Chapter 66: Back to the Apartment

A full day passed before Rhos was finally released from the hospital.

The incident with the table earned him additional examinations, much to his annoyance. But after that episode, he couldn’t complain.

Doctors did all manner of checkups on him to make sure the accelerated healing process had not caused any complications that had gone unnoticed during his initial treatment.

Fortunately, nothing was wrong.

Normally, those examinations would have made Rhos’s already terrible financial situation considerably worse.

However, when he asked for the total, he discovered something strange.

’Someone already paid for everything?’

Not just for the additional checkups but for everything. The healing pod, medication, room–all of it.

Rhos stood at the reception desk at a loss for words after hearing that, convinced he missed something.

The hospital also refused to give him the payer’s identity.

Naturally, his first assumption would be Jack Ripley. She was the one who stabbed him, so paying to repair the damage seemed like the bare minimum expected of her.

She cared about him in her own deranged way, that much he knew, but paying an entire hospital bill?

He wasn’t sure Ripley had that kind of money.

"Then again, she is a black market assassin"

After leaving the hospital, he walked through the streets of the lower ring with his hands tucked into his jacket pockets.

"I might be severely underestimating how much money killing people gets you"

That probably pays well. He’s never asked her how much she makes.

His face fell when a thought about his present reality settled in.

"I really need a job"

Night had already fallen over Elderwood, but the lower ring was still lively. Electrical lamps illuminated crowded streets where restaurants, bars, and small shops competed for whatever business remained at this hour and workers returning home mixed with Rangers patrolling the streets.

For the first time in months, Rhos could walk openly. He wasn’t hiding anymore. No longer worrying that Rangers finding him would mean trouble.

Well, technically he still had plenty to worry about after being interrogated by government intelligence. At least he wasn’t officially wanted. Plus his Class ensured he wouldn’t be forced into anything.

So... legitimate employment. Rhos considered his options.

Ordinary employment would be safest.

He could work in a warehouse, restaurant, shop or anywhere willing to hire someone without asking too many questions.

But the issue with ordinary employment was that it paid ordinary money.

Ranger work was considerably better.

The thought made him slow his pace a little. He removed one hand from his pocket and clenched it into a fist.

While staring at it, he remembered the masked giant’s head disappearing beneath his punch. The exchange he had with Rune and Ripley.

Then he remembered how helpless he had been against the Wrath before Neth intervened and that immediately soured his mood.

"Not yet"

Returning to the Ranger Corps now would be foolish.

He was stronger than he was three months ago, but that didn’t mean he was strong. He still didn’t understand the strength he had and barely understood what Neth had done to him.

Going outside the Biome again before obtaining some semblance of control over those things would just put him back where he started.

A weakling who was constantly saved by luck.

That reminded him....

"That little girl"

He hadn’t seen her since losing consciousness. Ripley was trying to kill her before he got in the way of that.

Did she succeed afterward?

Rhos searched himself for whatever emotion the thought was supposed to produce. But there wasn’t much, it didn’t cause the crushing anxiety he expected.

He found that strange because he had thrown himself in front of a knife for her, yet now that the immediate danger had passed, the possibility of her death felt distant.

There was concern, certainly, and curiosity about what happened to her, but no overwhelming attachment.

"No use thinking about it"

Rhos didn’t form attachments to anyone easily. In life, people come and go. One must simply learn to live with that fact.

The only person whose absence had ever carved something permanent into him was Asha.

Everyone else existed somewhere outside that boundary.

Still...

He touched the scar over his heart through his jacket.

"I’d prefer if she wasn’t dead"

That little girl was his Spirit. That alone made finding her important.

Almost an hour later, Rhos stopped outside an apartment building.

Staring up at it, he wanted to say he’s finally home, but calling it that felt strange.

He lived here only for three months, and the apartment belonged to Black Crow Koa.

Once he entered the building, he climbed dozens of stairs, passed through familiar hallways and eventually stopped before a familiar door.

His hand reached toward it before stopping midway.

’Should I knock first?’

Technically, he lived here. But he also disappeared without explanation after ignoring the instruction he was given about not leaving and breaking her window too.

Knocking might be wise.

His senses already alerted him that she was inside by herself, surprisingly awake too. Normally he always found her collapsed on the floor.

Well, there was no use standing here. She probably picked up on his presence as well.

"Black Crow, I’m–"

When he opened the door and entered, he was greeted by the familiar apartment. He already felt Koa’s presence standing on the other side of the kitchen counter.

Her short ash blonde hair was messier than usual, and her magenta eyes were even more sunken. She wore an oversized white shirt that fell over black underwear.

She held a bowl in one hand and a spoon occupied the other. She scooped some food from the bowl and held it toward what sat across from her.

"...?!"

Rhos stopped breathing for a second.

The little girl was there, alive and well!

The chains were gone. Her long white hair with red tips was cleaned and brushed. She sat on a chair that was slightly too large for her with a blanket wrapped around her small shoulders.

She opened her mouth to the spoon in front of her and ate its contents. When Koa scooped another spoonful, she accepted it.

Rhos stood in the doorway still unsure what he was looking at.

Even though she had noticed him long before he entered, Koa’s hollow pink eyes finally moved toward him.

She smiled.

"You’re back"