During another hour of humiliating myself, Erica and the others taught me how to dodge honorably.
"The key is timing. During dodging, make sure to think and be ready for your next move." Erica explained. "Wait, why am I teaching you these basic things again? Did you hit your head or something and forget all the basics."
"Well, whatever. Maybe you ate something bad when working with me." She said.
Now, rather than a donkey roll, I learned how to side-step. Honestly, it felt like a hack-and-slash game where only a perfect dodge causes time to slow down. I only got it right less than half the time.
Despite having Deed's memories, I didn't feel like I'd fully synced with this body yet. I wondered why. Was it because I was so weak in my world?
My other selves didn't seem to explain much to me. Probably because they knew me... it was better for me to uncover things one by one and learn one step at a time.
That being said, I didn't know I was that big of an eater. Erica ordered a full set of exquisite food cooked using the monster meat of this world. Erica only took a bite of each to taste it, telling her assistant her thoughts and how it could be improved. Even the chefs were taking notes.
As for me... I was eating a lot. And fast. All the food was unique, though I wouldn't call it tasty since the food in my world tasted much better due to advanced tech and science.
"Oh, seems like you're not complaining today, Deed." Erica noticed how much I ate without taking breaks to complain like the usual Deed did.
"Maybe the training paid off." One of her bodyguards said. "Compared to the regular time he ate, his intake has increased by 60%, which means now Miss Erica can try out different sets too."
I just ate quietly and didn't engage much in order to digest the food well. Also, unlike the original Deed, I made sure I was drinking a lot of water to ensure I'd flush all the food well later.
'Hydration and nutrition, huh...' Zeroze muttered, thinking of something. 'Null, be sure to start running later.' He reminded me.
'Okay.' I replied in my thoughts.
Seeing my desire to train, Erica delayed the trip for three days. She wanted to prepare and train me before the departure while also trying new dishes from the local restaurants. After I ate a whole lot again, we returned to Erica's family manor. I ran on their training field to get myself in shape.
Some of the knights and even the trainees looked shocked to see me training instead of trying to offer Deed's regular services, like cleaning their gear, polishing, or offering massages after their sessions. Rather than being the usual money-loving person, I was training instead.
"Did he get possessed?" some of the watchers asked Erica's personal bodyguard.
"Who knows. He's been like that since the day." She replied.
I ignored them since what they were talking about was the original Deed. Time was definitely not on my side. If I didn't make any preparations, I wouldn't be able to save anyone, not even myself.
'He's starting to think more like me.' Deed said.
'More like the you after that tragedy.' Zeroze said.
Honestly, I was quite good at running in my original world, but for some reason, it felt quite heavy this time.
'Was it because I'm not synced fully with Deed's body yet?' I asked my other selves.
'Nah... it's heavier cause you ate a lot.' Zeroze answered me. 'Eating those kind of unique foods without working out obviously takes a toll on your body. You wouldn't believe me if I told you how many calories and fat were in those meals you finished.' Zeroze said like a nutrition expert. 'Run for at least two hours and be sure to drink at least five liters of water after the run. Your body honestly sucks, Deed.'
Zeroze pointed that out toward the knight Deed, but he just shrugged it off.
I did as Zeroze instructed. By the time I'd finished running and drank a whole lot of water, the sun had already set and only a few people were left on the training ground.
"I was looking for you, Deed. Turns out you're still here." Erica came over. "Did you eat something bad and suddenly get the motivation to be stronger? Didn't you always say to me that strength isn't everything, it's money!" She said, exaggerating and copying the way Deed would always say it.
"I guess." I replied.
"Heh... even the way you reply changed." Erica noticed that I replied as myself, as Null.
"That trip... can we not go?" I said.
'Hey!' Zeronoz shouted in the mental void at the sudden change of my mind.
"Huh?" Erica was shocked. "This is a first. I thought you were the type who followed through on every work you set on."
"Why?" Erica said. "Suddenly training, sudden behavior change..." She paused. "Deed... you?"
'Oh no, she might catch on.' Deed said.
"Are you getting mature? Are you in your puberty phase!" Erica said. "That must be it, right! To think that the immature, money-obsessed boy has finally grown up." She teased further, while Deed in the mental void was somewhat embarrassed by her remarks.
'You're still younger than me, my lady.' Deed said, not that Erica could hear him.
"What if there's greater danger... something that causes me to die during that trip." I said.
I could tell every one of my other selves was shocked by my question.
"You die?" Erica was also shocked. "Don't kid with me. That won't be happening. We have powerful knights accompanying us."
"What if the enemy is strong as well?" I asked further. "And my life is taken first."
"That won't happen!" Erica shouted emotionally. "Why are you asking these questions? Are you trying to make me suffer?"
'Wait... is Erica actually...' Roh said, noticing the pattern.
'Hoh, I didn't expect you would see that too.' Zeronoz said, while Zeroze ate popcorn—who knows where he got it—and enjoyed the show.
'Huh? Why is Erica being so emotional?' Deed asked, dumbfounded.
"Sorry..." I said honestly to her.
Noticing that, Erica said in a low voice. "If worst comes to worst, I'll be the one to protect you..."
'She blushes, omggg.' Zeronoz said.
'Eh, eh, why?' Deed asked.
'This stupid knight... perhaps being immortal made him devoid of any emotion.' Zeroze said, annoyed.
"No... if that time comes, I'll be the one that will protect you." I said firmly.
Erica's face seemed to turn very red at what I said, and she suddenly retreated back inside the manor.
'Way to finish it off, you playboy.' Zeronoz said proudly.
'Is Erica actually?' Deed said, finally noticing something. 'Is she sick? Why is she so red.'
'Yeah, you bastard undead... you're the sick one.' Zeronoz said that while hitting Deed's head.
'Oh, youth.' Roh said.