Chapter 2

The world is in a strange state right now. The Earth has frozen and black holes has appeared in the sky. In a place full of debris and ruins, there’s two people currently fighting.

“I swear, I’ll have my revenge on you. Holy fuck! I almost died.” Kei kept swearing at Krie.

Krie pointed at him and retorted. “Hmph, it’s your fault. Why did you have to touch my chest, no one has ever touched me so intimately before.”

“If I touched that then I would be enjoying the feeling in my hand right now, there’s a difference between touching and grazing it. Even I know that and I didn’t even go to school.” Kei shouted with veins on his forehead bulging.

…

“Fine, I’m sorry for letting you fall. Anyways the cockroach is close here, and since I don’t hear anything, it must also be frozen.” Krie tried to change the topic.

Kei looked at her and nodded. “You have to promise never to let go of me, ok?”

“Sure, sure, let’s go that way.” She pointed in the middle of the crater which they were in. Rocks and other kinds of obstacles were in the way so she just flew and went there.

Kei took a peek from behind a large rock and saw a rampaging insect, well to be precise, an insect who WAS rampaging, currently frozen. He climed the rock and jumped from one to another, closing in on the frozen insect.

“So I just gotta kill this?” Kei knocked at the cracked carapace and asked Krie.

Bang!

Kei shouted like his soul left his body. Uwaaa!!!!

“What are you doing? A part of the carapace just fell off and you shouted like a girl. Pfft.” Krie teased him and laughed.

“Shut up.” Kei faced the other way and tried to hide his face that was as red as a tomato.

Krie stopped laughing and Kei grabbed the knife at his waist. “Go remove its head. It’s a simple huge ant, removing its head should kill it.”

Kei went to work and cut the ant’s neck that was a tiny bit larger than his waist.

“Seriously, how can ants grow this large? Something must be seriously wrong with the god who created this species. Anyways it’s dead now, is the time back to normal now?” Kei looked up at Krie and saw her frowning.

“Seeing your face, I guess not huh?” Kei laughed at his foolishness.

“If you keep making that expression it’ll stay you know? Your pretty face will be ruined.” Kei teased her to get her mind off the time freeze.

Krie turned around and faced the opposite of Kei. “I’m pretty?”

Kei was confused that she turned away. “Hmmm? Yeah, pretty sure with your beauty you would be a hotshot, even in the celebrity world.”

Krie’s face turned even redder as if blood would squeeze out of her face. Kei tried to peek but Krie pushed him away.

“Hehh, you’re embarrassed by that?” Kei laughed out loud making Krie angry.

Krie punched him and held him by the collar. “Who’s embarrassed? Huh?”

“Sorry Ma’am, I’m the one who’s embarrassed.” Kei quickly tried to apologize.

…

“Haaaa~ It’s almost been a month, I’m bored. Entertain me.” Krie was lying down on a sofa with her hand hanging down the side.

“You useless angel, go do your job and bring us back to normal.” Kei was reading books in the dining table.

“Where’d you get those books anyway?”

“The library, the time freeze is quite useful. I can read anything I like for as long as I want, there’s no expiry date nor do I need to return these books.” Kei then closed the book he’s reading and stood up.

She sat up and asked. “Where are you going?”

“Off to do my daily workout. I can’t be super fat when the time starts again can I? I need to use this time to maintain my body, or maybe even improve it.” Kei removed his shirt, showing off his six-packs abs.

Krie smugly said, “Lucky me I won’t get fat no matter what I do.”

“Go find some clues on how to go back to normal instead. A month or a year maybe bearable, but I can’t just stay here for a hundred years, can I?” Kei was pissed at her lazy attitude and smacked her on the head.

“Stop hitting me, no matter my appearance, I’m still an angel and I can kill you right away.”

“Yeah, for sure, yep. If you want the Earth to stay frozen forever.” Kei nonchalantly responded.

Grrr

…

1 year passed since the time freeze began.

“Where are we going?” Krie who was flying asked Kei and slowly followed him.

“The local supermarket nearby doesn’t have any good food left. I’m going to the main city to look for any quality food.”

Krie’s eyes widened and was concerned about Kei. “You’re stealing food? What would happen if the time suddenly started and caught you in the act? Or maybe you left your fingerprints or anything.”

Kei looked back at her and smiled teasingly, “Hehh… You’re concerned about me?”

“… Why would I be concerned about you. I was just thinking that I might be a partner in crime and that you’ll get me involved.”

“You can just go back to Heaven Realm when that happens right? Don’t worry I’m an experienced thief. I survived living alone in the slums by stealing food. Oh, you know I once stole from a shopkeeper who abused his staff, the police went to the shop and arrested the shopkeeper instead.” Kei recalled his experiences and shared with Krie, quite satisfied with his accomplishments.

After some time, they both arrived in front of a supermarket. It was full of people running out.

“Hoh we’ve arrived. What do you want to eat for dinner?” Kei asked her.

“Hmm, how about curry? Or Steak? I want to try other cultures as well.” Krie responded enthusiastically.

“Wait, I know I’ve spent a year in this place, but what country is this?” Krie added.

“Hmm, this is South Korea. How’d you read all the books and understand me if you don’t know where we are?” Kei answered, quite shocked.

“I have a magic called Language Translate. I casted it on myself when I went here. So, you’re Korean huh?”

“Not really. When I was a kid, I think I first remember being in China, then some people wanted to take care of me then brought me to France. When we arrived, I got lost and then I was brought to Britain, the people who brought me died when we arrived because some shooting happened. Then some stuff happened and I got to Japan, then Philippines, then finally South Korea. I’m quite proud of myself that I understand all the language that they speak there.”

Krie looked at him with a weird look, her eyes were wide and her mouth was open like she wants to say something but she didn’t know what to say.

“You lived quite a hard life huh? So, you’re telling me you lived alone that whole time?” She looked at him with eyes full of pity and tears welled up in her eyes while covering her mouth.

Kei was annoyed and said, “Stop looking at me with those eyes and fake tears, you’re probably laughing at me for not having any friends. And for your information, I did have companions here and there like that old lady or that girl or those bastards. Curious about them? Heh, not telling you.”

“These are real tears, you lonely bastard. Be thankful I’m accompanying you instead of touring the world right now.”

“Yeahyeah~, I’ll cook Salisbury steak for dinner and Chicken curry for tomorrow then. Help me get the ingredients.”

‘Feels good not to use my hard-earned cash and I can just get any food I want. I wish this time stop would last forever… wait, shit. Don’t jinx this. How about I can control time? That would be good.’

“What are you dilly-dallying there for? Get moving.” Krie saw him standing in the entrance day dreaming and reprimanded him.

…

2 Years passed since the time freeze began.

Kei is surrounded by books taken from the nearby library.

Krie was upside down on the sofa with her leg on the headrest. “What are you reading right now? Anything interesting? Like any good manga or novel? I just finished One Feast. Oh yeah, that Draconic Ball got kind of boring, always fighting and nothing more. Recommend me something like Bakamonogatari or that novel where Long Chan slaps everyone.”

“You mean Nine Slaps Have Been Administered? Try reading A Will of Eternity, the Main Character is a funny guy who really hates dying, so he does everything just to avoid getting sent to dangerous places but always fails, then that dangerous place becomes a legend due to his antics being more dangerous. He’s actually more of a danger than those places, that novel really gave me a laugh.”

“Yeah that. Do you have the book? Throw it here.”

Kei stood up and tried to find the book, after some time he threw it on the sofa and returned to reading. “What’s our lunch today? It’s your turn to cook.”

Krie stood up and went to the table that Kei was using and knelt and looked him in the eye.

“Oy Kei, how about I teach you how to fight? Since you need to learn how to fight sooner or later. With the Hell Realm invading, this world needs someone who can at least fight right?”

“You useless bird, it’s your turn to cook. Don’t think you can escape your obligations that easily.”

“Fine, what do you want to eat? Think of what I’ve told you.”

“Anything.”

…

“So now that we’ve finished eating, what do you think about it?” Krie cleaned her mouth with a towel and asked Kei.

“Alright I’ll give it a try. But what will you teach me? Sword? Close Combat? Saber? Or maybe you know how to use guns?”

“I’ll teach you how to fight. If you’re enemy is using guns or bows, you need to learn how to dodge, bait, or counter attack them. If they’re using swords or spears, you need to learn how to parry. And so on and so forth.”

“I’m having a bad feeling about this…”

“Oh not just feeling, you’re also gonna have a really bad time, and you’re not allowed to refuse.” Krie smiled sadistically and grabbed Kei by his collar and dragged him outside.

…

5 Years has passed since the time freeze began.

Kei is lying on the ground under a tree, gasping for air.

“Huff, can’t you let me take a breath? I know I need to learn how to fight, but it’s been 3 years and all you’ve been doing is beating me up.”

Kei’s time is divided into 3 parts. Resting, Reading, and Training.

“Stand up, or else I’ll add another 100 to your daily push-ups.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

‘Fucking brutish bird. I’ll have my revenge someday.’ Kei glared at Krie and stood up.

“What’s with those eyes. Plus 100.”

“FUCK YOU!!!” Kei’s eyes widened and, in his shock, shouted ragingly.

…

Another 6 months has passed.

“What weapon do you want to master?” Krie asked him while sipping tea.

Kei was sprawled on the floor, heavily sweating and his dead eyes glared at Krie, as if telling her ‘I’ll curse you to death if I die.’

“Whatever my ability goes well with, I guess. I want to get a unique ability. But can’t hurt to learn the basic weapons, right?”

“Aight, swords, knives, bow, and spear it is.”

“Hold up. One, just one. I swear you plan to kill me.”

Krie just looked at him and smiled.

‘Holy fuck, that’s the smile of the devil. I don’t want to die yet.’

“I’ll teach you how to control your magic after you learn how to handle at least one of these.”

…

Another 6 months passed in the blink of an eye.

Kei sat on the ground in a meditative pose with his hands together, as if praying.

Krie was behind him reading a book and lazily instructing Kei what to do. She is sitting on a chair with a book in one hand and the other hand grabbing cookies stolen from an unknown store and munching on it.

“Feel the air around you. After that, try to imagine the air going inside you and revolving in your whole body going with your blood, then gather all of the air in your heart. Once you’ve done that slowly release it through your skin and pores.”

Kei felt a breeze entering his body.

“I feel something like ants walking around my body and biting my insides, it hurts and it’s really hard to concentrate.”

“Shut up and endure it, those ants are the energy revolving in you.”

“HOW THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO CONCENTRATE WHEN YOU’RE TOO NOISY EATING?!?!” Kei flared up and shouted at Krie.

“Oho! You’re shouting at me now huh? How about another 6 months of weapon training? Or maybe basic training regimen with 1000 push-ups a day?”

“No, ma’am I was just telling you louder because in my state I can’t hear my words so I thought maybe you can’t hear it too.”

“Enough with your excuses and concentrate.”

Kei’s went back to feeling the magic energy in the air when his necklace suddenly started to glow.

[Kid.]

[Boy.]

[Young man, can you hear me?]

--End--