Chapter 4: First Encounter
While following an unpaved path wasn’t necessarily the most straightforward endeavor, what he could do at the moment was digest the rest of the information from the status screen.
’If something popped up when focusing on [Memory Suppression]...’
Then it would only make sense for that same phenomenon to happen when the others were focused upon.
Axel narrowed his eyes on the two other [Afflictions].
[???] - [Progression: 0%]
’Oookay...’
No fragmented memories saved him from confusion this time.
Half glossing over the question-marked [Affliction], he focused on the one that seemed even odder, as the name didn’t really make sense for why it existed under the category.
[Earth’s Last Hope] - [Will be summoned to Earth in: 43829:54:55 hours]
Focusing on the numbers, Axel muttered to himself:
"A five-year countdown?"
That was the description he was given? A countdown to when he’d be supposedly summoned back to Earth. But, why was it an [Affliction]?
Beyond that...
Axel lifted his eyes from the screen and looked around at the others.
’So, then... we are all "Earth’s Last Hope"?’
Most of them looked to be in great physical shape.
But, someone did catch Axel’s eyes. A peculiar woman with dark green hair who was frantically moving her hands. As he stared at her, he began to comprehend the signs.
«What is happening?»
His eyes widened.
’She’s deaf...’
Axel’s eyes snapped back to the screen and under [Skills]. Specifically...
[Fall of Babel] - [Bypass language barrier between humans].
That explained why he could understand her sign language...
’But she can’t hear us, so it doesn’t matter to her.’
How awful and unforgiving.
This situation was already terrifying. Being unable to hear and communicate with those around her was a horrifying prospect.
’And she probably couldn’t even hear the angel.’
Sadly...
As much as Axel would have loved to help her, he couldn’t. Not without sacrificing time better spent adapting.
Instead, the most he could do was use the fragmented memories he did possess to try to understand the circumstance, then attempt to bring order to the group.
To that end...
[Perfect Memory] - [Remember all events starting from the age of ~three]
Axel clicked his tongue upon reading the effect of his curse that this screen, whatever it truly was, dared to call a [Skill].
’Why is it in the same category as something mystical?’
That didn’t seem answerable.
Finally... his eyes drifted to the [Task]. The quest that the angelic woman had forced upon them.
[Slay the Goblin King in the Castle] - (Time remaining: 719:54:55 hours)
’Thirty days.’
They had thirty days to navigate this foreign world, acclimate to it, then commit regicide against a goblin. As for the goblins themselves...
Axel recognized them as a staple of pop culture media, but this [Task] suggested authenticity — that those monsters of folklore truly existed.
Not that he doubted they did with what he’d seen thus far.
Sighing, Axel swiped at the screen, causing it to dismiss.
’Oh, that worked.’
Then he began grimacing as he shifted the jacket again while returning to assessing the others — the forty-nine summoned alongside him.
It was as he did that his gaze settled on a woman who was slack-jawed, pointing at him.
’Huh?’
Awkwardly, the shirtless and bloody man waved at her.
’Wait...’
Taken by instinct, Axel spun and raised his arm covered by the jacket.
A devastating impact coursed through his arm alongside a biting pain as the rivets of the jacket’s zipper clashed against rusted metal.
’Ow! Shit!’
Wincing, Axel began falling back. As he did, he caught a glimpse of his tiny attacker, which was posturing to attack again.
A little, ugly green goblin wielding a sword as long as itself.