Your Majesty, I'm Not Awakened! (BL)

The inability to return to Earth.

During the briefing an hour before they entered the Rift, this had been one of the key discussion points.

The researchers on the other side had anticipated such results as one of the worst-case scenarios with the highest possibility of happening. Still, being proven right was a bitter pill to swallow.

There were three Awakened in their midst. With them unable to return, that meant the city had also lost three precious and effective weapons against the monsters roaming the outside the shelters.

The city made the wrong gamble.

Ryujin took that chance to peer into the distance and survey the landscape. 

There were no strange portals floating in the air aside from the one behind them. He couldn't even see a glimpse of a single monster's shadow.

All he could see were massive, crystallized roots extending towards the horizon. 

If they were to trek for days, would the scenery change? Would they be able to find another Rift?

"Whoa, we can't even see the sky from here," the man called Yuu muttered. 

The soldier hopped from one tree root to another, balancing himself carefully since falling from this height would literally break his leg. The root where they stood on was several meters above ground, afterall.

Nelson turned to one of the three Awakened. 

"Andrew, try to get a sample of the root."

Nelson had tried, himself but a civilian's strength was not enough. His dagger couldn't even make a nick.

"Of course, Captain." 

The Awakened with a super strength ability got to work. Watching Andrew stab the root repeatedly reminded Ryujin of a toddler playing with sand.

The middle-aged soldier turned his attention towards the rest of the squad. "Anyone feeling unwell from motion sickness? Or other reasons?" 

Since the Rift stood between two worlds, the travel between were brief yet disconcerting, akin to being inside a high-speed roller coaster for a stretched infinity of a second.

Or at least, that's how it felt for Ryujin. 

He kind of understood why the monsters were enraged after stepping out the Rift. He would be too, if he were in their shoes.

Ryujin was about to raise a hand, but lowered it immediately since no one else was raising theirs.

Huu. Everyone had a strong stomach but him?

Even now, his stomach was still a little queasy. 

However, he was underestimating the observation skills of those trained by the military. Nelson was sharp-eyed enough to notice his small hesitant movement.

Thankfully, he didn't single Ryujin out. He would hate to be a burden to the group.

"Let us rest first. Five minutes, and then we move in the direction of the trunk." 

How considerate. Salute.

Nelson continued, "Check your supplies if anything is missing. Preserve the oxygen tanks for now. The air here seems similar to Earth, but we're not sure if that is the case as we explore farther in. We have food, water, rations good for three days. Check if any of your gadgets are working."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Done checking, Sir. All supplies are intact."

"Captain, nothing is working. Even my watch stopped working."

Yuu pocketed the notepad he's holding and sat beside Ryujin. 

"Well, on the bright side, we're alive and in one piece. Dr. Jones theorized that the monsters' habitat must be a world where living organisms we can eat could survive. Since those monsters' primary diet includes prey that must be similar to humans, then we can consume what their prey eat. Do you think there are animals here? Herbivores? With the size of this tree though, what if the animals are also giants…"

'Is he talking to me? Do I look like I'm interested in biology?' 

Ryujin absentmindedly nodded to this forced conversation.

Well, at least someone sounded enthusiastic.

Be it Nelson, Jack, or Yuu, military people sure had strong mentalities.

"You're called Lee, right?"

That's Lee Ryu-jin, but Lee worked just as well.

"You don't speak much, huh," Yuu commented. 

There's nothing to say. Why waste words? Should he curse Dr. Jones, the head researcher, for sending him here through trickery?

"You don't look worried either. I envy how calm you are."

Thanks, but he's actually very scared.

"Oh, look at me, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Eugene Jones. You can call me Eu."

Ah, it's Eu, not Yuu.

"I don't know if it's right to say this, but I feel like you're about my age."

Was that a compliment or an insult?

Though they had their helmets removed, they were all wearing black balaclavas that covered most of their faces.

Hoping he'd stop talking to him, Ryujin proceeded to check the items inside his backpack. 

MRE, energy bars, first aid kit, flashlight, notepad…

Yuu, no, Eu continued to make small talk despite his lack of response. 

"So…you were a last minute addition to the squad. I hope you don't feel out of place. Or are you just naturally shy? We are all very very friendly. Don't worry," he chuckled. "I heard your Awakened ability is Photographic Memory?"

While talking, the soldier removed the cloth covering the lower half of his face. He stared at Ryujin with expectant eyes.

Ryujin stared at his face and frowned. 

Eighteen, nineteen years old, tops. That's five years younger than him. Eu ought to be the youngest in their group.

Sending a kid to the frontlines?

Fucking mad scientists. Fucking military figureheads.

"Yeah," Ryujin lied.

Fuck. He's weak against kids.

Under pressure to say more, he said while gesturing to the Rift behind them, "For documentation." 

A not-so-little white lie.

Ryujin had an eidetic memory as a natural talent, not an ability, but there was no need to correct Eu.

Since Ryujin was the one who had lied on his voluntary enlistment.

'You see, I am not Awakened.'