After that, they began to execute the plan that Joe Walker had prepared. However, it did not go smoothly because there was one thing that made Joe Walker rethink and come up with a new plan. The issue was that Joe Walker had just found out that Alice was afraid of heights.
"Uhhh... Why does the path have to be outside? What was the person who made this alternative route thinking?" Alice protested while holding onto Maria.
"You've always been afraid of heights, haven't you, Alice? Why are you afraid of heights?" Maria replied, looking curious about the iron path in front of them.
However, Maria couldn't move as Alice held onto her tightly by grabbing her hand.
"Alice, let's do this quickly! We won't be able to finish on time if we stay like this. Joe has already taken 4 lunch boxes and some other items ahead. And we still can't move an inch because you're holding me back here with you."
"But this is terrifying! What should we do?"
"In that case, let me and Joe move the items to the other side."
"No, that's not allowed! I-I want to help too!..."
"Then hurry up! Don't be scared! Joe has been moving the items alone since earlier."
"I know! I know that! But... This is terrifying!..."
Alice tried to regulate her breathing to steady herself. Then she slowly tried to stand while still holding onto Maria. Maria remained silent and observant.
But when Alice peeked slightly towards the edge, she was immediately terrified upon realizing that they were at a very, very, very high altitude.
Alice bowed her head again, muttering, "I knew this was pointless, I'm too scared!..." She tightly closed her eyes.
Joe Walker, who had just returned after successfully moving some items, noticed Alice's condition. He observed carefully, contemplating what he should do next.
Maria welcomed Joe Walker's return with a question, "Hey, it seems like Alice can't do it. What should we do about this?"
Joe Walker sighed and then looked at Alice. He knelt in front of Alice to be at eye level with her and asked, "Alice, do we really have to go to the next level? What if we just survive and travel the world instead? Is there something you're looking for up there?"
Joe Walker also glanced at Maria, then back at Alice who was scared.
"We can't keep surviving if we stay at the lowest level."
"What if we find another way?"
"B-but, the path is right in front of us! We might not find another way forever!"
"But this is too dangerous! That way may not be able to withstand Tony's weight. Tony is a heavy vehicle even though it's small in size."
"No!" Alice shouted with anger.
Joe Walker was taken aback by the emotional shout. It was the first time he had seen and heard Alice like that. Usually, Alice only got angry over small things with Maria. But this time, her voice truly pierced Joe Walker's heart, making him realize that the shout was genuinely fueled by anger.
Alice also realized and was shocked, she immediately apologized, "I-I'm sorry, I got carried away."
Seeing Alice like that, Maria felt she couldn't just stand by. Seeing Joe Walker's reluctance to take risks also made her feel the need to act.
Suddenly, Maria said, "Joe, our grandfather once said that if we reach the highest level of this place, we would be able to survive."
"Huh? Survive?" Joe Walker looked puzzled.
"I don't know, but our grandfather's final message was to go to the highest level. Grandfather didn't give us detailed information, but he was sure there was something up there that could save us."
Joe Walker became more puzzled by the situation. However, he understood that Alice and Maria truly wanted to reach the highest level.
Suddenly, Alice said, "Joe, if you don't want to come because of the dangerous journey, you can stay back. You can go back, but we want to continue the journey."
After hearing that, Joe Walker quickly drew conclusions from all of this. After finding a solution, he smiled.
Joe Walker suddenly said, "It's okay, I'll join you two."
"Really? But, what should we do now?" Maria asked.
Joe Walker's smile widened upon hearing that. He said, "Alice, can you close your eyes?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Just close them, I'll do a magic trick that will make you not afraid to use this alternative path."
"Okay."
Suddenly, Joe Walker lifted Alice's body and carried her like a princess.
"Eh? Joe, what are you doing?" Alice was puzzled by the situation.
"Ahaha, so that's a way!" Maria exclaimed.
The sound of footsteps on the iron path was clearly heard as they walked.
"Eh? What are you guys doing?" Alice became more anxious.
"Don't open your eyes yet, alice...," Joe Walker reminded Alice.
When Alice was allowed to open her eyes, she slowly did so and looked around.
Alice looked behind and saw that their vehicle was no longer there. She saw the damaged path that separated the two separate paths. She found their vehicle on the other side.
"Joe, what does this mean?" Alice was confused by the unsettling situation.
"You two wait here," Joe Walker replied as he went back to their vehicle to move some remaining items.
Meanwhile, Alice looked around and found that the items Joe Walker had brought were already there.
"Maria, these items should have been moved by Joe, right?"
"Yes."
"Then why are they still here?"
"Hmm."
"Why is our vehicle on the other side?"
"Hmm."
"Why is the other side lower? We should be going uphill, right?"
"Yes."
"If that's the case, then why?..."
"Everything here is not moving. It's just that you have moved. Weren't you aware that you were carried here before?"
"So, I was carried here. That's why Joe told me not to open my eyes."
"Yes, you're right."
"But if I'm here, who will drive? He knows I'm afraid of heights, right? He's not as foolish as you."
"Well, you're right... Oi! Did you just mock me?"
"Now is not the time to joke, Maria."
"You're the only one joking right now!"
Joe Walker suddenly arrived and brought the items, placing them down while saying, "These are the last items!"
"Joe, what are you planning?" Alice asked.
"I will drive that vehicle alone."
"How?"
"By driving it."
"Huh? You've never driven it before, have you?"
"Yes, but don't worry, for the past few days, I've been observing you driving. And today, I also learned something new about the vehicle's brake pedal positions."
"Joe, don't do something foolish! You're inexperienced!"
"Whatever you say, you can't stop me. You can't touch this iron path. Because you're afraid of heights."
"Maria, stop joe right now!"
"It's useless, you won't be able to let Maria to stopping me on this iron path. You care for Maria more than you think. That's why you held Maria's hand earlier, right?"
"...," Alice fell silent upon hearing that.
"Wait for me here," Joe Walker said as he headed towards their vehicle.
Maria felt sorry seeing Alice just standing there silently and unable to do anything.
Maria wanted to talk to Joe Walker again, "Alice, I'll talk to Joe for a moment."
But in an instant, Alice held Maria's hand.
Alice looked at her hand holding Maria's and remembered Joe Walker's words. Her face looked sad, unsure of what to do at that moment.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Joe Walker was already in their vehicle and sitting in the driver's seat.
"This is for the accelerator? This is for the brake! And this is for turning right and left," he tested the vehicle's mechanisms before taking action.
After feeling ready, he took a deep breath to clear his mind.
This is the best way, I don't care if I die.
My life has been meaningless from the start. Not because I hate myself, in fact, I'm proud of myself.
But now it's clear that if I die, it's not a big deal.
I'd rather experience death than see any of them die in front of me.
Joe Walker started driving the vehicle and began moving on the iron path on the edge of the tower.
He looked towards the edge and saw far below. He realized that they were at a very, very, very high place.
If I fall from here, I'll definitely die, right? Definitely, no need to doubt that.
Uhh... I'm scared... Help me...
Joe Walker continued the journey even he afraid of it. He heard some bolts coming loose from their place.
The path started shaking, making Joe Walker panic and he immediately accelerated.
Joe Walker briefly saw Alice and Maria at the edge of the entrance, peeking and shouting towards him.
Joe Walker smiled, feeling this was the end of his life. He was ready to give up, but the memories he shared with Alice and Maria made him not want to surrender. Although his hope was slim, he continued at high speed.
The path kept shaking, and the path Joe Walker had traversed began to collapse. Just as Joe Walker had thought, the artificial path couldn't withstand the weight of their vehicle.
"Watch out! Watch out!" Joe Walker shouted as he neared the entrance.
Alice and Maria, hearing him, immediately moved away from the entrance.
Joe Walker quickly turned to the left and broke through the entrance. He succeeded and quickly turned to the right to avoid falling off the main road.
Feeling he had succeeded, Joe Walker raised both hands and shouted, "I did it! I'm alive! I'm still alive!"
Joe Walker couldn't catch his breath properly. He was panting as he looked at his hands.
I'm still alive!
But the vehicle slowly moved backward because the surface was not flat.
"Oh right, we're going uphill! Where's the button for this vehicle to hold on to the sloping surface? Uhmm, there are too many buttons! Which one?" Joe Walker panicked.
Meanwhile, Alice immediately approached Joe Walker and pressed one of the buttons in front of Joe Walker.
The vehicle immediately stopped moving.
"Oh! Alice! Than...," before Joe Walker could finish his sentence, Alice suddenly slapped Joe Walker at that moment. It made Joe Walker shocked and then fell silent like a statue while holding his cheek that was slapped.