Azlan needed about 45 minutes to clear all the zombies in the building. Actually, finishing them off one by one wasn't a significant challenge for him. The longer time was spent exploring each floor he passed through.
This was his first experience being inside an office building, he curiously looked around. After all, Azlan was still a teenager, his natural curiosity was very great.
Azlan walked past messy work cubicles, meeting rooms with whiteboards full of unreadable scribbles, and a pantry with a dusty coffee machine.
"Too bad, I didn't find any other Light Orbs." He muttered as he began climbing the emergency stairs to the roof, his voice sounding slightly disappointed.
[Don't be greedy, Azlan. As we've discussed before, each item in those Light Orbs apparently comes from different worlds. Whether it's Kurokawa Akane's 4D Pocket, or your Mystic Eye of Heavenly Eyes, I've never heard of them in my original world.]
Albion suddenly responded.
His original world was filled with supernatural beings from various mythologies—gods, devils, angels, fallen angels, youkai, Grim Reapers, and others—but nothing exactly like those mysterious objects.
Setting aside the 4D Pocket which seemed to be a product of black technology, Albion indeed didn't pay much attention to the human science side, but he knew that ordinary human scientific advancement hadn't reached the stage to create dimensional storage space.
And the Heavenly Eye, with its ability to see various future possibilities and force the future toward one path favorable to its user... If Albion had to classify it as a Sacred Gear, its power was only one level below Longinus Class.
It was impossible for him, a being who had lived since ancient times, to have never heard of the Heavenly Eye if it came from his world.
All these factors led Albion to a conclusion that was hard to believe, but most logical: each Light Orb contained an item from different worlds.
"Don't take it seriously, Albion. I'm just talking carelessly." Azlan said while climbing. "Getting another Light Orb isn't necessarily a good thing. I haven't fully mastered Divine Dividing, and I can't even use the ability from the third Light Orb because I can't bear its energy consumption."
He sighed wearily. Compared to the supernatural beings Albion mentioned, he felt very weak and still far from capable.
[Good that you understand. Don't be too pessimistic, Azlan. It hasn't been half a year since you first came into contact with supernatural power. Plus there are no resources or teachers to help you grow, naturally the development is slow.]
Albion tried to comfort his host, preventing him from frustration.
"Don't underestimate me, Albion. My mentality isn't so weak that I need to be constantly comforted." Azlan refuted, though his tone was grateful. "For now, zombies and Titans aren't a serious threat. With my current strength, I can still handle them."
He paused in front of the roof door.
"What I'm worried about is the appearance of stronger entities. After all, Titans appeared mysteriously without any warning. If the first has already appeared, the second, third, and so on can appear..."
That was his greatest fear. That was also the reason behind his obsession to become stronger every day.
[You have a point. This world is very strange and filled with mystery. Become stronger, Azlan. No matter what danger comes, as long as you're strong enough, you have the power to overcome anything.]
"Mm."
Azlan inserted the key he found in the security room and opened the door. When he pushed it open, cold air and bright winter daylight greeted him.
He stepped out onto the wide roof, and his gaze immediately fixed on Akane's figure who was busy hanging clothes on a line stretched between two support poles. The clothes including some of his, fluttered gently in the cold wind.
Hearing footsteps, Akane turned around. A warm smile immediately adorned her face, driving away the cold air.
"Welcome back, Azlan-kun. Finished working? Are you hurt?" She asked with a concerned tone, her eyes quickly scanning Azlan's body to make sure there were no injuries.
"I'm fine." Azlan answered, approaching her. "Let me help."
"No need." Akane refused gently but firmly. "Azlan-kun just rest inside. This will be finished soon."
Azlan glanced at the laundry basket beside Akane's feet. Its contents indeed only had a few remaining pieces of underwear left. His help indeed wasn't needed.
"Okay."
He then turned and went back inside the house. The warmth that immediately attacked his body was so contrasted with the cold temperature outside on the roof.
A calm atmosphere and clean aroma filled the room, an oasis created by Akane in the midst of all the chaos. He removed his scarf, sat on the sofa, and for a moment, let himself truly rest.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
1:20 PM.
A peaceful atmosphere enveloped their small living space. With stomachs already full from delicious lunch, Akane and Azlan sat side by side on the sofa, each immersed in their reading worlds.
Akane was absorbed with a light novel she found from the bookstore at the mall, occasionally smiling small or frowning following the story's plot.
Beside her, Azlan concentrated fully on a thick world history book. Of course, the book he read was the English edition—the only foreign language he slightly mastered thanks to interactions with international aid forces in war zones before.
In this post-apocalyptic world, entertainment facilities were very limited. If Azlan hadn't installed solar panels that provided electricity for the house, they wouldn't even be able to watch movies on the LCD TV. Their entertainment would be even less, limited only to books and perhaps analog games like cards or boards.
"Hey, Azlan-kun. Have you ever played ski?" Suddenly Akane closed her book, breaking the comfortable silence.
Azlan shifted his gaze from the book page.
"Never." He answered straightforwardly, before looking back at his book. "I've already told you my story. You have a rough picture of what kind of life I lived, right? Let alone having fun like that. Just surviving to pass the next day was already an extraordinary difficulty."
"Ugh..." Akane felt guilty. "Hearing you say that makes me feel guilty for asking that question." However, her expression soon changed to enthusiastic. "So, how about we play ski? I'll teach you until you're proficient!"
"Sure." Azlan answered briefly, without turning.
"Really?" Akane was surprised, her eyes widening. "I thought Azlan-kun would refuse."
She had even prepared various rhetoric to persuade him.
"Staying home all the time is very boring."
That was a lie.
Azlan himself actually didn't mind not leaving the house for months, as long as his basic needs were met. He was someone who could endure solitude and routine.
However, Akane was different. She wasn't the hikikomori type who could lock herself away forever. She needed a change of scenery, needed a bit of joy and adventure in the midst of monotonous survival life.
In short, he agreed to the proposal for Akane's sake.
(Azlan-kun turns out to be a tsundere.)
How could Akane, who was so sensitive, not realize the hidden motive behind Azlan's easy agreement?
A small and warm smile appeared on her lips, full of affection.
"If so, let's get ready! There are no ski resorts in Tokyo. We have to go to another prefecture."
Akane grabbed Azlan's hand and pulled him up.
"Come on, to the bedroom! We have to prepare what we need to bring for a long trip and overnight stay."
Azlan sighed falsely, as if feeling disturbed, but didn't pull his hand from Akane's grip. He let himself be led toward the bedroom, while in his heart, there was a bit of anticipation—not for skiing, but for seeing the wide and happy smile that would surely adorn Akane's face later.