At the same time, right at the entrance of the third floor of the Shrine...

"Hm?" I noticed something.

"Oh." Energy did as well, "Did you feel that just now?"

"Yeah, like an annoying itch someone placed on me." I scratched everywhere, but couldn't get the irritation to stop.

"Like someone messed up the timing." He added, "But for what?"

Yeah, that's it! Like when someone tries to call an event before it occurs, but they end up just looking stupid because they failed the prediction! It's that, isn't it? Second hand embarrassment. I guess it must have something to do with the Shrine if we can both feel it...

"Well, it hardly matters right now." He shook it off, "Alright, you stay here, where it's safe."

"I CAN fight, you know?" I crossed my arms with a pout, "I'm not unarmed."

"Mn, I guess that's true." He glanced at the unfamiliar weapon he gave me earlier, "In that case, just stick close to me."

Huh? That worked? Hold on, I still don't even know what this thing is, nor how it's used. I wanted you to tell me, but I guess if I asked now he wouldn't let me tag along. Hrm, how do I go about this...?

"A-Ahem! Actually, I haven't used these... things, in a while!" I cleared my throat, "They're... that, right? I think the ones we have from modern times look different, so the design is a bit different."

"Ah, given the distance between our eras, it's possible that Flashers have changed a bit over the ages." He noted.

So they're called Flashers, huh... I have no idea what that is. No, nevermind the fact that we don't have those in my time, but what the hell kind of a criminal name is that? Should I be worried? Like, is it gonna take my clothes off? Worse yet, is it like an X-Ray machine? I really wouldn't wanna see gramps' naked body, even if there's nothing to see under that armor.

"Ha-ha, I gotta admit, these are like... ancient." I found it hard to keep the farce up, "These ones look like regular old hand grenades, so I imagine if I pull the pin...?"

"Huh!? Migu, no-!"

That was when I learned why they're called Flashers. Thankfully they didn't disintegrate our clothes, but it did blind us with a White flash. Not only that, but the piercing sound it made completely deafened me. I thought I was dead for a moment, but him grabbing it out of my hands brought me back to my senses.

"Ugh, dammit! Don't keep the pin out for that long, idiot!" He chewed me out.

"What???"

"I said, don't keep the pin out, moron!" He kept lecturing, "I knew it! I didn't wanna believe it, but this idiot descendant of mine has never even heard of, much less used a Flasher before!"

"..."

"......"

"What???"

I feel bad for him wasting his breath like this, but I genuinely still can't hear anything he's saying. God, my ears are still zinging. What is this sensation? It's annoying! Huh, what's he motioning for me to do? Cup my ears?

"Ahhh~!" I smiled, "That feels better~! Oh, the buzzing stopped."

"Honestly, you should've told me you don't know what a Flasher is." He groaned, "Though I guess I should've checked with you first. I just assumed since everyone had a Flasher or two on them, it was a timeless weapon, but I guess not."

"No, leaving that aside, why the hell would that be useful for anyone?" I furrowed my brows.

"It's meant to be used for when you're cornered." He explained, "You pull the pin for a split second while your Eyes are closed, it blinds the enemy and deafens both of you."

"And?"

"And then..." He motioned for me to close my Eyes and cup my ears again as he pulled the pin, "See here?"

Squinting my Eyes open showed me what I didn't see before. The grenade-like weapon had grown a knife-like prong on its side, which was previously held in place by the pin. I see, so while you're both deaf, and the enemy is blind, you would use this to stab or slice them to bits before distancing yourself appropriately. It's pretty ingenious, but there's one thing that's bugging me.

"Does..." I inquired, "Does it work on the Rotted?"

"..."

He kept quiet for as long as he could, but as if worried that holding any info back could prove fatal for me one day, he eventually caved.

"...No, this only works on humans."

"Oh, I see."

The air around us grew awkward once again. At this point, I should just expect this is how every single one of our conversations is gonna end. Argh, I wish the next staircase would come soon so I could at least push him down!

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"...Sigh, well then, here you go." He handed it back to me.

"Eh? You trust me with it?" I tilted my head.

"Now that you know how it works, it should do you well." He explained, "Besides, we're up against bat roaches that are probably not used to any sort of light. I wouldn't be surprised if they just died from the shock of the flash, actually."

"Haha, wouldn't that be the day." I giggled.

Gods, what am I doing? Joking about and laughing with the stupid guy that killed Vastoria? At this rate, am I actually gonna end up forgiving him one day? Hell no, I miss Vastoria with every fiber of my being, s-so... Hmph, regretful or not, he's not gonna ever redeem himself in my Eyes!

"Hey, slow down a bit." He warned.

"Shut up!" I hissed back, "I'll do what I wan-!"

"Migu!"

Before I could even turn around, the large cockroach-headed bat already jumped me from a blindspot I apparently didn't pay enough attention to glance at. As hard as I screamed, it wasn't enough to deter it. My body froze up as it tore my spine off, rendering me paralyzed to use the Flasher in my hand. The last thing I saw was Energy slay the beast, before inspecting my wound and promptly smashing his head in with his own hammer.

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***

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"Wahp-!?"

"Shhh! It's okay, we're fine now." His hand immediately shut me up.

What? Where are we? Huh, the doorway right before the third floor...?

"I'm gonna remove my hand now, so promise you'll keep quiet." He slowly explained, "We can't make too much noise, or we'll alert them, got it?"

I slowly nodded in response, after which he made good on his promise.

"Puah! Was... Was what I just saw a dream?" I asked, "No, rather a nightmare."

"It's the Curse of the Third Floor. I remember it vividly..." He clicked his tongue, "So long as we're in it, we absolutely can't die. We'll just get brought back to here."

Oh right, Vastoria told us something like that last time. But didn't she call it a Blessing? I guess it depends on how you look at it. But wait, our wounds are healed too, and we even get to keep our memories. Yeah, no doubt about it, this is just another case of Energy being a prune.

"This is definitely a Blessing." I exhaled, "But wait, doesn't that mean we'll see our dead bodies once we reach that part of the jungle again?!"

"No, you only have this one body." He poked my forehead, for which he promptly got his hand smacked away, "Hm. Just some light teasing, no need to be so protective."

"Don't think I've forgiven you for the harm you've done." I glared, "You may be my relative, but that doesn't make us buddies."

For some reason, his aloof, dumbfounded stare made my blood boil. There's no way that he actually sees nothing wrong with his actions? Or is he just the self-centered type who thinks he can get away with anything?

"...Is this because of Vastoria?" He asked annoyingly.

"Yes! It's because you killed her!"

"Wait, you're still hung up on that?" He cocked his head back in genuine confusion, "She's dead, end of story. You need to move on, the world doesn't have time for your grief."

"Doesn't have ti-!?" I was appalled, "Okay then, by all means, go ahead! I'll stay back here grieving while you clear the path ahead by yourself!"

He didn't seem too sad about my suggestion. Of course, it's not like he lost much with me staying back, in fact I think it made his job easier since he doesn't have to look out for me as well, but I still find it annoying how he just doesn't care to argue back one bit.

"Really? Sure, thanks a lot." He smiled.

"No, you're supposed to be furious with me!" I stomped on the ground, "Are you even human!? How detached from the world are you to have such heartless replies!?"

"...Migu." He noticed my discontent before replying, "I'm sorry for not meeting your expectations, but my goal in life has always been, and will always be to survive."

Tch... I know that. In your damned world, emotions get you killed. You said it before, how the only way to live is to close yourself off. Pragmatic means efficient, and efficient means you won't die. I know it all, but...

"But still...!" I sniffled, "If you're like that, then what makes you any different from those Rotted you're so scared of?"

"There's a clear difference. You'd know if you were there." He immediately replied, "The Rotted feast on flesh, I do not. The Rotted fall only when their heads or hearts get destroyed, I fall to more. I have fine motor skills and speedier movements, the Rotted-!"

"Does it matter!?" I lashed out, "It's exactly that attitude that makes me question your humanity at all! You're no different than a wild beast in the forest, hopelessly scrounging up food that fell from the tree whilst desperately avoiding predators! Tell me, is that what a human is!?"

"...Is it...?" He paused before asking, "Is it not?"

Frankly, I couldn't even respond to that. I just defeatedly sat back down in the corner, shooing him away with my hand gestures periodically. Despite that, he just wouldn't budge.

"What's wrong? Didn't you say that wasting time is suboptimal?" I mocked.

"Migu, I think we need to talk about this more..." He sheepishly stood in place.

"I think YOU need to clear the jungle out! In fact, since you pride yourself on being such a wild animal, it should be a piece of cake for you!"

"Cake..." He looked down, "I'm sorry."

As if finally getting the hint, he promptly turned around before walking out of the safety of the doorway. I was left alone in the dark stoney corridor, watching him slowly walk away into the distance before he finally turned the corner and escaped my sight. Was that... a hint of sadness I saw in his Eyes?

"Guess I really hurt his feelings..." I thought to myself before shaking it off, "Gah! That bastard has no feelings, the hell am I saying! He's a heartless sociopath who killed Vastoria, so serves him right!"

Despite him putting on airs so confidently, however, it didn't take long before he returned to the room I was in. It happened while I was blinking, with the entire process being so seamless I genuinely didn't notice at first.

"..." He bashfully glared back at me, embarrassed.

"...Heh."

The corners of my lips couldn't help but mock him as they slowly raised into a grin. The man who claimed he survived the most cursed era of human history stood before me, teleported back after dying to a few measly bat roaches. His discontent was only amplified once he caught me making fun of him.

"I-I was careless." He tried to save face by acting all cool.

"Riiight~" I nodded before hurrying him along, "Well, thankfully you're a heartless piece of crap subhuman bastard, so this one flub won't get to you."

"Migu...!"

"The hell are you doing still standing there?" I shooed him off once more, "Go on, you're a lone wolf, ain't ya'? Prove to me that huge arsenal of weapons isn't just for the next person to loot!"

"Hrm..."

Mumbling and grumbling away as he left me alone a second time, I could hardly wait for him to turn the corner before loudly laughing my ass off. He was acting all heartless and vile just a moment ago, but now he's all shy and embarrassed! Hahaha, I hope he fails again just so I can keep making fun of him! This is way better than just pushing him down a flight of stairs! Ah, but I'm still definitely gonna keep doing that. He's not leaving this place without a broken ego, or at least a broken bone!