Towards A Higher Level [Part 6]

Joe Walker is currently sitting silently, looking at the small book he is holding, while sitting down. He turns to Alice, who is watching him, and smiles.

Alice suddenly sighs and says, "So, now I understand your peculiar nature before."

"...," Joe Walker remains silent.

"You don't want to end up like Rose. You're afraid that we'll leave you because we think you're useless. That's why you're in such a hurry to appear useful to us. Am I wrong?"

Joe Walker smiles and replies, "No, you're right."

"You're really foolish."

"I can't deny that..."

"At least deny it a little! Don't you have any self-respect as a man?"

"It's not like that..."

"Well, it doesn't matter. I don't hate men who are willing to admit their mistakes and foolishness," Alice smiles.

"But it doesn't matter now! In the end, it's just a story. I feel foolish for being influenced by other people's life stories. But I realize now that it's just my fear. I was too scared, but now I feel a little relieved..."

Alice approaches Joe Walker and pats his head protector while saying, "good boy, good boy!"

"Stop that, I'm not a kid anymore!" Joe says, feeling embarrassed and happy at the same time.

"It's okay, Joe, we won't leave you alone," she suddenly looks shy and continues, "I-I still need you to teach me how to read ancient languages. Also You're an adult, you have more strength than us," Alice closes her eyes to strengthen her intention, then opens them and says, "...you are needed!"

Joe Walker falls silent for a moment, remembering the conversation he had with Sebastian in the dream world a few days ago. The issue at that time now feels resolved to Joe. He smiles and says, "thank you, Alice."

"It's no problem," Alice responds to Joe's smile with a smile of her own.

"B-by the way, could you release your hand from my head, Alice? I'm starting to feel embarrassed right now," Joe says, closing his eyes and smiling.

"O-oh, you're right! Haha," Alice pretends to laugh and quickly moves her hand away from him, hiding her embarrassment by turning her body and not showing her face to Joe.

This is so embarrassing! What's wrong with me? Suddenly doing and saying things like that! Ugh, I'm acting like a mother encouraging her child!

It's all your fault, Joe!

Alice takes a deep breath, closing her eyes to calm herself.

Calm down, my soul...

After she opens her eyes, she sees Maria sleeping. Irritated, she disturbs Maria by playing with her cheeks.

This is also your fault for falling asleep in the middle of the story! It should be your job to encourage him!

"Mmmhgh, rghhh, it hurts!" Maria mumbles in her sleep.

Meanwhile, Joe watches the situation, looking confused.

What is she doing?

After resting for a while, Alice returns to the helm and continues their journey.

***** ***** ***** *****

"Hey Alice, do you forget our conversation a few days ago?" Joe asked.

"Which conversation?"

"The one about when you started your journey."

"Oh, that... I remember we talked about it. What did I say back then?"

"You didn't say anything."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know, I forgot too. So, are you going to answer now?"

"Maria and I started traveling with this vehicle when we were 9 years old. Why are you curious about this?"

"I'm just curious. So, since the age of 9. That means you two have been traveling alone for 2 years. How many people did you meet before you met me?"

"Wait... How do you know if we met other humans besides you?"

"Oh, no... I mean, you are very cautious with me. I thought something happened in the past that made you like that," Joe Walker lied.

I couldn't say that I've seen her life since birth.

Alice, who was initially suspicious, found Joe Walker's explanation quite reasonable. She replied, "2 people."

"Just 2?"

"Yeah, just 2. During our travels, we only encountered 2 people. One of them chose to move away from this place and try something new. While the other chose a different route because there was something they wanted to do first."

"Was there any evil person among them?"

"Of course not! I always do the same thing when I meet new people. Suspicion is normal. And also, I was born in a city that was in a state of war. I couldn't trust strangers."

"That makes sense. Are you still suspicious of me?" Joe Walker asked with a smile.

"Yes."

"Ehhh? Why? Do I look like a bad person? What did I do to make you still suspicious?"

Alice sighed as if tired and said, "don't ask questions you already know the answers to."

Joe Walker was initially confused, then surprised, and then smiled, saying, "Alice, you can't be honest, huh!?"

"Shut up! You're starting to annoy me like Maria, you know!"

"Hehe, sorry...," Joe Walker felt happy and continued to smile.

Alice kept driving, looking for the way to the tower they were heading to.

Joe Walker also helped by giving his opinion on the best route that might speed up their journey.

Meanwhile, Maria was sound asleep next to Joe Walker.

"Haha, Maria fell asleep again," Joe Walker said.

"Don't even think about doing anything strange to her," Alice replied.

"I won't do anything strange! I'm here to protect you both, that's all."

"That sounds like a hero."

"You're wrong, Alice, I'm not a hero. A hero's duty is to save something. I am a guardian! Someone who will protect you both from anything!"

Alice smiled and said, "haha, a guardian... I see. But I feel it's unnecessary. I haven't seen any evil for a long time. The war has ended, humanity is nearing extinction, everyone is only concerned about themselves. So the three of us are enough, I don't need anyone else."

"If you think so, why do you have guns?"

"It was Maria's idea, she said it's to be prepared in case something happens in the future."

"Hooo, that's interesting, Maria can sometimes think seriously."

"You're right, I'm confused why she always looks foolish all the time. But when needed, she is always there and useful."

Joe Walker fell silent for a moment, looking at Maria sleeping.

"Cheese, chocolate,sweeeeettttt-," Maria was talking in her sleep about food, making Joe Walker and Alice smile at the same time.

After that, Joe Walker stared at the empty blue sky with white clouds decorating it. Unfortunately, there were no birds flying above.

How long will they continue this journey together? Will they keep traveling and surviving until they die?

With no clear destination, an endless journey, yet they have an end. What will they think at the end of their lives? What will they feel?

Happy to be free from a cruel world? Or sad to die and end their life journey?

Since the beginning, is life in this world better than death leaving this world?

Humans fear death because it is their end. But I wonder, are there people in this world who die with a smile?

As Joe was contemplating, Alice suddenly asked, "Hey Joe, can I ask you one thing?"

Joe Walker, who was lost in thought, immediately felt happy again. He smiled and asked, "What do you want to ask? Ask me anything. I can answer anything as long as the one asking is a cute girl!"

"Stop joking like that, it's disgusting."

"Ugh, those are harsh words! But it's not bad either, thank you so much!"

"Do you want me to throw you out right now and leave you?"

Joe Walker panicked, "Ehhh? I'm sorry! I was just kidding! Come on, don't be so serious, Alice."

"...," Alice sighed out of tiredness.

"So, what do you want to ask me?" Joe Walker asked with a smile, waiting for Alice's question.

Alice hesitated for a moment before answering, feeling unsure, "--why... Why did you decide to join us?"

"Hmm? I thought you were going to ask something serious, turns out it's that. There's no specific reason, I joined because I felt I couldn't survive alone."

"Is that all?"

"If there's another reason, maybe it's because you two are cute?"

Alice immediately stopped her vehicle because she was angry and pointed to the side, saying, "Get out!"

Joe Walker panicked, "I'm sorry! I was just joking, Alice, please forgive me! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

In the end, Alice didn't actually kick him out. They continued their journey.

"Why you Always answering with jokes? Stop joking now and answer properly!" Alice said as she continued to drive.

"What else should I answer? I have no other reason. I thought it would be fun to adventure with you both. That's all! I didn't mean any harm!"

"I'm not suspecting you have bad intentions, I'm just curious."

"Is that so?" Joe Walker slowly shed tears and hugged Alice from behind, "thank you! I don't know how to live if you hate me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Alice, who was annoyed, tried to break free from Joe Walker's hug, "let go of me! Let go! Release me right now before I hate you!"

Joe Walker quickly moved away and sat in the corner. Then he said, "I-I'm sorry..."

***** ***** ***** *****

During their journey, they stopped because they found a fuel storage facility for vehicles.

Alice woke Maria up to help her fill the reserve fuel tank as a precaution halfway through the journey.

Unfortunately, the pipe valve that dispenses the fuel Maria is waiting for is now quite far above.

Alice had to carefully find her way up and open the valve.

Meanwhile, Maria, who had just woken up from her sleep and was asked to help fetch the fuel, waited for the fuel to come out. She was ready with a fuel storage tank with a filter to facilitate the entry of fuel into the tank.

Joe Walker still didn't understand how to help them. Alice then asked him to sit quietly in the vehicle and learn how to do it.

It seems like I'm being pampered. It's quite easy! I'm sure I can do that too.

The fuel started to come out of the pipe, and Maria began adjusting the direction of the fuel to fall so that the filter could transfer the fuel into the tank.

Joe Walker, who witnessed it, was amazed by the survival skills of the two girls.

That so smart...

However, shortly after, Maria still felt very sleepy because she had just woken up. She hallucinated, thinking that the fuel flowing from the pipe was milk. She pushed away the filter she was holding and began to try to drink the flowing fuel.

Joe Walker, seeing this, immediately ran towards Maria, shouting, "Aliceeee! Close the fuel pipe valve! Maria is drinking fuel right now!"

"Eh?" Alice was shocked and looked down. She found that what Joe Walker said was true. She panicked and started closing the fuel pipe valve while shouting, "What are you doing, Mariaaaaaaa! Joe, save my sister! No, save that foolish girl! Jooooeeeeeeeeeeeee!..."