Chapter 80: Responsibility

Words : 1248 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 80: Responsibility Luca’s guilt was neck deep, and not only did he cause the egg-like bump on Xavier’s head, but he also caused the red marks on Xavier’s chest, which matched the friction burn he got on his face. But Xavier said he was going to take responsibility, although for what, Luca couldn’t tell. But he figured it was the right thing to do. He just wasn’t sure how much it would cost to fix the egg if he also took responsibility. Will he be okay with using a pill instead? "Me too, I’ll take responsibility," Luca said as he nailed himself on the cross. Two people were talking about different responsibilities but assumed they were on the same page. Xavier really wanted to ask where they were and how they got here, but Luca looked like he would collapse or cry if he opened his mouth to ask. So, he chose something safe. "What happened to the arachnid?" He asked, trying to focus despite his headache. "It’s still there, hopefully still distracted by the decoy." "Decoy?" "I left my manual mecha in the cocoon and a small energy source so that it’d assume that we were still inside." Xavier was surprised about Luca’s narration of his plan. "Is that how we managed to escape?" Luca nodded, a little hesitant, his eyes still shifty, and Xavier couldn’t help but think that he had scared this short animal. "I’m not going to hurt you, so you can relax. Especially not after telling you that I’ll take responsibility." "Isn’t that perfect, Host? That means you should be fine, right?" D-29 cheered in Luca’s mind, and he did get a bit optimistic because of it. "Are you sure? And you won’t get mad?" Luca looked very hopeful, and Xavier had to contend with this chipmunk’s clear golden eyes. Xavier sighed. How bad was he that this guy had to verify such a thing? "Of course, I promised. So I won’t take it back." Xavier was going to leave it at that, but Luca’s back straightened like an alarmed creature, and he figured he’d just formalize it. Maybe then he could stop being this fidgety. "Luca, are you sure you’re okay with this? With me taking responsibility for you?" Xavier had to ask. He didn’t want to force Luca if he had other plans; after all, just because he wanted to take responsibility didn’t mean that Luca had to receive it. In fact, Luca could opt never to forgive him, and he wouldn’t be able to do anything about that. "If you promise not to get mad? Not to lock me up? And... and not make me pay too much?" Luca was fidgeting with his hands. At first, he didn’t want to ask about payments but figured he had to be honest, too. His idea was that if both parties took responsibility, then once they negotiated the damages, he might not be guilty of so many crimes and could offset his guilt with his contributions to Xavier’s health. And if Xavier were going to take responsibility, he might not have to pay for the manual mecha he left inside the cocoon or the cave he just blasted. So, when Xavier swore, Luca remembered how everyone said it must be documented, or he could just back out of his promise. "Really? Then how can I guarantee you won’t back out?" Luca asked, wanting to open up negotiations for a written contract. Xavier felt like a giant scum and decided to remedy the issue as soon as possible. It was his fault, and even his father would blast him to pieces if he learned about his poor handling of his own misdeeds. "I have a way to guarantee it. So, you’ll feel reassured." Xavier took off his family heirloom. It was actually Sid’s key. The unique aspect of this was how the key is a pair that initiates a unique life contract. "If you’re sure about this, then please wear this." The ring split into two after Xavier fiddled with it, and as he wore one of the two rings, an array of symbols originated from the ring and crawled towards his chest. "This would guarantee my word as a binding life contract. So, you won’t doubt my intentions from now on. I promise to take full responsibility for you and keep you safe and comfortable from now on." "But in return, I need you to know that this contract requires you to do the same for me. If we push through with this, you will never be able to betray me. Is that all right?" Luca thought about it and didn’t think that he was the type to turn back on his promises. But D-29 made sure to remind its Host of a critical tidbit: "Host, does this mean you’d also be responsible for his debts? Maybe you should ask about his credit standing. Did he destroy more things than you did?" "!" Luca realized that the little system was right and that it was a fundamental question. "Uhmm... Xavier, would you happen to be in debt? Would I have to pay for anything?" It was a serious question, and Luca’s expression reflected that weight. The temporary egg-head had no idea why he was asking about debts, but when he asked about having to pay for something, Xavier felt another blow. Did he look so incompetent that he looked like he wasn’t financially capable? "No, I’m not in debt. And you won’t have to pay for anything as I already promised to take full responsibility for you." "That’s fantastic, Host! I think that just solved your earlier problem! And that means we also won’t need to find a way to wipe his memory about the Dungeon!" D-29 listed the advantages, and Luca was glad that it all worked out. It was really a good thing he decided to save Xavier, even if it had been a rather tricky ordeal. "Okay, then. Thank you very much. That makes me feel better," Luca said as he imitated Xavier’s earlier action of putting the ring on before sighing in relief. Similar to what happened with Xavier, Luca witnessed an array of glyphs that traveled into his heart. At first, he was nervous and expected it to hurt, but he didn’t feel anything but the coursing of energy from the ring to his chest. Now, the two people sat across each other, watching the etching and then waiting for it to disappear from his skin. But while these two sat there harmoniously, an intensely rattled mecha sat by a tree, unable to call out for help. He could not believe that his master just entered a life contract with the highjacker and kidnapper! Not to mention that crime against a member of the Imperial family! But Sid could not operate without a source of energy or a pilot, and even then, his controls were currently overridden. The poor mecha had no idea who to turn to until the connection with his newest master was established. It was then that he managed to connect to a much more expansive sea of consciousness. This was a crisis! This development dumbfounded Sid, and he would have rubbed his eyes if mechas had been capable of doing just that. But what was more alarming was the sudden voice. "What are you? How did you get access to my Host?" D-29 was in full alert mode. His system was being infiltrated!

Chapter 80: Responsibility

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