Ep. 4 — Chapter 15: Hunting Grounds (2)

Lia had sent her location a while ago. I was only able to check my phone now—and because I kind of forgot about it, after suddenly waking up in this factory and all.

Leon had finished dressing up then, and I gave him a slight glance. The uniform fits him surprisingly well. He definitely looked like someone that could be a proper security at an amusement park or something. The ones that would be famous with the young children.

"You worked as a security before?" I asked without much thought, checking my phone at the same time.

"Uh, no. Not necessarily."

I raised an eyebrow without looking at him. My eyes were still glued on my phone. "What do you mean, 'not necessarily'?"

"I mean, no, I wasn't an official security guard. But I did do something like it."

"Like what?"

"We went camping. I—" Leon suddenly stopped. Somehow, that got my attention away from the phone and turned to him with a curious expression. "It's…nevermind. Forget about it, actually."

"Hey, don't do that." I frowned. Just as things were getting interesting. I sighed deeply, putting my phone back in my pocket.

I started walking up the hill, into the small little forest beside the river and the factory. Since I got rid of my coat earlier, I just now realised how chilly it was. I couldn't tell whether it was because it was around the dead of night and next to a river that it was so cold, or if it was because that we were in a Game, but it was cold, nonetheless.

Besides my footsteps crunching on the sticks on the ground and Leon's heavy footsteps behind, every movement I made were accompanied by the light clicking sounds of the chains tapping against one another.

I had feared it would've attracted the other monsters nearby that still roamed around the factory, but nothing was there.

In fact, the other several monsters were all gone. Vanished.

"Did they despawn?" Leon asked, walking ahead and looking around. He poked the carcasses of the monsters from earlier, a confused look overtaking his face rather than disgust.

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Things like this didn't happen in the early game?"

"Not that I remember." I replied almost monotnously. I thought about how I sounded and considered rephrasing it, but just shrugged instead. It was too much of a hassle. Besides, it was too late now to say it without making it awkward.

Looking back up, the moon was still out. Full. Fuller and bigger than normal. It was something like this in the game as well, I believe.

I tugged at my belt before fixing it a bit. I brushed my shoulders and tigthened the chains into a more comfortable position that makes it easy to access, in case of emergencies.

"How's your body?"

Leon cocked his head. He blinked a few times before replying, "I think I'm fine. They weren't all that bad."

"But just in case." I said to him, "Check your status. It could be lower than you'd expect it to be."

"Speaking from experience, Sir?"

"Nevermind. Just do it."

"It's at 97% currently. I think I'm fine."

I nodded my head at him and we continued to walk towards the gates around the factory. Another set of security booths stood across the parking lot. A portion of the fences had been completely ripped off, the barbed wires along the top of the fences were destroyed as well.

Scratch marks and debris were scattered all over. Parts of cars were also seen lying on the floors of the parkung lot, completely detached from its main body.

Leon went ahead first to push the sharp edges of the fences aside with his spear. After he managed to crawl through, he quickly got up and turned to me from the other side of the fence.

"Be careful, Sir Rayes. It's a bit sharp."

"I'll be fine," I told him, looking around. My eyes trailed up along the top of the fence, eyeing the booth beside me. "Back up."

"What?"

"Unless you want me to step on you, back up." I repeated, prompting Leon to quickly take a few steps back.

I let out a breath of air before shooting myself up, my feet going directly to the roof of the booth and launched myself over the fence with ease. I landed right before Leon, barely missing his shoulder and he flinched hard.

Leon ripped his spear off the ground that held up the fence and quickly moved to my side again.

I checked my phone, seeing the time. It was nearly the morning. Still a few hours away, but not too far until.

[3:00AM]

Leon and I walked, following along the road besides us, leading to the factory's entrance. Thick layers of trees surrounded both sides of the road, the two of us walking alongside the left. Ahead, seemingly to be at the end of the long, straight path is the moon itself, shining graciously in the night.

Aside from the broken street lights, the moon illuminated the night. And the stars as well.

"I can't believe the day would come when I would be…glad? About this Game. So early on, too."

I heard Leon speaking. Without turning my head, I hovered my eyes over to him. The guy was smiling, looking up into the sky. That prompted me to look up as well, seeing the countless stars—like white paint flicked from the brush to a dark blue canvas, blanketing the night sky. I had an idea of what he was saying, so I continued to listen intently to his words. Honestly, I wasn't sure why.

"The stars. We wouldn't be able to see them like this. So…exposed and clear, normally." He mumbled, just loud enough for me to hear. He sounded like he wasn't trying to say it too loud, but he wanted me to hear.

I heard him clearing his throat and he started to stutter. "Ah, ignore that. I don't know what's gotten into me. the fatigue…probably."

"Are you embarrassed?" I asked, a smile breaking on my face.

"Please just forget about it."

"Hearing someone nearly 10 years younger than me saying things like that? And making me feel…well, young? I don't think so."

Leon groaned, earning a laugh from me. I could just be overthinking it, but I am laughing a lot more than anyone should during this world-ending process. All thanks to this bastard, here. I wasn't sure if that's such a good thing or not.

We walked further away from the factory. A star was shining in the sky, a bit more brightly than the rest. Leon still kept his face up, facing the heavens above. I thought I'd let it be for now.

After all…

"Enjoy it while you can." I told him, walking ahead a bit faster than him. I heard a confused 'Hmm' from him and he caught up to me

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. "What did you major in? At the uni?"

I thought it was obvious that I was changing the subject, but I didn't care much. Leon raised an eyebrow but decided to answer my question.

"Art. I was in an art major."

"Drawing? That's unexpected."

"Painting. I paint." He clarified.

I hummed a bit. "Still shocking."

Before he got the chance to ask, I continued speaking, "I had expected you to be in something more…you."

"What?"

"Sports. Or things like that."

"Ah," he lets out a chuckled and scratched the back of his head, shaking his head. He pushed back his hair from his face, revealing his set of brown eyes. It shone in the night. "I get that a lot, really. I can see why."

"I can see it too."

Leon laughed a bit, "You'd expect an artist to be more…soft? Like a less solid figure and more graceful person."

"Graceful." I murmured.

"Hm?"

"I think that's a good way to put it." I nodded my head. "It suits you."

Leon was silent for a while. I wasn't sure if he was still walking with me at that point, so I glanced back and was a bit startled to see him right behind me still. He was looking around, trying to formulate words in his head. I guessed he failed to as I saw him breathing out a deep sigh.

The end of the road was nearing. Several buildings became visible as the thick forests around us started to come to an end. I turned back once more, seeing the factory in the far distance.

"Are you attributing those words to me, Sir Rayes?"

Leon asked, his voice heavy. There was some weight in his question. I didn't understand what,

but I wasn't trying to force myself to understand either. Surely, it'll come soon. Now was not the time, but there will be a time when I can fully understand him. He's almost so clearly seen through, yet, there's this unexplainable feeling of eeriness from him.

Nevertheless, I answered him.

"Sure. If you'd want it that way."

Something wriggled within me. Within us, in that moment. I think he could feel it as well.

[Your Attribute, 'Lives More Precious than the Rest' is germinating.]