Eyepiece

"In the end, you can't do anything, right?"

It was the most piercing question Arta had ever asked Jane after the war in Bali, when the girl finally managed to meet Arta and demanded the truth. She knew, she understood what Arta was saying. She had realized that from the start too.

She was never useful.

Not strong enough, not even smart enough, the one thing she can do is only be troublesome, be a burden.

She knows that especially because of her selfishness that continues to want to be human and refuses to eat others. Jane knew what she was getting into because of those decisions.

Wonu dies, Cuna is also helpless.

She was tired of all the kinds of deaths that had befallen her ever since the tornado hit them in Jakarta. It was also what ultimately made Jane decide to no longer be attached to all members of Berawa, whoever they were. She ended up spending a whole year trying to live on her own, in every dirty way she knew, in every cunning way she could.

She decided to be able to stand alone.

She gathers information for her safety, finds food, and survives for herself.

She decided never to care about anyone again.

Renik is probably the exception.

Renik's arrival was something Jane had never planned. She never expected to be in a relationship with anyone. No matter if it was just a friendship, Jane never wanted to have that.

However, that day, Renik came without offering anything. The little girl also knew that Jane no longer cared about anyone. Jane didn't want to be tied down to anyone, and Renik was well aware of such things.

She had also been in the same position.

The two of them had unknowingly become very close during this one year. Although Jane didn't tell Renik much about herself, it was the other way around.

"You're going out again?" asked Renik, glancing at Jane, who was now ready with a sling bag and her hair pulled back.

"I found some good types of eyepieces at an antique shop."

Renik raised her head, looking at Jane who was now putting on a hyperbolic smile at her. "The eyepiece in the antique shop?"

"Yes, there are those who can help us to see invisible human hermits, and there are also those that can show transparent portals in each layer of soil. You … have you been to L-04?"

"Main population area?" asked Renik to confirm. Jane nodded slowly. "Have you been there?"

"Why never?" Jane asked back, tilting her head and smiling. The girl then took out a horn-shaped object and put it on the side of her forehead, "You just stick something like this on the side of your forehead, then attach a colored lens, and use fangs." Jane showed off her disguised form to Renik, "Similar, isn't it?"

"Look like a moron," Renik muttered, making Jane burst out laughing.

"Yeah, and a lot of dumber creatures get fooled by disguises like this."

Renik shrugged nonchalantly, then looked back at her newspaper. "Then bring me a new newspaper. If you want to come back."

Jane nodded at that.

*

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The 04th Soil is the place where the main occupants of Yamani live. Various races live there, like sirens, giants, wrenas, fairies, and many more. The first time she managed to sneak in there, Jane realized that all the creatures there were very diverse, and interestingly, they were very friendly to each other. They were never rude, and there was rarely a fight or bullying.

That behavior would not be seen if they met Jane's race, humans.

L-04 is a layer of soil that is divided into several large cities, which are contained in a giant bubble and then connected to each other using transparent pipes. The bottom of the layer is an ocean, a place where sirens live, and sometimes there are also several small markets that provide various unique things and foodstuffs from L-06. The market stands above the sea, with land covered with giant floating logs that are neatly arranged so that all creatures can move about in comfort.

Each creature that enters through the inter-layer dimensional portal will be directly connected to the tube and brought to the housing bubble they want. Today, Jane decided to go to the Blue Market area, a small market that is above the sea. Apart from being an area that is not in a bubble, Blue Market also has a lot of antique shops that can rarely be found on L-06 because it was created by the shop owner itself.

The antique shop, as Jane told Renik, sells quite a number of interesting lenses.

Jane suppressed a grin as she looked at the lens displays that were placed on the human eye preserved in a palm-sized watering jar. The lens is blue. The shop owner said that it can see invisible portals belonging to Senior Workers or fugitives that are difficult for others to find, as well as portals belonging to Candrasa and their subordinates.

"How much does it cost?"

"Are you sure you want to buy it?"

"You will not dare to deceive me again, Uncle." Jane said confidently, because it was the first time she came to the shop. This uncle in front of her had tricked her, and Jane returned with the aim of killing this person in front of her. "I'll buy it because I have money right now."

"8999 Worthy." Worthy is the currency in Yamani. 1 worthy is equal to 100 dollars in the Nusantara.

"Ordinary lenses even cost only 5 worthy?!" thought Jane in disbelief.

"You want to blackmail me, huh?" the girl asked suspiciously.

The shop owner's uncle laughed, "Because not many have managed to get hold of it, Miss, I almost died trying to get the main body of this lens."

"Oh? Can it be obtained for free?"

"You'd rather sell that with your life, huh?"

"It's easier to die than to get that thing at an exorbitant price, uncle. Besides, I don't have that much money."

"Tsk!" replied the uncle lazily. "Who said that she had money?" Jane quipped ignored. "Ok, my information is not free—" The man fell silent as Jane handed him two rolls of money, which he believed had a considerable amount in total.

"The Black Valley at L-05."

"You can only give me that information?!"

"Miss, I know you have good eyes. There's only one black valley on L-05, and if you make it there, you're sure to find something that can broaden your vision." He said calmly. "I'm not putting a free price on something I've worked so hard to earn."

Jane sighed softly, "Okay, if I can't find the valley. I'll make sure this shop is destroyed by nightfall."

"Threat accepted!" replied the uncle, accepting Jane's words, making sure that he was telling the truth and not deceiving the girl again.