Parallel Memory

-SWISSSH!

The three of them got sucked into the Gate.

-THUD!

"ARGH!"

Zero groaned.

"This is why I don't like teleportation!"

Zero yelled discontentedly. He had been teleported and unceremoniously dropped onto the ground. Being dizzy from the teleportation, he couldn't react in time to land properly, resulting in him falling on his backside.

Despite his disoriented state, Zero didn't waste any time complaining. He immediately scanned the surroundings for potential danger. It was not the time to worry about a headache when you might be in territory inhabited by monsters.

But before he could even start investigating, he heard a loud scream.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Saintess Amelia seemed to have teleported above him and was falling down.

Zero quickly reacted, extending his arms to catch Amelia as she plummeted towards him.

-TUCK!

He managed to catch her just in time, preventing her from crashing into the ground. Although even if she did land on the ground, nothing serious would have happened.

Rank-A body was tough and a simple fall from 20 meters would also not be enough to kill them. Moreover, even if Saintess Amelia was injured from falling, she could easily heal herself with her healing skill.

Amelia closed her eyes tightly as she fell, bracing herself for impact. But when she felt strong arms wrap around her, she couldn't help but open her eyes in surprise. And there he was, Zero, her savior, holding her securely.

"Are you alright, Amelia?" Zero asked, a hint of concern in his voice as he gently set her back on her feet.

Amelia's eyes widened, and a bright smile spread across her face. Overwhelmed with relief and happiness, she couldn't contain her emotions any longer.

"Zero!" she exclaimed joyfully, unable to contain her happiness. She jumped up, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.

Zero stood frozen for a moment as Amelia embraced him tightly, caught off guard by the sudden display of affection. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he shifted uncomfortably, not entirely sure how to respond to the situation.

"AH!"

Realizing what she had just done, Amelia quickly released her grip.

Amelia blushed, her heart racing from the hug. She looked up at Zero with a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment. "Th-thank you, Zero. I'm fine!"

Zero snapped back to reality, choosing to ignore the hug and simply replied, "No problem!"

He didn't think much about the hug as he thought that Amelia was just excited to see him in the Gate.

Amelia nodded, feeling a rush of emotions from the encounter. She couldn't deny that Zero catching her had made her heart skip a beat, prompting her to embrace him.

"But we certainly are fortunate. Last time, Professor Mia and I were separated in the Gate and it took us days to reunite," Zero remarked.

Now that his primary concern, Amelia, was with him, he believed the Gate would be less worrisome. With her healing and support skills, he might not even need Dark Energy to defeat the boss monster, likely a Rank-S creature.

Taking a moment to compose themselves, they noticed a bull-like monster emerging nearby. The creature, named "Bovorax," was merely a Rank-C monster.

It seems that the territory belonged to Bovorax and they don't seem to be happy to see guests on their territory.

"Look, a monster!"

Amelia warned.

"It looks like we have landed in a fairly safe place."

"It seems we have landed in a relatively safe area," Zero responded. He was familiar with the capabilities of Bovorax and was relieved to encounter it. Its presence indicated that they were in the territory of a Rank-C monster, which meant a safer environment.

The creature glared angrily at Zero and Amelia.

GRRRR!

Growling ferociously, it charged toward them, intent on attacking.

When it came within range, Zero simply flicked his hand and sent the monster hurtling through the air.

-BANG!

It landed several meters away, incapacitated.

For Zero's current level, Rank-C monsters posed little challenge. Amelia watched in admiration as Zero effortlessly displayed his strength. She already knew he was powerful, but it seemed she still underestimated his limits.

Although they held the same Rank, Amelia couldn't compare to Zero's power. Her specialization lay in support and healing, not combat. However, even among average Rank-A individuals, her fighting prowess exceeded their fighting power.

"We should probably locate Professor Mia or the Gate's boss," Zero suggested. Normally, finding Amelia would be the top priority, but now that she had landed near him, that concern was alleviated.

-SWUSH!

However, Zero's search for Mia was cut short as she joined them, landing a short distance away. With her flying ability, she easily touched down unscathed.

"It appears luck is on our side this time," Zero remarked as he and Amelia approached Mia.

Mia landed on the ground safely. She wasn't sure of the situation before Amelia and Zero came towards her.

She looked at Zero and Amelia, relieved to see that they were safe. "I'm glad you both made it out alright."

Mia glanced around, assessing their surroundings. They appeared to be in a dense forest, with tall trees and foliage obscuring their view.

"We seemed to be on the territory of Bovorax which should be safe! We can stay here for a few days and see the situation of this place!"

Zero suggested to Professor Mia and Amelia.

Mia nodded in agreement.

Securing a safe place was a good plan. They could slowly start to explore the place after having a good and safe place to rest.

Amelia, still feeling a bit shaky from the teleportation, also nodded in agreement. She held onto Zero's arm, seeking comfort and reassurance.

This gesture didn't go unnoticed by Mia, causing her to feel intense jealousy. She could no longer remain silent when confronted with such a situation. Without much thought, Mia gently tugged at Zero's shirt.

"Professor Mia?"

Zero was startled when Professor Mia caught his shirt. He thought that Professor Mia had something to say.

Realizing her impulsive action, Professor Mia found herself unsure of how to proceed in that moment. She considered explaining that it was a mistake, but then she noticed that Amelia was still holding onto one of Zero's arms.

"Lend me your arms. I am still feeling dizzy from teleportation."

"Huh?"

******

Zero stood there, sandwiched between Amelia's grip on his left arm and Mia's hold on his right arm. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he remained uncertain about what was happening.

If the situation was known by any other people, they would have died in jealousy. One was called the most beautiful woman and the other is the revered Saintess which is a person blessed by the goddess herself.

Despite feeling uncomfortable, he didn't dare protest or pull away, not wanting to cause any further awkwardness.

Amelia, still holding onto Zero tightly, looked up at him with a hint of gratitude in her eyes. She whispered, "Thank you for being here, Zero. Your presence gives me strength."

Amelia didn't mind Me being there. She has nothing to hide and has told her already about her feelings. Even though the situation was dangerous being stuck in the Gate, Amelia didn't forget to use the situation in her favor.

Zero managed a weak smile, trying to hide his unease. He glanced at Mia, who was still clutching his shirt, her expression a mix of jealousy and embarrassment. He couldn't help but wonder how he ended up in this bewildering situation.

Professor Mia was embarrassed. She never thought that she would do such a thing, not to mention to one of her former students. But she had to as she didn't want to lose to Amelia.

If she kept being passive, she was afraid that she would really lose Zero. Now that Amelia has thrown everything in order to win Zero's heart, she also couldn't hold back.

Together, they ventured further into the forest, their footsteps echoing through the quiet surroundings. The air felt heavy with an unknown presence, making them alert and cautious.

However, there was nothing to be afraid of! The monsters were all in Rank-C or Rank-B, most of them being Bovorox.

All they had to do was unleash their mana aura, and the monster would immediately flee.

After a while, both Amelia and Mia had to let go of their hug. They didn't want to release each other too quickly, but upon realizing that Zero was uncomfortable, they both seemed to unconsciously agreed to let go together.

It was also not beneficial for them to cling to Zero while navigating.

Nevertheless, the place was safe for them. The monster appeared weak, and the environment was not overly challenging. It felt like camping in an unfamiliar location.

When traveling, Amelia took every opportunity to flirt and strengthen her bond with Zero.

Mia observed their interactions with mixed emotions. She couldn't deny the growing connection between Zero and Amelia, and it pained her to witness it unfolding before her eyes. She was tired, and unlike Amelia, she struggled with effective communication.

Anyway, as Zero attempted to find the way back, it seemed that the two girls had another plan in their mind!