Walking Away

Under the guidance of the old veterans of the Cthulhu World, Morty spent about an hour perfecting his Cthulhu-style plan to flush out the enemy.

Step one...

But plans could never keep up with changes.

Just as Morty was feeling happy about the new knowledge he had acquired, Rick walked over with a grave expression, pulled out his Portal Gun, and opened a portal, signaling that he was taking Morty and leaving.

"What the hell! This is my adventure! If you want to have one of your old control-freak episodes, go find someone else!"

"I'm not going back!"

"I have to solve the problems of this world!"

But, very rarely, Rick admitted he was a control freak.

"Morty, you're right, I am a control freak. But the current situation has exceeded my expectations. We have to leave here now."

"That Cthulhu Rick has returned..."

Morty: "What are you talking about..."

After his expression stiffened for a few seconds, Morty followed Rick's line of thought, then worked backward through it.

If what Rick said was true, then this Cthulhu adventure had been a trap set by that guy from the very beginning.

But there were... one or two other possibilities.

Rick was already getting impatient with this adventure and wanted to drag him away.

Or, he was still playing mind games with him.

After all, the last time he threatened to blow up a world, he had put on the act of a drunken world-ending demon king, scaring Morty into thinking he was really going to say goodbye to that world.

In the end, he claimed he was just testing him...

So, regarding what Rick was saying now, which version of the truth could actually be real?

However, before Morty could ponder too many questions, Rick resorted to his usual hardcore style.

"Goodbye, you pieces of trash who can't even act properly!"

"I wish you a long life!"

Rick flipped the middle finger at Cthulhu and the others.

He grabbed Morty and walked straight into the portal.

The decisiveness with which he severed all ties with this world left the Great Old Ones completely dumbfounded.

That wasn't the original plan!

You promised to deal with the Old Gods, the Outer Gods, and Azathoth!

We only agreed to play along with your Dragon Quest-style adventure story!

And now, you just say goodbye and leave?

Is that all the integrity you have?

Morty, who wanted to resist, had no strength left to fight back against that immense force and was dragged right back to his doorstep.

From the main hall of a city sunken in the deep sea, he was suddenly back on a suburban street filled with sunshine and the scent of flowers.

Morty was not happy at all.

The feelings of anger and resentment were so obvious that even a blind man could feel them.

But Rick acted as if he hadn't seen a thing.

He walked toward the garage, minding his own business.

"Rick! You have no integrity at all!"

"I'm not going on adventures with you anymore!"

Rick, having only walked a few steps, heard the threat. He turned around, expressionless, and stared straight at Morty with a cold gaze that made his skin crawl.

But Morty, unwilling to yield, did not look away despite the terrifying look in the other's eyes.

Instead, he stared right back at Rick.

He used his anger as a shield to withstand Rick's icy gaze.

After a long while, Rick suddenly laughed.

"You want to go back, don't you?"

Morty nodded.

"Fine! Let me explain it to you simply!"

"In the Cthulhu World right now, not only has Cthulhu Rick returned, but people from the Galactic Empire are also lurking on the ocean floor."

"And your so-called adventure was a trap I set from the start. I already have the solution to the problem of the child in Cthylla's belly."

"In other words, the return of Cthulhu Rick at most doubles the difficulty."

"But the Galactic Empire is a major problem that even I can't handle."

"So, do you still want to go back now?"

"Can I ask what you're going back for?"

Rick's words made Morty's expression stiffen.

Was he supposed to say that he didn't care if the Cthulhu World was destroyed, and that he was just looking for other ways to increase his combat power so he could run away from Rick in the future?

Seeing that Morty seemed to have calmed down, Rick shook his head and turned toward the garage.

But just as Morty was walking dejectedly toward the living room, Rick suddenly came back out of the garage. He handed Morty a Portal Gun loaded with a small amount of energy fluid.

"Look at that pathetic face of yours, making me look like some heartless grandpa snatching toys from his grandson. Since you like that world and want to solve its troubles..."

"The energy in the gun is enough for you to travel back and forth twice."

"But I won't be by your side this time. You're on your own!"

Seeing the Portal Gun he had dreamed of finally in his hands while Rick wasn't around, and with two round-trip opportunities, Morty was instantly thrilled.

Screw the Cthulhu World!

With two chances to travel to other universes, he wasn't going to play with any potion technology!

He was going to...

Noticing the smirk on the corner of Rick's mouth, Morty, who had just been excited, instantly calmed down.

For the past six months, he had only thought of Rick as a character archetype.

But after this adventure today, Morty realized the difference between this Rick and the others.

This guy was a master of layers!

His schemes were endless!

Taking him to find the Mega Fruit, then crossing universes to Cthulhu, all setting the stage for the subsequent Cthulhu World adventure.

In reality, the only purpose of the Cthulhu World adventure was to crush his initiative...

As a Morty, he was just supposed to be a tool by his side and stop thinking so much.

Morty knew that sometimes he didn't act like a typical Morty, but he really couldn't help it!

If he slipped up, so be it!

Anyway, Rick was already attacking his confidence, trying to make him understand that a Morty couldn't accomplish anything on his own.

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

Rick's urging interrupted Morty's thoughts.

"Waiting? I'm waiting for love to arrive!"

Morty dropped the line, adjusted the digital panel on the Portal Gun, found a world he was familiar with, and teleported away.

Before the portal closed, Rick saw the green mountains and clear waters on the other side.

But he didn't stop him. Instead, with the attitude of someone watching a good show, he returned to the garage, took out a small mechanical box, and installed it on the living room TV.

After grabbing a pile of snacks and a drink, the "Rick watching a show" mode was activated!

[This Morty, he doesn't really think I don't know which world he wants to go to first, does he?]

[He really loves to torture himself with those unreliable cultivation novels on the bookshelf...]

[But how could I ever let you have your way?]