The talks after the revelation were admittedly heated.
Walkyr didn't doubt the boy's words, but debated the necessity to go across a sea that'd be impossible for them to cruise through without a naval vessel. Hell, even if someone flew them, they'd probably grow tired and need to stop for rest on top of one of the hundreds of pillars of flesh that were no doubt parts of larger beasts hidden closer to wherever the Final Gateway resided.
Everyone was in agreement, expressing their hesitance to take such a journey, as well as discussing whether or not it was possible.
There were people whose combined effort could certainly make a naval vessel or two, if they had the schematics necessary to do such. However, that'd require time and effort. Not to mention, it'd require manpower that they'd be running short on while fighting off flesh abominations every day. Only the Five Craftsmen had the ability to effectively create strongholds that could keep out the children of the Blood Marauder.
Nevertheless, as the discussions became more complicated, the group departed from the child's room after Esme announced how rude it was to talk about these things in front of a bedridden child. Somehow, Worthy felt like it was a subtle jab thrown his way, but couldn't find the sense in it.
Once everyone left the room, he had time to think to himself, and also walk around, since Esme no longer had a reason to refrain from healing him. During all that, neither she nor Cross mentioned the fact that he'd attacked them while unconscious. Cross might've informed War at some point, but neither of them showed signs of tension when around him.
In the back of his mind, Worthy imagined Cross prepared to sever his head from his body if he showed any signs of possession. Fortunately, nothing was puppetering his body now that he'd woken up.
That left him time to ponder about how he was possessed in the first place, as well as what might've possessed him. He thought about using his ability to search for what might've taken control over his body, but was still hesitant after the last mishap that left his mind broken into tiny pieces. It's entirely possible that his body responded to the things his mind experienced while traversing the past.
Now that he knew that the abominations could potentially possess abilities, however, there was a fear in his heart. He doubted that there was an abomination intelligent enough to prey on the unconscious and remain hidden within the boundary of a settlement, but nowhere was safe, as War had said.
More importantly, he thought about how much it'd take for the Blood Marauder to reach its full strength. In reality, the likelihood of it happening is slim. At its fullest, the Blood Marauder was fueled by the blood of a dead deity and the flesh of an entire world. Compared to that, no matter how many people have entered Aciago Tower, it couldn't have possibly consumed enough to return to its full strength.
Nevertheless, even if the abomination had not gotten to its full power, it was certainly tough enough to eviscerate the majority of the floor. No, in truth, it would probably kill everyone, if not for the presence of War Reaver. Worthy assumed a Knight Captain could potentially give the beast a good fight, as long as his assumption of its power was accurate. But, he could not confidently claim a Knight Captain would come out victorious or in one piece in that battle.
'Still, that's all we need. There's at least a single Knight Captain somewhere on this floor. I'd probably be able to find him, if I used my ability. I'm still on the fence about it. Either way, it's pointless. There's no point searching for a Knight Captain when we have a Holy Knight. War can defeat the Blood Marauder in its weakened state… we just need to find its heart, or whatever Alice used as a medium for her Gateway.'
Putting all their faith into one man… it must've left a sour taste for some of the more prideful men and women in the settlement.
Worthy was not nearly as prideful as that, though. War Reaver was an asset that could get him to the last floor of the tower. Denying his assistance to maintain a non-existent sense of dignity would be a fatal error.
The boy wondered what all that Holy Knight had up his sleeve, and how deep the bag of abilities went. As far as he could tell, the Holy Knight must've cleared at least two towers before entering Aciago Tower, thus he's received a great plethora of Rewards and also had any minor wishes he had fulfilled. He was selflessly offering himself as a tool to clear the tower and have everyone's wish fulfilled, as long as they survived the climb.
Who would be so moronic as to deny an open, extended hand that offered salvation?
Worthy was never the type to shove away a handout.
…Well, he wasn't the type to shove away handouts from trustworthy people. In Malas Town, the wrong handout could have an unwanted drug or virus hidden somewhere within it.
'Well, I've already sorted my thoughts as best as I can. Getting some air will do me some good.' He got out of bed and pulled a fresh pair of clothes from his bag, hand rummaging a bit too long for such a small satchel. It was a bag only a child's mind could possibly rummage through, given the inaccurate composition of space within it.
Once he found something comfortable and protective enough to wear, he headed out the door and into the Prime Settlement. It was time to walk around for once…
>>><<<
"So… You made it all the way here, and ended up receiving another key?"
"Mhm. That explains it pretty well. I don't know how it happened, but when I woke up this morning, I had another summon. Isn't she the cutest thing you've seen?"
"Cutest? No, honestly. I don't know how you can find this thing cute, unless you were being sarcastic. It's disgusting."
"Baah! She has ears, you rude bastard! Mind your manners when you're talking around a woman!"
"...Right. What would Esme think if she heard your intimate feelings for your little bird friend here?"
Hiel nearly choked on the drink in his flask when Oro said those words, his face reddening. Oro was nimble as a fox, avoiding all the punches Hiel sent his way with a mischievous snicker.
Oro and Hiel had been hanging around each other ever since they'd arrived in the Prime Settlement. They'd survived the journey from the Devil's Den to Middle Town, and were now preparing themselves for a journey across the tower again. Hiel had been present during the discussions about where they'd head after Worthy's revelation, and had recently informed Oro about it.
Meanwhile, Oro had been especially thrilled to learn his theory about something being at the edge of the world was true. Whereas before, Hiel described his theory as gobbledygook, it was now spoken of as some kind of prophecy. But, that wasn't the subject of discussion at the moment.
Flapping its wings above them, a humanoid abomination resembling a harpy was looking around with dull eyes. It had the upper body of a female, her chest, arms, and legs covered by feathers that were of a merged complexion of green and blue. Where humanoid hands and feet should have resided, three sharp talons occupied each limb, fit for capturing anything they sought out. Meanwhile, the face of the woman was especially beautiful, the feathers on her head confusable for hair, and her vibrant, golden eyes confusable for rich jewels.
If she smiled, she'd probably steal the hearts of all the men and women who saw the sight. Which, ironically enough, was not far off from the entity's preferred method of attacking.
Worthy rounded the corner just in time to see the harpy swooping down from the sky, assisting its master in attacking Oro. The poor man was caught by his arms and suspended in the air by the talons where the woman's feet should've been.
"Woah! Mr. Hiel, I didn't know you had another beast to summon! What in the world is that?!"
The child's arrival was well-timed. Oro, who looked like he was terrified for his own safety, exhaled and dropped his head in relief. It was a godsent save, as far as he was concerned.
Hiel looked at the child, and so did the harpy. For some reason, the latter made the child's heart flutter a little. Was it possible for such a beautiful person to exist in the world? Well, she wasn't especially human… Plus, it wasn't the first time he'd seen someone very attractive in recent times either. Alice, in her memory, was gorgeous as well.
Alice hadn't gazed at him personally, though.
As the harpy stared at him, the boy felt something awaken within him. It wasn't some hidden ability or a looming spirit coming out to possess him. Instead, it was something far more primal — a feeling, or urge, that existed in me since the dawn of time.
Before he knew it, the boy was blushing red and his heart was beating fast. 'Am I… having a heart attack?!' He'd never had a heart attack before, but he felt like the fluttering in his chest was a sign of it.
The boy, in an instant, had developed a crush. He'd never really felt this feeling before, but Hiel and Oro knew it as soon as they saw him stop in place and put that stupid-looking smile on his face. The boy was crushing, and he was crushing hard… on a harpy monster.
"...It's a monster, Kid. Trust me, it'll break your heart. So… quit drolling."
Worthy didn't stop drooling. His staring didn't end for another several minutes, in which, Oro remained suspended in the air the entire time.
He'd nearly forgotten he was exploring the settlement, because such a beauty that should not exist in the world was flying in the air, staring at him.
And somehow, in his stupor of staring at her, Worthy failed to notice something even more alluring in the distance — a pink mist, buried inside of a room far in the distance, visible through a window for only a few moments.