Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, what a strange name. He told me it was a Japanese name. His way of speech, his mannerisms, and lastly, the way he looks. It seemed oddly familiar.
"Is Natsuki Subaru a Japanese name?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Yes, indeed it is," Kiyotaka answered, finishing the ration that Mr. Jin Woo Sung provided. The young man looked energetic now, life coming back to his eyes.
"It seems that you can understand him. Please ask him what he knows about this place." Mr. Jin Woo Sung asked.
"I thought you could understand him?" I said with a raised brow.
"I don't speak his language, but I know the basics, and his choice of words are rather simple, so I can roughly surmise what he's saying." Mr. Jin Woo Sung remarked.
Kiyotaka looked at us and then rose. He then bowed his head with thankful grace. It was genuine; he really was grateful. "I could never properly repay you two for saving my life."
"Don't think about it," I replied with a smile.
I then asked him what he was doing in this place, periodically translating his words to the blank-faced Mr. Jin Woo Sung. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji was apparently in the middle of some fierce competition with another student when they then suddenly both fell through the floor.
He said that it was disorienting, and it took him several minutes to properly register what had happened to him. The experience was so alien that it literally and figuratively knocked him off his feet. It's been four days now.
I asked where his competitor was, and he had a split-second hesitation. I could feel the reluctance in his answer. I was about to dismiss my question and move on but he then answered that he didn't know.
Apparently, his competitor suffered from some wounds because of the sudden shift. He tended to him to the best he could, but they got separated after a few hours when something chased him. He explained that it was something similar to a black, malformed skeleton.
It was the same thing that I encountered.
He was about to make a last stand until another teenage student saved him. This student can apparently move very fast and punch very hard. He then described the student, they were wearing a green combat armor with red sleeves and huge power gloves.
This powerful student also wore a yellow scarf and had green wavy hair, along with an innocent face full of freckles.
This mysterious student grabbed him out of nowhere, and then, after going through a narrow hallway, they were transported to this place of nonsensical infinite pools. This student then also had to abandon him due to apparently spotting some danger ahead.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji finished with his recounting. He had a somber expression on his face, but it was rather shallow. I don't know why, but something tells me that this young man has a rather strange way of thinking.
His story, however, checks out. I sense no falsehood, and he really genuinely worried for the welfare of that mysterious student. As for the welfare of his competitor, though, that remains to be seen.
Mr. Jin Woo Sung then asked me to translate several questions for him. Including what kind of world Kiyotaka was in, or if there were any gates.
Kiyotaka displayed an expression of genuine shock and then interest. In his world, there were no gates or any hunters. It was just a normal world with no powers or abilities.
A world with no abilities or any kind of magic? That's rather unheard of. He also said that there were no gods, but after seeing this place and us, that might no longer be true.
I explained that I was a sword saint, a knight. My primary duty was to protect the Kingdom of Lugunica and help its citizens.
Mr. Jin Woo Sung explained that he was a hunter. He said that his primary duty was to explore gates and defeat the monsters inside them. I could feel that there was more to it, but I didn't pry any further.
All in due time. I guess.
After some rest and some minor questions, we then continued our journey. Looking for an exit or at least some clues.
An hour later...
Mr. Jin Woo Sung was in the front, leading us. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji was in the middle, moving his head around. I was at the back, staying alert.
"Are there really no other clues about this Async?" Kiyotaka asked, keeping a brisk pace.
"We've likely missed a few because this whole place is seemingly infinite. I can definitely say, however, that I've traveled enough distance to circle my city several hundred times over."
I said, and Kiyotaka's expression slightly soured. His face is hardly expressive, but I can feel his emotion. For a normal student, he's rather composed.
Must've been an excellent student with a good head on his shoulders.
We entered another room with a huge pool, and there was a huge, tall ceramic pillar in the middle of the pool. It was ominous, but we pressed on nevertheless. Kiyotaka approached the pool and gazed downward; the bottom of the pool wasn't illuminated.
"It's kinda like I am in a dream..."
"An abstract dream," I answered while I kept on walking. As I passed by Kiyotaka, I felt that familiar squirm, that tingle.
It was coming from Kiyotaka's shadow; there was a shadow soldier inside it. I could feel the surprise coming from that shadow soldier; it was rattled by my noticing.
Mr. Jin Woo Sung turned around and sighed, closing his eyes. "It's for his own good; he's just an average human."
A person who always takes the initiative. I like that about Mr. Jin Woo Sung.
"Kiyotaka," I called for him. He was still staring at the bottom of the pool.
"Yeah?" He answered.
"If you find any trouble, just call out my name. I'll be there as soon as possible to help you then." I said with a smile. He then bowed his head, gratefully and gracefully.
We then continued our trek, exploring this endless pool labyrinth. Mr. Jin Woo Sung's shadow soldiers did all the heavy lifting. They informed him of where the most optimal path was, avoiding any dead ends and closed spaces.
"Someone's watching us." Mr. Jin Woo Sung said, pausing for a moment. The whole area was eerily quiet; only the sound of moving water was audible.
I agreed. "Yeah, and I can't pinpoint them." The air was stale.
"Whatever they are, I think it's best to avoid them." I continued.
"Why?" Kiyotaka asked.
"They don't seem to be hostile, despite being extremely malevolent," I answered.
"Malevolent?" Mr. Jin Woo Sung's interest was piqued.
"They're very evil, so to say. I don't like going near them." I answered, continuing to walk. The two then followed me.
(I don't like going near her, actually...)