16 16: Improving Health

"Where are you going?"

Caleb stopped at the door leading outside when he heard a somewhat irked question behind him. He turned around and saw one of the old men staring at him. Caleb scratched his head, not sure what this was all about, and said:

"The four are waiting for me at the well, aren't they? Why??"

The old man shrugged.

"Do as you please, then."

As he said this, the old man leaned on his chair with a comfortable expression and dozed off.

Caleb remained in his place speechless and saw the woman scraping the wall give him an expression of apology.

'What's with this darned old man? Is he bored or something? It seems that the woman is connected with the old man?'

'Well, fuck him.' With a shrug, Caleb proceeded to the door and pushed it. As he advanced, the gloomy dark clouds in the sky greeted his sight. Around him, a bunch of broken trees, and uprooted plants, lay scattered. Pieces of wood, stones, and ruined buildings could be seen everywhere. It was too messy, as if the whole place suffered an earthquake. Caleb sighed.

'It's not what I expected. It seems I need to be more careful. Just what did this place experience?'

As he continued to walk, Caleb also noticed minute details such as cracks on the ground. And when he turned around, he saw the appearance of the house where he came from.

It was entirely made of wood and looked dilapidated. There is moss on the wall, along with weeds. Such an image didn't occur to him when he was inside.

...

After a few minutes of walking, Caleb finally saw the well. The goal of his destination. Four teenagers are helping each other, pulling the ropes with their gnashed teeth.

"One, two, three, pull!"

"One, two, three, pull!"

"One, two, three, pull!"

Just like that, a bucket of water was tied at the end of the ropes. One of the teenagers carried it down.

'Think about it. Everyone seems to have a role. Those women from before are the cleaners, those old people are monitoring. Then, these teenagers are the ones responsible for water?'

Caleb was sure that he was also responsible for the well, like the teenager. An image formed in his head as this idea came to his mind. He might be really an orphan this time!

"Hey, Johan. Damn you, you're finally here! You're late." One of the teenagers, look at Caleb and snorted. He has short black hair, wrinkles, brown eyes, and he has a big belly. He had a straw hat on his head and wore a plain black shirt.

Caleb forced a smile to appear on his face.

"Sorry, I overslept. My body was too tired, I guess?"

The teenager just scowled.

"Well, come here, help us already."

Caleb sighed and walked to them. 'Fatty bastard.'

A girl with blue eyes, silver hair, fair complexion punched the fatty on his shoulder lightly.

"Why do you treat him like that? Don't you know about his health?"

"Ouch..." The fatty took a step back with an exaggerated face and crooked eyes. "Luna, what was that for!?"

"Hahaha! Fatty is at it again!" The teenager who was currently untying the rope connected to well laughed without holding back.

'So this fatty doesn't seem to be a bad person? That's just the way he is?'

Another teenager, shirtless, gave Johan a teasing smile.

"That's right, Johan, it's your turn."

"Y-you!" The girl named Luna glared at the shirtless teenager.

Caleb shook his head and patted Luna's shoulders. He didn't have time to play with these guys after all. He didn't know why the girl was so concerned about him, though. Still, he appreciates the goodwill.

"Don't worry about it. I feel that my body is getting better these days. The long sleep seems to have invigorated my body."

Luna hesitated, but could only nod her head reluctantly.

"Okay then. If you need help, just say so."

The other three... Fatty, the shirtless one, and the one who had untied the rope looked at him like waiting for a good show.

Now, that Caleb neared them, he had to say that the four look healthier than him. Luna, the one with whom he had a good impression, has flawless white skin and, a well-proportioned body hidden beneath the black dress. Her blue eyes and silver hair added a finishing touch to her looks.

She has a soft, a-hem pinkish lips small nose, and a fairly healthy complexion unlike him. 'What am I even thinking about?'

The shirtless one has a lean physique, good biceps, and tricep size that screams explosive power. His midsection made it evident that he was active, with a decent chest and wide shoulders. As for his lower body, he has tree-trunk calves and muscular thighs. A good sign of not skipping the leg day.

For a teen, such a body was already decent. Although not as exaggerated as Gaddi, his older brother, on one of the previous worlds he traveled.

Then the last one, the one who untied the ropes. He looks pale, but still not as pale as him. He is a blonde-haired dude, with blue pupils, and a chubby face with a double chin. He wasn't as fat as fatty, though. He was wearing shoes made of leather, a sleeveless shirt, maong pants, and a rubber band dangling on his wrist.

Caleb positioned himself above the wooden bucket and engaged his lats and muscles on his back. Then he pulled it up so effortlessly that he didn't even feel the strain.

'I thought it would be happy after seeing these brats pulling it with all their might. Or might be because of my enhanced strength...'

"What the!? Holy hell! Johan, you managed to lift it like it was nothing!?" Fatty's eyes widened and covered his mouth with his hand.

Luna and the other two's mouths also widened in disbelief. They knew just how heavy the thing was. It was filled with damned water! The shirtless guy who was proud to be the strongest in their group couldn't believe it and asked:

"What sorcery is this!? Johan, how did you do it? I would be honest, even after three years of physical exercise, I won't be able to lift that with such ease as you did! Not to mention, aren't you the weakest among us?"

Lune nodded her head in agreement.

"Did you do some strange thing?"

Caleb shook his head. What the fuck could he do? So, he gave them a BS answer instead.

"I don't know. You now... I just felt healthy after I woke up. Seems my health is improving?"