Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 143 - The worst case of

"------Well, this is the short version of my oh-so bumpy-dumpy life. Boring, right?"

Kujira said as she reached out for her cup after finishing her life story. After moistoning her throat, parched from all that talking, with no-sugar coffee, she wiped the smudge of lipstick that got stuck on the cup's edge before putting it back on the table.

On the other hand, Tenji was seemingly lost in thought. He absent-mindedly stared at each and every action of her, the expression you would see from those who have heard something shocking, and overworked his brain to comprehend the story he has just heard.

"I know it's a stuff impossible to take on normally, ya know. This is how they all react."

Kujira looked like she understood Tenji's current state-of-mind. Noticing that expression. Tenji swiftly answered.

"No......I understand. I believe in your story, Kujira-san."

"And why do you think so?"

"Your eyes. Sensei's eyes don't have the look of a prankster or a liar."

"My, that's quite a fascinating answer. It's really been a long time since I have been told such endearing words."

Kujira chuckled in a teasing manner. Still, Tenji's serious expression didn't waver as he looked at her and started speaking again.

He was a bit lost if he should ask that. Maybe he was taking a yard after an inch by being too privy? But in the end, the curiosity to get an answer ultimately won.

"Can you teach me how to use 'Compensation'?"

"Ugh............You seem to not be joking."

"I am not. Of course, I am fully aware that it's a power that must not be put to use as evident from your tale."

"And yet, you proceed to inquire. Perhaps, you can lead a life that doesn't utilise that power even if you decide to forget you ever asked that. What if, you ended up with a regret filled life, like me."

"A life with the presence of beloved ones, though distant, is superior to a life without their companionship. I have no desire to use it for personal gain or similar. However......I don't want to regret it. I don't want to lament my powerlessness."

"But you're plenty strong."

"Yet, I was once weak. Until just a half year ago, I was powerless like many."

"Oh, right...I heard from Fuyuki. You almost died in the dungeon, huh."

"Yes, I was just a paper breadth away from death. This is the reason why I don't want to die an unknown death where I can't even protect the ones that I want to. I will defy my own life—it's my resolve."

".........I think I understand how you feel a bit. We shared almost the same fate after all. ......Alright, I will tell you. Is that alright, Chisato-chan?"

Go ahead. It's not something for me to deny if he wishes so."

"......Sorry, I am going out for a while."

As Chisato gave her permission, Fuyuki, who was beside her, abruptly stood up from his seat to leave the room.He showed no hesitation even while facing everyone's gaze, turned around and walked up to the door. Just as he put his hand over the door knob, he suddenly spoke without turning away.

"Sorry...I don't want to hear how to use it. I will be working too hard if i hear that. I know very well about my personality, so it's better that way."

"You don't need to apologise. There are actually quite a lot of explorers who opted out from listening. Leon was no different."

Chisato showed her support for the choice Fuyuki made. Fuyuki left the room after hearing that.

First grade explorers were allowed to hear about the power of 'compensation', but only a few of them remain till the end to hear the full story.

It wasn't that they didn't want to, but because they came to know. The influence of 'Compensation' on humans was never a straightforward guess and there was no one effect like Kujira's. The same has bestowed even more cruel fate to others in fact.

Once upon a time, one of the explorers used the power of 'Compensation. They lost their limbs, ears, nose, heart---basically anything and everything as a compensation. Yes, they were just a meatball at that point.

Under normal circumstances, living in that form was impossible. It wasn't viable as a living being on a physical level. It was nothing more than a "something" that was alive. Yet, communication was possible. There, in the mass of flesh devoid of a heart or anything else, there were only eyes and flesh.

And yet---that explorer somehow was alive.

The image of that explorer had since been taken and whenever it was the time to teach newly promoted first grade explorers about such a tale, they would be shown that photo along with 'it's also possible you might turn into something like that for using compensation'.

Fuyuki had instantly vomited seeing that image. So Chisato perfectly understood his feelings.

"Oh well, Fuyuki-kun's reaction is pretty normal. I suggest you rethink again, Tenji-kun. I may have gained this body through 'compensation', but that's considering it's one of the midest case."

"Your case's mildest......?"

"Yeah. Someone has faced far more cruel fate in the past. Like one turned into a living meatball, in literal sense, or turned into monster, or developed such super hearing they were able to hear everything about the other side of earth as well which drove them to insanity and ultimately committed suicide......evil are punished for even more."

"......"

"Have you made up your mind?"

"......Yes. I still want to hear."

Tenji was truly shocked as Kujira narrated what could be the worst case, but didn't show any hesitation when she asked again about his decision, showing his unwavering determination.

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