The Strong And Weak

As soon as he was finished, Gin wiped his bloodied hands into Luke's shirt. Standing up, he proceed to walk where Jasmin, who was affected by Luke's attribute. Walking slowly at Jasmin, Gin glanced half of his head at Luke and saw his chest was going up and down.

He was still breathing.

Gin didn't mind it and just avert his attention, focusing his sight on Jasmin. It only took a few seconds until Gin was now in a position where Jasmin is sleeping soundly.

'This woman... looks like I'll be carrying her,' Gin mused inwardly as he let out a tired sigh on his mouth before he carry Jasmin, at the same time, bringing the bag that has food on it.

Bringing Jasmin was easy as she was light but the bag of food wasn't the case.

Still, Gin remained strong and carried the two baggage in silence. As Gin moved, he continuously activated his eyes, just making sure if the monsters are nearby.

Minutes passed and Jasmin was showing signs of waking up. She could feel someone supporting her and saw it was Gin after opening her eyes slowly.

Then, her eyes become wide when she saw Gin had cuts and bruises over his face. She fell silent and her mind quickly began to work but stopped when she heard Gin speaking.

"Find a hole for us to stay, Jasmin. I'll explain what happened." Gin spoke with a pained voice.

Gin was only tired and all he wanted to do is rest a bit.

Nodding her head, Jasmin immediately move as regret started to creep inside her, regretting that she was a burden to Gin. She let go of his grasp and quickly grabbed the food bag in his hand.

"Do you want me to carry you?" Jasmin asked and saw Gin shaking his head.

As only being a burden throughout all the time, Jasmin disagrees and forcefully takes his arm and started to walk side by side after.

"..."

Silence enveloped the two that it felt loud on their ears until Jasmin decided to break it by speaking to Gin.

"I'll get strong to protect you, Gin. Let me be someone who can help you so that this wouldn't happen again." Jasmin promised as her voice showed seriousness.

She etched the promise inside her mind, even though the occupation she had was not related to protecting or fighting.

"Hmm..." Gin hummed, "I think you're not fit for the role. You should think and just think. I think that's the perfect role for you. Like a strategist or something."

Gin paused as he let out a chuckle, "Of course, you can improve but it's not my decision on anything that would happen in your life. It's yours. And hey, don't worry about me, I'm a bit strong you know."

Hearing his joke, Jasmin let out a sigh but she felt quite startled on the inside, 'Why does he sound like I picked a strategist job? N-no way... It seems impossible. Yes, it's impossible. I didn't even tell him what kind of occupation I have and—'

Alas, she was completely wrong as Gin could clearly saw her status window while looking at her.

'When did she get that? I can't check her status window because we've been running for a whole time.' Gin mused before he formed a faint smile on his face, 'But I think it's really perfect for her. With her attribute processing added, it would be really good for her.'

[{Status Window}

Name: Jasmin Foler

Age: 22

Sex: Female

Title: None

Disposition: Persisting Quick Thinker

Occupation: Strategist

Vitality: 10

Strength: 8

Agility: 14

Physique: 9

Intelligence: 17

Luck: 18

Magic: 14

Stamina: 16

Element: Water

{Attributes}[Processing][Bronze-Level] [Proficiency 3.98%]

[System Evaluation]

[She is a good hearted person from inside and out with someone trying to corrupt her. It's you I'm talking about. Her occupation is really good for her, adding her processing and strategist will surely make her shine. But there is one problem, it is you. So please get away from her, you dirty bastard.]

'Ugh... just why do you hate me much, evaluation. As if I'm really a bad guy.' Gin said inwardly as he felt slightly hurt, 'It slightly pains my heart, you know? Sigh, if only—'

Suddenly, he stopped talking inwardly when he saw a screen appearing in front of him.

[Attribute-Truth Eyes has unlocked a new ability]

"Hmm...?" Gin hummed as he saw a screen appeared that appeared beautiful in his eyes.

It looked like a gem he had stumbled on the way accidentally.

Seeing it, Gin didn't waste more time and quickly read the thing he just received. After reading it carefully for a few seconds, he thought that he just received something good.

'Although it is not an attack-type, I think it is worth it.' Gin mused before continuing, 'But I really wish there is something I can use for attacking. Will that time come?'

As Gin was thinking, Jasmin was looking intently at him before she asked carefully, "Uncle, is that your—Uhm... please don't be mad. Is that your attribute?"

She thought she wouldn't receive an answer or she will, yet Gin would make excuses to hide it. But to her surprise, she didn't receive those two.

"Yes."

"Eh?" Jasmin blurted out loud as he was left dumbfounded when he received the answer she wasn't expecting.

It was weird as she knew someone wouldn't just agree to what she had said. It is his own attribute and telling a stranger is not good. She thought that Gin would show annoyance and stuff yet Gin's face was casual as ever.

"Uhm… you can just say no if you don't want to tell it to me, you know?" Jasmin said.

"I said it because I think you can be trusted Jasmin, so it's all good." Gin spoke with all honesty.

For some reason, Jasmin felt glad and happy as he heard Gin saying those words without hesitation.

Jasmin smiled and chuckled faintly, "Thank you, Gin. I'll get stronger as a payment."

Gin smiled back and thought, 'You better be. It's natural; because I save your life and it's all good to have other people who will protect me.'

Gin paused and sighed, 'What a life. So I just need to talk sweetly to someone and they'll protect me too, huh.'

His happy thoughts were only interrupted when Jasmin, who is beside him, speak, saying,

As Gin continued to think happy thoughts, he stopped thinking when he had been interrupted by Jasmin. "Uhm… instead of waiting for a place to stay, can you tell me what happen between you and Luke?"

Not wanting to wait any longer, Jasmin finally asked the reason for Gin to have so many injuries. She was curious how everything happen between the two of them.

Hearing how serious her voice is, Gin sighed before he said, "We fought and fought, finally I brought him down. His attribute is really annoying ability but I managed to dodge it because he will have to look at you to activate it. Yeah, that's it."

Gin all said the words without any pause, making it sound believable.

But, it was all a lie. No battle or dodging had happened. It's just that, many things are just not needed to be said as Gin knew it would destroy his image on Jasmin.

Fully believing Gin, Jasmin nodded and comes to a conclusion, "I see... I understand now. So that's why when I was about to be stunned, he looked at me with a smile. Is that how that thing actually works? Yeah, maybe it is."

Then, Jasmin forget something before she asked, nervously, "Where is he now?"

"He is dying now."

"Eh?"

"He will die don't worry." Gin spoke in a cold tone, "Monsters will come sooner and later to eat him that's why I suddenly move to get out on that place. That guy needs to pay for his wrong deeds."

Remembering that he also planned it when things go haywire, Gin felt guilty but not now as somebody already that the deed, which is Luke and Fritz.

'They're the one at fault now. Yes... it's their fault.'

He convinces his mind to think that way.

'No, why would I think that I'm involved? It is them who did it… yes, they're the one at fault, so yes…'

"..."

An awkward silence descended resulting in them shutting their mouths. Jasmin felt sorry for what Gin had done but also understood why he did it.

'Uncle will dirty his hands in the future... looks like I have to prepare also,' Jasmin said inwardly before speaking to Gin, "Uncle... I'm sorry about getting you hurt and actually killing someone.—"

"No, you don't have to say sorry. In this kind of situation, you need to be mentally and physically strong." Gin spoke in a serious tone, "If you're not strong, many will hurt you and if you're strong, then maintain it that way. This applies to you and me."

Seeing her didn't understand what that meant, Gin tapped her head before continuing. "The ones who died at the village is an example. They died because they're not strong. That applies to Fritz too. He is strong and will remain strong. That's why..."

Gin paused and muttered in a low voice, "That's why he needs to be killed..."

Although Gin lowered his voice so that Jasmin couldn't hear it, for some reason Jasmin heard it and slightly tilt her head as the name was quite unfamiliar to her.

'Who's Fritz? Is he someone Gin knew? Hmm, did I hear that name somewhere?' Jasmin mused as she had those questions inside her head.

Though he clearly heard the name, Jasmin wouldn't let her curiosity take her so she shut her mouth. She nodded her head on Gin and continued to find a place to stay.

Jasmin let Gin walk all by himself and keep finding a cave but no to avail, she can't find anything available as the holes have always been connected to some other holes, making it dangerous to stay as monsters would be just appearing out of nowhere.

Watching Jasmin moving, Gin hold his chin and thought, 'This structure is really something. It's so long and big. If this is only the tutorial, how big is the outside then?'

Whoosh!

While the two are searching for a place to stay, Fritz and his men have finally arrived at the place where Luke is located.

Fritz stands in his place as he watches Luke, who had been beaten up with stained blood on his shirt and an arrow on both of his hands.

Fritz slowly walk towards Luke and saw it was not a monster's fault. It was bruises that is a result of someone beating him up.

Moving a little bit more closer, Fritz could hear Luke muttering something in a low voice but he couldn't care less what it is.

Luke, who had a lifeless face on his face right now, slowly blink his eyes and saw a familiar face in front of him. His lifeless face turned opposite as he saw Fritz in front of him, whom he trusted so much.

Not wanting to take that he was hallucinating, he blinked his eyes many times and it really was his boss.

Tears started to fall on his eyes as he look at Fritz which somehow appeared like an angel rescuing him, On the other hand, Fritz remained looking but the disappointment was clearly placed on his face.

"Bo…ss finally you're here. Plea..se, sa..ve me..." Luke spoke in broken words as he looked at Fritz with shining eyes.

He finally found another chance to live. He is sure that Fritz would save him as his attribute was really useful to him. He would also get revenge on Gin who did all of this to him.

"Oh, Luke…" Fritz paused as he look at Luk with sad eyes.

A full second later, Fritz's sad expression turned into a happy one.

"Now that I think about it, maybe he intends to do this in the first place. Baiting you and finally putting you in this situation. What a guy!" Fritz spoke with a surprised tone as he remember the face of Gin when he leaves the safe zone, "Instead of killing him, maybe I'll recruit him."

"Boss…?" Luke called his boss as he seems to didn't understand what Fritz is saying.

He was about to retort back and tell something but something made him stop, but it was enough to make him scared.

Screech!

"Oh! The monsters are coming." Fritz spoke in a joking manner as he and his group heard a screeching sound from afar. "Maybe they smell your disgusting blood, luke. Ba-bye."

Fritz then face his men and ordered them to move out. His men nodded, not wanting to disobey Fritz. After they give Luke disgusting looks, they began to move.

Seeing the faces of his comrades and the boss he trusted so much, Luke became scared and quickly called Fritz, "Boss! Please don't leave me!"

Then, Fritz remembered something, "Oh, wait, wait! I can teach you something you don't know! I'll do well next time, so please…! Save me! I don't wanna die...!"

Fritz stopped midway as he listen carefully at Luke's statement, making his body look back and speak with a smile on his face, "Teaching me that I don't know? That's really tempting, Luke…"

Hearing the words he wanted to hear, Luke's face had brightened up for a second before turning scared once again.

"That's tempting but how can I know that you're telling the truth and not lying?" Fritz spoke with facts, "Do they say that desperation at life's end, will make your mind worked fast. I now see that it really is true."

Fritz paused, "I know you just want me to save your pathetic life but it will not work on me. Anyway, monsters are coming so it's still useless when I'm not alive, right?"

Hearing those answers which Luke clearly understand what it meant, he began to please louder at Fritz, trying if his luck would work. "Please! Please! I'll become stronger and do good next time—!"

Fritz and his men started to run, not minding Luke's pleading.

"There's no next time this world…" Fritz muttered under his breath before glancing one last time at Luke's pathetic state before disappearing from Luke's sight.

"Boss…?" Luke muttered in a low voice but this time, no one answered.

Veins popped from his head before shouting the name of his so-called boss

"Fritz!"

Tak!

'No…No! Please… Someone!' Luke begged inwardly as he started to cry.

Screech!

The screeches started to get louder, indicating that the monster was almost near him. A full second later, the stepping sounds and screeching slows down, replacing it with only growling sounds.

Hearing a growling sound near him, Luke slowly turned his head at the side and could see monsters in wolf-like form were now looking at him

"Get away—!" Luke shouted out loud but was forcefully stopped when the monster runs at him.

Crunch!

And started to eat him.

Crunch!

"Ughh!! Aghhh! Plea—Ughh! Ahhh! Pl—"

…

..

.

"Nash! Did you hear that?" Kisha urgently said as she heard a shout coming from somewhere.

All of them nodded their heads as they heard the pleading shout very clearly.

It was near them.

They didn't talk anymore and just started to run, finding the origins of the shout.