In case you're wondering what Zadu's expression looks like, here's where it comes from: https://tenor.com/es-419/view/rin-tongue-gif-11004570919205188708
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Long ago, a boy grew up in the poor quarter of the capital, which was even smaller back then than it is today. It was closed off to all citizens except for residents.
The stench of rotting meat, rats scurrying through the streets, and excrement saturated the air. Digging through the refuse was a boy who pulled out a fish skeleton, devoured it, but then spat it out because it was not fit for human consumption.
He had lived with his parents and younger siblings for a time, but they all died from an illness. Like all the other children, he was forced to eat from the garbage, steal, or sell his body.
The boy hunted wild dogs. One day, while fighting one, a carriage stopped near him. Inside, he was being observed, and a man gave a signal.
They captured the boy, but not before one of the men lost a finger.
For a few moments, as the taste of that finger's flesh lingered on his tongue, the boy experienced, for the first time, meat he had only ever seen through the windows of houses.
The boy was kidnapped by a nobleman who had lost his son. He needed a replacement because his wife was depressed and hadn't moved from her bed for months.
After seeing the boy was identical, they decided to brainwash him into being the replacement.
It took months, almost years, but finally, the boy behaved like a civilized human being.
The nobleman asked him one question: "What is your name?"
The boy, who could now speak like a civilized person, responded with all the normality in the world.
"Robert Ford Clement, the heir to Count Clement."
The Count smiled, seeing that his son's replacement was a success.
"Good. We will practice a while longer, and then we will introduce you to high society. We will say you had a deadly cold that also affected your mother."
In the Count's mind, everything was going perfectly.
That very night, as he wanted to celebrate the successful replacement of his son with a high-class escort, a maid burst into his room screaming.
"My Lord, there's trouble!"
The Count, frustrated at being interrupted, asked angrily.
"Why do you interrupt my moment? I will have you executed—"
"It's the replacement for young Master Robert… he… he has done something horrible!"
"…!"
The Count ran from the room to see if what she said was true.
When he reached the backyard, he saw guards looking at something with revulsion.
He pushed them aside and was horrified by what he saw.
"Delicious. Truly delicious."
"Robert… what are you doing?"
The Count approached his son, who looked at him as if he had just finished his homework.
"Good evening, Father. What do you wish of me?"
"Tell me… what do you have there?"
"This? I was hungry."
"I didn't like the food, so I came out to eat."
"Robert… you've just eaten the guard dog!"
In his blood-covered hands and clothes lay the remains of a dog, its intestines still hanging from his mouth.
"I was hungry. The meat they gave me made my stomach hurt, and I couldn't bear the hunger, so I came out to hunt. This one tastes very good."
Robert continued devouring the dog as if he were a natural predator.
Many servants and guards vomited from the horror, and the Count ordered his arrest.
Because this incident would endanger his family if it became known, he bribed everyone into silence. He lost a lot of money, but his prestige was more important.
Robert's training to be normal continued for much longer, even after he was introduced to society.
Then, one day when he turned 13, Robert was studying in his room when a maid entered to clean, as was customary. He was not allowed out unsupervised.
The maid, while climbing a ladder to clean, tripped because she was clumsy and fell to the floor, splitting her head open.
A large amount of blood flowed. Robert went to help her.
But when he saw that red liquid staining the carpet, a pulse, similar to a heartbeat, grew within him.
The throbbing was so strong he couldn't control the impulse to taste it.
He approached the carpet carefully and timidly, like a child, and proceeded to lick a small drop of blood. Then his eyes widened like saucers, and he continued licking the blood like a dog.
Every lick was a delicacy to him.
He managed to clean the entire carpet, but the blood kept dripping.
Then, one part of him said this was wrong, and another part inside told him to do it. They conflicted.
After a moment of thought, Robert looked at the girl, slowly opened his mouth, and little by little devoured her body, part by part.
The mansion's butler entered to tell him it was time to eat and was horrified to see the half-eaten body in a corner and Robert, satisfied, near his bed.
Covered in blood and viscera, Robert saw the butler and said, "Please, bring me some wine."
The butler ran out, and soon the Count arrived with the guards.
Seeing the scene, the Count had no choice but to turn to the underworld, paying a large sum to keep the servants from accusing him to the palace.
By now, everyone knew Robert was the family heir. Making him disappear would be suspicious, and if anyone talked, it would be much worse.
So he had to buy their silence. Those who wanted to report him, he had no choice but to make them disappear.
Because of what he did, Robert was locked in the mansion's prison. The Count, his father, looked at him with disappointment and said,
"I will not be a part of this. I should eliminate you, but I prefer to die of old age. If my family disappears, it will be when I am gone."
"You are free to hunt at night, but not within the mansion. Understood?"
"Really? Thank you, Father!"
Seeing the monster he called son, rejoicing while his mouth was still red, filled the Count with utter repulsion.
That same night, Robert went out to hunt his first victim: an unconscious, obese drunk.
He took a bite and spat it out because the meat and blood tasted of alcohol and fat.
But he couldn't leave it like that, so he forced himself to eat the body.
He grew accustomed to hunting every night, until one day something awoke within him.
Simply eating them was no longer enough; he wanted to hunt them. That was what made the meal joyful each time he ate.
Because of this, his mind split into two parts.
During the day, he would be Robert, a professor who teaches history at the academy. At night, he would be Zadu, a psychopathic criminal who eats his victims after torturing them.
He would be happy in two ways: as a member of society by day, and as a killer by night.
That was his backstory in the game.
And now, Robert had been discovered by Rex. From this point on, the game's plot began to fracture forever.
◇
I was looking at Robert-sensei, who was actually Zadu, a criminal from the game.
I can't be bothered to explain his whole background, so I'll omit it and just mention the important parts. In the first game, in all routes, you always faced him and defeated him. In the second game, his identity was discovered, and he fled the country.
He met the heroine of the second game, and that's where his path to defeating his inner demons and seeking forgiveness from society began.
A good, morbid backstory for a character.
The problem is that was supposed to happen next year, around the end of this year the wave of murders had to occur, then he had to flee abroad where he met the heroine.
There, with her, he changed his life and fought his inner demons. It was a good arc. The problem is it happened now, not later.
I spoke to the professor since he seemed conscious of his name.
"Professor, do you remember me? I'm Alex, I spoke with you a few days ago."
"Alex… Lyones…"
"Yes, it's me. I want to ask you something. Are you aware of what you're doing?"
"I… do it… for Mother…"
"Mother?" he said?
(This can't be possible.)
In the game, he used that phrase in his route's event when he was 'conquered.'
While walking on a beach with the heroine, he confessed everything, and she accepted him, which made him see her as a maternal figure, calling her 'Mother.'
But he called her 'Mother' when he had stopped killing. Now he's calling someone 'Mother' but he's still killing. It's really fucking weird.
I decided to ask him.
"Who is this Mother? Do I know her?"
"…"
His tongue moved and he pronounced only one syllable. With that, I understood everything.
"…Ly—"
"Lydia!?"
"…!"
We both reacted differently.
He got into a fighting stance, as if he understood what I was thinking, while I was thinking about how impossible it was for the heroine of the first game to have influenced him.
Generally, in these kinds of clichés in the novels I've read, it's because the heroine was a reincarnator.
Now I can't stop thinking about it as I look at him.
"I'm very sorry, Professor, but things have gotten out of control."
"You must pay for your crimes, and incidentally, I need to make sure Lydia isn't responsible."
"Don't drag Mother into this!!"
Robert—Zadu looked at me with fury and gripped his daggers.
This could no longer be stopped. We had to fight, as it was the only solution.
As I saw him rushing towards me frantically, I remembered my training when I first arrived here.
I had gone to train in the forest and then decided to activate the armor.
But nothing happened. I went every day until I heard Lint's voice, who told me:
("The armor is a reflection of my soul, and my soul is within you like a curse.")
("To activate it, you must be worthy of the Crimson Dragon King. You only managed it that one time because you understood my magnificence for a moment. You will not use it again until you understand that you are a part of me.")
After saying that, he didn't speak to me again.
But recently, I felt something inside me burning. That was the same sensation I felt when my father was dying.
I was filled with rage, a deep hatred, and a murderous thirst.
Then I understood. To activate the armor and be worthy of the Crimson Dragon King, I must unleash his power. I must be worthy of it.
So… I must stop holding back. I must let it out.
I hate it.
I hate all of them.
When I arrived in this country, they treated me like garbage, exploited me at work, I live in a pigsty.
The academy is a classist place where they mocked and humiliated me.
If this country were to disappear, I wouldn't care because I hate them so much.
But Lillie and the boys are important to me, like Queen Sophie and Ethan, so I decided to protect them at all costs.
So listen to me, you stupid dragon. You will give me your power, whether you want to or not.
At that moment, I felt a sensation of heat growing inside me.
Then I saw it: a red magic circle formed at my feet. I used a word to confirm it.
"Henshin!" (Transform)
With those words, a pillar of flames emerged from the ground, covering me completely.
I could feel myself floating in a warm ocean when suddenly my vision became panoramic.
I could see everything as if I were inside a bubble.
My hands and body were covered by armor red like living fire.
While covered by the armor, Zadu lunged at me.
He tried to slash me, but he couldn't, because the armor's scales were so strong that his daggers shattered.
Then he used his water magic to create new daggers and froze them.
He lunged to cut me again, but because the dragon's body was so hard, it was useless.
"It's useless to attack me. It's pointless."
I raised my fist and gave him a light punch. That slight push caused immense damage, sending him flying into the wall of a house.
He was embedded in it like a painting in a frame.
I moved my legs, and my speed was incredible. In just a few steps, I reached him.
I could understand how this ability worked now, but I had to restrain myself because I was still a person.
As I carefully grabbed him, I broke his hand. He reacted and pulled away, bleeding.
It's amazing how strong I am without even using my full power.
This is undoubtedly the power of the legendary dragon that terrorized the planet.
I'd like to keep practicing, but I'll do it another day. With a burst of speed, I went towards him, and my fist slammed into his stomach. He spat out a great amount of blood and flew far away.
I might have overdone it a bit, as I can't see him anymore.
Since it was all over, I deactivated it by saying the same word.
"Henshin!"
And with that, the same pillar rose from the ground, and I emerged from the warm ocean. Now the soft, cool night breeze touched my face.
I quickly went to check on Lillie, but she was unconscious in the arms of a stranger.
Actually, I knew who he was, but I was surprised to see him here.
"Who are you?" I pretended not to know him outside the game.
"I am Drake Silk Hogan. Prince Ethan sent me to watch over you. Your friends are fine, and I put this girl to sleep to protect her from what was about to happen."
"But it was useless." He sighed for some reason.
"You have to explain what that was, and also why the prince knows you."
"Oh, believe me," I said, "I need that now more than ever."
And with that, the night concluded.
◇◇◇
The next morning, Lillie woke up in an unfamiliar room and began to feel uncomfortable.
But off to the side, Rex was sleeping in a chair.
She saw him and remembered last night.
She blushed but still got up to greet him. When she touched him, he woke up and lunged at her, thinking she was an enemy.
But upon seeing it was her, he stopped.
"H-hello, good morning."
"Hello, likewise."
He got up and helped her stand, then said,
"Shall we talk about yesterday?"
They sat on the bed, and he began by telling her how they came to her room at the inn.
He told her what happened, and she could only sigh.
"It's incredible that all that happened in one night."
"Not just that. According to Drake, the academy and the palace are investigating the professor. His family is currently in trouble for hiding him."
"I sent him flying so far they can't find him."
"But the real problem will come when the palace decides to investigate the case of Baron Lafan."
"Drake said this will bring me a lot of trouble."
Lillie became sad hearing how, by saving her, he would now get into trouble.
"I'm sorry for causing you so many problems."
"No, let's just say it's something that was bound to happen sooner or later, but not how I thought it would."
"Rex-san, can I ask you something?"
Lillie looked at him with a moment of panic and said,
"Why did you help me?"
Rex was surprised by that question.
"I told you, I didn't want to lose a friend—"
"I'm sorry, but that answer treats me like a fool. No one would risk their life for a simple friend."
"…"
Rex was thoughtful for a moment.
(I saved her because she's important to me as a friend, but she's right, I wouldn't be risking my skin for just a friend.)
(Also, Lint said I shouldn't avoid acting as a vessel for his power. So let's take a risk.)
"What if I told you I saved you because I don't just see you as a friend… but also as a member of the opposite sex I'm interested in?"
Upon hearing that he was interested in her, Lillie said, embarrassed,
"That's a much more coherent answer for me, but even so, risk your life for a mere woman?"
Then Rex decided to be more bold.
"When a man is interested in a woman, he doesn't care about the risk. After all, it would pain me greatly not to be able to see your beautiful face and not be able to do this again."
He moved in to kiss her. Their lips were about to meet when she placed her fingers on Rex's lips, making an "X" to indicate stop.
"I'm sorry, but my mom warned me about the playboys in the capital. Don't misunderstand me, I'm very flattered and I would like to return your feelings, but I decided to save myself for the man who will be my husband, like my mother did."
"Therefore… if you don't mind, I would like for us to get to know each other more. That way I can fall in love with you and give you my everything. Can you accept my feelings?"
Her way of thinking was very old-fashioned for the modern era he came from, but seeing how she acted, Rex nodded.
"No problem. This is like cooking something delicious. It will take time to cook, but it will be worth the wait."
He said that while placing his hand around her waist. Lillie was happy that he understood her feelings, so she let him put his hand on her waist, but made sure it didn't go lower to her hips.
"Then, Rex-san, what will you do today? Will there be classes?"
"Umm…"
Rex was left thinking, but not because of what she said, but because of what had happened.
(The twins, Ange, and now Lillie. Four women that I will have to make mine in the future.)
(But thinking about it makes me super happy. Is being greedy good, perhaps?)
(I used to see stories where a man was surrounded by women as absurd, but understanding this feeling of joy and delight makes me think I always felt envy towards that situation.)
(And also, a part of me wants Queen Sophie; I want to make that woman mine.)
(I think this is the feeling of pride that a Dragon King should have.)
His thoughts were interrupted by Lint, who supported him.
(Hahahaha! That's the way to talk, human. That way of thinking is what someone who inherited my power should have.)
(Take everything: riches, lands, women, and oppress your enemies. If you want to keep using my power, you must aim to be at the top as my replacement.)
After hearing Lint speak, he understood why he hadn't been talking to him.
"I have a lot to think about. Let's go have breakfast first."
"Yes, I'm getting very hungry."
And with those words, time passed, and the end of the first school semester arrived.