Chapter 104: Needless Enlightenment
...I don’t want to know...
...don’t want to know...
...don’t want to...
...don’t want...
...don’t want...
The words echoed in Basil’s head like a war drum, fading rapidly, but a certain part refused to leave his head.
’Don’t want to know?’ he questioned his ears as Moon’s gaze returned to where he was walking.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Moon leaned backward, away from the suddenly exploding, unbearable teenage noise.
The mask on Basil’s face saved him the effort of dodging droplets of saliva.
Basil screamed outright into Moon’s face; the coffee addict could no longer bear the pressure of having critical intel but being unable to make use of it.
He’d been holding it in for long days; he’d even stalked Hall 1 to no avail.
The time he could have spent drinking coffee, hidden in the shadows relaxing, he spent drinking coffee hidden in the shadows and under critical stress.
"Boss, kill me first if you don’t want to hear it!" Basil lashed out at him. "I’ll let everyone know, we will protect the boss even if we end up—"
Smack.
"Ack!"
"What’s with you, bastard?"
"Boss, you must win and stand undefeatable for as long as I live! The day you lose is the day I di—"
Smack.
"Ack!"
"Why are you hitting me? I’ll gather everyone who can help, their plan must fai—"
Smack.
"Ack!"
Basil rubbed the crown of his head. Moon dropped the back of his fingers thrice onto his head, like an apple falling off a tree.
But more painful.
And even more so after the third.
"Boss, why are you hitting me?" Basil asked, feeling wronged.
He’d suffered injustice at the hands of the boss he risked his life for, spying on strong-as-hell people for his sake.
"Who asked for this intel?" Moon asked.
"No one, Boss. My devotion to you demanded it."
"Do I need it?"
"Boss, intel is power, of course you nee—"
Smack.
"Ack!"
"Boss, please stop," Basil begged. His head felt like irregular shapes were budding beneath his scalp.
Moon’s hand extended forward, landing on Basil’s shoulder.
He brought his face closer to his. "Intel is power indeed," Moon nodded, before suddenly...
"OF THE WEAK!" he shouted into Basil’s face.
"What, what do you mean, Boss? I—"
"Shhhhhh." Moon waved his other hand between their faces. "Intel could only help someone weak. I’m strong, right?"
Basil nodded readily. "Of course, Boss, you’re the strongest."
"Then why would I need intel?" Moon asked.
In response, Basil’s thoughts ran in his head like a single kernel of popcorn. ’The weak need intel, the strong don’t.’
Moon patted his shoulder, bringing him out of his bewilderment.
"Don’t risk your life again. They better have planned something good..." Moon started walking away, rubbing his knuckles into his palm. "I have so much to vent."
Moon left Basil behind to his thoughts, to his new realizations and shattering worldview.
Thus, today was the day Basil learned something he never thought existed, and received an enlightenment he could have lived perfectly fine without.
Moon, on the other hand, wasn’t slightly bothered with Basil’s current existential crisis he forced him into. He needed food now first.
He maybe also needed to see a face that would bring him slight comfort after what he’d been through.
It was still the first time in his life he was defeated by someone who should have similar or equal strength.
Even after flexing in front of Basil, his heart was wavering... Full of doubt.
Self-doubt...
’Maybe I’m just an average person here; I was only strong on the first floor but was enslaved before I got to even fight once.’
Moon thought to himself. The frown on his lips deepened. His eyebrows fell further over his swollen eyes.
Many recognized him on the way. He might have gotten some attention like yesterday... but looking at his face...
Most decided to avoid saying anything that would bring them trouble.
Soon—
Creak~
"You’re awake sooner than we expected," Ed commented without turning his face to Moon’s.
Moon squinted but didn’t answer.
"Don’t look at me like that. If you fought Samuel some years ago while he was new on the second floor, you would have surely won," Ed comforted.
Yet, Moon didn’t feel better about it.
He didn’t feel better, nor did he feel like he truly lost.
What he truly felt was— "What did he do to me, that cheating sonuva—"
Ting~
A tray of food fell sharply on the table where Moon was seated; not a single grain of rice was scattered through.
"Kid, don’t be ungrateful." Ed’s tone changed.
SMACK~
Moon hit the table as he stood violently. "THIS WASN’T A DAMN FIGHT," he shouted.
Ed gave him a bewildered look. "Who said it was?" He shook his head lightly.
"The aim of this was for him to activate the seals and gauge your fighting sense," he added.
"BUT I—"
"KID!" Ed cut him off. "If you want to blame someone, blame me... It was my idea to begin with, and he was against it till the very last second." Ed came to the dining area.
He walked to where Moon was standing and took a seat opposite from him.
"I didn’t know it was that..." Ed’s eyes fell, before shaking his head. "I really didn’t know it was that bad..."
The frown on Moon’s lips returned.
"I’ve always been with him, and I thought I knew him best... turns out there isn’t much I really knew." Ed smiled apologetically.
Moon’s anger subsided somewhat; he sat down.
He took the spoon; his arm twitched on its way.
Ed’s eyes saw it all.
The problem wasn’t simply that Moon lost; it had gotten too complicated to the point it looked like two old men had played him.
Moon filled the spoon and stuffed his mouth. He started eating as he usually did.
Yet, every couple of spoonfuls, his arm, or even his entire body, shook uncontrollably, scattering the food around.
Ed watched in silence for a few minutes. "I really didn’t mean for it to be like this."
"Remember what I told you about Samuel. I want you to stand as strong as he is... You’re someone familiar with pain like him.
"Yet, I didn’t know it was that bad.
"You’re good at fighting, maybe even the best we’ve ever seen.
"But do you really think that’s enough?
"Do you know how strong these guys you’ll meet are?
"Do you want to be taken out without knowing what hit you?
"You can’t use Echo properly even. Do you think you can run around with a lone blade and fight the world?"
Moon didn’t respond; he only chewed audibly and louder. He didn’t answer, nor did he make eye contact with Ed once.
He didn’t plan on answering.
Ed wasn’t wrong, but his words didn’t clear the grudge.
His body shook again, and a grain of rice got stuck on his eyebrow. He reached out to take it away, and once he did, he remembered how Samuel stomped his face.
The way he looked down on him, and the way he refused to let go. It was utterly unsightly.
Moon’s teeth gritted mid-chewing. ’I’ll rip off that bastard’s leg sooner or later,’ he promised himself in his heart.