sinks in, Kayn's demeanor changes abruptly.
With a sense of urgency, he swiftly moves behind the bench, seeking refuge within the cover of dense foliage. From this concealed vantage point, he resumes his observation of the park, cautiously surveying his surroundings while remaining hidden from prying eyes.
Filled with a heightened sense of caution, he becomes acutely aware of the potential consequences of being recognized. Should that occur, he knows he would be left with no other option but to flee once again.
"What you're doing is completely unnecessary," Natas chuckles, observing Kayn's cautious behavior. However, his amusement is short-lived as he suddenly feels a firm grip on his collar. Before he can react, he is swiftly pulled alongside Kayn.
"You…"
"You need to hide too. If I remember correctly, your face is also recognized by everyone on Earth. Moreover, people harbor even more animosity towards you than they do towards me," Kayn swiftly cuts off Natas before he can continue.
"Wasn't that your fault to begin with?!" Natas rolls his eyes in annoyance. He couldn't help but be frustrated with Kayn, as it was the latter who had exposed his face to everyone. It happened when Kayn looted his detailed portrait after clearing the last dungeon on the 970th floor. It didn't take long for the image to be widely circulated, turning him into a meme and a target for people's anger. He could only helplessly seethes with anger at the audacity of these mortals who dared to insult the divine countenance of a God.
"Oh, is that so? But according to one of the Gods I killed, it was you who secretly slipped your image into that dungeon. You claimed that everyone knew the faces of all the other Gods except for the almighty you, and you felt it wasn't fair," Kayn scoffed, clearly not buying Natas' attempt to shift the blame.
"That..." Natas couldn't believe that one of his fellow Gods had dared to expose one of his deepest secrets.
"Hello, what are you doing?"
Suddenly, a man wearing running gear appeared in front of Kayn and Natas, wearing a look of curiosity on his face. It was clear that he was intrigued by Kayn's peculiar hiding spot.
"And also, who are you talking to?" The man quickly added.
"Ummm…" Kayn looked at Natas in bewilderment.
"Only people I acknowledge can see me," Natas declared as he confidently stood up from the ground and returned to the bench. Only a gush of wind could be felt as he made a move. After sitting down, he didn't bother helping Kayn after the latter had insulted him.
"Are you okay? You seemed like you have seen a ghost,"
"It's nothing, hehe... I simply lost my balance and accidentally fell off the bench. I was just scolding myself for being so clumsy,"
Thankfully, Kayn was able to quickly think of a reasonable excuse after that brief interruption from Natas.
"I noticed a large, sharp rock behind one of the benches I recently passed. Be cautious in the future, as falling onto it could result in a severe head injury," the man warned Kayn before continuing on his way.
As the man walked away, Kayn let out a relieved sigh. He realized how fortunate he was that the man had bought his excuse. Otherwise, he could have been mistaken for a suspicious individual hiding in the bushes, possibly leading to unwanted attention from park security or even law enforcement. It was a close call, and he knew he needed to be more cautious in the future to avoid such situations.
However, Kayn's thoughts were suddenly interrupted as he asked himself, "But why did that man not recognize me?"
"Of course, he won't, since he doesn't know you, to begin with," This time Natas answered Kayn's question.
"Indeed..." Kayn reluctantly acknowledged the possibility that Natas' words might hold some truth. While the man he encountered appeared genuinely curious and concerned, there was still a lingering doubt in his mind. Perhaps the man was an exceptionally skilled actor, adept at concealing his true emotions. After all, he had learned the hard way that trust can be easily shattered. He remained cautious, unable to fully let his guard down even in seemingly ordinary encounters.
"Wait here!" Kayn muttered. He quickly rose from the ground and hurried after the man. A thought had crossed his mind, and he felt an urgent need to confirm it.
On the other hand, Natas felt intrigued by what Kayn was about to do, so he turned his attention to the latter instead of continuing to observe the park.
Kayn quickened his pace and caught up to the man before they had gone too far. As he approached, he discreetly picked up a sizable rock from the ground, concealing it behind his back as a precautionary measure. He didn't want to take any chances, prepared for any potential danger that might arise.
Kayn contemplated the scenario as he approached the man, thinking to himself, "The man doesn't appear to possess the strength to pose a significant threat to me. If things take a turn for the worse, this rock could serve as a means of defense, allowing me to incapacitate him temporarily and provide an opportunity to escape,"
"Excuse me," Kayn called out to the man.
"Oh, it's you again! Is there something wrong?"
"I know that this might sound very strange to you, but do you truly not recognize who I am?"
"Don't tell me…"
Kayn's anxiety heightened, causing him to instinctively tighten his grip on the concealed rock, ready to swing it as a defensive measure should the man pose any form of threat.
"Did you hit your head so hard that you forgot who you are?"
Bang!
"I..." Kayn's disbelief caused him to lose his grip on the rock, unintentionally dropping it to the ground with a muffled noise.
Even though the sound of the rock hitting the ground was subtle, the man's sharp ears caught it, causing him to cast a strange and suspicious glance at Kayn.
Recognizing his blunder, Kayn swiftly retrieved the fallen rock while pretending to mutter under his breath. "How careless of me. I was supposed to show you this rock, considering you mentioned the risk of a severe injury from a similar-sized rock. I'm not well-versed in rocks, so I was curious if this one could cause the same effect as you described,"
While saying that, Kayn openly presented the rock to the man, ensuring there was no room for misunderstanding between them.
Fortunately, the man was easily convinced by Kayn's explanation and believed the excuse.
If it weren't for Kayn's innocent and young demeanor, the man might have become suspicious and taken further action.
"Oh, so that's why. I thought you were planning to hit me with that rock or something," The man said with a hint of humor.
"I was," Kayn thought inwardly. Instead, he responded, "No worries, it's just a misunderstanding,"
"Well, I don't see any blood around the rock, so I guess you're fine. But do you want me to call an ambulance just to make sure that you are really fine?"
"No need, I would just be causing trouble for the hospital. Instead, I have a better idea in mind. Can you tell me the current time and date? If it matches what I have in mind, then I think I'm alright," Kayn suggested, trying to divert the man's suggestion.
"Oh, what a smart idea! Let me check my phone," the man exclaimed, reaching into his right pocket to retrieve his phone. He powered it on to check the precise time and date.
"It's currently March 22, 2022, and the time is 1:31 PM. Did you happen to get it correctly?"
"Yeah," Kayn nodded his head.
"I guess you are fine then," The man said before bidding farewell to Kayn as he continued walking on his way.
Kayn breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He felt a deep sense of gratitude for the past experiences that had prepared him to handle various types of people, problems, and situations. If it weren't for his past encounters, the situation could have taken a completely different turn.
As soon as the man left, Kayn blankly returned to where Natas was sitting and sat beside the latter quietly.
"I guess you understood now," Natas muttered after noticing Kayn's expression.
With the man gone, Kayn's façade of composure faded away, revealing his true emotions. He was utterly shocked and confused by what he had just heard. His expression betrayed his inner turmoil as he struggled to process the information. Deep down, he couldn't believe the date and time he had heard, as it challenged everything he knew to be true.
Kayn slightly nodded in response. "But how…?"
"It's a very long story, so I hope you will prepare yourself to listen well because I don't want to explain to you all over again,"