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!"

***