NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 5: Her
Because The Nine Cross Orphanage was at the edge of a rural province, the junkyard wasn't far from Rael's home and was near the bus stop.
Close to the junkyard entrance, Rael hid behind a tree so the guard in his small box office wouldn't notice him.
This guard never really did his job and had his eyes glued to the screen floating in front of him.
Anyone could slip by him and enter the junkyard without trouble, which Rael did.
He ran between piles of wrecked vehicles, machines, and other outdated appliances that no longer had any use.
He knew this area so well that he darted around corners as though he had a minimap.
I'll secretly look around first. Ali said everyone came here, so they might be playing their usual games or messing with normies. If there's an adult who knows about the scuffles between orphans and normies, pushing the normies to provoke my friends, I must take care of them myself.
[How do you plan to handle an adult man, Lord Rael?]
It's unusual for you to ask questions like that, and you're not curious why I want to handle him on my own?
[I assume it is because you do not want to involve the sisters and would rather use this chance to test yourself against a hostile adult.]
You know me too well. Yeah, that's exactly it. I also want to see if I still get social anxiety when facing an adult alone, and if I can actually fight someone older. Right now, though, I just want information. I should train in the virtual reality room first before risking a fight with an adult while I'm still a kid.
[I support your decision, Lord Rael. May I add something?]
Sure, go ahead.
[Hurting one person or a small group will not solve the underlying issue. If this truly involves the military, they will send more people to investigate the culprit. You may put yourself in great danger, depending on what your quest uncovers.]
Rael climbed a broken stack of junk and hid behind a cracked washing machine.
He spotted one of the orphans surrounded by five normies.
It was a little girl with short red hair shaped like an apple, which earned her the nickname "Apple."
She wore a shabby dress and clutched her teddy bear, hiding her face behind it while the normies, who were at least five years older, pressured her.
I'll decide what to do based on the quest. For now, Anne needs me.
He knew Anne because she often approached him at the orphanage.
Unlike the other boys who avoided girls, Rael befriended everyone.
Anne liked him and usually asked him to bring her to the junkyard, but this time she came alone and ran into the normies.
They reminded Rael of the bullies he used to deal with, but he also knew these kids were only echoing things they heard from grown-ups.
One of them grabbed Anne's shoulder and shook her.
"Where is that brown haired parentless nobody hiding?!"
"N-no telling!"
Anne shut her eyes and clutched her teddy bear tighter.
Rael wondered how kids could toss insults like that and shook his head at her honesty.
When he finally stepped into view, the normies turned their attention to him.
"Oh, another nobody with no parents!"
"Not him. We want the brown haired one. This guy looks weird!"
Rael did have unusual looks with his pitch black hair and purple eyes.
Even though people were now born with all kinds of hair and eye colors, he still stood out enough to become a target.
Besides, he was a boy.
"Leave her alone," he said.
Anne opened her eyes and hurried to his side, gripping his arm and peeking out from behind it.
She was so cute that Rael smiled, but the normies, who were still at that awkward age, laughed at him.
"Look, he's hanging out with a girl!"
"Haha!"
Rael kept calm. "Yeah, she's my friend, and that brown haired boy you're looking for is also my friend. What do you want with him?"
At his words, the boys sneered and flexed their fists, like characters in a movie.
At the same time, Rael saw a side quest appear and then shift to the corner of his vision.
[You have received a side quest due to the hostility aimed at you.]
[Defeat five boys with abilities.]
[Reward: 500 EXP]
They aren't worth much, but this is a perfect chance to try my new power. No more running from brats like these. I'm taking them down.
[I will record your first fight, Lord Rael, for later study. May you triumph.]
You sound excited, Dominica. Are you a battle freak?
Rael smiled and took a step forward.
The five normies were stunned.
They expected him to grab Anne and run like most orphans did, but instead, he closed in on them without fear.
This annoyed them even more.
One of the boys, a ten year old with an awakened ability, charged at Rael and swung a sloppy punch, his thumb curled awkwardly inside his palm.
He was slow.
Rael leaned in and landed a blow to the boy's stomach before the punch even landed.
The impact made a sharp thud, and the boy doubled over, spitting saliva before collapsing in tears.
Another bully clasped his hands and shot a beam at Rael.
Rael's right arm crackled with purple lightning, then his hand took on a perfect steel form.
He thrust his palm forward and absorbed the beam, which scattered off his hand without leaving a scratch.
At that moment, it was clear Rael had an ability and was more powerful than all five of them.
"Run! We have to tell her that he has an ability!"
"Yeah!"
The remaining four spun around and bolted out of the junkyard.
Rael called out, "Anne, wait here or go find the others. Stay safe. I'll be right back."
"Um," she answered with a firm nod, hugging her teddy bear.
Who is this "her" they want to inform? Someone is really using the normies to provoke orphans into revealing abilities that the sisters try so hard to hide.
Thinking this, Rael dashed off after one of the fleeing bullies.