2022-02-22 12:59:38In this dusty room, everything was scattered. All over the place, books tumbled down the cabinet. It was unsightly. It is the leaves from the outside that make up the floor pattern.
Then there was I, a peacefully sleeping man. While I drowse, I salivate unconsciously. For an unknown reason, my pillow, which is supposed to be on my head, is placed under my foot.I groan as I roll to the right edge of the bed in my sleep. I fell, of course. The back of my head hit the ground hard, waking me up from the imaginary paradise I'd been dreaming of.I groaned for real this time. In no time, I rubbed the back of my head to ease the pain. I mumbled my curse."Argh!" It's been my 6,812th day of living this miserable life. I wonder every time I clean up this mess, it keeps growing. I never thought there was a hellish place other than hell.I can't ask Risano to clean up again. She doesn't care. This room is my room by the way. There is no harm in asking for a cleaning service, but if Risano sees it, she will tell our parents.I seem to forget something. There's just a tingling sensation in my belly, though which bothers me like an insect trying to catch my attention. There should be something that I need to do.But nah, I'll try to remember it later. I'm not a forgetful person. If it's critical, Risano will just scold me for that.Guess I'll cook some breakfast.Out of a thousand... no, a million chances of it being probable, I found this creature blocking the door.She was there. She was 5' 0" tall and her morning curly brown hair synthesizes with her brown eyes.My room's smell stopped her from walking down the hallway. She slowly looks at me with her eyebrows gradually turning furrowed. She had already declared war on me with her flaring nostrils before I was aware of it.Her nose is shaking. When I noticed, she did one of her trademark moves, bashing my room door shut. It was loud, but her sneeze was louder. I can hear it with my room closed."ACHOO!! Ritake!! How many times did I say to you that always close your… AACHHOOOO!!!""I'm sorry, Risano! I didn't know that you'll walk in front of my room.""Your room reeks of mold! Or is it your mold that reeks of you? When will you ever learn to clean your place!?""I'm trying! But…""ACHOO!! I can't believe you can resist sneezing!""But it gets worse every time.""How are you going to clean your room with dirt!? A shame that one of the legend's disciples doesn't know how to clean his room. You suck!"You have an athletic-looking body, and your white hair contrasts your blue eyes. If the girls knew your clumsiness in cleaning, I can imagine you sulking in the sewer.""You did say something strange, Risano, but… thank you for the compliment," I said, or was it the right response? I thought he was complimenting my looks or something.For a few seconds, silence envelopes our conversation before her vibrating shout."I'm not complimenting you, idiot! You're not a person worth complimenting! You shouldn't have been…"Her sentence ended with an inaudible mumble at the end and followed by footsteps walking away from the room."Risano? Risano? Hello? Are you still there?"I knocked. It seems like she already left. Another trouble of making up with her again? It's just every time she sees me, she explodes. If there's any reason, I'm not ugly, for God's sake.My tummy is crumbling. I'm hungry. I'll just let her cool off end then I'll go downstairs.We don't live in a luxurious house. It's just a simple villa home with four bedrooms. Right now, there are only two of us living in this house. There are other rooms for our parents and guests if we have any.However, the guest room is never occupied. It's only for emergencies. I waited for ten minutes before I go down the stairs. The table was already piled high with food when I saw it.It's Risano's cooking. After sitting down, I took a bite from my plate. I ate like I had all the time for freedom.Sometimes, Risano might be rude to me, but deep inside, she's a kind sister. I wouldn't be sitting at this table if not for her.Even if she's angry at me, she still thinks of me. I'm too lucky that I didn't deserve to be her brother.Those times when she asked me to play with her when we were kids still stood out to me. Those are pleasant memories. If I'm asked, I want them back.But look at her right now. As she serves another plate for herself and sits down at the table far away from me, her eyes are furrowed at any angle.I pretend that I didn't notice it by biting the boiled egg on my plate."Aren't you so calm that you're forgetting something important?" She asked as I swallow the egg.I reply after the food goes down my tube. "It's fine. In any case, it seems to be of no significance." If it were, she would start throwing me clothes that I will use.After a long pause, she opens a topic with an angry aura surrounding her. "Hey, how about that you hire a cleaner?""Y… You're still stuck on that!? It's been ages since I suggested that, you know.""I didn't realize it would be this bad! If only I..." After being aggressive toward me, her energy fades, and never completes her statement."If you were what?"She pouts and looks away with her eyes closed. "Nothing, hmph!"I took another bite. "But still, there is no one else that can match your cooking. I just never get tired of this."She then slowly looks at me with wide eyes. I'm just trying to tease her. I didn't know she would take it seriously."I… Idiot! If you say things like that again, you're the one who is liable to cook for the whole month!""Hey, I don't want to cook for a month. But what's wrong with telling the truth? Really, your cooking is delicious."She grabs the bread knife and threatens me by pointing it at me. "Stop!"With a little shock in my nerves, I raised my hands. "Fine, I'll stop! I'll stop, so put it down."Is this how their generation grows? I'm two years older than her but I didn't experience any rebellious acts as she does.She puts down the knife. "You pest, pedo, playboy, pervert!"Right, right. It's normal that she calls me that.The air calms down, but another problem rises. I can feel the angry aura again."You're calm.""Shouldn't I be? Is there something I'm forgetting?"Mockingly, she looks away. "Beats me. I'm not a part of your dojo after all. I'll just wait how your sensei will react to your laziness."Dojo? Sensei? After my second swallow, the blood in my veins starts rushing. The picture of the scene where my sensei and I made a pact. I accepted his request as far as I remember."Oh shit!" I didn't remember anything up until now! It's going to be today! Oh God, it's AN HOUR LATE!I started gulping everything I could within a minute and rushed to my room to change clothes. No baths are required. With my red uniform on and my buttons still out, I took my bag and ran out the door."See you later! Bye!"I ran as fast as I could. I saw Risano shouting something at me but I didn't hear her message because of our distance. Bet it's another scolding. Luckily I didn't hear it.I shouldn't be ignorant by now. Today is the day of my first mission. I will enter one of the renowned demon universities in this country while wearing this school uniform.From now on, I'll be a Crutiara scholar. I'm going to become a high school student.But my life as a student isn't something I chose. It is an order from my sensei. I would personally choose not to enter Crutiara if I have a chance. I don't want him to beat me again.When I reached the carriage station, it was already full. It's rush hour already. I don't have any other choice but to run. Running for fifteen minutes is better than stalling for an hour.Midway through my journey, I noticed three men with weapons surrounding a girl wearing the same clothes as me. As the men approach her, she is sitting, shaking, and leaning against a wall.I feel like I've been struck by a bolt of lightning. I didn't have the time to think.If I waste my time again, like what happened before,I won't forgive myself.I ran towards the men and hit the first man with a sneak attack. Before they turned around, I hit their faces with my clenched fists.I've been training martial arts with my sensei so there's no way those weak men won't fall down unconscious.I walk towards the girl and extend my hand to her so she could stand. "You're fine now. Let's go."When she raised her head, I saw tears of fear in her eyes. She was crying. But when she saw me, she quickly wiped it off.She's cute.
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Crutiara: Where New Demon Lords are Born 2. Tears of Fear
She’s cute. I can’t deny it. But this isn’t the time to think of thoughts like that!She is 5' 4" tall with long brown hair and a slim body. Her chest and bottom are average. Judging from our uniforms, we’re going to attend the same university.When she takes my hand and stands up, she quickly wipes her eyes until no tears are visible. The shaking that she felt had stopped. She’s surprisingly calm.She bathed in sweat. But even if she was, she should have entered university by now. Since when are these guys chasing her?“Are you fine now?”She nods as an answer.Turning around, I begin walking. “Then there’s no time to waste. We’re already late. We should rush through the gates…”But she pulls my cloth to stop me from walking. As I turn towards her, she shakes her head. Is she deaf?“You’re late as well. Why are you slowing down?”With a whisper, she replies. “Guards.”Does she want to take custody of these smugs? Does she know that we’re already an hour late to catch our breath at the
Crutiara: Where New Demon Lords are Born 3. Listening to a Lecture
There was a realm where demons lived in the past. Zeno is ruled by a demon lord and was once a place prone to human invasion.Without a clear reason, humans once treated us as pests. In their eyes, we are evil. We did nothing at all.It all came from the tales of the reborn hero fighting the demon lord. Those absurd myths became human religion and later became international beliefs.Those myths led to a war, an unreasonable war between humans and demons. Those humans just couldn't stop back then. Every demon lord becomes a threat to them.Humans are a complicated race. Even though they are weak unlike the beastmen, the sylphs, and the others, they are formidable creatures. A demon can have a hard time reading human actions.That made the hierarchy of the demon realm become different. Instead of demon nobles, war generals became demon lords. The monarchy became a competition for power. Gluttony was replaced by unity.Demon Lords are volatile except for one… well, almost one. He is an un
Crutiara: Where New Demon Lords are Born 4. Aroma of Food and Coffee
This lunch time, I accepted Majiro’s request to walk around with him. I would have lost my way back to my classroom if I had not trusted Majiro with my freedom.We first stood in front of the building where the classrooms are located. In preparation for his active introduction, Majiro opened his arms wide."Welcome to the sophomore school building. This is where sophomore classes are held. There are a lot of sophomores at Crutiara, and a building is adequate for them."The school building is a huge two-story building with a huge area. Its exterior has pillar designs, and its roofs are triangular and pyramidal.The first floor’s ceiling is impossible to reach for a six footer. No wonder why classrooms are also wide.Do they have a different design for the buildings from other years?" I asked.“No. Do you see the buildings there?” He points his fingers toward three buildings with the same layout. “The numbers pasted on the building represent the years of students.”“So that roman numeral
Crutiara: Where New Demon Lords are Born 5. Mothers Could Fly
The school will end at 5 PM. The bell rings and the same crowd swarms outside the classroom. The same girl stands up again and walks away with the guards. I was right. Her name was Tsuki Kugiyama. She became the topic of my conversation with Majiro earlier in the park. "Before the break, there's some kind of apocalypse going on. It keeps bugging me. Do you know what's going on? It feels weird not knowing any of your norms." "It isn't the norm, if you can call it that. It has been like that since uhm… two weeks? No, it's been a year already." "A year!?" "Don't you know her, Ritake?" I shook my head. "I barely know anyone who's stepped on Yruiburg's ground." Majiro puts his hand in his chest and slowly smiles while looking at the sky. "Being Ritake's first friend in Yruiburg is such… ughh." I knocked on his head. "Stop moaning! By the way, who the heck is she?" He winks at me and does an idol-like pose. "Tsuki Kugiyama, the lead dancer of the pop group ChENA. She's pretty as hec
Crutiara: Where New Demon Lords are Born 6. Duel Against Failure
And as we got in, I saw a woman flying towards Nazuno. She had the same hair as hers and she looked young with an adult's body. She has a sweet face. She smiles broadly and hugs Nazuno as tightly as she can. Nazuno can't move due to suffocation. It seems like the woman is immature... perhaps out of excitement? "Nazuno, my darling! Did you miss mom!?" Is this the reason why she wanted me to be late? Her mother is excessively sweet. Nazuno tries to find a way to escape, but as I thought, her weakness is physical. "Stop it, Miss Haimika. I can't breathe…" "Eh? My daughter doesn't call me mom? Are you embarrassed because there are other people here?" "Idiot! We're in a formal setting. You should act accordingly!" As soon as Miss Chiho looked at me, our eyes met. Nazuno was able to escape when she lost her grip. But I might be the one who won't be able to escape this time. She narrows her eyes and walks towards me step by step. I flinch back at every move she makes until I'm cornere
Crutiara: Where New Demon Lords are Born 7. The Second and Seventh Day
Plot Driver: Ritake Hanashiba "There is," I said seriously with my furrowed eyebrows. Without thinking of anything, I ran as quickly as possible, all with my Spatial Sense turned on. The only drawback of this is that I can't detect waves. That means I can't see light nor hear a bit of sound. I can describe it as I'm transferred in the particle space dimension. I can sense the particle of the body accelerating in a rapid state as it goes down the stairs, but because I've limited the range to just a few meters, he instantly vanished from my radar. Catching up with that stalker will be hard, knowing that there are too many lineages with ability regarding speed. I need to ask more of her, but that eavesdropper destroyed our time, no romance intended. I feel too bad that I can only apologize to Tsuki through text. If a word comes out that we've been connected, we'll be considered both suspicious individuals. Her 'perfect' image will be destroyed. I think that's what she's scared about.
Crutiara: Where New Demon Lords are Born 8. Despised Title
"I'm sorry… I misunderstood your intention…" "It's fine. I'm sorry too. I didn't know that would shock you that much." We are both leaning on opposite walls as we face each other. But her face was better than earlier when she still sees me as hostile. She's sitting with a bowed head. I just want to have a proper chat with her. There seems to be something bugging her since I saw her yesterday. "Do I look creepy in some way?" I asked. "No!" She looks up and I can see her eyes under her bangs. When we've made eye contact with each other, she quickly averts it. "Then, can I ask you the reason for running away after you saw me?" She shouldn't have been suspicious of me, no? "I…" Her hands shake while she grips her knees. "I'm not… fond of people." I quickly averted my eyes away from her, not because I'm shy about her. I can see her white panty in her position. "I… ughh… I'm sorry… again… for shocking you…" I scratch my head and chuckle. "Is there… something wrong?" She asked with
Crutiara: Where New Demon Lords are Born 9. Two-Week Suspension
Humaea, the archdemon of purity, is the only demon whose heart is working. A sweet and kind archdemon, she has even been called a goddess. She is the prophet of life in the past. Before the Great Depression, she was a model and a trainer. The huge clinic building was inspired by her. She has extensive knowledge of healing and regeneration spells, enough to be considered immortal. But what stands out the most is her kindness to her kin. Crutiara became the symbol of invigoration after being modeled after her. Students here are expected to be kind to each other. I won't allow a student like Yomu to dirt her name. Yomu clenches his hands as they prepare to beat me up. "Playing hero, aren't you? But too bad, you chose the wrong opponents. Pay the price with your life." I smirked. His head is burning like a dragon breathing fire as he charges toward me. "You dare mock me! I won't be easy on you!" Currently, we are in an open space beside the warehouse. There are rarely people who pas
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29. Farewell
The crack reached the bottom and causes the amethyst to break. A flow of liquid aura circulated around it and formed a figure of a monster. Its head and claws depict a wolf and its body is a well-built titan. It has nothing below its waste as it floats. The pressure in the air became heavy. Its body absorbed most of the cave rocks until it materializes. Then, it made a roar that resonated throughout the cave. It screamed the same way he did in my head. "SHOW YOURSELF, ARGOS! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! I SMELL YOUR PRESENCE YOU PEST!" "Argos? What a lame ancient name for an easily forgettable character," I murmured. "I don't mind such jokes," Nazuno replies. "Moreover, it is speculating how it got activated." "Do you know anything about forbidden gems?" "Usually, they contain swarms of monsters detained for periods of time. Most of the monsters contained in it are evil ones that became refugees." "Un," I nodded.
28. Amethyst and the Boss
Nazuno has been staring at me intensely as we dive deeper into the glowing cave. It bugs me for real."What?" I asked. "You really think I would kill my father and marry my mother?""Yes.""Why didn't you put your saw in my neck?""I will.""Look. I would be long dead if I have that despicable character. There's only a trick in unlocking the gate. Sensei taught me." I lied though. Sorry, Sensei."Liar.""Look who's talking!"She stopped speaking. Moreover, she's pinching her chin as she looks down at the ground."Is it just the difference in mentors? Did I choose wrong?""No. This is not the time to diss anybody.""However, the more I know about you, the greater the reason I shouldn't trust you."I sighed. "I'm just showing you that I have nothing to hide against you. Isn't that what you've said?""That's not what I meant.""A demon like you shouldn't be talking about human tales. I know you're curious but you shouldn't step into deeper boundaries. If the authorities found out that yo
27. When the Flowers Bloom
After my first fight with Nazuno at the arena in Crutiara, I had a one-on-one talk with Miss Chiho after. She pointed her palm at my forehead like she's going to cast some transfer to my brain."Please… Hear me out on my selfish request…"Suddenly, the thing that happened in the arena happened again. I lost consciousness, but this time, I saw a vision of Nazuno getting stroked by a mysterious person whose face I couldn't see.It's dark and raining, and there's no one that could help her. I'm only spectating but I tried to reach her as I scream her name.As my consciousness came back again, my palm is trying to reach something inexistent.Then Miss Chiho told me my real mission."From these unavoidable futures… Please save my daughter.""Then you're…" No doubt. She's the one who has shown me a memory of the match. "Whose memory did I see earlier? Who is that girl on the brink of death? Is that Nazuno?"She presses her lips and grabs one of her arms. She made a slight pause before reply
26. Show, Don't Tell
I painted a sin in my blood. Its flow drives like a calm wave in the ocean. My obstruction-less breathing makes me feel refreshed.The astral world absorbed me. I'm standing in a white space and the first rule is silence. It's strange yet I feel comfortable in it.Images form through an abstract spiral. It plays a video after being completed. I've set foot in the imaginary slums where I once lived.This place has gained quite old. People from my past kicked me into this bed of trash to wake me up. The broken post light remained unfixed.My eyes wandered with infinite rounds until I saw someone. The first person who passed was an adult malicious person with torn cloth and reeks of alcohol.That person… was me.This is the present I'm going to end up to if the real me didn't wake up in cowardice and truth. This was me if Risano didn't die.Suddenly, another person followed the other me into that alleyway. Her hair shines brightly contrasting the clothing that she had. She already steps
25. A Dangerous Magnet
And as I opened my eyes, the roof of the stadium collapsed. People are screaming, and Nazuno is missing.I can see a glowing person in front of the seat area we were in. No. It was Nazuno! As she casts air magic against the falling debris, she is fully focused.The crowd is in chaos, causing a stampede and jamming the exits. Nazuno was the only one who was trying to stop the crisis, but it looks like it’s too much for her to handle.“Risano, follow the crowd! Evacuate to the exit!”“But… where are you going!? It’s dangerous already! Are you an idiot!?” Risano exclaimed with worried wrinkled brows.I responded as I looked at Nazuno, “I’m doing what my Sensei told me to do.”“But…” Risano muttered with tearful eyes and a squirming body. “Promise me… You’ll go back… Onii-chan…”“What!? I can’t hear you! It’s too loud in the crowd!”"Idiot!" she exclaimed with furrowed eyebrows. “You go there and don’t come back ever again! You’re going to cook for a month if you do!”Then she runs her wa
24. Ron and Selene
”The Heart Will Never Betray You.”“Did you know that?” Nazuno asked.I shook my head. I just muttered the title. I don’t even know who they are. “Do you know it, Risano?”“It must be their newly composed song,” she replied with her eyes glued to the stage. Even Risano didn’t know.The lights gradually dim and later Tsuki gets the spotlight. The stadium remained quiet for minutes to fully grasp the emotions of the performance.As soon as I heard Tsuki's voice, my skull opened into a world of universality and horizons of illusion. It is as if she makes us wander through her memories, even if we are sitting here.A lone girl's love story caught my attention. It’s a very complicated life. Their choreography contributes to why everyone feels this type of hallucination.But this isn’t necessarily a negative thing. I’m constantly getting chills thinking about how they portray a girl in the story.It’s a tale of a girl named Selene. She’s a kind princess from a noble family who later ran int
23. The Heart will Never Betray You
The huge stadium made my neck twist upward as I stepped off the carriage. It’s a huge circular stadium, but even the outside is flooded with people.We lined up at the entrance to the stadium and prepared our tickets. Then I remember…“Nazuno,” I said and looked at her. She already had her ticket out though. “Wait… Didn’t you tear it? Did you have the power to turn back time?”“Mom gave me this," she replied."You are braver than a superhero," Risano told her. “Not even a rich person can create confetti through a ticket.”“You can, though. I’m not even rich.”“You’re the most awful influencer!”But it’s better than Miss Chiho having a backup plan. Tsuki directly asked Miss Chiho for her cooperation. Nazuno can’t decline an invitation from her mother.The demon realm had discovered forms of entertainment by the time ‘boredom’ was defined. Boredom causes a person's mind to be caged in their limitations.Entertainment transcends not only limitations but expectations as well. Forms of art
22. Into the Performance
It’s currently Monday. As I walk down the hallway, I'm still surrounded by eyes.Our meeting last Saturday didn’t last. Tsuki was fetched by her co-worker who is also an idol. I thought she would have a pleasant free time with us but…Our report is incomplete. We can only give them their respective sections. Tsuki knows hers, but I didn’t inform Nazuno about it yet.The presentation could be embarrassing for our group, but I have another thing to do today. Tsuki gave me this chance, so I must not let it pass me by.It is imperative that I procure Nazuno by all means in order to complete our presentation and our group.It is also to protect her from an unwanted future.At the end of today’s class, Tsuki gave a folded paper to Nazuno. “I’m looking forward to being in a group with you,” she said with a smile.Everyone squints their eyes as she leaves the room together with the guards. Nazuno presses her lips as she reads the content of the paper.I wonder what Tsuki wrote on that paper.
21. Greater Pain in the Ass
Today is Saturday, and…"You are a liar, a cheater, a piece of shit!" I shouted. "Your rotten cobra tongue should have been cut since birth!""Really, huh?" Majiro replied with a smug smile. "You're just a financial sucker, a bankrupting tool, who thinks you can get away with everything you do! WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD, SON!""I don't hear a word you have said, Majiro! I don't care about you, but I will take Rimi with me!"Rimi's face was flushed as she stuttered, "Ritake-kun...".Tsuki, on the other hand, picked up the Monopoly board. "We should stop playing now, don't you think?""Y... Yeah... yeah... we should... st..." Rimi stuttered much more than before."Rimi-san, are you fine? Did you catch some disease?" Tsuki asked as she put her hand on Rimi's forehead."I… I… I'm f… fine… really…"I said, "Maybe we should let her rest a little bit. She seems tired from all the work she did.""I'm… really fine… don't worry…"Tsuki inserts, "I still can't believe she's working as a cleaner
