"You said you already knew our answers, right?" Red asks impatiently. "Then why bother asking? Just get us out of here."
"Unfortunately, I cannot do that just yet," Ashborn responds to Red's demand. "That option comes at a cost." Ashborn's words are firm.
Green, who had been listening attentively, tilts his head in confusion at Ashborn's statement. "A cost?" he repeats, seeking clarification.
"It would be better if I showed you," Ashborn says, and with that, he changes his appearance. Gone is the guise of Ren, and in his place is their sadistic killer, Elsa Granhiert.
The fake Elsa approaches Red, a sinister smile spreading across her face. She places her hand on Red's stomach and says with relish, "I had so much fun with your insides, I hope we can do it again." Her words and actions are chilling, conveying the extent of her sadistic nature and the pleasure she takes in causing pain and suffering.
"B-Bastard! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Red shouts, pushing the fake Elsa off of him in disgust and anger, causing her to land on Green.
"Owie!" The fake Elsa exclaims as she falls onto Green. "Oh? I didn't bump into you too hard, did I?" She says with a chuckle. "Fufufu…It is very nice to meet you again, Ren-kun," She whispers into Green's ear in a seductive tone, her words and actions indicating her twisted pleasure in causing harm and playing with her victims.
Green's heart races as he tries to get away from the Bowel Hunter. He's scared and wants to put as much distance as possible between them.
"This is what I meant," Says Ashborn, now appearing as Emilia. "You hate your own shadow, but you also fear them? You are a failure as a Shadow Monarch." "Emilia's" words are harsh and critical, but ultimately very true.
"That's..." Green starts to deny Ashborn's accusations, but he hesitates, unsure of how to respond.
"That is none of your business," Red, the more confident of the two, brushes off Ashborn's accusations.
"Oh, but it is," Ashborn retorts, clearly not satisfied with Red's dismissive attitude. "Your refusal to even have a conversation with them limits you, and I refuse to have such a weak successor."
"Get to the point already," Red says, growing impatient with Ashborn's cryptic words and actions. "What does she have to do with the cost?"
"I want you to give up those emotions towards her."
"You expect me to forgive and forget my killer?" Red says, with disbelief and anger in his voice.
"..." Green doesn't say anything, but he agrees with Red's sentiment.
"Forgive? No, that is of your own volition," Ashborn now appears as Reinhard. "Forget that hate and fear? Yes, it is imperative that you do."
"Heh…Hehehe, You're actually serious?" Red says with a scoff, his tone arrogant and dismissive. "Hahaha! …Did you forget who I am? Lide will have your head if you don't let us go back," He says in a threatening manner, his cockiness frighteningly natural.
"I have long since gotten his permission," Ashborn replies, calmly . "He has also deemed your hate an issue."
"And what the hell do either of you two know?!" Red retorts, anger and frustration evident in his voice. "You two weren't the ones who got gutted!" Red's words reflect his frustration and disbelief at Ashborn and Lide's assessment of the situation.
"Are you trying to guilt trip me? It is unbefitting of a Shadow Monar-"
"I agree with what Red is saying. You two are strong, you wouldn't know what it's like to be weak." Green finally speaks up, as he gazes determinedly at the fake Zelda.
"So you would rather hold onto these feelings of hate and fear, than return to reality?" Ashborn asks with a disappointed tone. His words hit a nerve as they remain silent.
"Alright fine, I don't hate Elsa anymore, happy?" Surprisingly, Red gives in first.
"...A-And, I'm not scared of her."
"Your words mean nothing," Ashborn responds to their statements. "But, you are willing to prove those words, yes?"
"Whatever gets me back alive faster." Green nods his head hesitatingly along with Red's words.
"Good. Then, this is goodbye for now." At that, both Ren fragments disappear. Turning towards a corner in the Plane of Eternal Sleep, Ashborn addresses the last fragment, Gray. "Nothing to say?"
"Is...there...really...a...point?" Gray responds, his voice slow and deliberate,
"I...hold...no fear...or...hatred...for...the...assassin." He pauses, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing,
"Oh. I...guess...I...should thank...you...for...not...selling...me...out...to...the others."
"I didn't do it for you." Ashborn responds coldly.
"Was…it…Lide? Well…It doesn't…matter, as long…as…they don't find…out…what…they really are."
Loot House
I wake up and realize I was back to being just one person again. Relief washed over me as I looked around and saw that I was back to where my journey as a Monarch began. Across the room, I saw Elsa in her human form before she became my shadow.
But before I could even think, she rushed at me with lightning speed. I tried to dodge but she stabbed me in the stomach with a knife. Pain shot through me and I let out a yell. But just as quickly as it came, the pain was gone and I was back in my original position. It was like nothing had ever happened, the pain was gone like it was never there.
"Again."
Elsa charges at me again, but this time I am ready for her. I know that she is going to attack and I am confident that I can block it.
Except…I feel the sharp blade of the knife cutting into my flesh and the searing pain that comes with it.
It hurts so much, I feel like I'm going to pass out.
"Again."
I place my hands on the floor. "DONA!" With the floor all messed up, I take the opportunity to…
"Again."
…
"Again."
"Huma, Dona, Enhance, Bloodlust, Stealth."
Bloodlust Successful
Disappearing, I don't bother sneaking behind her. Rushing her from the front, I exit my stealth, landing a punch on her forehead. With a satisfying crunch, she falls down like a puppet with her strings cut.
"How do you like that!? Is that good enough for you?! Say some…" It hurts…
"Fufufu…" No…No… NO!
"Again."
… Drip.
"Again."
… Drip, Drip…
"Again."
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!"
New Skill Acquired.
Berserk - Lvl 1/10
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has Leveled Up
Berserk has reached Max Level.
…Blood, There's Blood everywhere. On the walls, the ceiling…Is all of this hers?
MP Depleted!
Elsa Defeated!
"Haa…I did it…" Collapsing to the ground, I start to dream.
???
??? Pov
'Cold…' Sitting next to the fire the nice lady made, I still feel the freezing temperatures.
"Here, eat." Grabbing the offered piece of bread, I munch down on the rock hard bread. Even through the pain, I finish eating. 'The pain in my tummy is gone…'
Huddling close to the fire, I finally feel warm.
…
The nice lady hasn't woken up in a while…and the fire has gone out. Shaking her once more, her body falls to the side, not moving. 'Oh…'
Leaving her there, I ask others for help. "Hah? Go bother someone else." His companions laugh, going about their business.
'It's cold again…' The pain in my tummy came back too…
"I hear Jacob got a whole bunch of food imported from Kararagi. Lucky Bastard." I hear one of the drunken men say.
'...Jacob…I stole from him before…' Making my way to his store, by the time I arrive it's already dark out. The pain in my tummy is even worse.
Peeping in from a window, I notice the store devoid of anyone. Thankfully, I can push the window open. Jumping into the store, the minimal lighting causes me to bump into a shelf.
Crash!
'Oh no…'
The backdoor opens, revealing a fat and ugly man. A lantern in hand, with a bottle in the other. "Oi! Who's in here…A gutter rat?!" I'm frozen still at being caught. He wastes no time as he grabs me by the neck.
"Ow!" It hurts…
"Hehehe…At least you have a good body for a slum rat…" A fear like no other hits me as I see him start to undress me of my rags.
"N-No..." I struggle under his tight grip, reaching for the bottle that I had broken earlier. I grasp it firmly, using it as a weapon to defend myself. I stab it into his belly with all my might.
"Ahh! You bitch!" He screams in pain, but I don't stop there. Fear and my will to live drive me to continue.
Stab, Stab, Stab, Stab...
I don't know how many times I stabbed him, but by the end of it, I am covered in blood and guts. The blood is nice and warm, and it feels satisfying to lick it off my fingers. The pain in my tummy is gone too.
I look at the label of my weapon, taking a liking to it. "Granhiert, Elsa Granhiert...Fufufu." I whisper to myself, with a smile on my face.
Forest
Ren Pov
"AH!" Waking up with a start, covered in sweat, the events of my dreams were as clear as day. 'The cold...it's gone...' Taking a few deep breaths, my mind finally began to adapt and take in my surroundings.
I looked around and saw that Zelda must have set up camp for the night, but where was she? Her mother was still asleep, probably recovering from the previous day's events. "Ren?" I hear her call out my name softly, and finally see her sitting in the corner of my eye.
I walk over to her, and she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. "Oomph!" I hug her back tightly, letting her cry it out. My day had already started off pretty horribly, and I couldn't imagine how she was doing.
After what feels like hours of holding and consoling her, she finally lets go of me. 'Thank God. I suck at this whole comforting thing.'
"So? What happened? How long have I been asleep?"
"That person escaped. The fire lady tried chasing after him, but she eventually came back and disappeared into your shadow. It's been 3 days since then…" 3 whole days?!
"And your mother?" I ask, staring at her mother's sleeping form.
"..." Zelda goes quiet, her expression somber and filled with worry.
"Zelda? What is it?" I press, concerned about her sudden silence.
"They did something to her. They must have erased her memories. She doesn't remember anything. Not even me." She pauses for a moment, tears streaming down her face again. "She doesn't...remember me! It's like she's a completely different person!"
'What?' Ignoring the now crying Zelda, I use Observe on her mother.
Name: Penelope
Level: 350
Title: Redacted
HP: 15564/16000
MP: 6000/6000
STR: 48
DEX: 32
END: 79
INT: 228
WIS: 133
Status Effects: Stolen Memories (Indefinite)
'What..?'
Village Ruins, Two Days Later
"There's nothing left…" The basic log walls that protected the village were burned to the ground. Houses destroyed, and bodies littered everywhere. Not so different from the other villages.
Sitting down by the tree behind Zelda's Home, I let out a long sigh. 'This…I never expected something like this. Misfortune seems to follow me everywhere I go.' Sitting there, I remember my short stay in the Astrea Manor. 'Felt, I wonder how she's doing…and Reinhard. That guy was always behind Felt, correcting her "unladylike" behavior.'
Smiling at the small amount of moments, I let out another sigh. 'Oh, and Bazett too, she was always helping me out…' I start to feel like crap, my sudden unannounced disappearance couldn't have been well received. 'I shouldn't have ever left…'
"Is something wrong, my liege?" Oh. That dream appears in the forefront of my mind, only for me to put it to the side.
"...It's nothing. Did you find anything?" I ask Elsa, who despite being a Shadow, still looked very human. What should be pale blue skin, is still a very peach colored skin.
"My apologies, My Liege. It seems the enemy has moved on to the next floor." I see…
"...That's fine, go hunt the remaining Mabeasts. If you need to cover more ground, grab some of the other Shadows." She leaves without another word, and I am alone once more.
'Even after all that…I still don't like her.' And yet, I can't say I hate her all that much anymore. I suppose it was always in her nature to kill, was it? Circumstances forced her hand, and she found her calling.
'I can't help but wonder, if I wasn't at the Loot House that day…Would she have gone out of her way to kill me after?' I shake my head at the thought, choosing not to go into that can of worms.
'I guess it's about time I did something.' Getting off my ass, I finally do what I originally was going to do.
Train. Completely unrelated to my Daily Quests, but as a way to naturally increase my physical stats.
…
END has increased by 8
STR has increased by 5
DEX has increased by 9
Done with the physical portion of my training, I sit back down by the tree. Pulling out a freshly bought book, Magic Theory by Echidna.
Magic is only limited by the mind. By all means, nothing is impossible with magic. There are limits, but those can be overcome. One does not wait for change, change is made by those who wish for it.
Of course, there are rules and steps.
…
INT has increased by 14
WIS has increased by 3
Finally done…Now, Again.
Astrea Manor
3rd Person Pov
Going from room to room, fulfilling her duties. Bazett stops in front of "his" room. Reaching her hand out to the door handle, she quickly stops herself. The room had been taken by Felt, who at this point is already sleeping.
'Oh…Ren-sama, where have you gone?' Even during his short stay, he was a well received guest.
Letting out a sigh, Bazett leaves quietly. A frown staining her beautiful face.
…
'Liar…' Felt embraces the pillow tightly, tears streaming down her face. 'You told me that I would stay, but you just abandoned me without any warning.
…Why?'
To Be Continued?
Hehehe, Ah wtf am I doing? meh way to end the chap sorry.
I have recently become a reader, and waiting for other people to update I'd painful…Is this how you guys feel?
If so…I'm sorry. But! I only dropped this because I haven't updated this story in like 3 months.
Other than that…I'm back to reading other people's work.
Buh-Bye!