Re: Player

[Coast City: At the top of the highest building in the City Center!]

[Neptune's POV!]

.

[Congratulations! Contact with Fate Weaver of Abnormality(V) made!]

"…"

"…"

Staring blankly at each other, we did not blink even a single time. The shake was still firm, and the blank look on our faces spoke words that cannot be described easily. It was a peculiar sight to be honest. If not for the message before, one could even mistake is for some form of bromance.

As time passed, we kept the staring contest on. But while I was expressionless on the outside, it wasn't the same for what was going on in my mind.

From the deepest parts of my brain, I tried my best to find the next words to speak. A formal greeting? A casual remark? Should I make fun of him? Or should I pretend to be serious.

Though given his deep stare, as he kept on holding my hand, I couldn't find the appropriate response to this situation.

'A staring contest? Is that what we are having? Huh? Are you challenging me?' I stared back at him, not trying to outdone him.

"You are the same as me, aren't you?" He asked, with half surety and half complexed. I did not know what was going on in his mind, but he seemed to be in some sort of confusion right now.

Though since he asked, I answered politely without breaking my character,

"Yes. We are both male-" though his glare made me stop the joke and be more serious," Yes. We are."

"Is that so? Can I ask what your stand is?" He asked, making me confused for a moment again, before I understood what he meant by that.

"I have yet to see what this world has to offer," I answered as he closed his eyes for a brief moment before letting my hand go.

'To save the world or end it. That decision is too big for someone like me who hasn't even taken a proper look at this world,' I sighed as I recalled the end goal that every Fate Weaver had. Though on that note…

"What's yours?" I asked curiously. It was my first time meeting another Fate Weaver, but surprisingly there was no chaos as much as I was expecting. Perhaps my outlook was wrong?

This guy, Zero, he was pretty calm, wasn't he?

"To save the monsters of this world. And end all other species," and he spoke, shattering all my thoughts into a gazillion pieces.

"…"

I looked at him a bit surprised, though perhaps he took my surprise in a wrong way as he spoke,

"What? You think monsters aren't worth saving?"

"I… don't really know," I then gave my honest opinion, making him narrow his eyes at me. Though I still continued,

"I have lived with humans so I know that there are people who should be killed and there are those who are worth saving. Same with a few other species. But I still haven't been with many, including monsters, demons and even higher species. So until I have seen them with my own two eyes, lived with them, understood them… I don't think I will have the answer to your question."

"As someone who has never lived with monsters, I have no right to decide whether that species should live or die."

There was no feeling of pride in my words. Neither there was ambition or superioritiy, or anything else either. I was simply stating a fact.

"What are…" though my words seemed to be quite surprising for Zero as he looked at me. His eyes were kind of glistening as he observed me for a moment before speaking,

"Do you know I am a monster?"

I was surprised as I looked at him. I observed him with even more shock than before.

"You really are?!!" My eyes shined a little as I looked at him. Since he too had his own powers, was he like going to be Rim*ru? Or perhaps even better!

"Just… what exactly are you?" And with my eyes looking at him as if he were my favorite character, he took a step back. His eyes observed me with a complex expression as he asked,

"Don't you… hate me?"

Though, surprised by his words for a moment, I recalled what kind of world we were living in. Which made me pause on my excitement for a moment before asking,

"Is there a reason I should?"

"…"

He just looked at me silently before giving out a long sigh. As if lacking energy to deal with the situation, he stopped thinking about it and then moved on to the next topic.

"So. What are you doing here? You said you were creating scenarios. Is that your power?"

"Well. You can say that. There is a lot going on in this town and I am trying to find a person," I spoke as I looked around, only to find the Three Gods talking with that armless girl in front of my clinic.

"Person?" Zero asked, and I answered,

"An Angel. She kind of got caught up in between this whole mess with the Gods and stuff, and I was wondering how to save her with creating minimum casualty."

I had a pensive look on my face, wondering if I could ask Zero for help in this whole situation.

"Why? Is that Angel your friend? Or perhaps a friend of someone you know?" Zero asked, though I made an awkward smile before saying,

"No.. actually. I do not know that Angel. Never met her before. And I just… happen to know about the whole thing by coincidence."

He narrowed his eyes at me, wondering if there was something wrong with my head.

"And I… felt that it would be fun to save that Angel from the Gods while maintaining the least amount of casuality."

And my next words hit the nail on the coffin.

If not my ability to [Return!], I would have probably stayed away as far as possible from this whole thing. I mean given the situation, the ideal thing for a transmigrator would be to find a sure fire way to increase their strength without getting into unnecessary troubles.

Which, given my skill set, happens to be this path.

"On that note. What's your purpose here?" I asked as I wondered why he was here. Perhaps I could get another clue about other Fate Weavers or something?