Oh, man, I am embarrassed. It's been so long since I acted that way. Said lots of cringeworthy lines. But if I didn't do this Maki and Mai's ship to leadership won't be smooth sailing. But Lord, this is still embarrassing.
It was a lot harder to act as an arrogant, hot-tempered young master, but since my presentation was good, they won't think of me as retarded. If I were a bit more mature, then I would have taken a different approach, but given that I am a child, I thought this would be for the best.
But this is still embarrassing; the embarrassment is primarily because it's been so long I need to act after I've gone to jail. I didn't have much use for my acting skills, as I was blinded by vengeance. Thinking of the past does make me think of how cruel and cynical I was.
Blinded by vengeance, I escaped from jail and went on a killing spree. I cold-bloodedly killed all the relatives of my former best friend and ex, like how my mother and father died—not that they were the direct cause, but I believe they were the reason. I even killed their eldest child. Can you believe they have a 7-year-old child? I only dated her for like 5 years, and they had a 7-year-old only child; it was then I got the enlightenment that they were never what they showed in front of me. They were top-tier actors that were sucking me dry.
One thing I feel sad about is that child. What did he do? He was just born from two scammers; that's the only thing he did, and blinded by vengeance, I killed him to cause pain for my former best friend and ex. That was sin, which made me no different from them. Blind rage brings self-destruction, a statement I experienced. If I even get the chance to meet that boy, I want to touch that boy's feet and ask for forgiveness, not just him but from everyone I killed unjustly. There were literally people I killed just to get back at the couples.
But as someone said, the past can never be forgotten; we live with it. The sins we bury for heaven to rise from hell.
"I've never seen such a side of Naoya." Mei Mei at my side said with a smile as she continued to walk beside me.
"People always have sides they hide from others." I said with a smile, "Truth be told, it was my embarrassing side. I needed them to somehow stop giving me missions. This was the only way," I said as I scratched the back of my head.
Mei nodded as she understood that Naoya didn't want to go on dangerous missions anymore. Sometimes it's good to be a blunt knife rather than a sharp one, as sharp ones often get used up.
"But you made an enemy out of the council; even the current head can't do anything to help you if a future problem arrives." Mei Mei said under her breath.
"What? Already calculating whether to continue to support me or not." I didn't stop my walk.
"Well, even with that, they are not a loss for me; you, as of now, are one of the strongest sorcerers I know. I have no intention to stop support. And even if you currently lose your power, I still support you."
"Why is that?"
"Just Because," Mei Mei said with a cheeky smile as she tried to mirror me.
I looked at her. "I don't like that smile."
"Now you understand my irritation when you say that." Mei Mei placed a hand over her mouth as she laughed softly, though unlike her usual composed business smile, this one looked far more genuine. The evening wind moved through the Zenin estate, rustling the trees around us as we walked down the stone path leading toward the inner courtyard. Her silver ponytail swayed behind her as she glanced sideways at me, her eyes carrying that familiar calculating gleam mixed with something… warmer.
"You are awfully happy as of late," I said while keeping my hands inside my sleeves, pretending not to notice the slight spring in her step. "Did you win a lottery or something?"
Mei Mei glanced at me, then smiled even wider. "Something even better."
I narrowed my eyes. "That sounds expensive."
"No, it's along the line of adorable," she replied without missing a beat, and somehow that answer made me regret asking.
Before I could continue that conversation, my senses picked up two familiar presences racing toward us from behind. The footsteps were light but fast, one slightly heavier and more aggressive, the other softer but no less determined. I didn't even have time to fully turn around before—
"NAOYAAA!"
"IDIOT!"
Two small missiles slammed into my back.
"GUH—!"
I lost my balance instantly. For a glorious half second, I considered using Projection Sorcery to recover.
Then I realized resisting two emotionally charged little girls was far more dangerous than any special-grade curse.
I fell flat on my back with enough force to knock the air out of me.
"OOF!"
When my vision cleared, I found myself staring at the evening sky while two familiar faces hovered over me like victorious predators. Maki sat proudly on my stomach with both hands planted on my chest like she'd just conquered a mountain, while Mai had claimed my lower abdomen as her seat, her arms crossed while trying—and failing—to look angry.
Both of them were breathing heavily, probably from running all over the estate looking for me.
Maki leaned down until our faces were only inches apart. "Did you win?"
Mai immediately followed. "And don't lie."
I looked at both of them, then at Mei Mei, who had completely abandoned all dignity and was openly laughing now.
I let out a tired sigh before grinning.
"Without sweating." For exactly one second…
Neither of them moved.
Then—
"YAAAY!"
Mai threw both arms into the air, nearly punching me in the face in the process, while Maki's entire face lit up with a smile so bright it almost made all the pain in my body worth it.
Maki suddenly grabbed my collar. "Show me."
I blinked. "Show you what?"
"Your clothes."
"…Excuse me?"
Mai nodded seriously. "If you didn't sweat, your clothes shouldn't stink."
~~~
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