Null, listen—" Max started, his voice heavy.
"We already talked about this, Max," Null cut him off mid-sentence, his tone final. "No one is going to discuss this topic anymore. We are leaving."
Max raised a hand, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Just let me finish first."
Null blinked, softening slightly. "Oh. Yeah... sorry. Go ahead."
Max leaned back, looking out the window at the sprawling estate. "We both know what is happening in your life right now. The forces moving against you are beyond anything a normal human can comprehend. Do you actually have a plan to face it?"
Null looked down at his own hands—hands that wielded the logic-enforcing power of Axiom, yet felt so fragile against the weight of the world. "No."
"At the very least, do you have money?"
"Yes," Null said. "We helped the King a while back, and he gave us a decent reward. But... the funds are starting to run low."
Max let out a long, heavy sigh. "Then how on earth do you plan to face god-like beings with no plan and empty pockets?"
Null remained quiet for a moment. "I don't know."
Max shook his head, a small, weary smile finally breaking through his serious facade. "Be glad your childhood friend is filthy rich."
Meanwhile, back in the quiet darkness of the garden, Leo stood frozen. The glowing screen of his phone illuminated his face, reflecting the stark, unblinking eyes of the digital avatar.
What is your purpose?
Leo stayed silent, but his mind was firing at a million miles per hour. It was a terrifyingly good question. Why am I helping Null? Is it just because he was the first person I met when I got dropped into this crazy fantasy world? If I had never met him, would my life be like those overpowered light novel protagonists? Safe, easy, and completely broken?
He glanced back toward the mansion. Null really needs my help. But the funny thing is... he's never actually asked me for it. He just fights.
"Are you going to answer or not?" Chibi Leo's voice popped up in a fresh text bubble, breaking the silence.
Leo let out a dry laugh. "I don't know."
The digital sprite sighed heavily, crossing its tiny pixelated arms. "Sometimes I really wonder why you were even chosen to be a Heart Replicant."
Leo's brow furrowed. "A what? What do you mean by that?"
"Listen carefully, because I am only going to say this once," Chibi Leo warned, his digital face turning dead serious.
Leo gave a firm nod, leaning in close.
"You possess an ability called heart replication, which makes you a Heart Replicant," the phone explained. "Replicants are humans pulled from other worlds, just like you. A Replicant's main purpose is to change the world they are dropped into. Individually, they are strong, but when they form a group... their combined power is catastrophic to the order of the universe."
Leo's eyes widened. "A group? There are others?"
"There were," Chibi Leo corrected sharply. "But there is a hunter out there. A person who systematically tracks down and slaughters Heart Replicants before they can ever form a group. And based on my calculations... his next target is you."
A chill ran down Leo's spine. "Hold on. How can anyone kill a Heart Replicant? We're practically immortal as long as our cores are safe!"
"Yeah, they are immortal to the people of this world," Chibi Leo replied grimly. "But the hunter can kill them... because he is a Heart Replicant himself."
Leo stepped back, completely stunned. "Then how is he so powerful entirely on his own?"
"I don't know. Maybe he found a glitch in the heart replication system. A backdoor to absorb or bypass the rules."
"Which glitch?" Leo pressed.
"I just said I don't know! Anyone who has ever faced him is dead," Chibi Leo snapped. "Data is corrupted."
Leo looked down at his hand. "Is it this ring? Is it broadcasting a signal or something?"
"Nah, nah. Earlier was just a fluke. The ring is just a useless, overpriced piece of jewelry. But I still highly recommend you pack your bags and leave this kingdom as soon as humanly possible."
Leo swallowed hard. "And if that person catches me?"
"Then pray to God—if a god even exists—for help," Chibi Leo said flatly. "Anyway, I'm locking down the interface to run a deep-dive research protocol on Heart Replicant anomalies. Do not disturb me."
"Wait, does that mean you aren't going to save me?!" Leo panicked.
"I don't think my assistance will be of any use against your next enemy," Chibi Leo's final text bubble appeared. "But hey, look on the bright side: your body is still almost immortal as long as you keep this phone safe. Don't ask any more of your dumb questions. Bye."
The screen instantly flashed and went pitch black.
Leo stared at the dead reflection of his phone, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. Man... I really thought my second life was going to be different. Turns out it's going to be just as messy as my previous one.
The next morning arrived all too quickly. The early sun cast long shadows across the grand entrance of the mansion gates.
Max stood before Leo, looking genuinely apologetic. "I am still sorry, Leo. I completely misjudged you at first."
Leo offered a casual wave, slipping his hands into his pockets. "You don't have to apologize, Max. You were just protecting your family. I get it."
Standing beside her parents, little Charlotte looked up with big, watery eyes. "Is it really important for you all to go so soon?"
Lana's heart melted instantly. She knelt down, offering a soft smile. "Aww, I'm so sorry, cutie. But it really is important. We can't stay cooped up in a house forever." She gently patted Charlotte's head, smoothing her hair.
Max turned to Null. The two childhood friends locked eyes, a lifetime of unsaid words passing between them. They extended their hands, sharing one final, firm handshake.
"Goodbye, Null. Stay alive."
"You too, Max."
With their farewells spoken, the trio turned away from the estate, stepping back onto the dirt path. Their perilous journey had officially resumed.
As they walked down the winding road, leaving the wealthy estate far behind, Leo suddenly broke the silence. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Hey, Null... I'm still wondering about something."
Null didn't look back. "What?"
"If Max is the exact same age as you... how on earth is he already married and has a kid that old?"
Both Null and Lana instantly froze in their tracks. Their eyes widened in absolute shock.
For a solid three seconds, the path was dead silent as the realization hit them. In the midst of all the chaos, running for their lives, and fighting assassins, they had completely forgotten to ask the most basic question about their friend's new life.
Lana abruptly spun around, her face flushed with determined curiosity. "Yes! I have to go back and ask right now!"
Before she could sprint back toward the gates, Null quickly grabbed her hand, holding her back. "Lana, no. It doesn't matter anymore. Just leave him to enjoy his own private life."
"No! I have to know!" Lana protested, flailing her arms. "If I don't find out, I won't be able to sleep tonight!"
Null sighed, a defeated but amused grin tugging at his lips as he pulled her forward to keep walking. "Don't worry about it. If you can't sleep, I'll just tell you a bedtime story."
"I'm not a kid, Null!" Lana huffed, though she stopped resisting.
Walking a few paces behind them, Leo watched the two of them bicker back and forth. The heavy anxiety from his conversation with Chibi Leo the night before suddenly began to lift. A warm, genuine smile crept onto his face.
He looked up at the open sky, muttering softly to hi
mself, "Well... maybe this life isn't that bad after all."