35 – A Certain Hell

Why can I feel something hard and cold on my back? Don't I have no flesh anymore?

Slowly, I opened my eyes and found a ceiling that was so familiar. As soon as I straightened up, I also saw a wall with game posters that were also familiar.

What? I go back to my room? So, what happened over the last few weeks? Dream?

All that, Ciara, Bonnie, Liz, and that house we built was a dream?

My eyes started to get hot and wet. No, I can't accept this. Surviving with them in that fucked up world is better than being a human without a purpose.

But what should I do?

Wiping away my tears, I stood up, realizing my computer was still on.

"This…." Squinting my eyes, I brought my face closer to that thing.

Instead of showing the character I used to play, that device screen showed three other characters. A tiny woman with neck-length blonde hair was kneeling, seemingly wiping away tears. Meanwhile, two other girls were standing in front of her. One had brown hair and tan skin, while the other wore a white bodysuit with long, straight black hair.

A tubular robot with a red lens lay between them.

"No way…." I hissed, holding my computer screen.

Yes, there's no mistake. They are Bonnie, Ciara, and Liz.

***

I was still sitting in the chair, staring at my computer screen. Many times I changed the camera between Liz fixing my body, Ciara standing guard on the roof, and Bonnie traveling on her E.E.S.

The tiny girl seems to be looking for spare parts for my body.

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I'm grateful to see them like this. On the other hand, being unable to be with those girls hurts.

Is there a way for me to return to that world? Hell, I don't know how to get stranded in that realm in the first place.

Bonnie stopped when she found a giant oval object stuck in the ground. That thing has the size of a three-story house, and the outside is covered with a series of white threads. It was one of the things that were launched from that health facility.

Please, don't touch it, Bonnie.

That thing is pretty close to our house, and I've thought of a few ways to get rid of it. Unfortunately, I can't contact my colonists.

A sudden knock echoed from the bedroom door, making me snort in annoyance. "Yes?"

"Could you join us for dinner tonight, Axel?" My mother's voice came from behind the door. "Don't worry. I've asked your father to be quiet."

I clenched my fists, feeling reluctant to do that.

***

It's good I can taste the spaghetti made by my mother again. But the quiet atmosphere in this room torments me. All I could hear was the clinking of cutlery, especially my father's aggressive use of his fork.

Even though the bald man with a rather stocky body didn't speak, I still wanted to leave immediately. My life as an unemployed person was already stressing me out, and my father usually made it even more difficult.

Meanwhile, my mother looked at us several times in a turn. The woman with thin hair ate so slowly.

Ah, but if I ever get back to that world, this might be my last dinner with them.

"You still remember when you took me fishing for the first time, Dad? I still remember being very excited when we got a big fish." I opened the conversation. I don't know why I suddenly want to talk about it.

My father stopped eating.

"I miss those simple times, you know? When I haven't thought about many things." My voice is shaking. I looked down to hide my wet eyes. "I know I can't do what you guys want, and because of that, we can't have moments like that anymore. I just want to say, forgive me."

The atmosphere became quieter, and I almost felt sorry for saying that. It's no use, my father will still think I'm a failure, and my mother will continue to pity me like a beggar.

"Thank you for the food." I stood up, leaving my plate empty.

Just walking a few steps, I could hear my father's words. "I'm sorry too, son."

Then, it was followed by sobs from my mother.

Not giving an answer, I decided to return to my room on the second floor, locked the door from the inside, and sat back down in front of the computer.

Yes, as usual.

This time I discovered that Liz was making various things out of metal plates. Apparently, she's waiting for spare parts from Bonnie, so she won't be doing any repairs on me for a while.

As soon as a traveling merchant arrives, the mechanic stops her work. She bought a special forces suit and a pair of shoulder guards.

She was making a pair of armor for Ciara. When checking the stats of the super soldier's special outfit, I did only find the text [Damaged]. So, basically, it's just a piece of junk now. Maybe that happened because of Ciara's berserk mode, which made her bodysuit work far beyond its capabilities.

Suddenly a warning logo appears in the upper right corner of the screen. I quickly turned to Bonnie, who was exterminating giant silver cockroach monsters.

Thankfully, she didn't seem to be in any trouble.

I leaned back with a deep breath. I've been thinking long enough. Perhaps the only way I can return is by replicating the moment I 'died.'

That means I'll be sitting in this place for two days non-stop until I'm exhausted. But I'll do it after Liz finishes fixing my robot body, so I have a place to return to.

I have given up on life in this world, but I will not give up on them. Because of those girls, I have a purpose, something I've lacked for years.

They are my true home.