"Wait! What do you mean, Nagao?! You don't care about your own life??!!" Adolph gave loud comments while opening the door and immediately approached Nagao without thinking. "You just don't consider the risks that will happen, huh?!"
Nagao just kept silent and kept walking. Nagao's nonchalant attitude made Adolph's annoyance,
"Hey, listen to me, Nagao!"
Adolph's behavior just now aroused the curiosity of many people. Realizing this situation, Nagao replied,
"Could you not chatter as loudly as a bird? If you want to argue, just do it with someone else. I still have a lot of business to take care of!" He spoke assertively and hurried away. Leaving Adolph alone behind him.
Receiving these reactions, her expression immediately turned irritated. Adolph's knuckle gripped tightly until her bones crunched. Her teeth were chattering. Promptly, she approached Nagao...
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Plak!*
Adolph slapped Nagao's cheek hard. Nagao was surprised until his eyebrows rose up. However, it wasn't just Adolph's slap that surprised Nagao...
Adolph cried until her tears fell down her cheeks. Her body trembled after she performed that action...
"Bastard! You're always like this. Stubborn and won't give in. You always wanted to protect others even if it harm yourself. Y-you even had to lose your hand for... Ah! Fuck it!" Adolph tried hard to wipe away her tears even though they were flowing profusely. "Y-you should... Kk-h! You... think of yourself, s-stupid! Y-you...." The vibration's voice mixed with crying impacted her speech. Even so, her intonation remains the same and echoes in Mr. Eddie's place.
Nagao tried to say something. However, he was always speechless when he saw Adolph's current expression. He could only silent and not argue back with Adolph. In the end, Nagao approached her and wiped away her tears. His actions made Adolph's tears subside for a moment.
Realizing Nagao's actions just now, Adolph said with a sob,
"W-why, Nagao? Y-you... don't even think about... yourself—," Unexpectedly, Nagao stared at Adolph while holding her cheeks—"?!" Adolph was shocked at his behavior.
"The fire of emotion always makes humans not react like they usually do. So, please, calm your emotions first." Nagao showed a faint smile before Adolph.
Her demeanor changed to a calmer one. Slowly, Nagao said,
"Let us talk about this face-to-face in my room,"
"Th-this—?!" Before she could answer, another voice joined Nagao's words,
"Not just Adolph. Take us too, brat!"
Nagao turned toward the source voice and found that it belonged to Mr. Schmidt. Mr. Eddie also joined. Noticing their arrival, Nagao replied,
"Okay!" Nagao could only sigh at this time.
They ended up in a closed room, precisely, in Mr. Eddie's office room. They sat on the sofa in silence. Complete silence without speaking at all. At least, that's what happened in the beginning.
However, when the conversation started, it began to spark a debate between them. Adolph and Mr. Schmidt became a side against Nagao's actions, while Mr. Eddie became a neutral side...
"This has gone too far!" Mr. Schmidt slammed the table as he protested.
"What were you talking about before... makes my head hurt!" Adolph held her forehead.
Nagao just silently observed their behavior. Mr. Eddie just kept quiet and glanced at Nagao occasionally after hearing what he said. Awaring that these conversations had stalled, Nagao stood up and started walking away. Just a few steps, Mr. Eddie commented after a long silence,
"From what you just said, on what basis—," He suddenly shook his head—" No. More precisely, why?" His intonation has emphasized in the last word.
Nagao's steps stopped hearing his words. His head turned and said,
"A bird doesn't need a reason why it has to fly, does it?"
"But a bird has a nature, specifically, that nature is called the survival instinct. You? Is that the fire nature that burns the reed field?"
Nagao was speechless at Mr. Eddie's words. Nagao immediately answered his question assertively,
"Fire nature, huh? Well, if you think so, I'd be happy to accept that!" Nagao just smiled with a determined tone and walked away.
In the end, Nagao came out of the room. Mr. Eddie just sighed while stretching his arms. Awaring the attitude that Mr. Eddie shows, Mr. Schmidt said,
"Still the same as before?"
"You saw it earlier, right? You could say," Mr. Eddie just nodded. "The theater actor has danced on the stage, and the music has been lilting. He has been excessive, regrets not making him withdrawing."
***
I've made up my mind. After discovering that mission, I've got a goal —A goal that has been defined.
Despite having discovered my goal, there are always those who question my attitude. Even though it was just a glance, I could feel their reaction. Therefore, I didn't reply to their reactions. The same thing happened at Mr. Eddie's residence. Adolph and Mr. Schmidt repeatedly criticized my actions. Honestly, I've thrown my cares away ever since the prison torture incident. I only listened to their opinions out of respect. However, all of that was nil. Realizing all that was meaningless, I intended to leave them...
'... No. More precisely, why?'
(This person is baiting me? Honestly, I didn't want to retaliate it. However, since I owe a debt of gratitude in terms of shelter and food, I'll answer briefly.) I let out a deep breath.
'A bird doesn't need a reason why it has to fly, does it?'
'... Is that the fire nature that burns the reed field?'
(Whatever your comments. I just needed to rest and finish this ridiculous argument ASAP!)
'Fire nature, huh? Well, if you think so, I'd be happy to accept that!'
*Tap!* *Tap!* *Cleaark!* *Thud!*
I rushed to my room. Upon arrival, I lay down on the bed. I looked at the ceiling room. In my daydream, I only thought one thing...
(I've got to solve this problem myself. Even if there's no one to support me, just I is enough through this storm!) I muttered assertively.
I still remember that incident clearly. The bear's attack. The Goliath. That feeling is still imprinted in my heart. But, at the same time, that experience provides strength. It can be felt within my stomach that starts to heat up. This isn't a grudge... nor negative emotion...
This... is the proof to fight against my past...!
My hand gripped hard until it bled. The lip experienced similar things. Even though fear approaches, courage accompanies me.
(Tomorrow! I've got to finish all of this even if I've to face the risk of dying for the second time!) I was getting tired of my overflowing emotions. Until finally, I started to close my eyes and fell asleep.
...
The next day, at dawn...
I've prepared the physical condition. The equipment I bought has been prepared. After getting ready, I immediately headed for the exit.
When I was outside, I noticed that I was blocked by several people before reaching the exit gate, especially the bodyguards of Mr. Eddie were also in the same place...
"In the end, you still chose your path, Nagao. Did... you didn't intend to change your mind?"
"In the end, it's all about choice. This is my war. You have no right to intervene!" I said assertively and walked past Adolph.
While walking, I caught a glimpse of her tear-stained face. However, I've made up my mind...
(At least... with you alive, it's already a small happiness for me.)
However, Mr. Schmidt blocked my path and said,
"You still owe me a debt, brat!" Mr. Schmidt said firmly.
Hearing what he said just now, I took off my prosthetic hand and threw it in Mr. Schmidt's face. He was taken aback by that behavior earlier. Firmly, I said,
"If this thing is your way of stopping me, I'll give you back your item!"
(A very typical way of him. Selfish to the core! However, perhaps that's the only way he could do it.) I immediately forcefully broke through his body. Finally, I immediately left the place.
...
I started walking along the street. At a certain point, I reached the place where I last fell. I tried to look around using the "Magnifying Glass" to identify the path to the location...
(I wish this feature would work...!) I immediately focused my gaze on the road.
Immediately, a notification pops up...
[Symbolus of "Magnifying Glass" is being used. Find several paths to the destination. Please wait for a moment.] ⌛ Waiting...
After a while, several options appear in the notification panel...
[There are several paths that can be used:
1. Safe route with detours. Estimated time ± 20 minutes. Advantages: safe. Disadvantage: detouring too far. Click (X) if you agree.
2. The fastest route through a small bridge. Estimated ± 7 minutes. Advantages: lots of monsters that could be farming. Disadvantage: physical fatigue because you have to fight various monsters from the B-D level. Click (X) if you agree.
3. Jump into the river. Advantages: fast time ± 2 minutes. Disadvantage: you could drift away, and it may potentially drift you into ridiculous death. Press (X) if you agree.
After selecting one of the three options, you will be directed with a signpost.
Once an option is selected, you cannot redo the selection. Choose wisely]
(Considering things like physique, skills; resources, and current state, I intended to fight that bear. However, I couldn't abandon these options. Therefore!)
*Click!*
[The fastest route through the small bridge has been chosen. Please wait.] ⌛ Waiting...
After a while, a blue object with an arrowhead shape appeared in front of me. When I touched it, my hand went through it...
(Blow through??! I couldn't touch it??! No! Step weirdness aside first. I've already chosen this path. Chances are, the supplies will run outs before fighting that bear. I must force to use it!) I started checking the storage and took out The Black Egg one. Immediately, I made a summon…
[Loading. Please wait for a moment.] ⌛
*Creak!* *Pop!*
[Congratulations! You've got " The Silent-Lethal Gas Grenade" with Normal level.] X2
(Looks like I've got some good stuff!) I thought while seeing the status board that appeared.