Chapter 47 Please, Help Me

"Master Nathan…. No, no, no, no…. This is bad, this is bad…. You better use the last skill slot you have to escape from here…." Luna floated around Nathan, looking frantic as Nathan took several blows from Marco.

Nathan lowered his head. His head was dizzy, and he had almost lost consciousness. He almost fainted because he was at the point of being completely exhausted.

'It's Okay, Luna… Hold yourself. Let us see what he will do first.' Nathan answered Luna with his eyes closed.

"Master Nathan… What kind of Okay are you talking about here?"

"I can still command my golem. And Marco is also in his dying state. If that's not enough, I can use the Sword of Disidia."

Luna calmed down, floating between Marco and Nathan. She then turned to Marco, who, at that moment, seemed to change his vibes.

"Let me tell you a story, Nathan."

Marco talked about his past, childhood, and what happened to him and his parents.

'For some reason, Luna. I see myself in him. Yes, Marco. Somehow, I can feel his sadness, desperation, and loneliness.' Nathan said in his mind, along with Marco's flat voice, telling Nathan about his past.

Luna floated around Nathan slowly, also noticing what Marco was talking about.

"Master Nathan, I don't understand how Marco can suddenly change drastically like this... Wasn't he just about to kill you? Is this too complicated for me to understand?"

Nathan shook his head slowly. 'I think he just wants to tell me about something. One of my weaknesses. I don't think too much about trusting someone. From Marco, I learned a lot of things, Luna.'

"Huh?" Luna turned to Nathan.

'He's strong, a tough guy. He's very smart and can read situations and act in response to those situations very precisely. He isn't someone who would take action hesitatingly. He does what he does thoughtfully, and although he sacrifices a lot to achieve it, he keeps trying to get it to work. And here he stands, against all odds after making his way through this dungeon that had also threatened his life.'

Luna tilted her head. "Does that resemblance make it easier for you to understand Marco, Master?"

Nathan shook his head. 'I don't know. At least I still have Edna, someone I can fully trust. And about my step family who had wasted me, I don't know, I've never thought about it too deeply. At least I have the freedom to choose my path in life. I think they were liberating me instead of throwing me out.'

Nathan tried to smile, though he was hiding it from his lips.

They both continued to hear what Marco was saying.

"Rrrhhh…. I hate people like them. Why can't they honor their promise? Why would they do such a heinous thing to the person they promised love to!!!" Luna responded to Marco's story. She turned slowly to Nathan, and her eyes filled with tears.

Nathan looked up as Marco finished his story. But he remained silent, even though he felt grateful that he didn't need to respond to what Marco told him. Nathan was not very good at speaking or responding to other people's feelings.

"Do you want to know what happened after that? Nod your head, if so." Marco whispered.

Nathan nodded.

Marco fell silent at Nathan's response. He then laughed it off. He couldn't help but laugh. He looked down to calm himself down.

"Just after I told you not to trust other people easily, and you're still willing to hear my story?"

Marco lifted his face. "Thanks, Nathan."

***

I made the biggest failure in my life. Yes, I failed to save the three of us.

My mom was charged with the murder of my stepfather. Yes, she confessed the sins committed by Linda.

My mom was sentenced to death for what she had been accused of.

We were left alone. Two children without both parents.

It was then that I realized that the last thing I had in this world was Linda. Yes, Linda, my sister.

The girl was silent as she lowered her head.

After a moment, Linda lifted her face, which was tear-stained and looked absolutely miserable.

"What's your sadness for, Linda?"

Linda shook her head quickly. "In what way should I make amends, Marco?"

Tears streamed down her face. She couldn't hold back her tears. This is probably the first cry I've ever seen from Linda. The little girl who even laughed when her body was covered in wounds after fighting a group of boys my age.

"I am the one to blame here. I should be the one to bear your guilt. Let me make up for what you've been through so far, Linda. Let me be your big brother, to protect you."

I walked forward and hugged my sister Linda.

It was at that moment that I felt something awakened inside of me. Something that reminded me of what I've been doing all my life.

I was just being stupid when my dad died.

I was just silent when my mom was overcome with sadness.

I didn't respond in the slightest when she chose the path of marrying someone.

Even when my mom was tortured, I stayed silent in my room. For what reason? Was I afraid? What was I afraid of?

Why was it that the more I felt afraid, the faster it came to me?

On that day, I came to my senses. I knew I had to do more.

It wouldn't have gone in this direction if I had tried harder in the past.

There was no point in regretting what had happened.

"I must rise. I must repay all that the world has given me." I thought.

The custody of both of us was won by someone with great power in Southlake. Yes, Bastien Brian.

The days of my other greatest misfortune began.

At that time, I thought what we got would be a blessing. I started learning how to fight, and I even got an awakening at 12.

I took the hunter training and managed to pass very well.

Even Linda also got an awakening at 12.

At that moment, I felt that our lives were really starting to improve. However, that moment suddenly changed when, for no apparent reason, Bastien locked up Linda.

Bastien locked Linda in one room and no longer allowed me or anyone else to see her.

I don't know what he was thinking, but after that, I only worked as an errand boy under his great power.

I got the job of espionage, or sometimes even assassination, on Bastien's orders.

Why do you think I was willing to do it? Do you think I was just a pet afraid of his owner?

***

Marco looked at Nathan. He was silent for a moment.

The black energy around Nathan's body loosened, and part of his face was completely exposed.

Nathan choked and gasped when he felt his mouth slip back. He tried to breathe quickly after previously finding it difficult to do so.

"Do you think I'm stupid, Nathan?"

Nathan remained silent, not answering Marco's question.

"Yes, Nathan… I did all this out of fear. I want nothing to happen to Linda. That's why I'm willing to be trapped in this pressure, and continue to do whatever Bastien asks me to do."

The black energy which wrapped around Nathan's body slowly faded and sank to the ground. Nathan was freed again and stretched the muscles of his body that felt stiff and weak.

Marco, on the other hand, knelt before Nathan. His face was clearly touching the ground.

"I would give you everything, Nathan. I beg of you, please save Linda."

Nathan looked into the distance in the direction his golem was. He gave a signal with his head.

The tree golem walked over, ran towards Marco, and dropped its body onto him.

Marco was pinned to the ground by a golem almost twice him.

"Tell me, Marco. Say what you want."

"Please save Linda."

Nathan raised his eyebrows, confused by what Marco suddenly asked.

"How can you beg me for help, after saying to trust no one, and even gave me some punches a few minutes ago, Marco? Are you kidding me?"

"No." Marco tried to make a sound, holding back the weight of the golem pressing on his body.

"I'll make a contract with you, a contract with my life as guarantee."

Nathan turned to Luna for an explanation of what Marco was talking about.

"Master Nathan, a contract seal can be executed by both parties with a guaranteed life. If both parties agree to the proposed terms." Luna explained.

"You don't have to worry. I will follow you, help you achieve what you want. I can be the head if you need an extra brain to think. I will be loyal to you. That's all I can offer you, Nathan. Because killing me right now won't make you reach level 50, either. So, in terms of experience, you won't gain anything by killing me." Marco continued.

"Can you explain to me the basis of this way of thinking, Marco? How did you come to this conclusion? What do you know and believe in me?"

"Look at the status on my hunter device, Nathan. I don't have the energy anymore. Can you ask this golem to get out of my body so I can explain better?"

Nathan nodded at Marco's request. He gave a signal with his hand.

The tree golem lifted his body, putting itself on Marco's leg.

"Okay, Marco. It's time for you to explain. Give me a reasonable explanation about the proposal you're offering me."

Marco was still prone on the ground, but at least he was no longer enduring the pain like before.

"I'm going to explain in great detail the basis of my way of thinking, Nathan."

"Please."

"Wait, give me a moment. Let me catch my breath first."

Marco took several deep breaths, and after he seemed to have calmed down, he lifted herself up, holding his body with both hands, trying to face Nathan.