Subtitle: Under the Lie
The scattered grains of sand on the ground slowly began to gather. The sand increasingly resembled the body of a middle-aged man. When the grains formed a whole, a man emerged.
Odasaku: — So that filth was behind the events.
The man yawned as if he had been asleep for years. Finally, when he came to himself, he began to walk to find the others.
Odasaku: — How tedious. I wish I could go back to the beginning and get rid of this.
The man seemed as if he had already paid the penance for his crimes. He began to walk slowly in the darkness of the endless night. The man seemed to notice something, took a pill from his pocket, and quickly swallowed the tablets.
I hate this headache legacy. I have never seen anything so troublesome in my life.
I looked around calmly. When I saw no one, I closed my eyes and tried to focus on life energies.
There—exactly five kilometers away. I was about to take a step to go there when—
Family: — STOP!
I froze to the spot. I bowed my head like someone ashamed and said, "As I always do, I ignored it." It was happening so often now that I didn't care anymore.
A few seconds later a huge building stood before me. I narrowed my eyes and tried to look at the top. The place was shrouded in a very strong poison. I reluctantly took my map out of my pocket and looked at the map I had studied millions of times. Without bothering to read it, I shoved it back into my pocket quickly.
This poison is the same as the dagger on my child. I already have immunity. I made a slight stretching movement and reached the main hall within seconds.
I made eye contact with Li lying on the floor for a moment. Although he lay as if dead, his life energy was perfect. Trying not to touch Li's blood on the floor, I carried him on my back and, although I wanted to say I left without staying longer, there was a sword in glass in one of the corridors.
I punched the glass without caring and took the sword inside. I later thought I should apologize to the Tang clan for that. Actually, because I have protected their daughters and, in part, their sons, they might even give it to me as a gift.
Hajin: — '!+!'%'^!%+%& ! You mustn't do this. How many times must I tell you?
Ignoring the voice, I quickly left the mansion. After all, due to the poison, it would be unusable again.
I closed my eyes again and tried to sense someone's presence.
Arina: — '!+!'%'^!%+%& wait for me.
Family: — '!+!'%'^!%+%& DROP THE KNIFE IN YOUR HAND RIGHT NOW!
Diablo: — '!+!'%'^!%+%& YOU ACCEPT THEM 0000000000000 NOW!
Hajin: — Be… be my precious student, please run away and live happily…
I shook my head quickly and bit the pill between my teeth. Everything went dark. I think I was too late to spit the pill out.
I took a deep breath. It was happening again. I shivered slightly.
Odasaku: — HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
A person must defend himself. I was about to throw the hourglass of sand I had just broken to the ground. I withdrew all my fingers from it. The grains began to scatter one by one in the darkness.
I began to walk in the void. My enemies of thought stood before me. They sat calmly and waited for their end.
Hajin: — So you came again…
Now the sands had no purpose. I let them slowly surround him.
Odasaku: — Sorry, teacher, but I will always believe his words.
Hajin: — ^%'%+'+^+&% !
I put on gloves so my hands would not get dirty.
Hajin: — Be… be my precious student, please run away and live happily…
Odasaku: — I don't think so.
Using my hand, I quickly cut off his head.
Glass began to shatter everywhere, "even though I have done this millions of times."
I stared at the gloves. Red, as if it were a "plague," was slowly taking over the color of the gloves. I closed my eyes and waited.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the same place. Fortunately, not so much time had passed.
As I remember, it should be exactly around this time. I slowly put Li down and sat on the nearby barrel. I took a cigarette and a lighter from my pocket. I lit the cigarette and began to watch the smoke.
Odasaku: — I wonder when this thing will kill me...
When I completely lost focus, the cigarette fell from my hand and I stamped out the ash with my foot. The night's cold had surely taken hold of the surroundings. I could see my breath; "even though I have lived this moment billions of times, it was impressive." My legacy would eventually consume me. What I wanted most right now was that the one who would finish my job was neither Apollon nor the Naiads.
I'm definitely not fit to be a teacher. I wondered what Apollon or the Naiads would say if they saw this. Apollon would surely grab the cigarette from my hand and throw it into water. The Naiads would most likely speak harshly and curse.
Odasaku: — Fu fu.
Li: — I don't see anything funny here!
Li slowly got up.
Li: — What is that in your hand?
Odasaku: — A gift—because I saved both of your lives.
Li: — WHAT! YOU DIDN'T NEED TO SAVE HIS LIFE! DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE DID? YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SAVED MY BROTHER!
Odasaku: — People change, even 180 degrees. Let them change. Revenge can wait; spend your time preparing to kill him.
Li said nothing, but I certainly hadn't convinced him. The fire of revenge still burned in his eyes, and rather than losing strength, he had become more defiant.
If he continued like this, he would draw the attention of Zero.
I broke the barrel I was sitting on. A few sharp wooden pieces came out. I grabbed them and threw them at Li.
Li: — Why?
Odasaku: — You'll learn soon.
As I slowly drew the sword from its sheath…
Family: — !'+^%!+ ! DROP WHAT YOU'RE HOLDING IMMEDIATELY.
I paused for a millisecond and quickly drew the sword from its sheath.
Family: — DON'T! AAAĞAĞAĞAAAAAAAAAAĞAĞAAAAA!
I closed my eyes tightly and held my breath. Reflexively, I glanced at my medicine.
"If these medicines run out, the biggest danger here wouldn't be the poison, nor the hunter, nor Zero…"
ID IOT ME! Why didn't I take an extra one with me…
I brought the sword in front of me and made a sharp cut backwards.
The Hunter countered immediately.
Odasaku: — I was wondering when you would show your true face.
Hunter: — I never acted.
I couldn't use madness here, and worse, I had long ago used my antique artifact.
I stumbled in a strange way and in that moment realized what had happened.
Odasaku: — HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Li: — Sir knight?
Hunter: — The real face you hid was yours!
I pushed my hair back from my face with my hand.
Odasaku: — You are all fake.
It was one of those rare moments when my antique worked at full potential. Everyone quickly turned into sand.
Rule 2: — Since when were you aware...
Odasaku: — I should say now, or that I got slightly bored.
Rule 2: — AHAHAHAHA. That's why you're my favorite.
Odasaku: — You're disgusting, but that makes the joy I'll feel when I send you '^+!%^'%++/&%+E' away even greater!
Rule 2: — Don't get so hyped. You know we both don't want events to unfold like this. So make a deal with me, Odasaku. "Let me change your legacy." In return, you prevent those events.
Odasaku: — You're good at using people's weaknesses.
Rule 2: — What do you mean?
The disgusting man in front of me made a small gesture and ^'+^&%^'+%&!'^+%&//é!'^+%&/()=)==!'^+%&/('^+%&+/&/)(?=?/?(=(O%'+++^+%/&)(=é!'^+%&/()=??=?=)=)()(//&%>:;:
Zero: — This is joke ?
End of chapter