Chapter 57: Roy’s Decision

The investigator had a slender face with hawkish features. He had on a simple black suit.

Roy studied him up and down, but Donald spoke before he could.

“How are you sure this was all because of Roy?”

The investigator shrugged. “It’s just a lead. Chris, his classmate, fell unconscious after getting Roy. Pardon me if it seems as though that was the endgame of the culprit all along.”

In essence, he was trying to say that taking Roy out seemed to be the goal of the rogue irregular who caused all this.

“Investigator Stan, Roy needs to rest,” Donald said with a stern look at the guest. This was not an interrogation, just an eye witness questioning, which was what the investigator said before Donny allowed him in.

This fact alone permitted him to be in the room with Roy. Of course, the investigator did try his luck and asked to speak with Roy alone, but Donald repeated, “This is an eyewitness questioning, not an interrogation.”

The hawkish-looking investigator sighed. “I see…”

He left after saying a few things about coming to the authorities if they learned anything else.

Master Abraham had excused the two brothers when the investigator arrived, so it was only Roy and Donald in the room at the moment.

Roy looked at Donald, “Do you think Cash God is behind this?”

Donald gritted. “No. I don’t think so,” he lied.

Roy always knew when Donny was lying.

Shortly after…

The doctor, a middle-aged woman with graying hair pulled into a tight bun, scribbled something on her tablet. “I’m clearing you for discharge, but I want you to take it easy for the next few days. No strenuous activity.”

Roy nodded absently, already thinking about what came next. “Thanks,” he muttered.

“Thank you, Doctor,” Donald said from his position by the door.

After she left, Roy swung his legs off the bed and stretched. His body felt fine. Better than fine, actually. Master Abraham’s healing had done more than just patch him up.

“Master Abe and I talked last night,” Roy said.

Donald’s expression shifted. “About?”

“About getting stronger. Really stronger.” Roy met his brother’s gaze. “I want to go into the wild.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

“The wild,” Donald repeated flatly.

“Yeah. No more safe districts. No more controlled environments. I need real experience, and I need it now.”

“Roy—”

“I lost Greymane. I’m still too weak. Too dependent.”

Donald ran a hand through his hair. “You’re sixteen.”

“And an Irregular. I’m going to take the Entrance Exam in less than two months. I need to be ready.”

“You will be ready. Abraham’s training—”

“It isn’t enough.” Roy stood up, feeling the hospital gown shift awkwardly around him. “You saw what happened yesterday. A rogue Irregular with a rage skill turned Chris into a monster, and I couldn’t even last ten seconds against him without Greymane. What happens when I’m facing a real threat?”

Donald opened his mouth, then closed it. His jaw worked for a moment before he spoke again. “When are you planning to leave?”

Roy paused.

“Today.”

“Today? Roy, you just got cleared.”

“Which means I’m fine. There’s no point waiting around.”

The door opened, and Nana walked in carrying a duffel bag. She took one look at the two of them and her expression hardened.

“What’s going on?”

“Roy wants to go into the wild,” Donald said.

Nana’s grip on the bag tightened. “What?”

“It’s necessary,” Roy said matter-of-factly. “I need—”

“No.”

“Nana.”

“I said no.” She set the bag down with more force than necessary. “Absolutely not. Do you have any idea what’s out there? What could happen to you? And what about school?”

Roy winced. “I’m done with school. I never fit in. I want to bet on myself. I don’t want to be protected anymore, I want to be capable.”

“You’re a child!”

“I’m an Irregular!” Roy’s voice rose to match hers. “You can’t keep treating me like I’m ten years old. The world doesn’t care that I’m sixteen. God’s Abyss doesn’t care. The abyss creatures won’t care when they come for us all! Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow or next, but: They. Will. Come.”

Nana’s face went pale. She looked at Donald. “Tell him this is insane.”

Donald hesitated. “It’s… not the worst idea.”

“Donald!”

“I’m not saying I like it. But Roy has a point. School’s pointless in contrast to the Irregular Academy Entrance Exam.”

Nana wanted to bring up another point, but Roy spoke earlier.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, “I’m going. With or without your permission.”

Nana stared at him for a long moment. Then she turned and walked out of the room without another word.

The door clicked shut behind her.

“That went well,” Donald muttered.

“She’ll get over it.”

“Will she?”

Roy didn’t respond. What could he say?

Donald sighed and picked up the duffel bag Nana had brought. “She packed your clothes. At least change out of that gown before you do something stupid.”

Inside the bag was a black hoodie, jeans, and his canvas shoes. Roy changed quickly, grateful to be out of the hospital attire.

“Oh, and I’m coming with you,” Donald said as Roy laced up his shoes.

“No.” Roy shook his head.

“Roy…”

“No offence, but you’ll slow us down.”

Donald’s jaw clenched. “Excuse me?”

“You’re not an Irregular. You don’t have a system. Out there, you’re dead weight.” Roy softened his tone slightly. “I need to focus on training, and Master Abe needs to focus on teaching, not worrying about whether you’re going to get killed by an abyss creature.”

“I can handle myself.” Donald’s crease between his brows was deep.

“Against weak beasts, maybe. But we’re not just hunting weak beasts. Master Abe is going to push me. Hard. I can’t have you holding us back.”

“You… You don’t get to make that call.”

“Actually, I do. It’s my training.” Roy zipped up his pants. “Stay here. Keep an eye on Nana. Maybe really figure out what Cash God wants. I’ll be back before the Entrance Exam begins.”

“That’s quite the time.” Donald was oddly calm, relieved if anything. Turned out he was just insisting on following Roy into the wild because of his responsibility as an elder brother. He was most likely scared shitless.

“…” Roy paused.

“You said you believe in me. Thank you.”

Donald looked like he wanted to argue more, but something in Roy’s expression stopped him. He just shook his head and sighed.

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