Debt System

Chapter 013: Reason

Chapter 013: Reason

"That...where did that blood come from?"

The guard glared at Kai, who was asking him. His eyes showed a sharp look behind the mask he wore.

"Why are you asking questions that are none of your business?"

"Because-" Kai hung up his sentence, not knowing what to say. Earlier, the question had reflexively come out of his mouth. Ah, what should he answer now?

"Hey, blonde hair guy, I asked you a question. Why are you asking things that are none of your business?" 

The guard again urged Kai to answer his question. The blood dripping from the katana he was holding continued downward, forming a puddle around him. Kai gulped his saliva forcefully. The look in his eyes showed fear.

Kai glanced at Terry, who was at the end of the cell, asking for help. Terry sighed, then got up from his bed and approached the iron trellis, which separated him and the guard.

"He's just asking," Terry said in a flat voice. He glanced the guard up and down, scanning him without exception. "Because you're covered in blood like that."

The guard chuckled softly, then threw the katana he was holding to the side. The sound of the katana clashing with the floor echoed in the quiet atmosphere. 

"Never ask questions or interfere with things that are none of your business," the guard said in a cold voice. He touched the mask on his face.

"Because sometimes that curiosity can kill you."

"It's not like that," Terry sighed, trying to maintain his polite demeanor not to roll his eyes at the man standing before him. "But don't we have the right to ask questions that feel odd? What's more, we heard a loud scream earlier."

The guard lowered his hand. He froze in place, as if surprised by Terry's narration. "Did you hear screaming?"

Terry nodded his head. "Yes, a scream loud enough to wake the four of us from our dreams." 

Terry paused his words for a moment to stretch his stiff body. "So, isn't it natural to be suspicious of you? Moreover, this strange scream and your appearance are very suspicious."

The man clucked again, then crouched down to pick up the katana he had dropped. "I've been hunting wild pigs. So my body is full of blood like this."

Terry refrained from giving a lopsided smile at the absurd excuse. Hunting wild pig with a katana? 

"Oh, hunting wild pigs,"

"Yeah, you'd better go back to sleep," the guard sighed in relief at Terry believing in the excuse he made. "I don't want to hear any excuses if you wake up late tomorrow morning," he added. He was about to walk away. However, his steps stopped when he heard the question Terry asked. 

"So, where did the screaming we heard come from?"

The guard turned his head briefly. "It's just your imagination. Hurry up and go back to sleep. Good night," he said simply. His feet took another step, away from the cell Terry shared with his three friends.

Once the guard's back was out of sight, Terry let out a rough sigh. He turned around and found his three friends with different expressions.

Ben with a confused expression, Daniel with a blank expression, and Kai, who looked scared. Terry rubbed his face roughly, then returned to his bed. 

"Imagination?" Terry stopped his activities at the question that came out of Daniel's mouth. "I don't think that scream could be my imagination. After all, we all heard it, right?"

"Right." Kai agreed with his sparring partner. "I heard it too."

"Then, why did he mention that the scream was just the four of us imagining it?" Ben asked.

"It was just an excuse so he wouldn't be questioned further," Terry chimed in. "

"Hm, if that's the case, it makes sense," Ben nodded his head, agreeing with Terry's remarks.

"But, what about -"

"We'd better get back to sleep," Terry interrupted Daniel again before the Korean man could finish his sentence. "We need to be fit for the second mission tomorrow."

Daniel glared irritably at Terry. But he didn't want to argue. The Korean man covered himself up to his head again, until his body was invisible. Terry let out a long breath. He laid back down and tried to go back to sleep.

"What secrets are they really hiding?"

.

.

.

At 7 am, all participants were gathered in the field again. This time, all participants were required to wear t-shirts that had been provided by the debt system. The shirt was red mixed with black, which was combined with knee-length cloth pants.

"Do they have more budget, huh?" Kai looked at the shirt he was wearing carefully and occasionally smelled it. 

"Why do you ask like that?" Said Daniel, who was already stretching and warming up, as if he were going to exercise.

"Because this shirt we're wearing feels very comfortable. The material is made of high-quality cotton," Kai explained. 

"Wow, I didn't know you had any knowledge about clothing materials," Ben said in an enthusiastic voice. His eyes were twinkling.

Kai rubbed his nose with a big smile. "Of course. When it comes to clothes, I'm the one who knows best."

"Why is that?" Daniel asked again. He jumped a little from where he was standing.

"Because I buy clothes for myself very often. So, I have some knowledge about materials and such." 

"Wow, that's cool," Ben said again and patted Kai's shoulder lightly. "Looks like your life is going really well, Kai."

Kai smiled slightly. "Yeah, you could say that."

"Then, why did you join the debt system if you have a good life?" Asked Terry in a flat voice.

"That..." 

Kai hung up his sentence. His hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. Terry could also see that Kai's chest was rising and falling rapidly, as if he were holding back emotions that could explode at any moment. His cheeks showed a faint reddish hue.

Terry crossed his arms in front of his chest, waiting for Kai's answer. His feet clad in shabby shoes tapped the ground, making a rhythmic sound.

"Kai?" 

"Oh, it's a secret," Kai chose to avoid rather than answer Terry's question that felt cornered. "It's a very personal reason anyway. And I'm not comfortable answering it. Sorry."

Terry nodded his head. What Kai said was true. It was the realm of secrets. And he shouldn't have asked such a question. "No, I'm not. I should apologize for pushing you."

"That's fine," Kai put on his biggest smile, until his eyes seemed to narrow. "But I promise I'll tell you why I joined this survival game someday. When I trust you guys,"

Ben patted Kai's shoulder twice. "I'll wait for that."

The conversation between the four of them had to stop when Zayne, Marissa, and X entered the field. They went straight up to the stage. This time, it was Marissa's turn to approach the mic.

"Good morning, everyone!" She said it in a cheerful tone. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"No!" Said one of the participants in a loud voice. "I heard a loud scream last night. What was it?"

Marissa smiled widely. But to Terry's eyes, that smile was eerie, with a dark air around it. "Oh, it was the screams of intruders who wanted to mess up this place. You guys have nothing to worry about."

"But-"

"We're guaranteeing your safety. So, why do you keep asking unnecessary questions?"

All the participants stayed silent at Marissa's question.

"Instead of worrying about that, shouldn't you be preparing for the second mission?"

"Second mission?" Terry asked. "What mission is it?"

"Throwing catch!"

"Huh?!"