Rean looks at me with bewilderment coloring his face.
"What do you mean, Terrence? We have to follow the instructions." Rean tries to convince me.
Natalie stays quiet, but I know she's just waiting for my explanation.
I actually don't know how to say it to them.
I mean, I can't just tell them that there are still survivors that we haven't checked in the upper floors. They would want to know how I know that, and it would be very, very, troublesome to explain the cold and hard truth.
Not to mention the absurdity of 'the truth'. It would be impossible for them to believe me even if I talk until foam forms in my mouth.
So there is only one way to make them listen to me.
And that is me becoming a lunatic.
"I hear someone asking for help from the upper floors."
Rean looks at me and blinks. "What?"
"What?" Natalie repeated.
That statement must've caught them off guard.
"It's true! I can hear them asking for help! I know where they're hiding! Uhh… I think?" I scratch my cheek nervously as I look away.
'Hold it… This is for the remaining points…' I try to calm myself as I wait for them to respond.
"How do you… Hear them?" Rean asked.
"I-I don't know… I just heard them." I gulp. Then an idea came up in my brain. "You know that time when I almost died when I tried to help you? I think I can hear them that time."
Rean's eyes look away slightly as he tries to remember. Then his eyes looks like he realized something. "You were dying? I thought it was just a slightly deeper cut."
"I'm weak, Rean. But, please believe me!" I approach him and clench my hands to emphasize my desperation. "I know it sounds crazy, but please let's check those floors for any survivors! Or this will forever be in my mind!"
Rean looked conflicted. "But Terrence, we shouldn't take more survivors if we can't protect them. You said that yourself."
'Damn my mouth.' I curse myself internally.
I only said that before because I didn't want to waste time checking on floors that doesn't have anyone worth saving. The game is clear that the survivors are only on certain floors, and all of them had been true to their position so far. Why waste time checking every floors?
But I've decided to assume the role of a lunatic. So whatever I'm going to do will confuse them, and they will not have a choice but to follow their own code.
Even if it would result in me being alone again, I don't care.
I absolutely have to take those points!
"I know. But they're really asking for help and I can't ignore them. If you don't want to go with me, fine. Join the others and wait for me on the roof. I'll join you soon after I rescue them."
I press a button on the Control Panel and the door opens.
Rean stares at me in silence. I know he's trying to figure out what I'm thinking. But he would never understand this desperation.
At this point in the game, Rean is quite a selfish person and can be a bit cold. He might seem nice and just, but he considers the situation more. If he can do it, he would. But if there's just no chance, or there is a risk, he wouldn't even if he could.
He's quite the realist, and I trust him to act as such. Besides, he's needed in the roof more than I am. Because that's where the boss is at and he's the only one who can stop it.
That's also why I'm fine if he leaves. Also, because I want to hog the remaining points by myself.
Fufu.
"Alright, Terrence." Rean finally decided. "I'm coming with you."
"Very well. Farewell." I pause for a second before I realized what he just said. "Wait, what?!"
The door closes without anyone stepping out.
"I didn't hear it correctly, did I? Why did you want to help?"
"You said 'they'. Which means that if you go alone, you'll be protecting more than one. It would imbalance your group. Therefore, I'm coming with you. It'll balance it out."
I feel like I was just stamped with the biggest shame stamp in the world. Because the guy just threw in my argument about team balance.
"But—"
"The other team is already very balanced with the addition of Rufus's team. Also, the rescue will be easier with us two. I'm melee and you're a sharpshooter." Rean finished.
Now I can't argue if he used all MY arguments against me. I really can't make any more excuses! T_T
"Although I do not allow any of this since it will expose you to avoidable danger, Rean made a very good point. Besides, even if I disagree, Terrence will still do it. He's not the one to listen when he has a hunch on something."
"What the heck are you talking about?" I frown as I really don't understand what she meant in the last sentence.
"There's no time to explain. Rean has chosen to go with you, so go now. I'll back you guys up through the intercom. Don't die. Over." Natalie finished.
Rean shrugs. "So, Terrence? Could you open the door? ^_^"
And he's even smiling! He knows what he was talking about and he purposefully use my own arguments against me!
My face turns sour as the bitter taste of realization penetrate my threshold. "You smart ass…"
'Ozzie. Remind me not to argue in front of Rean again. At least, you must do this much for me for the time being.' I requested the System.
[Very well. I will note that for you.]
Huh, I didn't think it would really answer. But, I appreciate the understanding. I kind of felt alone right about just now.
"I-I… Appreciate your help." I can only say that as my silent lamentation about my points continues.
I push the button again and the door opens.
We exit the Control Room and I lead him to the emergency stairs.
"The others should've passed this floor already. So it's safe for us to use it. We just have to break the door so that it wouldn't open from this side." I told him when he asked why we're going there.
He agrees to do it.
We kick open the emergency door and are immediately presented with a Direwolf right beyond it.
I was startled because I didn't expect to encounter one so soon. But thankfully, Rean immediately acts.
He immediately kicks the monster and pushes it over the railing. It falls down below with a howl.
"Tch. They've reached here." Rean looks over to the stairs below.
I immediately take my gun and aim. I pull the trigger and a bullet blast from the barrel with a red trail.
The second it contacts with the Direwolf in the very first row, it explodes.
"That'll slow them for a bit. Let's go!" I run upwards.
Rean follows closely behind.