7 Goal

After vowing to find a way to get rid of the stigma and find his sister as soon as possible, Levi turned his attention back to the driver.

"What about the man who escaped? He probably doesn't know the effects of the stigma and the consequences of his escape. Shouldn't we try to bring him back?"

Even though he didn't know the man, it didn't mean that he would do nothing and just let him die now that he knew the deadly effect of the stigma.

But apparently, his kind words didn't go down well, because some of the passengers just avoided his gaze or dismissed him altogether. Even the driver remained silent.

Before he could ask them the reason for their reaction, Eric scoffed.

"Don't be naive," he said. "Even if you go after him and bring him back against his will, do you really think you'll go free and the temple won't punish you?"

As an avid reader of the novel, Eric remembered being frustrated by Levi's naivety and how he was always getting tricked, always getting into trouble that could have been avoided if he had just gathered information before jumping into action. But deep down, Eric knew it wasn't Levi's fault.

Throughout his journey, Levi encountered many cunning, experienced old foxes who were skilled at twisting words and manipulating him to some degree. 

Some might scoff and call him trash for allowing himself to be led by others, but that was exactly why Eric enjoyed the novel.

It offered a realistic view where the author didn't neglect the side characters and used them as stepping stones for the main character. Instead, these characters sometimes outsmarted Levi due to their years of experience. But in the end, Levi overcame their challenges with his hard work, which made his progress even more satisfying.

Another thing Eric liked about the novel was the women Levi met along his journey. They didn't immediately fall for him and drop their pants after meeting him a few times, but they had their own personalities and goals.

Sometimes they didn't follow Levi blindly just because he said so; they disagreed with him and even fought with him; or they left his team when he started to follow a darker path. This added depth and complexity to the story, making it more compelling and realistic.

"If you went after the man who escaped, the temple would surely increase your debt to an unimaginable level," Eric said. "Think about it, does a grown man you don't know and have no relationship with deserve that you risk working as a slave for the rest of your life?"

Eric didn't know why he tried so hard to convince Levi to give up his chase, even after telling himself he wouldn't interact with the main cast. Maybe deep down he was grateful to him because reading about Levi's struggles and adventures was one of the reasons he didn't give up hope and kept fighting the cancer.

"Give it up, kid." The driver said as he resumed driving the wagon. "This man already made up his mind when he escaped, so it's not worth risking your life for."

Levi's eyes wavered, and he clenched his teeth. Even though he wanted to bring back the one who had escaped, he couldn't deny that Eric's words made a lot of sense.

He had already made up his mind to escape eventually, but only after he removed the stigma. As long as it remained on him, he couldn't risk attracting the temple's attention.

So in the end, the choice was between the man he knew nothing about and his own sister, and with a heavy heart, he chose the latter.

"That is all I have to say. Whether you want to escape or bring this man back is up to you. I won't try to stop you, because it's your life you'll be wasting," Eric said, leaning against the wagon and closing his eyes.

Levi opened and closed his mouth several times before he clenched his fists, sat back, and closed his eyes while taking a deep breath.

He knew that by choosing to do nothing, he was somehow contributing to the man's death, even though it wasn't his fault. So in the end, he just checked his system in a desperate attempt to distract himself.

Eric opened his eyes and looked at Levi before closing them. "Well, it looks like he won't escape, like in the novel."

He wasn't surprised that he had successfully convinced the stubborn mole to give up his pursuit. Currently, Levi had yet to meet his true companions, and his heart was a bit cold, prioritizing his own life and those close to him.

But why would Eric try so hard to convince Levi not to escape and change the plot?

Was it because he cared about Levi after reading about his adventures and struggles? Maybe a little.

Eric wasn't lying. If he let Levi escape now, he would indeed suffer a little in the forest, being chased by monsters and losing a few fingers. But hey, Levi was the main character, so of course he wouldn't die, and in every suffering, there would always be an opportunity waiting for him, and that was exactly why Eric had stopped him.

So was it because of the goodness in his heart that he stopped Levi? Hell, no.

The real reason for his actions was quite obvious. He wanted the things Levi would find for himself. If he let Levi go now, he wouldn't be able to get them. That's why he stopped him.

"Even if I don't know what this little change will do, there's nothing I can do about it. These items are just too useful and valuable," Eric thought.

He had no interest in following the main cast and babysitting them just to make sure the events of the plot stayed the same. He would hoard everything as long as he found something useful that could possibly increase his chances in the crazy chase he would go through after escaping from this place.

"To become a transcendent being, that's what I want to achieve in this life," he thought, gazing at the passing scenery.