C245: 2060 (Part 2)

Chapter 245: 2060 (Part 2)   

John Rigen's perspective

August 27th, 2060 - United States Of America - New york

1:57 PM

Currently, I'm standing beside my wife and others in my group. We stand in the yard, outside of the military base to wait for Cawess' limousine. He is standing before me, waiting for his subordinate's signal to come in.

Before that, we had to change our clothes into other costumes of this world to fit the situation. Our weapons were confiscated and kept by the military... or so I thought. The  US soldiers who disarmed us were very... curious about our "ancient clothing" and our "cold weapons".  Needless to say, Cawess had also asked me the reason why we had them.

Finally, I told him almost everything. And he doubted my words, although his eyes seemed to have some trust in my words, but not much.

After changing the clothes, we gather here and wait for the Limousine to come till now. Hmmm... Seylee needs more time to prepare. The car is now moving backward, will be reaching us in no time.

"That iron horse is... very odd". - Reimi's words were heard by me, I secretly turned around to see her

"You're right, Reimi". - My wife replied to her.  "It's moving backward without anyone riding it...".  "Yet... it looks like a machine more than a creature".

Maybe I shouldn't interfere with them. I look at Shera and others closer, somehow all of us wear similar to each other. We did not wear military uniforms, but chose to wear normal clothes. My wife and I dress up similarly to each other.

We both wear black hoodies, with blue khakis and black jungle boots. About Reimi... she is a little bit different. Instead of changing clothes completely, she wears a red hoodie, opened zipper... a brown tunic behind it.

Sarah wanted to look around the place. So she decided to follow Seeley's instruction to a clothing shop nearby the military base. In the end, Sarah wears a blue shirt that seems to be used for a babysitter... hmmm.

Hatano picked a hoodie as always, of course with her favorite color, yellow. The hood has now covered her face completely, staying away from the sunlight.

Now... her face becomes darker and more mysterious. The sun cannot reach her face, and her brown eyeballs look so empty... and dark.

She stands beside her little sister, her hands keep putting in the pockets. I'm wondering what is she thinking about.

"That's our ride, get in". - Cawess told us to go, he approached the Limousine

The car's door opens on its own as his feet reach its only a few inches. I hear the flinch from Reimi, she is sure very cautious about things beyond her "medieval" knowledge and imagination. My wife is calmer, she does surprised but not too much as Reimi.

Except for my subordinates and me, only those two from the "ancient fantasy world" get many shocks. I can't blame them. They accidentally got into this world with us.

"You sit on the backside, alright?". - Cawess asked me.  "I will be with her, c'mon, let's move in". - He got in the car

"Smell it, sis?". - Sarah got inside the car and asked Hatano's thought

"Ummm... car's smells". - Hatano got in the Limousine

"Hey... try to get used to it...". - I gently led my wife and Reimi into the car

"Huh?". - Shera got confused

"It smells... odd". - Reimi covered her nose after smelling some car scents

Honestly, I hope my wife and Reimi won't feel nauseous from carsickness. This will be their first time traveling by car. Somehow I feel both funny and unpleasant while taking the seat.

What a familiar smell... after 2 years of living in another world.

"Alright...".  "Hit it, Seeley". - Cawess ordered Seeley to start the Limousine

"Startin', Sir". - I heard the car engine being started.  "Stand by... stand by... coordinate received, on the way".

The car later moves on. Everything seems to be well-safe in here. My wife and I are sitting together, before we a seat is Reimi sitting alone. Sarah and Hatano are sitting on the left side. Sarah later moves up to the driver's seat.

"Hey...". - She greeted the Colonel and the Lieutenant.  "We haven't had a jetcar?".

"The war has slowed down the improvement of technology, Private".  "We do have them... but jamming in the sky always crashes things". - Cawess explained to her while glancing at Seeley

"It's not safe to travel in the air...".  "Still under our development, Pvt. Sara". - Seeley replied to Sarah. Her eyes hinted, telling the girl better go back to her seat

"Eh?".  "No one controls the car physically?".

"The AIs are doing that for us, cars automatically have this feature".

"What if it... broke?".

"Then I will do the job, Sir". - Being asked too much, she glared at the girl

"Umm... sorry". - Sarah later returned to her earlier seat

I keep my look away from my subordinates. I later see my wife's back and head falling to the seat. She seems to be a little exhausted... maybe she hasn't got used to traveling by car, poor her.

"You okay?". - I got close to my wife and grabbed her hand

"Nod...". - She nodded tiredly.  "A bit strange... the air in here is so... unpleasant".

"It's the effect everyone will go through".  "You will get used to it soon, okay...?". - Then I wanted to kiss her.  "Kiss...". - I kissed her hair.  "Go get some sleep... you must be tired".

"Nod...". - She tilted her head to me.  "John... why... and how did we get here?".  "Can we go home...? Back to our world?". - Uhh... it's a difficult question

"Yeah, we can". - I hugged my wife a bit tight.  "You are tired right now, just relax and have a nice sleep".  "I will hug you to give you a better sleep". - Then I got closer to her, hugging her tight but not too tight to make her feel comfortable

Shera later closes her eyes to have a rest. I stay with my love, on the seat and feel the Limousine's soft movement on the road. To be honest, my answer is opposite to the truth I can be sure about.

We got to this world without a sign or warning. In the previous go, the Goddess summoned me to her place. She would brief me a little bit about the journey's purposes before dropping me into this mysterious world.

However. This time we came to this world so suddenly. Although I have prepared a little bit for the scenarios we will face, this plot is still too new for me. I have to get used to it, right now and away.

In case we get stuck here forever, both of us will have to get used to living and working here. It will take us time to get used to the modern environment after living in a medieval- fantasy world for two years.

My subordinates and I will surely face struggles at first. But we will get used to the modern environment, we are people from the modern time after all.

Oppositely, Reimi and Shera should be kept the eyes on... they know nothing about electricity and other things. Hmmm... I don't even know what job can they apply for in this world.

Maybe I shouldn't be too important and serious about it. I must've thought too far and thought too much. But... what if we can't return to the previous world?

Life is not easy. We still need money to live after all. Hmmm... you shouldn't let money blind my eyes and my mind, John. I will find out the way to get rid of it... the plan must be started as soon as possible.

I return to the things surrounding me after a short time of thinking. The Limousine is still rolling on the road. Hatano seems to be very calm. She lowers her face while sitting tight... as if she is sleeping while sitting.

"Johnny, hear me...?". - Advisor suddenly talked to me

"What?".

"My battery is dying, needs charged". - But I cannot charge you this time

"Hmmm... gimme a moment".  "Pip!". - I turned off Advisor, also remembered to push the "stop charging process" button

After solving the problems of Advisor, I feel like watching things. I accidentally spot Sarah, she seems to be sightseeing through the Limousine's window glasses. Her eyes and her face look... surprised and somehow excited, I guess.

"I don't know what kind of ancient world y'all got in...". - Cawess suddenly spoke up, he came to us.  "Welcome to United States of America...". - He looked outside.  "This is... New York... of 2060".

I look outside as my old friend Cawess. Right now, in front of me is a new zone of modernity. Many high buildings can be seen standing in the city of New York. I haven't noticed the ground, but the sky.

Although growing up in the modern world, I feel like I was a bronze-age man... compared to this. I'm stunned to see a post-war city like it. Mini drones are flying in the clear sky. Some seem to be working as CCTV drones, some seem to be... shippers? Their legs are carrying small cargos or some sort of that.

"What are those tubes...?". - Sarah pointed to a long tub in the sky.  "Wow, it's quite amazing! Tell me, tell me!". - She kept tapping Cawess' back

I look closely at the direction in which Sarah is pointing to. There are tubes whose surfaces are wrapped in dense glasses. I focus on a tube, I see a metal box that is linked with a sling... it's carrying it to another place.

These tubes link with each other, from this building to another... like lines of snakes.

"We use them as elevators...". - Cawess explained to us while looking outside.  "Traveling with it is quite common, mostly used by companies". - Later, I spotted him pulling out a cigarette

"Oh, sorry... my habit". - Then he looked in another direction, smoking right inside the car

This shitty kid... he stops swearing by changing to smoking? Holy shit. However, I think I should give him some respect. Although he's my old friend, he is 48 right now, not a young I used to know anymore.

He is now a man of war, who suffered many losses and tragedies in life. He is now not a Sergeant anymore, but an old Colonel of the US military.

Not a kid anymore.

"The first stop will be my house...". - Cawess spoke up after smoking.  "Shit... do you have an alone moment, Sergeant? I... need to talk". - He put the cigarette on his knee, its head was still popping out smoke

"Nod".  "But for what?".

"It's complicated... we can't talk about it right now". - Then he smoked again.  "Blows... blows... blows...". - He blew the smoke out of his mouth, it flew all over the car

"B28 broke me... but you seem still well, heh heh". - He later stayed away from us a little bit.  "Tell me, John... have you ever had... a heart attack?".  "Cough... cough... oh, sorry". - He later put the cigarette in the middle of his hands... he crushed it apart

"Shakes head".

"What is B28?". - Sarah asked us curiously

"War story, girl". - Cawess came close to us once again.  "It's a chemical weapon... you inhale it, you die in within seconds". - Then he put his palm to his chest.  "But that's when you hit it directly, you still carry it if your skin gets exposure to it". - He tapped himself a few times.  "Well... it breaks you when you get old, from the inside till you die".

"At this rate, I will soon die".  "Heh heh heh... fuck this shit". - Then Cawess moved back to Lt. Seeley.  "It's good to be young, I can run as long as I like without feeling tired...". - He got to the driver's seat, making trash talks

Somehow this "old man" still has behaviors of a teen kid despite his age. But I soon ignore Cawess and return to glance at Sarah's behavior. Now she's looking at the street of New York. And I see... oh shit, I think it's enough for me.

"I wonder if our old world can go far like this one". - She stared at the robotic and the  modern post-war city scene, wondering purely

"Sure it can, Sarah". - Honestly, I would be 55 in 2060 if this was my old world

I'm wondering if would ours be more modern than this world or not... or it will be cyberpunk. No one knows. But somehow the United States is still standing stably after the war.

"You don't surprise much, Commander?". - I do, girl!

However... somehow I don't care much about the technology booming period anymore. To be more right to say, now I only care about my life, my wife and my family.

We intend to have kids and live together till the end of our lives. I am myself a Gen Z but can't catch up with the colleagues of my old world... so do I currently, compared to these worlders.

I feel that Sarah seems to be behaving so freely. She's raising her Advisor out, pointing out of the window to snap some shots of New York city. This girl may now be recording the scene. How free she is.

Maybe I should check on my wife, I think. She and Reimi are not used to traveling by car... so I must keep my eyes on them just in case.

I ignore Sarah. I look back to check on Reimi and Shera. Somehow, right after doing that, I see Reimi doing something odd. She seems to be very overwhelmed while looking outside of the window.

However. That's not the reason why I focus on her. Actually... Reimi is looking at the city scene with her nausea face, I guess. Must have been affected by traveling by car.

"Uhhh...". - One hand she put on the window, the other one she covered her mouth.  "Uhhh... too many towers reaching to the sky". - She looked up, overwhelmed by the skyscrapers.  "Long lines of roads... too many... lights...".  "Owww... haaahhhh...". - She got herself away from the window, her hand kept holding her mouth

"You okay, Reimi?". - I approached her

"Shakes head... shakes head".

"Caw, have any doses!?". - I asked Cawess to help me

"Hah?".

"They have carsick, help me".

"You son of bitch... should've told me at first". - He swore at me, yeah... not his fault for doing that.  "I'll drive, you go".

"That's okay, that's okay...". - To comfort Reimi, I hugged her, tilting her face to my belly.  "If you wanna vomit... in here, I will be fine". - Honestly... I need help!

"Here, Sir". - I heard Seeley's voice and her walkings.  "C'mon, two doses for her". - She raised to me her palm, two orange round pills on its surface

"Here, here". - I put the pills in Reimi's mouth.  "Need water, don't have water?".

"Tell her to get used to it, Sir, she might choke out".

"Swallow it, swallow it...". - Wait, I forgot this one.  "Break them first, swallow later".

"No need, Sir, they are soft".

"John... ahhhh...". - Reimi inhaled and exhaled exhaustedly while trying her best to swallow the pills.  "Poisoned... the air is... poisoned...". - Then she pressed her face to my belly, seemed like she was ready to vomit or something

"Here, here". - Seeley tiredly handed me a... black gasmask? It looks so modern

Wait a little bit. It looks exactly like an Alrotz gasmask, just a little bit different, it looks more modern than ones we had.

"It purifies the air, use it".

I later put the strap on the backside of Reimi's head, the gasmask fits her face perfectly. Reimi later returns. I hear her mouth biting, as if she is cracking the doses or something. She swallows them after a short time.

"Good...". - Seeley put her hand on her right side cheek.  "What about this one...?". - She suddenly looked at Shera

I put my hands away from Reimi and return to my wife. She also looks exhausted... but not too heavy as Reimi, or so I thought. I hold her hand, encouraging her to keep up.

"Here it is...". - Cawess said something.  "Park there".

All of sudden, the Limousine diverts and heads to the right of the road. The motion goes smoothly and the car slowly stops on the right side of the road, at a yellow park line which has a mold of a car.

The car stops. Everything seems to be fine, and the doors open on their own.

"You okay, Reimi?". - I looked at Reimi to make sure she was still fine

"Nod... nod...". - Despite being tired, she still nodded

"That's alright". - Cawess later came to us.  "Step outside, they will be fine".

Lieutenant Seeley nods to him, later she gets out of the black Limousine. She stands at the door, waiting for us.

Shera doesn't look so well. That's why I grab her back and aid her in stepping out of the car. We get outside... and she immediately grabs a pole in the sidewalk, lowering her ill face as if to vomit.

"Shit... shit...". - I grabbed her face and pressed it to my face

I know. It's gross when I have to take someone's vomit stuff, but I think I can take it if that person is my wife.

And I realized that I misunderstood her. My wife wasn't vomiting at all, she was just too tired. Then, I pat her head, doing a hand signal to tell her to inhale and exhale slowly and steadily... okay.

Oh shit, I forgot Reimi.

I get away from my wife to look for her servant... Reimi seems to have come out of the Limousine with my subordinates. Sarah is aiding Reimi, she is very considerate. Hatano passes me as the car's door closes on its own.

Colonel and his secretary leave the car there and slowly walk forward. I don't follow them, but look around to examine this residential first.

"It looks... empty?". - Then I glanced at Cawess with a questioning face

"Neighborhood here is not too many... welcome to my house". - He said.  "I don't like the city anymore, it's very loud and stuff... I am already old, Sergeant". - He later approached a house's yard, slowly heading to the front door

"I'll be guardin' outside". - Seeley informed us as she returned to the car

"Well... you okay?". - Sarah put off the gasmask from Reimi, later asking her gently.  "Ok, it's good when you're ok". - Then she returned the gasmask to Seeley.  "Thanks".

"John...". - My wife called me with a weak voice, I sensed her walking here.  "This transport is scary... it smells bad... ummm...". - Later she unpleasantly shut her mouth, as if to control herself from vomiting.  "I'm alright...". - Shera hugged my back

I hold my wife gently, I look at Cawess' house. From what I see, it's an average-sized white house, the material seems to be... I have no idea. My friend can be seen hugging a woman. Maybe his wife, I think. They hug each other for a while, later the guy waves, as if to invite us to go into his house.

"Move slowly, alright?". - Then I aided my wife in walking toward the house

Both of us reach the yard and later the front door. Before me is a woman who seems to be fat... but looks attractive. She sees me. Somehow she looks at me for a few seconds, then re-looks at her husband and me. Her face shows me to be a little bit surprised.

"You two look like the same... I mean the face". - Her expression seemed to be both surprised and interested.  "Like water... I'm Valenta, this is my hubby". - She greeted me.  "I remember I met you somewhere before... he said you are his son?". - Then she poked her husband's chest, a little bit cute.  "Tell me, dear... this is... your somewhere son?". - She joked with him

"Please call me Rigen, ma'am". - I greeted the woman.  "Well... you must've met my father in war... I look like him, haha". - Well, I must join the role perfect

Letting her know I am the same guy 19 years ago will surely make her stunned when I don't get old. Hmmm... then I was right to assume it. Cawess and Valenta - a daughter of a... grocery store had married after the war as I assumed. Then her mother might be inside the house.

Or... the mother doesn't live in her son-in-law's house despite losing her husband.

"I'm Sarah, miss... hi". - Sarah greeted the woman, waving at her.  "This is...". - She pointed to Hatano.  "My sis... sorry, she's a little bit odd... hehe".

"Bows...". - Hatano bowed to Mrs. Valenta, later covered her face with the hood as usual

"Hi, ummm...". - My wife was a little hesitated to greet Mrs. Valenta.  "I'm Shera, madame... he is... my darling". - She introduced me to Mrs. Valenta. Somehow my wife hugged my hand like she was squeezing hard to the bone

My wife is jealous, isn't she? Somehow... I see her expression is cute. Although it's annoying sometimes.

"Lady V-". - Reimi was about to introduce herself, but she stopped

Maybe she was trying to speak formally... in an ancient way, I think. Poor Reimi.

"I'm their bodyguard, madame...".  "I'm, I a-, I mean... excuse me, I'm sorry". - Maybe she was trying to get used to English.  "I'm Reimi". - After a short time yapping, she finally said it

"Hmmm... interesting...". - Suddenly, Mrs. Valenta looked at both of us.  "Shera, right?". - She faced my wife

"Nod".

"Look out for him, alright? Hmmm... they look fit". - She was hinting and joking about mine and Reimi's relationship.  "If you don't, I will... join".

"Oh, sorry sorry". - She waved her hand around, apologizing.  "Alright, everyone, let's get inside, uh huh". - Then she walked into the house alongside Cawess

We walk inside the house together. After coming in, Sarah looks around as if she is overwhelmed by the far modernity of the white house. So do my wife and Reimi... although they are a bit ill previously.

I don't pay too much attention, I've closed my mind with technology since I was... teen, I think. Mrs. Valenta shows us two lines of couches being placed opposite to each other, as if she invites us to take the seats.

"I will be giving you some drinks, uh huh". - She talked to us while standing.  "So... uhh, tea... coffee, Cock, Pesp... or just clean water?".  "Sorry". - She waved her hand, a bit silly on her face.  "My house just has that much, haha...".  "So...? I hope... well". - She put her hands on the pants pockets

"Thanks for your hospitality, ma'am... uhhh...". - I glared at my group a few times.  "What?". - They shook their heads, only Sarah made a hand signal, it said "New stuff"

"Umm... maybe nothing".

"Okay". - Then she made a slight nod.  "I was making some cookies and my dear came home". - She smirked, staring at Cawess.  "He went home late, I thought he was busy but no". - Then she walked to another side of the room, looked like a kitchen

"You know...?". - She leaned her head out, pointing at her husband.  "You said your old friend's son and his friends came here".  "But I didn't expect they would be this many... well".  "I'll be back... with cookies for all, uh huh". - Then she went away

The room later filled with silence. Cawess gives me a hand signal, later goes up a staircase on the far side, right side of the ground floor. When he goes away, we sit together. We know nothing to talk with, but gaze at each other, sometimes we look around the living room.

"The future... uhhh...". - Sarah got up.  "Ummm... can I?". - She pointed to a white object which looked like a tablet, on a mini table nearby

"Shakes head". - I did

"Ehhhh...". - She was a little bit frustrated.  "But this is the future, I want to touch something... ahhhh...!". - She moaned a bit, feeling tired

I look around. I see Reimi and my wife have returned to normal after getting carsick. They look around the living room, curious about things in there. But they don't dare to touch, just get close to things and examine them.

"Ummm... this is... a mirror?". - Reimi stared at the tablet's off-screen.  "Umm... hmmm". - She stayed away from it, being scared that she would break things if she touches them

"It looks like a giant mirror...". - My wife was standing before a wide TV.  "Is it a mirror?". - She pointed to it, returned to look at me

"It's a... television". - I made a straight pose, explaining to my wife.  "Well... don't be stunned to see it, alright?".

"What is it used for?".

"Well... you know information papers that got set in the street board daily, right?". - I gave her some examples from her backward other word homeland.  "The stage, roles and stuff".

"Yeah". - Then she sat beside me.  "I don't get it yet". - She stared at the TV screen, feeling it was too huge

"Well, it's a box... we record". - I stopped to think.  "We record pictures and things realistically, then put them on the box".  "It shows stuff, drama, films... I mean it's kind of drama... and...".  "I mean topics, war, romance stuff, everything will be scripted and put on the box". - I pointed to the TV screen.  "It will be shown here, you don't need to go to the place to watch a show".  "Just in your house...".  "This thing is created to entertain, TV".

"It's unbelievable!". - Reimi came to me.  "You can observe something without going to the place directly?". - She looked at the TV screen, quite shocked.  "A metal car, moving like a wind within minutes... from that base to this place".  "And... things that can... show real pictures of events... it's unbelievable". - Reimi sat beside me, holding her head

"Yeah, it's unbelievable if we only hear, Reimi". - My wife comforted Reimi.  "His homeland... this world is far above us". - Then she raised Reimi's wrist, showing the device - Advisor.  "Look, Reimi, you say it's unbelievable while you are using this magical thing daily, from John's world".

"It's different, my Highness". - Reimi tried to explain.  "This is used for the military... maybe the normal people cannot own things like this". - She later pointed to the tablet.  "That thing... too? It also has the same use as this Tivi?".

"Nod". - I nodded

"No no no no no no...". - She lowered her head, kept holding it.  "Things like this can also be possessed by commoners...". - She glanced at me a few times, later looked away.  "Is this God's realm...? Is this world...?". - Reimi is too traditional... she must've been affected by her Knight family

"Reimi... hey". - Shera grabbed Reimi's hand.  "This is a house of a military man, Sir Cawess must be a high ranker". - Then she comforted Reimi.  "Maybe that's why his house has these things, you know".  "Also... John told us about this many times, you forgot it?".  "His world doesn't have aristocrat system at all, only rulers voted by people's trust".

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry...".

"What the hell are y'all doin' ?". - Cawess returned here when we weren't noticed, he changed his clothes to casual ones.  "Use stuff, don't worry about it".  "Just feel like home, just relax, people".

"You don't on guard if things in your house get stolen?". - Later I whispered to him

"No...". - He pointed his Toolwatch to the TV.  "Especially all of you... this watch...". - He showed me the watch.  "It controls stuff... so does my belt and others".  "You must get away with fingerprint and face identification... they are just basics in many ways to check".

"Sir... may I?". - Sarah approached the tablet, asking Cawess if she could use it.  "Just a little... please, I want to know how is it like to be in 2060".

Cawess doesn't say anything. He whispers to the watch, and the tablet later goes on, Sarah grabs it. She thanks my old friend with a smirk on her face, later she jumps on the couch, trying the new thing.

"Ehhh...?". - She looked so bewildered while trying the tablet.  "Wikipedia, wikipedia... how to... use?". - She kept surfing the screen, but it was pointless

Cawess sighs a little bit before getting to Sarah's seat to guide her to use it. Hatano glances at my old friend, she sits closer to her little sister. Somehow she doesn't let Cawess a space to sit nearby her little sister.

That's about them. Reimi and Shera on the other hand are very curious about TV. They look at the TV, making wondering faces.

"Turn on the TV, dear". - Mrs. Valenta came out from the kitchen, she was a bit unpleasant.  "Sorry, people". - She pointed her watch to the TV screen.  "Done... ummm". - She put a white plate on the living table. Her thumb and index fingers put on her chin, as if she was thinking if she missed anything

I look at the plate. It has bowls with cookies in there, they look very delicious, according to me. Besides the cookies are cups of... coffee.

Uhhh... I feel a little bit disgusted with sweet things after two years of living in an ancient-fantasy world. Somehow this family loves to drink coffee. However, I think I shouldn't be disrespectful.

"Thanks... I hope you won't mind". - I grabbed a cookie

"Yeah". - Mrs. Valenta smiled, but she gazed at the TV.  "Well... they have a long time not watching TV or what?". - Oh shit?

I look in that direction, and see my wife and Reimi staring at the screen. They kneel, getting closer to the TV screen till their eyes... reach it. Their faces have covered the screen. They focus on the TV, sometimes turn to each other and whispering... uhhh.

"You two, staring too close at TV is not good!". - I said out loud, reminding these "kids"

"Ummm... sorry". - I put the entire cookie in my mouth, it was small after all.  "Ummm... I hope you won't mind the way I eat".  "Chews... chews... chews... swallows".

"No, I'm not". - She sat beside me, giggling.  "Well... we did this quite much when we were...".  "Uh huh, she's here". - She got away from the seat

Turns out my wife has returned to me after spotting a woman sitting beside me that freely. She sits beside me, squeezing my hand powerfully... she is jealous.

Reimi has also returned alongside my wife. She doesn't sit but stands behind our couch, putting her hand on the top rail, guarding us. Later... I continue hearing their whispers. Reimi and my wife are still whispering to each other, as if they're trying to figure out how it works.

"Sorry... must be a long time not watching NEWS on TV". - I excused with Mrs. Valenta

"Huh...?". - She looked at the TV screen.  "But it is the channel for cooking". - She pointed her watch to the TV.  "Here, News... well, things are escalating". - She left the TV there, heading to the staircase

"Anyway... madame?". - Shera asked the woman

"Yes?".

"Where are your kids...? Ummm, shouldn't they be in the house this time?".

"My son is in college, others, not mine... one is still in college too, one is in school". - She looked at the watch.  "Others have moved out... the last one, she might be home at... 4, I think". - She started walking up the staircase, not looking at us.  "But she tends to party with friends... so might be here before 6".

"Not mine?". - My wife repeated the words curiously

"Ah, that's my mom's kids". - She replied while walking upstairs.  "I will tell you a story later, it's about her and me, I mean... the kids". - She later walked away

I later return to check on Sarah and Hatano. Seems like Sarah is very excited to use a modern tablet. Hatano peeks at the screen a few times while wrapping her hand through her little sister's neck.

"You turn it on for nothing, sweetie!". - Cawess said out loud to his wife who was now on the 1st floor

"That's for our guests, dear!".

"Sigh... well". - He asked me

I look at my wife and Reimi, noticing they are still staring at the TV. They may be very upset if I turn the TV off. Maybe I shouldn't ask Cawess to do that. I want to have time with my wife... but maybe having time with my old friend first is not a big deal.

"I will have to be overseas for a while...". - Cawess told me.  "This is just our first stop, we will drop off in a hotel tonight". - He chose an empty seat, opposite me

"Hey...! People, good good good".  "Clap! Clap!". - I heard Mrs. Valenta's footsteps and clappings.  "Should we make a small a small dinner... or a party with these guests tonight?". - She approached us, beside her was an old lady

"I think they don't like that, sweetie...". - Cawess talked to his wife. Of course, on behalf of my words

"Sorry dear, we have too much free time alone".  "Here, mama". - She chose a good seat for her old mom

"Oh, I've heard of all of you from my daughter". - The mother greeted us, waving her hand.  "It's good to have guests around here... my grandkids don't have time with me". - Then she saw me.  "You...? Ahhh, I remember what my daughter told me". - Then she looked at every one of us.  "Please make yourselves home, children".

"Thanks...". - Sarah and Hatano bowed to the old mother

We don't say anything, but use our body language to greet the old lady. Valenta's mother seems to be very enjoyed when she has people around her... she must be very lonely because she is old.

"Shall we... say about the story?". - Mrs. Valenta smiled, asking us if we wanted to hear the story.  "Choose...". - She sat beside her husband

"Ummm...". - Cawess seemed to be a little nervous, or embarrassed.  "Water, ma?". - He asked the old mother

"Thank you, son".

Cawess rushes to the kitchen like a wind. All of us are attracted to Mrs. Valenta's mysterious story, we immediately focus on her. Later, the TV screen automatically turned off on its own. What a right moment, Cawess returns in time.

"Here, ma". - He put a glass of water on the table for the old mother, later returned to sit with his wife

"Alright alright alright, good". - She felt so happy

"I wonder what would she tell us about". - My wife tilted to me, wondering

"Me too, my Highness...". - Reimi whispered to us

"You sleep, sis?". - Sarah noticed Hatano because she was sitting with her back to the chair's rail.  "Sigh... sorry". - She apologized to the people in the living room

"That's okay, she must be tired". - Mrs. Valenta forgave Hatano

"So the thing is...". - She started the story right away.  "You all know earlier... that my family has 3 kids, right?".

"Nod! Nod! Nod! Nod! Nod!". - Some of us nodded, only Sarah did that twice as if to do that on behalf of her older sister

"But two of them are not mine... but my mom's". - Her face later got frustrated.  "Well... after the war, I married him... hehehe". - She grabbed Cawess' hand, holding it romantically.  "Somehow... my mama and I got pregnant... at the same time". - Oh shit, I already knew the culprit!

"Oh, thriller stuff is here". - Sarah focused more on hearing the story

"It's strange". - Shera and Reimi stared at each other, questioning themselves

Cawess grabs a cookie and puts it in his mouth, sounding "nom nom". So do I... I know, man. I know, I know your feeling right now, okay?

"I asked her... and she said".  "I met a guy, I felt lonely so I fucked him".  "Haaahhhh...!". - She slapped the table lightly.  "Can y'all believe it?! She got pregnant with a guy that only one met!". - Then she drew her hand back to her knee

"Well... children don't have any sins, but that guy did".  "Smash! Smash! Smash!". - She slapped the table more 3 times, poor it.  "Everything went well until... my mom got pregnant once again...!".

I see my son of a bitch friend drinking a coffee cup calmly, trying his best not to show his nervousness. Cawess drinks this cup to another one, grabbing more cookies. Knowing that... he and I have a same "taste", I also imitate his actions. Seriously? This guy loves milfs that much?! Making that old mother get pregnant twice?!

"Did he get caught?". - Sarah purely asked her.  "Oh god, that guy is horrible... I hope he gets karma... uh, maybe". - Sarah was also eating cookies while hearing the story

"I don't want to say disrespect here... but...". - Reimi got up.  "Uhhh... sorry, please don't mind me". - She sat down once again.  "What a slutty woman... how could she sleep with a once-time-met man?". - I heard you, Reimi!

"Ummm...". - My wife glanced at me and Cawess a few times.  "You two... are acting very strange...". - She spoke to herself.  "Your husband looks so nervous, Miss".

"Of course he did". - Mrs. Valenta sadly stared at Cawess.  "He lacked sleep many nights just to find the culprit... oh babe, come here". - She later hugged her "innocent" husband

"I swear to God, I will cut his balls off if I find him!". - She announced to us powerfully.  "Right, mom?". - She asked her old mother

"I think you should let the past go away, my daughter". - The old mom later got up and approached her son-in-law.  "Only I decided to sleep with him, not him... it's the past now". - Then she smiled at her daughter a peaceful smile

"Let's say so, mom...". - Then Mrs. Valenta got up.  "Wait... you want to go upstairs?".

"Of course... I feel too tired to have a noisy daughter like you". - She was walking a bit struggling to the staircase

"Lemme help ya, ma". - Cawess later held the old mom's back, aiding her to walk up the stairs

"What a good son of mine...". - She tapped his shoulder, later walked with him upstairs

I don't know how our fates will go from now on, maybe I should be serious right now. The Goddess sent me to this world once, with the purpose was to fighting. Now I'm wondering what are our roles in this world. And yet... would we be brought back to Euro Grant, I have no idea.

"What a happy family". - Sarah commented while drinking coffee

"Yeah". - Home sweet home