Chapter 120: Too Much To Think
———Jeff———
<2: 04 pm>
*Zoom*
“Whoa!” Someone proclaimed in surprise once Rico came back with the four. What in the world happened that even delayed them? Isn’t Wiina super duper strong? No way there’s a monster in there that would delay her even a little bit.
“Okay! We’re all back. Time to go home!” Rico cheerfully said. Guess she won’t bother elaborating on anything. I could just ask Karra about it.
She looks a bit shocked and is accompanying Wiina… Which kinda makes it feel awkward trying to go talk to her.
“Hmm…” Gregori is muttering something to himself. “Somehow I doubt we’re gonna get even a crumb of answer.”
“And that is kinda frustrating. Probably some crazy shit we don’t know how to deal with, but it’s still far from ideal.” Qyunda remarked.
“Sometimes it is best to not know. Not exactly the words one would attribute to wisdom, moreso for cowardice and ignorance, but there is merit in that phrase.” Orrel chimed in. “Hmm… Useph, what was your group like?”
“Oh. It’s mainly just Emmie stealing everyone’s thunder. It’s kinda annoying, actually.” Useph answered. Well on our end everything is pretty even. Kenni likes to commentate more than actually fight… Why is Karra looking at her funny?
“Okay everyone! Time to go back home. I’m sure you all are starving too! We got more variety of food on the table here.” Edea said as androids walked over with many plates of food. Bunch of stuff you eat with your hand. Where did they get all these bots? Just pay someone for it? They all look super duper advanced.
Everyone else seems to be chatting while the robots are all placing down the food. I don’t really know what else to say about the trip though. Seems kinda cut and dry to me, everything is pretty simple and went smoothly. We all already talked about how all floors and rooms seem about the same for each of us.
———Karra———
<9: 07 pm>
“...And that is why it wouldn’t really matter if we told her or not. It’s gonna happen regardless.” Wiina fully explained. So that’s why she seems a bit melancholic. “Haaa… Well. She could have ended up worse than that. There’s no need for us to be worried.”
“It’s still rather disturbing that we catch a glimpse of something like that…” I can, finding it rather… I don’t know the word to describe it, but it is not a very nice feeling.
“Like I said. Don’t worry or even think about it. No need to spoil future events.” She reiterates it one more time. “On a different note. We should go to the next Fantarban Realm next week… Thursday. We got a few locations fully mapped out alongside the monsters there. There shouldn’t be any problem for the trip, a few classes to different locations each day.”
“Right. Would there even be enough places to explore? What would other parties say about the issue? I got a friend of mine who said she was asked to explore it.” I have no idea why she was sent there, but it’s clear something is happening involving those places.
“That is something I don’t have to worry about, so I didn’t think about it.” She flat out admitted. “...So do you want to know anything about these places and have they gone about researching it or…”
“I’m not that curious…” I answered. Maybe if the incident a few hours back didn’t happen, I might have the energy for it.
Really, it feels like so much has been happening that I hadn’t been doing things I am passionate about like streaming. Just too much is happening and there is not much I can do about it aside from moping around. I’d like to think of myself as someone who doesn't get discouraged and starts to get cold-feet quickly, but these events are just on another level. It’s hard to really cope and get over it when it really makes you feel like everything can just… change and you can’t do anything about it.
Obviously I didn’t actually think that far ahead and get that existential. I think people who said all those words out loud unironically probably don’t really care that much about it and just want an excuse to slack off and claim some sort of… Wait. What were we talking about again?
“Say. I have heard about housing units on campus. What was that about?” It’s not what we were talking about just a few seconds before, but it is something I was planning to ask.
“Those? They’re late additions to the place, not much else to say.” She dismissively said. Guess she doesn’t know a lot about those…
“...Yeah. I don’t really know what to make of everything else already happening, so… Can we do that?” I said while scratching my cheek.
“Oh come on now, no need to get all shy just for that.” She said with a smile.
———Lynda———
<9: 29 pm>
“I’m surprised you still manage to stay awake even at this age, old lady.” I said before sitting down with the soda bottle.
“Why wouldn’t I? If those poor staff members could do it, why can’t an old lady who had nothing better to do can’t?” Well that’s a bit more depressing of a response than I thought.
“Yeesh. You still talking about that? Lots of places have overworked people.” I can’t help but said. I know bringing up poor working conditions is good to bring awareness and all, but there’s gotta be some limit to that. Too much of a good thing tends to make it turn bad really quickly. “Say, how did this place get repaired so quickly? If that isn’t too much to ask.”
“Oh, it was a kind soul coming here to help me repair it in a flash. She didn’t bother to give her name before walking off.” So it’s probably Wiina then. If it was Rico or Wana then she would probably recognize them.
…This place really does have a unique atmosphere to it. Feeling much more humble in presentation than even our small town and other shops. The place isn’t even really dilapidated, just kinda small with some shelves and chairs.
What was this place based on again? I think it was a sort of convenience store…
With how empty the place feels since it is nighttime, it really does give off a different impression than normal. Somehow feeling even more isolated than just roaming around outside at night.
No idea how much more frequent the monsters roaming the area are patrolling, but it is noticeable. It’s why I’m even here instead of doing the usual…
Kind of a shame, but I guess that is one more incentive for me to get stronger and fight. No idea if there is any big skip, but at least I know how to steadily keep progressing, so that’s a bit of solace. I should outgrow every monster roaming in the dead of night sooner or later.
…Right. Okay. I should probably reminisce on the massive elephant in the room. That incident that happened on that damn floating island.
I have a lot to think about regarding that place, but it’s the secret I shouldn’t talk with anyone aside from those who have witnessed it. That is the thing that is being burned into my mind. Glery is way too overwhelmed by it to even recount the tale, let alone discuss it. With Karra, she also doesn’t know what to say, which is saying a lot considering she is part of that class.
Wiina? No way, someone who maintains the air of superiority and mystery like her wouldn’t disclose anything about it to me, and Rico is being coy about it.
I wouldn’t call myself an expert at reading powers, but my sense was flaring up like crazy the moment those two clashed. The level of power is impossible to read beyond ‘way too much for me to deal with’. It’s impossible to keep up with the fight and even have a slightest bit of clue on what they’re doing during the fight aside from the last few couple of seconds.
We just… left that dangerous woman there. I know Wiina and Rico could’ve easily subdue her again considering what just happened. Even Rico alone might be enough…
Hey, if that series of events is accurate, doesn’t that mean Rico is even stronger than Wiina? How is that even possible? Or was it just that Wiina was holding back during the fight, but at that point that just begs the question of why she was holding back.
That ragged and unhinged appearance and the power she was putting out. I’d be dead in a second even if she held back massively. Good thing none of us… I don’t want to call myself weak, but it is what it is.
She seems to be acquainted with those two, and seem to know a lot about each other. I don’t really know how that came to be, but they all seem to be in a similar ballpark, so it shouldn’t be that surprising.
I’m a bit more confused as to the extremely cryptic wordings they keep using. It feels rather nonsensical, and part of the reason neither Glery or I are that willing to discuss it further amongst ourselves.
There are just so many mysteries piling on. If I hadn’t insisted on us coming along with Wiina and Karra, maybe we wouldn’t have encountered that strange woman, who at this point and time no one seems to know where she went. Is she still in the dungeon? Seems unlikely. She looks like she can teleport just like…
Actually, how do people teleport without assistance? Did they have a device on them to help with that super powerful spell? Was it all natural skill? Does that mean I can do it too? More questions to think about than ever, and it really feels like it won’t stop coming in.
“You look rather troubled, deary.” This grandma commented, noticing my darkened expression. Should she really be putting her nose up in my business? I know people are very scared to venture outside, let alone coming in here, but she still has a store to run.
They don’t attack vehicles, but I doubt people are gonna bother using their cars just to get some convenience store food.
“Don’t worry about it. Worry about yourself.” I said to her, gritting my teeth as I started to feel a bit peeved. Not at her, but at the earlier thoughts. Even my tone is getting more aggressive. I’m not softie, but I don’t just use a harsher tone on anyone, especially not an inoffensive old woman.
“Oh, thanks for the concern. If you say so.” She replied before going back to the counter.
*Gulp*
I wash down my thoughts with the soda, just going to put all that in the backlog for now. I should relax, not thinking hard about stuff I don’t have an answer to right now. Can’t even find something fun to think about right now.
———Kenni———
<10: 11 pm>
*Grab* *CRUSH*
“Another one to the slaughter…” I said to no one in particular, grabbing the airborne monster by its neck and crushing it, ending its function in a flash.
I have been a bit too reserved during the island trip. I could use a bit of exercise, even if now is not the best of times.
That place certainly has a weird feeling it gives off, no one else seems to sense it. It’s making me a bit more proactive than usual.
Feels like a few flags have been set the moment we reached the island, or perhaps it was set earlier the first time I went inside. Either way, Karra was giving me a weird look on our way back. She won’t say a damn thing even after I pester her about it.
…So what do I do with this damn weirdly-colored… imp? I don’t really know. Is it a demon or a monster? All I really know for sure is that both are said to have some overlap in appearance. At that point what even is the difference? I need to look up on that later.