Ball of Nothing

Finding Shipwright Pocky was put on the back burner for now. Zero gave strict orders to not touch on this topic until the following week. Instead, he insisted on dragging Bob and Truen along for a well deserved holiday.

According to Freya, the expert in relationsh.i.p.s and showing love, there are five methods of showing affection to others. Zero consulted her secretly and planned how to convey how much he appreciated the people he cared for around him.

"There are five methods of showing appreciation and affection," Freya told Zero. "They are, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time and Acts of Service. The easiest way to understand each individual's preference is to see how they react to small variations of these actions."

Zero thought back about it carefully for every villager and person he cared for around him. It was a test about how well he knew the people he claimed to care for, and honestly, Zero was disappointed that he didn't know some of them better.

While it was easy to identify some individuals' love language, Zero found it harder to understand the people who hardly show any reaction to affection.

For instance, he was able to make Zoe and the children happy with some gifts. Leo loved his new commissioned sword. Rima liked the new dress. Jacqueline appreciated the books about adventurers, and Zoe thanked Zero multiple times for an elven inspired recipe compilation.

Some of the other people he cared about were harder to surprise. Coux was a very busy lady, and Zero wasn't able to catch her. For people like Coux, Lilith and Qin Yun, Zero understood how they found his visits more meaningful than his gifts. Like the Great Gods, they appreciated his letters and communication. Hearing from him is like an early Christmas, and Zero felt terrible that he couldn't drop by the abyss more often. Time passes quicker in the abyss, and Zero hasn't been back in months. It must feel like years to them.

Operation "Appreciation Day" turned out to be slightly longer than a week.

"Aren't you overdoing it a little?" Truen asked, and Zero g.r.o.a.n.e.d. He might have done it a little too much, but on the bright side, the things that he had been putting off for too long as the village leader was finally done.

To take the burden off the lab members' shoulders, Zero created an army of clones to finish their village repairs and upgrades. The gnomes pitched in, but it still took Zero a lot of effort to maintain them. While the clones were dedicated to their task, Zero made arrangements to tidy his shifu's hut and thank the fairies for maintaining the herb garden despite his extended leave. Then, he made a visit to the abyss to visit the people who were still there.

Truen watched Zero tire himself out needlessly and thought it was strange when Zero didn't rope him or Bob in to help. In fact, the doctor was trying to send him and Bob away for an overdue break like he claimed. Bob left to find Kerberos but Truen decided to remain in the village. He didn't have much to do, and apart from good alcohol, there wasn't anything else Truen particularly enjoyed.

"It's alright," Zero reassured his friend with a tired smile. It was still slightly early for Zero to be sleeping, but the doctor was already turning in. Truen couldn't blame him. Zero had a long day in the abyss helping his teacher out at the hospital.

"Sleep well, Zero."

This time, there was no answer. The doctor was already fast asleep, and Truen smiled. Appreciation didn't just go one way. With how busy Zero was, it was easy to get everything done without him finding out.

As Truen slipped out of the room, Cleo appeared. "It is done. I managed to track down the one called Pocky with Fae King Vivian's help. He is currently residing near Mystic Meadow."

"Thank you," the archer smiled. "Once we finish the appreciation party, I'm sure Zero would want to leave at once. That's the last key we need."

The dryad smiled. Truen was spot on about Zero's worries. The reason why the doctor wanted to return for a 'holiday' was out of fear that they wouldn't be able to take care of themselves when he had to leave for Whiskeria. The rushed building and fortification project only confirmed Truen's theory. Zero pushed himself to complete what should have taken a few years to do all by himself. The lab members and gnomes were thankful for his assistance, but work was a never-ending process. Zero didn't seem to understand the concept.

"Do you think he would be angry when he finds out that everything he did wouldn't have a permanent effect and that we were more than capable of handling the things he'd been trying to do?"

The archer sighed. "Possibly. Then again, maybe not. Zero has m.a.t.u.r.ed a lot since we knew him as a child. Travelling to different countries taught him many new things. The current Zero is a competent leader. While he is still naive and inexperienced in certain areas, he understands that not everyone is deserving of help. At the same time, Zero understands his limitations. He no longer recklessly tries to do everything by himself. There is a saying. Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day, but teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime. It's easy to catch a fish and give that to others. However, teaching takes more time. Zero learned that at Lycantopia. Hence, he left the responsibility to King Gaon after teaching the king how to be a better leader."

Impressed by Zero's growth while he was away from the village, Cleo teared up a little. "We will be sad when he leaves for Whiskeria. Do you think he will return one last time to the village before he goes?"

At that, Truen paused. "That's for Zero to decide. If it were the Zero in the past, he would. Now, I'm unsure. He might choose to leave without a word so that he doesn't have to deal with the pain of parting. Baal's slumber made a huge impact on Zero, and I'm afraid this is an irreversible change."

Cleo understood. She heard a few things about Zero's adventure in hell from Amaraline, Schaf and Mitchnew. Lord Baal was Zero's closest demon lord friend, and they knew each other before Zero came to Half Moon Village. It was unfortunate that Baal had to go back to his eternal sleep after using too much power to assist Zero with the redemption event. Zero probably hasn't forgiven himself for not handling the situation better.

"About the situation in heaven..."

Truen shook his head. "There's nothing we can do about it. The Great Gods don't want to burden Zero with the news. However, watch out for Uriel. Inform Michael if anything suspicious happens."

Cleo nodded. "I will. Have a good night."