Thanks for the invitation. I am a parasite in Terra.

The doctor lowered his eyes and looked at the blanket with holes on it. What he had experienced during this period kept replaying before his eyes like a kaleidoscope.

......

Um...it's so cold...it's also so cold in the garbage dump!

Ah! It's a blanket! Although it has a few holes in it... it can at least block the wind.

Woo——so comfortable...

I have to flee this city...I can't take out too many of the things I found...

At least you should take the blanket with you, right?

Yes, I need a blanket to keep warm!

How about that! I never thought I could actually grab a means of transportation! Isn’t that awesome, blanket!

Blanket! We will be traveling together for the rest of our journey!

Please give me more advice!

“Damn it!!!”

The doctor felt an inexplicable anger surge from his heart!

why!

I hate this feeling!

This feeling of sacrificing the people or things you cherish for the so-called optimal solution!

"Damn it! You bastard! You can't even protect your own blanket! What else can you protect!!!"

She shouted, then gritted her teeth, raised the banknotes, lit them, and stuffed them into the fire!

"I don't know why! I feel like I'm definitely not the kind of guy who would sacrifice the people around me for some greater good!"

"That guy before was another me! Look carefully!!!"

"This is my determination!!!"

She shouted and screamed, as if she was expressing her feelings to her past self who had long disappeared.

Then, she watched the banknotes in her hand slowly ignite and turn into ashes in the flames, and then gradually the firewood was stained with sparks.

until.......

"Ugh?"

The doctor was stunned, looking at the firewood which only left a few sparks.

The banknotes thrown in were like shooting stars, emitting dazzling flames that disappeared in an instant.

......

At this moment, she just stayed where she was, watching the spark gradually weakening under the howling cold wind.

The burning hope quickly faded at this moment.

“Nooooooooooooooooooooo!! Stop it!”

Without any hesitation, the doctor threw the blanket into the firewood pile.

"No, don't take my fire away! I'm willing to do anything!"

"Let me cool down! Please!!!"

.........

........

It's indeed different. At least, compared to that evil spirit, you still have that kind of determination.

.......

“Hoo! Hoo! Please, Blanket-san! Just for the last time, for me! Use Burn on the firewood!!”

.......

There is still a lot of room for growth... Come on, "Doctor".

Chapter 21: Fateful Encounter (Part 1)

"Oooooh, blanket! My blanket!"

The doctor knelt down beside the gradually burning fire, sobbing and complaining about the cruelty of the world.

Why.

Why would the blanket that kept me company be burned?

"Answer me! This damned earth!"

She screamed as if she was crying out for her best friend.

Until the fire in front of him was finally completely ignited, light and heat temporarily filled the corner in front of his eyes, as if forming an amber barrier, constantly radiating its heat, resisting the cold wind and bringing warmth.

"Damn it! Blanket-san..."

The doctor wanted to continue pounding the ground, wailing for his best friend who had accompanied him since leaving Chernobyl.

but......

The gentle firelight seemed to have turned into a rope that was wrapped around her wrist, constantly pulling her towards the fire.

"My blanket..."

".....I'm sorry, but this is really too warm."

The doctor wanted to say something else, but his body could not resist the instinct to keep warm in the cold wind, so he leaned his hands against the fire to warm them.

"Ah——It's so warm..."

The heat from the flames dispelled the coldness in her hands, bringing long-lost comfort to her red, frozen little hands.

It's so nice... so warm...

Perhaps it was because of the human instinctive memory of fire. Facing the comfortable baking, her long-stretched nerves began to relax for the first time in a long time.

Then, fatigue and sleepiness surged over my body like a flood.

"Wow - it's so nice... so warm... I wish it could continue like this forever, without having to think about anything... without having to worry about anything..."

"If it keeps going like this...will it be happiness..."

Drowsily, she closed her eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, I suddenly found myself in a completely unfamiliar place!

“…No! Where is this place?!”

The doctor was stunned for a moment, then suddenly regained consciousness.

A dim room with simple furniture and rough walls.

The only thing worth looking at was the desk filled with various documents.

She walked forward and looked at an opened letter in the middle of the desk.

The elegant and beautiful cursive characters dance on the paper like butterflies, subconsciously giving people a sense of peace and nature.

The doctor picked up the letter and looked at the words on it.

[Doctor, long time no see. I wonder if your body can adapt to the environment of Kazdel?]

[I'm sorry for dragging you into this vortex from which you can't escape...]

However, halfway through reading, she heard an ethereal voice in her ears, which frightened her so much that she shivered!

"woke up?"

In a flash, the doctor put down the letter and turned around suddenly.

Then she saw a white figure leaning lazily against the window frame.

The long silver-white hair was blown by the breeze outside the window, dancing freely as if it had life.

“You, you, you, you! It’s you?! The guy who claimed to be me before!?”

The doctor raised his hand and pointed at the guy leaning against the window with some surprise.

That guy with the exact same face as mine.

"Just to remind you, the steel pipe you made for self-defense is about four steps away on your left hand side."

"Remember to grab it as soon as you wake up."

"What do you mean? Why should I hurry up right away... Wait, how long have I been sleeping?!"

"You in the real world probably slept for about four to five hours."

"...It's a pity that you didn't take out the other self-defense gadget as well. Even if you are lucky enough to disable one enemy with that crude steel pipe launching mechanism, the probability of another enemy subduing you is about 98.5%."

"What do you mean.....Is there anyone approaching me?!"

"To light a fire in the middle of the night in the wilderness, alone, is no different from committing suicide."

"However, considering that your brain lacks sugar, carbohydrates, protein and other necessary resources during this period, it is understandable that you cannot make reasonable judgments."

"...But if it were you, it might cause a miracle or something."

She finished speaking, meaningfully

Glancing at the Doctor.

"Hey, hey! What kind of miracle is this? Explain it clearly! Why do you always like to talk in riddles?"

"Time is running out. Remember, your self-defense prop is about four steps away from your left hand. Remember to grab it as soon as possible."

"What......"

........

.....

"Hey, you're awake? Little sister, are you traveling alone? It's not good to sleep in a place like this in the middle of the night."

The doctor rubbed her eyes unconsciously. She opened her eyes and saw a bearded Sarkaz man opening his mouth and giving her a greedy smile.

"Woke up early? What a shame."

Another Sarkaz put down the rough hemp rope in his hand, and then slowly drew out the long knife from his waist.

"!?!"

The cold wind from the sharp blade frightened the doctor so much that his blood ran cold.

At the same time, the words just now quickly echoed in my mind.

About four steps to your left, your pole is there.

Without any hesitation, she stood up and rushed to the left, then grabbed the steel pipe there and held tightly the area covered with black tape.

She raised the steel pipe and shouted tremblingly at the two tall and strong Sarkaz mercenaries in front of her.

“You….Who are you?!!”

The mercenary who had just squatted in front of him touched the scar on his cheek, then forced a smile that made people feel a little scared.

"It's just a mercenary passing by, little sister, don't be so nervous~"

After he finished speaking, he cast an extremely greedy look at the doctor.

"Scar, kill her quickly, and then search the car for valuables."

Sarkaz, who had been holding the long sword at the side, couldn't help but urge.

However, the mercenary called Scar didn't care at all.

He just waved his hand casually.

"You still expect to find something valuable on this broken transporter - if I were to ask you... isn't the most valuable thing right in front of you?"

As he said this, he looked at the Doctor again, then licked his dry lips.

"Hey, little sister, how about putting down the toy in your hand? Then I can be a little gentler..."

As he spoke, he slowly walked towards the other person.