Shinobi From Hell

Chapter 69 - Preparations

"I see," Bill said.

Verona smiled. It was the heartiest smile Bill had ever seen enough to make his heartstrings be pulled.

"My name is Verona. What about you?"

"Bill… Bill Ritters nice to meet…"

Bill was about to end his sentence and continue further too but he got pulled by his sleeve halting him in his speech.

"Bill what are you trying to do?"

"Trying to hold a conversation I guess?" Bill said as he tried to get back his balance as he fumbled. He narrowed his eyebrows as his hands briefly clenched.

The others weren't in good moods either as they had their arms crossed.

"Are you insane? How can you trust her so easily?"

Bill shook his head. Bill could feel the rising hostility towards himself so he reduced his tone by a notch.

"I am not trusting her. I am just trying to figure out if she is trustworthy or not."

The man frowned.

"No way in hell! Do you plan to make her join our ranks? You might be okay with it but none of us are."

Bill looked behind as he saw the men… his buddy group frowning at him. He heard some of them click their tongues. Bill scratched his cheek. Bill was no newbie, he had accumulated this group in the first place. He could understand by instinct that this decision of his was causing a rift among the group.

"Verona, I am sorry for his words. He can be a bit harsh at times." He nodded as he continued, "Okay then see you later." His hands became sweaty as he felt pity for Verona who was cornered in such ways.

Even Verona could feel the coldness in their gazes. Bill was a nice person but in front of his group's majority opinion what else could he do? Verona was left all alone in literal terms. But their suspicious gazes never left her alone. They always on; to her staring at her as if she was the most dangerous being on the planet. But the shreds of humanity that they had in their hearts prevented them from harming her in any way; all they wanted was to stay away from her.

Humans can indeed be like animals in some ways. They tend to stay in their packs, not accepting outsiders even if they are of the same kind as themselves. 

They tend to create invisible barriers around themselves which they popularly call a friends circle. No matter how cruel or harsh the member of this circle whom they call 'friends' might be, they tend to stay within it. Sometimes they hang out with the same people who had hurt them just because they don't want to leave that very circle. They fear change. They fear to make a change in their ways and socialize with strangers. 

In a civilized and modern society like back on earth, strangers might not be as scary. But, their psychological ways… the ones that had inherited from their ancestors remains. 

As these people were summoned in such a monstrous world, they were sinking more and more into their animalistic instincts. They fear the unknown. No matter how unreliable their teammates are, they still tend to stay in that same circle. What's more? They try to repel any outsider who tries to invade their friend's circle, no matter how much of a nice person that stranger is.

Such was the case with Verona. She was the 'outsider', the 'invader' that tried to invade their so-called safe lives. She was the 'unknown' that everyone was wary of.

Verona was all alone. She tried approaching some others but they moved away far before Verona could even take a step towards them.

At this point, it was evident even to her that they were blocking her out of everything.

She felt devastated.

*thud*

She fell on her knees. She couldn't help but hide her face with her hands as she sobbed. The loneliness she felt couldn't be described by words alone. It was like they were treating her like some kind of 'monster'.

"Mhm," it was then… Selena somewhat woke up still drowsy as she rubbed her eyes.

There was one person who still might accept her. Verona bit her lips as she clenched her fists. She was heartbroken and didn't want to be hurt again but could she stay like this forever? She mustered all of her courage to approach her.

She crouched in front of her.

'Is that Klautz?'

With hazy eyes, she tried to figure out the figure in front of her. Selena rubbed her eyes again to clear off the haziness.

"Hello" Verona greeted her as she removed her hands from rubbing her eyes.

But all she got in return was a frown.

"What the fuck? You bitch! Don't try to act all nice"

Verona had question marks on her face. She had no clue regarding Selena's sudden outburst.

"And stay away from Klautz," Selena whispered under her breath as if it was her heart's desire but didn't want to be outspoken about it. It was as if she was talking to herself and not to Verona. Selena got up and left Verona all alone again.

Verona ducked her head to the side as she poked her cheeks.

"Klautz? Who is that?"

Verona who only knew Klautz by his alias could only dock her head in wonder.

***

Not finding Klautz beside her Selena got a bit worried. Last night they had made quite the sweet memories. But when she woke up he was gone.

"Has he gone to the forest again? But he should be leaving before the monster battle..."

Little did she know that today was the very last day she would be spending in the tutorial zone.

That is when Selena found him. He was busy dying stone spears with some kind of purple fluid. He had a serious expression on his face which as if spoke out that he didn't want to be disturbed.

*Gulp*

"Better not butt in"

***

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