Chương 86: An Apology
'WTF, an earthquake out of nowhere?!!!' Were most likely the thoughts of everyone in Red Tryst Vine Village as soon as Chaos smashed into that giant mountain in the distance. Hah~ Even though there was panic, that one punch was very refreshing~
Though a thought occurred to me as I looked down on my 'Glove of the Destruction God' and winced a little. My expression wasn't good as I disengaged the fusion between my two Skill Roots naturally...
How come? Why was the true power of someone called 'Harmony' that of complete destruction?
What was this Skill Root supposed to mean...?
Seeing that this wasn't the best time for that, my eyes perceived the magic and consciousnesses of those in the village to check if everyone there was doing okay. And what greeted my eyes was the scene of Adventurers acting out crisis protocols.
Of course, there was some Bronze License people who ran away without helping out the people inside the buildings within the village, but the vast majority of them did what they could, even going as far as using up their Mana like it was water.
The Earth Users stopped the houses from falling apart, and the Wind Users rescued anyone from falling debris. Even the Fire Users pitched in by physically holding up structures and lessening the burden on those who were rescuing villagers.
Nothing had to be said about what the Water Users were doing, as they healed up anyone injured.
People say humans are social animals, but there are those who tend to forget that being 'social' didn't mean they were weak-hearted. Just like how the environment changes children, so too does it distort 'common sense' known to humanity.
All 'animals' have their combative nature meant for survival, and just because people in my own world would panic in front of a disaster didn't mean that the Adventurers before me would do the same.
From what I learnt by living here though, this scene before me of people protecting each other in the face of a disaster didn't have to do with a difference in societal structure though.
No, it was actually due to the village having a sense of community with each other over the long years that Adventurers were willing to put their lives at risk to protect their village. It wasn't easy to ignore the situation of neighbours for many generations.
Some of them had family members, friends, and In-Laws that overlapped with each other, while others risked their lives because they thought it was only natural for God's children to protect each other.
It was a community like a family, to put things in a simpler perspective, and the more I saw, the more guilty I felt for being the one who caused this disaster to happen. Bob, his mother, and Madeline were safe, but they were scarred by this incident.
Before anyone calmed down and decided to send people to look for the cause of the natural disaster to happen, I decided to retrieve Chaos before they could. However, a voice interrupted my thoughts:
"You got me good." Chaos appeared behind me with a defeated figure as he held his cheek in pain.
Even though I punched him with the intent to kill him good, the result only resulted in an injury he seemed to unable to instantly recover from. I was about to continue, but he stopped me with a hand:
"I admit my defeat. Please don't attack me." These words caused my body to stiffen unconsciously.
Looking at that clearly 'mellowed' expression of his that was harbouring a hint of guilt, I understood it what had happened immediately. So... It look like he also came back in time the same way I did.
"What are you here for."
"You're going to form your Godly Weapon, aren't you? I wanted to give 'this' back to you." He took off the necklace on his neck and offered it up to me without even bringing up what just happened.
If it wasn't for the injury on his face and the village being on guard after the earthquake that damaged several homes, the fact that I'd smashed him into a mountain would sound a little too unbelievable.
"You're not the type to help me."
"...Looks like you don't know me as well as you think you do." These words stabbed into my heart like daggers. Making me respond by taking the Warlock Armoury from his hand and simply saying:
"Leave." He looked at me, and nodded his before not wasting any time to get out of my sight, but-
"Woah woah! Wait up!" Enigma's voice resounded strongly as he reappeared to grab his shoulder.
It didn't even take him a second to reach out and turn my Warlock Armoury into my Godly Weapon this time, but it looked as if he had used up a lot of energy to do so as his breathing became ragged.
"I don't know what happened, but leaving will be the same as running away from your problems. If you want to fix your relationship, it is better to stay closer to her." He told Chaos before vanishing again, which caused him to be rooted on the spot.
Not that I cared about what he was currently thinking as I sensed the changes going on in my body. Just like the last time, the existence of my Godly Weapon certified me as the 'Bullet Goddess'.
Oh look, Enigma went as far as to make every single aspect of Warlock Armoury my Godly Weapon while improving its functionality. I could even sense the 'purpose' this had on top of it.
"...Harmony."
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry." The sincerity in his tone made me stop inspecting my Godly Weapon as I looked up.
Five years had passed since that incident, which was a lot of time for me to rationalise what happened back then. Even the rage that had been building up within me was released out by that one punch. It wasn't too long ago since I'd saw Bob...
"Just leave." No matter what Enigma said, I wasn't going to ever forgive him for what he had done.
So I turned my back and started to leave.
Chaos looked at me with a pitiful gaze, then seemed to have thought of something. His eyes sharpened as he followed behind me like he was my servant rather than one of the Swordwick Household. His mannerisms had improved...
"What do you want now?"
"Aren't you curious about Sapphire?" Chaos asked a question that made me turn my head to look at him. I'd heard a lot about her in the future, but had never had the chance to meet her over the years.
Would she even remember me?
"I can guess what you're thinking, fool. Have you forgotten that it hasn't been that long since she saw 'Simon Rainglow'? I've even helped so she can get out of her time distortion as early as tomorrow."
"What did you call me!?" My glare no longer affected him after he regained his composure.
"You didn't hear me? I called you 'Fool': A person who acts unwisely or imprudently."
Okay, you're just asking for another beating from me. Just as I was about to pull out another punch using my Glove of the Destruction God, he showed his hand that wore a similar glove on his left and focused an ability that constrained towards me.
[Glove of the Creation God!]
[Main Skill- Spacetime Authority]
Even the Mana within my body stopped working as soon as he desired it. It was too late to try and form my 'Eclipse Root' again, so I could only glare at him angrily while looking for a new way to attack.
"You hadn't even mastered this in the time we were separated? What had you been doing back then?"
"It has nothing to do with you...!" Hearing these words made him let go of me, as he felt the same.
"What happened was your fault as well."
"Because I was being 'selfish'?" I've heard such things a lot as if I'm bad for giving him a new life.
"No. It's because you discarded me, and acted like you were doing me a favour." He glared back at me.
"Then what did you want to gain by obsessing over me so much? Wasn't getting my identity enough?"
"I'll return it to you." He put his hand forward.
"What...?"
"I'll give you back the Identity of 'Simon'." His voice was filled with conviction as if he didn't want it.
If he gave me back my identity now. I wouldn't have to worry about my family members getting in the way while trying to kill him. Even my instincts were telling me that taking it back it a good decision.
Therefore...
"...Forget it." I chose not to get it back from him.
"Are you messing with me!?"
"I already told you: If I'm Doctor Jekyll, then you are my Mr Hyde. Keep that Identity of yours."
"Don't you want to meet your family?"
"Only the boy called 'Simon' would want to return to the Swordwick Household to meet them. Since you are 'Simon' now, go meet them yourself." The moment I cut myself off from him was also the time that I'd made the decision to live a new 'life'.
They weren't my parents anymore.
"You're crazy."
"And how am I? You're actually calling out my sanity after the crazy actions you did back then?"
I at least didn't go around killing people. What about him was remotely similar to me anyway?
I'm sure I had a better heart than that in my past life... I think... I am actually not sure anymore...
"You overestimate our past life."
"What do y-"
"Harmony!" A familiar voice called out to us as someone arrived in a flash of emerald light.
"What are you doing here? I was looking everywhere...!" Bob's eyes then looked at Chaos.
"A kid...?" This idiot continued with words I thought might anger the brat, but his reaction was good.
"I came here searching for my sister after she was kicked out of our home...!" He lied with a 'sad face'.
His body turned away from Bob and into my direction instead, his eyes containing mischief.
"Actually, she doesn't like me anymore since I didn't take her side back then. Brother, can you help me? I really don't want my sister to hate me anymore...!" Fake tears rolled down his eyes as his hands covered his face to hide his 'sorrow'.
Heh, there's no way Bob will fall for-
"That's terrible!" The idiot seemed moved by my 'young sibling' as he patted his head consolingly.
"I'm not sure of the full circumstances, but can't you forgive this child?" Bob asked sympathetically.
It was only now did I realise that just because I had 'worn' his Identity for quite some time didn't mean I'd understood this idiot all that well... The guy called 'Bob' was more than his memories
Okay, now I have to handle this well. I am not Simon anymore, I'm Harmony. I'm different from him!
But...
"...I can't."
Fudge, what am I supposed to say when Bob's treating him like a 'helpless child'. I know Simon (Chaos) is supposed to be ten right now, but isn't that a high age in this world? Why are you looking at me like you're be devastated after my rejection?
"Sister, can I stay with you? I don't have anywhere to go." Chaos spoke with an innocent-looking face.
"I'm homeless as well. So deal with it."
"You both can stay with my mom!" Bob's great generosity came into play as he offered us a home.
I'd be feeling butterflies in my stomach if it wasn't for Chaos secretly looking at me arrogantly as if I'd underestimated his social prowess. I guess the rumours I heard about him were inaccurate.
...I'm gonna finish you when I have the chance!
"Hey, gremlin."
"Yes, my dearest older sister?"
"Harmony, isn't calling your younger brother a gremlin too much?!" Bob defensive mode was 'on'.
"I'm going to forget we're 'related' if you ever repeat the same mistake again." I told him grimly.
The mischief disappeared from his eyes for a second before he nodded his head in response.
"And Bob, I accept your offer."
"You do...?!" I could tell he just realised what his offer entailed, but he didn't retract his words.
He was kind that way.
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FlowingWaves
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