Chapter 6: THE CONTRACT

"W- wait, can we just talk this out.  We don't wanna die, okay. We need to talk peacefully about this..."

This is bad I don't have the strength right now and I'm not sure if I could evade a gunshot.

"Hm? What do you want to talk about?"

This...

" What's in it for us? Will we gain anything if we agreed? And I don't want a bullsh*t answer. "

I said while staring at the gun that was pointed at us.

" Oh about that. I can give you strength and the assurance that you'll get out of this place alive. I can assure that."

Kyle spoke words that were a bit out of my expectations.

" Strength and the assurance of our lives, right?"

"Yes"

I'm not sure why he was saying this, but I could see that he was confident. This time I think he was honest.  Perhaps we could really escape this place.

" So how about it?"

Kyle urged us to answer, upping his gun.

I look at Miriam, she was not sure about the situation. She stopped thinking when she saw the gun. Her face was pale, and I could see that she was frightened. 

Hehe, how ironic. I gain another Skill and fought a hobgoblin.  I won, but this guy would kill me just like that. I'm pathetic...

It just I couldn't get out this feeling that if I fought him I would surely die. My intuition said that this person was stronger than me. One wrong move and I would die.

"I'm waiting~"

" Your plan... is it dangerous? I repeat we don't want to die. "

For now, I would do everything to salvage this situation.

" It depends, I'm just saying the truth. I can only tell you that I have information on how we will level faster than the others. When you are strong, your survivability will increase. Is that reason enough for you? This is the only thing I can tell you right now."

Kyle smirked and said with a tone of supremacy.

"... Sigh. Yes, it's enough."

As if I have a choice. You are threatening us using a gun. We will die if we say no. You're a crazy bastard aren't yah!?

"Then from now on, we are a team. I promise the two of you will get stronger."

Kyle put the gun down. The deadly atmosphere vanished out of the thin air, hah, now I could take a breath.  He sure had a fast change of heart. You are confident that we will never fight huh...

" W- wait! I need to clarify this. Why us? I mean I understand why you want to recruit Mikael, but why me? My Skill is not an offensive type. I can't help you much! " 

Nice question, Miriam. I couldn't believe that you have the guts to ask him that.

" Nope, you're wrong. Your Skill, Clairvoyance, I need it. You have the same potential as Mikael. "

My potential?… How did he know about Miriam's Skill? I believe Miriam didn't tell him the Skill's name... Why do I feel like Kyle will have a big role here in Awakening? Is there anything about him that's different from us... For now, I'll trust my gut feel and follow him. I think I will not die as long as I follow him, he had this charisma.

"Okay, I accept it, I'll help you"

" Hehe, I promise you that you'll never regret this"

I hope.

However, I had a feeling that this man was hiding something. He was a mystery. He was confident and he looked strong.  I feel like he knew something. Perhaps this decision was the right thing.

" Since we are a team now. I'll give the first rule: don't ask me anything that will make me annoyed to answer"

" Hey! Who said you're gonna be the leader, I don't accept it! "

Sigh, Miriam, we don't have the ability to argue with that kind of man. After all, he has a gun.

" Hoh, so you don't want?"

"... Yes leader."

Miriam shut her mouth when Kyle tapped his magnum. 

" Good. Second: do what I tell you to do. Except for these two things I don't have any rules. Don't you worry, I give good rewards to my loyal dogs"

... I hope I don't regret this. 

{ Announcement: The Awakening event has officially ended, since there are no more monsters in every District. All of the Awakeners that reached level 10 will return back on Earth. }

Looks like this event will going to end, and I'm not going back to Earth.

{ After half an hour, all of the left Awakeners will be transported to the Punishment Event. Thank you very much~}

Punishment? A word that made my imagination go wild. Are we going to receive torture? 

" Kyle, you said that we can return back on Earth.  You're not lying, aren't you? "

I asked him just to make sure.

" Yes, six months. If we are still alive for six months. We will be transported back to Earth."

"  Six months, huh. Fine, I'm not gonna die. I'll will reach six months and leave this place. "

" Good, I like that determination. Survive these six months and you'll see your family again. I promise you that you'll receive strength if you follow me."

Kyle tapped my shoulder, it was heavy.

.....

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...

..

.

After an hour we heard the voice again.

{ Commencing Punishment Event...}

The three of us were teleported in a castle-like building. 

{ 6,735 Awakeners reach level 10+ in district 3}

{ 76,097 people will receive punishment in district 3}

"76 thousand? District 3? What is happening here?"

Miriam murmured. She was clueless, the same as I.

" Don't think about that right now. Focus on being stronger and how you'll survive in this event"

Kyle answered my question, but it was not an answer that I want. Anyway...

" Miriam, now that I think about it, I didn't see Lexis? "

" Actually, I've seen her it's just her lower half was... gone"

Miriam stated and her face became pale, it seemed like she saw something horrible.

I opened my mouth and a simple " ah..." came out. Poor Lexis, may your soul rest in peace.

" Kyle, what's your nationality?"

" Canadian, why are you asking?"

"Nothing, don't mind me."

I looked around the place. I saw many people of different nationalities.

" This is utter bullshit! I must get out of here! I'm Samuel Medici. My father is a senator of the USA. I don't have time for this! Who's in charge of this f*cking place!? I need to talk to her!!"

Wow, even those curse words were translated. I find it amazing. A son of a senator was now shouting to the sky because he was unwilling to partake in this event. Well, sucks to be you. You could say that this Awakening bla bla was fair and equal.

" Mikael, Miriam I want you to follow me. We don't have time to listen to those barking dogs."

Kyle, did you experience a crazy childhood? 

......

....

...

..

.

We left the Castle's atrium and took steps to the lower floor.

" Boss, what are we gonna do here?"

" Boss? What am I a gangster? My name is Kyle, just call me that. About your question, while the other Awakeners are busy and saying their dissatisfactions. We will go and search for some Artifacts that we can use."

" Artifact? "

As in archaeology? Those old antique thingy? Is he talking about the ancient items that were buried underground?

" This castle had Artifacts and Items that need to discover. There are weapons that have certain effects and I want you to find them."

Ah, I think he was talking about gears and weapons. Just like my armor that I lost...

" W- Wait, you are too fast. I can't understand what you're talking about. What's Artifact? "

She was right, I get the gist about what the Artifact is. What I need to know is where I could find it.

"Tch, rule no. 1"

"...."

(Don't ask me anything that will make me annoyed to answer.) Wow, he got us in the palm of his hand.

" Just follow my instructions, okay. I want you to find any Item that you can use. You will understand it when you see it."

"... Then I'll go to the armory. Maybe I can find Artifacts there."

"I'll go with Mikael."

Kyle said that we must find Items that we could use. Then the armory is the best answer. I'm confident that there are at least one or two items that we can use in the armory... but the question is. Where's that place is?

I try to ask him but looked like he guessed my question before I even asked.

" Take that left side and you'll see the armory"

" Thank you, Kyle, and you? Where are you going?"

" I have something I need to do on my own. "

... Sigh. Okay, you're the Boss.