Then There Were Two

What did he mean by 'I'm the one who killed the king.'?! 

Toshio kept repeating the same line over and over as he saw Nero slicing off the executioner's arms. 

This guy is a merciless brute. Toshio was slowly getting used to the sight of blood now.

The guards had started circling the platform. Nero grabbed Lily and jumped straight to Toshio.

*WOOSH*

A dust cloud followed as he landed with style.

"Aww, it seems she fell asleep," Nero said while checking on Lily. His hands were still blood red.

"So, now what?" Toshio was stressing. The knights had started running towards the entrance of the watchtower they were standing on. 

"Now we fly old man!" Nero grabbed Toshio by the waist and grabbed Lily with his other hand.

*BOOM*

He leaped through the air, jumping farther and farther away from the center of the Capital.

AAAAAAAA! Toshio screamed internally. He had a pretty good poker face on the outside.

"About the throne room, what exactly happened there?" Toshio asked something important to change his focus from the city beneath his feet.

"I know as much as you remember, The High King was doing something gross. I couldn't control myself and attacked him, I lost consciousness afterwards." Toshio felt that Nero was telling the truth.

"You are handling this better now, huh?" Nero laughed as mocking Toshio.

"Stop talking, and focus on the road or sky or whatever!" Toshio got scared when Nero turned to him midair to talk. 

Maybe I'll let him tell me more by himself. Toshio finally had some clues, and he didn't want to annoy his savior. Especially not when he was carrying Toshio and Lily while jumping from one roof to another.

"I can do this with my eyes closed." Nero winked as he reached the outer walls protecting the Capital. 

One small jump and he stepped on the highest roof of the stone wall. 

There was only lush green forest as far as they could see. Far, very far away there were some mountains. 

Nero stood there taking a short moment to enjoy the view. They were finally at the very edge of the Capital. Toshio was speechless.

Nero prepared his feet for one last jump as far as he could, of course his eyes were closed!

"Wait, No!" Toshio grabbed Nero tightly. 

This guy is bad news. Toshio's heart was beating faster than a drum, and by instinct and fear he closed his eyes too.

My ears are ringing from the air pressure. Toshio could feel they were really high in the sky but his fear had locked his eyes shut.

"Open your eyes princess," Nero smiled at Toshio as he opened his eyes slowly.

They were on the ground, safely. But Toshio was clinging to Nero like a scared Koala. 

'Uhmm" Toshio got down quickly. Lily was still sleeping. All that stress and pressure had finally released. 

They were in some sort of grassy area in the middle of a thick forest. Nero put Lily near a tree. He patted her head one last time.

"Well, see you soon!" Nero started getting ready to jump again.

You can't just leave us in the middle of an unknown forest! 

Toshio knew they needed Nero's strength to even have a chance of survival.

"Where are you going?" Toshio tried to play it cool. It was basic negotiation technique.

"The more you stay near me, the closer you get to death," Nero said, not a hint of smile on his face.

"We will meet again, try to survive until then." He didn't wait for Toshio's reply. He was in some mysterious hurry to run away. 

Nero threw his black jacket onto Toshio's face and jumped as high as he could. 

*BOOM*

A loud sonic boom echoed across the sky as he vanished in an instant.

This guy is unbelievable. 

Toshio started folding the bloody jacket. What if he comes back again shirtless, he might ask for it back. 

He tried making sense of Nero's words but he stopped once he saw Lily had started opening her eyes.

"Ughhh..." Lily groaned as she started waking up. Toshio rushed to her and sat down. 

"Where am I? What happened?" Her mind was confused.

What should I do? This situation is the most problematic. Toshio knew for a 40-years old Salaryman to be alone with a 17-years old kid was definitely risky.

He even imagined himself getting arrested by the modern day Japanese police! 

"You!" Lily yelled with joy,"You are the one who killed that High King!" She leaped and hugged Toshio wrapping her arms around him. 

What do I do? Toshio didn't have any experience with people invading his personal space.

Toshio had forgotten to cover his face. Lily finally knew the identity of the mysterious man.

*SOB SOB*

Toshio heard a faint crying sound coming from behind his shoulder. 

I guess I can be a bit more empathetic. He murmured as he let Lily cry her heart out.

"You okay now?" He said while standing up. 

That was really tiring. Toshio could handle Knight's rushing towards him with open swords but not a crying teenage girl.

"Yes...I'm sorry for suddenly crying." Lily said as she wiped her tears and face with both hands.

"It's alright. I have a niece who's also same age as you!" Toshio smiled to make her a bit comfortable.

Lily looked at him with a confused expression. 

"What happened?" Toshio didn't expect that reaction.

"No, it's just that you don't look that old," She hesitated a bit.

"Ahh... That's just how my people are!" Toshio boasted his Asian genes. They both started laughing freely.

Lily slowly introduced herself to her savior. She also asked about the White Haired knight but Toshio made some excuse and changed the topic. 

Lily was still mentally exhausted so Toshio didn't ask about her parent's death. He just listened as she talked about her family when they were happy. 

She sounded excited and alive, that was the first time she had talked about her parents to anyone.

Toshio didn't say anything, he just smiled sometimes. The evening sun was shining beautifully on them.

"We should make a camp soon," He looked at his watch. 

It's going to be dark soon. That damn Nero couldn't have dropped us near some village? 

Toshio cursed him wishing to give him 1 star review. If only I could complain to his superiors. He was treating Nero like a taxi service.

"I can help with the food gathering. I have went to this forest a lot in past, to gather flowers and herbs!" Lily got up with a strong smile. She was feeling a lot better.

"All right, let's find a flat surface to make a camp first. We can talk more later." They started walking upwards the grass area. 

Very soon they reached a wide riverbed with stones and sand. The river had made a wide clear path from past. It was a perfect area to make a camp. 

Maybe Nero isn't that bad as I thought, 3 stars!

"Perfect!" Toshio clapped as he found the perfect place," You can gather some firewood and food. I'll try to make us a tent."

Toshio had a lot experience of camping, from his original world. 

"I know I already said it many times but, thank you once again." Lily stood in front of Toshio, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Maybe if you don't mind I can..." She didn't finish her sentence.

"Nothing, I'll go gather some edible mushrooms." She ran away in hurry.

I really can't understand teenagers. 

Toshio remembered his cousin sister had a daughter of same age. 

Lily seems more mature though, my niece used to scream and shout all the time.

Toshio had made a camp from sticks and green leaves, enough for one person. 

I can't let a young girl sleep outside. I'll make some bedding near the tree for myself. 

Toshio felt a need to act as a guardian for Lily.

"I'm going to try and catch some dinner." He shouted at Lily who was gathering mushrooms in the bushes. 

"Okay!" She said as if they were on some picnic. 

She definitely sounds much better now. Finally like a teenager and not some tired corporate slave.

The river was very shallow, barely knee deep. The water was very clear and rich with fish.

Toshio had made a stick with sharp point by scraping it with a sharp stone. He had always loved reading and watching about real life survival stories. 

When he wasn't deep into Excel Sheets, Toshio would go camping, even solo!

He put his jacket and shoes to a nearby tree. 

I can't let this blazer get wet again, I don't even know if ironing services exists in this world. He was still thinking about work life.

Toshio stayed still as letting fish come near his legs. He finally saw his undisturbed face in the water reflection.

What?! He fell back on his butt in the water. The fish ran away.

"What happened?" Lily came running towards the river side. She thought Toshio had encountered snake or something.

How can this be! 

Toshio touched his own face as he watched the reflection in the water.

"I...I have turned young!?" He was seeing himself for the first time after coming to this world.

"You didn't even know how you looked? That's why I got confused when you said you had a niece of my age." Lily finally explained herself.

"No... I'm 40 years old in my original world, but right now I look barely 25." 

Toshio pressed his cheeks and checked his teeth. He had a sharp jawline and healthy hair. 

I look just like when I first joined the corporate ladder. 

Toshio remembered his days when he used to win the employee of the month back to back.

The system had turned Toshio in his peak office days' physique.