Ch 128

  Day after day passed as Matt sat in his room, waiting for someone to call on him, yet it seemed no such call was forthcoming. The only change during that time was the return of the clothing he wore after cleaning and repairs. It even looked as if it had never endured the punishment of the past six months. This at least allowed him to feel far more comfortable than wearing anything stocked in the room for him. Even though he could tell they were of high quality and felt like silk on his skin, they felt wrong to him, as he felt exposed without the familiar roughness he was used to.

  While he began to feel at ease with his clothing returned, it was the only source of comfort in his mind, as everything else seemed to contradict his existence. A soft bed, running water, food on demand, and Naomi lingering in the background, just waiting for him to give her orders. It was a life many would see as ideal, and most would probably have explored the various features of the room, which Matt simply ignored. Instead, he spent his time trying to be as productive as possible, focusing inward and attempting to master his essences, seeking solace in the quiet determination of self-improvement amidst the unsettling luxury surrounding him.

  To others, it must have appeared as though Matt spent the majority of his time in one spot, either lying or sitting there constantly. He even requested Naomi to bring him a single meal of unseasoned meat, prepared from the monsters he retrieved from his spatial storage that hadn't been traded at the guild exchange. His message was clear in his mind: if his host wanted him to feel like a guest, Matt would make sure he acted like a prisoner. The only deviation from this routine was the daily conversation Matt had with Naomi while he ate. During these discussions, he sought information and challenged Naomi's worldview, shaped by the environment she had grown up in. Although much of what Matt learned and how Naomi responded seemed insignificant, he sensed subtle changes within her. These changes seemed to culminate on the seventh day since Matt had first spoken to her, marking a turning point in their interactions.

  "Why do you continue to push me when you know that my views won't change?" Naomi nearly shouted, her frustration evident in her voice. "All you do is sit here and sleep! You never ask for any form of entertainment or the slightest comfort. Since the first day, the most you've done is go to the bathroom to relieve yourself and wipe your body with a wet towel to clean up. Yet, you still speak to me as if my way of life is flawed, without considering how yours might be even more so!"

  It was the first time Matt felt she had let her mask slip, and he smiled, remembering how he had urged her to be honest. It seemed that the pressure of obedience had almost forced her to comply. He felt like he was finally making some progress.

  "Do you wish to be freed from my service?" he asked, sensing that if she agreed, it would finally set things in motion.

  "No, I simply wish to enjoy my time more than I have been," she replied, frowning as she searched Matt’s face for answers. "Why are you looking at me as if I am the fool?"

  "Did I ever once forbid you from doing as you please?"

  "No, but I... I need to be ready to serve you at any moment."

  "No, you don't," replied Matt calmly. "Naomi, I order you to do as you please outside of this room, as long as that doesn’t include intruding on me in the bathroom."

  Naomi scrunched up her nose before responding, clearly puzzled.

  "Disgusting. Why would anyone wish to intrude on another in such a way?"

  "It is a time when we are naturally exposed," Matt explained, "and there's a rather prominent story about it featured in the dominant religion of the world I come from."

  "I see," replied Naomi, seemingly relieved to have a reason for his comment. "Is there anything else you need from me right now?"

  Matt glanced at the empty plate before him and frowned, knowing this was normally where he ended their conversations. Yet, he felt a need to push just a bit further.

  "Yes, I need you to honestly tell me why you think I haven’t been summoned."

  "It may be that they have forgotten you are even here, as you disturb nothing outside these walls. However, I suspect it's more of a game to see whose will is stronger. What you're doing can easily be seen as refusing a gift, thus insulting your host, and he wishes to see you relent so he can hold it over your head."

  "Then he is a fool, as I will simply sit here until I am returned to my world. Besides, as you've said, I must hold true to my path, and defiance is part of that path."

  "I do not envy you for the path you've chosen, as it sounds like one that will force you to live a hard life, but you have my respect for walking it."

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  "The best paths are the hardest to walk," Matt replied, firm in his conviction. "While I have no wish to lead any group of people, I have accepted that I must return to my life of obscurity for now."

  "Life of obscurity?" Naomi inquired, her curiosity piqued.

  "I wish to have the power not to be threatened by anyone and then to find somewhere I can live quietly, as I please."

  "What about those who you were with before coming here?" Naomi asked, her eyes searching his for answers.

  "I never claimed to have a solution for the various complications that have arisen since I was integrated. Nevertheless, I believe I have plenty of time before I'm required to provide any such answers, as reaching S rank without dulling my skills is by far the most crucial focus for me right now. This is why sitting here like this is rather frustrating, even if it does afford me some time to concentrate on manipulating my essences."

  "I see. Now, am I free to go and enjoy myself?" Naomi inquired, her tone lightly teasing.

  "Just don’t let me catch you indisposed," Matt replied with a hint of mischief in his voice.

  Naomi frowned at Matt's retort but chose to remain silent. She cleared his dish with a practiced efficiency and quietly left his room. A few minutes later, Matt could hear a muffled noise emanating from the common area of the accommodations. He chose to ignore it, as it wasn't overly distracting. In fact, the subtle white noise was a welcome change since the previous pure silence was more unsettling than anything; in his mind, nowhere should be that quiet. This ambient sound allowed him to delve deeper into his mind, focusing intently on his essences once more.

  In his quest to discover a point where regeneration, self-sacrifice, determination, luck, and hope all converged, Matt found himself intensely focused on his journey. As he navigated this path, he mused over the phrase "hope of hopeless," thinking there should have been a "the" in there. Yet, he had come to understand that a path could be defined by no more than three words. These words often failed to make complete sense to those reading them in their native language, as truly understanding the system required learning its unique language. This seemed like a flaw to Matt, much like the auto-translate skill, which altered the voices he heard from others to match his expectations of how they should speak. The system's language barrier and the translation quirks added layers of complexity to his goal as he fought against his frustrations.

  While Matt was inherently a recluse, he still understood that colloquialisms were a thing, and he expected them to pop up in conversation. Yet, to his surprise, they didn't. This made him certain that whatever system was at work, it was effectively translating the intentions behind such expressions. This realization led him to ponder whether the very paths they walked could be akin to colloquialisms—complex in nature, yet simplified by the system into something most could easily grasp. So, Matt decided to contemplate all the different ways he could perceive "hope of hopeless." One straightforward method involved merely adding a "the" to transform it into "hope of the hopeless," but he also considered appending words to the end, such as "people," "situations," or "injuries," just to name a few. He mused over these variations, imagining how each one subtly changed the nuance of the phrase, adding layers of meaning that could resonate differently with various audiences.

  It was the last concept that captured Matt's attention the most, as he felt he had already dealt with many such injuries long before the HP stat was activated and people were still acclimating to the new world. He also understood that any ultimate skill he possessed would likely involve healing, and suddenly, an idea took shape in his mind. Although it seemed fitting, it was an idea that made him frown because it was a skill that demanded risking his life just to attempt it. However, a sense of calm washed over him as he realized how perfectly this action aligned with his chosen path. Despite this, Matt felt a lingering unease as he continued to explore various other interpretations of his path.

  Two more days slipped by in this manner before Naomi finally informed Matt that he had been summoned, providing him with instructions for the meeting. The appointment was still several hours away, and when Matt inquired who the meeting was with, Naomi simply stated that she didn't know and refused to mention or discuss any of the individuals who might have summoned him. Ultimately, she confessed that she had never been allowed to learn any names, as only those who had reached A rank were granted such knowledge. Matt thought this policy was absurd, but he was advised not to seek any information beyond the position of the person who summoned him, as anything more would be considered an insult from one so weak as he.

  Matt had to stifle a snort at the list of things he was supposed to do before the meeting. It included tasks like bathing and putting on a fresh set of clothing, which seemed unnecessary to mention, even if Matt planned to skip the latter. Nevertheless, most of the list felt like an affront, as the person who summoned him expected him to present something that highlighted his organization’s value. This could simply be a negotiation tactic to establish the relative value of each organization, especially considering the vast disparity between his own and what Godfrey Enterprises must be capable of. If that wasn’t enough, they expected Matt to join them for dinner at their private residence and to have Naomi prepare a delicacy that closely resembled something from his home world, adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation.

  There were plenty of other minor annoyances that added extra steps, which made Matt feel irritated, but those two particular issues prompted him to ask if he could refuse either. When Naomi explained that refusing would be tantamount to telling whoever he was meeting with that both his organization and world held no value, Matt reluctantly accepted that he had no choice but to comply. That didn’t mean, however, that he wasn’t prepared to play dirty with both requests, as he smiled slyly while considering his options. Although he had something to present ready to showcase the value of his organization, he needed to put in some effort to present an impressive dish.

  Still, what he had in mind was straightforward, and after discussing it with Naomi, she agreed it was something she could prepare, though she was concerned it might be perceived as too simple. Matt merely chuckled, reassuring her that if it turned out well, it would become quite popular. He was surprised that such a dish was unfamiliar to her. After all, the basics were just cheese, sauce, and bread, while the rest was a matter of style and preferred flavor combinations.