Curse The Mainframe!
/ Curse the Mainframe! 262 Why Are You Here?
Both men inwardly sweated. Any closer and they would have actually ended up kissing.
Much to their relief, Alec had managed to steer himself clear.
Alec picked himself off the ground, looking around.
What the hell just happened there?
When the System looked around, he realized that they were no longer in the previous forest, nor were they in the cave any longer.
With the absence of the shadows that crept around in every corner, this forest appeared much brighter in contrast.
The forest was a lush green, and Alec couldn't see any defining characteristics about it at the moment.
Of course, it was a different matter when he spread his senses out.
If there was one thing about it that stood out to him, it was the feeling that there were stronger monsters and creatures here.
The forest almost seemed to teem with life, and even the trees seemed more developed compared to those that existed back in the Kaoriht continent.
If he had to describe it properly, it would be that the trees were on the verge of becoming creatures without any help from Alec's Awakening at all.
No matter what his sight was telling him, his senses were telling him otherwise.
The magic in this place was a lot denser and heavier compared to the Kaoriht continent. It made every breath that he took in that much lighter.
"What the fuck," Sekai picked himself off the ground. "Toto, are we still in Kansas?"
Alec ignored him. "Ye Sha, this isn't the Kaoriht continent anymore, right?"
Ye Sha was busy pulling up various screens and busily tapping away. "Yeah. This definitely isn't the Kaoriht continent. Still, this isn't another realm either. It's just a different continent. At least, that's what the I'm reading from this."
There was a loud crash nearby, and the grunt of pain from a monster. There were hollow thuds as the sounds of multiple trees falling were heard.
Alec looked in that direction. It was far enough, but it was still within his range.
He could sense a humanoid figure and a very large monster. The person had it well in hand.
Of course, Alec was just going to sit back and leave it to whoever that was since they didn't have enough information yet.
"That's Elysia."
Alec twitched bodily, ignoring Sekai's side-eye.
"What?" Alec hissed. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, I just checked the data and it appears that Haphira did something to link your vicinity to Elysia. At least, you have to be in the same continent. So, she probably tripped into something that sent her to the next continent and dragged you along for the ride. Since Sekai was in contact with you, he was dragged along as well."
Why… just why!?
Alec had the impression from Haphira that the dragon wasn't really worried about Elysia's wellbeing – or rather, that she could take care of herself, but then he ended up doing something like this!?
How had he not realized that the dragon had done something to them?
Ye Sha had no idea when this had happened either.
Hmm… Alec groaned in his mind. This meant that the System's data wasn't infallible.
Of course, that should have been a natural reaction to anyone, but as someone that had been living as a System for a long time, it had not taken long for their doubts to fall away.
It almost seemed as if the Mainframe had everything under its control, so much so that it had almost seemed like a natural conclusion that that was the case.
He hadn't realized how much of it affected his judgement regarding that area.
Alec silently chided himself and made sure that he would be more conscious in the future.
As much as he knew that success came hand in hand with mistakes and stumbles, Alec never liked that process.
Alec was much too stubborn to give up, which was precisely why he hated it so much when others were lazy.
Still, he'd kept his distance for a reason, goddammit!
The monster seemed to be a rank four monster, and the mere thought of Elysia didn't send his heart fluttering like before.
Perhaps it was because he knew that there was no way that Elysia would be that weak if she was connected to a dragon.
He cautiously patted his heart and was relieved to note that it was his normal heartbeat.
It looked like him keeping his distance worked, right?
Elysia was facing off a rank four monster, which was the equivalent to an advanced rank in humans.
Still, he knew that she was only in the foundational rank, one rank below him.
Had she made such progress in the few months that he was away?
Sure enough, she was a Main Character, alright!
Come to think of it, wasn't this idiot a Main Character too?
Alec turned to look at Sekai, who looked like he was befuddled. He silently turned away. They weren't even in the same league!
Alec chucked over the sheathed sword that he was still clutching in his other hand, and Sekai caught it without a problem. At least the other had top-notch reflexes.
"Haha, thanks!" Sekai flexed, his confidence coming back with his trusty sword in hand.
And then, of course, like the muscle-brained idiot he was, he charged off into the distance, directly at the sounds of fighting that was still going on.
Alec took a beat to react, before he ran in the same direction.
What he saw was Elysia's graceful figure as she dodged, a big grin on her face as she stabbed the monster in the vitals.
She was a blur of silver as she dodged the monster's movements minutely, and always at the last second.
She had a few bruises that were already blooming on pale skin, but more than that, she looked like she was having fun.
Alec discreetly put his hand on his heart, but it was beating at a normal pace, much to his relief.
He was pleased.
He'd managed to shut out these unnecessary emotions in the time that he'd been away from her.
Still, even when Sekai also threw himself into the fight with a roar, she didn't blink at all.
Instead, her movements turned quicker, and she hit harder as she coordinated with him.
Elysia let out a laugh as she joyfully hit the monster to her heart's content now that there was someone to share the burden of the monster's attentoin. Her bright smile never once left her face, and she seemed to enjoy the combat situation to the fullest.
Sekai seemed to realize it as well, and he gave the strange new girl a speculative glance.
Alec felt something surge inside of him, only to realize that he had no idea what he was feeling.
In the end, the System just shoved the feelings back behind the wall and was relieved when he went back to normal.
That's right. This was how he was supposed to be. Well… if he just treated the other normally like all his Spectres, then he should be fine.
Between the two Main Characters, it didn't take them long to take care of the monster between them, even if it was a higher rank than them.
Sekai let out a bellow of happiness, flicking off the blood on his sword. "That felt great!"
He hadn't moved his body after he cooped himself up in the cave for those few days, and his body had been all stiff.
This little girl wasn't too bad, either.
He smelt the scent of a strong person, and Sekai's eyes burned when he stared at her.
He wanted a match!
Just as he was about to step forward and challenger her, Alec stepped in, giving Sekai an unreadable look.
"Elysia. It's been some time."
Elysia's eyes sparkled as she looked at Alec's face. There was no way she'd forget about the first friend that she made!
"Alec!" Elysia greeted happily, bouncing forward. She hugged him gently, and Alec, thank *fuck*, did not feel himself react.
He could do this.
"Why are you here?"
Sekai sulked when he realized that he wasn't going to get a fight from her any time soon.
Elysia brushed her bangs out of her face. "Hmm, well. I was out for a mission for the sect."
Chapter end
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