64. Confusion Growing
“aaa… It’s hard…”
Max was enjoying the short break he had been given, brushing his tousled hair and gulping down lukewarm water from the canteen.
After being recommended to join the Ranger by Austin, Max made a big decision and went back to his hometown to explain the situation to his parents.
Life at the ranger training camp was hard. He had to go through hellish training every single day, and he had to get used to the pain of tearing his muscles all over his body every morning due to excruciating muscle pain.
However, Instructor Pamela, who is in charge of the Ranger Training Center, had high expectations. Instructor Pamela’s reaction when he said he had come on Austin’s recommendation was, frankly, spectacle.
– You’re Austin’s wild dog? Really?
– Yes! You’re right!
– That bastard, he said he wouldn’t let anyone except Robin… What’s your name?
– Mae, it’s Max!!!
– …Yes, Max. It’s good to have a lot of spirit, but don’t stutter in front of me from now on.
It is said that when Austin stood out from the ranger training school, Pamela was the instructor in charge of him. Even after Austin got out of the ranger training camp and was assigned to the main ranger unit, he said he helped him a lot.
Max still remembers the first time he met Austin. Max grinned as he remembered the scruffy-looking Austin, with her mustache looking unkempt for days. A man like that is a Ranger who is called the best among the people Rangers have produced in recent years.
“…You must have been that famous.”
When he first set foot in the ranger training camp, Max was a little embarrassed.
Of course, I couldn’t help but be taken aback as there was a banner reading ‘Gyeong Ranger 101st Austin, congratulations on the final pass of the warrior party members’ standing at the entrance of the training center.
Austin’s jockey has been hailed as one of the best Ranger jockeys of all time. And, he is arguably the best among them.
Even if he confidently passed in the position to select the warrior party members, how proud would the Ranger who produced such an Austin be?
Even Max, who was still unfamiliar with the world, knew how honorable and great it was to be chosen as a member of the warrior’s party.
Although rumor has it that something bad happened when Austin kicked off the Ranger, Max was not seduced by rumors of unknown origin.
It’s only been 3 weeks since I trained with Instructor Pamela at the Ranger Training Center, but after only 3 weeks of training, it became easier to draw the bowstring than before. If he had not listened to Austin and continued his life as an adventurer, he would have died just as he had said.
“The break is over, kids! Line up in front of me within 5 seconds!”
“””YES!!!”””
“Ah… sh*t…”
With a deep sigh over the break that ended before anyone knew it, Max got up from his seat and ran towards where Instructor Pamela was standing.
I am determined that I will become a great ranger enough to stand proudly in front of Austin, and worthy of Austin’s name.
‘…By the way, what is Austin doing right now…?’
* * *
“Grrr! Sue, take a breath… Come on…”
With Gracie and the warrior hugging me to the point of breaking my ribs from behind me, it started to make it hard to breathe.
The fuzzy feeling that touched my back and chest was definitely the best feeling, but a vulgar death surrounded by my chest wasn’t my goal.
“Oh, Austin… Where are you going now? Right?”
“Austin. I’m sorry… My, because I’m reflecting a lot, never again…”
“Cheer!… No, this… Kinda…”
Oh my god.
The face of the deceased grandfather whom I did not know began to flicker before my eyes.
“Wait a minute! Everyone, stay away from seniors! You’re out of breath!”
“Wait a minute…! Guys, calm down!”
As I desperately gasped for a breath, Maya and Robin freaked out and began to struggle to get away from them somehow.
Luckily, as if Robin’s words suddenly came to his senses, Gracie and the hero hurriedly released their arms. Even if it was a little later, I could not do anything and almost died. The cause of death was due to chest compressions… A stampede surrounded by lumps.
…That might not be too bad.
From noble mtl dot com
No. Not this.
“Damn it… Kellogg! Kellogg!”
Every time I breathe, I hear a clicking sound and I can’t stop coughing as if my lungs are about to come out of my mouth. It seems like I’ve broken several ribs.
Was the hero’s power this strong? I think I’m stronger than before.
“New fluid…! New liquid…! Me, me…!”
“Oh, oh, oh! Uh, what should I do…! Sorry…!”
“Oh, Austin…! Are you okay?! No, this is not the time… The healing light…!”
As I took a quick breath, Isabelle restlessly placed her hand on my chest. The two people who actually made me into this sh*t were shouting Otoke all the time.
‘f*ckers…’
The warm light is evil! It spread, and it wasn’t long before I could feel the broken ribs snapping back together.
“Whoa…”
I eventually regained normal breathing, and immediately drank a glass of water in front of me.
This time, I thought I couldn’t even lift my finger and searched. I haven’t had my life threatened since I fought Galan.
I slammed down the glass of water I was drinking and glared at Gracie and the hero.
Boom!
“Are you crazy? If you’re going to kill Sifal, kill him without pain.”
“Oh, no… We didn’t mean to…”
On the other hand, from Isabelle and Maya’s point of view, they were going crazy and jumping. At best, I tried to coax Austin into a meeting, but I almost ended my life, let alone reconciliation.
“…Hero. I understand how you feel, but please calm down first.”
“Ugh, yeah… I’m sorry… Isabel, Austin.”
“…I’m sorry too. Apologize.”
After the Hero and Gracie finished their apologies, there was silence in the room for a while.
Only the sound of the luxuriously decorated wall clock hanging on the wall calmly filled the quiet room.
I rubbed my chest and let out a deep sigh. Good. No problem breathing.
“Osu… This time… Tied up…”
Ever since I was dragged into the room, Adrien, sitting in her corner, has been staring at me, mumbling the occasional incomprehensible speech of her.
“…First, shall we have a meal?”
I grabbed the booklet with the menu that Isabel had carefully handed over to me and opened it with Robin sitting next to her.
“…I don’t know what it is. Just do it roughly No matter what I eat right now, I don’t know if it will be digested or not.”
“…Yes. Okay…”
Maya ordered the food herself, and soon after, an employee who brought a serving tray opened the sliding door and set the food down.
“…For now, let’s eat.”
“……”
* * *
The atmosphere was so awkward that I wanted to set fire to the room, but I tried my best to contain it and put the food in my mouth.
“…Um. It’s delicious.”
There were women sitting right in front of me who were getting goosebumps just by looking at them, but the taste of the food was so delicious that it completely covered up any discomfort.
Robin already had a mouthful of food, her eyes twinkling, busily searching for the next bite to eat.
“Um! Whoops!”
“Robin. I have to swallow it all and say it. Don’t get your mouth dirty with sauce.”
“Wells … Gulp …! Seniors! It is so delicious!”
“Okay, so eat slowly. Anyone who sees it will know that I am starving you.”
As I wiped Robin’s mouth, her body shuddered as she felt as if a knife had been stabbed into her skin.
“…Who is he?”
At the hero’s cold words, the fork I was holding in my hand unknowingly dangling! Dropped it
I should have met her before when I fought Luna, but I don’t seem to remember.
I tried hard to pretend that nothing was wrong, then I picked up the fork and wiped it with a napkin before opening my mouth.
“Just. My party member.”
“…Party, Rani…? Come to think of it, the familiar…”
“Oh, didn’t you hear? I have a new party.”
“…Uh, yeah… That’s right…”
“Yes. Unlike you, selfish b*tches who don’t even think about my position, I’m maintaining a friendly party atmosphere.”
As soon as I said harsh words, the atmosphere immediately turned dark.
We quietly moved our hands and brought the food to our mouths.
“Whoa… So?”
After my stomach was almost full, I set the fork down on the table and asked Maya, who was depressed.
“So. What do you want to talk about?”
“…That’s it.”
Maya listened to my question and as if she had come, she began to mumble her mouth, blurring the end of her words.
I expected Maya’s backstory. Saying I’m sorry, saying I was wrong, saying that kicking you out of the party was a mistake… I pictured Maya spouting various gibberish, but none of those words could change my mind.
Anyone can say sorry with words. However, I want to receive a sincere apology from you guys.
Of course, you can’t turn back spilled water. They would forgive him if he offered a sincere apology, but he had no intention of going back to the warrior party.
“…Yes. Don’t be angry and listen…?”
“Yes. I’m listening, so talk quickly.”
Because I just ate sweet, salty, and spicy food, my mouth felt dry. I poured the water into the glass and passed it slowly down my throat, gesturing to Maya to talk.
“…If what we did to Austin…If it wasn’t our intention… What do you think…?”
Suddenly, he said something stupid. After rinsing my mouth with cold water, I let out the breath I had been holding in while drinking the water and asked.
“You didn’t mean to? What exactly does that mean?”
“…Literally, if the… Things we did to Austin… Weren’t our intentional actions… They were driven… By outside interference, things like that. ..”
Maya, whose voice was gradually diminishing, began to avoid my gaze, shrinking her body.
I pondered over Maya’s words.
As Maya said, if all the people who treated me badly were manipulated by someone…?
“…Hmm.”
Certainly, they must be unfair in their own way. If I think that I committed an unintended action and left an indelible scar on the other person…
To be honest, I still wondered why the hell he did that to me. Obviously, for the first year or so, they were harmonious without any major quarrels or conflicts of opinion, but it was strange that they slowly started to change.
At first, I thought it was because of the year-long killing spree, but… If that’s the case, I’ve been killing and living for twice as long, so I’m fine?
I continued to chew on Maya’s words. What if the way they treated me badly wasn’t what they intended?
“…I don’t know.”
“… Huh?”
“I don’t know. But even if that were the case, it wouldn’t make the things you guys did to me go away.”
“I-I-I-I-I’m sorry…”
My head hurt a little. Why did you suddenly bring up such a story? I wouldn’t have brought up such a story without a reason.
“…Why did you say that?”
When I opened my axe eye and asked coldly, Gracie opened her mouth.
“…Austin. The story I will tell you from now on… You may not believe it, but I want you to listen to it until the end.”
Since Gracie’s eyes on me were more serious than ever, I straightened up and took a serious attitude.
“The example given by Maya is true.”
“…What?”
“I don’t know how to explain this… To begin with, everything we’ve done to Austin… You…”
“Now, wait. Wait for a sec.”
“…All in all, it wasn’t the actions we intended. I guess I’d have to say he was undergoing some kind of brainwashing…”
I barely caught her mind wandering at Gracie’s words. No, is that true?
“…Are you sure?”
“Sure. We heard it firsthand from Huntly, we saw it with our own eyes, there is no doubt… It’s true.”
What the hell are you talking about? Her mind went giddy, but she managed to grab her head and gesture to Gracie.
“…Tell me more.”