Getting Skyler’s attention, 505 poured out all its grievances—how it had felt the main system’s presence scanning over them, and how, fortunately, it had been quick enough to hide in time. It expected shock, concern, or at least a few comforting words from its dear Host. However, all 505 received was a distracted, faint ’Oh.’ 505 was finally angry.
Angry enough to want to hit its host!
In that moment, 505 felt like it had finally understood its host’s nature completely.
Bristling with indignation, 505 compiled a list of what Skyler prioritized and asked for an explanation. At the very top was Riruru.
The second was also Riruru.
The third was also Riruru.
The fourth was Gems.
The fifth was Shiny things.
After that, all the remaining spots were empty—its host didn’t care about anything else! Not even himself! 505 was furious.
("Does the host even care about 505?")
Skyler paused in his steps as he looked over the list 505 had just presented him.
"Why..."
He intended to ask why there was no one else on it—not even those with him now—but the words never quite left his mouth. In the end, he simply let out a quiet chuckle.
"Of course I care about you. 505, you can put your name in the sixth spot. Happy?"
He stopped for a moment, then spoke in a calm yet cold tone that made 505 shiver.
"If anything were to truly happen to you—because of the main system—I promise I would erase its existence for you."
505 shuddered. But as 505 processed his words, a deeper dread settled in—it wasn’t just what he said, but how he said it, as if erasing the main system were something easy. Worse still, Skyler tone almost made 505 feel as though he had done it before.
It swallowed nervously.
("Host, no need to be so serious. 505 was only joking, you know. Now that 505 knows the host cares about it, it’s already happy.")
Skyler smiled.
"That’s the only thing I can do for you. You can feel angry, really, that instead of saying I would protect you in danger, I said I would go and take revenge for you, almost as if..."
He didn’t speak his next words.
’...I stopped trying to hold onto and save everyone except one a long time ago.’
505 didn’t notice the confusion in his serious eyes. It was already panicking.
("No, no! Host! 505 isn’t angry!")
That little episode ended there.
Skyler didn’t delve any deeper into it.
He felt as though it would become difficult to breathe if he did. So, after telling Charles, Zack, and the others to rest, he entered the pocket space to check on the mermaid who had woken up. He held her for a while, then bought something to eat from the system shop and fed her before coming back out.
The group of six continued searching for the fallen god—training, learning new skills and abilities purchased from their systems with points, and meditating along the way.
Roughly two days passed before one of them collapsed from exhaustion: Isaac.
Zack had been right.
Although they had grown stronger, their bodies had been pushed far too hard in a very short span of time, and this outcome was inevitable. By the time the group finally found the end of the desert, everyone had already collapsed, with Skyler and Zack dragging them forward, bundled in cloth.
The days in the desert were scorching.
The nights were brutally cold.
So reaching its end felt like a relief.
The mermaid, who had learned a water spell from Skyler after he discovered her affinity with the water element and helped her form its elemental crystal, learned to create water and float within it. With that, even though she had a tail instead of legs, she could come out to accompany him.
Zack, the only one still awake, was utterly stunned to see another woman—although not as striking as the last due to the scars covering her—but, unmistakably a mermaid—suddenly appear near Skyler and cling to him. Zack could barely manage a word.
"Seriously..."
He wanted to ask Skyler where she had come from all of a sudden, but he had no energy. Seeing the distant greenery, Zack sighed and collapsed too. He didn’t care anymore—let this fickle bastard create a harem, with beauties falling from the sky.
He wasn’t jealous at all!
Skyler let out a long, deep breath. Seeing Zack collapse as well, he almost wanted to bury them all—but he didn’t. Instead, he fed them healing potions he had obtained from the system. Then he tossed them into the pocket space and continued searching.
Another day passed.
It was evening when he and the curious mermaid, floating around his body, came across a small wooden hut surrounded by patches of sparse trees and a calm lake.
Skyler immediately fell to the ground, exhausted, and let out a heavy breath.
"Finally!"
The mermaid saw him fall and quickly reached out from the water, grabbing his shoulders as she muttered softly.
"Tired? I told you to let me carry you!"
Her voice was still dry and rough, as she had only recently begun to speak, but she knew how to converse. Skyler laughed at her endearing actions, very pleased, then raised his head to meet her worried eyes.
He didn’t seem to care about her wet hair dropping over him and asked with a smile.
"Come closer."
She blinked, but obediently lowered her head—only to flush when he kissed her.
She already knew it was an intimate gesture that happened between lovers.
After all, although she had lived within the 20th level, trapped near the Mermaid Pearl from the moment she gained the ability to think, she had discovered early on that she could oversee everything happening within a certain area around her if she closed her eyes and concentrated a little. So, she had watched many people. This was also how she had learned many different languages.
The difference was she had never had the chance to speak with anyone, even though she knew how to, as she had been trapped within the cold lava lake. She touched her lips. Don’t people kiss when they like each other? Skyler hadn’t said he liked her yet. A bit confused, she smiled at him, muttering.
"I like you too."