Sigh... I really don't want to go to that accursed place, but I am gonna fall behind from the one thing I am best at if I don't go.
<Any memories you wanna share?>
"About that place?"
<Yeah.>
"Hmm... all I have are dark memories. Still wanna listen?"
<Yes, but actually no.>
"Decide on one thing."
<Nghhh... okay, I want to listen.>
Why push yourself if you don't wanna do it? Are all demons pushover like this one? I wish they are not. Ah, but they are no more alive. Sad...
I locked the door to my apartment and started for my school which was almost 1km away, which I have to cover all by my feet. This might sound so pitiful but still, I am gonna say it. I live in a secluded area devoid of any transportation or anything like that. Even if there was any transportation, I could not afford to waste my money on it. All this place has to offer are thieves, brutes, rapists- women and men both- and other dark stuff. Every day I had to live with the fear that some shady guy would sneak into my house and sweep off all the assets I had (though they are not worth it), or some muscles-for-brain would shake the whole shed and beat me to death, or some wandering woman would barge into my apartment and taint my chastity. I am not even in my late adolescence and I don't want my purity to be taken by some unknown woman who has long nails and pierced face. No, I don't even want to imagine that. What ominous imagination I have!
<What? You are spacing out.>
"Sorry, I was lost in thought. Anyway, I have to open up the connection to talk without speaking, right?"
<Yeah.>
"Got it."
I opened it.
<What? When did you learn doing?>
"I thought about what you said that time and figured it out myself."
<Aren't you a bit too intelligent?>
Yes, I am.
<Cheeky brat... why did you want to talk like this all of a sudden?>
'I don't want people to think that I am mad.'
<You were already mad when you said that you wanted to kill that bitch. What were you thinking when you said that? I am pretty sure that bitch heard you loud and clear.>
'That's the neat part.'
<'Neat?'>
'Tell me something, how many years has it been since she became a divine being?'
<A few thousand years?>
'Is that a small amount of time for you divine beings?'
<Yeah.>
That meant that Lan was not sealed for too long, so not many things should have changed in the divine realm.
'Means she is still a 'new' divine being.'
<Yeah, you got that right. So what?>
'Remember, you said that she attacked the demon race a few centuries later? Since it was the divine realm, time must have flowed differently than here, right?'
<Mhm.>
'Now, let's compare "a few centuries in divine realm' to the flow of time on Earth.'
<... no way.>
'Yes. Since she was "new", she didn't have the authority to do whatever she pleased, and maybe that's why it took a few centuries to pull the strings and prepare. Now, if the same thing was about to happen here, how can we describe "a few centuries"?'
<About... 9 to 10 years?>
That less? Well, that was unexpected. No matter.
'That means until then, she won't be able to do anything to me. And I, her future murderer, will nourish and get stronger in front of her own fuckin' rotten eyes.'
<... damn.>
A man passed by me and made a disgusted look. I am pretty famous. It's pretty sad when I think about it but I have freed myself from all those desires of being famous. They are nothing but pointless thinking of humans or any being. They will just become an obstacle in the future. Better not get involved with it.
<That's pretty deep thinking.>
'I know right?'
<Now, tell me your treasured memories of 'that' place.>
'You really want to listen?'
<You are asking that question again?>
What the hell did he want?
'Haa... no way around huh...'
<Hehe...>
'My memories with 'that' place are nothing special. All I can remember are those lecherous eyes of those girls, looking at me without even hiding their lust. I don't mean to brag, I do pass the minimum requirements to fall under the handsome category.'
<And you are gonna become more handsome.>
'How and when?'
<...>
'Tch, keeping me in the dark.'
<Continue.>
'What?'
<Your story.>
'Ah, I forgot about that. Moving on, the next thing I remember is the fists and the smell of the piss of the boys that bullied me. Sometimes the teachers would join too... if I had to share one particular moment, it would be the time when the gay teachers literally tried to push their filthy dicks into my mouth and relieve themselves. It was a real ordeal to get away from them.'
<...>
He was silent. He did not utter a single word after that.
'Can't you just see my memories? Why are you making me spell out everything?'
<I wanted to hear those from your mouth. And remember them in your heart.>
I was taken aback. The usual enthusiasm and kidding nature were gone from his voice. He was sincere when he said those words. From the time I spent with him until now, I thought that he is a carefree guy who avoids sincerity and other complicated stuff, but it seems like I was wrong. This guy can be surprisingly nice.
<You just thought something rude.>
'Did I?'
<You are full of suspicion you know?>
'Am I?'
<You are.>
'Glad to hear that.'
***
Finally, after an hour, I reached 'that' place, my most hated place- the school.
"I didn't think I would be back here after that day."
I entered the school gate and there was not even a second delay before the chatter started about me and the gazes pierced a hole in my back. Those lust-filled gazes and the talks behind my back continued to grow intense. I guess the news of me trying to commit suicide is out of the bag. This was not good.
"Hey, look at that son of a bitch! He tried to run with his tail between his legs but couldn't! Hahaha!"
'Son of a bitch'... that name is the reason I never forgot that this place is the 'scums' gathering'.
<They are pretty nasty.>
'Nothing new.'
I walked and walked until I reached my classroom. I walked up to my seat and glanced at the table.
'Weakling', 'Son of a bitch', 'Potential-less', 'Fucking orphan', 'Go die, you son of a bitch' and some other words were written on that.
<...>
'Why so silent all of a sudden?'
<... nothing.>
I know what he is feeling. And that feeling is fully justified. He has gone through so much that you would expect him to feel nothing, but he was lonely and broken. No matter how powerful he is, he can't live the life he previously lived, and that's the reality... just like me.
'No need to show any sympathy. This is just temporary.'
I am going to change this situation and make each and every one of them kneel and lick my shoes. I swear.
<I know you will.>
I could feel the faint and kind smile he was making, and I could also feel my heart twist in agony when I imagined his smiling face. My desire to become stronger was incinerated even more. I wanted to be stronger as soon as possible. Though anger is wasted on that fuckin' BITCH, I am still going to exact revenge.
"...?"
Something caught the corner of my eyes. A figure of a girl. Beautiful blonde hair reaching her waist, silvery eyes and a kind aura around her.
'What's the school princess doing here?'
But before that question could be answered, a rather troublesome person called out to me.
"Oi."
A familiar voice resounded in the corner of my ear. I already knew where this was going.
I turned around slowly and faced the one in front of me.
"Welcome back, you son of a bitch!"
***
"Welcome back, you son of a bitch!""Philip."I was wondering why this guy has still not said anything to me. Normally, he would come to me running and shower some punches and words of glory, but today he was always at the corner of my eyes."So, you tried to run?""You got a problem with that?""Of course, my friend."My friend?"How can I not have any problems when one of my friends returned from death's mouth?"He wrapped his hands over my shoulders and dragged me along with him gently. He was never this gentle with me, heck, was he ever gentle with me? I don't think so."Where are you taking me?" I said, looking over his wrapped hand."What? Just accompanying an old friend."<This guy is up to no good. Ken, be careful.>'Right.'Now, what are the possible outcomes that are about to befall me? One, he will use me to get everyone's admiration. Two, he will take me to a secluded place w
"You...?" This was a shocker for me. What the hell was she doing here? "What are... you doing here?" The girl was staring daggers at me. It was very uncomfortable. "I found you lying unconscious behind the school?" Behind the school? Then... "Where are the others?" She made a puzzled face. "What 'others'?" Did she not find them? My memories from that time are still hazy. All I can remember is the message from the System. And then something happened to my body before passing out. No, now's not the time to think about such things. "Did you really not find anyone?" Her puppy eyes made a circle before stopping at me. "Nope. No one. Was someone with you?" She really did not find anyone. What happened to those bastards? "No, no one was there." But wait... "What were you doing there?" The girl in front of me was our class's princess, or should I say, our school's
I walked to our classroom, and of course, there were a whole lot of students staring daggers at me. How did she even expect me to believe that pathetic lie? Top student, my ass. She got bulls for brains.<Don't talk badly of a behind a girl's back.>'Why shouldn't I? She was the one who is now tailing my back with clear ill intentions. Why did she even lie in the first place?'<Just don't.>'Hmm... I had doubts but now I am sure.'The way he talked, the way he acted, and now this.<What?>'You are a Casanova.'<That I am.>'Don't just admit it that easily!'<Why shouldn't I?>'Holding my gun at me huh...'<Hehe.>This guy really puts me off when he tries to act cute."I haven't seen that son of a bitch the whole day."Ah, yes. Gossips."Must have gone to die again.""Why is he still here?""Get the fuck out!""Haa...
"What the..."That guy was lying on his back with his neck tilted to the side and... he was not breathing...My eyes stayed fixed at the spot I hit him.Blood, no, I don't think that substance could be called blood. A liquid that was dyed in pure black with a simple tinge of blood-red which gave off an ominous scent, that this couldn't be called "blood". It was simply terrifying to watch. But those are all side notes. My main concern was that I killed someone with my own hands...All sorts of thoughts rose and raged in my mind. Someone I killed for the first time... the shock was, by no means, a small one.Fuck, this is not good. My head is going all fuzzy. I can't concentrate.I glanced at my fingers. They were soaking wet... not with anything weird but blood.I always thought that they were better off dead, but never in my life did I think that I should be the one to kill them. I got bullied, abandoned, and lived in fear of my chast
[3 years later] "Hey! Search in that house!" The sound of several people's footsteps and the juggling of their equipment and weapons rang inside my ears. I could guess who they were just by their sound. After all, they were always flocking around my relatives whenever they would visit my parents, though those times would never come again. "That demon was just here! We are telling the truth! We really saw that ominous white hair!" A couple, dressed in the most absurd fashion one can think of, was yelling at the top of their lungs, and the heavily equipped people were shaking their heads in denial. And among them, there was one familiar face, a face everyone in this city knew. But white hair? Oh, my hair turned during the incident. Well, not like I missed the black. "We are sorry." "You useless bunch! Who made you a chaser?! Do you even know what will happen to you lot if something happens to me?!" the girl lashed out at the chasers in fuming rage. "..." The chasers were silent.
"Fuu..."I finally got accepted. I didn't think that they would accept me after seeing my white hair but hey, they did. Well, I was pretty sure it was the mask that saved me.I took off the mask and stared at it.It was a mask Lan gave me out of nowhere to hide my face. It had a slick design and some strange patterns were carved in the region near the left eye, and the bottom of the mask was open, maybe for eating purposes.Lan said that this mask could not be taken off by anyone else other than the wearer, which proved to be quite useful. They tried their best to take it off, but all in vain, and when they asked me to take it off myself, all I had to do was fool them, which was easy for me.Now all that was left was to erase every connection I had as Ken, and I had to make a new identity, which was not too much of a problem. The problem was... how to say... the name? I wanted to name myself, but I couldn't think of a name that came to my liking.
The door creaked open with audible noise and Alvin entered with caution. It was obvious that Alvin was hesitant when he was talking to the woman over the other side of the phone. It was because he knew what kind of family was this. A single mistake and Alvin might lose his life with a single flick of a finger."Fuu..." He sighed in deep caution, repeatedly glancing to his surroundings for potential attacks, and after a while, he was standing in front of the mansion's huge and grand door.Knock knock!He knocked at the door softly."Coming." A sound of a female, most probably going through her teens, called out from inside.Creak!The doorknob turned and the door opened.A beautiful girl appeared in front of Alvin, her face flawless at first glance."Good evening, Lady Elena.""Good evening, Mr Alvin."Both of them bowed and exchanged greetings."Please follow me. Mother is waiting for you." Elena gently sai
Tap tap tap… The sound of Elena's high heels slowly started to fade from the room as she made her way to the door at the end of the Duchess' huge room. The Duchess was smiling at the apple of her eyes- her daughter's elegant and noble demeanour. From the very birth of her daughter, she has taken extensive measures to mould her daughter into a perfect girl, just like her. 'Possess everything you want- be it a man, money or power- everything. Crush anything you don't like. Always flaunt your power and show them your appeal in every sense. Do whatever it takes to stay at the top, whatever it takes.' The Duchess still remembered the words she poured into her daughter back when the Duchess killed her husband in front of her daughter. That was a perfect example for her daughter. Her husband, Roy Kleine, also called the Duke, was above the Duchess in every sense. Likeable personality, great power, filthy rich, and full of love for his wife- that was