[Displaying player status]
[7:00 P.M. || June 22, 2065]
[Name: Seth Murphy]
[Level: 68]
[EXP: 74500/80000]
[Game Points: 9090gp]
[Party: None]
[Skill: Time Loop]
[Congratulations]
[The Weapon Forge Map Feature has been unlocked.]
His level increased again after Seth stole the status of the two people he killed this afternoon. The two people's statuses were high enough so that Seth's level shot far from the original level 42 now becomes level 68.
Everything he got in a week after the alien invasion was carried out. Seth was fairly sure his status was the highest in America unless someone else knew the trick of stealing other people's status.
Not only did the level increase but also the amount of GP Seth had increased, almost reaching the nominal 10,000gp.
Seth's attention was distracted by an unlocked feature once the player had passed level 50. Seth had already exceeded it, so he had the right to use the feature to upgrade his gun to the next level.
"I can't turn on the stove," Mia said, coming in with an annoyed look on her face, complaining while both hands held cans of food.
Seth raised his head, looking away from the status screen on his system bracelet, and turned to stare at the front, Mia to be precise.
She was standing frozen with a scowl on her face, showing two open cans of food. Seth understood her expression. When a can of food was open, there was no choice but to eat it.
Seth turned his head slowly, his eyes fixed on the kitchen room behind Mia. The man knew very well the type of stove installed there, an electric stove.
"Of course, you won't be able to turn it on. It's an electric stove," Seth said.
"Better use a small stove to warm it up," Seth pleaded. Mia nodded.
Mia looked so relaxed after coming up with that solution. The pink sleeping pajamas she found in the wardrobe matched her body, looking comfortable and fluffy so Mia could move freely.
"You'd better use up the canned food first. We'll use the rations when all the canned food is gone," Seth said, standing right beside Mia, who was crouching down while trying to light the small stove, a stove commonly used in camp.
"The rations you bought can last for about 3-5 months," Mia replied.
"How did you know that?" asked Seth, the man had just discovered it.
"It's written on the bottom of the ration box," Mia replied innocently.
Seth laughed softly at Mia's pampered voice. Her hands began to place the pot on the stove and put the canned food into it. She used an iron spoon to stir the food until the aroma was smelling and the temperature was getting hot.
"If we had ingredients like meat and vegetables, I'd probably make you my favorite meal," Mia explained.
"It seems like meat is completely extinct; nothing can last long without a refrigerator," Seth replied.
"Unfortunately, you're right. We can only rely on food like this, not for flavor or texture, just to keep our stomachs full," Mia said.
"If the aliens hadn't invaded, maybe life on Earth would be better," Mia snapped.
Seth paused, crouching down before Mia as his right hand appeared to hold another spoon. He scooped up the canned meat and pointed it at Mia's mouth. Mia was shy at first, but in the end accepted.
"Some people think the current life is much better than before. They no longer need to care about money and status. All those things are gone, replaced by the system created by Skywatcher," Seth explained.
"To them, this life is like a second chance that cannot be repeated. Those who think so must have experienced a miserable life before," Seth said.
"How do you know that?" asked Mia, seemingly so flatly with her head bowed listlessly, ignoring the pot of canned food she was warming.
Seth was silent. His eyes continued to watch Mia's demeanor. Seth flinched at the slight response when he saw tears falling down the cheeks of the girl beside him.
The man let Mia sink into the sadness of her past, not intending to ask questions and preferring silence until Mia explained it to Seth on her own.
In Mia's stead, he kept stirring the canned food until the aroma had been caught by Seth, as well as the food's soft texture and warm temperature. He reached into Mia's bag, pulling out two bowls for the two.
"How did you know that?" asked Mia, again asking the same question as before.
"It's ... just made up. You don't need to think about it," Seth replied.
He laughed softly with a wide smile, hoping that his words would be heard by Mia and relieve the symptoms of acute sadness that were overwhelming her at the moment. However, her face was still the same, bent over with both eyes puffy, tears ceaselessly flowing down like a rushing river.
"I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't mean to say that," Seth explained, his voice starting to soften with his gaze fixed on the pot on the small stove.
"My job as a doctor is not only to treat patients but also to get to the heart of my patients. Many of them try to pretend to be nice when their bodies are riddled with late-stage cancer," Seth said.
"They smile broadly even though their hair is falling out due to chemotherapy treatment. I studied psychology, trying to understand why they could smile genuinely amid a situation that might harm their bodies," Seth explains.
"That's how I began to understand people's attitudes, including yours," Seth replied, looking at Mia.
Mia was still silent without wiping her tears. Seth focused on pouring the food into the two bowls he had prepared. The amount of food was enough for the two for dinner.
"Your attitude is different from most people. You seem happy and carefree when the world has collapsed. Even though we've only been together for a few days, I can see the expression of happiness on your face," Seth replied.
"For example, when we arrived here, you were so glad to be enjoying all this. I'm sure you've never stayed in a VIP room before, so I let you relax for a while," Seth replied.
"Unlike the rich businessmen who control several industries. Their previous lives may have been happy with abundant wealth, but when faced with a situation like this, the attitude they will show is one of frustration," Seth said.
"That's what I mean by different life. One can respond to this incident with different perceptions; some are happy, some are hateful," Seth explained.
"There is no time for you to mourn your past, nor do I intend to know it. But the world has changed. You have a second chance to make your life happier than before."
Seth placed two bowls on the table. His right hand was seen reaching forward to wipe Mia's tears. Mia's heart, which had been full of sorrow, now turned peaceful after hearing Seth's explanation. Somehow, she felt motivated to do something new in this life.
"You decide your fate, not me. I will only help you achieve what you want," Seth explained, making Mia smile so that the atmosphere in the place was no longer sorrowful.
"Thank you for answering my question. I'm feeling much better now," Mia said, smiling along with her eyes closed.
"That's good. Now it's time for us to eat—"
"GET THOSE THINGS!" someone shouted from outside, precisely from outside this hotel.
The shout drew Seth's attention. He put down his bowl and walked over to the window, looking out to see dozens of torches surrounding the merchant where Seth had bought the rations.
"What's going on?" asked Mia, curious and walking over to Seth.
The girl gasped at the sight of a shop destroyed and burned, with goods stolen by a criminal group. The girl's eyes were drawn to the sky, specifically to a small spaceship of five descending from the sky.
"Did they steal the goods from the merchant?" asked Mia. Seth cleared his throat softly.
"They are now dealing with the Skywatchers."