Emergency
August 31th, 2023
Detroit, Michigan (United States of America)
Medical Ward, Hospital.
…
"15 ... 16 ... 17! Hey kiddo, tighten your left arm muscles more!" said Odin who was in a push-up position.
After waking up from the NDE (Near-Death Experience), the doctor conducted a medical check up on Kai's body and they found that Kai's body was in fit condition as if Kai had never been in a critical condition before.
After a series of medical procedures, Kai was moved to the general ward and today he was allowed to go home.
"Ugh! We just woke up and you insist on doing this stupid thing!" complained Kai.
However, it feels little bit strangely because Kai didn't feel the pain of the gunshot marks on his hand at all, as if everything healed overnight.
Ah, maybe it's all because of the quick treatment from the doctor — said Kai inside himself.
"If you want to be thrown into that place again, then I will go straight back to Heaven without caring about you anymore ... 18 ... 19 ... 20!" replied Odin in sharp and focused gaze.
"Huff! Finally this one is finished too," Odin said as he got up, "Kiddo, you must pay attention to your body from now on. Although humans are weak, yours is far below the weak level. I could say yours is scum."
Odin suddenly remembered something and with a gasp he muttered, "Hahh ... hahhh ... s-shouldn't I have gotten the [Heart of Echidna] yesterday?"
From what Odin knew, the [Heart of Echidna] had a very good property to cleanse the dirty energy thus helping to form body strength. It was useless for Gods, but it was a different story if used by humans.
Without the [Heart of Echidna] it would be impossible to repair this human body quickly — Odin thought amidst his breathless.
"Haahh ... Did it just disappear because of this damn [System]?" Odin muttered again.
On the other hand, Kai who heard Odin's words also refuted while panting, "Hahh! Hahh! Hahh! Y-You ... y-you crazy bastard! I-it was all a dream, why do you say like it's all real? Hahhh ... haahhh ... hahhh ....! — damn! I-It feels l-like ... hahhh ... my lungs get burnt!"
On the other hand, the other patients in the room were looking at Kai with confusion. In this room were patients who were required to rest to speed up their recovery process, but that boy actually seemed to force himself with exercise earlier. Is that boy a beginner athlete? — thought some people there.
Especially from their point of view, Kai seemed to be talking to himself by making two different voices. It looks like that bog is doing some kind of theater training — thought some of the others.
Without caring about the strange looks from the people there, Odin rolled his right eye in boredom and then said sarcastically, "Yeah alright, it was just a dream and when you wake up afterwards you'll see Hell."
DING!
A [System] notification sounded and Odin read the notification from the [System].
[Update Daily Mission Status!]
[Push-ups: complete | Sit-ups: complete | Squad-jump: x20 | Pull-ups: x20 | Run: 2 km]
[Remaining Time 13:24:39]
[Reward: Wheat Bread x1 and Mineral Water x1]
[Penalty: -Censored-]
"I guess the penalty will probably be more terriable than the Forbidden Fortress of Audhol," Odin said with a horrified smile.
Odin was then about to take a position in the squad, but an old woman's voice greeted him.
"Don't push yourself too much, son. Your body is still recovering after all," said an old woman sitting on her bed there.
The woman was thin with a pale face, wearing a hospital gown and a knit cap covering her head. She looked at a boy in front of her sadly.
Hearing those words, Odin stopped his squad-jump and then turned to the old woman there.
"It's nothing. I still can handle it," Odin said coldly but gently.
"I see," the old woman replied with sadness.
She smiled at the ceiling of the room, before she said again, "You remind me of my only son. When he was your age he was so determined to train his physic for running matches, but then he had an accident and died of depression when the doctor told him he could never walk again ..."
"Sometimes I wonder, will a boy as cute as him be able to become one of the Angels in Heaven or will he have his own running track there as he always dreamed? I just hope that God is merciful enough to grant the last wish of an old woman like me," the old woman continued in a weak voice while smiling wryly.
"..."
"Ah, I'm sorry. The atmosphere becomes unpleasant because of me. Please, don't mind what this old woman just said," she said again while laughing softly.
"..."
"Seeing you so persistent, it reminds me with my son. So I hope you can have a good time and enjoy your life. May God bless your life."
The old woman's words stunned Odin for a moment, before his gaze finally softened. Somehow hearing that female human's last sentence made Odin's feelings warm. Shouldn't he be getting words like this while sitting in his work chair — Odin thought.
"What is your name?" Odin asked then, he want to bless her when he returned to Heaven.
The old woman was silent for a while before she smiled then answered, "Ann Broke. I would be happy if you would call me mother Ann."
"Alright, mother Ann. I assure you will —"
CREAK
Suddenly the door to the room opened and Odin stopped his words. Instantly a foul odor seemed to assault Odin's sense of smell.
"Who is Kai Donovan?" asked the man.
Kai raised his left hand and that man walked over to him. Odin only glared at the left arm controlled by Kai in annoyance while covering his nose.
"Hm? According to your lab results ... you are in very good condition. So you can go home today," the man said as he read a paper in his hand.
"..."
"You no need to worry about the hospital fees because the government has covered it all."
On the other side, Odin seemed to have covered his nose since that man entered the room. He then looked around and looked like everyone stared at him in weird ways.
Don't these humans smell something rotten? — Odin thought.
"Are you —"
As the man approached, Odin quickly moved away and said, "No need to worry about me. I can do it myself."
The man in the white coat looked at the boy in front of him in surprise and then replied, "O-Okay ... then I guess I'll leave you to fend for yourself. And you can pick up your medicine at the pharmacy."
The man then handed a piece of paper to the boy in front of him. However, Odin did not move from his place at all.
Finally that man sighed and then said, "Alright, I'll leave it here."
After that, he placed a paper on the bed and said, "Here."
"..."
"I don't think I have anything else to say. So, have a good day," he said and then quickly turned to leave.
For a moment Odin could see the man's weird gaze on him. It felt as if that man was showing hostility to Odib from his eyes.
After he left the room, Odin removed his right hand from nose. He was breathing heavily and so was Kai who was having trouble breathing because of Odin.
"Hhhh, haahhh ... h-hey you want to commit suicide huh?!" Kai protested sarcastically.
As Odin took in his surroundings, everyone started talking about him with their visiting families, however the old woman, named Ann Brook, looked worried at him.
"Are you all right, son?" Ann asked.
Odin didn't answer at all. The stench seemed to be messing with his mind. It was worse than the woman from the police that met him last night.
"What the heck are his eyes? Moreover his stench is really killing me out," Odin muttered in confusion.
***
August 31th, 2023
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (United States of America)
Mafia Headquarters
…
SMASH! CRASH!
"Argh! Damn it! How could you let someone steal my 350,000$?! What the hell are those fucking programmers doing?!"
"T-They are s-still tracking that person's whereabouts."
The man who is called 'Boss' shouted furiously. He went on rages, throwing all the objects around and slamming his desk.
The entire room was in chaos and the man seemed to catch his breath. He then stared at his two subordinates, before finally speaking.
"I will give you three days to find that jerk who stole my money. If you can't find him in three days ..."
"..."
"... I'll make sure to sell all your organs to replace my money."