Chapter 114

  this is a fictional story by realTensai

  Alvis’ brain trembled, the pain from being struck in the chest making it impossible to form a coherent thought. But he couldn’t ignore what he saw. He couldn’t ignore the pink hair, the pink eyes, the small body. He couldn’t ignore that haughty yet childish grin.

  “…. Elise?”

  “Oh, so you know my sister?”

  The voice, albeit similar, didn’t belong to his mentor. And even though his vision blurred, he noticed that the person behind him had shorter hair.

  “I know we look alike, right? Almost like perfect copies. She is my twin sister, and because we’re still kids, the only difference to tell us apart is our hair length. Isn’t biology interesting? Even though we share the same DNA, we couldn’t have been more different. One twin is a genius scientist whose inventions improve the world, while the other twin is a member of the Devil Cult, hated by the world. Isn’t that interesting?”

  Alvis’ blood flowed out of his chest, already dripping on the floor and coloring his clothes red. Just breathing sapped all of his energy, and moving became impossible as poison spread within his body. However, even with his mind almost shut down, he knew what was happening. He knew who the person he was talking to was.

  “Y-You are.. you are…!”

  The boy’s grin intensified, a devilish flare on his face.

  “Yes, I’m the Devil Cult’s Priest of Knowledge, Elric Zweistein.”

  Alvis couldn’t comprehend what was going on; everything he used to believe shattering right before his eyes.

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  “Welcome, Elric. How are you doing?”

  “I’m doing splendidly, Greg. The first kill will happen soon, and then…” Elric’s eyes sparkled. His voice glowed with childish excitement. “Then the game will truly begin.”

  He clasped his hands, almost like he was about to clap.

  “Finally, I’ll see their true faces. I’ll see what they do. Who they become. Mhm~ I wonder who they’ll kill first? And how they’ll react to it?” He leaned closer to Alvis, whispering like he was sharing a bedtime secret. “Now that your Principal is gone, they won’t hold back anymore. What emotions will they feel? Rage? Regret? Panic?”

  “Will they cling to their morals… or throw them away? Will they betray their friends? Or kill the ones they used to sit beside in class?”

  His grin widened.

  “I want to see how each race reacts. I want to see who breaks first. How far they’ll go—how long until they lose every last flicker of remorse.” Elric twirled once, arms out like a child playing pretend. “How will they justify murder? How will they explain it to their fragile little sense of right and wrong?”

  “Will they cry?”

  “Will they smile?”

  “Will they like it?”

  He turned to Alvis, beaming.

  “Ahhh~ I just have to see it. I want to know everything. I built this game and watched so patiently… but now? Now I can’t wait anymore. Let it begin.”

  Alvis’ breathing stopped, and he didn’t know if it was the shock, the blood loss, or the poison in his body that caused it. Yet as he stared at Elric, and saw that his eyes were filled with happiness, he realized he was just a child. A child who thought their suffering was a game. Like a newborn who couldn’t differentiate between good and evil and just wanted to satiate his curiosity.

  He is crazy.

  Alvis gathered his last strength to open his mouth.

  “D-Do you work together?”

  Elric walked past Alvis, right to Mr. Woltzer’s left. He lifted his hand and put it on his shoulder.

  “Mr. Woltzer is part of the Devil Cult.”

  Alvis’ eyes widened and as he stared at Mr. Woltzer, he realized that he didn’t deny it. He just stood there, his cold amber eyes like those of a predator.

  “…. Why?”

  “For my ideal world and for my goals to come true.”

  This was Mr. Woltzer’s answer.

  “Isn’t that interesting? This guy is the prophesied one, right?”

  Mr. Woltzer nodded.

  “That’s the reason I accepted him into this school. Alvis is our hope.”

  “Soon, the time will come. The return of the Devil!” Elric stared at Alvis, his smile flashing one last time. “But I guess you aren’t quite ready yet.”

  Alvis’ heart stopped beating.

  [YOU DIED!]