Chapter 31: 31 So... You're an Orphan?
The group of four led by Takashi Komuro, who Altair had previously abandoned, reencountered him.
Originally, Altair didn't want to bother with them, but since they had already gotten out of the vehicle, he decided to exchange a few words.
"Marikawa-sensei, please save us. Yesterday, we experienced hell. The situation escalated into a full-blown crisis in the blink of an eye."
"I know about that."
Shizuka Marikawa said seriously as the crisis was mentioned. Altair had already explained the situation to her in detail and even told her how to solve it.
However, Shizuka herself had no idea what to do, nor had she ever considered it.
"But, I'm not really sure what to do in this situation."
"It's not about knowing or not knowing, Marikawa-sensei. Help us, at least take us with you."
Saya Takagi interjected. She didn't want to waste time like Takashi Komuro; she only wanted Shizuka to take her along. After all, who knew what horrors she'd been through yesterday?
Meanwhile, Shizuka Marikawa didn't even have a wrinkle on her clothes. The contrast was something Saya couldn't accept. As a rich girl, she now only wanted to live comfortably again, unlike this current miserable situation. Everything was just too unbearable.
"I want to go home. Marikawa-sensei, please take me home."
"Uh, you want to go home?" Shizuka leaned over and looked at Altair since their group's direction was entirely up to him.
Saeko Busujima also looked at Altair, clearly following his lead as well.
"Yes, I want to go home. Can you take me? If you do, my mother will surely thank you."
Saya Takagi also glanced at Altair. She understood that the two people she relied on were taking orders from this man.
"And you guys?"
Altair didn't respond to her but instead looked at the remaining people.
"I want to find my father. He's at the police station. Can you take me there?" Rei Miyamoto asked.
Altair still didn't answer, instead turning his gaze to Kohta Hirano.
"Uh... my parents are abroad. I'd like to follow Saya." Kohta Hirano said, looking at Saya Takagi.
After hearing Kohta's words, Altair finally looked at Takashi Komuro. Takashi didn't say anything for a moment, looking at Altair as if he didn't know what to say.
While Takashi was struggling to speak, Altair suddenly addressed him.
"So... you're an orphan?"
"Huh?"
Takashi was stunned, staring at Altair in confusion and shaking his head repeatedly.
"No, I'm not an orphan!"
"Hey, what do you mean by that?"
Takashi felt insulted, glaring angrily at Altair.
"I mean, you haven't said a word this whole time, so I thought you didn't have any parents and grew up on your own."
Altair responded nonchalantly, making Takashi even more furious. What did being silent have to do with not having parents?
"I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that everyone else mentioned their parents. One wants to find her father, another's parents are abroad, and one wants to go home. But you didn't say anything. Sorry, I just assumed you were an orphan and didn't care about your parents' well-being."
Altair knew that Takashi wasn't an orphan, but this guy never mentioned anything about his family throughout the story, not caring about them. So, Altair figured he might as well call him an orphan, just like in other animes where the protagonist has no parents but has a house and a sister.
"Who said I don't care about my parents' well-being?"
"Then say it. If you don't say it, how would I know you care about your parents? Only if you say it will I know you care. If you stay silent, how could I possibly know? So, do you care about them or not?"
Altair spread his hands.
"So, are you going to find your parents?"
"No."
Even though Altair asked, Takashi still didn't choose to go find his parents.
"I'm going with Rei to find her father."
"So, you really are an orphan."
"I'm not an orphan!" Takashi shouted, enraged as Altair continued to provoke him.
"Hey, enough with this nonsense. Can you take me home? It's the estate in the city center. If you take me there, my parents will definitely thank you."
"Me too. My dad is a police officer, and he's probably still out there protecting citizens in the city. If you help me find him, I'd be very grateful."
Saya Takagi and Rei Miyamoto both expressed their strong desire to find their families. Rei's tone was a bit more agreeable, while Saya's was haughty, with an air of superiority.
Altair had no intention of helping any of them, especially Saya Takagi. He didn't like her or her family at all. Her father was from a powerful political faction, and Altair had no interest in dealing with someone like that. Saya's attitude already showed what kind of person her father likely was.
Take her home? Don't even think about it. It was already kind of Altair not to kill her on the spot.
Altair looked down at the short Saya Takagi. She was probably considered a beautiful girl, and with her figure, she resembled his wife Hestia, but sorry, Altair wasn't interested in her at all.
"So, will you take me home?" Saya asked expectantly, only to be met with Altair's cold laugh.
"Sorry, I have no plans to go to the city center, especially not to your house."
"What? Why not? Shouldn't we be going where there are more people?"
"Yes, but not to your house."
Altair had no intention of going to the estate of some political bigwig. It wasn't that he was afraid of them; he was afraid he might lose his temper and kill them all on the spot.
Altair knew how rotten politicians and their political factions were, people who once held power would never give up their power even if the world was coming to an end.
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