Chapter 14: Unnecessary doubts

What am I supposed to do? On our way out of the dungeon, the atmosphere was silent. The excitement that should have accompanied our victory had vanished, replaced by an oppressive quiet and exhaustion that haunted our steps. Even the valuable resources we had gained after defeating the Drake were left behind, abandoned in the frightening darkness.

Ugh, will it end the same way? Just like last time?

...

After we finally emerged from the dungeon and returned to our camp in the farthest corner, the silence still enveloped us. The night sky had arrived, bringing a cold wind that made the atmosphere even more eerie. We were all exhausted, our wounds barely tended to. I could feel the despair and pain radiating from their bodies.

With trembling hands, I lit the campfire. Small sparks began to dance, breaking the darkness with their warm light. However, the warmth of the fire couldn't chase away the chill in our hearts. I looked at my friends' weary faces. Takeshi sat with his head bowed, his shield lying beside him, full of cracks that showed how tough the battle had been. Yumi, with her bow on her lap, stared blankly at the fire, her eyes heavy with fatigue. Hiroshi curled up next to her, trying to endure the pain from his injuries.

I felt hopeless. I wanted to help them, to lift the burden they felt, but I didn't know what to do. Their physical wounds might heal, but the wounds in their hearts, the fear and doubt, might not go away so easily.

I looked around, taking in our simple tents that we had built ourselves. The other tents, built by the soldiers, looked more comfortable and sturdy. We were truly outcasts, not just physically, but emotionally as well. We were the outcast group, and it felt more real than ever.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

"What now…" Hiroshi was the first to break the pressing silence around the campfire.

"Yeah?" I replied, even though I could already guess where this was going.

"How long have you been hiding your strength, Johan?" he continued seriously, his eyes fixed on me, full of curiosity and a bit of disbelief.

Ugh, I knew it would come to this. No matter how long I had to keep this secret from others, now it was all out. Sooner or later, they were bound to know. Besides, that assault rifle was too conspicuous to ignore, especially for those of us from the modern world.

I felt a heavy sigh escape my chest, and my eyes searched around us, trying to find the right words. The campfire's flicker cast shifting shadows on my friends' faces. The previously comfortable silence had now turned into a suffocating pressure. I saw Takeshi frowning, Yumi looking at me with eyes full of questions, and Hiroshi waiting for my answer intently.

'How do I explain this?' I thought, feeling cornered. The FN SCAR-H rifle, with its shiny black body and power-exuding barrel, still lay beside me, a silent testament to the secret I had kept.

"I... I'm sorry," I finally said, my voice hoarse. "It wasn't my intention to hide this from you. But the situation... I was scared of what would happen if others found out."

I paused, trying to gather my chaotic thoughts. "This weapon, the FN SCAR-H, shouldn't exist in this world. It's a weapon from our world, where advanced technology and weapons like this are common for soldiers. But here, in a world filled with swords and magic, it's something very different, something that could cause big problems if misused."

I looked at their faces, trying to read their reactions. Takeshi looked confused, Yumi awaited further explanation, and Hiroshi raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.

"When we first arrived here," I went on, "I discovered that the Deus Machina system gave us access to stats and skills based on our jobs. And I had something special—something called the Shop feature that only I could access. My job, Modern Soldier, is the only one that has this access. I don't know why or how, but it's the reality I had to deal with. At first, I thought it would be safer to keep this to myself, to protect you all and ourselves from any dangers that might arise if others knew."

"The Shop feature allows me to purchase modern weapons like the FN SCAR-H, an assault rifle with high accuracy and armor-piercing capabilities. This weapon has a modular design, allowing for customization for various combat situations. In our world, it's one of the most advanced weapons used by elite military forces. But in this world, a weapon like this is extremely unusual and could raise suspicion or even fear."

I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself. "This Modern Soldier job is a blend of modern combat abilities with technology unknown here. I can use firearms, grenades, and other military equipment that can only be bought through the Shop feature. No one else has a job like this, only me. That makes me different, and that difference could be dangerous if others knew."

I looked at their faces, trying to read their reactions. Takeshi still seemed confused, Yumi looked like she wanted more explanations, and Hiroshi was intently waiting for me to continue.

"However, when we were fighting the Drake earlier, I had no other choice. You all were injured, and we were all in danger. So, I decided to use this weapon. I knew it was risky, but it was the only way to save us all."

They remained silent, pondering my words. I could feel the tension in the air, but also a sense of relief, as if the burden I had been carrying alone was now starting to be shared with them.

Hiroshi finally nodded, though he still looked somewhat skeptical. "I understand. But you need to know, Johan, we are your friends. We should have known this from the beginning. We need to trust each other, especially in situations like this."

"Hiroshi's right, Johan. We're friends now," Takeshi spoke calmly, though there was clear concern in his eyes. "I understand your feelings. After all, the weapons you can wield are the most terrifying things in our world."

"They're right!" Yumi added enthusiastically. "From the start, your job seemed odd. Why would a job synchronized with the modern world exist in a fantasy world? Initially, my friends and I thought it was a joke. But now, after knowing everything, I understand it can be incredibly useful."

I felt my face heat up, embarrassed to have to talk about this. I looked at them, feeling a bit lighter after hearing their words. Although I still felt a worry in my heart, I was deeply grateful that they could accept my explanation.

"Thank you, everyone," I said, my voice almost a whisper. "I... I know this isn't easy to understand."

Hiroshi nodded, a slight smile appearing on his face. "Alright, Johan. From now on, we work together with nothing hidden."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Y-yeah... that's... that's the plan."

We all nodded, feeling a new sense of camaraderie growing among us. Though the journey ahead was still full of challenges, I felt confident that with trust and friendship, we could overcome anything.

That night, around the warm campfire, we continued our conversation more openly. I explained more about the Shop feature and how I could obtain modern weapons like the FN SCAR-H. They listened attentively, asking questions and sharing their perspectives.