Chapter 7 Keeping the Promise (1)
***
"Hah..!"
My head suddenly jolted upward.
A white ceiling filled my eyes.
I rolled my head down.
A grey blanket covered my legs.
"Is this…?"
I darted my eyes around.
"...A room?"
A white bed unfolded below my view. Across the left side, a white cabinet was situated next to it.
A light-brown lampshade resided atop the cabinet. It faintly illuminated white light around the room.
"..."
To the right, laid a white wardrobe.
Throughout the room, the walls were tinted with a shiny white color. Blue LED's were placed in every edges of the wall.
In the ceiling itself, there was a white-fan lodged up that kept blowing air downwards.
I turned my head sideways.
Beyond the cabinet was a door.
It was a grey two panel door with a metal doorknob.
'Let's take it slowly.'
After scanning all the surroundings, I calmed myself down.
I lied my back flat against the bed. My gaze engrossed on the ceiling.
A cold breeze swept up to my face. My legs felt tingly.
As I pondered deeply.
Where is this place? No... Why was I here in the first place?
'Ezekiel.'
That weird dream... no, was it a dream?
There must be a purpose to why it was shown.
But my brain is too slow and dumb to piece up even the simplest information.
'Let's sum up everything.'
Instead of contemplating everything and asking why.
I'd be more to efficient to find answers by summarizing my past.
"Let's see."
"I died because my pc exploded."
I raised my pinky finger. That was one.
"I found myself reincarnated to this world."
I raised another finger, it was the ring this time. The other three were still curled up in my palms.
"I escaped that human garbage after being reincarnated."
My middle finger flicked up. That's three now.
"And then I found a city, after getting an ID, I got in."
My index finger reflexively rose up. Four now.
"I planned to go into a place called Paradiso. But then, I was too hungry and my frail body collapsed when I tried to run away."
The last finger, my thumb finger rolled up.
I rolled my body to the side.
'It feels like somethings missing.'
I scratched the back of my head.
Let's see, considering all the situation.
I've summed them all pretty much.
But, trying to remember about that one thing I forgot.
Just makes me irritated.
"Damn it... just what is it?"
"The holy sword? Well that could be an answer."
'Thinking about it more makes me frustrated...'
As if a sudden idea came to my mind. My mind was enlightened.
'The bug?'
"That's right..."
Fuck, if it weren't for that stupid bug that made me dead by exploding my pc.
If only I didn't die, I wouldn't have to do these burdensome task.
Why make me the hero?
"Calm down..."
As I took a deep breath to alleviate myself up. A cold breath escaped out of my mouth.
"Phew..."
It's not good to always think negatively.
Knock... Knock... Knock...
"Are you awake, oppa?"
A voice resounded behind the door. Based on the tone, she must be the girl who brought me here.
"Y-yes, I'm awake."
"Oh that's great to hear, oppa."
"I'll come inside to bring you food."
Creak—
The door unfolded.
I plopped the blanket aside and stumbled to sat up.
Then I pulled my eyes onto her.
'She must be the girl that caught me?'
Pink hair flapped to her shoulders and in her hands held up a plate.
She walked slowly towards the bed.
And sat down beside me and gently placed the plate in her thighs.
Up close, she was strikingly gorgeous. She looked like a young actress that was on her first debut.
'Ha ha ha, how embarassing.'
Blood surged towards my cheek. To think this was the girl who brought me here.
'I wonder, why is she alone though?'
"Uhh-umm, Oppa?"
"Yes...?"
"Are you gonna eat the food?"
'Right, the food. I must have been staring at her intensely.'
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I was just lost in thought..."
"It's okay."
"You're strikingly beautiful..."
'Bastard, what the hell are you saying, on a girl you just first met?'
Was it simply because she was like a godess at first glance?
My heart is pounding at her sight, leading me to impulsively say things.
She lowered her head.
"It's the... first time someone has said that to me..."
Her cheeks became red. She tilted her head slightly.
Thankfully, nothing went wrong. I shouldn't do it again.
"By the way, why are you calling me oppa to someone you haven't met?"
"You remind me of someone at first glance."
"Is that so?"
'I should introduce her my name. Having an acquaintance in this world would help me a lot.'
"Anyways, I haven't introduced myself, I'm Kim.. I'm Leon."
'That was close.. revealing my real name would be too weird.'
"Leon... can I call you Leon-oppa? He he he..."
"That's fine."
I nodded my head along.
"I should get going, I have something to do, see you later..."
She stretched one of her arms forward and passed the plate to my hand.
I lowered my eyes to the plate.
It was filled with fried chicken and a side of porridge.
"If you need water, you can go to the kitchen to get some."
She rose up from the bed and gently looked after me while closing the door on her way out.
Creak—
The door made a creaking nose as it closed.
'This is definitely weird... How could she leave a stranger on her own apartment?'
It's pointless to think any further, I'll just enjoy the hospitality she gave.
After all, I got a free food and a nice sleep. I should definitely repay this favor.
"Let's eat the food."
"Bon appétit, here I go."
I delicately grabbed the spoon and fork from the plate.
As a man born and raised in 21st century, I should maintain proper manners.
I striked the fork downwards on the chicken maintaining a grip.
Then, I gently scooped up the porridge with my spoon.
A sweet aroma filled my nose.
I tore a part of flesh from the chicken and combined it with the porridge.
Together, I put them inside my mouth.
A sweet tangy flavor spread to my tongue.
"Delicious."
———
——
—
-
"Ha...I'm full."
Afterwards, I got my legs up. I grabbed the plate with my left hand.
And I laggardly hobbled with my feet to the door.
I grabbed the door knob and twisted it.
Creak—
I stepped outside the room and weakly shut the door off.
I turned my head to the front.
Light briefly shone through my eyes.
A white kitchen came into my surroundings.
In the center was a glass table. It was empty though.
There were two plastic chairs seated across the table.
Along the kitchen, there was a restroom.
In the front, was a metal door. There was a peephole glass and a lock.
"That must be the exit."
"Let's put away this plate to the sink first."
I dragged my feet into the kitchen and I gently tossed aside the plate to the sink.
I shifted my head forward and spun the tap water.
Gulp.
I gulped down more water along the way.
The water tasted quite good.
Maybe, that's the effects of being too hungry and thirsty.
Everything at this point felt like luxury.
'I should wash my face...'
I held my two palms together and stuffed it with water.
Splash—!
I splashed it across my face.
"..."
I kept staring at the sink. Silence followed.
A minute passed by.
"System."
«—System—»
[Side Quest: Learn a mana breathing technique.]
A translucent image emerged right in front of me.
"I should put off going to Paradiso for now."
'Let's think about the future.'
"There's a month left I have in this city before it gets destroyed by the demons."
If I think of the game "Hero's Fate" chronological order of events. There's one thing I know that will happen for sure.
Deicide, humankinds secret weapon. A laser satellite that's capable of destroying a city outside space.
It's a man-made disaster weapon used against the demons in the war of effort.
Sadly, it never worked during the war. Due to the Demon King's interference power.
That's how the lore briefly explained it. It's weird how the reasoning behind it weren't explained.
The developer's excuse? To make it mysterious, how rubbish.
But what I do know, is that the demons will use that weapon to fire a laser beam on this city.
Despite this city being approximately 10,000 meters deep in the earth. It will get vaporized without mercy.
The people on this world doesn't even know of this weapon. History was buried along when humanity got defeated.
I pulled my head out of the sink.
"I only have a month left, huh?"
And I lowered my eyes.
"It's an inevitable fate to the people of the city."
My eyes darkened.
An unpredecented disaster. One that I couldn't prevent.
I gritted my teeth.
"There should be a way to save this city."
Suddenly, my eyes lightened up.
This was reality now. Unlike in the game where I could only interact the npc's. I should be able to change their fate.
But would they believe the words of a random nobody? Honestly, I don't know but I must try.
I've set my mind.
I'll save this city.
***
After clearing my mind out.
I went outside the apartment.