Lying on a large wooden bed in a rather spacious room, Neo rested his right arm on his forehead while he gazed at the ceiling with a pondering look.
After his short conversation with Logan, he was allowed to enter the Shelter and remain there until he wished to.
However, although he was glad that he finally had a place to rest and eat, he still felt confused and especially lost. Just in less than five minutes, he learned so many things that he still had problems digesting them wholly.
Let's say, for instance, Logan. Until now he believed, just like his father, he was dead and will never see him again. But it seemed he was wrong. Not only was he alive, but he looked and behaved just like him!
The only difference was, however, Stella. He knew for sure that the Logan he knew in the past didn't have a daughter, so this made him feel even more confused than ever.
Was he really brought into another world, or, perhaps, was he transported into an alternate reality? Now, he really had no idea.
"An alternate reality? Hmm... That actually could be very likely possible." Zen hummed quietly, he too considering the possibility of such a thing.
Neo nodded but soon shook his head and sighed softly.
'Though, it's nothing more than a guess. To be completely honest even I myself don't know what to believe or think anymore either...'
There was also the story Logan told him about the Fallen Citadel.
According to what Stella's father told him, it turned out that the fortress in the north was not as simple as he thought. On the contrary, it possessed quite a great history, which, made him learn a lot of things as well as come to a realization considering a few things.
The very first thing, and possibly the most important, was the fact that his map was not up to date. This meant, whatever was on it could be no longer trusted wholly as while it was detailed it also missed quite a few things such as the Shelter he was in, the fact that the fortress was destroyed, as well as the great wall next to it toward the east known as the Crystal Hill!
Then, there was also the thing about the Fallens. He got to learn that in this world there existed Monsters known and called Fallen, creatures that once, just like him, were normal humans but through various means turned into bloodthirsty killing machines!
...A beast that didn't differentiate between past lovers or friends. The only thing they knew was how to spill blood!
'Logan is right. Becoming one is truly a fate worse than death...' Neo sighed softly and was ready to sit up when suddenly a notification popped up before him.
[System Update successful!]
[Special AI {Aurora} uploading completed!]
[Legacy Hall and Artifact Hall are now available!]
[Quests within the Quest Hall are now available!]
"Eh?"
Whoosh!
[Good evening, Master. It is a great pleasure to see you alive!]
'System Update...' Neo mumbled those two words quietly without the need to identify who talked.
It was Aurora.
[Is there perhaps a problem, Master?]
Neo frowned scarcely.
'Master... Why is she calling me that way? Feels weird to be called like that.'
"Well, I have no problem with that. I like the sound of it." Zen spoke almost immediately.
[This voice... Master, who is this?]
Neo was surprised to hear Aurora was able to hear Zen, but soon just sighed dejectedly and shook his head.
'His name is Zen, he is... Well, don't bother with him. Just act as if he is not even here.'
"I don't know whether I should feel offended or not..."
Neo rolled his eyes and was ready to say something when Aurora began to speak;
[Why? Master, if you want I can get rid of him.]
'Eh? You can do it?' Neo asked with so great shock that he didn't even notice how fast he sat up on the bed.
[I will see what I can do.]
"Wait, wha-!?"
Zen wished to say something, however, even before he had the chance to say two words his voice faded away while a sharp and cold sensation swept through Neo's body, making him feel as if he became naked and had been thrown outside!
'...D-Did it work, actually? Just like that?' Neo felt stupified while slowly a delighted smile crept its way onto his face, only...
To be washed away the very next second.
"...You! Brat, better wipe that unsightly grin away from your ugly face or I swear I will become your demon, this time for real!" Zen hissed with seething fury.
Neo's face immediately darkened.
'Curse this!'
[I apologize, Master. I've failed. Seems like he is neither a separate entity nor a form of a unique curse within your mind.]
'Damn it!' Neo groaned with frustration as he fell back, lying on the bed the way he did previously.
Zen, meanwhile, just sneered with disdain.
"Hmph! Serves you right! Did you really think you can get rid of me? If you really wish to make me vanish then you better shot a bullet right through that thick skull of yours, fool!"
'Urgh... Shut your crap already! You are annoying!' Neo shouted in his heart, only to earn a cold laugh in response.
Meanwhile, Aurora began to speak again;
[Master, now that I have full access to my stored data, do you wish me to share them with you?]
'Huh? Share your... Data with me? What data?'
[They are information about everything you must know before you decide to venture outside, into the Wilderness. In this world, they are basic knowledge that is essential for one's survival.]
'Basic knowledge?' Neo felt surprised before a surge of excitement and joy swept through him.
'Sure! I want them!'
[Understood. Then I shall transfer them to you right away.]
And right after Aurora said those words, Neo felt a peculiar sensation sweep through his head, memories he did not possess in the past resurfacing in his mind.
Tons of knowledge about how things worked within this bizarre world, what the hierarchy between Monsters or power levels among humans truly was, various definitions he had never heard before until now, and...
Knock~Knock!
"Huh?"
Snapping out of his awe, Neo looked toward the door, pondered for a few seconds then stood up to open it.
"So you are Neo, I must assume. It is a pleasure to meet with you. Please, call me Rose."
Before Neo, a truly breathtaking beauty stood calmly with her hands gently clasped together before her abdomen. She had short blond hair, reaching just her shoulder, a pair of eyes flickering like emeralds and a shaped figure that looked like a perfect hourglass!
Not only that, but her bosom, which was half visible thanks to her stylish fur clothes, was so perfectly round and big that even looking straight into her eyes Neo still felt the urge to look down at them!
They begged to be looked upon!
"R-Rose... I see. It is a pleasure to meet you." Neo smiled wryly, struggling with all his might to keep eye contact and avoid being rude.
Naturally, Rose noticed this but decided to ignore it and instead turned around before saying;
"The food is ready. Please follow me."
"Food?"
Neo perked his ears upon hearing that word and soon a hungry smile appeared on his face.
"Sure! Let's go!"
Then, he silently added in his heart;
'I wonder what will be for dinner tonight. I'm starving as hell!
* * *
The Shelter was rather massive and also exquisite, to say the least. Houses made out of high-quality wood, walking trails built from what seemed to be polished stone slabs, well-kept flower beds here and there, and various decorations that made everything more lively than what one would expect from a place built for refugees!
Neo even spotted several playgrounds and smaller parks around, each filled with joyful kids and adults, making him feel as if he weren't even in a Shelter but in a small village instead!
'Unbelievable... Even after all that mess, Logan told me, they were able to build all this. And in less than a month at that!'
While Neo was looking at the things around him in silence and deep awe, suddenly Rose stopped walking, urging him to do the same.
"Hm?"
In front of her, a house made out of high-quality black wood stood majestically, its size at least five times bigger than the one he had gotten to stay in! On the surface of its ebony walls, beautiful white symbols were painted while the frame of its windows flickered with a sharp yellowish light, almost as if they were made out of gold!
"House? That's a frickin' mansion, not a house!"
Ignoring Zen's voice, Neo watched as Rose walked up the stairs that led the way to the entrance, and once before it, she knocked on it twice gently.
And not even two seconds later the door opened, revealing another gorgeous young woman wearing a rather modern maid outfit on the other side. She had long brown hair and hazel eyes, as well as a slim figure, giving her a charming aura.
'Beautiful...' Neo thought with admiring awe inwardly.
"Ma'am, welcome back. The Lord and the rest are already waiting inside."
"I see. Thank you, Sarah." Rose showed a soft smile before gesturing toward Neo to follow.
Neo nodded and after walking up the stairs too stepped through the entrance, welcomed by a rather magnific sight within. All kinds of colorful paintings in golden frames on the black wooden walls, decorations and antiques on the furniture on the sides, and the dead carcass of skinned beasts on the floor, used as carpets!
Everything in the hall looked and felt like the collection of a very influential noble, who, this time turned out to be Logan.
"Please, this way." Sarah looked at Neo and Rose calmly before guiding them into another room.
And right after they stepped through the door, an aroma Neo had never smelled before struck his nose, causing him to freeze right then and there with drool already flowing out of his mouth!
"Oh, dear Lord... Now we talking!"