Chapter 60: The Things Worth Returning To
Blue particles slowly surrounded Nobody’s body. The underground dungeon disappeared piece by piece. The burned corpse of the boss centipede faded from view.
The broken walls, the smoke and the lightning marks everything vanished.
FWOOOOOSH
The next second....
Nobody landed back inside the tutorial chamber with the familiar blue transparent walls surrounding the area.
THUD.
"...Ugh..." His legs almost gave out immediately.
The exhaustion finally hit him properly now that the battle was over. Burn marks still covered parts of his office clothes. Small cuts remained across his arms.
His breathing stayed uneven.
"Haaah..."
"Haaah..."
Across the chamber Ren sat casually on the couch exactly like before. That smug smirk on his face.
He slowly clapped twice. "...Well..you nailed it in this fight."
Nobody stared at him blankly for a second. Then pointed dramatically. "NAILED IT?! I BARELY SURVIVED BECAUSE OF BLOSSOM AND SKILL!"
Ren laughed quietly. "But you survived."
Nobody sighed deeply before dropping onto the floor. "...Barely."
Blossom Bunny suddenly appeared beside him through particles of light.
POOF!
"Atta!"
Nobody weakly patted the little bunny’s head. "...You carried me harder than the system."
The system instantly appeared.
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[Objection] (╯°□°）╯
System Assistance Was Sufficient
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Nobody narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah I know...You literally gave me a skill called Zig Zag Teleportation."
The system paused for a second.
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[Skill Was Effective]
But User did good too（￣︶￣）
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"...You know what?...Fair enough."
Ren smirked while leaning back into the couch. "That weird skill actually suited you."
Nobody groaned dramatically. "All thanks to the weird skill I purchased...I survived"
Ren slowly shook his head. "Skills don’t matter."
Nobody looked at him.
Ren continued,"What matters...is how people utilize them with proficiency."
The chamber became slightly quieter after that sentence.
Nobody stared at his hands silently for a moment. Then slowly nodded. "...Yeah...I guess you’re right." He remembered the chaos from earlier.
The random teleportation, the panic, the fear. " At first, I felt the skill was completely corrupted. It was really uncontrollable and ridiculous. But somehow....I adapted to it and used it. And turned it into my advantage."
A small grin appeared on Nobody’s face. "...Still think the name sounds goofy though."
Ren burst out laughing again. "Well...you should really follow that proverb sometimes."
Nobody said," Which one?"
Ren said, "Don’t judge a book by its cover. You can find many valuable things if you can perceive its inner values too."
Blossom Bunny suddenly jumped onto the couch proudly. "Atta!"
Ren looked toward the bunny with amusement."...You did a better job than Bowlcut."
Nobody instantly pointed at himself in betrayal. "EXCUSE ME?! You never praise me so nicely like you’re praising Blossom now."
Ren said to Nobody,"You seem jealous of the little one. Don’t worry, Blossom, you did a great job in supporting him."
Blossom Bunny happily gave a tiny salute. "Atta!"
Ren nodded seriously. "Very professional."
Blossom Bunny proudly puffed its chest out.
Ren lightly patted the bunny’s head. "Always take care of Blossom." His tone suddenly became calmer. "...Who knows...you might miss him."
Nobody blinked slowly. "...What’s that supposed to mean?"
For the first time, Ren’s smile weakened slightly. But only for a second. "...It’s nothing."
Nobody narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "...That definitely didn’t sound like nothing."
But Ren simply leaned back again lazily. "Overthinking already?"
"Nah.." Nobody sighed deeply again. "...Ren..." His voice sounded more tired this time. "...I’m really tired." The excitement from victory had already started fading.
Now...only exhaustion remained.
Physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion. Even emotional exhaustion.
"...When is all this supposed to end?"
Ren looked toward the glowing blue walls surrounding the tutorial area. Then answered calmly. "...Still a lot of days left."
Nobody’s face immediately fell. "...You serious?"
Ren smirked slightly. "Keep patience."
Nobody looked like his soul almost left his body.
"...I miss my Shining Blossom world already."
Ren pointed toward the hallway. "Go rest before Stage Four cooks your remaining sanity."
"...Please stop saying things like that." Nobody slowly stood up while groaning dramatically. His legs still hurt from the previous battle.
Blossom Bunny jumped back onto his shoulder. "Atta."
"...Yeah yeah let’s go."
The automatic doors of the chamber slowly opened.
SSSHHHH
Nobody walked through the hallway quietly. The glowing lights along the walls reflected softly against the polished floor.
"Everything feels so strangely peaceful compared to the nightmare dungeon from earlier. No screeches, no explosions, no giant worms trying to eat me alive....Nice....I prefer this."
Eventually,he reached his room.
1308.
The metallic door slid open automatically.
Nobody immediately collapsed onto the bed face-first.
FWUMP.
"...Finally..." The mattress felt heavenly after everything he went through.
Blossom Bunny rolled softly beside him.
Nobody stared upward toward the ceiling quietly.
And for the first in a while after coming here his thoughts drifted somewhere else.
"...Oyy system."
The system window instantly appeared.
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[System Present]
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Nobody slowly turned toward the floating screen. "You still got the photo gift copy right?"
The system responded immediately.
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[Affirmative]
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Nobody stayed quiet for a second. Then spoke softer this time. "...Then give me one."
The next moment....soft blue particles gathered above his chest.
FWOOOSH
A photograph slowly materialized.
Nobody grabbed it carefully.
And then his expression changed completely.
It was the pastry shop photo of him and Toma together. Toma smiling brightly toward the camera. Nobody sitting awkwardly behind her eating pastry.
The peaceful normal moment. A moment that now felt incredibly far away.
Nobody stared silently at the photo. His chest felt strangely heavy.
After all the chaos...
All the fighting...
All the monsters...
He finally realized something. He genuinely missed her.
A small sad smile appeared on his face. "...Man...I’m really missing Toma."
The room stayed silent.
Even Blossom Bunny looked toward the photo quietly.
Nobody lightly rubbed the corner of the picture with his thumb.
"...Guys...You’re also missing her too...I know you are."
Nobody wasn’t joking. He slowly looked toward the ceiling again while holding the photo close.
"...I guess...I have to complete this tutorial training...to finally go back."
Blossom Bunny slowly curled up beside the pillow. "Atta..."
Nobody lightly smiled. "...Yeah....We’ll go back."
The system suddenly appeared again beside the bed.
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[Tutorial Notice]ヽ(✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)ノ
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Nobody slowly looked toward it. "...Hm?"
New text appeared.
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[Stage 4 Preparation In Progress]
Remaining Time Until Next Stage:13 Hours 42 Minutes
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Nobody instantly looked offended. "...Can this system not give me depression before sleeping?"
The system ignored the complaint completely.
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[Recommendation]
User Should Properly Rest o(-`д´- ｡)
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Nobody sighed dramatically. "...You know...you sound strangely caring sometimes."
Blossom Bunny suddenly hopped once on the bed. "Atta!"
Nobody lightly laughed. "...Yeah yeah, you’re caring too."
He carefully placed the photograph beside the pillow. Then pulled the blanket over himself slowly. The room lights dimmed automatically.
Nobody closed his eyes tiredly. "...Stage Four huh...Please don’t be another giant nightmare bug."
The system immediately responded one final time.
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[Unable To Disclose Stage Information]
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Nobody pointed weakly toward the screen without opening his eyes. "...Suspicious answer."
Then, after a few seconds, his voice became quieter and calmer.
"...Yeah....Good night, all."
