Discovering Emilia had been rescued, Mr. Schmidt's expression changed drastically. Even tears flowed from his eyes without realizing it. Mr. Schmidt reflexively stood up and ran towards Nagao. Only one expression that appeared on his face ...
Relief ...
Edward, who saw this truth, without saying anything, rushed towards Nagao with an angry expression. While aiming the spearhead at Nagao, Edward spoke,
"What a surprise!" he ran to him. "However, the 'happy ending' was created so quickly. So, die, you maggot!"
Nagao realized Edward's attack. However, because of his condition, he was unable to move again.
The moment when the spearhead almost reached Nagao's face ...
*Whoosh!* *Whack!* *Crack!*
"Arghh!" Edward bounced away and vomited blood from his mouth. Edward's waist received a hard kick. Several ribs were broken, and those became witnesses to how impactful that attack was.
*Thump!* *Roll!*
Nagao suddenly became limp and fell into a sitting position. Although he avoided death a second time, his left cheek suffered a long tear that reached his ear. His teeth were seen clearly with the naked eye. Nagao felt a serious laceration,
"Argggh!" He shouted and held his pain carefully. Fortunately, Emilia's condition completely safe, although she was fainted. But her breath was normal based on Mr. Schmidt's check.
Edward, who was on the ground, slowly stood up. While spitting out blood, Edward reacted,
"Queen ... Warrior ...," he looked at Nagao. "And a Jester ... No, Joker ...! Are we playing a dramaturgy now ...?!" He continued by coughing several times.
Nagao didn't understand what he was talking about. Yet a different reaction was shown by Mr. Schmidt ...
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
He approached Edward and punched him hard in the face ...
*Thud!*
With that power, Edward laid on the ground again. Mr. Schmidt kept punching him in the face non-stop ...
*Thud!* *Thud!* *Whack!*
In the one-sided action,
"You ... kill me...," Edward spoke toward Mr. Schmidt. "They ... your haters ... will chase you ... your daughter ... until death ...!"
Mr. Schmidt then gripped his collars and replied,
"Do I care about it?"
His face showed a flat expression, an emotionless face. His eyes deeply stared sharply. His veins appeared visibly when he was gripping Edward's collars ...
*Crkk!*
Mr. Schmidt then spoke the same line with the deepest tone,
"Do I care about that shit?"
Edward realized that he had crossed the line. Stand before him ...
He wasn't the Aeron Schmidt he knew ...
What he saw now ... more like a cold-blooded killer ...
Edward felt intensely fear. His body shook violently. Sweat dripped down in his face instantly. His tone changed drastically, and he begged him,
"Please ... spare ... my life ... senior ...!"
Ironically, Mr. Schmidt already made his minds. Immediately, he grabbed Edward's neck hard. Edward, whose survival instinct suddenly activated automatically, tried to stop Mr. Schmidt's action,
"Khhkk Ple ... ase ... khhhk let ... me alive ... I ... beg ...!" He said in a halting tone accompanied by a choking voice.
*Khhak!*
Desperately, he begged for mercy, but Mr. Schmidt didn't care about it. Until ...
*Crack!*
With his hands, he snapped Edward's neck. Mr. Schmidt killed him.
*Fell* *Buk!*
After he did that, Mr. Schmidt sat on the ground. He looked up at the night sky and gazed at the moon silently.
Then, he looked at his hands and muttered,
"Again ... I broke that promise ... Sorry, sweetie ...."
Meanwhile, even though Nagao had many injuries, seeing that scene, he couldn't do anything but only saw.
Then, Mr. Schmidt stood and looked at the sky again. Nagao, who didn't far off from Mr. Schmidt, hearing his words,
"For freedom, I shall pray to all the sins I've committed ... For redemption, I shall pray for all burdens I've received. On behalf of myself, I shall hope for given the opportunity to protect my 'White Paper' ... A 'White Paper' that became the manifestation from our affection ...." He prayed hopefully and solemnly.
With Emilia beside him in a faint condition, Nagao kept close to her. However, Nagao felt his mind fade away when he saw Mr. Schmidt again ...
*Thumps!*
Nagao fell to the ground in the prone position. Slowly, he experienced a feeling of drowsiness. His eyes forced him to sleep. When he wanted to sleep ...
*Krkk!*
"Arghhh!" Nagao groaned in pain. "It hurts, you dumbass moron! Did you pinch me in my wounds??!"
"Hoho!" replied Mr. Schmidt in a pleased tone. "Looks like ya still awake! Thank goodness! I was going to kick ya if ya still sleep. Hahahahaha!" he continued with a laugh.
"You blockhead, Old man!" Nagao answered while wincing in pain. "I wanted ... to take a rest!" Continued Nagao in an angry tone.
Unexpectedly, Nagao's body was lifted by Mr. Schmidt. Simultaneously with Emilia and their weapons, Mr. Schmidt carried all of them alone. After everything had been checked, Mr. Schmidt left the place by running fast ...
*Stap!* *Stap!* *Run!*
On the way, both Nagao and Mr. Schmidt had a quiet silence for several moments. After several moments, Mr. Schmidt opened the conversation,
"Looks like ya could underdog against dozens of Edward's men. I thought ya were just a burden, brat!" he ended with laughter.
Hearing his words, Nagao smiled and replied sarcastically,
"Even a slug can run faster than your fight, Old man!"
Hearing Nagao's words, Mr. Schmidt's face was immediately irritated. With an irritated tone, he retorted,
"Bastard, you rancid brat!" He inhaled and laughed again.
A silent moment between them appeared again. Then, Mr. Schmidt said seriously,
"Thank you ...,"
"Huh?" Nagao replied.
"Thank ya ...," Mr. Schmidt repeated his earlier words.
"HUH?? I DON'T HEAR IT! TRY IT AGAIN!" Nagao shouted on purpose.
"FOR DAMN IT! ARE YA PLAYING ME INTENTIONALLY, BOY?! Don't forget I saved ya twice already!" Mr. Schmidt was annoyed by his reactions
"But I'm not asking to be saved either, hehehe!" he responded with a mocking laugh.
"Ya're an asshole, brat!" he annoyed. "I'm not going to make a weapon you want, brat!"
"Gruugh!" Nagao replied irritatedly. "YOU SLY OLD MAN!!!"
After a while on the way, they were coming back to Mr. Schmidt's house. As for Nagao's injuries, he was forced to stay at Mr. Schmidt's residence for several days. As a result of the kidnapping case too, Mr. Schmidt was sleeping beside Emilia for her safety.
***
For several days, I just rested in this room. The room that Mr. Schmidt gave me was old ...
(This room might be old. But it was clean. Maybe it had been empty and kept for a long time ....) Nagao silently thought.
During the wound-healing period, I didn't do strenuous activities. Only resting and eating were my priority for now. Even during my recovery, Emilia accompanied me several times, either to tell me her stories or to bring me some food.
On the fourth day in the afternoon...
I was resting in bed. Since I couldn't sleep, I decided to check my status board. When I checked it, I was seeing several notifications that appeared sequentially ...
[You've gained +20 exp and +5 stat points.] (1/20)
[You've gained +20 exp and +5 stat points.] (2/20)
...
[You've gained +20 exp and +5 stat points.] (19/20)
[You've gained +20 exp and +5 stat points.] (20/20)
[Side quest mission "Love from single parents": Support the brave single parents with all you have.] (1/1)
[You've gained +100 exp and +100 stat points.] (1/1)
[Secret "limited-time mission": Search for Emilia.] (1/1) [00:01]
[You've gained +100 exp and +60 stat points.] (1/1)
[Collect some exp points to level up your level.] (88/100)
*Click!* *Click!* *Click!*
[Name: Nagao Deri
Level: 14
HP: 104
MP: 105
Class: Unidentified
Skill/Job: -
Power: 54 -> 123
Strength: 52 -> 122
Agility: 52 -> 122
Mana: 51 -> 122
View more.]
"Huh!" I reacted weakly. "There were a lot of stats to add. Because of that, I felt my body slightly better than before. But those pain effects were still there." I continued to stabilize my hands until my feet.
After I could stabilize my walks and conditions, I immediately walked to meet Mr. Schmidt.
When I got to the dining room, I saw them eating. Aware of my presence, Mr. Schmidt gave a signal to eat together. With a meal of vegetable soup and rice, we ate solemnly.
...
Amidst eating moments, Mr. Schmidt asked,
"Didya condition start to heat already?"
"Damn, your words were ambiguous, Old man!" I said while eating. "By the way, your food was delicious! More, please!" I continued with enthusiasm.
"Big brother! Don't talk while eating!" Emilia was annoyed while puffing her cheeks. "Dad, stop flirting him like you flirted the barmaid before!"
"Pfft!" I couldn't hold my laugh.
"Sttt, sweetie!" he flounders about that. "Shut out yar laugh, dammit!"
...
After we finished that activity, I helped Emilia to clean the dishes.
Finished with the business, I intended to return to the room. Abruptly, Mr. Schmidt called me,
"Hey, brat! Come here! I've got something to tell ya!" He said loudly.
Hearing that, I immediately went there.
When I got there, something was thrown at me. Quickly, I caught it. I checked, and it turned out that my light-sized iron gauntlets and daggers were upgraded. Seeing this, I commented,
"Holy shit, Old man! Thanks!"
"No, probs!" he answered and drank water then. "By the way, I've got a request for ya in return!" he changed his tone to become serious.
Noticing his tone was different, I reacted simply,
"What's that?" I said curiously.
Mr. Schmidt was silent for several moments. After several moments of silence, he replied,
"Ya must become my disciple!"