Izuka - Chapter 147

After great difficulty. Narukami finally found all of them. They were locked up in his spatial world. It was tough and tiring. They were all over the place.

After he was done taking care of them, Narukami was getting food from a small truck that had burgers. He sat after he got one and enjoyed the filled veggies and meat bread.

The taste of a burger filled his mouth. The sauce and mayonnaise simply enrich it. He almost got another one. Thankfully, he held the urge.

After he was done, he wiped his mouth with a tissue and looked around. His surroundings were mostly people with white skin, tall and blond.

Yup, they were European.

Narukami slightly lifted his head and saw the statue of liberty in the distance. While he was doing so, he heard the honk of a ship from a distance and birds were chirping as they passed above him.

The air was dirty but it was peaceful. Narukami took in this atmosphere for a second as he closed his eyes.

It had been a while since he had a break.

With everything was done to Fallen Nightless. Surely he deserved a break, yes?

The temperature was quite cold so a lot of people dressed in thick clothes. Exception for Narukami, however.

His clothes were tattered from the battle. He looked like a beaten-up homeless person.

Did he want to change his clothes? Absolutely, but he did not have any money. No, given the wealth his ancestor gave to him. Forget bringing one should be appropriate.

How did he get the burger you ask? It’s a charity thing. Everyone got a free burger. Narukami was extremely lucky but his next problem was to cover his body.

He did not feel cold, heck, he was fond of it. What disturbed him was the gaze of everyone at him.

Curiosity and perplexed.

Why are these people looking at me like I’m a zoo animal? Narukami inwardly cursed.

“Hey, mama. There is a weird guy there.” A little girl pointed at Narukami.

“Don’t point at him!” The mother gave her daughter a lecture as she put down her daughter’s finger.

‘Seriously, what is this situation?’ Narukami asked himself in a self-deprecating manner.

In one of his past lives, he was a king and someone stood at the peak of life yet here, he got some not-so-amazing look.

Despise, disgust, mock, pity, sympathy, and many other looks aside from curiosity.

Narukami could not go home either, as his spiritual energy was at a dangerous limit.

Should he teleported to Japan. He probably died in the space-time continuum as his spiritual energy ran out on the way.

No money, no spiritual energy, did not know anyone in the city. This felt like entering a new city into a fantasy city.

Everything felt so new. Regardless, to explore it, one needed money.

Narukami sighed.

“You okay?” A hoarse voice of a man asked.

Narukami shifted his line of sight to the source and saw a man with a brown beard. Messy hair as he wore a red baseball cap with a team name on it.

He was wearing an old thick jacket which was patched by fabrics here and there. Though, it was good enough to keep the person warm.

He was holding a scarf in his right hand and a cup of hot coffee in his free hand.

“Here,” he said as he gave it to Narukami. The latter was bewildered. He reflexively said inwardly, Wait, someone is helping me? Isn’t this New York? Wait, could it be this is New York in another world and I accidentally trip here without realizing it?

“Surprised?” The man asked.

Narukami snapped back to reality as he slowly nodded. Next, he accepted what the guy gave him.

Wearing the scarf, Narukami wondered, “Why did you help me?”

“You look familiar and I get a faint feeling that I should not leave you. If not, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life,” the man replied.

Not waiting for Narukami’s response, the man introduced himself as he extended out his hand for a handshake, “My name is Jim. Nice to meet you, um…”

“Narukami Shinra, Narukami is fine.” Narukami grabbed his hand and shook it as both hands went up and down. After that, they ease their grip as they let go.

“Narukami Shinra, that’s an unusual name.”

“Un, I’m from Japan and teleported myself here but can’t go back home,” said Narukami with a calm face.

Jim stared at Narukami as he was unsure of how to react. Then, he burst out laughing.

“Ahaha! You’re a funny guy!” Jim yelled out as he patted Narukami’s back a few times. Narukami did not say anything as he watched Jim laughing.

Realizing that, Jim stopped his laugh as he asked, “what’s wrong?”

Narukami paused for a short moment as he replied, “No, I just feel like I’ve met you before.”

“Oh? You got the same feeling, too?! I know, right? This is crazy. What do you think is causing this? Is this what people call Deja Vu? Or probably something more?” Speculated Jim as he was rather excited.

Narukami shifted his line of sight from Jim’s face to the distance.

It is not crazy, Gerhardt. We truly have met each other, a long, long time ago Narukami said to himself as he felt complicated.

Gerhardt was Narukami’s best friend that had been reincarnated and every time they met in the new life. They would be enemies. However, Gerhardt did not have any memories of his past lives. It was the complete opposite of Narukami.

But in this life, Gerhardt seemed to be doing well.

“How about New York recently? Anything happened?” Narukami abruptly asked.

Jim paused as he sorted out his thoughts before replying, “nothing exciting. Though the war between two Mafia families here intensified recently and a lot of innocent people had died.

“The police did their best not to get involved as the families are dangerous. Should they have, it is unknown how many cops’ family members are going to get hurt,” replied Jim.

“Which reminds me, where do you live? Ah, sorry. My question is too sensitive, you don’t have to answer,” apologized Jim as he realized his question was too invasive to the other party’s privacy.

“I’m a foreigner on a trip. My wallet was stolen and I have no money to go back. Can you help me so I can get back, Jim?” Narukami requested. It had been a long time since he had hung out with his best friend.

“Sorry, bud but I don’t have any money. I’m a homeless person too.”

“But this scarf?”

“Ah, I found it in an alleyway. There is red paint on it though but don’t worry, I have cleaned it up. But still, I never see red paint the same smell like blood. Humans can make stuff they want, huh?”

Narukami instinctively looked at his scarf, isn’t that blood?

“No, no. I want you to help me until I get back home. How is that?” Narukami suggested.

“Hum…” Jim pondered as he pinched his chin, pondering.

“You said you’re from Japan, right? I know a guy that can help you,” said Jim after he made a decision.

“That k you,” thanked Narukami as he bowed.

“No need! Oh gosh, this is weird. Raise your head, please.” Jim felt awkward. He then tried to raise Narukami’s head by force with his hand.

Before that happened, however, Narukami raised his head.

“And also, I’m deeply sorry for troubling you. I’m really sorry!” Narukami’s tone was filled with regret and remorse.

“Hey, don’t be like that. It’s as if you’ve bullied me before and regret what you’ve done. It’s no biggie,” assured Jim rather casually.

That’s not the only reason, Narukami silently thought to himself as he remembered how many times he had killed his best friend without a second thought.

Now that he thought about it. It was a wonder why this guy was still in his mind despite hundreds of years have passed. Was it because Gerhardt placed a special place in his heart as the very first person that he could call a friend?

Gerhardt died in the first world Narukami reincarnated into to protect him. After that was Narukami killed him in the next life. After that and after that.

If Gerhardt is aware of that. How would he react? How is he going to respond? Narukami pondered and was afraid to think about it.

He did not want to kill Gerhardt in the first place but it was a must. He had caused destruction after destruction. If Narukami let him go on a killing spree, who knew what would happen except the destruction of the world?

I’m sorry, Gerhardt, Narukami apologized again in his heart.

After the conversation, they went on a journey to find someone. It’s been an hour since they left the Statue of Liberty.

‘I should have enough spiritual energy to leave but–’ Narukami softly muttered as he retracted his gaze to Jim.

“You said something?” Jim asked as he heard Narukami’s muttering.

“Just me talking to myself. So who is this person?” Narukami asked as he looked around and found out the neighborhood around this area was off.

There are barely any people on the sidewalk. Narukami saw one to two people leaning their back against the wall, weakly uttering, “food, food.”

Narukami shifted his line of sight to the empty road. There are cracks on the asphalt.

“He’s an amazing guy! If not for him, I would probably become a leader of a gang and start stealing or killing to stay alive. Selling drugs if not,” said Jim as his tone filled with praise. By the end of his words, one could hear his happiness.

Narukami diverted his vision to Jim after his reply.

Looks like I have to thank that person, Narukami silently said.

After that, as they walked. A woman went out of an old building and passed before them in a hurry. Tears could be seen falling.

Narukami and Jim halted their steps as they watched the woman running. Then, both of them stared at each other.

“Is she okay?” Narukami asked despite knowing the answer.

Jim shrugged his shoulders, “It’s better to pretend never to see it.”

After his reply, Narukami cast his gaze on the building on his left. It looked like an office building that had been abandoned for a long time.

Without saying a word, Narukami got in.

“Hey, wait!” Jim said in a hurry.