The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 12: Chapter 12: I Will Be Special

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Chapter 12: I Will Be Special The young Jack hobbled along as the two carefully embarked on their solitary journey. Sweat dripped down his brow, and his face was permanently fixed into a scowl. It looked like the man would collapse at any moment, yet nonetheless he persevered and followed after Lucius. Jack was hopeful, at first. He claimed that leveling up could possibly reset his physical state, similarly to what happened to Mister Bernardi during the orientation, but alas his efforts were in vain. Only his status points rose; his arm remained unchanged. On and on they wandered, yet their companions were nowhere to be seen. Lucius had a mental clock he always made sure to keep running, counting every second in his head, and by this point many hours had come to pass. If it was early morning when Lucius was first sucked into this game, then it would now be late into the evening. There was no way to know if the day cycle was the same in this foreign realm, but whether it be bright or dark, all humans needed to sleep eventually. Jack tried to fight it. Even when his eyelids began to droop, and his head swung back and forth in a daze, he gritted his teeth and pushed on. The man had stayed alert and on edge for nearly half a day straight. It was not just physical wounds that burdened him, but also ailments of the mind. He was slowly crumbling from the inside. “Mister Thames, would you like to take a break?” Lucius asked. “You really do not seem well.” Jack replied with a wobbly tone. “No, it’s fine. I can handle it. Let’s just keep moving forward. We have to find Marco and Mili… we have to…” The man was hanging by a thread. Yet, there was an obsession in his bloodshot eyes: crazed, manic, bordering on sheer insanity. To Jack, it was as if his entire world would collapse if he did not find the others, and perhaps that was true. He depended on their company more than he himself knew. Jack was almost ready. All he needed was a little push. “Mister Thames,” Lucius said, crouching down until the two were at eye level. “This cannot continue.” Jack hesitated and fiddled with his cast. “What do you mean?” “You can hardly even take a step. If you push yourself any further, then I’m afraid you will reunite with the others as a corpse. You know this more than anyone else.” The young man turned away, unwilling to look Lucius in the face. “I just didn’t want to be a burden.” “Is one’s worth solely based on how much they contribute?” He didn’t answer. “I am, frankly, a bit upset,” Lucius continued. “Did you think me a scoundrel callous enough to be irritated by such matters? If that is how you saw me, then I really must wonder if there is something wrong with the way I present myself.” “No, of course not!” Jack said. “You’re a great guy, Lucius. Honestly, you’re so flawless that I can’t help but feel a bit self-conscious at times. You’re always so calm and dignified, and you look after us so naturally that I don’t even notice it at times—like patting my back when I feel sick or dusting off my clothes when I get dirty. You’re sociable and can make someone feel welcome with just a few words. You’re gentle, and kind, and understanding even when the person you’re talking to is a complete ass. And when I realized that I was that ass, that I’m the one dragging you down, I just feel so… useless.” Jack sighed and leaned on the wall. He looked down at his shredded arm, and his bloody clothes, and to his hand that could not stop trembling no matter how hard he tried. Lucius listened to him, moving not a step until Jack had let out all he wanted to say. When he was finally done, the gentleman promptly hoisted him onto his back. “W-What are you—” “You are mistaken about something, Mister Thames,” Lucius said, carrying Jack along despite the latter’s protest. “Why would you ever think that you were dragging me down?” Jack stuttered in surprise. “I mean… aren’t I? If I wasn’t here, you would’ve been able to search for the others a lot faster. Heck, if you we