"SPLASH How do you like it when someone throws water on your face? It wakes you right up, doesn't it?"
I was jolted awake, the cold splash of water hitting my face, somehow feeling unnaturally hard. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my dazed mind as I stared up at Lai, still holding the water bucket.
With a frown, I asked, "Was that really necessary?"
She stared right into my eyes, an unamused expression on her face. "Affirmative."
I couldn't argue, especially since I had thrown water on her face in the forest before. But then, panic set in as I remembered the quest. I sat up, suddenly awake, and asked, "How long was I asleep?"
Lai glanced at the sun, the faint hint of dawn creeping in. "Not that long. Only an hour. If you want to mark off that quest, you'd better hurry. Sunrise is only a few hours away."
At her words, my mind immediately went into overdrive. "Where are the wolf heads?" I asked, my heart already sinking at the thought of carrying them.
She pointed behind me, and I turned to see a large bag, the unmistakable stench of decay filling the air as flies swarmed above it. My stomach churned. There was no way I was carrying that through the streets.
Lai couldn't stop herself from laughing at my reaction, clearly enjoying my discomfort. As I stared at her, a small part of me wanted to say, "You sure are having fun," but then I noticed something. When she's in the capital, she's always so composed, her guard never down for even a second. But with me, it was different—she wasn't hiding behind that tough exterior, not worried about what I might see.
I saw her true smile, the one that she only let out in moments like this. It was... soft. Genuine.
"What are you looking at, brat?" Lai asked, still laughing, clearly struggling to catch her breath. "Is there something on my face?"
I couldn't help but smile, leaning a little closer as I teased, "What would you do if I told you it's your beautiful face... and that smile?"
Her laughter paused, her gaze softening slightly.
Still laughing, Lai responded that she wouldn't believe me even if I paid her, and even if she did have a face like that, she wouldn't be caught near me, nor would she let me throw water on her again.
I simply told her to shut up and joined in her laughter. As much fun as I was having, I knew I couldn't stay there forever.
"I have to leave now," I said, trying to get my bearings.
She slowly stopped laughing, a sigh escaping her lips as she wiped away the tears from laughing so much. "I understand," she said. "I need to get home. My father will be worried."
I nodded as I slung the bag of wolf heads over my shoulder, grimacing at the weight. Meanwhile, Lai hopped onto one of the trees nearby, perching there as she waited for me to get ready.
Looking up, I gave her a thumbs up to signal that I was ready. She returned the gesture with a bright smile, one fit for a queen, and called out loudly, "I hope we meet again soon! And next time, don't hold back on the fun!"
With that, she jumped off the tree, moving as quickly as the wind. I couldn't catch a good glimpse of her smile from the top of the tree, but I felt a warmth in my chest. It had been so long since I'd had a moment like that—one filled with laughter, even if it was a little reckless.
As the last of her presence faded, the reality of dragging the heavy sack of wolf heads settled in. The fun was over. Now, the real struggle had begun.
become her symbol of some kind.
As I approached the guild, the sun began to peek over the horizon. I had to hurry or risk facing the consequences for failing the quest. The warmth of the sun grew stronger as I entered the guild, praying I wasn't too late. Inside, I saw only the sleepy receptionist and myself, the only ones present at the break of dawn.
"Took you long enough, kid," she grumbled, clearly annoyed. "I was about to cross your name off the register, and you show up right at sunrise."
I shot her a sharp look, responding firmly, "Watch your mouth. I completed the quest on time, and that's what matters."
She didn't argue further. With a quick glance at the sack of wolf heads, she handed me a bag of coins. As she tossed in a mysterious stone that smelled like a million flowers, I couldn't help but marvel at their technology. It was incredible to think they had such advanced items.
"I'll wait until night to distribute the booze to the crowd," I told her. "I don't drink."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You're the first person I've ever seen pass up booze just to hand it out to others. You sure about that?"
"I don't need it to work," I replied, taking the money and making my way out the door. With the coin bag in hand, I stepped into the crowded streets, eager for the taste of freedom.
Yet, as I moved through the Capital, something felt off. The streets were packed more than usual, and the center of the road was mysteriously empty. Curious, I asked a nearby person what was going on.
"The 'Lady of the Capital' is coming through," he explained. "She just cleared a mass dungeon that's been causing a lot of problems with trade. Other mercenaries couldn't get it done, but she did. Quite the sight, isn't it?"
I blinked in surprise. Just hours ago, she had been with me in the forest. So, she'd wanted to go to the dungeon, but seeing me had changed her course.
Before I could think any further, the cheers began, growing louder and louder: "Lai Arok! Lai Arok!"
I pushed my way through the crowd to the front, eager to catch a glimpse of her. She was on a high chariot, surrounded by carriages and guards. Her expression was stoic, her smile polite but unconvincing. It didn't seem like the smile of someone who truly enjoyed the attention; it felt like she was putting on a mask to calm the crowd.
That upset me, but I understood why she had to do it. Her role demanded it.
As she turned her head slightly, her eyes locked onto mine. Not knowing how to respond, I raised my hand in a wave, but before I could even blink, I was met with a piercing glare from her, a clear indication not to wave.
She mouthed something, and although the words were silent to everyone else, I understood them clearly: "Tomorrow, same time, meadows."
I raised my hand and gave her a thumbs-up to show I understood, and in return, her smile became genuine for just a moment. It was the first time I had seen that true, heartfelt smile. It became her symbol, a silent message that we were on the same page.
All that was left was the piece of paper that I found near Val's shop thus, after Lai had done her grand entrance into the Capital I went to my inn with a smile on my face, she doesn't look it but that smile she gives is real infection to the human body, as I returned back I greeted Mr. Rift and Mrs. Rift with grace and went up to my room and searched for the piece of paper and alas I found it under my bed, I was guessing that it was due to my clumsy self that it was misplaced and so I began to open it with a curious mind while opening it, it was empty no words or pictures to be seen just a moment later engravings on the paper began to appear I was startled by this almost dropped to paper on the ground but I was able to catch it just before it was about to hit the ground, and I began to read it.
The parchment felt unusually heavy in my hands as I read the words etched into it.
"Dear skin walker, if you are reading this, I would have passed by now. And don't ask questions about how I know it's you or how these words are being engraved as you read. If I have passed, I need YOU—and only YOU—to do this. I don't trust anyone else but you. So, I kindly ask you for a single favor.
The rise of the demons has begun. This entails the rebirth of the Demon King, and destruction is what awaits us. The heroes will once again be summoned from a world unknown to us. So, I ask you: would you clear the path for them? Allow them to rise to power to defeat the Demon King.
You might wonder, 'Clear the path? What does that mean?' Well, it means you must kill and rip the hearts of the Seven Sins. I don't have time to explain everything, but there's one person who could help you on your journey. It's your choice whether to take him with you or not. He is my apprentice, a strong warrior. He may be rude and cunning, but he is kind at heart. I hope you treat him well.
He is in Duke Town of Tersina, and you will find him in the same way you found me. I beg of you, defeat them and you will have done me a great favor."
The letter was silent, but its weight felt like the world was pressing down on me. How had I gotten tangled in all of this? The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain: the demons were rising, and somehow, I was involved in ensuring the heroes could defeat them. The mention of the Seven Sins made my blood run cold. But then again, I had always lived with the expectation that the most difficult paths would be the ones that defined me.
Had old man Val gone crazy? I thought. What did all of this mean? Heroes? Would they come from my world? And all this talk about Demon Kings and the Seven Sins... In my world, they're called the Seven Deadly Sins for a reason. Sin of Greed. Sin of Sloth. Sin of Lust. Sin of Envy. Sin of Pride. Sin of Wrath. And last but not least, the Sin of Gluttony!
Past me would have never even considered such a thing. I'd have turned it down without a second thought, but now… something was changing inside me. It wasn't real fire, but it sure felt like it. I could hear my mind urging me to act, to show the world what I was truly capable of. I'd always been told to be careful, to not be reckless. Every step of my life had been dictated by others—forced to live with my uncle, forced to work three jobs just to get by, forced to endure it all just to make ends meet and get an education. Any other life would have been better than that.
But then I met someone in this world—a person whose smile could light up the entire world and beyond. And so, I made my choice. I would protect that smile, even if it meant my own life.
As soon as I thought about accepting Val's request, the paper began to float, disintegrating into particles of light that were absorbed into my body. A surge of energy filled me, and before I could even process it, the system's voice echoed in my mind:
"The user's stats have been increased by 15 points for all stats. Cause: The Scroll of Life and Death."
My body pulsed with a heavenly power, overwhelming yet exhilarating. It was brief, but it didn't matter. The power felt like nothing I'd ever experienced before. My mind was set in stone.
"The Sins skills are mine!"
I muttered, grinning, my gaze intense as I stared out of the window into the night sky.
"I will grow to be the most powerful being in this world. And don't think I've forgotten about you, divine beings. How could I forget the ones who threw me into this hell?"
My fists clenched, my heart burning with a desire for vengeance.
"You're on my hit list now, 'Human Trash'. Your kind will fall, and I will be the one to bury you. Don't worry, I'll make each of your tombstones a testament to what I'm capable of. Your light will be mine to command one day. So remember me. Engrave the name of your executioner on your arm… 'Kaito Ishida.'"