Bab 31: Back to the Cave

Noa looked at So-Rin and Eden, and then to the scenery below him, reveling in the breathtaking cityscape as they soared through the sky on their motorboards. The sight of towering skyscrapers and shimmering billboards around him filled him with a sense of excitement

"You know," Noa spoke up, breaking the comfortable silence between them, "I think tonight has been the best night I've had in a while."

So-Rin grinned in response. "I'm glad you're having a great time."

"No, I mean it," Noa continued. "Lately, I've been feeling stressed. I just got out of the military. I had to secure an apartment and do a lot of things as a functional independent adult. Everything is new to me. The system, quests, and battles… But tonight has been exactly what I needed."

As they zoomed past a group of people gathered on a rooftop, the sound of their laughter carried on the wind, momentarily capturing Noa's attention before he turned back to So-Rin.

"I understand what you're saying," So-Rin replied. "Sometimes, it's important to take a break and just breathe."

Noa nodded in agreement. He had always been a hard-worker, constantly pushing himself to accomplish his goals. However, moments like these reminded him of the importance of balance.

When they landed in front of their apartment, Noa released a contented sigh.

"It feels so good to be back home," Noa murmured to himself.

"Absolutely," So-Rin agreed.

"You're not joining us for dinner?" Noa asked So-Rin as he stowed the flying scooter in their inventory.

"No, all I need is a shower and a good night's sleep," So-Rin replied.

"Alright, take some rest then," Noa acknowledged.

"Thanks for today." So-Rin waved her hand.

"Anytime," Noa responded with a nod.

So-Rin bid farewell to Noa and Eden, making her way to her unit.

With a contented smile, Noa made his way towards the door of his apartment. As he opened it, he was greeted by the inviting ambiance of his cozy living space, illuminated by the soft glow of string lights and filled with the refreshing scent of electric air freshener. Cloud, his faithful AI companion, followed closely behind.

Noa kicked off his shoes and sank into the welcoming embrace of his couch, feeling the weariness of the day gradually enveloping him. He let out a tired yawn and closed his eyes, relishing in the peace and quiet of his cave.

Meanwhile, Eden headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. He realized that they were running low on fresh supplies. After they got used up, synthetic food was unavoidable.

As Noa lay there, scenes flashed through his mind, recurring with increasing frequency. At first, he believed he was trapped within a dream, but he was wide awake and fully conscious. Gradually, he realized that these fragmented scenes were fragments of his own past, memories long buried and were resurfacing once more.

Vividly, he could see the faces of familiar individuals. There was a middle-aged man, whose fair skin contrasted with his modest stature, holding the hand of a young boy. Happiness radiated from their faces.

Then, another middle-aged man approached them. He was tall and had a tanned complexion. Patting the shorter man's shoulder, they exchanged a warm embrace, a display of camaraderie and friendship.

Bending down, the towering man gently ruffled the young boy's hair, yet his expression remained devoid of emotion.

Normally, Noa struggled to recognize the faces that appeared in these fragmented memories. But this time, he was certain that the dutiful elderly man holding the young boy was his own father, and the boy himself was a younger version of Noa.

"What was that? What did I just see?" Noa questioned, perplexed, as he opened his eyes.

To his surprise, the towering man who had approached his father was also familiar to Noa. He was unmistakably Infrablack. However, something was different. His appearance resembled that of an ordinary human, devoid of the fierce and cold-blooded demeanor of a notorious villain. His smile was warm and genuinely friendly.

This left Noa feeling disoriented. Perhaps, he reasoned, it was merely an illusion that had played out in his mind. After all, the reality was far from the harmonious scenes he had just witnessed. Infrablack was the epitome of inhumanity, the most callous individual Noa had ever known. He lacked empathy and compassion. How could these memories depict him sharing moments of happiness with Noa and his father?

Noa sat up, lost in thought. Leaning on his hand, his brow furrowed with concern. He began to overanalyze every detail, attempting to unravel the reason behind his dream

Could it be possible that his father, Professor Nijo Yoshiaki, had once been friends with Infrablack? But if they were indeed friends, why had Infrablack ultimately captured and imprisoned his father?

Noa was still oblivious about his father's current whereabouts. Was Infrablack a human, and not an Android? Or did his father use his friend's brain as part of a daring experiment?

A multitude of questions flooded Noa's mind, and he was desperate to know the answers to them.

Restlessness gripped Noa, prompting him to pace back and forth in the living room, catching Eden's attention.

"What's going on, man?" Eden asked, concern etched on his face. "You look so restless."

Noa sighed, cupping his face with both hands and rubbing it. "It's nothing. I'm just tired."

"Alright," Eden replied, his voice filled with understanding. "Dinner? I made cheese broccoli rice." He gestured towards the pan filled with the said dish.

"No, thank you," Noa declined. "I'm not hungry. Just put it in the freezer. I'll heat it up later."

With those words, Noa retreated to his bedroom.

His head started throbbing, and the more he tried, the more painful it got as it disrupted the balance of his brain.

Determined to uncover the whereabouts of his missing father, mother, and sister, Noa's resolve grew stronger. He couldn't understand. His father was a famous scientist, and anyone related to his field knew his face. So, how could information about such a big figure be scarce?

Infrablack's actions etched seeds of pain within Noa's heart. He had vowed to himself that he wouldn't let the former escape the consequences. Noa would go out of his way just to make sure that Infrablack would pay for what he had done to not just him and his family, but to the entire world.

Noa's head spun with the weight of his thoughts. He controlled himself and tried to stop himself from thinking. Upon flopping onto his bed, he closed his eyes and allowed sleep to carry him away from the turbulent sea of his mind.