SSS-Knight in a Hero World-Chapter 119: The opposite result

Somewhere amongst the thousands of streets in City 13.

Ferris pushed the cart with a magnificent pile of recyclables, at the bow sat the retired hero who was enjoying the cooling temperatures at the time of sunset.

Despite the fact that Ferris had been pushing and collecting all day long, he couldn't shake the idea of being homeless.

He sighed as he thought, I know I could request Miss Prin for temporary lodging, but for some reason I'm still quite bothered.

Ferris looked forward, although he could only see the pile of cardboard in front of him, he knew that the man was still there sitting at the front and freeloading off of his young strength.

Ever since the two met, Ferris hadn't asked for his name yet, but wasn't interested in knowing and neither seemed the old man.

"Hey sir, I don't remember recycling being a decent paying job, but what are you going to buy for your daughter."

Mediman laughed beyond the cover of the cardboard pile.

"Interested? If my math is right, you two would be around the same age. I'll have to warn you that she is quite small compared to others of her group—"

"Forget that I ever asked." Ferris cut off, it seemed that the old man was incapable of having a normal conversation regarding personal life.

"I was joking, joking! I was planning on taking my daughter out to her favorite restaurant, but thanks to you I might be able to get her to a more expensive one."

Ferris analyzed the old man's plans and provided his own opinion, "I recommend doing the latter regardless, depending on how long your daughter has been missing, her taste might be different now."

"I'm sure it will be." Mediman agreed before silently thinking on the future. "Do you think she'll remember me?"

I haven't even met her... "Can't answer that, sir, I don't know her."

The old man suddenly lifted himself up from his posture. "Don't know her? Well let me tell you!

She's secretly greedy!She doesn't ask for permission!She always goes her own way!

And... well that's about it."

An asshole, a brat? Ferris secretly thought behind the pile.

"Well, at least she acts like that towards people she despises, other than that I'm pretty sure I raised her right."

"...I see."

. . .

The conversation seemingly turned awkward from the silence, however, the old man didn't let the momentum die out.

"Now what about you, I don't recall you telling me why you're not feeling so well." he questioned, to which Ferris immediately disregarded.

However, the retired hero wasn't so easily fooled.

"Just because I'm not looking at you and that there's a barrier between us, doesn't mean I can't look into you.

First of all, there's an emptiness within your body and your brain seems to be overworking itself despite it not looking as so on the outside, let me guess a lot of things have happened to you today?"

Ferris suddenly slowed down his pushing of the cart in shock. He suddenly thought of something. He knows that my advancement has caused my essence tank to expand which left my overall essence near empty. But...

There was something strange about Mediman's diagnosis.

It should be completely filled up, right? I've got plenty of rest. Does this man know more than I do?

Ferris shook it off as an incorrect analysis, old age degrades one's abilities after all.

Though, the old man's diagnosis of his mental state wasn't wrong. "I'm not sure how to describe it, it's like something is gnawing at my mind but I can't seem to know why." he admitted.

The old man laughed. "That's strange for you to say, young man, it seems that you know the answer already."

It's you who's strange with that answer. At this rate, Ferris had an urge to lampoon the old man.

Is he senile? I'm glad I'm looking after him in this dangerous night.

"What do you mean?"

The old man scoffed, "Ask yourself that, look at what's in front of us!"

Ferris sighed and stopped the cart. He then walked to the side to see whatever the sight was.

"!" Ferris was shocked and confused at the same time.

The apartment? Why did I return here? Ferris genuinely asked himself about the strange phenomena that he was experiencing.

How come I didn't notice that I was returning?

Suddenly the old man got off the cart and did some light stretching for his old legs. "Young man, park the cart over here for now, let's go to that building."

Ferris went silent at first, then nodded as they went towards the front of the entrance.

Without a word Ferris suddenly spoke, "I got evicted." he finally explained.

"...That sucks." the old man replied truthfully. "Let's go to the alleyway where they'd usually put the dumpster, hopefully the garbage collectors haven't cleaned the place yet."

Ferris nodded. I must've been so shocked that I didn't have a thought of hope, my stuff could still be saved! "Let's go then, I'll handle the dumpster diving."

The two checked the dark alley.

Ferris' heart dropped when he saw that the dumpster looked empty, but upon further inspection, it wasn't filled.

But it was still a cause for concern!

"They must've taken it yesterday or even the time we were collecting cardboard!" Ferris exclaimed.

"Have some hope, keep diving!"

Ferris grimaced and covered his mouth and nose as he dug like a rat.

He quickly found a plastic and flat rectangle with an off-brand logo in the middle.

"..." Ferris threw it away without hesitation.

Finally, he saw a box filled with old folders and paper.

He hopped out of the dumpster and softly landed in front of the old man, with the box in hand.

Thankfully, it wasn't damaged overall and it wasn't damp from the garbage juice.

There was an urgent feeling within him as he flipped through the many files that didn't even have a marking to tell what it contained, but despite that, he allowed his body to take him over.

He stopped his fingers at a certain spot, he softly pushed away the files and opened a tiny gap that revealed a small paper that had lost its glossiness.

The old man looked over in curiosity as he watched Ferris pull out a faded photo. He guessed that it was the key to solve his headache. "Now that you've found what you're looking for, are you feeling better?" he asked, but didn't dare to question what the photo contained out of respect.

Ferris reminisced.

I was... looking for this? He looked at the faded photo that depicted a family of three.

As he swiped away at the dust, he noticed that the father's side was clear and his mother's was completely faded away.

That sight bothered him greatly. Why must the father who has abandoned both him and his mother have the clear picture?

He rummaged through the other files but there was no other picture.

This is ridiculous, I've been acting desperate for this? he thought angrily.

. . .

Flick.

With a single essence-coated finger, he flicked it vertically to cut off the unneeded side of the photo away.

He then discreetly stored the photo within the domain of his essence.

Ferris had now solved his crisis, albeit he was left bitter.

Nevertheless, it's over.

"I've got a feeling you still aren't well, you still want company?" the old man suggested.

"It's quite late though." Ferris replied, his tone wasn't at the sweetest for the time being, but the old man wasn't affected. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Ferris continued. "Let's finish your job, tell me where the recycling facility is."

"Haha..." the old man suddenly chuckled in a sweat. "Don't bother, they've probably closed a few minutes ago."

"!" Ferris twitched his lips in a distraught expression.

Are you kidding me? You sacrificed your tiresome work for me? Why must the old give their time to the young like me? Ferris felt a wave of embarrassment and a mix of shame.

A knight must be grateful.

Calming himself, he kneeled on one knee and showed his gratitude in the form of heartfelt words and...

money.

Ferris pulled out his money. He picked one one-hundred-dollar bill, and with great reluctance, got another four, increasing the total to 500 dollars.

At first the old man was pleased with the payment but quickly became worried as he watched the young man almost cry from taking out an extra 400 dollars. "Easy, easy! One hundred is enough!"

After a sigh of relief, Ferris gave away only 10% of his reward money.

"Now I can really treat my daughter to a fine restaurant." he smiled, then looked at the cart filled with cardboard across the street. "And I hope that someone can take the reward that comes with recycling."

"It's getting late, I'll escort you home." Ferris said caringly.

After taking care of the old man, Ferris was about to say his last goodbye before the old man beat him to it.

"Goodbye young man, may the harm that come to you be turned into something better."

Ferris nodded and simply said goodbye before going off somewhere, though Ferris reassured the old man that he'd use the 900 dollars he had left to find a hotel for the night.

The old man quietly sat in his living room. Although there was a TV, he didn't turn it on and preferred watching the clock instead.

The hero association informed the retired hero that his daughter should come home close to midnight.

Even though the old man felt sleepy, he couldn't because of the suspense of waiting.

"Maybe I should wash my face with cold water..." he mumbled before deciding to walk to the kitchen.

He walked through the dark hallway of his home, but due to the darkness, the old man failed to notice a dark figure that pounced on him from a corner.

Stab! Stab! Stab!

He saw the kitchen knife go through his stomach and deep into his organs, before it was pulled out and was stabbed into him again by the dark figure.

However, excluding the absolute shock, he felt his spine improve, along with his breathing and flexibility.

He recognized this strange feeling. "Fixer, dear, is it really you?!

Oh you've grown so much, I'm sorry I left you alone!" the old man cried out and hugged his tiny daughter.