Breaking Free

The distance had stretched to a hundred meters.

Baimu was certain that person was the unlucky Otsuka, not some scumbag setting a trap.

"Not many people would be running around at noon instead of hiding somewhere to rest."

He recalled the radar he had checked earlier. There had not been a single red dot in this area, including where he was. Most of them had gathered in the far west, as if they were deliberately avoiding his side.

They really knew how to lie low.

Even a reckless brute like Jian was rare. Just how much money had he been paid to be so diligent?

Baimu truly did not believe that Jian had come all this way just to fulfill his promise of breaking Baimu's leg. Someone who would not act without profit had to have been offered a reward he could not refuse.

"Otsuka!"

He called out directly, hoping for a response.

Unfortunately, none came.

The kid was probably unconscious. Baimu had Lairon quicken its pace and went to test the possibly existing trap.

Nothing was absolute. It was better to stay alert.

A minute later.

After pitting his wits against the air, he reached Otsuka's side. He quickly checked the latter's breathing and heartbeat, then took out the headscarf he had recovered, soaked it in water, and wiped the blood and dirt from Otsuka's face, paying special attention to his nose, mouth, and eyes.

After that, he took a small pill from his pocket and helped Otsuka swallow it with water.

The pill was mainly meant to save lives and had few other effects. It could stabilize certain injuries for a while, buying time for rescue.

It was a little expensive, but that was nothing compared to staying alive.

Now it really had come in handy.

Having done what he needed to do, Baimu checked Otsuka's injuries again—there was no other way to put it; they were horrific. Even by Orre's medical standards, the guy would need to spend a month or two in bed before he recovered.

"As long as he's alive."

He let out a small sigh of relief.

Not long after.

A faint groan slipped from Otsuka's mouth, and his tightly shut eyelids trembled.

"Ugh..."

"You awake? Give me a response."

"I... am I dead? How could I... dream about you?" Otsuka's voice was incredibly hoarse. His eyes gradually opened, and he saw Baimu sitting beside him.

He tugged at the corners of his mouth, forming an utterly hideous expression.

Baimu's expression did not change. He raised his right hand and waved it. "If we'd delayed any longer, you really would've died. How many fingers is this?"

"I... looks like two..."

"Your brain isn't damaged. Congratulations."

Otsuka was in no condition to appreciate that kind of deadpan joke.

He looked back up at the azure sky and muttered, "...I really didn't die... Wuwuwu..."

Suppressed sobs squeezed out of his throat, and tears soon overflowed from his eyes.

The joy of surviving the ordeal made Otsuka so emotional that he could barely breathe. He even began coughing, followed by waves of dry heaving. Crying and laughing at once, he looked utterly miserable.

But how could he care about that now?

As long as he was alive, he was happy.

"Oh, right. He's already dead. If you want to stab him once, that probably isn't realistic in your current state," Baimu said quietly. "Can you move your arm? If not, I'll help you call for rescue."

The wristband was monitored. It would only take effect if the person involved was willing to use it, which was incredibly troublesome.

And compared to rescue, Otsuka was clearly more concerned about the first part.

"You... killed Jian?"

"To be precise, the sun roasted him to death. I only beat him badly enough to leave him seriously injured." Baimu smiled at him, trying to cheer him up. "A single stab would've been too easy on him."

"Hahaha... You're vicious."

Otsuka really did force out an ugly smile and tried to raise his arm to tap the wristband.

Unfortunately, apart from making himself grimace in pain, it did nothing. He still needed Baimu's help to use it.

Beep.

Rescue call successful.

Both of them sighed in relief, and the atmosphere became a little more pleasant, though it was still scorching hot.

Taking the opportunity, Baimu asked, "Come to think of it, why didn't you reveal my location? You could've made one up. I don't think you're that stupid."

From the day they first met, it had been clear that Otsuka surrendered quickly. He was not the sort of person who stubbornly refused to admit fault.

He perfectly embodied the phrase "bullying the weak and fearing the strong."

So when Jian said Otsuka had refused to open his mouth no matter what, Baimu had been extremely surprised.

"Why..."

Otsuka stared blankly at the sky. "Actually, I don't know either..."

"You don't know?"

"Hehe, maybe I just had a moment of stupidity. Or maybe I felt that whether I talked or not, they wouldn't let me go anyway... Hehehe." Otsuka laughed to himself, even though there was nothing funny about it.

But in truth.

He had an answer in his heart.

Why had he refused to reveal Baimu's whereabouts even when he was nearly beaten to death, not even making up a location?

The reason was simple: the pitiful shred of self-respect he had left.

When his life had hung by a thread, countless memories had surfaced before Otsuka's eyes—from his birth, to learning to talk, to getting his first Pokémon, and even to supporting his entire family.

After thinking it over, he felt that his life had been so barren. He had given up far too much for certain things. There were too many regrets, and too many things he had wanted to do but never managed to accomplish.

Putting aside external things like Pokémon, he himself was empty. He had nothing.

He had no pursuit of his own. He lived merely to survive, and his life had always been suffocating.

"Both your world and mine are too small. I hope that someday, we can break free from Pyrite Town's restraints, open our eyes, and see the real world."

The real world—what was the real world?

Did someone with nothing have the right to see it?

At that moment.

Otsuka had clung desperately to that last sliver of self-respect as though it were a lifeline. He also understood that he would never get to see the real world Baimu had spoken of.

But he truly, truly did not want to die in such a wretched state.

"Hey, Baimu, will you leave Pyrite Town?"

He struggled to turn his head toward that person, so close yet hazy and indistinct.

That person answered, "Someday, sooner or later."

"Then..."

Could you take me with you?

Otsuka found that he seemed to have gone mute. He could not speak for a long time. He knew that, deep down, he felt unworthy.

Trash in a gutter ought to remain in the gutter forever.

And then.

That indistinct person suddenly leaned closer. Otsuka only felt his vision blur, and Baimu became clear, as though an illusory membrane had been pierced.

Baimu lifted Otsuka's eyelids, then forcibly made him stick out his tongue, performing actions only a doctor would know.

"Why'd you go mute? Want some water?"

"No..."

"What were you about to say? You wanted me to take you with me?"

"Uh."

"You want to travel together? Personally, I don't really like traveling in a group, so forget it." Baimu waved dismissively. "I'd recommend going out on your own instead."

The matter-of-fact tone left Otsuka somewhat stunned.

"On my own?"

"What else? Or call your sister, call your parents—your whole family can go traveling together."

Traveling with companions. Taking the whole family on a trip.

Those unfamiliar words left Otsuka feeling dazed.

From Baimu's tone, leaving Pyrite Town, or even leaving Orre, sounded like an extremely simple thing—perhaps even something common.

He murmured, "Go by myself..."

"Yeah. While you're young, leave Pyrite Town and see what other places are like. Don't keep staring at this tiny patch of land."

Baimu spoke with some feeling. "This world is far more wonderful than you think."

Otsuka fell silent.

The two gradually sank into silence.

The next second.

He suddenly asked, "Should I go to school?"

"Stop asking stupid questions."

Baimu casually cursed at him. "If you can't read, you won't even understand a map! How the hell are you supposed to travel?"