704 I’ve resolved myself… probably (1/2)
”I still want to stay behind and help you guys!” Isamu suppressed his inner fears as he spoke loudly with excitement and idolization. ”If it's more dangerous with killing more players, will it be fine as long as I try my best not to kill them?”
”Logically, that should be the case, but I can't make any guarantees that you'll be safe just by doing that. Quitting the game is the safest,” Seiji told him.
”Quitting this game is only a temporary band-aid fix for tonight. That won't free me from this nightmare, and I'd still face danger again, wouldn't I?” Isamu looked directly at Seiji.
Seiji fell silent for a moment.
”You're certain that you want to stay behind?”
”I'm certain,” Isamu answered adamantly. He then suddenly thought of something...
”If I stay behind to help you, will I be troubling you?”
”Of course not, you were a great help just now.” Seiji chuckled. ”But, you're still an ordinary person. Although it's brave of you to want to risk your life to battle with us, this isn't something that should be decided on an impulse… have you really resolved yourself?”
Resolve… Isamu felt as if this word was so heavy as to be physical.
His earlier resolution was already shaken. However, he soon firmed his resolve again.
He had resolved himself already. No matter what happened afterwards, he would be mentally prepared!
Isamu took a deep breath to help calm himself down.
”I've resolved myself… probably.”
'What's with that probably of mine!' Isamu commented on himself after saying that out loud. 'Why did I say 'probably' after such cool-sounding words!? That ruined the great impression I gave!'
Earlier, he had been commenting on how the angry demon mask boy didn't sound confident enough. He didn't think that, ironically, it was now time to comment on himself.
Seiji chuckled after hearing these words and sensing Isamu's embarrassment.
”So you've only probably resolved yourself… Well, I suppose that's fine.”
Being brave enough to fight for real was quite courageous already. He could understand even if the resolve wasn't one hundred percent.
”Since you've resolved yourself, then I'll be counting on your assistance. But as your resolve seems insufficient, if I judge that you shouldn't stay any longer, I'll be having you leave this dream immediately. Will that be alright?”
”That's fine… Thank you, White Night-san.”
”I should be the one thanking you for being willing to help us. Also, there's no need to address me with the -san suffix.”
”Alright, White Night… and Knight of Zero-san, please take care of me.”
”No need to use honorifics with me,” Shika told him. ”Thank you for your help, Owl.”
”No need to be polite.” Isamu smiled as he felt that he had obtained recognition.
Seiji and Isamu looked there, only to see two people walking over: a fat man wearing a horned rat mask along with a woman wearing a half green and half black snake mask.
The fat man was actually wearing pajamas, together with a bulletproof vest on top. It seemed rather strange. The woman was wearing an ordinary shirt and jeans, also with a bulletproof vest on top.
”They're Horned Rat-kun and Double Snake-san. I recognize them. They're both reasonable players that we can talk to,” Isamu told Seiji and Shika.
”Hey, Owl-kun.” The rat mask pudgy man greeted them as he got close. ”I and Double Snake-san both saw your battle just now. Could I ask what that was about?”
Isamu looked at Seiji, who nodded.
They spent some time explaining the situation to Horned Rat and Double Snake.
”Owl-kun is really so brave… I don't have that type of courage.” The pudgy man sighed after hearing the situation. ”I want to quit this game immediately.”
”Sure.” Seiji raised his hand. ”Please relax yourself and try not to think about resisting, Horned Rat-san.”
”Wait a moment… can I really quit the game just like this? Nothing bad will happen to me?”
”Probably not.”