Chapter 46: The Exiled One
It's the third day since I started helping out at this clinic. At first, I planned to leave right away—but the more time I spent with Dr. Scott, the clinic’s head, and Michelle, the one helping alongside me, the more I lost track of when to go.
Still, for some reason, I can’t shake the feeling that Michelle’s brother, Eli, really dislikes me…
“Ah, thanks. You should probably take a break, Gojo-kun?”
“I’m fine! I’ve got more stamina than you’d think.”
Dr. Scott’s voice, full of concern. Such a kind teacher.
“Seems like giants visiting this area were increasing not too long ago—but lately, they’ve dropped off sharply… I just hope this calm keeps going.”
I’ve grown pretty close to not just Dr. Scott and Michelle, but even the patients who came in injured. While helping out here, I’ve been healing them bit by bit with Healing Magic.
Then, Michelle called out to me, while we were both working.
“Gojo-san, I haven’t done anything to thank you yet—so if there’s anything I can do for you, just say the word!”
“Nah, don’t worry about it… but please, don’t go telling too many people about me, okay?”
“Got it! I get it—you’ve got some secret, huh?”
From afar, Michelle’s brother Eli watched us talking like old friends. At the time, I didn’t think much of it…
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Why was Michelle getting so friendly with a guy like that? Eli couldn’t understand it.
If that Gojo person was dangerous… only Eli could protect Michelle! That’s all he’d been thinking about lately.
“Um…?”
Eli finally spoke to Joshua. Believing, deep down, that this was the right choice…
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I was talking with some refugees when a few soldiers surrounded me from behind.
"Hey, come over here for a sec..."
"What's going on?"
They led me to a quiet spot, where Joshua was waiting.
"Heard you’ve been hanging out with a Titan. Is that true?"
Ah, so those siblings spilled the beans, huh... Well, guess it can't be helped.
"Alright, yeah, but I’m not exactly a Titan’s buddy."
"Still, we can't have suspicious people around. Gonna have to kick you out—don’t take it personally."
"Whatever. Fair enough. I was planning to leave anyway. Don’t sweat it."
They escorted me to the entrance and I left Miller Park. To let the residents and those siblings live in peace, the Titan has to be taken down.
I flew straight toward New York.
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"Joshua... should we really have just kicked him out? What if he comes back with the Titan?!"
"I've heard stories—since this world went weird, people with strange powers start waking up. That guy might not even be an enemy..."
Didn’t seem like a bad guy, but couldn’t just ignore him either...
Back inside Miller Park, I was stopped by Scott, the clinic’s head.
"Joshua... can I talk to you for a sec? There’s a problem."
"A problem? What’s up?"
"Actually... the patient I’ve been treating... they’re healing way too fast. Everyone’s getting better."
"Isn’t that a good thing? What’s the issue?"
"Too fast! People with wounds that should’ve been fatal—now they’re almost fully healed. It’s impossible! It’s clearly abnormal!!"
What the hell is going on? Why... why would this happen...!?
"Joshua!!"
A soldier rushed over, panicked.
"Multiple giants are coming from the south! They might be targeting this place!!"
"What?! Didn't the number of giants been decreasing lately?!"
South... that's the opposite direction Gojō left... damn it!! What the hell is going on now?! One after another...!
"Get the defense line set up immediately! Anyone able to fight, gather at the entrance right now!!"
The inside of Miller Park grew chaotic. The residents inside couldn't hide their anxiety.
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"What’s going on...? Are giants really coming?"
"Michelle! It looks like the giants are heading this way. Let’s go inside a building with the others!!"
As El reached for Michelle’s hand to pull her along...
"Wait! What if we ask that person—Gojō’s friend—she could help us, right? El, did you see where Gojō is?"
"That’s... "
"What’s wrong...?"
On that day, it didn’t take giants long at all to break through the door and slaughter the people inside.