The gas in their car ran out which made them decide to just walk. The two bags of gems were carried by Hero and the bag that Peitho was supposed to carry, was carried by Simon. "The city became looks like an abandoned city. Trees and plants are rapidly growing covering the whole city," Simon speaks as he keeps on walking, his rifle on his back.
"Why do you want to meet Miss Reyana anyway?" Peitho asks Hero to continue to walk, not looking at his face.
"Isn't Reyana's grandfather known for his talent in forging things? That is what I am chasing about, Reyana's knowledge she had that her grandfather taught to her," Hero replied causing the two to look at him. Hero turns his face to look at Simon. "Why did you help us anyway?"
Simon looked at Hero and scratched his head. "I just feel like I had to. Besides, helping you will give me more benefits than following Vanessa's orders. Just watching and looking at you fight, made me gain knowledge about my abilities," he replied.
"How did you gain your abilities, anyway?" Hero asks making Simon laugh. The siblings were just looking at him confusedly.
"You won't believe me, I gained this because of eating the purple gem I saw from a dead monster. I ate it because I thought it was food. I hadn't eaten in days at the time, so I immediately grabbed it from the monster's body and ate it like a hungry man, then suddenly I collapsed—" Hero stays away from Simon because he predicts Simon will tell a long story that will bore him. Peitho, on the other hand, was paying attention, nodding her head and amazed at Simon's storytelling abilities. Hero simply shook his head.
Hero thought about it. He was amazed that Simon gained the ability without proper breathing like him, which meant luck was also on his side. However, he cannot fully trust Simon after knowing that he can betray someone if he doesn't like the person anymore. For now, he lets Simon go with them as he is the one who knows Reyana's house if ever they can't find her at the University.
They had been walking for a day until the night came they decided to spend their night in a small grocery store. Before heading in, Simon and Hero checked the store first. They head inside immediately when they don't detect any monsters around. Hero made sure to lock the store in every corner. The window, the other door, and especially the main door.
"We are lucky to see this, I am starving by walking throughout the day. Let us see what we have here," Simon said and quickly took a cup of noodles. "Cup Noodle!" he shouted causing Hero to look at him.
"Eat anything, not those foods that need to be heated. The warmth that it will cause may attract monsters. Some monsters can easily detect warm breeze especially since it is already night since monsters are active during the night," Hero explained causing Simon to pout and bring back the noodles. "Unless we have something that can block their smells," he added.
"What is the thing that can block their smell?" Simon asks.
"Did you still bring the flowers that you picked on the road, Peitho? Boil water with its petals, the smell of it can block the monster's smell," Hero speaks causing Peitho to look for something in her small bag and show the three flowers.
"These Zania Flowers?" she asks and Hero nods.
"Alright, let's go eat; I'm sure this store has some electronic devices that can boil water for these cup noodles, right?" Simon exclaimed, quickly grabbing six cups of noodles.
While they are eating, the three of them talk about something which causes Hero to give them some knowledge about the gems. He even told Peitho that they could use one if they could find her a purple gem that gives a human the ability to fight against monsters. But for now, he can teach her to use weapons right after Reyana can forge their weapons.
"Here use this orange one, I will teach you the proper breathing in exchange for helping us," Hero said as he reached the orange gem to Simon. "You don't have to eat the gem, you can just try to transfer the energy source of it to your body. It is an upgraded method to consume the power of a gem," he added.
Hero began to teach Simon the proper way of breathing. He smiled when Simon could be taught easily, in just one lesson, he could immediately execute it. "Do you feel it? Your ability getting stronger?" Hero asks and Simon nods with a smile on his face. "Since you already know that, you can now hunt monsters all by yourself and take their gems. While we fight, I will tell you where to kill them."
"Where did you learn about this?" Simon asks.
"You wouldn't believe it if I told you," Hero pauses for a moment and speaks again after standing. "Both of you can sleep now. I will guard the door."
The two are now sleeping soundly which makes Hero consume the gems slowly. While doing so, he could feel his body getting stronger once again causing him to smile however, he heard a lot of screaming and shouting. He speculates that monsters are chasing people again but he chooses not to help them and continue what he is doing. He knows what will happen when he decides to get outside and help them.
He opened his eyes after consuming half of the bag of gems and looked behind him when he sensed someone was watching him. It was Simon looking at him sitting in an Indian seat. "Why did you let them be eaten by monsters?" Simon asks.
"Not all the time you should help people especially since you know yourself that you cannot beat every monster yet. I know what kind of monster that was chasing them and I, myself, admit that I cannot beat that one yet. I choose to live than to die to help people," he seriously speaks.
'Especially that this is my second life.'
It was finally morning. Hero was able to sleep when Simon volunteered to guard the door so Hero could sleep even just a few hours. "Here! The Edson University. Isn't the university very wide? Compared to the university we studied, brother," Peitho speaks as he looks at the main gate.
Of course, just like in other places. The University also has blood splattered on the building walls and the ground. Dead bodies were scattered and you could see some of their parts are cut and eaten by big monsters with big teeth, brutally.
"Why is this place scarier than the other place we stopped at?" Simon speaks as he wanders his eyes on the buildings.
Hero looked at the ground and noticed something causing his eyes to widen. "This," he speaks causing the two to look at him.
"What is it?" Simon asks.
Hero looked around when he sensed big steps walking towards them coming from the forest near the last building. His eyes widen when he sees eighteen feet with one big eye and a large mouth with sharp teeth walking, looking creepily around to find their prey. Hero immediately grabbed the two and found a place where to hide.
"What happened?" Peitho asks as she looks at her brother. Hero hushes her and speaks.
"Smokevine, once they hear and see you. You will get eaten brutally."