My eyes were opening slowly, before I noticed an unfamiliar ceiling
I then checked my surroundings and noticed that I was in someone's bedroom
"Where am I. .? "
I then got up slowly, holding my head which still ached slightly
. . . The last thing I remembered was being teleported by Syed.
So. . . Am I in Aloren right now?
That's when a boy enters, carrying a tray of porridge
Based on his height, he doesn't look much older than Dani and might even be a few years younger
"Ha, finally you're awake " He said to me before strolling to me and putting the tray on a desk beside me
"You. . . "
"Call me Henrik. You're at my Mom's house "
"Ah. . . You're the one who carried me here, huh? "
"Hmm? No I'm not. Your friend is the one who's carried you "
"My friend. . .? Dani? He's here?! "
"Hmm "
I then instantly got up before clenching both his shoulders, making him startled and shocked
"Where is he?! Is he fine?! "
"W-Whoa, whoa. C-Calm down, ok? He's fine " He said before pushing me back slightly
"S-Sorry. . . I'm just worried about him "
"Ha. . . You're exactly as he said "
"---??? What did you mean? "
"O-Oh, he told me about you a few minutes ago "
25 minutes ago
I watched the guy called Adam lying down on the bed, before my mom approached me
"H?n, h? dh?dhn't wy?kh? ?p ye?t? "
("Hen, he didn't wake up yet? ")
"N?t ye?t, M?m. V?t Dh?n? sh??dh h? sh??ldh v? ?wy?kh? sh??n "
("Not yet, Mom. But Dani said he should be awake soon ")
I then heard footsteps coming closer to us, before I turned my head and noticed Dani's messy face, likely having just woken up
"G??dh m?rn?ng, Dh?n?. H?wy'sh y??r sht?dhye? "
("Good morning, Dani. How's your study? ") My mom asked
". . . ? m?sht sh?ye, ?t'sh ??sh??r th?n ? th??ght ?t wy??ldh v? "
(". . . I must say, it's easier than I thought it would be ")
Right after he spoke my language fluently, my mom's jaw dropped slightly while I just blinked rapidly, unable to believe what we just heard
"Th?r?'sh n? wy?ye. . . ?r? y?? sh?r???shlye shp??k?ng mye l?ng??g? phl??ntlye ?n zh?sht 2 ph?kkh?ng d?yesh??!! "
("There's no way. . . Are you seriously speaking my language fluently in just 2 fucking days??!! ")
"Ye?sh. ? ?lsh? khn?wy h?wy t? wyr?t? ?n y??r l?ng??g? n?wy "
("Yes. I also know how to write in your language now ")
"H-H?wy?? ?n ?ll h?n?shtye, wy? ?nlye g?z? y?? ? dh?kt??n?rye! Th?t'sh ?ll! "
("H-How?? In all honesty, we only give you a dictionary! That's all! ")
"?ndh th? dh?kt??n?rye ?sh ?ll ? n??dh. ?llsh? h??r?ng y?? v?th t?lk?ng ?z?rye dh?ye h?lpsh "
("And the dictionary is all I need. Also hearing you both talking every day helps ") He said calmly
"Dh?dh y?? ?sh? ?nye m?g?k? L?k? ?t ?ll?? "
("Did you use any magic? Like at all?? ")
"N?. ? l??rn phr?m shkr?tkh "
("No. I learn from scratch ")
". . . ??n't n? wy?ye. . . ? ?z?n n??dh ?t l??sht 3 m?nthsh t? ph?llye l??rn ?ndh shp??k ? ph?r??gn l?ng??g? wy?th mye m?g?k. . . "
(". . . Ain't no way. . . I even need at least 3 months to fully learn and speak a foreign language with my magic. . . ")
My Mom just laughed softly at the way I talked before she then spoke to him
"Sh?, Dh?n?. . . ?v??t y??r phr??ndh ?dh?m, y?? sh??dh v?ph?r? th?t h? wy?ll v? ?wy?kh? t?dh?ye r?ghtye? "
("So, Dani. . . About your friend Adam, you said before that he will be awake today right? ")
"Ye??h, h? shh??ldh. . . ?nyewy?ye, ?'dh l?k? t? g? ??t ph?r ? wyh?l? l?t?r, k??ldh y?? pl??sh? t?ll h?m th?t? "
("Yeah, he should. . . Anyway, I'd like to go out for a while later. So, while I'm out, could you please tell him that? ")
"Sh?r?, Dh?n?. ? ?z?n pr?p?r?dh ? v?wyl ?ph p?rr?dhg? ph?r y??r phr??ndh. H?n, g?z? ?t t? h?m l?t?r, ?k? "
("Sure, Dani. I even prepared a bowl of porridge for your friend. Hen, give it to him later, ok? ")
"?lr?ght, M?m "
("Alright, Mom ")
"?lsh?. . . Sh?rrye t? ?shk, v?t m?ye ? v?rr?wy sh?m? m?n?ye? "
("Also. . . Sorry to ask, but may I borrow some money? ")
"Hmm?? Wyh?t ph?r?? "
("Hmm?? What for?? ")
". . . Zh?sht wy?nt t? v?ye sh?m?th?ng "
(". . . Just want to buy something ")
". . . So he's fine huh? I'm glad " I told myself before exhaling a deep breath
I then sat down before eating the porridge he gave me, before I noticed that he just looked at me dumbfounded
"What? . . . Oh, I didn't say thank you, didn't I?! Sorry, sorry! "
"N-No, not about that. I'm just surprised that you weren't surprised "
"Err. . . Surprised that I'm not surprised. . . ? About what? "
"W-Wha-Did you not pay attention to what I told you earlier?! "
"You mean the one where he speaks and writes in your language? What about it? "
". . . You're not surprised? Like at all? "
"Nah. I know he's a genius, he's the one who helped me develop my magic after all "
"W-Wait, really? "
"Yeah, he may look dumb on the outside, but his brain is always working nonstop. Although I don't know how the hell he finds out his methods sometimes "
"That's. . . Impressive "
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
"I know right? Although he called himself NPC most of the time "
"Wait-huh??? Seriously?? "
"Yeah, you wouldn't believe how many times I heard him call himself an NPC every time "
As I took a final sip of the porridge, I looked at him with a dumb grin and held out the bowl
"More, please? "
". . . Huff. . . How the hell did he still befriend you? "
I was walking back to their house while carrying a plastic bag, with the inside was a white shirt and a tie, including slack pants
. . . First step of buying formal clothes, done
Then, the next step is-
As I was in the middle of planning, I suddenly heard sounds of something flying in the sky
I then looked up and noticed a few surveillance drones, scanning the area around me
Huh. . . The government was smart enough to deploy drones around. Maybe to prevent any more protesting
As I continued walking, I then noticed a CCTV camera on the corner of the wall, panning from left to right
. . . Something's not right here. . .
In anyone's eyes, it might seem normal. But the movement itself seems unnatural to me
I noticed it stopped at the moment it fully turned left and right, a moment longer than it should be
Like it was observing, waiting for something
Also, there's another thing that's bugging my mind, one thing that might sound ridiculous in anyone's ears, but not for me
If the government has already deployed the drones. . . Why the hell did they need CCTVs?
Extra surveillance? No. . . I think drones should be enough for that. And drones are more versatile. . .
I then watched the CCTV panning slowly from left to right, wanting to prove my suspicion
1. . . 2. . . 3. . . 4. . . 5. . . 6. . .
. . . 7.
At the moment it is done panning to the right, I quickly rush and jump to grab the CCTV
It then suddenly lets out its hidden metal wings from its side trying to fly away. But I quickly strengthened my grip on it
Fucking know it. . . There's no way a CCTV takes that long to pan around
I then smashed the CCTV against the wall, breaking it instantly
. . . Hmm, guess I'll bring this back. It will be useful for my plans
"??, wyh?tkh? dh??ng th?r?? "
("Oi, whatchu doing there? ")
I then turned around calmly and saw a patrol officer looking at me suspiciously
"Ye?sh, sh?r? "
("Yes, sir? ") I said calmly
"?'m ?shk?ng y??, wyhye th? h?ll dh?dh y?? vr??k th?t KKTV? "
("I'm asking you, why the hell did you break that CCTV? ")
"Hmm, wyh?t dh?dh y?? m??n, sh?r? ? dh?dhn't vr??k ?t "
("Hmm, what did you mean, sir? I didn't break it ")
"Dh?n't l??, ? sh?wy ?t wy?th mye ?wyn ?ye?s "
("Don't lie, I saw it with my own eyes ")
"Th?sh ?sh mye phr??ndh'sh vr?k?n KKTV, ?ndh h? ?shk?dh m? t? r?p??r ?t "
("This is my friend's broken CCTV, and he asked me to repair it ")
"Vye shm?shh?ng ?t t? th? wy?ll? "
("By smashing it to the wall? ")
"?h? y?? n?z?r h??rdh ?ph th? shm?shh?ng m?th?dh? "
("Oh? You never heard of the smashing method? ")
". . . Wyh?t'sh th?t? "
(". . . What's that? ")
"H?z? y?? ?z?r s??n y??r ph?th?r shm?kk th? TZ ?ndh ?t'sh ?nsht?ntlye g??dh ?n ?tsh ?wyn? "
("Have you ever seen your father smack the TV and it's instantly good on its own? ")
". . . Th?t'sh th? shm?shh?ng m?th?dh? "
(". . . That's the smashing method? ")
I then nodded before continuing my lie calmly with enough confidence to convince him
"P??pl? dh?dh sh? t? ?nsh?r? th? dh?sht ?nsh?dh? wy??ldhn't ?nt?rph?r? wy?th th? ?l?ktr?n?ksh p?rtsh, th?t'sh wyhye "
("People did so to ensure the dust inside wouldn't interfere with the electronics parts, that's why ")
"H?h. . . V?t wyhye dh?dh't y?? d? ?t ?t y??r ?wyn h??sh?? "
("Huh. . . But why didn't you do it at your own house? ")
"Mye h??sh? dh?dh't h?z? ?nye h?rdh wy?llsh ?r th?ngsh ? k??ldh shm?shh th?sh ?nt?, sh? ? dh?dh ?t h?r? "
("My house didn't have any hard walls or things I could smash this into, so I did it here ")
". . . "
(". . .")
"Sh?, ?m ? g??dh t? g?? "
("So, am I good to go? ")
". . . H?phph, z?sht dh?n't dh? ?t p?vl?klye n?kst t?m?, ?t l??ksh wy??rdh wy?th??t k?nt?kst "
(". . . Huff, just don't do it publicly next time, it looks weird without context ")
"Th?nksh, sh?r "
("Thanks, sir ")
He then walked past me and continued patrolling, as I then observed the CCTV and noticed a small F. D. mark on the metal
So this thing belongs to that bastard, huh? I thought to myself as I stuffed it inside the plastic bag
I then continued walking and observed my surroundings, paying full attention to what was happening around me
Some were eating at the restaurant either with their friends, family, or by themselves
Some were walking past me and talking with each other about their lives, work matters, or just about stupid things
There are also a few kids running past me, playing with their own magic spells
But, there's no protest happening as I heard before, not even a single person complaining about the government
. . . Ha, so that's what the drones are for. Perhaps they put some magical device on the drones to eavesdrop on everyone here since the protests
The moment the drones notice it, they will send some sort of signal, and the authorities will have evidence to put them behind bars
. . . No wonder I didn't hear anyone diss the government, even in whispers
Just then, I could hear a fire truck and an ambulance coming down the street, their sirens wailing as they rushed to the scene
Huh. . . So there's a big fire happening right now, huh?
. . .
. . . Perhaps I should follow them, I need to know if those firefighters and the paramedics are more heroic than the 'heroes' themselves
. . . Maybe knowing that will improve my plan later on
I then followed where those vehicles were going, before I arrived at a burning apartment
Without wasting any seconds, some of the firefighters immediately cast their water magic, while the others rushed inside after casting fire resistance spells on themselves
Meanwhile, the paramedics immediately treated the victims, curing them while calming them victims
But, as I watched the scene happening for the next 3 minutes, I saw none of those 'heroes' coming here
. . . Huff, I know it. . . Shouldn't have hope for-
Just then, I saw a figure from another building jumping straight to the second floor, before I saw a few dark symbiotic tentacles gently put a few elders and children to the ground
. . . Huh, interesting. . .
But, that wouldn't mean shit if he's a fake one
But, he turns my thought completely wrong, as I watched him immediately jump out to another building and vanish seconds after making sure they were safe
Wait. . . He. . . Didn't stay for recognition
That means. . . He did this. . . Because he wants to
. . . Just like my friends
My eyes then turned their focus to the victims, some of whom were parents who were crying in relief while hugging their children
Some of those were elderly couples, who were thanking the firefighters and paramedics over and over again
The firefighters and the paramedics just gave them an awkward smile in return
An awkward, but genuine smile. Like they were genuinely enjoying their job
From that smile alone, I could tell that they were happy that the people they saved were happy
. . . Huh, so this country. . . It is not completely hopeless as I thought
As I watched the scene happening in front of me, my lips unconsciously curved up, just a little
Interesting. . . Very interesting
I then arrived at the front of the house before opening the door calmly
"?'m v?kk "
("I'm back ")
I then walked slowly to the kitchen after putting down the plastic bag, before I saw Adam eat 3 plates of food with such gluttony
"Damn, this food good good! "
"M?m, h? sh??dh th? ph??dh'sh gr??t "
("Mom, he said the food's great ")
"Ye??h? H?h?, t?ll h?m h? k?n ??t m?r? ?ph h? wy?ntsh "
("Yeah? Hehe, tell him he can eat more if he wants ")
"My mom said you can add more if you want "
"Really?! Then one more plate, please! "
I just watched him calmly as he stuffed the chicken and the meat into his mouth greedily before he noticed I was standing beside him
". . . O-Oh, h-hey, Dani " He said awkwardly to me
". . . "
". . . M-Man, it's being like what. . . 3 days since I saw you? "
". . . Huff, didn't I tell you not to bring this habit into anyone else's house? "
"D-Don't get me wrong! I'm in a 2-day coma, you know? Of course I'm getting hungry! "
". . . I already expected this anyway. Shouldn't have been too surprising "
"Pfft. . . " Henrik looked at another way, tried his best not to laugh at him
"H?n. . . Dh?n't l??gh ?t ??r g??sht "
("Hen. . . Don't laugh at our guest ")
His mom then turned her head and looked at me gently before plating another meal for me
"Y?? dh?dhn't h?z? ?nye l?nkh ye?t, dh?dh y??? K?m?, sh?t d?wyn ?ndh ??t "
("You didn't have any lunch yet, did you? Come, sit down and eat ")
"Hmm, th?nksh "
("Hmm, thanks ")
I then sat down and took a spoonful of the meal, before I looked at Henrik
"H?nr?k, dh?dh y?? h?z? ? l?pt?p? "
("Henrik, did you have a laptop? ")
"?rr. . . ? dh?dhn't. V?t mye ph?th?r h?d ?n? "
("Err. . . I didn't. But my father had one ")
"Y?? ?ndh y??r M?m dh?n't m?ndh ?ph ? v?rr?wy ?t ph?r ? wyh?l?, r?ght? "
("You and your mom don't mind if I borrow it for a while, right? ")
"? m??n. . . Sh?r?, wyhye n?t? R?ght, M?m? "
(I mean. . . Sure, why not? Right, Mom? ")
"Sh?r?, Dh?n?. ?'ll g?z? ?t t? y?? l?t?r, ?k? "
("Sure, Dani. I'll give it to you later, ok? ")
"Th?nksh "
("Thanks ")
---
As I was in my room, sitting down on the chair while the laptop was on the study desk, I opened the social media on the laptop and read all the comments related to the protest
Perhaps the online users know more. I can't trust the news after all
But, nothing seems different from what I know. And there's not even a clip video about any new protests nor gossip about it
"Huh. . . Were the protests just for a while? "
No. . . With on how corrupt the government is, there's no way it's just temporary
Did they protest silently? Perhaps by influencing a few ministers within the government?
. . . No, with how corrupt the system is right now, it's a 1 in 1000 chance there's a good minister. No way they'll take such a chance
". . . My father was a protester. . . So, they thought that all of us are part of it "
I then straightened the way I sat, as I remembered what Henrik said to me before
"Right. . . His father was one of the protestors. Might be some clues on his own laptop "
I then quickly closed the social media and opened his documents, and started to read all of it one by one
From the documents about his office work, to the documents about his health
But, there are no documents related to him and the protests
Not even any notes talking about him protesting against the government
. . . He's making sure there is not even a single thing that will lead the government to the protestors or give them any idea about their next plan, just in case they get this laptop
Ha, what a smart guy. If he's still alive, he and I will surely get along well
I then check his email, and see a few emails that he sent to his workplace and his friends
But, as I read all the emails one by one there's one email that makes it feel like it was more than just a simple email
A recent email he sent to one of his friends about his vacation with his family
Y? d?d?,
Y?? wy??ldhn't v?l??z? wyh?t ? dh?dh wyh?th mye ph?m?lye l?sht m?nthsh. Sh?, y?? kn?wy th? L?k?t??n th?t ? t?lk?dh wy?th y?? ?v??t dh?r?ng th? ?phph?k? M??t?ng? Ye??h, wy? wy?nt th?r?
L?t m? t?ll y??, ?t w?sh wy?ldh! Wy? m?z?d th?r? ?r??ndh 12 p.m. ?r sh?, m?yev? 47 ?pht?r 12. ?h ye??h, ?ndh ?t'sh n?t ?n r??dh 43 v?t r??dh 58 vye th? wy?ye
?ndh ?t'sh n?t t?wy?rdhsh Sh??th ?sh y?? sh??dh dh?mv?shsh, v?t N?rth! ? g?t shh??t?dh ?t vye mye wy?ph? ?r??ndh 0.3 sh?k?ndsh v?k??sh? ?ph th?t
?lsh?, ph??dh th?r? ?sh sh? ?ksp?nsh?z? vr?h. 141 L?r?nsh z?sht ph?r m??lsh! ?ndh wy? g?t ?gn?redh ph?r ?lm?sht ?n h??r. ?n? m?r? m?n?t? ?ndh ?'m ??t!
Vye th? wy?ye, k?n y?? ?dhz?sht th? kl?kk ?n ??r ?phph?k?? Th? v?shsh sh??dh ?t'sh 42 m?n?t?sh l?t?r th?n th? ?r?g?n?l t?m?, ?ndh ?shk?dh t? t?lt ?t 0.1 dh?gr?? t?wy?rdhsh th? Wy?sht. Wyh?t ?n ?KDh v?shsh
?lr?ght m?t?, sh?? ye? n?kst wy??k! L?t m? kn?wy ?ph y?? wy?nt t? sh?? th? p?kt?r?sh
(Yo dude,
You wouldn't believe what I did with my family last month. So, you know the Location that I talked with you about during the office Meeting? Yeah we went there
Let me tell you, it was wild! We moved there around 12 p.m. or so, maybe 47 after 12. Oh yeah, and it's not on road 43 but road 58 by the way
And it's not towards South as you said dumbass, but North! I got shouted at by my wife around 0.3 seconds because of that
Also, food there is so expensive bruh. 141 Lorens just for meals! And we get ignored for almost an hour. One more minute and I'm out!
By the way, can you adjust the clock in our office? The boss said it's 42 minutes later than the original time, and asked to tilt it 0.1 degree towards the West. What an OCD boss
Alright mate, see ya next week! Let me know if you want to see the pictures)
. . . This email. . . Is not normal
. . . Is this Steganography?
I then grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, before starting to write down the inconsistencies and the patterns I found
"He spelled the 'Location' and 'Meeting' wrong as typos. . . Must be that. . . "
"12 p.m., 47, 58, North and 0.3. . . Sounds like a coordination "
"141, 1 minute before an hour means 59, 42, 0.1 and West. . . "
"If I combine those. . . I get. . . "
Meeting location : 12°47'58.3° N 141°59'42.1° W
". . . Got it " I said calmly
As soon as I finished writing down the coordinates, I suddenly heard knocks on the door
"Yo, can I come in? " I heard Adam from outside
". . . Sure, it's not locked "
He then opened the door and walked slowly to me before noticing I wrote down the coordinates
". . . Why the hell did you write a fucking coordinates? "
"I found it in this email " I said calmly
". . . You know what? I'm not even gonna ask how. You, Suraya, and Syed have some fucking interdimensional brain compared to Farah and me "
"So, why are you here? "
"I. . . I want to apologize "
". . . It's not about your gluttony moment earlier, right? It's about your feelings of guilt about me "
". . . I always told myself since those demons attacked your school, that I'll make sure nothing happens to you. . . But, I keep failing, over, and over, and over. . . "
"Oi, Adam "
"Y-Yes? "
"You're a fucking idiot to think I will blame you "
"---! "
"Hell, in fact, I didn't blame any of you guys for what's happening to me before "
"B-But. . . Why? Why wouldn't you?? I. . . All of us always said that we'll make sure nothing happens to you, only to see you almost get killed every time "
"It's because I understand. . . That you guys have your own lives as well "
My answer struck him to silence, as I let the silence hover around just for a moment before continuing calmly
"You always do your job as a hero almost every day. So you couldn't possibly have any time to check on me "
". . . "
"Farah also has the same problem. But now she also needs to take care of her grandma. As much as she wants to make sure I'm fine, she still has a sick grandma to care about"
". . . "
"Suraya is busy as she always does research at the university since she's the prodigy mage. Plus she's about to be a hero soon, so she will be much busier "
". . . "
"And Syed is busy with his intergalactic problems. He has almost no time to come back to earth. And you expect me to blame any of you guys for having your own daily struggles? "
"I. . . "
I then tapped his arm lightly, before continuing to talk calmly once again
"Listen, this is not their fault, and it's sure as hell not your fault either. So don't blame yourself, at all "
As soon as I finished saying that, a small smile appeared on his face, as he was relieved to hear that
". . . Thanks, Dani. Hearing that from you. . . Makes me feel better about myself "
"You should. There's no reason for you to think badly about yourself. You're fine as you are right now "
"Man. . . I didn't expect this to be too emotional. . . What the hell man? " He said jokingly, as he rubbed his eyes
". . . Adam, can I ask you something? "
"What is it? "
". . . Do you want to go back home right now? I ask you this because I want to stay here for. . . Maybe a few days "
". . . Is this about fucking Frost Diamond? "
". . . Yeah, so, if you want to-"
"Ain't no way I'm going back without you, dude. Hell, let me help you kick that fucker's ass matter of fact! "
". . . You're serious? If my plan somehow failed, then we would both become criminals. Think about your parents "
". . . Honestly, I did worry about them. . . But, I worry about you as well, you're like a little brother to me "
". . . That's. . . Touching to hear "
"Heh, that's how you make me feel earlier. But seriously, I'll be damned if anything happens to you while I had the damn chance to stop it. So let me help you "
". . . Thanks, but. . . I didn't just want to take down Frost Diamond only "
". . . Eh? "
"I figure, if I want to crush my enemy, it's better if I crush them completely, without giving them any chance to stand back up "
". . . Eh?? You mean. . .? "
"Yes, we're going to take down the whole government here "
". . . EEEEHHHHH???!!! "
