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Chapter Twelve: Unlikely Allies

Rowan, with his short, straight black hair styled in an undercut and intimidating gray eyes, appeared far from intimidating to Gaige. However, to his group, he radiated a dominant aura, evident in his leadership.

But Gaige was disappointed. None of the leaders he had hoped to follow for protection and guidance in adapting to Earth met his expectations. He speculated that these individuals had lost their otherworldly strength due to an extended stay on Earth. Gaige couldn't reconcile the image of these formerly powerful beings with their current vulnerability.

"There's no way they escaped from the other world with this level of strength. I'm sure these people were once formidable before coming here."

"What are you casting?" Rowan demanded, jabbing Gaige's neck, drawing blood that trickled onto the longsword's blade. Misunderstanding Gaige's muttered incantation in Soleil's language as a spell, Rowan reacted in defense.

"Y-you!"

Gaige abruptly stood, accidentally causing Rowan to scrape a patch of skin from Gaige's neck.

Strazz and Howl retreated cautiously while Minka remained at Gaige's side, silently observing his neck.

Gaige sighed and raised his hands to demonstrate he posed no threat. He informed them, "Andy asked me to save you."

Rowan finally sheathed his longsword and signaled for Gaige to lower his arms.

"So, where do you come from?"

"Novel – KimNery – Gaige."

Gaige hoped that they would recognize the famous novel from which he originated.

"Gaige Feryuson?" Howl interjected, his excitement evident. He had been reading about Gaige in a trending novel. "You're Gaige? Can I have an autograph?"

Howl approached Gaige, momentarily disregarding his previous wariness. However, when Gaige glared at him, Howl quickly retreated.

"Is my life a joke?"

Howl trembled, realizing his error, and lowered his head. His journey to Earth had been much less dramatic than the others, as he had merely ridden a spaceship. Unlike his companions, Howl had transmigrated directly to another planet unbeknownst to Earth. Gaige sighed and suggested, "Apologies would be better spent in explaining our situation."

Rowan interjected, "We should return home first. It would be problematic if authorities discovered us here."

All agreed, and Gaige followed suit. To his surprise, Minka, the lady with a goddess-like figure, transformed into a gigantic duck.

"Why a duck?" Gaige inquired, puzzled as to why she chose such an unusual form, tarnishing her appearance.

"I had no other choice; my system only offers this transformation, and we lack means of transportation. Earning money on Earth is challenging, especially without proper identities," Minka explained with her large yellow beak.

"Oh, I see."

Gaige stroked Minka's soft feathers before climbing onto her expansive back. Once everyone settled in, she elegantly took flight. However, Gaige noticed Minka slowing down, so he chanted a prayer and gently caressed her back.

Startled by Gaige's sudden healing of her broken wings, Minka emitted a short quack. Soon, her wings were fully functional once more. Minka had been wounded by numerous bullet holes, preventing her escape from the purger.

"Thank you," Rowan conveyed on Minka's behalf. He gazed at the night sky, appreciating the gentle breeze. He was genuinely thankful that they hadn't lost their lives today.

"Purger."

Gaige interrupted the peaceful night to inquire about the purger once more.

Rowan sighed, and it was he who began to speak, revealing ominous details. He spoke softly, as if recounting a painful tale.

"Purgers referred to us as returnees and made it their mission to purge us. They are not a collective; each operates independently, possibly competing to eliminate the most returnees. We don't know what becomes of us once we are purged, nor the reason for their pursuit. All we understand is that it is their purpose to hunt us down. They target us when we lose our powers, making their task easier."

"Quack!"

"That's why we use Minka's system to track new returnees. They can protect us."

Gaige concurred; it was more effective to stick together than to face purgers alone. By seeking protection from newcomers, they could offer information and help them adjust to Earth's way of life.

"Quack!"

"Apologies, Minka. You can assist him with other matters later."

"So, will someone come after me as well? Is it even worth returning?" Gaige muttered in a different language, catching Rowan's attention.

"We've all worked hard to return home, yet it's disheartening to feel unwelcome," Rowan confessed. Strazz shared similar sentiments, longing for a peaceful resolution. "I wish they'd simply let us return to the other world instead of purging us. It would be a more peaceful solution."

Gaige scrutinized Strazz, perplexed by how an unassuming girl could speak so naively. He pondered inwardly, "There's no way you can persuade someone who almost died trying to return to Earth to leave once more."

Though Gaige wanted to argue, his linguistic limitations stifled him.