Chapter 40 :

Episode 9 : Repay (4)

The moment the door opened, it revealed me holding a large tray filled with everyone's meals.

Raiden offered to help me by taking the tray off my hands. "You must be tired already from cooking. Let me handle this, Captain."

Then he went to place the meals on the table, even Mirai gave him a helping hand as well.

I watched this sight with a grin on my face before glancing at HwanGi-ssi.

After a glance, I walked toward him, causing Alaine to move away from the bed and joined in on setting the table.

I looked at Alaine's back before asking HwanGi-ssi. "Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

I directed my gaze at HwanGi-ssi, saying with a disinterested tone of voice. "Then, perfect. This counted as me repaying you back for your help in the Stage #2, right?"

"Uh. Yes?"

"Great. After today, I hope we won't encounter each other again." I said before sitting on the chair next to the table with the others who were already seated.

"What do you mean?" HwanGi-ssi asked me back with a perplexed expression engraved on his face.

I didn't answer back to HwanGi-ssi's question. Thus, I just ignored him while giving Behemoth his own meal within a bowl.

"Captain! You cooked these, didn't you?" Mirai joyfully said while staring at the dishes on the table.

"Wait really?! He can cook?" Alaine gasped.

"Yes. Isn't he the best?"

It appeared to me that Mirai was happy, since she never talked to strangers like this.

Afterwards, those two ladies were having a pleasant conversation. As for Raiden and Behemoth, they were enjoying their meals while also paying close attention to the lady's conversation.

"Are you going to eat or not, HwanGi-ssi?" I asked the man who was just standing alone behind me.

"Yes.. Yes, I am." HwanGi-ssi answered back before sitting down on the chair beside me.

After that, everyone was having a splendid time eating the dishes that I had cooked for them.

‘It's nice..’ I subconsciously mused.

———

After a period of time..

I went ahead and gave Mirai and Raiden their room's keys.

I told them before they could ask me how. "I got these from the owner of this place after I was done cooking."

Raiden was admiring me again. "Captain, I'm always amazed about how you always think ahead."

"It isn't something you should be amazed from." Before I sighed, I went to the door to exit HwanGi-ssi's room but was stopped when someone said.

"Wait." It was HwanGi-ssi.

I turned around to look at him. "What is it?"

"Can we team up for tomorrow?"

Alaine who was drinking a glass of water, enjoying her time before she was caught off guard by HwanGi-ssi's sudden proposal and spit out the water she had just drunk.

My eyes were on Alaine, witnessing her wiping away the water dripping out her mouth.

Judging by how Alaine was surprised by this, it meant HwanGi-ssi has never done this before.

I ignored the coughing Alaine and questioned HwanGi-ssi. "Why should we?"

"I thought it would be better to be in a team."

"Hm.. I see." I grabbed Behemoth to hand him over to Raiden.

At that moment, Raiden whispered to me. "Why not agree to him?"

"..." I exhaled a sigh and told HwanGi-ssi. "Fine, we'll only team up with you for tomorrow. After that, we are no longer a team."

"Great." HwanGi-ssi grinned as if he was relieved.

"We'll be going now." Raiden politely spoke after I left the room.

The door was closing slowly but surely...

When it was finally shut, I quickly took the time to give Mirai, Raiden and Behemoth their own ‘Numbers’.

‘Numbers’'s appearance was just a cube with the specific numbers engraved in it. But whenever registration began, its appearance bursted into tiny pieces, spiralling around the chosen person to process its examination.

And after it completed the registration, the tiny pieces gathered on top of the chosen person's head to form their ‘Numbers’.

Soon the ‘Numbers’ will fade after a short period of time to hide itself.

[Player ‘16’ has registered.]

[Player ‘215’ has registered.]

[Player ‘13’ has registered.]

After I finished confirming whether or not my comrades were truly players by checking their statuses, I told them. "Now that all of you are a player. We should get ready for tomorrow."

"I'll be going to my room, you all should go as well." I went to my room in a hurry after informing everyone.

Raiden, who had Behemoth in his arms, watched me leave. "Mimi, do you think Captain is fine?"

Mirai frowned as she replied. "Do you think he is ever fine?"

"What a dumb question you asked.." Behemoth grumbled.

Then... It was quiet.

Nobody wanted to say anything..

Because all of them knew why their Captain wasn't fine.

...

After that moment of silence, they went to their specific rooms. As for Behemoth, he was staying with Raiden.

———

In a soundless room..

Quiet enough that I could only hear Lucifer's voice whispering inside my head.

‘Master, are you fine?’

I sighed and sat on the bed, looking down at the floor. "This is annoying."

‘Is it because of HwanGi?’

"..Yes."

Eventually, no reply came from Lucifer as if he was blocked from sending me a response...

It was quiet again..

Until a whisper.. a feminine voice that wasn't Lucifer, began to echo through my mind..

‘How are you, Satan?’

"I don't want to hear my name from you." I closed my eyes, laying myself on the bed.

‘Do you still despise me?’

"You're wasting your time and the ‘Heaven Line’. So stop."

‘...’

"After all these years, you think I'll ever forgive you for what you did?" I smirked. "You're a fool."

‘...’

"Now shut up and leave me alone."

Why can't you disappear? Why do you always ask for my forgiveness after what you did? I don't get it.

"You really are irritating.. Mic-" I was interrupted by a different voice this time.

‘Master, what's wrong?’ Lucifer responded instead of the feminine voice.

She left..

"Nothing. I'll just sleep." I gave Lucifer my response before relaxing myself to sleep.