Kapitel 53: Melody?

I'm still a little confused about how I'm supposed to make this raid work. To free up my mind I head into the gym and do some training. Darwin is also there, a truly rare sight to see.

He's standing in an enclosed section lifting weights. The enclosed section is protected by thick glass and solid steel frames. A set of sliding doors with a touchpad seem to be the only way into the closed-off section.

"What the hell is he doing in there?"

Jade has entered behind me and also caught sight of Darwin. Different from me who kept my thoughts to myself she simply states the question out loud.

"That's a supergravity area. In their anyone with a constitution stat below 100 will instantly die."

Edward offers a not so helpful explanation from the side. He walks over and throws a wistful glance over at Darwin.

"Training in there is an honor that only a few of our guests have."

"But why constitution and not strength?"

Jade seems confused and so am I. Gravity doesn't attack you directly so why would body constitution be important?

"Helps a whole lot if your muscles can keep you upright but your bones break under the pressure of your increased weight. If you go in there with high enough a constitution stat but lack strength all that happens is that you will be forced to lie on the ground until someone gets you out. If it's the other way around, you'll be crushed by the gravity."

Okay, note to self, don't go in there under any circumstances. Jade loses all interest after hearing that she can't enter and walks off to god knows where. Edward starts eyeing me and decides that I'm going to get beat up for forgetting to use my breathing technique.

He announces it as a spar but from how he is purposefully hitting me wherever it hurts most I can tell that this is punishment. In hopes of decreasing my punishment, I immediately start to use the breathing technique while being hit by his fists.

It seems to work as he slows down a little and is letting me try to hit him back sometimes before downing me with another hit to the gut.

An hour later both Jade and I walk out of the gym. Jade seems unusually talkative and even asks me what I'm currently working on. I tell her of the raid mission I'm unwilling to go on but she just scoffs.

"Guy, you aren't human anymore. They will kill you without mercy if given the chance, why are you hesitating to do the same?"

"But they are villagers, Jade! Most of them never even held a sword."

"And? Are you really naive enough to believe that they wouldn't try to run you through with a pitchfork if given the chance? If you keep trying to be human you will only destroy yourself."

"But I have a family! How can I face them with the blood of innocent humans on my hands?"

"Sigh. I would tell you to talk to them but that seems insensitive to say. Honestly, for me it's easy, I don't have those pesky attachments you have."

"You would murder an entire village of innocent people?"

"Innocence is such a thing. If I give a terrorist the materials for a bomb and he kills people with it, am I not partially accountable? Especially if I knew what he would do with it?"

"That's a horrible comparison and you know it!"

"Maybe it is but to answer your question, yes I would attack a village full of civilians. I wouldn't kill them all and most of them would escape but I would do it."

That really doesn't help. I don't know how Jade does it but I can't completely abandon my humanity. Jade seems about to say something else when Navi suddenly screams in my head.

I reflexively follow Navi's instructions and Jade tumbles into the left corridor with a small yelp. I'm still confused until I look ahead and see Melody crouching next to a little girl.

The sound of Jade's yelp has caught her attention and she turns to looks at me scanning the empty corridor.

"Guy, what was that sound just now?"

"Oh, that? Nothing significant. More importantly, what are you doing here, Melody?"

"Didn't they tell you? I work here now. I called the company and asked if they had any vacancies. When I mentioned my cleaning skill they said I had the job."

Navi! What the ever-living heck possessed you to let Melody work here?

What if she finds out!

"Guy!"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I have a question for you. What's the species that's written in your status?"

How indeed Navi? What do I say now?

That won't work! Melody can tell when I'm outright lying? The question is too specific to dodge or give an unclear answer!

"Guy, why aren't you answering? Do I need to be more precise? Does your status say your human or not?!"

Oh, she is angry and she knows. What do I do, Navi?

"Well? I'm losing my patience, Guy!"

"Here's not a good place to discuss this, let's go somewhere else. Follow me."

"What about the little one here?"

Melody is about to turn back to the little girl when I see Tele flash into existence, grab the girl, and vanish. Upon turning Melody finds no one there.

"Where did Monica go?"

"No need to worry about her. I'm sure the other employees here can take care of it."

"What other employees? I've never seen any."

This entire faced is bursting at the seams! With no other option, I grab Melody by the hand and drag her to Darwin's office. Darwin had better be ready or my family is about to fall apart.