"ting ting ting Ting," the sound made by Rico still echoed around Joe Walker, accompanying the current situation.
What's wrong with me? Why did I hit him?
Joe Walker held his chest.
What emotion is this that I'm feeling right now?
Jonathan suddenly stood up after his face was hit. He spat to the side to get the blood out of his mouth. Then he wiped the blood coming out of his nose as well.
Jonathan also looked around and found some of his teeth had fallen out. He picked them up, looked at them with a sad face, and said, "Oh, my teeth are gone..."
Jonathan seemed unfazed by Joe Walker's actions.
The same goes for Zenith, who just looked at Joe Walker with a gaze that seemed indifferent. It appeared as if he was looking at Joe Walker but not focusing on him.
Jonathan and Zenith started to continue their journey towards Rico without caring about Joe Walker's presence. They even seemed to chat happily with smiles on their faces.
Alice, who wanted to reprimand Joe Walker, suddenly lost her intention and just passed by Joe Walker without saying anything.
Joe Walker, seeing this, was sure that something was happening around him. However, he still didn't understand what was going on at the moment.
Alice, who usually always scolded him even for small things, now didn't even look in his direction at all. This made Joe Walker feel even more strange.
As he looked ahead, he realized that Maria was still waiting for him with a sad expression on her face.
What is he doing? What is he waiting for? What is making her sad? Who? Me?
Joe Walker tried to smile at Maria. Maria, seeing this, smiled back at him, but her smile was filled with doubt.
Joe Walker, realizing this, bit his lip to hold back the pain in his heart.
Darn! What is happening? Is this all my fault?
Joe Walker started walking alongside Maria. He also tried to match his walking pace with Maria's.
Maria looked gloomy, which made Joe Walker feel even more uncomfortable.
"Maria, what's wrong?"
"Huh?"
"You look like there's something bothering you. What's the matter?"
"It's not my problem, but, for some reason, everyone is acting weird. Including you, Joe."
"I-I..."
"I know, you're angry, right?"
"Yeah, but... I don't know why I'm angry."
Maria smiled and then said, "Thank goodness, it seems like you're not acting weird."
"I acted weird earlier too!"
"No, you hit him for a reason I can understand. But, the others are different."
"What do you mean different?"
"Don't you feel weird too, Joe?"
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But I don't understand what's weird. Everything feels weird, but it looks like nothing is weird at all. So I think I'm the only weird one right now."
Maria smiled and looked excitedly at Joe Walker.
Joe Walker felt relieved after that, he smiled while sighing in relief.
"Joe, why do you think the lights in this city can turn on?"
"Of course, because of electricity?"
"Electricity? From where? Aren't there any other people in this city?"
"It's likely because all these lights use solar panels."
"Ohhh!"
After that, Maria continued to talk enthusiastically about the lights in the city. There were lights almost everywhere.
With excitement, Maria talked about how she wanted to know how those lights could turn on by themselves.
Joe Walker, also excited, explained what he knew about the lights in the city.
Maria became even more excited and asked more and more questions.
Joe Walker enjoyed the moment and felt like a teacher for a while.
Shortly after, Joe Walker and Maria arrived at the bonfire where everyone else had gathered by now.
"Hey! Come here!" Jonathan shouted, waving his hand towards Joe Walker and Maria.
Joe Walker immediately turned his face to the side. But Maria grabbed Joe Walker's hand, smiled, and said, "Let's go there!?"
Joe Walker smiled and replied, "Sure."
They then talked about many things and joked with each other.
However, only Joe Walker felt uncomfortable. Everyone treated him as if nothing had ever happened between them. It seemed like everyone had forgotten everything that had happened a few moments ago.
Joe Walker glanced at Maria several times to make sure of something. Every time Maria noticed and smiled at Joe Walker.
Then, when Joe Walker looked at Alice, he saw her focusing on other people around. She seemed excited and happy with a smile on her face.
Joe Walker was happy to see that, but there was a slight disappointment in his heart towards Alice.
Maybe because she was still a child and didn't understand it yet.
But this slightly hurt my heart, Alice, who is highly intelligent, said that I did it without clear reasons.
But why can Maria understand while Alice can't? This doesn't make sense to me. Because Alice, as a smart girl, should have more knowledge and intelligence than Maria.
Suddenly, the conversation took a more serious turn.
"Are you giving up on reaching the next level? Why?" Alice said.
"It's because the next city is quite difficult for us to pass through," Rico replied while chatting with Alice.
"Why?"
"I saw that there are strange guards guarding that city."
"How do you know?"
"Because I have a sixth sense, which allows me to see that city before I go there. Although it's quite tiring for me to do it for a long time, in a few seconds, I already saw some unpleasant things in that city."
"Weird things?"
"Bullets scattered around the city streets."
"The previous city also had them, right?"
"Yes, I know, but the number is abnormal. And it looks like there are some bullets that have just been used."
"...," Alice fell silent and became doubtful about the journey and its purpose at that moment.
"If only someone would lend us their vehicle so we can quickly return to the lower level. At least, I will first take Rio, Zenith, and Jonathan back to the lower level. After that, I can return it to you as soon as possible."
"Sorry, we want to focus on reaching the highest level as quickly as possible. Besides, our vehicle is a memento from my grandfather. I can't lend it to you. Especially if you take it, you might not return it to us."
Joe Walker, hearing this, felt happy and proud again. He saw Alice had returned to her usual self. The clever and logical words that Alice always used were now in front of him. It made him smile as he looked at Alice at that moment.